B (Hubby) is in the parking lot on his lunch break the other day. Parked a few spots away from him is a co-worker's car, same make, similar model to his. B's car is a 2002 Pontiac Grand Am. Hers is a 2008, I think.
Small talk ensues about stuff to get their minds off work, if only for a moment. Similar Car Lady (SCL) says to B, "You should take better care of your car. It looks like crap."
For the record, B's workplace, in my opinion, is so bad for rumors, badmouthing others, and general pessimism, that the employees have taken putting others down in any way possible to a whole new level. It's awful, and I wish I could get him out of there!
B is momentarily stunned at that comment, and then asks what she means by that. SCL says that the paint on the car is scratched badly in areas, and fading in others, with bits of rust showing up in other areas. The trim on his vehicle is broken in spots (thanks vandals!) and or coming off.
He replies that yes, his car is imperfect, it's not exactly like he just drove it off the lot, but it is aging. He points out that her car has no working back-up lights, and she has dents, not just scratches on hers. B suggests that she worry about her own vehicle and leave him to worry about his.
He told me that story last night after dinner, and how it bothered him that his coworker would not only talk about how he treats his vehicle, but that she commented that it probably smelled like smoke all the time.
I listened, and understood why this would bother him. I agreed with him.
Then I mentioned that it may not look perfect, but it runs great, and we do take care of the essential parts of the car. It's safe to drive our family around in. We do routine maintenance and care on it. It's clean inside and out. It does what we need it to do, even if it is 9 years old.
And then I said something that made him smile.
"Yeah, she may think it's a piece of crap, but it's our piece of crap! Besides, I'll bet her car isn't fully paid for."
;)
Monday, September 12, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Before the Fast
Today I spent some time preparing, mentally more than anything else, for this weeks fiscal fast. Yesterday, I made sure both vehicles were topped up with gas. Today I checked the flyers for sales, prepared a weekly menu, and then hit the stores.
I bought a box of 52 pull-ups at Mall-Mart for Cub. I can get him to use the potty several times a day now, but it's still so new to him. Having pull-ups is still something we must do. For now.
Basics had a sale on potatoes, carrots and onions this week. A 10 pound bag for $1.88, so I got one of each. We were out of potatoes and onions anyway, and carrots will help with my 5 A Day challenge. The rest will go in the freezer.
Part of today's shopping excursion would be to see if I could get enough fruits and veggies not bagged, that I could make my own 'produce box'.
I'm going to try one of Carla's smoothies, without the chia or flax. Just juice, fruits, and some spinach. Eating healthy along with starting out an exercise routine should help me to start to feel better.
I think we have everything covered for the week. Now let's see if I can do this.
Cheerleaders Sharon, Carla and Jane, get your pom-poms ready! ;)
I bought a box of 52 pull-ups at Mall-Mart for Cub. I can get him to use the potty several times a day now, but it's still so new to him. Having pull-ups is still something we must do. For now.
Basics had a sale on potatoes, carrots and onions this week. A 10 pound bag for $1.88, so I got one of each. We were out of potatoes and onions anyway, and carrots will help with my 5 A Day challenge. The rest will go in the freezer.
Part of today's shopping excursion would be to see if I could get enough fruits and veggies not bagged, that I could make my own 'produce box'.
- bananas, 5 $1.03
- 0.730 kg green beans, $3.20
- 0.660 kg yellow beans, $3.33
- broccoli, $1.29
- cantaloupe, $1.00
- cauliflower, $1.77
- field cucumber, $0.99
- Kiwi fruit, 2 for $0.79
- 0.660 kg parsnip, $2.32
- 1.460 kg yams, $4.15
- 3 X 6 oz raspberries, $2.91
- bunch spinach, $1.49
- 0.300 kg turnip, $0.65
- 10 pounds carrots, $1.88
- 10 pounds potatoes, $1.88
- 10 pounds onions, $1.88
I'm going to try one of Carla's smoothies, without the chia or flax. Just juice, fruits, and some spinach. Eating healthy along with starting out an exercise routine should help me to start to feel better.
I think we have everything covered for the week. Now let's see if I can do this.
Cheerleaders Sharon, Carla and Jane, get your pom-poms ready! ;)
Fiscal Fast, Sept. 12 - 18, 2011
I'm going to try for a Fiscal Fast this week. Thanks to Sharon at Midlife Mom Musings for the challenge/idea.
Our Fiscal Fast Rules:
That's it in a nutshell. I have my giant to-do list to keep my hands busy when work isn't doing it. I can catch up on laundry until the cash on the laundry card runs out. All monies coming in will be whisked away to rent account, EEE account, or kept in chequing account for bill payments coming later in the month.
Anyone else doing a fiscal fast this month?
Our Fiscal Fast Rules:
- Gas for vehicles will be purchased prior to fast. Additional gas will only be purchased for business purposes. (My vehicle is essential for my work.)
- Regular groceries will be purchased in advance. Milk will be the only allowable food purchase during the week.
- Bills that are automated will be allowed, but that is it. If anything else comes up, it will have to wait until the 19th of September. We pay for babysitter/childcare weekly, so it will be allowed also.
- Keep a household diary, putting in how I avoided spending each day, thoughts and feelings about not spending and what I would typically spend on a given day.
That's it in a nutshell. I have my giant to-do list to keep my hands busy when work isn't doing it. I can catch up on laundry until the cash on the laundry card runs out. All monies coming in will be whisked away to rent account, EEE account, or kept in chequing account for bill payments coming later in the month.
Anyone else doing a fiscal fast this month?
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Workouts and No Work
After reading some of the comments the other day, I really had to think about the 'gym membership' idea. Would I really use it enough to make it worthwhile? (I still have no idea what this would cost me.) Would it help me to accomplish my goals for strength, health and weight loss?
I know me. I can take procrastination and laziness to a whole new level. Not so good, when I'm considering an expense that could be quite large in the long run. Looking at other options is a much better idea.
From Carla: "You could do a workout DVD at home & throw in some crunches & push-ups... cheap & will tone you up. I always exercised at home, if you want to lose weight bad enough & get into shape, you'll do it. If not, then you just don't want it bad enough. This is said in love & with previous experience. ;) You have to REALLY want it! Good luck!!"
So I started thinking. What if I bought a $250 gym membership, and then quit after 2 or 3 visits? I'd be ticked at myself something huge. But, if I bought a $10 workout DVD, and only used it 2 or 3 times, I won't cry myself to sleep at night over it.
Then I got to thinking about other free forms of exercise. I love walking, and can work up a good sweat doing it. I could use laundry soap jugs as my weights for strengthening my arms in various ways. Throw in some crunches & push-ups like Carla said, and I should be all good.
She's wise, that Carla. If I want it bad enough, I will do it. If not, then I just don't want it bad enough. Although my exercising will be about increasing my strength. Weight loss and other health benefits will be an added bonus.
On a completely different note, I want to tell you about something I saw the other day. I had to drive to University Hospital, as part of my work. This , of course, is located directly beside University of Western Ontario, whose librarian staff on on strike. In order to enter University grounds, you have to cross a picket line.
I've seen a few picket lines before. In recent years, Canada Postal workers, the London Transit Commission, City of London employees, various Teacher Associations at all education levels, and auto makers alike have all been on strike. They have their picket lines, along with their metal bins with wooden pallets lit on fire for warmth, as well as vehicles parked in areas making crossing such a line difficult. All of these unions know how to picket. The UWO Library staff however don't seem to have the same intimidating presence.
The LTC won't go across the picket lines though, so it's made for some interesting route changes at the University in the past few days. Added to that mix is the ongoing construction zones in and around University Hospital. It makes getting in and out an exercise in patience.
I was stuck at a red light on Western Road, behind a huge line of traffic. While waiting, I got a chance to watch the picketing librarians for a bit. They were all conservatively dressed, with large neon yellow vests that have even brighter orange crossing lines on them. Most of them were sitting wherever they could and wearing hats to keep the rays of sun out of their eyes. The ones who were actually walking the picket line were doing so at a leisurely pace, looking very subdued, yet peaceful. There were no cars blocking the regular flow of traffic. There were no barrel fires. There was no shouting or chanting. There were no honks of support form the traffic passing by. Yes, they had picket signs, and handed out information pamphlets, but they weren't causing a ruckus.
Leave it to librarians to hold the most civil strike on the face of the planet. :)
I've decided, although it will take me out of my way a bit, I will not be crossing their picket lines again. I can get where I need to go at the hospital without doing so. It'll just take a wee bit longer. I hope to learn more about their strike situation, and pray that it is resolved quickly for them. Strike pay can't be good for any family, regardless of what their occupation is. I may even try to help out with something by way of supplies for them, as it could take awhile for them to get back to work. I need to learn more about it.
Because I learned that knowledge is power.
And I learned that from a librarian. :)
I know me. I can take procrastination and laziness to a whole new level. Not so good, when I'm considering an expense that could be quite large in the long run. Looking at other options is a much better idea.
From Carla: "You could do a workout DVD at home & throw in some crunches & push-ups... cheap & will tone you up. I always exercised at home, if you want to lose weight bad enough & get into shape, you'll do it. If not, then you just don't want it bad enough. This is said in love & with previous experience. ;) You have to REALLY want it! Good luck!!"
So I started thinking. What if I bought a $250 gym membership, and then quit after 2 or 3 visits? I'd be ticked at myself something huge. But, if I bought a $10 workout DVD, and only used it 2 or 3 times, I won't cry myself to sleep at night over it.
Then I got to thinking about other free forms of exercise. I love walking, and can work up a good sweat doing it. I could use laundry soap jugs as my weights for strengthening my arms in various ways. Throw in some crunches & push-ups like Carla said, and I should be all good.
She's wise, that Carla. If I want it bad enough, I will do it. If not, then I just don't want it bad enough. Although my exercising will be about increasing my strength. Weight loss and other health benefits will be an added bonus.
On a completely different note, I want to tell you about something I saw the other day. I had to drive to University Hospital, as part of my work. This , of course, is located directly beside University of Western Ontario, whose librarian staff on on strike. In order to enter University grounds, you have to cross a picket line.
I've seen a few picket lines before. In recent years, Canada Postal workers, the London Transit Commission, City of London employees, various Teacher Associations at all education levels, and auto makers alike have all been on strike. They have their picket lines, along with their metal bins with wooden pallets lit on fire for warmth, as well as vehicles parked in areas making crossing such a line difficult. All of these unions know how to picket. The UWO Library staff however don't seem to have the same intimidating presence.
The LTC won't go across the picket lines though, so it's made for some interesting route changes at the University in the past few days. Added to that mix is the ongoing construction zones in and around University Hospital. It makes getting in and out an exercise in patience.
I was stuck at a red light on Western Road, behind a huge line of traffic. While waiting, I got a chance to watch the picketing librarians for a bit. They were all conservatively dressed, with large neon yellow vests that have even brighter orange crossing lines on them. Most of them were sitting wherever they could and wearing hats to keep the rays of sun out of their eyes. The ones who were actually walking the picket line were doing so at a leisurely pace, looking very subdued, yet peaceful. There were no cars blocking the regular flow of traffic. There were no barrel fires. There was no shouting or chanting. There were no honks of support form the traffic passing by. Yes, they had picket signs, and handed out information pamphlets, but they weren't causing a ruckus.
Leave it to librarians to hold the most civil strike on the face of the planet. :)
I've decided, although it will take me out of my way a bit, I will not be crossing their picket lines again. I can get where I need to go at the hospital without doing so. It'll just take a wee bit longer. I hope to learn more about their strike situation, and pray that it is resolved quickly for them. Strike pay can't be good for any family, regardless of what their occupation is. I may even try to help out with something by way of supplies for them, as it could take awhile for them to get back to work. I need to learn more about it.
Because I learned that knowledge is power.
And I learned that from a librarian. :)
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