Thursday, November 30, 2017
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Not bad!
Today I went to the credit union and took care of some financial business and this evening got the recycling out. I also took a drive and found out where the Grief Counseling is going to be held at and took a nice drive up Mill Avenue.
I almost forgot to mention the delicious slice of pie I had at Cracker Barrel. Apple Pecan Streusel pie. Yum.
I almost forgot to mention the delicious slice of pie I had at Cracker Barrel. Apple Pecan Streusel pie. Yum.
Monday, November 27, 2017
Starting Again - With A Twist
Yesterday I took another load of items to the donation center and started filling out my budget for December.
I'm feeling like I'm starting a new life - and in a way I am.
For the first time since 1994, I'm no longer caregiving for anyone
My budget no longer includes debt payment. This is going to take some time to adjust to.
I'm starting on a new and crazy-feeling adventure, it's going to take a little while for me to figure it all out.
1. I've started two new bags for donations - one for clothing and the other for everything else to be donated. I've already started filling both up.
2. I've made a list of sinking funds to have created as separate savings accounts. This will be done in December.
3. I am having new blinds put up in my windows, the next step will be to call and have a new HVAC unit installed and get a new hot water heater installed. Both are past their life spans.
4. For Black Friday, I ordered some cleaning cloths and some beauty supplies. Yes, you heard that right, beauty supplies.
5. Yesterday I stopped off at Costco and picked up two diffusers that are on sale, then stopped off at Whole Foods to pick up some essential oils.
I'm feeling like I'm starting a new life - and in a way I am.
For the first time since 1994, I'm no longer caregiving for anyone
My budget no longer includes debt payment. This is going to take some time to adjust to.
I'm starting on a new and crazy-feeling adventure, it's going to take a little while for me to figure it all out.
1. I've started two new bags for donations - one for clothing and the other for everything else to be donated. I've already started filling both up.
2. I've made a list of sinking funds to have created as separate savings accounts. This will be done in December.
3. I am having new blinds put up in my windows, the next step will be to call and have a new HVAC unit installed and get a new hot water heater installed. Both are past their life spans.
4. For Black Friday, I ordered some cleaning cloths and some beauty supplies. Yes, you heard that right, beauty supplies.
5. Yesterday I stopped off at Costco and picked up two diffusers that are on sale, then stopped off at Whole Foods to pick up some essential oils.
Sunday, November 26, 2017
My Newest Find
I finally got a good night's sleep without medication for the first time in a while, and I've finally figured out why.
I get cold when I sleep.
My basil temperature drops when I sleep, so I wake up (a lot) freezing in bed.
The solution?
A thermal pad for sleeping bags.
Yep, this little beauty worked for me last night. It's a keeper. And I don't need to inflate it, I just need the thermal properties for it.
Therm-a-Rest Trail Scout Sleeping Pad
I get cold when I sleep.
My basil temperature drops when I sleep, so I wake up (a lot) freezing in bed.
The solution?
A thermal pad for sleeping bags.
Yep, this little beauty worked for me last night. It's a keeper. And I don't need to inflate it, I just need the thermal properties for it.
Therm-a-Rest Trail Scout Sleeping Pad
Pay Thy Debt And Live
These words bring new meaning to me in light of what has happened over the last six months.
I'm assuming you know I lost my Mother on July 13th, 2017.
I was within a year of being completely debt free, having worked for over three years to get to the last remaining debt that I owed, due to an overwhelming prompting I received to get out of debt in order to be in a better position to take care of my Mother.
In a way, I was able to do just that.
Because of my emergency savings, I was able to pay cash for most of the remaining costs of her funeral expenses.
Because of my low expenses that I have been living on, I was able to bankroll the utility costs and the costs of taking care of her pets during the initial probate period in order to keep her house running while things got sorted out.
Because I have a home with extra space, I was able to house my sister who wished to be a co-representative with me in the affairs of Mom's estate.
Because I owed so little, I was able to take a reduced amount of the shared inheritance in order to acquire property my parents owned in another part of Arizona.
Because of the money I continue to earn with my job, I was able to continue to maintain life until the estate could be settled.
Because I had spent over three years working and paying off debt, the Lord's desires to bless me and to make my burden lighter (not gone, but lighter) were far easier for Him to accomplish.
Because of my preparations, while finances did get tight, my "barrel of meal" did not "waste" nor did my "cruz of oil" fail. The Lord truly blessed us.
I have paid my debt, now is the time for the Lord to help me as I begin to live.
The original video can be found here:
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2017-01-009-a-good-samaritan?lang=eng
Additional thoughts to ponder:
The original video can be found here:
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2007-01-0005-the-mediator?lang=eng
I'm assuming you know I lost my Mother on July 13th, 2017.
I was within a year of being completely debt free, having worked for over three years to get to the last remaining debt that I owed, due to an overwhelming prompting I received to get out of debt in order to be in a better position to take care of my Mother.
In a way, I was able to do just that.
Because of my emergency savings, I was able to pay cash for most of the remaining costs of her funeral expenses.
Because of my low expenses that I have been living on, I was able to bankroll the utility costs and the costs of taking care of her pets during the initial probate period in order to keep her house running while things got sorted out.
Because I have a home with extra space, I was able to house my sister who wished to be a co-representative with me in the affairs of Mom's estate.
Because I owed so little, I was able to take a reduced amount of the shared inheritance in order to acquire property my parents owned in another part of Arizona.
Because of the money I continue to earn with my job, I was able to continue to maintain life until the estate could be settled.
Because I had spent over three years working and paying off debt, the Lord's desires to bless me and to make my burden lighter (not gone, but lighter) were far easier for Him to accomplish.
Because of my preparations, while finances did get tight, my "barrel of meal" did not "waste" nor did my "cruz of oil" fail. The Lord truly blessed us.
I have paid my debt, now is the time for the Lord to help me as I begin to live.
The original video can be found here:
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2017-01-009-a-good-samaritan?lang=eng
Additional thoughts to ponder:
The original video can be found here:
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2007-01-0005-the-mediator?lang=eng
Saturday, November 25, 2017
Friday, November 24, 2017
Thursday, November 23, 2017
2018 Daily Task Schedules
For 2018, I have "tweaked" the Daily Task Schedule forms to make them look more uniform, but also eliminating the Not Important stuff (for the most part) as everything you do should have some importance to you.
The tweaks in the system come from my having to use this while handling the situation with Mom in July and the work that has been required since then. This system really saved me as there was too much for me to keep in my head and writing it down helped me to better organize what needed to be done in what order and in what degree of urgency.
What I've come up with is a variation of the "Eisenhower Method" created by President Ike Eisenhower while he was serving as President of the United States, and very possibly while he was serving in the Armed Forces. I'm not too clear on the history, I just know that he is known for this method.
If you don't know what I'm talking about or how to use it, check out the video from Dr. Randy Pausch, who used this up until his passing in 2008.
The tweaks in the system come from my having to use this while handling the situation with Mom in July and the work that has been required since then. This system really saved me as there was too much for me to keep in my head and writing it down helped me to better organize what needed to be done in what order and in what degree of urgency.
What I've come up with is a variation of the "Eisenhower Method" created by President Ike Eisenhower while he was serving as President of the United States, and very possibly while he was serving in the Armed Forces. I'm not too clear on the history, I just know that he is known for this method.
If you don't know what I'm talking about or how to use it, check out the video from Dr. Randy Pausch, who used this up until his passing in 2008.
Here are the revised pages for 2018:
Hopefully this year will be a productive year for you, as I'm hoping it will be for me.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I hope all who are reading this have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Please be safe.
Me?
I’ve decided to stay home.
Why?
My body hurts.
Why?
I’ll share what I posted on Facebook yesterday.
At 12:04 pm:
So far today:
3 bags of trash taken out
2 loads of dishes
2 litter boxes changed
3 documents signed before a notary
Still need to throw out more trash, get started on the laundry, group items for donations and take over, fed ex probate papers for sister to get notarized.
Take a few deep breaths.
At 3:53 pm yesterday:
Home Depot measured but will not be out for at least 6 weeks. I bought temp shades, hopefully that will appease the HOA people.
I also fed ex sent probate paperwork to sister and filled up another water jug.
I need to run a few more errands today and then I will hopefully be done!
At 5:58 pm yesterday:
2 carloads of recycling out
1 load of donations dropped off.
Fed the cats and now waiting for my TV dinner to heat.
Time to sit back and relax for the rest of the night.
Happy thanksgiving everyone!
Yep, I overdid it, but I did get a lot done! Today I ran the dishwasher to catch up on the plates for the cat food, put the clean dishes away.
Enjoy your time with family and friends.
Monday, November 20, 2017
Saturday, November 18, 2017
Swedish Death Cleaning
I had never heard of this before, but it completely makes sense. It's the decluttering version of creating an Estate Plan.
I am also a survivor of someone who didn't do this, and yes, I paid for it. I have the pictures to prove it.
I am also a survivor of someone who didn't do this, and yes, I paid for it. I have the pictures to prove it.
A few thoughts:
I got help in getting some of the big things out, namely the furniture that belonged to my sister and I. For the rest of it, I took out of the house things that were indicative to my memories of Mom and Dad. Papers. A lot of papers that I will need to go through. The rest, however, can be replaced.
I didn't get everything out, there wasn't enough time as the buyer wanted to close earlier than had been arranged, but it's okay. I have pictures of the rooms with the furnishings that didn't make it.
Furthermore, I have the memories of spending time with my parents, which cannot be bought.
Tempe Zero Waste Day
If you are looking to eliminate clutter in your home, please check with your locality on recycling days to dispose of items responsibly.
Today is Tempe’s Zero Waste Day.
I went from this...
To this!
Monday, November 13, 2017
Saturday, November 11, 2017
New LDS Church Video On Grieving
I didn't have time this week to watch all of it, but from the first 15 minutes of, it looks really good. Well worth watching. From The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
My New Life - Part 2
This morning I had my hair cut. Not a trim, a cut. Afterwards, a breakfast sandwich at Panera Bread.
Before:
After!
And breakfast!
My New Life - Part 1
One of the things I enjoy doing is going out and trying new restaurants.
Because of dietary and taste restrictions of my Mother, much of where I wanted to go and try out was pretty much out of the picture, along with the fact that i was trying to get out of debt, so eating out was a luxury I couldn't afford at the time.
With my debt now gone and my caregiving days are behind me, I'm starting with some of the favorites that I know and love.
This past Wednesday, November 8th, that started with Wildflower Bakery on Guadalupe and McClintock. Their Chicken Parmesan is one of the best, served over bread. Yum.
Because of dietary and taste restrictions of my Mother, much of where I wanted to go and try out was pretty much out of the picture, along with the fact that i was trying to get out of debt, so eating out was a luxury I couldn't afford at the time.
With my debt now gone and my caregiving days are behind me, I'm starting with some of the favorites that I know and love.
This past Wednesday, November 8th, that started with Wildflower Bakery on Guadalupe and McClintock. Their Chicken Parmesan is one of the best, served over bread. Yum.
Monday, November 6, 2017
Ways To Cope With Stress
There are a few ways I’ve been coping with stress, one of them being lemon flavored wafer cookies, namely the kind pictured. Then, of course, there is always chocolate.
Saturday, November 4, 2017
Friday, November 3, 2017
Final Debt Paid Off
This isn’t how I wanted this to end, with the death of my Mother, but as I was down to my last debt, it only took a fraction of my inheritance to pay off my debt. I’m now debt free.
Thank You Petsmart
As it turns out, those cancelled crates were the wrong size. Since I was already getting Mom’s dog ready for her new home, I ordered the correct size and picked them up.
Mom’s dog looks completely different with a buzz cut, and their groomers are top notch.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)