did you know?????

did you know it IS possible to use a leaf blower in the house. WHY would someone WANT to do that??? I think I may hold a record for destroying vacuum cleaners....either that or they just break really easily. SO...............i was NOT delighted to see that my little 4 legged friend, Remy had totally shredded a basket of pinecones all over my living room carpet. I was extremely irritated and sweeping with a broom only does so much and I did NOT want to destroy my vacuum...SOOOOO....leaf blower to the rescue. Sort of.....yes, it did help, but it is kind of hard to direct the blowing aspect of it...:) I don't think i will do this on a regular basis, but I did blow off a little steam and sort of made things better. Funny, huh???

got er done...

Yup..."i done good" worked hard at the gym, did grocery shopping, went to church and did a little work, went to post office, came home...worked on chopping that dumb bush down which took a couple of hours, talked to my friends the Peipons via skype, cooked a turkey and now I AM POOPED. Supposed to go hear a concert tonight....snzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

A busy day today...

Many things on my plate.....lets see if I can accomplish ANY of it.....first, gym, 2nd buy some stamps, 3rd chop down a bush...there is more....but if i can get those done, I'll feel it is a good accomplishment.....We'll see.

:)

First happy thing: Got to meet my little friend today at school. Can't tell you a lot on here, but the bottom line is her mom is serving in a far away very dangerous place. This little girl is new to our school and told her dad she wanted to learn to play guitar. He contacted me. I didn't really have anyone I could suggest he go to for lessons, and then...duh!!!!!!!!!!!!! I could take part of my planning time here and meet with her here!!!! So we did. It was dandy. We played some guitar...her mom plays guitar she told me....we talked about dogs and brothers and visits to Maine. It was the best 1/2 hour I've spent at school in a long, long time. She is soooo quiet and I can't tell you what it was worth to see her smile. We will meet every few days. A good start. BTW...thanks for the suggestion, Lord. ALL good things come from You.

phil 4:8

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

In case you hadn't noticed, I can get bogged down looking at negatives. So, as I was pondering things yesterday, this verse came to me. It's still dark out right now, so I can't take the pictures I want to take, but I am going to take you on a little tour of things I love...not love like a person, but things that are very happy and that I enjoy. Stay tuned. AND I'm convicted that I need to get off my butt and do some things for some other folks....so you can stay tuned for that. The first thing is scheduled for this morning at school and for the first time in FOREVER, I'm excited about going to school...in fact I could hardly sleep I was so excited. How crazy is that? Soooooo.......PRESS ON!

:(

You know, without Christ and His understanding and direction and the power of the Holy Spirit, Satan would win. I guess that's a duh....because that is why Christ came...to overcome Satan and death and to provide His righteousness for us to satisify a Holy God.. Good thing, huh? I messed up big this weekend. I'm not going into any details yet it was a mess up of epic sized proportion....enough to make me want to just slink off somewhere and give up. God doesn't let us give up though. If anyone wants us to give up, it's Satan. So, I'm not giving in. I'm taking care of damage control. I learned something extremely important about myself this weekend and now it is time to ......yup, you guessed it....press on. So...that is all I have to say for today. 10 classes to teach....makes for a full day. Where WAS that fog delay this morning???? Tsk, tsk...

Friday....progress....

Ok....so, I kind of like the idea of an "easily correctable". It makes me laugh. ANyway, I now have a beautiful mum in the wooden bucket that had formerly been a recepticle for weeks, paint cans and generic trash. It looks really nice. I even had to peek out at it last night before I went to bed...doesn't take much. :) AND I plugged up 3 money sucking holes...continuing charges on my cc's that were out dated/not used/stupid/ unrealistic etc. The total coming to.......$66.09. This was money that was being spent...going on charge cards for NOTHING. So...onward....I have more looking to do. That was only 2 cards worth. I bet there is more to find. I have taken the advice of a couple of friends and eased up a little bit in a couple of areas. And...as soon as I figure out how much I actually am bringing home each month, I like the idea of the envelope system. Then it is possible to make little purchases like an occasional book or something for Logan or the secret shop or whatever. If the money is designated in an envelope, it is ok to make that expenditure. I think that will be good. Time to go get ready for my teaching day. Got to school to find I had been booted out of my classroom.....surprise. After my inital fury, (and finding out it is just temporary) I"m fine. Would have been nice to have been given a heads up...but hey.... Got to go get some things squared away.

and.....(9/17 btw)

Ok....in addition to the money sucking holes I'm tracking down I decided to tackle an "easily correctable". At first, being crazy like I am, I decided I would fix 5 easily correctable things TODAY. Then, I decided that was stupid, so how about 1. As I was leaving for work today, I looked at the flower barrel outside my backdoor which is FILLED with grass and weeds. blah. I ALWAYS feel bad when I look at it and I look at it a lot, so I decided that would be easily correctable. I will stop on the way home tonight and pick up a mum and then this evening, I will clean that bucket out and put the mum in. That will be a happy thing that will give me pleasure when I see it and that is good.

press on....

isn't that what I claimed a couple weeks ago????? pressing on..... ok....I'm pretty overwhelmed with a lot of stuff right now....not my project stuff.....family stuff, kid stuff, work stuff, church stuff. When I get overwhelmed, I kind of get tunnel vision. So, with the concept of pressing on, I have chosen a small project to work on between now and the weekend. Money holes. Do you have any of those??? Probably not, but I have found some. I have been going through cc statements and have found recurring charges for stuff I may have signed up for years ago and I have not used or I even still receive the product or newsletter or whatever. SO......I am in hot pursuit in closing up these money sucking holes. I will try to post a total on Saturday. Wish me good hunting.

Sunday the 13th....

I'm a little wobbly with this right now.....Not unusual when I get in school. I get tired, frustrated, bored, short of time etc and what do we do when we these things happen??? Fall back into old habits. Now, that hasn't exactly happened....well...yes, it has. Let's be honest here. (sooooo hard to be honest) What did I do???? Ollies and the children's place at OC. Didn't spend much...much less than I would have before, BUT....you know, the problem is bigger/different than just the amount of $$ spent. The problem is that is entertainment or a stress relief for me. I need to find other entertainments/stress relievers. I spent $10 at the children's place...got 2 outfits and a baby present....(It's their big sale time)...anyway....i can't quite get a handle on this.....I am just rambling today...sorry about that. I will try to reorder my thoughts today and see if I can't get more focused. :(

9/11

Thanks to those who inquired about Steve and Lindsay. He is home again...he was hospitalized last week, but got out a couple of days ago. My niece is caring for him and of course the two little ones. My brother and his wife are over there quite a bit I guess...and I'm sure that is a wonderful help. We'll just keep praying. NOW...let's talk about Christmas.....is it a bad thing to pick up some Christmas presents along the way? I admit it...I went to Ollies...I wanted to buy a touch and feel book for Logan. THey didn't have any, but they did have baby genius dvd's for $2.99. Yes, this is what usually gets me in terrible trouble....if one is good, then 6 are better, right??????? So, I picked out the ones I wanted, and then put half of them back. I got him 2. That's better than what I ever would have done before. ANd I didn't get any of the stuffed animals that sing...AND I didn't get him the purple monkey named Oboe.....I may have to rethink that one. :) Time to go work on dinner. Haven't been to the store yet....making like a french bread pizza with stuff I have in the house. :) I'll be heading out to the store SOON. ttyl

Thanks...

Thank you for all of your supportive comments during the past week. As I said, the experiment was highly successful. No problem with having enough food...I actually have a little left....not a whole lot...:} I could go on longer, but it would involve a whole lot of oatmeal, and well....oatmeal. No meat left...no veggies........I do have some bread (from the homemade rolls) and I do have a few eggs......and oatmeal. I think I also have a couple of cans of soup...so, I can definately handle breakfast and lunch tomorrow. Dinner I'll figure out. I am a little down tonight due to family issues....my nephew in law is desperately ill with brain cancer and he and my niece and their two little bitty children are on my heart very much, so it seems foolish for me to babble on about my "grand successes". If you are a praying person, please just pray for Lindsay and Steve....thanks...

moderately interesting 9/9/09

well....this just dawned on me today....might be silly to to other folks, but it is rather stunning to me. I have not eaten one fast food meal since before August 1st. One month and 9 days?? May not be earth shattering to most, but it is here.....I'm rather ashamed to admit it, but that is probably the longest I've ever gone without eating fast food in my adult life. Honest...I know...crazy, isn't it? But I think it is true. I've tried to not eat fast food before, but not been successful. HOWEVER...because of the money moratorium, I have been able to do it without thinking of the food aspect. Buying fast food is not an option because buying is not an option. So, there you have it. Figured out a couple of other things this evening. Have to look at some numbers...I am very greatful for the insights. How is it that my thinking is changing like this???? I honestly consider it a miracle....a highly undeserved one, trust me.

Tuesday....whatever day....I'm losing track.

Ok...the money moratorium continues and you wouldn't believe how much food is still in my fridge. 'Waaaaay more than what I started with... How can that be? Have people been giving me food??? Nope, not a bit....just what I've cooked has really stretched and creativity has stretched it even further. I will have food LEFT when this experiment ends Thursday night. I mean that's only 2 more days....trust me, there is PLENTY of food still available. Funny how that works, huh? It has been a great experiment...I have enjoyed it totally except for that one night when I got aggravated. And then irritated that I bought that stupid ice cream to take over to my friend's. So tomorrow is a casual day at school. My school is REALLY big on casual days. I however, shall decline. Big sign. Somehow, it does make the day go faster when you wear jeans and sneakers, but the money moratorium precludes that this week. Boy...it was a close one today though. Keep me away from that CBD website!!!! All SORTS of cute bargains that would be great for presents, or the secret shop or whatever. BUT ....I did NOT succumb. :)

however....re: sidebar...

apparently, our school was not allowed to show the speech...? I don't know...no one every bothered to tell me...but I'm just the music teacher. That's what the kids told me. Who knows.

a side bar....

Just in case anyone wonders, believe it or not, I have NO problem with Obama's speech to the schoolkids. NONE. Good grief, we need all the help we can get with kids. Such attitudes and lack of purpose....such refusal to take responsibility for their own actions. YIKES...if Obama can help, BRING IT ON. As a teacher, I WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM SHOWING THE SPEECH. And anyone who knows me KNOWS I am NOT, NOT, NOT a fan of our president. ha....to say the least. Actually, this speech is one of the first things he's done that I can support.

yummmmmm

Who likes gingerbread???? Who likes gingerbread cookies? Who would like to make gingerbread cookies when you have no butter or margarine????? Who would like to eat delicious gingerbread cookies made with applesauce instead?? I've never tried that before and it worked beautifully. I had NO desserts or sweets in the house. Too bad, so sad. However, i had a gingerbread mix and I decided to take a chance....it worked. :) very happy.

Monday...what IS the date????

Ok...the dietary habits of the Higgins' household are surely the most important thing on everyone's minds. BUT...it is interesting.....a little bit like the loaves and fishes I would say. Last night, I'll admit, I was irritated and wanted to boot the whole idea. BUT...i didn't....too lazy to go to the grocery store, that's why. :) Not really....well...things are going very, very well. I don't think I've eaten better meals at home in a long time. It's just kind of funny what a little cooking and a lot of imagination will do. I think I'm set for the week. I have the meals all figured out...pretty cool, huh? Stay tuned....more later.

sunday choices....

ok, ok...I know EVERYONE is waiting on the edge of their chairs to see what I fed Jenny and her friend yesterday. I think you would have been amazed...chicken breasts cooked with shake and bake (I know, I know...but I LOVE shake and bake), I found I had some new potatoes in the bin, a can of whole cranberries, cornbread mix and green beans. Howz that???????????????????? All was in my house, the chicken had been purchased with Friday's five dollars. So their dinner was great. I did not serve them dessert because they were on their way to visit a couple of other people and I figured somebody else could feed them dessert. :) BUT....... Now....the next part.....I did make the dessert to take to my friends...a blueberry crumble using things from my house...HOWEVER...I must confess a failure. Jenny got here several hours later than she had told me and I did NOT have the time to go to coldstone and get the ice cream. :( :(...SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I'M SO SORRY...but i had to have Jenny pick up a half gallon of ice cream for me to take. :( :( Could I like sell somebody my coldstone giftcard and pretend like the ice cream had really come from there????? AND THE KICKER????? errrrrrrgh....I got to the house of my friend and there was ice cream already in the freezer. BOO HISS....I didn't even NEED to get it. :( phooey

saturday, the 5th?

well...I've already run into a couple of challenges. How many months has it been since Jenny has been home???? A LOT. However, she just found out she is moving to Maine for a few months on Monday and will be coming by today with a friend....and "lets have lunch or dinner". She's broke and I'm currently not spending.....(a polite way of saying broke as far as disposable income). So...what to do.....I want to have a nice meal for her....so, I guess I will use whatever I have and need to use from here and then just see how it shakes down later in the week. AND....I don't think it is cheating to use a gift card, do you? Because I'm supposed to take dessert to a friend's house tonight....more decisions...HOWEVER....I do have a coldstone giftcard....that would be ok to use that I think...so much icky stuff to do today.....blah. BUT...I have the health, capability and tools to do it, so I will focus on that and there you go. big sigh.

NO HALO...

Ok, you guys. I really appreciate your encouragement, but don't make out like I'm some wunderkind or something. I am probably just now APPROACHING how the normal world lives, and trust me....this is one deep hole I'm in. NOT TO MENTION....well, actually, I wasn't going to admit to this, but I honestly think it is kind of funny now. Yesterday, I managed to get my phone disconnected because I forgot to pay the bill. Not that I couldn't pay it, but I FORGOT to pay it. How pitiful is that? I am "paperless"...no bill in the mail....and I remember going online to pay it but the website was messed up and not taking payments, so I guess I forgot to go back. I'm not exactly happy with verizon, becasue I think they really could have sent me an email since that is how I do my billing, HOWEVER...pride does goeth before a fall because there was a very garbled message on my machine from an automated voice thing about a week ago...most of the message was cut off, but it had something about non-payment. Me being me just figured it was something for Matt. COuldn't be for ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HA. so...the phone bill IS paid...the phone IS back on so feel free to give me a call. :) Gotta go scare up some dinner!!

sept. 4th...

Just had to write this....it's about noticing the little things that make me smile as I'm doing this crazy money moratorium. Ok...I already said last night I had the $5 in my wallet and I was going to see how far I could stretch it for groceries. Then, this morning, I had a dilemna....today is a casual day at school and that means making a donation. Well...that's not really a problem...i'd just not dress casual. HOWEVER...the casual day today is for one of our families who had a house fire. That's different. So....I was pondering how to do this. I could use my $5 for that, or I could write a check which I didn't want to do...I could get cash from the ATM which I REALLY didn't want to do. I went to get dressed and after putting on my jeans, I felt something in the pocket...guess what it was? A $5 bill! How very funny is that??? So, I had my $5 for the donation at work, AND still my $5 for groceries. Doesn't God just crack you up??????????

sept 3 month 2 day 3

I'm contemplating an experiment. Yes...another one!!! Right now, if I had to describe my cupboards, I'd say EMPTY. Nothing good in there at all. So, I started rummaging around in there to see if I could find something for lunch for tomorrow. I looked...and to be honest, it does seem pretty bare....especially the freezer. But....I made myself look harder...and while nothing looks particularily tasty or exciting, the truth is, there IS food there. So, this is what I'm thinking....I have $5 left in my wallet...because I joined PTA....boo...I'm wondering IF I decided to, could I use JUST that 5 dollars to supplement what is in my cupboard, fridge and freezer for a week????? Why would I want to???? I don't know. Just because it is interesting idea. THis will make you laugh....here is the sum and substance of what I have to work with....2 hot dogs, about 6 little pieces of frozen Sesame chicken, about 10 eggs, a bag of frozen vegetables, some pepperoni, some pizza sauce, a pillsbury french loaf (unbaked) some shredded cheese, 1 can of soup, spaghetti and spaghetti sauce, a quart of milk, bread flour, yeast,1/2 stick butter....some easy mac, some taco shells, some refried beans, a can of corn, coffee(YEAH) creamer, oatmeal...lots of oatmeal.... with this, I would need to make 3 meals a day for a week. Interesting, huh???? What to buy with that 5 dollars??????????? My first inclination is hamburger. I love hamburger and I could make spaghetti sauce and maybe a little taco meat to mix in with the refried beans??? But perhaps I can find chicken legs or thighs....that would be fun....because that can be used a bunch of different ways. NOW, ATTENTION....lest you think, I'm broke and I'm doing this because I have to, I'm not. I just think that it might be very, very interesting. So....I think I'm going to do it. I have to make one caveat....I don't think I have enough dog food for the next week, and I really can't ask them to eat oatmeal, sooooooo I will have to pick some up. I think I will do that tomorrow and then the store will be geshlossen....i think that means closed in German. It's been awhile. Stay tuned....I'm going to see what incredibly creative little stuff I can come up with. Ta da......don't worry...I won't invite you over for oatmeal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sept 2

2nd day of the 2nd month....not too much to say, EXCEPT i am finding myself TOTALLY resenting any money I have to spend now. I had to buy some ice teas for the faculty dinner today and I had to join PTA. I didn't want to do either!!!!! :) THat kind of makes me laugh...but that's ok...it's good to change my thinking.

september 1st

wow....here we go...month two. Pretty cool, huh. I almost feel like I've got a good start with this...actually, I do have a good start. I'm glad. Press on...we'll see what comes next. ps...a BUNCH of extra bags went out with the trash today. all stuff from upstairs. :)