Waiting for Unemployment…

Posted by Beks on November 6, 2009 at 5:00 AM
in Good Info, job loss | 6 Comments » |

We’ve been waiting for a check from unemployment for 4 weeks… and we’re still waiting.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand government paperwork – heck, I process it every day as a government employee! But I think it’s important for everyone to be prepared.

Here’s a head’s up to those who think they may lose their jobs…

save to survive longer than 4 weeks.

Am I alone in this? Anyone else waiting for all of eternity?

We’re still coasting through on savings and odd jobs – and I am grateful we were prepared.

Looking for Peaceful Sleep…

Posted by Beks on November 5, 2009 at 2:03 AM
in About Me | 34 Comments » |

You know how I talked about my comatose stress reaction to my husband’s unemployment? Well, it didn’t last. Now I’m awake at all hours of the night.

I get drowsy at work and drink energy drinks to stay coherent – though I use the word ‘coherent’ loosely. It’s normal to randomly start singing ‘Jimmy Crack Corn’ at work right?

I counteract this sleep loss with sleeping pills. Makes sense right? OR, I could ‘theoretically’ stay awake after taking the twice the recommended dose of sleeping pills and then find myself suffering from the world’s worst sleep hangover known to man.

This is usually the start to a vicious cycle where I don’t sleep due to stress and then stress about not sleeping which causes me to not sleep at all. My doctor finds this cycle amusing – but maybe it’s because last time I sang ‘Oops I did it again’ in the waiting room and played hopscotch in the parking lot with tongue depressors – and tells me I need to reduce my stress levels.

Thanks Captain Obvious.

And then, unfortunately for you, I write posts that make sense to me… but uh… probably not to you.

Today I exercised, avoided caffeine, alcohol, and sugar, and tried to think of butterflies and rainbows but alas… it’s 2 AM and I’m here… awake.

So here’s the question of the day what are your secrets to sleep?

About the Comments…

Posted by Beks on November 4, 2009 at 5:00 AM
in :) | 2 Comments » |

I wanted to thank everyone for the comments. I read every comment and I have learned so much from each of you!

Just a note, if your comment does not immediately appear, it is likely labeled as a ‘spam’ comment. I review the comments labeled as spam every other day and approve them – unless they refer to Viagra, Nigerian Lottery Winnings, or Olestra.

Hiding Money…

Posted by Beks on November 3, 2009 at 5:00 AM
in Spending Money | 12 Comments » |

I was paid $100 for some accounting work I was able to do at night. Rather than deposit the funds, I decided to set it aside as grocery money. I try not to keep money in our house since I’m terrified of thieves and think that somehow they will know I’m stashing cash.

I asked my husband where I should hide the money and he looked at me quizzically.

‘Hide it? It’s one hundred bucks, not the Hope Diamond honey. Just put it on the desk’ he said.

‘No!’ I screamed. ‘Can you hide it in a DVD?’ I begged.

‘Sure’ he laughed (sadly, I’m used to him laughing at me).

A few minutes later I asked him which DVD he put the money in. ‘From Justin to Kelly – because no one on God’s green earth would steal that film’ he said.

Gee hon… thanks.

It’s funny how my views about money have continued to change over the last year. Last summer, I would have spent that $100 on a date night or a cute pair of shoes. Now, I can stretch that same $100 into two or three weeks of groceries.

At this time in my life, that $100 IS the Hope Diamond.

Running…Pushing…

Posted by Beks on November 1, 2009 at 5:00 AM
in About Me, Life Experiences | 9 Comments » |

I’ve been running hard since the time will soon be changing. Running with my dogs after work will soon start a 4 month hiatus. Running is good for the dogs, but it’s been good for me too. It’s a nice chance to escape and to see all the beauty around me.

Thursday I went running and felt a painful pop in my left knee. I fell, sat on the concrete for a bit, and then wished I hadn’t worked so hard to teach my dogs not to pull on their leashes. I was hoping to sprawl out on the ground and have them pull my limp body home like sled dogs. Who knew well behaved dogs could be the bane of my existence?

I was feeling generous – so I gave myself 36 hours to recover.

Saturday morning, the weather was far too amazing to stay inside. I grabbed the dogs and took them to the dog park. Our park has big, beautiful trees that shade a running path. Apparently I overcompensated for my faulty knee… and pulled a groin muscle on my right side.

As if it’s not bad enough that my dogs can’t double as a Siberian sled team, both injuries happened about 3 miles from home. Why? So I could spend an hour each time dragging myself home while learning a life lesson about pushing too hard.

Focus can be great. But too much of it can be dangerous.

For all you type A personalities out there (*waving my arm*)… take a break.

Halloween…

Posted by Beks on October 30, 2009 at 5:00 AM
in :) | 9 Comments » |

In case you’ve been living on Jupiter for the last 30 days, here’s a reminder – Halloween is tomorrow.

I typically don’t dress up for this holiday (something about being over the age of 12 – the official last year a person can dress up without feeling silly), but my brother is throwing a Halloween party and I’m fairly certain he would kick me out of my own home if I didn’t at least smudge on some black eyeliner.

I don’t have the desire to spring for a $75 polyester outfit with less fabric than a string bikini so I’m wearing something I already own…

*Cue Rocky theme song*

My kickboxing gear from college.

This will serve dual purposes:

1.) A free costume.

2.) A deterrent for potential toilet paperists who are angry over the lousy Chiclet gum selection since we can’t afford the good candy this year.

Have a good and safe holiday.

Merry Christmas!!! Finding the right gift…

Posted by Beks on October 28, 2009 at 5:00 AM
in Saving Money, Spending Money | 21 Comments » |

I’m reminded that Christmas is just around the corner.

Perhaps it’s because my husband is blaring Amy Grant’s ‘Tender Tennessee Christmas’ in the other room.

No. I’m not joking.

His happy-go-lucky Pollyanna ‘I love the earth and all holidays’ attitude is for the most part a wonderful thing…

But thoughts of Christmas in October simply make me (and anyone within 50 yards of his subwoofer) suicidal.

I have to give him credit… it is an important reminder that we have to start thinking about Christmas gifts now. Since I’m broke and can’t spend 50 bucks on the last remaining blockbuster gift card in the Vons checkout on December 24th, I’ve got to make my plan of action. I’ve got to start taking left over change from payphones, digging through the neighbor’s garbage for recyclables, or compiling leftover foil for a life sized foil ball. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my 29 years on this earth, it’s the fact that everyone needs a foil ball the size of a Honda.

No?

Hmm. Well, what was the best low (or preferably) no cost gift you ever received?

Last year my siblings and I compiled letters from us to our parents telling them how much we appreciated and loved them and had them printed and bound at Shutterfly.com (Walmart.com also provides the same photo type books we used). But I’m out of ideas! Help!

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