What's New Thursday?

Hi my OFF Family:

It's after midnight, 20 to 1 actually ... checking my payroll deposit online. It's there, although after figuring out what I need to pay (insurance), what I've already written checks for (the vet clinic), I will have about $70, which isn't enough for gas, groceries, prescriptions for the week. This isn't a good week at all. Arrrgh!  It would have been fine without the vet bill, but that throw me over. I just can't stand this. Any ideas how to make any money fast? Can't have garage sales in the condo complex, it's against the condo rules. I'm already considering gathering my unwanted possessions and putting them for sale on eBay this weekend (actually, I've been considering that for awhile, but the weekends are for sitting with my legs up and not in front of the computer).

I'm really not a happy person right now after figuring out my expenses. They won't be much better next week either, or the week after. Maybe the week after that they'll be a little better because I'll have OT pay on them. I need a little more OT, I guess, but my body doesn't like it.

Ah well ... not much else going on. The World Series is over. So the baseball season is officially done. Cable company has to come over today because my DVR isn't working right ... it's not recording some shows, or recording only half the show. It's been doing this all week.

Work has been depressing too ... everyone is depressed over what might happen with cutbacks. Rumors going around everywhere. That's all right now, just rumors. But newspaper people love rumors . That's how we find out the news.

Well, I need to go back and watch some more recorded shows before they trade in my DVR for a new one. Talk nicely amongst yourselves and I'll check back later.

Dear Eileen and the OFF family,

Eileen, I am sorry you are going through so much right now. I have been there many times myself. It is such a drag to be short on money. I am on a fixed income and since the price of everything is going up---it is just plain hard. You will bee in my prayers and thoughts.

I have group today. I look forward to those two hours. Makes me feel like I am accomplishing something. I have been fighting depression all week---that snow on Sunday really got me down and I can't seem to snap out of it. Hopefully after group I'll feel better about things. One of the requirements of the group is going to counseloring three times a month for reinforcement, so Friday I will have a visit with her too.

This weekend is going to be a busy one. Getting ready for hunting season around here. I personally don't care for it but the men in my life love it. I have a lot of cooking to do. Going to have a housefull next weekend. All the wives get together and go to a movie and shop. Although shopping will be merger this year. We can still look.

My daughter had WLS in July and has lost 86 pounds already. I am so proud of her. She 's the one that gave me the courage to have this WLS myself. She is doing so good. I hope I can do just as good. She has become my role model.

I hope everybody has a great weekend.

Love, Nancy

Nancy:

The weather does get me down too ... I know when I had my knee replacement the first time, I was extremely depressed being alone and stuck inside with the snow coming down. I really just needed to get out and be with people. When I lived in South Dakota, snow really got me depressed, so I know how you feel about the snow.

The counseling will be great for you. I know it has helped me a lot, which is why I still go. I still fight my demons every day.

Good for your daughter's weight loss! You will do just as well. This surgery is a miracle. I have lost 180 pounds ... took me three years, but now I'm keeping it off, which I could never do before.

I am so sad.  It is a National Day of Mourning today.  Baseball season is over.  About 110 days until pitchers and catchers report.  158 days until my favorite National Holiday... Opening Day.

I did order my tickets for next season already.  Just have to pay for them now.

I would go crazy if my DVR did not work. And even crazier if they had to pull it and I lost all my shows on it.  I've got 20+ hours on it to watch right now.  Adding more too.  Won't get to watch much this weekend, working 16 hours of overtime.  Also have company employee appreciation dinner Saturday.  And Sunday is free meal at McCormick and Schmidt's for veterans.

Had to cancel Mary's sleep study.  They were going to charge us $720 for it.  We have not had to pay for one before. 

Hope everyone has a good day.

I know, I wait impatiently for spring training ... went one year to Sarasota when the Sox had their camp there and it was so much fun. Unfortunately, I had to go by myself because none of my friends are baseball fans. Also took a trip to ballparks by myself (well, on a group tour, but I had to room with a stranger who has since become a friend) ... but that trip was so much fun, too. Now, spring training for the Sox is in Arizona. And I have no one to visit there ... bummer! Harder to afford it. If the Sox were still training in Sarasota, I could go visit Carla!

I had season tickets for the Sox one year, the first year after I got out of college, a small package of just weekend day games. But I couldn't afford it now, and I live too far. And it's too uncomfortable for me to sit in the stands. Just that one game at the Cell that I went to, I was in pain climbing the stairs and sitting with my knees bent for so long. I had fun other than that, and I enjoyed seeing my friend Phyllis, who I used to go to games with when we were in high school. (And she bought the tickets, so I can't complain too much.)

We are very fortunate.  First, I get the tickets at the same price every year, as long as I pay early.  So, my seats cost me just $3 per game per seat.  Yes, I said $3.

Second, Mary has handicapped parking because of her Parkinson's Disease.  At the Ballpark, I park literally accross the street (6 lanes of traffic, but with a stop light for crossing).  Then, when I walk in, immediately on my left is the elevator to go up to the third deck.  I walk out the elevator straight ahead to my seat.  No turns needed.  A very short trip.  In addition, my parking is free because Mary does volunteer work for the Rangers.

Hi all...

I know about being broke.... first time in a long time, but losing 2 jobs in 3 months can sure help you find out... my wondeful in laws are helping out, or I would literally be SOL.....

I have enough resumes floating around out there to block out the sun.... hopefully someone will actually read them and decide I could do the job...

I am depressing myself, so I need to look on the bright side .... no more driving to the physical therapist!

I hope all have a great day....

Marc, I hope something works out for you job-wise. I was without a job once, and I didn't tell my mom at the time. If I didn't have my friend Roxane, with whom I was rooming at the time, I would have been in real trouble. I had just bought my first car at the time and two weeks later I got laid off. I was devastated. I got so depressed. Rox picked me up so many times, and for that I am so grateful to her. She paid our rent and bought groceries until I got another job (which actually only took a month, but at the time seemed to take forever).

Your in-laws sound wonderful ... I have my mom, but she is getting tired of me depending on her for money, and I won't ask her for anymore unless it's an emergency. She doesn't consider my pets' illnesses an emergency ... when my now deceased cat Kittle was diabetic, she told me to have him put to sleep ... that's how much she thought of him. (I told her at the time, how would you feel if you were diabetic ... would you want us to put you to sleep? Diabetes is not a death sentence, it's a chronic illness that can be treated.)

Anyway, hope something turns up soon in the job market. I'm thinking of you.

Good morning, Eileen and my other OFF family. I am up and at 'em early today.

Eileen, I am so sorry for the things that you are going through. I know just what you mean about the money problems. It always seems to me to be more week left over than money. With the raising prices everywhere you turn it is just getting harder and harder. At least gas is down for now and so that is a bit of sunlight in the cloudy day. I just fear the day that the gas prices go back up. That was murder.

My bff, Ella and I are going to spend the day together today. I have been looking forward to this for a week. We were first going to go to Michigan City and go the Big Lots there and then go to lunch but we changed our minds yesterday. We are traveling to Toto, which is little town southeast from us. It is about an hour away and it has a couple of little junk stores there. One is just absolutely huge and the other one is much smaller but still good sized. They sell stuff that is like close outs and things like that. That is why I call it junk but it really isn't junk if you know what I mean. We are going to have lunch down there, probably at Toto Cafe so that is going to be fun. Ella is off today and tomorrow because of fall break. She is manager of the Portage High School east kitchen. Our high school is in east and west. West is for the freshman and west is for the sophomores on up. Ella and I try to do something like this every once in a while since we aren't spending as much time together as we use to. We each have such different lives now so the time has to be planned. I never thought that would happen but then again that is what I get for thinking!

Tonight Bill and I are meeting his cousin and hopefully his wife for pool and karaoke at the Waterfront. That is a bar that we use to go to on Saturdays for the band and pool. I miss the time that we use to spend together there on Saturday nights. We had so much fun. We would shoot pool. Roger and Bill would play and then Dee Dee and I would play and the winners would play each other. I am not very good at pool but with all the practice I was getting better. That is probably something that has gone down the toilet too. Part of the reason it was getting better is because I could actually bend over the table and stretch since I was losing weight. Dee Dee had wls too and has lost a lot of weight. I am not sure how much but she has done well.

I am having a busy day today and naturally I couldn't sleep well last night. I got to sleep after midnight and then was up to go to the bathroom and finally just got up after 4. I just couldn't lay there anymore. I hope that insomnia isn't going to start up again. I have been going to get my c-pap out and start using it but I haven't yet. I have to do that because I think that I need it. I stopped using it and now I think I shouldn't have. I am a thinkin' that I may be sleeping but not well. I don't think I am waking up every time that I turn like I did before but I just don't think that it is good sleep. I know that my oxygen level would drop a lot during the night below 80% and I am wondering if that is why I am tired all the time and waking up with headaches. I HAVE to get the dang thing out and just do it. I hate it because I use the face mask and a small was comfortable but a bit small in spots and the medium was to big. Now with the chipmunk cheeks gone and a somewhat normal face the small may fit good. I use the face mask because my facial muscles went nuts with the chin strap. I just can't keep my mouth shut!yes! even in sleep. I know! I know! You all aren't thinking anything that my family and friends haven't already told me! I used the chin strap when I had the test and told the girl that I felt like my head was going to blow up. That is when she gave me the mask and it was so nice.

I better get going. I hope that today is good for everyone and I am sending to all my love and hugs. My prayers are going up for everyone today and special prayers are being said for all in need of them. Have a wonderful and blessed day today!

good morning! i am going to work today- will have to work over to make up for missing yesterday since my sick time is used up with michael;s appts.... i do feel somewhat better but still wonder about that truck that ran me over.....

brenda-get your cpap out and do it!!! i had to take mine off at 330 this morning--the water is so cold and it actually was hurting my nostril!! so the rest of my sleep was not so good but it does help! i wish that i could find my mask-i am using the nose pillows and i really want the mask back...and cannot afford to get a new one....poo

eileen..oh how i relate to your tale of money woes--i figure that we will be behind the 8 ball for about another 6 weeks due to chico's vet bills---when we were getting ready for  frankenmuth i actually thought it would be ok til michael had to take him...i was so cautious of my spending up there that i should have had some money to pay bills when i got ome--you know the drill! so--now i am just plugging along! i am sposed to do plasma today and am praying that my iron is up high enough....if it isn't then i won't go saturday....and if it isn't maybe i need to stop but i need the money--you know that drill! and i know that you can't do the plasma anymore...and we never did have that mtg with our super over what the future holds....

really nothing new here- just that it is so cold!!!

george- why are they charging you for the sleep study this time???? doesn't make sense!!!

our dvr got hooked up but i still haven't taken the time to learn what to do with it--our free six months will be up before then i am sure!!!

spent a few hours last nite doing some more job applications online but it's not the same as going out to the places...i truly wish that the gal had hired me instead of who she did--i am still holding hope that she will call ...if the other gal doesn't work out....but meantime i have to be realistic and find something...i know that so many of us are in the same boat and we don;t have enough paddles!!!!

well- time to get gorgeous....

hugs and prayers.........