Tag: bills

Non-Birthday Day Off

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life

I’ve got three days off work before my day job goes crazy with advising.  It’s my non birthday year, today is my “birthday”.  At least somewhere between today and tomorrow my birthday lands.  My to do list is enough to keep me busy for a month (or longer).  But I’m tackling things one at a time.

This morning I slept later than normal – that was on my to do list.  I’m going to attempt to do the same tomorrow.  I got dressed – very reluctantly.  I’m going out later, so I guess clothes are necessary.  I finished two crochet projects.  Now all I need is some pictures and I can publish the patterns.  I worked on budget and bills.  I paid most of them but my check isn’t in my account until tomorrow – so I’ll pay the rest tomorrow.  I brought current my reports for my writing – sales, commission to TJ, adding in the new crochet pattern, and other things.

My goal was to be back in the recliner by 12:00 – it is now past that time.  However, I did play backgammon and some card games on my computer.  Maybe that gives me a little leeway.  I was supposed to get the two areas cleared that are still cluttered in my office.  As of right now, all I’ve managed to do is get the filing done.  I hate filing.  However the folders are made, the files are cleaned out.  I had two years of taxes which needed to come out – not sure how that happened I’m usually really diligent about taking the old out when I put the new in but it did happen.  I had all seven years in one file and separated them into individual files.

Ava – my middle daughter’s youngest cat – lay on the stand for most of the morning.  She liked me – or at least that is the interpretation I’m putting on it.  Really I was in her sun room and annoying her with my work.  I’m waffling between hitting the recliner and doing crocheting or moving forward with the office.  My legs will be the determining factor.  My fear is I’ll end up moving from one pile to the next and that is simply not acceptable.

I have my birthday journal entry to write.  It is my birthday and it is right here and it would be good to write it now and not put it off for three months (or when I get to it.  I started this in 2007 and wrote it in every year since (except I missed it in 2013 & 2015).  Last year my entry was short and crabby.  Maybe this year can be better.  My goal with this is to summarize how I feel about the previous year.

At the very least I’ve gotten some thing accomplished today.  I’ve got two more days off and then the weekend so hopefully I’ll mark off a lot on my to do list.

Plan Shot To Hell

by eileentroemel, posted in Life

If you’ve read anything in my blog, you know I’m a list maker.  I make to do lists all the time and work off them to keep myself on track.  All week I’ve had a list I’m working off.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not one who schedules every second.  But I wrote up a general list of things I wanted to get done while I was on vacation.

Today is payday so I had a plan for my day.  Yes an actual plan starting with getting up early and getting things done.  That didn’t happen.  It actually got off track yesterday when I got a migraine.  I couldn’t sleep because of the migraine, so I ended up being up till 2 am.  Not a problem – I’m on vacation.

This morning, I talked to one of my daughters early (6:30 – 7:00 ish).  While I was talking to her I could feel the migraine coming back.  I did what any reasonable person would do, I went back to sleep.  However, this blew my timeframe out of the water.  I wanted bills done early so I could work on publishing.

Here I am at noon and I’ve still not showered (good thing no one is here) or done any of my other morning routines.  I do have bills paid, have dealt with all my personal emails, and have handled a call for assistance from my mom.

While my plan for the day is shot to hell, I’m still going to get stuff done.  Showering is high on my priority, then I’ll see what other mischief I get up to.  I have lots of publishing stuff to do but I may try to tackle it tomorrow.  I’ll see how my mood goes once I’ve showered.  I’ve got other things on my to do list to tackle like couponing, sorting through some clothes, and organizing some stuff.

Weekend Tasks

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life, Writing

Last weekend was insanely busy in the best of ways.  This weekend is just around the corner and I’m hoping to catch up on a few tasks. 

I still need to pay bills and do some of the book work for my writing.  In addition to that, I’d like to publish some more crochet patterns.  I have a few which are ready to go.  Plus I want to look to see how close I am with a couple of other ones. 

Last night it was 80 in my house.  Now my husband doesn’t like to turn on the air conditioning.  He thinks it is comfortable at 80.  I hate it.  I sweat, get a headache and generally my grumpy level elevates.  On top of which I can’t do anything.  It bugged me to just sit and read.  I gave in and turned the a/c on about 10:30 last night and the inside temp was still at 79. 

I have an afghan to work on.  The a/c needs to be on for that reason alone.  I do better at a constant temperature.  I have fewer health issues if the temp is a steady 73.  I know it is probably not as energy efficient as say 68 but it is the temp where I’m not uncomfortable or sore all the time.

We go visit the girls in Atlanta at the end of the month.  I need to finish Virginia’s afghan so I can take it to her at that time.  I don’t want to ship it to her as I don’t trust the post office or UPS.  This means I’ll be working on it this weekend. 

I’ve also fit in an hour or so of writing here and there.  I’ve got a story that is tugging at me that I want to work on.  I’m battling with time management.  I want to read, crochet, and write.  I can read and crochet at the same time but I can’t write with the other two.  It is definitely a challenge for me.

I don’t know what the weather is supposed to be like but I’m also hoping for a little deck time.  It would be good to sit on the deck and write in my journal or have a meal out there.  It just depends on the weather. 

The weekend is coming and hopefully it will be calmer, quieter, and less eventful – though I’m sure this will me less fun without my girls around. 

Progress

by eileentroemel, posted in Life, Writing
Yesterday was exceedingly productive.  Secret Past is now available in e-book, large print paperback, and paperback.  I’m very proud of it and am thrilled that I’ve sold to people other than my family. 
In addition to getting the final version of Secret Past out into the world yesterday, I worked on budget and paid bills, clipped coupons, crocheted on a graduation gift, and read another fun book.  It was a full and busy day.  I got home from work early and was able to organize a bunch of stuff.  I do have a sloppy pile of paperwork that needs to be filed.  I hate filing but I will try to get that done today. 
Today I’ll be working on a grocery list and putting coupons together.  Ken is going to do the shopping this week.  I will be working on production of my next book.  This one is more complicated because it has amazing drawings to be included by TJ Jahns.  The drawings are simple but beautiful, reminiscent of Shel Silverstein. 
Unfortunately I woke up aching so I’m probably not going to be able to sit on the computer for long today.  I’ll be making the most of my time here.  Then it will be back to crocheting.  Last night while I crocheted, I watched Mansfield Park and Elementary.  Both were good and different.  I’ll probably do something like that today. 
One of the things I did yesterday was to put all my guides for self-publishing into a binder so today while I work I’ll be able to easily pull out the binder and follow each step.  It’s nice to have a handy reference right there.  I know what needs to be done for most of it but I can do a quick read just to make sure.  I’ve also got my project spreadsheet which helps me keep track of where I’m at with each project. 
It is the weekend and I’m supposed to be relaxing. In a lot of ways this is me relaxing.  Those who know me can stop laughing, I like to be busy and I like to make progress.  I don’t have to have a perfect house or fancy clothes or stuff like that.  I do have to write and crochet.  It seems along with the writing I also have to keep moving forward with projects which means production of books.  I think I’d lose my mind if I didn’t have these two things.  Crocheting keeps my hands busy and writing keeps my mind busy – or maybe it focuses my busy mind.  Either way, I’m a better person – happier, more content, and easier to live with – if I’m busy with these projects.
Secret Past Available in e-book and paperback:

Budget Beating

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized

Tonight I worked for an hour and half trying to figure out our new budget because I got tentative notification of the date that our checks will be lower.  Our household isn’t going to be doing anything.  All I can afford from this point forward is to just pay the bills. 

A HUGE concern for me is the cost of gas.  If that continues to go up we could be having further issues because it will affect my expenses which are already too tight.  We already buy a minimum for groceries every week so I can’t cut anything there.

Many things are rumbling through my head tonight.  I’m worried for my mom because the new budget which is being projected will raise her premium for her prescriptions coverage.  This will mean she is either spending more on the premium or paying for scripts outright.  I’ll have to figure out which is most cost effective for her.

What happens if the cost of food goes up?  It’s an area I’m already scrimping on.  What happens if the cost of heating / cooling goes up?  Tonight my house is set at 68 and I HURT.  In the heat of summer, I can’t handle the heat and my daughter gets sick from it.  A/C is a necessity for us.  What if we can’t afford to run the a/c though?

I can see a second job in my future but I’m worried there won’t be any available.  With so many people having to scrimp and save it is possible all the part time positions will get snapped up.  Plus I have limitations on what I’m able to do. 

There is definitely a lot to think about right now.  I know I’m not the worst off and I know I’m not the only one.  Still it doesn’t help when I spend my evening trying to figure out where the money is going to come from.