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| I did the taxes today and (yeah!) we are getting a refund from both the state and fed. I'm pretty happy. We had to buy that new furnace just before Thanksgiving which we really weren't expecting to do. Luckily we got to claim it on our taxes this year since it is one of those new high-efficiency ones. And we are getting back enough to pay it all off, which is what I had anticipated doing when we bought it. Gonna pay off that Visa again since Em needed more books for school and it has a balance. I want to NOT use it except for Netflix once a month. It is very freeing paying off my balances and it gets me one step closer to that Passat! | | |
| Erin and I went out to Applebees today for lunch after she took her last final at school. It was a very long week so it was nice. But - Applebees now has installed TV's all over the place. And - they also pipe in very loud music. So, what is the point of going out to dinner there? It is quieter at home. I always enjoyed going out to get away from TV's. And the loud music makes it pretty hard to even carry on a conversation. What gives at Applebees? | | |
| Today is the 12th day of the new year and I have finally started working on my resolutions. Yes, after purchasing that Gazelle off of Craigslist during christmas break I finally got on it and worked out. Whew! I set the timer for 30 minutes but was only able to complete 25 since my feet were really starting to hurt. Tomorrow I promise to wear shoes (not slippers). I think that is key to working out longer. It is pretty fun though since I took my ipod speaker downstairs to listen to while I was doing it. I'm listening to the second book in the Cookie Jar series by Joanna Fluke. I really like this series so I'm glad I had the foresight to load all 12 books before starting them. Maybe I should only listen to the books while I'm exercising? That would definately be incentive to keep moving! | | |
| My extended family will be gathering here Friday at noon. I am torn now considering the rubbish that will be generated. Originally I planned on using my huge stash of party supplies that I uncovered in the basement when I cleaned out the cupboards. But my environmental side says "no way" since that will put us over our limit for trash. So instead I am willing to use my ample pile of pyrex plates but probably plastic forks & spoons. I still have to come up with my donation to the potluck. Squash soup, of course, since it will be Jan 1 and I am on a mission to eat more veggies. I also made a smallish broccoli casserole this morning that I will be putting in the frig. I can reheat it just before anyone arrives so it should be fine. Should I buy pop? | | |
| "to give no gifts, or to give experiences instead of crap that will clutter people’s lives"
Normally I would totally agree with the above. But this year, the company that my husband works for has taken it to heart and "given experiences" instead of their usual Target gift card. Except the experiences that they have given is a metro park pass. A park pass to parks in and around Detroit. Detroit MI. And we don't live anywhere near Detroit. Nor do I want to go there to enjoy a park. I want the Target gift card. I used it each year to buy a ig jug of laundry detergent that would last almost the entire year. That was a very useful gift. That park pass probably costs the same as the little gift card but the money has been wasted on something will be unused. And I can't even return it. What a waste! | | |
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