I'm getting a hair cut

I can't stand it anymore. Too much hair...too much effort...ugg.

I'm also trying to see how many posts I can fit on one page if I never write anything longer than five sentences. We shall see.

$200/year

So, I just saved myself $200/year by combining my renters and auto insurance through a different company. Not too shabby...

I'm looking at some red leather pumps and a large, greasy pizza...

Overheard @ W. Junior High

"Hey! How was your in school suspension?!"

Yep, we felt it...sort of....

If you've been watching the news, you may have noticed info on a 5.4 level earthquake that hit central Illinois this morning. That's right folks...an earthquake.

It hit at around 5:30 am. I was in the hospital with Matt, he in his bed, me on the couch. The shock waves were felt as far as 300 miles away, right to Indianapolis. Matt happened to wake up a little after 5:00 am and sat awake for a while. He felt the bed vibrate and heard his flower vase and lamps shaking. His thought? "That train is REALLY close." I was asleep on the couch. My thought? Nothin'...I slept through it.

We turned on the news here a little after 7am and got the official news...earthquake. Weird! So I slept through my first tremor...Matt knew something was going on.

What an exciting adventure we've been on!

My easy method to coupon-shopping

1) make a spread sheet of all of your coupons: include name of product, exp. date, minimum purchase required, amount saved and, possibly, the number of coupons you have
2) get your weekly ads
3) print out your spread sheet and put everything on the floor
4) circle everything that's on sale for which you have a coupon
5) compare sale prices with each other
6) find the most appropriate coupon for your purchase
7) plot a route for all of the stores you need to visit
8) go shopping
9) use a U-Scan lane...there's no coupon Nazi to get in the way


See...a simple nine step process!! Of course, you do need to update your spread sheet weekly. And buy the paper weekly. And get some Sharpies (they work best). And drive around town (get a rice-burner).

Okay, fine. My process works for the anal/compulsive. But the bottom line is the same...buy things that are on sale AND have a coupon. It's great.

A crowded, sugary mess

For those of you who don't know, my husband had his final cancer-related surgery on Tuesday. We're out of town (10 hours away) and he's been admitted to the hospital to recover. To give you an idea: he has an 6-8" abdominal incision which needs to heal before we can leave. Really, he only needs to fart and poop on his own, which really shouldn't be a problem for Matt. However, in the meantime, we get to crash at the hospital. I have a couple of concerns.

First, Matt had a roommate, Mr. D. Mr. D had surgery, then complications. Instead of regular observation, Mr. D had doctors and nurses visiting him about every 45 minutes. Then Mr. D's wife and sister stuck around for support. Mrs. D was very considerate of Matt. Sister D was very considerate on just about nothing. She talked SO loudly, never looking to see if Matt might be asleep. Then Mr. D had coughing fits. After the talking and the coughing, Matt would settle in for a nap...until his IV drip started beeping and his nurse came to see him. And then Mr. D's stuff would beep. And then Matt's doctor came in, followed by Mr. D's nurse, then my friend, then the chaplain, then the nursing students, a respiratory specialist, another coughing fit, a phone rings, the head nurse, proctologist and some strolling minstrels. SERIOUSLY!! Grand Central Station...and they tell Matt to rest and heal?!?! Yeah, sure. It's amazing the kind of privacy you can get with a couple of questions and $50/night.

Another beef I have is with the food. Matt last ate at 11:30 pm, Monday night. Wednesday morning they put him on a clear liquid diet. He orders some juice. Here's a man who hasn't had any nutrition in two days and he gets lemonade with 15% fruit juice. It's the last ingredient on the label, the first two being filtered water and high fructose corn syrup. Mmmm...healthy. And the chicken broth? Yeah...when it cooled there was clear liquid on top and a settled "chicken" powder on the bottom. What?!?! Thanks to the kind generosity of my friend Beth, Matt has been able to enjoy the 100% of Juicy Juice, as well as some organic fruit leather, which I'm sure will better aid his body's healing process then the three varieties of jell-o. Oy.

Now, please don't misunderstand me. I'm not complaining about this hospital. The facility is excellent and the staff is wonderful. I'm just noticing how patients are treated. Matt was actually pretty spoiled during his chemo...he had a full menu from which to choose, plus I could bring in ANY food for him to eat, and he always had a private room. We never realized how important that was until trying to squeeze two patients, four family members and 56 medical staff into a 200 sq. ft. room. Sheer craziness.

Should a hospital stay ever be needed for you, I hope you will remember this two important points. If you should forget, however, I wouldn't worry too much. After two nights of continuously interrupted sleep and a massive sugar buzz, it'll all come back to you.

Hi

It's been a rough couple of days. When I'm less tired and emotional, I'll publish something witty and entertaining. Unfortunately today it would be glum. But I'm here. You can check on Matt here.

The challenge continues...

As the younger sister of CG, I continue on my life long quest to out-do her. When I was in the 6th grade, I grew taller than her. In high school, I participated in more activities. And now? I try to save more money when I grocery shop. Yep. We're odd.

So here's my run down:
3 4-packs of 9Lives cat food
2 Russel Stover International Chocolates
3 SoyJoy bars

Total value of purchase: $17.92
Total amount paid: $6.98
Total saved: $10.94

2 bags of Chex Mix
4 loaves of bread
6 packages of bagels
1 bag of cat treats
1 golden delicious apple

Total value of purchase: $28.15
Total amount paid: $8.50
Total saved: $19.65

So, on Saturday, April 12, 2007, I saved 66% on my total grocery shopping. Not bad!! And now I stick my tongue out at my sister :P

I feel like I should post something...

It's 68 degrees today. I slept with the window open last night. My heat has been off for TWO days! And I'm inside at the computer, writing...wait...what the heck am I doing at the computer!!!