Tuesday Mix-up

 Two For The Price of One

Its Tuesday, another beautiful sunny day here in Tennessee. I’ve managed to find a way to mix exercise and blogging for the last week, and quite frankly I’m gonna miss it. I’ve been walking to the local library (don’t get excited, its only about a mile round trip) to do my online work. I’ve found it good to get out and enjoy these sunny, fresh air days.

What’s Mine is Mine and What’s Yours is Mine Too

Last week,  engineer hubby and I had a bit of a tiff over money. Who hasn’t you say? Well, it all boiled down to my frugal nature and my absolute need to have a cushion in the bank. Admitedly my pay these days is significantly less than his, but it goes straight into the bank into our checking account to cover what ever bills it will. His pay has been going into the account and surprisingly being drawn back out, rather rapidly I might add. So I made a point of asking exactly what was going on there. (read: stupid questions get stupid answers) He insists that its his money, he works for it, he can spend it. Well ok, basically, I don’t have a problem with the premise, but there are bills to pay (at home and on the road) and my paltry pay at this point just won’t get it. So, he’s gotta contribute some of that pay. (Am I wrong here?) Now, mind you, I haven’t always been the one with the small check (before we left the Redneck Riviera, my owner client base had grown significantly and I was bringing in a rather nice chunk on a monthly basis). But being able to work on my writing was worth giving up some of the benefits of a two income household. Anyway, I digress.  Of course, I brought this up in the heated discussion and the response I got was, What’s mine is mine and What’s yours is mine too! Ok…guess I missed that phrasing in the vows somewhere.

Great Places To Find Free Wi-Fi

Traveling around, I’ve had to be somewhat of a detective somedays, looking for a wi-fi signal. There are however, a few places common to most towns and citys where you can find a good signal at no cost.

1. The local library. Some have a time limit for usage, but all are free. And library’s are great places to soak up a little local color as well. The one I’ve been visiting here even has an area with a coffee pot and comfy chairs for persons using their Wi-Fi.
2. Fast food restaurants. Many Mickey D’s and What-a-Burger restaurants now offer free Wi-Fi. Also, some Subway and Burger King’s.
3. Local coffee shops. The little guys have decided not to charge for Wi-Fi like their more noted counterparts. I asked one of the proprietors about not charging, she explained it was just plain good for business.

One word of caution, if you use or plan to use a “free” Wi-Fi connection. At  least have the courtesy of supporting the vendor who provides the service. Sitting in your car using their free Wi-Fi connection is not only rude, but can land you in jail.

Update on Tricia, Nate and Gwyneth Rose

The ABC affiliate in Raleigh Durham did a special piece on them last night, and the local NewsPaper did a FRONT PAGE SPREAD on the family! Tricia is at the top of the transplant list at Duke. Spreading the about the disease is what the local news is trying to do, its a beautiful thing to see, so many folks following this story. Catch up for yourself, here.

Well folks, that’s about it for today. Remember to vote in the poll over on my sidebar. Have a great and wonderful Day!

High Cotton

Spring Cleaning. Its either a YIPPEE or UGGG thing for most people. For me, its mostly YIPPEE. I get to open the house up, let the breeze off the water blow through the house, hang the bed linens on the line outside to dry, and basically feel spring throughout the house. Being closed up inside all winter, I get cabin fever. So, the first inkling of spring, brings me back to my childhood; where on Saturday morning, before we sat down for breakfast, all the beds were stripped, windows were opened and a cool southern breeze wafted through the whole house. Saturdays were work days back then. There were floors to be stripped and re-waxed, windows to be washed, grass to be cut and a thousand other chores (or it seemed like it) to be done. Being the "girl", I had the joy of dusting and ironing. I’d try to trade those jobs, but more often than not, there was not a taker. The smell of furniture polish, floor wax or starch can take me back 40 years in just a sniff. That was Saturday, all day, for as long as I can remember. Of course, we had some fun at it. (kids always find a way) Waxing floors in sock feet, sliding up and down the hall (until we got caught), pillow fights as we stripped the bed linens (until a feather pillow popped, picking up thousands of down feathers by hand just isn’t fun). But, we worked. By sundown, Daddy would fire up the huge barbeque pit he’d built in the back, and we’d feast on burgers or hot dogs. We were kings and queens. We hadn’t a clue that our parents scrimped and saved and how frugally we lived, in those days.Friday fish sticks and french fries were a treat we looked forward to all week (eaten a fish stick lately?)They did without a lot for themselves, so that we could have a good education and nice clothes on our backs. (Put kids through Catholic school for 12 years today. You need a second mortgage) Though, hand me downs were worn, there was never a piece of clothing with a hole in it. Everything was carefully checked in the laundry process. If it needed mending, it got mended then. If it was worn out (after several hand me downs), it was turned into a cleaning cloth or strips to tie beans and tomatoes with. There was a use for everything. And sometimes, 4 or 5 uses. That was the way it was in our house. We thought that everybody lived that way. We were in "high" cotton. That is what frugal living is. Its not living poor. Its not wearing clothes with holes, or onion sandwiches for supper. But rather its a mindset. Setting financial goals and a means to an end. There are a bazillion frugal living sites out on the web today, and about half of them will tell you that you need to set your mind to living without. I disagree. To live frugally, you have to set your sites on a goal, set a budget and live by it. You can have a "high cotton" mindset and a frugal purse. However, it takes some practice, some discipline and some time. Commit yourself to your goal and there is nothing that’s impossible.

Dancing Backwards In High Heels

Personal Thoughts On Life

Five years ago, on February 14, my Daddy (its a southern thing) died. It took me two weeks to shed a tear. I’ve thought of those days preceding his death and immediately following his death often over the past years, wondering what if. You see, for the 8 years prior to his death, we had not spoken. (his choice) The argument was over something that was serious to me then, but seems so silly now. But more importantly, I never knew that he really loved me as a person. For those almost 50 years of my life that he’d been my Daddy, I can count on one finger how many times he ever said he loved me. And that was the day that I visited him, on his request, prior to his death. Now, in terms of providing for his family, yes he did well. We didn’t want for much. We had a house and food, we went to church and to school. I received an undergraduate degree from a State College, kind of a normal household. But all through those years, I never felt that I had made him proud. I excelled in school, sports, church related activities, married well and produced a grand child. There weren’t hugs, kisses, laudatory statements or pats on the back. “Do Better” was the chant around the house. Now, I’m not saying that’s all bad. And I’m not asking for sympathy here. I had a pretty “normal” childhood, for a product of the 50’s. But what I am getting to here, is I’m a driven person. I’ve always been motivated to do more, do better, be the best. I’m grateful for the drive that Daddy instilled in me, though somedays, I feel like I’m dancing backwards in high heels. And I long to hear those words from him, I love you. As I built the 1 Million Memories site, I think I heard him say, job well done. I hope that each of you who are touched by the site will comment and tell others about it. There’s a memory book where you can add your own special memory of your parents or anyone else. Please join our cause. Parents love your children. Tell them every day. Let them know that they’re special in your eyes and your heart, no matter their abilities and weaknesses. Don’t wait, do it now. Life is short and our children are our greatest assets.

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