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Home > Archive: January, 2007

Archive for January, 2007

Books on TV

January 30th, 2007 at 04:35 am

walked with mom at WalMart for 35 min.

Someone is rummaging through my library for books to put on TV. Yesterday, I watched the Dresden Files a new Sci Fi show. It features stories by Jim Butcher one of my favorite authors and one who's books are on my shelves. It was pretty good.

Today I watched Nora Roberts book Angel's Fall on Lifetime. And see that they are making 3 more movies from her books for the next 3 Monday nights.

And I saw an advertisement for Blood Ties by Tanya Huff another favorite Sci Fi writer. It's going to be a series on Lifetime. This is pretty cool. Of course the books are much better, but the TV of the books is better than most of the other stuff on TV. The only problem is that now I'll end up watching more TV Smile

Finished reading the library book Shadow Dance by Julie Garwood. Romance/Mystery. Very Good

Dr and hair cut

January 26th, 2007 at 04:55 am

went to the Dr office. My cholesterol is now considered low at 128 and my LDL is also low at 71. My triglicyerides are still a little high at 157, but only by 20 points, but the Dr wants me to remain on that medicine. I'll do it for a couple more months, but if the levels are low/normal I want off.

She did increase the diabetes meds and I have to go back in a couple months to see if it's working.

Got my hair cut at Great Clips after the Dr appt. They had a coupon for a haircut for $5.99 in the mail this week. Half-price.

This has been a really nice week as far as work goes. 8 hour days and much less hectic. Found out today we have a 3 month gap before the next release starts. Time to really catch up and get things in good shape.

Worked with new team lead to make assignments for next release and based on my input on how long each item should take, we tried to give everyone on the team approx 6 weeks of work. This worked for most of the people, with a few at 4 weeks. At least that's much fairer than giving me 10 weeks of work to do in 6 weeks and giving someone else 1 week of work. I stil do more work in the 6 weeks than 3 other people, but as long as I feel they have to work to their max during those 6 weeks and aren't just slacking off, I'm ok with that.

Finished reading the library book Stalemate by Iris Johansen. Mystery/Romance. Very good.

slowing down

January 25th, 2007 at 05:28 am

mom and I have been walking at WalMart for about 35 min every day. We got another 8 inches of snow on Sunday.

I got groceries on Sunday and saved 48%. Got two boxes of Electrosol dishwasher tabs for free.

Work is getting slightly less hectic since I met my deadline last Friday. I worked two 14 hour days and 2 12 hour days last week.

I got blood work for my diabetes checkup and it's way out of whack. I don't really know why, but have an appointment tomorrow with Dr. Expect she will put me on more meds. I think the biggest issue is not stopping to eat regular meals and not eating well-thought out meals, instead just grabbing things because it's 3 in the afternoon and I've been on calls for 5 hours.

Finished reading the library book Plum Loving by Janet Evanovich. Mystery/Romance. Very cute and good.

some good deals

January 11th, 2007 at 05:59 am

walked with mom at WalMart for 40 min. Got a pair of slippers for $2.50 that were on clearance. They cover my ankles and have hard soles which I like.

Yesterday went in town and went to KMart. Got a 3-pack of Planter's peanuts for $2.99 they were 75% off. Also got two bottles of Nature Made vitamins. 300 Ct Calcium, Magnesium and Zinc BOGO. I had a $2 coupon and a $5.00 rebate. So only paid $1 for the 2 bottles.

It's my bday today. Thanks for all the best wishes. I really like the scissors my mom got me that hang on the fridge. I've used them several times and they are very convenient.

Finished reading the library book Grave Sights by Charlaine Harris. Supernatural. Good.

pre-birthday celebration

January 8th, 2007 at 05:50 am

parents took me to Outback for lunch for my b-day. It's not till Wednesday but this was the day everyone could get together.

Got a Back Massager, Sissors that hang on the refrigerator in a magnetic hanger, a hardback book, a mini frying pan, a subscription to Smart Shopping magazine, a universal remote, an electric candle warmer, a liner for the bottom of the oven, a $25 gift card to Outback and $30 in cash. I like everything.

Mom and I walked for 40 min in the mall after lunch. There's no where to walk outside. We got 62 inches of snow in December and by Jan 1 we had 102 inches accumulation. We got another 12 inches since Jan 1 so lots and lots of snow.

Went to Walgreens and got a 24 ct bottle of Excedrin for $3.00 with a $3.00 rebate, plus I had a $1.00 off coupon so made money on that, got Stayfree, buy $10 get $10 so free. And started on the Kimberly Clark rebate. Buy $20 get $10. I got 2 boxes of Kleenex for 1.40

Got two free samples from WalMart this week too. Dove and Sunsilk shampoo.

Finished reading the library book An Unexpected Song by Iris Johansen. Romance. OK

more snow

January 6th, 2007 at 06:06 am

We got another 10 inches of snow today. Maybe we won't have water restrictions this summer because we will have enough water accumulated for a change. It's a sure thing that most of this stuff will still be here in April. We have piles and piles of it.

401K questions. You are allowed to put $15,500 in your 401K this year. If you are over 50 you can put another $5,000 in your 401K. Your company decides what percentage of your salary you are allowed to contribute. It's different at different companies. Your company can decide to match some of all of your contributions based on their policy. My companies policy is to match dollar for dollar up to 6% of your salary. However, you can contribute up to 25% of your salary until you meet the contributions limits. If we have a good year the company may boost their matching contribution by another 3% or 9% total. I haven't heard if they are going to give us that this year or not.

Finished reading Greywalker by Kat Richardson. Supernatural. Good

january finances

January 5th, 2007 at 03:33 am

went into work today. Lot's of pressure right now in the middle of a release. Went to lunch at Black Eyed Pea with friend. Spent $8

Finally was able to get to 401K website and increase my contribution limits to 20%. Also funded my Roth IRA for 2007.

I got several rebates in the mail yesterday, plus my $250 in gift cards for my award. If I was a dishonest person I could probably get $250 more. I was supposed to have to sign for them to get them, but the mail man left them under the mat in front of the door. Frown

I really hate stupid women books and I seem to be getting a run of them. I put the last two down before finishing them. Stupid women are women who react emotionally and do stupid things, like run out into traffic causing accidents because they are upset, or something along those lines. Drives me nuts and I can't read the rest of the book.

Finished listening to the library book on tape Dark Guardian by Christine Feehan. Supernatural. Very good.

2007 goals

January 2nd, 2007 at 02:25 am

I have a very strong belief in using written goals to make progress towards whatever it is you want to achieve. I have been writting goals for myself since I was 15.

I also believe in writing goals that are slightly beyond what I think I can reach. This pushes me to accomplish more. I may not make the goal, but I get a lot farther ahead by trying to reach a goal slightly out of reach, than making a goal that requires very little effort.

I mis-stated one of my goals from 2006. My goal was to have the stock portion of my networth increase by $60,000. My total networth went up by $75,000

Goals for 2007

Fully fund 401K - $15,500 - the company got so many complaints about not being able to fully fund the accounts last year that they changed the rules so we can do it again this year.

Save $5000 for the 2008 Roth IRA

Pay down my mortgage by $20,000 to $100,000

Add $3000 to my savings funds.

Increase stock networth by $70,000 - this is mostly dependant on the stock market and my asset allocation plan.

The total is about $3600 more than I can easily do. It's partly dependant on the company coming through with the bonuses they promised.