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Archive for November, 2006

good networth month

December 1st, 2006 at 04:34 am

no walking yesterday or today, just enough snow to make it treacherous to walk. Plus very cold under 25 degrees.

I sent out my Longs and Walgreens rebates. $10 each.

Figured out my networth for the month. Went up 2.61% I'm only $1015 away from my goal for the year. Piece of cake unless the stock market dives next month. Next month is a 3 paycheck month.

Finished listening to the library book on tape Hidden Prey by John Sandford. Excellent.

Finished reading my book She's No Faierie Princess by Christine Warren. Supernatural. Very good.

Finished reading the library book First Impressions by Nora Roberts. Romance. Ok, one of her earlier books that was reprinted.

more xmas shopping

November 29th, 2006 at 04:29 am

walked with mom 35 min yesterday.

Took today off and went to Denver with mom and dad for shopping.

We went to the following stores

Container Store - I got nothing
Nordstrom Rack - nothing
Linen's and Things - nothing
Borders - I got a beautiful fairy tale book for a friends 5 year old for $7 and 2 paperbacks for me. Had a coupon for 30% off one item. Spent $18.87
World Market - 1 1b of smoked salmon for my brother for $16. They had a 40% off coupon so it was only $9. Went back and got another one for my dad for xmas. Spent $18. This was a heck of a deal. I recently saw 6oz in the grocery store for $11.
Michaels - nothing
Claim Jumpers - $8
Hobby Lobby - nothing
Stein Mart - nothing
Rumours - nothing
Harry and Davids - set of candy cane salt and pepper shakers for mom. $10 with 20% off coupon so my cost was $8.50
Borders outlet - nothing.

So even though we didn't walk today, we did a lot of walking thru stores.

It started snowing on the way home. Expect to get 4 to 6 inches by tomorrow.

Yesterday read the library book Wolf at the Door by Christine Warren. Supernatural. New author. Very good.

Today read my book Drop Dead Gorgeous by Linda Howard. Romance. Excellent, excellent, excellent. This is a sequel to her book To Die For. Very funny and smart. Mr Perfect is another one of her books that is superb.

back on track

November 27th, 2006 at 04:44 am

walked with mom 50 min yesterday and today.

Today I chopped up my veggies for the week and made my oatmeal for breakfast. I got out of the habit of doing this regularly the last couple of months because of being so busy and not thinking far enough ahead. I always eat much better when I think ahead and pre-prepare.

Got groceries this morning. Spent $42.41

My friend came over today and we went to a Mexican restaurant for lunch. I brought half home. Spent $9.65

We rented Alien Vs Predator from Blockbuster. Spent $3.59

I enjoyed the afternoon quite a bit. I don't get to see her as much as I used to, since she married and has kids. So i enjoy it when we can get together. The only thing that marred the time was a sinus headace that's been dogging me all day.

Finished reading my book The Rivan Codex by David and Leigh Eddings. Very Good. Made me want to re-read the Belgariad and Mallorean series again. Fortunately I own those and can do that Smile

2 days to be thankful for

November 25th, 2006 at 05:11 am

both yesterday and today were very restful for me. I mostly read both days. The perfect way to spend time and time I am thankful for.

Finished reading the library book A Meeting at Corvallis by S.M. Stirling. Sci/Fi Excellent

Wednesday

November 23rd, 2006 at 04:38 am

walked with mom for 50 min today. Walked 35 min on Monday.

Yesterday mom had nieces over so invited me for steak dinner. So good.

Got the $10 Del Monte rebate already. Also got a $28 credit card rebate.

Boss is doing end of year performance evaluations and asked us for 2 strengths, 2 weaknesses and a list of our accomplishments for the year. I sent her the email, but it kind of bugs me that every year the bosses ask you what your accomplishments are for the year. Shouldn't they know?

Finished reading my book The Remarkable Miss Frankenstein by Minda Webber. Supernatural. Cute

more xmas shopping

November 20th, 2006 at 04:39 am

walked with mom 50 min yesterday

Mom fixed Thanksgiving dinner for family yesterday. Was very good. Sister was a bitch and made the whole experience uncomfortable for everyone else.

Took oldest niece shopping for xmas today and ran some of my errands.

1st stop Longs. Got a new knit cap to wear while walking. Lost mine. Also got 3 packages feminine products which were $10 and will be free after rebate. Spent $15.26

Went to Bed, Bath and Beyond and got mom another oven mat for $17.17 after 20% off coupons

Next stop Walgreens were got two more packages feminine products which will be FAR. Spent $9.52

Got my niece then and we went to Barnes and Noble. She picked out two books for xmas and I got Trixie Beldon books for the other niece. Spent $41.81 Kids books cost ridiculous amounts of money.

Went to Best Buy to purchase ink for my dad for xmas. Had $9 in best buy bucks from McDonalds monopoloy game and a 10% off coupons. Spent $37.35 for a black and a color cartridge.

Met my parents at Red Lobster for lunch. Niece and I both indulged in the popcorn shrimp. Spent $15,65

Went to Ross's where she picked out 3 shirts and I found a 20 piece set of silverware for $8.99. They have green handles. The ones I have now have black handles and I keep sending thru the garbage disposal because I don't see them. Spent $38.47

Went to Marshalls where she found 3 more shirts. Spent $35.48

Last stop was WalMart. $84.05 for groceries and xmas for youngest niece. Got 2 Polly sets, a long sleeve t-shirt, a portable CD player with radio and the Princess Bride DVD for gifts. Total on gifts = $64.13

My feet are killing me. But was worth it, got a lot done.

Finished reading library book The Kitchen Witch by Annette Blair. Romance. Cute.

favorite authors

November 18th, 2006 at 05:59 am

I have 2 more list items

51. At 35 I had radial kerotonomy done on my eyes and feel it was the best purchase I ever made.

52. Like stressless I was a 10 month old baby and was born with a 3 inch ponytail.

Lots of people ask about my favorite authors, I have a lot of them, so here's the top 10 in each category

Mystery

1. Lee Child
2. John Sandford
3. John D. Macdonald
4. Patricia Cornwell
5. Carol O'Connell
6. James Patterson
7. Robert Parker
8. Stephan White
9. Sue Grafton
10. Marcia Muller

Romance/Mystery

1. J.D. Robb
2. Linda Howard
3. Elizabeth Lowell
4. Iris Johansen
5. Catherine Coulter
6. Janet Evanovich
7. Kay Hooper
8. Tara Janzen
9. Suzanne Brockmann
10. Tami Hoag

Sci/Fi - hard

1. David Weber
2. Lois McMaster Bujold
3. Elizabeth Moon
4. S. M. Stirling
5. Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
6. Orson Scott Card
7. Elizabeth Haydon
8. Robert Heinlein
9. Spider Robinson
10. Larry Niven

Sci/Fi - fantasy

1. J.K. Rowlings
2. David Eddings
3. Anne McCaffrey
4. Anne Bishop
5. Mercedes Lackey
6. Dennis McKeirnan
7. Sharon Green
8. L. E. Modesitt
9. David Farland
10. Steven Brust

Supernatural - Vampires, werewolves, witches etc

1. Laurell K. Hamilton
2. Charlaine Harris
3. Catherine Feehan
4. Jim Butcher
5. Simon R. Green
6. Tanya Huff
7. Angela Knight
8. Nina Bangs
9. Jayne Castle
10. Sherrilyn Kenyon

Romance

1. Jayne Krentz
2. Lynn Kurland
3. Jude Devereaux
4. Dara Joy
5. Nora Roberts
6. Linda Lael Miller
7. Julie Garwood
8. Stephanie Laurens
9. Cait London
10. Jennifer Greene

Westerns

1. Louis L'Amour
2. William W. Johnstone

Action/Adventure

1. Clive Cussler
2. Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
3. Dan Brown
4. William W. Johnstone
5. Matthew Reilly
6. James Rollins
7. Erik Van Lustbader
8. Michael Crichton
9. Ken Goddard

I finished reading my book Witchling by Yasmine Galenorn. Supernatural. Very good.

I have an FVO this weekend so have to get up at 4:00 am tomorrow morning to test, so need to get some sleep.

My list of 50 boring things

November 17th, 2006 at 06:23 am

Walked with mom 35 min yesterday and today.

I've enjoyed the lists so decided to add mine.

1. My original birth certificate has me listed as a boy instead of a girl.
2. My mom says I learned to read at 3 years old. I think I learned to memorize.
3. I won an American Flag for a coloring contest in first grade.
4. My mother remarried when I was 7 and I got a 2 year old step-brother. Already had a 6 year old sister.
5. My new dad gave me his man's bike to ride which was a 10-speed. I lost control going down a hill, since I could only reach the petals when they were at the top and crashed into a stop sign, knocking me out and causing me to get 7 stiches over my right eyebrow.
6. I am very competitive and an over-achiever. In 6th grade I won CYCer of the year for Colorado. CYC was kind of christian girl scout group. Where you win badges
7. I wore cat-eye glasses from 3rd to 6th grade
8. I was a huge tomboy
9. I joined the volleyball team in 8th grade and played thru 11th grade
10. I joined the church quizzing group in 9th grade and did that for 3 years. Was on a local tv station show for quizzing. I won several trophies and memorized 7 books of the bible.
11. Joined the bowling team in 10th grade and played thru 11th grade.
12. I took two foreign languages in school from 9th thru 12th grade. French and German
13. Went to college for one year and totally messed up. Didn't go to any classes etc.
14. Got a job as a machinist and did that for 15 years working my way up to a journeyman status.
15. Made a lot of money mistakes my first few years on my own. What turned me around was reading an article in the Mother Earth News No 3 issue called How to Retire six month every year and an article in issue number 1 called Living High on $6500 a year.
16. Made a goal to get out of debt and retire at 40. I had around $1000 in debt and thought I would need $100,000 to retire.
17. I saved the money I thought I would need to retire by the time I was 40, but by then my needs had increased so changed goal to retire at 50 instead.
18. Started working in miniatures as a hobby. Gave my first 12 rooms away. Kept the 13th.
19. Bought my first townhome for $37,500 at the end of huge real-estate bust in 1990
20. Sold the townhome for $96,000 in 2001
21. Bought my second townhome for $185,500 in 2001
22. Collected comics for a few years in the early 80's. Mostly New Mutents, X-Men and Teen Titans. Still have 500 comics in storage.
23. Favorite movie types are musicals and sci-fi
24. Favorite movies Bugsy Malone, Loonie Tunes and Labyrinth
25. Love to read. Too many favorite authors to pick one.
26. Was laid off from machinst job in 1996 because of outsourcing.
27. Took a year off working and used my savings to live on and go back to school for a 2 year degree in computer information. Had a 4.0 GPA.
28. To start college I had to take a test to see where I belonged for English writing. The test said I needed remedial writing. I took the regular class and my teacher was so impressed with my essays she asked permission to use them as training tools for other classes. Go figure. Smile
29. At 25 I fell on the ice and bounced. Broke my ankle in 3 places. Had a full-leg cast and had to move back in with my parents for 4 months while it healed. Very glad I had short and long term disabililty insurance.
30. I am afraid of climbing off of high places. I can go up ladders or chairs, but can't get down.
31. I love to play card games, rook and crummy rummy are my favorites.
32. I like to do big complicated jigsaw puzzles.
33. I am the 6th woman in my family to have my first name. The chain ends with me since I won't have kids.
34. My favorite tv shows are cooking shows, but I don't really like to cook
35. I like craftsman style furniture and decorating ideas. I've incorporated a lot of that in my house. I especially love lights. I replaced every light in my house when I bought it with craftsman style lighting.
36. I hate flying, not because I'm scared but because the pressure give me sinus type headaches, and it's so uncomfortable.
37. I get claustrophobic in large groups of people. I haven't gone to my family's extened xmas party in 20 years because of this. 30 people in one house is 20 too many Smile
38. I like to listen to a wide variety of music. Right now I have Charlie Daniels Band, ZZ Top, Rocking 70s and Prince in my CD player.
39. I have never tried drugs and while I have tried alcohol and cigarettes, I didn't like either one and have never been drunk. I don't like being out of control so there was no appeal in those things.
40. I live mythical knick-knacks and pictures. My house is filled with pictures and sculptures of dragons, unicorns, griffens, pegasus, wizards etc.
41. My favorite meal is steak, baked potato, corn, salad and garlic bread with either pumpkin pie or lemon pie for dessert.
42. My favorite candy bar is Payday
43. I like to burn food-scented candles. I don't like flower scents because they give me headaches.
43. I have a good memory for facts, but a horrible memory for people - faces, names, stories. In one ear and out the other.
44. I am 1/4 Cherokee Indian
45. I collect quotes that I like when reading books in a journal
46. I am a perfectionist at work. I believe in delivering value for my pay.
47. My favorite money book is How to Live without a salary by Charles Long
48. I am a huge procrastinator in my home life - aside from paying bills and financial stuff
49. I have no real plants - they die. I have lots of silk plants.
50. I used to have hair that went down to the middle of my butt. I cut to about 1 inch. I love short hair. I didn't expect to since I had long hair my whole life up till then.

back to work

November 14th, 2006 at 04:32 am

walked with mom for 30 min

My vacation is over, so back to work. I only had 257 emails which is really good for a week. Most of them could just be deleted. Only 2 were really important. One was to enroll in benefits for next year. The long-term disability insurance went down from 75% of pay to 2/3 of pay and the price went up. Bummer.

The second important email was assignments for the next release. I looked at this and then called my boss since he added 3 things to my assignments from what we had discussed. I'm already overbooked as usual. One of the other people we only assigned 1 days worth of work to. When I pointed that out to him, he wasn't going to add anything else, just wait and see how she did. That is so ridiculous. The release is 7 weeks long. She can't do any of my stuff so I can't pass anything off, but give me a break, she could do something. I gave him some ideas for her and I guess he plans to give her something else to do. Several people are way under-tasked in my opinion.

I would be worried about keeping my job if the boss didn't trust me to give me more than 1 day's worth of work. Definitly shows you need to improve.

Finished reading the library book Dark Celebration by Christine Feehan. Romance. Very good.

Grandma's

November 11th, 2006 at 04:06 am

yesterday walked with mom for 50 min.

Finished reading the library book Cast In Courtlight by Michelle Sagara. Sci/Fi. Excellent.

Today went with my parents to my grandmother's. We raked her yard and played games. Went to Applebee's for dinner. Spent $11

Finished reading my book Whirlpool by Elizabeth Lowell. Romance. Very good.

more xmas shopping

November 9th, 2006 at 04:40 am

walked with mom for 50 min

Met a friend for breakfast at Gunther Toody's. Spent $7

Went to the used book store. After exchanging a bag of books I still have more than $400 in credit left. I've been going to this book store since I was 19, more than 25 years.

Went to the Mountain Man store and picked up more xmas gifts. 2 bags of black jelly beans for dad and a bag of hot tamales for mom. Spent $10

Paid my house insurance. $142

Finished reading the library book Ladies Man by Suzanne Brockmann. Romance. OK

xmas shopping

November 8th, 2006 at 05:47 am

went shopping with mom today and got several xmas gifts.

Started at Bed, Bath N Beyong. Got an oven liner for mom and a miniature frying pan just big enough for one or two eggs for me. Had a $5 off of $15 coupons. Total spent $22.53

Went to Hobby Lobby and got a decorative chest for mom. 50% off. Spent $53.00

Lunch at Sonic. Mom bought

Linen's and Things - got a ratchet screwdriver for dad and a foot massager thing for me. 2 20% off coupons. Total spent $17.16

Target was the last stop. Got a Tamagotchi virtual pet game and lanyard for youngest niece. On sale, total $19.19

Someone asked how much I plan to have when I retire. I've been tracking my spending for many years now. Without my mortgage, which I plan to have paid off by the time I retire, I expect to need about $1700 a month. That includs an anticipated $350/month for health care, $150/month for a car replacement fund, and $50/month for maintenance/repair of car/household items.

I figure to be safe and account for unforseen items, I need $2000/month or $24,000 a year. Then I need to pay taxes on top of that, I expect taxes to run around 10% since some of the money will be from investments, where the taxes have already been paid. So my rule of thumb is I will need $27,500 a year for the first few years of retirement.

I figure I can safely take out 4.5 - 5% a year from my investments meaning I need at least $600,000 in investments.

My goal is to have my house paid off and between $650,000 and $700,000 in investments in order to retire.

I expect to have a min $90,000 in cash/bonds at the start of my retirement and the rest in stocks. That's riskier than most investment counselor's advice, but it's a number I'm comfortable with. The stocks are diversified and invested in the following formula:

Health fund 5%
REIT fund 5%
US small caps fund 25%
Foreign fund 15%
Emerging Markets fund 10%
US Lg Cap - Value fund 20%
US Lg Cap - Growth fund 20%

Finished reading my book Valley of Silence by Nora Roberts. Romance. Very good.

The Perfect Day

November 7th, 2006 at 04:02 am

I started a new book at midnight last night. I was just going to read a few pages, but it was so good I ended up reading the whole thing. Went to bed at 4:30 this morning. But it didn't matter because I didn't have to be up at any certain time. I love that!

Woke up at 9:30 anyways and walked with mom for 50 min. Then I spent the whole day reading. My idea of the perfect day.

Read my book Consipiracy Game by Christine Feehan. Romance. Excellent.

Read the library book Motor Mounth by Janet Evanovich. Romance. Very Good

Read Crazy Sweet by Tara Janzen. Romance. Very Good.

Sunday

November 6th, 2006 at 04:42 am

walked with mom for 50 min

My niece and I watched cooking shows this morning until her mom showed up to get her. I didn't know she likes to watch those too.

My oldest niece shot her first deer yesterday. I guess it was bigger than anything her dad or uncle has ever got, so she was quite excited. It was 350 lbs. She had to tell me the whole story. Some people from California were there and they wanted pictures of her with the deer, since she's so young. Her dad just came back from a 10 day hunting trip where he didn't get anything. They went out for 3 hours yesterday morning and she gets this huge deer. Funny.

My younger niece was telling me how the older one woke her up at 3:30 in the morning blow-drying her hair. She was fairly disgusted that the older one needed to blow-dry her hair to go hunting. 15 year olds are full of funny contrasts. Smile

Went to Applebees for lunch. $9.00. I got their new Turkey, bacon and cranberry chutney on ciabatta bread sandwich. Really good.

Took a long nap this afternoon, it felt good.

Finished reading my book Atlantis by David Gibbins. Adventure. OK. Not as good as Dan Brown, but the same type of story.

vacation day 1

November 5th, 2006 at 05:38 am

my vacation is officially started. I quit at 4:00 yesterday so of course my boss calls at 4:10 to discuss my assignments - blehhh. On the phone for 20 min. I worked till midnight 2 days this week and to 10 on one day. They hired two new people for the next release, but it doesn't really help since they can't learn enough to be helpful in that amount of time, plus it usually takes about a month to get them computers.

Today I had my youngest neice over to spend the night. We went shopping, to a movie and dinner.

Barnes and Noble - 10% off one book.
Borders - 30% off one book with $10 purchase
Movies - free - had an adult and a child movie pass from some smoking company. Got free if promise to talk to your kids about not smoking. Worth $10.50 We saw Open Season, it was cute, but not great.
Candy and drink for her - $5.00
Red Robin for dinner - $15
Wal-Mart - got friends kids xmas gift as well as 3 gifts for Toys for Tots. Also got groceries and some more books, plus xmas ideas for niece. Niece bought herself a video game and played with it the rest of the night.

My niece told me she wants to play a joke on her mom. Instead of having a sign on the car windows saying, "Objects are closer than they appear" she wants to put up a sign saying, "Objects are older than they appear". Not sure her mom will appreciate the joke Smile

Good start to vacation.