Happy November!

I'll start with a quick October review. Overall not a huge success, I definitely haven't moved ahead at all other than getting closer to sending the paperwork in. A major setback has been my injuries and having my doctor say that the most recent pain is my lungs and as she thinks its unrelated to my work injury I cannot get compensated for a whole week of missed work... PS it is my ribs not my lungs and it all started when I got injured so I can't understand how its not related (not that I'm bitter, sheesh!) Hallows Eve was nice and quiet, a few neighbour kids came by but there was a lot less than last year because of the rainy weather. One thing I have definitely missed this past month is keeping in touch with my friends. which I'm not so great at in the best of times, I could come up with a bunch of excuses but really all I mean is that I am going to try to do better this month. I am glad that October is done, birthday's are gone and there is another year to take on. There has been a good side to October as well, (I don't want to focus on the negatives); My application was accepted for a full time position at work! along with that I had to fill out all the mandatory pension plan and medical info, but they also gave several options for investing in different areas. I have never invested before but it has always intrigued me. I read the whole book that they gave me to review and decided that even though I am in the middle of a learning curve on how to manage my finances and have bundles of debt to get rid of, I also know that I am young and after E gets here and starts working things won't be such a huge challenge for me. So I am officially an investor! I am putting a portion of my bi-weekly pay cheques into various areas, including equities which makes me very proud that I am not too scared to invest in the riskiest of all investments. I don't think I could get much smaller in the amount I am investing but I just want to get my feet wet and see how I like it, if I understand whats going on when things change and how much I learn about the whole deal. To be honest it kind of feels like a real-life monopoly game, mostly because I don't know anything about investing but I am very curious to see where this takes me. Which leads me to a few goals for November. "I must, I must, I must increase my bust!" Ha ha, A quote from are you there God, its me Margret. My bust is fine by the way. A definite must for this month is getting E's paperwork send in... I'm starting to go crazy with all the worry and paranoia that goes with it. I also need to be more conscious about how I use and take care of my body. I need to be more active, and drink more water. I am in belly dancing for a second semester and I absolutely adore it. but we will be finished at the beginning of December. I am a little worried that with the icky weather I'm going to become a hermit and not do anything. I like rain I just need some waterproof shoes so I can stop using that as an excuse for not taking the dogs for a walk. One last goal that I have on my list is to be diligent on my Christmas crafts, because I have decided to make most of my gifts this year I need to start early or they will never get done. I am famous for starting a million projects and not finishing any of them... I think that falls under the procrastination I warned you about. Alright my one loyal reader :) I am going to make some breakfast. have a good one!

BIRTHDAYS!!

I orginially had the title of this as "Bad Habits"... but then I thought that's too negative a way to start something that is supposed to be fun. I'm so pro-positive thinking!.. Anyways

Its a Wednesday and I'm sitting at home with a muffin and a very large cup of tea. MMMM. I stayed home from work today, this whole getting injured at work thing is getting SO ridiculous! I don't recommend it. I keep getting sent back on the production floor and I keep getting hurt and then they have nothing for me to do. ARG! which brings me to the ultimate reason of why I am listening to Christmas music with the tea and uber-chocolate muffin...it just makes me happy. :) soo what do I need to catch you up on.. it has been too long.. so sorry. oh Bon Jovi! nice... ahem. right. so E's paperwork has been slightly postponed because of a couple of things that he neglected to send me with everything else. but thats ok because I have to get letter of employment and such too so it should work well. IT WILL! I can't wait! I so hope he will be here for Christmas, that would be so great. Its also his birthday one week after mine (2 more sleeps!) So today my goal is to get a small package made up and in the mail.. it'll probably be late if it doesn't get stolen along the way. Woot, 3rd world countries! I also have a batch of delicious pumpkin muffins in the oven, gotta love Amish friendship bread..if you want some starter let me know I gots plenty. alright well thats all my back can stand for today but its been fun and I hope to be back again soon. PS READ THIS...http://frugaldreamer.blogspot.com/2008/10/final-decision-for-travel-plans.html LOVE IT! So proud.

ciao bella

I have a pain.

I have to start with... "Oh my goodness I am sooo full!" OK I feel better now. I just finished dinner (spaghetti and jalapeno garlic bread, in case you were curious). and I figure that I should write a bit before I make my lunch and head to bed, with a shower somewhere in there. OOOh man, this is going to have to be short. The other day I slipped at work, not recommended. I landed on my feet but my left knee was locked so now I have been feeling the repercussions of that. All the joints on my left side currently hate me. :( but I have a previously booked doctors appointment for Monday so hopefully I can survive one more day, and see what happens for next week. AND on the up side, ALL the paperwork is going to be sent in by next week, I am just waiting to receive E's paperwork and then put all my stuff together and we are off to the races so to speak. I CANNOT wait to be done with it. gah! it'll be worth it though. I can't wait to have him here. alright I am out, I'll try and get caught up this weekend, back pain depending... I also have my niece's 4th birthday at my place on Sunday. Should be a blast! she's the coolest kid!
have a gooder

I learned to make sausages today! and I have a wish.

Its seems such a long time since I wrote last, not that much has happened. I've been busy working, working, like always. Although I did learn to stuff sausages today, that was fun... and I was good at it after the first few hideous attempts... my supervisor even said they were gorgeous.. and then she came back to me later and commented on what a long way I've come. woot! encouragement is always appreciated. Right now it is 6pm on saturday (I know, no life... I've been trying to tell you) and I am sitting here in my p.j's thinking about things I should do and can get done while I have the house to myself. And let me tell you, it is a lovely thing indeed to have the house all to myself (everyone went camping) and I as much as I love camping, I am staying home and focusing on me a little bit. I haven't even turned on the music yet... usually that's the first thing I do. So far I plan on doing some yoga to see if that will help my back pain... and mostly to get all limbered up for Belly-dancing on Monday! The first class was last week I am very excited for the next one.. its a different crowd and not as many people as last time, so it should go well. hopefully I can get a couple more dances under my coin scarf ;) won't E (formerly known as DH) be proud? too bad he doesn't know what belly-dancing is because his dear wife can't seem to find the french translation anywhere... oh well he'll figure it out once he see's it. So far he's just a tad jealous that we couldn't be taking dances lessons together. That's on our list of things to do when he gets here, probably some sort of ball-room or classic dance. we'll have to see what is available when we are ready... knowing my luck he'll probably want to tango or something else that would equal me dying in the end, haha. Speaking of E. Paperwork should be on its way to me early this coming week and hopefully by friday (payday) I can mail it all off to immigration where it will be officially out of my hands (praise the Lord) I guess that means I have to finish the photo albums... another thing to do this weekend ;)
I think Wednesday was my worst day of this week. The work day was fine, good even. but as soon as I got home, I crashed, emotionally I'm guessing. Long-distance marriages are hazardous on the soul, E is NEVER joining the military! We cannot wait for all this waiting to be over, I'm starting to think that a person can only possess so much patience... and then what? I'm afraid to find out. And it had to be wednesday because it was our 8 month wedding anniversary, we are rapidly closing in on our longest time spent apart. I don't like it one bit. I hope the signal at the cyber cafe he phones me from is good today, my phone card is running low and that's it, that's all until friday.. there's no way I'm dipping into savings now, not unless I want to prolong my agony. no thanks. I'm trying to be wiser in the way I spend my money. wiser in the way I shop, wiser in the way I work, and eat and and overall in the way I live my life. hmm, this could take some time. I wish to be a gracious woman, someone who is not quick to judge or get angry, someone who finds a way to help when no way seems possible, a woman of peace. I don't want to be what I can see me becoming if I don't take some conscious steps to change how I live, in ways as simple as how I react to others, do I really know how to listen? I know a great fault of mine is that I take nearly everything personally, maybe if my life isn't focused on being materialistic and selfish then perhaps I can understand what message is being conveyed rather than thinking that I am always a failure. poor me. gah! I'm so done with that. its early new years resolution for me!
ok enough of this nonsense, I'm cranking up the tunes.

Alright so its been a couple of days, but really there isn't much to say other than the same old same old. Work weeks are like that, I did do 1 hour of overtime yesterday so that is good. And as yesterday was payday I also got insurance for my car and a few groceries for the upcoming weeks lunches. All in all another crazy-busy week but at least stuff is getting accomplished. Goal plan for this coming week is to call CIC (immigration) with some last minute questions, finish up my part of the paperwork and supporting documents, and spend as little money as possible,(maybe get started on some of my christmas craft projects).
DH is doing well, getting over a cold but his spirits are improving considerably now that we can see the final phases of sending the paperwork in. Communication has been at serious low lately because it's hurricane season and that is cause for uber-crappy connections so all of our convos are short-lived at best. As long as I know he is safe and everyone is well, then its enough to keep me from worrying too much. Yesterday we had a budget talk, I gave him the low-down on what our debts are, and how much needs to go where. It was good, we are definitly on the same page which is nice, although we are very eager to have him here contributing so its not as overwhelming for me and we can get more into savings.
I am looking forward to my weekend I don't have too much planned so it should be relaxing, which is just what I need. I think I'm going to go have some baja rosa and watch 17 dresses.
until next time...

Alright so I missed a day, don't hate! :)
Monday was great, friend and I had tea... and I thought it would be so fitting to make some crumpets to go with it, so I thought anyways. I found a great website with an easy recipe and pictures to follow along. I'm not quite sure what happened but I ended up with some really good west coast bannic! Lucky for me my friends are really easy going. I think if I'm brave enough for a next time I know how I can adjust the recipe.. but it was just funny, and startling to discover how similar bannic is to crumpets. I think its great though, I love to make a mess in the kitchen!
Tuesday was relatively uneventful, I went to work, I came home made my lunch for today (tuna sandwhich, yum!) and went to bed crazy early.. like 7:30pm it was fabulous! Oh and I took my car through aircare so I can renew the insurance, passed first time! woot!!
Today is similarly uneventful, I went to work, contemplated overtime, (also contemplated applying for full-time when more positions come available) came home (no OT), now I am writing to you while I ponder dinner that can also be lunch for tomorrow. I'm thinking Talapia and wedge fries with some salad. mmm.
Today I was thinking a fair bit about Christmas, every year I try to be soo prepared so as to not spend upwards of $400 last minute on gifts. I love crafting all kinds of things, so this year I will attempt to make a few different homemade delights and make up little baskets of some sort. I think its a great way to save money and add that personal touch that Christmas is really all about. and for me September is not too early (I did mention I'm a procrastinator, right?) the only thing that concerns me is finished gifts getting lost and people getting forgotten. Guess I have some list making to do. :)

OH! OH! and.... OOh I'm almost so excited! (yes, almost) My mother has agreed to write an invitation letter for my husband to come visit for Christmas!!!!! It would be our first Christmas together (I mean in the same country) and also our 1st anniversary in early january. We have to get our paperwork filed before this can be done though. Cross your fingers and think good thoughts!

YAY!

Its September

Good morning, t'is a lovely rainey, cloudy day. "Oh its such a lovely day, to catch a big fat frog!" as my mother would sing, I'm a little surprised she hasn't yet. The thing with cloudy days, makes me want to be all nesty and make stew and crochet and have a friend over for tea... I'd much rather that than the cleaning and completing of the things that need to be done. (Did I mention I'm a procrastinator?) I don't really have a lot set out for today as it is the last day of my weekend, so laundering of the work clothes and general getting ready for the week stuff. I really need to focus more on eating healthy, my family genes tend to fall apart at an early age, its starting to worry me because I still want to have beautiful babies and travel and oh so many dreams to be had. None of those are going to happen if I'm not around. DH and I are looking forward to joining a gym when he comes, his idea too. (did I mention I abhore immigration paperwork, arg). So back to today, I do have a friend coming a little later on so that gives me time to get dressed and clean a bit of the boudoir... or perhaps this computer desk needs it more. ok I'm going to get started on that before my get up and go has get up and gone.
Have a gooder.

numero dos

ok blog two. I started out the day planning on making specific goals for this month, things that could change in order to get back on my feet so to speak. But to be honest I do believe I am having my first migraine, and it is not my friend. Ever since my dear darling husband woke me up with an early phone call on my day off, my head has been throbbing. anyways, enough complaining. I really appreciate my frugal-loving friends' comments and thoughts on goals for this new month. I hope to have a similar outlook soon. but really, I feel like I am too poor to cut anything out, most of it goes to current debt and getting DH to be in the same country. (That would be the ultimate Christmas gift.) I do agree that living on cash would make random spending more tangible and less likely. Goals that I currently have are to finish paperwork and send it in before the months end (September), aircare and reinsure the car in my name (Thanks mom.), look into a cheaper cell plan that actually works for me, Go see Dolly! my eyebrows need threading like you wouldn't believe. I would love to be able to start saving and get a managable plan to be debt-free, but that I feel will come with time, and with DH being here, working, that would help too. I'm I'll be adding to the list as I go. ok friends, its not yet dark out but sleep is calling me. until next time.

the welcoming speech

Day one of blogging, should be interesting. At the moment I don't have a lot to say, and really I hardly know you, can I say everything on my mind and not have you run away screaming? what kind of hostess would that make me?
To start I've decided to blog to see if I can't get this whole being grown up thing to be comprehensible. while I don't expect most of my post to make sense, I think it'll be good for me to be able to prioritize and organize and get things all straightened out in my life. not that I lead a crooked life... its just fairly on the complicated side right now. if you come again I'm sure you will see what I mean.