Cleaning and Organizing

This move has in most areas been a dream. Even though the way my husband insisted the move take place caused me HUGE stress, in the end it worked out OK. Hubby didn't want to pack boxes, so we didn't. It was strange but we only packed a few things in boxes. Most of the smaller items we moved with the Jeep in small trips.

When most people move they don't stick things like fitness equipment in boxes, we didn't stick things like dishes, nick-nacks, books, and clothes.

Today, however, I really need to get some pictures hung, and things organized. It is really starting to feel like home and I don't have a bunch of boxes around (that I have no idea what is in them).

I have been working extra hours that past week, so I have not had as much time to do household chores. Today is the day. I think the Hubby and CAL are going out for some special father son time so it will work out really well. They are never any help and I just end up getting angry because of that.

In over my head?

Maybe so. I was asked to become a member of a Book Review Club. They are a Christian company and I was very excited to become a member. It is a little confusing but I think I have signed up for several reviews. If I am correct I signed up for at least three before I realized that I had in fact requested to take part in that review. The confusing part is that each time the email appears to come from someone different and the company name is not clearly displayed.

I am waiting for my books to arrive. I am just afraid that when they do there will be seven or eight books and I will have only a couple weeks to read them.

The first "tour" takes place at the end of February, I think I better go check the mailbox to see if my books are there. There is also the problem of the change of address that we had. I emailed the change but cannot seem to verify that it actually took place.

Report Card Time

CAL received his report card yesterday. We were all very nervous because he seems to be really struggling with Science right now. Seventh grade science is really goofy. They have to do a science fair and it seems to consume every day with tests/experiments and journaling.

Well his grade did go down a little. Last quarter he received a B+ and this quarter it was a B. He has a GPA of 3.8644, with four A+'s, two A's, two A-'s, and then the B. He has an A+ in Pre-Algebra - he definitely didn't get his brains from me.

I am so thrilled with this school, everything is taught to the kids with God as the base. It is amazing and exciting to open up his history or science and have them start with creation.

Now comes the big problem for The Hubby and I, we have to try to come up with a different reward system than we have in the past. I just cannot afford the old system. Maybe I will have a deals of the day system where I give him little things each day for a week. I don't know does anyone have any ideas?

Isn't it funny that in public school his grades were not this good and the work was a joke.

Trade Off

I have been getting more hours at work and while I need the money, and love my job, it leaves less and less time for really important things like facebook and my blog.

Yesterday was a nine hour day for me and the next few might be the same. It is fun and there is a large variety of things to do so each day is pretty fresh. I have been hired to do two additional jobs, one is through the college, and other is a job that adds about two hours of work per day to my schedule.

The funny thing is my boss, for my duties through the college, is twenty one years old. I joke with her that her friends probably sit around and giggle that she is boss to a forty year old fat lady.

One other thing

we might actually be able to afford again: term life insurance, this is something that keeps me awake at night.

The other day at church a friend said that her mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer. This is about the 15th person, that I know, that has cancer (or has lost their battle with cancer), in the past year.

I am so worried about our family not being protected. But then again, I guess no matter the situation, we are protected.

Which reminds me, I have to find an appropriate card to send to this person.

Hard to Believe

I find it so hard to believe that Christmas was only a month ago. It seems like forever and so much as happened in that past month. The Hubby took down the Christmas decorations at the old house the other day and I felt like they had been up forever.

Now I just have to find a place for all those things in our new much smaller house. The attic is still full of unused decorations and lights. I think I am going to throw everything in the driveway with a free sign on it.

Is that a light at the end of the tunnel

For the first time in a long time, I think I see a small light at the end of our tunnel. With the recent move we have decreased our cost of living significantly and because of this we actually have a little breathing room, very little but at least I can breathe. It is almost the end of the month and I am not in a total panic about the first of the month bills, because they have already been paid.

I don't want to jinx myself or anything but we might actually be able to afford health insurance in NC, I still cannot afford it in NH but I am only a couple letters off.

There are several other things that we might be able to afford, like braces for CAL, who insists that his life is ruined because of his teeth..... hmmmm I wonder if that is a Lukie family trait.

Rants

Rants are a funny thing. They are usually typed in the heat of the moment and with much more passion than they really deserve.

That being said: When you type a rant and suddenly you have people agreeing with you that normally don't, you better take a step back. I read a rant the other day and the looney lefties were coming out of the woodwork to agree with the silly comments. Are those the types of people you really want agreeing with you?

Business Degree

I have an associates degree in executive secretarial from a defunct "college" in Syracuse called CCBI. It was the biggest waste of two years of my life. That being said I would not change a thing, if I had the chance, because it got me to where I am today.

I have often thought about trying to take some business courses and get a business administration degree, maybe that would make me a better business person and run a more successful company.

As I stated before since The Hubby signed up for a college course I have been pretty interested in what is available online.

I personally think that a business degree would probably be the most beneficial to me right now. I want a place that is accredited, flexible class schedules, and lifetime career assistance, just to name a few.

Going through the big D

and I don't mean Dallas. Oh my word I thought I was going to be arrested today..... My husband drove me over the edge.

We went back to the old house to try to grab a car load of things. I had a list and while some things on the list were important, others were not so much.

I started making a pile to carry out to the road because our driveway was full of snow. After a few minutes The Hubby came in and said "we are almost full so no more stuff". I argued with him, I have to take this, and this absolutely has to come, and are you sure we cannot fit that. Most of my items were things that we definitely do NOT want to leave. Pictures and other family items like that.

I take a walk out to the car and start moving stuff around to try to get more things in. I did pretty good and suddenly I said "what is in this box", it was the biggest box in the car taking up more than half of the only seat. I looked inside and saw TRAINS. Yes his stupid trains. I lost it, I started screaming at him right there in the middle of the street. I am worried about family pictures, and expensive items (like our cuckoo clocks) and he has taken up all the room with his trains.

Now I have not really forced the issue with the Hubby leaving much behind. I know that this situation is much harder on him than on me. I have left many items behind, and sold even more. I agreed to let him bring both the piano and the organ to our tiny new house.

Then after I was done screaming and we finished stuffing every inch of the car, we left. Down the road about a block he said "I am surprised you didn't yell at me about the music books", I said "what music books", sure enough he decided that a file box full of music books were more important than family heirlooms.

Sudden Interest

Since I finally convinced The Hubby to take some college courses, I have had this immense interested in taking some courses for myself.

I have searched a few places on line to start off with because I need the flexibility that comes with an online university.

One of the Universities that caught my attention was Western Governors University. There were so many positive aspects. They are an accredited school that offers bachelor's and master's degree courses. I was shocked at the variety they offer. As I have mentioned before I would like to become a special education teacher, and they offer a BA in Special Eduction.

But Education is not the only degrees they offer, they have many online degree programs, such as Business, Information Technology, and Health Professions just to name a few.

Obviously, finances are a major issue with us right now (WGU is a non-profit university that is very affordable), but even more of an obstacle is the fact that I am forty years old and have always struggled academically.

It gives me something to really think about.

Somebody is really stupid here

I don't know if I am stupid or these people are stupid. The story is about Muslims (and their "rights" organizations) that are angry that American troops are using rifles inscribed with Biblical verses.

Call me stupid but I would think they would be angry with getting shot at! Mr. Muslim "you can shot and kill me but don't do it with a rifle that has a reference to Jesus".

Can you believe that there are organizations that are actually trying to remove these rifles from our troops. I don't know about you, but that sounds really S*T*U*P*I*D.

And the biggest Moran award goes to: Mikey Weinstein - yes you read that right "Mikey" he stated: "I don't have to wonder for a nanosecond how the American public would react if citations from the Quran were being inscribed onto these U.S. armed forces gun sights instead of New Testament citations," Weinstein said. The foundation is a nonprofit organization opposed to religious favoritism within the military.

If the US was a country that was founded on Muslim principles and if it were a Muslim country I would EXPECT the citations from the Quran. But MIKEY it is NOT. Contrary to what our Muslim president wants you to believe we are a Christian Nation and Yes MIKEY we WERE founded on CHRISTIAN principles.

Exciting News

I have exciting news that I cannot share with anyone yet. I am thrilled and yet I cannot talk about it. Don't you just love the tease. It is not that I cannot blog about it for the world to see, I cannot tell anyone (except The Hubby) about my wonderful news.

Now I am old, so don't start thinking that pregnancy might be the topic because that would just be laughable. Can you image, me pregnant at 40.

I wanted four kids when The Hubby and I first married. Up until the point that The Hubby started having grandkids, I still hoped for the four. But that would be so weird to have grandkids older than your kids.

Wore Out

I think that I might need to get a testosterone booster if we have to do much more moving. I am so glad that on Saturday my brother helped the Hubby do most of the heavy lifting and moving items into the house.

Thankfully most of the heavy stuff is done. Now we just have boxes and boxes of paperwork to move, we have been in business for almost 20 years. That is a lot of paperwork, and I read somewhere that businesses have to keep records for fifteen years, compared to the seven that they recommend for personal.

Motivated

It is amazing what a new house can do for ones motivation. I feel like I have a new lease on life. I am so motivated to keep the house nice, clean, and clutter free. I am not putting off tasks and ignoring things that need to get done.

Now I hope that this will last and not be just a phase. I am determined to make a huge change in our lives. Now I have to get CAL and the Hubby on board.

Still Moving

Yes we are still moving stuff. I will probably be moving stuff for the rest of my life. I just cannot believe how much junk you can accumulate in eleven years.

Saturday we spent the entire day moving. I have not had that much joint pain in years. It doesn't help that we have two sets of stairs in our townhouse with thirteen steps in each. I feel so old. I am going to be so happy when we are done and I can go back to a couch potato.

For three years

For three years my wonderful husband plowed driveways in our neighborhood. If a driveway had not been plowed by the time he went to plow ours, he plowed theirs. One day he plowed fifteen different driveways.

Today he had to go back to the house for something. Our driveway was full of snow. Now you know why I am so happy that we don't have those neighbors anymore. What a bunch of Democrats. Take, Take, Take, Take....... Democrats......

It must be something I am eating

Each morning when I wake up I rush to the bathroom to find a new crop of zits breaking out. It is always on my face, of course. I mean really what fun would zits be if they were located in a place that not everyone sees them the moment they look at you.

I don't know why, I don't think I have changed my eating and my stress level is, for the most part, significantly lower. I am an old lady, not a young teenager who should be researching the best acne remedies.

I hope that it is not something in my new wonderful house.