It was our oldest son's birthday and the husband wanted to give him a steak dinner. Off to the local Schnucks to buy 2 steaks to be split 4 ways. I knew to stay out of the husband's choice for the meat. He was paying for it - so I went to the vegetable section to price a bag of potatoes. When he had his 2 wrapped steaks- he met me in the fruit section and started to bag 3 very large Honey Crisp (or Braeburn) apples. They were priced at $4.99 per pound. Looking at those apples- I knew they were a pound each.
"Those 3 apples are going to cost $15.00"
The husband looked at me like I was crazy. I insisted he weigh the bag - which he did and it came in at 3-lbs. Then I pointed to the $4.99 price PER POUND. He took the largest apple out...weighed it again..."That's about $9.00 for TWO apples." He groaned & put another back and weighed the final apple. One pound. "That's FIVE DOLLARS for ONE apple. Are you really considering paying that much for one apple? "
The husband was shocked. He put the final apple back and gave me a look of astonishment & disgust. "Why do you think I have apple trees in our backyard? And why do you think I bug you about spraying them so the insects don't ruin the crop?"
He moaned again.....and pointed to the 5-lbs bag of potatoes I was considering. (which was cheaper than ONE apple) I read his look and put the bag back and picked up one .99 cent sweet potato. We could cut it in half & share....or I could make one batch of sweet potato fries for the kids. We walked out with 2 items for just under $20.00....which beat the price of 4 of us eating out. The important thing- the oldest son had a steak for his birthday. Well- half a steak.
As for the husband....I assured him in a few months- we'll have some apples from our trees - as long as he sprays them before the insects get them!
Friday, May 24, 2013
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Don't Have It.
I've tried to explain this to the husband...but he has selective hearing.
If we don't have money for gasoline - nobody is going anywhere.
(so don't ask me to pick something up - you know I can't walk there)
If we don't have money to keep up my hair & makeup- don't complain I'm looking frumpy.
(hey- my shoes are 8 years old)
If there's no money to buy cleaning supplies - don't complain the house stays dirty.
(a broom & mop can only go so far when we can't even afford bleach)
No money for groceries - don't complain when you get a canned meal - stored 4 years ago.
(that roast you ate last month-it's been frozen since 2009 - but hey- at least we had some meat for dinner)
If we don't have money for my medical care - I go without.
(and it's only getting worse)
Understand why things are currently the way they are? Don't blame me. I'm trying to do what I can with what I've got.
If we don't have money for gasoline - nobody is going anywhere.
(so don't ask me to pick something up - you know I can't walk there)
If we don't have money to keep up my hair & makeup- don't complain I'm looking frumpy.
(hey- my shoes are 8 years old)
If there's no money to buy cleaning supplies - don't complain the house stays dirty.
(a broom & mop can only go so far when we can't even afford bleach)
No money for groceries - don't complain when you get a canned meal - stored 4 years ago.
(that roast you ate last month-it's been frozen since 2009 - but hey- at least we had some meat for dinner)
If we don't have money for my medical care - I go without.
(and it's only getting worse)
Understand why things are currently the way they are? Don't blame me. I'm trying to do what I can with what I've got.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Mother's Day
Today is Mother's Day. You know what I want? An oil change. Yep- the husband keeps putting it off and the miles keep rolling by. Thousands of them. And if you have a little extra cash- fill up my gas tank. It would be nice to drive around on more than just fumes. As a disabled person- running out of gas is a real fear as I can't even walk to safety or help. SO - change my oil & fill up my tank and it will be a great Mother's Day!
Wednesday, May 08, 2013
Haiti Mission Trip
http://fnd.us/c/eVSJ5
This ^ is the site my youngest son is raising money for his FIRST mission trip to Haiti. He has worked the last few months in odd jobs & fundraising - but is still short $1400 for the cost of mission expenses. He leaves in July with his local church and meets up with Northwest Haiti Christian Mission for 10 days of volunteer work. The organization has a nutrition program, clinics, schools, elderly homes, orphanages with special needs children, & aquaponics programs. Not only will he help those in immediate need, he will come back a changed person seeing the needs of others. Please post this page or donate to help him reach his goal. THANKS!
This ^ is the site my youngest son is raising money for his FIRST mission trip to Haiti. He has worked the last few months in odd jobs & fundraising - but is still short $1400 for the cost of mission expenses. He leaves in July with his local church and meets up with Northwest Haiti Christian Mission for 10 days of volunteer work. The organization has a nutrition program, clinics, schools, elderly homes, orphanages with special needs children, & aquaponics programs. Not only will he help those in immediate need, he will come back a changed person seeing the needs of others. Please post this page or donate to help him reach his goal. THANKS!
Friday, May 03, 2013
He didn't get the job.
You know what my fear is? It will never get better for us.
Every year has gotten worse then the previous one- 6 years running.
All of our lives, we did what we were supposed to do.
Worked hard and took the narrow road....helped everyone we could & never cheated anyone.
And now..... we are crawling on that less traveled road one hand & knee at a time.
I am afraid our best days are behind us....and the base of a mountain is just ahead.
You know what my fear is? It will never get better for us.
Every year has gotten worse then the previous one- 6 years running.
All of our lives, we did what we were supposed to do.
Worked hard and took the narrow road....helped everyone we could & never cheated anyone.
And now..... we are crawling on that less traveled road one hand & knee at a time.
I am afraid our best days are behind us....and the base of a mountain is just ahead.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Plant-Vomit-Plant-Vomit
It's planting season and I have been poking holes in the ground. I work while sitting on a stool but after a few minutes- I get sick and stop for a little. Then continue. Yesterday- I really had to get some plants in containers and I pushed myself. My back was hurting so bad- I vomited in the backyard. Last night- the muscles were so twisted - I couldn't even sleep.
Today- I put beans in the ground. I was determined to get 4 beds done and I'm paying for it. But that garden feeds us so I just plowed through. That's the price of getting fresh food to the table. Pain & if you have a back injury- vomit.
Today- I put beans in the ground. I was determined to get 4 beds done and I'm paying for it. But that garden feeds us so I just plowed through. That's the price of getting fresh food to the table. Pain & if you have a back injury- vomit.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Waiting.....
The husband had an interview weeks ago. It was an answered prayer.
But he hasn't heard back and I am losing hope...again.
It is so frustrating.
In the past he had interviewed for 2 other jobs that had him sign on the dotted line- offer him a respectable wage- and then that job disappeared because of budget cuts. Did they bother to tell him? Nope. Months would go by- with us exhausting our savings waiting for that phone call - only to call them and find out..."oh- we had to eliminate that position because the government money we expected didn't come through." And you didn't bother to tell the person dangling on the line? Time lost waiting for that phone call- thinking you couldn't break a contract by looking elsewhere- led to nowhere but months of unemployment you would now have to explain to the next company you were trying to land a job with.
Anyway- for a few days- I was daydreaming of what a job would do for our family. We could get the windshield fixed on the 16 yr. old Honda CRV. We could afford the $500 insurance deductible to repair the 7 yr. old family van. I could order one kid another dental retainer to stop shifting teeth. We could buy a replacement sump-pump for the basement. I could start physical therapy again and actually make an appointment with the chiropractor without pawning a belonging. We could start to pay down those bills accumulated from the last 6 yrs. of military duty w/ separation, unemployment, medical bills & under-employment. We could stop having soup for dinner 5 days a week.
But apparently those will remain dreams. I should have known better then to get my hopes up. There comes a point when you just sit in the dirt you've been repeatedly kicked into and begin to crawl. Head down, putting one hand & knee in front of the other and just crawl your way down the road.
At least that's still movement.
But he hasn't heard back and I am losing hope...again.
It is so frustrating.
In the past he had interviewed for 2 other jobs that had him sign on the dotted line- offer him a respectable wage- and then that job disappeared because of budget cuts. Did they bother to tell him? Nope. Months would go by- with us exhausting our savings waiting for that phone call - only to call them and find out..."oh- we had to eliminate that position because the government money we expected didn't come through." And you didn't bother to tell the person dangling on the line? Time lost waiting for that phone call- thinking you couldn't break a contract by looking elsewhere- led to nowhere but months of unemployment you would now have to explain to the next company you were trying to land a job with.
Anyway- for a few days- I was daydreaming of what a job would do for our family. We could get the windshield fixed on the 16 yr. old Honda CRV. We could afford the $500 insurance deductible to repair the 7 yr. old family van. I could order one kid another dental retainer to stop shifting teeth. We could buy a replacement sump-pump for the basement. I could start physical therapy again and actually make an appointment with the chiropractor without pawning a belonging. We could start to pay down those bills accumulated from the last 6 yrs. of military duty w/ separation, unemployment, medical bills & under-employment. We could stop having soup for dinner 5 days a week.
But apparently those will remain dreams. I should have known better then to get my hopes up. There comes a point when you just sit in the dirt you've been repeatedly kicked into and begin to crawl. Head down, putting one hand & knee in front of the other and just crawl your way down the road.
At least that's still movement.
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