I give this post such a title because it is true, I am weak when it comes to spending money. I love it. I can't help it. I will probably give this goal another try one of these days (weeks hopefully) but for now, it's not meant to be.
I made it into the second day and realized I needed gas to get to school. Now, this could technically be considered a school expense...but I then bought yarn later that day and blew my non-spending diet off the scene.
Since, I haven't bought much, but I did suggest we go out to eat and go to the zoo...that cost a bit of money, not much since we're zoo members, but still, it wasn't on my plan to not spend money.
The bottom line with this is, money makes things more convenient. I can go buy lunch today and it will take me a fraction of the time that it would have if I went to the store previously and bought ingredients to pack a lunch. I realized the thought last night at about 11pm, past my bedtime, as I was packing up for today--I hadn't planned/packed a lunch. I decided it would be easiest to just buy something on the run today. Mondays will probably have this pattern, until I get into a routine and plan these things better.
Again, hopefully I'll try this another time, I know I can do it! I read an article about a whole family that did this for a year!! If they can do it, I can.
P.S. I bought that yarn because I'm making a new blanket. The last one was so pretty I couldn't help myself. Plus, the yarn was on sale!!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
A Week Without Spending; Day 1
I have, tentatively, decided to embark on a goal on my 43things. I'm going to try to go a week without spending a cent. This will be difficult. I haven't completely decided my rules for the program, though. So far...this is what I've decided to make exceptions for:
I had a realization this morning about just how hard this might be. As I left for my afternoon classes, I had intended to just catch lunch on my way to school. Wrong. No fast food. I didn't have enough time to pack a lunch, so I grabbed some yogurt and a spork from a previous fast food purchase and hit the road. In doing so, I forgot my water I intended to bring from home. Oops. Ordinarily I would be replacing it with a bottle from a vending machine but today I will learn to do without, or make use of the plethora of drinking fountains my tuition dollars pay to maintain (though the water tastes kind of funny).
I had intended to buy a school planner from the bookstore here, complete with academic dates already printed in it, but I'm guessing that will either have to wait or they'll run out and I'll end up buying a regular one. Which will probably cost a lot less, and I can personally fill in the pertinent dates. Plus, yesterday I overheard some faculty politics and their frustration with the bookstore here. I guess they've taken away their discounts and some other less than friendly practices I missed. I don't pay school bookstore prices anyway unless I have to. I had to buy school logo apparel though, and that's the only place to get it. I just had to.
It is this blog that makes me appreciate bluetooth/wireless photo synking with your computer. Too bad none of my cameras do it. I guess by the time I need to buy a new one it will be standard equipment, though, and that is something to look forward to.
I'll try and give some daily updates as to my struggle with this goal. It will be hard, because spending money is so second-nature for me. I really enjoy it sometimes.
Here's my lunch. I also grabbed a pear.
This is going to take some planning (and memory) if I am going to succeed.
- School supplies and requirements
- Food (groceries, NOT Fast food)
- Hygienic/medical necessities (shampoo, soap, toilet paper, deodorant)
I had a realization this morning about just how hard this might be. As I left for my afternoon classes, I had intended to just catch lunch on my way to school. Wrong. No fast food. I didn't have enough time to pack a lunch, so I grabbed some yogurt and a spork from a previous fast food purchase and hit the road. In doing so, I forgot my water I intended to bring from home. Oops. Ordinarily I would be replacing it with a bottle from a vending machine but today I will learn to do without, or make use of the plethora of drinking fountains my tuition dollars pay to maintain (though the water tastes kind of funny).
I had intended to buy a school planner from the bookstore here, complete with academic dates already printed in it, but I'm guessing that will either have to wait or they'll run out and I'll end up buying a regular one. Which will probably cost a lot less, and I can personally fill in the pertinent dates. Plus, yesterday I overheard some faculty politics and their frustration with the bookstore here. I guess they've taken away their discounts and some other less than friendly practices I missed. I don't pay school bookstore prices anyway unless I have to. I had to buy school logo apparel though, and that's the only place to get it. I just had to.
It is this blog that makes me appreciate bluetooth/wireless photo synking with your computer. Too bad none of my cameras do it. I guess by the time I need to buy a new one it will be standard equipment, though, and that is something to look forward to.
I'll try and give some daily updates as to my struggle with this goal. It will be hard, because spending money is so second-nature for me. I really enjoy it sometimes.
Here's my lunch. I also grabbed a pear.
This is going to take some planning (and memory) if I am going to succeed.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Scholarly Thoughts
I have to try and make this post a quick one, because I have to be up at 5:45 to get the day started and go to school for 8 hours. Monday I felt like I was hit by a tornado. I didn't know what happened to me. WHERE could the time have gone? I now know the importance of planning, crock pots, and great babysitters.
I have mixed feelings about school at the moment. Not that I'm ever going to quit until I have at least ONE college degree, it's just hard. It's supposed to be. College is not for wimps.
There are moments where I go from complete exhaustion and being overwhelmed to being inspired and wishing I could always have these opportunities to learn. It's almost a crime that college is so expensive and takes so much time...but that's learning. It will never take less time, no matter how little it costs. Technology can help there, but to truly be a scholar in something you'll have to spend the time learning it. Learning is changing (and has been since humans started walking). If you know how to use a computer, you potentially know a lot more than most folks did in the '70s. That's where the time can be changed. But true knowledge without instruments and technology will always require a lot of time invested.
I am very excited for the new challenges I have been given with school, but at the same time I just wish there was MORE time to do it in. There will be a slight difference in timing because I'm used to quarters and now I'm at a school with semesters, but that means I have less of an interval between those meeting times. I see many of my professors every other day-sometimes every day. There is no putting homework off for a day anymore. No more breaks between days of school.
Aidan seemed to have a great day with his friends while I was at school yesterday, and I know he had good bonding time with daddy today. For some reason, I am almost relieved to be able to get out and be a person all day long and not have to worry about feeding, changing, bathing, playing, etc. I do already miss the free time, though, but it makes the time I have even more special.
I have a lot more to share with you all, in my more traditional blogging taste (more "HEY you can use this info", not "HEY this is all about ME") but I'm not sure exactly when I'll get time to post it. As always, I have more going on than I have the time for.
In the mean time, here's a neat idea: Kindle on your PC. For free. I just downloaded it and I'm going to give it a spin. I considered buying myself an e-reader, but I don't think I can justify the cost right now (though I rarely spend much on FUN for myself) so I'm going to check this out for now, and maybe put one on my X-mas list. Maybe not. The library is always free. Plus, when do I have time to read??
I have mixed feelings about school at the moment. Not that I'm ever going to quit until I have at least ONE college degree, it's just hard. It's supposed to be. College is not for wimps.
There are moments where I go from complete exhaustion and being overwhelmed to being inspired and wishing I could always have these opportunities to learn. It's almost a crime that college is so expensive and takes so much time...but that's learning. It will never take less time, no matter how little it costs. Technology can help there, but to truly be a scholar in something you'll have to spend the time learning it. Learning is changing (and has been since humans started walking). If you know how to use a computer, you potentially know a lot more than most folks did in the '70s. That's where the time can be changed. But true knowledge without instruments and technology will always require a lot of time invested.
I am very excited for the new challenges I have been given with school, but at the same time I just wish there was MORE time to do it in. There will be a slight difference in timing because I'm used to quarters and now I'm at a school with semesters, but that means I have less of an interval between those meeting times. I see many of my professors every other day-sometimes every day. There is no putting homework off for a day anymore. No more breaks between days of school.
Aidan seemed to have a great day with his friends while I was at school yesterday, and I know he had good bonding time with daddy today. For some reason, I am almost relieved to be able to get out and be a person all day long and not have to worry about feeding, changing, bathing, playing, etc. I do already miss the free time, though, but it makes the time I have even more special.
I have a lot more to share with you all, in my more traditional blogging taste (more "HEY you can use this info", not "HEY this is all about ME") but I'm not sure exactly when I'll get time to post it. As always, I have more going on than I have the time for.
In the mean time, here's a neat idea: Kindle on your PC. For free. I just downloaded it and I'm going to give it a spin. I considered buying myself an e-reader, but I don't think I can justify the cost right now (though I rarely spend much on FUN for myself) so I'm going to check this out for now, and maybe put one on my X-mas list. Maybe not. The library is always free. Plus, when do I have time to read??
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Back to School Madness
I realize it's been almost a century since I posted. I'm sorry about that. I've thought of posting a few things here and there but it's been so busy around here and I put the computer away for a few days to get things done and enjoy my last few days of summer vacation. Here are a few of the activities we've been partaking in lately:
I made these Cowboy Calzone from The Pioneer Woman's cookbook. They were delicious!! They don't reheat well. I had more filling than pizza dough so I saved the filling in the fridge. It makes great burritos the next day. I would probably try adding some refried beans to the burritos though.
We took Aidan to the pool for the first time. He loved it! Quite different from natural water.
I've been busy being the hands-on mom I thought I'd be all summer. Gee, where did the time go? Anyway, I started making Aidan a felt face set. I suppose you could just go buy a Mr. Potato Head, but this is more creative. The facial features come off and you can rearrange the face. I just have to make more pieces first.
We also made finger paint from flour, salt, and water. It's sticky and thick, but you know it's safe if your little one decides to eat it. I'll post the recipe one of these days if anyone's interested.
We made three colors by using food coloring drops.
Then we set up outside to help manage the mess.
Aidan didn't like the finger paint at all. He didn't want to touch it. Instead he used his Crayola paints as I posted about a few months ago. He likes to try to suck the paint out of them before I catch him.
I used those to paint his feet and do a footprint. He didn't like this process too well either, so the right one didn't turn out as well.
I also got started making Aidan's growth chart. Here it's just a board but presently I have it cut down, sanded, and painted white. Now I have to get creative about the decoration, I'm not sure how I'm going to do that yet. I'll try to post the full project when finished.
We also had fun trying out this idea:
I just mixed some food coloring in with water before making ice cubes out of it. These are this funny shape because we happened to have those water-bottle sized ice trays that make the round cubes to slip into bottles.
We put them in the tub with him to watch them melt and so he could feel the difference in the warm water and cold ice. Be careful though, small cubes are a choking hazard as they melt. Stick to the bigger ones and as they dissolve keep them out of little mouths.
It'll turn the water funny colors, too.
The other night during story time Aidan took pleasure in sticking out his tongue. It was pretty funny.
I got out the camera and snapped a few photos and video.
On Wednesday, we filled a baby pool with spaghetti and let the little ones "swim" in it. They didn't really take to the idea of swimming though, instead it became a spaghetti flinging contest. There was spaghetti ALL over the yard surrounding the pool. It was a lot of fun, albeit messy. I have video of that as well, perhaps I'll add some clips later.
Now that I've been to orientation at school, summer fun time is drawing to a close. It's about school supplies, textbooks, and parking permits. The seasonal fun isn't all over, we'll fit it in between studying and fieldtrips, but I'm about to feel the affects of being in class full time Monday through Friday instead of spreading it out and taking classes online. My schedule will be much different, and convenience products will probably fill the gaps in my life. Like frozen pie crust. If I get around to baking that Chicken Pot Pie I was planning on, I'm using frozen crust...that's why they invented those products, to save our time.
Until next time...hopefully it won't be 20 days again...thanks for reading!!
I made these Cowboy Calzone from The Pioneer Woman's cookbook. They were delicious!! They don't reheat well. I had more filling than pizza dough so I saved the filling in the fridge. It makes great burritos the next day. I would probably try adding some refried beans to the burritos though.
We took Aidan to the pool for the first time. He loved it! Quite different from natural water.
I've been busy being the hands-on mom I thought I'd be all summer. Gee, where did the time go? Anyway, I started making Aidan a felt face set. I suppose you could just go buy a Mr. Potato Head, but this is more creative. The facial features come off and you can rearrange the face. I just have to make more pieces first.
We also made finger paint from flour, salt, and water. It's sticky and thick, but you know it's safe if your little one decides to eat it. I'll post the recipe one of these days if anyone's interested.
Then we set up outside to help manage the mess.
Aidan didn't like the finger paint at all. He didn't want to touch it. Instead he used his Crayola paints as I posted about a few months ago. He likes to try to suck the paint out of them before I catch him.
I used those to paint his feet and do a footprint. He didn't like this process too well either, so the right one didn't turn out as well.
I also got started making Aidan's growth chart. Here it's just a board but presently I have it cut down, sanded, and painted white. Now I have to get creative about the decoration, I'm not sure how I'm going to do that yet. I'll try to post the full project when finished.
We also had fun trying out this idea:
I just mixed some food coloring in with water before making ice cubes out of it. These are this funny shape because we happened to have those water-bottle sized ice trays that make the round cubes to slip into bottles.
We put them in the tub with him to watch them melt and so he could feel the difference in the warm water and cold ice. Be careful though, small cubes are a choking hazard as they melt. Stick to the bigger ones and as they dissolve keep them out of little mouths.
It'll turn the water funny colors, too.
The other night during story time Aidan took pleasure in sticking out his tongue. It was pretty funny.
I got out the camera and snapped a few photos and video.
On Wednesday, we filled a baby pool with spaghetti and let the little ones "swim" in it. They didn't really take to the idea of swimming though, instead it became a spaghetti flinging contest. There was spaghetti ALL over the yard surrounding the pool. It was a lot of fun, albeit messy. I have video of that as well, perhaps I'll add some clips later.
Now that I've been to orientation at school, summer fun time is drawing to a close. It's about school supplies, textbooks, and parking permits. The seasonal fun isn't all over, we'll fit it in between studying and fieldtrips, but I'm about to feel the affects of being in class full time Monday through Friday instead of spreading it out and taking classes online. My schedule will be much different, and convenience products will probably fill the gaps in my life. Like frozen pie crust. If I get around to baking that Chicken Pot Pie I was planning on, I'm using frozen crust...that's why they invented those products, to save our time.
Until next time...hopefully it won't be 20 days again...thanks for reading!!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Cutshaw Gravesites
Again in Washington County, I've also visited the Cutshaw 1/4 of my family. My great-grandparents are Elmo Cutshaw (19 Mar 1916- Sept 1968) and Dorothy Huck (14 Sept 1919-27 June 1997). I remember their house and a lot about my grandmother, considering I was young when she passed. The two of them are buried in New St. Mary's Cemetery in Marietta, Ohio. Elmo has a World War II marker and flag.
An older photo of Elmo with his mother and sisters.
Here's a more recent photo of Dorothy, I believe this was taken in her kitchen.
Elmo's parents are Ernest Cutshaw (1890-1968) and Mary Lois (Mae) Johnson (10 Feb 1891-13 June 1976). Mae died in Michigan and Ernest died in Ohio. They are buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Marietta, Ohio.
This is a photo of Grandma Mae and I believe her great-grandchildren, my parent's generation.
An older photo of Elmo with his mother and sisters.
Elmo's parents are Ernest Cutshaw (1890-1968) and Mary Lois (Mae) Johnson (10 Feb 1891-13 June 1976). Mae died in Michigan and Ernest died in Ohio. They are buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Marietta, Ohio.
This is a photo of Grandma Mae and I believe her great-grandchildren, my parent's generation.
Edit October 6, 2020: The little boy is definitely Robert Arthur Kirkbride, my mom’s brother. I believe the older girl is my mom’s sister and the baby to be my mother. Uncle Bob passed away December 18, 2011 at the age of 49 due to a heart attack.
Ernest's parents are buried a bit higher on the hill in Oak Grove, Cell (30 Mar 1854-19 Dec 1921) Cutshaw and Sabra Robinson (19 Jan 1859-27 Jan 1928). Cell's death certificate says his full name was Marcellus. His cause of death was Diabetes, he is listed as a common laborer. His father's name was Conrad (b. 1816 Maryland) and Margaret Glasgow (b. 1815 Virginia d. 22 Sept 1878 Ohio).
Sabra's death certificate lists her cause of death as a cerebral hemorrhage. Her parents were Thomas Rightson Robinson (5 Oct 1815-15 Dec 1889) and Patience Lavinia Martin (24 Feb 1824-25 Dec 1901).
So, now we return a generations to Mae Johnson. Her parents were William Johnson (12 Aug 1864-16 Feb 1943) and Jennie Parsons (Aug 1865-7 Nov 1944). They are buried in Harmar Cemetery, Marietta, Ohio. William has a World War I marker and flag. His death certificate says he was a building engineer. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage. His parents were Charles Johnson (b. Pennsylvania/Ohio) and Anna McCarmick (b. Ireland).
So now, back again to the first generation listed, Dorothy Huck's parents were Theodore Louis Huck (20 Aug 1889-27 June 1947) and Carrie Haun (b. 1890, Ohio d. 6 Oct 1946, Lowell, Ohio). I think it's interesting that their address, since it's rural, is listed as 2 miles west of Lowell. Theodore's death certificate says he died of a coronary occlusion (I think--it's hard to read) and that he has Diabetes. Carrie's cause is cerebral hemorrhage and that she had hypertensive heart disease. Her parents were Allison Haun (b. Aug 1856) and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Goff (Aug 1856-1 Jul 1921).
Theodore and Caroline are buried in Our Lady of Mercy cemetery, Lowell, Ohio.
Theodore's parents were Joseph Huck (23 May 1861-28 Apr 1922) and Anna Catherine Lang (7 May 1864-21 Dec 1939). They are also buried in Our Lady of Mercy.
They appear to be the first ones buried here.
Their parents are both buried in Ava Maria Cemetery. We went there next from the church and it was a bit of an adventure. We were on a gravel road that was twisty and turny and about one lane. Ava Maria is on a hill, secluded to itself. Joseph's parents were Theodore Huck (9 Nov 1822-25 Dec 1907) and Barnardin Rouch (23 Apr 1831-29 Dec 1897). They were both born in Germany. They're buried in the top corner of the hill.
Anna's parents were Louis Ludiwg Lang (22 Nov 1833-14 May 1917) and Mary Frances Kern (24 May 1844-9 Feb 1920). Louis was born in Germany, too.
Mary's parents were Johann Kern (b. 23 May 1816, Germany d.18 Nov 1903, Lowell, Ohio) and Elisabeth Straswinder (b. 24 Jun 1816, Germany d. 10 Feb 1887, Lowell, Ohio).
I find it really interesting that their stone was written in German. I wonder if they spoke any English while they were here. While exploring the family's old stomping grounds we passed Lang Farm Road and Huck Road. We were significant, that's for sure. I think our family was one of the first ones to settle in Lowell, but I could be slightly off on that one.
There is something very moving about being in an area that you know many generations of your family have lived in...it kind of brings you closer to them even if you never knew much about them.
Ernest's parents are buried a bit higher on the hill in Oak Grove, Cell (30 Mar 1854-19 Dec 1921) Cutshaw and Sabra Robinson (19 Jan 1859-27 Jan 1928). Cell's death certificate says his full name was Marcellus. His cause of death was Diabetes, he is listed as a common laborer. His father's name was Conrad (b. 1816 Maryland) and Margaret Glasgow (b. 1815 Virginia d. 22 Sept 1878 Ohio).
So, now we return a generations to Mae Johnson. Her parents were William Johnson (12 Aug 1864-16 Feb 1943) and Jennie Parsons (Aug 1865-7 Nov 1944). They are buried in Harmar Cemetery, Marietta, Ohio. William has a World War I marker and flag. His death certificate says he was a building engineer. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage. His parents were Charles Johnson (b. Pennsylvania/Ohio) and Anna McCarmick (b. Ireland).
So now, back again to the first generation listed, Dorothy Huck's parents were Theodore Louis Huck (20 Aug 1889-27 June 1947) and Carrie Haun (b. 1890, Ohio d. 6 Oct 1946, Lowell, Ohio). I think it's interesting that their address, since it's rural, is listed as 2 miles west of Lowell. Theodore's death certificate says he died of a coronary occlusion (I think--it's hard to read) and that he has Diabetes. Carrie's cause is cerebral hemorrhage and that she had hypertensive heart disease. Her parents were Allison Haun (b. Aug 1856) and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Goff (Aug 1856-1 Jul 1921).
Theodore and Caroline are buried in Our Lady of Mercy cemetery, Lowell, Ohio.
They appear to be the first ones buried here.
Their parents are both buried in Ava Maria Cemetery. We went there next from the church and it was a bit of an adventure. We were on a gravel road that was twisty and turny and about one lane. Ava Maria is on a hill, secluded to itself. Joseph's parents were Theodore Huck (9 Nov 1822-25 Dec 1907) and Barnardin Rouch (23 Apr 1831-29 Dec 1897). They were both born in Germany. They're buried in the top corner of the hill.
Anna's parents were Louis Ludiwg Lang (22 Nov 1833-14 May 1917) and Mary Frances Kern (24 May 1844-9 Feb 1920). Louis was born in Germany, too.
Mary's parents were Johann Kern (b. 23 May 1816, Germany d.18 Nov 1903, Lowell, Ohio) and Elisabeth Straswinder (b. 24 Jun 1816, Germany d. 10 Feb 1887, Lowell, Ohio).
I find it really interesting that their stone was written in German. I wonder if they spoke any English while they were here. While exploring the family's old stomping grounds we passed Lang Farm Road and Huck Road. We were significant, that's for sure. I think our family was one of the first ones to settle in Lowell, but I could be slightly off on that one.
There is something very moving about being in an area that you know many generations of your family have lived in...it kind of brings you closer to them even if you never knew much about them.
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