I’m Boring

I haven’t been posting much because, quite honestly, I am boring.  Here’s my life right now:

• Up at 6:00 (been hitting that old snooze button, so no more 5:30 awakening)
• Leave the house by 7:00 which puts me at work right at 8:00
• Work, work, work
• I bring my lunch most days unless somebody else is buying.  Yep, I’m that cheap now.
• Drive home for an hour.
• Arrive tuckered out around 6:30 or 7, so I change clothes, wash my face and plop down.
• Eat something, watch a little TV and try to climb into bed by 9:30.
• Sleep at 10:00.
• Repeat

My weekends aren’t any better.  The Hunter has won a big contract.  It’s really big, so he needs me for the admin work necessary to get it started.  I put in about 10-12 hours over the weekend trying to tame this behemoth.  I have another month or so of this.  Don’t worry, he’s paying me generously for my time.  I take those $$ and give them to the IRS.

I am not exercising — I know, this is not good.  I was getting up early to run/jog around the neighborhood a couple of laps, but 5:30 has been slipping away.  I need to re-start that.  It is so healthy for me in so many ways.

I joined a weight loss challenge at work.  I am pretty sure I will be the sucker that loses the $20 investment.  Meh, I need the competition and accountability I tell myself.

I am looking at some new places to live.  I haven’t found The One, but we haven’t seen that much yet.  It did feel me with a bit of angst that I will be so far away from the Hunter.  He is a security blanket, but I also still really want my freedom.  What a conundrum, but that is a post for another day.  For now, I’m just boring…..

Photo by Hutomo Abrianto on Unsplash

Family Love

I had the beautiful realization that I have been blessed with my kids.  Although my Ex and I split after 25 years, we spent those years creating a good family atmosphere for our kids.  They love one another and everyone helps the other out.

Taz called me yesterday to chitchat about life.  I love to hear from her.  I don’t have much to add to the conversation these days, so I like to listen and ask questions about her life.  We started talking about my Son who will be returning from Asia in a few very short weeks.

She had a frank discussion with him about money, his budget, student loans and the like.  She is the Queen of Student Loans because let’s face it — med school was not cheap.  Taz told him that he needed a little more of a buffer and he needed to factor in some fun money.  She’s right.  My Son tends to be too frugal.  Think hermit — monk.  He still wears his t-shirts from high school and he’s 23.

We decided I needed to see if he is willing to share his actual budget, so we can make sure he has enough $$.  My Ex is helping him with housing and will co-sign on the lease.  I am helping him with resume, LinkedIn, recommendations and job-hunting.  We are all happily wanting to help him but not in a bossy, overbearing way.  He asks and we jump to attention.

What a beautiful family.  How wonderful that everyone is looking out for the other, proud of each other, no competition or jealousy.  What a miracle.  Today, this is what I am grateful for.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Slooowww Down

I have been figuring out how to slow down and smell the roses at this new job.  Fortunately I have always been a very good self-starter because this job requires a high amount of that skill.  I just keep reminding myself that this is a marathon and not a sprint.

The other thing I keep reminding myself is that they hired me to be their in-house expert.  To that end, it is up to me to keep my knowledge and skills sharp.  I have been seeking out organizations that will help me with this.  My old professional organization is one.  I also attended meetings of two others that I discovered I prefer over the old one.

Also, I want to start writing here more, however, I have a strong rule that no personal stuff will be done on a work device.  I have a few financial spreadsheets on my work laptop, but I have been careful.  I worked for a Fortune 500 and know that every keystroke and download can be watched.  The head of IT is not someone I want to cross.  He has a clearly defined kingdom and while he gives off the air of the befuddled professor, he doesn’t fool me for  a minute.

Overall life is good.  My bank accounts are healthy.  Maggie & Co. is winding down but I anticipate several more substantial paydays from it.  I plan on hoarding those monies until I move and pay my 2018 taxes.  Then I can attack my debt with some sizable payments.

My realtor GF suggested that I try to lease my current place to perhaps avoid the 2-month termination penalty.  That might mitigate things, but I’m not sure how to go about it.  I could use her even though it isn’t her geographic area.  I think that just delays in the inevitable.

I have been thinking about cutting my housing budget down substantially.  This means I might not be able to live in the urban area I wanted, but that might be OK for my new frugal resolve.  I will be notifying my landlord probably around August 1st, so the clock is beginning to tick.  One of my perks with the new job is the low-cost prepaid legal service for minor matters.  I figure I’ll have them write the letter to my landlord so we get it right the first time.

I have a list of personal financial stuff to do.  Things like lower my renter’s insurance coverage, call my whole life insurance co and discuss options to lower my premium for a year or so, renew my auto tag, budget, budget, budget, QuickBooks for Maggie & Co, etc.  The good news is that none of this causes me anxiety any more.  A year ago I would have been frozen in fear and stress.  Now I shrug and get to work.

I find myself working over the weekend, some evenings.  I am BUSY.  Now if only my new job could keep me fully occupied.  I have finally confessed to my boss that I still have capacity for more work.  She’s been traveling almost constantly since I started, so once she returns we will discuss this further.  I like her and she needs help, so I may end up with things outside my expertise, but I’m a smart cookie and learning something new would be good for me.

It’s all good, thankfully…..

Photo by Camilo Ayala on Unsplash

 

 

I’m Chugging Along

Life has been chugging along without any awful drama.  Work is great.  I’ve been there for 3 paydays and another one is coming up this Friday.  Some of my Maggie & Co. business has taken some wicked turns that would have left me gasping in panic if I had continued.  I thank my lucky stars, Karma, God, whatever you want to call it, every day.

I tried joining a gym to exercise in the morning before work and shower at the gym.  I hated the showering part, so I’m cutting my losses by cancelling the membership.  Instead I will just run around my neighborhood several times for 20+ minutes in the morning.  It’s dark, but my neighborhood is lit up like it’s daylight and I feel comfortable doing that.

The Hunter and I took an amazing road trip over July 4th.  It deserves its own post.  Suffice it to say, we had a fabulous time.

I want to write about how I am feeling about the pending move and all the upcoming changes.  It’s daunting.  Tomorrow I go to look at places in the new town for the first time.  I have someone from work helping me.  She is a realtor and does most of the company’s relocations.  She is super nice and I see our friendship continuing (hopefully) after this.

I have no complaints other than the drive is tiring.  Two hours of highway driving every day does wear me down, but at least traffic flows.  I am preparing for a very frugal life once I move.  The Hunter and I have struck a deal that will be my side hustle going forward.  He is winning a new piece of business that will be substantial.  I am so proud of him.

Anyway, I am alive.  I am fat and happy.  I figure the fat will solve itself once I get settled.  Both kids are doing great and my son returns from Asia in about four weeks.  I can’t wait to see him.  He will be packing up and heading off to grad school shortly upon his return, but at least we will once again be in the same time zone.

My oh my am I relieved that I have come out the other side?? Abso-fucking-lutely.  Now I have to help my BFF get there.  She is in her valley of despair.  Fortunately she says that I give her hope.

Anyway, let me get some rest.  My 5:30 am wake up and jog will be here before I know it.

Photo by Pedro Lastra on Unsplash