Campfire

[JanetA]

I LOVE your new pic! Your hair is gorgeous! Love the fluffy pageboy! looks like a movie star!

[Sparkle]

Thank you Janet. I wasn't expecting that compliment. Regarding looks, I figure at my age I have to try harder. I showered, blow dried my hair, put on a layer of Adobe and gave it a shot. Now I'm back to normal so you wouldn't recognise me.

[Acadianmom]

I need some of that Adobe, people keep telling me I look tired.

[JanetA]

Adobe? what's that???

[Sparkle]

Adobe? what's that???

My name for Makeup, Janet. Teenagers can get away with just a sheen of makeup, but at my age its as thick as Adobe.

[JanetA]

[rvgrammy1953]

Brought some more wood for the fire....chilly again tonight.....rain coming in the morning...so will enjoy the warmth and any company at the fire....

Found Cedar's wine and helped myself....I'm relaxed now...so off to bed for me....

[avalen]

what a great picture Lori, and I think I'll stir the fire also, gotta keep it goin
full blast now as its so darn cold!!! A very long long day for me, a last minute
field trip today I accepted, would put me into overtime for the week. I told
them it would, then she tells me there are two teams, girls soccer, Jr. Varsity
and Varsity. Another driver took them over and the JV team didn't want to stay
and wait for the Varsity to finish and wanted to leave. I would have to take
them back to school and then go back for the Varsity team. We're talking 63
miles!! I was also told they would be ready for me when I got there, NOT!!!
they only started their game just before I got there. I could have stopped
home first before I went to take care of the dogs, so I rush over to be on time
for them and then have to wait for their game to finish, THEN, the girls go home
with parents and the coach had her husband come and get her. She did stop by
and tell me I wouldn't have to make that extra trip and said the Varsity was
still there and their coach. Ok, so I wait and wait and by this time I'm getting
real hungry. Wow, I had a whole $, bought a cup of coffee, it was hot and hit
the spot as it was getting real cold. I would turn on the bus from time to time
and let it warm up but the heater wasn't working real well, the air seemed
mixed with warm and cold, figure something wrong with one of the vents.
I had no book with me and my crochet project was finished (neck scarf) and
I'm still hungry so I dig out all the change in the bottom of my purse and I
count 4 $, woohoo, I go to concessions and they have personal size pizza
from Pizza Hut for 4 $ !! Oh yum. Total boredom is setting in. Finally, the game
is over and its past 7:30 and I wait for the girls and the coach. NO ONE!! I go
over to one little group left standing and chatting and ask about anyone for
Chapparal and the coach said, oh didn't the other coach tell you we wouldn't
need you? duh,,, NO, So, back I go by myself, blowing cold air from the heater
and get the bus parked, its 9:00!! My poor dogs all alone since 6:00 am! Seems
this is becoming common practice for the trip sheets to not have all the information
correct. Don't get me wrong, I like the extra hours but I also like to schedule my
time so I can stop home and take care of the dogs when I need to.
Oh, and did I mention the transportation dept only got $25 for the trip, geez, that
doesn't even pay my wages. No wonder the budget is in such bad shape, and they
wanted me to do two of these for the price of one? OOOOOOOKKKKKK, I'm done
venting, tossing more wood on the fire and taking a good swig of that booze. I
think I really need it. Off to bed now.

[snowball]

Last night was going to post a reply to this when I got kicked off the internet grrr. now I can't think of what words of wisdom I was going to give! Oh well the fire is burning trying to warm of my cold tooties. It is cold in parts north....but thinking maybe Tues we will be leaving and going South!!! DH is feeling better and better need to get something fixed on the truck and depending upon the weather we plan on leaving. Tonight think I will enjoy the fire have a cup of hot chocolate and a donut sounds yummy!!!
Ava that is too bad that you had such a night....you will need to start stashing things in your bus or locker to take with you when something unexpected comes up!! they were totally inconsiderate!!!
sheila

[Echo]

Ahhhh! I think it's time to sit, relax and join you. You did a good job getting the fire up and hot.

I'll just sit here with my fresh mug of coffee, add some Baileys and a small squirt of whipped cream. Ohhhh, now that hits the spot. Warm my piggies on the outside with the fire and my insides with the drink. Nothing better.

Made chili tonight. It was dang good even if I do say so myself. Once I go to bed, pull them covers up and the chili starts working I wont have to worry about getting chilled. I will for sure get away from the flames before it starts working tho. Nope, ain't gonna chance that!!!

Hope ya'll have a quiet and peaceful night my friends.

[JanetA]

Great pic of Lori and Ernie and their "kid"..... too cute!!!

Happy trails, Y'all!!!

[BirdbyBird]

Snow dusting in SW Ohio this morning...so campfire is feeling very nice. Puppy Izzy dance out the door to meet....AHHH, her first white stuff. I can hardly wait till she finds 3-4 inches, she did so enjoy discovering what this powdery stuff was all about......

Roads have a lot of ice on them so won't be thinking of going out till later. Being retired and HAVING TO DRIVE on icy roads....priceless.....as they say.

For those of you struggling with budgets may appreciate my experience of yesterday. For years I never even tried to keep a budget. I knew that I didn't have enough money to cover my wants and needs...especially for stuff I wanted for my children....airplane tickets to visit their Aunt in NYC.......summer camps.... private high school tuition....but I just went ahead and did what I needed to do. I guess that turned out okay so far...they are on their own, satisfied in careers that are meaningful to them, paying their own bills, in good relationships and demonstrate and appreciation for and a curiosity for the wonderful in their world.....But enough about them.....I still had poor spending habits...and after retiring I kept reminding myself that there would be no more catch up without changes in my behavior.....I took an job and paid down my debits and tried to retrain myself.....what is needs and what is wants...and not just the emotional kick that purchasing something you want to buy. Any whoooo......I did start trying to establish a budget about two years ago. First by tracking and making more mindful purchases, seriously paying down some outstanding loans....then by taking what I had learned were my expense patterns, designing a budget. For the first time yesterday, as I started the process of creating a 2010 budget I was able to plug in some of the dream "Wants"....gas for MH travel and Camping fees.....and the budget HAD a place for it! Okay, I am knocking on wood as I type, because I know that one big emergency medical or otherwise would completely alter the line items...but I will not borrow tomorrow's trouble....and I though I don't have any saving..... I had a dream and I am looking forward to traveling to Florida in January and knowing that the money IS there........not crazy, you can do whatever you want kind of money, but the I can pay as I go kind of money within reason......At almost 60, it has taken me awhile but I am happy to know that I was/am re-trainable.

I have always lived somewhere between two opposing thoughts........One should save for the rainy day and for security, etc.....and the there is.....only one today and tomorrow may or may not come.....if you are lucky you might be able to screech into the final end zone, as they saying goes....with you hair wild, still full of laughter, just as your $$$$ runs out.....

So in cold SW Ohio I am sitting near the campfire, gazing over towards the Short Bus (who really needs a better name) and know that adventures are possible......I will move towards them and through them and enjoy where ever and whatever I can, step by step....bird by bird......

[mitch5252]

..

Occasionally, men can be useful...especially if you're stuck behind your dryer.
Fire feels good on this cold, dreary morning.

..

[JanetA]

very nice thoughts BBB!!! thank you for your post!

[Nasoosie]

Glad I checked in at the fire, Tina! Your budgeting sounds very much like mine, and, if you are making it, I suppose I can also do it! Although I have not yet REALLY committed to retiring, I am gathering more courage to give it a try. I need to sit around more fires with REAL people to bat around ideas. I guess living 'bird-by-bird' is not such an impossible idea!

Snow coming here, and I am ready for it. Campfires in the snow are even more warming than campfires on the bare ground. I'm leaving some dry wood and some hot coffee, so stop in and get warm! Thanks for the post, Tina.