January 19, 2010
Business travels can be a beautiful thing when considering your tight budget. While I am aware that not everyone works under the conditions of traveling for work, your sustenance is served well by the corporate card. When I am on the road, Jeff is eating 50% of the inventory and needing 50% less for the fridge. For this reason, I am particularly sensitive to those who do not use expense accounts. In addition, I swirl my memories around the years when I did not travel, did consume more at home, and had to come up with more innovative ways to save. Below is a helpful top ten list of how to squeeze the nickel until the buffalo poops.
1. Compare sales on store websites to strategize best prices for food and gas.
2. Water down shampoo bottles and dish soap containers to stretch their contents by 1/8 to ¼.
3. Spend some time during January to assess the costs of your bills and have a family meeting to discuss clever ways to bundle costs (Internet, phone, and cable), how to reduce energy consumption, and plan short-term and long-term financial goals.
4. Do an early spring cleaning and reorganize items that you can use but are in incorrect places and can be used if placed in appropriate placed. For instance, when you clean, gather those hotel shampoo bottles and start using them up.
5. Plant a garden of foods that naturally grow in your area. Planting kiwi vines in Colorado will prove pointless as you will consume much more water for no return on your investment. If you do not have the space to time to garden, plant window herbs.
6. Use your city library rather than buying books and renting movies.
7. Re-evaluate any charges that come directly to your credit card or checking accounts directly each month. While you may not want to give up the gym, you may have another expense, such as magazines subscriptions that you can read online, instead.
8. Eliminate one common service you use for one month. Examples include dry cleaning, housekeepers, storage rentals, or online services you no longer need. We would have visited the dry cleaners three times so far this month to the tune of about $40 each week. Washing and ironing just our shirts brought that bill down to about $20 per week.
9. Eat only seasonal fruits and vegetables as they fetch better prices than Costa Rican grapefruits during winter months.
10. Close all dampers or turn off heat in rooms you do not use regularly.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
January 17, 2010
Tip of the Day: Engage Resources (that are free)
Last year, our friend Roxy lived with us while she and her husband, Bertrand, packed up their house in Dallas to move south. Bertrand is a computer engineer, so not even the federal government could figure out our wireless network key code. That said, Mother Nature can blow it out with one breath. Bertrand advised us to call the phone company to fix the box and the wireless connection the bad weather knocked out. They did come, and it was not an external problem. Bertrand tied to work his magic again, but he could not seem to get the wireless working again. We hate to ask too much of friends when they are so good to help us out with thing Jeff and I can not manage, like electronics - though Jeff is better at it than I. The next call was to yahoo to see if there was an issue with the desktop computer. While we did extract a few needless wires, the wireless was not helped any. Five years ago, I would have called the Geek Squad at this point, giving myself the excuse that I tried what I could to repair the problem cost free. A decade of Januaries has taught us to keep engaging free resources where ever necessary.
A few google searches on the wireless router indicated that we needed a software package to reinstall the drivers, which we did not have. I was one step closer to the full retail call as I can not go too long without wireless, especially when I need to work from home.
Jeff called his best friend, Dustin, who is a computer network engineer for Whole Foods. I did not get the details, but Dustin was able to wield his magic over the phone for Jeff.
I looked online at the price for the Geek Squad to do a house call for this issue, and if Dustin had not saved the day, we would have been out $149.99, which is the entire January budget!
Last year, our friend Roxy lived with us while she and her husband, Bertrand, packed up their house in Dallas to move south. Bertrand is a computer engineer, so not even the federal government could figure out our wireless network key code. That said, Mother Nature can blow it out with one breath. Bertrand advised us to call the phone company to fix the box and the wireless connection the bad weather knocked out. They did come, and it was not an external problem. Bertrand tied to work his magic again, but he could not seem to get the wireless working again. We hate to ask too much of friends when they are so good to help us out with thing Jeff and I can not manage, like electronics - though Jeff is better at it than I. The next call was to yahoo to see if there was an issue with the desktop computer. While we did extract a few needless wires, the wireless was not helped any. Five years ago, I would have called the Geek Squad at this point, giving myself the excuse that I tried what I could to repair the problem cost free. A decade of Januaries has taught us to keep engaging free resources where ever necessary.
A few google searches on the wireless router indicated that we needed a software package to reinstall the drivers, which we did not have. I was one step closer to the full retail call as I can not go too long without wireless, especially when I need to work from home.
Jeff called his best friend, Dustin, who is a computer network engineer for Whole Foods. I did not get the details, but Dustin was able to wield his magic over the phone for Jeff.
I looked online at the price for the Geek Squad to do a house call for this issue, and if Dustin had not saved the day, we would have been out $149.99, which is the entire January budget!
January 16, 2010
Italian Lentil Soup
Saute the following in a stock pot:
One pound of your favorite sausage, chopped into small bite-sized pieces
olive oil
Once cooked through, remove the sausage and let rest in a dish. Do not remove grease or sausage debris from stock pot. Add one more tablespoon of oil if necessary, and saute the following, stirring until getting soft:
two coarsely chopped carrots
two coarsely chopped parsnips
two celery stalks
one medium yellow onion
Add the following ans saute for five minutes until all moisture is absorbed:
one pound of dry, rinsed lentils (you can also use black eyed peas)
one tablespoon of basil, oregano, and parsley (if you want a strong herby soup, use more)
pepper
Add
3 quarts of chicken stock. (If using canned, choose a chemical free, organic, low sodium option.)
Bring soup to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook soup until lentils are soft enough to eat, about 25 minutes. Taste soup to assure flavor and tenderness of the beans. Correct flavors if necessary with salt, pepper, or more herbs.
Reintroduce sausage to the soup and cook for another three minutes to blend flavors.
Add five cups of your favorite greens (spinach, kale, and escarole all work well).
Serve with a side of grated Parmesan cheese. Freeze unused portions for later consumption.
Saute the following in a stock pot:
One pound of your favorite sausage, chopped into small bite-sized pieces
olive oil
Once cooked through, remove the sausage and let rest in a dish. Do not remove grease or sausage debris from stock pot. Add one more tablespoon of oil if necessary, and saute the following, stirring until getting soft:
two coarsely chopped carrots
two coarsely chopped parsnips
two celery stalks
one medium yellow onion
Add the following ans saute for five minutes until all moisture is absorbed:
one pound of dry, rinsed lentils (you can also use black eyed peas)
one tablespoon of basil, oregano, and parsley (if you want a strong herby soup, use more)
pepper
Add
3 quarts of chicken stock. (If using canned, choose a chemical free, organic, low sodium option.)
Bring soup to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook soup until lentils are soft enough to eat, about 25 minutes. Taste soup to assure flavor and tenderness of the beans. Correct flavors if necessary with salt, pepper, or more herbs.
Reintroduce sausage to the soup and cook for another three minutes to blend flavors.
Add five cups of your favorite greens (spinach, kale, and escarole all work well).
Serve with a side of grated Parmesan cheese. Freeze unused portions for later consumption.
January 15, 2010
With less immediate entertainment such as dinners out or entertainment events to attend, spending more time at home brings us closer together. During January, we have game nights rather than rented movies and delivered pizza. This is a great time to rediscover games we have not played in a long time but still bring us joy such as Risk, Backgammon, Stratego, and our all-time favorite, Scrabble.
January also affords us down time to have deep, rich conversations about components of our relationship we want to improve and places we want to see ourselves. I credit Five Dollar Days of January with giving our relationship audience for conversations that we would otherwise not have or not take as seriously. It may seem as though the practice could invite some pain points in your relationship or get into family arguments about money. If that idea concerns you, I offer the following relationship development solutions.
Schedule a business meeting with your partner. Make an appointment as you would with your dentist. Articulate ahead of time that you will meet in the dining room at X time to discuss
• the current bills,
• financial goals for the coming year, and
• where you see yourselves in five years.
Make certain that when you broach this practice that you are both clear that this meeting is business. There is not an audience to discuss the emotional components of your relationship. It’s like going to work and doing your annual review with your boss. You would talk about what you accomplished, where you can improve, and where you want to be in a year, or five years, right? I argue that you follow this “business” practice to reach the highest possible goals for your marriage.
If you feel so inclined, when your financial meeting is over, you can schedule a secondary meeting to discuss emotional or relationship observations, needs, or goals that are not tied to money. During the early years of our union, Jeff and I had these meetings every three months or so. While we positioned our finances in the best possible way to make the right decisions as we aged, we were also feeling each other out, emotionally and behaviorally. For young relationships, you cannot take for granted that your partner knows that tapping your pencil when you read annoys her. She has no natural knowledge that you don’t like yams until you articulate it. Through the meetings, there are no surprises. When each partner knows that a meeting time exists, each partner has time to prepare topics and ideas to share. As well, you both have the opportunity to prioritize when is important now. Maybe you have a list of 15 things you want to get off your chest, but if you only focus on 3, the constructive criticism is manageable for your partner, you reduce egoism, and you stick to the objective. Finally, when having these meetings, remember that it’s business. Therefore, be functional. There is nothing to yell about, cry over, or dwell on the impossible. If you have issues that deep, ones that cannot be managed comfortably I suggest a trying the business meetings for a few months, and then trying the emotional meetings after you get your cadence of the dialogue. If you feel ready, employ the emotional topics. If you do not, employ a third party. Whatever you choose, use the month as an opportunity of austerity with spending and an opportunity to enrich your love simultaneously.
January also affords us down time to have deep, rich conversations about components of our relationship we want to improve and places we want to see ourselves. I credit Five Dollar Days of January with giving our relationship audience for conversations that we would otherwise not have or not take as seriously. It may seem as though the practice could invite some pain points in your relationship or get into family arguments about money. If that idea concerns you, I offer the following relationship development solutions.
Schedule a business meeting with your partner. Make an appointment as you would with your dentist. Articulate ahead of time that you will meet in the dining room at X time to discuss
• the current bills,
• financial goals for the coming year, and
• where you see yourselves in five years.
Make certain that when you broach this practice that you are both clear that this meeting is business. There is not an audience to discuss the emotional components of your relationship. It’s like going to work and doing your annual review with your boss. You would talk about what you accomplished, where you can improve, and where you want to be in a year, or five years, right? I argue that you follow this “business” practice to reach the highest possible goals for your marriage.
If you feel so inclined, when your financial meeting is over, you can schedule a secondary meeting to discuss emotional or relationship observations, needs, or goals that are not tied to money. During the early years of our union, Jeff and I had these meetings every three months or so. While we positioned our finances in the best possible way to make the right decisions as we aged, we were also feeling each other out, emotionally and behaviorally. For young relationships, you cannot take for granted that your partner knows that tapping your pencil when you read annoys her. She has no natural knowledge that you don’t like yams until you articulate it. Through the meetings, there are no surprises. When each partner knows that a meeting time exists, each partner has time to prepare topics and ideas to share. As well, you both have the opportunity to prioritize when is important now. Maybe you have a list of 15 things you want to get off your chest, but if you only focus on 3, the constructive criticism is manageable for your partner, you reduce egoism, and you stick to the objective. Finally, when having these meetings, remember that it’s business. Therefore, be functional. There is nothing to yell about, cry over, or dwell on the impossible. If you have issues that deep, ones that cannot be managed comfortably I suggest a trying the business meetings for a few months, and then trying the emotional meetings after you get your cadence of the dialogue. If you feel ready, employ the emotional topics. If you do not, employ a third party. Whatever you choose, use the month as an opportunity of austerity with spending and an opportunity to enrich your love simultaneously.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
January 14, 2010
Jeff was off for two days, and when we have the day off, we wreak spending havoc. He spent $6 on a DVD from Blockbuster and a fridge item. I was a little concerned, since we did not need the video...but we love the show, Big Love. We also had two DVDs from the library we still had to watch(Remember the "finds" I brought home on Saturday?). Even with that expense, we are still within budget. Additionally, I discovered a Visa gift card in my wallet, which has $6.17 left on it. So, it's a wash. Phew!
The pantry is starting to have some empty shelves, but we are looking good on the fridge and freezer front.
With some vegetables wilting, it was time to take action before the compost pile got more sustenance than we. My grandmother used to saute and boil up some unused veggies, maybe some rice or pastina, boil it up with chicken stock and call it "Jambaut," or Italian Jambalaya.
I started with the Italian trinity: garlic, oil, and basil. After warming that through, I threw in what was left of the celery, a coarsely chopped carrot, half an onion, and more herbs including oregano from the garden and coriander seeds. Once the mixture began to soften I salted and peppered to my taste and added the chicken stock. With some more items in the fridge, I started to get creative... or arrogant. A bunch of boc choy just had to be used up, so that went in. One green onion would compliment the choy as well. While the soup was getting a little dense, I thought a more stew like system could work and fill us up for three dinners. It tasted pretty good, but then I made the mistake of adding a handful of red cabbage. At first, the soup just started to get a little red, and I thought we'd be okay. After letting the soup rest, I waited for Jeff to come home from work, ready to feed him this home made concoction.
As gentle and and generous as Jeff is, he can get a little sardonic. I was ready for a "What the hell is that?" or "Do you expectr me to eat that?" However, upon his return to the nest, I presented a bowl of what was now blue soup, and without blinking, he ate it and gave the chef his props. "So it's blue? It tastes good" was his response.
Yay January for bringing out the best in others.
The pantry is starting to have some empty shelves, but we are looking good on the fridge and freezer front.
With some vegetables wilting, it was time to take action before the compost pile got more sustenance than we. My grandmother used to saute and boil up some unused veggies, maybe some rice or pastina, boil it up with chicken stock and call it "Jambaut," or Italian Jambalaya.
I started with the Italian trinity: garlic, oil, and basil. After warming that through, I threw in what was left of the celery, a coarsely chopped carrot, half an onion, and more herbs including oregano from the garden and coriander seeds. Once the mixture began to soften I salted and peppered to my taste and added the chicken stock. With some more items in the fridge, I started to get creative... or arrogant. A bunch of boc choy just had to be used up, so that went in. One green onion would compliment the choy as well. While the soup was getting a little dense, I thought a more stew like system could work and fill us up for three dinners. It tasted pretty good, but then I made the mistake of adding a handful of red cabbage. At first, the soup just started to get a little red, and I thought we'd be okay. After letting the soup rest, I waited for Jeff to come home from work, ready to feed him this home made concoction.
As gentle and and generous as Jeff is, he can get a little sardonic. I was ready for a "What the hell is that?" or "Do you expectr me to eat that?" However, upon his return to the nest, I presented a bowl of what was now blue soup, and without blinking, he ate it and gave the chef his props. "So it's blue? It tastes good" was his response.
Yay January for bringing out the best in others.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
January 13, 2010
Recipes for the Five Dollar Days of January
One follower suggested I illustrate how we live out of the freezer and the fridge with some recipes that work for us during January. Here is one that we have made twice and provides two meals each.
Roasted Cauliflower with Fennel
Ingredients
1/2 head cauliflower
1 fennel bulb
1 onion
Salt, pepper, olive oil
Marjoram, or other aromatic herb that you have on hand and that works with vegetables (oregano, basil, red pepper, and sage all work)
Directions:
Break or slice cauliflower into florets. In large sautee pan, bring two tablespoons of olive oil to temperature. Sautee cauliflower on all sides until brown. Add salt and pepper to taste while doing so. Transfer entire contents of pan, oil and all, to a roasting pan or casserole dish. Slice fennel bulb into eights. Add two tablespoons of olive oil to pan. Bring to temperature and sautee one side of each piece of fennel, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer fennel browned side down (and the oil) to roasting pan (on top of cauliflower). Slice onion into eights and follow the same procedure as fennel. After transferring onion to roasting pan after browning, sprinkle a liberal amount of your herb on top of the entire recipe. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20-30 minutes or until all vegetables are softened but not mushy. Serve as a tapa, and appetizer, a warm salad, or side.
Optional: Add grated Parmesan cheese to the dish after plating.
The following recipe is often used as a pre-appetizer or appetizer, but we often have it as a side, since it is so rich in fiber and vitamins
Spicy Roasted Garlin Hummus
Ingredients
One can of chick peas, drained and rinsed
Eight garlic cloves
Salt
Olive Oil
1/3 cup lemon juice
cayenne pepper
Wrap garlic loosely in a small package of aluminum foil. Roast in oven or toaster over at 350 degrees until softened but not dried out, about 15 minutes. In a food process, combine chick peas, garlic, salt to taste and lemon juice. Pulse until combined but still chunky. Turn food processor on and dribble olive oil in through the entry slot slowly, watching carefully that the mixture becomes smooth and doughy, but not too wet. You may have to transfer entire mixture to a bowl and finish combining ingredients. Once combined, transfer to air tight container and place in refrigerator for at least two hours. After the time has passed, taste the hummus and correct flavors, adding salt or lemon juice to suit your preference. Before serving, sprinkle cayenne pepper liberally on top of the hummus for a spicy finish.
One follower suggested I illustrate how we live out of the freezer and the fridge with some recipes that work for us during January. Here is one that we have made twice and provides two meals each.
Roasted Cauliflower with Fennel
Ingredients
1/2 head cauliflower
1 fennel bulb
1 onion
Salt, pepper, olive oil
Marjoram, or other aromatic herb that you have on hand and that works with vegetables (oregano, basil, red pepper, and sage all work)
Directions:
Break or slice cauliflower into florets. In large sautee pan, bring two tablespoons of olive oil to temperature. Sautee cauliflower on all sides until brown. Add salt and pepper to taste while doing so. Transfer entire contents of pan, oil and all, to a roasting pan or casserole dish. Slice fennel bulb into eights. Add two tablespoons of olive oil to pan. Bring to temperature and sautee one side of each piece of fennel, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer fennel browned side down (and the oil) to roasting pan (on top of cauliflower). Slice onion into eights and follow the same procedure as fennel. After transferring onion to roasting pan after browning, sprinkle a liberal amount of your herb on top of the entire recipe. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20-30 minutes or until all vegetables are softened but not mushy. Serve as a tapa, and appetizer, a warm salad, or side.
Optional: Add grated Parmesan cheese to the dish after plating.
The following recipe is often used as a pre-appetizer or appetizer, but we often have it as a side, since it is so rich in fiber and vitamins
Spicy Roasted Garlin Hummus
Ingredients
One can of chick peas, drained and rinsed
Eight garlic cloves
Salt
Olive Oil
1/3 cup lemon juice
cayenne pepper
Wrap garlic loosely in a small package of aluminum foil. Roast in oven or toaster over at 350 degrees until softened but not dried out, about 15 minutes. In a food process, combine chick peas, garlic, salt to taste and lemon juice. Pulse until combined but still chunky. Turn food processor on and dribble olive oil in through the entry slot slowly, watching carefully that the mixture becomes smooth and doughy, but not too wet. You may have to transfer entire mixture to a bowl and finish combining ingredients. Once combined, transfer to air tight container and place in refrigerator for at least two hours. After the time has passed, taste the hummus and correct flavors, adding salt or lemon juice to suit your preference. Before serving, sprinkle cayenne pepper liberally on top of the hummus for a spicy finish.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
January 12, 2010
At about this time of the month, we start running out of food.
So far, nothing is causing us to pine. Jeff left the opened jar of peanut butter on the counter, and the our older dog, Duke, took care of that. We are also out of butter, chicken stock, cheese, and we are running low on olive oil, napkins, glucosamine for the dog (He's 11.), and fruit. Get creative. I take glucosamine for early onset arthritis in my left knee, so I cut my tablets in half and share them with the dog until I can afford another $20 bottle (Does that mean he is taking people vitamins, or I am taking dog vitamins?). We can live without peanut butter (except we have about 16 jars of jam left), and paper towels will substitute for napkins if need be. Butter (or a healthy substitute), chicken stock, and olive oil are like air, blood and water, so we had to break down and buy those. For this reason, I include the groceries in the $5 a day budget.
Normally, we use the Discover card for groceries, so we can monitor the spending, but I really wanted to avoid charging anything. So, out came the coffee mug of change. Remember, it's not found money for us. Jeff took care of the shopping and came home with our treasures and a bill of $21. With proper food positioning, we can get buy without hitting the HEB for a while, we hope. $3 of the total was for more spray starch to support our non-dry cleaning month, which I have decided, sucks.
A temptation has come over me, however. I have to travel for work next week. The issue is that I have to work in our New York office. Each time I make this trip, which is infrequently, I like to see my family and maybe hit up a few high school and college pals, where I can. But that means unbudgeted drinks, dinners, theatre tickets, and all kinds of entertainment expenses that this month does not afford me.
As a person who grew up in the arts, has performed since the age of 12, and survived (somewhat) as a working actor for a time, I have to see shows when I get to New York. It's a given. In addition, January is the best time to get good half price seats because tourism is way down. The opportunities are endless. So, the plan is to fly home to White Plains airport on Saturday, spend the night with my brother, visit with his family and my mother on Sunday, and a few other relatives on Monday, which is a holiday. I think I can manage all three days without buying anything that is not a legitimate business expense (which would be one taxi ride and one train). Someone else has to provide all of my food. Mothers and brothers are good for that. However, on Monday, I need to get into the city to prepare for my work in the office on Tuesday. I may as well be dangling over the gates of hell, the first one to escape. My hotel will be two whole blocks from the theatre district, and Angela Lansbury is starring in A Little Night Music. I may be apoplectic by the end of this trip.
I can do this. I have to do this. I need to prove to myself, this mission, to Jeff, and to any readers that conflict will arise. You are going to have your best friends tempt you with blandishments of movies, dinners, and other excursions. But you have to fight. It's far too easy to go over budget.
So here is the strategy:
I am going to print out my current credit card bill (over $3,000.00), my car payoff amount, the contact on the new house, laminate them, and bring them with me to pour over while I am pondering Catherine Zeta Jones' rendition of "Send in the Clowns." It's just going to have to wait. My bills will be the ultimate distractor to remind me that it's just going to have to wait until summer vacation.
I will delight myself by inviting an old friend to join me for dinner, since that will be legitimately on the company expense report, and she can buy her own steak frittes.
With half a month to go and a temptation like this in my way, I will definitely need lots of votes of confidence for this one. I am sweating as I write.
So far, nothing is causing us to pine. Jeff left the opened jar of peanut butter on the counter, and the our older dog, Duke, took care of that. We are also out of butter, chicken stock, cheese, and we are running low on olive oil, napkins, glucosamine for the dog (He's 11.), and fruit. Get creative. I take glucosamine for early onset arthritis in my left knee, so I cut my tablets in half and share them with the dog until I can afford another $20 bottle (Does that mean he is taking people vitamins, or I am taking dog vitamins?). We can live without peanut butter (except we have about 16 jars of jam left), and paper towels will substitute for napkins if need be. Butter (or a healthy substitute), chicken stock, and olive oil are like air, blood and water, so we had to break down and buy those. For this reason, I include the groceries in the $5 a day budget.
Normally, we use the Discover card for groceries, so we can monitor the spending, but I really wanted to avoid charging anything. So, out came the coffee mug of change. Remember, it's not found money for us. Jeff took care of the shopping and came home with our treasures and a bill of $21. With proper food positioning, we can get buy without hitting the HEB for a while, we hope. $3 of the total was for more spray starch to support our non-dry cleaning month, which I have decided, sucks.
A temptation has come over me, however. I have to travel for work next week. The issue is that I have to work in our New York office. Each time I make this trip, which is infrequently, I like to see my family and maybe hit up a few high school and college pals, where I can. But that means unbudgeted drinks, dinners, theatre tickets, and all kinds of entertainment expenses that this month does not afford me.
As a person who grew up in the arts, has performed since the age of 12, and survived (somewhat) as a working actor for a time, I have to see shows when I get to New York. It's a given. In addition, January is the best time to get good half price seats because tourism is way down. The opportunities are endless. So, the plan is to fly home to White Plains airport on Saturday, spend the night with my brother, visit with his family and my mother on Sunday, and a few other relatives on Monday, which is a holiday. I think I can manage all three days without buying anything that is not a legitimate business expense (which would be one taxi ride and one train). Someone else has to provide all of my food. Mothers and brothers are good for that. However, on Monday, I need to get into the city to prepare for my work in the office on Tuesday. I may as well be dangling over the gates of hell, the first one to escape. My hotel will be two whole blocks from the theatre district, and Angela Lansbury is starring in A Little Night Music. I may be apoplectic by the end of this trip.
I can do this. I have to do this. I need to prove to myself, this mission, to Jeff, and to any readers that conflict will arise. You are going to have your best friends tempt you with blandishments of movies, dinners, and other excursions. But you have to fight. It's far too easy to go over budget.
So here is the strategy:
I am going to print out my current credit card bill (over $3,000.00), my car payoff amount, the contact on the new house, laminate them, and bring them with me to pour over while I am pondering Catherine Zeta Jones' rendition of "Send in the Clowns." It's just going to have to wait. My bills will be the ultimate distractor to remind me that it's just going to have to wait until summer vacation.
I will delight myself by inviting an old friend to join me for dinner, since that will be legitimately on the company expense report, and she can buy her own steak frittes.
With half a month to go and a temptation like this in my way, I will definitely need lots of votes of confidence for this one. I am sweating as I write.
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