Friday Fragments

Mrs. 4444 is still recovering from shoulder surgery. It is a long painful process but she still lets us join her weekly to empty all those random thoughts.

Nothing like waiting until the last minute to get stuff turned in for a proposal that has been known about for a month. And I gave everyone a deadline of yesterday to get me stuff since I leave tomorrow. So of course one shows up at 4pm yesterday with a full review at 9am this morning. With lots of typos/formatting errors and the like. I gave it my best shot but if you can't do it right by now, I can't help you.

And yes, I'm getting on a jet plane tomorrow to finally go to HAWAII!!!!!!!!!!! Lots of explanation marks because I'm that excited. And really glad that I'm not flying through Chicago with the fire at the radar center up there. Which was deliberately set by a disgruntled employee. Do you think he might lose his job?

I succumbed to buying pumpkin spice M&M's but have resisted the urge to open the bag. I must wait until October to do that. I did open the autumn colored peanut ones though and they were delicious.

And with that my fragments must end. So much to do and so little time. All checked in with the airline but I have to pack!

Happy Fall Hodgepodge!

Joyce has written quite a few fall questions to celebrate the start of fall. Yippee!

1. It's fall. Y'all. My favorite season of the year! What's something you love to do this time of year that makes you feel it's officially fall? And unrelated to that, do you ever say-'y'all'?
Turning off the air conditioner and opening the windows at night. Then I know it is fall.

And I live in Oklahoma...of course I say y'all. Duh.

2. When did you last have a falling out with someone? Has it been resolved?

Wow, I've had lots of falling outs. I'll pick one that has been resolved. We have since found out that the problem did not lie within us but outside of our control. Which I guess makes the relationship all the better. (Yes pretty non-specific here but that's the best I can do).

3. A song you love with the word 'fall' in it's title?

I chose Autumn instead of Fall in the title.

Autumn Leaves by Eva Cassidy. Gives me chills every time.

4. What's something you've recently let 'fall by the wayside?'

Cutting out sweets. Somehow with all the fall stuff out there I've gone a little crazy buying cookie dough from neighbor fundraising and autumn M&M's. Oh my.

5. When did you last attend an event, read a book, watch a movie, try a new recipe, or visit a shop-town-tourist attraction that fell short of your expectations? In what way?

Trying new recipes. I haven't had a good new one in a long time.
Also I haven't liked several movies that everyone raves about. Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle just did not do anything for me.

6. Describe a time you said or thought, 'The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

I don't think I use that saying at all. But all you have to do is look at Whitney and know the apple doesn't fall from our tree.

7. Was today better than yesterday? Why or why not?

Today is better than yesterday because I'm one day closer to my vacation!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

The travel bug is about to hit us. Three days until we leave for Hawaii! Whitney leaves for New York City in less than two weeks. And my mom is going on a vacation as soon as we get back. I even have another trip to San Diego planned less than two weeks after I get back from Hawaii. 

Tuesday Tidbits

Look a post from me on a Tuesday. I decided since I've missed Friday Fragments too many weeks I'd create a Tuesday Tidbits just for me. :)

I downloaded the new iOS update for my ipad and iphone. I was not happy that I had to delete I don't know how many apps from my ipad to make enough room for the memory that the download needed. And then it didn't use it all. What's up with that? I do like that we can share purchases from the itunes store. I don't like the battery drain on my ipad now. I knew I could get 10 hours out of it reading and listening to music before but now I doubt I could get 6. Which isn't good when I have an 8 hour flight on Saturday with no power outlets on the plane.

And on that 8 hour flight, no free food. I really think this is a very poor decision by the airlines. Just because Hawaii is part of the United States it doesn't mean you should make people buy your cruddy food on the plane. The flight to Paris was 7 hours and we got two meals so I know you can do it guys.

When I knew I had this trip planned, I actually had to back up my hair color appointments to make sure my hair looked good for the trip. Yesterday was my cut and color appointment and I have to say it will look outstanding for the trip. :)

We gave Whitney her birthday present early. Bought her a piece of luggage of her own. She was super excited because it was purple. Amazing how just a color makes her happy.

Abby got to go to the vet yesterday to get her shots and a checkup. We think she is 11 and other than acting weird at times, she is pretty normal. Her weight has been the same every visit except once and the vet said she was in great health. And everyone at the vet said she was the sweetest dog they every saw.

My mom is going to watch Abby for us while we are gone. Mom's thing with her is to give her broken animal crackers and explain all the different body parts and animals to her. I have no idea why this started but we have told her that she can't feed her too many of those. Abby has to keep her girlish figure.

And that's it for Tuesday Tidbits. Three more work days to go!

Hodgepodge

Joyce is celebrating her birthday and the 190th edition of Hodgepodge. I know I've been doing this for a few years but not 190 of them. Cudos to her.

1. I'm celebrating a birthday this week so a question relating to aging feels appropriate. Douglas MacArthur is quoted as saying, 'You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair." Would you agree? If not why not?

I'm never any good at these quote things. I think you are as old or young as you want to be.

2. What remarkable feat, interesting piece of trivia, or historical event occurred on your birth day and month? Not necessarily in your birthyear, just the same date/same month.

On my birthday, women in the United States got the right to vote (the 19th amendment was ratified).

3. Describe a time or circumstance where you wanted to 'have your cake and eat it too.'

Of course on my birthday. I ate whatever I want...including cake. The next day I was really full.

4. What's something you do that makes you feel young? Something that makes you feel old?

I feel young whenever someone tells me that I don't look my age (I really don't!). I feel old every start of a school year when the college freshmen look younger and younger.

5. When did you last do something that was 'a piece of cake'?

I made cookies last night. All I did was take them out of the package and put them on a cookie sheet. Piece of cake!

6. Beef, wine, and cheese all improve with age. What's something else you'd add to that list? (not necessarily food or beverage)

Intelligence (or at least we can always hope it does).

7. If I were to have a giveaway when we hit Volume 200, what should I give away? By my calculations we'll hit Volume 200 on November 26th, the day before Thanksgiving, which means whoever wins would have whatever it is in time for Christmas.

If you did something, it should be a hodgepodge of items.  Since this is the hodgepodge of course!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I believe it is time to start making lists of what to take on my trip. It's only 10 days from today! (Yes I'm a little excited)

Savings Galore

I like to consider myself a frugal shopper. I am one of those people who use coupons but not obsessively (although some in my family say otherwise). I don't buy things just because I have a coupon but if it is something I normally purchase and there is one, I am all for using the coupon. But there are other ways to save money if you don't want to clip coupons.

If you shop at Target, download the Cartwheel app. You can preload a minimum of 15 coupons and if you use it more, you can add more. This will scan your barcode and you can save immediately at the store. I used it Saturday and saved $2.50 for really doing nothing.

Ibotta is an app that has all sorts of offers. You have to unlock the item you are wanting to save on (mainly by watching a video or reading a fact) and then you scan the bar code and upload a picture of the receipt. They have online sale links too. I basically got all our screen covers free from an online store by using this.

Checkout 51 is another app where you scan a receipt after you purchase the weekly items that they are doing refunds on. The items vary by week and include fresh fruit and vegetables. You can use this no matter what store you do your shopping at.

Saving Star is a great app where they do a weekly freebie and all sorts of other rebates. I've gotten about $40 back using this one. They can link up some of your store rewards cards so you don't have to do anything to get the rebates. But it also works at Target and Walmart now by uploading your receipts.

Walmart has gotten into this by their Savings Catcher app. Basically you scan the QR code on your receipt and they compare everything you bought with ads from local stores. If something was cheaper somewhere else, you get it added to a rewards card that you can download and use at the store. I haven't gotten a lot back yet but I'm sure it will add up quickly.

And then there are all the store rewards programs. So many places give you discount coupons for getting on their email lists and then your birthday you get more. I ended up with a $5 coupon from Ulta and somehow got an additional 300 points for some reason. So my $18 shampoo this weekend actually cost me $2. What a deal for doing absolutely nothing.

I'm sure there are more out there and would love to hear how you save money.

Hodgepodge

So I missed out on last week's questions. And then I only blogged once. I say this everytime but hoping this gets me going again.

1. On Thursday we pause to remember a dark day in history-9/11. Will you mark it in some special way?
Nope. To me the OKC bombing is much closer to my heart since it was less than 30 miles away.

2. Do you ever/still...listen to an actual radio? Watch a videotape (VCR)? Look up a number in a phonebook? Refer to a paper map while traveling? Set an alarm on an alarm clock as opposed to your phone?

I listen to my radio in the car. We pulled out the boombox (yes we still have one) a couple of weeks ago to listen to the OU football game since it was only radio or pay per view. We have lots of videotapes of home movies but haven't converted them yet to DVDs. Of course we don't have a player anymore but someday we'll get it worked out. Paper maps are great and always an alarm clock. The last two mostly because we just got smartphones and haven't figure out how to do all that stuff on them.

3. Is it ever a good idea to discuss religion or politics with people you don't know?

Never discuss religion or politics with anyone. And I mean anyone.

4. What's a dish you haven't eaten all summer, but come September find yourself craving? Have you made it yet this month?

Peanuts and candy corn mixed together. I was at the store and saw all the Halloween candy and got to craving it. I successfully stopped myself from buying some now but I doubt that will last.

5. What's something you know nothing about?

Greek and Roman Mythology. Never studied it and just can't get into it.

6. September is Classical Music Month. Do you like classical music? If so, what's your favorite piece?

Classical music is great. So much of popular music is built on it without people knowing. We really have enjoyed listening to DeBussy lately.

7. What's the oldest thing you own?

I have a mantle clock that my dad restored and left me. It is probably from the 1890's.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I'm so excited for Whitney. She got selected by her college to attend the World Business Forum in New York City next month. The business school takes a few students to go to it. It is two days of great speakers and best of all it doesn't cost her anything. Tickets to the event are $2500 each. WOW! What a great opportunity for her. Have I told you how much I love her going to a small school?

Friday Fragments

Boy have I been lazy/busy/just not here. Lots of stuff and yet nothing to write about. So enter Mrs. 4444 and her fragments.

I'm quite happy with the results of So You Think You Can Dance. Not only did the best dancer win, he seems like such a sweet young man. We had him picked as the winner on the first show. It hasn't been renewed for next year which would be a big disappointment. Quality entertainment.

I was excited to see one of my favorite dancers was going to be a pro on Dancing with the Stars. I had planned to watch it until I saw the list of "celebrities" this season. They seem to be skewing very old (two of them are over 70). I'm all for people getting their groove on, but I don't need to watch it.

I've started to watch the previews for fall tv. So far, not really impressed. Guess I'll stick with my old standbys.

We also started a Netflix subscription. Mainly so we could watch House of Cards. Which I LOVE. I'm not a binge watcher but I can see why people would do that.

Three weeks until we leave for Hawaii. We tried to look for some new luggage but we aren't really sure what to get. Normally on business trips I need the medium size but for this trip we would want a large one. Not sure it makes economical sense to buy a new big one for one trip a year. Our old luggage still works.

We decided to rent a car one day when we are in Honolulu. Just seemed to be much easier to do that and be able to get around that island on our own than try and figure out a tour to do and be on someone else's schedule.

Summer waited until August to arrive with a vengeance. It can now go away. I'm tired of heat advisories every day for three weeks.

We are having friends over to watch the OU football game Saturday. I haven't cooked for a crowd in awhile so I would like to do something fun. Guess I'd better pull out some recipes.