Take a step forward. No, take a step back. Take a step forward...
Family reunion = good times. We had 200 people for dinner Saturday night. That's a lot of posterity from my great g'pa & g'ma. And there's still probably 100 other relatives who haven't pulled their heads out and realized how much fun we're having. We'll get them.
I hate money. I hate that I want things that cost money. I hate that Aaron and I don't see eye to eye on the needs vs. wants issue. I concede that I don't feel the same "pressure" that he does, but I'm frustrated by his current attitude. He is totally fixated on the next two months (when our mortgage is outrageous). In December, our credit will be high enough to re-finance and drop the insurance as well as at least one whole interest point. At that point, we won't be rolling in it, but we'll be okay. But he can't seem to see past these next 70 days. I can't even mention anything that involves spending money, regardless of how abstract it may be. Like, we were driving home from the zoo on Saturday. Driving down Foothill Blvd, which has claim to some of the coolest houses in the valley. I make a comment about how maybe someday we'll be that cool, and Aaron has a near-epileptic fit because in his head, he heard, "Aaron, you suck. You don't work hard enough to finance my needs. You are a loser." Ummmm??? Hello? We kind of had it out this morning. It wasn't pretty, but it wasn't too bad. I just can't (and don't want to) let go of my optimism that things will get better. That doesn't mean that I'm not happy now. I don't think I'm a bad person because I like to imagine that some day we might not be constantly stressed about money. Maybe that will be because we have more of it. Maybe it will be because we've learned to manage it better. And if it doesn't happen at all, I'll deal. But that hope? That optimism? That is a huge part of who I am. And I think it's a pretty good part. It's what keeps me going on *those days*. I always believe that if things are tough (in whatever fashion), that it won't last forever. But I feel like I have to squelch that part of me around Aaron lately because the mere mention of something that could possibly, one day, perhaps cost us money sends him into penny-pinched-ness spasms. Meh -- it'll get better, right?
Side note: The zoo? With Meredith? Totally fun. I feel like a gaping chatter-based hole in my life has been filled. I have finally met, in real life, one of those people I have considered friends for the last three and a half years. *phew* And I'm guessing that what I thought was elephant skin, but was actually mock white rhino skin, probably feels quite a bit like elephant skin anyway.
So a few weeks ago, Aaron's mom called us. One of Aaron's cousins was going to be doing her student teaching at a high school in South Jordan (about 10 minutes from West Jordan). Her lease was up, and her new apartment in Salt Lake county wasn't available until the 14th of September. She called Kathy to ask if she could crash at her house (in Provo) until then. Kathy called us, and asked if we wanted to offer her our spare bedroom for a week and a half. Sure we said -- we're not doing anything with it now, and it will save Courtney a ton in gas money to be closer. So she showed up Wednesday. We were chatting the other night and she mentioned that a short-term lease (she only teaches for four months) is crazy-expensive -- like to the tune of $850/month. And that doesn't include having to buy furniture. So we told her she could stay with us for a hell of a lot less, and to talk to her dad. We're thinking $150-$200/month. Oh no. Aaron's uncle pronounced that we WOULD be accepting $500/month from him and that There. Will. Be. No. Argument. Who am I to say no? So now we have a little breathing room, AND a free babysitter!
Anyone have any opinions/experience with buying prescription meds from Canada? No, we're not trying to smuggle oxycontin.... just Aaron's asthma medicine and some cholesterol/triglyceride med the doctor wants him to try. It's like a third cheaper, but I don't want to end up in trouble, or be getting incorrect doses or whatever. Just a thought.
Birthday season is upon is. Everyone's getting a bag of M'n'M's from us. Cooper wants a "Banana Cake" for his. I should ask if he means in flavor or appearance.
Has anyone else seen the freak-show YouTube video about Charlie the Unicorn? What the hell is wrong with people? I keep hearing "Shhhhhhhuuuuuuuunnnnnnn!" in my sleep.
I did the entire week's grocery shopping in 35 minutes, and for $41. I rule.
Alex is throwing random objects of various size and material down the half flight of stairs. I should probably go investigate/shut down the whole operation.
I hate money. I hate that I want things that cost money. I hate that Aaron and I don't see eye to eye on the needs vs. wants issue. I concede that I don't feel the same "pressure" that he does, but I'm frustrated by his current attitude. He is totally fixated on the next two months (when our mortgage is outrageous). In December, our credit will be high enough to re-finance and drop the insurance as well as at least one whole interest point. At that point, we won't be rolling in it, but we'll be okay. But he can't seem to see past these next 70 days. I can't even mention anything that involves spending money, regardless of how abstract it may be. Like, we were driving home from the zoo on Saturday. Driving down Foothill Blvd, which has claim to some of the coolest houses in the valley. I make a comment about how maybe someday we'll be that cool, and Aaron has a near-epileptic fit because in his head, he heard, "Aaron, you suck. You don't work hard enough to finance my needs. You are a loser." Ummmm??? Hello? We kind of had it out this morning. It wasn't pretty, but it wasn't too bad. I just can't (and don't want to) let go of my optimism that things will get better. That doesn't mean that I'm not happy now. I don't think I'm a bad person because I like to imagine that some day we might not be constantly stressed about money. Maybe that will be because we have more of it. Maybe it will be because we've learned to manage it better. And if it doesn't happen at all, I'll deal. But that hope? That optimism? That is a huge part of who I am. And I think it's a pretty good part. It's what keeps me going on *those days*. I always believe that if things are tough (in whatever fashion), that it won't last forever. But I feel like I have to squelch that part of me around Aaron lately because the mere mention of something that could possibly, one day, perhaps cost us money sends him into penny-pinched-ness spasms. Meh -- it'll get better, right?
Side note: The zoo? With Meredith? Totally fun. I feel like a gaping chatter-based hole in my life has been filled. I have finally met, in real life, one of those people I have considered friends for the last three and a half years. *phew* And I'm guessing that what I thought was elephant skin, but was actually mock white rhino skin, probably feels quite a bit like elephant skin anyway.
So a few weeks ago, Aaron's mom called us. One of Aaron's cousins was going to be doing her student teaching at a high school in South Jordan (about 10 minutes from West Jordan). Her lease was up, and her new apartment in Salt Lake county wasn't available until the 14th of September. She called Kathy to ask if she could crash at her house (in Provo) until then. Kathy called us, and asked if we wanted to offer her our spare bedroom for a week and a half. Sure we said -- we're not doing anything with it now, and it will save Courtney a ton in gas money to be closer. So she showed up Wednesday. We were chatting the other night and she mentioned that a short-term lease (she only teaches for four months) is crazy-expensive -- like to the tune of $850/month. And that doesn't include having to buy furniture. So we told her she could stay with us for a hell of a lot less, and to talk to her dad. We're thinking $150-$200/month. Oh no. Aaron's uncle pronounced that we WOULD be accepting $500/month from him and that There. Will. Be. No. Argument. Who am I to say no? So now we have a little breathing room, AND a free babysitter!
Anyone have any opinions/experience with buying prescription meds from Canada? No, we're not trying to smuggle oxycontin.... just Aaron's asthma medicine and some cholesterol/triglyceride med the doctor wants him to try. It's like a third cheaper, but I don't want to end up in trouble, or be getting incorrect doses or whatever. Just a thought.
Birthday season is upon is. Everyone's getting a bag of M'n'M's from us. Cooper wants a "Banana Cake" for his. I should ask if he means in flavor or appearance.
Has anyone else seen the freak-show YouTube video about Charlie the Unicorn? What the hell is wrong with people? I keep hearing "Shhhhhhhuuuuuuuunnnnnnn!" in my sleep.
I did the entire week's grocery shopping in 35 minutes, and for $41. I rule.
Alex is throwing random objects of various size and material down the half flight of stairs. I should probably go investigate/shut down the whole operation.