Garage sale this morning, which unfortunately, began way too early - like 7AM.  Which meant setting up around 6:15 because the hard-core budget hunters are usually out early.  This year they weren't.  Sold maybe a third of my stuff and the things my parents contributed.  Not many people came by, there was some bad haggling (offering $1 for ( Read more... )

It's the end of the semester and I'm trying to get grades finished for my three lab sections. A few students have emailed me asking for grades so they can figure out how well they need to do on the final (a couple require divine intervention to pass). I don't think I'll TA this class again ( Read more... )

Well, my lab research has been dealt a minor setback. I had planned to grow my cultures at my old lab (the company I had worked for full-time for 5 years and part-time on and off for 3). Even though I was no longer an employee, I still had friends and contacts in the Phoenix office. The reason I wanted to use their lab space was to avoid a ( Read more... )

Oh, the joys of Monday. Started off with a few phone calls - first to my mortgage company because my monthly payment didn't appear to go through. I have automatic bill pay and usually arrange to pay the last possible day possible (I really hate my mortgage company) and my loan appeared not to have been credited. Well, apparently their computers ( Read more... )

My renovation project is done! Well, essentially. I still need to add scribe molding to a couple of the edges (which means I need to track down some that doesn't need to be stained) and there's plenty of cleaning (I can't believe how dusty things got), but the kitchen is done. I even survived painting a wall myself! My mom asked what the grand ( Read more... )

Too bad it's already spent. I was a little nervous about it after all the drama with the IRS (and they still haven't cashed my check, but my account is registered as paid). I did go to the bank and deposit the money and arranged for $100 to be transferred to my travel fund for P4. I'm calculating I still need at least $550 to go (I came up with ( Read more... )

I think I'm finished with the lab move - R still has to move a lot of his stuff, but he can do it, especially since yesterday he A0 didn't have a plan where wanted drawer contents; B) didn't want drawers filled randomly in the new space; and C) didn't have boxes for his stuff. It doesn't help he's a packrat, but I also understand there is an ( Read more... )

Well, last week, I found out that the IRS had apparently lost ('are you sure you enclosed a check? do you have proof') my check that I'd enclosed with my return and was looking at a couple non-payment penalties and fines. When I finally calmed down (the IRS is the only agency in the US government where you are 'guilty until proven innocent'), I ( Read more... )

I'm trying to get my thesis proposal together. Mostly I just need to sit down and write, although I keep finding articles and have been distracted by grading my students final labs (grades are due tomorrow). Also as a way to procrastinate, I've been looking for research volunteer opportunities to earn some extra cash. On Friday, I took part in ( Read more... )

Aside from my frustration with the IRS (and fraudulent porn charges), I've done some major spending in the past couple weeks. First I ordered new countertops and then yesterday I had a plumber come out and install my new bathroom faucets. They're so shiny! The bill was a little more than I expected, but a couple pipes needed to be replaced, and ( Read more... )