Taking Charge Jan 30th - Week 4

pay safety deposit bill
gather last bit of info to do taxes
have DH change pay stub to have $$ directly deposited into some other accounts

I am gonna soak in the tub in honor of all we have done this month.

Here's to a great week ahead!

Jana

Because that's what John and I are focusing on, independent of this thread. We're working on budgeting and tracking things with the help of whatever the accounting equivalent of a paralegal is--a bookkeeper?--who's a friend of ours. Right now I'm just trying to get everything into Quicken.

Lynn Siprelle, Editor

Hi Jana, thanks for starting us off on a new thread, and with a good positive challenge. The tax thing isn't an issue over here at the moment (you only really have to file a return if you're self-employed or have loads of complex investments). Also the deadline is tomorrow I do have a couple of things I need to do. First is phone our bank and transfer some money to our savings account. The other is just the regular checking the statement thing.

I've also got a challenge. A couple of us were talking about a little exercise/diet taking charge last week. I've been thinking about finding one small thing that I'm not being sensible about that I could work on changing this week. Mine is the spot between about 3.30 6.30 in the afternoon. I've got too much opportunity to snack then - and I've been taking full advantage. First DD has her mid-afternoon snack, then her supper, I have a cup of tea at some point and then DH comes home, often starving from having cycled nearly 10 miles. Too often I'm snacking at all those points. I do need to have something between lunch and supper, or I get really grouchy, but only ONE something That one something is going to be some fruit with DD after her supper. Nothing else. I'm going to tell you guys each day how I've done. Please hold me to account!

Anyone else got a little diet/exercise Taking Charge Challenge?

Zillah

This week I will return my darned library books and pay the (£6!!) fine that I owe. That'll teach me.

My diet/exercise plans -

1. I am working really hard on eating three meals a day. I often skip meals, especially breakfast and/or lunch and then end up feeling ill, and/or grabbing the nearest available junk food.
2. I am also trying to drink more water. I don't like it cold at this time of year, so I am drinking hot water with lemon. Trying to reduce the coffee too, and next time I need to buy some I intend to buy decaff. I'm getting headaches and feeling uptight a lot, and wonder if it could be the caffeine.
3. Exercise. It's absobloominlutely freezing here at the moment, so going for a walk is not my activity of choice, but I intend to have a long walk over the park with the dog twice this week. I should be able to manage that.

I organised the hall today. It's a tiny space, and I have to store all sorts of things there, but I have it much better organised now I also put several items of furniture etc out to be collected tomorrow (Our local council collect such things free of charge, by prior arrangement).

I am still working on organising my bedroom, but have it well under way. I had to ransack it looking for a lost item at the weekend, so got things partially organised while I was searching. I hope to finish it in the next day or two, then February's room for the other thread can be DS14's room.

I am gradually working on thinking out some routines to help things run smoothly. I have a folder and an A4 pad in the living room, and I have been working on it a bit at a time.

Wow, reading over this it seems I am actually working quite hard. Whatever next? I'd better go and have a lie down.

Honey, sounds like you're doing good organising there! Do you have plenty of stuff for breakfast that you like eating and will give you a good start for the day? How much coffee are you drinking? I do find it sends me crazy if I drink too much.

Yesterday I did pretty well at my afternoon eating thing. I didn't make it all the way to DD's supper time, but I had a rice cake with a smear of marmite on at her snack time. Nothing else till our supper time, so I'm pretty pleased.

Jana and Lynn, how are the finances going? I did my tiny tasks yesterday and felt very good for it.

The other thing I've achieved thanks to you guys is that I had my long-overdue smear test this morning. Uncomfortable, but over and done with

Zillah

While you're getting your finances in order...take a look at this Emergency Financial First Aid Kit.

DH and I are working through some "preparedness" projects and this was particularly helpful: thorough and concise. ...just something to think about.

Zillah, I TOTALLLY have a "little" diet/exercise on my Taking Charge list..especially now that we have decided to go the SIL's (South Carolina=beach) for Spring Break at the end of March.

The silver lining of DMIL's long illness last summer and FIL's passing last fall is that we have established an adult, mutually respectful, friendly relationship with SIL and her husband (long story/history). We are looking forward to spending some time with them at their home...in the SUN!

Anyway...I have 7.5 weeks to make a dent in my "winter layer"...which, in fact, is more realistically my "winter layer" of the past 5 years...compounded!

Ten Pounds and a Tan is my new goal!

I'm going to start with 15 minutes on the treadmill, twice a day for the rest of this week, then try for a 15/20 split next week. I realistically will NEVER get up early enough to do 30-40 minutes in the mornings before work (when I go to work) so I'm thinking that establishing the 15 minutes in the morning is more realistic. I'm also restarting me WW eating program...I like the "points" system and have all the resources already.

Shall we revive the "New You" thread?

My first pound is coming off easy...as I'm off to donate blood...1 pint=16oz=1 pound!

Blessings,
Lenora
"...if woman's work is never done, why bother about how much of it [isn't] getting done at any given moment?"
~ Claire Fraser in The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon

Well done on getting that smear test done, Zillah, and on the not snacking. A rice cake with marmite on is very virtuous and doesn't count as a snack

Lenora, good luck with the treadmill. Does it help to listen to music or watch tv while you walk? My Auntie used to exercise-cycle her way through the soaps!

I am on course for three proper meals at proper times today Boiled egg for breakfast, with toast soldiers Lunch was homemade veggie soup (potato, carrot, parsnip, swede, onion) with french bread and butter. I have also eaten an apple and an orange during the afternoon, and tonight's dinner will be steak.

Zillah, I am really bad at eating breakfast, I don't seem to want anything in the morning. As I get older though, I find I feel dreadful by lunchtime if I don't eat, so I have been eating breakfast now for over a week, which is really something for me! Most days it has been bran flakes with a handful of raisins or a chopped up banana, and skimmed milk. I bought some Ready Brek this week in the hope that it had somehow become less disgusting in the numerous years since I last tried it. Verdict : DS14 will have to use up the rest of the packet, he doesn't mind it. I was inspired by Lynn's porridge article to give it a go (and if I liked the Ready Brek I was going to go and out and buy the real stuff) but sorry, no can do I don't really know what else to have for breakfast - I like toast, but once I have started I find it difficult to stop at two slices, so it's not the best choice for me when I am trying to be good. I like grapefruit but it always seems like a lot of effort for a small reward, too fiddly. The tinned grapefruit I have tried has been very pithy Anyone got any nice breakfast ideas? (not pancakes, that's another item I would eat mountains of, so they're restricted to special treats only. Looking forward to Shrove Tuesday!! )

You asked about coffee, Zillah - I usually have about four mugs a day. For a few months I have only been drinking instant, and I've been fine but the headaches started since I treated myself to some coffee for my cafetiere recently. I wonder if it has more caffeine. I have had only one mug of coffee (instant) today, a few mugs of hot water and lemon, and a couple of cups of herbal tea.

We walked the dog over the park today too, so I have achieved all my goals, for today at least

On the organising front, I have been working on the dreaded bedroom on and off all day and am making good progress. Tomorrow I have another 'at home' day so will carry on with it. I am so looking forward to making my room a nice little sanctuary, I am determined I am not going to let it become a storage room again! The reason that happens is that my room is the only one in the house that visitors don't see, so I dump stuff in there. No more! Why? Because I'm worth it

So far I have accomplished nothing in terms of organizing finances. Bother!

Goofball DH has sent me on 300 miles worth of goose-chases in the last two days, so I'm dreadfully behind. He keeps mis-communicating with the parts people, and I'm no help, so when I drive 70+ miles to get there and 70+ miles home and end up having the wrong part, it makes me quite cranky!

I have most of the tax paperwork I need in my bag and the bills drawer. I need to type up inventory, which will involve quite a lot of mental gymnastics, and I am dreading it. Once that's done, we will be ready to hit the accountant's office.

Honey, too much coffee makes me really jumpy and irritable. I find I can only have one cup a day first thing in the morning. I love coffee too. Sniff.

I have been on the treadmill the past two days, so am keeping up with that "take-charge" from last week.

Keep on keeping on!
-Jo

So far so good. I'm entering things into Quicken and watching my spending closely. Of course, discovering that I have a whole hog waiting for me at the butcher unexpectedly (about $250) throws things into a bit of disarray, but as it comes out of my grocery budget, and it will save us a lot of $$ in the long run, I'm okay with it.

Lynn Siprelle, Editor

DH is anal about the finances, I just follow along Excercise and diet...hmmmmmm. Well, uh, I did get the step out of the attic and put it on the floor in the pantry. I plan to pull it out during DD's naptime and actually use the step-aerobic tapes that have been collecting dust.
Honey, I have a room like yours - - my craft room was the "holding place" for everything in the house that seemed, well, homeless. I finally cleaned it out and now the door is shut because it is off limits!

to Zillah and Shaun for last weeks's encouraging words. I have thought about it and you are absolutely right. I am a homemaker, not a cleaner. After I get some routines down I will schedule in some time to spend on things I like doing and I will NOT feel guilty about it! 'Cuz when mamma is happy, everyone is happy

I've read up to date and you guys sound like you're doing really well. Anhata, I hope this thread will help you to put into practice the complicated art of being in charge of your own life. Nobody should ever forget that if they have a rotten/uncomfortable situation in their life that it can be fixed somehow, as long as you take positive action about it, instead of sitting around moaning about it.

I liked the Goethe and it perfectly fits my experience of our move to the UK, because I literally made the decision one morning in May 2004, that we wouldn't wait around for circumstances to take us back there, that we'd do our research, fix our timing and get ourselves moved. Everything, but everything slotted perfectly into place. People have said how lucky we've been but I know full well that it wasn't mere luck. The concept of 'destiny' makes it too easy for us to sit on our backsides and do nothing. Until we make the first move nobody else can help us, no matter what our beliefs. We take responsibility for our own lives. Which explains where this thread grew from!

I won't be back in time for the finances, but we need to do some financial planning of our own, so it will get on my list for February, even if that only means I schedule actual DOING of something in March! I crossed one more item off my list today when I had my teeth cleaned. I need to find myself a dentist in the UK and get everyone on their list because I have two dreadful fillings to be done.

I shall have to be careful when we get back that I don't let any good routines slide because this whole trip has been very surreal - no cooking, no driving, no school, no anything normal!

Hi Moonpi - welcome to the thread. Sounds like you might need to try joining me on meal planning if the thought of cooking dinner puts you right off your food! I've had several months of being off the cooking thing, so meal planning was my only option before, and this year I will stick to it! I started it early last year but didn't last past Chinese New Year. I made sure I have a few meals put down for when we get home this time, which I can make even if I don't get any shopping done in the first couple of days. Thinking about it in advance really takes the pain out of it, which is why I'm so determined not to let it slide this year!

so much for a quick post. I have to go downstairs to the minimart and get Honey's nasi goreng paste and other crazy items! I'm flying on Friday night so I probably won't pop in again until Sunday or Monday. Thanks for starting the new thread Jana - you may have to do it again next week!

Kerri.

How's that for disgusting? Now you can all feel superior because none of you are as bad as me I am thinking of collecting all the dog hair and sending it to Lynn for spinning, she could probably make a whole sweater out of it.

In my defence I was ill for a couple of weeks after Christmas. I don't have an excuse for the two weeks after that though Ah well, six layers of dust looks the same as one, as a good friend of mine used to say.

Tonight I get a new sofa and armchairs (new-to-me, anyhow ), so today I am cleaning and organising the living room. While I have the hoover out I will do the stairs, or I'll be ashamed to show my face here tomorrow

I have managed to eat breakfast and lunch again today, the usual bran flakes and raisins combo this morning, and a cheese and pickle sarnie for lunch. Dinner will be Chicken Kerri. I have had two coffees today already, so better not have any more, I think I'll have some herbal tea in a bit.

No exercise today so far, but I will be taking the dog out for a walk round the block. She pulls really badly on the lead, and I've been remiss about training her (mainly because it's usually DS who takes her out), so I started clicker training her to heel yesterday and she caught on really quickly. I need to practise with her everyday, The exercise will do me good too

Onwards and upwards....

Have I scared you all away with my slovenliness?

Stairs are now hoovered The new sofa and chairs arrived last night and I am very pleased with it. I can't wait to decorate the living room now.

Today I was at my parents' doing their housework, so was out of the house all day. This evening I plan to go through all our homeschooling stuff and sort it out. I'm also planning to read, knit and listen to my motivational weight loss CD - not all three at once

How's everyone else doing?

School has taken over this weekend and I have a very sore throat and achy body.........calgon take me away!

Finances - called last few places to get tax info. Pay day is tomorrow so I will balance checkbook and pay bills.

Jana

Busy, busy week. I have about two minutes to read all the posts before I go to bed. I'm cutting up stuff for patchwork at the same time. I'm off to the Big Smoke tomorrow. Very sorry I won't have time to try see you, Honey, it's a bit of a flying visit before my mum and her partner go off for a 6 week jaunt to Australia and New Zealand.

Catch up with you all on Sunday night, I expect

Zillah

Have a nice time catching up with your Mum

Jana, sorry to hear you're feeling poorly. Lie on the sofa with a book and veg out

I accomplished very little last night. I never did get as far as sorting the homeschooling stuff out. I did a bit of knitting (I am knitting myself a fluffy red scarf, and want to finish it quick so I can wear it while the weather is still cold!) and then fell asleep on the sofa before 9pm. That new sofa is so comfortable! It's bigger than my last one, I can lay full stretch on it (I am 5' 8"). Bliss. Anyhow, typically I woke at 1am and read for two hours before I could get back to sleep, then overslept and woke up at 10am! What a weird night.

Today I have to return the library books and pay the fine! We walked round there the other day to find it was shut, so I'll try again. I also have Post Office errands, lotsa laundry and mountains of ironing. Hoping to make inroads in to all of that, and tidy both bedrooms a bit also. If I get all that done it will be a miracle.

Reporting that I am still in charge of my eating! (What's it been? three days? ) I'm rather proud of the fact that I baked 2 dozen muffins to take to the school where I did my student teaching last fall and only ate one! Now some of you may be thinking, "Big deal!" But breads are my hardest point of control and muffins are WAY up the list as areas of over-indulgence/lack-of-self-control.

I've not done well with the treadmill, though. I gave blood Tuesday and was (pardon my pun) feeling a bit drained that evening. I haven't been on since. Grrrrrr! Arghhhhhh! Perhaps I'll start with 15 minutes ONCE a day as a goal. Honey, I can't listen to music very well while I'm walking...not until I get a mix CD made. I am INCAPABLE of NOT walking to the beat and changing tempos makes me irritable! I also can't wear headphones (or have anything comvering/in my ears...ever). There is a TV...but the volume has to be up so loud to hear it.... Yeah, I know...excuses, excuses!

Blessings,
Lenora
"...if woman's work is never done, why bother about how much of it [isn't] getting done at any given moment?"
~ Claire Fraser in The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon

buried, buried, buried.

Lynn Siprelle, Editor

buried in finances? buried in work? buried in John? buried in yarn? Really I could go on!

I am really working at keeping this sickness at bay! Not doing to much but reading and laying on the couch! (thanks Honey, wonderful idea!)

Jana

The whole week has just a few bright spots - don't tell me you lot are wimping out on this already!?!?!

It's supposed to be TAKE CHARGE not "take a nap"!!!

you're lucky because I only arrived home aout 2hrs ago, so I'm not quite ready for the full-scale scolding you all so richly deserve (and you know you do!). Jana's left off because sickness is really horrible - take some paracetamol and sleep it off properly! The rest of you... how can you all be too busy for this all at the same time as each other??

I've spent the last week mostly asleep I admit, but I really was on holiday. There's a word Singaporeans use to describe somebody who's being very stupid (can't actually remember if it's Malay or Hokkien just at the minute!) - it's 'sotong' which means squid. That's been me for the last week or so. It took three attempts to get one silly stamp in my passport from S'pore immigration because I kept forgetting stupid things. I was dozing off at the least provocation and when DH asked for a creative company name I came up totally blank. I got my hair cut (both kids and DH did too) and my teeth cleaned (just me) and I bought some things (not much I'm afraid) but the rest of the time I was just struggling to stay awake at the right times.

I shall get myself back on track this weekend and now that I've had both my New Years I'm really going to get us moving... somehow!

Lynn... did you have to pay for Quicken, and can you decide how much detail you add yourself??

Anybody got anything positive to end the week on??

Kerri.

And we're thrilled to get some of our money back this year! I still have not started my exercise program (shhhh- don't tell Kerri) - the equipment is still in the pantry but now it has managed to become another flat surface for me to stack things on top of...sheesh. I guess that would be a "hot spot" for a flybaby. Oh well, I will just have to attack that first thing on Monday. On the upside, I baked a couple of loaves of bread yesterday and they turned out very well.
Jana I hope you are feeling better

January:
Items to charity
Taxes filed
Reciept basket gone thru and stuff filed
Planned and carried through celebration for my mom's 80th birthday

Pretty good I think!

My mother's 60th birthday is coming up in a little over a month and I don't have a present. She'll actually be away for a week so we're doing whatever it is a bit later, but I think I ought to plan it, rather than have her plan it herself!! Good news is that I know my father hasn't found her a present either. Bad news is that could mean I have to think of ideas for him too!

What's exercise!?!?! I'm not big on that either, but so far I've been lucky enough not to be overweight except when taking steroids. Of course tha doesn't mean I'm healthy, but I do a fair bit of walking most days. I also got in 3 lots of swimming in the last week, where the weather's warmer. Moonpi, I'd suggest you excavate the treadmill one day (soon) without worrying about whether you're going to use it immediately. The other thing is, and this applies to everyone here, myself included, try to make changes in your lifestyle which give you some exercise - taking stairs, walking further across the parking lot if you don't have tons of shopping, walking for shorter distances unless it's raining.. that kind of thing. That way you're doing it without it being labelled 'exercise', which is a really offputting word!

ibcakes, I saw your other post about wanting a family, but at the moment I'm dozing off so I'm not going to respond immediately. Just wanted to say hello and welcome. I'll probably be setting up a new thread for this one tomorrow, so come and join us over there. It sounds like you're more than ready to take charge of your own life with us, and maybe you can tell us a little more about yourself.

haven't seen any challenge suggestions for next week and I'm running low on inspiration tonight. I'm relying on suggestions or else my (sadly neglected) morning pages tomorrow to provide some answers, so watch this space!

Kerri.

take care of the "I need to-s" You know all the stuff you think of in the middle of something else and then never get to. Mine are several phone calls and letters sent out. They just add to my mind clutter!

Jana

Phone the dr for result of xray, phone the council to arrange collection of my old sofa, catch up on emails, declutter email inboxes.....

That's just for starters. Great challenge Jana!