Couponing

Coupons used to embarrass me as a child.  We didn't have any money and I thought by using coupons - people could tell we were poor.

But I was a child, and as children we don't understand saving money is saving money.  Especially, if you don't have any money to save.  Fundamentally it doesn't make sense.  How can I save money if I have NO money?

Then as a young adult - I began to understand sales and coupons.  Always buy something on sale.  There is nothing you HAVE to have today.  It will be on sale in a week.  I can save department store/specialty store coupons.  If I buy something online, I get to check out - then I open a new browser and go to Google.  Then you search "website I'm on coupons".  9 times out of 10 you can find a discount code.  Sometimes you have to scroll down a page or two - and try a couple of different codes.  But, I can always find an airlines code for some group (I got a 10% discount on our fares to Europe).  Meaning I saved us a couple hundred dollars - enough to pay for the hotel in London - which I found a 5% discount code - which pays for our train ride to Paris.......

So, I get the couponing thing.

What I can't do?  Is the grocery store coupon thing.

I've tried.

And tried.

And every once in a while, I remember a coupon in the bottom of my purse of something I'm buying, and can pull it out at the last second at the cash register.  I saved fifty cents.

The truth is, I'm not good with paper.  The computer has really helped me.  My organizational skills are not the best when it comes to paper.  Don't ask me to file for you.  You won't find the plumber filed under "B" for "Bill's Plumbing" - you also won't find it under "Household Repairs" you will find it in the P section for "Plumber".

Every once in a while, I try again.  I buy a Sunday paper - I look on the internet - I PRINT something out.  Then I have a big old pile of nothing in my purse.

Before recruiting went electronic, I filed resumes the same way.  Not by the persons names, but by the job they could do (hint hint  Plumber). ;-)

Google mail now allows you to search by keywords - it will pull up all e-mails with the keyword "plumber" in your mailbox.

One day, they will allow us to "file" all our coupons this way.  Until then, I can't coupon for food.

Series Finale Coming Soon

All good things must come to an end.

Things ebb and flow in life.  They don't keep going - unless you are in a stagnant pond.  Then there is no fresh water.  There is only moldy stuff growing there.  Unless it's from above. When the fresh water happens and comes, it will be good.

This trilogy is coming to an end.  I tend to do things in threes.  3 times in Myrtle Beach.  3 times in Port Aransas.  3 times in Kona.

I had to go to Kona to "get" my third child.  3 years is where I stay my best in one place. Or in series of threes.

So, this blog has taught me SOoooooo much about me.  I've also learned about you - my readers, my loyal companions too afraid to tell me whom you are, but like to have been a part of my journey.  But usually, I hang on to things too long.

This adventure is winding to a close.  A record must finally end.  A television series must wind to a close. Yes, we miss the characters.  We miss they are part of our lives.

BUT, you know that series on TV or book?  When they do a "spin-off".  "All in the Family" I still think has the number one number of spin-offs of all time!.  "Cheers" spun off "Fraiser."  I could go on and on.  We could look up shows from shows.

Of course, my favorite spin-offs was one of the secret "spin-offs" - no one really knew that Seinfeld was a spin off from "Mad About You".  Please forgive me if I get this all wrong - but the guy across the hall from "Kramer" moved out and "Jerry" moved in.

Then there is the book that tells you "this is a part of the DNL series".  Some of the same characters, but new stories.  A new plot.

So we are spinning off this blog, and more will be explained here in the next week.  But this adventure, is coming to an end.

Heads up.

A sick day

I can't remember the last time I had a fever.

I do remember having food poisoning a few years ago - that was dreadful.  It was a full twenty four hours before I even felt half way human.

I want a day, where I don't do anything.  I don't work.  I don't go the the gym.  I just am on the couch pretending to sleep.  Watching movies and bad television.

You know, those things you do when you are sick.  But really, I want to go play more than I want to watch tv all day.

But, today, I think I'm calling in sick.

I thought we were friends

Yesterday, I received a message from a guy I've worked with off/on for years.  The message states "Hey L, it's your friend Rob, call me.".  

I called him back today, stating:  "So, what's up with the "Your friend Rob"?  He replies, " Well, that is what you said in your message."  Hmmm.  "What are you talking about?".

You left me a message yesterday (we are doing some work together) and you said, "Hey, it's your friend L, call me. "

Really?

I don't normally mention "we are friends".  If I know you through work, I say, It' L, I'm the recruiter whom we have been e-mailing/phone tagging/texting/etc..".  This was just funny as I know him through work and we have known each other for over 10 years.  The only thing I could think of would be that I was in recruiter mode wanting to stay in that mode.

Too funny.

Although, the funeral I recently attended - my friend Leo calls to tell me about the death.  I never realized when he leaves me a message this is the message:  "Hey, it's your good buddy Leo" then it goes on with the message.  Like he needs to tell me he is my buddy.

A few years ago, Lily's dad was in Denver - on one of his three trips in 9 months to Denver - he was helping me repair things around the house.  We were talking about the kids.  On what they were really thinking when saw each other for the first time.  My thought  "What the hell is my mom doing now?"  My thought?  "Here are some new friends."  Lily's dad replied, "Friends you are going to have for the rest of your life."

I remember thinking, he really means that.  Not in a romantic sense.  He wasn't saying we would be together forever.  He was saying "THOSE PEOPLE" are friends you will have for the rest of your life.

I understand people change.  When I say, I hope we are friends for the rest of my life, I mean it.

The thing that makes me the saddest about my relationship with Lily's dad ending.  It's not the actually "see you next month" or "let's talk about football" or "how are you doing?"  It's the you told me we would be friends. It's the "I have friends from 30 years.".  I understand we don't need to talk with each other - you can stay with the woman whom doesn't want to be around your daughter and has made you stray from your core being.  You can stay there.  If the two of you are happy, I'm happy for you.

I miss the guy whom was in good shape.  Put his daughter and mother first.  A good role model for my sons. I miss him.  What I really miss is that I'm now short a friend.  When I say, "I hope we are friends for the rest of our life, well, I mean it."

Now we are just "those people" - and as your daughter will tell you, "Those people are my family".  We might not be family, but I thought we were friends.....

To tell you the truth

Watching television drives me crazy.  I do like to sit and be a vegetable for bit, on occasion.  Yes, I do get caught up in watching a series.  Sometimes.  But overall, I could do without my TV.

Last summer, and in fact for the last three summers, I didn't turn on the TV at all.  Not even a movie.

We still have cable, but I keep saying we are just going to switch over to internet TV.  The only problem with that is sports.  Or the lack of being able to watch sports live.  Truthfully, around here, it's a big deal, but not a HUGE deal.

To tell you the truth, I wish someone would just come over and fix it for me.  Bring the box I need/don't need.  Take away the cable box and make it all work.  I'm sure there is someone I could call for this, but right now it's just easier to keep the cable.


I don't like running.  It is truly dreadful I've decided.  Yes, the amount of calories you burn versus the time is incredible.  The best thing you can do to burn the most calories in the least amount of time.  It's hard.  For me, it's not only the physical part of running that's hard.  I have to get where my brain is in charge of my body.  Where I'm in a zone so far a way in my head that my body is just doing.  The brain has shut off that receptor that allows any thought to come from the body.  Mind over matter.

Yes, I like how I feel after I run.  I love the way my arms look - nice and toned.  Still working on the toning of the legs. I like accomplishments.  I will have liked running a marathon.  Once it's over.


I'm super excited about heading to Europe next Friday.  I can't wait for stories - lifetime memories - from this trip.  But to tell the truth, I'm not a good tourist.

I like becoming a local.  I like being a "part" of the locals.  And that is why I must run.   To be a part of something local - not just a tourist.  The day before the marathon there is a 5k.  It is not timed.  And from what I can tell (after all, I'm reading a french website), when you register, they give everyone a t-shirt with the country they are from on front of it.  The kids are running that race.

I'd like to say, that will be one of my most favorite moments.  But, there is no way to plan your favorite moments.  They usually happen when you least expect it.

So with this trip - I'm entering it with no expectations. Only general plans.  Some fun ideas.  Because, to tell you the truth, 4 years ago I went on a trip.  Not expecting anything but a fun summer.  I never had any thought I would still miss it so much.

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Little Things

Planning the upcoming trip to Europe - I think I'm more excited than the kids.  Although, points and moments come up and then I know they are excited too.

Tonight at dinner, our conversation:

In the midst of course of our "Good Thing, Bad Thing, Funny Thing of the day".  The topics we discuss at dinner.

We were discussing two years ago when we went to San Diego for a hockey tournament.  On the way down, I was with my friend whom lives in LA.  We are talking about the movie "We Bought A Zoo"  - we talked about how it was set in Southern California.  Half way there, we figure out we need to find the zoo.  Only we discover the zoo is in England.

Tonight, for some reason, the subject of this zoo comes up.  (Nolan wants credit for this).  In the middle of dinner, we pull out the tablet and have to find the zoo.  We are going to be in England.  Let's go to the zoo!!!

How exciting is this???

Turns out the zoo is four hours from London.  Not in the direction of the train to Paris.  Not in anyway a place we could make "en route" to where we are headed.

Or maybe, that is part of life.  Our life.  We take those moments and we go.  There is no saying we HAVE to stay in London.  I don't need to drag my kids through a museum.  What are they really going to remember?  My mom wanted us to do these traditional things - or we got on a train, and went FOUR hours out of the way to find a ZOO based upon a movie we watched?

"You know, the zoo is probably lame?"

"Yes, we all agree, the zoo is going to be lame."  But, someone took a risk.  And risked it all.  And some crazy Americans, knew it wasn't really about the zoo.  It was about something so much more.  Or just a little thing.

In the movie, there was a Duncan.  There was a Lily.  We think they might have been missing a Nolan.

What Are YOU doing here?

Two years ago my sons and I were in Moab with our friends.

This is of course before MY friends, became, well, THEIR friends.  We were at the campfire.  It was cold.  The fire was lit.  It was the desert.  Friends all together.

I'm standing there talking to Rich.  One of the brothers.  Talking about life.  Talking about everything.  

Duncan walks up.

Seriously, my first thought: "Who the hell are you.  And how did you get here?"  You transported yourself.  You see.  At that moment.  I was 20.  Rich was your age.  I truly believed to the core of my existence, well, I was 23.  

Then you walked up.

I was time traveling.

I wouldn't go back, if I couldn't have you.  But, whoooooo, that was weird....