Ξ May 24th, 2008 | → Comments Off | ∇ General |
I bought my first ever new car today. With gas prices as high as they are, my truck was costing me a fortune to keep on the road, so I decided to look for something more fuel efficient. I found a car that, when you combine the car payment and fuel costs to drive the same amount I do now, will cost me a grand total of $3 more than it costs me to drive my truck. So, for a whopping $3 per month extra, I have a brand new car with a 5 year 120k bumper to bumper warranty. For 120,000km I will have no repair costs whatsoever. It will save me a ot of money, considering my truck likely will need work at some point in the future.
We now own a very pretty new Pontiac G5 SE coupe. It isn’t fancy and doesn’t have every feature in the book, but it has air, cruise and a nice stereo (and it is black!). It is also rated for 48MPG on the freeway. It is a very sexy little car. Of course, it is not a truck, so I can’t tow or go off roading with it, but for now I still have my truck so I can take advantage of it while it is still here. I have advertised it for sale, so we shall see what happens.
In other news- I finished paying off BOTH of my student loans this month! I am really excited about that. It has been 10 years since I started paying them off and they were always a drag on my finances. Now all we have left are Katt’s loans. I am hoping we can take care of one of them by the end of summer. The other one will take a few years still, but having 3 of 4 student loans paid off will be HUGE.
Debt sucks!
Ξ May 9th, 2008 | → Comments Off | ∇ General |
We have decided to stay in our current home.
We flirted with moving to Vancouver Island but a number of factors encouraged the decision to stay here. The main reason we decided to stay was because I love my job. I love the environment, the pay is great, there are health benefits, and there are oppotunities for education and advancement that are not available elsewhere.
We really felt that job stability was really important right now for us, especially considering the economic outlook for Canada in the next few years, both in terms of lack of employment and increased food and fuel prices.
I spent the last 6 weeks painting the house in preparation to sell, and even had Katt’s folks come over this week to help me do a few home projects. Now that we are not selling, the priorities for renos have shifted. I am glad I have done so much on the house though, even if it is just for ourselves. Beautifying our environment is always a good thing.
There will be some things we will have to figure out now that we are staying. My job(s) require me to commute an awful lot and I pay a ridiculous amount for fuel every month. Driving an SUV, even a small one, is not cheap. I have to decide whether or not to get a new/newer vehicle to try to reduce our fuel costs, or stick with the current beast. I want to sit down and actually figure out the costs of financing or leasing a new vehicle as opposed to keeping my current vehicle. That way I will know what the benefits/drawbacks are. My initial thought is that purchasing a new vehicle with a 5 year warranty would mean no maintenance costs for 5 years, plus good gas mileage. Keeping my current vehicle means high gas costs and potentially high upcoming maintenance costs. What the numbers work out to, I ust figure out. I have never been a fan of leasing, but it might be a good option.
We also need to figure out of a hot tub is affordable. Katt could really use one to assist with her fibromyalgia symptoms. There is also the option of getting a jetted bath tub. We will have to see what is affordable.
I am relieved in many ways that we are staying where we are and nervous in other ways. I am relieved because I get to stay in a job I love, I don’t have to move, and I get to keep my very cool home. I am nervous because by staying put we won’t be able to pay off student loans and thus our expenses will remain higher than if we were to move.
Lots of planning to do.
But… yay!
Ξ May 1st, 2008 | → Comments Off | ∇ General |
There really hasn’t been enough going on to write about, at least that is worth talking about. As with recent entries, I’ve been focused on finishing the home renovations I started when we moved into our house in 2006.
So far I have:
- painted the ‘den’
- painted the kitchen (including stripping hinges of 50 years of caked on paint andre painting them, and putting on new door handles, as well as put new trim on wall cubby)
- painted the bathroom
- deconstruced ensuite bathroom in preparation of turning it into a closet
- ‘patched’ hole in 2nd bedoom wall (which I am unsure will look good and won’t know for sure until I paint over the patch)
- sold and removed most of the items from the basement
Still to do:
- paint 2nd bedroom
- paint master bedroom
- renovate ensuite into closet (includes capping sewage pipes)
- organize garage
- pack non essentials
- paint floor and one wall in basement
- paint foundation of house
- touch up exterior window trim and scrape paint off exterior windows
- paint front door and sliding door trim
- landscape front yard
- fireplace mantlepiece
- garage sale
I have help coming in for the ensuite and mantle piece. I could do it on my lonesome, but the help will make it go so much quicker.
I am hoping to have everything complete by May 22. Cross my fingers!
Ξ April 18th, 2008 | → Comments Off | ∇ General |
The babies are 3 weeks old now and they are SO beautiful. Other than the lack of sleep I’ve really loved having the puppies around. We just took new photos of the puppies yesterday and the new pics can all be found at www.hugabugpuppies.com.
They are all walking and we’re starting to work towards getting them on solid food. The first step has been to try to get them to lap milk replacer. So far it is slow going. But they are very cute!
After a feeding today I curled up in their bed with them and they all cuddled up to me and fell asleep. That was pretty amazing.
Life is pretty good.
I had an awesome birthday party last weekend. We combined a Raven’s Retreat party with my birtday party and we had a great turnout. I was really touchd by the well wishes by our guests.
37 is a great year!
37… wow…
Time passes so quickly.
Bijou, puppy #3, passed away tonight at 3am. I got up for my regular puppy check and she was barely breathing. I tried to resuscitate her with cpr, and I listened for a heartbeat with our stethoscope, but she died in my hands a few minutes later.
I just finished taking her away from Luna and her litter mates, who were thankfully sleeping. Earlier in the evening we saw that Bijou had a really distended tummy, so we got some simethicone from the pharmacy and gave her 2 drops. Simethicone helps colicy, distended tummied, puppies become less gassy. She had seemed to be doing a bit better and had quieted down and her tummy seemed less distended..
I am really sad. I can’t believe how much I grew to love her in only 2 days.
Goodbye, my little jewel.
Ξ March 29th, 2008 | → Comments Off | ∇ General |
It is amazing how quickly and intensely you can fall in love with new beings. Aside from lack of sleep, I feel pretty great. Luna is not a very good mother, so Katt and I are both taking on some of her duties and trying to teach Luna what to do with her pups. 6 of the 7 puppies are very healthy and growing, and one little girl is lagging behind and is not eating well. We took her to the vet today and the vet feels she may be a ‘dumb puppy’ or even have an infection(as evidenced by the well celaned pups bad smell). The pup, who we call Bijou (means jewel, and she’s the only one with a name), is on antibiotics and a milk replacement. She has been losing weight in her 2nd day of life does not suckle on her mama’s teat very much on her own.
We are feeding her every hour with the meal replacement and giving her the antibiotics as ordered. Because she does not suckle, we are having to feed her with an eye dropper syringe and introducing Luna’s nipple to the pup frequently to try to get her to suckle. So far, she refuses 95% of the time, and when she does suckle, she suckles for a few minutes, and then drops off.
The vet says there is a high probability she won’t make it. It is hard to fall in love with her and have the thought that she might die, even with all that we are doing.
We educated ourselves really well before going into this process so we knew all of the joys and challenges, and all of the to do and not do’s. Thankfully the vet we have is really awesome and really went out of her way to make time for us today and give us really good information.
So, wish us luck and please send some healing energy to our little Bijou.
Ξ March 29th, 2008 | → Comments Off | ∇ General |
Ξ March 27th, 2008 | → Comments Off | ∇ General |
Well, pug X boston terrier puppy grandparents to be specific. Luna has given birth to 7 beautiful puppies; 4 girls and 3 boys! The birthing process sook just over 3.5 hours, and each puppy came out hungry and wriggly. Luna and babies are now sleeping in the whelping box. 4 puppies are suckling and sleeping, and the other 3 are close by.
Photos to be posted soon.
Ξ March 25th, 2008 | → Comments Off | ∇ General |
I am still here. Just not feeling like writing.
Ξ February 9th, 2008 | → Comments Off | ∇ General |
Tonight will mark the first party we’ve thrown since summer time. It’s exciting, but I had forgotten how much work it is to get a party set up.
I’ve got most everything done except the final surface clean and floor wash. I’ve also got a few minor set up details to finish, such as making the bed in the dungeon and putting the fold out chairs on the deck. If I am feeling REALLY ambitious I’ll dust the shelves in the living room.
Yay for parties!
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