Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Less

Remember my lofty goal to get rid of 1000 items by the end of 2015? And how I did that in the first quarter of the year? I honestly can't say I miss any of those items. Not one. And I've kept going, too. Without a count, just a guesstimate, with Rob's help, we hit 2000. I probably hit 100 just over the weekend. 

I used to buy screaming deals and put them in a special drawer for future gifts opportunities. That was a great idea especially when my kids were younger, but now that I give fewer casual gifts I've decided it was time to share and let people use those things instead of them languishing another year in my closet. 

I have had a chance to offer my kids different items that I just don't need or want anymore and most of the time they've jumped at it. A few times it's been something they really needed/wanted but didn't have in the budget. That's definitely more satisfying than storing, moving and looking at an item that just doesn't call to me. 

As I'm prepping for a big season of get togethers and visits, I've noticed a few other things about having less stuff. It is easier to organize if there's less of it. I have empty or semi empty drawers for things so that items can be put away properly. Sigh of satisfaction.

I think we'll keep going. 

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Scribbles and Scrambles - sick day

Grown-ups hardly ever get snow days but let's hear it for the fun and exciting sick day. UGH!

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Whew Holly Jolly

This Christmas is bearing down on me like nobodies business. Two new grandkids this year. So many opportunities to have fun and adventure with them. So little time to blog. And Michelle and I have been working on edits and other fun book things. There's just not enough time to do all the things I wanna do. 

So I'm being blog lazy. 

But I won't leave you completely without laughs or etc. 

Like this pictorial gem of some truly tasteless and definitely ugly Christmas sweaters. 

http://www.boredpanda.com/ugliest-christmas-sweaters/  I have a particular fondness for the nursing mother sweater. No worries, you won't have to dig too deep to find it. 

And this. This is just too cute. 
http://www.boredpanda.com/abandoned-baby-polar-bear-sleeping-plush-toy-columbus-zoo-aquarium/


Wednesday, December 09, 2015

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Um What Is That Shiny Thing Over There?

Well, this is awkward. You see I have so many, many things I should be accomplishing. But I find myself clicking on links to things that interest me instead. 

Here's a hilarious article. You can join me in not doing the things you are supposed to be doing. You're welcome. 

http://shellymazzanoble.com/?p=1013

And lest you think I'm a total slacker I washed and folded all this laundry for my poor daughter who's washer croaked. And I also typed, until carpal tunnel and shortness of breath kicked in, with a 35 lb beagle draped over my chest and arms. Yes, you read that correctly. 


Tuesday, December 08, 2015

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Bored?

Bored Panda has the best activity...kinda like a grown up coloring book. But it involves a special little buddy doing the meatloaf pose. 

http://www.boredpanda.com/funny-doodles-on-lovely-cat-photo/  #9 is the best! 


Thursday, December 03, 2015

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ AUGH!!!!!!!

this is where to bang head
Meh news. 
We have a couple of apartments. 
Bad news. One of the washers bit the dust.  

Good news! Cyber Monday offered a great replacement with great reviews and a very doable price. 

Meh news. I couldn't use PayPal Credit wherein I could get 6 months free interest. 

Good news! I could get Swagbucks for shopping online. 

Good news! There was also a coupon. 
Bad news. The coupon would end up costing me $45.00 because it dropped the price low enough that it didn't qualify for free shipping. 

Good news! I killed the coupon. FREE SHIPPING. 

Good news! If I signed up for the credit card I could get 6 months free from interest! 

Good news! The order completed and I could get on with my life. 

Meh news. I forgot to print the temporary credit card information. But no worries. I only got it to save on interest and to be able to spread it out. 

Bad news! A call on Tuesday. Something was wrong with the order. 

Good news! They were able to fix the order. But what was the credit card number again? 

BAD NEWS! I didn't know. I didn't print or save the STUPID DOCUMENT.

Good news! The credit department might be able to help me. 
Good news! Conference call. 

BAD NEWS! My computer decided to go into upload mode right before I returned the call. 

Good news! A document was sent. I just had to make sure I had up to date Java and Adobe. I didn't. 

Meh news. I was given numbers and the assurance I could call back once I opened the document with my information. I was also given instructions about how to open said hyper-secure pdf. 

Bad news! I half listened. 
Meh news. I used three different computers downloading Java and Adobe's latest to try to open this pdf. It provided my name, the date, my credit limit. The numbers I needed were XXXXXXX'd out. 

Good news! Prepared with the phone call ID numbers I pulled up the document and email on both Rob's and my computers and called. I was put on hold so the very helpful credit department clerk could resend the email with the pdf. She came and went as she was having sloggy computer problems as well. One last time she put me on hold I tried something I hadn't tried before and I opened it. Ten minutes later she reappeared and I told her and thanked her profusely! 

Good news!!!! Hallelujah. Praise the Lord! I had my numbers. 

Trust me at this point 6 months to pay and/or no interest was just about ridiculous and why bother. With our rental income I could write a check right now but I already opened the account. And I had an order sitting out there waiting for those magic numbers. 

Easy as stealing candy from a baby. Right? Smooth sailing!

Meh news: I called the order number telling them that I had my elusive credit account number. 

Bad news: There was a delivery issue since we had a store locally that arranged its own delivery. She'd call the store and have them complete my order over the phone. More bad news: The go-to-guy was not at that department currently. He'd call me back. 

Good news: He called. He had the washing machine available. He could do it all over the phone.  

Bad news: He had NONE of my info. And he was as slow as molasses in the winter. I even offered to go back online with the order. No. No. He'd do it. He said. 
Good news: Finally time for the magic credit card numbers. 

BAD NEWS!: He showed that the ID number needed to be three numbers two letters. I have only three numbers. Good news: He'd head up to the cashiers and call me back. 

BAD NEWS! He called me back. I have to go in and show them my temporary card document because this can't be done OVER THE PHONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good news. I did print the document. 
Bad news: I wonder if I can get the hours of my life back. Oh yeah. I don't have the proper validation forms for that! 

Tuesday, December 01, 2015

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ A Peek

My quirks are not limited to home or out. They are pretty much equal opportunity quirks. 
However, I have to draw the line for two of them. You see, my hair is at the awkward stage where if I can get it controlled I really like it but it takes help to get control. One of those helps is headbands. I've picked up cheap ones over the years that I wouldn't wear in public for various assorted reasons, like embarrassment. 

Monday as soon as I got home from work I donned my Delta Dawn headband. Remember Delta Dawn? My aunts maybe liked the song. Or I heard it often when I hung out with them during my formative years. The words are something along the lines of "Delta Dawn what's that flower you have on, could it be a faded rose from days gone by? And did I hear you say he'd be coming for you today? To take you to his mansion in the sky?" So, see why I can't wear it in public? You do not want me wandering around muttering those lyrics. Ha. Ha. 

And my other shame clothing item? Bears Love People (They Taste Like Chicken). I bought the t-shirt in Montana. It was mostly cute to me, and humorous, cause I'm kind of twisted. And the big clincher was that it was half price. Yeah. I'm that kind of tourist. So I put it on a day after I bought it and found out a man had been killed in Yellowstone that morning. Uh. Tasteless. (Bad pun.)

There you have my semi-selfie shout outs and fashion fails. Carry on.