Sam Squared

 We have a nice blog community and when folks leave, I  know people often check in with each other. On her behalf, this is from Rhitter, Coffee with Rhitter, who's not ready to resume blogging, but wanted to share an update. " Hi Everyone - This is Rhitter. I've asked Sam to provide a life update. First of all, I am okay. Not great, but okay. I withdrew a significant amount of money from my 401K to pay my debt off. Now, I am fighting with the IRS to get a refund. (I should not have withheld so much). That's okay. But the biggest life change is that I moved into my own place. My apartment is a five-minute walk to my daughter's, so I am still able to help, which I do. The apartment is not perfect, but it's my own space. And I am reclaiming my independence and my health. My daughter still needs help financially, but it's nowhere near what it was. And being debt-free has allowed me to do so. Yes, I have to rebuild my retirement savings, but that is ongoing. I m...

                                                            For my Friday posts, I copy a previous week, delete the old and update as I go along the week. This helps me add as the week goes on. Here's my recap of Friday, June 26 to Thursday, July 2. I just sort of list things as they come up. Use it Up/Avoid Waste  Update to an old. Months ago I poorly stitched up a tear in my nice sheet set but bought a single fitted before doing so as I kept putting it off. I also tucked the repaired sheet away, and have still been using the cheap replacement. Finally this week, remembering it was "repaired", I swapped it back on when sheets were changed. Honestly, what a difference in my sleep! The quality is so much better I felt more relaxed. Getting a second set of high quality linen sheets is on my wish list and want to never use chea...

      I'd have liked to have titled this, Adventures in Retirement , but that would be a stretch. Even in retirement life throws curve balls, but I'm rolling with them.        I was not expecting to be a caregiver for an aging dog with health needs that dictates my schedule. Other pets I've ever had clearly were in agony before assisting them to pass or died in their sleep. Pup, when awake, seems quite content, though often confused. He still likes though is very slow, his walks to the pond and park. The potty issues are tough. I'm trying doggie diaper bands. Fortunately it's just his bladder, and it's mostly that he's just not quick enough to alert us before too late. He clearly doesn't like having accidents as he howls for me when one happens. If I stay diligent during the day, use the bands overnight or if left alone, that hopefully solves the mess part. I'm also now one of those dog owners with a little stroller for him. This will solve the prob...

                                                          For my Friday posts, I copy a previous week, delete the old and update as I go along the week. This helps me add as the week goes on. Here's my recap of Friday, June 19 to Thursday, June 25. I just sort of list things as they come up. Use it Up/Avoid Waste  Brought food to the cabin (day trip) with what was on hand. Daughter had a Hungry Root delivery and had items she didn't/wasn't planning to use so brought to me as they needed using. ( I sneakily transferred her $) Avoiding Spending/Saving on needs   The T-Mobile Tuesday reward was a Big Gulp Soda from Speedway. I used it after an hour plus in the back yard pulling and lopping yet more jungle. Pop is one purchase I've really cut back from in this economy. It was a nice treat, though so much soda at one time. Opport...

                                                         For my Friday posts, I copy a previous week, delete the old and update as I go along the week. This helps me add as the week goes on. Here's my recap of Friday, June 12 to Thursday, June 18. I just sort of list things as they come up, then edit before publishing. Good thing this week as I'm feeling all the side-effects from my second shingles vaccine. Use it Up/Avoid Waste  Used lots of bits from past meals as toppings for a couple flatbread pizzas on pre-made crusts bought at $1 for two.  After we ate leftovers from previous nights meals, I made up and froze three small burritos with the tidbits of pork, rice, and beans with a bit of cheese. These are perfect lunch size for me for the coming weeks. Avoiding Spending/Saving on needs  Found four varieties of one pound b...

      I seem to start these thought posts to wrap up the weekend, kick off the week on Sundays, but either don't finish or rush so thought I'd just wait to hit publish on Monday as a few more things pop into my head in the morning. It was a good weekend.  Here's pup; he'll wander around rooms smelling, getting himself stuck between things. This was at my daughters. He seemed to like being there.      On Friday morning into early afternoon, Pup and I hung out with grand pup at my daughters. She was supposed to have only a short event to cover, but things changed and he would have been left way too long without being let out. That was a nice diversion to my week as I could run to the cheese store and nab the loss leaders at her very expensive grocery store in town, but with fabulous digital deals some weeks. Friday night I watched the US -Paraguay game. It's sort of a hunt to find where the World Cup games might be broadcast but found on free Tubi. Peaco...