Sam Squared

      N ow a big life update and another explanation for my blog absence. I toured a few homes with my son in mid April. He wanted me with as he's not really lived in Minnesota (before coming back) since he was 19 and he's never owned a home. After a winter of snow, a spring so far of cold, and rain, and employment opportunities that require flexibility, he shifted his search to low maintenance living.       He almost put an offer on a beautiful condo with all his buttons checked just across the main road from my neighborhood. He paused though, realizing he doesn't want to settle down in our town but rather move to one of the twin cities. I'm much less familiar with Minneapolis but aware areas he'd probably like were a tad out of his pric e point. I know St Paul pretty well so was of more help. We proceeded to tour a few condos in St. Paul. A great two bedroom, two bath, while needing updates, was a top contender. Still, something was missing though lo...

          Photo from Pexels.com free to use, and this one made me think of my own multiple screen use.        I appreciate the messages and comments on old posts checking in. Everything is good. I unintentionally took a blog break last week and most of this week for no real reason at all, just living life, and just wasn't putting things into the computer. I've read many of my regulars sporadically, but apologies for infrequent comments. I don't feel my regular rotation of posts are or have been very interesting either so can't imagine no blog posts for a bit were missed; I put myself to sleep, but haven't had new ideas to blog about since my Lessons post. I guess I gave myself a bit of a social media break in general or at least minimized. I'm weeks behind watching a few favorite YouTube channels, and other than messenger and for a couple groups, I've ignored Facebook.       Part of being less screen time active is the we...

                                                 For my Friday posts, I copy the 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, April 10 to Thursday, April 16. I just sort of list things as they come up, then edit before publishing.  Use it Up/Avoid Waste  Even with theoretically doing Cheryl's challenge on how long could I go before shopping, I still felt things were maybe hidden. I found another significant portion of sloppy joe meat in freezer and used for a beef, cheese, and tomato pasta bake. Despite buying quite a bit of staples, I'm in Use it Up mode as I want it easier to clean all food storage places, pantry, fridge, freezers, fully- tomorrow's entertainment. Avoiding Spending/Saving on needs  Did the quarterly Sam's Club stock up ( not everything every...

Teacher post-it notes from last Friday.      Whats the thing peo ple are saying now when they learn something new? I was today's age when I learned to, that, how... Some people will want to put a box around me to help them understand me and my behavior, or justify theirs, often completely off base. However, boxes have six sides to open and step out from and I'm not obligated to stay there for their comfort. Guard tightly those things that are precious to me while sharing with those that see how precious those things are. Not everyone deserves an inside view of my family, my memories, my grief, and my story, but it's lonely shutting people out who can help lift burdens and share joy. Exercise more caution. Living my life in ways that align with my values never should be diminished. I don't need to buy figuratively or literally acceptance of choices. Practicing reciprocity of this lesson to others can be improved.  Passive aggression is toxic and sign of ineffective co...

     As I've never been a fan of Tuesday's, I've been using them to try and recap anything positive, joyful, or smile worthy to try and lighten up my Tuesday moods. Little Mister is doing fantastic and has just blended in with the family so well. His attitude that keeps bringing him to lounge on the dining room table needs to adjust though...yuck. Shes sharing her tower but not her preferred level. It's always hers. I enjoyed my half day subbing last Friday. Full days will be tough with pup, but the afternoon worked great and gave me a bit of cushion for ever increasing bills.  Crazy variations of weather continue with Sunday starting with a thunderstorm and transitioning to near 80°. It was nice being outside getting a few jobs done in short sleeves. The mud though...then, we had weather watches yesterday afternoon,  but we just ended up with rain and not much that I saw. Things are finally greening up and seeing buds developing on trees. Finally! Happy 15th Bi...

       Photo from pexel.com free photos. Love a good pen, paper, and calculator experience.       I feel I'm back to using this blog as a personal finance/ thrifty living blog. Of course within that vein and in alignment with priorities there will be travel, retirement, and life updates/figuring things out as these all impact how I use money. I want to see money as a tool to support a good quality of life, not monetary acquisition as the goal. I've read too many blogs where keeping more money in hand, with very little joy reported as a reminder to this. Of course, I only read and see what they share and may well be completely satisfied and happy.       I've an expensive life budget the next 9 months, much due to a significant negative variance between my HSA and health insurance premiums. I knew this for 2026 going into retirement, but that doesn't make seeing the impact less jarring each month especially when premiums went up...