Sam Squared

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...

                                               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 3 to Thursday, April 9. I just sort of list things as they come up, then edit before publishing.  Use it Up/Avoid Waste  Ham bone from Easter for future soup, plus a meals worth of cut ham was put in the freezer After sending leftovers home with my sister and daughter, used remaining leftovers during the week  Avoiding Spending/Saving on needs  Easter dinner foods was pretty much all loss leader ingredients, plus, as mentioned above, yielded more meals.  While at my daughters babysitting grandpup and pup to give kitten more time to explore without the big dog, I ran to the cheese store and scored multiple bags of seasoned chees...

       A random unorganized pantry shelf.      I'm on a roll blogging this week, pure avoidance of housework mode. I am caught up on laundry but thats the only thing I can claim I'm on top of. Cheryl posted a challenge the other day and as I'm a list maker anyway, it got my brain churning. I'm paraphrasing but it was how long could you go without need to go grocery shopping. I think I could easily go two weeks with nothing unique with basics on hand but beyond things will get interesting,  as you start seeing below. Carbohydrates wouldn't be an issue but fruit, veg, and dairy would be lacking pretty quick.      This is what I came up with as of Tuesday April 7th,  the day of her post. For simplicity I'm repeating after the other if I'd make more than once. This doesn't include leftover nights though leftovers are mostly need for lunches. I've also not added breakfast items like oatmeal cereal and muffins I could make. Turkey m...

      It was a wet, cold, dreary Easter weekend, but Sunday had some spots of warmth and sun before sprinkles and gray skies returned. I think the weather is breaking nice again by weeks end, but yesterday was biting cold despite the sunshine.  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. First the big news I've been dropping hints about. Meet Little Mister, my son's new companion for Little Miss. He's a handsome young man of just over 5 months. She loves when my daughters cats are here, almost grieves when they go home. He felt she really needed a permanent partner in crime. Sigh! At some point all three will leave my house, but I get to love on him too in the meantime. It's been a bit of an adjustment for the older girl but he's very inquisitive and loving. I don't think pup has figured out there's two cats  here. We'll get him...