OK - it is snowing. . .
Again.
(yippee!! i am so excited!!)
The kids have only been to school TWO DAYS this year... they've already lost 'winter break' for snow days missed Last Year . . . and we're in a 'temperate' zone!!
(i have plenty of cocoa! and a fire! yay!)
They *still* need to take term-exams from Last Year's material, not that they remember any of it following their 3+week break.
(we will build a snowman, this time, For Sure)
I drive a four-wheel-drive vehicle, as do so MANY other mommies around here - We CAN get those kids to school!!
(or maybe we WON'T build a snowman, but stay in our pajamas All Day and bake cookies?)
If I lower the 'extra' seats I can take 5 screaming, sniveling, snotty, tobogganed younguns to that school! I will pick up a carpool again-and-again-and-again.
(after playing outside we'll cuddle up and watch a movie, with popcorn!)
I need to go to work. I Need to spend time with other adults. I NEED to save some of my vacation and sick days at least until after January.
(we have pages and PAGES left in our giant coloring book!!)

Good luck, blog readers!!

I don't blog, read blogs or have a particularly strong grasp of just WHAT a "blog" is . . . so good luck to those of you brave and strong enough to read on. Unfortunately, this'll probably be a great place for me to regurgitate out all my random thoughts, ideas and experiences and get them 'off my chest.' Does "blog" = therapy? Geez, I hope not.

OK - today I did something interesting... I went to my state's 'Unclaimed Property' website and found $413.00 in unclaimed property. My budget is seriously strained, so this was a really REALLY welcome surprise! Especially since it's just after Christmas. I'm sure this isn't typical - I moved around a lot and have never been particularly great at paperwork/filing/follow-up. So these are probably refunds I've not received in the mail (for about 18mos I *DID* live where a drunken mailman was well-known for tossing mail randomly out of his swerving, speeding vehicle - into yards, parking lots, or ponds!! once my paycheck was even held for ransom by an angry recipient in another neighborhood who'd found my mail scattered all along his front yard.) or just misplaced/forgot to cash when I DID get them in the mail. Anyway, I printed the forms and have to photocopy a few pieces of ID and mail them in. Then I'll have $413 unexpected-much-needed cash, that belonged to me in the first place. Many states have these (I've lived in a couple, so 'Googled' several) and they're all relatively easy to use - just do a search for "Unclaimed Property XX" - substitute your state for the XX. Beware some fiendish websites out there trying to make a buck off you...

I guess that'd be my 'frugalalista' moment today! I think I'll share a recipe before signing off to make a cup of Earl Gray and snuggling up to a great book.