What a month. My car cost $158 to get fixed -- it was in need of a major tuneup. Luckily getting the CV joint on Ray's car fixed was only about $15. I would have had Jeremy work on mine, but it practically died on me and I really did not have a choice. Then about 2 weeks later, the check engine light came on again. This time I did have Jeremy work on it, and it turned out to be a blown fuse. Nothing too major.

I am thinking about trading in my car for a minivan, but I haven't decided. My insurance is way too high, considering I have a base model Cavalier. No tricks or anything - I have to roll the window down by hand and I don't even have cruise. I currently pay $150 a month to insure it, and it's going up at the next renewal. My car payment is only $129. You do the math.

For anyone looking for Mary Kay products, I placed a nice order today - you can visit my website at www.marykay.com/cleffel if you would like to do some shopping! They have some really nice stuffs that would make great gifts!!! Honest!! Best of all? There is a satisfaction guarantee - not a lot of cosmetic companies can say "Here, try this lipstick! Hate the color? Okay, well let's try a different one." Usually the line is "oh well, sorry" or something of that nature.

Another reason to buy Mary Kay products? They are great! When I was in high school I had a prescription for Retin-A and tetracycline for my skin - mucho scarring. I don't use any of that now - only use the TimeWise Cleanser and moisturizer from Mary Kay, and foundation / powder. Very few skin problems. Of course there is the usual PMS related breakouts, but you cannot beat Mother Nature.

If you want to know more about Mary Kay Cosmetics, visit www.marykay.com. You might be surprised!


I really really need to have about 10 more hours in each day. I need to do homework and CLEAN MY HOUSE!! This computer room is a disaster !! This weekend, however, I think we are going to the hockey game (GO GENERALS) on Friday and maybe heading up north Saturday to see the color before the trees lose all their leaves. Ray and I also just want to spend some quality time together. I work first shift, he works second. I have to be to work at 7:30, which means leaving about 6:55 (I have to have time to stop and buy a Mt. Dew). I talk to him for about 10 min on lunch (Just love that Nextel Direct Connect), and then for another 2 or 3 after work. He gets out of work at 10 pm, so he gets home around 10:40. I go to bed usually at 11:30 at the latest (since I get up at 5:30).....
Are you getting the drift that we do not have a whole lot of time together?

I think it is starting to take a toll on us - nothing drastic, mind you, but I think that we need to spend the time together this weekend. The house can wait.


Well, I must be off. I am supposed to be watching a movie that I have to write a paper on for class tomorrow night.


TTFN

Well well well. I really should be in bed right now, but I am enjoying playing on my new computer.
First new computer I have ever had!! :) The computer that I was previously using was my Mom's laptop. Now we have a desktop - and even a desk to go with it.

I am so busy with school - four classes is a lot of homework, especially when you throw a full time job into the mix. I also have to volunteer at a political campaign for my one class. Whew!! Talk about busy.

I am still working at the temp job - so far so good. I don't know how long the assignment is supposed to last, but right now it is nice to have the bills caught up and a little $$ in the bank. This weekend we have to get both of the cars worked on. My car needs a new fuel filter or something....and Ray's needs a new CV joint. I believe that Jeremy is going to work on them for us. I will have to grill him a steak or something. :)

Well - I have been staying up way too late and Ray wants to get on the computer, so I shall close for now...until next time!!

Ahh - my how time flies! I am now a 27-year old. Woohoo! I am working at an insurance agency in the Flint area doing data entry. It is a pretty decent job. I like the fact that I keep very busy - which makes the work day just fly by!

Great news - last Friday I FINALLY received my unemployment checks!! I got 10 weeks of back pay. Even better was the fact that we had actually gotten the majority of the bills caught up, so we had a little fun money. :) I bought a new garage door opener - ours hasn't worked in months - and for my birthday I bought myself a new bike. Ray got one too. :) We also spent some money on the animals...the flea meds from the store weren't working, so now we have both of them on Revolution. So far I have noticed that they are hardly scratching at all. I still need to wash my blankets and also clean the carpets. We also had Sparky neutered on Monday - that was $78 - but I have been meaning to get it done for some time now.

I feel so bad :) He has to wear a collar on his neck - the thing that looks like a lampshade - so that he won't lick his stitches. Ray was supposed to call the vet today to see how long he has to wear it. Right now he has it off and is laying in front of the fan. About an hour ago he got up on the couch with me, laid his head on my lap and fell asleep. It was very cute. He's my buddy!

This weekend we worked on cleaning up the enormous brush pile in the backyard. It has been there since we moved in. Since we live in the city, we are supposed to cut it up and put it to the curb every week. Yeah right. That would have taken a few years! We loaded it into a trailer and took it to my Mom's for disposal. In the process of digging it out (the pile was at least six feet high), we found a decomposing dog at the bottom. Very disgusting. We have no idea where it came from, when it got there, or who it belongs to.

School started this week - at least my Ferris classes. Back to the grindstone!

Well, need to go check on my dog ...

Well, this is my first posting in a month. Not doing too good at keeping up with this, am I? Hmmph. Well, I had a miscarriage last month, that kind of sucked, but we are doing okay. The doctors did not find anything wrong physically - and believe me, it was not for a lack of looking! It's just one of those things, I guess. Today is my last day at this temp job, the regular receptionist is coming back on Monday. I have another position lined up through my contract house. I start Monday at an insurance company in Flint, which is good. They are paying me the same as here, but it is obviously much closer, so I will be saving some green on gas.

Ray's job is going well, he seems to like it a lot. He has so far only had positive things to say.

This weekend we are camping at the Bay City State Park. Tomorrow we are going to see the Tall Ships in Bay City. We left the cat at home, and Sparky is at my Mom's for the weekend. Had a little adventure this morning. Ray was packing up the car while I was getting ready for work. We are ready to leave, and I notice the cat sitting in the driveway. Since he is not an outdoor cat, this was not a good thing. We were both chasing him around the yard. The grass was slippery, which made it that much more difficult. Reminded us both of when Sparky never wanted to come in the hosue. I am SO glad that he doesn't pull that stuff anymore.

Last night when I got home the trash can was tipped over - apparently there were chicken bones in there - and I picked it up and scolded Sparky. Later on, I hear the can tip over again. Well, Sparky was in my line of sight, so I knew he didn't do it. It was the cat!