Saturday, August 31, 2013

Summer Sadness

Wow another month come and gone. I'm one of those people who live for the summer. Flip flops, suntans, and fresh veggies. I love the longer days and the warmth of the sun on my face. I hate to see it end. I just want soak up all the summer I can before it's gone for another year. Fall will be here before we know it. I love the colors and pumpkins. I went today by the Yankee store and stocked up on some fall tarts and a new candle. I could buy one of everything. I just love candles. It's one thing you can never have too many put aside. 

I am still in dilemma about decorating my living room. My poor denim furniture just sits. I really think it's just this house. Jessica thinks it's because Ray and I had so many plans and did so much before we moved in. Ray painted the whole house and we cleaned up the yard. We have a nice shed in the back. We were going to decorate it with a huge barn star and an old sign Ray brought home. We never got the chance to finish making it ours. So I'm just indecisively at this time what look  am really going for at this time. I did get a message on FB from my old neighbor. The house next to her is going to be for rent sometime in the next month or so. Then today Jessica and I were getting pedicures and another of my old neighbors came in. She was like did you hear the house is coming up for rent. She said I already told the owners to contact you. The owners are my old landlords. This house is across the street from my old house. So it's kind of like going home but to another house. I would love to get this house it has a long country porch and a screened in back porch. Not to mention it has more room and less yard. I do not like yard work anymore. So my plans are to go by and visit my old landlords. Please wish me luck that this will work out. I miss my old neighbors so much. They were like family!

My new position at work is going very well. I just love my manager and co workers. I am learning all about medical claims and reprocessing them. It's definitely a good thing to add to my resume. I don't plan on going anywhere it's over all a good company. Oh and not to mention my insurance is good and so affordable. I still have both my girls on my plan. There's no way they could get insurance as cheap as what I pay. I'd rather they be covered than not have any insurance at all. Well, I guess that's enough rambling. I will post again soon. Hopefully I will have some more good news to share!

Donna

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Finally Some Good News

Hi everyone,

This Summer took forever to get here not it's August. I get sad during the fall and winter months. The short days make the nights way to long. I just hope Summer sticks around until October. Let's see where should I begin. As many of you know that have been following me I have been applying for another position in my company. I have been wanting to get in claims. I received an email asking me to interview June 26th at 11am. I actually had this day off because the 26th is my birthday. I still accepted! I went home and tried to find as much information as I could on medical claims. There are not a lot of examples online. So I took notes about the history of when claims started. So the morning of my interview I got up dressed for my interview and out the door I went. When my interview started they asked why didn't I reschedule since I was off. I said NOTHING was going to keep me from coming for this interview. I thought my interview went well and when I answered my last questions I told them I did try to prepare better this go around. I told them everything I could find on claims. Interview was over I went to the bathroom changed and left to enjoy the rest of my day off. July 3rd HR called me and asked for me to come up. I GOT THE JOB! I was so excited. This was my 8th time in 2 years I have applied. Not only did I get the job I am also back under my old manager Eric. So things are looking up....On August 14th it will be three years since Ray died. I miss him as much today as the day he died. I always that week off work. This year I had it of but now that I have moved to a new department it will interfere with my training. I did ask for the day off. It's not a good day for me. I wanted to do something different this year. I think the girls and I may ride down to Virginia Beach for the day. I want to spend the day with m girls remembering Ray. I will let you know how that works out....I am thinking of trying to buy a townhouse. I am so tired of renting. The septic tank went bad and so they had to hook us up to county water. This was last Fall they dug the front yard up and it has been nothing but a mud puddle. The landlords had those big black tubes coming from the gutters so it would drain into the yard. Well they decided to put the tube part underground so it could drain out further in the yard. Now not only is the front yard a mess now the back yard is all muddy. So frustrated with the mess. A few weeks ago the air went out and it was one of those 100 degree days. I called them and told them she said let me call you back. She called back and said my husband said call these people and told me the name of a company. I didn't like that because I feel it was there place to call. So I called and being it was Saturday I used the emergency service. Not knowing if it could be fixed I went to Lowe's to buy fans. I loaded the basket up. Right as I was about to check out Eleni called and said they got it fixed. It was a clog or something. So needless to say I put the fans back. I just am tired of giving someone my money and not having anything to show for it. If any of you have any suggestions or can tell me anything about buying a house I will take any tips advice suggestions. I hope all is well in your lives thanks for stopping by.

Donna

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Life just keeps moving...

I really don't have a lot to talk about but wanted to stop by and say hello. Life is pretty much the same here in Chester. I am still trying to move up at work. I thought about outside the company but jobs are just too hard to get these days. Plus I have both my girls on my insurance and my insurance is really cheap and the coverage is good. Now days insurance is like a pay check you just need it to survive. One good thing to report Eleni is working as a Summer Intern where I work. It's nice to have the little extra help. I would love to see them keep her full time. She's so much like me she hates getting up for work, once we are up and out the door we are okay. We both like to sleep in.

Still in the same house. I have looked but things are so expensive or smaller than what I have now. I'm just staying here for the time being. I have been trying to change things up a bit. It's still a work in progress. I am trying to find my way I guess you could say.

I was looking at my blog list the other night and was sad to see so many people have quit blogging. I'm guilty for not posting a lot but that's because there isn't a lot to share. I can go on and on about my old life and how much I miss it but even that gets old. No one hardly ever stops by here so I try just to post updates until something exciting comes a long. Life just keeps on moving sometimes I wish things would slow down a bit. I hope everyone is doing well and please keep posting. Your like my only friends and family that share their lives and decorating style. Thanks to you all for stopping by and thanks for being my friend through the good and the bad.

Donna

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

WOW MAY ALREADY

Hello everyone,

I wanted to post once a month. I totally missed April. Sad to say nothing new to report. I've been home with a migraine the past 2 days. It seems to be easing up. Let's see still house hunting nothing yet. I did apply for a new position at work. Once again I was knocked out by someone with just a little more experience and a college degree. College plays a big part at my job. I think it's great and hope my girls finish but for me not so much. Eleni told me yesterday college is hard she may just get a job. I looked at her and said don't tell me. I told you once you graduated high school you are on your own with college. Tough love I know but this one just doesn't want to grow up. I'm guilty since Ray died I've tried to give her all I can. I am hoping she can get a summer position at my job. Once she gets that pay check I'm hoping she will want to keep getting one. Plus it will give her something to add to her resume. I just don't know what to do anymore. Going from a two parents and two pay checks to one has not been easy at all. I try to do the best I can and pray a lot.

The weather is just crazy. It feels more like Fall than Spring. I don't remember the weather being so up and down before. You just have to dress according to the weather instead of the season. Makes me curious as to what Summer will be like. I love Summer and hot temps. Anytime I can put on flip flops over shoes and socks I' happy. Families don't get together like they used to when I was younger. Makes me sad to think about the world I grew up in compared to the world today. No one place is any different than another. The whole Boston thing really made me think about things. Remember when the US was the land of opportunity. Families came here to work and make a better life for themselves. Now seems like I work so they can come here and get a better life at my expense. Makes me sad all these poor children who are in debt when they graduate because of school loans but others can come here go to school for free only to endanger those who have provided for them. Sorry I usually try to keep my opinions to myself but this just really irritates me. I hope my children never have children. The world is just too crazy anymore. 

Well, I think I covered it all. Home, work, school, and terrorist. Sorry for getting on my soap box about things but sometimes we just have to vent. I hope I haven't offended anyone with my comments. My point is some people make it hard for those who really want to do better. God Bless the U.S.A.

Donna

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Happy Easter

 I am trying to post at least once a month. I sure did wait to the last minute this month. I hope everyone had a Happy Easter. I cooked a ham and all the trimmings. The Easter Bunny stopped by and left the girls a bag of goodies. I guess you never get too old for the Easter Bunny.

Well, I did it! I've been saying for over a year I want a new sofa and I finally decided on what I wanted it's here and I love it. I love all of my country/prim decor but I needed a change. I was going for a more cottage beach look. I so wanted the white denim furniture but in the real world it would be too much up keep. So I went with the blue denim. It's all slip covered and can be washed it needed. I painted my furniture pieces white and then there are my many baskets. I am still in the process of decorating. Changing styles on a budget can take some time. I'm still trying to decide what I want to put on my big wall behind my sofa. When I get it all together I will post pictures.

Still trying to move. Not sure where we will end up or if we will stay. I keep telling myself if it's meant to be than it will happen. Work is still work nothing exciting. I keep hoping for some kind of positive change. Some days I feel so overwhelmed with work bills and missing Ray. It was about this time three years ago I was on cloud nine. We found this house and it was affordable and just enough room. We were so excited because we had been at my Mom's for about a year. It was nice to know we could have our own space and our things out of storage. Ray would come and paint while the bathroom was being redone. We were supposed to move in May but we were pushed back until June. If I could have any wish of course it would to be to have Ray back but most of all that happy feeling. Well, I will try to post sooner next time and with pictures!

Donna

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Hello Again

Just wanted to pop in and say hello. Not a lot going on here. I've had some kind of crud for days and I am so over it. Going to go out a bit today and get some fresh air. I feel the need to window shop or something. I hope to get all my tax information so I can file. It's like a lottery anymore will you hit and for how much.

 As you have heard me say for a year now I need to move and a new sofa. I am thinking of maybe a blue denim. I so love the white but want something that will last and not come with a lot of maintenance. I just think with 2 cats and a dog the blue may work better at this time. It would be nice to have slip covers in both the white and blue. Hey nothing wrong with dreaming. I was really into the darker colors and primitive country style. I still like it but I think I want to go with something light and airy. I love the new cottage country look. When I thought I was moving last year I packed up everything. I never unpacked it because I know I will have to move. My house only has 2 pictures hanging up and that's my girls senior portraits. Losing my husband really took atoll on me. I just wanted to erase everything and make the pain go away. I still have the pain in my heart but I need a change. We were only in our house 6 weeks before Ray's heart attack so it's never really felt like home to us. Just memories of losing him and what should have been a happy time for us.

Moving on this Tuesday the 5th is my daughter Jessica's 24th birthday. They grow up so fast. She works full time as a pharmacy tech for Rite Aid and is going to school full time at VCU. Her dad would be so proud of her. She's turned into a wonderful young lady. Well, that's about it for now. I hope everyone stays warm and well. I know I don't have any pictures posted right now but hopefully soon some changes will come. Until then thanks for sharing your homes and decor.

Donna

Thursday, January 3, 2013

2013

Yes, it's me. I haven't posted in almost a year. 2012 proved to be a real challenge for me. Getting Eleni threw those last few months of school really took it's toll on my pocket book. All I can say is I did it and I survived. Graduation was a real mess. My daddy was in an accident the Friday before and wasn't released from the hospital until that next Monday. So he wasn't able to come down. Ray's brother in SC was supposed to come but he sent Eleni a text saying he couldn't come because he had to work. Sad part is people put too much on Face Book. He didn't have to work he decided he rather stay at the beach. Eleni was so upset she didn't want to walk but we told her to do it for me and that her daddy would be watching.

 I never did move. A friend offered me her house which I was all excited about moving into. It was a two story 4 bedrooms and 2 baths. Most of all a front porch which I loved. She couldn't give me a move in date because she wasn't sure where she and her new husband would be living. They were trying to buy a house and until they did she didn't have anywhere for her things. I decided to stay in my house I am in now. I didn't get a new position at work but I did move up in our department in June. The extra pay was such a help! I thought well if I get on a budget plan with the oil I should be able to swing it. Well, my budget is $200 a month along with my electric bill. We had a sewage tank in the back well it was cheaper for the landlord to hook up to the county sewage than it was to fix the tank. My water bill jumped up $20. I started to drown in my own bills not to mention the holidays. Yet once again I survived. Our Church helped me get back on track with my electric bill and a friend helped me get Christmas for my girls. Usually we get a Christmas bonus. This year they gave them after Christmas and they were about half what we usually get. I will not count on that money in the future. That bonus helps a lot of people get Christmas for their children. I was thankful for a little extra to help me catch up for the New Year.

I decided to take this week off for a mental vacation. I now have a cold and my head feels like it weighs 100 lbs. I am using this time to catch up on blogs and friends. I am hoping I can offer more posts and a new name for my blog. I am expecting some big changes to come in 2013. I am at a point where I am going to have to move. I just can't afford oil and electric. I am going to try to do some things I never thought I could do. My since of style really changed. When I thought I was moving this past year I packed up all my decor and pictures. I realized I want to go in a new decorating direction. I want to lighten things up maybe go more of a beachy look. Oh I am still looking for a new sofa. That will decide what color combination I will use. Everything in my past was all about Ray and I. I need to change things up a little. I save all my Country decorations just in case I change my mind.

I still struggle with Ray being gone. I really believe he was my soul mate. I have no desire to meet anyone. I'm not lonely as much as I miss our talks and rides to and from work. I was truly happy and he was the love of my life I just don't think I could or would ever want to replace that.

On a good note I love Pinterest. It's so addicting. I have so many ideas and recipes to try. My girls did make me something from pinterest for Christmas. Home made gifts are the best because they are made with love. I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed New Year.


Donna