Oh, Man, Do I Feel Badly!

I haven't posted in two months. That's just unacceptable. I think I have mentioned to you in the past that I suffer from depression. It just crops up sometimes and I have to "roll with the flow" until it subsides.

Things are going well here. Rick has just "wowed" me with another one of his creations. He made something today that he calls, "slumgullion." I think it's a German word for "whatever you throw in the pot." He used a really discounted piece of smoked sausage, a box of veggies we got at 1/2 price, a pouch of rice with saffron that I got for probably .25 or less, an envelope of seasoning that was also about .25 and some things out of the refrigerator that he refuses to identify. It was fantastic! It had a hint of BBQ sauce and some toasted sesame stir fry sauce. I think the only thing he didn't put in it was garlic. The man is a genius. I just wish he could remember what he put in that meatloaf last year that I went crazy over.

Needless to say, today he used 4 or 5 stockpile items to make his dish. I find it hard to impose a value on him to use stockpile. He is a "whatever will be, will be" kind of fellow. I try to clip coupons and keep him on the straight and narrow, but, it's almost impossible. I was able to get two packages of smoked sausage for .99 ea. after doubles and promos this week. I also favored Rick with 2 cans of Emerald Nuts cashews. They were BOGOF and $1 Qs on each. He loves them but we can't really afford them at $5.99 ea.

We've been eating out way too often. When we get done with work, we just want to sit down and be fed. Chili's should make us a shareholder!

Oh, speaking of Chili's, we had a horrible experience at Chili's in Buckhead, Atlanta. The bartender treated us like 2nd class citizens, sent out overcooked food, actually laughed at me when I asked about happy hour. He snorted and said, "Happy hour? You're in Buckhead."

We were on a mystery shop in Buckhead. I can't reveal the name of the hotel, but, the room was $400 a night plus we were able to get room service for dinner. It was cool! I would never stay in a $400 hotel room if I was spending my own money. I guess none of you would, either. I think the most I would ever spend is about $150 and that's only if it's near someplace I really, really need to be.

We have 2 more mystery shops to do in ATL next month. One is over $200 a night, plus dinner of $120 and breakfast of $50, and the other is only, ONLY!, $149 per night. Rick says that he used to be happy with a $39.95 room at the Red Roof Inn, but, that I have spoiled him with my mystery shop locations. He now snubs anything less than $100 a night. We performed 2 "cheap" mystery shops this month and he was thoroughly disgusted with them. Sorry, Dude. This is how we make money.

Summer has been in full swing since last month here. We had something like 20 days of 90+ degree weather in May and the first part of June. Yeah, June 21 may be the first day of summer, but, we've been sweltering since May 1 or so. Don't mean to complain. I love it here. The cicadas were out last month after their 13 year hibernation. They are all gone now. What a life. You live underground for 13 years, come out, live for a month, mate, bury your eggs, and die. Hmm.

We are working, although, it is hit or miss sometimes. Our best client has been so far behind that we haven't had anything from him in 3 weeks. Kind of hurts when you've been spoiled with $2K of business every month.

Keeping a lid on grocery spending, although, don't even ask how much we spend in restaurants and liquor stores. It's a crying shame how much money we waste. I was living frugally before I met Rick. Now, it's "I want this." He's just used to a different level of living than I am. We're trying to work it out.

Thanks for reading. I promise not to desert you.

Vicki