Nevadans?

[SunnyDawn]

...Wow, that was a self-esteem boost high enough to get me through several days! A great start to my morning!

It is a lot more "ok" these days to admit you're poor. I'd like to stand up and thank all the hipsters out there for making it cool to act poor, even if you're not. That way, those of us who are actually poor can blend right in with just a plaid shirt and a bicycle. Though I never get the "you don't look that old" comments anymore, so I'm sure I don't pass for a 20-something and might look like I'm trying too hard to be cool.

Five years ago, I can recall how people would nod toward an acquaintance and say in a sympathetic tone, "Poor thing. She's going through a hard time right now." Have you noticed that people don't say that as much anymore? Because the standard response to that is, "Who isn't?" We all are! A whole lot of it is financial, but I have some good friends who went through the financial mess, and their husbands got jobs... a few months before they were diagnosed with breast cancer. I know a lot of us are very different religions and belief systems, and there might be a few of us with no religion. I'm glad it's not an issue here. But I believe a lot of us can stand back and look at everyone's troubles, using our personal belief system as a basis, and see that these troubles are helping us be so much more compassionate and stronger, so we can then help someone else out.

You guys were on here at 2am? I should have joined you! I woke up several times, trying to listen between snores for noise outside. Since finding that raccoon about a week ago, I've been kind of paranoid. Once I heard a noise and jumped up to go look, and Tater came with me, until I realized that I had dreamed the noise. When I went back to sleep, I had dreams all night about growing my corn, and worrying if I had thinned it out too much yesterday. So I'm running on energy drinks today, but I only have 2 clients. And a huge to-do list that's over 20 items long, and about a week to do it!

On the week of the 18th, I've been asked to get a team together and go provide chair massages for about 300 of Russ' coworkers. Well... it hasn't gone through final approval. I should hear in a day or so. If it does, I'll have the money to pay to renew my massage license and pay a few more bills, but will be hiring one of Sahara's friends to come check on the animals in the middle of each workday.

I feel so blessed right now! I have snow peas sitting on the vine, waiting to be picked, and more in the fridge, waiting to be eaten. The lettuce is also ready to be thinned out again. The kale is ready to be picked and fed to the chickens again. I know it's only a few items, but we currently have an abundance of healthy food. If you're telling your kids to eat the healthy food before it goes bad, because more is about to come out of the garden, then you can't be too poor.

A great attitude to have!!!

Quote: Exactly!!!

Quote: Bummer!

Quote: I wonder it especially when I cook them. How could we know to go through all that trouble to cut off all the thorns and fight our way to the delectable centers? Oh but it is soooo worth it!!! My youngest son hates artichokes too.

Quote: You should have! I was up til 4:30 this morning so I set the alarm for later so I could get 4 hours of sleep then my stupid brain woke me up in time anyway!!! Oh well 3 hours is much better than none.

 

[SunnyDawn]

OK maybe it's just something me Steffanie, Pam and Kim would appreciate (the ones that have a thing for chocolate covered bananas) but I just finished making the chocolate banana ice cream and I am floating on a cloud right now!!! It is seriously yuu-uuh-mee!!!!! There may not be any left for you guys by tomorrow!

I am halfway through making the lasagna sauce too. Not everything is packed yet but that's ok. As long as the big stuff gets moved Steve and I can handle the rest.

Steve took next week off to give us time to unpack, clean the old place and get animals set up in their new home so we should be just fine (The uber tired Sunny is trying not to stress lol).

 

[americanvalkyrie]

OK maybe it's just something me Steffanie, Pam and Kim would appreciate (the ones that have a thing for chocolate covered bananas) but I just finished making the chocolate banana ice cream and I am floating on a cloud right now!!! It is seriously yuu-uuh-mee!!!!! There may not be any left for you guys by tomorrow!

I am halfway through making the lasagna sauce too. Not everything is packed yet but that's ok. As long as the big stuff gets moved Steve and I can handle the rest.

Steve took next week off to give us time to unpack, clean the old place and get animals set up in their new home so we should be just fine (The uber tired Sunny is trying not to stress lol).

If you're going to set anything up when moving in... make sure it's the bed! I've done that for three moves, and it's the best advice I ever gave myself.

 

[SunnyDawn]

Quote: YES! Very good advice! We will be setting up the guest bed first. We finally broke down and ordered one of those memory foam mattresses we were talking about a while back and it is in transit right now so we can sleep on the guest bed til it arrives.

Anyone else want to come tomorrow? There will be plenty of lasagna and ice cream to go around!

 

[SunnyDawn]

Aubrey you need to call me when you get home! I need to pick something up for you and Mark to eat. The lasagna has meat in it.

I have enough greens on the lettuce plants to make you 2 a shrimp salad if that works? Do you still eat seafood?

 

[aubreynoramarie]

Ill call ya soon! so we should bring the crates then? Mark eats meat and I do still eat seafood so it will be fine no matter what. by the way that chocolate banana ice cream sounds AMAZING. I wont be able to make it until afternoon though because I think im gonna see my dad in the morning

 

[SunnyDawn]

Ill call ya soon! so we should bring the crates then? Mark eats meat and I do still eat seafood so it will be fine no matter what. by the way that chocolate banana ice cream sounds AMAZING. I wont be able to make it until afternoon though because I think im gonna see my dad in the morning

Yea bring a couple of the biggest crates, thanks! So we'll see ya when you get here. I'll pm directions to the new place in case we are over there. No cell service there.

 

[Peep_Show]

Sunny & Co.
Good luck with the move. Sounds like a fun (work) party. The ice cream sounds like a nice reward for a job well done.

In re: Poor
I've had a bout or two with near-poverty in my time. Most memorable was post-divorce... Wow! It certainly separated the friends from acquantances. But you know what? When you end up with nothing, you appreciate *everything* so much more. AND you discover what you're really made of....and how little one really needs to survive. It's interesting and eye-opening to have lived on both sides of the fence. My friends now comment on how down-to-earth I am. Well, could it be because putting on airs is just that? Seriously, I'd rather have a good honest bucket of dirt than a gilded box of sh*t. Everybody and every body has value; we're all the same underall and the sooner we realize it, the sooner we can all work and co-exist together. Sure, some folks are better off than others, but to lord it over another is just, well, so shallow of character.

DH & I left CA and some well-paying jobs for the unknown of NV. DH is making about 30% less, I'm making about half what I used to. It took a little adjusting. Got rid of cable-osity. We both drive older-but-paid-for cars. I've become a master of supermarket shopping and kitchen recycling. My mom is rather vociferous that I don't visit as often as I used or do as many family holidays, but I realized I cannot go broke keeping her happy when the 1600+ round trips were costing a fortune in gas, car wear-and-tear and lost income. The only other thing that has kept us above-water is that religiously I take out 10% BEFORE figuring bills. It disappears into the buffer account meant for emergencies and savings. This has more than once saved our behinds when the paycheck was short and the mortgage looming....and then paid back ASAP the borrowed amount. (Nice to be your own banker) We try not to rely on this amount/account, but are grateful that perserverance pays off.

I count my blessings every day and in every way. Being grateful keeps you real. And, honestly, just taking pride (much like a kid, I think) in my DIY stuff -- "Lookit at what I did!" -- is truly more satisfying than the material stuff.

 

[Peep_Show]

p.s.

There's a thread on BYC called "Just curious who else is living super frugal" which is chock full of good advice and tips.

 

[whatthecluck12]

Speaking of excess kale...my sister just made "kale chips" and I thought they were quite tasty. She cut it up put some olive oil and salt on it and baked it until they were dry and crunchy. You don't want to burn them though (yuck!). Snacks like a chip! I thought, "Man, what a healthy, cheap treat." I also agree that being poor isn't as bad a thing as it used to be, but we've lost a few friends lately too. Not really lost, I guess, but I just have such a hard time being around people that pity me. Plus it's a bit hard on the little one...the friends' kids are somewhat spoiled and she gets a little green when we get together. Ah well, "two roads diverged in a yellow wood..."