We Have Become A Statistic

It's a rainy Thursday evening here in Indiana, cold and blustery, just plain out nasty.  I am sitting around waiting for laundry to finish, so what better time to do a little bloggin'.

We have officially become a statistic.  I hate this, I have dealt with my husband going from job to job for years, but after 6 years with his last employer, I felt like he had found a permanent home.  Unfortunately, they didn't feel the same way.  Today is day 6 of unemployment.  He's lucky to have lived through the past 4.  I am a creature of habit, and I HATE having my schedule changed.  Oh yes, I hate it very much.  So, this is the first time in 10 years that we have spent a solid week together.  Some of it has been very pleasant, most of it has been irritating, aggravating, annoying and just plain out bad.  It's not helping that it has rained for 3 straight days and I have been trapped inside with him.  I would much rather be doing my normal things at the farm and outside.  I am praying that it gets better.  FAST.  I work at night and therefore sleep in the daytime.  He's up and moving around.  The birds and cat are up moving around.  This leads to a very edgy me.  A very edgy me who is trying desperately to not blow a gasket about his former employer, and I know everyone says it, but they did him dirty.  He had 3 years seniority over 2 other employees, yet they "chose" to lay him off.  I am frustrated, worried and irritated.  I know it will get better, I just hope it comes before it's too late.

So, in my quest to save money, I have been price checking things against other stores in town.  OMG, I am so angry about this!  I cannot believe how much money I have been wasting on groceries!  I checked prices from Main Street Market to Walmart and the difference in just unbelievable!  I thought it would be a few cents here and a few cents there.  Nope, we're talking DOLLARS!  Yes, I said dollars!!!  Some things are more than a dollar and a half cheaper at Walmart.  Seriously.  How can they do this and get by?  Shouldn't that be considered price gouging?  So, needless to say, as much as I dislike Walfart, I'll be spending my grocery money there.  Plus they have the new policy to accept other store coupons, and they price match.  I think I'll fair pretty well if I can just keep on top of things.  (And stick to my list, not venturing out into the rest of the store!)  That may not be so easy coming into the holidays as this is a crazy, crazy time for me, but I'm going to do my best!  I'm going to try and set aside a couple hours on Sunday to check ads and coupons.  My printer is out, so Internet coupons won't be available for me, for now.  That will make it a little tougher, but I am determined to slash my grocery bill and save a few bucks while he's unemployed.  Especially since we are losing $400 a month.  I have to do something!  Looks like I may be in for a second job, which is not going to make for a happy me. Looks like those hand made gifts are going to be a must for me.

Well, here's to things getting better,  I certainly hope it happens soon.

Good morning.  It's finally FRIDAY!  This has been the longest week.  Anyone else out there feel the same way?  Yep, I thought so.
I have been back to riding Dakota, and for the most part she is doing a fantastic job!  She is fighting the bit when I ask her to turn right, but we seem to be working through it okay, just a little fussy about it.  And I'm ecstatic to report that we had our first trot together!  YES!  She did amazing, me-not so much.  Yeah, I have discovered that it's like riding a bike, it does all come back, but after 8 years of not being on a horse and at least 14 years of not riding seriously, I am rusty, clumsy, unbalanced, out of rhythm, and a little nervous.  The nervousness is going away very quickly, however the rest of it is coming back in a slow manner.  She is an amazing little horse, I am such a proud Momma!  She has come through this injury, even without those tendons a sound pleasure to ride!

This is a picture of her playing about a week ago, I was standing in her field and snapped this with my cell.  She is just so beautiful!  I can't help but be so proud of her!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day and weekend!

Be Careful What You Say....

Good morning!  It's sunny and beautiful here in Indiana today, a perfect day if I may say myself.  Too bad I have shopping to do, I'd much rather be outside working with the horses or in the yard.  Ah well....the to do list must come first, especially when the critters need some chow.
I have been seeing a lot of people posting things on Facebook about true friends.  Some times I let things bother me that really shouldn't, but some of this stuff is really getting to me.  Being a person who is always busy, and I mean ALWAYS busy, I feel like it is selfish for people to make these remarks.  Things like, "if you can't make time for me then I don't need you", and "Don't make room in your heart for someone who can't make time for you".  Well you know what, I love many of my friends dearly and I don't always keep in touch very well, but that doesn't mean that I'm not a good friend.  Or maybe it does.  Does the fact that I have so much to do that I barely sleep 4 hours a day, hardly eat and when I see the inside of my home I almost feel like a guest mean anything to anyone?  Really, you want to condemn people for taking care of their lives?  For me means taking care of 3 properties, my ill parents, my animals, my home, conditioning the horses and working.  Yes, so I take care of my life first, but that doesn't mean that I'm not a friend, it means that I don't have much time to play and when I do, I make the best of it with the best people.  I guess it just hurts because I have seen those kinds of posts from people that I consider good friends.  I don't know, maybe I'm just being oversensitive.....

To anyone who feels this way about me, please feel free to give me a hand with my work sometime so that I can play too.  I guess the fact that I don't really complain about my life leads people to believe that I am relatively happy, but I would love to be able to have time to sit down and chat on the phone, catch up on Facebook and hang out whenever I please.  However, until I get some help, that is NOT going to happen.  Either work with me, accept me for who I am, or get the hell over it!  Either way you choose to do it, remember, be careful what you say, you never know who is reading it and who may be hurt by it!

Hope you all have a fabulous day.