Everything's Okay

Today's Reverb Prompt is: What was the best moment that could serve as proof that everything is going to be alright? And how will you incorporate that discovery into the year ahead?

I think that the Everything's Ok this past year was the day we got approved for life insurance. In the past, I dragged my feet on getting it. After we got married, we got a quote from a guy (who now turns out to be one of our good friends) for the return of premium so if none of us dies, we get what we put into it. Didn't seem bad, but it was costly. Besides, we both had jobs so if one of us died, the other would be okay. But lately, I'd been thinking 'we need life insurance' So we did it...we got the quotes, picked the company we wanted and dropped a check for the first payment. I kept calling the home office to see if we were approved or not (after the blood test, etc). Then it went to underwriting, and i recently found out we were approved AND we got a better rate after all our tests were done! YIPPEE! Now, if anything happens to DH or myself, the other will be okay and not have to worry about how to pay the mortgage.

New Name

Today's Reverb Prompt is: New Name - Let’s meet again, for the first time. If you could introduce yourself to strangers by another name for just one day, what would it be and why?

Wow, what a random question! This is really easy for me. I always wanted the name Beverly. I don't know why, but I like it. I guess as kids nobody really likes their name, at least I didn't. My name is Beth. Just Beth. I can't tell you how many times I've been asked if it's short for Elizabeth. Nope, just Beth (My grandmother was named Elizabeth - you can do so much with that. Elizabeth, Beth, Liz, Lizzy, Betty. My grandmother went by Betty). There's just not much to do with Beth. And my middle name is Ann. I do NOT like to be called Beth Ann, other my family calls me that. I always say people don't go around calling them by their first and middle names, so stop calling me Beth Ann. My husband will do it on occassion to tick me off...and I return the favor...I call him Micheal George. LOL.

When I was in oh about 2nd or 3rd or 4th grade (maybe even after that, i don't really remember), I had an awesome teacher, Mr. Faust. He was really cool and I remember him vividly...his clothes (cowboyish), his very deep voice, his beard, etc. We had to do an exercise were we could be anyone we wanted, and we had to pretend we are now that person and sending him a letter, and pictures of what we were doing as famous people. I chose Jennie Garth from 90210 and I went by the name of Beverly Taylor (her last name in the show). I've always like that name, Beverly Taylor. Simple and to the point. So if I could choose my own name, I'd be Beverly Taylor.

Travel

Today's Reverb Prompt is: Travel. How did you travel in 2010? How and/or where would you like to travel next year?

In 2010, I pretty much traveled by car. Since I'm afraid of flying and get motion sick sometimes, we are 'landlocked' as DH says. I don't like trains or buses (the smell gets to me) and I love boats, but last time I was out on a boat, I got VERY seasick. So cruises are also out.

Next year, we have a few travel agendas. First and foremost, hopefully Atlantis in Feb (late Feb, early March). We also have a plan to fly out to Vegas with his family since they go every year and we are avid poker players, and whenever we play in Atlantic City and I proclaim I've never been to Vegas, it gets quiet and you can hear a pin drop. We also won some tickets to Disney, so if we can find the time and money, we'd like to do that, if not, I can sell my tickets on Ebay or Craigslist.

Future Self

Today's Reverb Prompt is: Future Self. Imagine yourself five years from now. What advice would you give your current self for the year ahead? (Bonus: Write a note to yourself 10 years ago. What would you tell your younger self?)

It's kind of hard to tell myself advice five years from now since so many factors can change, and normally it's vice versa, about going back in time to tell your old self something of importance. I think maybe I would tell myself not to forget where you came from. Remember your roots. Things I've done when I was little and how I was reflected the real me, so I need to keep that in mind. Don't change for anything, you are who you are and never apologize for that. Keep your head up, things can get ugly, but it's the love of your husband, family and friends that will keep you rich in the years to come.

If I could go back in time and tell myself something when I was 10 years younger, I could probably write a book! 10 years ago, I was 20 years old, hoping to be 21 so I can drink. Thinking back now, what a waste! I should have cherished the time I had when I was young. I think I needed to learn a thing or 2 about love. By 20, I was in my 3rd long term relationship and all 3 I thought I was going to marry. Boyfriend #1 was my 'first' and I longed for him and I to be together forever, for that reason. Even though he hit me, abused me mentally and physically, I didn't care. My values and belief in my religion dictated that since I gave him my full self, I'd have to marry him. Boy was I wrong! The second one was the rebound one, and he happened to be a friend of BF#1. What a way to get revenge. He was great to me, but had no goals in life. He didn't have any $, no credit, no place to live, no job, no license (it got suspended years prior). he ended up living with me and my parents since he had nowhere else to go. I worked part time and went to school full time, and I had to be the one to pay for EVERYTHING. He was 7 years older then me and had nothing to show for himself. I had higher hopes for my life. Then came BF#3. he had a job, a license, a car, good family life, very minimal $ in the bank, but it was a 'step up'. He was a manager of one of the departments where I worked and we started off just being friends. He taught me how to drive his car (stick shift) and we really clicked as friends....but I saw a future for us, so being the bad girl that I am, broke up with BF#2 and dated BF#3. It's almost like I needed to be in a relationship. There was never a time in my life I was single. I was always attached. Looking back at my pictures and old life, I was always with a guy...there were never 'girls' vacations or anything, and I think I may have missed out on those good times. If I could go back to myself, I'd say 'enjoy life!' b/c one day, you'll be married and worrying about mortgages. Guys are just guys...they are a dime a dozen!

Beyond Avoidance

Today's Reverb is Avoidance: What should you have done this year but didn’t because you were too scared, worried, unsure, busy or otherwise deterred from doing? (Bonus: Will you do it?)

I should have gotten on a plane!!!!!! I was both scared to fly and worried about money and the cost of the vacation to go. I'm trying to overcome this fear so that in 2011 I can go on multiple vacations...we'll see how it goes!

Healing

Yesterday's Reverb Prompt was Healing: What healed you this year? Was it sudden, or a drip-by-drip evolution? How would you like to be healed in 2011?

I think that this past year, I healed myself, with the help of DH. See, I tend to worry way toooooo much about little things. If I get a papercut, I think I'm going to either bleed to death or I'm going to get an infection and will need to go to the hospital. And it's always right in the beginning of something happening that will cause me to worry so much, must without thinking rationally, which when it happens to someone else, I'm the rational friend they call to talk to. Over time, I've realized that over worrying is not worth the stress and to just take it one step/day at a time and really think about things first before jumping on anything.

Try

Today's Reverb: What do you want to try next year? Is there something you wanted to try in 2010? What happened when you did / didn’t go for it?

Oh this is an easy one. My 'try' for 2011 is flying in a plane! I used to fly all the time when I was younger, but I haven't flown since I was about 12 or 13 (18 years ago). Since then, we didn't really go on family vacations, so there was no need to fly anywhere. Then, when in college, I couldn't afford any far away vacations so I didn't have to fly. Then when I met my husband, our go to spot for a vacation is Atlantic City, which is an hour away, free or cheap rooms, free food, etc. So they are inexpensive vacations (right up my alley). I chickened out on the plane for our honeymoon. Yup, got on, then my DH took me off before takeoff. I don't know where the fear came from, whether is it's heights, claustrophobia, terrorits, getting sick, or a combo of them all. So since then, we haven't planned on going anywhere.

For DH's vaca in Sept, we had wanted to go away on a vaca, at the last minute. We coldn't decide where to go, then as time grew closer, my nerves got the better of me and we put it on hold. But now, 2011 seems like the year of vacations. We would like to go to Altantis as our 'honeymoon' (3 years later), Vegas with his family, Disney (I won 4 1 day parkhopper passes) and my parents want the whole family to go to Aruba as they celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary and renew their vows. That's 4 vacations we would like to take, all involving an airplane. I have xanax (had it for our honeymoon, but refused to take it) but I'd like to be able to 'mind over matter it' and do it without the aid of drugs.

so we will see if 2011 is the year of planes for me

December 17th - Lesson Learned

Today's Reverb Prompt is: What was the best thing you learned about yourself this past year? And how will you apply that lesson going forward?

For me, during this past year, I figured out that I'm not Super Woman and that I can't do it all. I also learned that how I deal with stress of not being Super Woman is not so healthy. I tend to blow up, not rationalize, and just get really moody. I finally figured out how to deal with that stress a week ago. I was upset over going over budget for Christmas. I resorted to yelling at DH, blaming him for not helping me, etc. He then went to pick up dinner, I took a shower and mellowed out. I rationalized in my head while I was in the shower. When I came out, DH was home and I gave him a great big hug and apologized. I said we'd figure something out and that we don't spend any $ on ourselves throughout the year, so we 'splurge' during these holidays, so it's not a big deal. But I tend to make small deals into HUGE ordeals. I think I have tamed that best this year.

Reverb 10: I Appreciate My Husband

I've been following many blogs over the past 2 years, and one caught my eye today. Over at One Frugal Girl's blog, she's has been participating in Reverb 10 where you reflect on the past year and manifest what’s next. You sign the contract that you will blog or tweet each day on that day's topic. I've been meaning to get back into the swing of things on my blog, and what better way to do it!

Today's proverb is about what you appreciate the most during the past year. I'm normally a very independent woman, but after 3 and a half years of marriage, I've learned that it's all about give and take. I'm very controlling in our marriage, as I am the boss and it has to be my way or no way. But this year, I've learned that I can't always have my way, which was a hard pill to swallow. DH and I have had quite a number of 'talks' about everything from money, to vacation, to planning for children, etc. He was never the type to sit and talk about serious topics, but lately he has been. His persona was more or less the 'Party Animal' that could care less about anything, unless it had something to do with beer or a club. But he's changed a lot in the 7 years we have been together. Yes, this time of year marks the anniversary that we met, which wasn't in the typical type of way either. 7 years ago, my life changed and looking back, it changed for the best!

Over the past year, I have had my own issues with health, money, work, stress, family, you name it. But DH was always there to ease my stress. I automatically stress about the smallest of things, but he has learned how to calm me down and he has been on point with it this year. He knows when I'm in a 'mood' to just let me be, so he will go into a different room then i'm in. And if I switch rooms, he follows suit. He also knows when I just need a hug and a 'It'll be okay' pep talk. He also knows the best way to cheer me up, with either a trip to Atlantic City or a coupon that he found, or a sale on something that I've been wanting. I'm still getting used to our 'team' as in my past I always so it as me against the world. But now, it's him and I against the world and I have a pretty good teammate if I do say so myself.

WSOP Circuit - Harrah's Ladies Event 12/11/2010

I had originally planned on playing the tournament at the Borgata on Dec 11th since it was a two day event, and I really want to get my feet wet playing a multi day event. In the past with work, I wasn’t able to, and the ones that are on the weekends are over $1k buy in, which my bankroll can’t stomach. Then, on Friday, Dec. 10th, I checked the Borgata website to double check times, etc and it was changed to a 1 day event. Eh. So I switched back to wanting to play the ladies event.

We got to Harrah’s around 10, checked in, didn’t get a room, so we put our luggage at the Bellhop. I then went up to register for the tournament, no line. We then walked around for a little bit until the tournament started.

I started at a pretty good table…all the ladies were nice (as always). I wanted to try to suss out the ladies at my table to see how they played (tight, loose, aggressive, etc). I got a pretty good read on them all pretty quick (another reason I like the ladies event, easy to suss out). Many tight players, and 2 loose players at my table. The one was in every hand, she’d raise every other hand and so many times at the river, she’d be like ‘Ace high’ since she kept trying to win the pot by betting. Another girl was the same way, she’d always catch on the river. One girl flopped a set of nines and bet big, and raised, etc. Same on the turn, bet huge. With an ace and a queen (maybe a jack on board). The girl kept calling…10 on the river, she caught a higher set on the river, leaving the other woman with like 300 left. She was MAD! But this other woman that hit the set on the river could not get off ANY hands!

I must say that my ace king was loving me that tournament! I lost 2 times with it and got it about 8 times. The first time I got it, I raised pre flop with 2 callers. Nothing on the flop, check to me so I continuation bet it, one caller. 10 on the turn, making 2 diamonds out there and 2 tens. She checked, I bet, she insta called again so I put her on a 10 since she was a tight player as well. She checks the river before it came out, Ace on the river, I check (since my pair of aces loses to a set of 10s) and I flip it over in disgust and she mucked…she said I got her on the river. Sweet!

Got ace king again a few hands later (suited) and I raised pre flop, 2 callers (both the loose girls too). Nothing hit on the flop and one girl bet out so I folded. Other girl raised (thinking ‘good fold’ to myself). They bet again on the turn and river. Ace rag won (ace high), the other girl had queen 7 off. Wow…I woulda won with ace king high. Oh well. But other then that and the hand that knocked me out, my ace king was unstoppable, which is RARE!

At the end of one of the rounds, I got pocket 8s or 9s. I hate getting a hand as we are going on a break. So I raised pre flop, got one caller (loose girl). I flopped a set, girl checked and I bet out (flush and straight possibilities) and she folded. Thank goodness!

Around 3 or 4 pm ( I can’t remember the timing), I got pocket nines and someone raised ahead of me. I call, looking to see a flop as I wasn’t going to repop her since she had a tight image. Girl to my left calls also, VERY tight. She played maybe 3 hands the whole time. Flop was 9 2 3 (two diamonds). Tight girl leads out and goes all in, I go all in on top and the tight girl to my left goes into the tank. I must note, that right before the hand was dealt, Hubby Mike came up to check on me. So he was standing behind me as the whole hand took place. As soon as I pushed all in, he moved back, thinking ‘Oh boy, if this goes bad, she’s going to blame me’. The girl to my left finally folds, and we flip over our cards. I forgot what the woman had, but the girl to my left was like ‘I put you on a set, that’s why I folded pocket jacks’. Turn was a blank, river was a jack! Good thing I pushed all in or the girl to my left would have called just the all in of the other girl and I woulda have most likely gone busto in that hand when she rivered her jack.

Right before the dinner break, our table got busted up, which was a good thing b/c two girls got into a heated argument when one rivered a one or two outer ( I wasn’t paying attention that hand, I’m just going by hearsay). I got moved to table one, with Ac_pokerchick. Soon after, we went on lunch.

I played tight at the new table to get some reads of the new people. At one point, I had pocket 7s and I raised pre flop. Pregnant girl to my right called. Flop was ace jack rag, she checked, I bet out, she called. Turn was a 9 I think, she bet I folded. At this point I went from over 30k in chips down to about 21k. I don’t remember if I got involved in many more hands as at 27 left, we redrew tables and seats.

We moved down to 3 tables from 4 and I was at seat 1 at my new table. I hate seat 1, I never know when it’s my turn lol. Hubby Mike and Hubby 2 were there watching and nicknamed seat 10 my arch nemesis. She won a few hands off me, but I won a few from her too, and when I counted we were about even stealing money from each other. One particular hand was when I had 10 jack of clubs in the big blind (arch nemesis in small blind). Flop came out two clubs, she checks, I bet out someone behind me folded, arch nemeis calls. Turn is nothing, she checks, I check, river is the ace of clubs. I just hit my flush! That hadn’t happened the WHOLE tourney! She bets out, I go all in (or I raised her a lot, I don’t recall). She thinks, thinks, thinks, etc. Then she folds. Here’s where I got ticked off, but didn’t let it show…Hubby Mike saw it too and wanted to say something, but kept quiet. After the hand, arch nemesis asked if I caught my flush b/c if I did, she had me beat the entire way to the river. I had in my headphones, but had paused it at some point or another. I just remember I had in my earphones but paused the song for whatever reason. So I pretended that I didn’t hear her. So the dealer (in between us), taps me and says that arch nemesis was asking me a question (as I’m racking in my chips). Thank goodness for Ac-pokerchick! She didn’t know that it was on pause, but knew that I had in my headphones and was like ‘she has her earphones in’ LOL. Now why in the heck would the dealer tap me and say ‘she asked you a question’ HELLO…deal the cards! Don’t talk and don’t get involved! Eesh!

This is around the time where I started the roller coaster again. In the past, I’ve done this, but would go down, then up, then down and out. This time, I rode the coaster for awhile, I’ve never gone down and up so many times and lasted.

One girl did comment that I was very patient and knew the exact time to shove.

Although a kick from Ac_pokerchick from down at the end of the table woulda been nice lol. She had raised pre flop, I was in the big blind and I had ace king, so I had to call…I was very short stacked…less then 10k and the blinds were 1500/3k. She had aces…woops! So that was it, I was out in 16th around 11pm and we started at 11am. It was a LONG day and I was exhausted and hungry. I went to eat and came back over an hour later to see who was at the final table. Kim finished in 7th, (congrats!) and the final table was playing. I went to bed shortly after. I’m still trying to see who won, but worldseriesofpoker.com hasn’t updated the ladies event yet 

Congrats to Ac_pockerchick! I checked out pokerpages.com and she has her own page!

A & P 12/10/10

4 Scott Naturals Wipes - $1.89 * 4 = $7.56

4 Blistex - $1.00 * 4 = $4.00 - 4 $.25 off coupons (Qs) doubled to $.50 $2.00

Total = $9.56 +$.21 tax = $9.77

Used $5 CAT from the brownie deal = $4.77. Got back $5 CAT for buying 4 Scott Wipes = $.23 profit!

Ladies Event at Borgata 9-12-2010

I went down this past weekend for my annual bday weekend. I knew I was going to play the ladies event. However, during our trip, my friend Jerry kept saying that he was going to bet $500 on black and if he hit, he'd buy me in to the tourney. As a girl, YEE HAW if he it and BOOO if he didn't hit. I was too scared (yes, ME scared) to play cash as I'm on the losing end of the stick for a few months in cash, so him and I played Blackjack while Hubby Mike played poker. He told me at the table he was buying me in. I cashed out of BJ even, him down about $200 and we go to register upstairs on Saturday night. Table 9 seat 1. I think 'Not bad....beginning of the tables and a good seat!'. We go find Hubby Mike and he's at a table at 1/2. He's involved in a pot, so I just stand behind him and watch, and don't let him know I'm there. He raised pre flop and a guy called. All low cards on the flop (9 high I believe) and Hubby Mike bets out, guy re-raises him all in for the dude's remaining like $60. Hubby Mike thinks and calls. Rag on turn, Jack on river. Nobody moves. Hubby Mike flips over his pocket 10s. Guy (sitting right to his left) looks at Hubby Mike's cards, looks around at the table (ppl are all in suspense). Looks at his own cards, looks at Hubby Mike, looks around the table (you get the jist), then flips over pocket jacks. He had Hubby Mike the whole way, and then hit a set on the river. And freaking slow rolls like that? That IRKS me to no end. Everyone at the table just sat there like 'what a 'curse word' Well, I speak my mind, I grab Hubby Mike's arm and I'm like 'Let's go, get off the table...you don't wanna be sitting next to a slow rolling douchebag all night'. To which the guy turns to me (an older guy, maybe mid 50s') says 'Eff off'. Hubby Mike then responds 'What did you just say to her?' and I'm like 'Honey, get off the table, I can handle my own' The guy starts ripping into me, I rip back into him. I told him I wasn't talking to him, I was talking to my husband and to apologize for saying 'eff off' to a lady. (he didn't). I had to hold my friend Jerry back b/c he was about to kill the guy. Once again, I can handle my own. I told the guy he'd lose all his money and he's a jerk. Funny note on that...with all the commotion going on, the dealer never took Hubby Mike's chips to match the guys all in...so he's $60 light on his chips....idiot.

Then later on, I go and play 2 5. I didn't want to play, and I hate playing 1/2 NL on a Saturday night, but I felt the itch. Wasn't getting many hands and I bought in for like $455 or something (whatever chips I had in my wallet at the time). I picked up a few smaller pots, nothing big. Then I get ace queen diamonds. I raise to $20, guy to my left calls, and I think 1 or 2 others call. Flop is Ace clubs 6diamonds and 7diamonds. Top pair, decent kicker and nut flush draw. I bet out 50, guy raises me to 150 or so, I push all in. He's thinking, he's thinking. Oh, one of my fave dealers was dealing too. Finally, he calls. Turn is ablank, then a diamond on the river. I flip over my nut flush as he flips over a flush as well...he was on the straight flush draw, but hit a flush on river. So I pretty much doubled up there, and he had to re-buy. By this time, Jerry and Hubby Mike were standing behind me, waiting for me to get off the table. I waited until my dealer left, then cashed out up a few hunge...my streak was over! And to celebrate I treated myself to some Ben and Jerry's :)

Sunday comes, and we keep Jerry buying me in a secret. He said I've been doing bad with my money and wanted to see if I'd do better with someone else's money. NOTE: I've NEVER been backed before and it's not the good of a feeling if you lose someone else's money. So I go into it hoping my friend made a good investment in me. We are seated by the door, where they normally do satellites as the deep stack was going on as well. Us ladies ALWAYS get the shaft! There was only 17 table set up for the girls, then the last two tables a bunch of guys sat down so we got shafted to 15 tables. Oh well. Only 154 entries....it keeps going down...there was about 400 and some about 4 or 5 years ago when I started playing...and each year it goes down and down. So we start playing and I'm doing okay. I keep getting decent starting hands and call a preflop raise and NOTHING on the flop...people were playing fairly tight and showing every hand as well. We had a guy at our table at one point, and he raises and I look at ace king suited...I just call. Lady reraises to 2500, he calls, and I stick around for the flop. Nothing on the flop so I check, she bets, he shoves all in she calls and takes him out with aces. The whole crowd cheered!

At this point, I was down to like 6k from 10k starting stack in the 2nd or 3rd level, so I was not happy. Then a miracle happened. I got lucky so much! I would hit a set, flush, straight, etc. I took 3 girls out at my first table! Within a round or two, I was up to about 22-25k ( I kept miscounting my chips). Then we get moved.....yay. I hate moving ,but got seated next to a girl I sat next to at the last ladies event...the girl that kept going off on the younger guy that played in our event. She's really cool. I got seated at the table with the girl that placed in 10th place. Apparently the girls on my end of the table didn't like her b/c she was a bully. She had a TON of chips. So I'm up at this table, which is good. I get ace king suited AGAIN (I need to just muck them, never call just muck). I call the $1200 blind as I'm the button, small blind call, big blind (chip girl) looks at my me and asks how much I have left. That irks me. There's someone else in the hand, HELLO! So I just lift my arms up. She has a lot of little denomination chips, and I have a mix of them. She raises to 5k, I call. Little blind folds. Flop is nothing and she bets out like 20k...ugh, fold. Dammit, I shoulda popped it pre flop...all well...stupid ace king.

Another hand I'm involved with her I'm the big blind and I check..I have 10 jack off. flop is 10 rag rag. I couldn't see the 10, thought it was a nine and checked. she checks..turn is a king, she bets out huge and I have to fold. Hubby Mike and Jerry are behind me and I freak out b/c it's late in the game and I totally misplayed that hand...ugh!

Then I get moved again. I'm at table 1. Okay not so bad...I still have some chips. Then I get card dead and everyone around me is getting awesome hands. I get blinded/anted down to about 15k before dinner break, and I'm UTG after dinner break, where blinds are 2k 4k. LOVELY! So I don't eat much on dinner break figuring I'm just gonna play 1 or 2 hands after dinner break b/c I'm severly short stacked. I tell Hubby Mike and Jerry we'll do dinner after I bust out. I was tempted not to go back to the table after dinner and hope my blinds would make me survive to the money. I think it was like 12 or so to the money.

So we go back and I'm like whatever, any face card or ace and I'm pushing...sure enough ace 8 UTG. I go all in....EVERYONE FOLDS! What? okay. So I picked up a few bucks there. When I'm in the small blind, another ace, I shove all in, EVERYONE FOLDS again! And there were BIG stacks at my table. Wow! I kept picking up smaller sized pots here and there, and before I knew it, I was up to 70k! From just about busting out to a force to be reckoned with! Then we kept inching close to the money and I was just folding unless I was in the blinds...wasn't getting hands anyways. Then we made it to the final 18 and we were in the money! Then nobody was busting out for awhile, and I see my chips dwindling, AGAIN. But hey, at least I cashed! I'm UTG again, and I say it's now or next hand (blinds were 5k 10k and I had about 16k. I see a queen and shove. Girl to my left goes all in too (chip leader at the table, maybe the tourney), girl at the end of the table shoves too for less. Girl to my left had king 10, girl at other end of the table has aces. I had an 8 under my queen. I flop an 8, girl to my left turns a king and girl at other end of the table hits an ace on the river for a set of aces. Blogger guy was around and we chatted for a bit, then I got my lucky 13 card and got my winnings.

I told my friend that now he had to follow me around and pay my buy ins from now on :)

I did make a shout out to Gorilla, the blogger. I told him I blog for the B on here, and he said he checks the site on occassion. Mentioned the name Ray Stevenson, but I only know our Fred :)

Rite Aid 9-16-2010

Not like I needed any more toothbrushes, I found a deal at Rite Aid and wanted to try it out. Here goes:

11 Reach Toothbrushes - normally $4.49, on sale for $2.99 and then $2 Wellness Reward for EACH one. When I did it, they all came up the right price, BUT I only got 3 $2 Up Rewards ($6). I also got a $10 Up Reward for buying certain Johnson and Johnson products (Listerine, J and J baby stuff is also in that deal). So all in all, I still MADE $3.11 on the deal, so it's still a profit, AND I have $16 to spend on more deals :)

I Keep It Rolling! 8/20/2010 Shop Rite and Rite Aid

So, after reading Frugalsuz's post about free binders at Rite Aid, well, I just HAD to go. DH makes fun of me because I'm a frequent shopper at Staples each week (LOVE REBATES and FREE stuff!) and I buy stuff because it's pennies or free, even though I have nowhere to put it :) So, off to pick up my best friend and off we go. He is also on the same page as DH but since he's not my DH, he can't stop me from shopping (evil grin). Here's what I got at Rite Aid AND Shop Rite:


I wanted to get 10 binders, but only had 6 left. I was also uneasy about the $2 off each one when they were BOGO (I figured they would say, it's already free so you can't use a coupon) but here's how it all broke down:

--6 Mead Binders $4.99 each and BOGO equals $29.94 - 14.97 (BOGO) = $14.97-6 $2 off qs = 2.97
--4 packs of Stride gum $1 each = $4. Used BOGO Qs so $2 for all 4
--Used $3 off Up reward and $1 off $10 of school supplies.
--4.97-4= .97, tax was 1.19 so I paid OOP $3 and change. Not too shabby!

SO, I had some blinkie Qs from SR for the Right Guard deodarant that I wanted to use up, so I dragged my friend with me. I grabbed 3 more blinkies and 3 Right Guard Total Defense 5. Here's what I did:
--3 Right Guard at 1.99 on sale = 5.97- $3 ($1/1 times 3) = 2.97 plus tax. Used $3CAT OOP is .39 (tax).
Went to the car, and did it again. I also did it once more Saturday with DH (not pictured) and got 3 more....they are PAYING me to take it out of the store, so I will just donate the ones DH doesn't like. I pay OOP .39 and get $3 CAT, I'm MAKING money! And the blinkies were right there, with a BIG sign about the CAT deal!

Shop Rite 8-20-2010 LOVING IT!

I know I haven't posted a grocery deal lately, but in the past few weeks I've been scoring some FAB deals! And I know that once I post this, all the awesome deals will come to an end. Anyways, here goes:



First Trip this morning before work:
--4 Hefty Trash Bags - $1.24 on sale, used 4 (.55/1 qs), each came to $.14 a piece (.56)

Second Trip during lunch:
--4 Hefty Trash Bags - $1.24 on sale, used 4 (.55/1 qs), each came to $.14 a piece (.56)
--8 O-Cello sponges (4 count in each) - $1.19 on sale, used 4 (.75/2) came to 3.52/8 is .44 a piece.
--2 Chock Full O Nuts Coffee - $1.99 on sale, used 2 (.55/1) came to .89 each
--3 Right Guard Total Defense 5 - $1.99 on sale used 1 $3/2 and 1 $1/1, came to $1.97 each AND you get a $3 Cat for purchasing 3, making this a $1.03 money maker!
(Also used a $2 cat with this transaction)

All in all I spent OOP $6.90 for 2nd trip and .56 for the 1st trip making that $7.46 OOP and getting back $3 in CATS, making that $4.46 actually spent :)

Drama Filled Ladies Event (Borgata Summer Open) 6/19/2010

Only 85 women and 2 men entered the Ladies Event on Saturday, making the field a lowly 87 players. They normally do the ladies events on Sundays, and they threw us a loop and made it for Saturday, which is why some feel that the turnout was so low.
I got there really early to beat the summer traffic and had about 2 hours to spare when we arrived. I played the new Amazing Race slot machine (do NOT sit at the two right next to the Sex and the City Slot. They are off on their own and not hooked up to the other ones. While I played, the other Amazing Race slots hit the bonus thing 2 times!).

At 1155, the tournament director started going over the rules, etc. many tables only had a few people playing so it looks like they expected more players then we got. After the 1st round, more people trickled in. In the beginning, i didn't play many hands, but I did take note of the players. Some regular tighter players, then the normal loose players. Two girls at my table of 5-6 were very loose. One made a raise pf with blinds at 500 and 100 and the other girl called. Betting on the flop and turn and both are in it to the river. A bet on the river, they are both still in it. One had like jack six off the other had queen 7 off (pf raiser) and she hit a 7 on the river. NO idea what the other girl was in for (no straight or flush draws). So at least I knew how my table was going.

I hit a few nice hands flopping sets, 2 pair, etc. When the blinds were either 75 150 or 100 200, I got dealt pocket nines with a few limpers in front of me. I raise it up and got two callers. Flop is Jack, 9 4 with 2 hearts. Checks to me, I bet out. One girl folds, girl next to me (who was very nice by the way) raises me. I instantly go all in. She hesitates for a minute, now I know she's not sitting on pocket jacks b/c that would have been an insta call. I put her maybe on a mid to high flush draw, then she calls. She’s like ‘Do you have pocket jacks?” and I’m like ‘Nope’ and she flips over pocket fours for a flopped set of fours. She has a one outer that doesn’t come on the turn or river ‘phew!’ so I took her out. I felt back b/c we only had a handful of people at our table and she was nice. Most of the girls hate taking other girls out in the ladies events.

So, early on, I’m double up to just about 20k in chips, so I’m feeling good. Then a guy comes to our table...uh oh. Girl to my left hates when guys enter the ladies event and he lets him have it, she didn’t stop. I thought it was hilarious. I almost felt bad for the guy because he seemed kind of dorky and was so nervous when talking. He even came back at her, which I thought “good for him”. I don’t want to open a debate on whether or not a guy should/could enter a tourney, b/c I can honestly fight either side (which is why I wanted to go to law school, but I chose love over that….but that’s an entirely different topic).

The guy harped on the girl pretty badly as well…whichever. It was fun to listen to the banter. Then all heck broke loose. You’ll read about a ‘rude dude’ on the Borgata blog in the ladies event and how he kept complaining to the floor. Well, yours truly was at the table so I can give you a firsthand report! I think we were at the 3rd or 4th blind level, I don’t really remember. I was in a rut of crappy hands, so alls I know is I folded this hand. I was in seat 7, rude dude was in seat 10. Rude dude makes it 700 to go, girl in seat 2 goes all in. Dealer grabs his 700, and her 700 so the guy will know what he needs to call. Everyone else folds and I know (b/c I saw with my own two eyes!) that I couldn’t even see seat 10’s cards (at this point, I had NO clue what the action was b/c I wasn’t really following along, but I was looking around and rude dude was right across from me). So here’s the drama. Dealer doesn’t see rude dude’s cards (nobody did) and the dealer gives the chips to seat 2, and after they are directly in front of her, she throws her cards in. (This part I’m watching). She’s stacking her chips up, and then rude dude is like ‘Wait, what’s going…, I call!’ Now, being a JERK that he was (yes he was a jerk keep following the story). We all perk up and the dealer realizes he made a mistake. He didn’t wash the cards yet, but if that kid was going to call he woulda done so as soon as seat 9 folded (he claims he had queens later on). So now the floor comes over….now he’s yelling that he wants Tab over there (who had gone home for the day already) and the floor people tried to make a ruling amidst 6 people telling them how it all went down. (I just watched). The ruling ended up being that it was a dealer error, and the girl that went all in had to pay rude dude 700 to match his bet and they would go to the cameras to see who else was in the pot, blinds, etc. to give him back his money. WELL, he wanted her to match his whole stack! There were about even in chips, I believe she had a little more then him. They won’t severly cripple a player on a dealer error…and the way it went down on his part was bad. He knew the dealer made a mistake and being a jerk, wanted to ‘money in on it’ We were yelling at him, making jokes, etc. Finally, I told Dave (floor manager for the tourney) to just flip over the kid’s cards (you can’t do it, but it woulda been fun!) to see if he really would have called. The kid made so many plays at pots with nothing to try to steal blinds. In one hand, when I was chipleader at my table, I was in the small blind for 75 150. Big blind was empty so we just put the chips in…he raises to 1000. So everyone folds, and I look at him. ‘Why’d you make your bet so big?” and he’s like ‘I want to steal the dead money in the pot’. I look down at my stack and point, then point at my small blind. “Does my stack look like dead money to you?” He answers ‘No’ and I’m like “okay then”. I look at my hand..garbage. I fold saying that even if I had aces, it wouldn’t be worth to call all that money (just to make him feel dumb for raising so much). I’ve done that in the past, raised too much, and I can honestly say, and I’ve told the table after I did it, that it was my error for throwing in the wrong color chip(s). And it’s funny b/c it’s the honest truth. Anywho, I really wanted to see his cards b/c I guarantee he didn’t have queens, made a play at the pot raising to 700 then just playing on the dealer’s honest mistake. Idiot.
So at this point, he’s irate, he wants his whole stack doubled, he’s telling the floor people he wants Tab called at home, etc. We FINALLY move onto the next hand and he’s still whining. I no longer feel bad for him. Finally, he’s still yelling and complaining and I lose it. I tell him that even if the hand played out like it’s supposed, and he called, he could have been knocked out, so he should be happy he’s still in and to put his big girl panties on, and play the next hand. At this, the table erupted (get it, big girl panties, he’s a guy….). So that was that.
Few hands later, I’m under the gun and get pocket 8’s. I raise it up 3 times the blind, seat one goes all in. Something in my gut called out ‘ACE KING!’ and when it came to me, I insta called (didn’t even think about it). Sure enough, ace king! So off to the races! Nothing for her on the board, I win and take another girl out. So I’m feeling pretty good about my calls.

One hand I’m not so proud of is when I was under the gun with pocket deuces. I hate them, I insta fold, don’t even call the blind…something said ‘don’t call!’ Girl in seat 9 pops it to 1700 (blinds were 150 300 I believe). Yikes…good thing I folded I think. 3 way all in on the flop….and of course there’s a 2…grrrr! I would taken 3 girls out in one hand had I called. But even if I called the blind, I doubt I was calling the 1700 raise anyways. Ah well, can’t win em all!

After a little while, we get moved to new tables, I go to table one (right next to the ladies room..bonus!). Antes are now in play (I hate that). Blinds are getting up there 500 1000 and I’m not getting anything! I did get 2 walks at the new table, so that was good. I’m on the button and I get ace queen suited spades (yay! A hand I can play!) and I raise to like 7k or something like that. (blinds are like 1 2k) One girl calls. I’m almost pot committed as more then half my stack is out there (the blinds killed me!). Flop is jack king rag, one spade. Girl checks, I push all in she insta calls and has king jack for two pair…ouch. I say ‘good hand’ grab my purse and a 10 hits the turn (giving me a straight) and the river is a rag, I double up to over 30k, so I’m happy. I felt like an idiot for pushing all in, but whatever….she was cool about it though.

We go on another break and blinds are up when we return. Once again, I’m card dead. I win a few smaller hands here and there. Then I’m on the button and get ace king suite clubs. I raise to 5500 or something or maybe it was 11k, I don’t remember…the girl (same girl from last hand) raises me, I go all in, she calls…aces. DANG NABIT! She was making plays at so many pots, I figured she was raising me to scare me…ah well…I hit NOTHING on the flop, turn and river are blanks and I’m out. I think back that I coulda folded after she re-raised me, but my guy had been spot on ALL day! I couldn’t go against it…but I followed it and out I was. So many ladies say their ace king went up against aces and the big slick got them knocked out of the tournament, so it was fitting I left the same way. Hubby Mike was playing with a woman that I see playing all the time (great poker player) and she told Hubby Mike that I’m a great poker player and she has great respect for me….that was sooooo nice of her! She also gave Hubby Mike some pointers to give to me at cash games and to not play 2 5 at the B because of too many teams…she said if I wanted to move up to 2 5 to go to Harrahs. I’m unsure of how accurate her statement is of 2 5 at the B. I’ve played numerous times and did quite well (knock on wood) and I know a ton of regulars at the 2 5 games….so we’ll see.


Like I said…the ladies event was drama filled.

Getting Back to the Grind: Borgata Spring Poker Open Ladies Event

I decided last week that I was going to play the Ladies Event during the Borgata Poker Open's Spring Event (1st one ever!). I had wanted to play the opening day Deep Stack event, however, Hubby Mike made a dentist appt, and my friend was in from Hawaii, so I had to bail (I was not happy). Hubby Mike said that as long as he could go to the driving range this past Saturday, I can play the event. So, of course I let him go to the driving range Saturday :)

I know I haven't been blogging much about poker lately, but I was having a bad run for awhile and I know that I needed to get away from the game for awhile, clear my head, concentrate on other things, then get back into the game. I can count on one hand how many times Hubby Mike and I have gone to the Borgata (Atlantic City) this year. Here it is, almost May (almost half the year is gone already!) and we've gone only a few times....so you know it's bad. At one point during the height of our poker days, we would go every weekend. Then we cut back a little bit as he was taking a hit, but what was good was that I viewed it as a job. If he lost $200, I knew that as a team, I'd have to make up his $200 and I refused to leave the tables unless I was even money plus $200 for him...at least as a team we were breaking even. Then the tables turned a bit. Then we both started doing bad, so we cut back drastically. Now, 'knock on wood' Hubby Mike is starting to fare a little better and did well the last time we were down there. Yesterday, he took a $16 hit at the cash game, which isn't bad after he was down about $200...so he made a lot of it back up.

I wanted to get my feet wet again with tournaments since I've been doing not so great at cash games. Awhile ago, it was the opposite...I was doing great in cash, not so good in tournaments, so Hubby Mike said I should just concentrate on cash and move up a level or two. It's tough for me because I'm comfortable at the limit I play, but I also like to play tournaments. I needed to see that every time I dumped $200-$300 in a tournament and then won $600 in cash, I could have netted almost $1k if I just opted not to play the tournament. But now that I'm doing bad in cash, I want to try to focus on tournament play, hence my decision to come out of 'ladies tournament retirement'

I am a poker player. No doubt about it. I love poker....and it's a huge part of my life. Friends disagree, even Hubby Mike said he wouldn't take it THAT far....but here's how I see it. My job ends next September, if I don't find another one before then. I'm currently on a HUGE project and put in for a few other Army jobs, but was told that since their organization is relying heavily on the project I'm on, they won't take me into their organization b/c that would leave this project with someone unknowledgeable about what I'm doing....apparently I'm too good :( I'm trying to work with them to see if they would just put in writing that after this project, they WILL give me a job then, but for now, nothing. I've been applying everywhere, nothing yet. SO, worse comes to worse, I can always give professional poker a shot. Hubby Mike says no, so do some friends. Hubby Mike has been coming around about it. I'm covered under medical insurance from him...and he's the breadwinner after all. I've been saving as much as I can with our salaries and house expenses and we are currently saving for a downpayment on a house. However, with me possibly being out of work, poker could be an extra income for us. I don't gamble with our bill money, we have a separate account for our gambling and I'm very tight with that money lately. So that's why I'm getting back to the grind, in case I'll need to make it a 'job' in the future. And I know some of you may shake your head and tell me I'm wrong. It's not just a pipe dream of mine. I've had professional poker players come to me and say how I'm a good player and I could make a living out of it...they also tell me areas in which I need to improve to become great. I very much enjoy the game, especially meeting new people and I know from my frugal lifestyle, if I made a living out of it, I would never get over my head with it.

With that being said, Let's Shuffle Up and Deal!!!!!! So we get to the B at about 10:55 and the tourney starts at 11. Hubby Mike is dillydallying in the car (as always!) and I tell him to hurry...he said there won't be a line....and of course, we go in, a HUGE line (both for the ladies event at 11, and the seniors event at noon.). Ugh...and I have to use the restroom. So Hubby Mike and I get in line, then I beeline for the bathroom. When I come back, I'm telling him that they should let the ladies register first since our tourney had now started...and as I say that, here comes a worker from the B saying that if we're in line for the ladies event, they opened up a 3rd window just for us :) SWEET! So I get my ticket and go to the new room where they were doing some events. I sat down to a very interesting woman that some of you may have played against, her name is Rosa Lee. She was once a man, and made the transformation to a woman. I've seen her around most of the ladies events and have wanted to play at her table, and here she is right next to me. Let me tell you, she is a WONDERFUL lady! She's supernice, easy to get along with and will talk about ANYTHING! I really admire her. You may hear some negative remarks about her on 2+2..so I advise you stay away from those threads....and if you say one negative thing about her to me, you'll have to deal with my wrath.

So let's talk some poker! First round I got nothing....and I mean nothing. There were some hands where one lady had kings, the other aces...some nice pots. Then another time, a woman had a straight flush. I kept seeing big pots swing back and forth, even little pots...nothing to me :( I was dying for a king or an ace....just one would make me happy. FINALLY, UTG I get pocket kings. The blinds were 50-100 so I made it 600...and I got 5 callers...really? Flop is 2 Ace 3. Really? ugh. Rosa's to my right and she bets out like $1200. I insta fold. even if she has a pair, someone has an ace and my kings are done. So I fold. Woman across from me raises, Rosa goes all in, lady calls...lady had Ace 10...Rosa has 4 5 spades...ugh...all those women that called priced her in. Of course I made a snide sarcastic remark about calling 600 preflop, but I knew she had to call after everyone else did. the other woman had Ace 10 off. Okay here's the confusing part. At the ladies events, EVERYONE talks....it's not like a co-ed event. This woman kept saying that she got a tax form from B that she won like $200k last year and had to pay taxes. Mostly it was from her and she said it was mostly tournaments. How do you CALL an all in, risking your tourney life with ace ten with that flop with 6 callers pre flop...do you think your ace 10 is good? Are you not putting somoene on a BIG ace, or even a set? The straight seemed out since there was a big raise preflop, but seriously risking your life with Ace 10? yea, you hit your ace, but your kicker is weak....

Later on, when the blinds were 150-300 , I get dealt kings again...SWEET! I wanted to raise it to 1200, and I was thinking how I should do it....2 purples and 2 blacks, or 1 orange and 2 blacks. Dummy me bets out 2 orange and 2 purple (3k) LOL. The dealers like 'Three' and I'm like 'I raised' (thinking he didn't see the chips I put out) and he's like 'I know, three thousand' Everyone insta mucks and looks at me and I tell them about my airheaded moment....woops! At least I won the pot! hahaha.

Few hands later, Hubby Mike comes over to check out the action and I get dealt pocket aces. this time I successufully make it 1200, everyone folds. All well. You always win little pots or lose HUGE pots with pocket rockets.

A few hands later, I'm in the BB and there's a raise to 800 or 1200, I don't recall. I look down at Ace Queen of clubs. So I call. Flop is queen 9 something. I check, and raiser checks. Turn is a club, putting two clubs out there, and giving me the nut flush draw with my pair of queens. I check, raiser bets out 800, I call. King comes on the river...I'm putting her on ace king. I check, she bets 1200, so I call, she has king nine...caught her 2nd pair on the river. Dagnabit...why didn't I bet my queen on the flop...she probably would have folded...all well. I'm now down to about 5500 from starting stack of 10k.

Few hands later, I get dealt jack queen off. eh, I'll limp in, see what happens. Flop is jack queen rag (2 spades). I'm first to act, and bet out 1k. Lady in seat 2 raises me to 2k. everyone folds and it's back to me. I hear Rosa and the girl to her right commentating but it's okay b/c I'm going all-in....it's my game or it's not. I push all in, she calls 'UGH" I think. She has king queen (top pair, king kicker). Please no king please dealer...7 4 runs out the board...sweet double up!

Soon after, we get moved to a new table, and I'm bummed b/c I was having a blast talking with Rosa. The new table is really quiet and 2 other girls from my table are there with me....but they aren't near me. We went on a break soon after. I didn't get ANY cards for just about a round and was getting annoyed. I'm normally patient, but the antes and blinds were killing me. And what set me off too was that when I was SB, i limped in (everyone else folded) and the BB goes all in for like 3x the amount of chips I had....okay FOLD. The blinds go around again and I'm on the button. People start mucking fast and I'm like 'Okay I'm gonna make a move at the pot if everyone folds' sure enough they all fold...I look down at 7 4 off...geesh...I raise to 2k, small blind folds (HA!) and the big blind calls (gulp) flop is 7 4 10 (WOW!) BB bets out, I push all in, she insta calls...she had 9 10. Nothing on turn and river and I double up, and I get looks from EVERYONE at the table...not that I need to defend myself, but I do. I'm like 'OMG I wasn't getting anything and decided that if everyone folded, I'd make a play at the blinds, not expecting to get called' (with 9 10 no less). NOt that she was justified in making the call either...in hindsight, Hubby Mike said that...she called your raise with 9 10?

I lost a few pots after, won a few, you know how the swings go. We go on break and come back. I'm in the small blind after the break and I get king queen...so the blinds are 500 1000 and I make it 3 on top. BB calls. Geesh. Just give me your blind so we can call it even since you stole mine way back when HAHAHAHAHA. Flop is 8 king 8. I go all in, she insta calls...WTH! She's like 'I have an 8' She flips over jack 8 off...really? You call that pre flop with a raise? Whatev. And of course no kings for me...get a flush draw on the turn, brick on the riv and I'm out.

all in all, at my original table, I had a blast....not so much at the new table...I hate table changes :) We're set to go down to the Boat on May 1st for the Showboat Tourney VI or VII or whatever they're at. anyone else going?

99 Things

This is a cute one to do! I got this from Thrify Mama B who got it from Trista at Trista's Barn

Instructions:
Copy the list, bold the ones you've done (with explanations if needed) and share with friends. Show a link from who's blog you got the idea from.

1. Started your own blog - obviously!
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii - I wish! If I can only get on a plane!
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland - darn! I've been to DisneyWORLD though!
8. Climbed a mountain-
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris - same as Hawaii
13. Watched a thunder and lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch - does Poker count?
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty It sways up there!!!!
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill Isn't that what sick days are for?
24. Built a snow fort And threw snowballs at passing cars!
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping DH's parents HAD a pool but took it down :(
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice - closest I'll get is the gondola in Vegas
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person Don't go in the winter...TOOO COLD!
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors - No Poland for me unless I can get on a plane!
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied-We are Happy!
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant - nope, but a stranger has bought US dinner!
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie-
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies and I buy them now every year!
62. Gone whale watching but didn't see any whales!
63. Got flowers for no reason used to get them ALL the time...then we got engaged....and all that fun stuff stopped
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check only on accident!
68. Flown in a helicopter We did this for our 2 year anniversary...yea, I'll go on a helicopter no problem...but terrified of planes...go figure!
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial I LOVE DC!
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone Toes numerous times!
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle - darn! My best friend JUST got a Harley...waiting for his cousin to go to DMV to transfer the title...he's gonna pop my cherry!
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car Does a truck count?
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper For field hockey and back in grammar school
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House And hung out with George W's dog Barney.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - I don't think I could EVER do that.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous a few
92. Joined a book club
93. Got a tattoo- maybe for my 30th bday.
94. Had a baby- not yet
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit - possibly in the next week or so lol
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

UPDATE!

I just wanted to write a quick update to let you all know that I'm still alive and well (for the most part at least lol).

I've been kind of busy and lazy at the same time and haven't devoted much time to my blog. BUT, good news is, I'm going to try to revamp up my page a bit and maybe get some ads on here and upgrade a little bit. I've been reading about hounds/bloggers etc. that have made careers out of blogs like this and I figured I'd try my hand out it! I'm also going to look into doing some freelance stuff on the side as well since my job is closing and DH and I are NOT going along with them. So we'll see where this journey takes me....

Getting Back to the Swing of Things

I decided today that on lunch I would either go to A & P for triple Q's, or to Staples for some free stuff. I chose to do Staples today as my friend at work didn't bring in her Q's. Tomorrow, she will bring them in and we will hit up A & P.

I love Staples, I really do. I actually love anything/everything that deals with office supplies. Love it! So I went in to get the binders, pens, pencils and pop up tape dispenser with the Rebates. So here's what I got:

4 1 inch Avery Binders - 6.99 x 4 = 27.96 but will get it all back with Staple Rewards
2 Bic Mechanical Pencils (5 in each package) = 4.79 x 2 = 9.58 - 7.58 in special savings = 2. So they wer $1 a piece!
1 Pentel Hyper-G Pens (4 in a pack) - 3.99 which I will get back with the rebate online
1 Pop up Take desk Dispenser 2.99 which I will get back with the rebate.

So all in all, I spent 39.53 OOP, but will get back 34.94 in rebates so in actuality, I only spent 4.59 ($2 for the pencils and then other $2.59 in tax). Not bad!