Busy Days

In general, I feel pretty busy lately. But I always prefer being busy to bored. As long as I don't feel burnt out. In order to avoid that, I told myself I'd take off one day/month from work. I didn't do this in January but it had been so soon since our holiday vacation that it didn't feel necessary. February I took off the day after the half marathon but I did go into work for an hour for a meeting. March I took off a day that my mom was in town and enjoyed some shopping. And next Monday I'm taking my April day. And doing nothing. Or at least very little. Except sewing my stupid curtain. Yes, you heard me. I will sew my curtains on Monday!

Until then, I'm tired. Today was another busy day. I've been getting to work earlier and earlier for the past few months. I'm usually there between 7:30 and 7:45 and today was no exception. Then, at 10, our entire staff did a community service project where we cleaned up parts of the Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail. Devon and I opted to get some exercise, too, and canoed the lake while picking up trash. Then it was our annual all staff/volunteers/interns picnic. Buster joined us for this and really enjoyed meeting other dogs, chasing Frisbees and eating scraps of food on the ground.

And, believe it or not, the day didn't end there for me. I hosted our monthly book club at my house tonight. I was super excited because it was my first role as 'host' in my house. And there were 10 of us! It felt a bit crowded (how will I possibly fit 30+ for a shower at the end of the month?) but not too bad and I think it was a success. Buster seemed a bit overwhelmed and is now worn out. And I can relate. I think we'll both sleep well after this long (but fun and successful) day.

Rain, Rain, Come Again

Gutters have arrived! It may be the most money I've ever spent on something so boring and anti-climatic but I will smile every time it rains knowing I've invested in gutters, my foundation and the longevity of my home.

I also went to our lovely Department of Public Safety today and got a new driver's license. The oddest thing about Texas is that while they take your picture on site, they provide you with a temporary sheet of paper that serves as your license until your new one is mailed to you in four weeks. Four weeks!!?? I remember thinking this was odd when I moved here. In Virginia, they did it all on site and you walked out with your freshly laminated, sealed license.

Ah, Texas......

Rebuilding

Since my loss last weekend (purse, camera, wallet, credit cards, ID, etc.) I've been slowly rebuilding. I dug an old purse out of my closet and one of the many cosmetic bags I've gotten for free during 'bonus time' at Macy's and loaded that up with the usual suspects - band aids, lip gloss, aspirin, etc. Due to my unexpected cost to replace my window, I told myself that while I wasn't allowed to buy a new purse (yet), I was allowed to buy a new wallet. I mean I didn't have a back-up wallet so I really needed one.

My new wallet arrived on Friday afternoon along with several replacement credit cards. Today, my insurance card and ATM card arrived.

But the best rebuilding of all is thanks to Devon. Last year one of her friends accidentally dropped her camera and the lens broke. The camera still works but it looks pretty beat up. She treated herself to a new camera and this weekend was kind enough to offer me her old camera until I get a new one. I was so excited to be reunited with a Canon again. And while I may not have any pictures to post tonight, rest assured that new(ish) Canon will be used a lot.

So while my purse still feels a little bit light and empty, I'm thrilled to have a camera be part of my life again. Next up is my driver's license. Wish me luck braving the DPS in the morning.

Musings

Being out of credit card debt has created a whole new freedom for me. But it's also creating new responsibilities. I really, really, really don't want to get in debt again. My financial situation is more secure than it has been before and I've actually got money in savings to pull from if emergencies happen.

I've been thinking about this a lot for the past few days, though, and trying to come up with a realistic budget that both pays all my bills and still allows me to have fun and buy new things periodically. Obviously I can't do it all at once, but it will be great to know that the extra several hundred dollars I was putting toward Citibank can now be used for something immediate.

Credit card debt is a tricky thing, though. For the most part, it was probably due to things I wanted but couldn't afford (I know that seems obvious but stick with me....). Things like clothes, plane tickets, etc.

But I'm certain a lot of it was also due to things I needed to do - like fix my car, unexpected dental work or, in my case the biggest chunk of my debt, Max's vet bills.

I've said this several times, but I have no regrets spending the thousands of dollars that I did to keep Max alive for a few extra days. But right before that happened last year, I was less than a thousand dollars away from paying off my credit card debt. Then it shot right back up. I didn't have money in savings to pay off some or all of the vet bills and wasn't making the same salary I am now.

So while I am really looking forward to living a better financial life, I also promise to keep perspective on what life can throw you. Emergencies and unexpected costs due occur but I'm better prepared for them now.

And while I know it seems strange to say this but paying off my credit card last month, which was largely the vet bills from last year, was amazing it also felt bittersweet. I think it was my last tangible connection to Max. Since his death, I've gotten a new dog, I've moved, I've gotten new furniture and a new car. There is little around me now that was part of his life. I know the debt wasn't my last memory of him but it is odd to know that something so great (paying it off) can have one small tug at my heartstrings.

Grow, Little Tree, Grow

This morning has been a productive morning in the Sileo household. Besides my usual Saturday morning activities, Chris and Lucie came over for a visit. While I fed her some banana and cheerios and she chased after Buster, Chris hung my curtain rod in my kitchen above my french doors.

I've been talking about this curtain rod for months now. I bought the fabric for the curtains at Ikea in January and now I have no excuse not to sew. I'm hoping the empty curtain rod staring at me will motivate me. So far that hasn't worked. But it's only been 2 hours.

Despite hitting a wire and having to remember where my circuit breaker was to reset a fuse, it went quite smoothly. But that's easy for me to say when all I did was play with Lucie.

Then Kelsey came over for what's turning into our usual Saturday morning walks with Buster and we finally planted my tree!

The city of Austin is piloting a program in certain parts of town (note: transitional) by donating one tree to each household. It's our responsibility to plant and grow it. Mine arrived several weeks ago and despite the fact that I should have planted it right away, I think it's doing quite well. It's certainly been getting watered with all the rain we've had.

Thanks to Kelsey's surprisingly good use of a shovel, the tree is planted, mulched and watered! We also (finally!) broke down a large box that's been sitting in my back yard since, oh, December. For such an independent person, I sure do need people to motivate me to get the littlest things done.

So while I'm temporarily sans camera, I did take a picture of the newly planted tree with my blackberry. I've named her Rosie and I've promised to take good care of her.

Next up, gutters and a new, crushed granite patio. Stay tuned.....

Feeling Like A Homeowner

So, it's official. I feel like a homeowner now. Between dealing with my hot water heater last week and the number of estimates I'm getting for improvements right now, it's true, I am a homeowner. But it feels good.

Although it's easy to 'feel good' about it when I currently have the means to deal with home ownership. Thanks to my hefty tax return, I'm investing in some areas of my home that, hopefully, in the future, will end up saving me money in the long run (not buying a couch of course but that's just fun!).

Monday morning around my house was hectic. I felt a little like that scene in Mr. Mom when Michael Keaton is running around, trying to deal with laundry overflowing, screaming children and delivery people. My situation wasn't nearly as hectic but it sure did require a lot of time management and Buster control. Luckily, my dad was there to help me and Kelsey jumped in at the last minute to take me to the airport because my car window hadn't been repaired yet. Apparently Subaru windows are trickier than normal ones b/c they don't have frames the same way other cars do and they have extra, internal screws. Who knew?

Now it just needs to be tinted to match the rest of the windows.

The rest of the morning was spent getting estimates for gutter installations and some pest control around the house. Once I get back from my trip, I'll review the estimates and make my decisions but I'm pretty certain I'm going to move forward with both of them. Then there's still a little left to begin some yard renovations. Not as much as I originally thought. The expenses to get my car window replaced, a new wallet and my impromptu decision to get a mattress box spring, decreased the funds available but those are all decisions that I'm happy with.

Sadly, until I get a new camera, this blog will remain picture free. You'll have to use your imagination. If I was any good at drawing, I would do that and scan pictures. But I can barely draw stick figures.

Ups and Downs

There has been so much going on lately I need a vacation. As I mentioned in my most recent blog posting, I was already exhausted from last week's activities and then today happened.

Kelsey and I went to town lake with Buster. We found yet another excuse not to run - the cold and wind - and decided to go on a 3 mile walk. We drove to our usual east side spot near our offices and hit the trail.

It sure was windy but it felt good to be outside. Until we got back to my car. Back to the scene of the crime.

Kelsey noticed it first and then I shouted some obscenities (apparently, many obscenities). My car had been broken into. The back passenger side window had been smashed in and my purse was stolen. So annoying.

Yes, in retrospect, I guess I shouldn't have left my purse in the car but it was locked, my windows are tinted and it was 10am on a sunny day in parking lot with other cars and people milling about. How no one noticed this happening is beyond me.

While losing my purse and all its contents (wallet, camera, checkbook) sucks, I'm grateful for so many things. Kelsey and I make a good crime thwarting team. Within minutes we had talked to the police and had a plan in place. We drove to her house to get her computer and then to mine where we tag teamed making calls and looking things up on the Internet.

If this wasn't for such a sad reason, I would have enjoyed myself. Making plans, lists and then checking them off as they get done is one of my favorite things. But not this time.

At 8pm tonight I think I've done all I can for now. I have a new blackberry, have cancelled all my credit cards, changed all my passwords and set up a time tomorrow morning to get my car window replaced. There are plenty more things I need to do (new driver's license for one) but they'll have to wait until I'm back from Atlanta.

So off I go tomorrow with an empty replacement purse. All I have are a few checks, my passport and a pen. But it could be worse. So much worse. I'm glad no one was hurt, that Kelsey's purse wasn't also stolen, that my house keys were with me and that I'm an organized person and had all the information I needed to remedy this situation.

I can't thank Kelsey enough for all of her help today. She may not have had a choice as I considered her a victim of this crime, too, and I know she had some 'purse survivor's guilt' but she was amazing and I couldn't have gotten through this without her (or anyone else who called and expressed offers to help).

But it's exhausting dealing with crime. I'm just hopeful for days ahead that just feel normal. I'm ok with normal and welcome it. Come on in and join me for awhile. Take a seat on Cafe Noir and put up your feet.

New Resting Place, New Views....

I got my new couch today! Thanks to my dad who waited for the delivery men while I was at work. I'm sitting on it now as I type this and while it certainly feels different than my previous one, I love it and have no doubt that we'll spend lots of quality time together.

But I will miss my yellow couch. It was my first big furniture purchase as an adult and I have good memories on that couch....some that can be shared and some that just remain special to me. I hope whomever picked it up off the side of the road (yes, I put it on the curb and it was gone within 3 hours) enjoys it as much as I do.

But, Cafe Noir (the color of my new couch) and I are going to be fast friends and build many new memories together.

Also, the final installment of my bedroom art updates arrived today. Since Jess and I brainstormed the other night where I would put things, I went ahead and hung everything tonight. It's hard to capture in one picture but I think it looks really good. The colors all go so well together and it's soothing and whimsical, which is just what I was going for.

Of course now that I have a new couch and new art work, I have that many more things I want to do around the house to 'match' their newness. But one step at a time. Gutter and pest control quotes are on Monday. Doesn't that sound riveting?

Also, as an update for those of you waiting on the edge of your seat, wondering how my hot water heater has been working.....it seems to be fixed. After calling Ken for advice, the contractor who built my home to see where he got it (turns out, he didn't buy it and the first contractor, who was then fired from the job did, from Ebay of all places), I called my home warranty company. Seventy-five dollars later it seems to be fixed. Sadly, what he did seemed equivalent to rebooting a computer. But I know nothing about tankless hot water heaters (who am I kidding? I know nothing about 'tankful' hot water heaters) and anything related to gas made me nervous. So I basically paid someone $75 to unplug and replug it in. Ah well, now I know how to do it myself. See one, do one, teach one.....

But boy has it been a busy week. Between a crazy week of work, a nail in one of my car tires, my hot water heater on the fritz, my dad in town, not getting much sleep and SXSW in town, I'm exhausted. Good night for now!

And The Winners Are.....

1. A new couch. I bought it last weekend and they're delivering it on Friday (pictures soon).
2. Gutters (pending the quote amount on Monday)
3. Pest control (pending the quote amount on Monday)
4. Zero scaping part of the yard (thanks to the help and suggestions from Helen Knost)
5. Three more months of doggie daycare for Buster

I've also now gotten 4 out of the 5 pieces of art I ordered off Etsy for my bedroom. Once those are hung and the couch has arrived, I'll have more pictures to share.

In the meantime, my dad arrived in town. He's moving to Austin as soon as he sells his condo in VA (he has a contract on it now but the woman broke her femur this past weekend and may back out). Fingers crossed that it all works out and he can move to Austin soon and be close to his grandchildren (Lucie, Buster and the newest Baby Sileo in October).

It Smells Like Spring

I love how newly mowed grass smells and I love what it symbolizes - Spring! That's a little less relevant in Texas than it was in Virginia growing up but the nostalgic feeling is there nonetheless.

Yesterday my lawn was finally mowed (not by me, mind you....) and it looks great! I was pleasantly suprirsed at how much actual grass was out there. I assumed it was mostly weeds but I think that there is some real potential there.

One of my favorite things about my yard is how much Buster loves it. It cracks me up that this little 11 pound dog has such a big yard. Yesterday, as he was enjoying it, Kelsey and I were watching from my deck. My next door neighbor was in her driveway and must not have seen Kelsey and me because we overheard her talking to Buster. It was adorable! She was asking how he was, what he was doing....as if he'd respond. But who am I to judge? I ask these same questions (and more) of Buster all the time. It just warmed my heart to know my neighbor was so sweet.

So despite the fact that my hot water heater seems to be sporadically working and I can't figure out why, it's been a great few days. I also got my tax refund and am officially out of credit card debt! Who knew that it would take buying a home for that to happen? Ah, the irony....

So now I just have a mortgage, car payment and student loans. But that's all 'normal', right?

Now I have to decide what to do with the rest of the tax refund money. I may put some in savings but the other ideas I have are:

1. Get a new couch - mine is a bit broken and old

2. Get a box spring - my mattress has been sans box spring since I got it 3 years ago and is a bit droopy.

3. Create a patio of crushed granite and native plants

4. Get gutters - this sounds less and less exciting to me

5. Pest control - this isn't fun but a must

6. Get a new, flat screen TV

7. Replace the rest of the chain link fence in my backyard

Any votes? I clearly can't do all of the above.

Bedroom Updates

Since Operation Yard Work is temporarily on hold until Texas Lawn Service mows my lawn (fingers crossed it will be this week thanks to my Groupon coupon) I'm refocusing on the inside of my house. Specifically my bedroom. I bought new bedding at Ikea last month and have been shopping for art work for my walls with the color scheme of greys, blues and purples. Very soothing sounding, huh?


With my mom's help, I started making some headway. We bought this rug at Crate and Barrel, which then prompted me to buy a bunch of art off Etsy, which should arrive next week. I can't wait to clothe my naked bedroom walls!



Meanwhile, while I was pretty certain I was keeping the rug, I'm 100% certain now. The first night I got it, I was in the kitchen cooking and realized Buster wasn't strategically placed at my feet as he often is when I'm cooking, hoping for scraps. So I went to look for him. I found him in my bedroom literally stuck to the rug. He likes to roll around on his back on rugs and must have been doing so to christen this new addition and one of his collar tags got stuck in the rug. So there he was, patiently and quietly waiting for a rescue. Poor thing! It makes me love the rug even more.


The rest of my weekend with my mom was equally as great but focused on Lucie, who is more and more adorable each day. She came to visit me at work and was a huge hit. Her current favorite activities are pointing to the light and petting everything around her (we've been practicing how to safely pets dogs so now she does it with her stuffed animals and blankets, too), dropping food for Bailey and buster to eat, collecting pebbles in the backyard and sleeping.

Visitors

My mom is visiting for the next week. Largely to take care of my niece, Lucie, while Chris and Missy take some days to themselves. But she did come in a day early to spend a night at my house. It's her first time seeing the new house and since she was so essential in my ability to purchase the house, I felt extra excited to show it to her. To prove that I'd made a good decision.

She loves it! I mean, literally, she has gushed over it several times, which makes me beam with happiness.

I took today off work to spend with her. We've already enjoyed some coffee, breakfast, a walk with Buster and now we're getting ready to run some errands.

Knowing that my mom loves my house makes me love it just a little bit more (if that was possible?)