What a nice relaxing Sunday after spending three hours yesterday loading up the van for another trip to the dump. And unfortunately we're still going to have one more trip after this one.

Thinking about all the trips to the dump over these past months makes me sad to think of all the crap we contributed to the landfills. Even thought most of it wasn't ours (stuff accumulated from Spyros's family living here for 20 years), but still....

And we did donate all the usable items that were left after the two garage sales. All I know is that when any of our parents pass away and the household needs to be gone through, we will refuse since we already did one household.

After the next two trips to the dump (hopefully both done this week) we'll still need to take one more trip to FIL's. But then we should have everything out of this house that we are not keeping. And we'll be able to trade the big van for FIL's minivan. This is a good thing since the inside door handle on the driver's side of our minivan no longer works. Spyros has to roll down the window to get out!!!

It will be good to have a back up vehicle, just in case. This minivan that we have has been a great deal so far. We bought it from the state auction for $1600. We've had it for five years and besides having to have the starter wheel replaced (due to DH's job at the Post Office and having to deliver mail) and normal maintanence it's been a good vehicle.

The chicken stock turned out great and so did the deviled eggs (I'll believe DH on that). I'm going to pour the stock into ice cubes trays so I'll have cubes to use when needed. Plus I still have some chicken that fell off the bone and the veggies that I'll either add to a casserole or make fajitas with.

We're going to run to Pick n Save to get some makings for subsandwiches and to dispute a charge that is on our receipt. Broccoli was supposed to be 36 cents a pound but we were charged $1.68. Then the rest of the day will be filled with DH playing Ratchet and Clank and me playing on the computer or reading.

Frugal Thought for the Day: Make sure to always, always check your receipts. It adds up very quickly and about 1 time out of 3 there will be a mistake (at least through my experience). But please don't be crabby with the cashiers. Most of the time it's not there fault, since prices change weekly from the various sales. But if it is their fault (a wrong code punched in, etc...) still be nice since everyone makes mistakes.

Thanks Kat for the nice words!

I feel a decluttering mood coming on. We're going to load up the big 1 ton van today with, hopefully the last load of stuff we need to take to the dump.

I want to go through the bathroom and my make-up to toss as much as I can. We also have another load to take to FIL (the last one!), so I'm going to write down everything so we don't forget anything.

I really want to go through the boxes at my Mom's house, but since they're an hour and a half away, that will have to wait.

We called the landlord (Leroy) of the apartment building, to let him know that at this time we have no time frame as to when the house will sell. He said that's fine, and to just keep him updated.

DH helped a co-worker move yesterday and in return will have him either help us when we move, or will get some free music lessons if he ever decides on an instrument he wants to learn. Since we're not moving far (if we ever move) I'm sure he'll take the music lessons.

Today will also be a cooking day. When I'm done posting I'm going to make some deviled eggs (I find these repulsive, but DH loves them) and boil a chicken carcass to make some soup stock. We got two dozen eggs free because of spending $20 at the grocery store, so I want to use some up.

When there are good items on sale, Spyros and I both grab a cart since the quantity you can get on the sale items are usually limited. This is also good because we both get the free item if we spend $20 or more.

So Frugal thought for the day: If you have two or more members in your household and have a place to store the sale items, have everyone grab a cart and check out seperately so you can stock up on the sales items and don't forget the freebies!

Sometimes the freebies are in a section of the store that I might not be visiting, so I make sure to check the flyer (if I don't already know what the free item is).

If I wanted to stock up on something I use to go to the store on different days, but realized I was wasting gas. So unless you're going by the store due to going to work or running errands, etc.... bring others along to shop and save gas and wear on your car.

After reading Amber's comment the other day, it made me realize that I would not want to live somewhere that doesn't have the four seasons that are well defined.

I enjoy the anticipation that each one brings. In February it feels as if winter will never end, but then you see a few shoots of grass peaking through the snow. The snow melts and the trees still look dead, but one day you look out the same window as before and the tree is covered with tiny buds.

The heavenly smell of lilacs lasts oh so briefly. Then comes the wonderful first blackberries of the season. You may only find two on the bush, but it's wonderful to share the second one with your love.

Summer brings swimming and lots of outdoor grilling. Just sitting around an outdoor table with some close friends can remind you how perfect life can be. And that first blast of cold water when you dive into the lake makes you hold your breath with anticipation the whole year.

The days are long, but one day you realize that it's getting darker earlier. There's plenty of time to still enjoy the bountiful summer fruits and vegetables, but you begin to think about crisper days that will soon ward off this ungodly humidity.

Then you see it, that first homemade sign for pumpkins. The days are still warm, but the nights are getting cooler. You contemplate getting out the flannel sheets to snuggle under, but not just yet.

You wait until the weekend before Halloween and go to a pumpkin patch on the coldest and wettest day of autumn so far. After picking out the perfect pumpkin, you slip your freezing fingers underneath your lover's shirt, and it brings back to them the first swim of the season.

Driving home you admire the last of the autumn leaves. Deep dark reds, golden yellows and oranges the color of your pumpkin. Once home you heat up some apple cider and go to find the flannel sheets, while your love starts cutting open the top of the pumpkin and taking out the seeds, making sure to save them so you can roast them later.

The pumpkin sitting outside that welcomed visitor's on Halloween night now has ice crystals on it. You contemplate throwing it out, but leave it instead for any wild animals that may want a snack. And what do you know, tomorrow already is Thanksgiving.

After the feast and lethargic bodies find their way to another place, you give another thanks that you have already finished your Christmas shopping so you won't be out on Black Friday.

A month of gatherings and more food quickly passes by. You welcome January with it's slower pace, and swear this year you'll lose some weight, while trying to keep your sanity. But then you begin to think about February lurking nearby, only to smile because you remember the first shoots of grass you saw last year.

The first snowfall of the season. A light dusting on the grass with a heavier concentration around the edges of the road. Very pretty, but makes me wish even more that we were in an apartment so we could put up some Christmas decorations.

Today's chore: Put up cabinet in laundry room. I'm excited to be able to get the laundry room more to my liking.

I dehydrated green peppers and tomatoes yesterday and still have some more to do, but they will wait until tomorrow.

I think today I'll clean out the spice cabinet.

I'm really ready to go on painting and whatnot, but we still have good week or so before we know definately if the house will sell or not.

I'm ready to stay here and get on with life, but I know DH really wants to sell. I do too, but in my gut I just don't think that is going to happen with these people. And basically we've been on a holding pattern for four years with FIL living here, so I am really ready to do something. (And Spyros says I have no patience!?!.....)

We didn't do a lot around the house so we wouldn't inconvenience FIL. But looking back I realize that it was a two way street. And while we've gained some, we've also lost a lot of time.

I know staying in the house will not be the easiest thing, and it will take longer to pay off the debt and save money, but I think in a lot of ways it will be beneficial to us and other family members.

Spyros's family has owned this house for over 20 years so there are a lot of memories here (good and bad). And having Nichole (SIL) come over this past week helped me to realize that having a childhood home to visit (even if the furnishings have changed) is something very precious.

If we are able to keep the house it will be one more way to keep a family together and hopefully help it grow. And since the house is so big I think it will benefit all the parents when they are older because we will have a home that they (at least two sets of parents) can go to instead of an institution.

I don't want children, but I always pictured a lot of people constantly at my/our house, so I think this is a way for it to happen. There is so much we can do here if we just open our minds and hearts to it.

Bob Seger's Greatest Hits, a CD that I wouldn't want to part with. Anyway....

Made lunch (ham, potatoes, spaghetti squash, and corn) for Linda, Alex, AidiA and Kamen (niece and nephew who are visiting from North Carolina) yesterday. We talked about them moving in, so if the house doesn't sell we'll have some extra money for debt and fixing up the house.

I wish it was the beginning of December already so we would know. I really want to start painting and fixing up the house more if we're going to stay.

My neck is really tight and painful. I don't know if I pulled something or if I'm just stressed. So I've been icing it in hopes that it will feel better.

Talking about body parts hurting, our health insurance premium is going up next year and we'll have a $15 co-payment for office visits, where before we didn't have one. Insurance is such a joke and the expertise you get for the money is rarely ever worth it.

I'm just disappointed and annoyed today, can you tell?!?

Got some news that we may actually be having a 10 year class reunion next year. We never had a five year. I'm kind of excited about that. It will be nice seeing some people that I haven't seen in many years. I can't believe 10 years.

We got a call from Neal yesterday. The deal is not looking like it will go through. The couple received a judgement placed on the guy from a bill that was supposedly paid off during the divorce. They will either have to get the paperwork to show that it is paid off, or pay it off.

Essentially their contract is already broken since they didn't pay the earnest money or have an inspector come in. So we'll basically be waiting for the next three weeks for it to go through or for our contract with Neal to be up.

If the house doesn't sell by then or if we don't have a new offer, we're going to take it off the market.

We'll just live here and fix it up. Renting the upstairs out to either Linda (MIL) and Alex (BIL) or someone else. I'll also start up on eBay again. And I've been looking for a job for the past two months or so, and if something good comes up, I'll apply.
That's a little hard to do right now since we have only one vehicle, but if we trade with FIL then we will have two.

I'm bummed, but if nothing else we've gotten rid of a lot of garbage around the house and become better at painting, putting up trim, etc....

The extra money coming in from renting out rooms, eBay and possibly a job will be put towards debt and fixing up the house. And after the debt is paid then we'll start paying extra on the 20 year mortgage.

When we get the house fixed up we can always try selling it again or pay it off and either stay here or sell it. So we have options, just some months may be tighter than others.

We're going to return the five gallons of paint to Menard's and get semi-gloss, then we'll paint the upstairs blue bedroom. We're also going to put the cabinets up in the laundry room and move the freezer in there. And there's a few other things we can do while we're waiting the next three weeks out.

Frugal/ Simple Thought of the Day: Always have a back up plan. No matter how much you want something or how hard you try, always be prepared.

Two days of staying up late and not taking my nap, really does not do a body good. I feel like I have a hang over today and I know it's because my sleep is off. (I had one Mike's Hard Lemon-aid last night and the night before 1/2 of a Jack's Hard Cola, so I know it's not the alcohol!)

My mind is fuzzy and my head is hurting so I'll write a better entry tomorrow. I'm off the read The Nanny Diaries now. I can't believe what people will put up with!

I know the book is fiction, but it's also written from two women's experiences with taking care of other (rich) people's children. You feel sorry for the kid, but want to slap the parents and tell them to wake up.

Dinner last night was wonderful!

First course: Baked potato skins with cheese and bacon
Second: A white root vegetable cream soup (this course was my favorite)
Third: Spinach salad with a bacon vinegrette dressing
Tastebud cleaser: A ginger sorbet (I did not have this because I detest fresh ginger)
Four: A piece of beef wrapped in bacon with a crusty flatbread shell and a kind of mashed potato
Five: Pumpkin Flan with a Dark Chocolate sauce

Spyros also picked up some Jack Daniel's Hard Cola for me. I had only one because it tasted like the pink sweet medicine you get when you're a child and have an ear infection. It did not have a whiskey taste at all. Pretty gross, so they're waiting in our fridge in case anyone who comes over likes them.

Bill's house is gorgeous. His kitchen is a dream. All made to order cabinets, and lots of them. A nice dark flecked counter top and an island. He was repainting and actually using color. The kitchen is a medium green. There was more greens, reddish browns and a darker khaki in the various rooms we saw.

There was also an upstairs with three bedrooms (which we didn't tour) and a basement which sounded like a happening place because people were playing various games down there.

We got there around 6pm and got home around 12:30am. So all in all a very fun time. We chipped in $5 and a bottle of wine, so not a bad price for a wonderful home cooked meal (with no dishes to do!)

We still haven't heard about the financing yet. Neal (realtor) has called and left messages, so they have been playing phone tag. It's my understanding that he still doesn't have the name or number of the financer, which I think is a bit strange because when the people buying the house left a message for Neal they could easily say "Oh, and the name and number for our financer is..."

I really hope this goes through and they are not playing games. I really want to move out and be able to pay off all our debt and start saving, but if this doesn't go through we do have a back-up plan. The debt won't be paid off right away, but it will be paid off sooner and hopefully everything still goes well.

At least I don't have my normal nervous stomach. Because whatever happens, happens. And there really isn't anything I can do right now to change it, so why fret?

I really don't have any Frugal/Simple advice today. Still sleepy from last night. So have a joyous day and get outside for a few minutes to enjoy Mother Nature!

We signed the lease yesterday with the clause wrote in that we can get out if the closing falls through. We didn't have to pay the $100 deposit for the cats, so that was an extra bonus.

We'll get the key on the first (Leroy said we could get it whenever, put we don't want to jump the gun), and have all of our stuff moved in by the closing. So it will be nice and stress-free.

We still haven't heard about the couple's financing. The soon to be husband was in the hospital for kidney stones. Now granted that is nothing to shake a stick at, but if Spryos or I were in for that I would still be contacting our financer and keeping the selling party up to date. Your buying a house for Goddess sake, spending lots of money and you would think that you would do whatever is possible to have it go smoothly.

Or is that just me????

We're going to the Friday night get together usually thrown by Kat and Brian (tonight by Bill since he bought a new house and is the proud owner of a new kitchen!) I've never met Bill, (and probably some of the other people), but it should be fun. And with three guys cooking a five course meal, what more could you ask for?

My back is feeling better so I'm going to do some packing today. Mainly the eBay items that are in the back hallway and some office items that we won't be needing right now.

We sold two beer signs at the Preplayed place and are getting $20 for each. I would have expected more for the neon Tattoo sign, but it was free and we don't want it, so $40 is $40.

We also brought the large eight drawer dresser to MIL, so that's out of the garage. Now we just need FIL to come and take what he wants and we'll be pretty set.

I think we'll need one more trip to the dump, but that's not too bad. Kind of scary though, since that will be our fourth trip. It really saddens me that we contributed so much to the landfill, but most of the stuff to the dump was here before we moved in. And we did sell or donate as much of the usable items as we could.

This just means that we're going to be much more selective in future about what we buy. And we'll try to recycle items into something else, or use them until they fall apart.

I was going to get DH Alias Season 1 on DVD because he had mentioned numerous times that he wanted it. But we had a chat and both agreed that we don't want to just be getting stuff (ie; DVDs, books, etc...) that we may only watch once or twice. We're looking a lot harder at our purchases to make sure they are inline with our future goals.

I know that sounds really stuffy and boring, but it is something we really believe in doing, so.....

I've been in a crafty mood lately, but since all of my supplies are in my Mom's basement I'm not able to do anything about it. I have been writing down ideas, so when we move and get our stuff I can begin.

We go sign a pre-lease tomorrow at 11:30 and give the security deposit post-dated. I think we're also getting the key tomorrow, but we wouldn't move anything until a week before the closing. It's nice that we can move in early, and it will be so much less stressful!!!

I won a book that I've been wanting on eBay; Frugal Luxuries. I've borrowed it two times from the library and decided I would like to add it to my collection. It is a hardcover and was actually in a lot of two books. The other one is The Welcoming Hearth (also hardcover). The total came to $11.13 with shipping. Which is a great deal for two hardcovers, since the Frugal Luxuries alone is $25 new. I'm excited to get them and see what The Welcoming Hearth is like. It's supposed to be similar to the other one, so hopefully I will like it.

I want to pack up some more stuff, but my back has been sore the last two days. I've been icing it and it feels better, but I don't want to strain it more.

We may be going to our friend's Kat and Brian's house this Friday for their weekly gathering of dinner and merrymaking. We've never been to one, so it should be fun. They have been having problems with a neighbor saying they are making too much noise. It's not true, but when you live in an apartment complex there's going to be noise.

The TV had sucked me back in, so I made a new rule for myself; I can't turn it on until 6:30 (Friends reruns, which I haven't seen.) And if there is nothing on that I want to watch I have to turn it off instead of just flipping through the channels. I also have to read during the commercials.

I think this will be easier to do when we get settled some place because I will have projects to do. But it's not too hard now, because I just read or surf the internet for information on crafts, simple/frugal living, or whatever else I am currently learning about.

Simple Thought for the Day: Don't let the TV rule you. Record shows so you can fast-forward through the commercials. Or read or exercise/stretch during the commercials. And do keep it off as much as possible. Don't just flip it on and veg out because you're tired. There are so many other productive things to do while vegging instead of watching TV.

Read, knit, sew (or any other crafty thing), visit friends/family, play with your kids/pets, or even spend alone time just thinking or writing in a journal.

This world is so fast paced that you should take any chance you can to break away from life speeding by.

We looked at our last apartment yesterday, and that's the one we chose. Isn't it always the last? Well, sometimes it's the first, but.....

It's a standard two bedroom apartment. You walk in and the living room is right there with a coat closet to the right. Off the living room to the right is a dining area with a pantry closet. Then off the dining area is the kitchen. Standard straight shot kitchen, but at the end there is an open space with more shelves (and the booster water heater is tucked into the corner behind the wall, so you can't see it).

If you go straight through the living room there is a bedroom to the left and a linen closet to the right. Further down is another bedroom to the left and the bathroom to the right.

We also get a one car garage with extra storage and there is ample parking in the cul de sac. It's $625 if you pay the first of the month ($675 after). Water and sewer are included, but we pay electric. It has an air conditioning unit in the living room.

It has all brand new carpet (smelled wonderful) which is a really dark blueish-gray with specks of color. This should work good with the cat's puke. I think it will not be noticeable, like with beige carpet.

It is close to the library and grocery store. And Spyros won't have to travel as far, maybe an extra five minutes at the most.

The best part is we can move stuff in starting December 1st, but if the closing falls through, the landlord (Leroy) will rip up the check and contract, so we won't be stuck with it. (We will write up a short note to this description and have it signed.)
Also we don't have to pay first month's rent (since it's free), only a $600 security deposit.

And there is no monthly fee for the cats, only a $100 deposit and we have to have the carpet's cleaned by Mr. Steam (company Leroy goes through), when we move out. Leroy said it's cost about $100 per unit. But the strange thing is he didn't mention the cat deposit, only the cleaning when we move. So he may not be doing a deposit right now, which would be even better!!!

And the best part, the walls are just white! And since they aren't painted paneling like the other place we liked, I will have no problem hanging up artwork.

We have another showing at 1 pm today. It's just becoming a pain now, since we have to clean up and be gone. But if it secures a second contract, then that's a good thing.

Simple/Frugal Thought for the Day: Shop around. It really can save you money. But be carefully about the money you save being eaten up by gas and time. There's nothing that says you can't call a store or go online to find more information.

We looked at an apartment yesterday that is now in the number one spot.

You can enter it two ways. Through the front which has about five steps and then five steps into the living room or through the 2 car garage with extra storage space, that has two steps up to the apartment.

The living room is where you can enter it from the front. Because of the stairs coming up in the middle of the living room it is cut in half (but it has a low wall on either side of the stairs that you can look over). Which is great because we can use one side for an office and the other as the TV area, so DH and I can be in the same area and feel like we're doing something together. The living room is really big so both of the desks, couch, wing-back chair, entertainment center and dentist chair will fit in it very comfortably.
The living room also has low windows with a window shelf in front of them that the cats will love to lay on.

Off the living room to the right is a big laundry room (we have to supply the washer and dryer) with a large closet on one wall and plenty of space for our stand up freezer, the cat's food and litter, and the three bookcases to hold eBay items that are waiting to be sold. We are also going to put our large eight drawer dresser in the closet for more storage space.

To the left of the living room is the kitchen. Nice sized with lots of cupboards. And off the kitchen is the bedroom. It's not super big, but the only furniture we have (or want) in our bedroom is our king bed with a book case headboard and six drawers underneath.

The bathroom is past the kitchen and next to the door that goes out to the garage. Nice sized bathroom, not cramped at all.

There is also room for the dining room table next to the outside wall of the laundry room in the kitchen. In the living room where the stairs come up there are built in shelves on both sides and a big flat area that one could even use as TV area (to set up TV, VCR, Stereo, etc....) if you didn't have an entertainment center. (It may be hard to picture, but it's really cool.)

We'll be able to use the built in shelves to hold our books and office stuff, so the three bookcases we had been using can be put in the laundry room.

The pay all utilities and we get a basic cable package along with the utilities. It's $775 a month ($750 plus $25 a month for cats), but it's cheaper then all the other places since the utilities are included. Plus, although it only has one bedroom, it's bigger then any of the other apartments.

The worse thing is that it's out of town a bit, so it will take Spyros an extra 10 minutes to get to work. The other things is the landlady just recently painted it (pinks, light blue and grays), which are not colors that I would ever choose. But oh well, we won't be living there forever, and if we do I'll ask if we can repaint!!!

It had been two houses side by side. In the house that we would be living in their parents had been living in, but after they passed away they converted it into a upper-lower duplex. Below us a younger couple (22ish) are living, and have been there for about 2 years.

The owners Dan and Gail are really nice. (Dan reminds me of my dad). Very talkative, but interesting things. And Dan wants to put a shooting range on the side of the house, so we'll be able to step outside and shoot. Very cool!!!!

They also have outdoor cats, since they are surrounded by farm land. But we love cats, so it will be fun to pet them when we get home.

We're very excited, but we have one more apartment to look at today. So we'll see.....

The first set of apartments we looked at yesterday were in a big complex. The one bedroom was too small to fit our bed and the door opened into the room, so I think even if someone had a queen bed the door would run into it. What a pain and a lousy plan.

The first 2 bedroom was okay, but didn't have much for storage, plus there is no additional storage in the basement or anything. Brian (guy who showed us around) told us there were small rental units up the road. I'm thinking, Yeah you want $785 plus we pay electric, and we're really going to pay for extra storage.

The next 2 bedroom had a nice shelving unit in the kitchen, so there was more storage then in the first 2 bedroom. But it had doors opening every which way, and it made it really cramped. Plus once again, no additional storage.

Oh and the parking is underground. You get one parking space, but have to pay $30 per additional. I don't think so. That complex is completely out!!!

The next one we looked at was in a nice 4-plex. I loved that it had 2 seperate decks. Lots of room for plants and barbequing. There was a skylight in the bathroom and the one bedroom was very spacious. It also had a very large garage with parking in front of it for two cars.

We liked it but the living room is in a L shape, so placing furniture would be a challenge. The laundry was in a closet and you have to provide your own washer and dryer. And to hold it we would have to give a full months rent ($705), which we wouldn't get back if the closing fell through, but at least we could break the lease.

So the one on Wednesday still has the best potential. Lots of storage, garage, 2 bathrooms, laundry room with washer and dryer, deck off the living room with enclosed storage off the deck, and the location is really close to the library and grocery store. Plus we only have to put $100 down to hold. So between possibly losing $700 or $100, which would you choose???

The one we're looking at today has potential. It's $750 a month with all utilities paid. But the location may be too far out of town, so we'll see....

I have a drinking problem...no not alcohol, although in college it was often brought up that when I got older I would be sitting in a rocking chair with a tumbler of vodka in my hands, shaking it at children walking by and screaming obsenities at them. Strange!!! (I really don't drink often. A drink or two every few months if we're out. It's too darn expensive to buy at bars and resturants!)

The drinking problem I have is with water. Almost everytime I have a glass, I spill it down the front of my shirt at least once. Kind of like in the movie Airplane. I hope this isn't the first signs of some brain deteriorating disease?!?

Frugal/Simple Thought for the day: Use your library. (Yes I know I mention it about once a week....) We went yesterday and borrowed 4 CDs, 2 books, and 2 DVDs. One movie we paid $1 for, but the rest were free. (The $1 was the new release The In-Laws.) We like to check out the new releases every now and then, if it's one we really wanted to see, because we're supporting the library and it's a lot cheaper then the video store.

Last night was the Town Board Meeting and we were denied. Very upsetting...

But on the positive side, we won't have to go to the two Dane County meetings. And since we have an offer, we hopefully will be good to go.

We have two appointments today to look at apartments. We we're going to go to the Matrix as a matinee, but we'll have to do it on another day since our appointments are at 1 pm and 4 pm.

We got an email from a college friend sharing pictures of her child's first Halloween. Although we don't see them much, I really enjoy the pictures. I wrote her an email letting her know.

So Frugal/Simple Thought for the day: Do little things like; email pictures or sending a letter to people in your life to let them know you're thinking of them. It doesn't cost much (if anything) and can really brighten someone's day, as well as your own.

We looked at two more apartments yesterday from the same company. We really liked the second one. Lots of storage, garage, 2 bathrooms, laundry room with washer and dryer, and the location is really close to the library and grocery store.
The only bad thing is it is on the second floor, so hauling furniture up will be a chore.

We have more appointments on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The one on Saturday sounds really promising since the garage is for 2 cars, it has easy access for moving in furniture and they pay all utilities.

A couple are coming over in about a half in hour to hopefully pick up the couch. We also had a call for the desk that we need to call back today. And a lady called about the kiln, but unfortunately it was too big.

We may be bringing a large dresser over to my MIL's today, so that will get rid of one more thing. And we need to make a trip to town to sell two alcohol signs and a PS2 game to a Preplayed store.

I also boxed up some stuff in the basement and brought it up yesterday, and will do so again today. We mainly just have to pack up the garage stuff and some misc... After that it will be food, cooking items, clothes and bathroom stuff, which we won't back until just before we move.

I had a long entry typed up on Saturday, but when I went to post it, it didn't go through. I was annoyed and as a minor boycott I have not been back until today!!!

We went and saw Don Peachey's Polka Band on Sunday. Erik and co-worker of DH's plays sax in the band. It was enjoyable to hear live music. We got many questioning looks (and one lady was down right hostile! She only glared even though I smiled at her numerous times.)

For Halloween we stayed home and watched a movie (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind; 3 stars). We had one trick or treater. It saddens me that we don't get more.

I've been packing up some more stuff. We have a shelve downstairs for we use as a pantry, so I brought up all the food to try and use as much as possible before we move.

We also put an ad in the paper to get rid of our kiln. And a free ad for a wood desk, couch and 2 bench seats for our minivan. (We forgot the seats were in the rafters when we brought it to the car graveyard.) We placed two seperate ads and the one with all the free stuff, we didn't have to pay for. I thought that was really cool!

Spyros called FIL and told him we had an offer, so FIL should be shortly getting the rest of his stuff. Or we'll be taking it down to Janesville.

We looked at our first apartment yesterday. It was adorable. It had hardwood floors throughtout, which is good since one of our cats pukes a lot. It had enough space for us and was right across the street from the library and not far from the grocery store. But it was an upstairs apartment (house split into two apartments) and the stairwell is really narrow and has a very sharp turn. Because of this we vetoed the apartment (for now) since it would be hard or maybe impossible to get some of our furniture upstairs.

We have another viewing today and Sunday. And we had one for Thursday, which I have to reschedule since that's the day of the next Town Board meeting, and Spyros will need to sleep during the day.

I still haven't received my yoga DVD yet, so hopefully really soon.