Tag Archives: Christmas stuff

Frugal Friday

Posted in budgets, California, frugalism, velcade by

So far, I’ve resisted the siren call of Black Friday. There are, of course, things we need and want. Our ceiling fan died on Wednesday so we’re going to have to buy one of those. But not today. I like to be out of that flow.

Thanksgiving was mellow and everyone enjoyed the meal. There were leftovers to send home with my son and his partner. We have some for today and then that’s it. We generally do not do a lot of leftovers.

We watched Planes, Trains, and Automobiles and it was a fun Thanksgiving movie.

This has been a low-spend week. I did a small shop here in town at the Holiday Market, but it was odds and ends. I spent $75 but $21 of that was Mumm Champagne. Earlier in the week I bought B the AirPod Pro 2 because it has a hearing enhancement and he needs it. I got a great deal at almost $100 off. It ended up with tax $158.

I’m not planning on driving out anywhere so that will save gas too until next week. I think I’ll just stick to my usual swimming plan and the gym.

I do need to make an Allstate payment and will do that Monday.

I pulled out some of the Christmas stuff and will decide what to put on the tree. Last year I put very few ornaments on and we all liked that better. I don’t need to buy anything at all, like lights. I’ll probably get out the tree this weekend. I miss having a live tree but Tahoe actually wasn’t issuing Christmas tree permits this year.

I’ll go to Costco after my Velcade on Thursday. I need eggs and HP ink. I’m sure other things will find their way into my cart.

Thankful Thursday

Posted in California, Myeloma by

I am glad to be alive after driving in the weirdest traffic I have ever driven in. First, the drive to infusion went fine. (almost, and this is #1) I could see an older truck merging from the on-ramp behind me right at the exit to Infusion. He pulled up very close to me as I approached the 4 way stop there. He sped through the stop sign and just shook my head in disbelief.. But the best is still to come. I was in and out of infusion in 30 minutes. And the nurse had said she always takes the back road back to Auburn, and since I wasn’t in any hurry I decided to do it. Big mistake. The #2 incident was right after I took the exit which is called Twelve oaks, another older truck with some Maga looking guy comes up and is tailing me, mind you I’m doing 60. He crosses the double yellow line and speeds ahead. I get to the stop sign and there he is behind 2 people. huh?? Really?? #3 I’m on a very windy road now up to Newcastle and 2 white cars are tailing me, mind you, I’m doing 45 and it’s a windy road. There are 2 construction stops and the white Civic behind almost runs into me as she is looking at her phone. Then after the 2 stops the white Lexus behind the Honda zooms out crosses the yellow lines and goes screeching down the one straight part of the road at least going 65. Then the Civic is still tailing me and #4 is she screeches out and passes on a double yellow line and speeds away thru a school zone doing 60 at least. #5,Finally, I get up to Newcastle and decide to get back on 80. So I’m coming up to the next on-ramp and I see this older red sedan about to merge but they don’t see the truck right there and just about runs into it( mind you this is all in front of me happening), and he tries to overcorrect and almost flips over. Then #6 the work truck that almost took him out merges into the middle lane and is swerving back and forth. Believe by this time, the atheist in me is going ‘prayers’ ???? No, I just kept on with some very fine JFC’s the rest of the way home. I think there was one other but by this point I was frazzled. So weird, I don’t think I’ve ever had such weird driving incidents like that.

I’m thankful this was my last shot in cycle 2. It does seem to catch up to me by this 4th shot. My neuropathy is a little worse, my taste buds are shot, I have styes, and I’m sure there’s more. I have next week off and I’m very glad of that.

I’m grateful November has been a good month and am looking forward to December. We really had beautiful weather in November. Now it seems we’re in for cooler days and cloudy too.

I’m done with most Christmas things. I still have a few GC’s to get, my brother, and Heidi’s husband Richard. I’m not planning anything for Hannukha except lighting the last of the beeswax candles I have.

Today is my home Dex day so I’m just doing a few things and then just reading or something.

Five on Friday

Posted in California, cancer, cooking, decluttering, Myeloma, Uncategorized by

So, I had my oncology appt yesterday, and that all went well except for the horrendous rain going down to Sacramento. I don’t like driving in the rain because of my macular pucker which makes seeing out of my right eye difficult and rain makes seeing worse. But I made it down and back just fine. Dr. L said same old same old, we’ll just keep track of things and go from there which is really all we can do. It’s really when my kappa light chains start doubling that I’ll say let’s do something. We agreed, when the time comes, to go back on Velcade and see if it’s still effective. I’m still hoping for June-ish.

Then this morning I had my follow-up audiology appt and that went as expected. No change and still have less hearing in my left ear. I just mumbled umm ok… that’s what I thought.

Then Safeway had some great deal this week so I went over there which is just down the road from the Sutter Medical Bldg. The deals were $1.97 for 24 Arrowhead water, $1.97 for 1 lb butter, $1.77 for boneless chicken breasts, .87 for Honey crisp apples, and more savings on some other things. The cashier said I saved more than my bill was so that was cool. I think I might pressure can the chicken in a recipe like chicken soup or something. I’ll check my pressure canning book and see what looks good.

It’s pizza night and I will take out one of my frozen dough balls to defrost. My son’s not home tonight so it’s just us and my daughter. I’ll keep it simple.

I have everything out that I plan to have for Christmas and it’s quite pretty and simple. I did declutter all the Hallmark boxes except a few so that left lots of room in the one Christmas bin. I still have the Ikea white storage boxes in the closet but those are not in the way and are on the top shelf.

I plan to either swim tomorrow or do the gym. Usually I swim Saturday, but I feel I need to keep up on doing the weights. So I guess I’ll decide tomorrow.