My shot went well yesterday, and afterwards I went to WinCo. I spent $83 on food and paid in cash. I specifically wanted Taco sauce and a small jar of peanut butter. I don’t think buying the 2-pack at Costco is worth it for just the two of us.
Today is my dex day, and so far I feel pretty good, not too crazy:) I’m still a little sinus-y, but that’s it.
Some Christmas stuff and a totally funny New Yorker comic. B and I would always joke about this from “What About Bob ” and Siggy saying that.
Yesterday was quite busy. I decided since my Velcade was rescheduled for 10am, I would go down to the gym first and then the library to pick up my hold. (Shogun) Then I went back to Winco for salad stuff, wine, oat milk, and yogurt. I spent about $60 and then got $40 cash to put into some cash envelopes.
Infusion was very busy, and I guess that’s why they needed me to come later. All 5 chairs were full, and some of these chemos are ALL day, and mine is only 20-30 minutes. They are always so nice, and oncology nurses are truly special people with the knowledge and skills they possess.
Finally, I stopped at Taco Tree for some tacos for myself and my daughter. She was almost out the door for work, but it all ended up ok. I took my Dex around noon, so hopefully I would get some sleep. Ha, no luck, I woke up at 2 am, and that was the end of sleeping. But I’m home today, so I can just chill.
I’m halfway through the budget month, and things are ok. There’s not a lot left over, but at least I’m not waiting for SNAP to come through. What a horrible thing these Republicans are doing to the people of this country who need it the most. Shameful. Even more shameful, throwing a Great Gatsby party at the gold mansion. Rump has probably NEVER read The Great Gatsby. Shameful, while millions of people are going without food or close to it. And then more shamefully, blaming Democrats for it because of the shutdown. Democrats are trying to save the ACA before rates skyrocket next year. Who cares about ordinary people? Certainly not rump.
I got gas at Coscto and it was $3.96 a gallon. That’s a whole dollar less than in my town.
After the pool on Tuesday, I went to Winco, which is across the street. I mostly needed some salad stuff, but threw in some extras like Triscuits and Popcorn Cakes. My total was @$100, so not too bad. That’s all the grocery shopping I’ve done this week.
The monthly bills are starting to come out, and I always feel better when the big bills are done. I haven’t checked Allstate to see if the bill is ready, but I did get the statement. As I’ve said, I’ll just have to pay in installments since I can’t do the full amount. I also need to have my son figure out his car situation as that’s a big part of this bill.
Yesterday, I went to the gym and the library. I was going to go to the pool, but I haven’t been to the gym in 2 weeks, so I felt I’d better tick that off the list. I didn’t have any holds at the library, so I picked up some random books off the ‘new shelf’. I came straight home after that. After I rested some, I went to work pulling out the cabinet by the stove that was beyond help. It only held our coffee things and my sheet pans.
My plan is to buy an Amazon Basics cart to put here. I will wait a bit to see how the space shapes up or what I feel it needs.
Today is a home day except for a pop-out for a coffee with one of the library friends. It’s just at our little coffee shop in town. Then, when I get home, I read and do what house stuff needs attention.
Next week is crazy with appointments, which I hate having more than one. But I’ll get through. It’s also my Velcade week, so Dex will be involved.
Last night, my daughter worked her late shift, so I had breakfast for dinner and watched Casablanca. It was great as always.
We are headed into really lovely fall weather for the next week or so. Temperatures in the 70s.
I went to WinCo on Monday and spent about $30 on food. I didn’t need a lot there.
Then Wednesday after Sacramento, I went to Costco. Food was $190. My main reason for going was to get B the shoes(Sketchers) that you just slip on your feet. He’s quite unstable walking, so these have good support. He is using a cane, but still.
I’ll try and avoid grocery stores for a while:)
Today is almost a no-spend day. We are having someone come and finish the weed eating on the lower part of the property. I have a cash envelope for that, though.
I’m planning to go to the gym after he starts. The library doesn’t open till 10 on Fridays, so I don’t need to get there by 9. I need to get gas at Costco too for the coming week. I also have a Goodwill drop-off to do. It’s very convenient since it’s right across from the library/gym. They’re not very friendly, but that doesn’t really matter, I guess.
Some of the first of the month bills are out, but the bulk come out next week.
I’m thinking about a schedule for swimming and the gym. Not sure yet, plus it depends on how B is feeling. Someone needs to be here at all times with him. My daughter has a few work shifts next week, so that will change my schedule.
Yesterday I BBQed some chicken, and so we have some leftovers for lunch today.
I’ll update on Barclay soon. It’s hard to process, so I’m leaving it till I feel I can.
Since I’m not driving a lot, gas is being saved. I filled up at Costco, which is a real savings. Also, I’m using the Costco Visa card and have earned $32 so far. That includes gas and in-store shopping. That’s a big savings.
The only shop I did to last week was WinCo. I spent $150 on food. Overall, I’m good with that. This next week, I plan to go to Costco as B needs some socks, and I saw that Costco has Sketchers that you just slip on. His balance is very precarious right now, so I want him to wear some on his feet other than Birki’s.
My daughter and had brunch out, and that was $60 plus a tip. We rarely eat out, so for her birthday, it was a treat. This was from a cash envelope.
Today, I plan on getting gas in the VW and stopping at Safeway for one of their cake slices. We didn’t do any birthday cake or pie, so I thought it would be nice to get a piece. Safeway has the best cake slices.
Other than that, not much else. I have my budget for June done, and money is very tight, but I think we’ll be ok. The biggest new expense will be the increase in our UHC insurance, and the grant B has been used up. We’ll just have to adjust as best we can.
Oh, hurray, my Kappa light chains came back good. Not great as in under the high normal, but came in at 20.8, so above high normal, but Dr. L said labs look great, so I will believe him at his word. I’ll see him next week.
Well, of course, things wouldn’t go as planned. B didn’t get his labs in time for his immuno yesterday, so they are pushed over to today. We should have realized Monday was a holiday and gotten them on Friday. UGH!!!
Then, on top of that, he needs a transfusion of blood and platelets. We’re guessing the cancer is progressing(sigh) and the blood is being diverted. I am having a hard time keeping it together.
After I drop him off, I plan to go down to Maheny to do upper body weights and pick up my holds at the library. Then, I need to go to WinCo and stop and get gas at Costco.
We are headed for some very hot temperatures, like 99 degrees on Friday and Saturday. My daughter has put in 2 A/C’s in the LR and in the entry way. Next will be our bedroom and the sunroom. After the brief heat wave, it’s supposed to drop back down in temperature.
I’m back from Roseville, and it did get long. By the time I was getting gas, I was really tired. I’ve just put groceries away and am going to lie down and rest my back. At least tomorrow is a home day. Next week I plan on going to the pool. I feel I’m ready to do a little like maybe 15 minutes. They do have leg buoys to use that go between your legs so you’re not kicking. I may try and use one of those.
This has been mostly a frugal week. All the bills are paid for the month except Verizon, which comes out at the very end of the month, and that goes on next month’s budget.
I did hit up WinCo for a few things. I needed baker’s yeast and didn’t want to get the giant one at Costco. I also picked up curry powder, which I was out of. And then just some misc. like milk and aluminum foil. It totaled at right above $100. So not too bad.
Today is a home day since I’m on Dex. I plan on doing a few house chores and figuring out what pizza I’m having tonight.
I got my holds at the library on Tuesday and just finished reading Anne Tyler’s Three Days in June. I loved it. You have to like character-type books, as this focuses on a woman in her sixties and her daughter’s upcoming wedding. It’s a great read.
Then I started ‘Enough’ about a woman’s journey as a mountain guide and her journey to Mt Everest. It’s quite compelling. If you like personal life stories, you’ll like this.
I bought an early birthday present for my daughter off Amazon:(. A BBQ set by Cuisenart . That’s one thing she asked for. I would like to get her a preloved LV wallet, but haven’t quite found the right one on eBay. Her birthday isn’t till the end of May, so I have a little time. I can’t believe she’ll be 40. I remember it like yesterday.
Using my master one month plan, this is what I have for the upcoming week.
Sunday ( last night ), was egg salad sandwiches. Easy and I didn’t feel like cooking anything.
Monday- I plan on a quiche using a store-bought pastry. I’ll do Swiss cheese, a few veggies, and I have some cream to use up too.
Tuesday- I’ll probably do black Beans. Either black bean soup or chili.
Wednesday- Homemade mac and cheese with salad. We’re still getting the romaine lettuce from the garden.
Thursday- I think a tofu scramble with potatoes. I still have half a bag of Costco’s Yukon gold potatoes so I want to use them up.
Friday- pizza of some sort
Saturday- TBD
Today, I have my labs and then I’ll head down to Roseville to get gas at Costco and go into Winco for a few things. I need some fresh produce, and I’d like to get the stuff for the Christmas lasagna. Then I’ll head up to infusion. B should be done by 10 am.
After we’re home, I’ll work on the kitchen zone and get some of that done. I’m planning on being home on Tuesday, so I can finish it then.
I also want to sit down and write up some goals for 2025. At this point, we have NO RV reservations as we don’t know how long B’s recovery will be. I’m hoping that we can at least plan a couple of trips starting in June. or maybe one longer trip. I guess it’s a wait-and-see situation.
This week I did another Costco trip. This one had TP, bread for the freezer, half and half, and other staples. It came to a little over $200. I had $130 cash and then put the rest on the debit card. When I do that then I take that amount off my food $. I still need to do another cash run so I’ll figure out what I have left in the budget. I did buy B his Sierra Nevada beer even though he’s not really drinking much. But he gives me the money back for that.
I also went into Winco for salad stuff and that ended up under $30.
All the bills for September are in and accounted for. Our Allstate insurance notice came and again prices are crazy. My son’s Subaru is on our policy( he pays for this though), and it’s a 2008 and almost $700. Why?? I will pay when the actual bill comes in but I think I’m going to pay in installments. I really don’t want to add to the CC.
It’s been hot as I mentioned but it cools off at night with all the windows open.
Today is a no walk day so I’m doing some extra chores. The biggest is the outside windows. I also processed more tomatoes for the freezer and will do all of them(3 bags) later this fall.
I stuck to my menu plan this week except tonight is pizza night and I don’t think that’s what I’m doing. First, I don’t have any dough made, and second, no one feels like a pizza in this heat. I’ll figure something out.
This week was fairly low spend. We did go to Paris Bakery one morning down in Roseville. It has delicious croissants and other baked goods. Also beautiful cakes. So that ended up $30 because we had fancy coffees which we almost never do and I brought home a pastry for my daughter to enjoy.
I did fill up the Santa Fe on Monday at Costco gas. That is the lowest price anywhere.
I popped into Winco and got a few groceries and some wine. Winco’s wine prices are the best around too. I like the Bogle chardonnay and Smoking Loon unoaked chardonnay. I think my total for wine and food was $57.
I think we’ll need to go to Costco next week as it’s time for more coffee. I plan on keeping that shop low spend as I don’t need a lot and I’m still working on eating down the freezers. With my son moving out food costs should go down although he will still be coming up here 2 days a week to work remotely and go into the office. So he’ll eat here when he’s here.
I’ve worked up the budget for June although I didn’t add in travel $. We’ll be in Tahoe twice. The end of May and mid June so I need to allow for gas and some food things. We generally don’t eat out in Tahoe because of the expense and we haven’t found a super great pizza place or Mexican. We do love Sprouts for sandwiches though. It used to be one of B’s accounts up there and has been around a long time. Great organic food. The Safeway is just up the road from the campground so we usually go there.
Tonight we’re going to do take out pizza so that’s pricey but we’ll only get 1 large as my son is still moving stuff to Sacramento and is down there tonight.
In other news, Dr. Laptalo said to drop the dex completely and let’s see what happens. I totally agreed. Of course, if my numbers go up substantially because dex helps boost the chemo then I’ll just have to consider the options. So I have 2 chemos scheduled before I see him again so that should give us a more accurate picture. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
Today was a no walk day, a no gym day and, a no swim day. So I want to go over to the pet bookstore and look for a few books. They’ve moved so it’s in a less convenient location than it was before. Speaking of walking, we haven’t had for months now, other people coming early to walk and then pow, yesterday we had 3 other people and OMG, AH showed up. It has been almost a year since he was there. I just about fell over. If you’re new to this blog and wonder what AH stands for, use your imagination. One thing though, he hadn’t gotten out of his car yet and previously he’d jump out and drag the dog out. So we wondered if the dog had died or was just too old now. I guess we’ll know next time we see him. Weird though.
I've been married for nearly 20 years to a wonderful husband and I'm a mom to three great kids ages 17, 16 and 14. Oh, and I just happen to have cancer. Multiple Myeloma is a cancer of the blood that is currently incurable but IS considered highly treatable! My goal is to make people laugh, cry or feel a little less alone whether you are a mom, cancer patient or BOTH!
Tahoe Girl 