Car Buying 101

Have I ever mentioned I really dislike filling out credit applications? Sigh. Well, Johanna's car is pretty much gone. The wipers don't work correctly, the door locks are jammed, you can't open the one back door without it falling apart, the horn doesn't work, the suspension is awful, the brakes are screwed up, etc. etc. etc.... Need I go on?

We have been looking at cars for a week now. She found a Chevy Cobalt at the Ford Dealership (haha on that!). It's a 2008 model and in pretty good shape. We have been preapproved to cosign for her, just checking on better interest rates. We will probably go get the car on Monday. I will be happy to see her driving something safe. She has been driving my car back and forth to school again and I'm pretty sick of driving her car and her putting the miles on mine. I don't mind it, but it's time to do something different. She is home now and even if she moves back out (which is probably coming sooner than I want it to) she has to have something safe to drive.

Her and the boyfriend are talking again, so that may get all patched up. Who knows? She came home, with the kitten, and she is always welcome here. It's her home too. Maybe having her own car (that runs well) will make it easier for her to relax and take her time making a decision about things.

Everett and I are going to dinner with Bill and Diane tonight. We are going up to Springfield to a bar and grill called Darcy's Pint. They are supposed to have killer horseshoes. Now, I know a horseshoe is NOT on my diet, but I am probably going to have one. Or at least a ponyshoe.

I am doing quite well on my diet. I am losing about a pound a week and am very happy with that. I'm down to 195 and have lost 25 so far. I have 52 more to go! So about this time next year I should be at my goal weight. And I'm okay with that...really! I am walking quite a bit. I want to get that exercise bike soon, but not pushing it.

I cut some two and a half inch strips for the four patch blocks for the mystery quilt. I'm moving pretty slow on it, I know. But there's not a time limit, and I'm doing it for fun.

Sunday ramblings

Not much in the way of quilting to report. I have to cut more strips to make the 4 patch units for the mystery quilt I'm working on. Just kind of doing it a little at a time.

Johanna is home again. I don't know if this is the final time or not. I just want what's best for her. She starts a new job tomorrow. After she's been on the job for a couple weeks and gets her first paycheck, I think we are going to look into getting her a reliable car.

I put together another batch of the Artisan bread dough this morning. I think we may have pizza tonight for supper. I'm doing well with my diet and have been able to eat pizza when I want to. Homemade pizza is something I enjoy and can regulate the calories and fat on. So far I have lost 24 pounds and am down to 196. This is a very big deal to me. I will say I need to get into the doctor's because I think my blood pressure medicine is too strong. I keep getting dizzy and I think it's because I've lost weight and the medicine is too much. I'm dieting the right way, eating a good variety of foods and not starving myself or anything.

Tuesday night

Tomorrow is St. Pat's Day. I made Johanna, Nick, Ben and Johnathon each a goodie bag. There isn't much in them, just a few little things. Socks for Johanna, a tee shirt for Nick, gummi bears, starburst candy, stuff like that.

Been working on the one mystery. I cut some strips last night for the four patch blocks. Still need to cut quite a few more strips, but I'm working on it. It feels good to be doing some sewing again. I had a long dry spell there for a while.

Tonight I made two Monte Cristo sandwiches for Ev for supper. I wasn't in the mood for them, plus they were too many points for my diet. I thawed out a cooked turkey sausage, sliced it thin, and heated it with some diced onion, sliced potatoes, and scrambled egg beaters. Also put some salsa in the pan when all was cooked. I had that with a couple slices of diet toast and had a really filling dinner. I'm enjoying a Weight Watchers cookie and a cup of tea now.

Today I walked 20 minutes at break. That felt pretty good.

Monday morning

I took today off from work because I have to take my great uncle to the doctor about an hour away from here. Used my free time this morning before I have to leave to do Nick's Federal Taxes. I still have to do both kids' State Taxes and then fill out their FAFSA. Add to that the dag nabbed insurance wants proof, AGAIN, that they are full time students! I just sent them verification not three months ago. Well, at least I got one thing done this morning. Tomorrow I will send verification to the insurance and then trudge forward with the rest as time allows.

I am going to put some spaghetti sauce in the crock pot before I leave the house. It will be nice to have it done when I get home.

So far I have lost 21 pounds! Woohoo! I am now UNDER 200. I plan to stay there permanently! It's a pretty good feeling. I have also gone down two sizes in jeans. That's another big deal! My goal is to get to 143, so I have a long way to go yet. A pound a week is all I'm asking for. Yesterday and Saturday I walked for an hour outside with Lori. Sunday I took Wrigley with me and she took her dog Pete. They got along okay after the first couple minutes.

Saturday Lori and I went down to Fairview and did some shopping. We hit JoAnn's first, then Kohl's, Target, and Shop N Save. We went to lunch at Lottawatta Creek. Yum! And I behaved!

I got some fabrics that I cut up yesterday for a mystery. One is being used as a background, and it's a cream color. I cut that into 338 4.5" squares. The other is being used as the key fabric and it's a dark blue print. I cut that into 676 2.5" squares! I was pretty tired of cutting by the end of the day!