Hard Habits To Break!

It is very hard to change habits. I have habits like eating, spending too much money on "stuff" and spoiling my kids. It had been a while (OK, just January) since we had made the weekend trip to the big city to buy tons of stuff to satisfy the spending urge. Withdrawl was kicking in. I needed a fix and we think we have found the solution to the spending too much money problem.

As we try to tidy up our finances a little more this year, we were going through the "drawer". Within this cavern of paperwork, warranties, receipts, etc were several gift cards. Some were christmas gifts, birthday gifts, thank you gifts for speaking at a conference or even from winning a potluck at work.

We buckled the kids in the van, assembled the gift cards and coupons and headed to the city.

• Best Buy: $25 plus $5 in reward zone money and 10% off coupons - bought a Simon & Garfunkel Concert DVD
• Target: $15 - Ashlie needed a new swimsuit and Jake needed a new thermos
• Blockbuster: $50 - USED MOVIE FRENZY! Ended up getting 10 movies. Good stuff!
• Barnes & Noble: $25 - Overspent here - not unexpected. Our "usual" is about $70 and we hit $68 this trip (before the gift card). Picked up book 2 in the PJ Tracy series and a great book on cruising the Hawaiian Islands.

Believe it or not, I did not spend all of the Best Buy card. The rest were destroyed!

This was fun as we spent more than the cards had on them in most cases but had a blast doing it without much ill effect on our bottom line.

To those of you responsible for the gift cards, THANK YOU! It was fun!

Booked!

From time to time, I like to share what I am reading with others that scan my blog. To levelset, I am traditionally a biography reader and also like non-fiction books by people like Charles Kuralt and books on the Apollo Space Program. I suppose that is somewhat natural based on my blog style in hindsight.

In the last year or so, I have ventured more into fiction and am finding it a nice diversion. My most recent completion was suggested to me by my good friend Al Kunz. The book is Monkeewrench by P.J. Tracy. This is a mother-daughter writing team and their first book. I found it well written and a good murder/investigation/detectives story. The book is set in Minnesota and Wisconsin which is always appealing to me with the landmarks and references very easy to visualize. I found the beginning to jump around quite a bit and therefore a little confusing trying to remember certain rarely mentioned characters to that point. Overall, a really good book. I will be reading their other books in this series as well.

Coming February 19 is Stalked. This is book 3 in a series by Brian Freeman. The first two books were Immoral and Stripped and were both very excellent suspense thrillers to read. Brian is also a Minnesota based author and while the series originates in MN, it travels to Las Vegas just like every Minnesotan does but will find a route back to MN in Stalked. Detective Jonathan Stride and Serena Dial make this series hotter than the pistol of the killers!

I look forward to your comments and suggestions for more books like these!

Here's hoping you are surprised by the twists and turns in life like those in a good book,
The Orracle

Solstice

I must admit I have lifted this from an email, but it really made me laugh.

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I found this winter poem and thought it might be a comfort to you.

"WINTER"

by Abigail Elizabeth McIntyre

SHIT It's Cold!

The End

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So how about a little global warming here? Honestly, it was -14 F in New Richmond today. I would like a little bit of the polar cap on my ass to melt. Many of you know that I think global warming is nothing but political banter and a way for nearly out of work scientists to get grant money....that is until we decide to change back to being concerned about global cooling again (yes, that happened and not too long ago). Given the "weather" we are having, all of you taken in by the propaganda that the Polar Bears are gonna make it this winter.

Suite Dreams

Most everyone knows that I actually enjoy the travel time I get for work. Many also know that I have a certain affinity to Hilton hotels. This is primarily because of their Hilton Honors program. Points AND miles. Double Dip as they say. From my experience, it is the best program for hotels.

I think the best part of the Hilton stay is the bed. Many hotels have "a bed" to advertise now. Radisson has the sleep number beds (I own one and it is good, but nothing compared to Hilton). Marriott has "The Marriott Bed" and Hilton has the "Suite Dreams". It really is Suite. Their Hampton Inn brand has "The Cloud 9 Bed", and it is awesome but not as good as the Hilton Bed.

My first experience was at the new Omaha Hilton a few years back. The only way I could explain the bed was that I wanted to turn the heat down, strip completely naked and roll around amid the down comforters and pillows.

After very limited research, I have found the Hilton site where you can buy these items. WOW! How soon can I get it is the question. Oh wait, like my daughter, I need a loan. If anyone out there has some spare cash, please send it my way. The total amount needed is listed below.

Imagine how good you will sleep, knowing you have helped me with my Suite dreams.


Mattress - $1,450.00
Mattress Topper - $90.00
Feather Bed - $235.00
Pillows - $75.00 each (2 for starters) $150.00
Duvet Cover - $215.00 (covers the down comforter)
Down Comforter - $230.00
Sheet/Pillowcase Set - $165.00
TOTAL: $2,535.00

Face towels (8) - $8.00 each - $64.00
Hand Towels (6) - $22.00 each - $132.00
Bath Towels (12) - $40.00 each - $480.00
BATH TOTAL: $676.00

GRAND TOTAL: $3,211.00

I've Been Outdone

Hey everyone~

I asked Ashlie if she had read my blog at all. Mainly I wanted her to see the happy birthday to her on there but it never hurts to go and promote for new readers...

She apparently liked the idea because she created one of her own. The title surprises me since she is more of an instrumentalist than a singer. What instruments you ask? Well, Alto Sax, Soprano Sax, Piano very well. Newly added are Clarinet, Flute (no comments from the American Pie crowd, please) and guitar.

At any rate, take a look over to her blog and leave her a comment if you can. Her first post is great. I should just retire or have her write my posts I guess. On second thought, she gives me the credit in her header, so I'll stick around.

Introducing A Capella Ashlie

Over and out,
The Orracle.

Fresh Thoughts and Prognostication

Hey everyone!


2008 is underway and not a minute too soon. So much to do and look forward to this year. Bush will finally finish his term although concerns are abound with the "crop" of Prezzie wannabees we have right now. There is still time to get your "End of an Error" merchandise.


First things first....starting with tomorrow....Ashlie turns 14. What a great kid (except for that cell phone bill). I cannot believe she is 14.


Then continuing into the spring - yes, even though it is only January, winter is on a downward spiral from here on out. Sure, it will still be cold. Yeah, we'll still get snow. But the days are getting longer (or is the Earth spinning slower?? Thanks, Jake). We are in the middle of the beloved January thaw which is great except for the countless mounds of dog crap that have been exposed (more proof of 'global warming'...always cracks me up). 14 years ago, we took Ashlie home from the hosptial in -25 temps! Yes, nothing to look forward to except the end of winter.


Vacation planning. The urge has kicked in. Traveling alone to Texas did not cure me of the urge to travel. I know what the other one will say, "We have to pay for a band trip!" I know, but if you consider tax time, potential bonuses and a general lack of desire to save money, we could take a trip! NWA sent some great deals for Mexico and Jamaica. Hmmmm. Better lose some weight.

That brings me to the next topic for 2008. Weight loss. My success in 2005 doing Body for Life was good. The problem was the intensity and knowing it was done in 12 weeks. Once I hit 12 weeks, I wanted to take a break.....that is going on 3 years. Bad plan. I have a new plan now. No end date. Wish me luck.

SPORTS
What does 2008 hold for sports. Well, for starters, I'll say that the Vikings ended well. I still don't think Brad Childress is "The One" but they did finsh pretty good. The Timberwolves. Ouch. Can we fire McHale yet? Let's see....do we need Garnett? Season to date: The T-Wolves are 4-29 and The Celtics are 29-3. Naw....we don't need him. If I did not know any better, I'd think someone fired McHale and hired Jeff Diamond (architect of the infamous Herschel Walker trade for all of you except The Rube). The Twins are probably washed up too although they find a way to play and win under Gardenhire. I think their luck of playing a bunch of AAA players and getting into the playoffs (or even close) is about over.

On the bright side, our New Richmond Tiger Boys Basketball Team is ranked #5 in the state. Who needs the rotten t-wolves?

I leave you with the wishes for a great 2008. Don't take life to seriously. Have some fun. Spend some money. Take a trip. Be spontaneous. Bluff more than normal (for you Al).

To quote Billy Joel, "Don't take any shit from anyone!"

--The Orracle

Happy? Drunk? You Decide...

I mentioned I was in Texas visiting my dad. We headed for the other Fountain of Youth, South Padre Island. I thought I would share a picture of us "post" libations. Hmmmmm, dad never smiles for pictures...

The Orracle with the Seniorracle. Good Times.

We Finally Did It! Oh Goody.

It....it is a wide open thing. What did we do? Furthermore, who are "we"? Why is IT so important anyway? Do we really care? These answers and more await you below...


IT is $100 a barrell for oil.
IT is bullshit.
IT had to happen because someone said IT would.
IT better not stay there.

Oh what a way to kick off 2008. "OIL HITS ALL TIME HIGH! $100 A BARRELL!" Meanwhile, oil companies are making MORE than ever before. Yeah, I know you have read my rant here before. I am sure you are sick of it. Me too. IT just bugs the hell out of me that the big oil companies will post the biggest profits of their history while we pay more than $3 a gallon for gas.

The funny thing is that I don't recall what triggered this. A civil war in a country of 150,000 people? A flood in a small town that has a small refinery in Uganda? George Bush admitted he is an idoit? What was IT that caused IT this time?

Listen up. I am talking to you losers that "predict" these things. Shut the hell up. Don't predict something. THEY think they need to make IT happen when you do. You know who you are. Go crawl back into your hole. Leave me and my economy alone.