Indigo Gift Card = Bargoons Galore!!

I love love love making the most of someone else's money!! So, when I received an Indigo gift card for Christmas I challenged myself to get the most value and reading pleasure possible. And I think I excelled myself!

The first item is a 2015 travel themed planner - now that I don't get a planner from school I have to purchase one and I fell in love with this little cutie that fits easily in my purse and was on sale for 50% off. I love the pithy little sayings and the retro feel. I've tried using my phone to keep track of stuff but I do love the written word.

Another need is a daily calendar - I get such enjoyment out of ripping off a page each day and the kittens get enjoyment out the rolled up ball I make when the day is done. This calendar was also 50% off and has the added advantage of a built-in alzheimer's protection sudoku puzzle which I have been faithfully completing:)

Now for some reading material: how have I missed this book?? One of my top 5 favourite writers about one of my favourite detectives at a sweet low price!

And finally another $10 book containing 3 complete novels by another good mystery writer!

I will be well-organized over the coming new year and when I'm snowed in, which seems entirely possible today, I won't run short of reading materials! Ok, that's done...what's next I wonder...better check my planner!!

How do you stay organized??

I'm HOT STUFF!!

Just in case you didn't know...I'm hot stuff! Usually that's due to the occasional hot flash but today we have HEAT!! From the furnace!! Woohoo! (Let's not go into the fact that I'm super pissed that I have to even TURN ON the furnace in the frickin' middle of September!!)

I prayed for an easy fix and it couldn't have been any easier. Well, it could have been easier if I had just gone ahead and changed the batteries in the thermostat myself....doh!! I wondered about the batteries but since the fan worked and the furnace didn't (on the same thermostat)  I figured it had to be something else. Something big and expensive!

But...when the guy said how about a new thermostat I replied - let's try changing the batteries just in case...maybe they're too weak for the furnace but juicy enough for the fan. Who knows? Well, I gave the guy two new batteries and instantly the furnace kicked in! So now I have to pay a guy in the neighbourhood of $100 for changing two double A batteries for me. I could kick myself...in fact I think I will!

However, let's not lose sight of the fact that I HAVE HEAT!! And not the kind I generate myself :)

Dear Diary:
Oh my it's dark outside yet again. And it rained while I was out but at least the weather gods were nice enough to make it rain while I was in Walmart. Tonight Kazi, Steve and I are going to Kelsey's - I have a gift card :) And then we're going to see Phillip Seymour Hoffman's final movie "A Most Wanted Man" - that will be sad - and I have another gift card! :)

I packed my suitcase and my backpack but need to measure the backpack to see if it's ok for a carry on. Sure hope so, I'm running out of options. I checked the long range forecast and it's supposed to rain my first day of walking but not again after that for the whole trip. Obviously this is subject to change at the whim of the weather gods.

Gotta print off a map of Heathrow airport and also a map of all the bus routes as there are many free routes in the area and 2 that go right by my hotel. That should be fun:) getting from my terminal, get my suitcase, go through customs, find the bus depot, find the right bus, get on and hope for the best!! 

Little surprise in the mail today - a book called "Get by in Spanish"! Yes, I'm going to learn some rudimentary spanish as I hope to walk the Camino some time in the future and I'd like to be able to understand a wee bit of spanish. And it's supposed to be good for "mature" brains - help to keep dementia away :) 

Me