A Post From Michael

First, I must thank you for the birthday wishes. I feel I am so much part of your lives through Jane. I occasionally read Jane’s blog and learn about the tribe she hangs out with. I am impressed at the following and the impact it has on her. Now it’s my turn to tell you a little about Jane and share my favorite pictures.

Jane is one of the kindest people I have ever met. She takes a person for who they are until they prove her wrong. My meeting Jane was unintentional, we were at a dinner outing that a friend organized. We engaged in some meaningful conversations that revealed more about each of us. It was at the end of the evening after we had gone back to the friend’s home that I really began to feel something. We hugged and I knew then that something was ignited. This caught me by surprise; I think both of us as we said good night. Over the next few days we arranged to meet for coffee to explore what we both experienced. We both agreed that fostering a friendship would be paramount. This friendship grew to this amazing relationship that we now share. I am grateful to have met this woman who has a sure confidence about her, a sense of calm, grounded, tells you the way she sees it, is playful, has an amazing smile and what I feel deeply is how genuine and accepting she is.

Thank you Jane for giving me an opportunity to write on your blog and be part of your blog tribe.


Thanks to all of you for receiving me and being a big part of Jane’s life. To all the PEI connections, I hope we get the chance to gather around the fire at Crofters Lane.


I leave you with one of my favorite quotes. "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of  comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
Martin Luther King
(Guest blogger Michael G. Duhaney, www.michaelgduhaney.com)

CBC News - Prince Edward Island - P.E.I. group uses web to welcome newcomers

CBC News - Prince Edward Island - P.E.I. group uses web to welcome newcomers

For those who have moved, or are planning to move, to PEI - JOIN THIS GROUP!!

Weekly Wrap - Feeling Grateful

I'm so pretty...oh so pretty....I'm so pretty, and witty and wise.....in my wrap:)

Newsbeat: I used to work with a woman at the Royal Bank about a hundred years ago who used to sing the "I'm so pretty" song every morning before the doors were unlocked. I always wished I had her confidence.

Today was a wild and woolly day. My "broken angel" had a tough day - trying to bite staff (not succeeding thankfully), but biting holes in both of his slippers, biting a pilates ball and breaking it, biting a box and ripping it, ripping his one holey sock into pieces, biting the bottom of his backpack ripping a big hole in it. Oh yes, it was one of those days. All I did was record, record, record. But now the day is done and Michael and I are relaxing, with our feet up, at Starbucks both enjoying a free drink. Me because of a slow order last week so they gave me a gift coupon for a free drink and Michael because he gets a free birthday drink.

It's so nice to unwind:)The week has been full of ups and downs - birthday, sick child, $500 cheque coming from my car insurance, my broken angel. Up down up down. Yet I feel overwhelmed with gratitude for a week spent well: celebrating, reflecting, writing, mothering, reading, exercising, discussing and laughing.

Here is my three week chart. One more week (and a bit) and I'll be able to see the whole month:) The big news of course is the $500 I'm getting from the insurance company (not reflected here of course as I haven't received it yet)but I'm putting some on my Line of Credit and the rest into emergency savings. This will REALLY REALLY help because in February my pay will be approximately $340 less than January. So it's a darn good thing I've joined Sharon's NO Spend February which I may just have to continue til July when my pay will slightly increase due to not having to pay union dues and also my Canada Pension plan will be paid in full. I have six poor months and six good months financially over the year. Could be worse, could be way worse.

My misc. spending will have to be held in check. This month is higher than usual due to $152 being spent on my prescription sunglasses. I am very happy with my food, entertainment, gift and transportation totals and I don't foresee adding very much to those. My food buget still has most of its money due to Angela's "pantry challenge" and Michael has helped with the gas money:)


Heartbeat: While we were driving to Starbucks Michael told me about an acquaintance of his who he just found out had died in November. We had just seen him a few weeks before. At this point we don't know how he died. We find that as we get older we think about our mortality more and more and that we need to stop wasting today by only "living in the future". I used to think I wouldn't be happy until I retired. I found out that my thinking was very flawed. Today is all we really have. Michael finds himself guilty of thinking that he hasn't accomplished enough yet instead of feeling thankful for what he has today. But - we also can't stop dreaming and planning for the future so we have to find the balance. Here's what we came up with.


Live for Today so that We Can Plan for Tomorrow.


Are you living for today?

Finally....Closure

Kazi was sick yesterday when I got home from school so I ended up not going to volleyball, but that was ok because it turns out I forgot to register for this session anyway! Kazi had flu-like symptoms so I made a quick run to the grocery store and bought gingerale, apple juice, clear soups and soda crackers.

During that time someone left a message on my cell which I forgot at home. Gee I'm getting forgetful...isn't that the first sign of...hmmmm can't remember. Anyhoo, I checked the message and lo and behold the insurance company finally got their hands on the police report from Kazi's accident back in October. AND THE OTHER DRIVER WAS CHARGED!! Kazi can move on now - she was so happy because she KNEW the other driver and their "mystery witness" weren't telling the truth.

This also means I will be receiving a $500 check as the other driver's insurance will be paying my deductible! I'm going to put part of it on my Line of Credit and the rest into emergency savings. My goal for NO SPEND February was to bump up my emergency savings which now stands at a measly $830 so cheers all round:)

Since I didn't go to volleyball I rode my bike, but rode at lower resistance and only 15 km. Knees feel good today. It was good to give them a day's rest.

So here it is, 7:21am and I'm having a great day! Hope you are too!!

Food Diary

I received three diaries for Christmas - one, a sacred journey diary, I use for day to day personal things I want to remember, to set goals and dream at little. The second, from Michael's son, I am going to use to plan my gardens in PEI. The third has just been sitting around feeling lonely.

Well, be lonely no more cute little diary - I have designated you my FOOD DIARY!! Yesterday in the National Post there was an article about a study done on two groups of people. The group that got on a scale everyday and kept a food diary lost more weight and kept it off by maintaining these habits once they were at their desired weight.

Hmmmmm I thought to myself - why not give it a try? After all, being aware of my finances and recording my daily spends has helped me become a much better money manager. So transferring that to eating - checking my weight on a daily basis and keeping track of what I eat should help me manage my weight better.

It seems like a good theory - now I'm going to put it into practise:)

The knees feel pretty good today - no cycling last night, but on to volleyball tonight - I'll try to be careful!

Toodles!

Eech, Ouch - My Knees Hurt!

My knees :(

The battle of the knees begins. Good thing I have a Costco-sized bottle of ibuprofin 'cause I'm gonna need it to keep me going on my trek to Alberton, PEI. I've adjusted my sidebar to show the total kms I've pedalled so far, (227)including how many are still ahead of me. (1675) At the end of two weeks I am 77kms ahead of schedule:) Hmmmmm...maybe I've been overdoing it just a wee bit..

Hopefully I can get the pain under control. It wouldn't surprise me if it was because of not changing out of my Uggs yesterday into my heavy duty stabilizing running shoes for my 25km ride. Silly me, I should know better, I DO know better! My recreational weekly volleyball game starts back up tomorrow night and I find that it is hard on my knees too - quick starts and stops, quick knee swivels to reach a ball, falling to my knees to bump up a served ball - it all takes its toll but it's so much fun! 

Meh - I'm tough, I can take it...I'm just a baby in an old lady's body, can't let that get in my way:) Is it just coincidence that the pain in my knees happened the same day as the most $$ this month exited my account?? I think NOT!! Misery loves company! The tally for yesterday amounts to almost $1500.00!! Yikes!!

The breakdown includes: $725 towards debt, $171 to cable/internet/home phone, $503 to savings (emerg, Christmas & RSP), $55 for food and $30 for gas. Had a good laugh today - opened mail from ING to find out I've been preapproved for a $10,000.00 RSP loan - YAY ME! However, I don't NEED A LOAN!! as by Feb. 28th I will have contributed my maximum through bi-monthly transfers. The days of me borrowing to finance my RSP are long gone and that is one accomplishment I've very proud of.

How's your week going??

P.S. Michael really enjoyed his day yesterday and we ALL enjoyed his Skor Treatza Pizza from DQ:)

Birthday Summary

Taking a picture of our reflection in a pond.

So I listened to your advice re Michael's birthday present, but there was a slight problem. Some said let Michael buy the tickets and take him out to dinner before the concert (seems reasonable) while others said buy the tickets myself.

Sooooooooo, I bought the tickets AND I bought him a movie card (we go to a lot of movies as you might have noticed) and a book. At Christmas I bought him at book called "A Secret Kept" by Tatiana de Rosnay and he LOVED it, so I bought another one of her bestsellers called "Sarah's Key". I haven't read them yet but will give you my opinion once I do. So I overdid it a bit on the gifties but couldn't help myself. It means I'll be cutting it very close to the budget bone for the next two weeks but I think I can make it. Just in time for Sharon's No Spend February challenge. And boy will I ever NEED THAT!!

I felt kinda bad as Michael is working at Jambalaya tonight so we didn't go out for dinner or anything but I have an icecream cake in the freezer for when he gets home and we'll probably open a bottle of wine.  Cheers!