update (long)

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,I've popped in a couple of times in the last few weeks, but haven't had much time for chatting plus our computer died (or rather, is dying, we had to replace it with a new to us refurbished machine, just when I was trying to pay off the credit card... oh well... we decided it was necessary & will just deal with it) and we had no computer for a week. Here's the latest on me:1. DH is still looking for a job. He's had a couple of interviews, one of which we're still waiting to hear on (should this week I hope from what the guy told him) but nothing really promising. He's taking a lot of classes on employment searches, resume writing, interviewing, etc. He gets a lot of calls from recruiters (from Monster.com) but most don't seem to go anywhere. The woman who teaches the

classes he's been taking says the average length of time people are unemployed in Michigan these days is 9 months (it has been 1 1/2 months so far). I don't want to wait that long and am still praying we won't have to but we'll do the best we can with whatever comes.2. I'm working pretty much full time. The good thing about looking for extra work with WW in the summer is that there's lots of opportunities for subbing so that's working out well. The only problem is that it means I'm working in multiple locations most days so I'm doing a lot of running around (but the good side of that is that I get paid for mileage after 25 miles) working different hours each day. I have been pretty exhausted the last couple of weeks and this week will be more of the same (actually working more hours than I usually do too). Hopefully, I'll get used to it soon though. The kids and DH are helping around the house but I'm still the chef and grocery shopper but I'm

trying to make those go faster.3. I'm not working out much but started to this week. Worked out one day, then planned a 2nd and 3rd and things got crazy and I never did get to it. Planning at least 2 this week though! :-)4. My foot is doing a lot better but still isn't healed. I'm seeing the doc once every two weeks though, so that is good. He gave me another steroid shot Thursday and it is still hurting today (Sunday) in the injection site but the neuroma (pinched nerve) area seems better than it was before the shot. I'm not doing any high impact workouts though I did do a one mile the other day and had no problems from that so that is definite improvement (the lateral movements were awful for me before).5. I had my annual mammogram Monday, then started to workout Wednesday and was interrupted by a phone call saying they saw something and wanting to get more views. I had to work in the afternoon and evening but with the 3

or 4 hours I had in between, I had the follow up. It was a very small area of calcification that when magnified looked very normal. It was a few hours of intense stress but working helped me to deal with it. I do have to go in every 6 months for probably the next 2 years for follow-up but that actually makes me feel more secure so I'm good with it.One good thing about all this with DH not working is that I'm learning a ton about frugal living without changing our lifestyle too much so far. I've gotten tons of ideas from pins on Pinterest leading me to some awesome blogs that I never would have thought to look at (I'm not into following blogs normally). That's a lot of what I've been doing when I actually am online (Pinterest is my new addiction in general). I managed to shave about $150 off my monthly grocery bill last month (without extreme couponing either). I'm also looking at store and other sites for deals (www.couponmom is great). Off line

and not working I'm trying to spend time with the family, cook and organize things, including building a grocery shopping price book (HUGE help). There are always blessings in even horrible circumstances (and this isn't even that bad, so far at least). I'm hoping the habits I'm learning will stick with me even when DH is employed again since it will help us have more money to save for college & retirement and especially to help others in lousy situations. This is long enough. The bottom line is I'm well and very blessed. Thanks for thinking about me!