Monday, October 31, 2005

Goal updates

Time for a general update on the goals.

-I've added another financial goal. Save money for Christmas.
-The emergency money fund is steadily growing. Looks like I'll reach the goal in Feb.
-The credit card debt payoff plan is going splendidly. I pay $250 each month and it will be gone in March.
-I moved the "Do something creative" goal to the Accomplished section. I've done many creative things each month for over a year. I don't think there's any danger of me not doing something creative!
-I am actively crocheting a hat as we speak.
-I am not moving through the Woody Allen movies as quick as I should, but I am working on it.
-Photoshop, hmm, not sure why I haven't finished this. I've been reading at lunch instead of going to the computer room.

Goal: Set aside $265 for Christmas

I need approximately $265 for Christmas presents this year.
I'm going to set aside roughly $20 a week until Christmas.
I opened an account at Emigrant Direct with an 4% APY.


Balance:
Oct 3: $20
Oct 17: (+$40) = $60
Oct 31: ($.10 interest) = $60.10
Nov 7: (+$36.51 eBay money) = $96.61
Nov 9: (+$0.38 PayPal deposits) = $96.99
Nov 11: (+$44.82 half.com sale) = $141.81
Nov 19: (+$4.87 half.com sale)
(+$59.00 refund check) = $205.68
Nov 20: (+$40 Discover cash back) = $245.68
Nov 21: (+$3.81 Amazon book sale) = $249.49
Nov 27: (+$19.83 eBay sales) = $269.32

GOAL COMPLETE! One month before Christmas! Time to start spending.

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

me and Newt

I am spending the first part of this week at the Cleveland Clinic Medical Innovation Summit and one of the speakers was Newt Gingrich.

I am pretty much a liberal gal, and never imagined I'd be taking advice from Newt. BUT, here's what he said Monday night that has me thinking:
    Everytime someone asks you if something is possible, instead of saying, "No, it's not, because yadda yadda yadda..." try to give it a positive spin by saying, "Yes, it is, IF this happens..." This gives the other person a problem to solve instead of a flat-out rejection.


Hmm.
I need to change the way I react to people.

In other news, I am posting a picture of the bedroom shelves I made back in the spring. I've discovered that a lot of people come to Project Vicki after searching for Bedroom shelves, so I'm trying to make it worth their while. I've never posted with blogger photos, so let me know if the image doesn't work for ya.

Friday, October 21, 2005

TGIF

It's Friday, you crazy cats and dolls!

I am looking forward to crocheting this weekend. I started a pink hat this week and I think I will be done shortly. I am making lots of mistakes, the yarn is hard to crochet with. In fact, after I finish, I might decide to make it again and try to get it right. Who knows. At least I'm doing it.

I've got some things up on ebay. Leftover craft pattern books and magazines I decided to get rid of.

Happy crafting.

Monday, October 17, 2005

picnic


Burt
Originally uploaded by vreitz.

Everyone loves blog entries with pictures. Since i'm doing such a bad job of crafting, here's a picture of me and Mike from his work's picnic.

Monday, October 10, 2005

"Cheese Gromit!"


wg05_800
Originally uploaded by vreitz.

We saw the new Wallace and Gromit movie yesterday and it was great! My family are big W&G fans and i was so excited when i heard it was coming out.

You all must go see it.

Thursday, October 06, 2005

Circle of Compassion


Circle of Compassion
Originally uploaded by vreitz.

At lunch today I popped over to City hall to see the sand mandala being made by Tibetan monks.

This is a terrible picture from my cell, but you can guess how intricate it all is.

Here's the link to a better picture and the story : Circle of Compassion.

Wednesday, October 05, 2005

Vicki, you are so great. What would we do without you?

I single-handedly prevented a big mistake (it was not MY mistake) from printing in the magazine today, and does anyone even say thanks? nah.
Guess I'll file it in my "I'm such a martyr" book. ;)

In other news, I realized that if I spent as much time crafting as I do reading crafty blogs, I'd be smokin!

I've been spending a lot of time in the craft room cleaning up, going through boxes, putting things away, watching Little House on the Prairie. I know it all sounds like an excuse, but getting my apartment organized and pretty is a priority for me. And I'm waiting for my parents to bring up a big spacious desk. Ahhh, wonderful flat space....

Mike and I were in Vegas last week. We had an awesome time, but I didn't take a single picture. Not even a cell phone picture. Lame. We ate at the Tour Eiffel restaurant at the Paris, it was grand. Lost all the money I had earned for gambling, but it took a few days to disappear. We really liked playing the Blackjack tables.

Tuesday, October 04, 2005

self portrait tuesday


bug
Originally uploaded by vreitz.

This month's theme for Self Portrait Tuesday is self documentary portraits. Pictures of yourself doing things that define you.

Here is my first submission as "Vicki the Bug Killer." On the left is the body and about 500 legs of a creepy bug. (i call it a water bug, likes lakes and rivers) On the right are another 100 legs on my flip flop shoe.