Almost Vacation!!

I have officially began my vacation, according to work. According to what I need to get done before said vacation actually begins is another story. Tonight I still *have* to get Angel's stuff all packed, van fueled up, dishes started, DVD player charged. Tomorrow AM, driving 2 hours to meet MY mommy so Angel can spend 9 days with Gramma. Angel loves her Gramma. :) I forgot that Angel has an awesome memory and so can't tell her about going to Gramma's house until the night before. Yes, she has been asking me for the last two days (actually begging at points) to go to Gramma's house already! Nope, haven't told her she'll be going there by herself. :( Gonna miss that little bugger.

So, after leaving my most precious belonging with the only person I'd trust her with that long, I drive the 2 hours back. Have to be back in time to pick up the Disney World theme park tickets on post, take cans to the recycling center, get to the bank. Then have double bowling night, come home, have a beer (or two), and finish packing all of Mongo's (hubby) and my stuff. What the heck, I'm not going to sleep anyway because I'll be too excited!

Friday morn, we HAVE to leave the house before 7am in order to make it to KCI for our flight at 11:28. Really. A 2-hour drive to wait another 2 1/2 hours to fly. Ridiculous. Of course, all this time, I have to keep Mongo from going pyscho on some poor, stupid by-stander that can't get all the change out of his pockets in the security line. I'm praying we can get him drugged up enough (hey, I mean legally) so that his PTSD is controllable and I can drag him on that plane. It'll definitely be a true test.

That's the hardest part. Getting him on that danged plane. Of course, it wouldn't be a problem if he WASN'T IN A PLANE CRASH IN IRAQ!!!!! geez.

Then comes the fun! 7 days in sunny Florida a.k.a. Disney World a.k.a. HEAVEN!! I've never been so I'm more excited than a pre-pubescent boy from the 50's with the newest Sears catalog/woman's lingerie section. Oh yeah. :) See ya'll after vacation!!

My life is reduced to pizza and fish-sticks according to Wal-Mart.

So I was trying to be "good wife" and really work on our finances. They say that in order to budget your money, you need to know what you spend it on. I'm supposed to keep track of all receipts, every penny that's spent for an entire month. (worked for about 3 days) Looking at one Wal-Mart receipt I saved, I realize that my life is totally changed. Before Angel came along, Wal-Mart consisted of make-up, expensive hair products (ok, they cost 10-15 each - it's still Wal-Mart), cute and cheap! clothes/shoes, lingerie even. I didn't care how much whatever cost, just toss it in the basket. I am ashamed of this receipt because it DOES reflect my life now....

Fish Sticks........3.58
Fish Sticks........3.58
Dill Spears........2.38
Pizza..................1.25
Pizza...................1.25
Pizza...................1.25
Pizza...................1.25
Pizza...................1.25
Pizza....................1.25
Miracle Whip.....4.48
Shampoo............1.47
Conditioner........1.47
Pull-Ups.............8.97
Pepsi 24pk.........5.98
Value Bread.......0.88
Coupon ...........- 1.50

total $38.79 plus tax.

A couple things jumped out at me: 1. The Shampoo and Conditioner are the only things for me. (btw Suave's new scent Pomegranet = smells like HEAVEN!!) 2. And they are most definitely NOT the most expensive items on the list. Nope, that was left to the Pull-UPs (which had a coupon), Pepsi (this woman's equivalent of crack-cocaine) and the MIRACLE WHIP. WTH???????? 3. Also sticking out ... the sheer quantity of pizza. No, this was not a "stock up - It's on sale!" kind of pizza frenzy, but yet a normal "Get us through a couple days" surplus. My daughter only eats pizza and fishsticks. Sometimes those cute little breakfast sausages. 4. The receipt actually says "value bread". Can't even try to fake it into believing it's the special bread. Nope. It's. Value. Like clearance-sale puppy. I buy bread with self-esteem issues. Great.

So my challenge to you: Look at a random Wal-Mart (or Target, K-Mart, whatever) receipt and see what your life has been reduced to. I'm a Value Fishy Pizza woman but the hair smells like Pomegrante, drinking a Pepsi eating a Miracle Whip Sandwich. I'm going to go cry now. :)