Well, it seems Wal-mart hasn't had enough negative publicity lately.  Now they are booting customers from their store for, get this, giving out Wal-mart gift cards to Wal-mart customers on Wal-mart property.  Yep, you read that right.

Barry Goldberg, an out-of-work mortgage executive, decided to purchase $1300 worth of Wal-mart gift cards and stand at the door handing them to people as they entered.  He was asked to leave because his act of goodwill was "interrupting the flow of foot traffic in the store’s vestibule".  You can read about this riduculous eviction here.  I find it incredible that the man spent thirteen hundred bucks at their store and then they turned around and kicked him out.  I wonder if the flow of foot traffic being relieved granted enough sales to off-set the sales they will lose over this story?  Doubtful.  This man should have been commended for his act of good-will, I know I would have been grateful to get one of his gift cards... if I still shopped at Wal-mart that is.

Of course, Target saw an opportunity to gain some of Wal-mart's ever growing dissatisfied customer base.  The article states that, "Target swapped his Walmart gift cards for Target ones and let him hand them out in front of their store."  Way to go, Target!

In a few days (if not sooner) this blog will cease to exist as I know it.  Erik is in the process of converting us over to another format.  I can't say I entirely understand the who, what, where, when, why of it all.  What I do understand is that I will have a generic themed skin until I somehow find the time to build myself a new one.

It's times like these that I'm reminded of that wonderful little book entitled, “Who Moved My Cheese”.

It appears that our dog is more anxious than we are to get started on the demolition in the basement.  Now, in case you think he was just tearing it up for the sake of destruction, he was on a mission.  I've chosen to spare you the photo of the deceased mouse he retrieved from inside the insulation.

...we had an unfinished basement...

...and today...

...we still do!

When we bought this house we knew we were going to have the basement finished.  We just didn't realize it needed to happen sooner rather than later.  Erik has had his “office” down there since the end of May.  It's just not the ideal workspace.  It's cold and it has regular rodent visitors - ack!  Shortly after his decent into the dungeon we purchased some software to help us devise a floorplan.  I located the builder's original plan for our basement but it didn't work for us.  So, with the Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer Suite Version 8.0, and armed will a slew of measurements I took from the basement, I came up with something that I felt would work for us.  The software ran us $96.65 (includes tax). 

We brought in some contractors to give us an estimate on our plan.  Prices ranged from 22K up to almost 37K and none of the plans included the specific fixtures we wanted (read “mo money“).  We knew we could cut costs by altering our plan, downgrading the fixtures and eliminating much of the recessed lighting.  Not wanting to compromise our plan, we bega looking at acting as our own GC.  We aquired a copy of Remodeling a Basement from the “Build Like a Pro“ Series.  I don't have that receipt in front of me but I think it was under $17 including shipping.  The book was $15.92 including shipping.  After reading the book we began to think that maybe we could do a lot of the work ourselves.  So, that is now the direction we're heading.

We've looked up permit/code requirements for our county and have drawn up the plans to meet code.  Because we aren't going with the builder's original plan for the basement we will have to do some digging to bring our egress window to code for a bedroom.  The utility companies should be out some time this week to mark the area before we dig.  We're waiting on a call from the city regarding fees before we apply for the permit.  In the meantime we are working at emptying the basement which will mean relocating Erik's office.

I "planned" to get up at 5:30 on Monday....I actually got up at 7:30.

I "planned" to get up at 5:30 this morning....sigh, reality was 6:15 (although I'm not sure I was fully awake until 8).

I "planned" to hang some mirrors the other day....but I was out of drywall anchors because I messed up the last four I had while trying to hang up a quilt (they should tell you where metal is located in your walls)...finally got some more anchors but ended up needing to paint walls/ceiling/trim/doors instead because the delivery company called saying the girls' beds were coming earlier than scheduled....which is why, after two solid days of painting...

I "planned" to have the girls' beds completely set up last night....BUT the second set of bunks* were lost in shipping (that's what the manufacturer is claiming anyway).  So we decide to put together the set we did get at least....but they only sent one set of slats!   If this isn't frustration enough, the bedding company (PBteen) sent a set of pillow cases instead of DD#3's gingham sheets.... while I wait for all of that to get ironed out...

I "planned" to see AF on Thursday....but I'm sure you've guessed it, yep she's already here of course.

Now, I was "planning" to do a ton of laundry on Friday should our washer/dryer set show up on Thursday as scheduled but I'm starting to wonder if I should do any more planning right now.

No, I haven't even seen a glimpse of the “normal routine“ I was hoping to get back to this week.  Yes, I am tired and still feeling MILES from being done "setting up house" (recent move).

Hmm, probably ought to forget my plans and go talk to God about all of this...

Update: The afore mentioned furniture company is claiming that they sent us enough slats - they claim there were two sets of slats in the box we found ONE set in. The box itself isn't even big enough to hold two sets of slats.....wishing I had a padded room to go scream and flail around in for a few minutes. Speaking of screaming and tantrums, my three-year-old has specialized in both since Friday.  She's taking the “Theatrical Threes” to a whole new level of excitement.  We're supposed to see the “Fantasic Fours” next month but I don't think she's gotten the memo.

Yeah, I need some more one on one with God for sure!  Help me, Jesus, I need You to change my day...or at least my attitude about it!

*it was cheaper to order two sets of bunks rather than one set and a separate bed.  And yes, we're really second guessing going “cheaper” lol.

I really miss writing for this blog....actually, I've missed writing in general!  As I mentioned before, we moved, yet again.  This time though, we are hopeful it will be permanent.  We're still surrounded by boxes and hundreds of stray items looking for a home in our new home.  Despite this, my plan is to resume a more “normal” routine beginning Monday morning (Oh Lord please help me with this!).  I do know that when I return, my online time will be limited to email, this blog and a couple of forums. 

Speaking of forums, I haven't formally introduced one of my favorite projects to date.  If you are a woman struggling with body image and weightloss, you might consider checking out GAINChange.  Feel free to use my contact form or email me at j.blair.lane@gmail.com express interest in joining us.  We do have some restrictions on who may join so be sure to check out the site.

Well, I'd better return to the land of cardboard chaos!  Looking forward to being back in the swing of things next week!

First of all...Merry Christmas Eve!

Second, this will likely be my last post from Maryland (and probably last post of the year).  We plan to head out on Saturday morning.  The kids and I will hang out in Texas for a bit before moving on to Colorado!!  We're all very excited about this next chapter in our lives.

In 2008, my husband and I hope to post a joint blog series on our “debt reduction” journey.  Having made our final unsecured debt payment on Friday, we have a lot to share from the last almost two years.

Also, I will be talking some more about my “no more dieting” point of view and how incredibly freeing it has been for me.

If I have time, I may post my 2008 goals, but for now, I'm in packing mode.

For some reason I can no longer post comments on WordPress blogs.  I don't know why - it just stopped all of the sudden.  So, I guess I'm banned from commenting.  I'm not the only one at least - misery loves company and all that.

This is a bit frustrating for sure.

I know I haven't been around much....neither here nor at OWOA....nor at Writer Interrupted.  I've had a lot going on and the free-time I have had I've been working on a project with my husband (details to come).  I'm having a blast with it but haven't had much time left for other computer related stuff.

We are also on the home-stretch to finishing our lessons.  My kids are working so hard to finish this week - woohoo!!  My seven year old should finish today and my nine year old is shooting for Friday.  It will be nice to tally the grades and be done with "formal" lessons for the summer.  We do have some things lined up for the off months but it will be a much lighter load.

 I've missed writing for several carnivals - hopefully next week I'll get back to it.  I have about a dozen blog posts bouncing around in my head just begging to be released.  I will be writing the MWM at Writer...Interrupted in June so I'm looking forward to working on a deadline for that.  Anyway, I got an email from Cristina yesterday wondering where I've been so I thought I should at least post something to let everyone know I'm still alive lol. 

I'm not really sure what is typical anymore at the "American Dinner Table".  I know what is "typical" for us but I sometimes wonder if we are "normal".  Amanda is supervising a group of graduates-to-be who are doing a thesis on "what dinner time looks like in America."  She's also offering a prize drawing for those who participate.  I rarely win in a drawing situation, so that just increases your chances all the more lol.  Of course, if you were up against my middle sister, you'd be out of luck, her name is picked on almost anything she enters...must be nice huh?  If I believed in "luck" I'd say she is one of the luckiest people I know....but I don't so we'll just call her fortunate. 

I will be very interested to see what her group comes up with.  I hope you'll join me in taking the survey.  It really doesn't take that long to complete and it had me pondering "why we do what we do at dinner."