Part IA, Part UP

UP: Hubby won a limited edition (1 of 24 in existence, once they are made, and it will be shipped to him in Jan) Megadeth guitar.

IA: MIL is demanding (from 4000 miles away) that he sell it and put the money in the bank. BIL is bankrupt and still spending money like water, which is fine with MIL, but she wants to control our money and spending, even from this far away.

Head hunters.

This is an IA UP because -it's good to be needed/wanted for my skills,  but they are constantly calling me and don't give up!

Up: Had another (4th!) interview for a job I would really like!

IA: I was sooo nervous that I think I kind of came off like a hyper airhead! I hope I came off better than that to the main boss man...But it was intimidating as he is kinda a big deal! :s Please pray I have got this one!

IA: One that really, really makes me sad... Fashion Bug is closing. Sniffle! Not only do I love the place, but if it wasn't for them, I'd have gone to high school naked.

UP: Mom and I are going for a bit of a huge savings spree tomorrow.

UP: Have a "trial day" for a job I'd love love love to get and would be genuinely awesome at doing. I've had two phone interviews and the trial is in Boston, which is where the company is based. It's a telecommuting position, though, so I wouldn't be relocating. They pay $19/hr for the day of the trial...

IA: ....but they don't pay travel expenses. So I have to front those myself. Not the biggest deal in the world but I definitely thought that they would pay. Flights are more than I want to spend ($250+ round trip plus the hassle of getting to the airport), Amtrak is about $150 and BoltBus is $60 so I have to weigh comfort vs. cheapness. I'm thinking I'd need to spend the night before in a hotel, which adds costs, since I don't think I know anyone in Boston willing to let me crash on their couch. I've put a call out on Facebook but the only person I can think of who lives in the Boston area is someone I was close to in high school but have grown apart from and haven't spoken to in years (and BostonDiner, haha).

 I've put a call out on Facebook but the only person I can think of who lives in the Boston area is someone I was close to in high school but have grown apart from and haven't spoken to in years (and BostonDiner, haha).

Gee, when is it, AT? I'm about to have surgery so probably not the best time to have visitors.  Sorry.

Gee, when is it, AT? I'm about to have surgery so probably not the best time to have visitors.  Sorry.

Haha, it's ok, BD....wasn't expecting an invite, at all, any more than I would expect it from my friend who I haven't spoken to in years. Sorry if it came across like that. Good luck with your surgery.

IA: Same pout about Fashion Bug closing.

UP: I ended up getting about $230 of clothes for $100 as my Christmas gift from mom, plus a few things I picked up. I also landed a $75 swimsuit for $15, which means I have finally managed to stop the 'one more year' mindset of the one I have been wearing for years because it has held up so well it still looks new. JOY!

Haha, it's ok, BD....wasn't expecting an invite, at all, any more than I would expect it from my friend who I haven't spoken to in years. Sorry if it came across like that. Good luck with your surgery.

And good luck with your trial!

Thanks, BD.

IA: my maternity leave starts Friday and I found out today that I don't qualify for SMP (based on how much i got paid in the 8 weeks before 12 weeks before the week I'm due). HR "found" my MATB1 and will post it back to me (as of Monday but it's not here yet) presumably along with my SMP Exclusion form.

UP: because I can pick any 13 weeks in which I was paid in the 66 weeks before my due date for MA, I can pick my three largest pay checks (I get paid monthly) and will actually qualify for more money than I would have got on SMP.

IA: My niece's fiance is 35 going on 3. She is 21 and far more mature than he will ever be. He is incessantly babbling silly things, making car noises, repeating a word 900 times trying to get the bird to say it, usually the bird's name, and he knows his name. While I am guessing there is some undiagnosed adult ADD going on, it is hard to take at times, when it is for hours on end.

UP: When my nephew came for the day, his mom sent quite a few treats with him, including a huge tray of bourbon balls. They seem to be helping. 

IA: Washing machine is still knackered from early December - and because of Christmas holidays, the repair guy was only able to get back in today.  And he takes it all apart and its still all screwed up and completely broken. 

UP: Brand new washing machine in my future, thanks landlord.

Spoiler: show

Sometimes it's actually nice to rent.

IA: Still have to take clothes out of my house for washing until he can get a new one in. I've got a big pile growing. 

For things like that, I completely agree with your spoiler. 

IA:  Saw my dentist on the street the other day and found out she's left the practice and is moving back to Greece with her family.  Bummer!  I love  my dentist. 

UP:  Had an appointment with her replacement today to start work on replacing a crown (an IA in itself  ) and from the moment I met her I was sold on her!  She's thorough and detail oriented and glows with an inner beauty.  Plus she's got a super portfolio of all the cosmetic work she's done and it all looks fantastic (I've got a bit of cosmetic dentistry in my future....)