Snow...Snow...Snow...Brrrrrr

I have shoveled for the first (and I am sure it won't be the last) time this winter season. This morning it was 38 out, now it is 14 and steadily dropping. Should be in the single digits, possibly below zero tonight and only in the single digits on Monday for a high. But after Monday things look better as we should be in the 40's by Wednesday. Still though I had to get out of the house and what better way than to shovel the three or so inches that lay on my driveway.

Now of course there are those who would tell me not to since I have a very bad cough - probably bronchitis - but they are not here to rein me in so out I went. I'll probably pay for it later.

Of course I have a story to write in...taxes to figure out...finances to budget...Christmas shopping to finish...cookies to bake etc, etc, etc.

Looks like I will be liquidating the remainder of my savings bonds before the end of the year - which is a bummer as it will boost my income for 2004, but I have a number of bills coming due - Long Term Insurance, Medical Insurance, County Property Taxes, and it doesn't look like the dividends will cover it all or at least not arrive in time to cover it all.

MUST CUT EXPENSES - first to go will be Cable...outrageous, now they are charging $122.77 a month, which I can't figure out, the bill has so many miscellaneous charges and so forth...the rates were going up in January, but from the looks of the bill it is retroactive to November????? Will be calling them anyways on Monday. Will probably cut back to Basic ($9.77 and Road Runner (ISP) $44.95) instead of the Digital Cable and Road Runner I have now...which is another problem I was paying $43.52 for my Road Runner, but now it looks like I'm paying $44.95. My bill for December was a combined $92.77, now it is a combined $122.77 - $30 more and it doesn't make any sense.

You'd think that for this amount of money you'd be able to pick and chose the channels you want but NO you can't so I end up with something like 5 shopping channels and 15 sports channels none of which that I watch.

Christmas Shopping

Well despite my best efforts...Christmas shopping became a necessity yesterday. Spent about seven hours going from store to mall to store. At least we had a list of things we semi-knew that we wanted and now what happens I get home and discover I missed one!!! Damn, I thought I was done. At least I have managed to cut back or so it seems yet the credit card still managed to get used...too much to my liking.

Plus...the muffler is going on the truck. Another hassle and another expense.

And while cleaning in the garage...items I thought I had secured, weren't and having only two hands instead of six I got clobbered. Now sporting about a three inch gash/cut on my head just above the right ear from a heavy metal pipe...as well as a sore throat/chest cold - not related to the cleaning of the garage.

My one fear is that the cold/cough will develop into bronchitis...just in time for Christmas. Oh Jolly! ... Jolly! at that prospect.

Wildlife

Tis early morning (6:29am) and the Trashmen are coming (I suppose to be PC I should say Sanitation Engineers)...I can hear their trucks as they back up as well as when they compress the trash etc. First it will be the trash...then the recycle guys...at least this week the trash and the blue bins (recyclables) are out to the road in time. Lots of times it sits in the garage for two weeks before I get it out ... LOL I don't take it out the night before because of all the creatures out there - raccoons, skunks, cats and so forth. Living in the city and I have to deal with wild life, sometimes it is amazing. Cats I expect, skunks too...occasionally, but raccoons, woodchucks and the rest sighh, well I guess they are proving they can adapt.

Got the Christmas Cards done the other day...most anyway...still have a few last minute ones to do after verifying addresses etc. Have finally used up all the pre-printed ones and have had to resort to the non-pre-printed ones. Now to wrap up the few gifts that I have had to buy and wrap up a couple of packages to mail.

Still haven't written in the Tomb...this writer's block or lack of motivation is killing me. So is my body...but that is another story.

Regrets...we all have em'

Well I actually feel as if I accomplished something - wrote two long overdue letters - one had been waiting for almost 11 months... :-( , the other only about three weeks... :-)

But now they are done, now to think, mind you I said think about Christmas cards. usually I have them done and out by now, but I'm giving serious thoughts to cutting back this year. I have already done so with my gift giving having arranged with many to NOT exchange gifts. Now I wonder if I am going to the extreme...I mean I am not working, I am so called retired, but 65 is a long ways away and to pay the bills etc isn't as easy as it used to be when the cash assets were just sitting in the Bank. Now one has to decided which assets to sell and when is the best time to do so...a dilemma sometimes a hassle always.

Regrets? I have many I'm afraid. Things I could have done differently, people, places etc. That old addage - If I knew then what I know now, is so, so true. Of course had I done things differently I might not be where I am today. Nor know the people I know today...hmmm on one hand there are the numerous missed opportunities and relationships on the other hand there is what you have today and the question - would it be that much different had I....???

Gone to College...moved to Buffalo...answered the door...set aside my inhibitions, if only just once or twice...went out for Sports during High School...if I didn't drop that Advanced Placement course...if I didn't say no and not go to that party...if I had spent less and saved more...gone to Church and really learned what religion is all about...

The list can go on and on and I can torment myself with any number of what ifs, but I can also decide today that things will change and I will live based on who I am, who the REAL me is...if I can find the REAL me.

Or I could make a list of all the things I have never done...or ever wanted to do...hmmm