I'm back home again and getting ready to go back to work after a week with my new grandson.

I spent $95 on vacation costs -- gas, road food, etc. I spent $211 on gifts, which included baby supplies, groceries, pet supplies and flowers. So my gift budget is blown out, but I am glad I did what I did.

Also, while I was there, I spent $7 on personal items I forgot to pack, and, since I was near a Petco, $27 on pet food I needed to stock up on.

Yesterday was a long driving day -- plus I was exhausted from interrupted sleep and from a overflow of unexpected emotions -- yes, it was a very happy event but it also brought up a lot of buried sad memories. Strange....

Well, I have a day to get ready and then tomorrow my sister is arriving from North Carolina. We will go up to Michigan (along with my single son) on Wednesday night or Thursday morning. We are celebrating Thanksgiving at my brother's house, but we are planning on getting a motel room, so that's more money flowing out.... My sister will stay with me until next Tuesday. I'm very glad she's coming, as she was dragging her feet, and the holidays just wouldn't be the same without her!

In the spirit of getting back into the routine, here are my meals yesterday:

Breakfast: English muffin with pb&j, coffee

Lunch: 2 pieces fried chicken, 2 biscuits, diet coke (KFC)

Snack: Peanut butter shake (Steak N Shake)

Dinner: 6-inch roasted chicken breast on wheat roll (Subway)