The combination of stress, being around lots of people, getting little sleep and being rundown has come to its inevitable conclusion. I'm sick as a dog.

I did nothing but lay around yesterday. I don't feel any better today.

I wish I felt good enough to go to the doctor. Not for this -- this is something that will run its course -- but because my hand is dramatically discolored; looks like bleeding under the skin, though there is no pain. I suspect a ganglion cyst has ruptured, but I'd like to make sure it's not something worse. However, I am not well enough to get to the doctor's office.

I have a dentist's appointment tomorrow that I will cancel today. I don't believe I will be well enough to go.

I still haven't bought Christmas presents for the local kids. They are on the fence about what to do for Christmas. They might take a trip on their own rather than going to my ex's. I am unsure about whether they want a gift exchange or not. If they are taking a trip, they might appreciate cash instead. So I wait for clarification.

My variables are at 80%. December is always a difficult month.

The insurance charge is still on my mortgage account. I submitted a transaction inquiry to the credit union. I was told it would be removed, but I am not trusting anyone any more, and I will remind them daily if I have to.

I'm almost embarrassed to talk about this, even though it is not my fault. I just can't believe how I've been screwed over. It's shaming.

I may have blogged about this before. My mortgage lender demands proof of building insurance (which is handled and paid for by my property managers). This year, I requested the property manager to fax the info TWICE because the first time they claimed they didn't get it. I assumed the matter was settled, especially since it was done twice. The mortgage lender never told me that the document faxed was considered insufficient. I just kept getting threatening letters. Every time I got one, I called the mortgage company and explained that I did not have the document myself and I was trying to get the property manager to send it. They would say, yeah, yeah, it's so hard to work with property managers, we have a lot of trouble with them, blah blah blah.

Well, long story short, the mortgage lender took out hazard insurance and charged me more than $2K. It has gone onto my mortgage balance.

I spent quite a bit of time on the phone yesterday with the mortgage company, but they are unmoveable. I did manage to get the property manager to send the document yet again, this time by email. I also got a pdf copy and I can see that the document is current. I don't know whether the previous two were.

I emailed the mortgage company and requested that the charge be removed, as the terms have been met, that I do not need additional insurance, and I have been trying in good faith for months to get this done. My emails and calls to them document that.

I don't even dare look this morning. I have done everything I can, short of carrying the physical document to the mortgage office and sticking it under their noses.

I am sick. You guys know what a $2K bill -- for nothing -- will do to my budget and my life. And the unfairness of it is devastating.

On top of that, I am physically sick, coming down with a bad cold, and I feel awful.

I was on a high yesterday, before this came to a head, because I bought myself a Christmas present -- membership to the Art Institute. Now that $95 expense is something I regret.

Has anyone ever heard of anything like this? I may have legal recourse, but it would cost more than the $2K, probably. Screwed!

Hi all!

I got back from Michigan yesterday, my sister in tow. She will fly back on Wednesday morning. My brother bought the ticket.

We had a very beautiful holiday -- great food, family fun and togetherness, even good weather. On Friday my siblings and my SIL went to the country and planted a tree in my late brother's memory. It was a lovely drive and the setting for the tree is beautiful. It will grow on the property of a friend of my SIL's. After the planting we got a tour of the house -- it was built in 1877, a lovely brick home that needs lots of work, but will be something spectacular when they are done with it.

I spent $38 on gas, $30 on bread & butter gifts, $38 on food. I also spent $10 on a Christmas gift and $4 for new earrings. This morning I ventured out for groceries and spent $30 at Aldi and $7 at PetSmart.

Tomorrow my sister and I will go see "Murder on the Orient Express" (finally!) and we will go to dinner with my son's family and my ex's family to celebrate my son's graduation and birthday. Today, I think, will be a pretty laid-back day. I'm going to make some sloppy joes for lunch. I was hoping to make some split pea soup, with the ham bone my brother gave me, but Aldi doesn't have split peas. Or doesn't have them right now, anyway. So I'll have to make another stop for the split peas.

Since I'm stalled on the soup, I may try to use my $25 credit for Amazon restaurant for tonight's dinner. I've never done that before so I'm not sure how it works. I got the credit because I was okay with slow shipping on the Christmas gifts I ordered.

Still have to order Christmas gifts for my local son's family, and I still need that haircut, but I think I will let both wait until my sister goes home.

1. Pack
2. Take laundry to car
3. Buy bread & butter gifts
4. Buy kitty litter
5. Clean litter pan
6. Order gifts for Florida kids
7. Clean fish tank & put in feeder block
8. Pay bills
9. Pick up sister at airport

My son defended his thesis and completed his Master's degree yesterday! It's official! I'm so proud of him. He has done this while working full-time and continuing to be an awesome father. There may be a celebration tonight. It may or may not happen, but I will have time, since I don't have to go the airport till midnight. I just can't celebrate too hard!

Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving Day!

I've made it to the day before pay day. I don't think I will spend anything today, so I created my monthly recap:

Housing: 695
Medical/Health: 356
Gifts/Charity: 268
Eating Out: 136
Groceries: 94
Utilities: 65
Gas: 60
Phone: 52
Vet/Pet Supplies: 27
Entertainment: 20
Furnishings/Equipment/Decor: 18
Laundry: 12
Fares/Parking: 10
Clothing: 8
Household Supplies: 3

Grand Total: 1824

Variables: 94%

As expected, a big month for medical and gifts. Eating out was unusually high, but it does reflect some good times, not just runs through the driveup window. Utilities were low because the cable/internet bill did not fall within this pay cycle.

Expecting a quiet day today. Still using up food. I had oatmeal for breakfast; will have peanut soup and applesauce for lunch, and cheese quesadillas for dinner. I still have quite a bit of food in the freezer, but I'd rather not thaw anything only to have to (possibly) refreeze before I travel.

Not much financial news today. I just spent $1.50 on another load of laundry. I think I will do one more tomorrow, and that will be it before traveling to Michigan.

I'm using up stuff in my refrigerator, and it's looking very empty! I don't like to leave perishables in the fridge when I travel, even when it's only for a few days.

On Wednesday evening, just before midnight, I will pick up my sister at the airport and then drive the rest of the way to Michigan. Unless I feel so tired, that it will be safer to stop and get a room. I'm always okay with spending money if it is in the interest of safety.

Before I go the airport, I will get some pet supplies and perhaps get a haircut. It will be pay day, so I will pay my bills and do my Amazon shopping, too. But perhaps I should wait on the Amazon shopping. Delivery is so fast with my Prime membership. I don't want my packages delivered when I'm not here. I do live in the land of porch pirates.

Yesterday was a bit spendy, but a delightful day with my grandson. We went to Chili's for lunch, where we got two deals -- one, that game gizmo at the table was already loaded so my grandson could play free, and two, we got a free dessert which we shared. The free dessert came courtesy of an email I had received earlier in the day. The total cost of lunch was $18.

Then we went to see "Wonder" but the show was sold out. So I bought tickets for a later show, which took us out of the window for the matinee price. But my grandson had his heart set on it, and I wanted to see it too. The cost of the tickets was $20.

In between lunch and the later show, we hung around my place. He helped me bring up my Christmas tree from the basement, and I'm very glad to have that chore done. I probably won't decorate it till after Thanksgiving, but it's set up.

This morning I bought some coffee filters at Jewel ($2) and did a load of laundry ($1.50). I also picked up a free bag of Uncle Ben's flavored rice at Jewel, the value of which I added to my snowflakes ($3.49). Very soon now, I'll be cashing out my snowflakes for the grandkids' college funds. Even if I don't add to it, they will each get $265.

My variables now stand at 94%. I hope I will not have to spend anything tomorrow or the next day, so that I can come in under. I believe next month will be quite expensive, with more Christmas spending, a dental appointment, and some travel.

I got another free dinner last night. After bringing my grandson home from Tae Kwan Do, my DIL gave me a bowl of chili. Today I'm going to have pan-fried salmon and a baked potato for lunch, and cheese quesadillas for dinner.

I was scheduled for a haircut today, but decided not to get it. Even though I have room for it in my variables budget, I don't feel that I really need it yet. I trimmed my bangs last week, and the shape seems to be holding up. Waiting till after payday will mean no haircut till after Thanksgiving, but I honestly think my hair looks fine, and heck, I'll only be seeing family anyway.

I noticed that my DIL had a new globe on her mantel, and it is just like the one I have wrapped up for her for Christmas. Sigh. I will have to take it back. She likes to collect globes, but I know she doesn't want duplicates. I'll try to get that done today, before the flag football game.

I lucked out at Tae Kwan Do last night, when I found a free parking place. That's two weeks in a row. I told my grandson he is my lucky charm.

Tomorrow I'm taking my younger grandson to see "Wonder." The older one will go with his class. Today I might finally go see "Murder on the Orient Express." Two movies in two days is something I haven't done in a long time! Hmmm, maybe I won't. I should wait till Bargain Tuesday, or Senior Day on Wednesday. Every penny counts!

As much as I like to be included in big family gatherings, I also suffer in them. Last night's birthday party for my grandson was a good example. I was in the middle of a long table, but it seemed like everyone was talking to someone else. I couldn't hear what anyone was saying, and when I did, I didn't understand what they were talking about. (TV shows they're watching and stuff on the internet). Big groups also seem to bring out the preening and showing off -- everyone trying to one up and grab the attention -- and I am so opposite; I was brought up to be humble and it is something I embrace. But if you're humble in a group, you're invisible. I don't mind not being the center of attention, but I do mind feeling invisible.

Of course, this particular group is dominated by members of my ex's family, and I will feel quite differently next week when the family is my own! I hope.

My legs hurt all night, and I wonder if the stress of my social discomfort added to the pain.

Anyway, financially speaking, it was a successful night, as my meal was paid for, and I have enough leftovers for another meal today.

I made an appointment with a new dentist yesterday, one that is within walking distance rather than 25 miles away! That appointment will come up December 1. Now I have to remember to cancel my distant appointment and get my x-rays sent.

I spoke to my brother yesterday and he will see to getting my sister home again after Thanksgiving. He may even be able to drive her, as he is going to Myrtle Beach, and her home is roughly on the way.

Looking over my variables yesterday, I realized I had forgotten to record several loads of laundry. The correct percentage is now 88%. Only five days to go.

This morning I participated in Bagel Day at Planet Fitness -- yummy Everything Bagel from Panera, along with a cup of coffee. Schmear, too.

I got almost $11 in Discover cashback dollars, and I received $30 in Amazon gift cards today. They came from cashed-in points on a closed credit card. I will apply the $30 to my Amazon account. When I get paid, I'll be ordering from Amazon to finish up my Christmas shopping.

I usually don't mention it, but I continue to find small change, and I'm now working toward reaching $90 in cash picked up from the ground!

Meals today: more soup for lunch, and for dinner, I will make tuna/egg salad. I don't have any bread to make a sandwich, but I could put it in a tortilla -- or just eat it with a fork!

Someone threw away a partially-used roll of Christmas wrapping paper so I snagged it from the dumpster. I can't see that anything is wrong with it. I was lucky enough to grab it before any "dirty" garbage was dumped on top of it. It's actually pretty cute paper and I've already wrapped a present in it.

So -- all this free stuff and extra income, and no spending at all! That means I just increased my net worth, right?

I went to the gym this morning and did my strength training routine with two new additions. I added exercises for my hamstrings and quadriceps. My legs are somewhat better now but I am definitely not back to normal. I wonder if this is normal now. I'm getting old -- and old people hurt!

I had a box of cheddar bay biscuit mix sitting in my pantry so I baked them this morning for breakfast. The spices were quite gray, and the biscuits turned out pretty unattractive, but edible. They'll serve for another breakfast tomorrow and I still have several to eat on the side. Glad I didn't save them for company, like I was planning.

For lunch I turned the chicken/broccoli/cheese goop into soup with a little broth. For dinner I'll have a repeat of the tortilla pizzas. So boring, but I'm using ingredients I need to to use up.

I redeemed $3 from Pine Cone; that is my only financial news.

The bright spot in my day was some email correspondence with man friend, whom I haven't heard from since August. We're planning to meet sometime after Thanksgiving and before Christmas.

Normally I would get the boys after school today, but DIL is taking the day off after working this weekend. So this is a long, uninterrupted, quiet day for me. I'm reading a good book. This is what retirement is all about!

I went to the gym this morning, but otherwise it's been a quiet day so far. I don't expect to spend anything.

I have about $100 to last the next ten days. I'd like to spend as little of that as possible. I know that I will be eating out for my grandson's birthday on Wednesday, but it will be at a fairly inexpensive place. On Tuesday, I will get a free bagel breakfast at PF.

Though my pantry and freezer are emptying out, I think I will have enough food to last. Today I made a chicken/broccoli/cheese combo that I spooned over mashed potatoes for lunch. There's plenty left over and I think that will become soup in the coming days. For dinner I'm going to make pepperoni pizzas with tortillas.

I'd love to see The Orient Express, but I will wait. I'm trusting it will still be around after Thanksgiving. I'd also love to see Wonder with the grandsons. If they mention they want to go, I'll spend some of my remaining $$$ on that.

I'm holding off on the remaining Christmas shopping I have to do until after pay day. It will be Amazon shopping.

I'm feeling a little blue, but I suppose that's normal. The weather, which is definitely gray, is not helping. I'm really looking forward to Thanksgiving to boost my spirits.

My BFF is already gone, but we had fun. I spent $49 on eating out -- I treated BFF for her birthday -- and I spent $36 at Goodwill. I bought a set of wineglasses for myself, a couple of books, a Gap hoodie, some socks, some Christmas decor, and a couple of small Christmas gifts. I also filled the gas tank for $32.

Variables are at 87%.

The weather is cold and even snowy! I got a little lost winding around in the northern suburbs yesterday, but it was such a pretty drive, with the gently falling snow and all the beautiful houses, I didn't mind a bit! And I won't mind a bit if all the snow disappears now!

Now I'm going to do some laundry and catch up on my reading....

Yesterday I went to the gym and took my grandson to Tae Kwan Do. That was fun because he was so jubilant to get the news that he can progress to the next belt in early December.

I continued wrapping presents and got all the way through my gift stash basket. I kept track of what I gave to whom, so now I know what I need to get to equalize and fill in the spaces. The gifts in my stash are bargain things I've found throughout the year, many of them secondhand (but pristine).

Now I know I need to get one Amazon gift for each person, plus some small things for my sons. I'll wait for the next pay cycle to do that.

Now I'm waiting for BFF to arrive in about two hours. I'm not sure what we'll do today -- it will be a short visit, so it will be whatever she wants to do. She has to go home tomorrow in order to babysit on Sunday. I appreciate her effort to squeeze me in!

My variables are at 70%. That means I have $220 to play with. That should be easy in the remaining twelve days, but there will be spending today, I know.

I found out yesterday that my son's family will come to my brother's for Thanksgiving. I was hoping, but they hadn't committed yet. They didn't mention Christmas, but I will be fine with just a gift exchange and simple dinner before they fly to Florida.

Yesterday I went back to the gym after a brief hiatus, and it felt good. Afterwards I went to Panera and got a bagel. I thought I had to make only one more visit to qualify for a free "Pick2" Then I got an email saying I only had to make 2 more visits. Huh.

I took a different route home along the lake shore and listened to Christmas music on the radio. It was a happy ride.

I'm struggling with what to do over the holidays. I know I'm going to my brother's for Thanksgiving, but Christmas is a big question mark. My grandson let slip yesterday that my son & DIL are planning to go to Florida, which means they will celebrate with my ex's family. Even if invited, I don't want to have Christmas there -- I had enough miserable Christmases with that crowd when I was still married. Besides, it would be very expensive.

I also don't want to go to my brother's, as their Christmases always focus around my SIL's family. Another (expensive) option would be to go to my Florida son's, but he is likely to be involved with my ex-family, too, as well as hosting my DIL's family.

Basically, I feel like being the outsider in any setting will feel worse than being alone. I know a lot of people think spending Christmas alone is a terrible thing, but it is something I am considering. I have done it before, when plans had to be cancelled at the last minute due to weather. It wasn't terrible.

I think, if I spent Christmas alone, I would work out a way to make it meaningful.

I'm thinking about Christmas because I spent a big chunk of time yesterday going through my gift stash and wrapping gifts. Whatever happens, I want to be done in time to mail gifts, if I have to.

My BFF is planning to come up tomorrow for a short visit. I hope she really will, because there is a forecast for snow, and she is a very fearful traveler.

Yesterday I got a $325 medical bill, most of which is the out-of-pocket cost for physical therapy. I won't be able to take it out of variables; it will come out of savings. Also, I can't wait until pay day; it is due before pay day.

That's my only financial news.

I took the boys to their music lessons yesterday. They didn't go to school, but DIL thought they were ready to get out of the house by 4:00 p.m. It was clear we were all not operating at full capacity, as music was left at home, and other music left at the music teacher's. Today I will need to go back to the music teacher's to get it so that GS1 can practice.

I spent about an hour and a half doing housework yesterday. There is still a lot to do. I find it helps to set my timer in half-hour increments. I work full-on for a half-hour, and then take a break. It would really be helpful for my mental state to get the place back in order.

Thank you again for all your nice comments on my posts about C. Taking care of C was certainly the biggest thing in my life these past few months, and it was helpful to me to post about it. I love the community we have here.

C passed away yesterday morning. M and I were with her, holding her hand and stroking her hair. The end, when it came, was very fast.

There will be a memorial gathering and celebration sometime after Thanksgiving in her hometown. The date has not been selected yet. C was cremated yesterday, and there will not be a formal funeral. Her ashes will be spread according to her wishes.

All the family who is local went out for a late lunch yesterday at Buffalo Wild Wings, and it was a good time of sharing memories and just generally letting down. My contribution to the total cost was $16.

Today I'm just going to work toward getting back to normal. There is a lot of housework that has been neglected.

Thank you to everyone here on this site for your caring and support. You are the best!

This morning I finally ordered the shoes for my son's birthday. Two days in a row I tried to order on the DSW site, but it remains down. Finally I realized that since I "lost" my coupon, when I bought the shoes in the wrong color and and then returned them, there was no reason to stick with DSW. I ordered the shoes on Amazon. Total price was $47. They will be delivered in two days. If he doesn't like them, I think Amazon will be easier to deal with if he wants to return them.

Total gift spending this month has been almost $300. With three birthdays and some Christmas spending, that hasn't been too bad. November has always been a killer for me.

I am still well within variables, with spending at 67%. Two weeks and two days to go.

I didn't spend anything yesterday. M and I went to the Skechers outlet, PetSmart and Aldi on our break. M did some spending, but I did not.

I may save some money on food this month, since I end up eating at C's a lot.

Today is Pizza Day at Planet Fitness, but I've had a lot of pizza lately, so I doubt I will take advantage of it. I have not made it to the gym the last few days. It just feels too hard right now. Chores at home are suffering, too. I come home so tired. Luckily, I slept pretty well last night, so today should be a better day than yesterday.