Month: December 2008

Debt, debt and more debt

Christmas is over, and the bowl season is in full swing headed into New Year’s. It’s weird having just the boys, Sherri, Fred, Celia, and I here. Seems quiet without the girls and without any other visitors, since Christmas & Thanksgiving times saw so many people coming & going. My job is going well, and we desperately needed it. Financially, things are looking pretty bleak. Our USAA credit card is maxed out at $21k, we still owe $5k to Bunny and Bill, $5k on the AMEX, $2k or so left to RC Wiley for the washer, drier, dishwasher, and stereo stand, $2k for Chuck Hoskin, and another $1k or so to Marlas. All told about $36k in the hole. I have never personally been in non-secured debt more than $10k or so in the past. It has gotten to the point where I do have trouble sleeping. I wonder if that stress is rubbing off on the boys, as Gary and now even Ryan, are starting to wake up in the middle of the night. I’m not sure the explanation, but certainly the financial burden can’t be helping.

The Holidays 2008 – so much activity


Christmas Week – Kaitlyn and Gillian went back to Las Vegas…lots of gifts from their dad, and the eating out frenzy continues. We had a wonderful Christmas with Colvins. Christina “beamed” in for awhile too. It was great! Very nice Christmas dinner. The boys didn’t really know what to do. They really got into it once the paper was off. We got Wii Fit and tried that too. Gillian just finished up 2 weeks of karate with Brian at the Shin Dan Dojo. It’s a great opportunity to learn discipline. Kaitlyn expressed interest in trying it. I’ve been off work without pay since December 19. At least I still have a job…hopefully. It’s been really great to take some time off though, since I haven’t really been able to since we moved from Vegas. Mom, Kristy and Tiffany came in for a few days on 12/21 and did stuff with the girls. They made angels, gingerbread house and tree…the gingerbread house didn’t survive…we went to downtown Reno and ice skated. All of us…me, Kristy, Tiffany, Kaitlyn and Gillian. Then went off to Starbucks and then home. Before Kaitlyn and Gillian left we enjoyed her free burger at Red Robin for lunch and shopped with their Christmas money. Then we were off to the airport for them to fly home. Gillian had been here in Reno for a month on her track break and Kaitlyn for the week of 12/20-12/27.Christmas Week – Kaitlyn and Gillian went back to Las Vegas…lots of gifts from their dad, and the eating out frenzy continues. We had a wonderful Christmas with Colvins. Christina “beamed” in for awhile too. It was great! Very nice Christmas dinner. The boys didn’t really know what to do. They really got into it once the paper was off. We got Wii Fit and tried that too. Gillian just finished up 2 weeks of karate with Brian at the Shin Dan Dojo. It’s a great opportunity to learn discipline. Kaitlyn expressed interest in trying it. I’ve been off work without pay since December 19. At least I still have a job…hopefully. It’s been really great to take some time off though, since I haven’t really been able to since we moved from Vegas. Mom, Kristy and Tiffany came in for a few days on 12/21 and did stuff with the girls. They made angels, gingerbread house and tree…the gingerbread house didn’t survive…we went to downtown Reno and ice skated. All of us…me, Kristy, Tiffany, Kaitlyn and Gillian. Then went off to Starbucks and then home. Before Kaitlyn and Gillian left we enjoyed her free burger at Red Robin for lunch and shopped with their Christmas money. Then we were off to the airport for them to fly home. Gillian had been here in Reno for a month on her track break and Kaitlyn for the week of 12/20-12/27.v