My economic plan

The times that we live in are no doubt challenging. As the economy moves forward in its current condition many of us struggle to make up the difference in our personal budgets and lifestyles. The government has come up with various plans to help or stimulate things. For example, last year’s stimulus check, $600 given to me to help me with my financial woes and to encourage a trip to the mall, which in turn would stimulate the economy. Brilliant. Did it go in savings? Did it go to the mall? I don’t know…but I do know that I have to claim it on my tax return this year, decreasing my rebate by the aforementioned $600.

Thank you for giving me money I did not ask for, want or even need without clearly explaining the terms. Be sure to read the fine print.

Another example the 2008 first time home buyer $7,500 credit. What an incentive to buy a home! $7,500 dollars to fix up the home, or even, if you wish pay of other debts, what ever you want, its your money! Seventy-five hundred dollars! Wahoo! *the 2008 first time home buyers credit should be considered as a interest free loan which will be paid back over a period of 15 years at $500 per year. Now, the reward for being brave and weathering the rocky times, buying a home, actively participating in the economy despite the difficulties; 7500 dollars of debt. Come on, lets take it for what it is, DEBT, interest free or not.

Here is my plan

Trevor, who works so hard to bridge the gap in our budget, because of what he does, we have a nice home, cars that work and a bright and promising future. No one, with any amount of money can top that. (Not to mention the 8 cows and two horses he brought into the marriage along with his amazingly upbeat and positive attitude.)

Mom and Dad, who did a fab job raising me, teaching me to work, to fulfill my obligations, to think, to study, to learn, to cook, clean, sew and garden, for encouraging me to get educated and helping me do it; and for also teaching me how to save, budget and spend wisely, among thousands of other things.

My sibs, who set a good example, are always willing to lend an ear, and offer good, impartial advice in any situation.

My in-laws, Wayne and Debbie who helped Trevor become the man he is, who welcomed me into their family with open arms, without question or prejudice, who are always supportive and willing to lend a hand.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and our inspired leaders for warning, cautioning and helping us prepare for these perilous times.

Thanks to the government for trying to bring me down, I mean help me during these economic woes by offering thousands of dollars of debt.

Despite your efforts, my plan is better than yours.

Do you talk in your sleep?

That is a question that is hard to know the answer to. After all, you only know if you talk in your sleep when someone has said you do, and then you have to question the honesty of the person telling you.

Trevor talks in his sleep. Only his sleep talking usually involves more than talking. If you don't believe me ask any one of his six other family members, they'll back me up on this. Some nights he just mumbles or gets out a few words, this I barely wake for anymore. At times he'll moan and kind of growl at something (a light back rub and a soothing sh sh sh, keeps that from exploding in to anything) but often times he'll sit up in bed or even get out of bed acting out some crazy dream.

For example:
On our honeymoon, Trevor sits on the side of the bed and sighs, I ask "Whats are you doing?"
T-"I have to go to work."
A-"No you don't"
T-"Uh, I think so"
A-"But babe, we're in Colorado"
T-"But they came and told me I need to"
Long Pause
T-"Well maybe not"
To which he laid back down and quickly fell back asleep

Or there was the time he jumped out of bed, and flipped on the light insisting we needed to get up...at 1 am.

But I think last night is my favorite.

It was probably around 4 am. I'm peacefully sleeping, and I hear "Oh Piss" and Trevor darts up to his knees.
Now you think after 6 months of this I'd get the idea by now that Trevor is asleep, but nope, I respond in a slight panic "What? What's the matter?"
To which Trevor replies, "slide behind me" Then, he stretches his hands into the air like he's reaching for something.
A- I'm confused, and laughing at Trevor reaching up for nothing and I say "What? Why?"
Trevor says, "everything is falling."
I roll my eyes and my body "no its not, its just a dream." A few minutes pass, Trevor is leaning forward and he says "Um...your on my foot" (somehow his foot ended up under my knee) I move my legs so he can lay back down. A few more minutes pass, Trevor hasn't stopped moving, so I ask him,"Are you ok?"
"I just can't believe that was all a dream"

Morning comes, he remembers...nothing, except that I was on his foot.

A conviction

Since I don't really remember, I haven't watched rated "R" movies. Of course I've seen some, there are even a few good ones out there, but generally I try to steer away from them. The Patterson family has a really good, old family friend who doesn't understand why I've made that choice, and we've had endless debates about why I don't but as I explained to him, that I chose not to do so, not only because prophet said I shouldn't, But because I don't want to, not because of what anyone said.

The other day, I broke my own conviction. I really really wanted to see The Changeling with Angelina Jolie. With a supportive husband by my side, who assured me he would not mention it to aforementioned family friend, we picked up the movie at the Wal-mart Red Box. I felt SO guilty, but I really wanted to see it. Even as we started the movie, I had a feeling of disbelief of what I was about to do... I really wanted to see it. (I must confess, Trevor offered to intervene on my behalf by saying, "Ash, if you are going to hate yourself for watching this, lets turn it off right now") but I persisted, I wanted to see it.

While the movie was really well done, lacked the general violence, gore and sexuality most "R" movies include, I remember why I don't watch rated "R" movies.

Lesson relearned

The Local Pests

Some homes are plagued with spiders, some with cochoroaches. My grandparents house often had balls of garder snakes ( say balls because they all coil together in a big tangle of the balls) But here is our biggest pest. Please excuse the poor quality of the video, I was looking with my eyes and not through the screen, so it get s a little off center sometimes. Sorry.

You can see a little of the landscape across the way, its just acres of river bottoms, its really beautiful when the snow is freshly flocking the trees. Thats about the only time I like all the snow we get here!

Home Sweet Home.

I finally have some pictures! I really am sorry it took so long, but I wanted to finish the drapes first. The living room was cold and boring without them. So here go the pictures.
I took this in November when we were looking, I'll get some winter ones on Saturday when I'm home during daylight!

I have a few before picutres, mostly empty rooms, but you'll get the idea.
The living room before *note the previously blogged "leopard skin carpet" and the gold pole lamp

The angle is a little different, but I think you can see the huge difference. Every time I walk in my door, I think "Oh I have such a cute house!"

Now the bed room...before


and after
I know, its not that different, the bed room needs some help. I think my furniture and the bed make a difference enough............ for now at least. Here is another shot from the door.


And now I have to show you my favorite thing in the kitchen! Its hard to get from the picture, so I'll explain. It is my spice cupboard, inside a cabinet door. I first discovered it when I tried to open the cabinet and opened the spice cupboard instead. The other knob opens the cabinet. Cool eh?

waiting so patiently

Oh, so many of you are waiting. Unfortunately I had a duh moment, and broke my camera! Trevor has an old one somewhere, so while I'm looking for it, please be patient.

I will give you a quick update. We bought an old farm house across from the river bottoms. It is in great need of decorate update. Once you opened the door, you would encounter the carpet, which my sister Kim nicknamed the leopard skin carpet. Which I snapped a picture of before the dreadful loss of the camera. The picture really doesn't capture the nastiness of that carpet. You had to see it and feel how disgusting it really was. While in good condition, I couldn't stand it. So, we took it out. The best decision of our lives. (which of course is and exagguration, because choosing to move to Logan, pretty good one, marrying Trevor, great one!)

So I actually enjoy being in my living room now.

As soon as I get the drapes finished, and get Trev's camera figured out, I'll post some before and after shots.

Be patient

So we've settled into our new home in Smithfield, UT. (Near Logan for those of you who don't know)

We don't have internet at home yet, its coming this weekend. So I'll make a good lengthy post later with lots of juicy details, which I know you are all just dying to hear.