It’s a Frugal Friday Free for All

Heather says: There’s a lot on the Home-EC101 plate right now, so I’m opening the comments up our frugal friends. Have you recently written a post on frugality? If so, link to it in the comments. Later today I’m heading back to Myrtle Beach, SC but this time it’s not for vacation, I’ve been helping …

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Sunday Confessional: This Is How It Ends

retrochick.JPGIvy says:

My grandmother passed away at about 5 this morning. We’re sad that she’s no longer here on earth, but we rejoice since we know her name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life and we will see her again one day in Heaven. As always, she was the polar opposite of my other grandmother and wound down very slowly, being off all ther tubes and IVs for the past 15 days. My confession: I’m relieved. This means things can get back to normal. A new normal, yes. One without my grandma. But one where everybody isn’t stretched so thin and we’re not all tired and somewhat angry. I feel the slightest bit bad that I feel relieved, but even as my tears fall for my lost grandmother, I know that she was one of the most practical people I have known and she would totally understand my relief.

And it’s a nice thought that she’s back to the grandma I have always known, not the hollow shell of herself that she had become these last few years because of dementia. She is no longer with us here on earth, but now I have both of my grandmas up in Heaven, looking down and keeping watch for me. That part feels good.

If I had been keeping up with my personal blog, I would give her a eulogy of sorts there, but since I haven’t posted there in more than a year, it feels false and wrong to do that there. So, I’ll do it here. Click if you want to read on.

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Ask The Audience: Scary Story Time

Ivy says: In case you were wondering, we’re not dead. For my part, we’re still watching and waiting while my grandmother dies. If you happen to be the praying sort, drop one for my dad- he’s having a very hard time watching his mother die so slowly. It’s odd to watch the reactions you get …

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Bits and Bobs

Ivy says: Several things on tap this morning, so you get one of those catch-all posts. First, a gigantic THANK YOU to all the comments on my “A Side Helping Of Transparency” posts. I am so glad for all the sympathetic and understanding comments. Home Eccers are the very, very best and I love you …

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Seriously, he looked at me like I had 2 heads

Ivy says:

This is part story time and part ask the audience. Let me tell you about my teeth, internets. Between my heredity, TMJ, not having dental insurance for most of my adult life, and my love for Dr. Pepper, I have terrible teeth. Several years ago, my TMJ and a couple of bad teeth pushed my pain level to something I couldn’t stand and I went to an oral surgeon and had a ton of teeth removed. Now the only molars I have left on my bottom jaw are bad, and I’ve got to decide what to do. Crap.

Now, I have dental insurance that doesn’t cover much, but some is better than none. And I have some money saved. But to completely fix my teeth with root canals and implants as so many dentists insist on, I don’t have that kind of money. The local dental school has a 5 month waiting list and isn’t even putting people on the waiting list right now. And there is a local dental charity, but we make slightly too much money for it, and we have dental insurance. Rats.

So, with all that said, I gathered my resolve and headed to a local dentist today, determined to make it work- get the dental care I needed and not go into debt for it. The way I figure, I could get partial dentures on the bottom until I can eventually afford implants. You know, not get into debt, do it a piece at a time as I can afford it. That sounds fairly reasonable, right?

Apparently not.

(Click on over to read the rest)

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Reader Appreciation Day 2008

Heather says: It is rare that we jump on blogging bandwagons or at least I would like believe it of Home Ec 101, but here we go. Today is Reader Appreciation Day  2008.  Home Ec 101 would not be a growing and vibrant community without its readers.  Your comments, questions, and suggestions have been invaluable …

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Super quickie!

Ivy says: Remember I wrote that my grandma had saved thousands of peanut butter lids? Now I know what she must have been saving them for.

Appropriate Funeral Attire: Ask the Audience

Heather says: I will be attending the funeral of a friend on Monday.  Due to being pregnant or nursing for the past five years, I have nothing I can just pull out of the closet.  My church clothes are all light in color (think khaki, camel, and white).   I would highly appreciate any fairly specific …

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Ask The Audience: The Motherload Of Yarn

Ivy says: As I posted before, we have been cleaning out my Grandma’s stuff following her death. By the way, I appreciate all the condolences. It gets easier every day. And some days, I can laugh. This was one of those days. Earlier this week, my uncle asked me if I wanted all my grandma’s …

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