We are the New Leading American Economic Indicators

It would appear that our family might be a new leading economic indicator that economists and families might want to follow. Everyone is saying the recession has just gotten started or that it hasn't bottomed out yet. Well, I beg to differ.

Tim and I have spent the last two years living with my parents. There we said it for all to hear! Now media is reporting that it is a new trend for families with job loss or economic worries to move back in with their parents to get back on their feet. As this is coming out as a reportedly growing trend, we are moving back out into the unsheltered world, one paycheck from the street again. Things are different. Before we had a house with a half acre of land. Now, we have no real estate, no savings and no retirement, having used every bit of it to survive and pay our bills on - sans house. We actually sold our home just before the real estate crash, thus allowing us a pool of money that has been drained by our never ending bills from the old life. But, we have managed to keep paying those bills, not even late once, thanks to these parental living arrangments.

Now, with the new job Tim procured a few weeks ago, we do have enough income to get back into our own little place. And that is what we are in the process of looking for in Huntsville, Alabama. Tim has found employment in a city that seems relatively unaffected by the economic troubles around us. All is not completely rosy - they do have state income tax at 5%, Florida's is 0%. And they charge sales tax on groceries! 8%! Florida's charge 0% - so this is going to put a hurt on our food and other budgets right away.

I would not have chosen to leave Florida, but I choose to try to get back on our feet as an independent family again. I know my parents will be happy to have their space back, their organization back and the quiet, unassuming lives of retirees back. But they'll miss watching the grand kids going to school and growing up. I know we'll be happy to have control of the air conditioning temperature back - probably more than anything! But we are thankful to have had a soft place to land and to not be homeless. Family is good for that.

I will hope that we are the new economic leading indicators, seeing that our employment is improving, we are now moving out of parental homes and hopefully going to start rebuilding savings and retirement, just in time for college!

Today is my Nephew's Birthday

Today is my nephew's birthday. He's turning 8 today. Happy Birthday! November is the annual birthday month extravaganza. We also have one in March. November's extravaganza is:

Nov 4 - My grandmother (now deceased)
Nov 10 - My dad
Nov 11 - My nephew
Nov 16 - me
Nov 20 - my husband
Nov 25 - my cousin

We usually have had the big birthday month combined in with Thanksgiving and I'm sure we'll do that for me and my husband, since we had the big dad 70 yesterday. I still feel bad from drinking too much wine, so we're mellowing out.

My Dad's 70th Birthday

Nov 10th is my dad's 70th birthday. My sister and her husband are hosting a party for friends and family at their new St. Augustine Beach home. Friends and family are coming from all over the state. This is a big deal, cause he retired at age 50 and said he'd never live out of his 50's. He'll out live us all for sure.

The Arrow of Time - Showing Your Family As It Changes and Grows

Tim sent this link to me, called Arrow of Time. It is really cool. He is proposing that we do the same thing starting this year...taking new photos so I can actually see my aging in process! I guess we could do some footwork and collect prior photos and put those into place as well. Take a look - it's kind of a neat way to keep up with the changes in your face and in your family through the years. Here's some old photos of us to amuse and entertain you...Tim and toddler Butterfly c. 1999 and video of Stacey and baby Butterfly c. 1999. My how time flies!

So This is Why My Husband is So Cranky

Well, a lot of things make Tim cranky these days - being underemployed, trying to get his online businesses working, having the lawnmower break....just a few. But I read today that working on the Internet and watching late night TV will make you have a lower quality of sleep, even though you might sleep the same amount as someone else who doesn't do that (note: please ignore the previous run on sentence - just trying to get it all in there).

That really seems to make sense, but it is another hurdle when you're trying to do too much to fit into a 24 hour day (see my post about how you spend your time for more on this). I think Tim stays up until 2am sometimes, then goes to work at his day job at 7am and gets back on the computer to start the cycle all over again after dinner. And he watches late night TV to "relax". Well, this says that ain't working.....but if anyone has any ideas on improving our overall efficiency - we'd appreciate it.

Trouble Sleeping...

Lately, I am having more and more trouble staying asleep through the night. I don't know if it is related to my recent hysterectomy and recovery, aging, back pain, or whatever - it is a pain in the ****. I got up today at 5 a.m. and I don't have to...yet. The kids and I are supposed go swimming at dd2's friend's home today. They have a beautiful pool - the kids keep asking when we are getting a new home. I have no answers. Yesterday was quite wearing, but we had fun. No Hairspray movie though - they opted for Transformers. I liked it....and as it has been reported, I would say it is definitely a boy/guy movie more than a girl movie. Lots of explosions, robots and hot chicks. Now, my husband will read this and go.

Just One of Those Days.....

I broke my toe yesterday...I slammed the little one right into the 800 pound Kirby vacuum. If you own one or ever did, you'll know what I mean. It turned black and actually looks worse in person. also reminds me that I need a pedicure. This reminds me that I haven't been able to bend over properly to do one, so I need to go get one at a spa! (due to my little operation that I have mentioned before here).

Tomorrow one of my daughter's friends is coming for the day and I think we'll go to see Hairspray. I think she thinks it will be lame, but I know it will be good with John Travolta and her little High School Musical sweetie Zac Efron in it - it seems like it will be fun for everyone. Sidebar: we looked at school supplies today at Target and they had folders with pics of Zac Efron/High School Musical and then ones with Hannah Montanna. I said I liked the HSM one, but she chose Hannah. That means we get a few more years before things change - I hope!

Her friend coming over can be a little high strung, so I'm sure I'll be worn out for good tomorrow. Have a nice day!