an expensive summer

This summer I've been spending money like I have it. I don't. I'm just really good at saving. (Thanks. mom.) Had I known at the beginning of summer that I would be down three classes in September, I probably wouldn't have done a lot of this. Oh well. If you wait for the perfect time it will never come.

Let's start with house stuff. My house is over 100 years old. Everything always needs to be fixed. But the payoff is great. You get to live in a house that's got history and character. In a real neighborhood, even if it is declining. I'd much rather repair things than live in a McMansion in the 'burbs. Or worse. What my mother called a cracker box. Little boxes all the same.

I made a list of things I wanted to do this summer. Walk every day. Learn how to create e-books. Point the foundation. Install a fence to keep out the neighbors dogs. The list grew and grew.

First, the roof leaked. That needed to be repaired. It was. Not too bad.

Then, after asking lots of people, I found a brick pointer at the Wawa. You can find everything at the Wawa. He checked out on the internet and thru the BBB. Plus they are family owned and operated. And in Fountain Hill. Done.

Next up, the fence. I posted a plea on FB for a local person. One of my students referred me to one. He did a great job on the fence. Ca-ching.

The patio Glenn put in about 20 years ago was rotten. Once the fence went up it look even worse. I had the carpenter give me a price.  It was for a plain old deck and cost less than the fence. The pretty diagonal pattern Glen did would have been too expensive. As would have the Trex. I settled for safe and ordinary. It looks terrific. Ca-ching.

Then of course it's fall, so the school taxes and house insurance are due. Thank goodness I live on the south side. Ca-ching.

And I hired a lawn boy.

Personally, things are also getting expensive. The biggest item is the chiropractor. At the 4th of July walk, I made contact with a chiropractor. The initial exam was a $20 donation to the Easton Y.  I went a couple times, he took x-rays and lets just say they weren't pretty. But then I am a Carl girl. Bottom line. I signed up. I've been going about 6 weeks. Do I feel any different? I don't think so. It's a pain in the butt to go, but I signed a year contract, so I'm forced to follow thru. Hopefully the next set of x-rays will be better. Then it will be worth it. Maybe. I don't want the spine issues of Elin. A year of chiro is just over $3K. Or $49 a visit. That's why I took the plan. Ca-ching!

Now I need to go look for Obama-Care before the end of the year. Swell.

I'm sure I forgot something.

What does all this have to do with walking? Little. It's my blog and I get easily distracted. And sometimes I just need to vent. However, since I need to tighten my belt, the first thing to go is 5Ks. All those entry fees add up.