Friends, Coupons and Other Various Nothings
We had a full and fabulous weekend. It started Friday night when we had dinner at a friend’s house. It is very rare that we get a dinner invitation, I mean, who wants to invite 11 people over for dinner? Just finding enough chairs is a challenge….forget trying to figure out how much food to make. So we were thrilled when Autumn invited us. The men got into a deep, theological discussion about whether or not the spiritual gifts were for today. I sat there in a stupor wondering why my brain doesn’t work anymore. I really should do more adult-type thinking. I’ve spent the past 20 years waist deep in the alphabet and dirty laundry and I’ve lost my intelligent conversation mojo.
On Saturday we cleaned the house and I ran a couple of small errands with Faith (15 years old, for those of you that can’t keep up with their ages). Here’s a little peek into Faith’s personality: she saves coupons. Anywhere I go…Sonic, grocery store, Michael’s….she will shout, “Wait! I have a coupon for that!” That child cracks me up. She had a coupon for JC Penney, so I took her over there. It was her personal goal to get something for free, so she poured over the clearance racks and found a cute little top for herself….for free! I think I’ll keep her.
After a quick run to get potatoes, we headed home to make a huge pot of potato soup for my guests that evening. My friend Sara and her family were coming over. Again, dinner with friends, am I spoiled or what? Is there anything better than hanging out with amazing people?
Then Sunday morning spoiled my high. James came to me with (cue dreadful music) last month’s phone bill. It turns out that I have been making phone calls that I didn’t know were costing us money. It had racked up a whopping $300 worth of calls! How could this happen?! I don’t even feel like I talk on the phone that much. Sorry kids, no Christmas for you this year.
I really felt bad about it. James kept saying, “Honey, it’s OK. You didn’t know,” but that didn’t make me feel better. If I have called you anytime in the past year, I hope you enjoyed the conversation because I can’t make any more calls until I redeem myself. Unless Faith has a coupon for Sprint.
In the afternoon I filled Shop 24 orders. My number one seller right now is my Monogrammed Table Runner. I just added a new Monogrammed Table Topper.
I did a number 9 because I have so many monogrammed “P”s already. James likes to say we have “Pee” everywhere, but I don’t like that. Boys are gross.
James and I ended the weekend by watching the first episode of “The Amazing Race.” It is a bit of a shocker when the token old people are closer to your age than any of the younger people. I guess I will have to go with it. I have obviously lost my ability to be the token smart person or the token money saver.
Have a great week. If you need to reach me you can text, email, Facebook, Skype, Tweet, smoke signals…..anything but the telephone!
Ugh on the phone bill…were those tennessee calls??
Dear Sprint Customer #18994959 and 69:
We apologize there are so many nines in your account number.
We apologize that your most recent bill was $300. We love customers like you, but if you insist, put up or shut up.
Maybe if you had more (f)aith, madam, you wouldn’t doubt your husband’s word regarding your mobile bill. But it’s OK, honey.
Feeling sorry for your children’s giftless Christmas 2011,
Sprint
Most dependable network
Since 1899 (Seriously.)
Wow… that is crazy! So sorry about the phone bill though. Yeah I have to admit we don’t have long distance on our phone… not because I talk on it all the time but because I can’t hear properly half the time and the conversations take on comic proportions! Its like a telephone skit gone bad, ha ha! But we do have cell phones and I am so THaNKFUL all our friends are west of us… free calls after 9:00 woo hoo!
And dinner with friends, twice? How wonderful and what a blessing! I had to laugh because we have always had friends who have more children than us. It has never been unusual to have a total group of 16 to 20 over to eat. I know what you mean about chairs… trust me we don’t have that many chairs. So we make do and have a great time while together. In fall honesty I think this is the first place we have lived where our friends have smaller families. How weird is that?
Definitely keep that girl! Sounds like I need to go shopping with you and Faith! But I think the gas might make it a bit cost prohibitive… we one of these days! Enjoy your week! 🙂
Angie, not Tennessee…almost all local! Makes me so mad at myself.
Kelley, you are 100% right. I should listen to my husband. OK then. I will stop feeling guilty about this very second. Thank you.
Peggy, if we lived there you could have us over for dinner and then Faith and I could take you shopping. She has the gift….not me! 🙂
Lisa~
I’d have you all over for dinner – anytime! We momentarily have gobs of people at any moment’s notice – like 40 people at once gobs! We have 8 tables and 40 chairs in our garage, so anytime you pop out to Los Angeles, we’ll have you all over in a heartbeat! Honestly, we hardly ever get invited to other people’s houses because we’re always having people over here – we had a jr. high movie night here Friday night, company yesterday and two more groups coming next Friday and Sunday…then I have another group the following Friday. So, having you guys would be EASY!
Becky B
http://www.organizingmadefun.com
Organizing Made FUn
I have been hunting for table runners and I’m pretty sure a custom one is the only one that will work with our length. I’ll have to check out your store 🙂
I am so glad your family accepted our invitation. Obviously, I need to fine tune my skill at estimating servings. We had a ton of left overs and I’m pretty sure by the end of Sunday Haven was ready to harm me if I made him eat sausage again.
Seriously huge bummer on the phone bill my friend. Ouch! On another note we have invited our friends over who have 11 in their family and I LOVE it. I usually make a couple of casseroles or something and it always works out fine. In fact they are coming over next week. Always a blessing!
HUGS!
Lisa,
If you’re like me and you don’t have a “landline”, buy a year’s subscription to Skype – it’s $30 for unlimited calls to anywhere in the US. I use my computer to call people not in my network, to chat with my family and to call clients (that’s you!). It might help with the phone bill just a tad. 🙂 Then you wouldn’t have to feel badly about talking on the phone!
I love Faith, that’s a girl after my heart for sure. So sorry about that phone bill. We had an $1100 phone bill one month when our international calling plan changed rates and the company said they weren’t required to tell us! We (meaning he) argued about it till they dropped the charges. Then we switched to vonage. Kind of like Skype for your phone. We don’t even have a land line anymore and my husband counts minutes the way yours does finances. Luckily, I dont use many 🙂 All my friends are on FB & Twitter!!
I hate to bring it up, my dear friend, but texting costs money on your phone, too. Just so you know ahead of time. That is what ate up my last one!
Been missing you!! Blessings!!
Becky, if I ever get anywhere near California I am definitely coming for dinner.
Autumn, that sausage was great!
Kim, I agree….casseroles are a great way to serve a crowd. But I must say, Autumn’s chicken sausage was wonderful!
Stacy, we don’t have a land line either. I tend to forget I’m on the cell. I won’t forget again I can assure you. 🙂
Laurie, I miss you too! Can’t wait to spend the weekend together at LTC in November. Thanks so much for the text warning. We have unlimited texts, thank goodness!!
Lisa~
I’m not even sure how I got to your blog site, but so GLAD I did. That post just made me giggle. Sorry, I know a huge phone bill stinks. All the same, I giggled and I needed that today. Hope better, funnier days are ahead for you. Thanks for sharing!
Lisa, you are all invited to my house for dinner the next time all ELEVEN of you are in South Carolina. My dining room table holds 12 and my kitchen table easily does 6 and can do 8. So, when are you coming?