The long lines of Catch 22s

A few months ago I got a speeding ticket. I know, I know…settle down, I can hear the gasp from here! “Becka’s not perfect???”

So I waited until the eleventh hour to pay it and turns out I didn’t pay it in time. Yuck. So now my license is suspended and I have major fines added to my already expensive ‘donation’ to JSO.

I go down to the DMV office to take care of it and they tell me that I need to go to the Clerk of Courts first. Mike, Hayden and I head out to the Clerk of Courts, which is a nasty smelling place with really long lines, and I finally get to the window and the guy tells me I need some paperwork from the DMV. I was there before and they didn’t tell me! So off to the DMV we go, which thankfully is in the same parking lot, and I go there to get the correct paperwork for the Clerk of Courts. Meanwhile, since it’s suspended, she keeps my license! Augh…annoying, but whatever. So back to the Clerk of Courts I go with my paperwork and checkbook in hand. Wait a minute…how am I going to write a check without my ID! So you see, I’ve been caught in a vicious cycle of Catch 22s. Thank goodness Mike came with me and wrote the check for me. PHEW! Now, back to the DMV to pay another hefty fine and get my stupid piece of plastic with my picture on it back.

So if you were keeping track, I had been to the Clerk of Courts twice and the DMV thrice.

Lesson learned? Just don’t speed…no matter how bad you have to pee!

Summer Haircuts!

Hayden was getting pretty shaggy...so since we're poor white folk, we decided to do it ourselves! Hence the fantastic summer buzz cut!

Before:

After:

I've got the secret...

...to getting a man to vacuum!

Buy a new one with more power and cool attachments!

(This is right in the middle of the NBA Playoff Game!!!)

Life's a beach!

Mike and I both had to work this morning and after seeing more than a dozen women waltz around Ann Taylor in nothing but a bikini and a sundress I decided it was time to head out to the beach!

Warning! Picture overload!!!

For the moment...

I’ve been picking up some extra hours while the manager is on maternity leave.

Mike is just about done with this semester of school…he got a B in his education class, and will likely get As or Bs in the other classes he is in.

Hayden’s surgery is scheduled for May 8th…please keep him in your prayers.

Hayden now sees the famous golden arches and screams “NUGGETS!” Guess I’ve been taking advantage of American convenience a little too much lately!

Other than that life is pretty much the same around here! I’m busy busy busy couponing and Mike’s busy busy busy working and going to class!

BOOYAH

It’s official! The Jaguars are FINALLY being recognized! I am totally stoked that we have three prime time games! To the right is this year’s schedule. The home games are all in CAPS and the times are JAGsonville time!

It does kind of stink that our season opener is at Tennessee…stupid Titans!

I’m so excited for the season to start!!! Next major event is coming up on the 26th – DRAFT DAY!!!

Check Me Out!

Okay...so most of you know that I am a complete coupon ADDICT! Seriously...if someone were to ask me to quit, I'd need a twelve step program. I love the rush of getting the best deal I can and seeing how much I can save. I'm going to start another blog so you can follow my couponing adventures, but for now, here is my haul from today:

(3) Big Bottles of Aveeno - $6.99 each = $20.97
(5) Small Bottle of Aveeno - $3.29 = $16.45
(4) Reynolds Foil - $1.49 each = $5.96
(2) Crest White Strips - $24.99 each = $49.98
(2) Electrasol - $3.49 each = $6.98
(1) Aquafresh Extreme Clean - $3.49
(1) Colgate 360 Toothbrush - $3.99
(1) Jane Mineral Blush - $4.99
(3) Extra Gum - $1.19 each = $3.59
(1) Half Gallon Milk - $1.99

Retail Total: $118.39
Total OOP: $13.25
Total Rebates coming to me: $14.47

That's right, guys and gals! I actually MADE $1.22! Even without rebates I still saved 88%

Our Day at the Zoo

We decided to weather the heat and head out to the zoo today. It was crazy packed because kids are on spring break, but we still had a good time.

The very inviting cool water...


Go Jaguars!!!


This little stinker was just out roaming the zoo grounds


OOH! Look at the birds!


These suckers are native to Florida! ACK!


Feeding the Giraffs

Please keep Hayden in your prayers...

We've discovered Hayden has a hernia. He will have to have surgery in the next couple of weeks...and I am just not doing well with this information. I know it's a far cry from what a lot of you have to deal with, but it is still quite scary for me...

A banana, an orange and a bottle of water...

On my way into work I stopped into Publix to pick up something to eat at work. I grabbed a banana, an orange, a bottle of water, and some chapstick. I get through the checkout, pay with exact change and dash out the door since I’m cutting it close getting to work on time. I get out to my car and am in desperate need of my chap stick so I dig through my bag. I dig and dig and dig…and it’s NOT THERE! And of course I’ve parked all the way in the very last row in the parking lot, so I sprint as fast as I can back into the store, go up to the register I was rung up at and let them know that my chapstick wasn’t in my bag. The bag boy insisted he put it in my bag, in fact he remembers that he put it in the same bag as the candy. Uh…I didn’t BUY candy! Fine…I’m in a hurry, so I make a B-line to the beauty isle to grab another chapstick, pay for it and get to work. This time I didn’t have exact change, so I hand the checker a $20 bill. She hands me my change as the bagger admits that he must have put it in another person’s bag, because he remembers putting it in with candy…oops. Whatever, I’m late, out $3 and already in a huff, so I just leave. I get out to my car, which is still on the last row, and put my change in my wallet…there is only $7 there! I handed her a twenty…I should have $17!!! So, back into the store I go. I head up to the register, which by now I’m sure they are sick to death of me…and I stand there until she is finished with her current customer. I point out that I gave her a twenty and that she gave me incorrect change. She looks at me and says matter-of-factly “You gave me a ten.” I push back… “I gave you a Twenty!” So I go grab my favorite cashier and explain the situation. She tells me they’ll have to count down the drawer…at this point I have now paid $16 for one tube of chapstick, and I am running late, but for $10 you better believe I’ll wait! She opens the register and there it is. My crisp, clean twenty dollar bill on top of the rest of the ten dollar bills. I get my change back and then they also refund my money for the first tube I purchased. PHEW! I walk out of the store and hurry to my car since I am now 15 minutes late and I pick up my first bag with the fruit and water in it and what do you know falls out? That’s right…my original tube of chapstick.

I have some apologies to make tomorrow…