I had kind of given up on the piano lesson thing (teaching my kids). I was teaching okay, but couldn't get dh to co-operate with practicing during the day, etc. I can't do it ALL!

I had mostly given up and was resigned to sign up BM for lessons.

BUT, this year has been a little spendy with medical bills, and I lost 10% in compensation. Yeah... I no longer feel like I can afford the piano lessons. I suppose it is good we didn't started.

A 10% compensation cut means back to the drawing board. So, will retry lessons.

I had talked LM into lessons too, briefly, and he backed out. He turns 5 soon - no rush. I do not want to wait much longer to really get into it, for BM. HE will survive with parental lessons (the big no no) to get started. In a couple of years it may not be a big deal to pay for lessons.

I think the biggest "no no" is because it is hard to make the commitment. I am determined to overcome that to save money. (I used to teach piano, in college).

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My Craigslist sales are abyssmal. I am leaning towards donating everything, but the couple of items I know I can sell for decent money, with patience. *sigh*

I tried! Couldn't sell a thing...

With the economy, I find it harder to sell things. Though EASIER to give things away...

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Amazon selling is doing good. Dh has been averaging one sale a day.

For the longest time we didn't have a post office. Not within 10 miles? I know - but I am a CITY girl! We need closer post offices. Anyway, this never would have worked.

BUT, we now have a post office branch in our grocery store, and so dh has been stopping by every day. Usually it has been on his way somewhere (or he had to run and get some groceries, anyway). So, it's working out well. He is trying to build up positive feedback, so runs to the store with every sale - to mail it out ASAP. I am sure he will tone it down a bit, with time. But yeah, was thinking this whole Amazon thing wouldn't work out quite so well with 20 mile round trips to the post office.

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Yesterday I went on an adventure. I had found a semi-decent bike route to downtown. It's only about 6 miles - easy peasy. I was estatic to have found a bike route that avoided freeway overpasses and such.

To get to the meat of the stores, etc., in our own neighborhood, we have to cross the freeway overpass. Too dangerous. No lights or anything - cars coming on and off can be very reckless. So, we avoid. I would cross it, but refuse to take the child along.

So, I tested out this route I found.

It was a bit of a dissappointment. Might be quieter on a Saturday morning, but still way too many streets and cars for my liking. I also knew there was a unsafe stretch that I doubt I would ride without a large crowd or a big strong man.

I ended up making it about half way and called dh to pick me up. I just didn't want to ride back.

Left me dissapointed, but I will get over it. I think I will stick close to home. I may not be able to pleasantly ride to downtown, or even to any stores, but all we have is wide open space by our house. NExt time, we will just enjoy that.

I realized just how much I hate city bike riding. I also extra appreciate the fact that we have some insane long bike trial in our area.

We may have to drive up to the bike trail, and ride it to downtown, but that will have to be our comromise! IT is a ride I want to do soon.

My favorite ride is about 25 miles away by car. (It's the end of a bike trail which extends well east and west of our home. The trail is a 3-mile drive from our home, I suppose - though a little less crowded and safe in our vicinity - why we go to the safe/beautiful end).

But yes, we may try some other parts of the trail, as well. I want to explore closer to home, this year.