Well, this is turning out to be a crazy week.

I actually got picked for a focus group (well, my son did). As I answered the questions, I knew I wouldn't qualify, as usual.

I am a little peeved because they said they had slots W & Th. I thought they meant a one hour focus group or something. But then they tell me it is W & Th, both, after I agree. Ugh. Of course, more infuriating, is dh answered the phone when they called, and asked if he could do the focus group with his son. No, just the mom! The funny thing is I usually don't qualify because I don't do any household shopping for the most part. Which is fine, since dh has more time for these things. BUT, in this case, they clearly assumed moms do all the shopping. They didn't even ask. Which I am sure would disqualify me immediately.

They also asked a lot of questions about organic stuff, which I could care less about. It's not that I don't see any merits in organic food, but I just am not willing to pay a small fortune just because something is labeled organic. & I guess I don't care enough to look into it further. So, when they start asking all those questions, I figured I was out.

But, by some miracle I am in, and it pays $100. In the grand scheme of things, easy money. I can meet dh downtown with the kid, right after work, so it shouldn't be too bad. I don't have time to come home and pick him up and everything.

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This is the most expensive vacation we have probably every paid for. Grand total? $1600.

Airfare was $1100 of that, so about $500 otherwise. Even our Disney trip wasn't quite that expensive - but we didn't have to pay for airfare. (We tend to drive).

& I know my MIL is peeved because she always offer to pay for our trips to get us to go places we don't have the means or time to go, otherwise. So, I could tell she was rather put off that we went on this trip. (Truth is, my mom gave me $600 to cover some airfare, which puts us right at $1k out of pocket).

Airfare $1100
Hotel $150
Rental car $150
rental car seat $50
Food/Misc. $100
Airport parking/Gas $50

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We ended up rather spoiled on the food front. My Grandma treated us to 2 lunches, and dh's recently divorced friend treated us to one dinner. Dh was not happy with this as we had agreed beforehand that obviously we would treat as there were 4 of us. He simply said, "This is a lot cheaper than dating."

So, that was unexpected.

Reminds me, dh's friend also told us about his recent $400 trip to Cabo, or something. In the lap of luxury. We both sighed. Those were the days. I traveled all over the country on pennies, when it was just me.

So that means we only really paid for 3 meals, and some breakfast food. I guess it adds up fast. We also bought my Grandma a few things. In return, she gave the kids $5/each for their piggy banks. I think that works out well.

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My Grandma's new place in an assisted living facility, is divine. Just gorgeous. They had a little park right out behind the place, where the kids spent a lot of time.

I think with more assistance, the place costs something like $5k/month. OF course, she has since been way downgraded. I don't know what she is paying now. BUT, dh's Grandma pays $3k/month to live in a very crappy place. It's okay, but maybe one star compared to this 5 star place. The only reason being that dh's Grandma wants to be by her family, and they live in one of the most expensive cities in the world. This place was completely night and day. It had much more older and more helpless people, that is for sure. The lunch we had there was kind of funny - it is all gourmet menu. I kept telling her not to worry - that the kids will eat anything. Then they served lamb with mint jelly. LOL. The other residents told us the food is always weird. I had just assumed it would be more buffet like anywhere else I had been.

I know my Grandma has had a tough time of it, and was very weak. But, for the most part, she refused any help, was of very sound mind, and was pretty intent on getting up and moving around. So, I think she is doing well.

Of course, there is money/family drama. Another post for another day.

Actually, we were extremely helpful, and so was a nice and a productive trip. We helped with a few little things and a run to the store, etc. I also believe I was instrumental in help solving some of the money/family problems. I had suggested she talk to her CPA, because we help some of our elderly clients with paying the bills and such. She is very close with her CPA, and in the end, he offered to help her for free. She just figured he was too busy, and hasn't been great about asking for help. I told dh that obviously he didn't know the situation or would step in. I told her that we help our clients all the time and would be worth checking with him. I'd offer to help, but having her bills paid in California didn't make much sense, and I think it was good to get a 3rd party involved. So, will see how that works out.

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I almost forgot. Dh spent about 2 hours getting some family history and some of her stories, on tape. Priceless!

He does plan to spend a good chunk of the next year getting our own home videos edited down, and working on our parents' life videos. He got his grandfather on tape in Florida, and I should encourage him to get his local Grandma on tape, sooner rather than later. The rest are long gone... The sad thing is most of their friends and relatives are gone, too. So, dh has been motivated to work on our parents' videos, while he has a lot more to work with.