Just a 46-year-old mom of 2 in Northern California. My kids are Monkey Monkey(MM) and Drama Llama (DL). I am married to Monkey Hubby (MH). A wee bit stressed.
Work is crazy, plain and simple. I hate that this time of year is so busy.
The kicker is that I hurt my knee. I am bummed because exercise is my stress reliever. I was also making some weight loss progress. (I refuse to diet - I rely on the exercise! 
)
That said, since I have surgery coming up, I feel kind of eh about it. I would have to gear up after the surgery and would lose a lot of this muscle I am sure. So, I feel like, eh, might as well be a lazy blob.
On the flip side, I will go to the gym and try the treadmill/elliptical. It might be okay. Unfortunately, aerobics is out. 
BUT, I don't go much during Jan - April anyway. So now is a good of time as any.
I am officially taking it easy. If it doesn't improve in a few weeks, will see a doctor of course. (Gah - so sick of doctors!)
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Reminds me, we were so stupid to sign up for the gym under dh's name. I work out rain or shine no matter what. Always have. Dh is not so consistent.
In the end, he hasn't gone in over a year. He was bothering me to buy something recently, and I told him to drop his dang gym membership. (All year - or2? - he's been telling me he will get back into it with the kids in school). I think they will make us re-sign up, but will hold my breath we can just change it to my name. If we start over, we lose the unlimited daycare and everything. But saving $10/month, for eternity, is a good idea I think. With the New YEars' specials, I may get $9/month if we pay more up front. That would save $20/month, and probably worth whatever the cost. HEck, maybe it would be better to switch over. I don't rely on their daycare much at the moment, so will work through it. Can still pay by the hour if I do need it.
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Chores this weekend:
*Renew my CPA license
*Choose Asset Allocations for new retirement money, and rebalance portfolio
*Tax planning for my dad (He worked pare of the year, not much, had disability and unemployment, and wants to convert some money to a ROTH).
Non-chores:
It's nothing but rain rain rain rain here. I read that it was a nina year (as opposed to el nino?). & that though there was TONS of rain and snow (in the mountains) that 90% of our rainfall would come by the end of this month.
Boy, they meant it. I am over the rain!
Weather is wishy washy as usual. Don't think we used the heat much this month, but last few days it's been running non-stop. BRRRRRRRR!!!!!
Anyway, probably going to the Star Trek exhibit. Had been waiting for better weather (for the rest of the museum - a lot outside) but give up!
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So, the tax breaks passed, huh????
I am not thrilled as far as the long term financial outlook of our country (& social security, etc.). & let's face it. These tax breaks will have been in place for 12 years. The longer they stay the more painful it is to raise taxes.
But, for me personally, sure, it's good. Might as well enjoy. What else can we do?
I would say quite literally the Bush tax cuts have been key in letting my spouse not work for so many years. IT's been 8 years at this point.
2011 held some uncertainty for us, but now it's kind of like, "well, we got 2 more years."
Social security tax holiday? It would probably literally be enough to max out our ROTH with our current budget.
BUT, there is one thing financially I have wanted for a long time that I could just not justify. Piano lessons for the kids. They aren't getting any younger and my attempts to teach them have failed miserably (we just haven't made the commitment). Maybe if we pay a small fortune we can find that commitment.
After the year is up, either I can pick up where the teacher left off, or dh may be working anyway. If nothing else, we can re-evaluate the expense.
I just think it is super important for the kids to have a music foundation and learn how to read music while they are young. I have tried to teach too many adults in my life. It's pretty much impossible.
I will probably just save it up and look into the lessons in April or May. If I can find group lessons, I may be able to afford both kids. Will see...
ETA: I found $80-$100/month for private lessons. Kind of what I expected. I can afford one kid with the payroll tax holiday, and the other will be pushing it, but may be worth it just to start them both. I forgot to mention, I am also working on dh to drop cable - which could help us afford piano lessons for the long run.
STRESSED
December 18th, 2010 at 04:14 pm
December 18th, 2010 at 04:32 pm 1292689952
December 18th, 2010 at 04:43 pm 1292690607
The thing is I LOVE my bike, but it's too freaking cold outside.
I can't quite figure out what I did. It feels okay most of the time, but hurts like hell on occasion. The twists and turns of aerobics are definitely out though!
I am not surprised though, that the bike helps. My dad's knees are shot, that is why he rides bike (& got me into it). I will keep that in mind. I am holding out hope for the elliptical (which is usually my exercise of choice, indoors).
December 18th, 2010 at 10:38 pm 1292711888
December 19th, 2010 at 02:54 am 1292727266
December 19th, 2010 at 03:14 pm 1292771660
December 19th, 2010 at 04:40 pm 1292776832
BUT, I REALLY appreciate that I have the skill. (& that said, I would like to take lessons again, once the kids are a little older and I have more time).
I have the concern that the schools no longer teach music skills, and so feel more pressure to provide that for our kids. I also want them to have the basic foundations. What they do with that is up to them. I am not going to pay for music for 10 years if they are not interested.
December 19th, 2010 at 06:19 pm 1292782776
December 19th, 2010 at 06:29 pm 1292783389
I also took many years of piano lessons (6 in elementary, 2 in high-school, and 1 1/2 as an adult.) I can play one song by memory, and sort of pick out the notes on an easy (i.e. not too many flats or sharps) song. But .. I do think that having the skill of reading music is valuable, and your boys can always transfer those skills to other instruments if they decide to try something else.