Feeling Like an Old Lady

Lately, I have been waking up feeling like an old lady. My back hurt so much I felt like I had slept on a log or wood plank or something. So the time had finally come to start considering looking at mattresses.

Shopping for a mattress is not an easy task. Laying on a mattress for 2 minutes in the store is not the same as sleeping on a mattress for about 8 hours a night for 8 to 10 years, approximately 1,401,600 minutes to 1,752,000. Obviously, 2 minutes does not compare. I started looking at the weekly ads and online for what I think I would want and need. And I got the Consumer Reports issue that discussed mattress and talked to some people about it. Let me tell you, that just created more ideas and confusion.

Finally, I started looking at memory foam, latex, and air camber beds. I figured it would be nice to get a bed that would last longer that then 7 to 10 years, that traditional mattresses are reported to last. I ruled out latex pretty quickly because from what I read on the internet, they are just starting to become popular in the US and can be harder to find. That left memory foam and air camber mattresses. I was really interested in trying memory foam, because I have a memory foam pillow and love it. But I was worried that the bed would be very different from the pillow. After trying it, it is much like a traditional mattress, different firmness and comfort levels. After finding the right comfort and firmness it was just like my pillow and felt great. I also tried the Sleep Number bed. I saw some great reviews of the product saying it was the best bed they have ever had, and some saying it felt like they were sleeping on a blow up air mattress. After trying it, I really liked it. I liked that is can be adjusted with the way you are feeling that day as well as over time. I also liked the fact that you can add more padding to go on top of the air chambers to make it feel like a more traditional bed.

Now came the decision. Both beds had a try at home guarantee. If you don't like the bed they will take it back. Both beds have a 20 year limited warranty. However, the prices varied dramatically, the memory foam bed I liked was about $3600 before taxes and delivery and haul away, and the sleep number bed was $1600 before taxes.

I will not keep you in suspense any longer. I decided to go with the Sleep Number bed.

The price was a big decision maker for me, and I love the fact that I can adjust the bed to my comfort level. I also figured if I was to add in the memory foam feeling, I can buy a decent topper and put that on the bed.

And I am happy to report that I no longer feel like I am an old lady when I wake up. No more back pain!! And for the record my sleep number is currently 40.

Organization: Part 1

When I got my new laptop, and I needed to install some of the software I had on my old laptop. This sounds much easier than it actually was. It meant time to go on a software search in the office. I try to keep all my computer stuff, (ie. hardware, software, cords, etc.) in totes to keep them organized. Well, it seems that only some stuff was in the organized totes, while other stuff was all over the place. That means it is organization time!!

The office and basement in my house seems to be the collect all areas, which is apparent from the pictures. When I clean the house the stuff that I no longer want to look at that is the main living area or master bedroom either goes in the office or the basement. I can always close the basement door and the basement is not completely visible from my living room. The really is no preference between basement and office, it is just based on size which is closer. So, that makes cleaning and organizing a bit confusing.

I decided to start with the office. When the office is packed full, I usually just close the door. Poof, I no longer need to look at it. This past week I decided I would start with the office and then I would do the basement. I decided I would do a little each night during the week. Some nights 10 minutes, some 30 minutes. By doing a little each night, it left the office a bit chaotic. As you can see, there is stuff everywhere. Shoes, boxes, paper, CDs, clothes, and so much more.

So it took some time to clean, and some of it went down to the basement, the other collect all place. But in the end I got the office clean, and the door can now stay open. There is still some stuff piled up, CDs, some paper work and some clothes. But I know what this stuff is, it is organized and I have plans for the stuff to be moved.

Now that the office is clean, that means it is time to move on to the basement. And that is not going to be nearly as fast or easy for me to complete.

It really does amaze me how stuff just piles up.

Step It Up!! (Part 2)

So, I said I was going to start stepping up my blogging again on Dec. 30th. Considering it is now March 12, and I have not blogged at all, I have not stepped it up at all. So, it is now time for part 2.
We all know it is the dreaded tax season. I know a lot of people recommend that you set up your with holdings so that you pretty much break even and do give the government a interest free loan. However, I like getting that nice extra payday this time of year. And in all honesty, with the current interest rates where they are and the amount of my return, I really would not have earned that much interest.

So with some of my tax return I decided to give myself a nice little present, a new Toshiba laptop.

This will be replacing my 2006 Dell laptop.

And the rest of my return will be going to savings and bills. Not nearly as exciting, but logical.

Step It Up!!

So, I have been completely slacking on the blog front and with the new year a day away I think it is time to get back into it again. I have been working on my 101 list some, but it almost seems like I have been reading more than trying to work on my list. So in addition to blogging about my 101 list I will also be including my thoughts on the books I have been reading.


Check out my list to see my progress.

I can't believe there is a blizzard, it is only October!

Winter has arrived in Denver. And about 2 months too soon. Granted we get snow in October. But 12 inches today and another 6 to 12 over night and 4 more through out the day tomorrow. It is a little early for that. And it is Denver not the mountains. But on a plus size my office closed early and hopefully it will be closed today. I think I am more excited about snow days as an adult than I ever was as a child. Then again maybe that is because my school district very rarely closed.

With my office closing early today I was able to take my pictures for the week. Can you guess what the are? Why, Snow of course! And I was able to complete task 12, and finish entering all of my books into my goodreads database.

Status Update

I have been busy trying to complete items on the list. Some items will take longer to complete, as I made them last over a year or the complete 1001 days. But I am making progress. Below are some of the tasks I have made my biggest progress on. Check out the list to see all of the updates and progress. I have only 99 tasks to go!!

3, 16 & 19 - I have started taking a picture each week and have posted those. Only 49 to go for this task to be completed. I have started compiling lists of quotes and will begin posting those with pictures. I have also done my first entry in my current events journal here.

12. I found an online book database, www.goodreads.com, that allows you to enter books online and allows you to create a book shelf. The thing I like about it is that I can create my own categories for my books and list them in multiple categories. It also allows me to keep track of all the books I have read, currently reading and want to read. I am about half way done with this task and plan to finish this weekend.

38. Today I added the United States holidays to my iPhone. That was one thing I was disappointed with this phone. I, however, found a blog that gives directions on how to do this. It is very simple to do. I just created a google calendar through my gmail account and added the US holidays to my calendar. Just follow the directions in the blog and any number of calendars from google can be added to the iPhone. This task is now completed!

Picture of the Week: BRRR!!!

"I Will Never Know Why..."

I started keeping a current event journal after 9/11/2009. I started it to mark and remember my feelings during certain events in my adult life. I have written about momentous event in American history like 9/11, the beginning of the Iraq war, the capture of Saddam, and the latest presidential election as well as events in history that have had an impact on me.

This month I decided to write about the "O" magazine article "I Will Never Know Why" by Susan Klebold. This is an article written by the mother of Dylan Klebold, who was one of the students who killed 12 other students, 1 teacher and injured 24 others at Columbine High School. I am sure many people will be drawn to the article as this was a momentous, tragic, and horrible event to all of America and the world. I, however, typically try to avoid the majority of articles and any TV shows related to Columbine, unless it is directly related to somebody I know. I almost always avoid the articles and shows recounting the events. (I don't really need the events told back to me.) I find that most articles or TV shows have so many inaccuracies about the school, the students and the events.

This article, however, was very well done. It was written by Susan Klebold and she told of the thoughts she had during that horrible day on April 20,1999, and the thoughts she had after. I can only imagine how difficult is was for her to write that article and tell the world about her son and the horrbile things she had to go through. I also commend her for not placing blame and being brave enough to step out and show the world her pain and remorse. I can only hope people can also understand the pain and horror these parents went through as well. Not only did they lose their children that day, their children caused the pain of thousands of other people.

Never Forgotten

Photos of the Week: Fall is Here

FOOD!

I have 2 food challenges that I have started. The first is making a cookbook of items I cook, #91, and the second is cooking new recipes for dinner, #88. The first item I made was homemade Stromboli. It is a very easy and quick meal and something I make quite a bit. This recipe will be going in my recipe book.

I use the Pillsbury pizza crust that comes in the tube, and lay it out flat on a cookie sheet. I used some rotisserie chicken I made earlier in the week, peperoni and spinach as my filling. I chopped the meat and spinach so everything was in bite size pieces and mixed everything together and set it aside. I then took some cream cheese and heated it up in the microwave and then spread it out on the pizza crust, then added my filling and layered mozzarella cheese on the top.

The next step is rolling the dough up around the filling. I then layer the top with some cheese and cook according to the directions on the package. It is a quick and easy recipe that tastes great and a recipe that can use any left overs in the fridge.

The second recipe I made was slow cooker mac & cheese. Find the directions here. It was an easy recipe and tasty. But then how can mac & cheese not be be tasty. I do prefer the baked mac & cheese recipe I typically make, but this was an easy and quick alternative.