A good laugh

If you need a good laugh, check this out. I laughed until the tears ran down my face and made my neck itch. My stomach was on fire from laughing. I had to take breaks to laugh and then go back to reading it. It's by far the best complaint letter I have ever read.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/blog/editors_corner/article/11975/
(cut and paste)
Thanks for Reading,
SonyaAnn

Mr. Clean Magic Freebie

I love Freebies!

http://mrclean.com/en_US/sharethelove/freesignup.do
(cut and paste)

Thanks for reading,
SonyaAnn

Valentines Day Decorations

I love Valentine's Day only because it doesn't involve a lot of work. I put out my one decoration that my sister made and that's it. Did you ever notice the things that we keep and cherish are usually the things that have very little monetary value? I'm not trying to insult my sister, for the love of God, that is not a high priority on my list. But I know that she didn't spent much on it but every year I put it out and think about how much I appreciate it.
And if you look at the place mat it's sitting on, it was a dollar from the dollar store. And I bet that your asking why it's there. Well it lives on the table, in that very spot. Usually I have a plate of fruit on top or some other kind of decoration. And I bet you would like to know why it lives there. Well it is covering up a burn mark from a skillet. Miss Anna wanted to learn how to make grilled cheese a very long time ago. So I was helping her and when I went to load the dishwasher she set the skillet on the table. You have got to love kids. I figure one day I will refinish it but all the little dents and dings have a story that I'm not ready to let go of yet.
Thanks for reading,
SonyaAnn

Posted by SonyaAnn at 6:00 AM 1 comments

More Freebies!!!

Free dog food sample.

http://switchtonutrish.com/
(cut and paste)

Thanks for Reading,
SonyaAnn

Finding an agent part 2

I finally had to spam that one agent. She went psycho on me. She just kept sending me hate mail. So the good news is I'm completely over it. It was just one of those things that I had to chew on for a while. I've accepted that I'm not a professional writer but I knew that. And I've accepted that mean people suck. So I'm very lucky to have my family and they helped bring me back. My mother-in-law said that I should be happy that I found out so quickly what a nut job she was. And could only imagine what she would do if she was your agent. Den said she tore down the publishing company not me so it doesn't count. DJ listened to my whole very animated story and said she's not needed and you can prove it. And Anna said name the next character that's going to be killed after her. Anna is turning into an evil genius. I laughed really hard at that one and I have to admit I did write her name down. I may or may not use it but it's still really funny. Anna said that she needs a frontal lobotomy in my book. Gotta love kids.
SO I guess the lessons that I'm going to take from this is, it's not a very nice world out there in the land of agents. I'm not going to expect much from them. I'm going to reach out to a few more agents and then give up on them. I'm going to continue writing my books and my blog and the hell with them. I don't think it's going to work out for me though, I'm not an aggressive or mean spirited person. I try never to say anything that would hurt anyone's feelings. EVER! Obviously being kind isn't going to work in the world of agents but I couldn't sleep at night if I hurt someone's feelings.
Thanks for letting me vent,
SonyaAnn

More Free Stuff

Free Diet Dr. Pepper!

http://www.freedietdrpepper.com/
(cut and paste)

Thanks for reading,
SonyaAnn

Finding an agent

Alright,I'm on the verge of tears. Well I'm actually crying, now. I really don't know what I've done. And I'm not stupid, it may just be an easily bruised ego. I don't know what to call it. I've been looking for an agent and all they do is attack me. And I'm not talking about a slight suggestion here or there, I'm talking about down right mean. And they haven't even read anything that I've written. I love to write, with all my heart, but I don't know anymore. They keep attacking my book for being published with a smaller company and that I'm being scammed. But I really don't know how it's a scam if they are paying me, gave me free copies and are in good standing with the better business bureau. My publishing company was founded by 2 authors that felt that the process of getting a book published was flawed and they could do better. They don't deal with agents just the author. They edited my book and paid a professional artist for the cover. They have been true to their word with me. I knew that I would have to be involved with marketing from the beginning. If the top publishing companies in the country had published my book, I would be in the same boat. They do pay for advertising but only for their top authors, the rest are on their own just as I am.
Den said that the agents are pissy because I got it published without them. He said I cut out the middle man and proved they aren't necessary. And if all the authors did that, the agents wouldn't have jobs. I just don't understand how my work can be attacked if they haven't even read it. I knew when I signed with them that I wouldn't sell a lot. And that I needed to be involved with helping to get it out there and that I would have to pay my dues. I went into this with open eyes. Writers are known for being poor, I knew all of this and I'm fitting in quite nicely. But I actually have an agent send me email after email about what a fool I am. She is bordering on stalking. I know I'm not a professional writer, I knew this when I sent it out. But I don't know why it's such a problem that I got my book published without an agent. Am I going to be rich and famous? NO! But it seems that she just wants to take it away from me. I've never encountered someone like this before and I've encountered some hateful people but this one acts like she wants to set me on fire! I'm just proud that I'm able to hold something that I've written in my hands. Maybe I should stop looking for an agent, I don't think my nerves can handle anymore. She said that anyone can get a book published with my publishing company, I'm not special. People that publish with them have no options and no patience. Getting a book published properly takes years if not a life time so I have nothing to offer her. I really don't know what to do about this.
I'm not going to stop writing but I think I'm just going to keep it to myself. My husband's aunt wrote a book of short stories and had it published in a similar way and then got a job offer from a magazine. So good things can come of this, I just need to remember this.
Thanks for reading, I'm going to crawl off and lick my wounds,
SonyaAnn

Yeah Free Stuff

Free whitening strips from Walmart! You gotta love free. And Walmart is always good about sending the samples.

http://instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid65100.aspx
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Thanks for Reading,
SonyaAnn

Posted by SonyaAnn at 10:31 AM 2 comments

Get 6 free Valentine's Day cards!!!!

Get 6 free Valentine's Day cards!!!! Just type in valentine when you check out. Expires Feb. 1st.

http://stories.scrapbooksetc.com/landings/valentine0209.php
(sorry you will have to cut and paste)
I love freebies!
Thanks for reading,
SonyaAnn

Our friends

Friends of ours from England just had their hours cut from 5 days to 4. They moved here because of a job offer and they both work for the same company. They wanted their kids to have more opportunities than they had in England. And they were also told that in 6 months the company may end up closing. How scary! I asked if they were going to go back and they said no. But that got me thinking, could we stand to lose 10 hours a week. Now I'm not even going to speculate on how much they are making or the point that they both lost 8 hours just if we could make it.
Den brings in $2769 a month and I get $370. So Den would end up with $2067, if he didn't change his with holdings. Please bare in mind this is just a what if. So we would have $2437 a month. Our bills as they stand right now are $2728. So we would be about $290 short. Here is the list again(can you tell that I'm an A personality)
1296.00 House payment(bi-weekly) so we save $324 a week
122.00 Car Insurance
183.00 Nicor and Comed
25.00 Home phone
135.00 2nd mortgage with a little extra
280.00 gas for all three cars
38.00 satelite
480.00 groceries for the month 120.00 a week
75.00 Den smokes
70.00 garbage and water
24.00 synthroid and iron pills for me
2728.00 total
Right now the the gas for the cars is high and he would drop the amount that is spent on gas for him by 25%. I think that I could get $75 from that category. I would drop the home phone and the satelite and that would save $63. And I would try to shave $100 off of the food bill. So that puts me at $238. And there is no way that I'm going to get Den to quit smoking, I've tried. I would hate to stop making extra payments to the house but that would save me almost $100. SO we could do it but there would be no wiggle room at all. But at least its doable, scary but doable.
Thanks for Reading,
SonyaAnn

It's Cold!!

We live in a tri-level and this is the light switch and outlet cover from our downstairs game room. It's on an outside wall. We also had frost in our upstairs bedroom on the wall. The game room is right below our bedroom. And before you think that I have the heat turned down so low that it's freezing everything in the house let me just say I'm not that cheap. It was just so cold outside that all the windows has ice on the inside. We have really crappy windows. We put plastic up on them so that helped keep the cold out a little. While the furnace is only 7 years old, it just couldn't keep up. We ended up having to run a portable heater in that room for a while. This picture is about 10 days old and we have warmed up to about 30 degrees. It's like a tropical heat wave now compared to the 30 below with the wind chill.
Thanks for reading,
SonyaAnn
Posted by Sonya Ann at 12:04 PM 1 comments

DJ's 13th birthday party

Before you think that we go over board for the kids birthdays just let me explain. We kind of do. For Anna's 13th birthday we rented 2 hotel rooms at a local hotel with an indoor swimming pool. She had 6 girls spend the night and they spent the evening swimming. We ordered pizzas and they watched movies. She still talks about it so I think that it was a winner.
Now it's DJ's turn. Well things have changed around here. We now have an indoor water park and hotel about 20 minutes from here. But it's a little childish and small and very, very expensive. So we are looking to go to the Dells for one night. He will only get to bring one friend but he is alright with that. I think that we are going to go to the Rome hotel. I can get a room for about $129. This isn't the nicest waterpark in WI but it is the most reasonably priced and it has an indoor theme park that's included.
I think that I'm also going to take them out of school too. It won't be crowded and they will just about get the water park to themselves. They are both on the honor role but they did miss quite a bit because of both funerals. I already asked DJ's friend's mom and she said it was fine if her son missed school. I'm really leaning towards taking them out of school but I'll see.
I'm trying to keep the cost of this at $250. I know it's alot to spend on a party. But I did it for Anna and I have to be fair to DJ. The good news is (drum roll please) it's all free money. I'm going to use the points that I've saved up from our credit card to pay for it. I know that I should put it towards bills but he is only 13 once. And we really do need a break. The last time we were in the Dells my dad died. We all just feel we need a break and I think a day off work for Den and missing a day of school is just what we need. I'm really looking forward to it.
Thanks for Reading,
SonyaAnn

Trying a new rule?

Alright I'm trying to get everyone on board for a new rule. I'm trying to keep clutter at a minimum, so I made up the 5 year rule. I don't want anyone to bring anything into the house unless they love it enough to keep it for 5 years. I'm pretty sure this won't work but I would at least like them to think about their purchases. I'm tired of them wasting money and having to dejunk. I hate all the little crappies that get brought into the house. It was so lovingly pointed out to me that they didn't think that their underwear would last for 5 years and that clothes need to be replaced. (I live with comedians.) Yes there are some exceptions to the rules like UNDERWEAR and other things that wear out or break. But maybe this will help cut down on junk. It's not that we go to the malls or shopping very often but I'm just looking around and wanting to cut back. I know that this is just because we brought more stuff in the house because of the holidays and the kids birthdays are upon us. I'm just a little sick of STUFF.
I guess I'm just itching to start spring cleaning. I know I have issues. But I'm not going to start until after both the kids birthdays are over.
Thanks for Reading,
SonyaAnn

Dissipate Cover

OK first I know this is a crappy picture but I couldn't upload it. I think it was too much. So I ended up taking a picture of the screen. I know not very high tech but it was all I could think of.
So anyways this is the cover to my book. And I just got the links, Holy crap, I'm on Amazon and Barnes and Noble!!!

http://www.amazon.com/Dissipate-SonyaAnn-Mott/dp/1608132099/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231886292&sr=1-4

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Dissipate/Sonyaann-Mott/e/9781608132096/?itm=2

Thanks for Reading,
SonyaAnn

Posted by Sonya Ann at 7:00 AM 2 comments

Just not in the money mood

I think I'm all burned out on the frugal diet. I know I'm not supposed to say it but I'm really not feeling the frugal movement at the moment. Maybe because I feel like I'm losing the battle with my husband. He just sees it as me restricting him. And I know that this is how it is in most marriages but it gets old being the bad guy. We got ourselves here but I feel like I'm the only one getting it. I know that he goes to work every day and I get to stay home with the kids and write. I'm very grateful for the gift that he has given me just sometimes I wish he could be more frugal. I think all the pressure falls to the one holding the checkbook. I guess all I can do is keep writing and find a way to get back into the frugal mood.
Thanks for reading,
SonyaAnn

Posted by Sonya Ann at 7:00 AM 2 comments

Not saving as much

Well I was really hoping to be farther along in saving for all the funds. It's not going as smoothly as I had hoped. I ended up taking Christmas money and making another payment to the credit card for the computer. So the good news is we didn't get stuck with any interest charges. But then that's $560 that didn't get put towards any bills for 2009. And then there was the Dennis problem. He didn't think that it was fair that I got a new computer and he had to pay bills with his Christmas money. I tried to explain that I need the computer and that the kids use it for their homework but I didn't get anywhere. So he kept his money. Sometimes I really wonder why I try so hard. I know that it's not fair that I got something and he didn't but he doesn't realize that it's our bills. I think he sees them as my bills.
I'm really just fed up with the struggle.
Thanks for reading,
SonyaAnn

Just a thought

I know I shouldn't say anything about articles that other writers have written but this is really starting to bother me. I just love when they say something along the lines of "pay off $20,000 of debt in two years." Really? Here's the problem with that, in order to pay off that kind of debt load in two years, you not only need to make the monthly minimum payment but tack on an extra $833.33 a month. Step back into the real world. We have other things to pay for like the mortgage, food and children. It really can't be done unless you move into a cheaper place to live and good luck selling your house. You could always stop eating or find a way to get someone else to cover the costs of your children. It just doesn't work. I believe you need to find a solution to the problem from where your standing right now. First stabilize your situation. There is no way you can dig out if your not even on solid financial ground. Find a way to pay all of your bills without using credit cards. Cut back so you have some wiggle room and then throw the few extra dollars you have at the bills. You really have to work with what you have at the moment. Sorry but this is really starting to chap my @$$. Sure get a second job and have no time for your children. Better yet, let them raise themselves and see what you get. Maybe it's better to be realistic about getting out of debt. You are never going to succeed if it isn't a workable plan. Sorry just needed to be difficult and argumentative.
Thanks for Reading,
SonyaAnn

Finalized my 2009 budget

I know I am a little anal retentive when it comes to our budget but I can't stand when anything is left undone. So here it is....
Car Fund $800
Pool Fund $125
Flowers & Garden $125
School Registrations $325
Vet Fund $200
School supplies $100
School picture $200
Christmas $1100
Trip in Oct to FL $2500
Dr, ER & dentist $350
Computer $100
Glasses and contacts $1000
Car stickers $240
WI fee $65
Bdays $500
All other holidays $350
2nd mortgage fee $90
Tax Prep. $25
Clothes $100
Haircuts $100
4th July fund $75
Thanksgiving $125
For $8595.00
So I can come within a few hundred dollars of this on paper now. Of course this doesn't figure in any major catastrophes but this is the best I can do. I'm really going to squeeze these funds for all they are worth. I just hope we don't have the problems like we did last year.
Thanks for Reading,
SonyaAnn

Our weekly/monthly budget

Here is a break down of our monthly bills
1296.00 House payment(bi-weekly) so we save $324 a week
122.00 Car Insurance
183.00 Nicor and Comed
25.00 Home phone
135.00 2nd mortgage with a little extra
280.00 gas for all three cars
38.00 satelite
480.00 groceries for the month 120.00 a week
75.00 Den smokes
70.00 garbage and water
24.00 synthroid and iron pills for me

2728.00 total
This is how I use Den's checks every week. It's a pretty easy system. I just look at which Friday it is and save from there.
Week 1 -$324 house, $217 food,gas & cig, $122 car insurance=$663 (Den's check is $663, dental insurance week)
Week 2- $324 house, $219 food, gas &cig, $135 2nd mortgage, $24 my pills=$702 (Den's check is $702)
Week 3- $324 house, $203 food, gas & cig, $105 Nicor, $70 garbage & water=$702(Den's check is $702)
Week 4- $324 house, $217 food, gas & cig, $78 Com Ed, $25 phone, $38 Satellite=$682(Den's check is $702)

So before you tell me that all my numbers don't jive, I know. I just make sure that I pull the $324 for the house out first and then the money for the other bills like phone and satellite. Then whats left goes into the food fund or to pay for cigarettes or gas. So now that gas prices are down I have even more wiggle room. So I'm going to see if I can't find an extra $10-$20 a week to save or put toward bills. I just don't want to readjust my budget for the lower cost of gas because I don't believe that it will stay this low. If you have any ideas just let me know.
Thanks for Reading,
SonyaAnn