Last Saturday of this month

This has not been a bad month but I feel like my brains have been on auto pilot or in a fog most of the time, especially with money and bills being paid.  It is a very good thing I pay them with a trackable means so I can go check if I did make that payment.

And my hard earned savings is taking a huge hit this coming week, or so I hope, this coming week.  The much needed/wanted  13.5x21.5 foot patio pour is finally getting to the top of my concrete concractor's schedule, He hopes to be framing up Monday.  So, $1989 for the job, part from the lot I sold in MO, the rest is savings, which I have because I work, and because I have automatic withdrawals into 2 savings accounts, every week, 1for long term and the other is usually referred to as 'slush funds'. 

So, the patio job will be paid for, and then I hope to slowly afford the materials for the landing, which I have yet to figure out on paper, and then I can take out the current back door, rip it down to the rough frame again, and take accurate measurements to order a correctly fitting new kitchen door.  And live with plywood and plastic over the opening from when I rip out the old door until the new one is installed.  But, hey, it will be great to go in and out, once done, and it will mean no more packing groceries and everything else around to the front porch.

The patio will get the glider that is currently on the bike patio, once the bags of mulch are off that, and in time, a picnic table or something like and a grill.  I also want 1 of those clay pot outdoor fireplace things, so I can burn up the twigs and small stuff like that.  And a small child's wading pool for Shadow to play in.

The old house progress here goes so very slowly most of the time, and if have not put the house first as often as I should have, but I am working to do more of that, less wasting money, more long term planning for what I want my life to evolve into, this house to turn into, goals once again, solid ones I can build to and reach.

I need to build my life, my way, and not just exist, day to day, or just 'go with the flow', but I am making some progress with that.  I feel like I am back tracking a huge amount when I see my savings balance drop so much, so fast, but then remind myself, it is a huge step in old house progress, and every week my savings gets money, it will grow again, and the 401K stuff keeps growing, the debt load keeps shrinking, next tax refund might pay off what is left of the mortgage by then.  Credit debt goes done slowly, but every month it is a bit less, so, stability is gained.

But I still wish I had won a terrific new grill for my patio instead of a huge new flat screen tv, which I will set up and enjoy after Jake moves out, he can help me finish up the shelf project and get the 55 inch tv out of the corner of a closet and onto the shelf before he leaves with the current living room tv.