It's All in the Name of Saving Some Pennies

So many things have been going on lately and so little time to post. But now, seeing as to how I have some VERY important things to do, I am putting them aside to post.

Mostly just because I don't feel like doing those things.

But a little can be attributed to the fact that I really just want to make a post.

But most is because I don't want to pack or bake another single brownie...we'll get there...eventually.

So last week I went to a two day conference for the gardening grant/project I am working on with my students at my school. It was in the big city of Austin...haha. A LOT of the other people at the conference were from out of town and would share what town they were from, I would come back with "well I'm from about five miles down that road right there!" (minus any country accent you may have read that in)

But all-in-all it was a good conference. It was inspiring and informative. And most of all, it was a much deserved vacation from everyday work that I needed. Sometimes you just need a break from work. Just to get a view of the world that exists outside of work, but during work. I never take a day off from work, if I can help it. The lady that works across the hall from me takes about one day a week off from work (granted she may be about to retire so has nothing to loose, but still). So I figured it was my overdue time to take a day, plus it was actually something towards the benefit of work and yet not towards my deduction of days.

Anytime I am gone I tell the sub to leave me a note telling me which class was the best. They are my "Angel Class" and they get an "Angel Class" award. I even told her she could leave two because I was going to be out for two days. The problem is, she left three.

I usually get my angel class cookies, cupcakes or popsicles. But with three classes, the price tag starts to add up on that. That's just a couple shy of 75 people to buy for!!! So a teacher friend of mine told me how she bakes her own brownies for her "Angel Class" and it only costs her a dollar per box!

Sounds great in theory. So I bought three boxes of brownie mix, sandwich baggies and some ribbon. Turns out I can only produce 16 brownies from each box using my 8x8 casserole dish. (Is this starting to sound like a math problem to you???)

So three boxes in, I'm committed now. Even though I don't want to see another brownie for the rest of my life. But two more boxes of brownies are needed. And then I can be done with this "Angel Class" business.

Except, I'm actually not. My Great-Aunt that lives in Ithaca, NY passed and I am taking half of tomorrow and all of the next day to travel there. I can guarantee you my classes are not getting brownies for their reward when I get back (and that I will be putting out more of an emphasis on ONE "angel class").

I am pretty excited about going to Ithaca. Most of my dad's side of the family lives there. I haven't been there in the winter time since I was a little kid (and there is a chance for snow while I am there). I also haven't been to Ithaca at all for eight years. I hate that a funeral has to be the reason for all of this, but sometimes that is just the only time you can find a good enough reason to go.

But I did decide that with only being there for two full days I was not going to give Continental the satisfaction of squeezing another $50 out of me. So I am going to attempt, for the first time, to carry-on my luggage. The whole 3-1-1 thing scares me a little. There is a point where you start to look at your stuff and go, "is this considered a liquid or a solid?" I would rather not bring my science teacher arguments out in front of airport security.

The other thing that scares me about packing for this trip is the fact that the highest it is supposed to be is 18 degrees. At one point the high is 5. I have a few things to wear to funerals, but I am just not sure any of them work for 5.

AND, once I figure out something to wear, I am a little worried as to whether it will actually fit into this small suitcase. I've filled up a large suitcase when going to the beach for the same amount of time (maybe I tend to over pack a bit, or a lot).

Well, anyhow, I've got more brownies to bake, shampoo bottles to convert to 3 ounce sizes and searching for outfits suitable for 5 degrees to do. So I really must go...