The Royal Courtship: How We Meet & More

Cheryl commented on my engagement announcement, asking,

Congrats!
Where did you meet her?
What does she do?
How long were you dating?
How about a picture?
Inquiring minds want to know!

So I guess, I should tell the story of our "Royal Courtship."


Where did we meet?

As many of you know I am the assistant manager in a local grocery store. I had seen this cute lady several times and on numerous occasions had talked with her about many things. Fast forward to Labor Day weekend 2008. She came in to shop like every other weekend, and she needed buns on the top shelf. She seen me and told me, "I need some buns up there on the top shelf." For some reason, I didn't just grab them for her. Instead, I mad a funny comment, that became the first of a number of weekly flirts back and forth. I asked her if she wanted me to lift her up, so she could reach them. Smiling (really big) she just looks up at me and says, "noooooo."

Fast forward again, it was now June of this year. I had won tickets to the movie, Land of the Lost. I decided to heck with, my self-imposed order of not asking customers out and was going to go for it. Wouldn't you, that was the day that she came in to shop and we totally missed each other. Neither of us seen the other. So when she got back home, she called the store and asked for me. Asking me, if I wanted her number or not. Since then we have been together like glue.

I guess that answered several of the other questions that Cheryl asked. As for what she does. She is currently unemployed and is looking for a new job. We both hope that it will be a short process. A picture will be forthcoming, in the near future. As for the honeymoon plans, my thoughts is going to New York (her 1st trip, my 2nd) but I still have to get her thoughts about that.


Wedding Plans
We have not set a wedding date, but have began to actively save every penny we can to pay for the wedding. From the from the Tux and dress, to the small wedding itself, to the reception and caterer. In fact just like Dollars For a Wedding and Wedding on a Penny, we have set up a paypal account for those who wish to contribute a few pennies (or dollars) to the wedding savings.

Current Weddings Savings: $0

Julie Cook has volunteered her Photography services as her wedding present to us.

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Royal Engagement

This past Saturday was the big day. The day I asked my girlfriend to marry me. Here is how it went down.

After work, I slipped out of the work clothes and quickly went to her place (in my Jeans & t-shirt) to pick her up for the big night. We started by having dinner at Speck's Bar and Grill, a Topeka landmark for many years. After dinner, we headed to the Topeka Roadrunners Hockey game. Half way through the third period, during what they call the media time-out (when the radio station broadcasting the game goes to commercial break), the announcer came over under the guise that I was going to be a contestant on their trivia contest. When the appointed time came, the announcer announced that it was time for Roadrunner Trivia.

"We don't have a question though," he said, "but we think Kevin might." Handing me me mic i got down on one knee as best as I could and asked Pat, if she would marry me. As I opened the box containing the ring. (The question was also displayed on the message board, which most of the crowd could see, though it wasn't visable to our section).

Her reaction was one of surprise and shock. After, what seemed like an eternity, the announcer took the mic back and announced that she was in a little bit of shock. Then asked her if we had an answer. At which point she replied into the microphone a strong and happy, Yes."

After which several fans, who we didn't know came up and congratulated us. In addition, her best friend happened to be in the stands and came over to hug and congratulate us both.

Even as we left, with the Runners having won 8-2, people were still congratulating us. It was most certainly the happiest day of my life. I look forward to introducing the future Princess of Thrift in the near future.



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Get An Easy 150 Free American Airlines Miles

Hey, I just found this link to get an easy 150 American (AA) frequent flier miles. Do use American Airlines? You can get 150 free frequent flier miles from American Airlines just by watching a two-minute video for Bose headphones.

This is great way to reset the expiration date of miles if you don’t fly frequently. Currently, AA miles expire after 18 months of non-activity. So any way you can create activity is great, because it will extend the life of those miles. Not to mention, you will be that much closer to a free flight, by building your mileage balance (for free this time).

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My Dream Trip: Presidential Library & Museum Tour

I wrote most of this about a year ago, although, it wasn't complete. So Once again, here is the updated post, that I originally wrote in July 2008.

One of my goals is to visit every Presidential Library and Museum. Since, not every President has one, it's really not that hard of a goal to meet. There are only 12, unless you count the duplicates. Nixon and Ford have two locations, so if you count both of those then there are 14. Fords 2 are the only ones that are in the same state. Nixon, has one in Maryland and one in California. Of course there are also other museums that include Presidential homes that aren't part of the Presidential Library and Museum System. Such Museums includes George Washington's home and also Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello.

So far, the Presidential places I have visited:

Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, Atlanta, GA

Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Abilene, KS

Ronald Reagan Birthplace, Tampico, IL

There is also the Ronald Reagan boyhood home, in Dixon, IL. OK, so now the list of the remaining Presidential Libraries (& Museums) and Presidential attractions that are on my list to visit eventually. One of which is only about 75 miles from me.

1. Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, Simi Valley, CA
   
2. Richard Nixon Presidential Museum, Yorba Linda, CA
   
3. Lyndon B. Johnson Library, Austin, TX
   
4. George Bush Library, College Station, TX
   
5. Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Museum
   
6. Harry S. Truman Library, Independence, MO
   
7. William J Clinton Library, Little Rock, AR
   
8. Herbert Hoover Library, West Branch, IA
   
9. Gerald Ford Library, Ann Arbor, MI
   
10. Gerald Ford Museum, Grand Rapids, MI
    
11. Richard Nixon Library, College Park, MD
    
12. Franklin D, Roosevelt Presidential Center, Hyde Park, NY
    
13. John F. Kennedy Presidential Center, Boston, MA
14. George H. W. Bush Presidential Center, College Station, TX
15. Bill Clinton Presidential Center, Little Rock, AR
16. George W. Bush Presidential Center, Dallas, TX

In addition, I would love to get to these other locations that aren't part of the National Archives.

Ronald Reagan boyhood home, Dixon, IL

Thomas Jefferson's Montecillo, Charlottesville, VA

George Washngton's home/plantation (Mount Vernon), Mount Vernon, Virginia


Of course, I don't know how I would fund such a trip. Still it is my dream. I certainly want to get back to New York, in the near future, and during that trip visit the FDR museum. Perhaps in the near future, I can make it up the road (70 miles) to the Truman Museum for the first time in my life.
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Irwin Kellner: Diet COLA for Social Security recipients - MarketWatch

Last night, I was checking my Sharebuilder account, when I came across the following article that concerns not just the seniors who are currently retired, but also those of us who hope to retire at some point in the future.

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. (MarketWatch) -- For the first time in a generation, Social Security recipients will not get a cost-of-living increase in their monthly checks -- not next year nor the year after.

As you can imagine, this is bad news for the millions of retirees who depend on their Social Security checks for their main source of income.

Most seniors are struggling to maintain their standard of living in the face of soaring health care costs combined with the drop in the stock market, which has decimated their retirement accounts, and the record low interest rates they get on whatever savings they might have left.

Because of the confluence of these factors, seniors had been especially looking forward to next year's cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to help them cope. Now they will have to figure out how to live on less.

The government has been adjusting their monthly checks for 35 years to ensure that seniors don't wind up eating dog food -- as many were forced to do in the high-inflation years of the 1970s, when Social Security monthly payments were fixed.

But after receiving an increase each year since 1975 to compensate for the rise in the cost of living, seniors won't get a raise in 2010 or in 2011 because the trustees who oversee Social Security are projecting declines in the consumer price index (CPI) -- the basis for these cost-of-living adjustments.

What is more, some seniors in the Medicare prescription drug program will actually see their monthly payments decline because the premiums are scheduled to rise.

In today's low-inflation environment, some might see this as much ado about nothing. After all, seniors did get a one-time payment of $250 last spring. And this year's decline in consumer prices combined with last year's 6% COLA adjustment for 2009 gave many seniors' buying power a lift.

But the issue is more than what happens over the course of this year or next. It has to do with the way seniors' cost of living is calculated.

Understand that the CPI does not measure everyone's cost of living -- especially that of seniors. Their cost of living is mostly affected by what they spend the most money on: food and health care, such as insurance, doctors, prescription drugs, hospitals and nursing homes.

These costs are rising rapidly, as has been pointed out time and again in the intense debate over health care reform. For example, while the CPI may be down, year-over-year, medical costs are actually up by more than 3%.

Indeed, health care costs are one of the few items in the consumer's market basket that did not dip for even one month during the recession. Local taxes are up as well.

Those items that are pulling the CPI down -- lower prices of cars, homes and energy -- don't affect seniors all that much. The same can be said for computers, cell phones and personal digital assistants.

If the government is serious about protecting seniors' buying power, it will base its adjustments on increases in their actual cost of living.

This way seniors will get the real thing -- not a diet COLA.

- Irwin Kellner: 'Diet COLA' for Social Security recipients - MarketWatch

Posted using ShareThis

So why does it affect everyone. Put simply, we all must realize that we cannot depend on social security, we must plan and invest wisely to build a strong savings for retirement. Further, I think when I retire, if not at a point before, I would move all my "risky" investments to more secure investments, to protect myself from another possible collapse in the market after I quit working.

Updated Financial Figures

I finally updated the financial figures posted in the right sidebar. At the same time, I updated my progress at the No Credit Needed Network and Net Worth IQ.

Beginning Balance: $19,591.80
Current Balance: $4,581.85
Credit Card: $0 (paid off $1,000)
Home Improv.: $0 (Paid Off $5,000)
Car Balance: $2,987.88
Chase Bank (Balance Transfer): $1,593.97
Finger Hut: $0 (Transferred)
Attic Insulation: $0 (paid off $500)
Paid Off: $15,009.15
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Car Repair

For the better part of the last 2-3 years, my check engine light has been coming on intermittently. Now, it is becoming more and more steady. Which means it is becoming easier to get it diagnosed. The problem in the past, when I would get the car in to have it checked, the light would go out, translating into them not being able to get a reading.

Today, I took it by Advanced Auto and got it hooked up to the hand held computer for free. Once I got the diagnoses, I was able to start calling around to get prices. One place wanted to charge me over $200 plus tax to replace the front oxygen sensor. Another place, said they needed to know what type of engine my car had and then hung up on me before I could respond. Finally, I called the Chevrolet dealer and they told me it would be $125 plus tax. So that is where I am heading.


****update: When I arrived, the same person who gave me the quote made the call to get the price for the part and there was about a $50 difference between the price the computer gave him and what the parts place told him. That means the repair is now $175 plus tax at the dealer. I will have to wait until next Wednesday to have the cash to get the repair. Oh well so be it. Still I will get it done. It's just that I am about $40 short at the moment. *****

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