Sabby Ann

SUMMARY: 
-Add shower (60″x32″) & toilet
-Add vanity with double sinks
-Convert existing half bath to closet for master bedroom
-Shift door to master bedroom to the south by ~3′
-Relocate door to existing bedroom (currently linen closet) 
-Combine hall closet with closet in office, turn into larger linen/coat closet
-Split existing bedroom closet into 2 separate closets (each ~4′ wide)

**NOTE:  Proposed utility area & kitchen not pictured. 

For as long as I can recall, I’ve desperately wanted a red F-150 pickup truck. So of course, when it came time to pick out my first new vehicle, I chose my dream truck. It was a 5.4L V8 F-150, with four-wheel drive and a few extras. And it was fabulous! My only complaints were the poor fuel economy (12 mpg), and the difficulty maneuvering (especially in tight crowded parking lots). But it was also a lease, and went bye-bye in June…

I started shopping for a replacement a few months beforehand, in April. At the time, gas prices were just beginning to spiral out of control, and I wasn’t comfortable with the idea of taking on a $650/mo car payment to keep the truck. I looked at trucks, SUV’s, minivans, and sedans. Foreign and domestic. Ultimately I decided on the Chevy Cobalt LT - it boasted an average fuel economy of 27 mpg, and a price tag of around $15k. I nixed the ABS (hey, it saved $800!) and instead splurged on remote start. I bought the extended 75,000 mile/5-year warranty, and then signed on the dotted line.

Well, that was late spring.
But it’s now winter. In Michigan.

My car & I are no longer getting along very well. I am infinitely glad that I have remote start, because my car is toasty warm when I get in every morning (no more driving down the road with an iced-over windshield, watching the wiper fluid freeze on contact as I’m waiting for it to defrost). But the car slips and slides on ice and snow, and I can’t seem to get any traction.

I have to ease on and off the gas when accelerating, because the car keeps slipping. The slightest gust of wind sends my car sliding across the lane, and I have to fight to keep it on the road. And I have to be careful when braking (although that hasn’t been as much of an issue, it just took me a few trips to get used to pumping the brakes instead of slamming ‘em and waiting for the ABS to kick in). The slipping & sliding is truly horrible though.

I’m hoping that I’ll be able to “fix” the problem by replacing the factory tires with a good pair of winter tires. TireRack has a few options; my current dilemma is whether to just buy new tires (and then have them mounted/un-mounted every year), or whether to also buy new wheels (so that I can just swap out the entire assembly at the beginning & end of each winter season, without having to get them mounted at the tire shop). The latter would be much easier, but would cost significantly more up front. Over the life of the vehicle, it would probably be about the same though (it runs ~$60 to get the tires swapped out, twice yearly). 

I’m going to have Hubby order a set of winter tires for my car, and then I’ll have them installed right after we get back from Key West. Hopefully that will fix my winter driving troubles, and I’ll be happy once more. 

But if it doesn’t, I’m not going to screw around with a car that handles poorly in the winter months. I have no problem whatsoever heading up to the Ford dealership and buying myself a new vehicle that can handle snow and ice. I absolutely loved that F-150, and wouldn’t hesitate to buy another (though 4×4 would be a necessity!). I also really like the Ford Escape, so that would be my other option.

After purchasing a smaller crochet hook and some finer thread, I decided to try my hand at another doily. Although I don’t usually like girly stuff, I wanted to make something a bit more delicate - the Cassiopeia doily. 

I used a size 10 (1.3mm) steel hook & Aunt Lydia’s size 10 crochet thread. 

 I had a few minor difficulties - I didn’t read through the directions completely, so I missed the notes at the bottom and had to redo a few stitches. 

The bigger problem was actually keeping the thread from curling. As I unraveled the skein, the thread kept twisting and curling around itself, so I kept having to stop and untwist it. I’m sure there’s a trick to it…

I’m sure I’ll make a few more doilies (heck, I bought enough thread to make several dozen!), but I don’t think any visitors to our house will find doilies on the coffee table anytime soon. Maybe once I get good at working with thread, I might try a lacy bedspread or tablecloth.

My mom taught me how to crochet several years ago, so I’ve long since mastered the “basic” stitches - single, double & treble, half double & half treble, chains, shells, popcorn. I’ve made several afghans, of varying colors and styles. 

My first few were, quite frankly, awful. I remember thinking that it would be neat to make a blanket that was big enough to cover a queen-size bed, but didn’t realize that it would take so much time, effort, and yarn…. so some of my early afghans are oddly proportioned (barely wide enough to cover an adult, but far too long!). Many of them aren’t quite even either - it took me quite awhile to learn how to “turn around” at the end of each row, so I was perpetually either adding or subtracting stitches (and of course, it never quite balanced out!). 

I’d love to tackle a more complicated afghan, but I already have several boxes of yarn and just can’t justify buying more until I deplete my stock… so instead I bought some crochet thread and decided to try making a doily (or is it doilie?). I’ve never crocheted with thread or string before, and the smallest crochet hook I have is a size D (3.25mm) - so I didn’t bother with trying to make anything intricate. 

The actual size is about 9″ square, so it’s large enough that I will be able to keep my alarm clock & iPhone on it. I use my jewelry armoire as a night-stand on my side of the bed, and I want to help protect it from potential scratches.

I’m not thrilled with how it turned out, but it’s not bad for a first shot. I think buying some smaller hooks will make a huge difference, and will make it possible to create a more delicate pattern.

Now if only I can find a way to keep the cat from attacking the thread…  ;)

I’m going back to school, to pursue a Masters in Business Administration. A few of my coworkers are currently working towards their business degrees, and I feel like I need to earn mine in order to remain competitive and to receive equal consideration for future advancement opportunities. 

Since I’m eligible for a significant tuition reduction at Oakland University, it doesn’t make sense for me to apply to any of the other MBA programs in the area (Michigan State, UMich, Univ. of Toledo, or Wayne State). Oakland is primarily a commuter campus, and they offer most classes in the evenings - so I’d be able to continue working full-time.

In order to be admitted, I need to complete some of the prerequisite courses, take the GMAT, & submit the application. I’ll be taking a basic accounting course from a nearby community college, starting in January, which will hopefully fulfill the prereq’s. It’s possible that they’ll make me take an economics course as well, but I’m hoping that they will accept the ones I took as an undergrad. 

The program itself is 48 credits, which includes several “core” classes. The website indicates that they will waive some of those if the student has sucessfully completed comparable undergrad classes, so it is possible to graduate with only 36 grad-level credits. I really need to talk to a faculty advisor in the School of Business, to find out if they will exempt me from any of the cores; I’m hoping that I can pare down the program to the 36 credit minimum!

As far as the financials, here is the situation: 

• Graduate tuition is currently $496 per credit hour. 
• The tuition reduction is 50%, up to 32 credits per year - so I’ll only be billed $248 per hour.  
• My work offers a tuition reimbursement program, of 50% up to $3000 per year.
• The effective tuition rate will be $124 per credit hour, based on the ‘08-’09 rates (assuming that I receive both the reduction & reimbursement for any given course).

However, I have to earn a 3.0 (B) or higher in each class in order to receive both the tuition reduction and the tuition reimbursement - so it could potentially be very expensive if I don’t do well. The tuition reimbursement program at work is on a class-by-class basis, so I will likely only get reimbursed for some of the classes. I will still have to pay my tuition up front, and will have to wait 4-6 months (after successful completion and approval of the course) before I would be reimbursed. And my company may very well decide to follow suit of several other local employers, and discontinue the tuition reimbursement program altogether.  

There are some potential tax implications as well. The tuition reduction and the tuition reimbursement are partially taxable (to the extent they exceed $5250/year), because they are considered fringe benefits. We are unclear on what this will actually mean come tax time, depending on how it is reported. It’s possible we will have a very *substantial* increase in tax liability, but it’s equally possible that I could claim a tuition & fees deduction on anything that would be considered taxable income, which could make it close to a wash. 

When all is said & done, the MBA will cost somewhere between $3,500 and $25,000 - plus books & travel expenses (and any tuition increases), and will take me 2-6 years to complete. That doesn’t include the time or money for prerequisite courses or the GMAT exam/study materials.  There are just so many unknowns right now!

On Wednesday evening I interviewed with three gentlemen who were in the process of opening an Instant Tax Service franchise in Ypsilanti. I only met with them for ten minutes or so, during which they inquired briefly about the Accounting Aid Society (the non-profit that does taxes for low-income families, where I volunteered last year) and then asked me just one question: What could I offer them?

They appeared quite interested in the business model for the Accounting Aid Society, and wanted me to describe how it worked. Where did they operate?  [Mostly libraries, schools, and community outreach centers]  Did they offer tax advance checks, anticipation loans, etc?  [No, they do not charge fees of any kind. They simply help people prepare and file their taxes]  How do they make money to cover expenses?  [They are a non-profit organization, they receive donations and grant monies]

At that point, the interviewers looked to each other, as if pondering whether they might be able to apply for grants. The main interviewer informed me that their franchise was a business (no, really?!?) and that they focus on upselling services as much as possible. He also said that their busy season is January & February, and then again in April - but that it slows considerably during the month of March. He commented that perhaps they would offer free limited services during that time. That’s when he changed subjects, and asked his only real question: What could I offer them?  

Ummm… The position advertised was a tax preparer. I can prepare taxes, professionally and efficiently. Am I supposed to barter, my first-born child for an $8/hr job? Of course, I asked them for clarification on what they meant. 

It turns out that they really want someone in Marketing. They don’t have the brand-recognition that H&R Block or Jackson Hewitt have, and they want someone to drum up business for them. Yeah, not interested. I just want to sit at a desk and poke through W2s and other tax paperwork, type in a few numbers, hit print. I’ll offer the refund anticipation loans, but frankly I think it’s a rip-off so I’m not going to push them. I have no interest in creating or distributing flyers and coupons, harassing strangers might walk by, standing in a goofy costume on the side of the road, or whatever else they might have in mind. 

Needless to say, I wasn’t surprised to get a phone call from the temp agency today saying that I didn’t get the job. Oh, shucks!

Although Eric’s current laptop, a G4 Powerbook, is only 2.5 years old (and therefore still covered by the AppleCare warranty), he’s been wanting to replace it. Unfortunately, the replacement he’s looking at is a 15″ dual 2.53GHz MacBook Pro that retails for $2499. Ouch!

Education pricing (available to college students, faculty, K-12 teachers, college or K-12 administrators and staff members), is $2299. 

My company also offers an employee computer purchase program, where I can essentially get an interest-free loan. I can pick any Apple or Dell computer, the company orders it, and then they set up automatic payroll deductions for 3 years.  We wouldn’t be able to take advantage of the education discount, but it would probably cost close to the same (since we wouldn’t be paying interest to a credit card). 

Then Eric pointed out that there were some Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals. MacMall & Amazon were both offering $250 off retail, and MacConnection & ClubMac were selling it for $300 off. 

Since it’s still a costly purchase, we went back & forth on whether to buy it or not. Ultimately, Eric agreed to sell his current laptop and his G5 tower, and the order was placed. We paid for expedited shipping, but they’ve yet to call me (to verify the credit card purchase), which means the order is in limbo and hasn’t gone out yet…