A First For Sure

Do you know what feels really good?

Paying off my first student loan. 

I know it's just a drop in the bucket, but having that extra $129.29 a month to put towards the next loan will only snowball that payment as well. Hubby and I just started a new budget this month. He now pays for everything that requires us to sustain life. And besides my tithing each month, every penny I make now goes towards paying off my student loans. According to mint.com, we will be done with them completely in February of 2015. A sobering number, but certainly better than the year 2034 estimate by my bank. I've come to passionately hate interest!

One down. Seven to go. Too bad the remaining seven total more money than I'll make in years!

A Biker Weekend in Reno

I was able to work this weekend. I only work about six weekends a year, so it's not too bad. The unfortunate side to working this particular weekend was that my Hubby celebrated a birthday! And I kind of missed the entire thing.

We left Friday morning with seven people in back. Terry was able to bring his wife. I was the awkward eighth wheel for the entire day! We dropped the six off at a tiny airport about forty miles southeast of Reno in a town called Yerington. They had business meetings throughout the weekend and wanted to be picked up again on Sunday morning around eleven. Since Yerington had no jet fuel available, and just one small motel, we flew the airplane to Reno to spend a few nights before returning with full fuel to take them home again.

I had a blast all weekend. I stayed in a four-star resort in a room that usually runs $249 a night. Our rate was just $94 through the FBO. Pure heaven!

Something fun was that a biker extravaganza was going on in downtown Reno the same weekend. It made for some very interesting people-watching, and I got to admire some beautiful custom motorcycles. I entertained myself on Saturday by walking about six miles round-trip to downtown Reno to take a peek at the biker festivities. On my way back to the resort after a few hours of enjoying the show, I stopped in a city park and relaxed under some trees. I love finding shapes in clouds and haven't done it for years! I remedied that before starting back to the Grand Sierra.

I relaxed that evening and grabbed a bite to eat in one of the many resort restaurants. As much as I wanted steak, I didn't think paying $40 for one would go over very well with Big Boss.

Sunday morning, we were back to the airplane to ferry to Yerington. The passengers showed up on time, and we were back in Phoenix just an hour and a half later.

Headed to work again tonight. I'm exhausted, but it will be a nice week. Every week on the road is usually nice!

Phoenix - Yerington - Reno - Yerington - Phoenix

Somebody Is Getting Older

He's officially an old man. It's the longest six weeks of every year when I am older than my husband. Today, he finally joins me in the uppity-up ranks of the Old Geezer Club. What an honor for him, and a relief for me!

For those of you keeping track at home, I'm working today. I am several states away from Hubby on this, his very special day of the year. He could have come with me for this weekend of work. We would have considered it a free vacation, and he would have been giddy as a school girl in all the buffets here in Reno.

But, alas, someone had to go away on a Scouting Training Camp. They only hold this event twice a year, and Hubby needed to attend this particular one to continue in his Scouting position. Canceling the trip and running away with his wife to Nevada simply wasn't an option. Dang it.

We celebrated his birthday together by opening some presents Thursday night before I left for work. Hubby is a fan of all things fishing and had done some research to find the perfect fishing reel. He opened it as well as three gardening books. He doesn't get excited about many things, but the man I married is so excited to plant next year's garden. He somehow thinks that this year's failure was just a fluke, and that he can beat the odds (read: temperatures don't matter and we can grow a million jalapenos, thank you very much). So I found some highly-recommended books on gardening in extreme heat. I think they will only help us. Believe me...we can't do worse than last year! He said, "Oooo, goodie. Some winter reading." I don't know if that was sarcasm or not, but hopefully our garden next summer will tell!

Of all the places he was offered to eat, he simply wanted to bake a pizza at home. I suggested we add in root beer floats, since that is one of his favorite treats. An hour later, we were eating a Papa Murphy's and enjoying cold ice cream in cold root beer. Then we watched an episode of Wipeout and went to bed. Not a very exciting birthday celebration, but it's what he wanted. And I am always happy to oblige when ice cream is involved.

Luckily, he won't spend the rest of his birthday completely alone. His parents will be in town tonight and are taking him bowling and to dinner. I wish I could be there to help him celebrate, but I am stuck here wandering the city of Reno all alone and eating free food. Sniff sniff.

Happy Birthday, Hubby. I'm so glad you picked me.