Big Event For The Thrifty Maven

After posting all my things on ThriftyMaven and doing my tweets, I checked my email. I saw an email that had the word "about your post" in the subject line. I didn't know what to say. Was this something that I should be worried about. Was someone going to tell me to cease and desist? I just didn't know. I was pleasantly surprised to see the following:

Hi Cathy. I've been checking out your blog and saw your post about Home Depot's
Garden Club and coupon offerings and wanted to introduce myself. I work for Home
Depot's PR firm.

We're actually working to promote the Garden Club for Home Depot right now. Wanted
to see if you were open to running a giveaway or contest for a Home Depot gift card
on your blog?

Let me know if you're interested, and we can discuss the details.

OMG!!!!!!!! A sponsor contacted me. I was hoping this would happen. Guess you never know who is reading your blog.

I felt so good that I didn't even fret about the person who asked to unsubscribe. Not only that but right after one person subscribed another subscribed. Call that a red letter day.

It only seemed to get better. Darryl and I have been sweating about the whole job situation. Then yesterday Darryl's brother wrote him to tell him about a recruiter he knows who is looking for someone with rail experience. That would be Darryl. I told himm to send off his resume right away.

At the end of last week his resume had been sent to the hiring manager at Heil so we thought he would have heard from them by yesterday. There was still no word. Then it turns out that a recruiter contacted Darryl about a job located in Athens, AL. Darryl might actually have an interview. We'll know tomorrow. I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed. Say a little prayer for us.

The luck didn't stop there. I asked Darryl to drive me down to the Publix because I had a question about a new contest they have going on right now. Just as we were leaving I noticed that the mail carrier had already come. In the box was a big padded envelope and inside was the book "Beloved Counterfeit" autographed by the author Kathleen Y'Bara.

I was on a big high with the whole Darryl might have an interview thing and now with the book win I felt that the day couldn't get any better. I was wrong. VERY WRONG.

We went to Publix and I took a quick walk around the store. I asked about the new Publix sweep and the customer service person had no clue what I was talking about. That was a good sign. I still had $1.26 on a gift card I won so I figured I'd blow that and then be done with it.

While I was up at customer service I saw all the lottery tickets and I asked about the Lucky 7 tickets. When she said they were $10 I blanched. I don't usually buy many scratch offs. Darryl asked if I wanted one and I said no because I was really just asking because they've been advertised so much. Darryl then bought me one. I was afraid to scratch it.

Would you believe the very first game I scratched had two 7's on it. That made it a $40 winner. I was thrilled enough quadrupling my money. These tickets have five games though so I wasn't finished. On the second game you had to roll either a seven or an eleven to win. I rolled another seven and an eleven. Each of those was worth another $20 each. So now I was actually up to $80. I just knew that was it but seriously that was the most I EVER won on the lottery. The next game had to be a 7 and you only had one chance. I scratched off a 2 and laughed because I expected as much. The next game you had to scratch three sevens in a row in order to win and I won another $20. This was great. One more game. I almost hustled it up to the counter to cash it in without playing the last game. Darryl wanted me to play the last game which gave you a win for any sevens. I got one more seven and that win brought me an extra $150. Altogether that one ticket was $250!!!!!!!!!

As you know I will be going to Chicago and I was wondering how my trip would affect our budget as far as me eating. How much should I ask for? Money is tight. Now I have my answer I will be using this money to buy my food while in Chicago and Darryl gets $50 out of the win. Not a fair split but one that makes sense.

Hoping To Launch Contest

You knew it would eventually happen. I spent some time last week talking to my students about how everything they post on the web can impact them in some way. I warned them about posting suggestive photos and TMI (too much information).

Some of the kids think that only their friends find out about their stuff on myspace. This is not true. I told them to check out addictomatic.com and put their information in the search and they would be amazed what others can find out about them. I also told them about mydeathspace. What is that you say? Well I found out about it several years ago on a news show. At first I felt it was pretty creepy. If you die they put your myspace link on their site. Some people send notes of encouragement or support but others are evil and post with malintent.

Then what happened was periodically I did check out the site if a news article mentioned that a victim had a myspace account and police were looking at it. OK so I'm a news junkie, I'll admit it. For me the site was like an obit page only filled with young people. When people get my age they often read the obit page to see if they made it through the day. So far for me I have.

I hadn't checked it out in awhile but I did today because I wanted to get some clue about what possessed the Joker to do what he did. You'd be surprised to discover how explicit some people plan things leaving behind the details on their myspace. Then today I noticed this account.


http://www.mydeathspace.com/article/2009/03/12/Daniel_Kemp_(17)_killed_David_Esslinger_(19)_behind_a_Kmart_during_a_late_night_altercation


I teach the victim, David's brother. this has been very difficult for the family. From all accounts David was a special young man and didn't deserve this. The last I heard there would be more arrests forthcoming but then I didn't hear anything else.

David's brother, James is even mentioned in the article:

"He was a good kid," said his brother James King Jr. "He's probably laughing right now watching us out here in the cold."

We just started season Five of Dallas. Season Four ended with Kristen dead in the Ewing pool. Just in case you don't remember Kristn, she was the one who shot JR and then claimed she was pregnant with JR's baby. Oh and don't forget that's Sue Ellen's little sister.

We went to the house in Acworth today and packed some boxes. I was so sick I just needed a nap. I was able to persuade Darryl to cancel our get together tomorrow because I'm just way too tired.
blog contests I entered:

Thom Filicia’s new book, Thom Filicia Style

OhMiBod (a $69.99 value) and a $10 iTunes gift certificate

Necklace/earring set

Win Fairytale Brownies

Win a copy of H&R Block's Tax Cut Premium Federal + E-file.

One lucky reader will win a coupon code good for one free pair of prescription eyeglasses (not including sunglasses and designer frames) including any upgrade up to $100 and 100% free shipping.

Prizes (2): Five Clorox Decor Canister free product coupons.

Prizes (20): Clorox Disinfecting Wipes Décor canister free product coupon (ARV $5.49).

Prize: Pair of glasses from EyeBuyDirect.com.

Prize: Insignia 7.0 megapixel digital camera in pink (ARV $75.99).

Prizes (3): Spa Break gift basket from Fiber One.

Prize: Hoover Platinum Collection Lightweight Bagged Upright with Portable Canister Vacuum (ARV $399.99).

Prize: JVC Everio GZ-HD320 Camcorder (ARV $800).

Prizes (2): Beverly Hills Chihuahua DVD.

Prizes (10): Clorox Disinfecting Wipes Décor canister free product coupon (ARV $5.49).

Prizes (3): Spa Gift Packs including a coupon for 1 free box of Fiber One bars.

Prize: Two bottles of Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce.

The Fragrance of Lilys

fill my bedroom. Yesterday Darryl had those flowers I won sent to school. Talk about attention. Everyone was sooooo very jealous. I've never had lilies sent to me before. They smell beautiful. Everyone should get Lily's at least once in their lives.

This morning I had to go to the library to drop off the books and I found one of the books I wanted to read, Dewey The Library Cat. I just started but I do remember that there was an article about this cat years ago in the papers. I also checked out the movie Since You Went Away. This is one of those movies from the 19040's era that I love. Movies from that time are usually romantic and filled with yearning and longing but patriotism too.

As long as I was in Cartersville I stopped at Burgers Market. I've been meaning to do that for awhile. They had some great deals on spring flowers like daffodils and tulips. Funny it doesn't quite feel like Spring yet. As a matter of fact the weather man is calling for snow here in Atlanta.

We just went to dinner at Chili's. I was doing a BZZ for BZZ Agent bzz for teir new Guiltless Grill. We tried the steak Asada and it was good. Our entree was free but Darryl decided to get us both a margarita. We love their margaritas because they are tasty but not expensive.

What blogs did I enter? See below:

Prize: Four bars of soap from Bodys Bliss.

Prize: Choice of glass pendant from Laughing Vixen Lounge (ARV $9.50).

Prizes (5): Copy of On the Line by Eric Ripert and Christine Muhlke (ARV $23.10).

Prize: Air Bud Special Edition DVD.

Prize: $50 Photo Card Creations coupon.

Prize: Autographed copy of Bookmarked for Death by Lorna Barrett,

Prize: Address book from Celery Street.

Prize: Variety of Bath and body products.

Prizes (5): Softsoap Body Butter Coconut Scrub.

Prize: Bombshell Studios houndstooth thick knit scarf (ARV $45).

Prize: Mardi Gras prize pack.

Prize: Doll of choice from Only Hearts Club (ARV $15.99-$18).