Turnover, Rental woes and sleepy Cruise

Damn, there's been a lot of turnover at work! Both December and January were bad months. We had over 20% turnover last year and that's significant at a company with only 60 employees. I decided myself to go to part-time status effective Feb 1. requested to go back to a sales rep role and no longer be sales management and work 3 days a week at 60% of my pay. After a few more people quit, management asked me to come back "full time" by working 4 days a week but getting 100% of my pay and "working remotely" the 5th day. Nice deal!! It's such a burden lifted off of my shoulders to not be a part of the management team any longer. None of the managers felt empowered to make any decisions because the CEO/owner wanted to have final say in every last project. And I felt guilty hiring people knowing how difficult it would be for them to be professionally and financially successful in our unique company culture. I would usually ask an interviewee if they had thick skin and would be able to work with difficult personalities.

The damn rental house in Corona has become an albatross. We were deep in escrow and had to extend escrow because the buyers kept switching lenders. The subprime market has really withdrawn and the result has been that subprime borrowers that would have gotten loans easily a couple of years ago are now facing much higher rates and fees, if they can get the loan at all. So now the house is on the market for rent. Had a couple of appointments to show prospective renters last Saturday and they both flaked and were no shows after expressing so much interest over the phone! It's no wonder that some people will always be renters!

Took a weeklong Mexican Riviera cruise on Holland America. The suite was great but the average age of the other passengers was noticeably higher than on Princess, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean. On most evenings by 9pm, most of the public areas outdoors were deserted. The ship, albeit less than 5 years old, also felt dated and claustrophic. There were some positive things though such as the private lounge with round the clock drinks and snacks for the suite level guests. And also breakfast in the premium restaurant instead of fighting the crowdes in the buffet or main dining room was an unexpected delight every morning. It wasn't a bad experience but was a little disappointing.

Lastly, bought a late year 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited for the bargain price of $20,500. The car was female driven for only 8600 miles in the last 14 months. The purchase price new was around $35,000. It's unbelievable how much better the 2005 Cherokee rides and handles over the 2004. And the Sirius radio and Bluetooth phone are fantastic! I'm lovin' it!

Mon 1/1:
$29 Target
$60 massage
$5 parking at LAX to pick up sister
$8 takeout from Banh Mi Che Cali for dinner
$24 two buckets of balls at Tustin Ranch driving range

Tues 1/2:
$0 expensed lunch at Russell's Seafood Palace
$28 dinner for two at Mimi's (saved $6 with coupon)

Wed 1/3:
$0 colleague treated to lunch at Oki Doki
$0 leftovers for dinner

Thurs 1/4:
$0 brought lunch
$0 leftovers for dinner

Fri 1/5:
$11 lunch at Tofu Ashiago
$21 dinner for 2 at Ikea (Salisbury steak, Swedish meatballs and apple torte)
$8 Mega Millions tickets at Circle K
$170 chair and misc at Ikea

Sat 1/6:
$17 breakfast for two at Honey Baked Cafe
$12 driving range
$48 dinner for two at Maki Zushi
$42 two books at Barnes and Noble

Sun 1/7:
$0 prepared lunch
$36 groceries at Ralph's (saved $34 with coupons)
$60 massage
$78 Costco
$0 prepared dinner

Mon 1/8:
$0 brought lunch
$0 leftovers for dinner

Tues 1/9:
$6 takeout from Thuy's Food to Go
$0 prepared dinner (wonton soup with bok choy)

Wed 1/10:
$0 brought lunch
$0 leftovers for dinner

Thurs 1/11:
$11 lunch at Quan Hop (pho with filet mignon)
$0 prepared dinner
$480 four General low profile tires online
$85 four tires mounted at Infiniti dealership

Fri 1/12:
$9 lunch at IHOP
$83 pet house on Amazon

Sat 1/13:
$56 gas
$15 lunch for two at Chinese place in Garden Grove
$11 takeout dinner for two from Alberto's (nachos and chimichanga)

Sun 1/14:
$98 groceries at Vons (saved $15 with coupons)
$0 prepared dinner

Mon 1/15:
$0 expensed lunch for two at Chevy's
$3 Starbucks
$0 leftovers for dinner

Tues 1/16:
$33 treated colleague to lunch and dessert at Black Angus
$35 dinner for two at Johnny Reb's (saved $13 with Entertainment coupon)

Wed 1/17:
$47 gas
$0 expensed lunch at Tio Leo's in San Diego
$0 leftovers for dinner
$30 online subscription

Thurs 1/18:
$7 lunch at Russell's Seafood Palace
$45 personal training session
$0 leftovers for dinner

Fri 1/19:
$11 lunch buffet at Orchid Persian
$0 prepared dinner
$240 three sets of Rubbermaid Configurations Deluxe Closet Systems from Amazon (Friday Sale, regularly $160 each)

Sat 1/20:
$5 donuts
$400 two months' interest payment to mom
$300 two months' interest payment to brother
$16 driving range for 2 at Mile Square Park
$35 dinner for 2 at Le Jardin (saved $13 with Entertainment card)
$34 2 tickets for show at Westminster Playhouse

Sun 1/21:
$35 groceries at Albertsons
$7 two Starbucks
$0 prepared dinner

Mon 1/22:
$9 lunch buffet at Acapulco
$5 takeout dinner for two from Carl's Jr (saved $5 with coupon)

Tues 1/23:
$9 lunch at Hashigo Tofu Restaurant
$0 leftovers for dinner

Wed 1/24:
$9 lunch at Russell's Seafood Palace
$0 prepared dinner

Thurs 1/25:
$2 coffee at 7-11
$25 two belt/tie closet hangers on eBay
$240 six personal training session
$0 leftovers for dinner

Fri 1/26:
$47 gas
$0 colleague treated to sushi lunch
$34 dinner for two at Coco's (saved $5 with coupon)

Sat 1/27:
$0 prepared lunch
$40 dinner for two at Jerry's Famous Deli
$160 Marshall's

Sun 1/28:
$35 lunch for two at Brodard Chateau
$190 Nike golf shoes and multi-weight dumbbells at Sports Authority (on sale and after $50 rebate)
$109 Costco
$77 prepaid card for driving range at Tustin Ranch Golf Course
$0 leftovers for dinner

Mon 1/29:
$10 lunch at Viet place in Westminster
$0 prepared dinner (Costco baked chicken parmesan over pasta)

Tues 1/30:
$8 takeout lunch for two
$4 Mega Millions tickets and coffee at 7-11
$7 driving range in Costa Mesa
$0 prepared dinner (broiled steelhead with dijon mustard and basil glaze)

Wed 1/31:
My last day as a full-time corporate cog at Liberty IMS!
$16 lunch at 50 Forks (rack of pork with mango and green beans, dessert of glazed winter fruit and vanilla bean ice cream and tuile)
$11 drive thru for two at Rally's

Thurs 2/1:
$7 pho
$0 leftovers for dinner

Fri 2/2:
$0 prepared lunch
$6 takeout nachos at Alberto's for dinner

Sat 2/3:
$47 gas
$2 tollroad to Corona
$23 drycleaning
$22 dinner for two at Monglian BBQ Express at Hollywood and Highland
$2 parking at Hollywood and Highland

Sun 2/4:
$42 groceries at Albertson's
$0 prepared lunch and dinner

Mon 2/5:
$10 carwash
$6 lunch at Quan Thanh (broken rice with shredded pork and grilled pork chop)
$187 seminar ticket on eBay
$0 prepared dinner (colossal Alaskan king crab legs)

Tues 2/6:
$1.50 coffee at Circle K
$10 lunch at Lani Tropical Grill
$0 prepared dinner

Wed 2/7:
$0 brought lunch
$45 dinner for two at Black Sheep Bistro (Provencal beef stew)

Thurs 2/8:
$1.50 coffee at Circle K
$7 lunch at Oki Doki
$3 Mega Millions tickets at Circle K
$0 leftovers for dinner
$44 book and breadmaker machine on Amazon

Fri 2/9:
$21 lunch for two at Mandarin Garden
$13 two movie tickets for Babel (saved $8 with Entertainment coupon)
$10 dinner for two at Rubio's Baja Grill

Sat 2/10:
$46 gas
$300 birthday gift for mom
$28 fruit and snacks from Viet shop
$11 dinner for two at Ezo Ramen (saved $7 with Entertainment coupon)

Sun 2/11:
$45 groceries at Ralphs (saved $46 with coupons)
$34 more groceries at Vons
$0 prepared dinner

Mon 2/12:
$10 carwash
$
$0 prepared dinner

Tues 2/13:
$4 two breakfast burritos at Carl's Jr (saved $4 with coupon)
$109 comforter set and t-shirt at Marshall's
$33 Tuesday Morning
$40 dinner for two at Dosa Palace (saved $10 with Entertainment card)
$43 2 month supply of K-cup coffee

Wed 2/12:
$43 gas and coffee at Circle K
$5 lunch at Banh Mi Che Cali
$0 expensed dinner with clients at Macaroni Grill ($141 for 4 people)

Thurs:
$0 leftovers for lunch
$41 Marshall's
$0 leftovers for dinner

Fri 2/16:
$3 takeout lunch from Zon Baguettes
$37 groceries and fried chicken from Albertson's

Sat 2/17:
$295 gift money for Tet (Asian New Year)
$16 driving range
$5 drive through for 2 at Jack in the Box

Sun 2/18:
$653 HP laptop computer (two day sale for President's Day from $900)
$10 admission for 2 at Vietnamese Tet Festival in Garden Grove
$12 snacks and beverages at festival
$0 three free DVD rentals at Blockbuster for Netflix customers

Mon 2/19:
$3 drive thru at Burger King
$108 office chair at Office Depot
$42 groceries at Ralphs
$35 dinner for 2 at Ciao Bella

Tues 2/20:
$7 lunch at Russell's Seafood Palace
$37 groceries and takeout dinner at Trader Joe's

Wed 2/21:
$7 lunch at Oki Doki
$0 prepared dinner

Thurs 2/22:
$0 lunch at home
$6 tollroads to Corona
$0 leftovers for dinner

Fri 2/23:
$7 Viet takeout lunch for two from Thuy's Food To Go
$40 gas
$38 Walmart
$42 dinner for two at Thai Specialty II
$26 misc at Walgreens

Sat 2/24:
$23 supplies for painting closet at Adam's Hardware
$3 slice of Santa Fe pizza at Z Pizza
$8 lunch at Viet pho restaurant
$85 dinner for two at SevenS Steakhouse (crab stuffed prawn au gratin over mushroom risotto and mesquite salmon with spinach stuffed tomatos)
$135 Marshalls

Sun 2/25:
$91 two watches at Ross
$0 prepared dinner
$27 book on Amazon

Mon 2/26:
$7 lunch at Pho 99
$0 prepared dinner

Tues 2/27:
$20 sushi lunch (group treated birthday guest)
$50 drinks and appetizers for going away party
$7 lotto tickets

Wed 2/28:
$0 prepared lunch at home
$42 organizers for desk tops at TJ Maxx

Thurs 3/1:
$22 picked up lunch for colleague (lost a bet)
$160 four personal training sessions for March
$0 prepared dinner

Friday 3/2:
$0 expensed lunch
$23 dinner for two at Denny's
$12 lotto tickets

Sat 3/3:
$0 prepared lunch
$13 takeout pastries from Herb's Black Forest Bakery
$81 floorlamp and rug from TJ Maxx
$480 two months' interest payments and gardener
$300 two months' interest payments to brother
$9 two bathroom robe hooks at Marshall's
$44 dinner for two at Zito's Italian
$12 takeout dessert for two from Zov's

Sun 3/4:
$0 groceries at Ralphs (saved $30 with coupons and then $60 in Ralphs credit card reward rebates)
$0 prepared dinner (chicken enchiladas)

Monday 3/5:
$0 brought lunch
$0 flew to Salt Lake City for business trip, expensed Starbucks and dinner at The Dodo (baked soy sauce flavored cream cheese covered with sesame seeds served with crackers and Asian pears, ham and swiss sandwich on garlic roll and artichoke soup, $25)

Tues 3/6:
$0 expensed lunch for 3 at Red Iguana (Zagat rated 27, crisp shredded beef taco, chile relleno, cheese enchilada, and tortilla appetizer with mole sauce, $45)
$0 expensed dinner for 3 at Trio Italian Cafe (trio of polenta topped with shrimp, figs and mushrooms and shredded beef, flatbread with goat cheese and spaghetti with fist-sized meatball, $110)
$7 lotto tickets

Wed 3/7:
$0 client picked up lunch at The Training Table (Salt Lake City burger institution, bleu cheese and bacon burger and cheese fries)
$0 flew home, leftovers for dinner

Thurs 3/8:
$4 lunch at Thuy's Food to Go
$27 dinner for two at Coco's (saved $5 with coupon)
$31 groceries and toiletries at Albertson's

Fri 3/9:
$260 new windshield for Infiniti
$9 lunch at Russell's
$10 doctor visit copay
$10 prescription copay

Sat 3/10 through Sat 3/17
$150 housesitter for a week
$6 drive thru for two at Burger King
$46 gas
$3000 deluxe verandah suite for two on Holland America Oosterdam
$930 week's worth of various expenses on ship including daily gratuities, drinks, Elemis Spa, casino cash withdrawals and horseback riding excursion
$11 drinks and snacks in Cabo San Lucas
$20 sunglasses and hat in Cabo San Lucas
$12 taxi rides in Mazatlan
$6 snacks in Mazatlan
$18 taxi rides in Puerta Vallarta
$20 toiletries in gift shop in Puerta Vallarta
$55 lunch for 3 at Las Palomas in Puerta Vallarta
$100 tip for room steward
$90 seven days parking at San Diego cruise port

Sat 3/17:
$22 dinner for 2 at Viet restaurant
$97 Marshall's

Sun 3/18:
$0 lunch at sister's (pho)
$41 groceries at Albertson's
$60 massage
$0 prepared dinner

Mon 3/19:
$8 lunch at Vietnam Pearl
$0 prepared dinner

Tues 3/20:
$0 expensed lunch
$4 parking at Seaport Village in San Diego
$26 pizza delivery from Round Table

Wed 3/21:
$8 lunch at Oki Doki
$4 lottery tickets and coffee at Circle K
$37 dinner for two at Ciao Bella

Thurs 3/22:
$0 leftovers for lunch
$159 carpet cleaning and tip
$0 leftovers for dinner

Fri 3/23:
$10 lunch at Tropika (Rendang beef curry)
$0 prepared dinner

Sat 3/24:
$2 drive thru at Taco Bell
$12 two tickets at Edwards for 300 (saved $6 with Entertainment coupon)
$26 dinner for two at Corner Bakery

Sun 3/25:
$46 Costco
$12 groceries at Ralphs
$0 prepared dinner

Mon 3/26:
$0 expensed lunch
$32 dinner for two at Lonestar Steakhouse (saved $16 with Entertainment coupon)

Tues 3/27:
$7 lunch at Pho 79
$0 leftovers for dinner

Wed 3/28:
$4 takeout at from Thuy's Food to Go
$40 TJ Maxx
$6 takeout dinner from Alberta's Mexican Food (nachos)

Thurs 3/29:
$9 lunch at Mandarin Palace
$70 sponsorship for jog-a-thon
$0 leftovers for dinner

Friday 3/30:
$15 lunch at sushi place
$20,500 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee limited (loaded with only 8,500 miles) from seller on Craigslist
$100 dinner for 3 at Green Parrot Cafe

Sat 3/31:
$5 tollroads to Corona
$5 McDonald's (saved $4 with coupon)
$8 parking at Getty Museum
$20 snacks and drinks for 3 at Getty Museum Cafe
$210 dinner for 3 at Lasher's in Long Beach

Sun 4/1:
$24 groceries at Ralph's (saved $31 with coupons)
$46 dim sum for 3 at Seaworld World
$21 three tickets for matinee at Edward's (Blades of Glory)
$11 coffee for 3 at Peet's
$0 leftovers for dinner

Mon 4/2:
$12 lunch at Orchid
$0 prepared dinner

Tues 4/3:
$1.50 coffee at Circle K
$10 lunch at Quan Hop
$21 dinner for 2 at Chipotle

Wed 4/4:
$5 international phone card
$52 gas
$5 lunch at Zon Baguette (meatball sandwich and Viet sticky rice)
$13 takeout from Charo Chicken

Thurs 4/5:
$7 lunch at Mitsuwa (seafood pasta)
$13 takeout for two from Zon Baguette (vermicelli noodles with grilled pork and egg rolls)

Friday 4/6:
$10 lunch at Asysa
$35 dinner for 2 at China Palace
$5 takeout dessert from Coco's