That economic stimulus check? We just blew through it and then some.

We finally ordered a new wood stove (back in April I shattered one of the glass panels on the old stove, and it really was not worth trying to repair). We went to a local business that sells pools and wood/gas stoves, and ordered a Vermont Castings Encore. Compared to the old stove, this thing will be amazing. Burn time of 10 hours, swing out ash pan, it can be loaded from the front AND the top, and it has a griddle on the top for cooking if you so desire. Plus I think it’s about a third the size of the monster we have right now. AND it’s the cleanest burning non-catalytic stove, which was also an important consideration. So that was more than the stimulus check for the deposit, and then another thousand in August when it arrives, and then installation. BUT this should heat the basement–and the rest of the house–much more efficiently, and with a whole hell of a lot less smoke.

Then if that wasn’t enough, I bought shoes for Kim’s wedding in September in Wyoming. (TRAIN RIDE!) Now, you have to understand that I hate shoe shopping, and I have a hard time finding shoes that are comfortable. So I went straight to the lady who specializes in comfortable shoes, and found a shoe I liked straight away. It’s leather, it’s black, and it has a heel, but it’s also comfortable enough that I should be able to wear it again and again (even with a pants suit).

Of course, I’ve now paid three times as much for the shoes as I did for the dress, but there is nothing worse than hurting feet to ruin a good time. And as I said, I can wear ’em again.

Then since I hadn’t apparently spent enough money, I got a new pair of work shoes.

Of course both pairs of shoes had to be ordered, because she didn’t have my size in black (I tried on a different color) but since the wedding isn’t until September, I’m okay. And that meant I only had to pay half for those as well.

And OMG! The website has an AWESOME pair of boots! Want! Want!

So now I have spent a disgusting amount of money. But I’ll have wood heat in the winter, and an awesome pair of shoes to wear at the wedding and onward form there.