So, yesterday we loaded everyone into our truck and drove up to the north Georgia mountains and procured ourselves a genuine 1950s dinette set, cracked-ice formica tabletop and all. I suspect that Otto was a good sport about the drive to go get it on account of his recent car debacle, and I'm pleased to report that all went very smoothly; there were no breakdowns or crazy people or detours, and the set was pretty much what we expected and the guy who sold it to us even knocked the price down a little. Really the only complications were a bit of mild carsickness (those mountain roads are...
One of the biggest lessons I'm learning about being married again is that men and women really are just fundamentally different about some things. Much of the time those differences are "cute" or "endearing" or at least tolerable, and occasionally those differences are just plain baffling. And I'm not just talking about what baffles me, either. I know for a fact that Otto is baffled by my shopping habits on a daily basis. He does not, for example, understand why I need so many shoes. I probably haven't done a very good job of explaining it, either ("I JUST DO!"), but that's because I've...
So, Otto and I are going to a gala next week. A GALA. I have never been to a gala. I'm pretty sure my hair isn't shiny enough for such a thing, but now that I have this awesome haircut, we're going to attempt it. Actually, it's a fundraiser. And while we, personally, are not obligated to raise any money (I mean, beyond the essential organs Otto had to sell to buy the tickets), Otto is sort of obligated to be there because of his job. I think. I don't really know; he informed me that we're going and I should wear something pretty. Now, this may come as a COMPLETE SHOCK, but I don't get out...
Evidently I missed my calling as a financial advisor. I'm absolutely SUPER at it, by the way. Here goes: Don't spend what you don't have. You're welcome! If you require more information than that (so demanding), well, might I suggest this excellent article by the AP's Heather Lalley, which happens to feature some heavily-edited sound bites from yours truly. Alternatively, I can break it down for you into just five easy steps. And while we're talking about money... you do know about DonorsChoose, right? You can pick the project, the school, the teacher you want to support? It's a great...
I love Fridays. It's the one day of the week I allow myself some unstructured time. Monday through Thursday, it's all work while the kids are in school. And Saturday and Sunday, all family. But generally I can sneak a few errands in on Friday before the kids get home. Today I needed to go to the post office, because for SOME reason when I give prizes away on Want Not people actually expect me to mail them out, or something. I don't know. People are so DEMANDING. And although I have all the makings of a home office here in my, uh, home office, I do need to leave the house to do that. (Dear...
So. Um. Hi! It turns out that the whole thing where my kids wanted to win a Wii and I acted like "Hey, what a great idea, good luck with that!" so as to cover up the fact that I had ALREADY purchased a Wii for them---designed to be a Big! Exciting! Unexpected! Christmas present---has totally bitten me on the ass. Surprise! Yep. Some of you already guessed it, though I just found out yesterday: They won the Wii. Now, there was a long conversation amongst the PTA about what this MEANS and whether it's FAIR and while I know some of you have differing opinions, I just have to ask you to trust me...
Because I'm doing an event for a client tonight, I have OF COURSE come down with a case of the creeping crud. Naturally. Because I am me. And I can't even blame it on the kids, because neither of them are sick. Although they're very sympathetic, each in their own way. Monkey: Oh, Mama, are you not feeling well? Here, I'll hug you and make you ALL BETTER! Chickadee: Um, Mom? Gross, I think your nose just dripped on your shirt. Feel the love, people. But then please, for your own safety, use some disinfectant afterward. Anyway, I am dragging myself around the house this morning, aided by the...
Hmmm, let me see. Where did we last leave off? Oh! Right! I said "Tomorrow I can tell you all about what country bumpkins do when they have a child-free day in Atlanta." And of course by "tomorrow" I meant TODAY, which is technically two days later, but that's just how it goes. (Hey, I was still recovering. And time is a fluid concept, dude. Peace.) ANYWAY, yes, my husband and I had all of Sunday spread out before us to have a Big Day in the Big City and Otto really wanted to go to the High, and I really wanted to go back to sleep for about three days, and so naturally we compromised and...
I had grand plans for this afternoon---plans that did not, in fact, involve the computer---yet somehow it's nearly dinnertime and here I am. I had several hours all to myself today, too. Poof! Gone! Not sure what happened there, but I strongly suspect it involved PathWords. And in case y'all are unaware, you know Aimee? Aimee who comments here all the time? Aimee is a PATHWORDS NINJA. I could play PathWords for a month and never get anything near what she scored. I strongly suspect she cheated. (Confidential to Aimee: Haha! Just kidding! I'm sure you're just brilliant!) (Confidential to...
