Two Words: Divorce Lawyer

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110183920066

Hopefully that is what she'll use the money for.

(thanks for the laugh Honeybell)

Sharing Time

MamaLee over at Full Plate was kind enough to share a picture of her desktop and tagged whoever else wanted to play.

This is mine...right now. I change the picture often. Since this one if from the summer, I should probably update it. This is my daughter in her pool and that's my other child husband with bubbles in his hand.

Do you see the neon green wiggly stripe on the pool? That is why the background is that horrible color green, to match. I know, I need help. Sadly this is also the picture on my laptop and the background is the same putrid green.

What is that thing on the side, you ask? I am running Vista on this computer and that's a new cool tool. It's called a sidebar and you can add gadgets. And yes, it does bother me that because it is there it makes the picture off-center. Dorky, I know.

And now you all know that I need an oil change, to drop off dry cleaning and to call Chase bank.

Write Time

I always have intentions of writing.

This weekend was going to be a great opportunity to write. My husband has a conference, my parents took my daughter, my mother-in-law is staying with the boys and I am in a hotel room with my laptop and an internet connection.

Day 1 - We get here around 3 and do not have to be at cocktail hour until 6. My husband is on his laptop and we can only connect one at a time. I know, I know. You do not need an internet connection to write. But my brain was focused on checking my email and the 68 unread blogs in my Google Reader.

Day 2 - My husband has a class until 3, then we have a dinner at The Henry Ford Museum at 6:30. I spend most of my day reading and commenting on blogs. While the room is being cleaned, I sit in the lobby reading a chick book.

Today is Day 3. So far I have not written anything...except this.

Why do I always have great ideas and get "in the zone" when dinner needs to be made, laundry needs to be folded, and my daughter has decided that she is finished with the hundreds of toys and rearranging the picture frames in the house and wants to scream at my feet until I take her outside to play in the yard?

But here I am with no children, no kitchen, no laundry, somebody to clean the room, a Starbucks nearby and loads of time.

And my mind is blank.

I may indulge in other activities I normally never have time to do.

I think I will floss.

Positive Attitudes are Contagious

Ok, it has occurred to me that I recently wrote two negative posts about SS#1 and #2. So I will now write something positive about each of my step-sons.

SS#1:

• He is going to college full-time and working full-time at a bank, which is more than I can say for many of his friends.
• Does pay for his own car insurance and cell phone, which again is more than I can say for many of his friends.
• Likes to baby-sit his little sister (as long as he doesn't have plans).

SS#2:

• Has a good heart.
• Is very funny.
• Is very loyal (which sometimes gets him in trouble).

SS#3:

• Has never raised his voice and never argues with his father or myself.
• Is very appreciative for everything he has and everything we do for him.
• If he does something wrong, he immediately apologizes and means it.

Change Is Not Good In My House

Apparently my step-sons do NOT like change.

Laundry day has always been Friday in our house. The boys would bring down their laundry on Thursday and I would wash it on Friday.

Now I work Fridays, so in order to have a chore-free weekend, I have moved laundry day to Thursday.

Since it has only been a few weeks, we still remind the boys on Wednesday to bring the laundry down. Easy enough, right?

No.

Husband (to SS #1): Please bring down your laundry tonight or before you leave for work tomorrow.

SS#1: Why?

Husband: Because she's going to do it tomorrow.

SS#1: But it's not Thursday.

Husband: I know what day it is, but she works on Friday and is going to do laundry tomorrow, so bring it down before you go to work in the morning!!

SS#1 doesn't respond.

He also does not bring his laundry down.

Maybe I should change the laundry rule to: here are some quarters and there is the laundromat.

You Paid How Much?

There are a few items I need, but refuse to spend a lot money on. Years of experience has taught me not to waste money, just buy the cheap version. For some reason, I feel the need to share this with you:

1. Sunglasses. Twice in my life I have bought expensive sunglasses. The first pair fell off my head when I was getting onto our boat. The second broke one week after I bought them. Now any $10 pair from a flee market or Walgreens is fine by me.

2. Coffee table. At least while the kids are still living at home.

3. Cereal. There are always sales and always coupons. I cannot remember the last time I paid full price for a box of cereal.

4. Toothpaste. Same reason as #3.

5. White shirts. Maybe it is the shirts I am buying, but I have never owned a white shirt (button down, tee, polo, tank, etc.) that did not yellow or last more than one season.

6. Gas. Don't you want to smack people who claim that "my car can only take premium gas"? Unless your driving a high performance car, your Honda will be fine with regular gas.

7. Toys, books and dolls for my daughter. She has officially reached the age where she rips, throws, bends, bangs, spits up on, spills milk on and slams against the coffee table anything and everything she can get her hands on, including all of her toys. My husband claims if she breaks the big screen TV, "she's going back".

So there you have it. Seven tips on what not to waste your money on.

You're welcome.