Don't taunt happy fun ball

I pass by this machine daily. It's one of those blood pressure/heartbeat/weight thingies. This is the warning message that precedes the blood pressure determination. My blood pressure's fine. I just sit here because it makes me smile.

Consumer Behavior: An Experiment

The Dave's Beer household has always operated on a fairly sophisticated economic plan:

spending < income

Sometimes a little tricky, but we've been fortunate - and frugal. A million years in school will do that.

We've also never, ever paid a nickel in finance charges on a credit card. However, it still is pretty easy to use one of these nifty cards so frequently it gets warm from the friction of swiping. So, for a couple months, aside from gas purchases (since carrying that much cash might put us in danger), we're tossing the credit aside and using cash. Means we have to plan for the grocery store, and, just about everything. Stuff isn't cheap.

Even though I lusted for and agreed to buy a Briggs and Stratton this year, shelling out $120 for a refurbished one at Como Mower has given me pause about my fantasy mower. We've been doing this a couple weeks now and it's interesting. Even though we anticipated not changing spending habits, our habits have changed. Why buy that extra $3 box of savory crackers when you can make something healthier and better when you get home? We may not stick with it permanently; it's a bit inconvenient. But, when the economy seems on the verge of a depression, it's not hurting us to think a bit more about purchases.

Still sick. Sideline work?

Frankie's still sick and I'm home with her today, running out of things to do. She's kind of quiet today, so no biggie. Yesterday, I painted her nails. We ran out of shades of pink and red and had to use her fingerpaints to provide added detail.

If you want an exclusive nail design, just get in touch.

Lunch Preparation 101 - I failed

We do not for a second take for granted that Frankie is lucky enough to have good to excellent lunches every day at school. I've sat in on several and they're often simple but balanced and good. Today, she went on a field trip to the Museum of Art. They were supposed to bring a picnic lunch for the outing.

I prepared a sandwich on homemade sunflower-seeded honey wheat bread with a lovely imported ham and provolone. For sides, she had a portion of sugar snap peas, the best black raspberries I could find, some carrots, a crisp Gala apple, a linen napkin and some pretzels to share. I even threw a sprig of rosemary in her Curious George lunch box to make it smell nice when she opened it. Damn proud of myself I was.

I would've been more successful if I put ketchup on a hotdog bun and wrapped it in foil.

Paige had the winning lunch of the day. It had something chocolate in it.