Book Review: Democracy in America

All I have to say is I FINALLY finished it.

700+ pages in 5 weeks and 2 days. One of the slowest readings I have had lately. Not that it was bad, just not as fast as I thought. The topic of our national government has always fascinated me, and seeing it from an outsider’s perspective gave me moments of pause. However, the 19th century style of writing bogged me down some, and I ended up skimming more than I probably should have.

Would I buy? Probably, to help round out my library. It had some good quotable quotes.

Do We Do the Credit Card Plunge?

This past month Dan’s work started offering Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University.  Since we both love to listen to his radio show, we were excited to take the class. 

I thought putting together a budget and sticking to it would be the hardest thing he could ask me to do.  Mind numbing work, but doable.  Here was the request tonight:  Cut up all your credit cards. 

That stopped me in my tracks.  And I don’t know why.  We only have two credit cards with very small limits.  We have never carried a balance on either card.  In fact, last year we switched exclusively to our debit card so my credit cards are actually sitting in a drawer in my filing cabinet.  So why am I so hesitant to cut them up? 

I get the cash-only system, and though I’m hesitant about carrying cash, I’m willing to try it out.  I totally understand that people spend between 12-18% more when they use a card (because that is so me!).  So why am I so scared to get rid of my plastic?   Can’t I just keep them in the drawer and forget about them?  Isn’t that good enough?  Or is this a leap of faith in taking control of our financial life?  Maybe it doesn’t matter at all and we just keep on going the way we were. 

I honestly don’t have the answer, and am not sure if I will get one soon.  Maybe I’ll have one at the end of this week when we have to report at the next class, maybe not until the end of the course, or maybe never.  Gah….Bring on the budget!  I would prefer that any day!

7 Year Old Perspective....again

Dan had this conversation with Connor this week:

Dan: Why did you hit the boy?

Connor: I have a dice in my brain that shakes around. Sometimes it lands on mean and I do something mean. Sometimes it lands on nice. Sometimes it lands on mean and nice.

Dan: Sounds like you need to stop listening to the dice in your brain.

Connor: But my brain controls me!

Dan: Connor you need to learn to control your brain.

The next time the principal calls, I'm so tempted to ask what the dice in his brain landed on.

A 7 Year Old’s Perspective

Connor has started having to do sentences as part of his weekly spelling tests.  This last week this was what he did for his 4 sentences when practicing at home.

I got him started with the first 2 sentences.  He came up with the last 2 all on his own.  Let’s just say he was really proud of himself.  And Alicia is taking stock of herself once again…not that I haven’t been doing that constantly the last 3 weeks.  It’s a never ending process, right?

Jamming During Chores

Have had some cute videos the last couple of weeks.

On New Year's Day the boys started jamming as they were doing their Saturday chores:

Connor doesn't know how to hold the mop the right way anymore. Oh, and don't get me started on Haden's outfit. I just shake my head. Saturdays are a lesson in patience for Alicia.

Uh, Yeah….

So I went swimming training for the 1st time (triathlon) last night.  Then signed up and went to my 1st swimming lesson this morning.  Let’s just say Alicia didn’t realize how much putting her face in the water freaks her out! 

Okay, not the putting the face in the water.  After running these past few months, breathing out of my nose just feels wrong.  Oh, and then add all the bubbles flying all over your face….heebee geebee’s.  However, I did finally start feeling comfortable towards the end.  At least with the whole breathing thing.  Not so much when I added arms.  Now I’m really crossing my fingers to be ready by May!