Well...

He made a liar out of me. He sent me chocolate covered strawberries for V-day.

Happy Valentine's Day

I don't like Valentine's Day. Never really have. Funny thing is, I married the perfect man in that respect. He doesn't either. Once, when we were dating, we decided we'd go out for dinner. HA! We couldn't find a restaurant that had less than a 2 hour wait. Then he suggested we go out to some fast food place. Well, you don't get me to fix my hair and make-up for FAST FOOD. You just don't. Anyway, it was one of the worst fights we'd had to that point. Mostly because we were both hungry and a little cranky. And I just did not want a burger. That was at least 13 years ago.

We haven't celebrated Valentine's Day since.

Now, before you say anything. Let me tell you - I don't need a special day to tell my husband how much I love him. And I don't need flowers or candy to know how much he loves me. I'd rather he just help me clean the house. Or take the boys outside so I could take a long bath. And he'd rather...well, never mind.

Even if we went out to eat, it could cost us better than $100 by the time we paid for babysitting. And do you know how hard it is to find someone available on Valentine's weekend?! And how crowded restaurants are?! And all of that would just stress me out. Not worth it.

Anyway, we do have a day we celebrate - our anniversary - just 3 months later - so that works for us.

Have a happy Valentine's Day anyway everyone. I'll have a good day - even if I don't get flowers, candy or a hot date!

Musical Memories

In college, I was in a chorus called the Sonshine Singers. I absolutely loved it. I did it all 4 years and the best friends I have from college are from that group. The best memories I have are also from our perfomances and trips across the eastern US. There are times I miss singing in a group like that. Sometimes, I even miss the long trips on the bus. I always miss seeing my friends from that time and wish I could see them more.

Last night in church, I had a flashback. Our songleader led a song that we used to sing during performances. This happens all the time. Sometimes I have trouble singing the song because we sang it slightly different or because it makes me miss it more than usual. Sometimes it's because it's funny. Missed lines, messed up words, the little jokes we would play on each other & our director.

But this one was laugh out loud funny for some reason. I don't know why, really. We've sung this song before. It just struck me wrong last night. The name of the song is "Power in the Blood" and it was in our show one year. We used to spread out during church service and then we'd go to the front after service was over to perform. The songleader that night led that song. And was very demonstrative during the song. VERY. It's hard to describe. And we were all sort of snickering, because we were about to get up and sing the very same song...We didn't. As a matter of fact, our director told us before we started - we're not doing that song.

For some reason, last night, it was just plain funny. And you know how it is...everything is funnier when you're not supposed to be laughing!

I Love February!

I don't love the weather. And I despise Valentine's Day (long story). But this is turning out to be a good financial month for us - every year. First of all, it's bonus month at my company. We simply add that money to what we have saved for our vacation since it's not in our budget. I don't know what mine is, yet. But any extra helps. Secondly, it's "opt out" month here also. Which means, since we use my husband's health insurance, I get extra for opting out of ours. That's also extra vacation money. Again, since we don't count on it every year, we don't put it in our budget. And it's tax month. Our W2's are here, so we'll e-file our taxes this weekend (probably) and should have the money in our account by the end of the month. That goes into the savings account since if we'd been getting it throughout the year, that's what we would have done with it.

This year - it's even better. I just locked in a fabulous refinance rate on our home! So, we just knocked 1.75% off our interest rate and 8 1/2 years off of our loan! And over $200 a month off of our payment as a result of all of that. We have been putting this re-fi off for a while, but now, with the credit markets all but crippled, the interest rates are dropping. That makes it prime time for people like us - no debt, near perfect credit - to take advantage of it. Now, I'm not advocating taking out any addtional loans. And we didn't. We aren't taking out any extra. Simply taking what we owe on our house & getting a better loan. No money out and a shorter term.

In some small way, this makes up for the crappy weather this week.

Say Cheese!

Since the snow day incident, Colby's okay. He's actually pretty proud of his "four stitches". He's tough. They put the stitches in that don't have to be removed. Well, fine and good. But according to the nurse, they can last longer than the standard stitches. Also, his eyelid is yellow today. The swelling is down, but the bruising is just showing up.

Normally, none of this would be an issue. But his school pictures are Wednesday. Just like his brother.

How I Spent My "Snow" Day

Oh my goodness. Today was a "snow" day. Forget the fact that there is no snow or ice at my house. NONE. There are reasons for the snow day, legitimate ones. This is a large county with rural areas and just slightly to the north of us it was bad. Anyway. Because it was a snow day, I was working at home since we don't pay for child care during the school year. No big deal, I do it all the time. Only today was different.

The kids slept in, so it was late (a little after 10) when they decided they wanted breakfast. Fine, whatever. Here's your cereal, and I'm going downstairs to eat mine at my desk while I work. Then I hear Colby crying, and they're coming downstairs. I braced myself, fully prepared to give them a good lecture about how I'm working and they need to settle it themselves without fighting. HA. God has a way of teaching you a lesson sometimes and you just don't see it coming.

It happened again. Colby smacked his head - just below his eyebrow - on the kitchen counter. Lucky me. And of course, we're all in t-shirts & pajama pants. So, I get him settled & Garrett gets him a rag to hold over it. Garrett & I get dressed, he gets Colby's clothes together. I dressed Colby while Garrett ran around and found everyone's shoes and their DS's so they'd have something to do while we waited. I made all the phone calls from the car & we got to Vanderbilt fairly quickly.

He's not hurt, not bad. Four stitches and a Tetanus shot later, we're all home & resting. I guess getting stitches in your eyebrow is part of our family's tradition. At least there are no pictures tomorrow.

Inauguration Day

I didn't watch it. And before you say I'm some bitter old Republican, let me clue you in. I am not Republican. I generally support the Republican party because it is more conservative than the Democratic party. Simple as that. I am not old - I'm 36. And I'm not bitter, disappointed, but not bitter. Also, I never watch inaugurations. N.E.V.E.R. I work.

Let me say this first: I am proud of this country. Every 4 years we have a peaceful transfer of power. Yesterday was historic as the first African-American took the oath of office. I'm proud that we've moved past the civil rights violations of 50 years ago. I'm proud that most of us looked past color when we voted.

But I am concerned. I do not think that America needs to be "re-made" or "re-born" or any of the other "re" words he used in his speech. I do not think that the government needs to provide jobs, healthcare, retirement, or any of the other things we, as free people, should take care of ourselves. I do not believe that the question is "whether or not the government works" but I believe the question is "whether it is too big or too small". He got that backward.

And I am offended. DEEPLY offended by that "prayer". In case you only watch the main-stream media, here is an excerpt:

'Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the
joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will
not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around... when the red man can
get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right. That all those who do
justice and love mercy say Amen. Say Amen'...

Every word of that inauguration is planned and approved. If not by Obama himself, by someone on his staff. And I think someone needs to apologize to the American people - Christians in particular.

I'm very afraid it's going to be a long 4 years.