Y'all and such...

Of all the southern phrases, nothing quite stands out like "Y'all"...  In the south, or even Florida, "Y'all" is ubiquitous.  Y'all this, Y'all that...Y'all everything, except for "Y'all come back now, ya hear?"  I have not heard that phrase once since I have been here, which tells me that either I am holding on to a charming little Southern gem that is not real, or no one actually wants me to return.

I heard Y'all this morning at breakfast, and I realized - I am getting used to this word. When I first moved here, I would cringe at the word, I hope only internally.  Maybe externally, I can't be sure.  But today, I heard the waitress say it, and I did not cringe, on the inside or the outside - I am pretty sure.  That is when I realized I think I am getting used to it.  

I wondered then - what else am I getting used to, vs what will I never get used to... Here we go... 

I am getting used to:

• Not having to say "no lemon" when ordering a diet coke.  This is because they never do it, and when I first said "no lemon", they looked at me like I had 4 heads... Why on earth would I bring you a lemon?  
• Y'all... I mean, hearing it, not saying it.... I have not uttered it, and if I do, I want any of you to slap me.
• A seemingly disproportionate ratio of pick up trucks to cars... odd.... 
• Seeing Fried Green Tomatoes on the menu EVERYWHERE!!  And discerning the difference between the good and the bad versions!
• Coke is it, Pepsi is not it at all...
• All wonderful things breaded and fried... Taking terrible sounding things and turning them into a paradise for your mouth, like Fried Okra!
• Avoiding Italian restaurants, even though they are called NY Style... They are not...
• Generally accepting that all food will be what it is - a weaker version of the really good food in NJ and NY.... I am learning that it is good - for here... That is how I accept it now... "It is good pizza! (for here)... Lowered expectations eases a lot of suffering... 

I do not expect to get used to:

• Boiled peanuts... Not going to be used to seeing the signs for them along the sides of the road, nor will I get used to what they look like - little baby alien pods... Creepy and gross!
• Barbecue not meaning "to have a BBQ" which means grilling burgers and hot dogs
• Confederate flags just being everywhere... and places that make little sense, why pay homage to something with a flag lining the wall of a closet??
• Country music everywhere... Everywhere... Classic country, new country, rock/country.... it is omg, everywhere....
• Having to look at OJ containers to make sure it is really from Florida... how is it possible OJ is sold here that is not made here??  
• Southern hospitality being a concept, rather than a real thing... I have met some very kind people, but for the most part, crappy service is alive and well in the south
• People working at glacial paces in places like, oh I dunno, "fast" food restaurants???
• Peanuts and coke as a snack... Literally nuts in the coke... 
• The phrase "Hey, Y'all!"  A brighter and cheerier version of Y'all, it just sounds like an overzealous cheerleader gone haywire... No, uh-uh... 

And there ya have it, more fun from the mind of a northern girl living in the strange and wonderful south...  Life is always fun, and rarely what I expect!

Thank you so much for reading and sharing!

I've been eating wings all wrong!

Hello, all, and thank you so much for reading and sharing!  Interesting factoid, I read where only 1 in 3 Floridians were actually born in Florida.... Hmmmm... That totally makes sense to me!

Sooo... another good week in the south, hahaha...  This past week, I learned a lot... One thing in particular that had my head spinning was the realization of how little I know about chicken wings.  Both in ordering them and in eating them... How did this "learnin" happen, you might wonder... Well, it all started with a simple play date...

My daughter had some friends over, and their dad, being super kind, treated us all to pizza and wings.  Since it was my house, I made the call to the local pizza place - now again, this is Florida, so my expectations on the pizza have been dramatically lowered.  I ordered 2 small pies, and honey barbecue wings.  They asked me what kind, and the dad replied "Flats".  I looked at him like he had 3 heads.  I thought, did he just say "flats?"  Did he hear my question?  Yup, I heard him right.... He ordered 20 wings, flats... I was befuddled.... So then he explained how there are drumsticks, and there are these 2-boned flat things... called, appropriately enough, flats.  Lesson one of the night... I had been warned that I was going to get "learned", lol, it was very funny... 

Then the food arrived.  The kids scattered with their paper plates full of pineapple and pepperoni pizza, and the second part of my lesson began.... And this is where I learned that I have been doing it wrong my whole life.  First of all, I learned that you really do need to use both hands.... I have been a one handed girl, but that was mostly because I was ordering the wrong kind, the drumstick kind.  What has a handle, really, and fits one hand...  OK, lesson learned.  Next, there is a detailed process, having to do with pulling the extra fat off of one end, and somehow separating the meat from between the 2 bones... I gotta tell you, I kinda forgot it all.  I am sure I have more work to do in order to really master this.  But I can say that I surely do understand that there is an ordering and eating process for wings that I had never ever heard of... and now, now I know that, and will work on following this method to the best of my ability.

I also think that in part of the lesson was that I should never order the drumstick kind, but I will have to pretend that I wasn't really "learned" on that part, lol...I can't help it, I like them...

BTW, I can't help but wonder - geography aside, is Florida even really considered "The South"?  I mean, when you consider "The Old South", civil war history and plantations and all that, do you ever, ever picture Florida?  I never have... I picture South Carolina, I picture Atlanta, Georgia... But Florida?  Not really the south... and based on the people I have met, it is a northern state hiding in the south.  Culturally, it really has a unique feel, very different from the north, but very different from the deep south... Either way,it's home now... And I love it... :-) 

Thank you for reading and sharing, I really appreciate it!

More to come.... xo

Hello!  And thank you for reading!

As I write this, I am happily back home in Florida... I was away for two weeks, back up north in New Jersey.  Having been born in the great state of New Jersey, I naturally felt very happy to be home.   Home.... Home in NJ where most of my friends and family are....But now, I am home, home in Florida, home where I now live.  

Now that I have had some time to reflect, I feel like I can now list  a few reasons why I truly do identify as a northerner as opposed to a southerner.... And believe I always will...

In the North, 

1) Pizza, Bagels and Chinese Food are real..... OK, and Subs..... In the south, they are pretending....

2) Accents make sense... In NJ, "see it" is 2 words meaning the obvious... In the south, it is one word, meaning "sit".... Sit..... I swear....

3) There are no confederate flags in view - In FL, there are tons of these ugly flags, and I am sorry if I am insulting you... and this is not political at all, this is pure aesthetics... They are an ugly form of "decor", and if I see one on your car, yes, my northern sensibilities will kick in and I will automatically assume you are a hick....

4) The beaches rule... Down the Shore in New Jersey is better than any other beach, even the gorgeous gulf coast beaches of Florida... I can't say why it is better, it just is... There is a unique vibe that only exists in this one glorious spot...

5) There are book stores everywhere... Here, I have to drive 30 minutes to find one... In NJ, there is one within a 5 mile radius... And not just the box chains, but there are also small local shops with tons of exciting new and used books to pour through.... Here in FL, not so much... In fact, our local B&N just closed down for what I hear is a teen clothing store... I mean really??

6) It is accepted that when you order food and it doesn't come out the way you asked, you can return it... In the south, they look at me like I have 3 heads.... 

7) People understand that I am not shouting... Everyone talks like this!

8) People are friendly and talkative... Southern hospitality is a myth... Not that southerners are rude, but the whole southern charm, "y'all come back and see us" thing?  I have not seen it in play.... 

9) People have a standard pace for walking, driving and speaking... In the south, no, not so much.... It is painstaking to walk down the street, and do not get me started on driving!  OMG!!

10)  Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, there are DINERS!!  Regular diners where you can order a cheeseburger at 3am and know it will be great!! Or breakfast at 3am, if you so choose... 

And that's that... This is why I will be a Northerner living in the South... And will never be a Southerner.... 

This is not to say that the South doesn't have a lot of wonderful things to offer... It does.  And the people I have met have for the most part, been kind and smart.... So this is not to diss everyone and everything southern.... It just means, no matter where I go, a little part of my heart will always miss New Jersey....

Thank you for reading and for sharing!!

A hootin' and a hollerin'!

Hello, all!  Thank you for reading!

So today was a very "southern" day indeed!  And for me, authentic southern means "Cracker Barrel"!  Hahahaha...  Yes, I know, I am indeed a northerner... 

But I enjoy the southern feel of Cracker Barrel, and I even like the southern food... I have gotten accustomed to whole "biscuits and gravy" thing, I actually kinda like it.  In small doses.   And if I add enough butter and maple syrup to them, I like grits too - they taste like Cream of Wheat, which I love!   But again, if you add enough butter and maple syrup, you can make my flip-flops taste good.....  Man, maple syrup and butter - now I am hungry again!

If you haven't been to a Cracker Barrel, you should know that in addition to their southern cooking (I prefer their breakfast to their other meals) they have a shop.  Excellent business strategy, feed people and let them shop in one place... Well done!  And so after you eat, you pay the bill and walk out through the shop - just like when you get off of a ride at Disney or Universal.  And today, we saw that they have their fall and Halloween stuff out, and as part of that, they have their football collection.  As part of their football collection, you see a lot of "Gators", lots of "Seminoles".  Not that I am fans of those teams, but those logos are ubiquitous in Florida.

The sales guy was hovering around today, talking about the fall stuff, prancing around in a Halloween mask, just having fun.   And he started talking about football, and said that his team is Alabama.  Not really knowing anything about college football except that sounds like a team I have heard of, and I think they are Big 10 or whatever, and I smiled politely and said, "Oh, right, Alabama".  Then as I left, he told my husband that "Come a few weeks, my whole family will be sittin' around the TV, a-hootin' and a-hollerin!"  

And there ya have it.  Pure, authentic southern charm, about to be mocked by a cynical northerner... To be fair, he was nice and just being happy and excited.  But I couldn't help but wonder what other colorful euphemisms could be used to mean the same thing as "a-hootin' and a-hollerin'"... What do you think?  What might a northerner have said?  It couldn't have just been "celebrating", that is no where near as fun.  Living it up?  Partying?  Letting our hair down?  No, no... none of those work.  Carousing?  No, too scary....

What do you think?  Is there another phrase that a northerner would have used that would be both as charming and blog-worthy as the turn a phrase I heard today?  

Ah, the south.... This is going to be fun!   Bye for now!  Thank you so much for reading and sharing! <3 

Dawn's Blog: I'm back...

Dawn's Blog: I'm back...: Hello all!  I know it has been a really long time...And thank you for reading again! So the reason I have not been blogging is two-fold.  ...

I'm back...

Hello all!  I know it has been a really long time...And thank you for reading again!

So the reason I have not been blogging is two-fold.  First, I have been insanely busy, like really crazy.... Every part of my world has had moving pieces lately, so I am just having a hard time finding time to do some of the things I enjoy, such as blogging..... Secondly, I couldn't decide on what to discuss in my blog.  The money thing was interesting, but it was getting boring after a while.  I thought about other things that interest me, things about which I could write with some passion and intelligence.  Politics, I thought, I really love that topic, but then I thought, well, so many people do that.... Fashion?  I don't really get the new trends as much, so no.... Art, Literature and Music?   Yes, I love these things.... But enough to blog solely about these on a weekly basis?  Hmmmm, no..... 

And so now, something happened last night that hit me. 

Here is what happened.  I ordered a pizza from a place that is based on NY... Usually they understand my order, so imagine my shock when this conversation occurred:

Me:  I'd like to order a large plain pie with extra sauce.
Pizza Place: OK, anything else?
Me: Yes, an order of buffalo wings.
Pizza Place:  Um, what?  I mean, we don't have buffalo wings.  We have chicken wings...

OK, the rest of the conversation you can leave to your imagination.... But dear lord, did this yahoo think I was actually asking for wings that came from a buffalo??????  Seriously?  What on earth could I possibly have meant to this guy?  Jeez.... Wow.... Anyway.....so this is my new theme.... A northern girl living in the south.  I see things every single day that I cannot fathom, nor can I explain.... And it is very often just hysterical!   I have seen things like people with giant snakes hanging out of their cars, babies in the front seat of pick up trucks with no car seats, super weird things in the supermarkets, and more.... and as I experience these things from my very northern point of view, the situation is often, well, yes funny, at least most of the time.

OK, that is it for now, I just wanted to say hi, and tell you that I am back.  I hope you enjoy my new theme.  I am just writing about my life, my experiences, and I really do hope you come for the crazy ride.... 

THANK YOU!  <3

Money, money, money!

Hello!  And thank you for reading! 

So, I was wondering... Money is a frustrating topic... And it's sometimes funny, but more than not, it's downright depressing.... And stressfullllllll.... As a result, I sometimes don't have that much to say about it that isn't somewhat negative.  I was thinking perhaps it might be good to blog about more things than money.  I would like to always keep that as a major theme, since it drives so much of the way I live my life... It impacts what I do and how I think in so many ways.  

I have a lot of interests, but I do not really have expertise in many areas... I mean, I could certainly blog about adult learning styles, and current trends in social learning approaches.... but like only 2 of you would find that even remotely interesting, hahaha....

In terms of my finances, not much is going on... just trying to maintain the status quo, and that is really really hard!  I can say that I did go almost 3 weeks without having overdrawn my account, even just a little, so I am going to call that a huge victory!  

Although I do have to confess... I did make a splurge.  I feel like I rarely splurge - but others seem to think I do spend a lot on splurgy-stuff... So I will have to look at what is really a splurge, vs what is just a regular purchase.  My splurge though, was Yankee Tickets!  Since I live where they have baseball in March, I thought it would be a really nice and fun thing.  So, in a few weeks I will be going to Wide World of Sports in Orlando to see the Braves lose to the Yankees!  That will be fun, and while it was a splurge, it is something that I can do only a few times a year.  I love baseball, and spring training is only once a year - and I could see the Yankees play if they are in Tampa, but I rarely do that since it's kinda far... but I digress.   So that I feel, is a splurge.  

But what would you call the memory card for my phone?  Which I need so I can house movies and stuff..... Splurge?  What about the sandals that were super cute and were on sale from 65 to 32?  Yes, I guess conceptually that would be a splurge, but from a dollars and cents perspective, is 32 really a splurge?  Besides, I have been searching for really cute yet comfortable sandals for literally years....Cute and comfy, but not old ladyish is seriously hard to come by!!   Now, the clearance Michael Kors bag I picked up at Macy's a few weeks ago, it was 179 down to 59.... Again, is that a splurge?  To me, the beautiful and customized Louis Vuitton that I did not buy in Paris 3 years ago thanks to my awesome friend and her intervention!  That was like 2000 and it was a bag.... That to me, is a splurge!  One of course, that I did not do... or take.....What is the grammar on that?

New glasses... Is that a splurge?  I needed the lenses, but not the frames... But got them anyway.... Is that a splurge?  

Is a splurge simply anything that I just do not need regardless of price or is prices a factor?  Is there a formula, and would you like to do the math?  

PS - I really really want to see Elton John tomorrow night, and did not buy the tickets.... Even though I love Elton, and haven't seen him in years!!  Did not splurge!!  

What are your thoughts??  

Thank you for reading!!  xo 

Sometimes, I just cannot believe it...

Hello, all.  And thank you so much for reading...

I don't know if you struggle with money issues the way I do... I certainly hope not the way I do, lol, and I imagine everyone struggles to some extent. 

The other day, I was unable to order new glasses for Julia and for me, because well, I didn't have 550 spare dollars laying around, nor do I have credit.  And I said to the guy at the drs office, "I need to go to rehab.... like real rehab....but for money"... and he laughed and I laughed.  But there was a glimmer of truth in there, and it is the essence of what this blogging has been about for me in part.  The writing has been for sharing, for bearing my truths, for entertaining, and for learning about myself and why I do what I do.  Sometimes, I learn very important lessons.  While doing my 30 day no-spend, I learned about how carefree I had been with money, and put the brakes on some foolish behaviors.  However, sometimes, those foolish behaviors?  Well, I kinda love them!

I love them too much.  And here is where the therapy comes in, lol... Why?  Because why do I enjoy that purchase so much?  And why, more importantly, why do I not really seem to be learning from my mistakes?  I mean, maybe I am.  I have become more aware, more cautious, and I have totally stopped myself from some pretty stupid purchases.  I have been good and mindful in many ways.  And then, BAM, I mess up.  And I mess up big.  This last week, it wasn't anything at all to do with random purchasing, not at all.  It was about paying bills and forgetting about those things on auto payment.  Those little things that come out every month, same time, same amount and that are in my budget plan.... But still, when I go to pay other bills, I pay them and assume my current balance is my actual spendable balance.  I know this is the mistake, I know I do it, I try to prepare to avoid making it.... and yes, last week I did it and of course, overdrew my account.  Big time.  It was yet another painful way to learn a lesson.  

Therein lies the problem... the lesson.  Was it really learned?  Or was it merely observed?  Can I/Have I/Will I really be able to live the lesson?  How do I do the things that I know to do, yet somehow, something prevents me from doing it?  It is not that I do not want to, and it is not that I do not read the budget and make every attempt that I can think of at that moment to stick to it.  But still, something goes wrong.  Something goes wrong.... Sometimes I just forget one of the payments, sometimes it's a math error.  Sometimes, I don't even know how to label the mistake...It has no name and it just feels like fate.  

And so that is all for now... I just continue to ponder why I keep making these mistakes, even though I am sure to most of you they are easy and simple corrections to make.  And I continue to try, to learn, to work, to contemplate.... I hope it starts to help... soon, lol....

Thank you for reading!  xo

I heart you...

Ah, Valentine’s Day…  Valentine’s Day basically equals a day of spending money… Cheesy, but thoughtfully purchased and given, gifts, cards, chocolates and flowers… A sweet day for many, a day of torment for many… And a day that I would just as soon skip…   Not for any specific reason, like a platform against the day.  No, it’s just another day to me.  Perhaps I am just getting old, I dunno.  But the truth is, I would be ok with just skipping the whole rigmarole…

But I won’t, because it means things to those around me.  So I will happily go and find just the right gifts, just the right thoughtful little something.  Had I been better prepared, I would have certainly done this all already, lol… But you know me… :-) 

However, beyond this day, spending money just always seems to be there, this threat, just hovering.  The only way to be safe from it is to never leave your home.  Once you get in that car, you have first, gas… Then wherever it is you are going, it is likely going to cost you something, maybe the price of admission… maybe it’s the birthday gift you need to get for that party – which of course, means wrapping paper and cards… And god forbid you happen to be shopping at a Target for those things.  I challenge you to go into a Target for just one thing and come out with just that one thing!  It is impossible, because you see all the things you need and you say, “Oh, I should pick this up since I’m out”.   Plus there is a whole psychology around the correct marketing of the little extras that you just need to pick up.   

So then the answer must be to just stay home, right?  But even at home,  you have threats like shopping channels and the millions of internet sites that are just begging for your perusal.   Threats, threats, threats… So we must remain vigilant!   We must be on guard.  At least, I must be on guard.  This is my new way of being, trying so hard to avoid all of the trappings, all of the options… It is a challenge, but I try every day.  I need things, so I have to go out into the world.  But now, I am at least mindful of the difference between necessary and fun…. And it’s hard, because I almost always want the fun and the extras!

I continue to try.  But since I also continue to “want”, there shall remain an internal battle for some time….  Anyway, thank you for reading, and enjoy your Valentine’s Day!  Xo

Another day, another dollar

Hello, everyone.  Thank you for reading!

So I am really starting to believe that it is pointless... Like, it is above my reach, out of my control.... Because even when I do a good job, I am still punished!  

Over the past weekend, I went shopping to buy jeans for the every-growing child.  Sidebar - how much do I hate buying new school clothes midway through the school year?  Lots!!  And my child is a slow grower... how do the fast growers parents do it??  You must be shopping monthly!!  

And so, it was busy on the weekend...the stores were crowded, and the ditzy.   Actually, I am being kind... She was beyond ditzy... she was slow, she was rude, she wasn't trying to help at all and she seemed to go out of her way to so throw barriers in the way of my spending money in the store... To the point where I actually got sooooo exasperated that I shouted, "Why are you making it so hard for me to spend my money in here?"   

It was at that point the manager came over.... It was, however, too late.  She had already over charged my DEBIT card by $321.00!  It was just awful.  A hot, loud, crowded mess of just awful.  

They promised me that the transaction had been voided.  It wouldn't impact my account at all, they assured me.  I wouldn't even see a thing.  That's what they said, yes, those folks who wanted nothing more than to see me leave their store.  And you can guess where this is headed.... The charge did freeze my account.  And if you know me at all, you know that I generally do not have a lot of extra cash in my account, and 321 frozen in my account could be disastrous.  And it was.  That freeze caused 8 other items to overdraw, and each time, I was charged 36 dollars.  By close of business yesterday, as I watched it all snowball before my eyes, my account was overdrawn to the tune of negative 900.... Yup... and see, the thing is.... this time, it was legitimately not my fault!  I was being very careful, very very cautiously only spending money when I had to, and using coupons and everything!  

Finally, after days of fighting with both the bank and the store, I ultimately was placed back to a state of normal.  My account is not overdrawn anymore...  But it did really stress me out... And for those days, I wasn't sure if or when I would get how much of my money back.... Which leads me back to my original thought... Am I fated to being eternally frustrated by money issues?  No matter how hard I try, I feel like Sisyphus, forever rolling that giant boulder uphill only to watch it roll back down for all of eternity... I then start to wonder, even tough the gods placed Sisyphus in that position as punishment, what if.... what if Sisyphus was happy?  Camus thought he must be, because he must have accepted his fate.  He had purpose, he understood it....  I know, it's all absurd.  I am not Sisyphus, no god placed me in this spot as punishment... I have done it all myself... Still, the week I had makes me question all of it...

What do you think?  Are we just who we are??  Was my ability to control my finances just an illusion?   

More to come... Thank you so much for reading and sharing!  xo

   

At least I am not alone!!

Hello, all.... 

So, I saw an old friend over the weekend... we were talking about life and all of it's ups and downs... and we naturally got on the subject of work and money.  She said to me, "Dawn, I just hate it when I can't spend money.  I feel like I am being punished!  I hate that feeling, why is that?"  All I could do is say, "OMG, ME TOO!"  

We were both dumbfounded, yet found comfort in knowing that we are not alone.  So I wonder....is this feeling more common than I realize?  The solution to my friend is to get a second job with a high earning potential so that she can continue to spend as she likes.  And I love her, but boy she is a spender... I mean, I know I am a spender... but my big splurge is likely to be a new MK or Coach bag for 100 at the outlet... Her big splurge?  Last year it was a motor bike for her son and a 4 wheel AV thingy for her daughter..... Spontaneous, on a whim, thousands dropped on 2 huge things that have been used 2 or 3 times at the most...  But I digress.

So let me ask you - how does spending make you feel?  Happy, exhilarated?  Or mad at yourself?  Or others?  I feel like there is a whole rainbow of emotions tied to this.  I would imagine some feel even ashamed if they are spending more than they should, even if this is an imagined "should".  I know certain people who honestly feel like it is bad to spend things on themselves, like that act in itself is something to be punished.  

I have to go to pop psychology on this to ponder questions like, "How do we "use" shopping", "What motivates us to shop", or "what motivates us to not shop".  Freud said that we as humans are drawn to shiny things.  I guess I relate more closely to my cats than I ever realized.  In psychological terms, this is the appeal of luminosity,  which I totally get.... This is why I avoid craft shows where homemade jewelry could bankrupt me.

Then of course, we have emotional spending.  We have compulsive spending.  And we also have idiosyncratic spending, which is also referred to as "soul spending", spending money on those things that fill a void in our souls... But can a person do all 3 at the same time?  And are there more terms for this?  The questions can go on and on.

In the meantime, I am failing miserably at not spending.  First it was Xmas, then it was a big birthday event.... what excuse will befall me next month?

I try...and I thank you all so much for when you continue to remind me that "No, it is not OK to drive up to NJ to see a Barry Manilow concert!!!"  lol....

So I leave you with this question.... is it normal to want?    

Thank you!!  xo

Looking forward, not behind me

Hello, all, and thank you for reading!

As you know, I fell off the wagon, and I fell hard.  Christmas time was very challenging for me, and well, I hope that I learned some lessons from it.  The good news is that since that time, I haven't spent other than food and basics.  The one expenditure that was pure fun was Seaworld - and since I am an annual pass holder, the expense wasn't the admission, but rather lunch.  

So my goal is to continue to work on myself, to catch up on all my bills, and to ensure that I never ever ever overdraw my bank account again.   Since Christmas, I have been very diligent, but I haven't been tracking my expenses.  I haven't even been looking at my checking account.  Why?  Because I am afraid.  I am afraid to see that balance, or that flashing message that indicates low balance.  I am afraid of the next few days having to be all about scrimping and "getting through it".  I try to tell myself that I deserve better, that I deserve to breathe.  I know this, but somehow, the old traits just keep coming through.

The best approach is to avoid all chances to spend, such as going to the mall, amusement parks, etc.  But I can't do that entirely.  I will have to learn to be more balanced.  Kind of like living on a diet all the time.

But I ask you - where is the fun in that?  Can you imagine spending your entire life on a diet?  That is just misery!  Even when I try to find an in-between, the in-between feels like torture, like a punishment.  Why is that?  Why does being good and smart always feel so just flat out awful??  Do you ever feel that way?  I do, and it sucks.  And I have to imagine though, that being well managed and well maintained in terms of money feels really good.  Yet I can't seem to let go of these things that cause me pain...

What do you think??

Oh, well... thank you for reading, and more to come! xo