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Give/Save/Spend
A little more than a year ago, I instituted a new allowance strategy in our household. We had a problem with the previous allowance system in that it was paid out at random times and sent directly to the kids’ bank accounts. The kids had no real idea how much money they had and thus…
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My words are like a dagger with a jagged edge.
It was the summer of 2000. I had had my driver’s license for less than a year, the first of my friend group to acquire both a license and a vehicle. I spent a lot of time that spring and summer navigating my 1987 Ford Ranger (AKA Trucky Poo) around my small town with a…
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Mode: Tonsillectomy Recovery
We’ve been in Mode: Tonsillectomy Recovery for a full week now. It has been… okay? There was a lot of pain the first 3-4 days, but he’s really perked up in the last couple days here. We are still doing the Advil/Tylenol shuffle and staying close to home. I thought staying close to home for…
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Dependent Creatures Newsletter
Oldest KidMy oldest had his first job this weekend: kitten-sitting for the neighbors. Kids get all the best jobs. He walked up to their house twice a day all weekend. He fed the precious babies, he played with the precious babies, he scooped their precious poop from the litterbox. He took the responsibility very seriously…
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No Clock, No Problem
I have one of those cool sunrise/sunset alarm clocks, which I like very much except for the bright red numbers on the display which–despite being turned down to the lowest setting–have been screaming into my eyeballs all night every night for years. About two weeks ago I figured out how to turn the time display…
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On being miscast in the family
I ended up at the cabin for one night by myself last weekend. We happened to have two cars for 48 hours (long, boring story) and my husband wanted to take the kids to the local amusement park for the day on Saturday. “That’s fine,” I said. “I’ll go up to the cabin for the…
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The 1968 election
I took a break from stewing about cover letters yesterday so I could stress-eat pretzels and watch a soothing documentary about Robert Kennedy that I started ages ago and never finished. I watched President Lyndon B. Johnson’s announcement that he would not be running for president again. He surprised everyone by stepping aside at the…
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A Very Honest Cover Letter
Dear Employer: The only thing you really need to know about me is that I am very competent. Really, that’s it. I’m pretty sure I could do almost any job that doesn’t require a master’s degree as long as you’re willing to give me a couple weeks of training. Am I a good team member?…
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Childhood Camping Memories
Location: Unknown, maybe Mount AdamsDate: Unknown, but I was very little and I don’t think my brother was born yet so maybe 1987?I woke up in the tent in the middle of the night. It was raining and water was pouring in from one corner. My mom and dad were frantic, yelling at each other…
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How to gain confidence instantly!
I’ve been walking around for the last month feeling like I’ve lost weight. I only get weighed at the doctor so I can’t say for sure, but I’m pretty confident I have not lost any weight this year. I have been going to the gym, but not as frequently as I should. I have been…