I like to get household tips and learn things from Mary Hunt’s Everyday Cheapskate newsletter (free). I have learned that most of her financial advice is stuff I don’t want to bother with and some of her solutions require a devotion that makes a nun’s life seem luxurious.

She gets a bit preachy and in a recent newsletter she writes about how to teach your kids to be financially responsible and money-wise. She says it’s all about them learning from you by watching how you handle money and how you guide them. When kids get into the whiny “I want that” mood, responding with “We don’t choose to spend our money that way,” is better than “We can’t afford it,” etc. Also do not reward them with money for chores because it is better that they learn their family responsibilities and feel a commitment to them. After all, no one pays Mom to make dinner and do the dishes. So far, sage advice. And at the end, she says “Make sure your children grow up knowing that all good things are a blessing from God.”

My impulse at this point is to hit the reply button and add “And all bad things come from the same God because He is all powerful. Just do the math.” But if I receive any feedback at all from the few times I have railed it is either a form letter “Thank you for your interest in blah blah. We are unable to respond to all queries but rest assure blah blah,” or no reply at all, thys my earnest wish to educate falls into the E mail abyss. Sigh.

I was listening today to a memorial program to celebrate the birth 100 years ago of Frank Loesser, the Broadway songwriter. He wrote, among many other well known songs, “I Believe in You” from “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”. In the show, Robert Morse sings this to himself, looking into a mirror. It is his self-affirmation. So I have looked up the lyrics. I thought I’d sing this a la Mr. Morse to see if, in a little while, I would feel any differently than I now do. Not that I am suffering from a poor self-image (I feel sure many of you would be the first to tell me I am not), but it’s a little experiment I’d like to try.

It was chilly today, there was a BIG wind. I didn’t bike because, I would have been pedaling without any movement -- and I get really tired. The cats, mainly Max, were antsy because the wind made it impossible for them to hunt geckos, who, I think, hide out when the weather is iffy. So he agitated for the garage, for the front areaway, for food, for I don’t know what. And nothing pleased him. I wonder if he knows that, but for me, he would be in a shelter or being used as a mouser in some dingy factory (that was one offer to take him -- I said no way).

So take care of your kitties, your kiddies, stay out of the wind.

xx, Teal