It's Anecdote Time. Hey, I Thought They Were Funny.

Every time I go to Little Caesar's to buy a pizza, I get overcharged. Now, it's true that it is really cheap pizza to begin with, cheaper than I can purchase any other place, and it's also true that I've only ever been overcharged there by a nickle, but still it rankles me.

Michael and I are doing the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace program this summer, and even though we don't plan to give up use of our credit cards as per Dave's instructions, we felt that for the duration of the class we really ought to use the envelope system as much as possible. Which is why I keep losing nickles. Because I've been paying cash. About which I have very mixed feelings.

But here's the sitch: Last week I was going to be smart about it. I couldn't quite remember whether the pizza was going to cost me $5.45 or $5. 55, and I didn't feel like looking it up or doing the math, which would have taken me two seconds, so I took what I had, which was a five dollar bill, two quarters and five pennies. The plan was to give her the change based on what she told me, and this time to be sure to ask for a receipt.

As I near the pick-up window I plan out exactly what is supposed to happen, but then I get to the window and all my plans fly out the window. The pizza costs $5.45. I give her all my money. She doesn't even look at it really, gives me no change. I ask for the receipt. "I should get some change," I tell her. "Didn't you give me $5.45," she asks. I tell her what I gave her and then I say...

Wait for it.

"I should get a nickle back." She complies and I say something to try to make sure she doesn't feel bad about it.

Crap, Crap, Crap.

"Mommy, what's wrong? What's wrong, mommy? What's wrong?" Isaac is in the back seat in the van with me. I'm so amused and frustrated with myself and Little Caesar's pizza that I have to call Michael about it. Which sparks even more questions of what's wrong from my two year old.

So this girl at the window isn't good at making change, but look, it's my money! And I used to work in retail. I know how to make change. It's my own damn fault! What outrages me and makes me laugh all at the same time is that I thought I was going to be all smart and not make a mistake. Epic Fail! Not only that, but the receipt doesn't even show what actually happened in the transaction.  I doubt it would matter to you, but it matters to me.

I meant for this story to be funny, so if I've failed to make it so, please gently let me know in the comments.

Two more anecdotes:

1. Parker is four years old. A couple of weeks ago we're at CHOM and I hear him say to the lady at the craft table, "I'm four years old, but some people think I look older."

2. We've had a daytime guest at our house over the last several weeks, a friend of ours who is using our computer to take an online class. He walks into the living room one afternoon and tells us that he's going to have to find a school-age child to interview, someone six or older, for a class. Parker sweetly offers his services as an interviewee, even though he's younger than the lower age limit: "I'm tall!"

Computers, video streaming, etc.

We bought a new laptop computer, and Michael and I have traded so that I am now using the new Dell laptop, while he has taken over the less new Acer.  This seems to work out well for the both of us as he needs the wider screen for web design, and I need the better speakers for what I do, watch a lot of tv.  Actually I have less time for tv lately, which is a good thing. 

I like the smaller screen, smaller keypad, and lighter weight of the Dell, which makes it ever the slightly more portable.  I might take this one with me to the coffee shop, if I ever decided it was worthwhile to write there. I like that it doesn't have any crud under the buttons yet.  And I like that it's cover is blue.  It helps too, since we now need an additional laptop, we already own this one.

Michael bought the Dell laptop almost by mistake.  We were trying to decide whether or not to send it back, when the window of opportunity for that possibility closed.  We thought about selling it on ebay. Now we have a reason to keep it. 

[Parker is momentarily standing in the hallway at 9:15 p.m. trying to convince Michael that he couldn't possibly sleep in his own room tonight.  It would be cuter if he hadn't already been in bed for over an hour and a half.]

As far as the television is concerned, I am practically run over now that the networks have picked up their Fall seasons.  The ability to time-shift viewing patterns is wonderful.  The way the interesting television shows begin to pile up in my Hulu queue is less wonderful.  Because I'm one of those people who actually like television.  Not everyone who watches it does, you know.  Not only do I like it, but I am also usually (if not always) an active viewer of television.  I like movies too.  My mom points out that I don't have to watch them, but don't I?  Is it enough to pretend that I won't pick up any new ones?  Who am I kidding?

Another Question of the Day

Let's make this question #2 of the day. I found a small hole in the cotton-knit onesie Parker wore yesterday with his shorts. It's a small hole that threatens to get larger, although it survived a delicate cycle and dry on low heat this morning. What can I do to repair this item of clothing? Specifics, please. I am SO not good at asking where things are at the store.

I probably only paid a couple of dollars for it at Little Lambs, but it looks so good on him.

Something a Bit More Practical

If you didn't like my last post (and I won't hold it against you if you didn't) here's one that should be a little more palatable.

I received, at my request, a drying rack for Christmas. Now I'm looking for advice on the most effective way to use it. Here's what I've learned so far.

Most clothes come off of this thing stiff as a board and full of wrinkles. You really can't fit very much laundry on it. The point I've come to is that if I really want to air dry the majority of my laundry I will have to do laundry approximately every other day in much smaller loads than I have been accustomed to. In most cases I will probably wind up throwing the clothes into the dryer for ten minutes or so there at the end anyway.

Any suggestions on how to most effectively arrange the clothes on the drying rack?

Grocery List, Grocery Shopping Challenges

Last week I posted something regarding the problems I have making shopping lists and getting the shopping done. It's a problem that has hounded me since the beginning of my marriage, just over seven years ago.

Julie, of Treasures&Jules, provided a detailed response that can be found at http://treasuresandjuls.blogspot.com/2007/11/how-i-cope.html. She also provides links to a couple of websites I hadn't seen before. Thanks, Julie!

Great to Have a Washing Machine; Dryer's pretty cool too.

Someday I'll write about how great it is to live in a house now instead of an apartment. There are all sorts of advantages and I hope I will continue to recognize them as such. Right now I need some really practical advice concerning a very old practice: hanging clothing on a clothesline to dry. Pretend I don't know anything about it, because as a kid I had virtually no interest in matters that are of utmost importance to me now.

Is there any difference between hanging clothes outside to dry in summer versus winter? How long should the clothes be left out in the sun? Are wooden clothes pins better or are plastic? Any ideas on how I can get both Parker and the wet laundry outside safely? Any clothes pin storage solutions in mind?

I don't have a clothesline yet, but I'm looking forward to getting one.

I'm interested in saving money on laundry in other ways as well. When I use my dryer, I know it's better to dry the clothes on low heat because this causes less wear and tear, but I wind up running it two to three times at thirty minutes each. Would I save more energy using a sensory dry on medium heat, or what? Because there will be days when I have to use the dryer. I am soon to be on the market for a new laundry cleaning agent because we're about to stop ordering from the company we always got our detergent from. Which detergents do you like, and do you prefer liquid or powder.

Anything else I ought to know that I haven't thought to ask?