And the Hits

My good friend br is always wondering why I am always behind the eight ball financially. (I feel compelled to pause for a second while my GTF friends finish chocking on their bourbon and cokes, as I am probably the most well-off person they associate with on a regular basis, aside from ka, who is making bank off the internets). I am something of a financial wizard, having made, made $26 in the last quarter through my 401(k), so his befuddlement makes some sense, except that he forgets I am me (as you are he and we are all together).

In November, on Thanksgiving to be exact, my drain pipes backed up, sending used water into the sink, the dishwasher, and back out to the drain pipe for the dishwasher. $150.

December brought the Christmas season and giftal obligations all around. Plus my cell phone broke and I impulse bought a $300 phone, which is my own stupidity.

January saw my dishwasher stop working. $150.

February has started off with a bang with my sewer pipes backing up into my and my neighbor's yard. Again. So far it has cost me $160 for the pipe snaking and $100 for the sanitation clean up. We'll see what else comes my way through this. I have a feeling there's a retaining wall build in my future.

This is all aside from having a (almost) teenager in the house. br has a couple of young ones and he seems to believe they are expensive. Wait until they need a flute. Wait until they step on that flute and need it fixed right away. You don't budget for flute repair my friend. Or cello repair, for that matter. They don't stop needing clothes nor health care, but do need phones. And fish. And fish tanks, and heaters, and power strips, and well you get the drift.

These are the parts of life that I do not enjoy. Which makes all of you fine people all that more treasured.

Plus, on rare occasions, your daughter goes and draws you a gnome holding a flaming sword while riding a twonicorn. Which is nice.

Coulda, Woulda

I shoulda got into the gold game a long time ago.

If Alyssa still reads this blog...bet the brother-in-law is feeling pretty good these days.

Bracketology (Oy Edition)

I just filled out what may be the worst bracket in the history of bracketology. I ended up with all four #1 seeds advancing. Never happened before, but why not this year? I really, really wanted to pick Clemson over Kansas, but all the experts seem to have Kansas winning this thing, plus every freakin' year I underestimate Kansas and get Rock, Chalk, Jayhawked out of whatever pool I am in.

I have a feeling that my only consolation this year will be last year's fluke stellar performance and the fact that I have actually been too busy working (if you count getting drunk on St. Patrick's Day and tonight as work, which I do) to put much effort into it this year.

It's Not Fraud, It's a Stupidity Test. You Failed.

I heard a report on OPB that Oregonians lost some $400,000 last year falling for the Nigerian businessman scam on the internets. That's a lot of stupid scratch floating around out there.

Three Ruminations on the Value of Non-Monetary Rewards Within the Capitalist System

A Small Wager

Amber and I have a bet on. I have bet her $50 that she can't find an adult who will honestly say they wish they had studied less while in school.

My confidence in winning this bet is bolstered by the fact that Amber seems to think that her teachers will be a good place to go to get the anti-studying message.

So You Don't Have To

Uncle Dave is always on the cutting edge of middle-class life. Go ahead and guess how much it costs to have a plumber come out and hook up a sink, faucet, garbage disposal, dishwasher and ice-maker.

Go ahead, take a guess.