I have been productive today. I took my spare change down to the CoinStar machine and got Overstock.com credit for it; I went to look at a dresser that I was considering buying from craigslist, but decided I didn't like it so much; I went to look at a coffee table and end table I was buying from craigslist, which I did like, but which required two trips to get home, because I forgot the first time to check if the legs could come off the tables. Then I bought in the whole end table and the coffee table legs -- the coffee table top is too heavy for me to carry in, so I'll have to find someone to help with that, somehow. Then I got on overstock.com, and used the spare change credit plus a 10% off coupon from the post office to buy a wardrobe, so that I'll have somewhere to put my clothes. The one that I ended up buying is actually advertised as baby furniture, but it doesn't really look obviously baby, and it had much better reviews than all the comparably priced similar ones that aren't made for baby rooms. [link] My new plan for bedroom furniture, since my old plan of getting a matching bedroom set seems too expensive, is to buy pieces as I need them, all white and similar styles, so that they'll coordinate, if not match. And if I feel like it at some point, I can get some cool drawer pulls at Anthropologie or someplace.

Ackles all the way.

Or not.

Or not.

Hey, then we're both happy.

...I suddenly have a new thing to aspire to that I had never imagined. Wow.

Right? It's like, I don't know enough really wealthy people to understand what really wealthy people can have. My wealthiest friends got so by being really really fiscally conservative. Personally, I mean, not talking politics. Which has been good for me, because I now believe that you become wealthy by turning off the lights when you leave a room. And they spend money when they want to. For example, they have the world's most comfortable sleeper sofa. I didn't know such a thing was possible, but it turns out you get what you pay for.

And we help them spend their money, sometimes. We chose their surround sound system for them and talked them into the nice Harmony when they redid their media stack. But you know, overall, they're very subdued people.

And for the most part, when we were building our house and stuff, it was clear that mostly, money buys you nicer materials. I mean, you still have a kitchen counter, it's just not made of formica. So then I was like, I don't think I need lots of money, because I like the surfaces I have. I don't need them to be nicer.

So when it turns out that money can buy you things like your own private airstrip that you can just taxi your plane to from your house? It's somewhat baffling to me. I didn't even know I wanted that!

I just put together the end table. The size and scale seem totally wrong for the room. I'll give it a week or two, and if I still don't like it, I'll just craigslist it again. (I'm seriously tempted to list it for $20 more than I paid for it, because I'm pretty sure I could easily get that much for it, but that seems wrong, somehow.)

Hi, all. Feeling futless.

Hil, glad you're making progress on settling in.

Cass, was it here you were asking me about recycling? What kind of plastic do you mean, exactly?

Hil, list it for whatever you want and do not feel bad.

And for the most part, when we were building our house and stuff, it was clear that mostly, money buys you nicer materials. I mean, you still have a kitchen counter, it's just not made of formica. So then I was like, I don't think I need lots of money, because I like the surfaces I have. I don't need them to be nicer.

Liese, sometimes I think we are 90% the same person.

I come online and first post I see here is my last one:

I'm already annoyed at my kids. It's going to be a long Sunday.

Yep. Pretty much sums up my day. Annoying kids.

Welcome to most weekends with my family. I need much more alone time than small children want to give me.

I need much more alone time than small children want to give me.

HAHAHAH!

If I were thinking of what the mother's lament it would sound like, it must include the words "stop making demands on me!"