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Happy eight months, C-bug

(Incidentally, she looks exactly like me in this picture … if I were an eight month old baby girl, of course.)

*gasp*

That’s me coming up for air.

I thought I had a ton of stuff to blog about this weekend and today, but I just haven’t had a chance.

This weekend I finally finished painting the trim in our bedroom. When Katie and I bought this house a year and a half ago, the first major project I undertook was to paint our bedroom. I thought it was going to be a 2-3 day job, but I didn’t count on wallpaper. I spent a good forty hours just on the walls, and I never got around to the trim.

And you’d've thought I’d learned at least one lesson - every project in an old house takes longer than you’d expect. Yet I still spent a good twelve hours on the trim this weekend. I had tons of stuff I wanted to do around the house, and the only thing I got done was the white trim in the bedroom.

But I did get it done.

Breaking in new shoes

My mother told me yesterday that when she was growing up, every new pair of shoes had to be broken in. I guess that means every new pair of shoes she had was nicer than all of the shoes I’ve owned to date, because this is my first ever (yes, it’s true) pair of shoes that have to be broken in - and presumably my first pair designed to last more than a year.

And I’m getting somewhere. I’ve already started to feel them getting more comfortable, after a day and a half of wear. I’m just glad I don’t have to do this very often! This morning I was taking veeerrry small steps.

Realization

It’s a fine line between cute and disobedient.

Pet Peeve

Why is it that when you call certain companies - in this case cricket - you have to repeat the same info over and over and over? I must’ve just repeated my phone number five times - twice to the computer, and three times to as many people. Why does the computer ask you for information if it’s not going to relay the information to the real people?

And yes, cricket, I do want to cancel that number. That’s why I called you. And when I said I’m canceling because the number isn’t used, why did you think giving me a $10 price reduction would help. That’d still be $35 for nothing.

Oh, and while I’m at it, why do some companies always tell you to “listen, as our options have changed?” The options must change every day, and thankfully, I don’t call you often enough to have them memorized anyway.

Zappos absolutely rocks

Zappos is just awesome. I ordered a new pair of dress shoes on Friday, and they arrived last night with no shipping fees. I tried on the shoes and decided they were a hair too big, so I called them this morning, and they said the new shoes will be here tomorrow free of charge. All I have to do is return - again, free of charge - the old shoes within two weeks. The only hassle is the UPS store, and the prices are extremely competitive.

I’m such a fan.

Snow and fire

Last night, we had a huge, wonderful fire in the fireplace, leaving me to wonder if it’ll be the last of the season (we often don’t have time during the week - there’s little point when you get home within an hour of bed time). And now I’m looking out the window at what could only be described as a snow storm here in Sevier county. Is this the last throes of (pseudo) winter?

One downside of having a baby

Katie and I were so very saddened to have to miss this show on Saturday night. And now I’ll have to find the time to swing by the disc exchange to buy the cd.

And just like that

One minute, it’s quiet. The next minute, kids.

Stains

Sometimes I feel like a child.

I don’t think I’m capable of wearing anything without somehow staining it and rendering it not nice enough for work. How I do this is beyond me.

I’m just glad the baby is spitting up a *lot* less these days. I was really tired of smelling like rotted milk!

On the Tennessee income tax - don’t get mad at me

It seems like every few years the Tennessee legislators get into a battle over how to tax us. One big issue is whether Tennessee should have a progressive income tax. And every time the issue comes up, the status quo is preserved.

But what most people don’t understand is that Tennessee does have a state income tax. And I’m not just talking about the so-called Franchise and Excise tax on businesses, which is another issue altogether. I’m talking about the Hall income tax, which is a levy on any dividend, interest, s corp distributions, etc, over $1250 per individual, excluding national banks and most state institutions and municipalities.

Well, like I said, a lot of people don’t even know there is a state income tax, and those who do don’t often know the exact rules, which are arguably quite unfair - eg taxing tax-free but out-of-state interest.

Lots of people don’t understand it, and lots of those people have been mad at me of late.