Yeah. My mother returned to work, because my father lost his second job which had provided our benefits, as his primary job was carpentry, and he was self-employed. For some people, it's not a choice. For others, it's not a choice that works (because of career type, interests, etc.), but for some people, us included, it ended up being simpler. In our case, because it was simpler, and it was also what we wanted, it wasn't a tough decision to make, but it was a really tough decision to adapt to. In my s-i-l's case, she does better financially, working part time when her husband is home (so, no daycare costs), than she did working full time, with two kids in daycare.

Okay. Okay. He bought a product called "The Whizzinator" off the 'net?

I think all the spam we get is his fault. He's the guy buying the stuff advertised in spam. He should go to jail 4EVAH.

What's going to be faster in about half an hour- the 101 heading west, or the 10 west plus a brief stint on the 405?

oooh. tough call. I'm scared of the 405.

This is odd.

I got an e-mail from a professional genealogist who was hired by the Lower Manhattan Tenement Museum to find and contact the descendants of Solomon Wronker, my great-great-grandfather. It seems he once (about 1900?) owned the tenement building that now houses the museum.

Yay?

Have any of you NY Buffistas ever heard of it, or been there?

I'm scared of the 405.

Me too, Kat. I think I'm going to just resign myself to sitting on the 101 for a long time.

I saw the tenement museum on some tv documentary on (I think) the History Channel. It looks like it'd be an interesting place to see on my next trip to NYC.

Or part Siamese. They are very chatty and gossipy and never shut up.

Oh, so you've met my cat, Amarna? There are a few Buffistas who've met her and are familiar with her ability to not stay quiet. She even grumbles when she's getting a drink of water. She loves to wake me up by standing on top of my chest, looking down into my face, and with a very bossy expression on her face, "MRROW!" just as loud as she can.

Have any of you NY Buffistas ever heard of it, or been there?

I've been there. We went there on field trips from Hebrew school a few times, and once or twice with my family. I think the last time I was there was probably close to ten years ago, though.

The money/salary conversation is really interesting. I won't disclose Tom's numbers, because that's his business, but I am $5 away from making 40K a year, which is exciting, because I've been stuck in low-to-mid 30s for a long long time. In April, there'll be a raise. Even if it's the bare minimum that will still put me up over 40K.

My/our debt is only my student loan at this point, which is like 35K. Our rent is 14.2% of our combined income, which is pretty good for this area, and the size of the apartment.

My boss was pushing the higher-ups to cough up the extra $5 (annual) to make the salary an even 40K, just for psychological purposes, but they wouldn't. Their logic is not ours. But, whatever, I still get overtime and a very busy spring/summer ahead.

My money stuff is finally under control (knock wood) and I finally feel like I can actually start thinking about the future, instead of trying to pay off the past. More than anything I'm relieved that my sketchy financial past didn't drag Tom down into the sewers of debt and loathing.

I looked at my pay stub this week and I have something crazy like 106 hours of sick leave accumulated! Crazy!

Nora, your only debt is your student loan, now? That rocks! You must feel so great.