Charlie Brown's Christmas tree: $24

JZ, you need to make the best long-term decision for you and your family. I know you have scruples and that is admirable and wonderful. But you haven't signed anything and you will be living with this decision for a very long time. It needs to be the right one.

But I already accepted! I haven't signed off on it, but I emailed them an acceptance of the offer! I'd be going back on my word!

I feel ya. I went through similar turmoil when I accepted my current job. In that case the other offer didn't pan out and I ended up happy with the position I'd initially accepted but while the whole thing played out it was awful.

But if the offer-ers suddenly got their first choice back or the bosses kid or the budget changed or there was a re-org or... or... or... the offer would go away. Don't doubt it. It's not even a matter of you being ethical, it just feels like one.

Oh geez. My sister, bless her heart, is *just now* trying to find a Wii to get the kidlets for Christmas. As in this Christmas. Crazy woman.

I don't know why she thinks that I'll be able to find her one is she can't find one.

JZ, what all the wise people said.

Nicole, I may have a connection, but the language would likely be Chinese. You want I should try?

JZ, I do admire your scruples. I just think that, like everyone said, right and wrong gets a little fuzzy when you bring family into the equation. I think you should at least investigate this other possibility, but do so as quickly as possible. If it does turn out that you want to take the other offer, the only remaining scruple I see is letting the other company know as soon as you can.

In unrelated news, the kitten has a cold and keep sneezing on me. Ew.

juliana - would she still be able to pay for it online? If so, then yes, please try! And even if it doesn't pan out, thank you in advance for offering.

I just clipped my kitties' claws. There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth. Now they've had some treats for only howling and not scratching me. I expect them to come curl up again soon, but I'm getting the cold shoulder for inflicting such indignities.

I'm fortunate that my cat thinks that the occasional claw clipping is no big deal. He just sits in my lap until I'm finished with him.

The dog, however, is a totally different story. His front nails refuse to wear down, even with daily walks on concrete. And ninety pounds of (mostly) muscle fighting against you while you have the clippers in one hand, his paw in the other, and your entire body pinning him down... I'll just say that it's not a simple task.

Even the vet won't attempt it unless they already have him under anesthesia for his teeth cleanings. Years ago a vet assistant thought I was a wuss until he almost knocked her out by hitting her in the face with his big 'ol knot-head and then he let his bowels loose all over her shoes.

Congratulations, Jilli!

Thanks for all the support ... I really was freaking for a while there. In order to calm myself and get some sleep, I ended up making a hot toddy. It helped. A lot.

I think at this point, I've simmered down to "displeased" with the lack of choices. And to be honest with you, I could be a lot happier with the medical plan with the huge deductible if we also had Flex Spending or cafeteria-plan HSAs so that this stuff could come out pre-tax. We'd get better control of the financial hit we have to take, as well as stretching the dollars. But this company won't do Direct Deposit for our paychecks on the grounds that it costs them too much. Not knowing how spendy it is for a company to deal with Flex Spending, etc., I'm guessing that it's going to be too much for the company as well.