How can daycare cost that much?

I'm gonna say it's because toddlers lack a sense of mortality. Not that undergrads are always any better, but we tend to presume they can manage survival on their own.

JZ, I'll be consulting you when my one year review comes around.

Not long after I paid off my student loans I had a few months during which I had no debt. That was nice.

I love that story, Steph. And that he thought about the practicalities of the setting! Related note, I need to clear my search history and browser now that I've been googling various engagement ring search terms. Don't want D getting any kind of false sense of urgency on my part.

I dream of getting out of credit card debt. Sometimes it feels like two steps forward, tumble back down a flight of stairs. I'm much better about not spending money that I don't have, but I'm making way less of it and my expenses are higher. Working on both of those things, but it is slow and painful.

I want this. [link]

I just helped the kids make 60some Valentines. Oy! That was almost fun, except not. And then DH came home in time to take the kids to their tumbing class, so I get to go to my stretch class later. Yay DH! As far as I'm concerned, that's better than a Valentine's day card right there.

I tried oven-roasting a steak for the first time tonight, and it turned out very tasty. I overcooked it just a bit, but I'll know better for dinner tomorrow.

I want this. [link]

Huh. I've often fantasized about owning that building, but I didn't know it was for sale.

eta: From my Alderman:

The City is not selling the firehouse at a fixed price but, rather, is soliciting proposals for the use and purchase of the property. This means the City does not necessarily intend to sell the firehouse to the highest bidder, but rather will work with my office and community residents to ensure a use that is most beneficial to the surrounding neighborhood.

I love him. Did I ever mention he was the alderman who pushed the foie gras ban for Chicago?

How did you cook it, Matt?

Thanks for the good wishes, all. Hubby and I went outting and aboutting in Salt lake City, taking the commuter train up. I love trains. We were chatting in our usual way, with multi-lingual puns and diversions into strange history and science subjects. An older lady, not much older than us, smiled and asked "How long have you been married?" Hubby and I looked at each other. "Twenty . . . six years now, I think?" I said. Hubby nodded. "I'm starting to lose count." The older lady beamed at us, but over her shoulder I saw a younger woman with a stricken look on her face. She leaned to her friend and not-quite-whispered "I've barely been married ten." Her friend nodded slowly.

I am a lucky woman.

Rubbed in olive oil, salt, and pepper, pan-seared for three minutes on each side, then roasted in the pan for 3 minutes per side at 375°. After that, topped with a pat of butter and some garlic salt to finish/cool for another few minutes.

I think tomorrow I'll cut the oven time down to 3 minutes total.

Went out to the Dizz with my neighbors for their annual birthday dinner (his was monday, hers is tomorrow) and managed for ONCE to pay for the both of them (Brian almost always sneaks the check or refuses to let me pay, he likes to big-brother me.)

Ate and drank too much as we sat in a warm and cozy bar watching the snow slush fall.

And I could chew!