7th Grade Pipe Dream

There’s a lot to potentially write about; it’s been a wonderful year since I last posted. I had my “flour baby” and he’s still alive and doing pretty well, so I think I’m on track to pass my real-life home-education class (that is if I’m not graded on other “domestic duties”).

While there is a lot I could share on the first 9 months of Harry’s life and how that whirlwind of an experience has forever changed my life in the most positive of ways – I’m not going to. Instead, I was reminded recently of an experience I had in 7th grade that I’m looking to draw motivation/inspiration from.

In the world of middle school there are certain activities that everyone is involved in. Everyone seems to be good enough for sports and everyone seems to be somewhat trained to play 3-4 notes on an instrument (or sing relatively in tune) which was enough to get you enrolled in orchestra, band or choir. So, really about 90% of the 7th and 8th grade classes were enrolled in one of these three music choices.

My course was orchestra and I played the violin. I don’t know which is worse: kids trying to play string instruments or kids trying to play brass instruments? But I’ll tell you what band did have over orchestra…they marched. They marched and I was jealous.

Every spring that I can remember growing up in Spokane, I would hear the Ferris High School band marching through the streets of my neighborhood in preparation for the annual Lilac Festival Parade. It was exciting – all the neighbor kids would run out of their houses accompanied by their bikes, trikes and dogs - trailing behind the percussion section that was usually the last part of the band. It was exciting, and I always wanted to be a part of it.

Every year there was a Junior Lilac parade – it’s usually the week or two before the official big Lilac Festival Parade that features a number of floats and all the regional high school bands. This particular year during the Junior Lilac parade, I was downtown with my mom and happened to see a number of the middle school bands performing, including my school. My school seemed to keep coming and coming, almost wrapping around two – three blocks, since well, it had a majority of the school in it. I was mesmerized – I wanted to be in the band marching, but I couldn’t, because I was an orchestra member….besides, the opportunity was truly marching me by…right before my eyes.

Except! Every year, one lucky middle school was selected to march in the main parade and my school was picked. I remember seeing our name announced on the news – because Spokane news only reports the best – and thinking to myself, “This is it! This is my chance!” Now, how was I going to get myself into the band….

Well, the band seemed to have 5 parts to it and this is where the 7th grader logic came into play:

1. Very front: The school sign carriers. This is exactly what I needed to do – I could hold the sign of our school! However, this was an elite job – there were only 3 people for this job, and they were all upperclassmen…not going to happen.

2. Near front: The drill team. that wasn’t going to happen, considering I couldn’t even do a somersault

3. The middle: The band – I’m sure I could have pulled enough skill together to play three or so notes for one instrument…but considering the finagling I was already looking at, I figured that was not going to happen.

4. Toward the back: More drill team. Nope.

5. Last: The flag pole carriers. This…this, was my ticket – surely they could use another flag pole carrier?!

So that Monday, I rushed to the band room to introduce myself to the band teacher, Mrs. Bateman (?). She had no idea who I was. But, I made it clear that I would do AB-SOL-LUTELY ANYTHING she wanted if there was some way for me to march with the band that following weekend in the Lilac Parade. ANYTHING. After considering my plea for a few moments, she said something similar to, “well, maybe – but I could really use help wrapping some of these flag poles with lights after school – would you mind helping?” YES! I’d love to, I exclaimed and promptly came back after school to spend a few hours wrapping those poles. Upon completing that job Mrs. Bateman granted me my wish – I was to be a flag pole carrier the next weekend. And what a proud moment it was.


Dear Mrs. Bateman,

You have no idea the seed of determination you nurtured by allowing me to join “the band” that year. To me, I thought I was proving my worth by providing critical assistance in wrapping those marching poles with lights and thus earning an elite opportunity. When in reality – if the whole school was in the band already, what was adding one more individual - and to the most unnecessary position of all: the flag pole carrier? But, it didn’t matter to me and it has made all the difference in the world.

To this day, I can remember the thrill and excitement of knowing that I was going to march. And not only that, I reflect on my experience as a flag-pole carrier and tell myself, “I really can do anything.”

Dreams really do come true.

Thanks again,

Valerie Farnsworth (now Payette)
p.s. but please, please, call me val – I promise to wrap more flag poles if you do…

Flour Baby

Home Economics: the quintessential 8th grade class requirement. What does “home economics” really mean? Apparently it meant a number of things for 12/13 year olds: cooking pizza, blending orange julius drinks, sewing pencil pouches (which I sewed my opening completely shut…oops) and most importantly flour babies. Yes, the Flour Baby project. The next level of “sex education” – a graduating step from 70s projector films. As eighth graders, we were to tote around a 10 lb sack of flour that represented your “child” for the week. Here were the stipulations of the project and my subsequent ability to abide by these rules:

1. You will create a flour-child (an artfully designed 10 lb. sack of flour or sugar.) Make your child distinctive yet appropriate (e.g.: no tattoos, piercing, hair coloring), with his/her own personality or style.

2. Name your child.

3. During the school day, you must carry your child at all times. In this class you must hold your child at all times. Lockers and trunks are not cribs or day-care centers.

4. You should be extremely protective of your child. If a tragic loss or injury occurs, you will be responsible for clean-up (NOT the custodians.), reporting to instructors, and negotiation of the penalty. Penalties range from additional research to a report on child abuse. If someone else attacks your child, or uses him/her in a recipe, find a teacher as a witness to spare you some penalty.

5. You are not allowed to put the baby in your backpack, go anywhere without your baby, leave your baby in the care of anyone else, or let anyone abuse or neglect your child.

6. You will lose 25 points every time you are seen without your baby! There will be no negotiation or discussion, just a 25 point deduction!

Valerie Farnsworth’s Flour Baby evaluation:

1. Appearance: To this day, my mom laughs at what she looks back on as a unique dry sense of humor that no one else really understood…I think most people thought I was weird…but I thought it was hilarious. I decided that on one side of my baby would be George Burns and the other would be Prince Charles. Why? I obviously took this project seriously. Based on the pictures you are about to see, you could probably guess my teacher didn’t necessarily agree with my take on “distinctive yet appropriate” – whatever, I laughed every time I toted Charlie-George around…

The following are as close to the pictures I carried around for one week as I can recall:

2. Name: Charlie-George.

3. Pretty sure Charlie-George was left in at least two classes in my daily 6-class schedule. Pretty sure my teachers did not have a hard time identifying whose “child” was constantly left behind. Pretty sure this racked up an extreme amount of deductions resulting in a not-so-fabulous grade.

4. Hmmm…well, Charlie-George developed a couple of leaks throughout the week…all of which were lovingly attended to with duct tape – he may not have weighed the full 10 lbs at the end of the week, which well, could’ve ended up in an additional amount of deductions towards my grade…

5. No comment.

6. And well, this pretty much was the nail in the coffin.

Let’s put it this way, if the Flour Baby project were any true indicator of things to come for me it was this: I would be an awful parent, with an extremely not-so-attractive baby, that leaks incessantly. Hmmm…mission accomplished for this 8th grader.

Fifteen years later I find myself expecting my first child, a boy, in the next couple of months. To my eighth grade teacher I have this to say:

Dear Ms. Home Ec (your name escapes me),

I don’t know why I got a B- on my flour baby project. Could your personal opinions regarding Prince Charles or George Burns have anything to do with it? Or could it have possibly had to do with my constant lack of attention to where my “baby” was half the time?

Well, here I am 15 years older. I still have a hard time holding on to critical things each day…my keys, my driver’s license, cell phone, mascara. Keeping this chronic absent-mindedness in mind, I find myself 3 months away from having my first real “flour baby” and I can’t help but reflect on my success (or lack thereof) of my flour baby project.

Let’s hope I can keep track of my real “flour baby” this time around, that he’s a bit more attractive than Charlie-George and that nothing will come to duct tape repairs. In terms of a grade however, I have a feeling I’ll be lucky if I end up with a B- at the end of this “project.”

Here’s to Charlie-George Jr. -

Valerie Farnsworth (now Payette)

p.s. this time around…please call me val.

The Sour Patch Effect

I love Sour Patch Kids. They are a must for every movie theater visit. The red, the green, orange, and even yellow – I love them all. The kick that you get each time you pop one (okay maybe four) in your mouth is what brings you back for another handful – enough sweet to keep you grabbing, and sour to make it interesting. However, as the mouth-stuffing minutes go by the sweetness starts to be a bit much, and the sugar overload combined with the tongue-numbness caused by the sour sugar coating makes for an undesirable combination. Perhaps if I just paced myself it wouldn’t come to such a sugar-inducing coma…maybe. But, I doubt it; not with Sour Patch Kids.

Facebook: my social networking equivalent to Sour Patch Kids. It tasted good in the beginning, I paced myself. But the sweet, punchiness of Facebook kept me coming back day after day and eventually multiple times a day…until the Sour Patch Effect started to set in: the sugar overload of information, and the tongue-numbing sensation of mindlessly reaching for more made what was once appetizing , sickening. Many people don’t get to this point – they don’t stuff 3-4 Sour Patch Kids in at a time, they enjoy one at a time in moderate increments. Not me.

So, how to counteract the Sour Patch Effect? Cut back on the intake and drink lots and lots of water.

To follow the prescribed course of action, I recently deactivated my Facebook account. I have been without “liking” things, being a “fan” of things, “status updates” and commenting for over a week now. Withdrawals have been present…I have had the desire to “reach for more”…but, I haven’t. The sugar coma, while still there, is not as serious. The taste buds, while still numb from tartaric acid, are starting to recognize other flavors.

The thought has come recently to take it one more step and cut out all “sweets” (aka social networking) as well …since eating Milk Duds, Junior Mints, or Skittles after feeling the Sour Patch Effect, doesn’t help recovery much. So, I’m committing myself to a “Sweets-Free” Challenge. No Facebook, Pandora, Twitter, LinkdIn, Lala or Blogging for the next 30 days. Why the drastic challenge? I don’t need it. And, social networking, like Sour Patch Kids, isn’t the staple food group that I’ve made it. I once lived without it all – without the knowledge of who ate what for lunch, who was listening to what at 9:34am, or what profile picture would define me that day – and did just fine. I’m interested in returning to the diet of being naive, oblivious, and out of the loop…at least for a while.

So to the “pseudo food group” that is social networking, I have this to say:

Dear Social Networking,

You are like Sour Patch Kids, and Sour Patch Kids, at least to me are a “must.” It’s true…despite the Sour Patch Effect and the less-than-desirable aftertaste that you sometimes leave, I do always come back for more. And so it will be for me and my social networking indulgence…I will inevitably be back.

But first, I need to get over the stomach ache, numbness and sugar-coated taste that have left me parched and thirsting for reality.

Officially “deactivating” my account(s),

"Valerie Payette"
"valeriepayette"
"Valerie P."
"ValSchmal"

p.s. oh, and I almost forgot…"please, call me val"

The Man in the Moon - Or Kitchen Window

This past weekend I went “home” to Spokane to visit my mom and grandparents. Every time I visit, I’m filled with memories of growing up in that house and neighborhood. These memories are oftentimes pleasant, but sometimes embarrassing and awkward. This past weekend one vivid memory in particular seemed to come to mind – and let’s just say it could be classified under “embarrassingly awkward.”

Growing up I was obsessed with space, like most kids are. I was convinced that I’d go to Space Camp. Christmas after Christmas I would ask to be sent to Space Camp for the summer – this request along with the request to have a power wheels jeep to drive around in, never came to fruition. However, when I was eleven my dad gave me a telescope for Christmas. It wasn’t anything fabulous – but I thought it was the greatest thing ever (I really did Dad!). The first night, I went out ready to see into the far depths of the galaxy – only to see past the fence into the next door neighbor’s kitchen window. Night after night I would diligently go out looking to identify different constellations – when in reality, I could see them much better without the telescope.

Time passed and that telescope was no longer of interest to me.

As many might know who are reading this, there is a family who lives next door, named the Matthews – there were three boys, all of which I grew up with and were considered family. I am perfectly comfortable admitting however, that this view of them being “brothers” was not always the case. Throughout the years of middle school and into the beginning of high school, it could be said that I would go in and out of crushes on the two older Matthews boys. Now this may be a complete surprise to them both – but I highly doubt it. From the time I was four and well into middle school, I was over at the Matthews often, but that started to dissipate as we started make different friends at school. As a result, I didn’t see them as often, but continued to be intrigued with what their social lives entailed (we all know how intriguing twelve and fourteen-year-old boys’ social lives are…not very).

This brings me to my vivid memory: a red telescope, a kitchen window and dishwashing.

There was one summer day in particular that I wanted to know where one of the Matthews boys was (to be honest I don’t remember which one). Being the sneaky twelve-year-old that I was, I wanted to “spy” on him and see if I could tell what was going on next door – since obviously he wasn’t around me! The layout of my backyard in relation to the Matthews’ didn’t lend itself to me looking through the fence unseen – they’d be able to see me coming the entire way from both their kitchen and dining room window. Plus, any movement made by anyone was immediately met with a bark from Molly – our dog, who made it a point to make as much noise as possible as she sat perched atop the deck in our backyard.

What was a girl to do? I could hear voices and activity – but couldn’t adequately see what was going on…I had to know what was going on! When the thought struck me…“the red telescope.” I rushed in and dusted off the telescope that had never seen the man in the moon but had clearly seen into the neighbor’s kitchen window...perfect. So there I was, cramped under the deck with the telescope situated just so, allowing me to finally peer over to the Matthews and see who this boy was with.

After several minutes of adjusting and clearing the lens, I was finally looking right into the Matthews’ house. “I knew this telescope was good for something” I thought to myself! There I was - ready to spy and get myself some juicy information on the boy next door. Just how juicy was it? Well, I could clearly see Mrs. Matthews washing the dishes - with Dove dishwashing soap to be exact – while scenes of Days of Our Lives flashed in the background. As juicy as that may have been…it certainly was not the “juicy” I was counting on.

And so, I come clean and admit my indulgence – one that has never been disclosed before. To the innocent bystander that ended up being spied on I have this to say:

Dear Mrs. Matthews,

You know how dearly I love you and your family; you have been so good to me all of these years. I must apologize for violating your sense of security by peering into your kitchen window with my red telescope. But, let’s be honest – I could have seen the same thing with my own eyes standing on our deck. The fact is, that telescope signified an interest in your boys – one that lives on today…but in a much, much, different way.

I no longer have a red telescope to stalk them…but not to worry, I have Facebook. Until I see you again – continue to peer into our backyard and we will continue to peer into yours.

Your “daughter,”

Valerie

p.s. scratch that, please always call me val.

Camelot - the Payette version

Enter: Richard Harris (as King Arthur)

“Camelot! Camelot!
I know it sounds a bit bizarre,
But in Camelot, Camelot
That's how conditions are.
The rain may never fall till after sundown.
By eight, the morning fog must disappear.
In short, there's simply not
A more congenial spot
For happily-ever-aftering than here
In Camelot.”

I remember being exposed to this 1967 musical about the story of King Arthur, Queen Guinevere and Sir. Lancelot as a little girl. My mom absolutely loved this movie and it was my first introduction to the story of King Arthur. The tale of Camelot was always so romantic and tragic at the same time. The triangle between Arthur, Lancelot and Guinevere was heartbreaking, but you couldn’t help but be wrapped up with the relationship between Lancelot and Guinevere.

Camelot with a Payette-twist: Casting the roles.

Steve and I experienced our first stupid marital decision about eight months into our marriage: we bought a dog. We both grew up with dogs and knew that we wanted to have one for ourselves one day. Well, one day turned into “now” when we made the brainless decision to visit the pound. There, we found a little black lab puppy trembling and crippled – recently deserted by his brothers and sisters that had already been picked up. After being struck with concern and love for this pitiful puppy we took him home; the first night, week, year was awful. Crying, coughing, pooping, peeing, biting, chewing, shedding, barking = all the luxuries of being a dog owner. What was this charming dog’s name? Sir. Lancelot. How we decided on that name, I have no idea – but this much I can tell you: our Lancelot isn’t so dashing or brave like the medieval tales purport. Instead, he is probably one of the most paranoid, skittish and dopey dogs that ever existed.

Payette-Camelot Lancelot: A handsome character, but scared of: boxes, the kitchen floor, doors, noises, babies, balloons, feathers, whoopie cushions, citrus fruits, anything really.

Since that first majorly stupid marital decision many others were made, but the next monumental idiotic decision came two years later in the form of yet another dog. In all honesty, Steve and I thought we were being logical: “we’ll buy a small dog that will keep Lancelot company and it will be easy to take care of.” Right. This time we visited a pet store and bought a little, white, female, cockapoo. She was adorable. It was perfect – she would of course be named Guinevere…the Payette-Camelot casting was complete for now.

Payette-Camelot Guinevere: Absolutely adorable, but not at all a “lady;” an absolute terror in every sense of the word, and needs to permanently wear diapers.

Well, the Payette’s version of Camelot involves: hourly brawls, peeing, pooing, chewing, biting, barking and well – nothing of the “happily-ever-aftering” mentioned in Richard Harris' ballad. Poor Lance has wondered from day one why we brought in a furry monster whose sole desire in life is to “hunt” and torture him.

Note to self: Cathy and Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights would have been a much better literary pair to name our dogs after.


So, I believe we owe the following letter to the honorable King Arthur:

Dear King Arthur,

You’d be pleased to know that Lancelot and Guinevere really didn’t live happily ever after – at least not in the Payette version. No, there’s no need to be jealous over a budding romance. Instead, battles brew on an hourly basis and while there may be a deeply rooted appreciation of each other (mostly for chew toy purposes) – Guinevere and Lancelot have a propensity for attacking each other in a not-so-loving manner.

While I realize you have had centuries to get over this indiscretion…just thought I’d let you know, it didn’t really turn out all-that-well after all.

Here to set the record straight,

Valerie


p.s. oh, and your majesty...please, call me val

Confessions of a Part-Time D&D Dealer - Conclusion

DISCLAIMER: Before I go any further – let me state that the individuals I worked with were great, and I enjoyed getting to know all of them. That being said…

Enter: Rod Serling.

"You unlock this door with the key of imagination. Beyond it is another dimension - a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind. You're moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You've just crossed over into the Twilight Zone."

Episode 6.1 – Valerie Works at Uncle’s Games, Bellevue, WA.

So, I got this great new part-time “burn-money” job…

I quickly realized that this Uncle’s had a particular following – the role-playing, magic-card dealing, 20-sided die-throwing following.

So, the quiet, dimly-lit, calming atmosphere with the smell of old hardwood floors was replaced with the sounds of cursing Magic players outside the front door, a combination of smells wafting in from the food court just steps from the entrance, bright florescent lights, and the constant traipsing back and forth of “mall rats” (as they called themselves) that used our external facing entrance as their fast track into the rest of the mall. Not quite how I imagined it.

One of my first conversations with a co-worker involved my being educated of what “Role-Playing” really meant and that those who show up in costume ready for play-fighting are “LARPs” – Live-Action-Role-Players – not regular role players – oops…my bad! Thanks for clearing that up for me Darrell.

So, what about those games that I identified with? They did have a German board game “corner” and that’s precisely what it was…a corner, which in comparison to the rest of the store really was pretty small. In contrast, the “Magic Card Game-World of Warcraft-Dungeons & Dragons” area covered a 30 - foot wall – most of which existed behind the registers – thus forcing the sales associate to find the different items that a customer is looking for.

To give you an idea of my great knowledge in this area of product, I will illustrate a typical role-playing/magic-specific transaction with a customer:

Me addressing the individual coming into the store: “Hi, how are you doing?” (wait for response) “Is there something I can help you find?”
Bob - the Magic player extraordinaire – “Yeah, I need several packs of the 10th Edition, Chards of Alara - I’m needing to beef up my black, red, non-basic land, and artifact cards…”
Me – “?” “Um sure” (I chuckle out loud)…”you’ll have to point all of that out to me. Here, I’ll point my finger starting from the top (all of the boxes of cards were lined on shelves behind me) and stop me when I get close.”
Bob – Smirking and obviously thinking, “what in the world is this chick doing here” answers “sure.”

{we play the “getting warmer” game and I am finally able to identify the packs he wants}

Me –“alright a couple of packs you said?”
Bob – “yes, but can I see the box and pick out the packs myself?”
Me – “Sure…” I take the boxes down and set them on the counter in front of me. I stand and watch while Bob has a mini séance to determine which packs in the box he wanted to purchase. Touching them, weighing them, etc. he finally makes a decision.
Bob – “I’ll take these” – meanwhile I put back all of the packs that had been taken out during his ‘process of elimination’ exercise.

Great customer service, wouldn’t you say?


So, my last day at Uncle’s was last week…here is my letter to the clientele I leave behind:

Dear D&D/Magic Player,

I know you will miss me and my misinformed help. Know that I will miss your constant traipsing back and forth through the store – occasionally stopping to drop $4.35 for a pack of cards or perhaps a glimpse into the newest D&D book to further craft your character. I will miss having you talk to me as if I know what using a “High Ground white card” will do for your deck and how you plan to overthrow everyone with your particular strategy.

You dealt with me for 6 months. But alas, it must end. I haven’t been converted and I do not intend to ever play D&D, World of Warcraft, Star Wars minis, or Magic…I think I’ll stick to trading brick for wheat.

Thanks for your patience all these months.

Off to buy my last tube of Uncle’s subsidized- Dior mascara,

Valerie

Enter: Rod Serling

“Expectations that were neither warranted or lived up to. A demographic, tortured by the ignorance of an outsider…two worlds collide…only in…The Twilight Zone.”

Confessions of a Part-time D&D Dealer

Daisies & Daffodils? No.

Dean & Deluca. I wish.

Dishwashers & Detergents. Not quite.

Try, Dungeons & Dragons. It’s true. Or, it was true.

The following three statements explain how I got here:

1. I swore off board games. I thought.
2. Spokane was so much more romantic.
3. My husband is an accountant.
   

I swore off board games. I thought.

Growing up I used to play games quite often with the next-door neighbor boys, The Matthews: three intelligent, rambunctious, competitive boys. They were like family, and we’d have them over often. But, as I recall there was an evening that I thought would taint games for me for the rest of my life. We played Monopoly, with Trevor Matthews – the youngest of the Matthews brothers. Now, I can hardly stand Monopoly as it is…but played with probably one of the most intelligent people on the planet – who at the same time is ruthless about Pennsylvania Avenue and every utility on the board…well I had sworn off Monopoly and all board games from that evening on.

In college, I bumped into games – obviously through parties and such - but I remember one in particular that people went gaga over “Settlers of Catan” – I observed four friends who got together on a weekly basis to play –nicknames and all. I didn’t get it…sheep, wheat, wood, brick...what could possibly be entertaining about that???

Then I lived with Megan and eventually met Steve. Megan was my best friend and roommate in college – she was bonkers over a game called Skip-Bo. Anyone, and I mean anyone who entered our apartment for any amount of time was more than likely challenged to a game of Skip-Bo with Megan…it was a rite of passage...and they’d lose every time. Now, while it wasn’t a board game, it started getting me to accept and enjoy games once again…even though she beat me every time. Then Steve came along with fantastic unique, foreign card games that I had never heard of, but they were fabulous. I started to be intrigued with the fact that there was a whole world out there that did not include Parker Brothers. Instead there were European game makers that took board games to a whole new level – I liked.

Spokane was so much more romantic.

I lived in Spokane, WA before coming to Seattle. Spokane, it could be argued does not have a lot of the shopping that New York or Beverly Hills has to offer…slightly true statement. However, it DID have a charming turn-of-the-century brick building by the name of Liberty Square that housed two of the most romantic, independent shops that I have ever visited: Auntie’s Book Store and Uncle’s Games. You walk in and the smell of paper from thousands of books combined with the creak that comes from the old hard-wood floors was soothing and welcoming. One could hear either independent folk music or classical as they entered the shops. Softly lit surroundings and the white lights glistening through the large windows from the trees outside made for a picturesque environment. A little café sat to the side of both shops, and live music played on the weekends. This was where my love of board games flourished. Uncle’s was a fabulous little boutique carrying games from what I now know are renowned European game makers – like mentioned above. Beautifully illustrated, thematic, and strategic all at the same time…the games were a delightful change from tv, video games, and homework. Steve and I started to get sucked in; we spent hundreds of dollars on games in that little shop. From Pirates to the French revolution, to the Roaring Twenties, these board games were pieces of art and incredibly engaging.

I was certain that this would be a fabulous little part time job to wind down from the awful stress of a regular job and at the same time earn a little extra cash – perfect surroundings, learn about and play fabulous games while working, and help a patron find “their” game. Perfect.

My husband is an accountant.

Enter: Seattle, post-grad school jobs and loans, and “the” budget.

So, Steve and I moved from Spokane after graduate school, and that quaint little shop that we frequented so often was but a memory. We started jobs and all that money that it took to get through college? Well, it all of the sudden came knocking on the door…you mean, we actually have to pay that back?!?

Steve is an accountant, and well, excel spreadsheets and “budgets” are the norm in our household. I should like budgets, but I don’t. I don’t at all. They’re annoying and restricting and no fun. Now don’t get me wrong, Steve isn’t a scrooge by any means, and he doesn’t hold back on spending on fun things – but there was still the, “we have to allocate” aspect that, well, I didn’t want to abide by.

So, in addition to my “real” job, I decided: I want BURN money, that’s right…money that doesn’t get put in a budget, except for a: Valerie is wasting money on frivolous things budget. Fair enough, I’d spend a couple of extra hours each week at a “no-brainer” job to get extra money that didn’t have to be accounted for – that could disappear on Dior Mascara and no one would know.

But, what the heck would I do? And then I saw it, Uncle’s was in Bellevue. I couldn’t believe it, the dream of enjoying my evenings in that quaint, romantic shop returned. I applied, I was accepted and voila…my dream had come true. OR not.

To be continued.