Word of the Day: desiccate JD is working. He hasn't had a day off since...I don't remember when. They all had to work last Sunday, which is usually their day off, so it's been about two weeks or so since he's had a day off. I'm starting to get angrier and angrier with Roth Construction because, though they offer a rather nice package of benefits and pay overtime, I want my husband to be home every once in a while. On the one hand, the company gives paid holidays and health insurance, but on the other hand, they work six or seven days a week for eight or more hours a day. I'm of the European ethic of work--I want my days off. I'd much rather work less and have my time off than kill myself for more money. What am I going to do with more money other than pay more taxes? Please, I'll get by just fine on fourty hours or less a week. I'm sure JD doesn't like my way of thinking since we're trying to move out on our own, but I've given up so much principle-wise in the past two years that I feel I should be able to keep one or two things that make my way of thinking and believing unique. Today is Ethan's birthday party. His actual third birthday is Monday, but of course you can't have a birthday party on a Monday, that's silly. JD estimates that Laura spent around three hundred or more dollars on the whole event, the presents, the decorations, the food, etc., all for a three year old's party he probably won't remember in two weeks. I think the extravagance, when you're poor like us, is horrible and rediculous. I remember when Cyndi worked at the hotel, she was talking about her daughter's first birthday party. She was going to have it at Chuck E. Cheese's and all her family was going to be there. The party, for however many kids and adults she was planning on, soon rose to a cost of mulitple hundreds of dollars, not counting the presents and anything else they did for her at home. I remember thinking at the time, 'How the hell is she affording all this stuff?' I understand loving your child and wanting the world for them, but wanting and giving are two different stories. I told JD that unless we're giving Patrick a computer, a car, a trip to Europe, or some other piece of useful electronic equipment, we're never spending that much on a silly party. Apart from the few items mentioned above, I plan on spending lots of money on graduation[s] and a wedding, and that's that. Absolutely rediculous. Speaking of money, I just checked my bank account and discovered that, for the first time in quite a while, I have over one thousand dollars in there. One cent over a thousand dollars, to be exact, but when I saw that I about jumped out of the chair to dance and call JD and tell him. It won't stay that way for long because I sent the check for the car payment in a few days ago and I have to go grocery shopping this afternoon or tomorrow, but still, this signifies that I'm succeeding in saving a little money. Monica told me sometime last week or the week before that I was first on her list to get a raise, that she's already put in the paperwork and everything, I think. Thank goodness, not just because we need more money, but I consider my time to be valued much more than $6.75 an hour. Though I'm sure the raise won't be more than a quarter, that's still seven dollars an hour, and every little bit helps towards JD's and my ultimate goal of moving on our own. Random picture of Patrick: This was from a few months back. He sleeps so crazy.