Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Exhausted

Do you ever get to the end of a day, and think about the first thing you did that day, and think, "Was that really today?  It seems like two or three days ago!"

Yeah, me too.

I may not survive this summer "vacation" thing, people.  Mainly because I spent several hours sanding the porch today, and [bad stand up comedian impression] boy are my arms tired.  Forget all the "fix your jiggly arms" posts on Pinterest.  You want awesome tank-top-ready arms?  Come help me sand.

I'm telling you, this shabby chic exterior paint thing is going to be HUGE.  One of these days I'll remember to take a picture before it gets dark outside.

I am so grateful that 3/4 of the house is vinyl siding, I can't even tell you.  Hell, if it were up to me we'd build the whole thing out of plastic and concrete and things that don't rot and/or need to be painted.  Ever.  I want an iHouse.  If Apple made houses, they'd come in slick beautiful packaging, they'd be intuitive to use, and they would be state of the art.  Living in a house that was built in 1963 is like listening to 8-tracks.  Did they even have 8-tracks then?  Whatever, you know what I mean.

Also, before I was a homeowner, I never appreciated just how critical caulking is.  I don't know why they wasted time teaching me how to make brownies in home ec, they should have been teaching me how to caulk.  I'm not kidding.  They should also have an entire class on credit cards, how your credit score works, and how to balance checkbooks and save for retirement.  And in that class, when you're 15 years old, they should say, "Hey, if you save $1000 now, you don't ever have to save anything again and you'll have a million bucks by the time you retire.  But if you wait until you're 25 you'll never catch up.  So you can either blow that summer job money at the Gap or you can save it and be a millionaire.  You pick, sport."

What do you wish someone had taught you 20 years ago?

5 comments:

Bev said...

In that class, also include how to read and select from workplace cafeteria-style benefit plans. The number of options for insurance and pre-tax savings can be confusing for those of us who actually KNOW them but those who don't have a clue can make serious selection mistakes. For decades I've advocated for a high school class just like you are suggesting.

Anonymous said...

An iHouse? Yes! One that updates outdated furniture automagically, paints itself, fixes itself and cleans itself, too. Yes, please!

Maggie C. said...

Wow, if I had a nickel for everything my dad said when I was growing up that has since, in my adult life, turned out to be true...I'd also be a millionaire. I can't tell you how many times I got the old "if I had started my 401k when I was your age, I'd be a millionaire today" schpeal. I DID start mine earlier than him, but gosh it is slow growing!! -Maggie

Rob Monroe said...

I wish I had work to do - though I'm not driving to your house to sand! I've been doing stairs at work this week because of program stuff - up and down at least 20 times each morning! Whole body feels good about it, but my knees HATE me!

Denna said...

Love the idea of an ihouse,everything apple does is elegant, beautiful, and sleek. Only problem I can see with an ihouse is that you wouldn't be able to get into it! haha.