Isn't It Wonderful...

...how one tiny gesture of love and friendship can turn your entire week around?



As I blogged earlier, this has not been a pleasant week for me. Today was about the worst of it, professionally anyway, and all day long, I wondered why I'd even bothered. Why did I bother coming in? Why did I give this day any of my energy, when what I really wanted to do was sleep and rest and hide away from the world? And I got home not only to my amazing family, but also to a wonderful surprise from my beautiful Secret Pal. What a ray of sunshine! The Lorna's Laces yarn is absolutely gorgeous, the truffles look SCRUMPTIOUS (hands off, Curt and Erin!), and I can't wait to look at the crochet calendar and "companion!" And that hook bag...yowza! Pretty! I've been storing all of my crochet hooks in a small Mary Kay bag that one of my sorority sisters gave me (she sells MK), and now it's nice to see that my hooks have a beautiful home of their own. Thank you ten thousand times over, Secret Pal! (*hugs to you*)

State Farm called today. Apparently the menace-to-society who caused my accident yesterday has indeed called in a claim. Let's hope that they get my car in and out quick, quick, quick. I don't need to miss any of my life because of this stupid fender-bender.

Last night, Curtis and I went to one of those "complimentary, get-to-know-you" sessions with a local financial planner. I've thought for a long time that it'd be a good idea for us to get a solid financial plan in place...one that allowed us to live very comfortably in retirement while putting Erin through, if she so chose, Harvard or Yale (or Baker!). I strongly believe it's a good idea to be conscious of one's investments, and careful in how decisions are made regarding savings and planning. And so I really thought this was a good idea. Until the fee ($500 per financial plan...every two years!) and the high-pressure sales pitch came. I just about lost my mind. $500 damned dollars to serve as an ADVISER?! For five-hundred-damned-dollars, you'd damned well better be making money (CA$H money) for me twenty-four-freakin'-seven while washing my clothes, telling me how thin and gorgeous I am, and pampering me from head to toe (manicure and pedicure, anyone?) While I am sure that their advice is sage and smart, I'm just not certain I need to pay $500 for it. I've yet to do this, but something tells me that if I Google or YAHOO! the string "how to develop a financial plan," I'd come up with maaaaaaaaaany different templates and approaches. So tell me, friends, is the initial investment worth it? Should we actually sign on with a formal, official financial planner? Or can we do just as well on our own? We're smart, well-educated people. We can do this on our own (with some minimal assistance), right?

Dammit, I thought "The Apprentice" was on at 9 (it's 8:38) and my darling husband is telling me it's on right now. I didn't set the damned DVR to capture it, either. Grrrrowl. I'm off before I miss "ER." Night, folks!

(Oh, before I go, check out this precious photo of my Maggy...



She doesn't look grouchy, does she? *grin* Goodnight, friends!)