Life is ... well, sort of ... wierd. Not is a bad way, just in a different way.

The bully who made my DD1 aged 11 a living hell last year is all of the sudden a great buddy? They were at a volleyball tournament today and the girl's mother drove my daughter home (we like near one another) after buying them ice cream. All is well.

My brother's girlfriend's daughter had her sweet 16 birthday party today. Brother and the GF appear to be getting along well (at face value, given she intimated that they have seriously major problems). I ended up buying her Juicy Couteur perfume that I found at Kohl's and used a 15% off coupon - spending $25 - she was as happy as could be with the gift.

DD2 aged 10 is on a volleyball team that hasn't won one game. Despite this, she is very good natured and natural cheerleader an dsupportive of everyone's attempts (even the girls that I suspect she doesn't really like). I sat next to father of a girl who is really challenged (our school has a no-cut policy and these kids are 5th graders). His wife told him not to swear and he was doing a lot of muttering under his breath "damn" and sorts.

My tenant paid her rent on time. I was smart and deposited it into my savings account so if it bounces (she assured DH it wouldn't) it won't impact my real world finances. Her live-in boyfriend has moved to Oklahoma (he was there for about 15 months). She started to cry when she was talking with DH - it can't be easy to be a single parent to four girls and to lose your man. She did make it a point to say not to worry, she loves her home and isn't planning on leaving.

DS3 aged 6 is off to the pumpkin patch with DH for a boy scout outing. The haunted hayride entails riding around in the forest with masked monsters grabbing and trying to jump on the ride. Clearly not for the 3 and 5 years olds.

Best friend's reunion with old boyfriend (rich and difficult) hasn't been easy and I've come to the conclusion that she is just in a totally negative place right now. Complain about money yet she got $90 highlights in funky colors in her hair; this is after she considered the $7 box of hair color and doing it herself. Her real estate taxes are going to be going to tax auction because she won't be able to pay for them. I have challenged myself to be Pollyanna - I say things like "Well, I see that *J* might be treating you in ways that make you feel second-rate. But maybe he has a reason for behaving this way..." and I say "Well, maybe at some point in the future you will be able to plan earlier for things like taxes and insurance. Maybe you could escrow the amounts ..."
Nothing more. Nothing less. It is, however, a challenge to do so. And I limit myself to about 15 minutes every other day.

On the money front, we are on a spending diet - purchasing DH's Nyquil/Dayquil twinpack cost me $.16 in tax after the $10 coupon. And he didn't feel that it helped him that much, so I'll be moving on to try Advil PM as was suggested in the last post.

Tomorrow is going to be a blissfully quiet day - 8:45 Church, mowing the lawn, etc. Looking forward to it.