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Health & Fitness

A Drippy February Day in the 'Burg

Even on a cold wet winter day, it's important to get out of the house, enjoy some down time, and let the cares of the world disappear for a while.

 

Good morning , fellow F'burgers.  I actually feel a bit funny typing that.  Sounds vaguely inappropriate.  F'burger?  Makes me think of that burger place FuddRuckers.  But typing out Fredericksburg every time is tough because I am afraid I'll spell it wrong so I have to go back and look at it five times.  Did I leave out the "s"?  Even on my mail I write F'burg.  I figure as long as the zip code is right the post office won't break down my door and toss my mail back in my face.

So, how's it going?  Got any big plans now that Valentine's is over?  My plan is to buy lots of 50% off candy, so please don't scarf it all before I can get to the store.  Today is my day off, that day when I escape from the kids, take some time to go to the library or shop a few thrift stores.  The rain won't keep me at home.  Trust me, after a week of five kids yelling, breaking things, scattering toys, demanding food constantly, a hurricane combined with an earthquake combined with Snowmageddon wouldn't keep me at home.  I NEED my alone time.  As any mommy can tell you, it's very rare to be able to switch off the maternal radar and temporarily forget you have kids.  Even in the dark of night, some part of us is aware, listening even as we sleep for a cough or the rustling of a bad dream.  In the daytime, we listen and worry when the kids are too quiet.  Silence is not golden; it means someone somewhere in the house is stuffing toilet paper in the commode, scribbling on the wall with magic marker, or mashing soggy cereal into the new sofa.  I'm trying to be patient while I wait for the golden hour of four o'clock.  That's when my kids are home from school and hubby returns to mind them.  I grab the keys, my e-reader, and go.

Where do I go?  Depends on what I'm in the mood for.  I sometimes go to Golden Corral.  I'm not so much into the chocolate waterfall, but I enjoy being able to mix my meats and sides, and eat dinner rolls stuffed with mashed potatoes and corn.  Hey, don't knock it until you've tried it!  Last week I went to Teppanyaki on Route 3.  Today, though, I might be in the mood for some Vietnamese pho noodles.  Yeah, that would be a good lunch on a cold wet drippy day. 

How does my eating out match up with my professed desire to be frugal?  Well, I've never said that being financially responsible meant never having any fun.  You save money where you can so that you can spend money where you like, in moderation.  I don't get my nails done.  Hubby cuts my hair.  I drive an older used car.  I brew my coffee at home.  I save on things that are not important to me so that I can indulge in a nice lunch alone with a good book.  I might spend fifteen dollars today, what with lunch and a trip to the thrift store (and a quick stop at Wal-mart to scope out the candy!).  That's not much for peace of mind, and a lot safer than grabbing a credit card and heading for the mall.  I could eat before I leave home and not spend any money at all.  I mean, after all, the kids need shoes and we have to replace our elderly laptop and we just got the van fixed.  I could do without, but I deserve this and it's not making such a huge dent in the budget that I have to feel guilty about it.  I value myself.  I work hard.  I deserve it.  Especially on a cold drippy day in February after spending the morning wrestling with paperwork for the tax man.  Oh, yeah, I deserve it.  So let me finish up, prep the leftovers for the kids, and then I'll be on my way.  Maybe you'll see me at the pho shop, or maybe at Golden Corral.  If you do, come say hi - I'll be the lady in a long black robe and a headscarf.  Probably the only one in the place.

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