By the numbers

I did the math today on my paycheck. $543.38 is the amount of deductions that I pay every two weeks. That's around $1100 a month. That's more than $12,000 for the year.

Nearly $600 bucks gone every two weeks and the IRS thinks we should be happy that they gave us back $600 for the whole damn year. Stimulate deez!

I might as well laugh. With the cost of tissue, who can afford to cry?

La-la-la-la life goes full circle

Sometimes it's not what happens in times of contention but what happens later that tells the tale. A long, long, long, long time ago, I lost a friend re:bullshit. And since I was innocent of blame, I chose to walk away and never look back. Maybe not the best solution when a friend is involved, but it worked for the girl I was at the time...What can I say? I'm a Virgo. Fast forward to now, and the friend who once was now is reaching out to me. The Olive branch of choice being our shared love for books. So what do I do? If I could walk away from a friend for so many years, is it worth turning back now? And is it worth calling that person a friend? Are there enough words in any book to make up for what we never said back then?
It takes a thought to make a word/And it takes some words to make an action/And it takes some work to make it work/It takes some good to make it hurt/It takes some bad for satisfaction/Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful/Ah la la la la la la life goes full circle --Jason Mraz, Life is wonderful

La femme Noire en Paris

I had lunch at La Madeleine today. I always feel like I've left home when I go there. Cute bistro tables, slightly rustic in decor...tres chic for a moderately priced, American interpretation of what French dining should be.

As it often does, my mind began to wander and my heart beat just a bit faster.

I'm getting a bright idea... Why not Paris?
[Black Girl in Paris by Shay Youngblood is one my favorite books.]

...keep on moving

move. vb. 1. to change or cause to change position or posture. 2. to go or cause to go from one point to another; also: depart. 3. to stir the emotions.

GB is moving to Qatar. I'm moving to yet another new job. This relationship is moving like molasses, and traffic this morning on 285 just wouldn't move at all.

Good ole Mr. Webster hit this one right on the head.