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Just Because It’s Yours Doesn’t Mean You Have to Keep It
I used to know a guy who had a photo of a cat. “Cute cat,” I said, “What’s his name?” “I dunno. A pen pal sent that picture to me 30 years ago.” “Are you still friends?” “No.” “Then why are you keeping the photo of a long-dead cat that belonged to someone you no…
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A Moving Experience
Picture this: I’m driving my fifth carload of stuff from my rental place to my new home. I’m sweaty, tired, and sick of traffic. I ache all over. I’m so done with this whole process. And then my car signals me that one of my doors is ajar. This is a 25 mile commute from…
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Do You Have a History of…
Packing for a move is always an interesting experience. It gives you an opportunity to really look at all of your stuff. I often encounter things I had forgotten I have. And that makes me wonder why I still have those things. If I could live without them for this long, why am I holding…
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My Mall Dream
When I was little, I used to fantasize about being locked in a mall after closing time. Of course, for this to work, none of the individual stores would be locked and there would be no security whatsoever. I’d get to spend the night going from shop to shop, getting anything I wanted for free.…
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Your Stool is Worth HOW Much?
My doctor was running late. (Aren’t they always?) So I found myself sitting in a waiting room with nothing good to read. Out of pure desperation, I began flipping through a fashion and style magazine. I figured that would be good for a laugh, and I was right. It never ceases to amaze me how…
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Glutton Free
Since I’ve come to Seattle, I’ve noticed that a lot of people here are quite dedicated to having a gluten free diet. I’m not here to discuss the pros and cons of such a decision, but I do give kudos to people who take their health seriously. I’m not quite to that gluten free stage…
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Emotional Spring Cleaning
Yes, it’s the first day of summer, I get that. But it’s never too late to do some spring cleaning. Spring is a state of mind; a time for things to be fresh, vital, and new. I’ve been getting rid of a lot of stuff lately. My last relocation, of 3100 miles, pretty much burned…
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When I’ll Know I’ve Arrived
I’m a painfully frugal individual. I’ve had to be, simply to survive. I would never have gotten this far if I hadn’t learned how to delay gratification and resist impulse buys. I’ve given up imagining that I’ll ever have even one room full of furniture that matches. I’m more of the found-on-the-side-of-the-road school of decorating.…
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When Luxuries Become Necessities
I don’t own a clothes dryer, and I don’t particularly miss having one. It’s really not that inconvenient to hang things on a rack to dry. It takes about as long as it would to load the dryer. And I save on electricity and repair bills and space. I also don’t own a hair dryer.…
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Giving
A well thought out gift will always say, “I cared about you enough to take the time to really think about what would make you smile.” What could be more special than the gift of caring? That’s why we say it’s the thought that counts. You took the time to know me, know what interests…