C'mon Peeps, 2008 Wasn't All That Bad

Jeez, if you listen to conventional wisdom, last year was the lowest point in human history. Get a grip.

2008 was an ok year for us. Not great, not terrible. 2009 is going to be the same I expect.

Our health insurance went up. A lot. To the point that much of our "discretionary spending" money is no longer discretionary. But that's ok, because I know what kind of medical expenses we have every year and the health insurance is worth every penny.

This new year, I've gotten off to a running start as far as honey-do items go around the house. New closet doors in the sewing room, mucho stuff to storage in the attic, pictures re-hung in the bedroom, etc. This afternoon we're going to the hardware store and pick out new chair rail for the dining area. If'n I have a limited budget, I'll get a lot of little projects done that would have gotten lost in the big plans, like expanding the front yard flower bed. For the price of a bag of mortar and some sweat, I'll double the size, add an interesting curve to it, and do it all using bricks already stacked in the back yard. Make room for that glorious pair of flowering shrubs that way overwhelmed the bed last year, when they grew about twice the size that they were supposed to.

So for 2009. We're going to be ok. So are you. It's an attitude, an outlook. Don't let the twinkies get you down.