Our Total Money Makeover

A few months ago, one of Brennan's co-workers gave him a book, Dave Ramsey's The Total Money Makeover. I'm not terribly fond of this co-worker for many reasons and one of them (though, just one) is how much he would talk to Brennan about how much more financially secure they are than us. In my pride, I just didn't like being told by a born-into-money, two-income with no children family, how he was so much better off he was. No duh.

But after a bit of a heated conversation about finances with the hubby, I thought I'd might as well look like I'm trying. So I picked it up and started reading.

And it changed all of my thoughts about money.

Here's the thing. There is nothing in this book that is earth-shattering. It's all practical knowledge and things you've all heard of before--have an emergency fund, pay off your debt, save for retirement, save for your children's education, invest...etc. But, if you're anything like me, you have no idea how and in what order you should do these things. Should you use excess income to pay off debt, save for retirement, invest, or what? There are so many "shoulds" with money that it's hard to know what to do.

So Dave hands it to you, one baby step at a time. Begin with a baby emergency fund, pay off your debt (except the house), fully fund your emergency fund, save for retirement, save for your child's education, pay off the house, and then make your money grow so you can give, spend, and invest. In a nutshell, it's everything the Brethren teach us about what to do with our money. Dave just gives you the order.

I have been in a little bit of denial about our finances and our debt. I took out student loans to go to school and assured myself that it was "good" debt. Dave helped me to see that the only "good" debt is the kind that you're not in.

In all fairness, the Brethren have mentioned that we should not go into debt with the exception (if necessary) of schooling, a modest home, and the first modest car. No new car payments, no credit cards, and no fancy furniture or whatever, but those things were on the "okay" list. And so I justified that it was worth it and really, I'm glad I got the education I did. I could have (and should have) been smarter with my money and started saving at a younger age,  but I likely still would have been short. So I should have been more creative. Coulda, woulda, shoulda. As Dave says, don't beat yourself up over it, just move on and make it better.

After marrying my lovely accountant of a husband, I wised up to some of the issues I had created by coming into a marriage with student loan debt. It made us both very uncomfortable. The biggest mistake we made then and there was to start attacking each other rather than attacking the problem. Brennan felt I had been irresponsible with money and I felt that he wasn't being sympathetic my family money situation. And so we made a little bit of headway financially but still spent far more of our energy on each other rather than on the loan. In short, this caused a bit of marital stress :)

As the years continued we tried to get by as best as we could without taking out any more student loans and making payments here and there while they were in deferment. And then we got pregnant and despite my best efforts, I just couldn't keep up/get ahead with school and work 30-40 hours a week. Bed rest toward the end of my pregnancy and then the c-section put an even bigger damper on my good intentions to work more hours and get ahead in school. So we took out another student loan to pay for Brennan's tuition and to make up for the lack of income during this hard time. And so the student loan problem grew.

Fast forward to about a month ago. We were a little ahead on student loan payments but no savings. In playing the great "exchange rate" game, we were (and still are) losing money every time we transferred money from our Canadian bank account to the US to pay the student loans. Fortunately for Canadian manufacturers, and unfortunately for us, the Canadian dollar doesn't look like it will be rising again any time soon. We realized that we needed to pay off those student loans as fast as humanly possible. We needed to, as Dave puts it, become "gazelle intense" in paying off our debt. This meant some pretty significant sacrifices for our family. We weren't living lavishly by any stretch of the imagination, but we realized that we could scale back here and there, and all together, the little things would make a big difference.

Here are some of the things that we are working on and that seem to really be helping our family:

• The baby emergency fund: It's not much, but our baby emergency fund means that we won't have to put any unforeseen small emergency on a credit card and therefore, go even farther into debt.
• A variable budget: In the past, whenever we would sit down and make a budget, we would try to make one budget that would work for every month. But, let's face it, December was not like June, and June was not like October. There are expenses that come and go and therefore, a budget needs to be flexible. For example, we knew we needed to spend a bit of money this last month baby proofing the house, but now that we've spent the $30 necessary to do that, we won't have to plan for it again next month. Now, we sit down before every pay day and talk about our upcoming expenses and plan accordingly. This has been essential, especially since we have to plan about 2-3 weeks for a money transfer from Canada to the US to be completed.
• Envelope system: Instead of using our debit card, we started an envelope system. Anything that can be paid for in cash, is. I even keep a 3"x5" card inside each envelope to write down what, where, and how much I spent from each envelope. 
• Evaluate what's important: I really love to try new recipes and especially since trying to eat more vegetarian meals, I've found that gets a little pricey. It's not that vegetarian is pricey in and of itself, but making 7 very different recipes in a week often resulted in unused produce going bad and needing to be thrown away and a whole host of various dry ingredients that were only getting partially used. So I started to make a menu calendar, take inventory of what is in our pantry/freezer/refrigerator, and started making meals that used more of the same ingredients. I had to step back and ask what was really important to me. Was it that we ate many different kinds of meals or that we ate a well-balanced and healthy diet? I finally realized that I could still have the latter without the former. I've also been itching for a new computer (this thing seriously hits somewhere around "prehistoric" and "death bed" in the computer world), but it still runs. So, we'll live with it as long as it decides to keep kicking. It's been a little hard around Christmas time knowing that we won't be doing much as far as Christmas gifts are concerned, but we know that we're at a time in life when that's okay. Hyrum won't care that he's getting bean bags and a homemade teddy bear and we know that we can show love for one another and our families through time, service, and encouraging words as well as through gifts.
• Find free ways to have fun: We may have to wait longer for a movie through our local library, but it's definitely a lot cheaper. Instead of going for family dates out to lunch, we have been working to find ways to have free fun--a walk in the park, watching a movie together, talking, playing, etc.
• Eating in: Since moving to Calgary, we haven't eaten out very frequently because it's so expensive and because I'm home a lot more to cook. But a pizza on Friday night here and lunch with a buddy from work there still adds up. We just don't eat out anymore. That means that I have to be pretty vigilant about starting supper early so as to avoid a last-minute meal emergency but so far, so good.
• Thrifting: Instead of heading to Walmart to check out the price of something that we want or need, I've been a lot more diligent about looking for second-hand products. There are some things that we obviously wouldn't buy used (i.e. a car seat) for safety reasons, but other than that, having something that has been on adventures with other people helps to cut costs, reduce waste, and save energy.
• Throw any and every unneeded dollar at paying off debt: Now, instead of thinking how much fun it would be to do this or have that, I think of how amazing it will be when we owe NO ONE. I'm pretty sure that's going to feel a heck of a lot better than having a fancy schmancy car, a new movie, or just about anything.

Our Total Money Makeover has changed my entire outlook about money. I used to look at others with their houses, nice cars, and fancy furniture with some envy. Now I realize that with some exceptions, they look good but they're just as broke, if not more broke, than we are. I like what Dave says about "keeping up wit the Joneses." The Joneses are broke, so stop trying to keep up.

It's also helped me to look at even "smart" debt with some perspective. For example, I used to always think that renting was such a waste of money and that it was much smarter to have a mortgage on a home because then it was an investment. Now I really want to pay cash--yes, cash--someday for our first home because while renting may be throwing away money, so is paying interest. It may take us longer to get into a home, but we'll own a home just as, if not sooner, than if we took out a mortgage. (Note: I'm not going to suggest that anyone NOT take out a mortgage. First of all, I'm obviously not a money expert. Also, a sizable down payment and a 15 year mortgage are still on the "smart" list according to Dave). I want our home to be a blessing in our lives rather than the curse that we've seen too many Americans currently facing.

How about you? Do you have some great ideas on how to save money, make a budget, or overall be a good steward with your money? There's a little lady here would would love to hear your suggestions!

The Craft Junkie Update #1

Well my friends, I have actually been making some headway in the craft world. Here are a couple of things I've finished these past couple of weeks

Painting our entertainment center.

Now this was an undertaking. When we got married, a family in our ward was giving away this monster of an entertainment center. It's solid oak and therefore a beast to move and yet we've always moved it. So many broken backs, so many flights of stairs... In any case, I wasn't a huge fan of the finish on it. It was definitely showing its age. 

So, I decided to paint it! I chose to go with black since our walls are yellow (and therefore quite bright) and our couches are red and black. 

Here's the thing though...I did NOT want to sand this huge hunk of a piece of furniture. It really wasn't worth it to me. I explained my desires to the nice man behind the counter at Home Depot and he directed me to a primer that will paint over the existing finish: Kilz 2

And so I attacked it!

An now I had a white entertainment center.

 And then I painted it black.

It doesn't look perfect but at least it works, right?

And yes, our TV is about 15 years old. But again, it works, right?

Photo Canvases

I found this project on Pinterest and thought it looked like a great way to display some of our wedding photos. Three years later and I'm finally getting around to hanging some of those.

I did everything as directed but chose to stipple the top layer of Mod Podge.

There are very few pictures that I actually like from our wedding day so choosing which photos was fairly easy.

Here's our little wall display!

I think I'm actually going to do this for a Christmas present for the grandparents. It was a really easy and fairly inexpensive project and the best part is that it's quick!. You can work on a few at a time and they're done within a couple of hours.


Mr. Knitted Teddy Bear

I saw this pattern in a Debbie Bliss pattern book my mom owns and fell in love with this cutie. Only problem is that the yarn is kind of on the expensive side. You could probably make it with a lower quality yarn but Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino is soooooo soft and cuddly. I just couldn't resist making it for Hyrum for Christmas.

Merry Christmas, Hyrum! (Don't Peak!)

Overall, it was a pretty easy project but I wish there were better instructions on how to sew the body parts together. Long story short, his legs and arms look a little limp and awkward. Oh well, Hyrum should hopefully still like him.

Smiley Stripes Hat

I absolutely love Sirdar baby yarns. They're so cute, so soft, and have radiant colour. I fell in love with Smiley Stripes and chose to make Hyrum an ear flap hat to combat the freezing temperatures.  Of course, Hyrum won't sit still long enough to get a good shot, but, well, I tried.

These four plus the Advent Calendar (not much to look at...) makes five projects done these past few weeks. Wahoo!

The wedding ring

I was looking at my wedding ring today and I thought about all of the things that it symbolized to me.  The normal thoughts of commitment, love, excitement, and the prospect of a happy life together were of course in the mix. And then there were thoughts of why I have my particular wedding ring and I realized that it symbolizes even more to me. It symbolizes our quest to live within our means, to give without grandiose expectations, and to live practical lives.

I think most single girls think about what they want their engagement ring to look like. How big, how small, how ornate, how simple, etc and I was no different.  Here were some of the things that were really important to me: 

• I wanted my ring to be a gift. I know the current fashion is to have to-be-engaged couples to go together to look at engagement rings and I think that's totally fine. But I really did want the old-fashioned surprise. I knew the kinds of things I liked (and of course, Brennan wanted to know) but I didn't want to be the one to actually pick it out.  
• I wanted it to be affordable. Maybe if I had gotten married later in life I would have enjoyed a larger ring, but we were getting married in college and both of us were paying for college without financial help from our parents. I told Brennan up front that I didn't want him to even think about financing a ring.  First of all, it wasn't on the list of things that the Brethren have deemed as something it was okay to go into debt for.  I also, quite frankly, didn't want to get into a marriage with a ring that wasn't really mine.  You know? 
• I didn't want pokies.  Maybe this part is gross, but I'd heard stories of moms changing poopy diapers and getting poo in the prongs, or scratching their kid's head when they went to pick them up, and guy after guy told me they didn't like how their wife's ring poked them when they held hands. I really like hand holding so I didn't want to attack my husband every time he reached to grab mine. 
• I liked yellow gold. I know white gold is more in style, but I really liked the classic look of yellow gold and being a red head, white gold and I don't suit each other very well.  It just washes me out. Plus, I absolutely love how the contrast of yellow gold makes a diamond stand out and shimmer. I just love shimmering! 
• I wanted something practical. Something that I didn't have to take off every time I showered, went to bed, or whatever. Ease, please.

And so, my sweetheart went on a quest for a ring.  And this is what he got:

And I absolutely love it.  He did a good job, didn't he?  Nearly four years later and I'm still in love with this sweet, precious gift from the man I love more than anything in the world. Thanks sweetie!

The Craft Junkie

My mother has this problem.  Well, at least I think it's a problem but she might not agree.  She collects sewing and knitting projects like nobody's business.  The woman seriously has crates upon crates of knitting patterns, yarn, sewing patterns, and fabric with intentions of becoming something they'll never have the chance to become.  You see, there are enough projects to keep her busy until she's at least 114.  The biggest problem isn't even that she has so many projects in the line-up, but that she continues to accumulate more and more project materials as the years move on.  At this rate, she'll be keeping her posterity busy for the next 274 years.  No joke.  I've always thought this was a bit of an issue and then...

I became my mother.

You see, I have started down the same road of good intentions gone awry.  I have far too many projects...and I keep accumulating.  Ahhhhh!  What happened to me!?  I'll tell you one thing, Pinterest was not a good addiction to add to the mix.  So, well, I need to do something about this.  I've decided to go on a bit of a crafting rampage if for no other reason than to clear up some storage space in our house. 

In reality, I have this problem in a lot of areas of my life.  I have a bookshelf full of unread books, boxes full of unlearned music, and a Wii Fit that sits mostly unused.

And so I have issued myself a challenge.  42 craft/DIY projects in 80 weeks.  Holy smokes! That is way too much stuff to get done.  Here's the biggest part of the challenge--no purchasing new materials until I've finished the projects I currently have. These are projects that I have all of the materials for and are just sitting around and collecting dust.  As you look through this please don't judge me.  I obviously have a bit of a problem and the thought of how much money I've spent on these materials over the years makes me want to roll up into a ball and rock myself in a corner.  Seriously...

Well, here goes:

• Paint entertainment centre
• Photo canvas
• Envelope advent calendar
• Grow-n-up Giraffe
• Hyrum's name wood blocks
• Brown wool coat
• White beret
• Baby vest
• Baby sleep sack
• All-in-one cloth diapers (blue polka dots, orange polka dots, trains, Oh Canada!)
• Diaper wet bag  (orange polka dot, red/yellow checkers)
• Ring sling in beige
• Ring sling in blue
• Wrist warmers
• leg warmers
• Polka dot skirt
• blue tie skirt
• yellow ruffle skirt
• Green Christmas dress
• Red/beige stripped baby sweater
• Blue/beige stripped baby sweater
• Green/beige stripped baby sweater
• Red baby sweater
• Green baby sweater
• curtains (blue and yellow)
• table cloth (olive green swirl)
• anniversary cross-stitch
• bride cross stitch
• wool diaper covers (green, blue, red)
• Pink sweater for Baby Jane Miner
• Smiley stripes baby hat
• Tuque for Brennan
• Blue waistcoat
• blue baby blanket with white trim
• orange baby girl sweater
• I can do it! Quiet book
• Alphabet book

As I evaluate this list, I realize that one of my biggest problems is clothing--I buy the materials hoping that I'll be skinnier and then make them.  Well, I'm not getting skinny fast enough and I'm accumulating projects too quickly.  For those items I just plan on making them a size down from where I am when I get to that project.  I also got a TON of yarn to knit baby sweaters thinking I'd have all this time when I was a stay-at-home mom.  Yeah right!  Little did I know that between getting the kiddo to take a nap and feeding him, not to mention keeping the house clean and hitting the refresh button on Pinterest all day, I'd have plenty to keep me busy.  

Well, here goes.  I'm planning to keep a running list on the side of the blog so I can cross them off as I finish them and I'll definitely post pictures along the way.  Happy crafting to all and to all a good night.

Dr. appointment

I need to set up Hyrum's 9-month appointment. It would be fitting considering he's coming up for his 10-month birthday in the next week and a half.  Ooops.  I used to really look forward to our doctor appointments.  I liked hearing the doctor say that my little guy was growing exceptionally well.  I liked the assurance that everything was okay.  And I liked having someone knowledgeable to talk to about my baby's growth and development.

But now I feel a lot more comfortable with my ability to know my child and I don't feel as much of a need to go to the doctor to have them tell me everything is all right.  That, or I just don't like waiting in the waiting room.  One or the other.

Since moving to Canada, I haven't had a ton of experience with the health care system, seeing as we're all pretty healthy.  However, with a kiddo, you're going to see the inside of a doctor's office at least once in a while and we've had a few appointments here, even one hospital visit after Hyrum fell and got a good ol' scrape on his head.  Through my limited experience I've realized there are things I like, and things I dislike, about the Alberta health care system.  While I know my experience is limited, I think it's the experience of the majority (both in Canada and the US)--the occasional doctor's appointment with most health care decisions being made on the personal level.

Here are things I haven't loved:

• Finding a family doctor: Calgary has increased in population remarkably quickly due to the discovery of oil in Alberta.  The population has increased so quickly that there is currently a shortage of doctors here and therefore, finding a family doctor was a bit of a challenge.
• Referrals: You have to have a family doctor here to get a referral for any other health care services including an ob/gyn, paediatrician, etc.  I know this is similar to many PPO programs in the States so I don't think it's necessarily a unique flaw or anything, just a little frustrating.  I had planned on just forgoing the family doctor but then was told that I would need one to be referred to a midwife when we have our next baby.  See point above.
• Setting: This one is really silly but I just don't like the waiting rooms.  You know how waiting rooms in many of the doctor's offices in the States are comfy, brightly lit, and usually don some aquarium, TV, etc?  Yeah, not so much the case here.  The waiting rooms in the hospitals are like that but not in the general practice doctors offices. It's just chairs in rows.  It's functional, just not pretty, and really not very important.

Things I have loved:

• Doctors are doctors: I find that doctors here are much better about delivering medical advice rather than personal advice and I, personally, appreciate that.  Our doctors in the States were known to give us parenting advice, personal advice, and even sexual positioning advice while I was pregnant.  Yeah, not really needed, thank you.  I find that because of this, doctors here are much more professional and I really appreciate that.
• Cost: I know it gets paid for with our taxes (which are actually only marginally higher than our taxes in Utah...seriously) but I really appreciate that I'm not held back from going to the doctor because of cost.  When Hyrum bonked his head, I didn't even have to think twice about taking him to the hospital.  The health link nurse suggested it, so I took him.  End of story.  It didn't cost me $250 to have the doctor tell me that everything was all right and I really appreciated that.
• Health Link nurses: Once upon a time I was having a potential medical emergency and due to the cost of going to the ER, I decided to call the hospital nurse to see if I needed to be seen or not.  Well, they couldn't tell me over the phone if I needed to be seen or not because they cannot be held responsible for phone consultations (because of the fact that hospitals, your health care provider, and insurance all operate separately).  Because the health care system is run by the state here, if I have a question, I need only to ask it, any time, any day.  What mom wouldn't appreciate that sort of assurance?
• Assurance: I know that as long as we live here, we have health coverage.  No budget cuts at my husband's work could possibly land us without insurance.  No health insurance can refuse us due to a pre-existing condition.  If we stay here for many years, our college-aged children will not be without insurance.  When I was at Western Washington University, I was without health care due to the fact that my parents weren't paying for my college education and at the time the laws did not require my father's company to keep me covered.  As such, one trip to the ER for a couple of stitches and I was remarkably broke and in financial turmoil for the duration of that school year.  

Now, I know that everyone out there has different thoughts about health care in the US and most people claim that Canadians hate their health care as a reason to not adopt such a program in the US.  Well my friends, at least in my experience talking to people here, most Canadians see that the health care system isn't perfect, but they don't hate it.  In fact, I've heard very few complaints.  Most people seem to appreciate it.  Want to know who has talked to me specifically about how much they like it?  A paediatric doctor.  For all of the talk about doctors being hurt by universal health care, he certainly didn't seem to think so.  He ranted and raved about how the US should adopt such a program.  Doesn't sound like he's hurting much to me.  Then again, he's probably not getting filthy rich, but he appreciates that people (especially children) are able to get the help and the care they need, no matter the financial cost.

How do I feel?  I'm still not 100% sure.  I do miss being able to be a bit more choosey about my doctor and I miss the fish aquariums but I'm not sure that I miss them enough to say that I think privatized health care is better.  From one American to another, it really isn't as bad as the dooms-dayers say it is.  Just sayin'.

The apartment dilemma

I absolutely adore our apartment.  It has three small bedrooms with a large kitchen, dishwasher, private washer and dryer, private fenced yard, and in a great part of town.  I seriously love it.  Except for two things...the flooring and the shower.

The shower isn't a huge issue but I'm not the biggest fan. We only have a shower unit which, for adults, is totally fine (though I do miss the ability to take a relaxing bath from time to time). But now that Hyrum is outgrowing the baby bath we've got an issue.  We could just shower with him but the unit is quite small so I don't feel very comfortable with that.  So we've resorted to a large Rubbermaid container to act as a bathtub.  Not ideal, but it works.

The floor is actually the biggest problem.  The bedrooms all have carpet. However, the main living area (kitchen, living room, entry way, and bathroom) have etched concrete.  Ouch!  I thought the biggest issue was going to be Hyrum bonking his head, and that's definitely been a problem.  However, I figured that would be short-lived and that once he was steady on his feet, the problem would mostly subside (not to mention, deter running in the house!)  But, here's the real issue--it's killing our feet!  My feet and knees have been in constant pain for the last 4-5 months and after spending a long weekend at home, Brennan voiced the same complaints.  Now, if it was just the two of us, I could probably live with that, especially since we'd both be working and only home in the evenings and therefore spending less time on the ouchy floor.  But, we've got a baby, and since Hyrum is learning how to walk, I can't bear the thought of him having foot, ankle, knee, hip, you-name-it, problems because of this floor.  I don't want him walking around like a 80-year-old man at 18 months old.  And thus the dilemma--what to do?!

My first thought was to find some sort of temporary fix to the floor.  Costco sells these industrial-strength foam tiles so I thought that we could just get enough of those to cover the floor but that's going to get pricey.  They cost $14 for eight 2'x2' tiles.  A floor this large would need at least 20 packs to cover the whole floor.   I thought about just placing them in the kitchen and living room but then we've got a major tripping hazard (not to mention the fact that they'll shift all over the place).  The other issue is cleaning.  You can't really mop or vacuum foam tiles so I would have the lovely task of spot cleaning the blasted things every time they see dirt.  The next thought was to do the foam tiles with carpet over top which would solve the cleaning issue but the other issues would remain (and add cost).

Our next thought was to talk to the landlords about it.  I guess the people who lived here prior to us had a similar problem--babies and hurting backs.  So, maybe we could convince them it's a worthy investment.  But, I'm guessing it would cost them upwards of $1000 to fix the floor.  That's probably not at the top of their concerns right now.  I could check, but then I have to start that conversation and I just don't like being even semi-confrontational.

And then we could always move.  We don't really need three bedrooms, it's just been really nice. However, we're getting steal of a deal here since we have private laundry and pay no utilities for $1000 a month (and usually it's even less since I babysit the landlord's son in exchange for rent reduction).  I've been scoping some things out online and we could downgrade to a one-bedroom apartment (there are some financial benefits to co-sleeping!) but that might get a little tight all-around.  So now what?  I don't really know.  Anyone want to come and solve my flooring issue so we can stay in our super cute apartment?

And the diet winner is...

Weight Watchers! I've had a love-hate relationship with WW for a number of years.  During the last year of my undergrad I subscribed to WW Online.  Maybe I was a little obsessive about tracking my food but let me tell you what--it worked.  I lost around 20 pounds in 4 months. I seriously had never looked better in my adult life.  I felt great about myself, mostly because I knew I had the control to change.  And then one "weekend-o-fun" with the hubby and I became quite lackadaisical in my tracking and slowly gained the weight back.  Graduate school and pregnancy added quite a few more pounds to my frame. Drats.  I subscribed to WW Online again a number of times but had a really hard time feeling motivated to follow it.  But I think I'm there now.  I've made a number of other changes in my diet that make living WW a little easier and I feel like I'm overall healthier in my nutritional habits than I've ever been before, even if my frame doesn't yet reflect that.

Along with WW, I've considered a few other lifestyle/food changes. I toyed with the idea of veganism and strict vegetarianism for a while because I think people living these lifestyles are often very healthy (and, as my hubby points out, I'm a bit of a non-committal trend follower).  However, I promised the hubby when we got married that I would never become a vegetarian (this was a part of my life pre-marriage that he just didn't want to visit).  I mulled over it and after a good conversation with another health and vegetable-enthusiast in my ward, I realized that the only place I needed to look for food choices in my life is the scriptures.  The Word of Wisdom clearly explains that we should eat grains, fruits and vegetables, and meat sparingly (in times of winter, of cold, or of famine) and with thanksgiving.  In thinking about the Standard American Diet, I think of the drive-thru windows of my childhood, of the processed frozen dinners and all share one thing in common--meat.  I'm not going to try to sell vegetarianism here or anything but I've definitely noticed how the current standard way of eating is far from what our Heavenly Father intended for us.  In fact, I've thought that maybe if everyone ate the way our Heavenly Father meant us to eat, if we wouldn't have the health problems we have today.  In any case, I may be trying to sell my husband on the idea of vegetarianism a little more strongly.  But again, like I said in my last post, good news is that I'm the one in control.  Mwah ha ha!  Only problem is that winter is coming so my argument may come under scrutiny.