Anniversary's coming up in December. Seventeen years. Today Wood finds out two things: First, I buy gas at more than one station. Two, I prefer diet Pepsi to Coke (any flavor). Hands me my blankie and pillow and says "Bye. Been good up to now."

I think this stems from the Great Cereal Rebellion. I buy cereal based on two criteria (hmm, a duplicity of coincidence...or coincidence of duplicity, yeah, that's it) one, it has at least a vague reference to nutrition, two, it costs less than $3.00. Unfortunately for some cereal eaters at this address, this has resulted in a disappointing selection. There are at least two of us who benefit from increased fiber in our diets, so Raisin Bran and Shredded Wheat are pretty much a staple. If the name brand isn't on sale, the store brand usually is. I like the Cheerios with the dried berries (berry blend or strawberry, yumm) when it comes around on sale, but even then it's usually at the top of the register at $3.00/box. The Boy gets to pick a box now and again (Cocoa-Puffs, I swear to god, and Flip ate em too), but it pretty much ends up being the same kinda stuff every week. So the other day I come home and find a list next to my computer. "Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Cracklin' Oat Bran. Any other cereal that costs $5.00/box and has no store brand equivalent." "What's this?" I ask of Flip. "Dad says you never buy cereal he likes. So we made a list." Subtle little shift on the fence-"we", implies a division, a difference, a divergence (doh! alliteration run amok!). So at the store today I find Cracklin' Oat Bran ON SALE for $3.50/box. Do I buy it? Do I? Do I dare cross the line of frugal shopping and price vs. principle vs. happy regular husband? Wait, um, how many lines was that?
Well, yes. I love my man, love my girl, love my boy, and if cereal at $3.50 a box does it for them, then, by golly, I'm their huckleberry.

On a completely different note, as we were driving out and about today, we saw a Jag with the plate (DESYNER), and Wood admires the car (and its driver) murmuring "jag, huh..." and I say "Yeah, but what's Des Whiner?" He looks at the plate, looks at me, and shaking his head says "Designer." I laughed till I couldn't hardly drive. Betcha I'm not the only one who reads it that way. Pooh, do you remember the Straits of Wanda Fucha?

Gotta laugh sometimes.