$100 Hole in my Pocket

I’ve had $100 to spend on ME for over two months now.  That may not sound like much… but for me, that is a pretty sum…. because it doesn’t have to be spent on underwear, or socks, or dish towels, or anything else “needed” at the moment.  I’ve spent much time in contemplation for my deepest heart’s desire at the moment.  I need clothes desperately, but I’m still losing pounds, so I don’t want to buy “in between” clothes with my precious $100.  (And BTW, I just passed 50 pounds GONE!)  I’m a jewelry hound by heredity, but I would love my new jewelry to match my new clothes that I will buy in a few months.  And there is a $100 hole in my pocket RIGHT NOW!  I’ve never been a patient girl… going through the adoption process proved that to me in a glaring way.

This morning I had one of those epiphany moments… when you think of something so logical and cannot believe that it took you this long to come to this realization.  Well, since ‘epiphany’ means a sudden, intuitive perception of the essential meaning of life… usually religious, this wasn’t exactly an epiphany.  It was not religious in this instance.  I’m buying dinner plates.  Ta da!  That’s it!

One of the suggestions on the healthy eating plan that I’m buying into currently, is to replace your 11″ dinner plates with 9″ ones.  I get it.  Less food fits on the 9″ plate.  At first I balked at the idea… I mean seriously… couldn’t you simply remember to put less food on the plate?  Apparently not.  I’ve had 45 years of training in filling my plate.  My husband’s life philosophy regarding restaurants is the most amount of food for the least amount of moolah.  See what I’m up against?

Thankfully we use Fiesta Ware dishes.  I can buy individual pieces that match with ease.  And there is a 9″ plate that is exclusive to Kohl’s stores.  It is called the buffet plate… and they are on sale this weekend…. and there is a 30% off coupon on top of that.  See how the stars aligned for this moment and my $100 hole???  Maybe this was an epiphany!

The Colombian Twin

I’ve heard it been said that everyone has a twin some where in the world.  I’m starting to believe it’s true.  We met Rick’s Colombian twin in Cali… he lived across the street from the house we stayed in.  His name is Juan Carlos and even without communicating very well, he and Rick were up to mischief from the get go.  They both love soccer.  They both think they are good at soccer… but Juan Carlos has videos to prove his story. 

We taught Juan Carlos and his kids how to play Ticket to Ride one evening.  Juan Carlos “helped” Larisa by illegally putting her trains on the board when no one noticed.  Later he got the Spanish/English dictionary and thumbed through it for some time before he came out with the accusation against the other players, “They are deceitful.”  See?  Rick in another body!   Larisa was winning for quite a while and he said it was because of his help.  When she ended up losing, he said she didn’t listen to him. 

Both Rick and Juan Carlos love Mexican/Colombian food.  The foods are so similar… the only difference is that the Mexicans use tortillas and the Colombians use arepas.  Juan Carlos hooked us up with some sumptuous food more than once…. SOOOO something Rick would do!  He also invited us to go with he and his wife to the neighborhood fiesta.  He tried to teach Rick to Salsa dance….. later he gave Rick a Salsa dancing video.  I guess his teaching skills require students with promise.

We didn’t just gain a daughter in Colombia.  We gained life-long friends (and cohorts.)