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Balance of power
An important component of the Kauffman household’s (version 2.2) fiscal responsibility is its balance of powers. We have what you might call a bi-camel financial office. (Others might call it being considerate, being responsible, or being married.) Proposals for spending may originate from either side, but must ultimately be approved by both sides before they can be enacted.
Case in point: I really wanted to blow my wad on an iPod. I could almost feel the smooth, light-weight piece of Apple magic in my hands. I could imagine being newly enshrined among the “hip elite.” I could feel my status among my peers inflating just looking at the price list. As a trial balloon, I shocked my wife with the following statement, “well, today I went ahead and ordered an iPod.”
“NO YOU DIDN’T!”
As trial balloons go, that was a pretty much a complete failure. Fearing an upset of our fragile financial treaty, I quickly copped to my deception and revealed my ploy. I didn’t really buy an iPod.
“John, you know I’m proud of you, but we spent that bonus money two years ago.”
What I need is a new constitution; my own declaration of indepence. I should throw off the shackles of responsibility and live for today! GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH!
“John, just what the hell are you talking about?”
Ah well, I didn’t want an iPod that badly anyway. At least I’ll have more ammunition when she decides she wants to paint the baby’s room again. I may have lost the battle, but at least I won’t be painting any time soon. Don’t tell Cheryl, but that may have been the plan all along. Am I really that devious? If I were, would I admit it here? These questions and more will continue to be unanswered, but you are free to speculate.
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Someone acquiescent this way comes
Surely you know someone who always seems to agree. It doesn’t matter what is being discussed, that person is right in the thick of it, nodding their head in concurrence. Here’s something fun to try the next time such a person comes to you with a question. I’ll run you through a conversation I had with just such a person earlier today.
agreeable: “John, I’ve got a question for you. We’ve got a case where…. (detailed description omitted) How would you handle that?”
John: “Well, we could approach it like….” (detailed description omitted)
agreeable: “Hey, that sounds good. That’s what we’ll do.”
John: “Well, I’m not sure I would do it THAT way. I don’t think it would be fair to our clients…. (detailed description omitted) It is one option, but it’s not the option I would pick. Another way we could take this would be to….” (detailed description omitted)
agreeable: “Yes John, that makes a lot of sense. I’ll let my people know how…”
John: “Sorry, I didn’t mean to lead you on, but I wouldn’t do it that way either. There are just some things that the court can do that we can’t. The only other option I can think of would be to….” (detailed description omitted)
agreeable: “Is that what you would do?”
John: “Yeah, I think that’s how I would do it.”
agreeable: “Great, sounds good John.”
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You might think that I see myself as some kind of superior intellect, playing with the lesser mortals like a cat plays with a partially chewed lizard. Oh, how far from the truth we’ve strayed! I’m just trying to keep things a little interesting. I’ve found that a little bit of interesting can go a long way, and judging by this entry we’re really talking about a little bit.
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Good sense will only take me so far
It all started with an infection. My doctor gave me antibiotics, but I didn’t tolerate them very well, so I ate yogurt. An easy to prepare lunch for work was born. It’s easy to pack and it’s easy to eat. Very little energy is necessary to complete either task. This is why I still eat yogurt for lunch. It isn’t because I’m on some diet. It certainly isn’t because I like it. I could find something else that would be equally easy to pack for lunch, but that would take more effort; and that right there is why I still eat yogurt for lunch at work
This is how far laziness will take me. You and me baby!