pianistimo, the....

[pianistimo]

right on! 

of course, try telling that to the children.  when they have gift exchanges at school - i just go along and buy something so my children won't be sitting over in a corner.  and, of course, relatives who kinda expect a present to feel like you love them.  as i see it, a very pragmatic approach, spend as little as possible --but keep the love alive.

for instance - for the rest of the 2000 people that i know - i alternate years and send a family letter with pictures.  seems to be enough.  even suze orman agrees with this.  she says normally people spend $1000 on gifts when all is said and done at this time of year.  now, i'm not saying that if you're buying something for a close loved one - you should give them a $5.00 gift - but i mean - the spirit is loving a person.  you can take them out to eat for a lot less than a new refrigerator.  although, right now - i kinda want one.

one that opens from the left.  you see...in our house the space for the refrigerator is on the far right of the cabinets, against the wall.  the first time i tried to clean the fridge - i noticed a problem.  i could not open the door 180 degrees.  therefore - i had to take shelves out and turn the entire drawer section sideways to get it out.  this has been a royal pain.  everything else about our house i love.  but, gag - who thought of putting a refrigerator on a side against the wall so you can't open the door more than 90 degrees.