Me, My Books and Irene

Had this blog almost all composed in my head last night when the power went out and I had to assist in the basement baling. Strange to lose electricity for the first and only time almost 24 hours after the rain started falling. Picture tonight on the front page of the paper, a wide shot of the Mohawk Basin. It looks like the floods in Fargo: red, raging and unimpeded.

Of course no venturing out at all on Sunday (except for some quickie dog duty), so I read a lot, finishing Spousonomics by Paula Szuchman and Jenny Anderson. It was a book I picked up to read from helpful hints to launch the soon to be married. I hated economics in college and took the allowable cuts to at least secure a B. MBA courses were only marginally better (see I did learn about margins and cost/benefits but most of the expertise in those areas came from on the job action in the Capitol).

In a 300 page book, my only dog-ear as a potential quote was in the introduction. Actually the book went on at length just reiterating these few recommendations: "... Never let your own happiness outweigh that of your spouse. Always try to anticipate his next move before launching into negotiation. Divide the housework not fifty/fifty, but according to who does what better. Don't be afraid to use incentives to get what you want. Be willing to lose an argument."

These authors look young, scrubbed faces with career-set husbands. Never admits to how long they have been married. As a long-married woman, my own economic distillation is: do what you have to do yourself to live like you want to. If picking up is important to your sense of order, don't wait on other family members. If you rate your worth by how your front yard looks to the neighbors, tend it or hire someone with your own funds. Let meals be the center of life and save some part of the evening for personal preferences. There is no point in arguing TV versus reading.

The better book I am reading is All About Love and hope to finish it tomorrow and get a compare and contrast blog posted.