Even though Paul and Luis disagree.

I was just catching up on some shared blog entries in my Google Reader (thanks, Jay!) and saw a post on One Square Foot . Org.

It’s buying up rainforest land with the money it earns from ad revenues, all while you simply answer trivia questions on their web site.

I like trivia, and I like breathing oxygen. If that describes you too, give One Square Foot a try.

I’ve been following a few personal finance blogs, and today I clicked through a few links to find a post called "The 401k Debit Card."

I thought for sure it was a joke. After all, my 401(k) is an account for my tomorrows … when Paul and I retire, we can sit back and enjoy the money that we’re working hard to save today.

And since I’d like to retire at 50 or earlier, that means making a real commitment to saving today. By commitment, I mean saying no to the big screen TV or convertible we might like to have, and being smart about the money we do spend.

So please, tell me why on earth it would be a good idea for me to carry around a "debit card" in my wallet that would make deductions from my retirement savings?

First of all, it’s not a debit card. It’s a credit card. You are taking out a loan, and you have to pay it back (normally with interest).

Secondly, if you don’t pay it back, you’re subject to insane penalties for early withdrawal.

And finally, and most importantly for me, you’re jeopardizing your ability to retire when you want to, and/or limiting the kind of lifestyle you can live when you do ultimately retire.

Seriously folks. Take a look at your finances, and save what you can. Make smart choices. And whatever you do, don’t ignore tomorrow to pay for today.

I was just talking to Kelly about how our moods affect our bodies.

I think it’s crazy that just because I’m a little bit stressed, or nervous, or anxious, that my body should totally give up and just make the problem worse.

My digestive system should be disconnected from my mood.

I’ve been using Zoundry for a while to do my blog posting … because I really don’t like posting online. I’ve been burnt one time too many by online editors crashing just before I save something.

A lot of people have been saying that Windows Live Writer is a better option, because it stores your style information … so that as I type, the blog entry actually looks like it will look when it’s posted.

So I’m trying it out.

One thing I don’t like about any of these offline writers is that you can’t really use Wordpress tags. Or at least I haven’t been successful in using them. I can set categories, but I end up posting everything as a draft and then updating the tags online before I publish.

Oh well.

Paul teases me sometimes because he says I’m too emotionally involved with the television shows I watch. But he’s just exaggerating … right?

Except for the fact that I get choked up watching old episodes of TLC’s What Not To Wear when the participants have emotional transformations as they get new wardrobes and hair styles.

That might be a bit over the top.

I don’t like drinking out of styrofoam cups, but I’m having my tea this morning out of a styrofoam cup.

Why?

Oh, because my nice tasty cup of tea that Paul made for me is sitting on the kitchen counter at home. With my lunch.

As I drove to work this morning, I realized that I do more harm to myself than anyone else does to me.

It comes as no shock to anyone who knows me that I’ve always been an emotional person. I respond to challenges in my life with excitement, anger, elation … and I do so quickly and “automatically.”

But it would be really great if I had some control over how I expressed my emotions.

I’d like to be able to get angry, without letting my anger ruin my entire day.

I’d like to be able to feel disappointed, without leaping to the conclusion that the “offender” hurt me on purpose.

I’d like to be able to feel frustrated, without allowing frustration to become despair.

I’d like to be able to feel happy, without seeming like I’m totally out of control.

One of these days, I’m going to manage to do it.

I have some really talented, really creative friends who do amazing things with digital images. I really wish I could do the things that they do with Photoshop, but I just don’t get it. And what’s more, I’m too lazy to figure it out.

My greatest image achievement to date is making the gradient for the header of this web site. (Thanks, GIMP.)

It’s my first day back at work after twelve full days off. I have to say that I had a great day, sitting here with Beth, talking about what’s coming up in 2008, and just really feeling positive and excited about what’s ahead. I think it’s going to be great.

Now I have to go to the gym, and work off the 12 pounds of Christmas cookies I ate during those 12 days. I swear.