It always ends up that he pays the highest price for most everything he buys because he absolutely CANNOT wait.  To him, waiting is maybe a week after he sees it and does some research on it.  It's how he ended up with a $14,000. camera body that I saw a professional photographer lusting over.  Now, I will admit this much.  He DID get a deal on it over the original price it came out at.  It had been almost $20,000.  I cannot wrap my mind around that to this day.  I'm just glad he bought it back when we had extra money coming in from the sale of our business or I would be totally nauseous.  No...strike that.  I am STILL nauseous over that part of his obsession.

Today he started telling me about new monitors that are HD.  It seems he found a *deal* on one that was something like 24".  My mind started closing down when he said they were HD in such an excited, little kid voice.  Like I was supposed to say, *Oh, golly gee!  Just what we need!*  Then I said, *Wouldn't that require new video cards for the computers?*  His face fell and he said, *That's the real problem because, yes, we would.  And they are more expensive than the monitors.*

However, here's the kicker.  He started doing some research and discovered that the new video card he got about a month ago is JUST PERFECT and would work with the new HD monitors.  Oh joy!  Oh joy!  I gave him *the look* and said to him, *We need too many things without paying for a monitor that neither of us NEEDS.  I need a new computer chair and desk, buddy, so don't even THINK about it!*

But, here's what I think is going to happen.  He will get me a new desk and chair for Xmas.  He will get himself the HD monitor and *say* it's HIS Xmas present.  Remember I am saying this because it WILL be reported here.

I always get butterflies in my stomach when he brings up this new technology coming out.  I was afraid he was going to get a virtual keyboard except for one thing that held him back.  He can't type.  It's all hunt-and-peck and his eyesight isn't all that good as it is.  I swear to you that is the only reason we don't have one.  Or, I should say, HE doesn't have one. 

He found out the body of the camera he bought had a slight defect and got all upset.  He started looking to see what they had come up with to correct the problem and runs across ANOTHER camera body, even more expensive that also had a feature he lusted over.  I hit the roof that time!  I swore that if he even thought about it, let alone ordered it, I would have him declared incompetent legally and sell all his shit.  I think he knew I meant it because he just looked at me and said, *Oh, I wouldn't spend that much.  I said this one (he has) would be my last camera.  I don't need anything more.*  That same day, he got email from the manufacturer of his camera and the *defect* only needed a small download to correct the problem.  He downloaded it but, I swear, it was a bit of a disappointment to him.  No real excuse for a different camera body. 

I've put up with all kinds of this shit during our married life.  From boats, to trucks, to cars, to homes even.  It gives me a headache thinking about it all.  My sister, Brat, says he is just determined to spend every dime we have before he dies so I am left with nothing and I have a feeling she has a real point there.  He's always been very selfish where *I* am concerned.  It's only since his strokes that he's mellowed.  Besides, I have my own IRA that he can't touch unless I die and that aint gonna happen.  Not before he goes because I'll be damned if HE wins!  Every Christmas I take money out of my IRA and use it for gifts to my kids and grandkids.  If I don't have to fight with him, I won't.  What's really funny is that he never asks me point blank where the money is coming from either. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Ever had a night where you just couldn't go to sleep?  I mean where you were tired but not quite tired enough for the Sandman to show up and let you drift off into Dreamland?  That was my night.  I not only got a second wind but a third and then a fourth until the sky was light and I could see it was going to be a dreary, rainy day.  Just the kind of day to sleep in.  *Sigh*

So, I turned the TV onto the History Channel for something that would help lull me to sleep, took a pain pill and covered up nice and cozy and prepared to welcome sleep, sweet sleep.  I have no idea just when it happened but it finally did.  I DO know that I slept for a couple hours and then Baron came in and started slurping my face.  Oh yeah!  Great awakening.

I made myself get up, thinking I don't want to do this for another night so I did a few things around the house.  I didn't really have the energy to tackle anything truly physical so I just straightened up the bed (that I hadn't slept in) and dust mopped the floor, made some coffee and poured myself a cup.  I then sat down at my computer and went through my email.  That took maybe a half hour with part of that just getting rid of the spam.  Gawd, I hate that stuff.  What a waste of time.  I then played a few games on Pogo, did some Trivial Pursuit games and then the daily crossword puzzle.

I made the Beast and I some grilled cheese sandwiches but he turned down any soup with it.  It was just not a day when we were really hungry for whatever reason.  The worst part of being tired, though, is typing.  I swear, I become dyslexic when I am tired.  I have all the right letters but am constantly having to go back and re-type a word because I've switched it.  It makes me wonder how I wrote so prolifically for the advertising agency I worked for because I swear I was always tired.  I guess it's because I was younger and could do that kind of stuff.

I'm too tired to take a shower so I just did a PTA type cleanup.  If you don't know what that is, ask someone older.    

Now that heating season is here, I am having a tough time with dry skin.  I'm using up a lot of lotion to keep my bits and pieces from getting too dry and possibly cracking.  I've seen people that suffer that way and no thanks!  I'll keep putting lotion on, TYVM.

Well, I have managed not to nap too often today so I will be going to bed in about an hour.  Keep your fingers crossed that nothing interferes and I get a decent night's sleep for a change.  I'm hoping the Beast sleeps peacefully, too.