Yes, it was an IUD, but that doesn't mean it wasn't interesting.

I'm still trying to tease out the story about husband #2. I came across a few more details about him, but I'm a long way from finding out 1) how they met, 2)when (if) they got married, and 3) whatever happened to him in the long run.

I started sorting (and reading) some of the early letters in an attempt to get some details on the disposal of husband #1. And I still haven't figured who fathered child #2.

Maybe two more days and I'll have the collection ready to put in acid-free folders, etc.

It won't be this week though--I'm staying home tomorrow so that I can get that lab work done bright and early in the morning. If the timing works out, maybe I'll take YD to lunch again, assuming she can break away.

This morning there were four cats on the patio--Lady, CC, Emma, and a subdued-striped cat, whose message to the three girls was quite obviously "here I am, baby--and I got something for you."

* * *

Bit of a break to answer the corded phone. And as I suspected (and expected) it was a total waste of time. "Heather" wanted to tell me how I could reduce the interest rate on my credit card balances.

At that point I hung up. I don't have any balances that carry over from month to month.

High school kids in LA have a course called "Free Enterprise" and it was originally supposed to give the kids some financial smarts.

But I doubt that it got into the nitty gritty of "just pay the minimum" each month. That's a really good way to end up really broke. The interest rates are humongous, and I don't know if there are still usury laws that limit interest rates. Well, even if there are, there are enough extra "fees" to more than make it virtually impossible to ever get out of debt.

And how about the early tax refund one preparer is advertising? You don't have to wait, because the preparer will give you a credit card loaded with the anticipated refund. I wonder what percentage of people use only the money loaded into the card, without succumbing to the "just $xx down" syndrome.

Well, enough of my pet rant. Just one more thing--how many people do you think will use the upcoming "rebate" to pay off bills? How many ads do you think will "suggest" that the recipient use the refund as a down payment on a one square mile (or somewhat smaller) flat screen TV, or some other big-ticket item.

That's what the fiscally-challenged government gurus want to happen--otherwise it won't stimulate the economy.

Okay--that's my economy rant. That gives you an idea of what an IUD today was.