I learned that I shouldn't leave anything spillable on my desk (Thanks, Bruce), that my children love books, that the teeth of a one-year-old FRIGGIN' HURT when applied to the spot where one's neck meets one's shoulders (Again, thanks to Bruce), and that I will not be a multi-millionaire. (But I kinda didn't ever expect to be one in the first place. So, it's really just mourning over what I never had in the first place. And, therefore, pointless.)

So, Bruce (as I mentioned above), pulled down a mug of hot cocoa on/off my desk. He narrowly missed my kepyboard and mouse with the huge puddle of chocolate that spilled over on the carpet. He only got a very small first-degree burn. It doesn't even bother him nearly as much as how much Michael and I freaked out when he did it.
Which brings me to the teeth comment. I was running Bruce's arm under the cold tap in the shower (which Michael had done while I tried to assess and treat the damage done to my stuff [i.e. not much. Thank goodness, since I was rather frazzled anyways]), I wrapped Bruce up in his towel and held him while (rather unsympathetically) informing him that if he hadn't been reaching and getting into things he shouldn't, he wouldn't have a now-freezing arm.
And he sank his little pointy teeth into my neck/shoulder.

And I screamed, cursed, and dropped him in his crib before I really lost it.
Michael held me as I tried not to sob with rage and all, then he took care of the boy. While I bribed Zo-bug to hang with me by giving her the phone. So I could finish up dinner.

The other thing I was a little upset ... well, more hurt, really ...
Okay, so I have a wealthy relative. Who doesn't seem to really love our family. My mom and aunt have had hopes that maybe I would stand to inherit a good chunk of the estate. Since I'm the only really responsible member of my generation (Yeah, I haven't done drugs nor been in prison. Or both. I'm a married college graduate with children. A homemaker. Who does keep in contact with this relative. Out of familial duty and also because it's polite). My mom informed me that this relative has put a "good portion" of the estate into a trust. To the college that his family supports. (Also, the college that he refused to help her pay for. And that he got his relative -- who DID help my mom attend college-- to stop payment ... and nearly end my mother's education. Yeah, I've got some crazy in my family tree.)

An uncle of mine who also would stand to inherit, will be disappointed. So my mom tells me. And I don't blame him. He is the closest to this relative out of my family.

I'll admit that, yeah, after hearing what the estate was worth (yeee-owza!), I couldn't resist contemplating what I could have done with that money.
My children wouldn't have to ever worry about covering college or missions ... even if I end up with a dozen or so. We could sell our house and start working on our dream home. We could do all the traveling we dream of doing. We could pay off all of our debt. In an instant.
We could buy multiple properties.
I wouldn't have to worry about not having any real savings.

But that's a pipe dream. I'm not rich. I'm going to get through all this ... even if it's by the skin of our teeth (for now). Yeah, right now my husband's an intern, really. But, in a few years ... about the time that the kids start Kindergarten, he'll have his license and we'll have a little more to spare. We'll set aside funds for their college education and any missions, we'll have a savings account, we'll plan family vacations. We'll be self-sufficient.

I wouldn't be nearly as hurt if this relative had left everything to my uncle. Or any other relative. Even one of his second wife's relatives.
But to put the lion's share to a college that he tried to get my mom kicked out of ... since she wouldn't kowtow to him?!?

My mom does bring up a god point: Any money that he'd leave would have strings attached. There'd be a price to pay to be wealthy.

I should be glad not to have to deal with possible corruption.

Still, it'd be really, really nice to give a tithing payment that had so many zeros contained in that number.

It might pay for part of a temple. Or an organ (or five).

Oh well. Bruce and Zoë will just have to get used to working for what's important. Since I don't think it's going to get handed over to us anytime soon. *sigh*

Is it strange that I know (but don't necessarily EXPECT, you see) that a number of my relatives are leaving me an inheritence? (I mean, I'm an only child. Dad will probably take care of his girlfriend --- which is only fair, since she's taking care of him. My aunt is practically my second mother. Another of my uncles likes me and that I do net-searches for him. But if they don't leave me anything, I still know that they love me. They tell me and all. Besides, I don't think that they have wills made out or anything. And I don't want them to die.)

Okay, this turned into a post of rambling morbidity.

I should get a shower.

It should make me feel better that Michael feels that my relative-in-question's choice of how to treat his family vs. leaving money to be recognized for years ... yeah. Michael feels family loyalty. As in, take care of your family FIRST. Then, if you need to do other stuff, go for it.

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My mood right now is:

Snarkalicious ... and the return of the strange dream chronicles - 2007-03-28
Spinnin' My Wheels - 2007-03-21
"I almost ran over a goose the other day ..." - 2007-03-06
Small things make me happified - 2007-03-02
A science joke ... and my weekend. - 2007-02-19

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