Today we received our tax money and went shopping. We really didn't buy a whole lot, but what we did buy cost quite a bit. Jaclyn bought an $800 camera for her photography business - our business, really, because while she is responsible for snapping the pictures, I'm the one who typically photoshops them - and a photography book. I bought three books: Personal Letters of Anton Chkhov; Philosophy Made Simple by Robert Hellenga (educated at the University of Michigan); and The Complete Stories of Truman Capote (my favorite writer). I also bought a wireless mouse for my Mac, a few clothing items, some vitamins, and a fifth of Southern Comfort (which I'm drinking right now).

We bought stuff for ourselves, but not until the necessities were paid and/or planned. Like, for example, we paid our car insurance up for an entire year ($865) and our car payment for three months ($650). We also planned Aidan's (our son) birthday party (bowling) and our plans for Super Bowl Sunday. We have a few more things to buy (I promised a few people I would buy their books) and then, if my calculations are correct, we'll have around $1500 to put into our savings account.

Not too bad.