Monday Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: Working Hard and Eating Less

First day, first meal of the Live Below the Line challenge: a fried egg and two 'cheese guys.' (Two corn tortillas, sprinkled with mozzarella and heated til crunchy. Try it -- they're good!) 
     The Brick looked at his plate. "How come I only have one egg?"
 I said, "Remember - we were going to do the challenge? A lot of people would be happy to have an egg- period." [Not to mention a free-range, fresh one.] When that didn't work, I offered, "Hey, Ben Affleck's doing it, too."
     He looked skeptical. "No cheating?"
     Ben Affleck, wherever you are...please don't fudge. 

I'll be documenting my adventures in this area the rest of the week. I'm going to stick to it -- but the Brick may do his own fudging, and clean up some of the leftovers in the fridge, as well. Which I don't mind -- I HATE to waste food, even for a good cause. 
    Meanwhile:

What do you really owe your parents as an adult, when they've been abusive to you all through childhood? 'Ask Prudie' from Slate Magazine handles this with surprising honesty, and points out that the answer is not necessarily 'ask them back into your life.' (Having some experience with this, I think she's right. )

Cleverly Inspired's got a versatile DIY art cart that would come in handy for all sorts of storage. (I can visualize a cutting mat on top of this, too.)

The wonderful benefits of outrageous optimism. Having endured multiple speeches on How the World Will End, thanks to gun control, the stock market and God knows what else...I found this refreshing. (Thanks for the pep talk, Mr. Money Mustache.)

 Decorating your own out-of-date shoes? Why not, when they turn out this cute. Flamingo Toes shows you how. (Little girls would especially benefit...not so sure about adults, unless you're the flamboyant or cutesy type.) 

A close-up look at a 19th century shipwreck, discovered off the Gulf of Mexico. (Go to the slideshow.)

Animals acting like people -- it's called anthropomorphism, and was a favorite of the Victorians. This slideshow has 22 vintage photos of same. (Got into this some because of William Wegman, and our own beloved Weimaraners.)

And speaking of photos, one of the zaniest I've ever seen. Gives a whole new meaning to the idea of "overflying." And based on the photographer's text, it wasn't Photoshopped!

If you're doing a good job at work, blow your own horn! Five Cent Nickel's reminder to shy and reserved workers.

  Freaking out your loved ones, by 'arguing' for money at the grocery store. Tales from the Trenches, you're not the only one -- I did this once over a 50-cent coupon. Daughter #1 informed me she was embarrassed to death.

A new reality show's coming to television this year: Vanilla Ice Goes Amish. (I really wish I were making this up.) 

 How to make a 'living wall' from a crappy fence, courtesy of The Felted Fox.

Financial lessons learned from an 80-year-old grandfather, shared by Student Debt Survivor.

And for our musical feature, Peter the elephant adds his own piano 'accompaniment:'

(In case you're wondering, that's Scott Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag -- one of the Brick's favorites. Obviously, Peter's, too.)

Have a good week.