Envy – One of the Seven Deadly Sins (“Just A Guy”)

I recently visited my best friend, who moved from L.A., to a small town in the Northwest.  He built a home, from scratch, supervising every detail, and with his wife, they created their dream home.  I found myself feeling a tad of envy, as he took me on the tour of the house, pointing out all the beautiful details.

As we’ve been renting for several years, the pride of ownership is just not part of our lives and our belief is that the practical choice is to stay in rent for the near future.  Our choice, certainly.  But, as I reflected on my own bout of envy, I thought about my boys and how often they’re comparing themselves to their peers. read more

Just A Guy, His Wife, and $Money$

Clichés are clichés because they’re usually true.  They say the biggest arguments couples have are over sex, the kids, and money.  True?  You bet.  At least in my house it’s restricted to just one of those – $money$.  Maybe I’ll just do future blogs about the other two subjects ‘cause you know I’m lying about money being the only issue we ever have.

But, this time, we did get in a heated argument over $money$.  I think that second marriages are more complicated on most levels as each partner does bring more history, more literal baggage, and potentially kids, to the marriage.  I brought the baggage of an ugly, angry, costly divorce in which my ex also abandoned my boys.  My present wife has often stated that she feels she’s paying for the sins of my ex.  And, to some degree, she is right. read more