While my most recent article, “Cleaning With Toilet Bowl Water”,  received several “that was so funny, I cried until I stopped crying” comments, a few readers who are close to Mrs. Savvy Redhead and I raised an eyebrow as to the authenticity of the story.  There were four key facts presented in that article. 1) I am 65% deaf- true; ask anyone who thinks I am ignoring them.

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She reached towards my outstretched hands and took the glass of ice water I had hastily prepared for her and said ever so coolly to me “I said, ‘Bring me the fly swatter”.......... Mrs. Savvy Redhead then asked the smoking gun question, “did I just see you dip the cleaning rag for the bathroom counter into the toilet bowl to get it wet?”  Normally, most teenagers will lie at this moment in hopes of casting confusion in the parent’s belief of what they just witnessed...

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With holiday parties around the corner, it’s time for Mr. & Mrs. Savvy Redhead to start thinking about their annual Christmas party.  After being privileged to participate in one held every year by the wonderful Lars & Carolyn Olson held in prior town we have lived in, we have had amazing success using their formula for a wonderful party for adults with no alcohol or fruit cake.

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Consequences are a part of the natural order of life.  My mother’s consequences were not natural.  More like creative and unique, much like Star Wars or birthmarks.  From time to time she would break from the standard grounding and spanking and tap into her inner cold and heartless soul, or at least that is what I thought at the time, and deliver something truly memorable to my sisters and I. 

Read some truly creative punishments and add your own to the list!

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Making savvy decisions comes naturally to some, but for others it must be pounded into them.  Buying one widget for $1.00 or buying 3 for $2.00 may seam like a no brainer to some, but there is a reason that one widget is priced for $1.00, because someone will buy it at that price.  A true savvy decision is the result of knowing what your time is worth.  Let’s face it, we all work to live as opposed to live to work.  ...... In order to make any savvy decision, it’s important to know what your time is worth, more so, the worth of your free time.

This year my second son enters high school as a freshman at large.  I have warned the school on many occasions that he was coming up through the ranks as I met with the various leaders during my oldest son’s parent  teacher conferences.... As soon as I could get a word in edge wise, I would raise my trembling hand towards theirs to convey a sense of foreboding while looking at the floor in shame.  Sensing I was about to relay an important message, possibly even a life saving message, the teachers would suddenly become chilled and wary as if a vampire should appear at any moment from the cold misting air in the room.  

“Artistic Expression” really gets on my nerves.  Usually when I hear this term it refers to an artist’s defense of creating imaginative material that generally crosses the line of acceptable norms.  When a movie director declares this, then I can immediately translate this as a notice from the director that he chose not take my money at the box office as I will not be watching the movie.

Fundraising season is around the corner, and you’re in charge!  With the current economic times, it is safe to assume that schools, non-profits, and other groups will be fundraising with a vengeance this fall as they scramble to meet the short falls in their budgets.  Such was the case for me last year when I became involved in the marching band program for my oldest son.  One thing that I quickly realized that all the efforts at raising money were widely varied, short term,  and organized by different people with different levels of success.

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