Dear Apartment,

Well, it's been real.  It's been a long 3 years.  You've been small.  And cramped.  And very high.  The three flights of stairs were never fun.  But, you were provided a roof over our heads and heat in the winter and air in the summer.  Except last summer on the hottest day when the A/C broke.  Nonetheless, we are indeed sad to leave you, our first "home" - but will not miss the feeling of studying and law school that you carry with you.  However, we will miss the fun times we've had here as newlyweds and beyond - you were a wonderful first "home" for our first three years of marriage.  Although we'll one day get a real home, we'll never have another first "home."  

Take care of your next tenants.  May they be as blessed as we have been.

Love, Me

PS - I am still taking Guest Bloggers if you'd like to participate - just email me at thedailydear@yahoo.com!

Dear Panera,

YOU have hit the jackpot.  I am not quite sure what inspired you to create the Frozen Caramel drink, but OOH. LA. LA.

I had one for the first time tonight and it was delish.  And I mean DELISH.

Good job!  You go, Panera!

That's all.

Love, Me

Dear Grandma Lady in Kohls,

Why, thank you!  Just two weeks ago the High School Kid in the Drugstore thought that I was in high school with him.  

Then, tonight, YOU stopped me to ask if I liked a dress that you had just bought for your 13 year old granddaughter.

Oh, my!

You said that you thought if I liked it, then she would like it too.

In fact, I liked it so much I bought it too!  Hehe.

So, week before last I was in high school, now I am looking 13.  I'm getting younger by the minute!

Thank you for your "compliment" and for showing me the super cute dress.  Hope your granddaughter liked it, too.

Love, Me

Dear Mom,

Thank you for e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g.  I know I was a difficult child.  I was pretty much a brat a lot of the time.  Not only that, but you woke up at crazy hours in the middle of the night to get ready for the whole day so that I could be at the skating rink on the other side of town by 5:30 a.m.  You sacrificed a lot and gave me oodles of love and knowledge so that I could get through life.  I am so thankful that we are still enjoying so many fun times together.

Thank you for life!  I love you!

Love, Me

Dear High School Kid in the Drugstore,

Thank you so much for complimenting me yesterday when my flu-ridden self came in to buy a thermometer.  I was truly feeling like a pile of poop, and you in your high school ways mumbled something as I fumbled with the pin pad.  You remember.  You mumbled, and I said, "I'm sorry?"  To which you responded by mumbling more.  And so I said, "I'm sorry, do I WHAT?"  Finally, after one more mumble, I realized you were asking me if I went to your high school.

Hahahaha!

I said "NO, I sure don't."  Then I sort of giggled.  You looked at me kind of funny and I said, "I have been out of high school for 7 years."

You should have seen the look on your face!

Since I had a crisis last week when I turned 25, I am so thankful for your mistake.  It made me feel good.  My Darling Dearest even laughed when I came home and told him about it.  He knew it made me feel good inside.

So, thank you, dear high school kid in the drugstore.

Love, Me

Dear Smart Bloggy People,

Yes, I am about to ask for free advice.  Please forgive me in advance.  How on earth do you change the word "comments" to something else?  Like I see people say " 4 Giggles" or "83 such-and-suches" and I just cannot figure it out.

I would just be giddy if someone would explain it to me.  Heck, Jo from The A-Priori Mommy explained the Rule Against Perpetuities to me (see post from April 18)!  Who knew you'd get info like that on a blog?!

Lots of kisses to all you smart bloggy people.

Love, Me

Dear Readers,

You're just going to love this.  (I think).  As a birthday celebration to moi, I am going to start a tradition.

The Daily Dear is going to have a GUEST BLOGGER (yes that's right, I said it) every Wednesday.  I haven't decided on a name for this fabulous tradition yet, so if you have any ideas let me know.

If you'd like to be a Guest Blogger, here's the deal:

1) Email me at thedailydear@yahoo.com with your post idea.  Your post will be a letter to a person/thing/event/etc (just like my posts are) with YOUR name at the bottom and a link to your blog.  Oh, my!

2) Wait for my response.  If I like your idea, I'll let you know that you can proceed with the writing of your post/letter.  After your post is written, you'll email it to me.  Upon my approval (no mature/obscene/crazy material), it'll be a go, and I'll post it on a Wednesday.

3) The Fine Print: In exchange for me graciously opening my blogging doors and inviting  you in to write, you shall plop my adorable button (over there -->) on your blog so that you link to me.

Questions?  Comments?  Concerns?  Celebrations?

Love, Me

Dear Birthday Fairy,

I'd like a few of these from Anthropologie, pretty please.  (It's tomorrow).

I'd loooove one in every color.

Ooooh lalala.

Love, Me

Dear Readers,

How do you like my new 'do?  Let me know!  ALSO, puhlease be a dear and run over to my new family blog - keep up with my real life happenings (not just the letters)!  Hope you all had a fabulous weekend!

Love, Me

Dear Law School/Law Professors/Fellow Law Students,

Does anyone know what this means???!!??  ANYONE??  This is from my class on Thursday.  Yikes.

UNIFORM STATUTORY RAP [USRAP]

–        In 1995, legislation was enacted that significantly changed the treatment of property interests like contingent remainders, vested remainders subject to open, and executory interests that were previously governed by the common law rule against perpetuities [RAP].  If created on or after October 1, 1995, the validity of such interests is determined under the Uniform Statutory Rule Against Perpetuities [USRAP].

–        Determining validity of interests under USRAP

•          (a)  interests that would have been valid under the common law RAP (i.e., are certain to vest or fail within a life in being + 21 years) remain valid under USRAP.

•          (b) interests that do not meet the test of the common law RAP are not void ab initio.  USRAP adopts a wait-and-see approach to such interests and they become void only if they actually fail to vest or terminate within 90 years of when they were created.

–        Note:  Even if the interest becomes invalid after expiration of the 90-year waiting period, a person with an interest in the property can petition for reformation.

Love, Me