Unemployment lessons from a 9-year-old

My eldest niece, Sophie, was here visiting Sunday night until today. In between episodes of "iCarly," she helped me learn a few things:

1. I can sell my belongings to make more money. She sold some furniture and clothing in her Webkinz world, and she became rich.

2. It's really OK if you don't shower every day.

3. It's also OK—awesome, even—if you sleep 11-12 hours every night.

4. You're never too old (or too poor) for some things, like cartoons and sleeping with stuffed animals. Similarly, you're never too young to settle into life as a game-show lover.

5. It's not always important to eat breakfast, but it is always necessary to eat candy. Especially free candy that you get from the Easter Bunny.

I also discovered that Hannah Montana/Miley Stewart (Cyrus) really CAN have the best of both worlds (what a relief!), that Sam, Carly and Freddie are a Webisode trio made in heaven, and that it is possible to know every word of a cartoon—even one that has 126 episodes.

So thank you, Sophie, for coming to visit. Maybe some day I'll create one of those oh-so-hilarious posters: "Everything I ever needed to know in unemployed life I learned from my 9-year-old niece."

In other news, the poll is closing in just a few short hours. Be sure to log your final vote—I may just go to my local Dave's Supermarket for a Red Box application tomorrow if that holds up! And check back tomorrow to see how you can control my life next!