Simpson: Beige really lights my fire

“One last bit of advice,’’ the real estate lady told us. “Don’t get a divorce. We’ve seen it happen more than once.”

We had just signed papers committing ourselves to the construction of a new house when the agent warned us that some couples break up under the stress of building their dream home. They argue about every detail, and end up “splitting the sheets.”

Last weekend we moved into our new house. And we didn’t get a divorce. Not even close, thanks probably to the fact that I’m so thoroughly domesticated these days, idly chewing my cud with a far-away gaze in my eyes, that I can’t even imagine kicking up a fuss about accent tile or which shade of beige most lights my fire.

A new house on one level was necessary when my mother-in-law accepted our invitation to sell the family home in Oklahoma and come live with us. I don’t want to hear any good news/bad news, mother-in-law drives off a cliff in your new Cadillac jokes, because the two of us get along fine. She was a Willie Nelson fan before being a Willie Nelson fan was cool, and we both like cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Her fried chicken must be experienced to be believed.

Wouldn’t you know, though, that I had just gotten our current house exactly the way I wanted it, with the basement finished, everything painted, new oak floor in the kitchen, back yard landscaped and the lawn sprinklers adjusted just right, when we decided to sell the place and build new.

The decision-making process for the new house has gone remarkably smoothly, probably because after 26 years of marriage we can finish each others’ sentences, and I have long since reconciled our differences and learned to see the world like she does. I can’t even remember some of the crazy stuff I used to be willing to argue about.

You young guys out there might want to jot this down: it’s her job to let you know what your opinion is, and yours to find something you like about it. I know that might sound like giving up at first, but that’s just because you haven’t been married long enough yet. Trust me: most stuff isn’t worth the argument.

I used to think, for instance, that I liked bold colors. But The Wife explained to me that what we really like is BEIGE, which an old friend of mine (a guy) used to say is “the color for people who can’t decide what color they like.

Willie Nelson Wants to Save Farms, Christian News

Farm Aid organization that he founded 26 years ago to raise funds for suffering farms and farming families, will participate in a benefit concert on Saturday at Livestrong Sporting Park in Kansas City.

The 78-year-old country singer will also be inducted into the Agricultural Hall of Fame on the same day, according to The Kansas City Star.

Although farming issues do not always make headlines in the news, Nelson insists there are pressing issues taking place within the industry.

“We’re still in a desperate situation with our

“I think the biggest problem is with politicians who either don’t know about it or don’t care. At one time there were more than 8 million family farms in this country,” he said. “We’re down to less than 2 million. Farmers are not having a good time at all, and things aren’t getting better. It would be nice if our politicians would get their stuff together and do something for them.”

Nelson said he and politician Ross Perot once made plans to aid farmers. According to Nelson the plan could still be executed today.

“Remember when Ross Perot ran for president? He and I had some plans about taking the land that the government owns - because they own millions and millions of acres that they’ve confiscated - and taking in farmers on that land and subsidizing them for a few years until they could afford to buy it,” Nelson told The Kansas City Star. “I still think it’s a good idea. We’ve got to figure out a way to get the farmers back on the land.”

The solution, according to Nelson, can be found by getting the country’s youth involved.

“Young people don’t want to farm because there’s no money in it,” Nelson said. “We need to change that.

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