How Do You Feel About Gas Prices?

Here’s a sampling that shows that how we feel about something is relative to what we compare it to:


Gas today: $3.85/gal

Gas last week: $3.95/gal

Gas one month ago: $3.85/gal

Gas a year ago: $2.85/gal





Gas per gallon in Industrialized Countries:

Britain: $8.10/gal

France: $7.95/gal

Germany: $8.24/gal

Netherlands: $8.91/gal

Italy: 8.07/gal






Price of Liquids per gallon:

Liquids Price per Gallon

Arrowhead Bottled Water ...............1.28
Clorox Bleach ................................1.99
2% Milk ....................................... 3.99
Arizona Ice Tea .............................3.99
Whole Milk ....................................4.49
Soda by Pepsi & Coke.................... 5.33
Pelligrino Mineral Water...................6.40
Minute Maid Orange Juice.................6.99
Snapple Peach Tea .........................7.68
Glaceau VitaminWater ................... 8.96
Safeway Canola Oil .........................9.84
Charcoal Lighter Fluid ....................11.96
Rubbing Alcohol (Safeway).............13.52
Liquid Tide Detergent ....................14.49
Windex......................................... 17.29
Softsoap Liquid Soap ......................20.45
Starbucks Frappuccino....................20.48
Elmer's Glue ..................................20.54
Progresso Clam Chowder ................22.07
Safeway Balsamic Vinegar ............. 25.60
Reallemon Lemon Juice .................26.79
Robert Mondavi Chardonnay ...........28.16
Ragu Pizza Sauce ..........................30.17
Garnier Shampoo ..........................35.23
Molasses .......................................37.23
Old Spice Body Wash .....................41.17
Worcestershire Sauce.....................48.64
Bertolli Extra Virgin Olive Oil.......... 77.75
Neutrogena Liquid Make-up............1162.47
Krazy Glue ...................................2322.29

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse - Four Predictors of Divorce
1. Criticism- what is wrong with you?
2. Defensiveness- accept responsibility for at least part of the prob.
i. Everyone has some part of the problem…her side, your side, the truth.
3. Contempt- thinking you are better.
i. Acid for love, correcting grammar when you are mad.
ii. The number of infectious illness to the recipient of contempt
1. ‘I don’t want to be in the same room.’
4. Stonewalling-no cues, looks away, doesn’t move face, doesn’t vocalize
i. Men more than women
ii. Way of disengaging, way of calming down

These four things happen, even in good marriages. The difference is that in good marriages, you repair it.
i. 75% of things couples argue about are not resolvable.
ii. In marriages that are healthy, there are repair attempts.

Expert Advice

Simple Steps for Making Marriage Work
By Dr. John Gottman Ph.D

Making Marriage Work

There are simple steps you can take to keep your marriage alive and healthy. Here are some ideas, which are described in detail in my book *The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work*, that have been gleaned from over 20 years of research with hundreds of couples:

1. Seek help early. The average couple waits six years before seeking help for marital problems (and half of all marriages that end do so in the first seven years). Meaning the average couple lives with unhappiness for far too long.

2. Edit yourself. Couples who avoid saying every angry thought when discussing touchy topics are consistently the happiest.

3. Be careful how you "start up" a conversation. Arguments first "start up" because a spouse sometimes escalates the conflict from the get-go by making a dramatic, or angry or upsetting remark in a confrontational tone.

4. A marriage succeeds to the extent that the husband can accept influence from his wife. If a woman says, "Do you have to work Thursday night? My mother is coming that weekend, and I need your help getting ready," a husband who replies "My plans are set, and I'm not changing them," is a guy in a shaky marriage.
A husband's ability to be persuaded by his wife is so critical because, research shows, women are already well practiced at accepting influence from men, and a true partnership only occurs when a husband is able to do so as well.

5. Happy couples had high standards for each other even as newlyweds. The most successful couples are those who, even as newlyweds, refused to accept hurtful behavior from one another. The lower the level of tolerance for bad behavior in the beginning of a relationship, the happier the couple is down the road.

6. Successful couples know how to exit an argument. Happy couples know how to repair the situation before an argument gets completely out of control. Successful repair attempts include: gossiping about other people together (very useful); changing the topic to something completely unrelated; throwing in some humor; stroking your partner with a caring remark ("I understand that this is hard for you"); making it clear you're on common ground ("This is our problem"); backing down (in marriage, as in the martial art Aikido, you have to yield to win; and, in general, offering signs of appreciation for your partner and his or her feelings along the way ("I really appreciate and want to thank you for...")

7. Focus on the bright side. In a happy marriage, couples make five times as many positive statements to and about each other and their relationship ("We laugh a lot" as opposed to "We never have fun") than negative ones. A good marriage must have a rich climate of positivity. Make deposits to your emotional bank account.

For more information: The Gottman Institute, founded by Drs. John and Julie Gottman and located in Seattle, Washington, provides educational materials and workshops for therapists. For more information, schedule, of materials from Dr. Gottman or The Gottman Institute call 888 523-9042 or contact www.gottman.com.