I used to only read fiction until I got a little older and I realized how crazy real life is. There is little that can compete with the outlandish things that real people do.

Case in point: This reader of personal finance columnist michelle Singletary has a dilemma. Seems she's ready to get married, and in the spirit of what's yours is mine, the husband-to-be wants to drain her 401(k) to pay the college costs of his daughter from a previous relationship, plus a car for the little darling to boot.

The woman writing to Singletary is now considering not marrying the guy, which is just as well because he says he won't marry her if she's not willing to give up the 401(k) to her future stepdaughter. Singletary suggests she stick her foot in his ass.

I'm not always a fan of Singletary but I love this paragraph:

"She shouldn't agree to it. Not because the daughter in question isn't biologically hers. Not because this is money she saved while she was single.

She should say no because it's an idiotic idea."

Hee, hee, hee. It's not very Zen to laugh at others' misery, but it does feel good sometimes to be reminded that there are plenty of people screwier than you in the world.