This is my rip-off of the 80-20 rule used by business executives, a rule I don't really understand because I stink at math. Not only am I giving up on perfection, I don't even VALUE perfection (as if). I now shoot for 80 percent in pretty much everything. Do I give my kids 80 percent of my attention when I'm with them? Do I do the same at work (hoping at this moment that my boss doesn’t read my blog?) Were my brownies a solid B? Do I eat well 80 percent of the time (brownies excluded)? Then a pat on the back is in order. I do know, of course, that not everyone agrees with this. A woman heard about my 80/20 theory and was offended by it. She said I’m telling everybody that being average is good enough – that we shouldn’t strive for better than just-above mediocrity. That’s not what I’m doing! Boo on mediocrity! I’m saying that we need to give ourselves a break and REDEFINE what is reasonable for overworked, stressed, sleep-deprived 21st Century peeps. Boo on perfection, too! Hitting 80 percent on a general basis is just fine and it frees us up to strive to go higher on a few things that really matter. Like my rhubarb crumble. Can I tell you about the rhubarb crumble I made for a dinner party? Absolutely 90 percent! Now excuse me while I do a very average job of cleaning up my kitchen.