One day down
Yesterday began the first of 7 days of spending zero money. None. Nada. The first day was surprisingly easy. It’s very helpful that I’m working during the majority of these 7 days so my main temptations are vending machine goodies or something from the cafe. I can’t say I’ve really made any sacrifices yet.
Tonight is a different story. I’m meeting with an out of town friend for dinner. I’d forgotten to tell him in advance of this plan so I had to call him last night to explain my “uh, I must’ve left my wallet in my other purse..” excuse.
In a few days I’ll be miserable when I run out of Sudafed. I just had to get sick now, didn’t I?
Anti-consumerism
Starting tomorrow a friend and I will be taking a week off from spending money. We decided to give it a try after reading this article. I stopped by the grocery yesterday to pick up some essentials (and nonessentials..) and I’m making sure all my bills are paid today. I’m going to fill up my gas tank and I’ve already made food to take to work throughout the week. The bulk of my money goes to food so I think this will be a good challenge.
I’m happy about this. I’ve been on the look out for a new way to test myself since I lasted 100 days without soda. (I still avoid caffeine and sodas for the most part, but I will have a Sprite Zero or Coke Zero on occasion.)
I’m looking forward to it but I’m also already ready for it to be over. Now that I can’t spend money, I want to spend it.
quickquickupdate
I’m exhausted but quick update..
First day in the new job (fraud prevention). I feel overwhelmed with the fear that I made a horrible decision (not because i don’t like what i know of fraud but because i can’t go back to what i had). Also overwhelmed with all the information I got in one day. Holy cripes.
I feel equally overwhelmed with school right now. My workload in math tripled overnight so now i have homework problems + test 3 review problems + final review problems to go over. The final review is frustrating me. I have another paper to write for English then I gotta take the C test and then write the B paper then write an analytical essay and then finish all the extra credit on Blackboard. All of a sudden my History class seems like the least of my problems, since all I have left there is 3 chapters + a test (only have to make a 66 in order to get an A in the class) + a film critique (this is also required for the A). Holy frick. I gotta get crackin’ on it.
Also Colin is awesome and he makes he happy. <3
Madelyn Dunham, age 86
I’m sad that Obama’s grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, passed away just before the election. It’s very unfortunate that she won’t see Obama win, but something tells me she didn’t wait to go because she had confidence that he would be victorious. I wish the family well during this bittersweet period.
Link: CNN
ObamArt Car
On my way to class this morning I pulled up next to this woman:
I love this city.
I looked up “obamart” when I got back home and found several photos on the Bumperactive website. See them here.
Let’s do this thing.
I don’t know about you guys, but I am ready for this election to be OVER. I want to have a drink or two and watch it go down on Tuesday then not hear another word about politics for 6 months.
Bust
This weekend was supposed to be outstanding. Originally I was set to see Nine Inch Nails Thursday, then Jason Mraz Friday, then Thrill the World Saturday (today).
Thursday:
Trip to San Antonio to see NIN was great.. all things considered. I have time issues, and when I’m late to something I get very nervous. The people I rode with did not share this sense of urgency. I met them at their house at 4pm, and at 7:15pm we finally made it to the venue that was only an hour away.
The show was mildly disappointing in that there were no surprises. I should not have devoured the tour photos the way I did, because the way I saw Trent on stage was the exact way I saw him in the photos. Despite that the concert was fantastic with the music and lighting and fun. I was front row all night, and lost my voice.
The biggest downsides to the trip were the people I went with. Lacking the sense of urgency and then the decision to do mushrooms and then drive me home. Thanks guys, way to be incredibly irresponsible, inconsiderate, and rude, AND make me look like a loser when I say no. The girl driving swore she would be fine, I told her I would find another way home. When we got back to the car she got into the driver’s seat so I only assume that they respected me enough not to try to trick me. I didn’t ask, I decided to trust my friend. I think today I will ask though.
Friday:
I waited too long to get tickets to Jason Mraz so the show was sold out. I had requested the day off already, but I cancelled it so that the friend I was going to NIN with could have it. She worked at 7am Friday morning so it only made sense (I don’t work until noon).
Earlier this weekend the boyfriend mentioned a hockey game between UT and A&M happening Friday night. I love hockey and was excited to go. The game was at 8 but I work until 9. To fix that, I traded shifts with a coworker so I could be off work early. That meant *I* had to be at work at 7am, after getting home from a concert at 2am. But I did it, and it was ok. At 7pm I was getting dressed and ready for the game, full of excitement, and received a text that the boyfriend wasn’t feeling well.
Disappointment. I has it. Nevermind that I made a lot of arrangements to make it to that game (including skipping class, at 9am, so that I could work at 7am). I’m annoyed that he waited until 7:06 to tell me that he wanted to cancel our plans for 8pm. I’m also annoyed that this happened before, last week. Both times he’s had valid excuses (studying and illness) but nevertheless they are only excuses. I went to the game alone but was so surrounded by couples and college jocks oozing testosterone that I left after the first period.
I ended up home alone with a headache watching The Happening. Not at all what I’d planned.
Saturday:
Thrill the World (see previous posts) is happening today. In two hours. I wasn’t able to find a starting time for several weeks so I just assumed it would happen later in the day. I have a partial day off, leaving at 5 pm. I’ll still bee at work during the dance. I’ve been looking forward to this for a year.
I wasn’t upset about missing it because I thought “Hey, NIN and hockey in one weekend? I can do without Thrill the World” but this is now three disappointing events in a row.
I feel like the big exciting weekend was largely a bust. I’m left feeling disenchanted, annoyed, and worried that I have an unreliable boyfriend.
Sigh.
This week gets five stars.
I made pumpkin bread, and it was good.
I got quality time with my boy.
I got a 99 on my math test.
I was off work Tuesday.
I finished all of my current homework and went two days ahead in my classes.
I got reassurance.
I’m off work tomorrow.
I’m heading to San Antonio to see Nine Inch Nails tomorrow night. (Front row, and mere feet away from Trent Reznor! I might die.)
UT’s hockey team is opening the season with a home game against A&M, and I’m going (I think, anyway).
I’m off half of Saturday for Thrill the World.
Freaking. Excited.
