In Excel We Trust

{abridged}

From: Me
Date: Sun, Aug 8, 2010 at 7:57 AM
Subject: Mess
To: El Roommates

The place is a sty. We are in our 30s.

Come on, dudes. Work with me.

k

I stopped blabbing about the time I took a hit in my paycheck to sling shlongs, got new roommates, and started worrying about repaying the loans that were in forbearance. As with most of my problems, I chose flight over fight.

And then the neighbs said they were having a baby in January. I am going to be an aunt. 2x, really, because Bro #1 is also having a baby.

First fear made a brief appearance. Adulthood was no longer hiding around the corner. Instead, it ambushed me and karate chopped me in the face. Twice.

Then my fight mechanism kicked in.

I'm done bitching. Moreover, I'm done running away.

And Excel says I can move in January.

14.24%

That's how much I got my Discover Card balance down to from 16.99%.

It's underwhelming.

At least it's something.

Fortnight

Two weeks from the last post. Whoopsies.

So my Saturn Return was from approximately end of last October to early April of this year. That makes sense, what with that barrage of change that's happened. Notably, I started dating...well, everyone, new job, new roommates, some closure with past crap, and a generally more smiley demeanor. Huzzah!

Tuesday is the first day at the new job. Status: totally nervous. Took a pay cut, a benefits cut, and a risk going into the adult industry. Hawking vibrators on a professional level will either be an epic win (that phrase is going to haunt me in a couple years when I look back at this) or just make for a good story. Either way, I'm optimistic. But nervous.

I've cut back on my spending already, but it's still not where it needs to be.

Churn

Like butter.

A lot - A LOT - has been happening over the last couple of weeks and I've been hesitant to speculate on the outcomes. But, one thing is solid. I got a new job.

I took a pretty significant pay cut in order to be happy. Cube life wasn't for me. The company itself is actually pretty great, and I'm happy to have been a part of it, but I need a place to be a square among nuts, not the other way around.

So, with the pay cut goes a number of things. Farewell, daily Starbucks. Farewell, parking spot #302. Farewell, La Corneta burritos and Massimo sandwiches. I loved you all. But life has brought me bigger and better things. And the impetus to live frugally.

I sell responsible sex for a living. Oh, San Francisco, I heart you.

A bird, a plane

Thanks to K, formerly known as Ken Justice, Superhero - I've had an easel and watercolors for about 6 months now. I've stared at them for about 5.5 months.

I was complaining (surprise!) not 3 hours ago to a different friend that I didn't have any plans for creative stuff this summer. And then, as if from some parallel universe where far away friends can read your mind and hear you sneeze (it's an anomaly in that particular universe - I don't know why the sneezing part), in swooped K who sent me this link:
http://creativelive.com/courses/watercolor101/

Free watercolor class? Heck yes, I'm in! I'll have to schedule something on my MS Outlook to make it look like I'm doing work during those hours.

Ouch

Fun weekend. Painful Monday.

Detox begins now. Caffeine stays - I don't want to be a total monster.

Weekend: $40 - beer and other sundries.

All about the Lincolns

$5 increments are evil.

Some of the things I can get -
a beer
another beer
a sandwich
a latte
new shampoo
eyeliner
three-pack of gum
chapstick

I think I spend at least 4 increments a day without feeling guilty, when I should. Motherfather.

Back on track.