Yep. That's what I did today. I returned once again to the fleamarket that has become a treasure trove, and I bought an old, beat up trunk. I'd seen it a couple days ago, and thought, "OMG DO WANT. I will paint it and it will be my coffee table." Now, I am aware that I probably ruined it in terms of resale value, but I NEEDED that runk, and I NEEDED to paint it lime green. With white trim. While leaving the metal bits in their natural rust colored state. Just sayin'. These are needs we are talking about people. Okay maybe not, but it looks super cool! See? We won't discuss the lack of wall art, or the lack of a something to separate the "office" from the "living room," okay? I'm working for it.
Speaking of working! I started doing that agian tonight. I worked with Ju. She's a nice lady, but she's a little...let's just say she gets confused. Easily. And frequently. Bless her heart. The night was uneventful, however, so that's all I'll say on the topic.
Current Status: Tensandaire
Money Earned Today: $52.50 - taxes
Money Spent Today: $42.75
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Step 14: Go Shopping, Bid Farewell
Today was the day we had to take BFF to the airport and let her return home. Alas. But FIRST! There was shopping! We went to The Mall, Oh Help Me Jesus, Target and Barnes and Noble. I didn't really find anything at The Mall, Oh Help Me Jesus, but BFF found these shoes, and flailed over them. Turns out they were cheaper than she could find them online, plus she didn't have to pay shipping, so she tried them on for three seconds and they were hers. Also! It was just chilly enough to warrant the drinking of the first Hot Apple Blast of the season from Caribou. It was delicious. And mom's treat, so even better!
After that we went to Target where I again didn't find anything other than some Burt's Bees lip balm, but Mom found a few things she wanted, though at this point I forget what. Heh.
Then, we went to the one place I can ALWAYS manage to spend money. Barnes and Noble. Horribly overpriced? Yes. Do I care? Not particularly. While there I found A Great and Terrible Beauty and Wicked (the first book). The cashier encouraged me to read the second book even if I didn't care for the first, as she didn't like the first but thought the second was very, very good. I probably will.
Then it was time to see BFF off. The parting happened fairly quickly, mostly just a hug and "Bye! Call me when you get there! Safe travels!" I was sad to see her go, but she'll be back eventually, so it's okay. In retrospect, however, the "Safe travels!" was a dweeb thing to say. May as well have been "Best wishes!" Ah well. It was still a good day.
I spent money, sure, but it was on BOOKS (mostly). BOOKS, guys.
Current Status: Hundredaire (No, I didn't forget the "Multi" :\)
Money Spent Today: $30
Money Earned Today: $0
After that we went to Target where I again didn't find anything other than some Burt's Bees lip balm, but Mom found a few things she wanted, though at this point I forget what. Heh.
Then, we went to the one place I can ALWAYS manage to spend money. Barnes and Noble. Horribly overpriced? Yes. Do I care? Not particularly. While there I found A Great and Terrible Beauty and Wicked (the first book). The cashier encouraged me to read the second book even if I didn't care for the first, as she didn't like the first but thought the second was very, very good. I probably will.
Then it was time to see BFF off. The parting happened fairly quickly, mostly just a hug and "Bye! Call me when you get there! Safe travels!" I was sad to see her go, but she'll be back eventually, so it's okay. In retrospect, however, the "Safe travels!" was a dweeb thing to say. May as well have been "Best wishes!" Ah well. It was still a good day.
I spent money, sure, but it was on BOOKS (mostly). BOOKS, guys.
Current Status: Hundredaire (No, I didn't forget the "Multi" :\)
Money Spent Today: $30
Money Earned Today: $0
Monday, September 21, 2009
Step 13: Road Trip!
(I'm cathing up! Sort of...)
Today was road trip day. We had two destinations in mind. First was the World's Only Corn Palace. Oh yes. There is a Palace in South Dakota, and it is made of Corn. Your argument is invalid.
Actually, the Corn Palace isn't really made of corn so much anymore, as it's sided in corn. The first one was made of Corn, but seeing as they redo it every year, it just became more practical to make a regular building then glue corn to it. My favorite part is that City Hall is attached to the Corn Palace. Also, they make a bunch of stupid jokes (I could have said "corny" there, but I took the high road). Their mascot is "Corn"elius, they have a "Corn"cession Stand...we happened to go on Senior Citizen Day. Did you know that old people in South Dakota are rather fond of fire engine red hair? Apparently they are, as BFF got several positive comments on hers. Anyway, we took a couple pictures then headed off to Stop Two, which was about 2 hours away in Winner, SD.
SEE, HERE'S THE DEAL: I'm totes a Nerdfighter (yeah, I said totes, wanna fight about it?), and if you are one too, I needn't say more about WHY I would have gone to Winner, SD. If you are not then I'll tell you this: Nerdfighter = Term Coined by the Vlogbrothers for Someone Who is Proud of Their Nerdiness. Vlogbrothers = YouTube Sensations/Real Life Brothers Hank and John Green. Winner, SD = Geographical Midpoint Between The Brothers Green. I went for a good reason, but it's supposed to be a sekrit for a bit longer, so I'll keep mum on that. We took more pictures, ate some McDonald's (it was delicious, and exactly as I remembered it from the last time I had any...two? Three? Years ago.) then we drove home. The drive home was...HEE! We played an EPIC game of Cows.
To play cows, you must first be on a road trip of at least an hour, but the longer the better. The trip also needs to go through an area with farms. Everytime you see cows, you say "Cows." and whoever says it the most wins. It becomes epic when one of the players *ahem* Decides that a Dairy Queen sign counts, because Dairy Queen sells Dairy products, which come from cows. Of course, if that counts, then so does a Burger King sign and so on and so forth, until the other one of you *AHEM* decides to call a herd of sheep as cows. Hilarity ensues, man. Trust me.
Anyway, the day was a lot of fun, despite most of it having been spent in a car, and it was also fairly cheap! Goal-wise it hindered slightly, but I mean, a tank a half of gas and two McValue Meals in exchange for a full day of giggling and fun times? WORTH IT!
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $0
Money Spent Today: $40
Today was road trip day. We had two destinations in mind. First was the World's Only Corn Palace. Oh yes. There is a Palace in South Dakota, and it is made of Corn. Your argument is invalid.
Actually, the Corn Palace isn't really made of corn so much anymore, as it's sided in corn. The first one was made of Corn, but seeing as they redo it every year, it just became more practical to make a regular building then glue corn to it. My favorite part is that City Hall is attached to the Corn Palace. Also, they make a bunch of stupid jokes (I could have said "corny" there, but I took the high road). Their mascot is "Corn"elius, they have a "Corn"cession Stand...we happened to go on Senior Citizen Day. Did you know that old people in South Dakota are rather fond of fire engine red hair? Apparently they are, as BFF got several positive comments on hers. Anyway, we took a couple pictures then headed off to Stop Two, which was about 2 hours away in Winner, SD.
SEE, HERE'S THE DEAL: I'm totes a Nerdfighter (yeah, I said totes, wanna fight about it?), and if you are one too, I needn't say more about WHY I would have gone to Winner, SD. If you are not then I'll tell you this: Nerdfighter = Term Coined by the Vlogbrothers for Someone Who is Proud of Their Nerdiness. Vlogbrothers = YouTube Sensations/Real Life Brothers Hank and John Green. Winner, SD = Geographical Midpoint Between The Brothers Green. I went for a good reason, but it's supposed to be a sekrit for a bit longer, so I'll keep mum on that. We took more pictures, ate some McDonald's (it was delicious, and exactly as I remembered it from the last time I had any...two? Three? Years ago.) then we drove home. The drive home was...HEE! We played an EPIC game of Cows.
To play cows, you must first be on a road trip of at least an hour, but the longer the better. The trip also needs to go through an area with farms. Everytime you see cows, you say "Cows." and whoever says it the most wins. It becomes epic when one of the players *ahem* Decides that a Dairy Queen sign counts, because Dairy Queen sells Dairy products, which come from cows. Of course, if that counts, then so does a Burger King sign and so on and so forth, until the other one of you *AHEM* decides to call a herd of sheep as cows. Hilarity ensues, man. Trust me.
Anyway, the day was a lot of fun, despite most of it having been spent in a car, and it was also fairly cheap! Goal-wise it hindered slightly, but I mean, a tank a half of gas and two McValue Meals in exchange for a full day of giggling and fun times? WORTH IT!
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $0
Money Spent Today: $40
Step 12: Return to the Thrift Store
(Yeah, I'm several days behind, wanna fight about it?)
"Today" BFF and I returned to my town thrift store so she could pick up the antique keys she saw the other day. I located a trunk that I envisioned as the PERFECT coffee table, once it had been painted to suit my color scheme. It probably would have been fine as it was, but I like patterns and matching and themes, okay? Other than that, I don't think we did much of note. That's the beauty of being in good company, you can just sit and converse (NOT "conversate" which shouldn't even be a word, stop using it, Population at Large) and it's just a good a time as anything else.
It was Wednesday, so it was Ghost Hunters night. I adore that show. We ordered pizza, as is tradition on Ghost Hunters night, and it was delicious. I slept through the rerun episodes (I've seen them all at least twice if not more), but woke up just in time for the new one. It was pretty awesome, as they caught an apparition of some sort lumbering up an aisle, then turning and vanishing into a bookcase. Who knows what it was? I'm going to marry Steve Gonsalves. He doesn't know it yet, but he'll be thrilled when he finds out. I assure you. *being silly, not stalkery*
After that it was more conversation and laughing. If memory serves that was the night we did a tarot reading and learned about ourselves based on our Sun Signs. (Cancer and Aquarius, guess which one I am! Hint: It starts with and "A" and ends in "quarius.")
They day was grand, and also free, so...yay for not spending money? I dunno.
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $0
Money Spent Today: $0
"Today" BFF and I returned to my town thrift store so she could pick up the antique keys she saw the other day. I located a trunk that I envisioned as the PERFECT coffee table, once it had been painted to suit my color scheme. It probably would have been fine as it was, but I like patterns and matching and themes, okay? Other than that, I don't think we did much of note. That's the beauty of being in good company, you can just sit and converse (NOT "conversate" which shouldn't even be a word, stop using it, Population at Large) and it's just a good a time as anything else.
It was Wednesday, so it was Ghost Hunters night. I adore that show. We ordered pizza, as is tradition on Ghost Hunters night, and it was delicious. I slept through the rerun episodes (I've seen them all at least twice if not more), but woke up just in time for the new one. It was pretty awesome, as they caught an apparition of some sort lumbering up an aisle, then turning and vanishing into a bookcase. Who knows what it was? I'm going to marry Steve Gonsalves. He doesn't know it yet, but he'll be thrilled when he finds out. I assure you. *being silly, not stalkery*
After that it was more conversation and laughing. If memory serves that was the night we did a tarot reading and learned about ourselves based on our Sun Signs. (Cancer and Aquarius, guess which one I am! Hint: It starts with and "A" and ends in "quarius.")
They day was grand, and also free, so...yay for not spending money? I dunno.
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $0
Money Spent Today: $0
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Step 11: Visit the Wildlife Locales
Butterfly House! We went and visited a butterfly house and also the zoo...and PetSmart, though that really doesn't count, despite it's also being animal-themed.
The butterfly house was...phenomenal. I half expected we'd go in and have to sort of hunt around for the butterflies as they hid in all the foliage. Not so! They are EVERYWHERE. There were so many different kinds, I don't remember them all...okay, truth be told I didn't actually know what many of them were in the first place, but my favorite was called a "Wood Nymph" and, as far as I was concerned, it looked like a very large, white Monarch. Pretty! The only down side was that that souvenir I wanted (a mounted, died-of-natural-causes Wood Nymph) was $30, which was more than I wanted to spend. I found a ceramic print that was nice, though, and got that instead. I like to buy souvenirs when I visit places that I really love, because that's where they make a lot of their revenue, but I also get something out of my "donation." /selfish sometimes
The zoo was also pretty fun, though it wasn't as grand as I'd expected. Of course, my zoo standard is the Minnesota Zoo, which is fan-freaking-tastic and one could easily spend an entire day there without realizing it. (BFF, we'll go there one day. Worth it!) My favorite part was when there was a little ferret that was running about freely, and the llamas chased him, so he went to the next habitat and the reindeer chased him. I think he must be the annoying guy no one likes. I'd have felt bad for him, except that he looked like a shady character. No one chased the wild bunny that was doing the same thing. Just sayin'.
There were also some cute and very active monkeys with neon yellow hair on their arms and legs that were interesting to watch. It was pretty obvious that they'd be troublemakers if one tried to keep one as a pet though, so that was one of very few animals I did not want to have. (I still want a tiny fox though. If it turned on me, I could take it, but in the meantime CUTE!)
As much fun as today was, I have to be honest here, and call it a hindrance to my goal. Between admissions fees, souvenirs, filling my gas tank, and dinners, it really couldn't help but be. : \ It was a worthwhile one, though, and I think that's what really matters. Only spending if it's genuinely worth it. Unlike the lottery tickets, I did actually get something out of this day. So there.
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $0
Money Spent Today: $150
The butterfly house was...phenomenal. I half expected we'd go in and have to sort of hunt around for the butterflies as they hid in all the foliage. Not so! They are EVERYWHERE. There were so many different kinds, I don't remember them all...okay, truth be told I didn't actually know what many of them were in the first place, but my favorite was called a "Wood Nymph" and, as far as I was concerned, it looked like a very large, white Monarch. Pretty! The only down side was that that souvenir I wanted (a mounted, died-of-natural-causes Wood Nymph) was $30, which was more than I wanted to spend. I found a ceramic print that was nice, though, and got that instead. I like to buy souvenirs when I visit places that I really love, because that's where they make a lot of their revenue, but I also get something out of my "donation." /selfish sometimes
The zoo was also pretty fun, though it wasn't as grand as I'd expected. Of course, my zoo standard is the Minnesota Zoo, which is fan-freaking-tastic and one could easily spend an entire day there without realizing it. (BFF, we'll go there one day. Worth it!) My favorite part was when there was a little ferret that was running about freely, and the llamas chased him, so he went to the next habitat and the reindeer chased him. I think he must be the annoying guy no one likes. I'd have felt bad for him, except that he looked like a shady character. No one chased the wild bunny that was doing the same thing. Just sayin'.
There were also some cute and very active monkeys with neon yellow hair on their arms and legs that were interesting to watch. It was pretty obvious that they'd be troublemakers if one tried to keep one as a pet though, so that was one of very few animals I did not want to have. (I still want a tiny fox though. If it turned on me, I could take it, but in the meantime CUTE!)
As much fun as today was, I have to be honest here, and call it a hindrance to my goal. Between admissions fees, souvenirs, filling my gas tank, and dinners, it really couldn't help but be. : \ It was a worthwhile one, though, and I think that's what really matters. Only spending if it's genuinely worth it. Unlike the lottery tickets, I did actually get something out of this day. So there.
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $0
Money Spent Today: $150
Step 10: Post a Day Late
Heh. Wut? No I didn't. It's all been an illusion. Yeah...
OR, I've been busy having fun and forgot. I'M SORRY! Won't happen again. Probably. Anyway, "today" we mostly hung out. Well, we slept in fairly late and then hung out. Perused my town's thrift store. I found nothing, but bff found a couple things she liked. We made fetuccini alfredo for dinner, and it was delicious. Then we watched TV and then...I don't rememeber. I just remember it was a good time.
Today, being a lazy just hang out day neither helped nor hindered, it was just a good day.
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $0
Money Spent Today: $15.42
OR, I've been busy having fun and forgot. I'M SORRY! Won't happen again. Probably. Anyway, "today" we mostly hung out. Well, we slept in fairly late and then hung out. Perused my town's thrift store. I found nothing, but bff found a couple things she liked. We made fetuccini alfredo for dinner, and it was delicious. Then we watched TV and then...I don't rememeber. I just remember it was a good time.
Today, being a lazy just hang out day neither helped nor hindered, it was just a good day.
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $0
Money Spent Today: $15.42
Monday, September 14, 2009
Step 9: Hang Out with the Friend That is Finally Here
Yay! IDKBFF is finally here! She got in about 11:30 and it was such a relief to finally see her! We went to lunch at my favorite cafe, then we came to my house and just chilled for the rest of the day.
We bummed around on the internet and we watched Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and we ate burgers and macaroni and cheese for dinner, and we watched TV with my mom, and I made her sit and look through all my pictures with me. It's been a good day.
Whether this day helped or hindered my goal doesn't matter. (And in anycase it was a pretty neutral day.)
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $0
Money Spent Today: $15
We bummed around on the internet and we watched Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and we ate burgers and macaroni and cheese for dinner, and we watched TV with my mom, and I made her sit and look through all my pictures with me. It's been a good day.
Whether this day helped or hindered my goal doesn't matter. (And in anycase it was a pretty neutral day.)
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $0
Money Spent Today: $15
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Step 8: Spend a Day at the Airport
So pretty much NOTHING went according to plan today. At the end of it, however, I learned two things: I hate fog. I hate aviation.
I went to bed around 5:30 am. I got up at 8 am. I drove to the airport through super dense fog, and only narrowly avoided crashing into someone who'd crashed into someone and then proceeded to NOT move their car off the freeway. I realize you're freaking out because you just almost died, but c'mon, do you really want to take others down with you? Really? *not bitter about lack of intelligence* ANYWAY. Phone rings while I'm navigating the fog and it goes to voicemail. It is best friend. "I'm not even in Connecting City yet. Rerouted, call you later." Uh oh. Ah well, it'll probably be okay, there are a couple flights out of there today, so even if she misses thie first, she'll be on the second. Drive on! I was at the airport by 9:30, planty of time to stake out the optimal "ZOMGTHERESHEISHAI!" spot to wait, and also read a couple chapters in the book I brought to pass the time and keep my excitement from becoming anxiety. I walk in and check: flight is delayed. Hey! That's actually kind of good news! She might make it after all! Now, where do we sit?
A few hours later. Now, instead of arriving at 10:14, original flight will be here at 2:45. Well, good thing I can doze in public and I brought a book. Fast forward to 1:15 pm. Best friend has at last made it to Chicago, but original connection has already left. Along with the next soonest flight (which left before the original one did). But! She'll be on the next one, it'll be here at 6:30. *deepsigh* Well, airport seat, you and I are about to have a SERIOUS nap. I should have brought my DS, or at least a second book.
6:27, phone rings. It is best friend. PLEASE be calling to excelaim that you are happily on the ground and will see me in a few minutes... "Go home. I'll be there tomorrow." Please be kidding. "They changed the gate and didn't announce it, so I missed that flight, too. The next one doesn't leave until tomorrow. Go home." Not kidding. Well, frick...what about best friend? "I'm sleeping in the airport tonight." Oh no! As if this day weren't long enough...
Anyway, all I really know (other than that I hate fog and aviation) is that as long as my day seemed, my poor BFF is trying to sleep in an airport right now. And that more than sucks. It isn't fair. I promise you a cozy snuggle down once you're finally here.
Today hindered my goal in that I spent two hours of gas plus $20 on parking/food just to be DENIED bff access. I'm glad "today" is over. The real today (9/13) shall be splendid. I deem it so.
Current Status: Anxietous Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $0
Money Spent Today: $20
I went to bed around 5:30 am. I got up at 8 am. I drove to the airport through super dense fog, and only narrowly avoided crashing into someone who'd crashed into someone and then proceeded to NOT move their car off the freeway. I realize you're freaking out because you just almost died, but c'mon, do you really want to take others down with you? Really? *not bitter about lack of intelligence* ANYWAY. Phone rings while I'm navigating the fog and it goes to voicemail. It is best friend. "I'm not even in Connecting City yet. Rerouted, call you later." Uh oh. Ah well, it'll probably be okay, there are a couple flights out of there today, so even if she misses thie first, she'll be on the second. Drive on! I was at the airport by 9:30, planty of time to stake out the optimal "ZOMGTHERESHEISHAI!" spot to wait, and also read a couple chapters in the book I brought to pass the time and keep my excitement from becoming anxiety. I walk in and check: flight is delayed. Hey! That's actually kind of good news! She might make it after all! Now, where do we sit?
A few hours later. Now, instead of arriving at 10:14, original flight will be here at 2:45. Well, good thing I can doze in public and I brought a book. Fast forward to 1:15 pm. Best friend has at last made it to Chicago, but original connection has already left. Along with the next soonest flight (which left before the original one did). But! She'll be on the next one, it'll be here at 6:30. *deepsigh* Well, airport seat, you and I are about to have a SERIOUS nap. I should have brought my DS, or at least a second book.
6:27, phone rings. It is best friend. PLEASE be calling to excelaim that you are happily on the ground and will see me in a few minutes... "Go home. I'll be there tomorrow." Please be kidding. "They changed the gate and didn't announce it, so I missed that flight, too. The next one doesn't leave until tomorrow. Go home." Not kidding. Well, frick...what about best friend? "I'm sleeping in the airport tonight." Oh no! As if this day weren't long enough...
Anyway, all I really know (other than that I hate fog and aviation) is that as long as my day seemed, my poor BFF is trying to sleep in an airport right now. And that more than sucks. It isn't fair. I promise you a cozy snuggle down once you're finally here.
Today hindered my goal in that I spent two hours of gas plus $20 on parking/food just to be DENIED bff access. I'm glad "today" is over. The real today (9/13) shall be splendid. I deem it so.
Current Status: Anxietous Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $0
Money Spent Today: $20
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Step 7: Get Caught Up in Home Improvement and Almost Forget to Blog
Okay, so best friend will be here in about 7 hours, which means I have about 6 hours to finish getting my house ready and catch a couple hours sleep. That means that I got home from work and started painting. Good News is the painting's done. Bad News is I still have to hang the mirror, install new hardware and shower. Bah.
Tonight at work Ju and I met a weird kid who thought we NEEDED TO KNOW that his license had been suspended, and therefore, at age 23, he had to rely on his parents or brother to drive him around. Overshare, dude, we met you about 30 seconds ago. WHen he left Ju said, "You meet all kinds of interesting people at a job like this."
I said, "Pretty sure that was a polite way of saying, 'What a weirdo!'" She started giggling. It lasted quite sometime. I took that to mean "Yes, that's exactly what it was." Ju's funny. So am I.
Today...I'm gonna say today helped my goal. Because I can.
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $52.50 - taxes
Money Spent Today: $2.49
Tonight at work Ju and I met a weird kid who thought we NEEDED TO KNOW that his license had been suspended, and therefore, at age 23, he had to rely on his parents or brother to drive him around. Overshare, dude, we met you about 30 seconds ago. WHen he left Ju said, "You meet all kinds of interesting people at a job like this."
I said, "Pretty sure that was a polite way of saying, 'What a weirdo!'" She started giggling. It lasted quite sometime. I took that to mean "Yes, that's exactly what it was." Ju's funny. So am I.
Today...I'm gonna say today helped my goal. Because I can.
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $52.50 - taxes
Money Spent Today: $2.49
Friday, September 11, 2009
Step 6: Have an Exhausting Day
So, I feel like I did SO MUCH today, but I really didn't. Though it seemed like nothing went smoothly.
I did, however, learn several important lessons. Here's the list:
1. When your mom asks you to sleep upstairs, you agree to do it. Because she's your mom. However, be advised that what's really going to happen is you're going to lay on the couch upstairs until 5 am when you finally drift off only to have to get up less than 5 hours later for a day shift at your (normally) night job.
2. If, as a result of not knowing how to just go to sleep already on a couch, you get up late, you will completely forget you promised to shave a co-worker's dog (a co-worker that lives a block from your job) and end up having to go all the way back to your house to get your clippers (about a mile and a half) then go all the way back to co-worker's house to shave said dog.
3. The couches that you ordered that were to be delivered on any one of five possible dates, will be delivered on the one day when you are not home during the day. The delivery people will leave these couches outside your garage.
4. When you are scheduled for a nice, easy, three-hour shift that usually ends sooner than that, it will go longer. Most likely because of a display of ghastly sunglasses. They're camoflage.
5. When you get home, and decide you want a spoonful of cookie dough, DO NOT READ ANYTHING ON THE PACKAGING. Especially the part where it says "Do Not Eat Raw Cookie Dough." And if you do, do not think to yourself, "But it's delicious. So it's a risk I'm willing to take." If you do, you will get a severe tickle in your throat that hits your gag reflex causing you to vomit all over yourself. The unheeded warning will be the first thing that enters your mind, and you will first think "OHMIGOD I'M DY *hurk* ING OF SALMO *hurk* NELLA RIGHT NOW! *hurk*" Then you will think "I didn't realize salmonella was such a fast acting bacteria..." Then, once you've calmed down, you'll think "So, lesson learned, we do not tempt fate like that anymore. Also, this is SO going in our blog." You will also have a sore throat for the rest of the day.
6. When you are hanging a small shelf next to your new couches (which were thankfully easy to assemble) with the help of a laser level, and you have two cats, they will help you in two ways. First, they will make sure it takes you plenty of time to line up the level by swatting at your hand at least four times (each) even after you've expressly ordered them to shove off. Two, when you get fed up and physically PUSH them out of the way, then will retaliate by spilling an entire box of nails all over one of your new couches. Very helpful. If you're trying to learn about patience and forgiveness, anyway.
7. When you decide to replace the bi-fold doors in your bathroom, just take out the old ones, track and all, and put up the new ones step by step according to the instructions. If you try to use the old hardware, you will fail, and be mad that you cracked the wood on your new doors.
8. If your idkbff is going to be here in less than a day and a half, you will realize that you have ten times as many things to get done as you've already gotten done, and about 1/10th as much time to do it.
In short: I have had enough of this day, but I sure wish it could be 10 hours longer.
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $26.25 - taxes + $15 for dog grooming
Money Spent Today: $0! 8D
I did, however, learn several important lessons. Here's the list:
1. When your mom asks you to sleep upstairs, you agree to do it. Because she's your mom. However, be advised that what's really going to happen is you're going to lay on the couch upstairs until 5 am when you finally drift off only to have to get up less than 5 hours later for a day shift at your (normally) night job.
2. If, as a result of not knowing how to just go to sleep already on a couch, you get up late, you will completely forget you promised to shave a co-worker's dog (a co-worker that lives a block from your job) and end up having to go all the way back to your house to get your clippers (about a mile and a half) then go all the way back to co-worker's house to shave said dog.
3. The couches that you ordered that were to be delivered on any one of five possible dates, will be delivered on the one day when you are not home during the day. The delivery people will leave these couches outside your garage.
4. When you are scheduled for a nice, easy, three-hour shift that usually ends sooner than that, it will go longer. Most likely because of a display of ghastly sunglasses. They're camoflage.
5. When you get home, and decide you want a spoonful of cookie dough, DO NOT READ ANYTHING ON THE PACKAGING. Especially the part where it says "Do Not Eat Raw Cookie Dough." And if you do, do not think to yourself, "But it's delicious. So it's a risk I'm willing to take." If you do, you will get a severe tickle in your throat that hits your gag reflex causing you to vomit all over yourself. The unheeded warning will be the first thing that enters your mind, and you will first think "OHMIGOD I'M DY *hurk* ING OF SALMO *hurk* NELLA RIGHT NOW! *hurk*" Then you will think "I didn't realize salmonella was such a fast acting bacteria..." Then, once you've calmed down, you'll think "So, lesson learned, we do not tempt fate like that anymore. Also, this is SO going in our blog." You will also have a sore throat for the rest of the day.
6. When you are hanging a small shelf next to your new couches (which were thankfully easy to assemble) with the help of a laser level, and you have two cats, they will help you in two ways. First, they will make sure it takes you plenty of time to line up the level by swatting at your hand at least four times (each) even after you've expressly ordered them to shove off. Two, when you get fed up and physically PUSH them out of the way, then will retaliate by spilling an entire box of nails all over one of your new couches. Very helpful. If you're trying to learn about patience and forgiveness, anyway.
7. When you decide to replace the bi-fold doors in your bathroom, just take out the old ones, track and all, and put up the new ones step by step according to the instructions. If you try to use the old hardware, you will fail, and be mad that you cracked the wood on your new doors.
8. If your idkbff is going to be here in less than a day and a half, you will realize that you have ten times as many things to get done as you've already gotten done, and about 1/10th as much time to do it.
In short: I have had enough of this day, but I sure wish it could be 10 hours longer.
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $26.25 - taxes + $15 for dog grooming
Money Spent Today: $0! 8D
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Step 5: Paint a Wall, Hang Some Pictures
Remember that art wall I said I was gonna do? I did it today. Actually, I started it last night and was up until 5am working on it, and then I finished it today. It's pretty sweet. I did take a picture, but I'll post it later. My camera's downstairs, and I am feeling too wiped out to go get it.
My landlord also came over to put in the new counter for the upstairs bathroom, and he scared the bejeezuz out of me. I knew he was coming at 3, but as I was zenning out painting polka dots, I lost track of time, and the next thing I knew there were footsteps in my house, and when I hollered, "Hello?!" up the stairs there was no answer, so I thought maybe I was only hearing the washer. Nope. Landlord appeared behind me with a startling "THERE you are! Hi, Sarah." He was met with an "Oh jeez! Hi! You startled me!" He laughed.
So yeah, despite not earning a penny today but spending several, I'm still subscribing to the theory that having a happy space is just as important to my goal as earning cash.
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $0
Money Spent Today: $49 ($48 and change, I forget how much)
My landlord also came over to put in the new counter for the upstairs bathroom, and he scared the bejeezuz out of me. I knew he was coming at 3, but as I was zenning out painting polka dots, I lost track of time, and the next thing I knew there were footsteps in my house, and when I hollered, "Hello?!" up the stairs there was no answer, so I thought maybe I was only hearing the washer. Nope. Landlord appeared behind me with a startling "THERE you are! Hi, Sarah." He was met with an "Oh jeez! Hi! You startled me!" He laughed.
So yeah, despite not earning a penny today but spending several, I'm still subscribing to the theory that having a happy space is just as important to my goal as earning cash.
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $0
Money Spent Today: $49 ($48 and change, I forget how much)
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Step 4: Be Productive at Home
It was another sort of mundane day today re: work. Back to the same old routine.
At home, however, I managed to get a few things done! See, my stuff was in Georgia in storage for a year, and since I got it back, I've been steadily unpacking it. Today I got through three more boxes and managed to clear the floor space where my couches will be going. Yay living space? I dunno.
I've also decided that all the artwork in my humble sub-terranian abode shall have my personal touch put on it in one way or another. So far there's an oil painting of a stargazer lily, an aluminum hummingbird sculpture thing that was bronze and rusty, but I spray painted silver (it counts!) and there are plans for the painting that will go above my couch, and for an art wall in my "craft area." I'll take pictures once it's done, rather than try to describe it. TRUST ME IT WILL BE AWESOME.
Anyway, despite none of the home-work earning me any money, it does make me feel better to have it that much closer, and feeling good can't really HURT my cause, can it? Hope not!
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $52.50 - taxes
Money Spent Today: $10.78
At home, however, I managed to get a few things done! See, my stuff was in Georgia in storage for a year, and since I got it back, I've been steadily unpacking it. Today I got through three more boxes and managed to clear the floor space where my couches will be going. Yay living space? I dunno.
I've also decided that all the artwork in my humble sub-terranian abode shall have my personal touch put on it in one way or another. So far there's an oil painting of a stargazer lily, an aluminum hummingbird sculpture thing that was bronze and rusty, but I spray painted silver (it counts!) and there are plans for the painting that will go above my couch, and for an art wall in my "craft area." I'll take pictures once it's done, rather than try to describe it. TRUST ME IT WILL BE AWESOME.
Anyway, despite none of the home-work earning me any money, it does make me feel better to have it that much closer, and feeling good can't really HURT my cause, can it? Hope not!
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $52.50 - taxes
Money Spent Today: $10.78
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Step 3: Fail at Gambling
Today I pretty much failed at life re: productivity. I slept later than I'd intended, then didn't do anything beyond showering once I did get up. (Though my hair looks pretty adorable today, if I do say so myself). I DID, however, arrive at work a few minutes early because it was largely assumed that Captain I'm-Sure-I-Won't-Be-Fired-For-Job-Abandonment would show up for his shift (one of the ones I agreed to take) like normal. Alas, he did not because he had apparently called Manager earlier in the day to "talk about what happened" and he was informed that Manager already knew exactly what happened, and that he had nothing more to say, J was done being an employee. J was at first in disbelief, then he was angry, then Manager hung up on him.
So, I think that the drama is over and that's that. OH HO! I was wrong-ish. Dude comes strolling in (in casual clothes, of course) shortly after 4, when both C, Ja, and I are there. He walks in, comments on Ja's cut finger, asks for two packs of cigarettes, pays, then leaves. Dude, wtf? You JUST BOUGHT two packs of cigarettes less that 24 hours ago...did you really go through all of them? Or are you just in here to snoop and see who they got to cover your shift? I'm going with option b on that one.
ANYWAY, as the title of this post clearly indicates, I gambled tonight. And failed at it. See, what had happened was, there was this thing, with the other thing and it was right after the dealy-bopper...
FINE. I bought $10 in scratch off tickets, won back $1, bought another scratch off ticket, and lost the dollar I'd won back. LESSON LEARNED. I do not gamble, as I am a fail boater about it.
This certainly hindered my $100,000 goal, as I spent ten bucks on paper I nearly immediately put into the garbage can. *sigh* It's what I get for trying to cheat, ne?
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $52.50 - taxes
Money Spent Today: $10 :\
So, I think that the drama is over and that's that. OH HO! I was wrong-ish. Dude comes strolling in (in casual clothes, of course) shortly after 4, when both C, Ja, and I are there. He walks in, comments on Ja's cut finger, asks for two packs of cigarettes, pays, then leaves. Dude, wtf? You JUST BOUGHT two packs of cigarettes less that 24 hours ago...did you really go through all of them? Or are you just in here to snoop and see who they got to cover your shift? I'm going with option b on that one.
ANYWAY, as the title of this post clearly indicates, I gambled tonight. And failed at it. See, what had happened was, there was this thing, with the other thing and it was right after the dealy-bopper...
FINE. I bought $10 in scratch off tickets, won back $1, bought another scratch off ticket, and lost the dollar I'd won back. LESSON LEARNED. I do not gamble, as I am a fail boater about it.
This certainly hindered my $100,000 goal, as I spent ten bucks on paper I nearly immediately put into the garbage can. *sigh* It's what I get for trying to cheat, ne?
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $52.50 - taxes
Money Spent Today: $10 :\
Monday, September 07, 2009
Step 2: Have an EPIC night at work.
Okay, so tonight at work was pretty much the greatest work night of my entire existence, and for one reason.
The one person who I loathe having to work with finally lost his marbles and walked off the job. After no-showing earlier in the day. It was fantastic. Here's the scene.
I get to work just before 3 pm, when the person I'm relieving says to me "I don't know who you'll be getting in the kitchen tonight, J was a no-show at lunch."
O RLY?! Do tell!
"Yeah, he tried to get M to work for him, so I think he was mad because she wouldn't. So, I don't know who's coming in tonight."
"Well, normally I'd say it wouldn't be him, because when most people decide to no-show, they go whole hog with it, but he's crazy, so..."
Cut to 3:56 pm, four minutes before J's shift is to start. He walks through the door, attired for a kistchen shift. I'd have been surprised, but well, he really is crazy. So I wasn't. He comes in, punches in, then disappears into the back storage room to sulk for ten minutes before actually opening the kitchen. I don't see him for about an hour. After that hour, he comes up, hands me two packs of cigarettes and a winning scratch off ticket. I (correctly) interpret this gesture to mean "I would like to cash in this lottery ticket, and use the winnings to help me purchase these two packages of cigarettes, if it's not too much trouble." It wasn't too much trouble, so I go about the transaction normally, adding in a "Oh, you won, did you?" as a polite "I'm not going to mention what you did because I don't want to hear you sob-story about it." conversational...bit. No response. Okay then.
After that he disappeared for another 40 minutes. He then came out from the kitchen, punched out and walked toward the door. He stopped, and Mr. Scarlett O'Hara delivered his speech. Here's how it went (with choice vocab removed because vulgarity is not my thing, yo).
"I can't do this right now."
"Okay."
"I'm serious."
"Okay."
"*walks a few steps closer to the door* I haven't seen my children all summer. My children are suffering. My homelife is suffering. I keeps sacrificing for this place, and no one appreciates it! So, I'm done today."
"Okay."
"I'm gonna call ...(couldn't hear what he said)..., too!"
"Okay..."
And he left. I waited a few minutes, helped a couple customers, waited a few more minutes. He drove off. Clearly he was not just having a moment and would not be returning to finish his shift. My thoughts, from the pucnhing out until the driving off were this:
"Is he punching out? HE IS! Oh my gosh, don't laugh at the speech. DO NOT LAUGH AT THE SPEECH. Okay, he's gone. I'll give him a minute, he'll probably cool off and come back. Maybe he needs a couple minutes... He's leaving! BEST. WORK NIGHT. EVER. Okay, time to call Manager."
So THEN he calls the store about ten minutes before we close to apologise for spouting off at me. (DO NOT LAUGH AT THE SPEECH, SARAH! DO NOT!) I'm a really nice person and didn't deserve it. (Okay, you can grin, because he can't see that, but NO LAUGHING.) He'll see me later. *hangs up* BWAH HAHAHA! I mean. Tragic?
The best part about his tweak out, though, was that it was for no reason! He only works about 25 hours a week, and even then tries to get someone else to work for him at least once a week. This week, because of Labor Day and being slightly short-staffed, he was asked to work 36 hours. And he flipped. out. He thinks he's a very tragic individual, in need of constant coddling, but some people are just like that, I suppose.
I would have had about a frillion stories about all the things this guy does that irritates the heck out of me, but as he's not my co-worker anymore, I won't have any stories like that, will I?
Anyway, it's not like I wish any ill will on the guy. I hope he finds a new job that's a better fit. I'm just glad to be rid of him.
His leaving helps my cause, however, as I've already been given 10 of his hours, and will most likely get more of them.
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $60 - taxes
Money I Spent Today: $2.12
The one person who I loathe having to work with finally lost his marbles and walked off the job. After no-showing earlier in the day. It was fantastic. Here's the scene.
I get to work just before 3 pm, when the person I'm relieving says to me "I don't know who you'll be getting in the kitchen tonight, J was a no-show at lunch."
O RLY?! Do tell!
"Yeah, he tried to get M to work for him, so I think he was mad because she wouldn't. So, I don't know who's coming in tonight."
"Well, normally I'd say it wouldn't be him, because when most people decide to no-show, they go whole hog with it, but he's crazy, so..."
Cut to 3:56 pm, four minutes before J's shift is to start. He walks through the door, attired for a kistchen shift. I'd have been surprised, but well, he really is crazy. So I wasn't. He comes in, punches in, then disappears into the back storage room to sulk for ten minutes before actually opening the kitchen. I don't see him for about an hour. After that hour, he comes up, hands me two packs of cigarettes and a winning scratch off ticket. I (correctly) interpret this gesture to mean "I would like to cash in this lottery ticket, and use the winnings to help me purchase these two packages of cigarettes, if it's not too much trouble." It wasn't too much trouble, so I go about the transaction normally, adding in a "Oh, you won, did you?" as a polite "I'm not going to mention what you did because I don't want to hear you sob-story about it." conversational...bit. No response. Okay then.
After that he disappeared for another 40 minutes. He then came out from the kitchen, punched out and walked toward the door. He stopped, and Mr. Scarlett O'Hara delivered his speech. Here's how it went (with choice vocab removed because vulgarity is not my thing, yo).
"I can't do this right now."
"Okay."
"I'm serious."
"Okay."
"*walks a few steps closer to the door* I haven't seen my children all summer. My children are suffering. My homelife is suffering. I keeps sacrificing for this place, and no one appreciates it! So, I'm done today."
"Okay."
"I'm gonna call ...(couldn't hear what he said)..., too!"
"Okay..."
And he left. I waited a few minutes, helped a couple customers, waited a few more minutes. He drove off. Clearly he was not just having a moment and would not be returning to finish his shift. My thoughts, from the pucnhing out until the driving off were this:
"Is he punching out? HE IS! Oh my gosh, don't laugh at the speech. DO NOT LAUGH AT THE SPEECH. Okay, he's gone. I'll give him a minute, he'll probably cool off and come back. Maybe he needs a couple minutes... He's leaving! BEST. WORK NIGHT. EVER. Okay, time to call Manager."
So THEN he calls the store about ten minutes before we close to apologise for spouting off at me. (DO NOT LAUGH AT THE SPEECH, SARAH! DO NOT!) I'm a really nice person and didn't deserve it. (Okay, you can grin, because he can't see that, but NO LAUGHING.) He'll see me later. *hangs up* BWAH HAHAHA! I mean. Tragic?
The best part about his tweak out, though, was that it was for no reason! He only works about 25 hours a week, and even then tries to get someone else to work for him at least once a week. This week, because of Labor Day and being slightly short-staffed, he was asked to work 36 hours. And he flipped. out. He thinks he's a very tragic individual, in need of constant coddling, but some people are just like that, I suppose.
I would have had about a frillion stories about all the things this guy does that irritates the heck out of me, but as he's not my co-worker anymore, I won't have any stories like that, will I?
Anyway, it's not like I wish any ill will on the guy. I hope he finds a new job that's a better fit. I'm just glad to be rid of him.
His leaving helps my cause, however, as I've already been given 10 of his hours, and will most likely get more of them.
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $60 - taxes
Money I Spent Today: $2.12
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Step 1: Start a Blog
So I was putting away pizza toppings at work tonight, when I was struck with the brilliant idea to start a daily blog and call it "How to Get Rich Slowly." As you can see, I followed through with that. So here's all the pertinent information regarding who I am, and what this blog is for.
Me:
-My name's Sarah, you can call me Sarah. Actually, you can call me whatever you'd like, but I'm most likely to respond if you call me Sarah.
-I'm still technically 26 years old right now, but my birthday's in February, so I'm just a shade closer to 27. Clearly I am either still young enough to freely admit my age, or my "LIE ABOUT YOUR AGE AT ALL COSTS!" gland failed to develop properly during adolescence.
-I live at home. That is to say, I live with my mommy. I'm not sorry.
-I work at a gas station. I alternate between working on the cash register and working in the pizza kitchen, but no matter what I currently only make $7.50 and hour, and only work about 20 hours a week.
-My checking account currently has less than $400 in it, and that's after weeks of saving. It should be noted that most of that will be spent when a friend of mine comes for a weeklong visit starting next Saturday.
-I have a cat, Toes, who is currently the love of my life. Actually, if you either are or know a pet owner, then it'll make perfect sense for me to tell you that he will always be the love of my life. If you don't understand, I will never be able to explain that to you, so just smile and nod and make the crazy sign around your temple when you think I'm not looking. He'll probably be mentioned frequently, as both a source of entertainment and a source of financial woe. (His shots are coming up due, now I think about it...)
-So, to recap: I have, essentially, NOTHING to start me out on this Grand Adventure. I have a cat. I own nothing but said cat, and he is expensive, I earn practically nothing. We're starting from scratch, but we're gonna get there, by golly! (I said it, you wanna fight about it?)
This Blog:
-Came to me as a burst of sudden inspiration. I was, as I said, dumping sausage and beef into buckets, and thinking about how Kristina Horner has been presented with an opportunity to go to Antarctica, and all because she actively and interestingly keeps a blog, when I thought, "Hey! I could keep a blog! But what would I call it?" (/run on sentence) I kicked that around for a bit. I thought about my goals in life, and the one that stood out the most was to have the financial freedom to be able to just do whatever I wanted, or not do whatever I didn't want. Who doesn't want that, right? So, with that thought in mind, I thought of titles. Immediately "How to Get Rich" came to mind, but it seemed to instructional, and from all the literature I've read about it, you pretty much already have to BE rich to GET rich. Feh. So "How to Get Rich Quick" followed, and was shot down before it even finished forming as a thought in my head because the big red SCAM! stamp got there first. Then I was reminded of how I've been teased for not being in a hurry to do anything ever, and there it was: How to Get Rich Slowly.
-Basically, each day, I'll just share my day with you, sometimes funny, sometimes melancholy, and many times perfectly mundane. At the end, I'll try to reflect on how this has either positively or negatively impacted my goal of financial freedom. We'll say the blog has been a success when I've got $100,000 in my checking account, fair enough? I WILL DO MY BEST NOT TO BE BORING ABOUT IT! My goal is to mostly be entertaining. I mean, a poor kid trying to get rich, how could this NOT result in some hilarity, amirite?
-There will sometimes be pictures. Because I can.
-I will NOT be monetizing this blog, as I feel that's cheating.
Current Financial Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $52.50 - taxes
Money Spent Today: $2.00
Me:
-My name's Sarah, you can call me Sarah. Actually, you can call me whatever you'd like, but I'm most likely to respond if you call me Sarah.
-I'm still technically 26 years old right now, but my birthday's in February, so I'm just a shade closer to 27. Clearly I am either still young enough to freely admit my age, or my "LIE ABOUT YOUR AGE AT ALL COSTS!" gland failed to develop properly during adolescence.
-I live at home. That is to say, I live with my mommy. I'm not sorry.
-I work at a gas station. I alternate between working on the cash register and working in the pizza kitchen, but no matter what I currently only make $7.50 and hour, and only work about 20 hours a week.
-My checking account currently has less than $400 in it, and that's after weeks of saving. It should be noted that most of that will be spent when a friend of mine comes for a weeklong visit starting next Saturday.
-I have a cat, Toes, who is currently the love of my life. Actually, if you either are or know a pet owner, then it'll make perfect sense for me to tell you that he will always be the love of my life. If you don't understand, I will never be able to explain that to you, so just smile and nod and make the crazy sign around your temple when you think I'm not looking. He'll probably be mentioned frequently, as both a source of entertainment and a source of financial woe. (His shots are coming up due, now I think about it...)
-So, to recap: I have, essentially, NOTHING to start me out on this Grand Adventure. I have a cat. I own nothing but said cat, and he is expensive, I earn practically nothing. We're starting from scratch, but we're gonna get there, by golly! (I said it, you wanna fight about it?)
This Blog:
-Came to me as a burst of sudden inspiration. I was, as I said, dumping sausage and beef into buckets, and thinking about how Kristina Horner has been presented with an opportunity to go to Antarctica, and all because she actively and interestingly keeps a blog, when I thought, "Hey! I could keep a blog! But what would I call it?" (/run on sentence) I kicked that around for a bit. I thought about my goals in life, and the one that stood out the most was to have the financial freedom to be able to just do whatever I wanted, or not do whatever I didn't want. Who doesn't want that, right? So, with that thought in mind, I thought of titles. Immediately "How to Get Rich" came to mind, but it seemed to instructional, and from all the literature I've read about it, you pretty much already have to BE rich to GET rich. Feh. So "How to Get Rich Quick" followed, and was shot down before it even finished forming as a thought in my head because the big red SCAM! stamp got there first. Then I was reminded of how I've been teased for not being in a hurry to do anything ever, and there it was: How to Get Rich Slowly.
-Basically, each day, I'll just share my day with you, sometimes funny, sometimes melancholy, and many times perfectly mundane. At the end, I'll try to reflect on how this has either positively or negatively impacted my goal of financial freedom. We'll say the blog has been a success when I've got $100,000 in my checking account, fair enough? I WILL DO MY BEST NOT TO BE BORING ABOUT IT! My goal is to mostly be entertaining. I mean, a poor kid trying to get rich, how could this NOT result in some hilarity, amirite?
-There will sometimes be pictures. Because I can.
-I will NOT be monetizing this blog, as I feel that's cheating.
Current Financial Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $52.50 - taxes
Money Spent Today: $2.00
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
