I am the world's worst guesser. Seriously. I should never be allowed on any sort of game show where the only thing you have to do to win is make a guess. Because I would suck at it.
Every year I manhandle all of the presents that the DP puts under the tree for me. I shake them, I turn them over and over again, I will even smell them if I think it will give me a hint. I do this because part of my personal holiday thrill comes from knowing what my presents are before Christmas morning.
I know. I'm sick.
As a child I indulged this passion by snooping. I snooped early and I snooped vehemently. In fact, I snooped so thoroughly that I often found other people's presents and thought they were for me. (One of my old roommates loves the story about my 12-year-old self finding a smart business suit in my dad's section of the closet and thinking, "It's a little mature for me, but I like it!" Of course it was for my mom.)
If I couldn't find something before it ended up wrapped and under the tree, I had to be even sneakier. I had to very carefully unwrap and rewrap the present. Now, that's not possible with every package, but it works on most.
It may sound awful and I'm sure some of you are out there exclaiming, "She's ruining the surprise!" but I beg to differ. I love the subterfuge of it all AND I still enjoyed opening the presents on Christmas morning. It was totally a win-win situation.
Then true love entered my life in the form of the DP. (Technically in the form of the boyfriend who morphed into the DP, but that's just a minor detail.) For the first time ever, I couldn't bear to ruin his fun of giving me a great surprise.
Which is where the manhandling comes in. And then the guessing.
So a couple of weeks ago the first gift from the DP is put under the tree. I go through the dance - it's small-ish with a bit of rustling shake to it and it's pretty light. Obviously it's tickets to either The Sound of Music or Jersey Boys. Either show was on my list, so I'm happy. On Christmas Eve, two more presents from the DP arrived under the tree. One is a small, hard rectangle, which I have no clue about, and the other is a long cylinder. Like a poster tube. And it has no shake. Seriously, when I tried to shake it, nothing happened. Watch:
(I apologize for the ugly pjs. I was saving the cute ones to bring up north the next morning.)
At first I'm baffled. I feel certain the packaging is just a decoy, so it could be anything inside. But it would still have to be something that wouldn't move once it's in there. And then it comes to me-it's the ShamWow! We had recently seen the infomercial again and I had (once again) marveled at the amazing capacity of the miracle shammy. Then we had seen them at that store in Eaton Centre that sells all the crap from infomercials. (Not that the ShamWow is crap!) Since we were working with a limit on each other's gifts, I figured he'd probably blown most of it on two tickets to a show and the ShamWow was a smaller gift to supplement and to make me laugh. (Plus I really, really do want one.)
So I knew exactly what the DP was getting me. Sure I'd thought the same thing last year and the year before, and I'd been wrong both times, but this time I was definitely right.
(Did I mention that I can never guess the plot turns in movies?)
Okay, so Christmas morning dawns and the first present the DP hands me is the small mysterious gift. It's "Tales of Beedle the Bard," which is a lovely choice for a Harry Potter fan like myself. (Also a good "extra" present, I thought, since he'd spent so much on the tickets.) Next I thought he'd hand me the present with no shake, so he could finish big with the tickets, but he hands me the tickets.
Only it isn't tickets! It's a gift certificate to put towards some personal training at my gym. Which I TOTALLY wanted! And was completely surprised by. Nice move!
Now I'm confused. Why would he finish up with the ShamWow?
Only it isn't the ShamWow. IT'S AN ORIGINAL PIECE OF ART!!!! A piece of art I had pointed out to him on Etsy, but that he wasn't initially all that crazy about. I was so joyfully surprised that I was speechless. ME! SPEECHLESS!
Oh, it is so lovely and unique and interesting. It's called Agaetis Byrjun (part 2), which apparently means "a good beginning" in Icelandic. I love, love, love it. And he went over our limit because of the crap Canadian dollar and all the duty he had to pay on it. I have to get it framed now, which will be pricey, but I don't care. It's my first ever actual piece of art (it's numbered 17 out of 20) and it's the most special gift I've ever received.
Well done DP!
The only problem is that the part 1 piece is still available for sale on Esty. (The link gives you an idea of what my piece looks like.) And I kind of really want it. They would look so great together. But I still have to pay off the fancy machine I'm typing on. Plus I have to top up my tax account and go on vacation in a couple of weeks.
What do I do!?
Tax goal: $2000
Current balance: $1045
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
May your childhood heart be glad
This is one of my favourite seasonal things, so I thought it would be an appropriate way to bid you all a very Merry Christmas.
Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
By Francis P. Church, first published in The New York Sun in 1897.
We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:
Dear Editor—
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O’Hanlon
Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
By Francis P. Church, first published in The New York Sun in 1897.
We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:
Dear Editor—
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O’Hanlon
Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
All I want for Christmas...
I remember the very first time I ever splurged on something. I was 13 and my parents gave me $100 as a combined birthday present/back-to-school shopping fund. I even got to take the bus into downtown Ottawa with a friend to spend it. I hardly slept the night before - I was that excited.
While I didn't have any trouble falling asleep last night (we'd been out at the Sarah Slean concert, so just battling the snow was tiring enough), I did wake up with a sense of excitement. And it was certainly fun to walk into the Apple store and say, "I'd like to buy a MacBook."
It's even more fun to type on it right this minute! I can't tell you how much faster it is than my sad old PC.
The expenditure did give me pause - I do believe it's the most expensive thing I've ever purchased. But after weighing all the pros and cons, I do feel like the pros won the war. So I'm not going to think about how far the money could have gone towards my current financial goals. Well, I'm going to try not to think about it.
Oh, and in case any of you are worried that this purchase is the beginning of a slippery slide into debt, rest assured. This fancy new toy will be paid off in just a few days.
Merry Christmas to me.
Tax goal: $2000
Current balance: $1045
While I didn't have any trouble falling asleep last night (we'd been out at the Sarah Slean concert, so just battling the snow was tiring enough), I did wake up with a sense of excitement. And it was certainly fun to walk into the Apple store and say, "I'd like to buy a MacBook."
It's even more fun to type on it right this minute! I can't tell you how much faster it is than my sad old PC.
The expenditure did give me pause - I do believe it's the most expensive thing I've ever purchased. But after weighing all the pros and cons, I do feel like the pros won the war. So I'm not going to think about how far the money could have gone towards my current financial goals. Well, I'm going to try not to think about it.
Oh, and in case any of you are worried that this purchase is the beginning of a slippery slide into debt, rest assured. This fancy new toy will be paid off in just a few days.
Merry Christmas to me.
Tax goal: $2000
Current balance: $1045
Friday, December 19, 2008
Hi, I'm a Mac
I almost bought a computer this afternoon.
I've been thinking about it for at least a solid week now and I'm fairly certain that I don't only want one, but also need a new one. I've already documented my issues with my sad, slow PC on this blog. Lately I've taken to leaving it on all day and all night, just to avoid the half hour warm up it requires. And not only do I feel guilty about the energy I'm wasting, but I'm also vaguely worried that David Suzuki is going to show up at my door and rap my knuckles. (Which he should.)
But back to today.
I was released from work in the early afternoon because a) snowmaggedon, b) no imminent deadlines and c) it's the Friday before Christmas, so I headed over to the Eaton Centre. I know, I know! Why would anyone voluntarily go to the Eaton Centre on the Friday afternoon before Christmas? Particularly someone who has not only bought all their gifts, but also wrapped them and stashed them under the tree. (It's okay, you can feel free to hate me.) I went to the mall to both return my ugly choir skirt (I wore it for two concerts with the tag tucked in, so I could get my money back in the end) and check out the Apple store.
Ah yes - this PC girl is joining the Mac generation. (Well, considering that I use a Mac at work and am currently typing this on the DP's MacBookPro, I've already joined. I just don't have my own membership card yet.)
I went into the Apple store telling myself that I was just going to go for it. My reasoning was partly because I want to buy it before the end of the year for tax purposes, but I also just wanted to shock the hell out of the DP. You see, we have very different decision making processes. I am quick and decisive where he takes his time and considers all the options. Twice. So I knew it would blow his mind if I just called and told him I'd bought a computer out of the blue.
However, when I chatted with the very helpful Mac Specialist (that's what her card says), I saw the merit to the DP's way of making decisions. (This is not the first time I've had this realization. It's one of those lessons I relearn constantly.) I needed to mull things over a bit and discuss a few of my options with him.
All this to say that I didn't buy a computer. BUT I have made some of the necessary decisions now, so this could be the weekend...
Tax goal: $2000
Current balance: $1045 (potentially more if I don't buy a computer this weekend...)
I've been thinking about it for at least a solid week now and I'm fairly certain that I don't only want one, but also need a new one. I've already documented my issues with my sad, slow PC on this blog. Lately I've taken to leaving it on all day and all night, just to avoid the half hour warm up it requires. And not only do I feel guilty about the energy I'm wasting, but I'm also vaguely worried that David Suzuki is going to show up at my door and rap my knuckles. (Which he should.)
But back to today.
I was released from work in the early afternoon because a) snowmaggedon, b) no imminent deadlines and c) it's the Friday before Christmas, so I headed over to the Eaton Centre. I know, I know! Why would anyone voluntarily go to the Eaton Centre on the Friday afternoon before Christmas? Particularly someone who has not only bought all their gifts, but also wrapped them and stashed them under the tree. (It's okay, you can feel free to hate me.) I went to the mall to both return my ugly choir skirt (I wore it for two concerts with the tag tucked in, so I could get my money back in the end) and check out the Apple store.
Ah yes - this PC girl is joining the Mac generation. (Well, considering that I use a Mac at work and am currently typing this on the DP's MacBookPro, I've already joined. I just don't have my own membership card yet.)
I went into the Apple store telling myself that I was just going to go for it. My reasoning was partly because I want to buy it before the end of the year for tax purposes, but I also just wanted to shock the hell out of the DP. You see, we have very different decision making processes. I am quick and decisive where he takes his time and considers all the options. Twice. So I knew it would blow his mind if I just called and told him I'd bought a computer out of the blue.
However, when I chatted with the very helpful Mac Specialist (that's what her card says), I saw the merit to the DP's way of making decisions. (This is not the first time I've had this realization. It's one of those lessons I relearn constantly.) I needed to mull things over a bit and discuss a few of my options with him.
All this to say that I didn't buy a computer. BUT I have made some of the necessary decisions now, so this could be the weekend...
Tax goal: $2000
Current balance: $1045 (potentially more if I don't buy a computer this weekend...)
Monday, December 15, 2008
Anatomy of a Christmas tree
It starts with a simple little tree, still unfurling from the tight wrapping that allowed us to get it in the car and bring it home. Watching it loosen up was like watching time lapse photography!
Then you add the lights. Thankfully I put them away neatly every year so that they aren't a tangled mess that requires an hour and a bottle of wine to deal with. Look how pretty!
Next comes some ribbon and the simple ornaments. The big green and bronze balls are Martha Stewart ornaments. I love them. They were so popular a few years ago when we bought them that we had to take some of them right off a display tree in Sears!
Then it's time for the fun ornaments. This is my box of stuff. The little apples, of which I have many, were the very first Christmas ornaments I ever bought for myself.
Daphne is very helpful, of course, provided we ply her with cookies and only ask her to lay on top of things we need to use.
Here are a few of my favourite ornaments. The Santa that the DP bought me in Scotland the first Christmas we were together.
One of the wooden ornaments that my family bought while we lived in Germany.
Some crafts from my childhood. This smurf is inside an eggshell that is covered with sparkles!
The DP's favourite funky ornaments. There's something both beautiful and yet totally sci-fi about these ones.
And, of course, Superman. My lovely friend's children bought these for the DP.
Then the DP adds our ragtag angel to the top. (It's good to have a tall guy around.)
Et voila!
Just 10 days to go!
Tax goal: $2000
Current balance: $1045
Then you add the lights. Thankfully I put them away neatly every year so that they aren't a tangled mess that requires an hour and a bottle of wine to deal with. Look how pretty!
Next comes some ribbon and the simple ornaments. The big green and bronze balls are Martha Stewart ornaments. I love them. They were so popular a few years ago when we bought them that we had to take some of them right off a display tree in Sears!
Then it's time for the fun ornaments. This is my box of stuff. The little apples, of which I have many, were the very first Christmas ornaments I ever bought for myself.
Daphne is very helpful, of course, provided we ply her with cookies and only ask her to lay on top of things we need to use.
Here are a few of my favourite ornaments. The Santa that the DP bought me in Scotland the first Christmas we were together.
One of the wooden ornaments that my family bought while we lived in Germany.
Some crafts from my childhood. This smurf is inside an eggshell that is covered with sparkles!
The DP's favourite funky ornaments. There's something both beautiful and yet totally sci-fi about these ones.
And, of course, Superman. My lovely friend's children bought these for the DP.
Then the DP adds our ragtag angel to the top. (It's good to have a tall guy around.)
Et voila!
Just 10 days to go!
Tax goal: $2000
Current balance: $1045
Friday, December 12, 2008
And the money kept rolling in from every side...
(10 points if you understand the title reference.)
Apparently now that I'm no longer in debt, I get to join the group of people on the winning team when the term "the rich get richer" is used. Or at least it has felt that way this week. Three different freelance cheques arrived in my mailbox, including the one that is three months late, and I found out that I'm getting a bonus at work. Oh, and don't forget the three paychecks in January.
I am feeling downright wealthy.
And that feeling of wealth has allowed me to practice a skill that I kept under wraps for most of this year: spending money.
You guys, I am SO good at it!
Besides the coat that I purchased earlier this week, there has been some holiday shopping. And today I went on a mission to find sweaters, since it is bloody cold outside and my sweater drawer is looking rather empty. Or was looking rather empty... until I added four new sweaters. (I know it sounds really bad, but three of them were on really good sales.) I also treated the DP to dinner tonight, which is not something I get to do very often. He's a cheap date, so it wasn't a huge splurge.
However, things are still in good shape. The sweaters were all bought with actual money, the credit card is empty and I got to add some more to my tax fund. It's going to be okay.
But since I'm not going to be blogging quite as regularly until the new year, I'm not going to post my daily or weekly expenditures. I'm going to concentrate on the big goals. And it's my blog so I can do that if I want to!
Tax goal: $2000
Current balance: $1045
Apparently now that I'm no longer in debt, I get to join the group of people on the winning team when the term "the rich get richer" is used. Or at least it has felt that way this week. Three different freelance cheques arrived in my mailbox, including the one that is three months late, and I found out that I'm getting a bonus at work. Oh, and don't forget the three paychecks in January.
I am feeling downright wealthy.
And that feeling of wealth has allowed me to practice a skill that I kept under wraps for most of this year: spending money.
You guys, I am SO good at it!
Besides the coat that I purchased earlier this week, there has been some holiday shopping. And today I went on a mission to find sweaters, since it is bloody cold outside and my sweater drawer is looking rather empty. Or was looking rather empty... until I added four new sweaters. (I know it sounds really bad, but three of them were on really good sales.) I also treated the DP to dinner tonight, which is not something I get to do very often. He's a cheap date, so it wasn't a huge splurge.
However, things are still in good shape. The sweaters were all bought with actual money, the credit card is empty and I got to add some more to my tax fund. It's going to be okay.
But since I'm not going to be blogging quite as regularly until the new year, I'm not going to post my daily or weekly expenditures. I'm going to concentrate on the big goals. And it's my blog so I can do that if I want to!
Tax goal: $2000
Current balance: $1045
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
It's the most wonderful(ly busy) time of the year
I think it's fair to say that blogging will become sporadic as this month progresses. Tonight I worked late, ran some errands, ate some dinner, wrapped some presents, wrote some cards, chatted on the phone, and now I need to go bed. (I know it's early, but I'm desperate to go to the gym in the morning. I haven't been in a week, which would explain my curiously low energy levels. You have to expend some energy to earn some more!)
Two things:
1. The credit card is getting a continuous workout, but is also being continuously paid, so I'm not going to stress about it.
2. Speaking of giving the credit card a workout, I bought a new coat today. It was a good deal at Winners.
Tax goal: $2000
Current balance: $645
Spent today: $0 (from my weekly cash allowance)
FYI, tomorrow is my staff Christmas party and then I am babysitting on Thursday night so a lovely couple can go to their staff Christmas party. I'll be back a little later this week. And tree pictures will eventually be posted. Promise!
Two things:
1. The credit card is getting a continuous workout, but is also being continuously paid, so I'm not going to stress about it.
2. Speaking of giving the credit card a workout, I bought a new coat today. It was a good deal at Winners.
Tax goal: $2000
Current balance: $645
Spent today: $0 (from my weekly cash allowance)
FYI, tomorrow is my staff Christmas party and then I am babysitting on Thursday night so a lovely couple can go to their staff Christmas party. I'll be back a little later this week. And tree pictures will eventually be posted. Promise!
Monday, December 8, 2008
Deck the hall
I'm wearing a Santa hat. Why, you ask? Because the holidays have officially arrived in our apartment. The tree is all decorated and there's even a present underneath it! (Plus I've just purchased a Christmas album on iTunes that I've always meant to buy - The Carpenters!)
I am almost counting down the minutes until the break. Just 11 more work days for me. How many for you?
Anyway, tomorrow I will endeavour to post some tree pics, but tonight I must crawl into a hot bath and then into bed. Before I do that, here are the new numbers.
Tax goal: $2000
Current balance: $645 (As promised, I added that Google Adsense cheque.)
Spent today: $1.87 (Just a can of mushroom soup to cook our chicken in.)
Happy almost holidays everyone!
I am almost counting down the minutes until the break. Just 11 more work days for me. How many for you?
Anyway, tomorrow I will endeavour to post some tree pics, but tonight I must crawl into a hot bath and then into bed. Before I do that, here are the new numbers.
Tax goal: $2000
Current balance: $645 (As promised, I added that Google Adsense cheque.)
Spent today: $1.87 (Just a can of mushroom soup to cook our chicken in.)
Happy almost holidays everyone!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Here I am!
I've been lazy in my blogging this weekend, but only because I've been busy, busy, busy! I'm sure no one is surprised to hear that. December is notoriously hectic, but I love it. I love the lights and the music and...well, everything!
Yesterday was my debut concert with my choir. We sang five songs with the Scarborough Symphony orchestra at their concert. I wish I could say it was awesome. I wish I could say that I loved every minute of it. Instead, I will just say that it was long. We had an afternoon rehearsal and then had to wait around for almost four hours before the concert even began. (We didn't bother going home, since we had to be back an hour before the concert began.) And then, while we were singing our second last song in the show, one of the older women in the choir FAINTED! Right at my feet. It was awful. And concert etiquette is to JUST KEEP GOING! Isn't that insane? She was okay, though. And I was okay, too, when I finally made it home after 11 p.m. (I left home just after 1 p.m.)
But in money news, I found my phone!! It was on the floor of the back seat of the car. Phew!
AND I finally got my Google Adsense cheque!! All of you and your clicks helped me earn $147! I'm going to put it in my account tomorrow and then put it towards my tax goal.
Oh, and I managed to put a decent chunk of my paycheck towards my tax goal, too, so it's coming along.
Also, I think the one wayward freelancing cheque might actually arrive in my mailbox this week. They didn't have my full address.
But even more exciting than all of that - we have a Christmas tree!! It smells fantastic. Tomorrow night after work we will decorate and bring the holiday into our home. It's about time!!
Tax goal: $2000
Current balance: $500
Spent Friday, Saturday, Sunday: $87
Wait, one more thing! It was a good weekend for loyalty points. We got $20 off of our groceries and I got $25 off at the drugstore. Bring it on!!
Yesterday was my debut concert with my choir. We sang five songs with the Scarborough Symphony orchestra at their concert. I wish I could say it was awesome. I wish I could say that I loved every minute of it. Instead, I will just say that it was long. We had an afternoon rehearsal and then had to wait around for almost four hours before the concert even began. (We didn't bother going home, since we had to be back an hour before the concert began.) And then, while we were singing our second last song in the show, one of the older women in the choir FAINTED! Right at my feet. It was awful. And concert etiquette is to JUST KEEP GOING! Isn't that insane? She was okay, though. And I was okay, too, when I finally made it home after 11 p.m. (I left home just after 1 p.m.)
But in money news, I found my phone!! It was on the floor of the back seat of the car. Phew!
AND I finally got my Google Adsense cheque!! All of you and your clicks helped me earn $147! I'm going to put it in my account tomorrow and then put it towards my tax goal.
Oh, and I managed to put a decent chunk of my paycheck towards my tax goal, too, so it's coming along.
Also, I think the one wayward freelancing cheque might actually arrive in my mailbox this week. They didn't have my full address.
But even more exciting than all of that - we have a Christmas tree!! It smells fantastic. Tomorrow night after work we will decorate and bring the holiday into our home. It's about time!!
Tax goal: $2000
Current balance: $500
Spent Friday, Saturday, Sunday: $87
Wait, one more thing! It was a good weekend for loyalty points. We got $20 off of our groceries and I got $25 off at the drugstore. Bring it on!!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Get the worst over with
Here's the bad news:
There are many things that I am feeling the need to spend money on. The first is a new computer. My four-year-old PC has suddenly slowed waaaaayyy down. I have to turn it on and walk away for a solid ten minutes before I can use it. And then it takes another minute or two to open a program after that. Frustrating. So I want a new one. A Mac. No more PC for me. And it needs to be a laptop.
I also really, really, really want laser eye surgery. After almost 20 years of wearing contact lenses every day, I'm done.
And, sadly, there's the chance that I might need to buy another cellphone. Mine has been missing for almost a week and I cannot figure out where it has gone.
Plus, my reckless credit card spending escalated faster than I noticed, so much of the money that I planned to put into my tax account this week will have to go to that instead.
I guess my financial situation continues to be tenuous at best.
The good news:
The universe gave me a sign today. When I walked in the front door at work this morning, there were three stacks of white packing crates up against one of the walls. I only just quickly glanced at them, but I immediately noticed that only one out of the 60 crates had writing on it. It said Sutherland.
Okay then. Tenuous as things may be, at least I'm in the right place.
Tax goal: $2000
Current balance: $0
Spent today: $11-ish
Weekly total: $109 (a wee bit over...)
There are many things that I am feeling the need to spend money on. The first is a new computer. My four-year-old PC has suddenly slowed waaaaayyy down. I have to turn it on and walk away for a solid ten minutes before I can use it. And then it takes another minute or two to open a program after that. Frustrating. So I want a new one. A Mac. No more PC for me. And it needs to be a laptop.
I also really, really, really want laser eye surgery. After almost 20 years of wearing contact lenses every day, I'm done.
And, sadly, there's the chance that I might need to buy another cellphone. Mine has been missing for almost a week and I cannot figure out where it has gone.
Plus, my reckless credit card spending escalated faster than I noticed, so much of the money that I planned to put into my tax account this week will have to go to that instead.
I guess my financial situation continues to be tenuous at best.
The good news:
The universe gave me a sign today. When I walked in the front door at work this morning, there were three stacks of white packing crates up against one of the walls. I only just quickly glanced at them, but I immediately noticed that only one out of the 60 crates had writing on it. It said Sutherland.
Okay then. Tenuous as things may be, at least I'm in the right place.
Tax goal: $2000
Current balance: $0
Spent today: $11-ish
Weekly total: $109 (a wee bit over...)
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Quick recap
It has been a loooong day, let me tell you. I got up early and hit the gym, which was supposed to give me energy for the rest of the day, but left me pooped by 7 a.m. Not so good. Plus it was one of those workouts where every minutes takes about two minutes to go by. Brutal!
Then a busy, crazy day at work. I have three different roles I'm doing right now and today they all collided. I got through it, but gave myself a stress tummy ache in the meantime.
And tonight was choir rehearsal. We have a concert this Saturday that we are guest-starring in and then our big concert is two weeks from tonight. I wish I could say that I'm looking forward to them, but not so much.
To cap it all off, I was so looking forward to coming home and hanging on the couch with the DP for a bit, but he's still at work! Poor guy. I could not be a TV/film person. I like my 9-5-ish life. Occasional overtime - no problem! Every day overtime - forget it!
That's all I got. I'm beat.
Tax goal: $2000
Current balance: $0
Spent today: $0 (Who had time!)
Then a busy, crazy day at work. I have three different roles I'm doing right now and today they all collided. I got through it, but gave myself a stress tummy ache in the meantime.
And tonight was choir rehearsal. We have a concert this Saturday that we are guest-starring in and then our big concert is two weeks from tonight. I wish I could say that I'm looking forward to them, but not so much.
To cap it all off, I was so looking forward to coming home and hanging on the couch with the DP for a bit, but he's still at work! Poor guy. I could not be a TV/film person. I like my 9-5-ish life. Occasional overtime - no problem! Every day overtime - forget it!
That's all I got. I'm beat.
Tax goal: $2000
Current balance: $0
Spent today: $0 (Who had time!)
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
A hodge podge, if you will
I did something I wasn't expecting to do tonight - I paid off my student loans. Again.
See, I've been meaning to take a trip in to a bank so I can close that account now that the balance is at zero, but things have been very busy. 'Tis the season to be busy, right? Anyway, since the account is still active, I clicked through online just to enjoy the sight of the big fat zero.
Instead my balance read $5.57.
AAARRRGH!!! Damn interest. Damn end of the month interest.
No worries, though. I paid them their $5.57 and I'm once again in the clear. Phew! That was close.
Sorry I missed posting last night, but I was out at the SYTYCD Canada taping. It was fun but sooooooo long. Almost three hours of sitting without access to food, water or lip balm. I didn't mind my hunger for the first two hours, because I was busy looking at all the dancers bodies and trying to figure out how I could get mine to look like theirs. I concluded that I'd have to not only give up pretty much all of my favourite (read: sugary) foods, but I'd also have to quit my job so I could exercise all day. Every day. For the rest of my life. When I realized that wasn't going to be my fate, I just desperately wanted a sandwich.
Thanks to the DP, we did get to stroll around backstage after the show. Jean-Marc Genereux kissed me on both cheeks and Tre complimented my belt. I felt special.
In other news, there was lots to gossip about around the office today, because Rogers laid off a whole bunch of people in their publishing sector. No final number has been confirmed, but someone who works there said 45! They lost five at Macleans alone! Can I just say that my chair felt cozy and comfy. And everything on my to-do list took on new meaning: I have a job! Let's hope it stays that way.
On that note, I need to finish some freelancing before I retire for the evening. Sweet dreams everyone!
Tax goal: $2000
Current balance: $0
Spent yesterday: $0
Spent today: $13-ish (Stamps for holiday cards!)
See, I've been meaning to take a trip in to a bank so I can close that account now that the balance is at zero, but things have been very busy. 'Tis the season to be busy, right? Anyway, since the account is still active, I clicked through online just to enjoy the sight of the big fat zero.
Instead my balance read $5.57.
AAARRRGH!!! Damn interest. Damn end of the month interest.
No worries, though. I paid them their $5.57 and I'm once again in the clear. Phew! That was close.
Sorry I missed posting last night, but I was out at the SYTYCD Canada taping. It was fun but sooooooo long. Almost three hours of sitting without access to food, water or lip balm. I didn't mind my hunger for the first two hours, because I was busy looking at all the dancers bodies and trying to figure out how I could get mine to look like theirs. I concluded that I'd have to not only give up pretty much all of my favourite (read: sugary) foods, but I'd also have to quit my job so I could exercise all day. Every day. For the rest of my life. When I realized that wasn't going to be my fate, I just desperately wanted a sandwich.
Thanks to the DP, we did get to stroll around backstage after the show. Jean-Marc Genereux kissed me on both cheeks and Tre complimented my belt. I felt special.
In other news, there was lots to gossip about around the office today, because Rogers laid off a whole bunch of people in their publishing sector. No final number has been confirmed, but someone who works there said 45! They lost five at Macleans alone! Can I just say that my chair felt cozy and comfy. And everything on my to-do list took on new meaning: I have a job! Let's hope it stays that way.
On that note, I need to finish some freelancing before I retire for the evening. Sweet dreams everyone!
Tax goal: $2000
Current balance: $0
Spent yesterday: $0
Spent today: $13-ish (Stamps for holiday cards!)
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