Another scattered, rambly update.
Fixed the internet by unplugging (+ re-plugging..) the modem + router. If I'd realized it was that simple, I would have done it earlier this week. (Internet is still slow + a little shaky, but it works AT ALL now).
I feel like crap + need to make a doctor's appointment. I should have done it today, but I thought "eh, I'll be there Wednesday".
Money. I'd said that I'd say how much I thought was "enough". I think the last commenter's 50k each for 2 adults (+ child/ren?) is probably the most accurate. I would have named a figure lower than that out of hope. And been wrong.
I'm frustrated because I'm not making enough to afford my own apartment. Or childcare. Or a trip to Washington for my cousin's wedding. And I *do* make a reasonable amount of money. Well, I don't make as much as anyone with a piece of paper calling them a genius in one file + one with the words "cum laude" on it in another ought to. But I'm having a hard time convincing my employer of that. See the bit about feeling like crap and needing to call the doctor.
And it isn't just about me. Young professionals are supposed to be the ones who can afford the penthouse suites and the flashy cars, right? If *I* couldn't afford childcare atop my housing, food, and (9 yr old) car, how the HELL can a single mom afford it after she's fed and clothed her kids, too? And I don't smoke, drink, or buy much music, books, DVDs, or anything else. Well, OK, I've been splurging lately, mostly out of frustration.
The apartment situation is up in the air. Frustrating. I'd rather NOT end up paying 3-4x more for heating oil next year, but Pax and I are really itching to get our own place, and even a studio is more than I can afford. The idea of moving into another housemate situation only to move AGAIN seems... frustrating in the extreme. Obviously, there are other important factors, too. Thinking about buying... half the world says DO IT NOW~!!! The other half says WAIT, YOU IDIOT! Pax thinks we should look at auctions and foreclosures. I see pitfalls there. Tonight, I'm falling in love with a cohousing place. I'm sure Pax will want nothing to do with it. It's over an hour from Noho, and the meetings are at 11am.
Went to a bellydance thing this weekend that was alot of fun - the buzz was about getting more experimental stuff going on, which I'm all in favor of. I don't feel like I fit into any of the usual categories of belly dance, and I don't feel like I have enough of a basis in any of them to branch out by myself. I wish someone taught ADVANCED bellydance out here! And yes, I am too cheap to splurge on private lessons. Or is that frugal?
Also thinking a lot about the difference between "frugal" and "cheap". The connotative difference seems to be that "frugal" can be good, but "cheap" is bad. But what exactly that means seems to be open to interpertation. In my opionion, "cheap" is anything by which a person's frugality negatively impacts someone else, or is "pound foolish". "Frugal" is efficient, with a monetary emphasis.
Also been thinking about how I identify with bunches of labels, but with caveats - "Yeah, we're "poly", but poly people are crazy, so we'd rather not date them" "Yeah, my husband's a gamer, but no, I don't want to live with gamers, they're either crazy or rules-lawyers or want to plant a damn chicken (=lack common sense). Or all of the above."
I'm thinking about looking into beefing up my database skills, in the hopes of a better job - and maybe work@home contract gigs or something. At least one other person on my friends list is looking at this, too - which is handy, it helps me know the Right Words to say to Google. I really think that nutritionists have a better career future, but it would also be MUCH more expensive to take the classes for that.
I think I'm going to bed now. I was falling asleep at 5 when I got home, but now that I've eaten (some crap.. burrito is only sorta dinner..), I have some energy. Sleep helps when you're tired though, right?
I feel like crap + need to make a doctor's appointment. I should have done it today, but I thought "eh, I'll be there Wednesday".
Money. I'd said that I'd say how much I thought was "enough". I think the last commenter's 50k each for 2 adults (+ child/ren?) is probably the most accurate. I would have named a figure lower than that out of hope. And been wrong.
I'm frustrated because I'm not making enough to afford my own apartment. Or childcare. Or a trip to Washington for my cousin's wedding. And I *do* make a reasonable amount of money. Well, I don't make as much as anyone with a piece of paper calling them a genius in one file + one with the words "cum laude" on it in another ought to. But I'm having a hard time convincing my employer of that. See the bit about feeling like crap and needing to call the doctor.
And it isn't just about me. Young professionals are supposed to be the ones who can afford the penthouse suites and the flashy cars, right? If *I* couldn't afford childcare atop my housing, food, and (9 yr old) car, how the HELL can a single mom afford it after she's fed and clothed her kids, too? And I don't smoke, drink, or buy much music, books, DVDs, or anything else. Well, OK, I've been splurging lately, mostly out of frustration.
The apartment situation is up in the air. Frustrating. I'd rather NOT end up paying 3-4x more for heating oil next year, but Pax and I are really itching to get our own place, and even a studio is more than I can afford. The idea of moving into another housemate situation only to move AGAIN seems... frustrating in the extreme. Obviously, there are other important factors, too. Thinking about buying... half the world says DO IT NOW~!!! The other half says WAIT, YOU IDIOT! Pax thinks we should look at auctions and foreclosures. I see pitfalls there. Tonight, I'm falling in love with a cohousing place. I'm sure Pax will want nothing to do with it. It's over an hour from Noho, and the meetings are at 11am.
Went to a bellydance thing this weekend that was alot of fun - the buzz was about getting more experimental stuff going on, which I'm all in favor of. I don't feel like I fit into any of the usual categories of belly dance, and I don't feel like I have enough of a basis in any of them to branch out by myself. I wish someone taught ADVANCED bellydance out here! And yes, I am too cheap to splurge on private lessons. Or is that frugal?
Also thinking a lot about the difference between "frugal" and "cheap". The connotative difference seems to be that "frugal" can be good, but "cheap" is bad. But what exactly that means seems to be open to interpertation. In my opionion, "cheap" is anything by which a person's frugality negatively impacts someone else, or is "pound foolish". "Frugal" is efficient, with a monetary emphasis.
Also been thinking about how I identify with bunches of labels, but with caveats - "Yeah, we're "poly", but poly people are crazy, so we'd rather not date them" "Yeah, my husband's a gamer, but no, I don't want to live with gamers, they're either crazy or rules-lawyers or want to plant a damn chicken (=lack common sense). Or all of the above."
I'm thinking about looking into beefing up my database skills, in the hopes of a better job - and maybe work@home contract gigs or something. At least one other person on my friends list is looking at this, too - which is handy, it helps me know the Right Words to say to Google. I really think that nutritionists have a better career future, but it would also be MUCH more expensive to take the classes for that.
I think I'm going to bed now. I was falling asleep at 5 when I got home, but now that I've eaten (some crap.. burrito is only sorta dinner..), I have some energy. Sleep helps when you're tired though, right?