"'Cause Mama, I'm a big girl now!"
So, the real world is still calling and I'm here to answer the door. I'm feeling pretty good about things right now, which is nice. And I'm slowly getting out of the slum I was in last week. I think it was partly due to all of the rain. I'm still pretty sick of coming home to the same thing every single night. I can only watch so much TV before I go stir-crazy. I'm grateful I don't have the Sims installed on this computer or I'd be in real trouble. I guess I'm just trying to find things to do to keep me occupied. I need to finish my cross-stitches I bought. I've been debating about getting new bracelet materials (or trying to get my ones from home sent down). I've also debated about getting a latch hook rug kit. A nice one...from online. I like being arts and crafty...which reminds me that I need to keep working on my scrapbook.
Anyway, back to the real world. Our bills are finally coming in and I'm proud so far. Our estimates were pretty good and we're not spending too much. Per person, our rent is about $280 a month, plus $12 for high speed internet and approximately $38 for electricity. So, roughly, it's about $330 a month for everything. Add to that about $60 a month for gas (two tanks) and approximately $150 for groceries and such. (I normally don't spend that much, but remember I shop once a month.) So, it's about $550 a month. And thanks to my hours, my checks have been nice, too, so I think I'm good for a while.
I'm still trying to save up for a few things. I'm trying to budget away $11 a week to go to one jazz class. Also, I want to start paying off more of my student loans each month so I can get them paid off and finished. I also need to save up for my cruise later this summer and for Colorado next month. (Josh and I might be flying to his place for the 4th of July.) I'd also like to save so I can come back home to visit at some point. Among that, nothing's extra special. I'd like to get a George Foreman grill one of these days and have a little extra money on the side so I can splurge on clothes, a DVD or two, and getting my hair cut.
I think it can all be done. It's just a matter of putting my mind to it and following my numbers. Next month, I have to pay off my furniture and my bank account is going to take a beating, but I'll still be good to go.
So, now a funny little tale about Nikki vs. the city of Orlando.
Since coming to Florida, Nikki has wanted to get a library card so she can take out books, movies, and music. Nikki drove to one Orange county library branch and they told her that she needed to provide proof of her residency with something like a utility bill or a copy of her lease. A few weeks go by until today, when Nikki finally has time to try again. Since the last visit, she has realized that the Osceola county library is actually closer than Orange county's library. However, she needs an Orange county card to get an Osceola card. So, Nikki drives half an hour to the middle of downtown Orlando to a much nicer and larger Orange county library. She puts money in the meter and goes inside to get her card, bearing paperwork from her internet company and a copy of her lease. The library would not accept either document as a proof of residency. Nikki tried to keep her voice calm as she explained that she had just driven half an hour to the library and asked if there was anything else she could show them. When the clerk said a paycheck, Nikki explained that that was all done online, but if they gave her computer access, she could print one off. The clerk said that she couldn't let her do that, so Nikki left, highly aggravated...and convinced that the city of Orlando does not want her to possess a library card.
However, my electricity bill came in today, so I'm going to try a third time. The downtown library was absolutely huge. However, I'm not fond of going all the way downtown to go to the library. It was the same thing in Cleveland...I've never felt particularly safe downtown. However, while driving back, I passed through part of the Orlando arts district. Lake Eola was right across from the library and it's very pretty.
Oh, so tonight we did something new! We went bowling! I haven't been bowling in over a year. I went with Josh, Rob, Ben, and Kevin. It was a blast. I'm still a weakling, using the 8 lb. ball because the 10 lb. hurt too much. I'm also proud to say I nearly broke 300...for my series of three. *hehe* I lost to all four guys...lol But it was still fun. Ben and I kept laughing and talking about how Cleveland is such a bowling area. The Atlanta Braves were playing on TV and since their uniforms look like Cleveland's, we kept looking at the TV and thinking, "Hey, the Indians are on!" lol...it's another one of those points where I think I still live in Ohio.
Anyway, I need some sleep. Tomorrow is my day off and I'm going to spend the morning at Studios with Margaret, who has yet to see Star Wars weekends. I might try to do the library again tomorrow. I just don't want to spend all day in the parks.
Love,
Nikki
P.S. Gay Days 2009 is going on right now. Today was their Studios' day, but I didn't see anyone. Possibly because of the rain. Tomorrow is their day at Magic Kingdom. Red is always their theme color. Rob is ready for the chaos. He's going to be hanging out at Pooh's Playground tomorrow...and need I remind you the color of Pooh bear's sweater.
Much love!
Anyway, back to the real world. Our bills are finally coming in and I'm proud so far. Our estimates were pretty good and we're not spending too much. Per person, our rent is about $280 a month, plus $12 for high speed internet and approximately $38 for electricity. So, roughly, it's about $330 a month for everything. Add to that about $60 a month for gas (two tanks) and approximately $150 for groceries and such. (I normally don't spend that much, but remember I shop once a month.) So, it's about $550 a month. And thanks to my hours, my checks have been nice, too, so I think I'm good for a while.
I'm still trying to save up for a few things. I'm trying to budget away $11 a week to go to one jazz class. Also, I want to start paying off more of my student loans each month so I can get them paid off and finished. I also need to save up for my cruise later this summer and for Colorado next month. (Josh and I might be flying to his place for the 4th of July.) I'd also like to save so I can come back home to visit at some point. Among that, nothing's extra special. I'd like to get a George Foreman grill one of these days and have a little extra money on the side so I can splurge on clothes, a DVD or two, and getting my hair cut.
I think it can all be done. It's just a matter of putting my mind to it and following my numbers. Next month, I have to pay off my furniture and my bank account is going to take a beating, but I'll still be good to go.
So, now a funny little tale about Nikki vs. the city of Orlando.
Since coming to Florida, Nikki has wanted to get a library card so she can take out books, movies, and music. Nikki drove to one Orange county library branch and they told her that she needed to provide proof of her residency with something like a utility bill or a copy of her lease. A few weeks go by until today, when Nikki finally has time to try again. Since the last visit, she has realized that the Osceola county library is actually closer than Orange county's library. However, she needs an Orange county card to get an Osceola card. So, Nikki drives half an hour to the middle of downtown Orlando to a much nicer and larger Orange county library. She puts money in the meter and goes inside to get her card, bearing paperwork from her internet company and a copy of her lease. The library would not accept either document as a proof of residency. Nikki tried to keep her voice calm as she explained that she had just driven half an hour to the library and asked if there was anything else she could show them. When the clerk said a paycheck, Nikki explained that that was all done online, but if they gave her computer access, she could print one off. The clerk said that she couldn't let her do that, so Nikki left, highly aggravated...and convinced that the city of Orlando does not want her to possess a library card.
However, my electricity bill came in today, so I'm going to try a third time. The downtown library was absolutely huge. However, I'm not fond of going all the way downtown to go to the library. It was the same thing in Cleveland...I've never felt particularly safe downtown. However, while driving back, I passed through part of the Orlando arts district. Lake Eola was right across from the library and it's very pretty.
Oh, so tonight we did something new! We went bowling! I haven't been bowling in over a year. I went with Josh, Rob, Ben, and Kevin. It was a blast. I'm still a weakling, using the 8 lb. ball because the 10 lb. hurt too much. I'm also proud to say I nearly broke 300...for my series of three. *hehe* I lost to all four guys...lol But it was still fun. Ben and I kept laughing and talking about how Cleveland is such a bowling area. The Atlanta Braves were playing on TV and since their uniforms look like Cleveland's, we kept looking at the TV and thinking, "Hey, the Indians are on!" lol...it's another one of those points where I think I still live in Ohio.
Anyway, I need some sleep. Tomorrow is my day off and I'm going to spend the morning at Studios with Margaret, who has yet to see Star Wars weekends. I might try to do the library again tomorrow. I just don't want to spend all day in the parks.
Love,
Nikki
P.S. Gay Days 2009 is going on right now. Today was their Studios' day, but I didn't see anyone. Possibly because of the rain. Tomorrow is their day at Magic Kingdom. Red is always their theme color. Rob is ready for the chaos. He's going to be hanging out at Pooh's Playground tomorrow...and need I remind you the color of Pooh bear's sweater.
Much love!