On Being a Grown Up...
I have been trying very hard to put some money away this pay period and it looks like I'm gonna luck out and save close to $300 this month (which is a considerable increase since last pay period where I barely had $50 leftover) once all the bills are paid and groceries are bought.
I've also discovered the infinite usefulness of wedding registries when you are initially trying to set up house -- buying the most basic items for your first home (kitchen items like food processors, blenders, a good set of knives, pans, etc. and other decorating items like picture frames) can be ridiculously expensive. As I did not get married right out of college, I am having to come up with these things on my own. Thankfully, between re-gifting from my mother and my own purchases, I am getting to the point where I am happy with the status of our home. At the moment the only things that could really make my kitchen any better are a) a gas stove (out of the question -- we live in an apartment) b) a crock pot (on my christmas list) and c) one of those cookbook holder things so you don't have to keep bending over to read what comes next (will be picking up one of those soon). Every other room is great, but I am eyeing this shoji screen for the bedroom, but it's rather expensive so I'm gonna hold off and see if I *really* want it enough to spend the $150 plus shipping to get it.
I figure if I'm gonna pick up any hobbies, the three I'm picking up are probably the best for me in the long run: cooking, writing and yoga. i_rose_i_roared and I start a basic yoga class on Sunday, I know altodescant is enjoying my foray into cooking, and I am so happy I'm writing again. I'm currently working on a piece for the Fall Fanworks contest at ichi_ruki which I'm really excited about and hope to have edited and posted sometime tomorrow. I think this is the first time in a long time I've really taken up hobbies that are improving myself and my own quality of life rather than doing things just to do them.
Oh, and for those that don't know already, I had to drop out of that paralegal program -- they didn't give me any financial aid besides loans and with the prospect of having to buy a new car, it just wasn't doable. Ah, well. I had a nagging feeling that I was selling myself short by going back for an Associate's Degree, rather than trying to go to grad school at some point, so I think it was the best decision anyway.
I did start looking into graduate programs in theater for the year 2008/2009 and put in a request for information about the Asian Theater MA/PhD program at the University of Hawaii. The woman who I emailed seems really nice (she's the Japanese theater expert at the school) and encouraged me to apply, which was great to hear. She had been involved in the program I did in Japan last summer, so she was quite familiar with what I'd done. I'm not sure if I really want to go to grad school yet, but I figure finding out information can't hurt. I still want to learn, but I'm enjoying being out in the workforce right now, and I could definitely be persuaded to stay for quite a long time if an offer was extended. We'll see how it goes. I don't have to make up my mind right now.
Alright, I suppose I should go be productive now instead of updating my LJ. Have a great day!
I've also discovered the infinite usefulness of wedding registries when you are initially trying to set up house -- buying the most basic items for your first home (kitchen items like food processors, blenders, a good set of knives, pans, etc. and other decorating items like picture frames) can be ridiculously expensive. As I did not get married right out of college, I am having to come up with these things on my own. Thankfully, between re-gifting from my mother and my own purchases, I am getting to the point where I am happy with the status of our home. At the moment the only things that could really make my kitchen any better are a) a gas stove (out of the question -- we live in an apartment) b) a crock pot (on my christmas list) and c) one of those cookbook holder things so you don't have to keep bending over to read what comes next (will be picking up one of those soon). Every other room is great, but I am eyeing this shoji screen for the bedroom, but it's rather expensive so I'm gonna hold off and see if I *really* want it enough to spend the $150 plus shipping to get it.
I figure if I'm gonna pick up any hobbies, the three I'm picking up are probably the best for me in the long run: cooking, writing and yoga. i_rose_i_roared and I start a basic yoga class on Sunday, I know altodescant is enjoying my foray into cooking, and I am so happy I'm writing again. I'm currently working on a piece for the Fall Fanworks contest at ichi_ruki which I'm really excited about and hope to have edited and posted sometime tomorrow. I think this is the first time in a long time I've really taken up hobbies that are improving myself and my own quality of life rather than doing things just to do them.
Oh, and for those that don't know already, I had to drop out of that paralegal program -- they didn't give me any financial aid besides loans and with the prospect of having to buy a new car, it just wasn't doable. Ah, well. I had a nagging feeling that I was selling myself short by going back for an Associate's Degree, rather than trying to go to grad school at some point, so I think it was the best decision anyway.
I did start looking into graduate programs in theater for the year 2008/2009 and put in a request for information about the Asian Theater MA/PhD program at the University of Hawaii. The woman who I emailed seems really nice (she's the Japanese theater expert at the school) and encouraged me to apply, which was great to hear. She had been involved in the program I did in Japan last summer, so she was quite familiar with what I'd done. I'm not sure if I really want to go to grad school yet, but I figure finding out information can't hurt. I still want to learn, but I'm enjoying being out in the workforce right now, and I could definitely be persuaded to stay for quite a long time if an offer was extended. We'll see how it goes. I don't have to make up my mind right now.
Alright, I suppose I should go be productive now instead of updating my LJ. Have a great day!