New Years Day!

I'm wonderfully non-hungover today! My GF and I had six friends over for dinner--we split the cost of the food, which came to around $80. Well worth it. Bacon-wrapped scallions for an appetizer. Brazed pork tenderloin covered in a mushroom stuffing and then rolled in puff pastry for the main course, with green beans covered in a light sugary glaze, and a sweet potato risotto. Then pears boiled in wine, split open and injected with a cream cheese based filling for desert. A friend brought champagne, and a few of us went out dancing afterwards. We got tickets for free ahead of time, which was lucky because the door was charging around $15/person to get in. Lots of fun had, my ears are still ringing.

I'm writing the afternoon away, then sneaking into work to use the gym and get some finance related work done.

Happy New Year!

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I Like Getting Bills

Thanks to Carnival of Personal Finance for posting me this week! My Open Wallet had some problems with Blogger, but she did a great job recovering and getting everything out on time!

I don't have much to say (and it's super late--I'm up watching a giant thunderstorm), but I wanted to divulge a funny realization I had as I was checking my mail today. At some point in the recent past, I began to actually ENJOY getting bills! I no longer have any sense of consternation with respect to doing my finances, in fact, I look forward to the 15th of every month, because when I get my paycheck, I'm that much closer to paying off my debt!

I don't know if I mentioned that I'm turning my book in at the end of August instead of my hoped-for July date. I was pushing too hard and froze up on the last week of the month. I had to take about ten days off to just veg. I just got back in the swing of things the last few days, and I'm back on track to completion. I REALLY have to get this done at the end of this month, because I'm starting classes in September, and I know my life will turn into a train wreck if I try to get the book finished AND do classwork. It's been hard for me to stay in shape and get the book done, but my mind is SERIOUSLY not working as well as it should, because I'm not doing as much, athletically. I need to get the blood flowing again, but as I'm sure many of you know, it just sucks to try and get a workout in when you're doing ten things at the same time.

Anyway, I'll let you go. I'm off to watch the lightning!

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Ha! I didn't realize people were commenting

Actually, I didn't realize people were reading this blog. I was just snooping around and saw that people had left a few remarks. Thanks :)

Millionaire Artist was kind enough to mention me on her blog, and that directed a few kind souls my way.

Also, wrt my quandary about whether or not to use credit protection, M.A. said she thought it was a scam, and I'm in agreement with her. I cancelled the credit protection on my credit card. Now remember, the reason I had the credit protection was because I have to make three purchases a month on my Discover card, or I loose my 0% APR. The credit protection counts as one of the purchases. SO, I have to now make another purchase. In order to do that, I've stuck with my cheep downloadable music format, and set up an account with Audio Lunchbox.

If anyone has suggestions for new music, I have to buy two more random songs in a week. I'll buy whatever anyone mentions, just to try something new.

Cheers.

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Vegetarian - Eh

So the vegetarian regimen isn't going to work. I feel like hell. I want out to Target over lunch and got some sushi. Ummm.... I fell into an immediate blissful food coma after I ate it. Feeling a little better, but I think I'm going to have a big salmon steak with all the fixings tonight. I'll still avoid most meats, but I'm bringing fish back into the diet.

And.... wrt the spending. I went out one night and had two drinks, for a total of $24 (w/tip). I was hanging out with an editor-friend and she was reviewing cocktails at a club. I feel like I'm building/sustaining professional contacts when I do this. Any thoughts? (I know, no one reads this, but...) I'm going out and singing karaokee on Friday, which will entail a few cheap drinks. Hopefully less than $15, and that will be my entertainment for the evening.

That's about all. I think I got into Hamline, which would be nice. I didn't get into Michigan. Still waiting on the other (six) schools.

Still need to make some kind of spending plan!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is my goal for Saturday A.M.

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