About sixteen years ago, I met him for the first time. My trainwreck sibling brought home this adorable puppy he had no business adopting because he had not one thing in his life that wasn’t a mess. I was furious at my sibling – he didn’t even take care of himself, how could he drag
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August 4, 2008
The budget: $300, plus $150 in gas cards
Spent: $142 cash, $41 gas
Bought: 7 trade paperbacks (gifts), 1 tshirt (gift), 1 super cool toy for BF (gift)
Free: Sketch from Jeph Jacques of Questionable Content (gift), sketch from Lars Brown of me with a Viking hat, sketch from the Penny Arcade guys of Tycho and Gabe doing a fastball special. Bonus points to whoever recognizes that move! 🙂
Still to spend: flowers for the friend who let me stay in his condo (40, to split with BF), shipping fee to send his keys back (5, USPS Priority Mail), ticket for next year
Favorite quote (financially related, of course): Grant Morrison, answering a question from a fan
“You just have to try to learn to let go of your desires. You have to detach yourself from materials, sort of be separate from it, so that you can enjoy life. It’s really difficult, I know, because we’re surrounded by really cool things …. I want to go see Dark Knight again! But you have to remember that things just make you miserable. You see, there’s always going to be some cool thing you want, and then when you get that, you’re going to want another cool thing. In the end, you’re just going to be miserable because you can’t have all the cool things in the world. ”
I love that. I felt like I practiced that philosophy of enjoying being there at Con, and being selective about the things I picked up. Actually, I only bought gifts for other people this year, I didn’t buy a thing for myself, and I came out of there utterly content. Grant Morrison is crazy awesome. And his super Scottish brogue made him that much more lovable. Well, that and his very mellow demeanor with fans. And the fact that he’s always spiffed out in a suit and crazy tie. Speaking of Dark Knight: AWESOME!
Favorite Con Man: David Mack!
I love that he totally humors me. I took a hiatus from comics for a while, jaded by all the Marvel crossovers in the late 90s and his books (Kabuki) were what brought me back to the creativity and sheer artistry that I loved. Thus, I completely fangirl out when I see him, and visit him at every Con I attend. For his part, he’s all smiles, and totally gracious and friendly to every Con attendee, and considering how rough Con can be for these creators, it’s amazing. I know that it’s all fun and games for us, but Con is business for those in the industry and you can tell that some of them aren’t into socializing with their public AT ALL. Not this guy, he’s never having a bad day. Six years I’ve been seeing him at Cons now, and never anything but a smile on him. Luckily, real BF is ok with my Con BF. 😉
Is it because I’m tired, or because I did too much this weekend that I can’t remember Saturday?
I can’t tell, I’m too tired.
Starting from Sunday, then.
Finally got a load of laundry done, it’s been too long. Spent a lot of time on the computer doing work stuff (like … bloggy stuff), and then ran out to take my cousin to see Dark Knight for her birthday. Luckily, I’d purchased a bulk lot of cheap movie tickets last year for $5.75 right before the prices skyrocketed, and so our movies were paid for. We shared a bagel sandwich with water for $6.99. I smiled because she’d brought a huge bottle of Gatorade and snacks with her so she wouldn’t have to buy drinks or candy. There’s a girl after my own heart.
Then we did a typical cousin hangout at her place: her mom had cooked random Asian foods, we (I) ate too much, noshed on fresh mango and carrot cake. We lolled about reading comic books from the library, played her brother‘s iPhone app games, and gossiped. I also loaded up on free calculus books so I could start reviewing some of the concepts in case I need it for the GMAT or biz school. They were destined to be donated to the library, so I’ll take them there once I’m through with them.
Spent the rest of the evening having dinner (#2) with East Coast friend and her family. EC friend is only in town for a day as she’s stopping here on her way to spend a whole blessed week in Hawaii with her family. *sigh* Lucky, lucky girl.
Oh I remember Saturday, now. Errands, mostly. It cost $50 to nearly fill up my tank. Spent $11 on personal grooming, another $6 on postage for the keys, exchanged some particularly noxious lotion at Bath and Body Works for a much more pleasant scent, and spent the entire afternoon at Borders. Half the time was spent on catch-up work because I’d gotten completely distracted on Friday by news from EC friend, and half was spent doing some background reading, related to the news from EC friend. I can’t really talk about it, not for a while, but I’m super excited about it. Also, nervous.
Had dinner at Cheesecake Factory, shared a pasta dish with a friend’s friend so it should have only cost $8 per person with tax and tip, but friend picked it up before we could contribute.
All told, I spent $24 out of pocket this weekend, and didn’t manage to tame my shaggy locks.
August 2, 2008
Single Ma’s post on Flirting and Finances made me laugh out loud for more than one reason. First, I know that girl’s got game, and it was just not on on that day. But second, when her game’s off, she sounds a lot like regular me.
Perhaps there is a link between flirting abilities and financial personalities. My inability to recognize, and therefore participate in, flirting correlates directly to my preference for slow and steady finances without any of the hot stock tip business. Emphasis on hot. Hot, apparently, makes me nervous and slow.
Now, I’m no superquick lady like Ms. Ma over there, but I can usually hold my own when I’m comfortable with (normal) people. I find myself startlingly off game around certain (confident, attractive, talkative) people, or completely clueless around others (hello, friend zone!).
In other words, she brought back some *fond* memories that still make me chuckle. And shake my head. And sometimes hang my head, even when I’m alone. Because, Dear Lord. Come take a peek at my past “experience” and you’ll see what I mean. These are not in any particular order except in the strength of how embarrassingly dimwitted I felt when the lightbulb came on. In most cases, I was not the one who turned on the lightbulb, sadly.
Me, annoyed: Why have you been acting so weird all quarter? What’s the matter with you?
Friend Boy, abashed, and apparently heartbroken: Well, I just … I just realized that a guy like me could never be with a girl like you, and I’m just having a really hard time with it, and it’s just me, don’t worry, it’s not your fault, you didn’t do anything wrong, etc. *rambles on for a while*
Me, blithely having stopped listening after “it’s just me, don’t worry”: I know I didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t do anything at all. So, we’re cool? Cool.
Oy. Heartless, clueless, brainless! Some kind of a triple threat there. I’d known this friend for over a year and nev-er had an inkling that he was carrying a torch for me. And then I assumed, well, he’s talked himself out of making a move sooooooo we’re good? Yeah? All good?
Cute Boy: *shifting from side to side, kicking the bottom of my foot. Trying to carry a conversation with me.*
Me: Stop kicking my foot. That’s abusive behavior.
Cute Boy, looking at me oddly: I’m not being abusive.
Me, quirking eyebrow, still oblivious: Yes it is. What else do you call kicking someone?
Cute Boy, exasperated: Flirting. I’m flirting with you!
Me: Shut up, liar. *thinking* Oh……….. really?
Seriously. I’m an idiot.
Boy: May I kiss you?
Me, startled, looking around wildly: I have gum in my mouth!
Um, probably not the answer he was looking for. I still think that was practical. How awkward would choking on my gum have been?
I’d be saying: borders plays a really bad version of “time after time.”
Listening to: death cab for cutie’s new album, leann rimes circa 1998, mindy mccready circa before all the arrests and bad times, and lupe fiasco.
I’m ADD: Keep checking random websites and googling things as they occur to me when I’m trying to make up some work left over from Friday. Also, people watching. And amusing myself with really bad jokes and lip syncing.
No wonder I can’t get anything done.
Good job I don’t twitter as well as blog, can you imagine how much less productive I could be??
Whew, it’s been a week. Ok, it’s been two days in the office, but they were intense trying to catch up and make good on all the promises we made during the meetings. Ugh. It’s amazing how I still think I can get all caught up and started on the new deadlines in the same day. Have really got to learn that that’s not how the world works.
Finally managed to complete my Con post, with more to come on Monday.
Hoping to get a hair appointment today – have to be out of town the next two weekends and can’t be too embarrassingly shaggy. I get to wear the purple dress and new shoes for the first time!
Lots of other miscellaneous chores that involve running about town. Should get a move on now.
Con was excellent. I was concerned about an unresolved idiopathic arthritis flare-up, idiopathic in this case meaning I hadn’t done anything to cause it like overexerting myself, or lifting/carrying heavy items. It wasn’t just the run of the mill aching either, it was the alternately dull and sharp throbbing pains that would either keep me from sleeping or wake me in the night. Of course, lack of sleep is a trigger so I feared a vicious cycle that would ruin Con. I made myself rest for a solid 12 hours from Tuesday night through Wednesday; believe me, it’s hard to do on the eve of 8 days of travel with some packing and cleaning left to do. Still and all, rest was the only thing I could do for myself and by Wednesday morning the pain receded to a manageable level.
Vacation! After a semi-leisurely start, interrupted by spates of panic from colleagues, I was on my way. The calls continued well into the afternoon, but it wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle via phone or email. Annoying, but there it is.
It cost $41 to fill up my tank. And I’d still had a quarter tank when I stopped at the gas station. Thank goodness for the gas cards. Arrival in San Diego at 12:30 pm was thrilling: I was back! It’s the sole pleasure and luxury I’ve allowed myself since college, a yearly pilgrimage of sorts. I stay at a friend’s parent’s house, and for four solid days, we are spoiled terribly. Good food, good beds, good company. His parents provided a bounty of sandwich fixings, fruit, and snacks for our lunches, his mama cooked breakfast foods every morning and dinners as well. Absolute heaven for a piggy at table like me.
It balanced the intense days we spend backpacking our lunches and comics through the San Diego Convention Center, walking miles upon miles through the throngs of fellow geeks and nerds, scouting the booths and deals. And my, there were deals to be had!
The news outlets were putting the attendance count at 125,000. My Con has become so much more mainstream, that on my drive back home, I felt a wee bit possessive. I could almost wish it weren’t so enormous now, but I think that that kind of attention, attendance, and interest should be good for the industry. Obviously, the money flowing in stimulates that economy, but more than that, the level of quality has been increasing, the bar has been raised. For example, who’s seen Sin City? Or the Dark Knight? Those films were built on the backs of truly terrible films like Batman and Robin or X3. (I’m sorry, I’m a X-fan and the last of the X movies was a sore disappointment.) But out of those beginning struggles comes a push for better storytelling, stronger plotting, pacing and creativity. Sure there’ll still be money-motivated flops but we’re already seeing that the filmmakers with a passion for the original medium are able to bring their skills into the film medium.
Anyway, not to rant. It was truly an impressive crowd there. A Comic Con staple is waiting in line. There are lines to get your badge, lines to get into the convention hall before it opens, lines to have your books signed and get sketches, lines to get vouchers to get into other lines. Lines, lines, everywhere! 
The fun part about having a posse at Con is having company during those seemingly interminable waits, but you can just chat with the folks you’re in line with. Yep! I’m advocating talking to strangers. It’s best not to give them your number, and every once in a while it’s best they don’t even know your name, but generally we’re all semi-normal and just there for fun. There’s a bit of a high I get walking through Con alone, too – I love hanging out with fellow geek friends and family, I love having BF hang out in my world for a bit, but there’s a time I need to be alone and soak in my surroundings. No matter how bad things have been all year, being alone at Con, in that moment, takes me out of all the pettiness, all the anger and frustration and confusion to a different place. I love it. We’re calling it Condorphins..
My financial overview comes next!
August 1, 2008
| Retirement Savings |
Rollover IRA: $1,452
Roth IRA: $3,698
401(a): $4,347
403(b): $16,173
Total: $25,670
<-3%>
|
| Emergency Savings |
Catastrophe: $18,163
Problem Cushion: $0
|
| Short Term Goals |
Car Maintenance: $930
Car Insurance: $603
Travel/Con: $579
Taxes: $3,465
Moving: $5
Total: $5,582
|
| Long Term Goals |
House Down Payment: $100
|
| Investment Loans |
Prosper-ish: $12,630
Personal Loan: $5,000
Savings Bond: $357 (current accrued value)
Total: $17,997
|
| Total Assets |
Non-Liquid: $25,670
Semi-Liquid: $17,997
Liquid: $18,163
Expense Acct: $779
Goals Savings: $5,482
Total: $67,412
|
| Debt and Liabilities |
Truck: $4,297
Citi: $298
Chase: $631
Rent: $1,360
Total: $6,317
|
| Net Worth |
$61,095
|
— Up 0.01% —
Once again, it seems like the numbers are inflated; the “increased” net worth is due to the recent influx of cash. It seems to have settled out, though.
June ended far too soon, with too much left to do. I am happy that I have a bit more in my cushion, though. With the gas prices getting higher every day, I’ve had to readjust my expectations for monthly expenses, and adjust the emergency fund target upward accordingly. Of course, I will continue on my crusade to reduce expenses, but I prefer to plan for the worse (6 months of unemployment at current spending levels) and hope for the best (landing a better, higher-paying job, reducing expenses).
I’ve removed another feature from our landline, bringing that bill down to $30/month, but I want to look at T-mobile’s about their new version of a landline service. If that pans out and doesn’t affect my internet service ($14.99/month), I’ll switch from Verizon ($30/month) to T-mobile ($10/month, $50 start-up fee). At that rate, it’ll take 3 months before I start saving $20/month on phone services.
Oh! My Down Payment account has money in it. Current total: $100.00. 😀
And I gave my Moving account a free $5 from my checking account cushion to start. It’s a drop in the bucket, but at least there’s a drop now. That should encourage more drops.
Overall, there’s been very little change, except some spending that’s covered by the travel fund. Details on that spending later.
It’s a bit disappointing that my credit card bills (I use them for 90% of my expenses) are outpacing my expense account.
