My husband has been in Michigan all week for training. In just two short days, he'll be back home, even if "home" is currently the most temporary thing in our lives. When I asked him how he likes his job so far, he told me he actually really loves it. Music to my ears, particularly during this chaotic week.
I'm currently sitting here sweating at my desk. The AC in the rental house is out again for the third time. I can't wait to live in a place where I can just call a maintenance guy. And, honestly, even if maintenance isn't fantastic, I can figure an apartment AC out a lot better than the archaic thing we have in the downstairs boiler room. I honestly wonder if that thing is even powerful enough to cool the house we live in. Wait, no, I know it isn't because my roommates live on the top floor and it's always sweltering up there. I think it breaks down so much because it gets overworked. Despite that, it's significantly cooler tonight. Not looking forward to packing the kitchen tomorrow in the heat, but I'll cope.
I'm also coping with packing and working at the same time while Aaron's away. It's tough. I feel like I need a spare me to get everything done - particularly my commissions, which no doubt are suffering from goingtobelateosis. I don't like being late on anything. It makes me feel unprofessional. Of course, I always give notice and my commissioners have always been so understanding. Couldn't ask for a better job.
So while I'm in the middle of a bit of chaos, albeit optimistic chaos, I'd like to take a moment to look forward to the future. Since Aaron's job seems to be working out well, we have some things on a list that we're in desperate need of replacing. One of them is a part of one of my major goals this year - we need a new mattress, box spring and set of pillows. Aaron and I have spent the last few years duct taping springs back into his decade old, or maybe even older, mattress. A couple months ago, I got jabbed to the point of blood. Never mind that some of the pillows I have came from my grandmother who passed away when I was 12. You can feel the cotton in them clumped. I spend many a night sleeping on our futon or my roommate's couch than I do my own bed because it's not comfortable, nor does it feel sanitary given its age. However, because our previous finances, a mattress just never seemed possible.
Not getting a new mattress was one of the many financial "sacrifices" Aaron and I made every year. We'd take a look at our budget every year, try to work it in, and then something would explode and we'd scrap the idea. Not this year. Instead of moving our old, worn out and broken mattress to the new apartment, we're trashing it and getting a new mattress the first week. I'm super excited to sleep on a fresh, clean, comfortable mattress!
In addition, my digital camera failed me last December. This was something I'd had on our list of things to buy this year but scrapped it to pay for car repairs for Aaron. I'd like to get something decent but still point-and-shoot. Something that would work great for photographing sabbat celebrations for Witchy Words.
After getting the new mattress and camera, we'll probably batten down the hatches and hold out for late November. During that time, we'll be able to save up more than I've ever thought possible - in fact, I anticipate having our target savings for the year completed by the time Aaron rounds out his 90 days. In addition, I really want to make sure this job is a good fit and that his company views Aaron as an asset. We'll know that by the end of November. And what better way to celebrate it than participating in our first Black Friday ever!
A few years ago, I invested in a cheap laptop. The lemon of a thing maybe lasted me 6 months before I was mailing it off for repairs. When I got it back, it was in even worse shape. I've taken with me on long trips and dealt with its issues, but it's to the point now where it's not even feasible for me to work on it. As it is right now, it works to watch workout videos but pretty much nothing else, and that's when you can get the stupid thing to turn on. I desperately need a new laptop. Being able to work away from home or, hell, even in a different room of the apartment, would be fantastic. It's something I'm regretting I don't have right now while I sit here in the heat. I could be downstairs if that damn thing worked. So there's something I'd like to invest in this year. This will be my Christmas gift to myself.
Something's wrong with our TV's RCA connection. Has been for about two years. We haven't been able to hook up anything that requires it, like a DVD player or some of our game systems, because you don't get sound when you do. It'd been a problem we've dealt with by simply avoiding it. This year, I'd like to get a simple, cheap flat screen that actually has working hook-ups! That will be my Christmas gift to Aaron.
The final thing I'm wanting this year is something I wanted ever since Aaron picked up our first cat, Nyx: a cat tree. A nice one. Something tall that Hermes can climb up and hide near the ceiling. Something that has a stern base so Zeus can take his claws to it. Something that I can hang toys off of, or drench in catnip. Artie, my dog, has all the toys in the world and more sweaters than I can even count. It's time I do something for the cats more than bell balls, feather toys and the occasional catnip dump in the entry way. That will be my Christmas gift to my fuzzy babies.
And of course there's a few small things sprinkled into all of that. The pets have their yearly vetting coming up this September/October. I'd like to find out what I can do for Zeus's asthma and get Hermes a blood test - he hasn't had one since we first got him. I'd like to go to the Six-Week Slim Down course for the fall session. I didn't last year and my weight suffered. I'd also like to invest in some wall shelves for my spiritual room at the apartment.
So quickly and for future reference, here's some items I'd like to have purchased before the year is over:
Mattress Done!Box spring Done!Four pillows Done!A new sheet and comforter set Done!- A digital camera
Laptop Done!- TV
- Cat tree
The last month of the year will be light. All the Christmas gifts will be bought and we'll be back to saving again. Heck, even buying everything I want to buy, we'll still have some spare to save. At the beginning of the year, I'd like to reassess our finances and our savings. If we have spare money, I want to throw it at the higher interest student loans Aaron has.
Previously, I made a list of things I want to do next year. Some ideal goals to achieve for 2014. I'd like to bring that back and add some things to the list.
Become an active participant in the KC Pagan Community (spiritual).
Attempt to attend all sabbat rituals led by Lushede Grove.
Attend at least four Coffee Covens.
Attend at least two Mystic Treasures classes.
Get my own health insurance, either through Aaron or myself. (health/financial).
Begin looking into investing money and retirement options as a freelancing illustrator (financial/career).
Buy a dining room table (home/financial).
Begin thrift shopping again and update Thrifty Difty (personal).
Make an effort for a weekly post.
Begin a balcony/indoor garden growing the following (health/spiritual).
Herbs: Basil, bay, mint, sage.
Vegetables: Cucumber, carrots, leaf lettuce, tomato, spinach.
Fruit: Blueberries, lemon tree.
Other: Aloe, garlic.
Buy our first tent so we can camp more often (relationship/financial).
Swap all of our storage items and memory boxes from cardboard to tupperware and reorganize (home).
Be able to speak basic Spanish again by taking two courses at the local community college (knowledge).
Spring: Elementary Spanish 1
Fall: Elementary Spanish 2, Latin American Humanities.
Continue in 2015 by taking Intermediate Spanish 1 & 2, and interpreting courses.
Learn how to swim (health).
Attend one convention related to my career (career).
Get a set of armchairs (home/financial).
Maintain savings and add an additional 20% (financial).
Complete a Wreck This Journal (personal).
Pay off 1/3rd of Aaron's student loans, starting with the highest interest (financial).
