The husband & I will be in Mexico City for one day, while we're making our way over to our honeymoon destination. We will only have time for one major outing - does anyone have any advice on what we should do?
So far Rudy & I have baked a dozen cornbread muffins (eaten them all), rearranged the Day of the Dead altar, and gone trick-or-treating.
For bumping us up to first class! Best. Wedding. Present. Evar!
My student loan provider is terrified. I made a huge double payment yesterday and I thought it was going to crash the site. Every step of the way, a message popped up asking, "Are you SURE?" "Really? YOU REALLY WANT TO DO THIS???" Four times, in fact. Once the payment was finally submitted, I received a scary looking email from them that looked like the kind of thing you get from your bank when there is a suspicious charge on your account. Clearly, they were hoping I would continue to pay the minimum until my scheduled last payment - May 17, 2020.
Yeah. That's right Sallie Mae, you better be scared, BEYOTCH.
Yesterday, I was invited to the Williams-Sonoma sample sale by a former coworker. Once a year, WS/Pottery Barn/West Elm employees are allowed to bring one guest, and being chosen is a pretty cutthroat operation. I was picked by my sympathetic friend, who recognized that as a person soon-to-be married, I needed some fancy creature comforts to make a home.
For this event, 45 truckloads of merchandise were brought into the Cow Palace and placed on tables throughout. A lottery was held and each of the 1,100 participants were assigned a number. We drew #791, which was kind of a bummer, but I still took home two HUGE bags of stuff I couldn't carry unassisted, a large mirror, and a chair. Amongst my bounty: lots of Apilco porcelain, Reidel glasses, two duvets, Egyptian cotton pillow cases, colorful cereal bowls, candles, jewelry organizers, and several vases. Amongst the rejects - a large, white curtain that wasn't wide enough for the guest room and a mirror with a faux twig frame that we couldn't find a place for.
This morning, as I sipped my coffee from fine porcelain, snuggled under comfy bedding with my fiance & dog; I felt like a real, soon-to-be married adult. It felt luxurious and wonderful to have stuff. Comfy stuff. New stuff. Girly stuff, that I like. Having moved at least once-a-year for the past 10 years, I shed all my creature comforts, and I will likely have to do it again. But for now, it feels really good to be home.
A few moments ago I was standing in Jamba Juice, cradling a cell phone to my ear, ordering a double shot of wheatgrass, while drinking a tall latte, attempting to pay for my $2.18 purchase with a charge card, and wearing a black power suit w/ high heels.
If I saw myself, 10 years ago, I would shoot me in the face for the good of humanity.
I need some advice from you guys, and possibly a small favor. I have an interview next week at a multi-billion dollar corporation, for which I need to procure an amazing business suit. I have less than $100 in my checking to spend on this outfit, and I need one black jacket, black pants, and a tailored white shirt. Any thoughts on how my broke ass can make this work? Do I have any kindly Vox neighbors in the Bay Area who would loan me some clothes? I have plenty of office clothes, none of which are worthy of this interview/position.
Oh yeah, and I don't have a credit card.
HELP!!!
Lately, I have been trying on the persona's of people I pass on the street. Imagining myself as "the car salesman," or "the stressed-out mom," or even "the middle-age affluent gay man." I have been trying people on and imagining their lives as my own, because I'm still not entirely certain what I want mine to be. It is fun to imagine myself in other people's shoes, and if I would enjoy residing there permanently.
There has never been a period in my life when I have felt more certain that I can truly be whatever I want. Some of the possibilities I'm trying out: PhD student at Berkeley, Receptionist, MFA student at SFSU, museum employee, general laborer, Carpenter, and Author. Furniture maker is, of course, a consideration - though I have already mulled over every possible scenario to make that work.
When I see what I would describe as general laborers - guys in Carhaart jackets, often with paint splatters, and exhausted expressions upon their faces - I am envious. In the pro column, there is the obvious - the great physical satisfaction of really having "worked." In the con, of course, the related injuries and permanent damage.
In trying out the life of a PhD student, I have imagined myself at Berkeley, studying the History of Asian Art (again), but this time spending 8-years on it. Unfortunately, there isn't a separate Master's program - you do them both together. I would have considered this path more seriously, but for the time commitment...I don't know if I can promise nearly a decade to the State of California. Which brings me to the obvious - going back to school in Hawaii. Unfortunately, this is somewhat of a non-option. Trust me.
More education is still a serious consideration - even if I am unsure of the logistics. If I devoted that many years, and then got out, only to discover it's still hard to find suitable work; at least I'd have the satisfaction of knowing I pushed my brain toward it's highest potential; and that is it's own reward, right?
More practically, I could take on a cushy receptionist position at a Consulting Firm I just temped at near the Six Apart office. 40k/year + benefits, a fully-stocked kitchen with personal chef who will prepare anything upon request, cool co-workers, lots of natural light in the reception area, and a ping pong table in the courtyard.
I am not thrilled by this prospect, but it has it's merits. Namely, I could pay off my remaining student debt in less than a year, and with the many mindless hours I could write a book, or at least read a few of them... Something to consider. Another track, still in the corporate world, is the possibility of becoming an Executive Assistant. It's a more stressful position, but pay is 85-100k/year + benefits. Naturally, this is an appealing option in that I could pay off the loans quickly and perhaps, pick up some land on the Big Island or a related investment. With this job, it's all about who you are working for - it can be very Devil Wears Prada, but it isn't always like that.
If my decision is to remain in the corporate sector for awhile, I'm going to have to decide. Go for the money - or go for the low stress job. There are merits to both, but lately I have been thinking I should just go for the money, since I will likely hate both positions equally.
These are just a few of the options I have been trying on, and I must say - I quite like window shopping.
