I know what I know if you know what I mean
Chuck me in the shallow water
Before I get too deep...
Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians
I don't know what I am these days. All that past stress about working shifts, arranging childcare, and never getting regular days off is out the window, replaced by an exceptional amount of free time and no real responsibilities. Until January, I am simply on production hours. In about 2 weeks I am going to be insanely busy, with very little free time, but now, I only have 10 hours a week to cover, and the rest is totally unscheduled.
I worked by the clock, where every second was calcuated, and as they say time is money. I recognize this to be true in the reverse as well... with all these free hours comes a total shut down of 'free money'. I've got the basics covered, but that's all there's room for. I'm not complaining, just very aware that I have to be careful, and think twice about any and every purchase.
It's an experiment in trade-offs, really.
I love my coffee and I love my cigarettes. However, I've been able to stretch a pack of smokes for almost 2 weeks now, and feel justified in rewarding myself with a 'real' coffee once in awhile, instead of the 3 coffees I bought daily. It really does add up. I actually went for 4 days without a cigarette, but I made the mistake in telling someone I quit smoking. I had lit one up less than 2 hours after I uttered the words.
Its a good thing that it got cooler, because I'm walking more often too, not because I have to, but because I want to. And there's no pussy Walkman that I'm plugged into either, to pass the time. Nah, nature's sounds is my current soundtrack. Crunching leaves, car and duck horns, and the wind through trees....
I do actually own a Walkman, and I bought it at a yard sale earlier this summer. It's monstrous! It's the size of a paperback book and heavy, but it has a strap, and dual ports so that Kole can listen in. I love how people always check it out, because it's so 'vintage'. Ha! It's only about 10 years old, but I guess technology-wise, with these miniscule iPods and mp3 players, it's dark ages.
It's almost lunchtime which means a trip back to my parents' house for turkey sandwiches. Happy Thanksgiving up in Canada to all you non-Canucks!