Expenses, expenses

Who knew living on one's own was so expensive. My goodness I eat too much. I think I need to go on a diet just so that I can have money to live on. Sigh.... Oh well, I suppose this is a good life lesson to learn, and I'm sure I can find things to do for free, or at least cheaply. If anything, I'll have to start mooching off the friends more:) Make them feed me. They are all excellent cooks so I don't think that should be too hard. I guess I just never planned out all the proper expenses. But they say you should be poor in your twenties. Makes you appreciate things later on in life. I'm sure no one says that, but I'm going to make it my mantra just to make me feel better. At least I'm short, so I only need one or two drinks before I need to stop...a cheap date!

I've been trying to cut down on my carbon footprints as well as just behave better with the environment. I'm hoping this might save me some money. It amazes me how much my tiny little car eats gas. I've determined that there shall be no driving on the weekends unless absolutely neccessary. I have enough buses, trains, and subways around to ensure that I don't need to drive. It's cheaper anyway, especially with gas being so pricey. Plus I do have two perfectly good legs as well as a bike--and about thirty pounds to lose. I've also been turning off my lights and cutting down on my electricity use. If I'm not there, it doesn't need to be on, even with the sweltering heat. It's nicer outside anyway, plus I'm going to spend six months inside during the horrible, disgusting time of the year known as winter. I might as well enjoy the great outdoors and save a bit of coal and nuclear power. I feel sorry for Europe right now where the air conditioner is not the norm. My mom's house has central air, work has central air, school has central air. I can always find somewhere to go where I won't melt.

Damn it's hot up in here

My apartment is suffering from its own heat wave tonight. Sadly, the hike in electricty rates has sent me into full panic mood. I can no longer leave lights on with the same enthusiasm as I had before. I suppose my new turn off the switch policy is helping the environment. If anything, it's turning me into a cat like creature. My eyes will be glowing soon. The lack of air will probably result in some lizard like qualities known to lizards who reside in the deserts of New Mexico...witness an evolutionary change before your eyes, except you won't really be able to see it b/c I'll have the lights turned off.

I went grocery shopping today. I still can't figure out how Americans got so fat. Food is expensive, yet the grocery store is a happening place. I liken it to the taste of Chicago, packed with throngs of people. I had to call my grandma to figure out what type of chicken one purchases. I've decided to make an attempt to cook myself meals. We shall see how long this plan lasts. I haven't starved yet, although judging by my current waist line, I could do with a little starvation.

Well I suppose it is time to start the my homework. Bah! Research sucks when you have a neck and headache. Alas it is time to google away.

Cleaning sucks but I hate it when its dirty...

So I'm putting forth an effort in this whole adult thing and it is way more annoying than I thought. I'm a bit hungover today and the apt is dirty:( I hate it. I can't stand that things do not have their propper places. The only thing that stopped me from paying a visit to Ikea was the constant grumbling of my belly. Sometimes I really just need to say no to vodka tonics! But, what's done is done and I'm left with dirty dishes. Sigh... And grocery shopping! I don't know what I want to eat. My grandmother always seemed so flawless and smooth in her daily dish washing and meal planning. I, apparently, do not have her natural talents of 1950s wifehood. What is a 21st century girl to do, other than roll up the sleves and dig out the swiffer! I've decided I need to get a cookbook too. Maybe I'll check out some from the library. Somehow I don't think I can fully survive on couscous, feta cheese, and canned tomatoes. Off to the grocery story I go!

hot and gross oh my

Okay so I think I just might be moved in now. Boxes are scattered all over the place and I don't think my back will ever be the same...but what a relief. All the anticipation, all the drama...but I am finally in my own apartment. My very own, first apartment all to myself. My dad and step-mom have visited. There assessment is that it is small but cute. Well I figured a fifteen bedroom mansion would be a bit much for one person, not to mention extraordinarily out of the budget! But alas, here I am in my very sticky, very hot apartment. Did I forget to mention that I decided to move in on the hottest day of the summer so far. I don't think I could take enough showers to keep me cool. I would basically have to sit in there all day and night.

It is still a rather surreal feeling to be actually out of my house. I haven't quite figured out what I should do with myself. Life on the "outside" is a completely new experience. Grad school, real job, real apartment...whoa! Hello adulthood. I feel old. I guess it will just take some getting used to and a lot of calls to friends to come keep me company. But alas, grocery shopping awaits (blech!) and my hungry stomach is pleading with me to not forget that most important part of being a big girl:) Maybe, all this cooking and less eating out will help with me being not so much of a big girl in the waist line area. We shall see.

Growing pains

Apparently I am soon to be a big girl. If all goes well tomorrow, I will write a check and be handed a set of keys to my new apartment. I am, of course, very excited. However, I am still somewhat apprehensive. It is a big step in one's life. I wonder what I'm like when I'm all by myself. I suppose I have 365 days now to find out. I went grocery shopping today and let me say I have much more respect for the amount of money my mom hands over each week to feed me. Food is ridiculous. How do people eat? How have we gotten so fat? I don't think I bought a single item that didn't cost at least 2 or 3 dollars. Hella ridiculous!

Speaking of fat, OMG! My stomach is seriously about to enter a new zipcode. I'm not quite sure what more I can do aside from bitch and moan like I am doing right now. That seems to work the least. My exercising has pretty much ceased, mostly b/c I'm so busy packing and doing everything else. Sigh....oh well. I'm getting sleepy....probably ate too much.