Gloom, but Nary a Drop of Doom

Captured - the fleeting sun

 

Welcome to 'Thursdays with Jayme - the Early Edition'

I'm at the Central Library, here in good ole Merrillville, Indiana.
Meeting my friend Marilee here to discuss creative ideas.

Big snow storm coming, freezing rain, and all of that splendor, so I thought I might make my trip to town a bit earlier this week.

I've packed an Asian Chicken Salad - complete with placemats, plates, and chopsticks.  Marilee brought a Rustic Apple Pie.
We'll have a delightful lunch in the vending machine area. If the weather delivers what it's promised, we may need to ration it and sleep here for a day or two. 

I honestly can't think of anything I'd rather have happen - to get stuck at the library for a few days.

Well - ok - maybe a few things - but still - it would be a bit of a dream!

 

written Monday January 17th

I write this to you on Monday morning, about 9am.

I’m feeling a bit off. I don’t feel good, I don’t feel bad. I feel ‘eh’.

No motivation, no spark, no energy.

I can’t remember the last time the sun was shining in NW Indiana, and perhaps that has a bit to do with it. Even the chickens seem lethargic.

 

So last week I was all up in the house loving not having the internet.

This week – not so much.

I miss it.

I miss you.

I miss recipes, and Facebook, and Weather.com.
I miss Googling my obscure and various symptoms and diagnosing myself.

 I feel really isolated.

I’m no Thoreau after all.

I thrive on human interaction.

 No Internet and limited minutes on my cellphone?
Law.
 

 I’ve become one that holds up the grocery line talking to the cashier about the weather and her grandkids. Oh yeah, I’m that lady.

I’m jonesing for jibber jabber.

One week down. How many to go? Time will tell.

 

I’ve turned down a jewelry party, a Pampered Chef party, an invitation to breakfast, two lunches and one dinner.

I’m that much closer to freedom.

July 4th is my goal – and I’m hoping to make it sooner than that.

I might even get a part time job to hasten the process. I might be selling chicken note cards and biscotti, and my bike, and whatever else I can find around here! The day I become completely debt free, I’m going to the best BBQ place I can find and eating a slab of ribs.
 Then I’m turning the a/c on.
Then I’m planning a fall trip to Vermont.
 I’ve never been to Vermont, but I like the sounds of it, and I want to see New England in the fall.

I think it would be a fitting reward.

 

 

Good news on the dental front! It was just fillings my friends – just fillings.

 

I had such a gay ole time at the dentist that I’ve begun brushing my teeth with buttercream frosting and rinsing with Co-Cola. I adore my dentist and his staff, and I must say, the nitrous was extra special this time, and I hadn’t a care in the world. “Ohhhhh, he’s getting ready to put a big horse shot in my mouth.....ohhh, ok....ohhhh, he’s drilling a hole in my head now......that’s nice.”

 I’m pretty sure I called the dentist ‘Honey’.

Twice.

You’ll also be happy to know that I’ve already made my six month check-up appointment, realizing that preventative dental work is more cost effective than emergency maintenance.

 

Nancy left me this comment....

As much as I can appreciate your commitment to frugal living, I do have one issue with it. The "poverty" name you've chosen. You live in a beautiful home, have a nice car, food aplenty and money. Self imposed or not I think it's a bit insulting to the poor people out there that really are living at or below the poverty line in this country. Just sayin'.....

and I must say, it did strike a chord within my soul, and I can see where there is a negative connotation stating ‘self imposed poverty’, and how it could offend those that are poverty striken by no choice of their own, and I apologize to any and all that may have offended.

 

 I don’t feel ‘poverty’ at all – I feel rich beyond measure that I’m able to stay home and pursue the things I love.
How is that poverty?
 I’m going to re-coin my ‘catch phrase’ and I’m not sure yet to what – but so far I have

‘volunteer simplicity’

 ‘choosing simplicity’

or

 ‘bi-polar impulses’

 Which do you think is the best?

Mmmmhmmm.

 

I also wanted to add here that if I were still carrying a mortgage that was years from paying off, I wouldn’t be as hardcore as I am now. I doubt very much that I would have disconnected the internet. I am quite sure I would have axed the TV, cause I’m giving Directv $40 a month for a garbage package. It’s not worth it.

 

Knowing that I’m just a few months away from financial freedom, gave me the impetus to shed every weight that was prolonging my pain.  (That and being impulsive is like a huge symptom of Adult ADHD, seriously, just Google it) It’s temporary, and I can live with that. So – I suppose I’ve said all of this, to say to you – please don’t feel like I’m ADVOCATING that you should get rid of the Internet, ok?
 I am advocating that you spend less time on it.
That I will stand up and shout from the rooftops.
It's a time robber, and a sneaky one at that.
A minute here, an hour there, next thing you know your husband's home and you are still in your nightgown and the bed unmade - not that I would know anything about that personally.

You see, this Pink Chicken Revolution isn't just about being frugal with money.
It's about being frugal with your time, your attention, your affection, etc.
It's about spending your money, time, attention and affection in a way that is focused - maximizing your life's enjoyment.  Living life in a conscious manner.
There are all differents shades of pink my friends,
I just happen to be hot pink at the moment.



Thank you all - from the bottom of my heart for all of your fun, sweet, kind and challenging comments.
How I wish I could sit and talk with each of you face to face.
Remember to Think Pink this week!