1. I got a spam email today. This isn’t that unusual, really, as my spam folder generally has like a bajillion emails in it at any given time. However, the name from the “person” who sent it to me was THADDEUS BIRCH, which is an awesome name at any time, but especially for a spammer. If I ever have a kid, or get another pet, I am naming them Thaddeus Birch after that spammer.
2. I am so broke I can’t afford cigarettes next week, so I’m finally giving in and quitting. I’m on Chantix and it’s fucking up my stomach hardcore. Why do people do this to themselves? A death by cancer might be preferable. I can’t even hope for that, though, because the Chantix was free and the cigarettes cost money.
3. According to the State of Nevada, if you have two adults living together (married, in my case) who together are bringing in $900 a month, they only qualify for $60 a month in food stamps. Now, I’m not going to sniff at $60 freed up from my food budget a month, but this seems….off somehow. Considering that making $900 a month puts us firmly below the poverty level for even one person in 2011.
4. A small additional source of income may be coming in at some point here soon – I’ve started work for a local news website. At the moment I’m doing the content generation and the writing for free, and selling advertisements to local businesses for a straight fifty-fifty commission, which is nice because it means I can offer decent discounts and still get some income. When we get to the level of being paid off on everything and if I bring in more money, I will also be getting money for each article produced. A friend of mine is also opening a print shop and for every bit of business I bring him I get a commission as well. So I have something going on.
5. A while back I bought a moped. I paid cash for it, out of my tax return in April. It was in the shop and now it’s back and I love it more than ever. If you think mopeds are dorky, you can kiss my ass. I’ll be over here, riding my sweet-ass moped and rockin’ my green chucks.
6. Every year, Carson City participates in the National Night Out. It is a lot of fun – you go and they feed you free food, there’s all sorts of organizations hanging out, and the National Guard lands a bunch of helicopters for kids to take tours of. It’s basically one of the most fun free events of the summer – and excuse to go get loads of free shit. I took a bunch of kids – my friend J’s three kids, collectively known as Team Destructo – and their loot haul was immense. They had T-shirts, bags, pencils, pens, notepads, rulers, pins, hats, and all sorts of other promotional materials. I got a few things as well – FEMA was handing out first-aid kids (although the woman mistakenly identified them as sewing kits), the Nevada State Prison was handing out these awesome ammo-style bags that clip on to your belt (in camouflage print), a DARE ruler (I am always in need of straightedges around these parts) and best of all, a neon-yellow reflective snap bracelet. I can’t believe snap bracelets are making a comeback! I wear it basically everywhere because I’m a fucking nerd. FYI, Team Destructo, as much as I adore those kids, reinforced my belief that I should never have children. Ever.
7. One of my friends here in town is a radio personality for an online radio station, Vyper Radio (ignore the horrible site, I’m told they’re working on something better…although I would volunteer to redo their website in a heartbeat because seriously?). I’ve been listening frequently and hanging out in the chat room, which is loads of fun. The other side of this is that it got me insanely interested in the technology behind internet radio. It’s really interesting! Currently testing out the idea of using skype to have a multiple-DJ style show with people on opposite ends of the country, because I think that some of my friends and I would have a great talk-style show.
8. My dad turns 60 on Sunday. I’m frankly amazed he made it this long – his steadfast refusal to take care of him self is beyond frustrating and he has to go to the ER like once a month to be rehydrated because all he drinks is Coca-Cola (I’m not really one to talk, but I’m also 26 years old and have more time to give up my bad habits).
9. I apply for anywhere from five to twenty jobs a day (average is around ten). I applied online to become an APPLE EXPERT at the Apple Store up in Reno. I’m unsure how to feel about this – I love Apple products but I’m a faithful Android adherent. Most of me hopes I at least get an interview, because I enjoy the product and can sell the shit out of it. The other part of me is afraid that the hipsters I’ll wind up working with will taunt me for my phone, and if I start while I’m in the process of quitting smoking that could be disasterous.
10. Today the local power company sent me a notice that was pink. The pink ones are the bad ones. It was a ten-day shutoff notice. I will not be able to pay it until after that, so I’m fairly certain that my power is going to be shut off and you won’t be hearing from me for a while. I’ll try to get the other two photodumps and maybe one substantial blog post up before then.
BONUS: I’ve been reading a lot of Regretsy the last few weeks. I love that site.
