Masterminx

I woke up at 8:20 this morning, though I don't know why. I guess I thought I was going to do something useful with my day.

I balanced my checkbook and took a look at my projected cash flow for the next 30 days. No worries, there. Even with me spending $300 on eating out so far this month. I mean, if I need money, I know where to cut back, don't I?

I ran out of purpose by 10:30, and went back to bed. I slept until 3:30.

I checked my email when I got up. I was looking around for some human contact. No luck. I did find out that I got a B - in my last class because I posted my final homework to the wrong folder. I hated that fucking class. That's a fitting ending for that one. It's the worst grade I've earned so far. I've probably slaughtered my GPA. I don't think I'll be starting the next class on time, either. That will take me out of the same course schedule that I've shared with Montey for many months, but I guess I can't do much about that. Montey hasn't spoken to me for weeks, anyway.

On the eating out scene, I found a Chinese delivery place down the street. Nice folks, but the food is terrible and they forgot to bring the drink I ordered. They also have a $12 minimum order for delivery. Not a big deal, though. I just order two meals and two appetizers, and put one set in the fridge. They have excellent vegetarian spring rolls. Unfortunately, the diet says I can't have cabbage. As if I'm still true to that. Hell, I'm eating microwave popcorn for dinner.

I made some fried rice with the leftover steamed rice from my delivery order and some vegetables. I was feeling well behaved. So, I got motivated. One of the last things I needed to do to get unpacked in here is to hang stuff up on my walls, so I did that. I cleaned and hung up all the stuff that I really wanted to. I left room for the 10 4X6 prints that I ordered from Yahoo photos. I'm thinking about grouping them together somewhere. Maybe above the couch. But I needed frames.

I derived a really good iced tea recipe, and I've been making pitcher after pitcher of this stuff. It's 2 quarts of water with three bags green tea and one bag of Celestial Seasonings Tropic of Strawberry herbal tea. So good! Then, I decided to get all crazy and make a few Arnold Palmers with the strawberry lemonade I had in the freezer. It was a good call, but I had to really hassle with making the strawberry lemonade because I only own one pitcher. I had to use a one-gallon pop-top storage bottle to make the lemonade. Hey, if it was made from powder, that would be fine. I believe that's why I bought it, in the first place: shaking up powdered drinks.

So, I needed a pitcher. And some frames. I need a few other things, too, like freezer bags and cleaning supplies. I was also really bummed out about monsoon season coming and me not having any patio furniture. I like to sit and watch the rain, but I couldn't do that without a chair. Oh, and one of the thongs I bought last weekend disappeared before I even had a chance to wear it. I can't find the damn thing anywhere. I'm blaming the cat. My thong is probably hidden with the thumb lock from the dining room window.

I went out on the patio, and looked around. I hung up an outdoor thermometer by my porch light. The wind was starting to pick up. Rain was coming.

I came back in here and wasted a little time online, looking at somethingawful.com. I was trying really hard to get motivated. Then, I heard the rain. Pouring rain. I stepped out onto the patio and inhaled a chestful of that intoxicating desert rain smell. I felt compelled to run around in the downpour. So, I rushed back inside the house, put in my contacts, and slipped on my shoes. I decided it was a good time to go to Wal-Mart. I could have thought it out a little bit better, but it's ok.

I was wearing one of the bright-colored, skin-tight stretch t-shirts I bought last weekend, and a pair of khaki shorts (commando...which is only significant if you remember that I'm going out in pouring rain...TMI for most of you, I know, I'm sorry). I was wearing the lace bra, not the padded one, so again, I could have thought that out a little bit better. By the time I got to my car, I was blinded by all the water in my eyes. My hair was dripping, and water was streaming down my cheeks. My shirt was soaked. Of course, I had to go past my car, to the dumpster, to throw out the box that previously held my remaining wall decorations. And jump in a few puddles.

I was so happy. So happy.

I figured the crowd at the Wal-Mart would be minimized by the inclement weather. I was mistaken. Here's another thing: it's fucking cold in there. So, I had to park about a mile away (exaggeration, but you get the point) from the building, and walk into the wind and rain to get inside the building. Any evaporation that had taken place in the car was negated. I was dripping from head to toe, and cold, when I got inside. I rubbed the water out of my eyes and made my way over to the customer service desk to return a pair of jeans. I had a "Here's your sign" moment with the girl at the counter.

"Is it raining out there?"
"No, I just didn't have time to wash my clothes AND take a shower, so I hit the car wash before I came in. I'm going over to the bath towels, when you and I are done here."
"(giggle)"
:| drip

Once I started shopping, everything seemed to go better. I got some nicely inappropriate stares from the boy in the meat department. I'm surprised I didn't put his eye out. Did I mention it was damn cold?

Now, I know at this point, that a large percentage of the people who are reading this are saying, "Ew! Skank." And then, there are a few of you who are thinking, "Mmm. Yummy." I write this for the latter group. Sorry, everyone else.

I wandered the patio aisle, looking for some decent-looking chairs. I found a really nice one that I liked, but there was only one. I stood in the aisle and struggled with the internal debate about that for 10 minutes. I wanted the nice chair, and I could come back and get another one when they restock. But what if they didn't restock? I couldn't just get one, because if I ever had a guest over, they wouldn't have a chair. Or, they would have to have a different chair, and then there would be a sense of inequity. Well, that's not very nice, is it? I thought about all the days that I sat on my patio with TS and Eric, and MG, and Mr. Grimm. I couldn't get one chair. I had to have two. So, I couldn't get the nice chair. I had to settle for a matching pair of collapsing chairs. They are nice, but not as nice.

I bought a vacuum cleaner because the one I had was broken in the move. It was over ten years old, anyway. The new one is bagless with a HEPA filter and has a wider footprint. I'm excited to use it.

I stopped and filled up the car on the way home. I love my neighborhood, because it has everything I need to support myself. It's so convenient.

My shirt was still damp when I got home.
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