Momma didn’t raise no fools…

… or did she?

Working the extra shifts this weekend meant a bigger check yesterday, one that covered my whole rent payment.  Thank God for this low-income housing I live in!

Even better, I was looking at just fifty some dollars to get me through ’til next Monday and thinking, well, it’s diet time indeed.  I used to give A and J rides to Winco foods, but hardly ever even went inside- I had little money to spend anyway, but one time I did and they had Top Ramen cases on sale for an amazingly low price, and I bought two cases.  Last week, I ran out of ramen, and was just walking up to QFC up the street, and buying ramen.  I’ve always known that QFC was on the high side for groceries, but it’s in walking distance and is open 24/7, so that’s where I’ve shopped for years. (really convenient when I didn’t have my own wheels)

Today I paid my rent.  All of it and on time.  Last month I was short, because in June I broke my foot and couldn’t work for ten days (no work=no pay), and as an independant contractor, there is no workman’s comp for me.  I had to ask St. Vincent de Paul for help on the rent.  They helped me out, and while I was recovering, I renegotiated my rent, since I am working less (actually, working about the same, but paper sales continue to fall, which cuts into my pay). 

I have been scraping by, week to week.

So, today, I more or less happily paid my rent in full with my check.  I have just under 3/4’s of a tank of gas, and will need more before the next check, so I was looking at a small budget for food and smokes. 

(yeah.  I know.  Quit, dummy.  Turns out that nicotine is real fucking addictive stuff)

QFC has had Top Ramen on sale lately at 5 for a dollar, so I’ve been eating that, but I was remembering that Winco had very good prices on the stuff and drove over to the nearest one just now.  The price was a little higher than it was last year, but still, I got a case of it.  That’s good, but I also found that they have mac and cheese, the good stuff in the blue box, for 58 cents a box.  Half of what QFC sells it for (it’s one of my favs- filling, easy to fix, and cheap) 

Half the price!  Yahoo!

Even better, they have a really good selection of whole bean coffees, and my favorite coffee is Sumatra.  Up the street, it’s ten bucks a pound or more, but at Winco, it was less than 6 six bucks a pound, and!!  And they have not just one variety of Sumatra, they have THREE!

Ya fuckin’ hoo!!!

I’ve just spent about half of my available cash, but I have food for the week and not just ramen by itself- meat and coffee and most importantly for Blacky Cat, a new bag of Iamms, more than two bucks cheaper than I’ve ever seen it anywhere else.

I am thinking that it will be in our interest to clip coupons.

By the way, in answer to some questions I have had and have gotten:

1.  Blacky Cat likes coffee.  Odd cat, yeah, but he’s mine, so go figure.  He really liked to lick the cone on top of the pot on the counter by the sink.  The cone doesn’t fit real well, cuz my previous cat, Hope kitty, knocked it off the counter and the glass pot broke.  I replaced it with a Mr. Coffee pot that is not the right size but it worked for me.  Blacky was licking away at the cone and knocked the glass pot off the counter too, so I’ve been using my Starbucks French press coffee dealie since (and it makes very good coffee too).

2.  I am reading Tony Hillerman’s story "A Thief Of Time".  I’ve seen productions of his stories on PBS- good stuff and no commercials.  (yay PBS!)  One of my favs had mentioned a kokopelli lamp amd I was like, ok, I dunno what that is, and noted her, but she’s been busy with her husband’s illness and hadn’t answered me yet, but now I know what kokopelli is.  It’s a Anasazi/Navaho talisman.

3.  Just now, as I’m writing  this, a call came on my cell.  My minutes are nearly gone, so I considered just letting the voicemail catch it, but since my time renews tomorrow night at midnight, I answered the call.

I am very happy I did.  I have been scheduled for a job interview on Friday at nine am, with the North Clackamas School district regarding my school bus driver application.  The cover letter worked, the fish took the hook.  I have an interview and will SHINE for them and for me.  Thanks to my favs for the help and comments on the cover letter!  We were all a bit worried about how I worded it and whether or not they’d even consider me, given that I specifically mentioned the drunk driving thing, but- I have an interview!

Ya- you know- hooo!!!

‘Tis a good day.

*****