Friday 19 December 2003

Remember in $4.48 six weeks ago when I mentioned I was smoking my last cigarette? The a couple days later in Return of the Black Hole I broke after the first few paragraphs to head down to the grocery store? I was feeling incredibly overwhelmed by life and bought a pack of cigarettes at the store that evening. That pack of smokes only cost $109.21; that's $3.21 for the cigs, two $28 overdraft fees from the bank, a $30 service fee from the grocery store for an NSF check, and a $20 fee for the Winnebago County District Attorney to collect. Ouch! (I did purchase some groceries while I as there.)

In the time since, I've tried quitting three times, none lasting longer than two-and-a-half days. That's one problem.

Another problem is the fact that, somehow over the past few years, I really suck with money. This is strange to me, because I used to be really good with it. When I was married, it was no problem... I'd stash about forty or fifty dollars out of every paycheck, and whenever we needed a grand for furniture or a vacation, I'd have it at the ready.

Now look at me! I went in hock with the loan sharks in La Crosse to the tune of thousands of dollars in interest, and to this day I've six loans I've no intention of repaying. Of course, I need about $900 to declare bankrupcy ($200 to file and $700 for the attorney), and not only have I nowhere near that much handy, but I don't see a way to come up with it very soon.

I really need some cash. To this end, I have good news to share:

Objective number three has been met. Saints be praised (I was due for a Christmas miracle), I'm a teacher again. Tuesday I had a second interview at The Academy in Menasha. Later that evening I received a job offer on the phone. I accepted the position Wednesday. It's only a half-day position, so the money won't be that great (and I'll need a second-shift job to make ends meet), but at the very least it's a foot in the door for a full-time teaching gig next year. If The Academy doesn't pick me up full-time, it will be a more recent (and needless to say) better job reference than what I'd get from Holmen.

Today I had my first faculty meeting, was introduced to the staff, signed my contract, and picked up my textbooks. I met the entire eighth grade class (all five of them), and was presented with a combination welcome-to-school/Christmas gift from them... some ginger-scented potpourri. Unbelievable.

Tomorrow Mom is coming up to visit me, then we'll be off to see Catherine's church program. She'll be singing four songs with five other girls and will be dancing a bit, too. Between Christmas and New Year's Cindy and I are supposed to meet for coffee. Needless to say, it's been a productive week... my first one in months. The odyssey continues.

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