Bureaucracy

I’m currently applying for a job. I’ve never applied for a government job before, have you? I am amazed at the paperwork. My application submission ended up being an entire binder. Crazy. Then there are the standardized tests. It’s great dealing with the bureaucracy of these testing institutions. They screwed up my score report. It’s fun arguing with them on the phone. The supervisor refused to admit he was wrong. Then at the end he saw the light. I got a refund and an apology. However, there is still no guarantee that I will get my report in to the gov’t agency on time. This is a bummer. Hopefully they will be forgiving.

I’m destined for this job. I can taste it.

In the meantime, I take off today to the folks’ house for Turkey Day.

Laters.

What are you thankful for?

I’m thankful for a great place to live, new career prospects, a loving family, and my health.

Shopping Spree

That’s right, Sierra Trading Post is offering a massive Black Friday shopping spree. Go to the website to enter. I love this website – I do all of my gear shopping there, as well as sweaters, shoes, boots, coats, etc…they rock. Check it out! Hey, they ship overseas too, so don’t be put off if you’re not in North America!

Need to get back into it….

I’ve been lame about keeping up with this. I just don’t think I’m the sort that can think of something to say every single day (or week!). Especially now that I am home and unemployed and not doing anything interesting!

I am keeping up with my budget. I still haven’t spent money on groceries except for 1.29 on a pint of milk from the gas station. I also bought a pack of beer for 8.99 which comes out of my “entertainment fund”. NOT BAD! Starting Sunday this will bring my budget up to $75 for the week, but that is too much to spend. What’s interesting is digging through your cupboards and the depths of fridge and freezer and coming up with creative meals that use up ingredients on hand. I have eaten quite well the past couple of weeks, and eaten (for the most part) more healthfully. I think my favorite has to be the homemade pizza – the dough turned out really well and of course cost mere cents to make. I need to be careful with my egg usage though – my cholesterol could well be through the roof!

I started to buckle down with my Praxis studies. I’ll be taking the exam next Tuesday as any later and I don’t know if the results will make it for the application deadline. I took a practice exam (math portion) yesterday and passed comfortably, though who knows if it was a fluke. I need to go back and study some more algebra and geometry now. It’s tough getting back into it as the last time I took a math class was in 1986! Most people taking this test are coming straight from college and so it must be a breeze. Lucky young ‘uns.

I’m really looking forward to this career change. Although it will be a bit of an upheaval to move across the country, I’m excited to do it. It’s funny when I mention to people that I’m applying for a job in Alaska the first thing they always mention is “How will you survive the cold???”. As if this is something which is insurmountable! I actually think people think I am crazier to move to Alaska than to Baghdad. I’m not sure I really understand the reaction. I admit I’m not used to the cold anymore, but when I moved to Cambodia 17 years ago I did not like the heat! It’s amazing how your body can make adjustments, and I’m a big believer in mind over matter.

I think the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of Alaska is the natural beauty. Not cold! Cold is probably number 5 on the list for me regarding thoughts of that place.

Regardless, looking back on this past year and how dreadful it was in so many ways due to my job, I am thankful for it as it gave me the push I needed to make a real change with my career. I think I would have floated about doing the same thing for the rest of my life – and felt quite unsatisfied doing it – had I not hit that level of “fed-upness”. I will miss being overseas, but hey, that’s what summer holidays are for. Trips abroad!

Time to get back to my friend algebra. Hello friend….

Laziness

Well, I’ve only spent $10.32 this week, and so far none of it on food. Not bad eh? Nothing like using up leftovers…
I still haven’t made my curd or bread. I’ve been lazy. Actually I’ve been sick. And my kitchen has needed cleaning. Now that sickness and cleaning are over, perhaps I’ll get a bit busy.

I’ve been really knuckling down on getting my teaching application sorted. I’m just waiting on transcripts now, and will take the Praxis next week. So I’m revising algebra. Oh, what I have forgotten since I was 15!

Am also planning a trip to Canada to see a friend. Am looking forward to it. Strangely I have never been to the great land up north! So close and yet so far…

And dat’s all folks!

Today’s Makings

I’m going to make homemade bread and lemon curd today. Because I don’t have any white bread and I have a bunch of lemons that will go off if I don’t start using them.

My week started yesterday, and so far I have spent zero money. That is easy though as I am using up my food purchased from last week – so not like I am being a genius or anything. So far I have been subsisting on liverwurst sandwiches (which I love with a passion), homemade soup that I froze last week, and I roasted a chicken today. I’m hoping the chicken will give me about 3 more meals in terms of salad and soup.

I’ll let you know how the bread and curd turn out.

$120 for a Month

In the grocery store this morning I got the idea that I’d like to spend $25 a week on groceries, plus an extra $20 allotted for staples and spices per month (coffee, flour, oil, etc). Doing a web search after getting home, it seems that many are doing something similar. Interesting!

So….looking at my receipt, I spent $45 today (including tax!). About $6 of that was frivolous stuff that I could have done without (a frozen pizza – been craving pizza and it’s cheaper than buying one elsewhere and easier than making! and these little bio-yogurt drinks I used to drink in Asia and they now carry here). One item (on the vine tomatoes) was stupidly overpriced as they are no longer in season locally. This would have brought my bill down another $3. I pretty much have enough fresh food for a week now, but seeing as it’s Wed, I reckon I’ll just save extra on next week’s bill.

I think the key will be to stick to one affordable protein a week – like a whole chicken or a cheap cut of beef, with the rest centering around in-season produce, and legumes and grains. Thankfully I love root veg and the hearty greens. Ha!

My ultimate goal is to try to live on $1350 a month all-in. My car insurance has been paid a year ahead so that is one cost I don’t have to account for!
My monthly budget breakdown is:
Mortgage: $585
Cell phone: $60
Internet: $20
Gas: $45
Utilities: $150
Food: $120
Dog food and other: $50
Household necessities (cleaning stuff, etc): $20
Personal care items: $30
DIY stuff (like paint, etc – still in process of fixing things): $100
Entertainment (basically beer and Netflix!): $70
Other (unforseen costs, gifts, etc): $100

I’m going to try to keep myself accountable on this blog, so that should help…

The Back Garden

I’ve been busting my tail on my back garden. Pulled weeds, cut limbs, hacked away at vines. Brick mason called in and the patio dug up and relaid, and extended. Retaining wall put in. I’ve been planting and transplanting, hauling topsoil and manure, shopped for and finally bought a new patio set. And an outdoor fireplace thingy. And last but not least a new bird feeder. The birds love my garden. Probably because it has been somewhat akin to a rain forest for the last couple of years.

And it’s nearly done. Nearly. Three major things left to do. Drainage system installed to help with the lake that forms after a hard rain. Outside lighting installed. And new sod put in. Thankfully the last two I can do myself. I do not want to pay the brick mason any more money. He has drained my pockets.

And then I will take a picture and show you. I should have been documenting this all along so you could be truly impressed with my progress. But I didn’t because I have been too lazy to buy new batteries for my camera.

Tomorrow is a no gardening day though. Tomorrow a friend is coming to help me build a closet. Because I don’t have any closets. I have had this house for 6 years and have had nowhere to put my clothes, linens, and various items of junk. Finally I said enough is enough and I now have a solution of where and how to put a closet in. I am excited. A place I can hang my clothes, stash bed sheets and towels, and all my yarn.

Although tomorrow is actually today, and it’s very late, and I should go so I can wake up to build the closet. If I can sleep. I’m so excited to get a closet….

Nice Just to Be

One thing that is nice about being back in Sri Lanka while being unemployed is that I can just relax and soak up the environment. I spent most of yesterday sitting in a chair staring at the lagoon. No pressure, no schedule, just sitting around and relaxing.

I also spent a goodly amount of time eating local fruit. It’s been over a year since I had a mangosteen. They have to be one of my number one fruits. That and soursop. But I can eat mangosteen by the kilo.

I’m not even sure how to describe the taste. Sweet but a bit acidic, delicate and flowery. Although it’s considered a “hot” fruit in Asia (due to the acid I guess), it leaves my tongue feeling cool and refreshed. In Cambodia they say if you eat them with sugar you will die. Not true, I can attest.

Before you could not get them in the US due to import laws. However, now you can! I’m not sure what the quality would be like, but I may have to order some when I go home.

Today I think I may have to eat another kilo or so….

What a Trip!

This was the longest international trip I have ever made. Seriously exhausting. Thanks be to frequent flier miles.

Great to be back in SL though, and had a couple of enjoyable days in Colombo. Arrived up in Batticaloa this morning via train, and was reunited with el poocharoo this morning which was the whole reason for the trip.

Thankfully he didn’t forget me!

Being back in Batti is lovely…seeing the lagoon and old friends.

At this point though I’m just kind of ready to get the “travel with pet” ordeal over with.

And get back to that front porch.

Long Time No Post!

I’ve been home for 3 weeks now. Actually, I’m not home right now. I’m on my way to Sri Lanka to get my dog. It’s quite the trip. 6 hour drive to DC (done). Fly from DC to Denver (done). Fly from Denver to LA (done). Fly from LA to San Francisco (done). Fly from San Francisco to Hong Kong (done). Fly from Hong Kong to Singapore (done). Fly from Singapore to Chennai (not yet). Fly from Chennai to Colombo (not yet).

So I’m hanging out in Singapore right now and though it might be time to post a wee something.

Home has been fantastic. I haven’t done all the cooking I’ve wanted to, though I have made quacamole and cooked up a good steak more than once. Most of my energy has been expended in my garden. It was a crazy jungle when I got home. Seriously. We’re talking Brazilian rain forest. I spent a good 7 days hacking down limbs and vines. There is at least some sunlight back there now. I wish I had taken “before” pictures. I’ve also been having some brickwork done to extend the patio and put up nice new borders for the flower beds.

I also got my front porch sorted (except for some wood repair work. The porch posts are constantly rotting and falling out – next task to take care of!

Here is a picture of my favorite room of the house:

All the tiny begonias and impatiens should be nice and full in about 6 weeks.

And I finally did some massive cleaning inside as well. It’s getting sorted slowly but surely. I realized after I started cleaning up all the mess that I haven’t lived there in 3.5 years! Poor little neglected house.

Hopefully in a couple of months all the projects will be done and I can just live there and not have to keep doing things to it!

Have been having lots of fun with neighbours and friends as well.

It’s just great being home.

I’ll need to start working soon but for now…it’s just more fun simply to “be”.