Material Girl

Ah, shopping. Pretty and I went to Square One this afternoon. It’s a far cry from most of the malls in the Hammer. In about four and a half hours, we covered only the top floor. Granted, we did a fair bit of trying on, and we ate lunch. There are over 360 stores, though, so I think we did okay seeing as much as we did. We hit some die-hard favourites – Old Navy, AdditionElle, SmartSet, Suzy Shier, Esprit, Guess… Pretty found a purse that she loved at Guess. Yes, the reaction was pretty much identical to my reaction when I found MY dream purse (which I still love). In her case, though, she decided against buying it for the moment. We walked two stores down to find the exact same purse priced at 20% less than the Guess store price. Pretty went home with it.

I bought two pairs of pants and six tops and a scarf (ignore the dog in the photo – he’s my “body pillow”). And a tea infuser for my teapot, and a bit of loose leaf tea. That was about it. Pretty also got a top and a gift for a friend’s birthday and a scarf (the same one as me, actually). In order (by twos from the top left) – Esprit, Suzy Shier, Fairweather, and Old Navy. Not a bad bit of shopping for one afternoon.

Shopping at Square One

The highlight of the trip was definitely the eye candy. There were a lot! of good-looking men at the mall. Of course, most of them were with women, but it never hurts to look at those ones, just for the fun of it. The fellow who served us at Teaopia was cute and funny. Good combination.

Seriously? The Upstairsian has company, and whatever the fuck they’re doing requires regular banging on the floor. It sounds like someone’s banging the rubber end of a cane on the floor over and over and over again. Contrary to my normal, patient self, I’ve banged on the ceiling tonight with my broom. I don’t mind noise, I understand that we’re all living together, etc. etc., but at least be respectful of the fact that while you’re banging on your floor, it’s my fucking ceiling and I don’t appreciate it. You know, I haven’t been noticing a lot of noise up there, lately. It goes in fits and spurts, depending on when he’s home and when he’s not. He still hasn’t learned not to wear his shoes, though.

T. and The Boy better decide when they’re moving up here and where they’re going to live, because I think living here isn’t going to last much longer for me. I know that moving is expensive, but with the on-again, off-again hot water, the upstairs neighbour, the landlord who totally ignores my concerns, the wall in the kitchen that’s buckling… Yeah, I’ll be moving soon. Luckily, I never signed a lease, so I can leave whenever I bloodywell feel like it.

Talked to Mom briefly today and last night. She’s coming down this coming weekend for Creep’s birthday. I have the weekend and Monday off. I’m getting my car looked at, and I’m going to the craft show where Pretty’s selling her Christmas trees. I also need to take the next set of paperwork down to the Courthouse. Hopefully there’s nothing drastically wrong with my car, and I can get down to the Courthouse next Monday.

Fast Cars and Freedom

Yesterday was Saturday. My intentions were to get up early, go to the gym, and go to work. The problem arose when I got out of bed and found my eye swollen to what seemed to be the size of a small grapefruilt. Not the case of course, but I started hot compresses, anyway. I know a sty(e) is a pimple on your eyelid. I’ve had them before (generally in my left eye, too. hmm). But this time, I can’t see the white head on my eyelid. I think it’s underneath the bottom lid, which is what’s making it so uncomfortable. It feels very much like someone has poked me really hard in the corner of my eye. And it looks like I’m really tired… on one side of my face.

So I went to work like this, and the first thing AM2 said is “what’s wrong with your eye?” Nice. There goes my hope that it’s unnoticeable. AM1 came in – she had a root canal on Friday, so let’s say the two of us weren’t really in any shape to work. There’s nothing wrong with me but my eye, but it started to weep around 4 p.m. and didn’t stop.

After work, I went directly to the laundromat, where I washed basically everything I own. Okay, it wasn’t that much, but I’d stripped the bed before I left, including the bedskirt. I put a new one on, but it was all wrinkly. I sprayed it with water, and the weight of the water pulled the wrinkles out and made the folds sit correctly. It would’ve been faster to drag out the ironing board.

Then I ran to Creep’s and dropped off his stuff from Virginia. We spoke for a few minuts outside his apartment, and I realized that my brother looks like a hood. Like, really. He was wearing a heavy coat and looked much bigger than his skinny self really is. Seeing him in his “gear” is a bit… It reassures me that the freaks you pass on the street are someone’s siblings, and that for the most part, they’re pretty normal. But I still wish he’d shed the mohawk and come back into The Man’s Norm a little bit. Anti-establishment is fine, but nobody takes you seriously.

Anyway, I got home around 9:15, after stopping to grab dinner. T. had left me three IM’s while I was out. Luckily, they were recent, and we had a chance to talk. She said that she and The Boy had both commented at the same time about how I should have been shopping with them. And that she and I could have gone out for coffee while he made dinner tonight. I know it all sounds weird and rosy, but I am very comfortable with them. I often wonder whether this sort of “commune” living is her idea and he’s just reserving judgment, or if he’s really on-board for having someone else live with them. I think he’ll do whatever it takes to make T. happy. But that’s not always the “right” thing to do.

I need to go shower – Pretty and I are going shopping at one of the big malls today. I need several items added to my wardrobe (such as dress pants that aren’t three or five years old). But I’m in Scrooge mode – shouldn’t I keep the money in the bank, etc. My paycheque from CM was pretty decent, though, and I’ve got all my bills paid correctly out of this cheque, so I’m still on the right track. I know my car needs repairs, and I’ve got that mechanic’s appointment coming up, but that’s what my “reserve” is supposed to cover. Unexpected expenses. I’m not broke. I’m not broke. I’m. not. broke. For the first time in my life, I’ve had money in the bank for the past six months. Yes, I have outstanding balances and loans, but I have money to cover emergencies. It feels good. (but I still need dress pants)