Vibrant.(Still) Unrepentant. Badass. Old. Queer

Good Morning, Kittens! Yesterday, I met a former co-worker for lunch. Of course, I had completely forgotten about this plan until around 11:30, when I got a text message reading "Should I pick you up at your place around noon?" Great idea! Panic! We went to Adega. I had the grilled tofu wrap and we shared the eggplant fries. Mmm. Mmm. I also had a glass of wine. There is something so decadent about having a drink in the middle of the day when one should be working. Then, we looked at shoes and books and I picked up some needed groceries. I came home and took a nap. Naps are decadent, too. Really. Around 6ish, I caught the bus to the subway to the subway to the bus to pottery class. It was a rather good session, I think. I glazed a vase, two small casseroles, one large casserole, and a bowl. I also trimmed and attached handles to two mugs. The instructor demonstrated "throwing off the hump" (which isn't nearly as dirty as it sounds). If I go to the...

For those of you who are bored by talk of personal finances, you may wish to avert your eyes. Scroll down. Read about my weekend. My company switches 401(k) providers about as often as I change underwear (like once a year). Our most recent switch was to Fidelity. Woo hoo. When they transferred all of our money from the previous 401(k) provider (Prudential? Providence? Mr. Bob's Savings & Loan?), they re-allocated our investments into "similar" packages. For example, if I had invested some of my money into a International Stock Index Fund. Fidelity would have transferred an equal percentage of my total investment into their International Stock Index Fund. With me so far? Well, see ... what happened wuzzz... I had 100% of my money invested in some sort of "We'll invest your money for you based on the date you plan to retire" Fund, probably called the You're Never Going to Be Able to Retire Fund. Now, Fidelity has the exact same type of plan (in ...

I have always been a saver. As a child, rather than buy comic books (like my brother), I would put my allowance in a cigar box, which I hid under my bed. Eventually, my parents helped me open my first savings account. About three months into my second year of teaching high school, I realized that it would be my last year of teaching high school. I switched into High Savings Mode and managed to save enough to live for about 4 months before landing the job in Japan and flying there. My last year of teaching in Japan, I once again switched into High Savings Mode and saved enough money to travel through Southeast Asia for several months and live for over a year in NC (with a part-time job and time spent teaching in Beijing) before starting graduate school. Now, with my current unemployment crisis looming, it would seem that I have once again entered High Savings Mode: I've managed to increase my savings account from less than 1.5 months' living expenses to a little over 3 months...

First, I need to complain a bit about terminology. When did paper copy and electronic copy become hard copy and soft copy ? And which one is which? Paper is hard . Electronics are hard . Which one is soft ? And, why even change something that was perfectly ok? Have TPTB never heard "if it ain't broke, don't fix it?" Does not typing those extra 7 letters save time/money or something? BLEAH. It make-a no sense. *whew* I feel better. Now, if you're interested in when you will be getting your guvmint stimulus check , take a look at these fun tables . And, here's a fun little calculator to help you determine if you will be getting a check or not: Economic Stimulus Payment Calculator . I should be getting my check in the next couple of weeks, and I'm sure you are all wondering what I am going to do with mine ... (and, even if you're not, I'm going to tell you). It's all going into savings! YAY! Possibly half will go into my PaxWorld Fund ROTH I...

in which I not only steal Mush 's use of "in which," but I also discover that I am going to die miserable, alone, and starving ... I received a fun email this morning from my 401(k) plan. They have a new Retirement Checkup! , which will help me to insure that I'm saving enough money to survive after I retire ( which, apparently, is going to be at Age NEVER ). Considering that I put 5% of my salary into my 401(k), combined with the generous *cough* 25% match by my company, AND that I plan to put $200/year (at least) into my fabulous PaxWorld ROTH IRA (which has shown consecutive losses ever since I started throwing my money into that investment sinkhole *), this is what the wonderful Retirement Checkup! predicts: On a brighter note, scroll down to see the WINNARZ of last night's 10% Refund Challenge and Poor Bastages Who Owe the Tax Man Pity Party drawings! More later. *smooches* *I'm kidding, btw. Not about the losses, but about the investment sinkhole ...

Look over there --> Three people (so far) have participated in the 10% Refund Challenge!!! *w00t* And, two poor bastages are entered in the "We Owed the Tax Man" Pity Party! You can play too! Donate 10% of your refund to the charity/charities of your choice and let me know. If you have to pay, you won't be left out ... drop me a line and I'll put your name in the hat for a separate drawing! Yay! Last night, I completed my 10% challenge by donating to a very worthy organization, Medical Students for Choice . Considering that more medical students learn about Viagra and hair replacement than providing the full range of reproductive healthcare, I think it's money well-donated. I also put some money into my Pax World Roth IRA and opened up an ING Direct 6 month CD (3.65%). In these uncertain times, perhaps it is best to squirrel away the extra cash for a rainy day rather than spending it on frivolous things. OK. I admit it. I did set aside some of my refun...

Several weeks ago, I received a letter from the management company of the apartment complex where I used to rent. The letter stated that I was entitled to a refund of my deposit. All I had to do was fill out a (simple) form and mail it to them by mid-Decemember. Well, VUBOQ may be more pretty than thinky, but he ain't no fool. Even though I have a vague memory of receiving a refund of my deposit when I moved out (over two years ago), I thought, "What the hell" and sent in the form. Today, the check arrived. TWO HUNDRED FORKIN' DOLLARS!!! Suh-WEET! And, on the spur of the moment, this is what I decided to do. 1. Put $100 into my recently opened ROTH IRA (Pax World Fund Balanced! 8% Annualized Return! Socially Responsible Investment Company!), and 2. (this is where you, the reader, come in), Make a $100 contribution to a charity the first commenter chooses * . So have at it. Someone leave a comment. *subject to VUBOQ approval because I's not gonna gives my fr...

Very rarely do I feel guilty about things; however, my desire to spend my *woot* bonus frivilously on BOOTS! and JEANS! and A SUPERFABULOUS PARTY! has made me feel a slight twinge of ... something. For the lack of a better word, let's call it "guilt." Thus, I'm reorganizing my savings plan and opening up a ROTH IRA. Fortuitously, one of my $500 6-month ING DIRECT CDs matured today. I transferred that to my ING DIRECT savings account. I sent half of the CD (minus interest) to my BOFA checking account. I will use that money to open up my ROTH IRA with PAX WORLD (the balanced fund ). I am liking PAX WORLD because of their socially responsible investment approach (and their 8% annualized return). Currently, I have $60 automatically deposited from my BOFA account into my ING savings account every 2 weeks. 4.3% interest, kittens! Much better than a regular bank account! You can open your own ING DIRECT Savings Account HERE ! In order to grow my ROTH (Did you know y...

It was a gabillion degrees outside yesterday, so I -naturally- decided to cook something that required lots of boiling, stirring, and optimal use of the gas burners. I. am. clever. I picked up a yellow squash, some spinach, and a lime (for the Dark&Stormy) at Whole Paycheck on the way home. Then, the cooking: Step one: Make Dark&Stormy. Step two: Boil water. Add 1/2 cup of orzo. Cook 11ish minutes. Step three: Repeat Step one. Step four: Heat frying pan. Add olive oil. Toss in a couple smashed garlic cloves and a sprig of rosemary (from the bush in the front yard). Toss in thinly sliced red onion. Thinly sliced yellow squash. Once sort of soft and browned, add some leeeeeeeeeeetle tomatoes and spinach. Step five: Repeat Step one and three. Step six: Drain cooked orzo. Mix in some crumbled feta and toasted pine nuts. Step seven: Arrange orzo and squash mixture lovingly on cute plate, like so: Step eight: Repeat steps one, three, and five. Step nine: Eat, Drink, Be Mary....