The Time Has Come

Because I have not had a job since early January and have been paying rent for the past 8 months and also tuition, I have not been able to spend any money. On anything. The list is as follows.

I can't afford:
§ Starbucks
§ meals out
§ clothes
§ movies
§ shampoo
§ haircuts
§ books
§ magazines
§ meat
§ cheese
§ new headphones
§ new running shoes
§ tattoos
§ bus tickets
§ getting my bike fixed
§ cell phone bill
§ plane tickets
§ debts
§ furniture for my new room
§ cable, phone or internet bill
§ concert tickets
§ alcohol or other substances
§ developing pictures
§ yoga class

I CAN afford:
§ fruit, yogurt, cereal, veggies, pasta, milk
§ bulk food provisions (dried fruit, nuts, coffee)
§ small quantities of coffee
§ scones
§ free stuff (often given to me by friends or loved ones)

All in all, you can see that I have been living frugally since January. I have dreams about shopping for things like shampoo or large quantities of books, and cannot wait until I can get more money from the government and live like a queen.

And by queen, I mean being able to afford a nice cut of chicken.

It Wasn't Me on Those Church Steps

It doesn't seem like April. My life has been passing at alarming speeds over the past 2 months, so fast that I fear I won't remember a thing. I am one essay, one quiz, and two exams away from being done my school year, although I am starting again in less than a month. I will be in school for the next year with only a month and a half of rest. Sometimes, all I want is to flee again and begin a new adventure, but I know this is for the best.

It hurts more than anything to realize that at this time last year, I was wrapping up the planning stage of my backpacking trip. There was so much to look forward to, and sometimes I wish I could've done more and spent more time on that trip- perhaps the effect would have lasted me longer. However, I am truly happy about my accomplishments so far this term, as I have been doing better than I ever have in university. One last push-

And it's spring. It's unbelievable how long this winter has been, and I'm not just jaded and bitter about it. It was one of the longest, hardest winters I've ever experienced. If I was an indoor person, it would've been fine, but I'm really not. There is nothing I love more than being outside, walking, running, biking- without slipping all over the place and wearing 2387283 layers of clothing. The snow is finally starting to melt, although I fear it will be a week or two before all the snow is gone, and even more time before the winter dirt has been washed away. This past week, the weather has been getting better and better, and I'm even starting to get some sun. I am anticipating thunderstorms and steamy days. It's so much nicer to feel the breeze on your skin, the sun warm on your face... And it's finally good to be Canadian again.

I am ready to keep building, perpetuating success, and flourishing. Things are coming together slowly. I can't wait for summer. I am excited to go back to Calgary for a few days, not long enough I fear, but I need to finish this chapter of my life first.