mile-ionnaire

So, I signed myself up for an airmiles card. Anyone who knows me knows that this is a problem, because I have such an addictive personality. I've managed to avoid the drugs, alcohol, gambling, etc. that most people associate with addictive personality, but that's because I've found replacements. Let's see. Remember those endless days of first year playing Halo 2, then Mario Party? There's a good example. Last summer I become obsessed with keeping a budgeting journal of every single penny I earned/spent/saved. Now, there is airmiles. My standard internet checking routine involves the Blue Jays website (my homepage), my UVic email, then my airmiles page. Collecting airmiles is a slow process and it takes a while for your balance to get updated, so instead I look at the different current coupons and offers. I even immerse myself in the Safeway flier to see if there are any good airmiles offers in there. Not sure how long this will last, but I have spent many an hour debating about whether or not to sign up for an Airmiles American Express (NO! I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT DO THIS!) and getting thisclose to applying. I'll start buying things that I don't need just to get a few more points. I know I will. Just throw a few more things in my basket so that I can get that extra point. But it's worse than that! I've started entering draws and stuff online. Like giveaways. I know that the odds of me winning are very very slim, but what's the harm in signing up, right?


I think that this has been partly induced by the recent poverty I've found myself in. I thought for sure the recession would just pass me by, I mean I have a good job, I live in a good city, all that. But no, it has found it's way to me. Shifts at work have gotten extremely cut back and I'm just not making ends meet.. so I need to find free things! I keep telling myself "Okay Taryn, just go about your every day life and if you can use your airmiles card, great, but it's not a good program if you find excuses to use it." Example, I was going to forego my annual eye exam (they'll make me have a contact fitting and that costs an extra $60) and just order my contacts online and save a few bucks. But my eye place takes airmiles. And I could get an extra 120 airmiles on top of what I get from actually buying my contacts. I'm in a serious dilemma about this.


I'm sure this will pass once something new comes along. I'm hoping this new thing will be a Nintendo DSi (it's my birthday soon, but let's keep it hush hush). But I'd also like it to be something like running, eating freakishly healthy.. Last summer I got a pedometer and made sure I walked my 10000 steps every day until I lost it in Peru. Sometimes this addictive personality is a good thing. And I usually have a few things going on at once. I definitely jump right into things and then quickly get over them so hopefully that is the case. Then my airmiles will be left to quietly accumulate until I have enough to get a flight out to Peru so I can reunite with my little ninos (I miss them so much it aches).

summertime and the livin's easy

the annual summer to do list

1. sleep under the stars
2. do as much shopping as possible at the farmer's market
3. wear sunscreen every day
4. pay off my credit card debt
5. reconnect with my longboard
6. learn to use my camera in manual mode
7. bake a pie from scratch
8. walk/bike my little heart out
9. finally explore the juan de fuca trails and beaches
10. roast marshmallows