Jan-you-need-to-help-me-not-spend-money-ary

After receiving my Visa bill for this month (even though it looked like they took every Visa bill I’ve ever had, combined it, then doubled it and gave it to me), I have decided that I’m going to try REALLY HARD to not spend any money in January, and maybe February too.

Now, this is obviously going to be impossible, so I have to list some things that I most definitely will be buying that officially do not count (so don’t hassle me about them):

1. Food. I need food to live, and I’ve been looking everywhere for that bread dipper that I bought two bottles of last night, okay?!
2. Normal stuff I can’t get away from, ie: TTC pass, rent, phone bill, and so on and so on
3. Trips. Now, this might seem totally counteractive, but I just got married and I’m really tired and I 100% deserve a honeymoon. Plus, I planned on doing this in 2012, so it’s really just about committing.

Things I will not be allowed to spend money on:

1. Alcohol. We have about 39,000 bottles of white wine leftover from the wedding, as well as some vodka and tequila. And I work for a beer company, so really, there’s no excuse for me to buy alcohol
2. Clothes. There’s no getting around this one – this is where I spend my money, and yo, it is just not a good idea for me to go in any store right now (including online ones) because I have a bunch of stuff that I never even wear
3. Books. See above – too many books that I haven’t read yet sit at home. Therefore I shall not buy!

Now, this is in no way going to be easy, but considering I really do want to go on a vacation, and I just had a wedding that cost about a bajillion dollars, no spending shall be allowed!

(Gifts, however, are totally okay. Just FYI.)

And I’m all like, “I have a great idea!”

I get real excited about things. Like, reeeeal excited. And He is always bringing me down.

I’m like: Yo! I just thought of a great invention! A laptop that is ALSO A PRINTER!

and then He says:

Shannon, people don’t need that, and it would be really heavy.

To be fair, I totally invented that about four years ago, before tablets were “all the rage.” So it would have definitely made sense and have been very practical, if not super practical.

Last night I was on the streetcar home and came up with the BEST idea. I will start a podcast! It will be great! And as usual, he was such a downer.

“But Shannon – what will it be about?”

“Well, dear husband (oh yeah, we got married), it will be about EVERYTHING, like cats vs. dogs, ghosts, the best sandwich I ever made, aliens, Keanu Reeves, and all kinds of great stuff. That’s what people want to hear. That’s what they need to hear.” (I even said it in an Italics kind of voice, so he would know that I totally meant business.

Anyway, the point of this post, is that as soon as I figure out how, I’m totally starting a podcast! And it won’t just be for four pods (is that what you call them?) either, it will be forever, and I will be rich and famous because of it, and I’ll never have to wear proper work clothes again. Hashtag – living the dream.

St. Clair Streetcar Art

Finally! The media Gods have answered our recent prayers.

During our travels along the St. Clair streetcar line, we’ve been curious about the recent art installations that have been popping up one by one. There’s the giant red squiggle, the metallic fish, the comic book stuff, and many more.

Using the social media tools avail to us, we tweeted at BlogTo, and lo and behold, Rick McGinnis has answered our inquisitive prayers.

According to the BlogTO article that came out yesterday, and was subsequently picked up by T.O. Night, the various additions to the bus and streetcar stops total 24, and is a public art project run by Rina Greer, funded by the TTC.

In light of the recent delays/fare hikes/fare un-hikes, this makes me like the TTC a whole lot more.

Once the weather warms up, He and I will be traveling along the St. Clair line from Yonge to Gunn’s Loop and photographing all of the various installations, which we’ll then post here.

In the meantime, the page (and this one and this one) is well worth checking out!