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I ended up with a staph infection this weekend. What followed were three visits to Vancouver General for IV antibiotics. It's a fluke that I even ended up there actually. I had a few insect bites on my right forearm and on my left middle finger which had been bothering me for a couple of days. By late Friday night they were virtually unbearable. At 2am Saturday morning I decided to call the nearest 24 hr pharmacy to ask for some advice. The pharmacist there, after hearing my description of what was happening,suggested that it might be an infection and recommended that I see a doctor. I told her that I would see a doctor in the morning but in the meantime could she recommend anything for the swelling and pain. I was thinking along the lines of anti-histamines or cortisone cream. She asked me, "How close are you to Vancouver General Hospital?" I was astonished and asked her if she thought I should go to emergency.....she said yes. So off I went. When I arrived at the Triage desk I was very sheepish. I was sure that they would laugh at me and send me on my way. To my surprise, the nurse took one look at my arm and informed me that I would probably need IV antibiotics every day for the next week! I was shocked!
I ended up being there for the next 4 hours. Needless to say I was exhausted by the time I stumbled home at 7am.
It's Wednesday and I'm still exhausted. I went to work on Monday and Tuesday but finally gave in to my exhaustion today and stayed home. The IV shunt is out of my hand now and I've moved over to oral antibiotics. They've taken a lot out of me though and I still have two more days of drugs to go. sigh.
I am not going to make it a year if I don't stop breaking shit.
In the last five days I've broken one wine glass, one juice glass and a bowl.
Dammit.
Okay, it's been almost a month. I've been doing well. I've stuck to my budget and still had lots of fun with friends. The only problem I can see now is dating. Basically it means that if I'm going to initiate a date it has to be a creative one. Dinner in a restaurant is out. Movie...out. Drinks, coffee...also out.
People like to throw around the words "sugar daddy" all the time. I've had it suggested to me at least four or five times since I started buying nothing....including once from my mother. I don't like that expression at all. The concept is attractive in theory I guess. I can't however resign myself to being paid for all of the time. Once or twice here and there is okay but over time it would get old, for everyone. My good friend Neil always used to say "Japanese rules" and pay for everything. It was nice and I was always grateful but over time it kind of made me feel like a bit of a charity case.
My strategy is to just be up front from the beginning. Something like, "I'd like to do something fun and free. If we're going somewhere that costs money...you're paying." Hopefully this doesn't freak people out too much.
Luckily, I like cooking for people and entertaining at home so if they bring wine....we're golden. Thoughts? Suggestions?
Tonight's entertainment: The Wind That Shakes the Barley, Ken Loach's new film. I received a free pass from work but I was wanting to see this film very much. Aside from the mad crush I've got on Cillian Murphy's face the film was very good. I even cried real tears. The story is about the early days of the IRA but at the centre is a subtle but powerful story of two incredibly stubborn brothers. The movie illustrates with it's very realistic timing and dialogue an Ireland where people really felt they had no choice but to raise arms against their oppressors. Unfortunately, one can also see how the so called peace treaty suited the English very well, as it quickly succeeded in turning the Irish against one another.
I would recommend it.
Today's free entertainment:Went to an openhouse at a fancy condo complex. I told the sales lady that my parents were looking to buy in Vancouver but that, as they were far away, I was scouting things out for them. She was happy to show me around! Fun!
So, this is my plan.
You've all probably heard of Buy Nothing Day. Well, I have decided to have a 'buy nothing' year.
Starting March 1st, for one year I will buy no clothes, no concert tickets, no beer, wine or restaurant food, no 'stuff' at all. Essentially all of the money I would normally spend on 'entertainment' will go towards my credit card and student loan debt.
I have allotted a monthly budget of $200 for food and of course there isn't much I can do about paying rent and the electricity, phone and internet bills. No....I won't be getting rid of my internet connection.....I am not a savage!
By my calculations this should give me an extra $500/mo to put towards my debt. I know this doesn't sound like a whole hell of a lot but by the end of the year my credit cards will be paid off and I can start putting some serious cash towards my $20,000 in student loan debt. Which I loathe.
Some things I see happening in the next year:
1. I will have no choice but to make/mend things. This is good. I'm going old school. If I've got a hole in my sock I'll have to sew it up! What a novel idea.
2. I will get in shape. I've only given myself a budget of ten bus tickets/month ($18.50) so I will be forced to walk or bike the 2.29 miles to work and back every day. I do that mostly anyway, so no biggy.
3. I will discover new things. There are tons of free things happening in Vancouver....right?
4. I will volunteer more. Volunteering is a great way to get into stuff for free. So far I've done the People's Prom. I'm thinking Fringe and the Vancouver Film Festival too.
5. I will have more time. Time to write to people and walk around and make phone calls and have bubble baths.
6. I will get a lot of reading done. There are a whole lot of books at the library that need reading. Here's my chance.
Someone at my office gave me a month and a half.....tops. Well, we'll just see about that.
Nuff said.
