So, the secret is out.
Yesterday, my parents put rent and allowance in my account. $1150 "rent", $600 expenses. I took $300 and began to pay down down the debt, which, with interest, will take about a year to fully discharge. I took another $200 paid the internet bill, and settled accounts from my previous residence. $300 is earmarked for sundry expenses - food, power, internet, that sort of thing.
I spent $150 buying some new clothes from eBay and Overstock - a bunch of long sleeve shirts of dress/casual varieties, a pair of shorts, some khakis and cargos, and some undies. I had wisely picked up a nice sports coat used for $20 before leaving Boston, and purchased a dress shirt and dress pants to match. My first outfit had arrived the other day, so now that I had something to wear, I began replying to adverts on Craigslist. I am confident I can score at least one job soon and begin building capital.
And today I paid my first rent. They insisted on a personal check - last time, I'd used a money order, but I didn't have the time or inclination to go down and buy another one. I wrote a check for $650, knowing that it would be scanned and my parents would see it pop up online. Characteristically, I decided to take the initiative to call up my parents and announce the move and how well things were going - and characteristically, they gave the most infuriating response possible.
"Oh, that's nice Ethan, glad it worked out."
So that's all you can say? Argue and hector about it and go back and forth and insist it won't work and be negative and all you can say when it worked out better than expected is, "that's nice"? Not, "Sorry we doubted you," or "You were right and we were wrong"?It's no surprise I have such an arrogant and headstrong personality.
I spent most of the rest of the day setting up the remaining things, which had languished in their boxes as I didn't feel inclined to set them up until other items had arrived, particularly a kitchen trashcan. My lamp had taken severe damage during the trip from Boston - my fault really, I didn't box or protect it or anything, just threw it in there - and I'd purchased a new lampshade off eBay for $20.
It looks better than before, I think. About a third of the limestone tiles for my desks broke in the mail, but fortunately, there is a quarry down the street; I will take some of the chunks there and get replacements when I can spare the cash.
I had also purchased some National Geographic centerfolds before leaving Boston - a buck each - and put more of them up - I need more wall art as there is more wall in this bigger apartment. I will also go buy some business cards and have a professional photo taken. A while back, Mazel had suggested I seek employment as a tutor, but I didn't believe the suggestion was practical in Boston due to outrageous competition. There are fewer talents here in Cincinnati, so I plan on belatedly implementing his suggestion here.
I was going to go walk to Kroghetto and peruse yard sales on the way, but it is overcast and I didn't feel like it anyway. It began to snow mid-day, actually. I'm told that is typical here in March. Maybe next weekend.
On Monday I intend to send out more resumes. While I wait for responses, I am going to trek to the trashy, nearly-dead Tristate Mall, and sit and eat the cheap food they serve, read a book, play with my DS-61-2 action figure, try to find a live-in amongst those who are the typical mid-day weekday young female patrons of such a place, and write, amongst other things, about all else that has happened.
PS: I am aware this post is far less interesting than usual
