While I was Away

It may look as if I did nothing here but I was busying doing something over there. Buy Stock & Stash  I blogged my adventure in detail of a virtual stock market game which ran over 8 week.  

I did earn an A on the project but...I am sure today I make a better comic than a broker, maybe I've something there. Next semester Investments II return to ground zero.



~Eva Pea

Thanksgiving for Financial Planners

Even people with no money have some financial planning skill. How else would I explain the city's ability to run a deficit and spend 25 million on a pedestrian bridge 2 blocks from another pedestrian bridge. I am not saying the skills are good but there is something to start with. A large scoop of Razzle-dazzle in most cases.

When people say they are no good with money, what does that mean?

Can't make it, can't make enough or can't count high enough?

Can't make it last,can't make it last long enough or are only average looking?

Can't make it into more money, would rather play today and pay tomorrow or perhaps the speaker is12 years years old.

Money is a medium of exchange, like cake. A holder of value, like Little Lulu comics books. A measure of account as in, I have no money in my account.

To make money work long term, we can choose to accept some facts of living the urban North American life; we are at war with the media efforts to sway us to spend now, period. Choosing not to accept this is kind of like skipping on the way to the gallows. Accepting, does not mean doing anything different, especially if you already have good hair.

War is a strong word, demonstrates my point and makes a PowerPoint unnecessary. In war people lose their homes, loved-ones and familiar life style. Ambient advertising may have made it into the Art of War had it been named in the 15th century. It is only once we accept we can change our mind.

It is human nature to live for today, and why not in recent past living to 30 was old age. Perhaps our  reptilian brain is still running the show. Which would explain my scales.

It's not easy to change my mind about having an spending or investment plan but I can get a coach or book time with a financial planner, maybe even for free. Most everyone has a bank they deal with, reluctantly some days. Banks have people to talk to about setting up a plan, not the plan where they take all you money in fees. I can even book an appointment with a bank that is not mine, in another city, wear a mustache if I wish. Be financially literate.

I must tip my hat to those on the fringe.
2012 believers- the world will likely not stop rotating on it's axis at once, think about a TFSA.
Law of attraction enthusiasts - you were drawn to read this hmmmm?
Stand-up comics- free drinks and booty come with a price, be your own sugar daddy.

~Eva Pea

Save on Communication, free wardrobe, maximizing downtime

Calling to get the student rate from my local cable company earned me a reduction in my current monthly bill of almost $50, $600 dollars per year. Almost enough to pay for the orthotics thrust on me recently. The call took about 10 minutes. For that moment I earned the equivalent of  $3600 per hour, 60 per minute. I haven't earned that much in that little since the 70's.

I took a look at a very part-time job at a retail store. Last time I worked in retail there was a cat with a jug of milk  logo-ed on the generic smokes...any way at a ladies wear store, very part-time and not much money. Kind of like dating a traveling poet. I earn a 33% discount on the clothing, even those marketed down to 50% off. A 33% reduction on an item at 50% off is over 65% discount. I will hold while you get your calculator out. I also earn tax-free clothing credits, which is free clothing. In total I get a few bucks , a discount and free clothing for about 15 hours a week.  The supervisor also works around my schedule, exam time and most of my working hours I am alone with the customers who are mostly adorable. I love working alone,  this way I can pretend my dad owns the store.

I had a few hours in my schedule between classes. I applied to be a peer tutor. It's not teaching peeper. So 3 or 4 hours a week I help first year students, all who happen to be second language speakers, understand accounting basics, spreadsheet basics and even bring value explaining how to use Google docs. If I could find any doc in this city I'd be a guru. I know few ways to pick up this kind of spare cash in my otherwise empty snippets of time. I usually fill my snippets with figuring out how to down load dance lessons onto my iPod. I am told I could have up to 15 students seems a bit like crazy making, which is a recipe I passed on years ago.

~Eva Pea

Focus

It's been a while since my last post. I have been saving money, making money and investing money, some of it legal. Back to school meant to me the end of  a long summer of no income; my funding would feed my minimally nourished  line of credit. Why I didn't work all summer is expressed earlier in blog post but in a nut shell I didn't work.

Plan B
I learned, along with many other broke students types, the Provencal  government data base that was in charge of telling the humans who to fund  hit a 'glitch;' rhymes with bitch, in the ditch ...you know, not rich.  Thousands of students were not receiving their money...yet. For me I would delay purchasing that roast I'd been eying and settle again for TVP. After weeks the government of Alberta offered us emergency loans only if we really needed the money;  so first we had to prove, we students who qualify for government funding to begin with really were busted.

"Here here, students we have messed with, fill in these 6 pages and go down to an office wait in line, come early and bring print outs of your bank account balances for the last two months and we will maybe give you a loan against your money we owe you". Then when we get things sorted, we will take the loan amount off your regularly scheduled funding.

Hm-mm I side stepped this offer, in the end I could read between the lines, and couldn't stand in one to get what was already mine. It would have been like dating my ex. I knew sooner or later I would get the funding; I had to be patient or I could easily become one.

There are many students who are in dire straights and getting the money a bit faster without me in line might help. These students have kids to feed, are new to our country in some cases and second language speakers. Giving them a bunch of forms to fill in, having them run around literally students like us often have no time and no car, is poor customer service. Arrange babysitting of course right and  remember study. I can tell you this week the Government reported, boasted sort of, they had paid out over $500,000 in loans to 600 individuals. That about $830 bucks each. Whoot! What a fuck up.

Eva Pea

Housewarming invite

I have not been to a party outside my own living-room in forever. Attending a housewarming for a former coworker/neighborhood friend. What to bring as a gift? I trundled off to the local fresh food store. I knew the homeowners would appreciate getting no stuff and I made the judgment that another bottle of gift-wine would be just too pedestrian. My gift budget under $15.00, they were supplying the beer and food.
 

I opted for a reusable mesh veggie sac filled with organic ingredients with which to create salsa.
2 heirloom tomatoes (1 red 1 yellow)
1 onion
1 lime
1 bunch of cilantro

Also included was a sympathy card hoping for a speedy recovery on their first mortgage payment.

~Eva Pea

Weekly Family Outing - Inside

Getting our family together once a week is part of my ideal life experience. Aim for the middle I say. With myself and my kids (19 & 21) in post-secondary, scheduling something regular is the only way this might happen.

If it were the 80's I might insist we meet at the Corkscrew Lounge downtown and have drinks and potato skins or to Japanese Village for a food and knife show on Friday nights. The 90's would see our family at a Curry house  or  picking at wings down at the pub. 2000`s- lets face it Krispy Kreme all the way. However, today's time and cash are very dear and instead we decided on Sunday morning coffee-breaky 9:30-10:30am at my place. Even if parties happened the night before, we agreed knowing where the coffee and muffins are on Sunday morning would be good. My BF will bake. So goes the threat.


$0.45 Coffee for three 2 black one with soy
  0.45 Hot chocolate for one made with milk
 2.00 Fruit apple, banana or berries
 2.00 Baking  four servings
 1.68 Organic Eggs four scrambled
$6.58 Total

And if we go with Moroccan style eating there will be only two plates, no cutlery and $0.0002 dish washing expense.

I can hardly wait.

EvaPea

Apply for a Scholarship

Due to my unseemly fortunate situation I qualify for several scholarships this semester. My failure to find work all summer has put me in the category of 'experiencing extenuating financial hardship'. My 4.0 GPA puts me in the 'good marks' group. My mom jeans put me in the 'aged' category.

I am told most student do not apply for scholarships, even though they are tax free. Last year I earned $1000 in scholarships. which is like working 85 hours at retail job or one lap-dance with Dino. This year I can apply for over $15,000 worth. The application takes about 16 hours to complete including all the essay jokes and puns. If I don't get the scholarship maybe I'll get hired as a speech writer.

I can also apply for under the 'community contribution' due to my services in the area and at school. Turns out, it does pay to change diapers. I also re-qualified under the single parent status since my 19 year old himself is entering post secondary this fall (this in turn supports 'the extenuating financial hardship' category). The adhd diagnoses allows me to apply for additional supports, a new i-phone however doesn't qualify.

My essays are a bit unraveling as to get my 'situation' across in words reads like a list of what to avoid when recovering from open heart surgery. Surprise dental work, getting lost in traffic and the baking soda diet have not made this years financial summer a kind one.
I'd rather submit a picture. I'd pick one of me working studiously in my 5'x4' home office, perched on a teetering frayed cane stool, knees touching the desk top as I slurp on a Mr Freeze which has given me an ice cream headache signified by the clutching of my right front hairline. In the background they would see my motivational poster 'Up with People', all of my pens, my Tony Robbins CD collection and lastly but not least my dancing eyes.

A Peach

On day 9 of the cleanse; it is a small miracle I can count that high. We are all exhausted to one degree or an other. It has been a long week for my family, protracted even. Three of us are returning to post-secondary next week. So preparing and organizing and buying tiny portions of cheese has dominated daily deeds. At 11:00pm my daughter and I lay on parallel chase-loungers emitting sounds usually reserved for the nursing home circle time. She slowly spills out her last couple of days back at the 'paper' and reviles some fantastic bits of personal happenings. Oh let's celebrate I suggest looking around for celebration type junk. Although my BF is handy his junk is not needed in this particular celebration. A cleanse coupled with a restricted spending plan changes what cuts it as celebration food and drink. Ouzo shots for example are out.

I did have one fantastic peach. I held it and felt how the first woman must have felt in anticipation of the perfect sweet resistance to the bite followed the flavor high one single bite of a perfect peach can present. I cut the peach into perfect smiles. We had chamomile tea, Sleepytime to be exact.

Cost of celebration under $1

Get Healthy Save Cash

My guy and I are on a cleanse. Not a crazy cleanse. There is no gunpowder or lemonade involved. No special oil and bucket, no nasty mustard wrap. It is 30 days of 5 days ON and 2 days OFF.

The ON days are no meat, dairy or wheat. The OFF days are whatever you want. I am not so much about the all or nothing experience as my guy is. He is happy to eat super clean and then inhale a cheeseburger-pie-milkshake the next week. Me, I get offended if someone else is mentions a burger after I'm done my cleanse. I ease back in. An egg, a piece of spelt toast with preserves, organic wine from a humming birds thimble. Anyway...At either intensity dining out, drinking, stopping by the  pâtisserie  is NOT an option.

The food along with a couple of supports is acceptable to my Natural-path (covered by insurance but a good investment for the average boomer regardless). A liver booster Unda 243, which I hear is great for hangovers and contains 24% alcohol.  Multi-Glyco to even out moods (aka blood sugar) and Acidophilus to 'enhance intestinal health'. However, my hard core man wants to stick as close as possible to Dr. Thomas Rau plan. In this plan, The Swiss Secret to Optimal Health the foods and preparation methods are very restricted. Steamed broccoli, shredded beets, shredded carrots, shredded, cucumber and alkaline broth make from finely diced green beans, finely diced zucchini, finely diced celery and finely diced carrot are the stars.

We started this cleanse August 27. Today is suppose to be our first of two days off but we are waiting till Sunday, for some reason, put forth by my better half which I completely disagree with but am too weak to argue about; besides he's in charge of the shredding and dicing, I need him. 

We should be finished on September 27th. We measured and weighed ourselves. We mostly sleep, count the number of voids and spend time watching the food network. As you may have gathered not only do we save entertainment dollars; no one invites us for dinner therefore no hostess gift. And if we must partake in some community food related event for faux Facebook politics we can look the height of self-disciplined sophistication sipping minted fresh-lime water (a Mojito without).

~Eva Pea

Exercise or Entertainment

Imagine if your entertainment activities helped to keep you fit. I hear this is true for some people.

I am not just referring to the self amusement at the gym brought on by viewing my reflection in the mirror as I tipy-toe onto the scale, braced for the after summer check-in, it's like Vegas.

The entertainment I refer to has to do with planning stuff to do that involves movement.  Jumping to conclusions, running around in circles and chasing after bargains. Again I veer off topic.

Yes playing tennis alone can be frustrating, and getting into your climbing gear is evil at times, and  maintaining your bicycle can become a chore if you let it. However, human kinetics can all be amusing, even entertaining. Sleek and seamless are highly over rated. The same goes for us in the environment of nature.

Unlike some elite purists (TRX or hyp-yoga) nature is available, free and I hear a good cover for naps. Amuse ourselves by seeing the funny in personal efforts to get our own bodies to do our will can be laughable and humbling as well as challenging and exhilarating.

Next time you are boring yourself consider moving your body in a different way...highly entertaining.

Working with what You Have

I have $10 to  get Dinner for Three

I wondered what I could get at the grocery store clearance sale.  Turns out, creative.

I have been visiting this spot in the meat department frequently lately. I want to know the differance between yesterdays regular priced food and today's clearance.

I'm using the same skill (skill?) I use when an absolutely fatalistic well fitting item shows up at the beginning of the fashion season that I don't want to pay full price for. I wait.

Like most middle aged divorced women. I developed my patience during my post divorce bar scene phase. Waiting to be picked. After a few years I came to. I had a new skill and traded in my leopard print blouse for a lasso, but that's another blog post.

At the grocery store on this day I got dinner of Jacksonville "brats" for only

$1.99; a savings of over 300%. Added some crusty buns, onions, apple and cabbage. TA-DA supper inexpensive dinner. It took me too long to prepare it, I was heading to evening class, so I ended up eating fast food.  Still the total cost including the transgression was under $10.00
I am glad I am not a food blogger, I don't think I have the flair for it.

Get the Most

My health benefits expire each year. This year they expire September 1st, as will the homey generic ointment in my medicine cabinet.  I am doing my best to cram into these last weeks all that I can take, health wise. My body is not the 4.0 it once was. I went to the Natural-path Doctor and start my cleanse tomorrow maybe Friday). I need support from more than Dr. Scholls it based on the tears and limping. I have one more massage left which is booked for next Tuesday, it will be  my 4th in 5 weeks. Last time I had this much rubbing was the summer of conception, 1987.  I used all my psychologist allowance in the first week of last September.

As a post secondary student I have no choice but to enroll in the extended health program.  I appreciate this patriarchal system. The coverage requires that I pay upfront and the send in the receipts and weeks later a check arrives. The check (which does not often cover the full costs) is meant to go back into my health budget but sometimes I forget and think it is free money. Free money should not be confused with someone else money, which can be fun too if there is no interest rate attached. So sometimes I am tempted to go for sushi or treat my guy to a movie.  So I signed up for the direct deposit at least there is a chance the money will be viewed as income and treated  as the  limited life energy that it represents.

There are downsides to the system. I seem to have tonnes of money for prescription drugs and very little for the dentist. Which is weird because everyone has teeth but not everyone has legitimate drug need. This tells me that there is a chance the insurance industry and drug companies have a deal, but what do I know?

Other disappointments include coverage for orthotics at the rate of $100 dollars per year when any legitimate pair of inserts run $400-$600. Thankfully my Podiatrist gave me a 4 month payment plan.  I had a tooth issue and it would cost $1400.00 including the crown to 'fix'. I read the insurance estimate incorrectly and the tooth ended up costing me $1200 and the insurance covered $200. Really, the dentist won on that. Again I asked for and got 6 months to pay for it.  If you ever want to see what a $1400 tooth looks like go down to your nearest Holt Renfew and pick out a decent bag or as a more conservative depiction consider a flight from Calgary to Victoria staying at the Hotel Empress for a few days and add a spa visit.  How about groceries for 10-12 weeks. Teeth maybe overrated but ignore them and much like the "change oil" light on a car you will respond now or you will respond later but you will respond.

There is coverage I will not use. I never had a ride in an ambulance or needed to have a semi-private room in a hospital though it was one hell of a Canada Day party. No need for Trusses, Crutches, Casts or Leg Braces, Artificial Limbs and Prosthetics although I feel a tremendous amount of pain still from last weeks hot yoga session.

I have thousands of dollars of prescription drug money that will likely be left on the table however I still have 7 days left.

Back to School

I have been waiting to hear about my student line-of-credit.  A student line-of-credit is very helpful for someone like me. Me who cannot get a student loan. Me who for some reason could not get a job all summer, save 10 days with the transit authority during which I quit on day 7 and went back on day 8. The job was standing and standing  after which my feet burned like I was walking on the ceiling of Hades. I found out later I had developed Plantar Fasciitis. (normally I would link this but who really wants to view a photo of a distressed foot) For this I needed treatment which included massage, orthopedics and ice, plenty of ice. This total costs of my treatment, about the same as my transit pay. Thank God I didn't work the rest of the summer I couldn't have  afforded it.

Meanwhile, I have been trying to stretch my money out.

Day Seven - Cash Available Today - 30.00 + 27.42 = $57.42

Wednesday - Changes - Total Spent $22.20

To see this from the beginning of the project click here.

You might ask, how often can one attend to the thrift store? Everyday, I would answer. Old things become new and retro items move to chic must halves. I will post a photo of all my finds soon.

Sally-Ann Thrift Store

Handkerchief New .58
Linen Napkins New 1.98
Silk Scarf 1.98
Blue asymmetrical sweater 2.65
Total - $7.20

 

The Dress

On 'Day Two' the first day we shopped the thrift store there was a dress in the window. It was $20.00 new. An Evan Picone black Marilyn dress with a sheer back and sleeves. My size. Mary ordered it out of the window and insisted I try it on. She has a background in woman clothing as do I and we both knew this was a great score.

I said "Sure but I am not buying it it is out of my budget, I have to save my money for Sushi tomorrow". It looked fantastic, Mary bought the dress and said she'd sell it to me at the end of my stay if I had any money left. We noticed a small flaw and asked the price be reduced.  Today I bought the dress from Mary for $15.00.

The EdGe Restaurant

For dinner I was treated to the EdGe. I recommend this restaurant for the food. The food was fantastic. The food was perfect. Did I mention how great the food was? The restaurant was cold and the door could not be closed due to the kitchen ventilation problems. I am sure there is more to this than was shared with us since the door must be closed at some point this year. The servers were a bit rushed and busy and could have used some help with clearing which was too bad because this could have distrated from the great meal.

I did my best to ignore the cold and the average service and focused on the Food. But still why oh why did I change out of my pants and sneaks to dress up in a skirt and sandals with my bare legs? If you have ever seen the senior citizen covered from head to toe in August they are probably on their way to dinner, wisdom.

Soup
A cold restaurant does increase soup sales but not beer sales.
We each had the fantastic mushroom soup -$5.95

We split a couple of Appetizers and the Entree

Crispy Squid with spicy coleslaw and cherry-bomb oil – $7.95
Sesame Ginger Scallops with guacamole, salsa, iceberg lettuce and crisp noodles - $9.50
Roasted Halibut with preserved lemon sauce, Israeli couscous and peas - $20.95 we swaped out lentils for the couscous.

 Dessert

Yum Apple Spring Rolls with whipped cream cheese and house made apple jelly – $6.95
Mary  enjoyed-Lemon Curd Tartlet with maple cream, rhubarb sorbet and melon sauce – $6.95

To drink we had tea and then coffee. Did I mention it was cold?
Thank you Mary
Cost to me $0.00



 
Total Cash Consumed $22.20
Cash Forwarded $35.22

I am leaving tomorrow. Earlier than my free ride home. Earlier than I expected.
This was not in the plan, anybody's plan. I wonder if I should have left earlier. Writing this I am sure I should have. My attentions are called to my family and the loss of a very special friend.

Day Six - Cash Available Today 30.00 + 66.71 = $96.71

Tuesday-Day in the City-total spent - $69.29

To see this from the beginning of the project click here. 

Coffee at the Stix - I had my own coffee left from the morning but was treated to yet another scrumptious snack from the Stix, the
Egg-a-majig. Meanwhile, Mary was conversing with on an attractive sailor/gnomish fellow with a barrel house bod and an interesting line of questioning. Ah well. 

The girls were going to run a muck in Victoria while Mary volunteered and I had a list a nautical mile long for my day in the city. We would all meet up with Mary's other relatives in from Manitoba for dinner on the Dock.

Car 
 

At the last minute Mary offered me her car for the day, this was a mistake as it turned out. I just had to drive 6 blocks drop the teens off for downtown shopping. An hour and a half later I completed this task. Had I not been the driver I would have said it took great effort to not find my way.  I had maps I had directions, I had driven this many times...eventually a new Canadian provided me an escort down to the Bay. They girls were great supporters, had it been me as a teen I would have cussed out the drivers' skills, exited the vehicle at a light and thumbed a ride. Luckily these kids had two parent upbringing and stayed in the car asking only to stop for a pee. 


In Victoria parking is stupid or maybe it was me; the longer one parks the more per hour one would have to pay; also I could not park for  more than 90 minutes. In the end I moved the car three times and paid a total of 12.00 for my 4 hours of parking. In between feeding the meter I shopped and ate. There were other options for parking but I was too dis-orientated, distracted and busy making up for lost time to take advantage. Slowly my day was slipping away, my optimistic list growing ever short to only one item. 

The Bengal Lounge  Fairmont Empress Hotel

I love coming here having a beer sitting in the big leather club chair by the window and enjoying the Curry Buffet.


My chair was booked...aghast I was then offered a couch niiiice.

Neither the time limit on the parking meter or cash budget could handle the $28 Curry Buffet and so I went for the $14 Vegetable Samosas and Onion Fritters with mango chutney, cumin & ginger yogurt appetizer. Added to this a pint of Race Rocks.


Total was 24.64 + tip = 30.00!


Visited yet another thrift store - shirt for $3.99
Saw China town and visited Fantan Alley
Sampled tea at Silk Road Tea 


Soon it was time to pick up Mary. Wanting to be punctual I left 30 minutes for my 9 block drive.  I found another thrift shop along the way and picked up a wool vest for $2.00.

We checked out Value Village which now seemed expensive with shirts starting at $5.99 and pants at a whopping $12. The store was so big and overwhelming I left with nothing even tried on. As I skulked out I noticed my great pedicure and immediate felt better.


It was getting close to the time to meet up with the 'tobins at Red Fish Blue Fish.

We arrived 40 minutes early and slyly gathered and hoarded 10 wood stools waiting for our party and the teens to arrive. The 'tobins were on time the teens 25 minutes late.


I ordered two Tempura Cod Tacones with a sweet smoked chili adobo and lemon pickled onions without the pea shoots for $9, a Limonata for $2.50 and 1/2 order of Curry Chips to share for $3.50 with tax coming to $16.80. I didn't tip, no reason just missed the opportunity. 

  
The fast-food style building set up is on the wharf  where you order and then are called to pick up your food. They could have a tip jar at the pick up window for people like me. 

                                     

Too bad for me the curry chips where 
so hot I couldn't eat them.

We walked around the Harbor. I gave $2 to a busker and another $2.50 to this guy who had a enticing tale.

His sign said " busking to take my wife out for a romantic dinner"

We took the girls to the Ferry, I drove. This takes about 45 minutes. Then we drive to Sooke another 45 minutes. I use a car-share program at home. I drive about twice a month. I don't miss it. 

Todays Big Deal

Wine and cookies and that's all I'm going to say about that.  


Total cash consumed today  $69.29
Cash forwarded $27.42

Day Five - Cash Available Today 30.00 + 51.71 = $80.71

Monday- Beach day Total Spent - $14.00 To see this from the beginning of the project click here.

We packed up for the Beach. East Sooke Park was close and provided the perfect backdrop for working on editing my book. The teenagers could boy watch and Mary could  be Mary in all her west coast beauty.

I bought a pop to drink on the beach which was a totally unnecessary purchase much like my bikini. $2.00


Big surprise, a blogger has a book to be edited. A few years ago I entered the Three Day Novel Contest with my BF and daughter. All weekend we worked on shitty computers around the clock to produce limp excuses for entry into the contest. As reward we each got a sticker and bragging rights.  It was a great experience, it did put me off blogging for a very long time but I now had a shell of a book to build on.


The girls were ready to leave and desperately wanted to go to the Potholes. 

To avoid having them plunge in and break a nail we opted for the more subdued area of the water.  They don't know what they missed. 


To show their appreciation for Mary's hospitality they wanted to buy dinner. We were off to Mom's Cafe. I had been to Sooke yearly for the past five and heard various grumblings about this eatery but wanted to try their homemade pie. I will let the linked reviews do most of the talking here. Me, I won't go back even though they had an excellent poutine made with curry sauce and sweet potatoes. 




They were out of all but two types of pie. Cream of tears and loathing was available but I had enough of that by the time dinner was served. We were in there almost two hours waiting and forgotten. I paid $12 for my portion of the bill and waited in the parking lot as the tab was settled. I realized two days later I was suppose to pay more but my sense of justice must of stopped me. I suppose I've written more than I intended to. I will wrap this up with a warning. Don't go to Mom's for Pie unless you want to be treated like the uninvited relative -ignored, forgotten and expected to clean up after yourself.


Today's Big Deal 

Nature. There was no charge for today's natural beauty, It's entertainment or it's restorative properties.









Total Cash consumed today $14.00
Cash Forwarded $66.71

Day Four - Cash 30.00+21.71= 51.71

Sunday - Total Spent - $0.00 To see this from the beginning of the project click here.

Somewhat jangled from last nights frolicking I looked forward to coffee at home. Today Mary had new visitors arriving, two 15 year old screenagers. Now that their were minors in the house until Tuesday my demeanor shifted and so did the sleeping arrangements. I am awkward around teenagers and usually resort to trying to teach them something or feeding them or teaching them to feed themselves. Which all usually comes off bossy. 

Twilight the cat would now be my roommate. Twilight was much improved in her bathroom habits of the past when I refered to her as Toliet. Sleeping with the cat now meant I would have to take drugs some of them legal. I never knew I was allergic to animals until one day I stopped eating them. Of course this is a joke, I know I have readers from all over the world and don't want to confuse any of you. Hot mustard.

Mary would be gone for about 3 hours with the drive to the ferry. Time for me to update this blog. It was not to be, as the slow internet connection and her gas powered laptop turned blogging into work and I lost three hours of a Sunday afternoon.

However the view from her balcony was fantastic and the gardens surrounding the property very peaceful. Much cheaper than a trip to Butchart Gardens.

 

I prepared some deviled eggs for what I was sure would be hungry travelers on their return. I saw there was no mayonnaise and made some. It really is the easiest thing to make next to making a mess. Which I also did.

We picnicked on the bay at the edge of the property courtesy the friendly neighbor lady. The girls did some beach-combing but were soon board and wanted to go into town. Sunday in a small town was dismal to these young city dwellers and they soon returned.

Meanwhile, Mary and I attended to the dinner menu and shopping. I offered to chip in some cash for food but I was lucky she even let me carry the basket at the grocery store. Instead I made a big deal out of my BBQing knowledge and insisted I cook.

The BBQ was a charcoal model. The last time I used one of these I had 8 inches of cleavage.

BBQ Salmon & Shrimp
Grilled Corn on the Cob
Grilled Zucchini
Fantastic Organic garden salad
Potato Salad


So the girls were put to work. They did a great job and didn't even hesitate. Peeling the corn and the shrimp. The latter of which they had no clue so of course I taught. Picture the two of them peeling shrimp, grimacing and squeals included they had a story.
 
Today's Big Deal

 For desert we had Creamsicle ice-cream with fresh raspberries. Yes it was so sweet I knew I was headed to an insulin plunge that would end my day. To read more about this flavor...

Total cash consumed today Nil 
Cash forwarded $30.00

Day Three - Cash Available Today 30.00+9.35=$39.35

Saturday -Wedding Party Day To see this from the beginning of the project click here.


There was a fantastic party planned for this evening. The couple had tied the knot some weeks before and chose to have their party on the August long weekend.

As a guest I would bring something for the table from Lina's Italian Market & Cappuccino Bar of Calgary and a modest gift of Rose Cuvee from Barefoot Wines.

Before the party we had lot's of time for being a tourist, shopping and eating.

Coffee from the Stick this time included a tour of the roasterie.- $2.25
I learned heaps about the coffee industry like how although I take my coffee black adding sugar and cream would bring out the true essence of the roast. Up until this moment I only added to black when I was hungry.

Thrift Stores which in B.C. do not charge HST.
The Salvation Army Thrift Store yielded
Cozy Hat .99
Grey Cords 2.65
Shirt 2.15

To the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store. This store is about 1/3 the size of the Sally Ann store and is a little more thrifty smelling but always has something excellent just for me.
Cream and Navy petite short suit jacket 3.75
Navy leather flat sandal 1.75
New cotton embroidered hankies (4) 1.00
New linen napkins (2) 1.00

Farmers Market
We stopped in at the Sooke Saturday Farmers Market

I didn't buy anything here this time but encouraged Mary to purchase some organic chicken eggs. Yes there were duck and goose but I was sure I'd get to do that at later tonight. Check out Full Circle Seeds they offer open-pollinated, untreated seed grown without herbicides, pesticides or synthetic fertilizers.

A nice young man offered us
some delicious tiny strawberries
which we ate yum yum yum. $0.00





Organic Gardening



Every Saturday Mary goes to a local organic gardener so we made our way to Deb and Brian's. I was offered a complimentary tour. I was offered the first ripe cherry tomato, boom flavor explodes.








Last Minute Purchase
I had forgot to bring along a nail polish from home and simply must do my
toes to show off my $1.75 new sandals.
Off to Shoppers Drug Mart.
I got lucky with a Sale on Rimmel Hot Cocoa.
Only $3.35 including HST. I took a chance and did not buy remover.

Lunch
Mary created a kale, tomato, white cheddar frittata. I dipped zucchini in a parmesan, egg and rice bread crumb mixture and cooked it in a skillet and finished it in the oven. We added potato salad and wine from Mary's stock. $0.00.

Today's Big Score

At the Stick we were offered a complimentary strawberry. I dipped the berry in the nearest topping I saw and was immediately
reprimanded. No charges were laid.



How did the party go?
It was a great event taking advantage of the mix of friends a musician couple would have and adding great food, a beautiful outdoor venue, bottles and bottles of champagne, live music and dancing to original beats. "Let's go to the Pot Holes" was a house favorite led by Caledonia. I met fabulous people and recorded so many observations in my comic notebook, great jokes from real people and unfortunately the notebook was MIA the next day when I went back for my clothes.

Total cash consumed today $17.65 Cash forwarded 39.35-17.65=$21.70

Day Two- Cash available today: 30.00+20.05=$50.05

Coffee at the Stick  To see this from the beginning of the project click here.

$2.25 for my dark roast; plus I scored ½ of Mary’s giant cinnamon bun, complimentary. Read more about

The Stick.

Sale at the Trift Store.

Three shirts - $3

Clarks black suede lace-ups - $5

Sushi on the Deck

All I could eat $30, maybe should have stopped at $10. I had sushi in Sooke B.C. last summer on the Sushi Boat. It was fantastic. Our host wasn’t missing an eye but he was a swarthy seafaring captain and entertained us with stories of bootie and such.

This year’s sushi gathering is at the general store in a neighboring community, Kemp Lake. Friendly, rural and clean without that cuties forced feel, I was in love with the idea of this local stores’ product diversification efforts.

There were 14 of us on the picnic tables arranged in the north facing deck. They served scallop, smoked eel, smoked tuna, crab and tempura prawn all in rolls. The only filling raw was the scallop which was delicious even if a little intimidating with a full disc of scallop balancing on the roll also stuffed with scallop. I was surprised by the pork ‘sushi’; really did anyone ask the pig his opinion? Where in nature will you find a pig and sealife together? Chinese astrology? Perhaps the chef was experimenting for the woodsmen in the area.

Many of the rolls were deep-fried, which was disappointing. There was no fresh salmon, boo. However the host/organizer did an excellent job of making the event enjoyable and although he was a fellow diner he saved the day with his serving and clearing and connecting us with the food.

Dessert was several ice-cream sandwiches cut into manageable pieces. It seemed only proper to end this off-beat meal with a mucus producing finish. I am told it’s usually much better so I will try again but for now I can’t recommend spending money on this deep-fried sushi.

Today’s Big Score

In small communities complimentary local freak shows are available from time to time. I witnessed such a show in the parking lot, as a Ritchard announced he was taking his ‘cat’ to the vet. As shown in the photo I don’t believe a vet can fix bald, but most would admit there is an upside to a hairless pussy.

Total cash consumed today- $40.25
Cash forwarded 9.80

Travel Day-Total Cash Spent -$9.65

Travel Day To see this from the beginning of the project click here.

I headed out at 6am with my generous friend Nancy at the wheel.. The goal was to get to the Tsawwassen ferry dock for the 6:20pm.

My sweet BF packed me a lunch and extra foods to help with the budget.

He also included a note asking fro my pin number and place of birth, I'm sure he's planning something special.


What's in my lunch...


A thermos of coffee

Two water bottles

Yummy foods from Linas

Four Sandwiches 2 fresh roast turkey and cranberry & 2 capacola ham & provolone

2 Apples and 2 Bananas

Lemon cookies

Mini biscotti

Brushetta

Feta Cheese

4 Big Rock Traditional beer (for after I arrive)

Carrots, cucumber, assorted olives

I added to this: a bottle of wine (for a wedding gift)

Walnuts, almond, figs, chocolate, gum.


Today's Big Score

We stopped in Kelowna for lunch and ate in the Chapters parking lot. It had a great view of some close up capital K's.



I had some cold leftover coffee. Entering the Starbucks shop with travel mug in hand I asked for ice and offered to pay. No charge. I am not sure if lying and thieving apply here but I also topped the ice with sugar and some cream. Returning to the car I then poured the reminder of the coffee over the ice. Yum, iced coffee.
Total Cash Spent
$9.65 for the ferry fee (which was reduced from $14.95 for some reason, hopefully not a seniors discount). Cash forwarded to next day $20.35.
I made the 5:00pm ferry to Swartz Bay where I was picked up by my generous friend Mary. We returned to her home and drained it of silence...there was also wine.
Eva Pea

Before I leave

Lodging - yes I am staying with friends so I do not have to take lodging money out of my daily cash. Geesh, tough crowd.

Hugs,
Eva Pea

July 29 - August 8 = 11 days not 10

To see this from the beginning of the project click here.
July 29 - August 8 = 11 days not 10.

I have not yet started my $27.90+HST/Day-cation and I am behind 27.90+HST.

Hopefully I will make this up over the 11 days either that or I will be busking this shit. I have created 10 dated envelopes, each with 30 bucks inside.


My self imposed rules are simple.

1. I can use all the money in the envelope on the date shown
2. I can use any left over money on any other day
3. I can not borrow from future dated envelopes
4. No credit
5. No debit transactions
6. No borrowing money
7. I can accept gifts of money, food, and other good stuff


I leave tomorrow at 6am.