A Lesson, A List and a Pep-talk

What you need to know is that my boss has the focus of, I dunno... refracted light. Finishing a project is near impossible when I can't get him to finish a complete thought. Sometimes he'll start assigning me a project and then get so lost in his own tangents that he'll walk away before he's described what he actually needs... then ask me where the project is or why it's not done at some random time usually 3 - 6 weeks later. Today I told him "...if you do that one more time, I WILL BURST INTO FLAMES!" 

The lesson I am currently learning... 

It is incredibly difficult to work for someone you don't respect. It is also very difficult to respect someone who has no respect for others. 

Yes, I know that I should "be the change I want to see in the world." Set the example even if you are the only one in the office following it.  I have fallen into lazy and bad work habits because I lack respect for the man who runs things. Time to whip myself back into shape and not accept anything less than absolute professionalism from those around me.  

You live in an amazing city.
This is an amazing time in your life.
It's just a job. Don't forget to live. 

Things that are awesome... 
               even on today's cruddy day.

• The vlogbrothers. 
• Big fluffy blankets. 
• A lovely boyfriend who can commiserate and is undeniably supportive. 
• Good roommates who are excellent listeners who don't roll their eyes at me. 
• Trent and that book he sent me. It keeps excellent company on the trains. 
• Cheese. What list is complete without it? 
• A hot bath.
• Repainting your nails even though you just did that yesterday. 
• Going to bed just a little early. 
• Weighing in 3lbs lighter than last week. 
• Being one day closer to payday. 

Every dollar is one dollar closer to moving, 

Nanette 

Because If You Don't Have Anything Nice To Say...

Sorry for the silence. I made promises about keeping my blog going (Cristalle, to you especially). Right now it would be a whole lot of complaining. My job is getting more and more lame by the day. I am getting more and more dissatisfied. An easier exit. Right? Well... the actual date of departure is not set yet so I have nothing to count down to... I'm just driving myself nuts.

2014 has begun and I haven't even made any progress towards sort of meditating on what parts of my person I'd like to nurture and focus on. I mean, it's like I've been writing the same thing since I was twelve.

read more books.
lose weight.
travel somewhere.
learn something new.

Boring goals, those are...  Aside from the boring goals... 

• Don't spend like a stupid 27 year old - instead save like a SMART 27 year old. $3500 by the time you move.
  
• Go a freaking month without thinking "I'm fat" or berating myself for numbers on a scale, measuring tape, graph or whatever else. Just stop obsessing about it for the first time in 19 years.
  
• Leave the house more...   aim for one fun social thing a week that isn't watching netflix with the mister.
  
• Refrain from acquiring more crap that you're going to have to haul across the country again... I am not getting rid of my makeup/nail polish and jewelry collections this time... methinks we are going to actually take a uhaul. I don't have to start over from 2 suitcases! hurrah!
  
• Use more crap... in your hair... on your face... on your nails... all over your body. Just use it all. No reason to save anything for a special occasion. Today is a special occasion. And then don't buy more crap to replace the old crap. (Is anyone besides myself seeing a cycle?) 

Now...   Some awesome stuff. 

I have set up my first appointment with a surgeon, nurse and dietician. The first step in making lapband a reality.

I am working with a personal trainer once a month or so to guide my workouts and hold me accountable for progress.

Trent sent me a couple of really awesome books for christmas so the subway rides this week and maybe next are going fly by.

Also... peanut butter.

Next... Living like a miser. 

I've given myself a spending budget of $50 a week... OUTSIDE of groceries. It seems like a lot. I mean... Idaho-Nanette is like "whoa! $50 a week? that's (52x$50...) $2600 per year! It barely seems like a limitation at all, right?

No. Nope. Nuh-uh. Leaving the house in my current state of "wanna spend" can cost $20+ per day.

This means... packing lunches in your purse while you run errands around the city. I don't hold anything against a smushed, purse temperature, tuna sandwich.

This also means... planning my grocery trips better... and my social life... and my ebay life.

I officially canceled all of my subscription services but one... the cheapest one. The ipsy one.

Lapband also means that I wouldn't even be able to eat most of the favorite and expensive foods I hold so dearly (see: cheese and chocolate). So... there's at least 4 weeks of broth-based savings (post-op liquid only diet).

Every dollar saved is one dollar away from my incredibly business dumb boss and his ladder climbing, head bobbing, "ass or gas, no one rides for free" sexism (and cheapness)...   and one dollar closer to relocation.

No matter where you go, there you are. Moving isn't the answer, but it sure is a good deadline.

Love love,
Nanette

Times, they are a changin': job, health, location and a lipid panel.

So much has been going on these past few weeks. I'm really not able to talk about a lot of it in an online forum. But the next twelve months will be full of changes with my job, health, location and basically everything.

First, the job... we are working with a consultant to help save the business. I'm being kept as the office manager, but the title is the only thing staying the same. If we succeed in saving the business, I will need to adapt to all of the new systems, hours and quit my freelance work (conflict of interest). If the business fails, which is all dependent on the doctor's willingness to accept change and listen - characteristics in which he is incredibly weak... if the business fails, I may need to seek employment elsewhere.

Second, the health... I'm finally insured and am seeking the way to make lapband happen. Turns out I need year's worth of medical documentation at weight loss attempts, a letter of recommendation from my primary care physician and to be able to pay my deductible up front (roughly $4000). So there was a night of tears, realizing it wasn't going to be as easy or seamless as I thought. Okay... so that means I'm getting my ducks in a row and preparing that paperwork. I have picked a primary care physician that I'm visiting tomorrow. The mister may also be able to connect me with a dietician in his family and maybe I can save my $30 copay.

Third, the location... There are whispers on the winds about relocation. Again, a hefty consideration with all the change at work. I'm hesitant to commit and say that it is happening because life is incredibly variable right now. Meanwhile the freelance work, which I can do from anywhere... that they want me to quit if I take doc's new hours... Is the only sort of financial security that I would have if I relocated.

That's what's been happening lately. There have been lovely things in between... snow, tea, salads, chinatown, company christmas dinner...   But figuring out those three items has been weighing on my thoughts for now.

The Wisdom House company dinner - a night of peruvian cuisine at the Natural Gourmet Institute. 

Today I went to the MIC Women's Health Clinic to renew my birth control. Because I now have active insurance (as of Dec 1) and am no longer a NY state benefit recipient... they were going to charge me $250 for the visit as opposed to the $30 copay that I was expecting. Only slightly disappointed, because I'm going to the Primary Care Physician tomorrow and I'm sure I can get it there too... But what I did get were my medical records. And can I just say... my lipid panel was awesome.

Cholesterol: 153 -       ref: 120 -200
HDL: 48        ref: >40.
LDL: 90        ref: 100 - 130. LOW
Chol/HDL ratio: 3.19 (less than 1/2 the average risk).
Triglycerides: 77       ref: 30 -175

So here's to knowing that whatever all these life changes bring, I won't be having a heart attack over them. Woohoo for clean arteries!

My street this morning... just a little snow to remind us it's December.

Our dapper kitty keeping me company. 

Snow on Bowery St. - My first trip to ChinaTown. The Dumplings are great! 

NYC Winter Wonderland...

NYC in winter...  is only about 30% of what it is in the movies. It's beautiful, no doubt. The decorations and lights are intricate and lovely. The window fronts are festive. And the big, wet snowflakes are delightful.

But let's talk for 2 seconds about what you don't get in the movies. The smell. Wool coats, fleece accessories, jeans, shoes, socks, unwashed hair and bodies... plus wetness. I've heard people complain about the subway in the summer... but it's NOTHING compared to the damp smells in the winter. The homeless have fewer outdoor options and it drives them into the subway.

You know that if you see a half empty subway car in rush hour, it's not your lucky day. It's probably a smell. And I don't mean the discomfort of a stale fart or someone who is steeped in 25 years of 2-packs a day secondhand smoke. I mean... you get in and immediately your eyes water. Smells you have never smelled before - Every type of rare body cheese and fungi, wet socks, feet, hair & the wafting of concentrated trash, urine and feces. And you will see the unfortunate, probably mentally unstable, homeless person sorting their newspapers or sprawled across a bench getting a nice $2.50 nap.

My "Oh GROSS!" reaction can last up to half the train ride before I remember that there's a person in there that lives with that 24 hours a day and really, finding a place to stay warm, something to eat, a little change to get into the subway is of absolute importance. That person still has feelings and no body enjoys being the smelly kid.

In all frankness, the subway is the culmination of all things gross here. Above ground it's street sludge, construction drips and puddles.

But the snow, while it's falling, is absolutely magical and lovely. Today the snow is falling...   And it is glorious.

A Theory, A Judgement, A Couple Pictures and A Closing Number

A Theory

When I first got here, someone told me that every time you leave the house, plan on spending $20. I laughed. Yeah. Right. I was living off of my $1500 in savings trying to make it last 3 months (rent already paid).

But now, I get it. Today for example. I went to work and had coffee with Katya then went home. It should have been a $5.00 day.

Grocery store $17.58 (chocolate, tea and tomatoes).
Starbucks $12.00 (peppermint mocha mix and a peppermint hot cocoa).
Total: $29.58.

Tomorrow is another day... More importantly, payday. I'd say I can go without buying anything, but I've gotta pick up a few things here and there...

Milk $3.00
Laundry $10.00
Metro Card $5.00
Total: $18.00

Again... basically $20 for leaving the house.

A Judgement

Instead of going to Goodwill or Deseret Industries, you can just leave stuff on the sidewalk and people will take what they want. Tuesday, I loaded up a box with some old lotions, make up items, A gym bag, jump rope and 5 books. I dropped the box off in front of our house and went off to the gym. I worked out. About an hour later... I get home absolutely every item EXCEPT for the books had been taken. And the books were good - Neil Gaiman, The Help, The girl who played with fire, etc.

For this... I judge you, neighborhood, I judge you.

Pictures

Can you guess who this celebrity is? Really... Guess in the comments. Tracy should know how good she is. 

This is how the fancy cat sleeps. 

An Independent Thanksgiving

Okay, so it is the 2nd year that I've done Thanksgiving on my own. We're heading into the holiday season and I'll probably be doing most of them by myself. My roommates travel and the mister isn't in town for the holidays.

Last year it was a little emotional and overwhelming... This year not so much.

What do you do for Thanksgiving on your own?

- You make a Thanksgiving smoothie (no turkey involved, just fruit).
- You scrub the Thanksgiving tub and do the Thanksgiving dishes (and because you're at home by yourself, you know they stay done).
- You take a Thanksgiving personal spa day - exfoliate, pluck, shave, deep condition and spend 2 hours in a hot bath.
- You pick a TV show (Ugly Betty this time around) and marathon during all of your activities.
- You make some Thanksgiving wraps...
- Then you feel a little left out of the pie-a-thon.
- You go to the corner store and buy a cake mix and some frosting.
- You bake a Thanksgiving cake... and continue to watch Ugly Betty.
- And then you wind up the night with all the skin care you normally neglect... and flossing.

I'm really grateful that I stuck it out here in NYC. I've got a beautiful house, lovely roommates, good friends, a great boyfriend and a loving family. And for Black Friday, I'm staying home, doing some laundry and avoiding all crowds... and eating some Thanksgiving cake.

I have a first world problem.

Today's shipments. 

So I am doing those subscription beauty boxes (glossybox, ipsy, julep)... and they give you great discounts for products. Well, this last month, there were really great coupons. I bought a couple items here... and another couple there.... and then NYX had a great sale and they have these great glittery eyeliners that I've been obsessing about for about a month and then their eyeshadow pots were only a dollar, and their nail polish was only $2 a bottle.

Well, All the orders came in today. Which was surprising. And overwhelming. And eye opening. Looks like I am going to be canceling two of the boxes. But I don't know which to quit.



Ipsy - $10 per month. 4-6 items. 

Brands that I could afford and buy at the duane reade... More makeup than skincare and haircare.

However, if you quit. Then you have to join the waiting list again before you can sign up again.



Glossybox - $23 with shipping per month 4-5 items. 

Luxury foreign and high end brands. Great sized samples. Excellent actual boxes (for easy organizing at home) :) Usually an even smattering of haircare, skincare and makeup.



Julep - $20 per month 3 items. 

3 nail polishes or 2 polishes and 1 beauty product. I CAN skip months with Julep instead of fully quitting.



WEAK! I am weak.

So December... Here we go. Gotta make some cancelations. Save a little money and go through the massive amounts of stuff I already have.

First. World. Problem.