1.15.07

Both J and I now have Washington plates on our cars, so I can breathe easy while driving. I've been certain that everyone stuck behind me in traffic has muttered something to the effect of, "More damn Californians, driving up our housing prices..."

It wasn't me, I swear!

Went to the temp agency today. I had to take a few little tests (Word, Excel, typing) before the interview. I also did quite a bit of job-searching stuff this weekend, applying to a couple of things and tweaking my resume on the job websites. I've had no bites, but I'm feeling really optimistic lately.

1.12.2007

January actually feels like January--the start of a brand new year, with all sorts of possibilities ahead.

So, it snowed--sort of. We didn't get that much, really, though I did have to scrape off my car. I went to a stitch-'n-bitch* earlier in the week, and my inner Massachusan had to suppress a snicker when a woman said, "I just wish I knew whether we were going to get a dusting or the three inches they're talking about!" (In Massachusetts, anything under four inches is a dusting.) Personally I was delighted to see it, as was the dog, who had a few good wallows in it.

I have an appointment with a temp agency on Monday. It'd be nice to find something part-time while I'm looking for a permanent job.

I'm so excited to be somewhere where we want to settle down. And now that we're not doing all of this excess traveling, the money hemorrhaging will stop. Sure enough, we've accumulated some debt, which will need to be dealt with. Taxes should be real fun too--luckily, our accountant in Massachusetts said he could still do them, so I don't have to worry about finding a new person. One year, three states--whew.

Took the dog to the vet today to get his teeth cleaned. I'm embarrassed to say that this is the first time we've done this since acquiring him over three years ago. One rawhide a day and a Greenie at night has been the extent of his dental care. Most vets have said his teeth look okay, but that we should probably get him in for a cleaning "soon." However, his new vet indicated that it was time, so I made the appointment. I also elected to have him microchipped for $30 while he was under. It's likely it wasn't necessary--he's not the type to run off, but if he did, and I could have gotten him microchipped for $30...

I'm not sure what to make of this. The posts appear to be old (and, inexplicably, they keep changing--some disappear, and then reappear, etc.!), but could it mean that Seattle Simplicity is coming back? I hope so!

*I'm doing a few things like this to get out and meet people. I'll say more about them later.

The $4.99 skirt

I took Kassy's advice from my last post and headed to Goodwill after leaving the library, to search for the Perfect Brown Skirt. They didn't have much in my size, but I did try on an Ann Taylor skirt that was a size larger--it was brown with some embroidery along the bottom in red, cream and olive green. It was lined and in perfect shape.

I tried it on and noticed it was a little big in the hips. "Well, my sweater will smooth it out," I thought. Then it hit me that it looked like something I might have bought a few years ago and tired of by now. "But it's Ann Taylor," said the voice in my head. The conversation continued:

"I really just wanted a plain brown wool skirt."
"But I already have a sweater I could wear it with."
"I probably wouldn't have picked this out of a catalog."
"But it's just $4.99. Less than two lattes!"

With that, I put the skirt in my basket and left the dressing room, intending to purchase it. It wasn't until I walked around the store a bit that I realized what would happen. I would probably never want to wear the skirt, because it was too big and not really what I wanted in the first place. But I would have bought it anyway, because it was only $4.99.

At least when I buy lattes, I generally enjoy them, I decided. With that, I put the skirt back on the rack. At $4.99, it was truly a steal--for someone else.

I wonder how much money I've wasted that way?

Financial- and Seattle-related tidbits

I rode the buses for the first time yesterday, and found them clean and efficient and the drivers helpful and polite in a reserved sort of way. I think the "polite but not especially friendly" personality is the "Seattle Freeze" I've heard about. Personally, I prefer it over making smalltalk with gregarious strangers, which might have been one of the reasons I felt so at home in the Boston area (and a little out of place in Texas).

The buses are $1.25, which isn't that cheap, but you can get transfer tickets. And dogs are allowed on the buses! I saw three yesterday--one tried to climb in my lap and another gave me kisses. Anyway, I may look into getting a pass if it looks like taking the bus more often could be an option for me, and that should bring the cost down somewhat.

Found an auto mechanic with good reviews online, and got my 60,000-mile maintenance done for $250.00.

I have ONE skirt for cooler winter, and it's a black corduroy number with a slit up the side. Tights cling to it, and slips show (even ones with slits on the sides). I desperately need more winter skirts, but I can't find any. Most online retailers are out of my size by now. I went to Value Village (a "thrift department store") yesterday where I found a brown Banana Republic skirt in my size, only it was stained. Arrgh.

It's a bummer paying sales tax on Amazon.

I really need a job. I may look into temporary or part-time employment if nothing happens by mid-January. I'm still hoping something will happen with a particular employer that offers a 7% match on retirement funds to employees 35 and over. It's a library position, but a good one, and the benefits really can't be beat.

And, finally, a tidbit that just barely qualifies as financial-related: the woman on the cover of Kiplinger's Personal Finance February 2007 issue looks like a cross between J's sister and me, which he finds "a little disturbing."

In Seattle and HAPPY

Well folks, we made it! We've been in Seattle for about three weeks and I have to say I love it. We don't yet have DSL, so I won't be able to update my blog much until then--whenever I go to the library I spend most of my time job-searching, catching up on email and taking care of personal business. Just wanted to check in to say I'm still alive--more later!