Road to Recovery

Cutter's Log  - Stardate 2012.22.60
Current Song - In The Dark (Billy Squier)

(Trying to keep up with this new Blogger formatting thing. This explains why the font looks different than the previous entries)

Two months have passed since getting the news that I would be back at work once again. Before that time I was at an all-time low in my life. When I wrote about Moving Day, that was the worst day of my life. That is still the worst "day" of my life, but those seven months unemployed was the worst time of my life.

Since getting back to work, things have felt a whole lot better. I've had some bumps in the road, and showdowns as well, but right now I feel real fine.

With an income finally rolling in each week, it's been easier to be able to afford things like gas for my car, the necessities that I need to go to Wal-Mart for, and trying to dig a hole out of the savings losses that bothered me over time.

And since the sports season won't be back underway until mid-August, every dollar that comes in until then will rarely be spent on website expenses.

But since money is coming in real well, that doesn't mean I'm going to spend it all. Since getting those paychecks back again, I've been better at dividing it up between the three accounts that I have: my checking, my savings and my website fund. I'm operating on the "take only what you need" concept, in an effort to save money for the larger things I'll need later on.

The above is a reason why I am trying to stray away from the direct deposit form of payment. Going the DD route seems easier for most people, but actually getting the paycheck (and physically touching it) means that I can divy it up however I want to - splitting it up between three accounts. This prevents me from going on any spending sprees with a debit card. I had originally asked for DD when I rejoined Shell, but instead got it changed to the normal method. So when I walk into the bank once a week, I can make better choices as to where to put my money into.

My "take only what you need" concept is helpful for another thing that I've been trying to do - spend less on bad food. Originally, with more money coming in, I had been spending a little bit more than usual at the drive-thru window.

Curbing all of this is the next big challenge.

A big boost to getting back on track was when my dad asked if he wanted to transfer his gym membership to my name. Everything came to a head there. Sure. I made my signature today, and I'm going to be seeing what that can do for me soon. More water became available in the fridge, and I tried to put water instead of Pepsi in my work mug one day.

First, I needed to buy some more clothing appropriate for the task. I have it on as I'm typing this, and, after typing this, will be going on a familiar walking route that I had been on once upon a time - a six-mile round-trip one. I seriously can't wait to see a somewhat lesser me. I just got to keep committed to this. I'm thinking gym for a couple of hours after work, and the six-mile walk on days off.

This commitment-to-fitness schedule takes a hit once the sports season starts up again. Or at least it had in previous years. However, since I am trying to limit my website spending (fuel costs) by de-emphasizing game articles, this allows me to have more free time to balance a fitness schedule. I'll have more on getting a fitness plan later. I'll think about it during the walk tonight.

***

An improvement in my social health was found one morning last week when I went to the casino in Clinton. I took a portion of my first paycheck after the sports season and went put it on the $5 blackjack table. I went early, and fought off the dealer's persuasion to sign up for the casino's player's club (you see, this way no one can keep track of your spending and winnings - unless your ID gets put in a scanner system at the entrance because you are so young).

(On an even more off-beat note, my fear of club cards started when I went back to Empress in Joliet after the big fire a few years back. On the old boat I had won $700 playing blackjack one night, and was carded before I came in and had my picture taken. When I went back, after the fire, I had to go through the same entrance procedure. When I got to the table, I decided to register for their player's club - "It's free" - and proceeded to lose 9 of 10 hands to make my night short. I threw the card away as I left the casino).

So I'm playing with a fake story that I'm from Rockford - so that the dealer can shut up about trying to get me in a player's club because "I'm not from around here" - and I see chips piling up a little more than usual. Because I was in the black from my buy-in, I kind of felt more happier. I don't think I was ever more talkative at a blackjack table in my life. I guess it helps with guys you don't know.

Anyway, I walked out of the casino with $100 more dollars than what I came in with. Am I going back? Not for a while.