I had the car today so I went searching for supper. I wanted something Mexican--my favorite things being fajitas and nachos. The problem with wanting Mexican here is that most of it is actually too authentic for my palate. I grew up with Tex Mex. I would kill for an On the Border around here. I haven't had decent nachos since 2003.

But anyway. I kept getting diverted by heavy traffic, and finally ended up at a place I didn't much like the last time I tried it, but that was years ago. So I tried it again. The food was okay. Still too authentic. There was some heavy reddish sauce on my fajitas that I'm not used to seeing. However, I ran across one of the only problems I have with immigrants working in the US. When you work in a restaurant where most of the clientele is going to speak English and you're expected to take orders from them and speak to them, then please learn enough English to get it right! I ordered a Corona with my meal just because it was Cinco de Mayo. When one of the men came by and asked me if I wanted another, I shook my head and said I was having only the one. He brought me another. I can see how he misunderstood, but no one fluent would have made the mistake.

I am not assertive. I couldn't bear the idea of arguing with them that no, I hadn't ordered it and yes, I was sorry it would have to be thrown away, but I wasn't paying for it. So I resigned myself to sitting there a lot longer and drank the damn thing. While I was in the bathroom the bus people stole my lime wedge. At this point, I was nearly in tears, but the worse was yet to come.

Those stupid Coronas coast $4 each. My dinner was $17 before taxes! I haven't been that grumpy unhappy with a meal in ages. Not doing that again. Ever.

I've had this sinus infection thingie pretty much since last Monday (8 days), and TODAY is the first time I feel the slightest bit feverish, though I've been lethargic, stuffed up and largely voiceless for days. My head feels like an overripe melon, and the meds barely work to keep the pain bearable.

I find that weird. I sort of had free pancakes at IHOP, but then came home and felt miserable.

I ought to go to class, but ugh, feverish and miserable.

My bank had to send me a new debit card for no good reason. I want  my old PIN back. Yeesh.

*falls over*

I worked a few hours yesterday for a friend's catering business (washing dishes, oh my!) and earned a few bucks. Not a lot, but more than I had.  I had foot cramps the entire time, probably (now that I think about it) due to the nasty, likely salty, food I had at the buffet. I don't know why I go there. I don't like the food, and I know it's bad for me. I get all panicky at the idea of being hungry (especially if I'm already hungry).

Things I need to do today (in no particular order):

• try to attend at least ONE of the Landel's Damned chat parties (Armand is gonna be dressed as Aziraphale from Good Omens -- how he found out about him is anyone's guess, but it presents a ridiculous and amusing picture without having to strip the poor fellow half-naked)
• go to bank with Cantropos to try to deposit our refund deposit from Five Points
• find out why my debit card wouldn't work at Sav-A-Lot - I made a math mistake and didn't have enough money in there, but it wasn't overdrawn or anything scary like that.
  
• wash laundry?
• pay utility bill to landlord (way too much money)
• more grocery shopping?
• play D&D (usual Friday evening thing)
• eat something that doesn't make me swell up like a balloon
• find iron supplements
• try on sneakers at Kohl's?
• wash some of our dishes (Cantropos did)
  
• scoop litter box
• gather up garbage to take out
  
• ingest huge amounts of ibuprofen to keep from crying in bed all day with headache
• grow gills so I don't drown in the humid air

After two years, I finally have my Paypal account functioning again. I still haven't been able to work out if my debit card that drew from the account is working again yet (because I cannot find it just now), but I can now accept payments, which  means I am supposed to make and sell things AND sell books.

At the library a few weeks ago I bought two hardcover editions of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, so I have one to sell. I can ship to anywhere in the US, likely bookrate. I paid a ridiculously small sum for the book, so I am taking offers from people who may want their own copy. It is a library "discard" with a dust jacket and some wear, but  it is a  big, sturdy hardback. Of course, paying by Paypal isn't required but I wanted to make it easy in case someone didn't want to just send a check or money order.

If no friends want it, I'll set a price and put it up on Half.com. A bunch of my other books are going up there anyway (either before or after moving).

    

because I'll make this work if it kills me even without help...

I am buying a car. It only costs $300. I'm buying it from a coworker. I am giving him $150 on Monday, the rest the next paycheck and praying to have the $200 or so to get the tags the next week (and the insurance). The problem with this too-good-to-be-passed-over opportunity is that it will delay me paying Osy and Gina back quickly enough to save up for moving in June/July.

So I am asking my friendslist for suggestions on specific fundraising or if there are any possible donations/loans still out there.

I am going to talk to my stepdad tonight. I may even write my 'real' father and ask. Just over $500 is so little if you think about what I am going to be getting for it.

ETA: I'm already thinking of picking up extra hours at work. Maybe just one really long day a week or one week on, one week off of extra hours.

Today being President's Day, the work place encouraged us to dump hours. I shouldn't have but I did so I could go to the library during the daylight. I missed the bus because I'm used to catching the eastbound ones, so no big deal. It's not that far. I put my BRAND NEW BOUGHT BY MY BOYFRIEND bus pass in coat pocket and walk to the library. It's cold and windy but not horrid.

I get some nifty books, spend some time online and then prepare to go home because I'm hungry. And I cannot find my pass. Anywhere. It's gone. I search everyone I've been in the library.

I haven't reported it to the bus company yet because I was too hungry to walk there.

I need that bus pass to get to work. Without it I don't have a job. I don't dare ask Christian for more money. I'm even scared to tell him. He's not a yeller, but... I am so ashamed.

I need to replace that pass. I dumped my hours tomorrow too, to give me time to figure this out.

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1. I still have a job. Start back Monday morning.

2. I have a boyfriend for Valentine's weekend, and the housemates are out of town.

3. My church paid my rent and gave me $50 extra.

I just did my state taxes for Illinois. It does seem by some freak of nature I am getting back money because I got a Federal EIC. Isn't that cool? I am dreading my taxes next year, just dreading them.

Sometimes Wal-mart can be a good thing. I went there yesterday with a gift card having about $12 left on it, food stamps and less than $10 cash. I walked out of the store with almost more than I could carry, and relatively little of it was food. I bought a towel and washcloth, toothpaste that came with a free toothbrush, cat litter, cat food, a coffee mug, bread, diet pepsi, butterscotch pudding, sunflower seeds, and more, but I can't remember it all. It was heavy.