Spoiled

I'm spoiled. Dane and I purchased a hot tub this weekend. First of all, our back patio is P-E-R-F-E-C-T for it, it's nothing but a concrete pad. Second, I pulled my credit (in the excellent range *BEAM*) BUT it was suggested that I establish more credit and hang on to the cards that I have. I can't believe I didn't even think about this, but when I paid off all my credit cards I got when I was 18 (Capital One, Household Bank, Mervyns, Express, etc) and closed the accounts, I actually did some damage. Creditors look for longetivity (I should have known this) and for all intents and purposes I have only had credit since '03 when I opened all my current credit cards. Let me tell you how stoopid I feel. D'oh. Oh well, time will fix that mistake. Anyway, after learning that I need to establish more credit, Dane and I sat down and thought about all the things we want and what we can finance. A hot tub came up and next thing you know we bought one and it's being installed on Thursday. We sat in the SUPER EXTREMELY EXTRAVAGANT OUTRAGEOUS ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES AND EVEN CLEANS YOUR HOUSE tub first. It was awesome. Sound system, foot massagers all the way around, rotating and pulsating back massagers, chrome fittings and knobs, mother of pearl futuristic shell, automatic cover lifter, water fountain with back lit lights so the water coming out of the fountain looks colored, this tub was awesome. It was also almost $11,000. Thank gawd our neighbor slash lifeguard was with us otherwise I might have drown after hearing the price tag. Once rescued I suggested a different, perhaps "no frills" tub. The sales guy laughed and said he totally understood. He directed us to a different brand but still a subsidary of the uber tub brand. The tub was just as nice, same materials, same quality, same makers, nothing shiny or fancy - just a completely functional hot tub. This tub was WAY cheaper and definitely in our price range. The sales guy likened it to the difference between the Mercedes S class and C class. The C class still has all the reputation of a Mercedes and a bit of luxury without the luxury price. For those who want a Mercedes w/o paying $60,000, they get a C class. Sure they want to be in an S class, but a C class Mercedes is still a Mercedes. Of course we want the uber tub, but a hot tub of the same make is still a hot tub. And of course let's not mention how ridiculous it would be if we got a nice ass hot tub for a house we don't even own. It'd be like putting nice rims on a Metro. No matter how nice the rims are, it just looks silly.

I celebrated my second weekend of no take home work. I still had a lot of homework and I still brought home some work in case I was tempted but I'm getting pretty tired of working on the weekends. I realize it's my fault I'm behind, but I need a break before I quit and become a barista. Dane and I had friends over on Friday and then I went to the Bellydance Superstars show w/ Laura Rose on Saturday. My first complete girls night out (save PDX w/ Jojo) since I've been here. It was very low key and much needed. We talked about our lives, Colorado, credit, body modification, and bellydance all over happy hour sushi.

We came home early today to meet the electrician (for the hot tub) and our cleaners were still here. I'm sad because it will be their last time here. The woman (Mercedes) is ill and can no longer be around the chemicals used to clean houses (this is the best explanation we could come up with between our lack of a common language). I like Mercedes and Jose a lot and I will miss having their touch to my house. I guess we will get new cleaners, but I will still miss them. I hope she gets well soon. I worry for her and her husband. But they seem to be doing well.

School is going better this week. I dropped a load of cash on some interactive tutorials and study books to help me adjust to this new learning environment. It should help.

I haven't worked out since Wed of last week. I'm so bad. I will go tomorrow for my prescribed hour and ten minutes. I discovered that 1.5 hours was just too much, but just over an hour a couple times a week and just under an hour a few times a week is just right. Of course I packed on the pounds that I lost courtesy of daquiris, pizza, and lobster. I'm so bad. Oh well, I'll just have to work that much harder.

Look at me. I'm totally chastising myself for taking a weekend to relax, purchasing something that I'd like to have and is relaxing, eating good food and not exercising to the point of exhaustion. And here I thought I had calmed down. I haven't calmed down a bit, I've just exiled everything else out of my life (friends, nail care, hair care, etc) so I could become a nazi about work, school, and my body. What happened to my mind and spirit. I even have an art room and tools for relaxation. I have a yoga mat and humidifier for moving meditation. WTF. Back to the drawing board for me I guess. I need to come up with a good plan and stick to it. A reasonable plan. Just cause there are 7 days a week does not mean I have to work out each one. Just because I goof up one day on my diet doesn't mean I should throw in the towel. Just because school is a little tougher, I don't have to spend hours on it every d*mn day. Just because I'm behind at work doesn't mean I can't enjoy my time off from it!

New plan = workout 3 - 5 times a week. Weekend calories can be up to 2000. At least 5 hours a week dedicated to painting, dancing, yoga, whatever. No work on the weekends unless absolutely necessary. No more than 5 hours of homework on the weekends unless absolutely necessary. Let's see how well I stick to this plan.