4.22.01

Hey, guys. Sorry it’s been a while since I wrote, but I’m working on another project at the same time and it’s been taking up a lot of my time at night. Anyway, it’s been an interesting week for me...or my friends rather.

I have one friend who bought a new car this week. I have another friend who closed on a house this week. And I have another friend who feels like he has to buy something so he can compete with these other two guys. He actually said to me "What? Do I have to buy a boat?" I feel really sorry for this third friend.

He’s torn between buying a new car or a house. Frankly, I think if you’re going to put money into anything, make it a house. At least it builds equity so you can use that money if you need to; and if you ever decide to sell it, chances are you’ll make money on it, especially in the town we live in. However, he’s very concerned with looking good to other people, so the car is a serious consideration for him. The really funny thing is, literally just this week he got the deed to his car - it’s paid off and is officially his - now he wants to go out and buy himself another car before even going one month without a car payment.

But, who am I to tell him how to spend his money or be happy? If buying a $30,000 car or a $150,000 house is what will make him happy, then he should do it. Neither decision is hurting anyone but his own pocket book. If he gets either one, I’ll definitely support his decision and be happy for him. I just hope he doesn’t dig himself into a hole he can’t get out of. But, I guess that’s a risk we all have to take sometime.

As for me, I couldn’t buy a Matchbox car, let alone a real one. With my next paycheck, after paying my two rents and car payment, if my calculations are correct, I should have about $30 to last me from April 27 to May 11. So, yeah, I’m calling on the Spaghetti Reserve Corps for the next few weeks.

Ya know, I’m not asking for a Benz or a jet, I just want to be able to pay my bills and have some fun every once in a while like I did last weekend. I just can’t wait until August when I stop paying rent at my old apartment. That’s going to free up $300 a month that will, sadly, be going to my credit card debt and student loan.

I haven’t mentioned Taoism in a while. I’m still learning more and more about it; looking at my daily life to see how it’s teachings can be applied to make things better. I would have to say that things are getting better on my emotional side. I don’t really get stressed about much of anything. Even the money situation only bothers me once in a while - even then only for a brief time. It’s really sort of nice to just let it all go. Just realize that none of this really matters in the big scheme of things. As one of my friends is always saying "Don’t sweat the small stuff". Amen, buddy.

When I take a step back and look at the big picture, life is pretty good. My family is in good health. We had some stress going on for about the last year or so, but things are getting ironed out. I’m working a shit job, but at least I have a job unlike more and more people in this country. In fact, there’s not much I would change. It’s good to take stock every once in a while, ya know?

Well, I think I’ll head out for now. I’ll be back, you can be sure of it. Hopefully sooner than this last time. Until then...

Space Monkey