You are currently browsing the daily archive for April 22nd, 2008.
I have a serious fear of throwing out bills and other “real” mail with all the junk that gets jammed in my mail slot each day. I get a lot more circulars and ads that are either practical or necessary, really. The mailroom recycle bin is usually a collage of Safeway coupon books and fascist comcast fliers destined for a directly circular life journey, but mine never join them.
No, they all take the elevator ride up here with me, where I carefully sift through them, turning each page looking for hidden charges. And, sure, wondering what it would be like to be one of those shoppers that sees an ad for Prime Cuts of Meat—On Sale This Week and just twinkle in my toes. Or get excited about gallon-jugs of orange juice, buy one get one free through the 29th!
Someday. Maybe when there are little magdas running around that each have their favorite cereals and need school lunches and are very picky about their vegetables, these things will be important. For now, though, I just need to be sure I’m not losing an electrical bill.
When I was growing up, my mom had a total bill-paying system, and there was always one day a month when she would pay all of the bills. As each bill came, she’d open it and stick it in a special file; then, on the right day, she’d take them all out and pay them in concert. I don’t think this would work with my bills. They all have really different due-dates, for one, and they come at totally random times.
My system is, admittedly, totally haphazard. The bill comes, I pay it. Then I put it into a little excel spreadsheet I call “east-coast expenses.” Like I’m on a temporary assignment? Or a three-hour tour? Yeah, I’ve been here a year and a half, with no immediate plans of departing. Seriously, sometimes I worry myself. Especially since it’s been more than a month since I’ve updated this sheet, and I have a pile of receipts accruing on the floor, since me and my Visa? Totally in love. In love! I show it off everywhere! But really, that’s another story entirely.
For now, though, my interest in the daily accrual of junk mail is simply that I’m petrified that Giant’s Super Deals is going to eat something really important, and mar the credit score I’ve worked so hard for, and it will SO not be my fault. I’ve yet to find any offenders. But still.
Miss Earth National Capital Area was standing by the side of the road near the Alexandria Whole Foods tonight, waving her little beauty queen wave at all of the commuters on Duke Street. Conveniently (insofar as I love flashing that credit card) I live but a block away, so I passed her leaving the train tonight. I’ve just googled that title and I think it’s totally bogus; my guess is that Whole Foods made her up to promote Earth Day specials. Still, I’ve half a mind to march my bag of paper recycling, currently near over-flowing (thanks, unnecessary ads!) down to her perch and demand some action out of her title. Her assistant did give me an eco-friendly keychain as I passed, however, and she flashed me a bright smile as she reminded me to bring my own bag! (imagine here one of those cheesy tooth “ding!” shines from TV).
Sigh. There’s only so much a girl can do.
