Thursday, July 9, 2009

ask and ye shall receive

Can you believe this shit, people? FOUR posts in one week and it's only Thursday. That's gotta be a personal best of some kind. And who the hell puts the word "ye" in their post titles? Think of it as a small tribute to our dearly missed Pistols At Dawn.

Well, many of my readers (okay, 2 of you) have complained that I don't post often enough, so you asked for it: I'm setting aside 45 minutes every morning before work to dazzle you with mundane life experiences.

I experienced another money miracle yesterday! Some of you may recall the story I told back in April when spare change changed my life. Times are tough for all us, especially those of us who really suck at budgeting.

I was in a mad panic yesterday because I found myself unexpectedly dead broke again, thanks to a series of unfortunate incidents (massive rent increase, shocking dental bill, premium mascara purchase). Payday is six days away, and I might suck at math, but I'm smart enough to realize that $14.87 is not enough cash flow to survive in this city for a week.

I managed to borrow $25 from my generous BFF, who is also cash-strapped at the moment, but is the kind of awesome guy who would share his last fifty bucks with me, (which he did). I used to live off $35 a week back in college, so I was totally prepared to live out the next week like a resourceful college girl, minus the freaktastic casual sex and binge drinking. Or WITH the sex and drinking, if I could swing it.

Still, walking home 6 miles from my BFF's last night (because I couldn't afford the bus), my heart was heavy with worry, and I had resigned myself to a week of Kraft Dinner and self-imposed house arrest while I waited out the storm. I was on the edge of weepy, because I started thinking about my mom. When she was alive and I was just starting out in the world, she would quietly slip a few bucks into my hand just when I needed it most. Our little secret. No words were ever spoken, and I never told her how bad things were, she just always knew. She would wink and smile and recite our inside joke: "now go buy yourself a pretty frock", which was funny to us because I'm not exactly a frock buyin' gal.

That's when the song "Money" by The Flying Lizards shuffled up on my iPod, and I had to laugh because I had no idea that iPods could read your mind. I realized I was walking down my street and crying - that mixed-up laughing/crying that happens when you really miss your mom and you don't know what the fuck else to do.

That song was still playing when I went to my mailbox and found a major surprise: a $100 tax rebate cheque from the Government of Canada. I had no idea I was eligible for any tax rebate, and the timing absolutely blew me away. I know in my head that it was an amazing coincidence of epic proportions, but I still stared long and hard at that cheque and thanked my mom.

19 comments:

Some Guy said...

I'm thrilled to see you posting more. Canada rules!

Gwen said...

I don't care what anyone else says, receiveing that serendipitous check was your mom's doing. Now go buy yourself a pretty frock.

BeckEye said...

Wow. Who knew the Flying Lizards were magical? I guess the name should've tipped us off.

SkylersDad said...

It was your mom at work all right! No go buy a frock and have some binge sex in it, or casual drinking, or whatever...

Stewie said...

Dead moms work in mysterious ways. I'm convinced my mom has had a hand in my life since she passed. Sometimes in the form of money, sometimes guilt.

Eric said...

Excellent frocking timing! Sweet story...

Dr Zibbs said...

4 posts. Sweet.

The Vegetable Assassin said...

Rebate? SWEET! It just further proves it - there is a light shining on you from heaven.

WTF did I just say?

Your mom rocked and continues to rock. I completely am buying that SHE orchestrated this fortunate chain of events as she was so delighted at your girlie self investing in magic mascara...

I've been in that same financial position and it blows. Every time I say it will never happen again but it always does.

The Vegetable Assassin said...

I'm seeing that your mom seems to have orchestrated some unwanted luck on you too, as a joke.

I think you know what I mean. :)

Grant Miller said...

I thought everything subsidized in Canada anyway.

Soda and Candy said...

Sweetest post about being flat-ass-broke EVER.

I find a six pack of ramen noodles is the go in these hard times.

: )

Soda and Candy said...

PS - Check out my post tomorrow morning, missy!

Tennyson ee Hemingway said...

I don't believe in luck or coincidences. Stuff like that happens to too many people on too many occassions to be considered anything but something that had to happen. you go girl.

the girl with the pink teacup said...

Kat, this story made my day. I'm a broke-arse student and know only too well the pain of being unable to afford a bloody bus ticket. I'm with Tenny on this one: that rebate arrived for a reason, and I'm betting your mum definitely had something to do with it. Too sweet.

katrocket said...

Thanks to everyone for your kind comments - y'all are the best!

miss. chief said...

my ipod reads my mind all the time, sometimes it's downright creepy. i'll be walking along and think "i wish i could hear something happy" and So Happy Together will come on

mylittlebecky said...

this post was adorable. i love it.

Leonesse said...

I miss you people and your stories.

WendyB said...

Pistols at Dawn -- sigh -- the good old days.