June Bonus Round

In addition to my goals for 2012, I add month-long bonus goals.

For June:

Goals check-in: May

Read 100 books in 2012.

Up to #59. I've had some re-reads this month, and I FORGOT two different books while out volunteering, so I haven't finished them yet. 

Exercise for 90 minutes per week.
This ain't happening. My back protests at the inactivity. (It also complains about activity, which is its own problem.) I would like to walk more during the evenings now that sunset happens later.

Crazy Love: engagement photos on the Embarcadero

To observe (and celebrate!) my short break between Spring and Summer terms, I'm posting a few photos that were taken at the beginning of the month out at the San Francisco Ferry building. I guess you can call it an engagement shoot. :)

Grad school is expensive.

Oof. I just paid a bill for summer tuition.


SJSU Web Online Payments
Current Date: 05/25/2012


Payments Received                                                        Amount
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACH                                                                            $1,966.00

Expense Tracking Challenge: Week 3

Expense Tracking Challenge hosted by Mom's Plans -- Join in and share your expense tracking posts if you like!

For my posts: Variable expenses will have dollar amounts; recurring expenses like rent and bills won't unless there's something unusual going on.

Meatless May: a mid-month update

My sweetie and I are trying an ovo-lacto vegetarian diet this month. (We usually eat meat or fish frequently -- at one or more meals a day.) Now that the month is halfway done, here's an update!

First, I haven't killed ANYONE. This is important.

Huffing and Puffing into the Home Stretch

The semester is almost over! I got an email this morning announcing that the graduation ceremony for SJSU is this Saturday. I've still got another year to go, but I congratulate those who will walk (and those in the virtual SLIS program who are celebrating at home).

Expense Tracking Challenge: Week 2

Expense Tracking Challenge hosted by Mom's Plans -- Join in and share your expense tracking posts if you like!

For my posts: Variable expenses will have dollar amounts; recurring expenses like rent and bills won't unless there's something unusual going on.

San Francisco one-bedroom apartment: $2500/month+

Yep, we live in an area with a very high cost of living. This SF Gate article talks about rental prices and why they're so high. $2500 is more than a mortgage payments in some places... and that's about what a small apartment in the city goes for. (I hear it's worse in Manhattan, but I live here.)

And that is why 3 people live in my one-bedroom apartment. And we got lucky, at that. The rent here's below the average -- and they allow cats.

Expense Tracking Challenge: Week 1

I don't often blog in exact numbers, but to participate in the Expense Tracking Challenge hosted by Mom's Plans, I think I will for a little while. (Join in and share your expense tracking posts if you like!)

Variable expenses will have dollar amounts; recurring expenses like rent and bills won't unless there's something unusual going on.

Should I take on another commitment?

My schedule is pretty packed: I work 40 hours a week, at an office to which I commute an hour each way. When I get home, I work on assignments for grad school, and I'm taking a full course load of 10 credits. This summer, I'm trying to secure an internship that would be for about 10 hours a week, and I'll be taking at least 3 credits in addition to that. I sing in my church choir, which is a weekly commitment of 4 hours plus one additional rehearsal a month (and possibly some outreach/concerts). I'm planning our wedding for October.

So why would I want to add anything else??

Sleep, Move, Balance Work and Play

This infographic from The Simple Dollar reminds me (and everyone else) of some of those key points that really matter on a day-to-day basis. (More on that later.)