Time to Think

After an insane few weeks of being constantly busy, I find myself in a lull. I'm thinking of it as the calm before the storm. I know this is short lived and I suppose a chance to get revived before another few weeks of mass chaos. But, I don't like it. I like having a to-do list with things that I can check off and forcing myself to move to the next project because I have 5 things to get done in one day and they all need to get done. Instead, I don't have that... and my mind wanders. Today's wandering subject matter: Races. How much money is too much money to spend on race entrance fees? I already have a list of 1/2 marathons that I'm thinking about for 2010, but now I'm thinking about a couple more races.

Here is what I'm thinking:
1. Polar dash 10 K on New Years Day
2. Winter Carnival 1/2 Marathon on Jan 23
3. Mpls 1/2 marathon on June 6th (already registered for that)
4. Red, White and Boom 1/2 marathon July 4th (inaugural race from the people who bring us the TC marathon)
5. Urban Wildland 1/2 marathon on August 7th
6. A Breath of Hope 5K September TBD
7. Monster Dash 10 Mile or 1/2 Marathon October 30th
8. NYC Marathon Nov 7 2010-- This is a big maybe.
9. Drumstick Dash 10K- Thanksgiving Day

Most of the races are at minimum $30, NYC marathon is $185! Of course, there's no guarantee on that either. Its a lottery system, so they don't charge you until you get into the race, but that's just running the race, that doesn't include all the travel time (plus NYC spending money) to get there. It would be nice sometimes if I didn't get such grandiose ideas in my head. The more I think about the NYC marathon, the more I realize that its probably not the best financial investment, and its getting to be a large enough expense that I probably need to consult with my husband on (in which case, he will probably disagree with the large sums of money that I want to spend, just to run through the 5 boroughs of NY). Of course, this makes the Chicago marathon seem that much more appealing... We could drive there to save money on travel costs... Or I just stop thinking about running marathons and stick to halves that are located in the city I live in. The good thing about most of the races, they are for a charitable organization, so at least I'm running for a cause, but I still don't think that justifies all the money I spend on this new found hobby. I'm also getting a gut feeling that its not good to over-extend myself to so many things. I think we all know that our gut tends to be right...

Tension

I can't state a source for this fact, but I've heard from more than one that money is usually a main source of fighting within a household. Since Adam I generally have some, we've been ok. But now we've gone from a DINK (Double Income No Kids) to SINK (Single Income No Kids) and I don't like it. I liked knowing that I had a pay check and brought money into the house. It made me feel like I didn't have to justify my expenses because I earned it. Now, I feel like I can't spend money on anything because I'm not helping bring any in. The worst part is Adam and I had a trip to Vegas planned to celebrate my graduation and our anniversary. He wants to cancel it. He doesn't even want to entertain the idea of still going. I don't know what the cancellation policy is (I'm dreading looking into it) but if we're out some money, I would rather we just go because if we're going to throw money way, why not just spend it and sort of enjoy it.

It doesn't help that everyone around me is telling me to travel. Believe me, if it was just me and I had money, I would. But since I am part of a unit and the other half has a death grip on the bank account, it probably won't happen. Does this frustrate me, yes. But I also need to remember the reason said unit has savings is from the death grip on the bank account. I love that Adam is a saver because it means that we plan and think about the future. The problem with that is that you can't be spontaneous. No impromptu trips happen. Nothing spur of the moment. I know others that live their lives saving up and traveling until they run out of money. My heart is there, but my body lives in a high interest savings account.

It has been 3 weeks of unemployment. I have had a couple interviews with a second round interview happening tomorrow and more meetings set up next week, so I'm trying to find something. But when is the next time I will have free time again?

I've also been sick all week with what I'm hoping are just allergy issues, so I haven't been running since my sinuses were driving me crazy- so that is also a major source of my frustration. I haven't been able to vent all week and I think it's all just building up now and I'm taking it all out on a soon to be canceled vacation. AND I have my FINAL paper due in 6 days and let's just say it needs A LOT of work. (I'm trying to remain calm and realizing that I still have more time to devote to it than any other paper I have written in the last two years). Sigh.