A Week of Money: Where people start visiting more often

DAY ONE

??:?? — Little Bun wakes up gently whimpering and I cover him with the blanket (triple wrapped) and kiss him as I pat him back to sleep.

??:?? — He wakes up for the bathroom then goes back to sleep immediately. I’m quite lucky he doesn’t seem to be the type to wet the bed thus far.

6:30 a.m. — He wakes up again and asks softly: “Mommy? Closer to Mommy?”… I don’t reply as I’m in a deep sleep so he says it again until I wake up and realize it isn’t a dream. I scoot closer to him and wrap my arms around him. He doesn’t go back to sleep so I wake up and then just lie there in silence as he smiles at me in the dark, and I smile back, and rub his hair and his back, giving him lots of kisses and saying: “I love you…”

6:33 a.m. — He is in a good mood. Daddy leans over and kisses and nuzzles him too, and he giggles.

6:35 a.m. — I get up, take him to the bathroom and then get his milk.

6:41 a.m. — I put away things, make my tea and start kitchen laundry.

6:45 a.m. — I start getting ready and then my partner wakes up and FREAKS because I put kitchen towels on top of his dirty, car cleaning clothes and now all the solvents etc are on the towels. $£¥?!?#% .. I’m just not on top of this in the past month. I’m making so many stupid mistakes. !!!!!!!€£€#%##%…

6:50 a.m. — I make a note to go buy some kitchen towels today if I can find them, and am just frocking stressed. I didn’t think to check and now it is all going in the garbage. $&@!?!? I’m really not careful and have to work on this… I just don’t think or check when I do things. I’m going to feel like crap all day about this.

6:51 a.m. — Little Bun starts protesting school. I sigh. Not this. Not now. I drink my tea and I ignore his whines and get ready for work, dress, try to get him interested in helping me and we make it to the car without tears.

7:02 a.m. — On the way I meet my neighbour who is interested in the preschool he is at as well so I promise to email her.

7:22 a.m. — I drop off Little Bun who sobs and has to be physically held back. Sigh. “He only cries a little and then he is okay”, she tells me…

7:44 a.m. — And I get to work and start. I forget my milk and make three trips before I have everything I need — yoga outfit for my bag, umbrella by the exit, and milk for my tea. REALLY NOT ON TOP OF THINGS TODAY, or this month.

8:32 a.m. — I call and make a doctors appointment and have to burst into frustrated tears because I can NEVER get an appointment and I need to see why my hair is falling out. I FINALLY get an appointment after being strident on the phone.

9:39 a.m. — I drop my dry cleaning off using Drop’N’Go which is AWESOME. So convenient. $15.50

9:41 a.m. — I’m starting to make friends with the janitors. Just because … it doesn’t hurt to be nice.

11:30 a.m. — I try to finish a blueprint before I leave for yoga. No luck, I’m having such a hard time with this stupid program.

11:37 a.m. — On the way to yoga I buy a kitchen towel to replace the ones I ruined as a test towel. It is linen. It is $25 each (ouch) but I read that it is resistant to bacteria and stronger. We shall see. I buy a test towel. I feel so bad for what happened this morning. $28.75

11:55 a.m. — I get to yoga and then receive notice my dry cleaning will be ready tomorrow. Sweet! That was fast.

11:57 a.m. — At yoga I want to buy a sweater and decide I can’t decide between dark grey or another navy one. Ugh. I’ll consider it while I work out.

11:58 a.m. — Before class starts, I decide on dark grey. I already have blue, let’s try for another colour. $46.50

1:33 p.m. — Why is excel so slow?!?

1:40 p.m. — I eat my lunch and put on more hot sauce than I wanted. I cry while eating but my sinuses clear up.

2:15 p.m. — I grab my yoga gear from the car and restock my office cubby, and put all my junk (yoga wear to wash) in the car to bring home. It is easier to put everything in the car ahead of time rather than lug it home while wrangling Little Bun. A car is a real Parenting Essential. My mom always said: “If I never had a driver’s license I have NO IDEA what I’d have done with you kids….“

2:24 p.m. — My sibling is rather jealous of my income and whenever my mom buys me a gift he always says: “Do you know how much she makes!?!?!? Stop buying her stuff. She can pay for it herself. What about me?”, to which my mom replies: “I buy the same for each of my children, regardless of income.” Anyway. This is because my mom got me a WMF Pro Pressure cooker made in Germany for $200-ish bucks, “marked down” from $600 (real price? $300), actually … she bought one for each of us. I can see where he is coming from but I’m secretly glad my mom is so fair…. although I HAVE told her not to buy me anything she does it anyway if she sees it and thinks we should have it. It is mostly cooking stuff. She sees it as buying it for our family and my partner and loves it when she can be part of our lives and make it easier. To be fair, I also buy gifts for her when I think she would enjoy it.

4:04 p.m. —  Little Bun when I pick him up says: “Love helping Mommy!” when I ask him to eat nicely and help Mommy by not making a mess.

4:27 p.m. — At home when I ask him to be good and put his shoes away nicely, he does it and says: “Be good. Listening to Mommy!”, as he is doing it. My goodness this child can be cute.

5:09 p.m. — My partner gets home and I still feel bad about ruining all the towels. He is still mad at me. 🙁 I take off my makeup.

6:37 p.m. — I play with Little Bun, start more laundry, put away yoga gear to hang up, wash the dishes, let them dry on the counter with the new linen towel, and put away my clothes.

7:51 p.m. — I start to wind down the night with Little Bun, playing puzzles with him, reading, doing skincare, etc.

7:56 p.m. — I read a little to Little Bun and we end the night cuddling, and going to sleep.

Saved: $0

Spent: $90.75

DAY TWO

??:?? — I wake up early and snuggle beside my partner and we fall back asleep.

5:32 a.m. — I get up early and roll out of bed, and put away dishes and start tea as quietly as I can, also packing my lunch to go, then doing my skincare.

5:57 a.m. — Little Bun wakes up about half an hour or so later, after I’m out of bed, and whimpers… he goes back to sleep but can’t find my warm body (obviously Daddy won’t suffice) so he gets up and thunder stomps out to find me.

5:58 a.m. — I give him a big hug and kiss and cuddle. He says: “Is too bright!!!” And I agree, then grab his milk and tuck him back in.

6:02 a.m. — I finish my tea.

6:12 a.m. — Little Bun gets up again and hands me the bottle, I cuddle him again, take him to the bathroom, and then he wails he doesn’t want school or Mommy to dress. I know my partner will stay home today so I say: “No, it is school day. If you want to stay at home, ask Daddy.”…. just to lower his expectations and make him SUPER HAPPY when he does get to stay home.

6:12 a.m. — My partner is up, Little Bun asks and he agrees. Little Bun is so happy, he is “dancing” … which means drumming his feet in one spot, with his teeth in a bared grin while announcing out loud that he is dancing. He does this when I’m in the bathroom too …. “Little Bun! Dancing for Mommy!!!”

6:58 a.m. — I get makeup on, an outfit, talk a bit to my partner and leave without a fuss. No crying no problem.

7:12 a.m. — At work they take all the good spots and I’m so busy trying not to hit this MASSIVE truck parked in the middle that I smash my back bumper into the wall with a crack. DAMN IT. $&@#%!! I need a car that has cameras and warns me and drives for me. LOL.

7:13 a.m. — I get out, no damage done, and head into work. I’m tired.

7:34 a.m. — I grab tea and start working. Then I get sidetracked cleaning my desk because it is dirty and I cannot work with clutter.

10:01 a.m. — That done, I start talking to a colleague who is just as chatty as me and with the same interests (style, skincare, shopping LOL).

10:23 a.m. — I finally break away and get back to work.

11:22 a.m. — Time for yoga. I want to pick up some more snacks but struggle internally because I know it means I’ll just eat them all like a pig. I should not stock anything as I have no self control…. prevention is the best.

11:36 a.m. — I decide on using my free Starbucks reward for a lunch instead. I spy Butter Chicken Wraps and get one immediately. Normally $6.75 (whattttt?!?!) it is free. $0

11:40 a.m. — I head to yoga and think about everything I need to get done.

1:09 p.m. — After yoga I ask a question about my back acting up and she thinks I’m compensating for my right side which causes the pain. I think carrying Little Bun too often is hurting my back now.

1:28 p.m. — I head back to work, warm up my pasta and then eat my butter chicken wrap from Starbucks which I deemed to be “okay” for the price paid ($7). If it weren’t free I’d feel like it was a major rip off. No. I like their sandwiches best.

2:09 p.m. — I snag the last of the marshmallow ghosts. Too yummy. Now they’re all gone and I can stop eating them.

4:10 p.m. — I leave work earlier and take out my laptop to work before going home. I normally drop by the library before heading home but then I lose out on the time while I am there, when I could just sit here, work, get stuff done, AND THEN just drive straight home instead of dealing with the commuting and the setting up, etc. No fuss, no muss.

4:35 p.m. — A director walks by and looks at me curiously. Uh oh. Hope he doesn’t read too much into this. I do get in early so this is not an issue, but I never like showing how much money I have or that I can afford nice things like a Macbook which can run into the thousands obviously.

5:35 p.m. — I head home, thinking traffic is pretty much over.

5:47 p.m. — NOPE. It is MUCH better to leave earlier and get to the island, and get to the library and not deal with traffic. It is PACKED.

6:10 p.m. — I finally get home. Grr.

6:11 p.m. — Little Bun is already eating. I undress, remove makeup and get situated for dinner (hearty salad again), and then wrap my yoga gear up into little rolls.

6:17 p.m. — Oh. Why is this blue shirt with this black and red pant? This does NOT match. I must have mixed up the matching top in another roll somewhere. I make a note to check and re-wrap them when I get to the office.

6:20 p.m. — I also make notes to buy everything I keep forgetting:

• Makeup Wipes
• Makeup Remover (need to use it with a cotton swab for the mornings so my foundation isn’t left over my eyebrows or my lips as I try my best but get foundation everywhere as I use my fingers)
• Needles (I broke / bent many while beading)

If I don’t make notes I forget but as you’re thinking of it, unless you write it down immediately, you forget it even 30 seconds later. I have too much on my mind. It is why I track everything.

6:25 p.m. — I settle down and eat dinner with everyone.

7:09 p.m. — After dinner, I make notes that I have to also check the mail tomorrow, bring in my blanket to be washed at the laundromat (ooo need change for that), and go to the doctor’s to ask for my hair falling out, why my back is in pain, Spirolactane for my acne AND appointment for a copper IUD for birth control. So much to do.

7:11 p.m. — I pack my bags for the office and make notes to myself, organizing, cleaning..

7:51 p.m. — I read to Little Bun and then take a shower and keep him occupied in the bathroom with me, with the secret iPad I never let him play with.

8:25 p.m. — I tell him one more video after I’m done showering and lathering cream on my legs like icing and then it is bedtime. He says very sweetly and quietly “Yes”.

8:30 p.m. — I get him ready, read two books, explain the outside and then it is bedtime.

Saved: $7.99

Spent: $0

DAY THREE

??:?? — I wake up early. I get back to sleep. Insomnia?

??:?? — Little Bun then wakes me again, asking for the bathroom,

5:04 a.m. — I take him and check the time on my iPod (ugh!! bright lights … I’m temporarily blinded) and I see it is 5 .. back to sleep for him.

6:30 a.m. — We go back to sleep and he wakes me up again at 6:30, crying out in pain? Fear? From an nightmare, I hug and cuddle him and whisper “shhhh, mommy and Daddy are here” and he calms down but then wakes up.

6:31 a.m. — My partner sleepily jokes that his nightmare was that someone drank all of his milk. I get his milk and get ready for work. All black today.

6:38 a.m. — As I’m doing skincare, I check that there is no time for tea (too late to get a good spot if I leave later) and I put away the dishes while my skin dries.

6:45 a.m. — I grab my lunch, then start on my makeup.

6:47 a.m. — Little Bun comes by, sees me in clothes and wails: “Want it to be Sunday!!!!!”, and I tell him: “Today is school day” (to lower expectations), which causes more consternation and then I say: “Ask Daddy if you can stay home”… and he happily runs off (I know my partner is home today so I’m using a carrot approach to get Little Bun to not whine when I leave).

6:48 a.m. — His father agrees to staying at home and they play some blanket burrowing game where Little Bun shoves and wiggles his bum under his father’s propped legs like a tunnel.

6:50 a.m. — My back is killing me. I massage it gently. I hear Little Bun ask for fruits to be cut (and juiced) so he can have juice and his father says that is only a Friday treat. Today is not Friday, so we don’t do juice. Little Bun agrees.

6:57 a.m. — I get ready to go, kiss Little Bun good bye (see? No tears) and grab the blanket for the laundromat before my appointment today.

7:12 a.m. — At work, I start early. My cubicle mate wants the Christmas decor up but someone else vetoed him. Apparently it is quite a production. I’m curious to see what it is.

7:51 a.m. — I grab two cups of tea in the middle of working and try to hunt down numbers for my mom, organize my week, and remember all I need to get done. I keep forgetting and it annoys me because the problem happens again (like wanting a travel alarm clock) and I get frustrated all over again.

9:45 a.m. — I head out to buy a keyboard that is quieter to type on. I know I’ll be here another little while so let’s try and make it pleasant. I find a wireless one for about $130. Gulp. With taxes it comes out to $149.50

9:56 a.m. — I hop by the pharmacy and pick up some Dr. Bronner’s Castile soap (unscented) and some Micellar makeup remover. I find the no name brand that has the same ingredients as the Garnier one I like for $2 less. Why not? I want the liquid soap for Little Bun baths to make bubbles and get him clean. The makeup remover is just to dip cotton swabs into, to remover makeup that gets on my eyebrows or my lips so it doesn’t look strange… right now I’m trying to rub it off but it doesn’t work. I sometimes end up with eyebrows too powdered from my setting powder. $38.57

10:09 a.m. — I head back to the office toting everything, sweating like mad. At the office I unpack the entire thing only to realize he sold me one with batteries!!! I hate batteries. I want it rechargeable or wired.

10:10 a.m. — I get to work after re-packing it and before yoga, will head back to return the keyboard.

11:20 a.m. — Let’s go return this thing. At the store, the guy says “Hi, how can I help” I assume it means he wants to help. Right? Wrong.

Guy: Hi. How can I help?

Me: Hi, I’m returning this keyboard because it has batteries and I want a rechargeable or wired one that is uber quiet. *gestures to keyboard*

Guy: Have you returned that keyboard yet?

[ If that keyboard was already returned I wouldn’t have it WITH ME in my arms!!! ]

(I channel my inner Obama at this point)

Me: …… No…. it is why it’s here. I just bought it this morning.

Guy: Did anyone help you or did you pick it out yourself?

[ WHY DOES THIS MATTER? HELP ME YOU MORON. ]

(I call on Michelle to lend a hand because Barack is losing his cool)

Me: Well. That guy helped me. (And I point)

Guy: Oh. I think it is best if you ask him to help you then in this case because he helped you before.

I then give him this look that could flay dragons, channel my inner Beyoncé.

The lyrics to Independent Women, particular the refrain “I depend on me” starts playing in my head.

Me: You know what? Forget it. I’ll figure it out myself. All the while giving him a look that says: “You are an utter and complete waste of time. Get out of my way.”

[Thinking: I’m independent, intelligent person, to whom you OFFERED help but I don’t need it if you’re going to be useless and unable to read a freakin’ package for “rechargeable” in keyboards over $60 so that they are super quiet. I know when to cut my losses when dealing with a moron.]

11:35 a.m. — As he stands there awkwardly watching me flip boxes and read, he doesn’t know what to say or do, and just stands there IN MY WAY. WTF. GET OUT OF MY WAY. I go through ALL of them and just flip every single keyboard over $60, read the back for rechargeable and then narrow it down. I find the one I want, and he goes to get me the English keyboard from stock. (In case you’re wondering I bought this K800 one from Logitech and I like the softer keys, the clicking is not so bad and it is rechargeable and wireless)

11:37 a.m. — He returns with it, I check out with it and return the other one. -$11.50 (difference saved)

11:40 a.m. — As I’m walking, I check the receipt and the box to make sure it is English and he freakin’ gave me a FRENCH KEYBOARD.

11:42 a.m. — I am about to Hulk Smash. I double back to exchange it. The people working there are not worth the money, I do not care how cheap they are. As I am waiting for the return, I see two managers arguing in front of a client about a gift card and I’m thinking: WTF. Welcome to Québec. What did you expect?

11:49 a.m. — I wait 7 minutes for them to finish arguing (yes I timed it), get it returned, buy the new one and leave. Tell me again why shopping online is a hassle? I wasted a good morning with this crap and I could have had 15 options open, narrowed it down to the one or two I wanted, ordered one or both and for cheaper, probably.

11:55 a.m. — On my way, rushing to yoga now, I bump into a former colleague. Out of all that bad comes some good because I haven’t seen her in a year and a half. We greet each other “French-style” which involves cheek kissing and then she informs me that our former colleague is moving to Germany. WHAT? I make her PROMISE to do a lunch with all of us before he leaves.

12:02 p.m. — At yoga, I’m late and I lose my spot. Dang it… I take one in a weird corner.

12:15 p.m. — I change and when I get there some guy set up his mat beside me. Umm… did you not see the OTHER side of the room without anyone? WTF.

12:30 p.m. — I go through the flow and here are things I can’t help but notice and hate during yoga:

1. The guy beside me is moaning.. like sex noise moaning and jiggling his legs and feet up and down in downward dog. This … is … weird. A lot of people do this. Stop it. It is uncomfortably gross.

2. The girl behind me with the generous chest needs to lock it in with a higher neck top because her breasts are about to fall out of her top completely (or so it looks like). It is VERY distracting and I’m not even attracted to her.

3. The last class I was in, some blonde woman wanted to do sun salutations the normal way with flinging her arms out like she is throwing damn daisies or flower petals and then raising her hands up into the air. She hit me in one of her arm flinging movements, and then gave ME the nastiest, dirtiest glare like: “Who are you to be in the way while I’m trying to pretend I’m the only one doing sun salutations in a class that is packed with mats from wall to wall.” Yoga makes me pretty chill but I almost wanted to say: “Whut?!?!?” Today, on the way in, she shot me another dirty glare. Eff you.

4. People should not ask questions during class. Save it for after. I’m dying in this position trying to hold it and you’re asking a dang question? LOCK IT DOWN.

5. Do Not Put your mat beside mine when there is SO MUCH SPACE. Space it out, use the floor markers to know where to place your mat, and stop trying to put your mat where there isn’t a spot, like awkwardly in between the rows.

6. Oh, and also stop bringing all of your crap to class and putting it beside your mat. I don’t need to see 18 rings, a jewellery tray, big glass of water you are SURE to knock over during class, your purse, jacket and a pillow with a block spread out around your mat like it is your own personally claimed space. Ain’t NOBODY got space for that.

1:12 p.m. —  Back from yoga, I work until it is time for my appointment.

3:25 p.m. — I drop a blanket off at the laundromat to wash while I’m at the doctor’s. $1.25

3:55 p.m. — I head to the doctor’s, pick up my appointment for blood work for next year, and talk about my hair loss, birth control options (going back on the pill it seems), and my acne. She says she did check my thyroid and it was fine, my weight was fine, and she prescribes Alesse because Yasmin didn’t seem to work for me as well before, hormonal acne wise. She also gives me a topical acne cream but I’m skeptical. I may not use it if Alesse cures my hormonal acne.

4:19 p.m. — I fill the prescription. $29.70

4:20 p.m. — I book it back to the car, see the traffic is now packed to the end, and groan.

4:25 p.m. — I drop by the laundromat, dry my blanket and organize my week while I wait, paying for parking as well because I don’t want a ticket. $2.25

5:02 p.m. — I eye the traffic and take a shortcut home that I know only of because I used to take Little Bun here for playgroup all the time.

5:40 p.m. — I make it home in 15 minutes instead of 45 minutes (that line was LONG the other way around). I go and grab all the mail and lug 5 HUGE massive bags back upstairs.

5:59 p.m. — At home, Little Bun is already eating. My partner is making chicken gizzard salad (SO GOOD) and I save my gizzards until the last to savour them with the last bits of the rice and bread.

6:01 p.m. —  I plan on working from home tomorrow so I am immensely relaxed, and will leave the dishes until tomorrow morning, as well as all the other crap I can do in between waiting for people and emails.

6:02 p.m. — Dinner. Salad. SO GOOD. My partner eats all of his chicken gizzards (lol) and I have all of mine left at the end to savour which he eyes hungrily and says: “Are you going to eat all that?” .. I say: “YES. I SAVED IT. I MEAN TO EAT IT.” Men. 😛 He is not the only one apparently. My friend and I had the same conversation about our significant others eating all the “good bits” first, and leaving the stuff they don’t want to the end, and we are the opposite.

6:45 p.m. —  Little Bun is full of energy and has clearly worn down / exhausted my partner today, so I take over and try to work off his energy in positive ways.. I don’t have any laundry or things for him to do physically so we read books instead and we play games while I read more about Elon Musk.

8:00 p.m. — I hustle Little Bun to get ready for bed, and we read a page from “My Room” and go to sleep.

Saved: $11.50

Spent: $221.19

DAY FOUR

??:?? — Little Bun squeals out and I pull him back up onto the bed (he likes to wiggle off), and re-cover him, and re-pat his bum back to sleep.

6:30 a.m. — Little Bun wakes up and we smile at each other. My partner has already left, so the house is quiet, and I give him kisses.

6:35 a.m. — I grab his milk, do a bathroom run, and then get up to start my day.

6:38 a.m. — I start on the tea, and as Little Bun comes out rubbing his eyes, I explain to him that today is very very special and he gets to stay at home with Mommy for Mommy + Little Bun Day. He nods happily. This is like a dream come true for him.

6:40 a.m. — I start on the dishes, and Little Bun plays happily. He runs and grabs his Alphabet Book, cuddles up around my feet at the sink and says: “Read to Mommy?” .. he turns the pages and starts actually reading the book to me. I have no idea if this is him reading from memory or actual reading, but with some of his word pronunciation like “harp“, it sounds like actual reading to me (I correct him a few times).

7:30 a.m. — After dishes, I log in and start working as Little Bun is preoccupied with NEW videos (YAY!) that teach him things in his weaker language (French, not English).

7:59 a.m. — I take a quick break, and make more tea. Little Bun is SO GOOD right now. I can’t help but reach over and kiss him.

8:08 a.m. — My mom emails me, saying my package will come tomorrow (a pressure cooker).

8:10 a.m. — I quickly call her and tell her that I will call her tonight to talk about her retirement benefits (she sent me a paper and wrote a note saying: “Please help me figure out what I have to do.“)

11:02 a.m. — I finally take a break from working to feed Little Bun. And myself.

11:30 a.m. — I gear him up and take him out to Williams-Sonoma to buy some dish towels. I buy 8 packs that are 20% off. $202.58

12:00 p.m. — On the way back I try to buy some wine for my partner, but can’t find any, and pick up sushi as a treat for us. $29.97

12:15 p.m. — I deposit my cheque from Amazon. +$202.95

12:38 p.m. — I get home, feed Little Bun (and eat) our sushi treat, and then let him play a little before I hustle him down for a nap.

12:58 p.m. — I make all the calls I need while he is napping. He hates when I am on the phone.

1:06 p.m. — I try to open one package of the towels and when I peel off a sticker, the whole thing comes apart. Shoddy workmanship. I’m returning ALL the towels and trying again.

2:37 p.m. — Little Bun is still down, I’m working furiously.

2:44 p.m. — By the way, I’d just like to note how happy I am that I have my car back. Until it is gone you have no idea how much you missed it especially taking the bus with a small child when you’re no longer used to the hassle. Or having to carry crap.

2:45 p.m. — Little Bun is up. He slept LATE. This is good. I had more time to get stuff done.

3:55 p.m. —  I keep working and working until I decide I have to really return those towels and buy new ones. I cannot make it through this weekend without a fresh batch of towels to use in the kitchen. I CANNOT.

4:12 p.m. — Little Bun dressed, sunscreen hastily slapped on, I run out to the store to return the towels and exchange them for better quality ones.

4:55 p.m. — Home. Traffic was NASTY. I tried to be fast… 🙁

6:02 p.m. — My partner comes home with dinner, and I show him the towels, which he helps quality check, and then says that we don’t need THAT many, so I will return half tomorrow. Or Sunday.

6:57 p.m. — After dinner, I leave the dishes. Don’t want to bother with it right now.

7:07 p.m. — I get organized while Little Bun plays around us.

8:57 p.m. — I got sucked into staring at car videos online (this is time consuming), and then.. WHOA…. I finally realize how late it is and we all head to bed.

Saved: $0

Spent: $232.55

DAY FIVE

??:?? — Little Bun squeals from some nightmare. I reach over, adjust his blankets, kiss him and soothe him back to sleep.

6:00 a.m. — I wake up and just lie there like a lump until he tires of rolling on top of me, around me and bouncing on my side…… because of Little Bun asking me to get up, I get up and grab his milk. He sucks it down like a baby otter and I lie there trying to get more sleep. I couldn’t sleep last night due to insomnia or too many things happening in my head. Car troubles, Little Bun is sick, my administrative board of directors are incompetent dolts, you know, the normal.

6:20 a.m. — I get up and get dressed, do skincare, and make some tea while my skin dries, and put away the dishes.

Little Bun watches himself as I try to list out all I need to accomplish today:

• Buy a stock of wine for my partner (it is the best gift for him and today there are extra points)
• Mail my friend’s heels back to her (but I need to grab a gift card first to congratulate her as a surprise)
• Help my mom figure out her retirement income (she’s #likeaboss , rocking over six figures and with no signs of stopping)
• Help my aunt get situated because she needs rides to get to the store but I can’t locate a good number that works consistently
• Pack Little Bun winter clothing for preschool
• Return snow pants
• Buy more dish towels to replace the ones that I ruined 🙁
• Plan to make a banana cake for a special event coming up in December (need to have almost rotten bananas for this)
• Do my company and self taxes — must get organized on this front
• Shred and scan all my papers
• Check on the refunds that are missing from Amazon
• Finalize this family present I want to create for Christmas as a gift
• Complete a presentation for my mother as a surprise gift

Other stressors:

• Will Little Bun have to leave preschool? My partner has not heard back from his job
• My car is not working well any more and I need a new one and I need to research a new car, note costs, and then do the taxes for it with pros and cons analysis
• Plan out Boxing Day for sales on things I’ve been waiting for all year for the family and myself (although with this car thing, umm … no more shopping).

6:45 a.m. — I leave for work and Little Bun (held in his father’s arms), unconvincingly does a cry like an “Waaaaaahhhhhhhhh” but just for the sake of crying rather than actually putting any emotion into it. I leave and hear his father ask if he wants to go to school or stay at home.

7:09 a.m. —  On the way to work, someone honks at me. Uhhh Okay? … Then I realize as she drives up beside me on the highway honking that something is seriously wrong. I can’t figure it out by her gestures but it is the other side of my car. I nod to let her know I’m okay and I understand I have to check my car and gesture back that I thank her. As I sweep down towards the garage 2 blocks away, my tires go completely flat and start grinding…..

$&@!?!?&&@@&!!

And the police blocked off a lane completely so everything is at a standstill and I need momentum to get into the garage!!!!!

$&@!?!?!!
$&@!&&@@!!
$&@!@&!!!$$$!!!!!!

8:08 a.m. — I manage to get into the garage, pull and take 3 spots before the car collapses. I call a friend and he shows up with a machine to fill up the tires with air and he checks to make sure there is no hissing so that it isn’t a hole and just pressure missing. My gauge only warned me maybe 2 days ago and normally I can drive it for a week before my partner takes it in, but now this is getting serious / dangerous that the indicators are not reliable any more.

8:18 a.m. — Finally working. I’m so tired. I really am. My team lead is completely supportive, and says: You know.. my Hyundai is amazing. You should look into one. He has no idea (and I plan on telling NO ONE THIS, that I am now looking at luxury vehicles. I’m sick of crappy cars where I am not sure what is what. I want, for once in my life to try the other extreme of a very nice car and see whether or not it is worth it.

11:02 a.m. — I stop for a quick tea break and get back to work.

11:08 a.m. — Ugh. My team lead says there’s an urgent issue. I jump on it immediately.

12:00 p.m. — I can’t even finish the urgent issue but leave for yoga anyway. Lots of issues have popped up but I don’t even care. I’m tired. I need some zen.

1:00 p.m. — After yoga, I try to leave the dressing room (it is TINY) and accidentally bump into that bitchy blonde who glares at me like: WTF? I almost want to ask her: What is your problem? Then I realize she may have resting bitch face.

1:44 p.m. — I bundle up and leave. It is COLD today.

1:50 p.m. — Back at the office, lunch, I make notes, fix a few problems.

3:45 p.m. — I leave early to pick up wine (need to stock up for my partner as I don’t drink) and make an appointment with the bank.

4:15 p.m. — I think I’m close to picking a car now. I don’t want to say what it is, or how much it will cost. Let’s just say.. a lot. I’m buying new, and taking the top of the line.

4:45 p.m. — I drop by the alcohol depot and pick up 8 bottles of my partner’s favourite red. It’s not for me, I don’t drink, but this is a good gift to have on hand to pull out to celebrate. $228.40

5:35 p.m. — Little Bun is so #GameOfThrones this year. He kept saying for the past 2 weeks: “Winter is coming.“… and today, as it snowed, he said: “Mommy! Winter is here.”

5:37 p.m. — My partner prepared a yummy creamy pasta, which we both gobble down. Little Bun LOVES, LOVES, LOVES this pasta and asks for it constantly.

6:50 p.m. — After dinner, I leave the dishes. I’m tired. I want to go lie down but go organize my things instead. I need two days alone at home to do all my scanning, shredding.. ugh. I keep putting it off because I just don’t seem to have the time. Or don’t want to. It’s more that I don’t wanna do it.

8:20 p.m. — Bedtime. I do not plan on sleeping that late any more. I need rest and so does Little Bun. My partner gives me the good news that he is staying where he is for the next year. Phew. I don’t need to deal with preschool nonsense and can just keep going as-is until at least next year.

Saved: $0

Spent: $228.50 — All wine for gifts

DAY SIX

??:?? — Potty run.

6:00 a.m. — Little Bun is up. Which means I’m up. I get his milk, then go back and lie there like a lump. “The sun is hiding, Mommy”

6:20 a.m. — I basically don’t move for the next half an hour as he is playing around me. I curl up, close my eyes, am in a tired fetal position and just want to sleep.

6:40 a.m. — Miraculously he sort of leaves me alone for 20 minutes to lie there, then pulls me up. Ugh. I look at the counter of dishes and I promise myself I will do them ASAP so that I can enjoy my tea.

6:49 a.m. — He has been hearing me talk about buying a new car all last night and today, and says: “Mommy. Want to ride in a fancy car. Mommy’s car is broken” THIS CHILD.

7:00 a.m. — I start on the dishes, my partner researches a new hard drive (120 TB) but wants to wait for a sale because… BECAUSE. SALE. He doesn’t need it desperately.

7:34 a.m. — Dishes done, Little Bun helps me put away the dried bowls, and I leave the rest to air dry. I love having all these towels, no matter that it cost me $100 in screwup… I at least managed to hit on the right time for a sale at Williams-Sonoma on their towels, and got 20% off. I drink my tea. Finally.

8:11 a.m. — I log in and update my budget. Apparently my partner bought chairs. They must be magical and massage your body because I see they cost $1500. I thought we were going to discuss this before he bought anything!! They better be nice. He sort of screwed up my budget for November with this purchase.

9:08 a.m. — “Want soup and pasta and oatmeal!?“, Little Bun asks… I tell him we don’t have pasta, he ate it all yesterday, and he screws up his face and says: “No more pasta! Pasta in the belly!”

9:28 a.m. — “Your pants are falling down, baby“, I tell Little Bun. He looks up at me and says: “…like a leaf!”

10:48 a.m. — I try to get my online life organized, it feels like it gets away from me. When I start something, Little Bun interrupts.. ARRGH! I NEED TIME. I need to concentrate. I need to shred. I need to do my papers. My taxes. This .. I need a day or two.

11:32 a.m. — My partner comes home with lunch. We sit down and eat.

12:08 p.m. — I plan my escape.

12:38 p.m. — I finally get out of the house. I have an appointment, I can’t miss it.

12:41 p.m. — WHOA my gas is low. I stop for a fill up because I do not want to drive on empty to the bus stop. $76.70

12:38 p.m. — DID THAT BUS JUST LEAVE!? GAH!!!! I was literally 4 minutes late

12:59 p.m. — Made it on the second bus $2.25

1:16 p.m. — I make it to my appointment late because I missed the bus.

1:44 p.m. — Appointment over (we did acne this time instead of anti-aging), and I head to return those snow pants.

2:18 p.m. — Before I do that, I pick up a gift card for my friend at a store she loves. $100

2:22 p.m. — I return the snow pants for Little Bun. -$72.44

2:48 p.m. — I stock up on two more tubes of BareMinerals Complexion Rescue because it is 20% off at Sephora and kind of the only thing I buy there now other than the Hourglass Ambient Powder which I am hitting the pan on, but still have a good year left to go. $68.07

3:45 p.m. — I pick up some cakes for a treat. An éclair, a little poached pear tart and a flan. $23.98

4:05 p.m. — I head home early, because I want to mail a letter to enter a contest to win some stuff (you never know), and to mail a package to my friend with her new gift. $2.25

4:42 p.m. — At home, early, my partner heads out to grab dinner and I watch Little Bun and unpack everything.

6:00 p.m. — We eat dinner (more salad).

6:42 p.m. — I start on the dishes and leave them to dry.

8:12 p.m. — Bedtime.

Saved: $7.82 (I don’t count the return of the pants, I was never going to keep 3 pairs)

Spent: $273.25

DAY SEVEN

6:30 a.m. — Little Bun is up. I take him to the washroom and as we walk back, I say: “Back to bed, it’s still night time.” He stops and says: “NO MOMMY. Is DAWN.” Okay.. all right. I go and grab his milk.

6:41 a.m. — I lie there for as long as I can before I get up with Little Bun. His father “sleeps in”… just lies there, really.

6:43 a.m. — I start tea, and make two cups. I have to start limiting my caffeine intake, I think it contributes to my not sleeping well at night.

7:18 a.m. — His father is up, and I try to get things organized on the laptop while keeping Little Bun pre-occupied. I have so many plans to do things today but I’m tired. I will skip most of it, I suspect.

11:02 a.m. — Time for lunch. We had a few kerfuffles of crying and sobbing during the morning (followed by swift timeouts), and he cuddles with me in the bedroom, watching nursery rhymes while I try and finish this gift for my mother, and create a collage for the holidays. SO MANY THINGS TO DO. I need probably a week of child-free time to get it all done. I have really been putting off my company books though. Eeek.

12:08 p.m. — After lunch of “French-style” macaroni and cheese, I start on the dishes and warn Little Bun that it is time for a nap in an hour. He nods.

12:28 p.m. — Another half hour warning.

12:56 p.m. — NAP TIME. He goes readily but then his father antagonizes him by crossly telling him to behave (he was going to nap with him) because Little Bun kept wiggling and squealing after I left the room.

1:12 p.m. — I have to go back in and referee. I pat his bum again and tell my partner to be quiet and stop picking on him so that he can sleep comfortably.

1:44 p.m. — As predicted, halfway through a deep concentration on this collage I am creating, Little Bun wakes up wailing. I rush in quickly and pat his bum back to sleep, smoothing his hair back and kissing him.

2:18 p.m. — He wakes up. Refreshed. If I wasn’t there, he would be a terrible monster tonight to handle. I cuddle Little Bun as he thunder stomps out to hug me.

2:42 p.m. — My partner gets up and starts working on the apartment. We weren’t going to repaint the walls but he cannot stand the grey. It’s all turning white. Fine. Looks better in white but I was okay with the grey too.

3:54 p.m. — I wrap up on my budget notes and finally get a draft of my books going in Excel so I can be ready to just enter the amounts when I have child-free time.

4:05 p.m. — My friend emails me, she’s coming up at the end of November. YAY!!! WE CAN MEET!!

4:07 p.m. — Black Friday and Christmas is about to explode all over the place. I can already see it coming. I love it when people visit though, I invite everyone to my place.

5:35 p.m. — We eat dinner.

6:37 p.m. — I do the dishes, and we all lounge around do nothing. I mostly read books to Little Bun and clean up before bedtime.

8:17 p.m. — I start bedtime early. I want more sleep.

Saved: $0

Spent: $0