Day #17 - 11/1/97 - 4:26PM

Shopping when you're out of work isn't as much fun. Don't get me wrong: I'm no different than you. I charge stuff on the mistaken thought that I'll REALLY REALLY pay for it out of the next check.

"Okay - make a mental note right now: $138 dollars from the next pay check goes 'on-the-side' for 9 CDs and a bag of cashews. Cool. Done. No problem."

But, you know as well as I... we make the mental note, go thru the motions of calculating the deduction in our heads, feel good about the junk we just charged and NEVER get close to coughing up the $138 bucks. Nice try.

So, now if I go shopping it's worse because I'm making mental notes and imaginary calculations based on "what ifs".

"What if I get a job in January? Then I can pay for Christmas gifts I wanna' buy in December!"

"What if I don't get a job til March? Then I actually have to eat the Fruitcakes I receive this year as nourishment beginning sometime in February."