Toronto Hydro has pissed me off. Anyone else? When I called to open an account with them last May, they insisted that I give them a deposit of almost $100, because I didn't have a history with the company. I was quite taken aback, especially since they could have just run a credit check on me and found out I pay my bills on time, but felt reassured when the woman explained that after about 9 months of being a good customer, I would get the money back. So, 9 months go by and I get a bill... Read Full Story

Sorry I didn't get a chance to post yesterday, but I have a good excuse. I was at a FOUR HOUR OPERA! No joke. In fact, if you tried to make a joke and said, "What was it based on, War and Peace!?" Well, that wouldn't be funny. Because it was. I was at War and Peace: The Opera. Don't misunderstand my consternation - it was really good. I thoroughly enjoyed it. But DAMN it was long! I said to my lovely partner in crime, who was also the person who secured the *free* tickets to the epic event... Read Full Story

Guys, I'm getting kind of worried. Even though I've technically given myself until March 8th, 2009 to pay this debt off (Hence the 33.5 part of the title, because that's my half-birthday), I was really hoping to have it gone before we ring in 2009. Yet things seem to be stalled! Please send me some happy money vibes. The number should definitely change at the end of this week. If Canada Post is good to me, it could be a lovely big change. If not, it will be a less wonderful change, but... Read Full Story

Oh Sunday evening, how I wish you would never end. (Better yet, I would rather you didn't arrive in the first place!) A little more of a weekend recap for you, as promised. Friday evening was a spent with a wonderful group of smart, funny women. My favourite kind! We ate, we debated, we shared and we watched a mediocre romcom. ("Made of Honor" with Patrick Dempsey. The best part was Michelle Monaghan's wardrobe. Full of adorable outfits!) 'Twas a perfect end to the week. (And even though... Read Full Story

So, the DP and I headed down to the Cabaret Festival in the Distillery District this afternoon, specifically to see Sarah Slean play her set. We're sort of new fans, you see. Anyway, we made our way into the theatre, which had been set up with tables and chairs, and were trying to figure out the best place to sit so we could see both her face and her hands on the piano, since I like to watch people play piano. We decided which table we wanted at the exact moment that this older couple also... Read Full Story

Good news! I was just going through my wallet, looking for my receipts from today, and I was about to toss my bill for the expensive water I ingested yesterday when the light bulb came on over my head: I can claim the fancy water! I was at a networking event to further my freelancing career, so I can claim it! Thank goodness. Anyway, back to my muddled money day. I forgot to mention one of my purchases yesterday, which was some pre-choir rehearsal food that came to a total of $7.78. I... Read Full Story

I'm going to keep this short and sweet, before I fall asleep at my desk. Worst money moment of the day: I went to this networking event for editors at a pub after work and I didn't want to have a "drink" drink, since I had to head to choir from there, so I ordered a bottle of water. A $4.17 bottle of water. I should have had some wine. Total debt: $3564 and a bit (Aha! There's the dreaded interest.) Spent today: $8.90 (Tea, really expensive water, and a quick pick for the $35 million 6/49... Read Full Story

Remember the other day when I was saying I had to get back to the gym and that it was going to hurt? Well, I did. And it does. Yesterday morning I did some weights and a bit of cardio. This morning I took a spinning class. This evening I took a hot bath with Epsom salts and two pain pills. I think I'd better take tomorrow off. There are many things I should be doing tonight, including a few loads of laundry. (It's true - even bloggers need to wash their sheets and towels.) But instead I... Read Full Story

I don't mean to brag about my extremely cultured day yesterday, but how many of you got to wander among published literary tomes and then see a concert featuring a marimba player, an accordion suite, Don McKellar AND the inimitable Shannon Mercer? What? No one but me? And the DP, of course, who was my partner in culture crimes for the day. We didn't start the (capital-g) Gorgeous September Sunday in the most accomplished of manners. In fact, having missed our window of opportunity for... Read Full Story

Thanks to $20 worth of free groceries (a lovely benefit of charging a whole bunch of new fall clothes), my half of our weekly shop came to only $40. And our fridge is full! In fact, I'm going to go and make some soup right now. And then I'm going to get gussied up and go out to celebrate the birthday of one of my favourite people. (Don't tell him he's one of my favourites, though. His head is swollen enough!) So there may be some drink purchases, but you'll all have to wait until tomorrow to... Read Full Story