I mean, can you imagine what your favorite fonts would look like if they were people? Oh yeah.

I didn’t go to the mall. I didn’t buy new shoes. I didn’t even buy a meal until today, I’ve been eating stuff from home instead. And you know, it’s better. It really is. Not taking my debit card to work has been really good. I eat better and cheaper when I bring stuff from home.

Today someone mentioned that he was sad I wasn’t teaching. I know he sees potential and intelligence in me and it’s flattering and lovely, really. He’s a volunteer and a really great person. But I got to thinking about things. You know what? I’m glad I switched jobs.

I took about a $5000 paycut to work where I am now. That’s a lot of money. But the benefits have been great. Sure, there’s plenty of stupid politics and annoyances and stuff, but I love my job. I really do. People notice that I’m in happier spirits. I work shorter days and I don’t take work home. I have the most flexible schedule ever. I can go in late and work late or go in early and come home early. I have vacation days that I can take easily. I can work on projects that require me to be creative and to use my intellect.

I do miss some things about teaching in a formal classroom, I really do. But when it comes to the joy and comfort I have at this job that $5000 was worth every penny. I don’t feel so stressed and rushed. I can focus on things other than work, like my friends. I can hang out with people every week. I love that. I missed that so much.

Today was a crazy busy day. Lines backed up everywhere. It’s only January. I’m sure February will be crazier. I had a few encounters with crabby people but overall I got to talk to lots of great visitors, present my favorite show, and take care of business. Yesterday I got to show some friends around and I really had a blast. It was so much fun. I had to look at the museum through visitor eyes again and that is so healthy for me. It’s an amazing place.

In Affluenza there are a few chapters about how work days have lengthened and people have little leisure time. It’s so sad. We try to buy happiness by buying stuff, but then people don’t have time to use the stuff or see family or help the community. So people try to buy their way out of the misery. What a sad state of affairs. And now we’re on the verge of a recession. I think it will be a good thing if we have a recession. People need to stop getting into such terrible debt. Companies need to stop tearing down good, small, affordable houses to put up condos, lofts, and McMansions that no one can afford. We need to stand up as a society and stop being consumed by being consumers.

Maybe I need to keep on the no buy kick for a little while longer. I’m going to rebuild my savings. Bush may want me to buy more stuff, but I’m not going to. I’d rather be ready when the slump hits.

Oh, to make my no-buy difficult I’ve noticed my lips are getting chapped and flakey so I wanted to exfoliate them a bit and be heavy handed with the lip balm. I have plenty of lip balm. Anyway, rather than look at expensive products I just exfoliated my lips with a little sugar and water. Fabulous and cheap!

So I’m going to try a couple weeks of no buying. This will be really hard for me but it needs to happen. I have too much stuff. And I’m spending more than I ought to. This is foolishness.

I really feel like the Lord has been calling me to slow down, too, and not to waste time on the frivolous. Like this conviction to take the bus to work. Taking the bus not only gets me walking as I play my little bus game, it also gives me a good 15 minutes that I can reflect and pray. Man, do I need that 15 minutes. I find myself so much more relaxed when I come home after taking the bus. I really hope I can stick with this mass transit to/from work thing for awhile because I need it. It’s so healthy.

I’ve had some cool things happening in my life and have been asking for prayer. I’ve really realized today how many phenomenal, godly women are around me, praying for me. This really touches my heart (I’m getting teary right now, for goodness’ sake). Having such beautiful, intelligent, and genuinely good women looking out for me, checking on me, and praying for me is the most amazing blessing in the whole world. Thank you all so much. I’m praying for you all, too.