A Trip To The Grocery Store

These days money is tight for me. I haven't had a job now for a month and I am trying to live on the money I had saved with some help from my family. With moving and starting classes things have been a little hectic and I have not been able to look for a job. So, I have been stretching every dollar I have. This means eating simple meals, giving up a lot of "extras", and riding my bike to school. I have had to be very practical about what I do and not spend frivolously on anything. Actually, I have been making myself go days without spending anything at all. Last week the only things I spent money on were three bus rides totaling $6, a ream of paper for printing homework that was $5, and two meals with drinks totaling $9. Things have been so tight that I was a little concerned last week when my cohort of fellow grad students wanted to get together last Friday and celebrate our completing the first week of classes. I wasn't sure how I was going to swing that one, but, with much planning I managed to eat two meals with the girls and pay $16 for them. I was quite proud of myself. I was able to enjoy myself and get to know my classmates without overspending. Of course I had to be very careful and it took things like not ordering anything to drink but water, but it was do-able. So, all that said, you can imagine my excitement at being able to go to the grocery store today and get some things I need. I anticipated it all day and as I started the walk down the street towards the store I found myself feeling great. I was so excited to be in the store buying the things I both needed and wanted. I had gotten a little extra money over the weekend and decided to use some of it and splurge on some simple things that really make me happy. I gave myself a budget and entered the store ready to shop. It was absolutely wonderful to roam the aisles and look at all the stuff you could get. Of course, every time my hand went to reach for something I could not afford, I had to remind myself that I was living on small means and would have to reward myself with those things later. However, I found some great deals on the things I needed and then got a few things that would make me very happy. Most of the things I got were intended to last a while and get me through at least another two weeks before I had to buy anything else. I went through the check out and made sure the groceries were bagged appropriately so I could walk home with them. As I walked out of the store I felt like I was carrying gold in my grocery bags. For $34.69 I had gotten my necessities and my treats. I walked home with a bounce in my step, anticipating the consumption of the wonderful chips and hummus I had gotten. I know I didn't spend much and perhaps three bags of groceries doesn't seem like much to most of you, but for me it was a pile of treasures. I don't like not having money and being poor, but maybe there are some benefits to not having everything at your fingertips all the time. I think it gives you the chance to be so much more appreciative for the small things, for the things that are necessary for good living but aren't necessarily a part of surviving. Enjoying a small snack of wonderful food that I can only purchase every now and then is far more rewarding to me than having it there all the time without the appreciation of it. Although living with little to no money is difficult, it has also been a good experience for me and no matter how long this time period lasts, I am happy to say that it has made me a much more grateful person.

Beauty All Around Me

If there has been anything I have noticed here in Colorado it is how beautiful everything is. It is absolutely gorgeous up here! The mountains rise up with a majestic grandeur that is simply breath-taking. Their large imposing rock faces emit such strength and resilience, yet the soft trees and shrubbery that blanket it's sides are inviting and alluring. It's as thought the mountains speak to you, luring you to explore them and all they have to offer. There are trees everywhere here and they are large trees with very full branches that provide a sweet cool shade from the brilliant sun that shines overhead. There are so many different types but many are pine and their sweet scent fill the air. I love to breathe deeply and feel the scent sit in my nose before I exhale. The grass is so green here and it provides the perfect carpeting for the many rolling hills and valleys. The air is crisp and clean and breathing in feels like you are taking in life itself. The sunsets are pretty wonderful as well. It's great to just sit and watch nature! The animals here are plentiful and very friendly. It is not unusual to see a deer or a squirrel sitting across from you on the grass. They seem to be completely at rest. Perhaps that is what I am feeling here, peace. There is certainly a calm and restfulness about this town. The closeness of nature and it's intense beauty helps make this place seem like a haven. I am truly going to enjoy these next few years.

Things I Have Noticed

There are several things I have noticed since being here in Colorado. Well, actually there are quite a few things, but there a few that really irk me. First, there is no Dunkin' Donuts store in the entire state. I know, I know, you are shocked and amazed, as was I when I first learned of it. The locals here try to comfort me by offering any of the numerous Starbucks locations as an alternative, but that cannot appease me. There simply is no substitute for Dunkin' Donuts coffee. None. End of the discussion. So, I have comforted myself by preparing to ask family members to at least send me packets of the coffee grinds from the grocery store. It is a sad trade off, but a doable one. Secondly, there is no Trader Joe's grocery store anywhere in the state. Imagine my surprise when I found that one of the hippest most cutting edge natural foods grocery stores cannot be found in the city that claims to be the "greenest" city in the Union. What is this all about? Trader Joe's would be the perfect compliment to the city in which I now live, but there isn't one to be found, and there are those here who do not even know what I am talking about. What has my existence come to? Thirdly, I found that there are no good Mexican restaurants in the area where I live. I didn't see any on my initial travelings around the city so I started asking and everyone who lives here very glumly informed me that the so-called Mexican restaurants here had the most terrible food one could ask for. I guess I will have to wait a few months before I can enjoy real Mexican food again. =( There are many more things I have noticed here, but those are the most pressing for now. My next post should be a more positive one about all the great things I am noticing here. In all seriousness, this place really is great and I am having a good time being here, despite the fact that I cannot have those few things mentioned above. I guess I will learn to live without them and will have to treat myself to them when I am once again in Tucson. =D

Life In Colorado

Today completes my first full week on my own here in Colorado. It's been an adventure for most of it but I have to admit that I starting to feel rather lonely. I have made phone calls to talk to family and friends and this weekend I saw my dad for a couple of days. All these things have been great and I have really enjoyed being here, but I do miss home. Things will get very busy starting tomorrow when my classes begin and I am sure that will take my mind off the loneliness. Other than loneliness I am actually enjoying myself here. I had my internet service hooked up this weekend and I am now able to communicate with people via the internet. It also means I can print my notes for class and prepare myself for the next two weeks. Having glanced at the syllabus for just one of my classes I am certain there will be little time for anything else except homework these next few days. The intensive will be just that and I am actually looking forward to it. I am a little concerned about keeping up, but the best thing to do is just go in and give it my best; so that's what I am going to do. As for the countryside here, things are beautiful. I could not have asked for a more glorious place to live. I have mountains, trees, grass, and streams. There are several bridges that cross over small streams around town and I have thoroughly enjoyed walking over them hearing the water rushing beneath me. The campus is laid out like an Italian village with brick buildings and tiled roofs. It's amazing! As I walk across campus I get the feeling I have been transported to some small European village. It is what I have always dreamt a college campus should be. So, while I am a bit homesick and wishing that my friends were here with me I am happy with my surrounding and looking forward to living here. I'm sure there will be more adventures and goings on here in Colorado to post about and I will write when I can. Until then, good bye.