Friday, January 28, 2005

Who Sent who?

No other way to start this business than with the ceremonial emptying of my change mug this morning. Speaking of "two cents."
I am down to $2.00 in my checking account. I wrote to a friend this morning that this really no longer constitutes a "checking account," but is more akin to the hollow environment of a child's piggybank. I HOPE there's a lot in there when I shake it around, but I know the chilly reality. I'm writing content for informational websites....I think....for a marketing firm. I hope--there's that word again-- that I'll find work doing more technical writing and utilizing some tools I'd really like to build into my resume, versus, MS Word zip files over and over.
My cash mug. I decided I'd try and dig up enough change to get a coffee at "Third Place" at the end of my block, a luxury I have denied myself for the last 2 months. That's sad, isn't it? Coffee as a "luxury" item? My other blog is titled "Strong Coffee" . THAT's some strong coffee.
So, a luxury on a Friday afternoon--cuppa joe down the block at one of the most popular coffee houses in Raleigh. That's what I'm paying for. Popularity. I know, Free Trade beans and all that, growers making more.....
I've really wandered from what I intended to say, but, it's all about the cup of coffee right now.

I managed to dig one quarter, 3 dimes and 2 nickels off the top layer in the mug. Mixed in with the mash of odd marbles and seaglass chips. I was downright angry over the Canadian quarter that someone ripped me off with once upon a time. Everyone else but me seems to have eagle-eyes on those--handing them back with a, "Sorry, caught ya" wink. Even vending machines won't be gyped. I finally dumped the "I Love NC" mug over. Marbles rolled everywhere, much to the amusement of one of my cats. Mexican coins.....why? Old guitar pick. Dead AA battery. Mother-of-pearl shard. Allen wrench. "Mother-of-Pearl," is right. Kennedy half-dollar and Betsy Ross silver dollar--who the hell even knows those are real cashola anymore--no. Great, another Canadian quarter. Ripped off twice. Polished stones-- agate, tiger's eye, turquoise. I love rocks. I did find half-a-dozen more dimes and enough nickels that perhaps might buy me a small black coffee of the day. SMALL luxury.

posted by jrotman @ 2:09 PM