Punchy's 10-Day School Break Begins Tomorrow

Ten days is a long time and I'm hoping we get away for one or two nights to maybe Philly, Boston, Catskills, somewhere....for a change of pace and because I have always liked widening my girls'--and my own--horizons during school vacations.

And because the thought of keeping P busy without the structure of 6 schooldays is a bit daunting.
But such is the life of two freelance writers who do not use credit cards. We are both waiting on paychecks. I even cancelled my blowout for tomorrow to save the $40 plus tips. [Friday was the closest appointment I could get to Easter Sunday.]

We shall see what the mail carrier--and direct deposit payments--brings. [Should that be bring or brings?]

Good night.

TCOY

1. 7 a.m. support group.
2. Walked Sug around the block.
3. Nap on couch.
4. Bath with fizzy.
5. Walked in and out of town [about 40 min. round trip] with my laptop, to work and write.
6. Ate healthy food.
7. From 5 to 6 p.m., I watched an episode of the original "Charlie's Angels" show on MeTv. [I had dropped P. at soccer practice in the park at 4:45 and asked Dan to get her at 5:45.] I loved it, even though I can see that the beautiful leading actresses were objectified to some degree in clothes like the sailor-collar midriff on Jaclyn Smith in final scene. But I love Charlie's voice over the intercom, Farrah's truly sunny beauty, the bell-bottom jeans, all the details.

$ MONEY SPENT OUT OF POCKET

• Joyist, clean, healthy space with no piles of dead backyard leaves begging [through my home office window] to be raked, bagged and hauled to curb. Big Buddha Bowl with beets, squash, kale, hard-cooked egg and tahini dressing, plus hazelnut energy bites, $23.
• Joyist, large organic cappuccino in tall to-stay cup. Delicious treat, $6.

TOTAL DAILY SPEND: $29.

MONTHLY SPEND AS OF APRIL 18: $2,442.28.
AVERAGE DAILY SPEND SO FAR THIS MONTH: $135.68.

Big-ticket April spends so far, 18 days into the month:

Lamp, $79; luxe hand cream, $55; Giotto dinner to go + jar of imported Italian artichokes, $46; dog groomer/beauty salon, $75; vet for hamster, $157; necklace repair, $128; blowout, $55; Over the Moon, bday gifts for Punch friend + book for me, $60; Kings groceries, $132; liquor store, $32; bra/underwear/tights, $126; Joyist, $39 one day while working on assignments there; second blowout w service tips, $52; Punchy, Lululemon, $28; Justice, bday gifts and gift bag/pink tissue for Punch friend + shorts for Punch + $2 donation at register, $58; Kings groceries, $63; Joyist, $25 one day while working on deadlines; bike delivery, $35; Whole Foods, $69; CVS & Kings, Easter gifts/basket treats [counting lemon curd for tarts], $97. Steep subtotal of $1,411.

MONEY THOUGHTS: The money monster comes to bite; didn't want to cancel my blowout. Will try and blow-dry hair myself tomorrow but my feeble attempts can never hold a candle to professional smoothing. Glad I got the Easter cards/candy/gifts in case checks don't come before Sunday....we still have to get rest of the meal and should have enough cash to be covered for that.

MY TOTAL MARCH SPEND OUT OF POCKET: $4,128.41.
COMPARE TO TOTAL FEBRUARY SPEND OUT OF POCKET: $3,159.25.