Consuming Connie

You know what the best part about a job is? Getting paid. I know, I know. This is earth shattering stuff here. But I can not get out of the scavenging spirit, first of all. The kids at my high school have been taking their state tests, here called the AIMS. Because it's a small school (and we're awesome), they have been provided bottles of water, bagels and cream cheese, granola bars, muffins, and fruit. I've had my eye on this crap for days.

I mean, while some of these kids from lower socioeconomic groups, I'm pretty sure everyone can afford food. (I'm saying that in all seriousness; sarcasm there would be unfunny.) Which, I thought indignantly, meant I deserved it more as I cannot. Oops. Could not. See? I'm okay now, what with my packed fridge and overloaded cupboards. Maybe there was a little bit of hoarding there. There are two bottles of dishwasher detergent, shampoo, face soap, and laundry detergent because they were all twofer sales (two for $5, etc.). So I'm still stockpiling even though another paycheck is just around the corner. So pardon me if, after testing was done and the students were gone, I took four granola bars, two apples, a muffin, and two bottles of water. So what if I don't like apples (too crunchy), I need nutrition! I had a moment after the fact where I realized that I am not actually any longer suffering from drawn out malnutrition. There are more fruits and vegetables in this apartment than I have ever seen in any place I've lived. That might be a slight exaggeration, but only slight.

On the converse, I am still amazed at how fast two people can rip through a gallon of milk, a bottle of shampoo, and laundry detergent. Good Lord. I must wear five outfits a day and run through the mud in every one of them. I think the trash is endlessly filled up, no matter how often it is emptied. I mean, I guess this is living. Living consumes things. And I think I'm pretty good about not wasting things. Like, it's sort of one of my annoying habits. Even if I buy a lotion that, it turns out, I hate the smell of? Well, I'ma gonna stank for the next month and a half.

Life is good, I think. Free muffins are great, don't get me wrong. There's a certain pride, however, in affording your own for the first time in years. That's right. Affording muffins. Baby steps.