I just realized why I’ve been so broke the last few months. With physical therapy and post-surgery follow up visits, I’ve been paying $300 a month in co-pays. That would explain where my discretionary (ha!) income went.

I was aware of these as individual line items in my checkbook, but not as an overarching theme. Silly me. Under the category of “being responsible”, I filed my taxes (state and federal) last night, got a confirmation statement for my first car payment (and yet another booklet welcoming me to the Mazda family, containing a ZOOM-ZOOM window sticker), and my car insurance bill.

I also went to occupational therapy and had a nice torture session there (counted the reps of my exercises in German, French, Spanish, Polish and Japanese to keep things interesting - and because my knowledge of German and Japanese is pretty much limited to counting to ten and some random phrases like “Where are the chopsticks?”). The things we do to keep ourselves occupied and our minds off the matters at hand.

This morning I got to visit the endocrinologist and now I have to get some fun blood tests this weekend. The doctor commented about my blood pressure being normal despite his white coat and the exam room. I explained that I have no phobia about seeing doctors and that it doesn’t stress me out since I see any visit to a doctor as something positive I’m doing for my health; thus, no reason to stress or worry. I’m only going to find out what’s wrong or not wrong, and what to do about it. I was commended on this positive attitude.

It’s always nice to get commendation from your medical professional.

I got to work at noon, whipped through email, whipped through phone messages, took care of a few things I needed to handle, went to a meeting, and half an hour later, it was time to go. However, that meeting resulted in a discussion of the aesthetics of bamboo knitting needles. Since I pass by a craft store on my way home when I drive in, I offered to stop and purchase said needles. So, I took a little detour on my way home and got bamboo knitting needles for a photo shoot (seriously). I love that my job involves opportunities to do random things like this.

Song that’s been repeating in my head all day: “All These Things That I’ve Done” by The Killers. Particularly the “work it on out… yeah-ah-ah” and “I’ve got soul but I’m not a soldier” parts. Gospel choir inserted into other forms of music is one of my favorite things. I’m working on a playlist/eventual mix CD of such pieces. As I listen to songs on my iPod and notice use of choir, I jot them down in my Moleskine (journalist style) notebook. Thus far, the list contains:

“Father Figure” - George Michael
“Demon Days” - The Gorillaz
“Poor Boy” - Nick Drake
“Hallelujah Here She Comes” - U2
“Tender” - Blur
“All These Things That I’ve Done” - The Killers

Not a long list, I admit. But I’ll get there. I keep feeling there’s something obvious I’m missing… and it will hit me in one big moment of a-ha! (not the band, but the eureka moment).

I’ve also decided that since I have lots of vacation time to use up this year and no money to fly to far-off lands, I will take advantage of what I do have: a car. Road trip. That’s the vacation this year. There’s a guide to U.S. Road Trips publishing soon (MTV U.S. Road Trips) and one of the thematic trips in there is one I’d really enjoy (”stay at haunted hotels in search of the unexplained and paranormal, in the Weird Northeast” which is especially great since I’m not superstitious at all - Supreme Kitsch Value!), so when that book hits shelves in April/May, it’s AWN.

That said, a few months ago I pre-ordered Michel Gondry’s “The Science of Sleep” on DVD from Amazon. It arrived today and I’m going to wait to watch it until tomorrow night when I have some time to sit and enjoy it. And enjoy Senor Gael Garcia Bernal in it.

Me tired. Me sleep now.

I’ve overheard a bunch of interesting tidbits of conversation over the last few days.

On the train yesterday: old man 1 says to old man 2, “At least now you can eat your lentils.” No laughter. Just a serious consolation of some sort.

Walking down B’way over the weekend: girl says to guy, “I can’t force you to talk to me. I can only apologize. Why won’t you talk to me?” Guy doesn’t respond and just walks straight ahead. I thought maybe the girl was talking on a cell phone via a Bluetooth device. Nope. She pulled on the guy’s sleeve and started sniffling, “Why won’t you talk to me?”

In post-meeting banter today: “I know some people are weirded out by feet and would really be opposed to seeing a foot on a book cover.”

On Friday, I was informed that my friend who moved to England had her baby girl. She’s got a beautiful name - Juliette Ava Rose - and if early pictures are any indicator, she’s also in-line with her mummy’s and daddy’s attractiveness.

If I weren’t pet-sitting this weekend with only my cell phone at hand (which doesn’t do international calls, thanks to Verizon only using one type of bandwidth due to the scarcity of available channels since lots are being used by the U.S. military… but enough of that) I’d call them to sing, “Congratulations!”

Petsitting is also incredibly fun when it’s freezing outside and the dog is a breed that comes from and loves the cold. I can only go so long outside before my head and ears are freezing from inhaling and being battered by icy wind. I’m also not covered from head to toe in a warm black coat.

But it’s OK. That’s a good thing.

Oh! “Matilda” is on ABC Family. It’s one of my favorite kids’ movies, and one of my favorite Roald Dahl books. Yay. I can settle in with a blanket and some tea and watch this. Then I can get back to re-reading “The Blind Assassin” by Margaret Atwood afterwards. I love it when a plan comes together.