Tuesday 07th 2004f December 2004
« « Slow| Glory » »Exchange
Vanessa has returned, bearing news of Dublin. I find it quite surreal that she’s spent the last week basically living my life – hanging out with my friends, meeting my parents etc. I’ll be back myself before too long – nine days and counting. Thanks go out to Owen for giving her a tour of Trinity, and sorry if everybody else is disappointed that she didn’t contact them. She says everything is very expensive over there, and the one comment people keep making about my blog is their irrititation at the way I constantly complain about being broke, yet still do things like fly to Vegas, buy Xboxes and Playstations and so forth.
The explanation is simple – I am an idiot. Working freelance has always been for me a cycle of boom and bust – earning a lot, then nothing, then a lot, then nothing. When I have a lot, I spend it, always working on the assumption that something will come along before the money runs out totally. And generally, it has. Just not recently.
The problem is that when I am earning well, I feel rich, and I act that way. You may say that I shouldn’t have bought the Xbox, but bear in mind that I was working for R* at the time, and had been for a few weeks. I bought it in a shop one evening on the way home, and it cost me less than half of what I had earned that day (apparently I’m highly skilled). Could you have resisted, dear reader? Really? Well, whether you could or not isn’t really germane. I couldn’t. Anyway, it was for research.
Ok, the PS2 is harder to justify, as I had stopped working by then, but my present poverty really came on me very quickly; I paid my Irish income tax for 2003 in the first week of November. While 2003 hadn’t exactly been a banner year for me in terms of earnings (although compared to 2004 it was as if I was winning the lottery every week) I had earned. And I had to pay tax on it. All the money was, of course, long spent on living in NYC.
The real killer: the tax was in Euros, all my money in Dollars. I was taken by surprise. I hadn’t quite realised how weak the Dollar was. I paid what I owed, and it completely wiped me out, in one stroke.
If it had been a slow diminuition, I would have throttled back gradually, but it wasn’t. It was one cruel blow. Healthy bank balance one minute, fluttering moths in the wallet the next. I wish I hadn’t paid it in full. I’d be surviving a little more comfortably now if I’d only paid half of it. I could have paid the rest of it in February in March if things pick up as I hope they will, and if they don’t pick up, well, I’ll be so badly off that the extra wouldn’t have made much difference.
So, I’m sorry if it seems like I’m constantly moaning about not having any money when after all it’s all my own fault, but dammit this is my blog! Not having money sucks! And I’m going to keep on moaning about it because it’s the central defining issue of my life at the moment – I can’t do anything!
Ok, I can do some things. Julian took me to see the newly reopened MoMA in midtown, which was pretty stunning – way too much art. At times it was like watching a slideshow in my old art history class, except all the paintings were actually there. It was free because Julian has this amazing card that allows him free access with a guest to almost any museum in the world.
I have also returned to my sponging ways. I got very drunk on Friday, then on Sunday I had a nice lunch, saw a movie and had a few cocktails, and I only spent a tenner (about ¤1.50). So be warned – my return to Ireland will be very expensive for anybody who foolishly agrees to meet me.
Oh, and does anybody want a Gmail invite? I have six to give away.
Comment ID: 2197
At 1:50 am on Wednesday 08th 2004f December 2004, Douglas Murray was compelled to shareI’d like to try a Gmail, please. Say “Hi” to our mutual friends in Eire, too, since I’m asking for favors.
Comment ID: 2204
At 4:41 am on Wednesday 08th 2004f December 2004, D announcedI think you might find this helpful: www.pouletfrites.com/FABLE-ENG-ANT.htm
Comment ID: 2213
At 9:28 am on Wednesday 08th 2004f December 2004, Vanessa impartedWell Anthony, you did no justice to what I thought about my trip to Ireland. Granted that w/ the dollar in this slump, finance did come into consideration, but that was not the highlight of my trip. I had a good time over there. It’s really a country with beautiful people and places. A real gem. I think that even the weather wasn’t as bad as I had prepared myself for it. It was really great to live a bit of the routine of the city, to see how people live and not just do the touristy bit. Sorry if I didn’t have more time to get in touch w/ everybody else. But thanks a bunch for all the warm welcome I got. Ok..I’ll write my other impressions on my blog…instead of using up Anthony’s.
Comment ID: 2215
At 1:49 pm on Wednesday 08th 2004f December 2004, Anthony impartedOk, Doug, you’re invited. I now have five gmail invites.
D, are you suggesting I learn how to dance? I can’t really see how that would help. And how am I supposed to pay for classes?
And Vanessa, I just didn’t want to steal your thunder.
Comment ID: 2217
At 9:34 am on Thursday 09th 2004f December 2004, Zaini was compelled to shareHi, Anthony. Had drinks with Daragh, Vanessa and Sagel on saturday night in Galway,good fun. Hope to see you at some point over christmas. But it might be difficult as I’m working a lot and going skiing for some of it. Its all very Wham isn’t it. We’ll work something out.
Comment ID: 2218
At 11:28 am on Thursday 09th 2004f December 2004, Ivan typedDo you have a picture for me?
Comment ID: 2219
At 11:30 am on Thursday 09th 2004f December 2004, Ivan statedOh my god why not?
Comment ID: 2223
At 1:25 pm on Friday 10th 2004f December 2004, Anthony proclaimedYou have to supply your own – go to www.gravatar.com.