pizzzz

My day off: eating plenty of Carolina rice, visited Alice, sleep most of the day.  Going through rough Wild Mary character in Castle Empire: progress in defeating her camp is very slow and will most likely take at least one more day.
I was bored and tried to draw self-portrait: nothing similar.  I guess in drawings I should stick to abstractedness since I have no skills to draw realism.

getting conned

Relatively busy day at work.  After work I checked the bank account to see how much damage Con Edison got me with this summer: in three months I spent enough money on electricity to buy a European vacation for a week, including a non-direct flight.  On my request to check the meter they sent someone over: I let them in.  Same day I received a response letter, stating they checked the meters a week earlier and the charges are correct.  I immediately sent an angry letter saying that I personally let in the guy to check the meters yesterday and they couldn't know that charges were correct a week ago.  Their response was that they checked it a week before as well, which is a blatant lie since the entrance to basement is right in front of my door and they always come early in the morning, so I would definitely hear them opening it.  But I guess there is no point, it's monopoly anyway.  I was so upset that my bank account is narrowly escaping a budget hole due to false billing that I went to all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet at King's Buffet on 86th Street and ate until I almost vomited from excess of food.  I will try not to binge eat again: it improves my mood, but it really blows up my stomach in size.

sleepless in brooklyn

Evening did not go as I planned: I felt asleep quite early and woke up around 1am.  To my surprise, I had a wonderful dream - don't get many of those.  I doubted I will be able to sleep until morning, so I had an espresso and went back to play Castle Empire.  I already asked for a day off for Rosh Hashanah's on Thursday, going back to work on Friday.  I figured out how to create acceptance of all religions on Earth in any particular country:  make every religious holidays (of all religions) a National holiday which will be officially a day-off.  Then everyone will rejoice in holidays of all religions and will think twice about fighting over them.  Well, everyone except Big Business, I guess, because people will be missing more workdays, but there are more poor to middle class people than rich people anyway...it could be good even for Big Business with this economy: they would just have to press on making these days pay-free.

B-ok

Level 31 in Castle Empire.  Usual Saturday dinner at parents' apartment.  Bought lots of edible/drinkable stuff at 99c store on corner of Avenue Z and Coney Island (at least that's what it was called years ago, I never bother to look at current name - considering prices it probably changed).  I was so bored I started painting a picture for my bedroom, but then I got bored with it and will finish it some other time.  Life is not changing much and I find comfort in this routine way of life.  It looks like this is the best of it, glad to get used to it - better than I expected considering unexpected stuff.

money on my mind

It was the least busy Monday as long as I recall.  I tried to be useful, but it seemed that there was not much to do today.  I am sure it's a stand-alone instance that doesn't repeat.  I wanted to buy something for the wall: I moved the painting I had, since it has been there for many years and I grew tired of it.  I went online, but all paintings seemed to be more expensive than my budget could afford.  After work I went to Staples and bought oil colors in pencil form, large board, pens since I decided to draw something myself.  So it won't look pretty, but at least I'll save money and change decor.  I am still level 30 on Castle Empire, since I am trying not to spend more money than I spent and the progress is slower.  Everything is more expensive than before, even pens on sale.  I don't know how the management is meeting their budget and suspect that we'll have lots of workers slowly encouraged to leave within a year or so.  It looks like a slow beginning of another Great Depression.  I've been through this before, just before I left USSR: the safest thing is to go to another country.   Unfortunately, this time it appears that it's a global economic collapse and I don't know where would be a safer place to go.  I heard Canada is doing ok, eh?
For now I'm just eating sandwiches with soy cheese, drinking espresso, smoke a lot.  It is comforting to know that nothing really depends on me and whatever happens - happens.  Everything was predicted even long before year 2000 and it all does not come as a surprise.

still satisfied with life

Visited parents, ate matzo balls, some salad, vegetable soup, coffee, zucchini souffle.  Yesterday got a haircut.  Bought green tea with ginseng and honey and Brisk iced tea.  Saw a sale on big canister of Cafe Bastelo espresso roast - will try it later.
I feel like I am writing my life out: it's like making your own life-circle.  Guess mine will be a lonely circle for a single guy, but at least there's lots of light.

peace on earth 4.6

After work (it was busy) went to see Alice and now feel much better.  I had a headache most of the day and now it is gone.  Decided to take it easy w/Castle Empire, so that it would be more enjoyable.  Fried cubed firm tofu with salt, garlic salt, vegeta, mushroom dry flakes: turned out to be a very tasty dish.  Had espresso with cinnamon and creamer, found Peace cigarette pack in rarely worn suit, life couldn't be any better.  Hope neighbors won't cause riots because I feel better than usual:)  They care so much...for some reason...

We all compete for the same: life. Games are just time-outs in between.

I am level 30 in Castle Empire.  Another 25 bucks wasted on trying to get through a second adventure, but I just don't have the time.  I should have started the adventure around weekend, then there was service maintenance at inconvenient time before work, too, otherwise I would not have to cancel the adventure.  At least I got a lot of experience points.  I'll try to limit my spending on this game: it's just a game for entertainment after all.   Today I bought two slices of vegan pizza and an order of garlic nuts.  Bought Old Town 2-in-1 Malaysian coffee - it's very good, unusual taste. It was raining on and off.  Decided to buy dried bread instead of fresh one, to cut the calories.  I still need to lose some weight, but it is not as easy as I expected.  I guess my metabolism is slowing down.  I must be getting old.

low on spirit

After relatively busy day at work went to Stop-N-Shop and bought lots of goodies to eat.  The prices went up on pretty much everything and it's obvious that many foods in this respectable store are past their expiration date.  On the way back home I had a feeling some natural event is about to happen this night: something like a tornado or heavy T-storm at least.  However, every media source says my gut feelings are wrong.  Maybe they are right, my extra-sensory perception is slightly off lately.

10 years after Sept 11 - same road

Got to adventure possibility on level 26 and will try the first one today. Ate buckwheat noodles with Soba soup base, very tasty.  Lost 3-4 pounds over the past week, which did not meet my criteria so I will continue to try to eat less.  The game progresses at slower pace.  Already put in another 10 bucks in it and it appears I would greatly benefit from buying more gems (tokens).  At this rate, this will be the most expensive game I've played.  However, what else am I going to spend money on?  Oh yes, stopped by Telco today: they had $1 tank-top sale, so I got one of these.  Also bought a new belt, two plaid shirts for autumn, socks and a large bag of pistachios.

before the weekend starts

Level 26 in Castle Empire: defeated all medium and one high level settlements.  Since I was not eating much for the past three days, decided to overeat tonight: went to King's All You Can Eat Buffet.  I overate indeed.  Had to drink espresso to empty my stomach.  The mood lately is very surprisingly numb: not depressed, not excited, not anxious, not happy, not sad, just blend and it seems to be somewhat stable.  I guess it's good.

no news is good news

Laundry is deposited, parents have been seen, food's been eaten, Castle Empire on level 24.  Spent another 25 bucks on it... still within my budget though.  Max was puking all over their carpet.  Bought 4 of aloe vera drink bottles and 2 Mira Mango juice containers.  Tomorrow I will visit my grandmother and bring her water.  Monday is a personal day all to myself.  I am planning to visit Alice.

longingness for privacy

Just came from Alice: feel much better.  Acupuncture really works.  I like the electricity.  Playing  Castle Empire.  Three-day weekend ahead due to Labor Day.  I have to take clothes to laundry. Bought large can of Pilon Coffee: taste really great.  Smoking mostly Seven Stars and Hilton. Tomorrow I will see my parents and eat a lot of matzoh balls.  Second time in a row my computer is on when I come back from work as if someone is trying to get into it from outside.  Today computer is stalling.  It's like having the only true friend catching a disease that may turn out to be terminal.  Sad.