Budgeting Life

It doesn't matter how much you make, you can just as easily spend it; this statement is especially true living in NYC.  Lately, if there's been anything I wanted (food, event, clothing, or stuff in general) I just buy it without thinking twice.

I don't like this feeling.  I feel like I'm living in a perpetual state of consumption.  It doesn't matter what I consume, I'm just not satisfied and I'm immediately ready for the next thing.  For example, I'll have a bite of some rich Belgian chocolate and yet it won't taste half as good as the Reese's peanut butter cups I had in Ha'apai.

I'm learning that budgeting a checkbook is easy.  Budgeting life so you can still appreciate the small things, now that's difficult.

Oh Internet, this is so cute!

http://trextrying.tumblr.com/

Update!

Life has slowed down; I haven't gone to as many new events recently and instead I've been enjoying the downtime either at home or at a familiar event.

One of the events that I regularly attend is the NYC Tech Meetup.  For the biggest meetup in the world, it has a surprisingly small community.  I regularly see the same developers and startup entrepreneurs.  The passion that these groups have for their work is contagious and inspiring (this time I was awed by a guy presenting an open source geospatial database).

Another one of my regular events is an Android developers meetup; this month's meeting was over at the Google offices.  A Google Advocate went over the new Ice Cream Sandwich update.  I learned a few interesting things, but most of all is that Google has free catering for meetings! :)

After these events, I felt inspired and got a few programming friends together.  We brainstormed ideas that ranged from a Google Plus Friend Finder (location based) to random game ideas.  We looked at the Google Plus API and decided it wasn't a good idea (due to querying cost).  We're looking into the details of game programming so I'll be reading up about collision detection in the next couple weeks.  (It's much different game mechanics than the one I was working on previously)

Besides computer stuff, I did some home decorating this weekend.  I created a 4ft by 10ft chalkboard wall (only cost $20).  I used my phone's panorama shot to try to capture how large the area is.  The chalkboard is on the left hand side.

I also finished the Game of Thrones books, which was an enjoyable read.  I started reading the series shortly before moving to NYC.  I'll either finish the Steve Jobs book or start on Band of Brothers next.

I would have checked out the unknown destinations event this weekend (previous post), but they ran out of tickets.

Work's going great.  We got a function repository and a report scheduler, which I need to figure out how to use next week.  I almost forgot to mention, a few of us started a work bowling team (our team name is 'Lifesavers').

Oh, and I started seeing someone!  She's really cute, smart, and chill.