Every year I supposedly have a budget. Every year it doesn’t quite go as planned.
In about 10 days I’m off to New Orleans. My plans are to stuff my face with as much fried, spicy food as possible, as well as downing multiple drinks and seeing some live music. New Orleans has things like foie gras macarons, cochon de lait po’ boys, and crawfish and goat cheese crepes. There’s also the Sazerac, Ramos Gin Fizz and the justifiably famous Hurricane. Where does a budget fit in? I will try to budget as far as the antique stores. Oh, my favorite pastime is trolling the antique stores on Royal Street, mainly looking for cameos and cuff links, though oyster plates have found their way into the mix. Do I need any of those things? Heck no! I’ve been collecting cameos and cuff links for some time, though, so it’s difficult to keep me out of those stores. The only thing I can do is to set a spending limit that I won’t go above. Hopefully, I’ll stick to it. Pre-Katrina some relatively good deals could be found in those antique stores. After Katrina, the prices seem to have gone up quite a bit. I wonder if it’s because people are more resistant to parting with their family belongings that were handed down from generation to generation, now that they probably already lost many of them (unwillingly) in the hurricane. As a collector of cuff links, I still dream about the pair that got away – a pair of Wedgwood cuff links at a store on Royal Street that weren’t cheap, but weren’t outrageous. I passed on them, but regret that to this day. The last time I was in that store, one of the salesmen showed me a beautiful Wedgwood book holder and a fantabulous pair of cameo earrings that were FAR out of my price range. He’d admitted that he was probably going to buy those earrings as a Christmas gift for his wife, so I had to applaud his excellent taste and assure him that his wife would be overjoyed to receive them.
My Thailand/Bali trip is in October. I’m not seriously expecting to spend much money in Koh Samui; my time there should mainly be laying by the pool/on the beach, weather permitting. If weather does NOT permit, you’ll find me at the bars!!! I’m a shopping fiend in Bali, but will try to keep it to a minimum. In Bangkok, I’m deathly afraid that Thai silk, jewelry and tailors will lure me into a sordid shopping spree.
In the time leading up to those two vacations, I’ve been keeping my nights out to a minimum, as well as taking my breakfast and lunch to work most days. What could go wrong? Ummm, every single musician that I want to see is coming to town – that’s what! I just saw Jordan T. at Pa’ina Lounge again last week. Next week is Keyshia Cole at The Fillmore. Then I have a ticket to see Spawnbreezie, Trey Smoov and Tennelle at Neck of the Woods. I just found out today that Thaitanium will be at DNA Lounge on September 4th. Thaitanium is a Thai hip hop group out of Bangkok that I developed an obsession for earlier this year. The last time they were in San Francisco was 2008, so I WILL see them this time! Of course, that sweetie, Jordan T., told me that he’ll be back in San Francisco on October 5th. He’s opening for Katchafire at Mezzanine. J. Boog will also be at Mezzanine on October 11th or thereabouts, mere days before my Thailand/Bali trip. Lastly, the Psychedelic Furs will be at the Masonic (?) in November. I can’t miss any of them; NONE of them! The vast majority of my friends in NoCal dislike reggae and hip hop, so I’ll be at all of those concerts solo, as usual. Many of the NoCal friends are electronic/house music snobs, however. I sometimes wish my L.A. friends were here to party with me, as they’re much more rounded as far as liking ALL types of music.
So my budget is most likely doomed, but exceeding it will be a thoroughly enjoyable (and highly musical) experience.
Spawnbreezie – “Baby” – Adore this song!