June

I have been too busy recovering from turning 50 to do much posting in June. I did pretty well on the birthday party--The only physical objects that I acquired (other than cards) were a book, a crankable LED mini light and a coffee cup. I also got a gift certificate for a bookstore and now need to decide whether to use it, but more on that when I do decide. People who knew were very good about respecting my no material goods wish and instead gave things like a donation to the Mustard Seed and a Kiva Gift certificate for making a microloan (very cool). My family banded together for a water buffalo for a family in Vietnam. This is so much more fun than getting more things one doesn't really need.

My best non-shopping for the month was going vicariously shopping with my sister--looking at bags, trying on shoes and hats. She was very abstemious, she only bought one bag, but the possibility that she might buy more was enough to keep things exciting.

Month two overall stacked up better than month one for buying. I bought two things on the iffy list, hair volumizer and shaving gel-otherwise only things I could eat, drink or smoke. But June did about like May in terms of overall acquisitions of non-used items--in addition to the b'day presents mentioned above, my internet started malfunctioning and when telus came to look at it, they gave me a new modem. Technically they own it, not me, but....

I am also turning my attention to giving stuff away and ridding my house of a few things not really used. I got off to a bad start--within 5 minutes of declaring to my sister my intention of reducing by half what I own, I left the house, saw a garage sale and was home 10 minutes later with 5 potted plants and a table. However, since then I have weeded out two boxes of books. But where to take them? Although this thought will no doubt horrify some, I occasionally wonder if there are not too many books in the world.