This morning started out a little off, when I woke from some very odd dreams at 7:20 a.m. That is the latest I’ve slept since losing my job at the Stitch Fix Bizzy Hizzy September 15. For the last year-plus I’ve been setting my alarm for 4 a.m. so I have time to write before the day job. What made me sleep so late? I don’t know. I didn’t even do anything out of the ordinary yesterday. How do I know? I wrote about it here.

I then tried to do some state taxes I’m behind on filing because I’ve been locked out of my business account. One of my job interviews led to a ‘no’ Friday — and it was one I had gotten the best vibes from so I was very disappointed. As I filed for unemployment this morning and continued my job search that hung over me like a sad little cloud. I don’t want to call it a black cloud. It’s not that big of a deal. My phone didn’t charge last night and I was overall grumpy.

And then I noticed the payment to American Express I had planned as soon as I got the bill last month got hung up at my bank yesterday and even though I clearly had it scheduled, AmEx seems to think it was late and wants to charge me $29. I’m sure that will get sorted out tomorrow. I usually plan my electronic payments early, but I scheduled this one on the due date not sure when unemployment or severance would hit.

I thought about the meal plan for this week and realized I could think of nothing off the top of my head– never a good sign. Oh and the tracking information for my fix came from Stitch Fix. It shipped Friday, and I had requested it arrive Monday, and the tracking suggests it will arrive Thursday. That’s a little fucking late Stitch Fix. I have job interviews that require clothes!

So, I decided to go to Grocery Outlet to use my $5 off a $25 purchase coupon. I’ll tell you right now the unhappy ending. I forget to use my coupon. We still have today and tomorrow to use it, so I may make another purchase. I may not. $5 is not the end of the world these days. I called Nan, as I had ordered a vacuum for her, and thought she might like to go to Grocery Outlet. Of course she did, and she also loved the vacuum I picked for her.

I came home and not only put the groceries away but also tried to organize the fridge, freezer and cupboards. I had intended to make a baked brie with jalapeno cream cheese bagel for breakfast, but as I often do I ate instead “the things that had to get gone.” In this case, the last chunk of the fruit walnut bread my mother-in-law made and some flat generic diet cola.

I spent $50.14 at Grocery Outlet, and it could have been $45 but I forgot my coupon. Then we went to the Dollar Tree where I bought two packs of bagels (one plain and one everything) and a container of “limited edition birthday cake flavored milk” adding another $3.75 to the total. This will last me at least two weeks. (Also Nan gave me a pack of high fiber granola bars because she has more than she can eat.) Oh, and Joan gave us a green cabbage and some garlic from a local farm. I made the purple cabbage she gave us last week into sweet and sassy Asian slaw.

The purchases from Grocery Outlet:

• Six inch whole wheat tortillas from Ortega, $0.99
• Chef Boyardee, Spaghetti and Meatballs, $0.99
• Snyders of Hanover Cheddar Sourdough Hard Pretzel pieces, $1.47
• Rice noodles, (plain, pre-cooked, think like rice in the 90-second microwave bag), $1.49
• Slim Jims, the super long ones, The Teenager sometimes eats these for lunch. Does it make my innards cringe? Yes, but sometimes I’m just relieved she’s eating something with protein even if it is a nasty, salty meat stick. Two at 2 for $1.00
• KIND oat and honey with coconut snack bars, $2.77
• Coconut Rice from Thai Kitchen, three 90-second microwave bags, 3 at $0.99 each
• Elbow noodles, the tiny two serving packs, two at 2 for $1.00
• i’m not sure I see the small bag of tiny vermicelli on the receipt, they were a similar price
• Peanut Butter M&Ms, these were Nan’s, $0.97
• Medium Egg Noodles, to go with the cabbage, $0.99
• Snack pack of Oreos, also Nan’s, $0.79
• Pacific Foods organic butternut squash soup, $1.97
• Fancy French organic dijon mustard, $1.27
• Pasta USA Macaroni and Cheese mix, 2 at $0.59 each
• Almond Thins, Pecan variety, (we still have half that $7 wheel of Brie left), $0.99
• Pretzel buns for sausages, 4 buns, $3
• Laffy Taffy Tropical, two at 2 for $0.97
• Organic Sliced Black Olives, 2 at $0.99 each
• Stove Top Turkey Stuffing, twin pack, $1.99
• Ocean Spray Diet Blackberry Cranberry Juice, full-sized jar, $0.77
• Southwest Salad kit, $2.99
• Broccoli crowns, 1 lb, $1.95
• Organic raspberries, 2 pints at $0.99 each
• Green pepper, $1.49/lb, $0.67
• Small bag of radishes, $0.99
• Boca chikn patty original, $1.99
• Gardein stuffed turkey, $3.99 (my splurge)
• Beyond Meat sweet Italian sausage, $4.49 (I thought these were cheaper but too late now)
• Cinnamon Toast Crunch break-and-bake sugar cookies, $0.99