Must FUN have a shelf life?

For the longest time I had gone without a kitchen timer and I finally caved at the Dollar store last year and bought one. I loved it; the kids – not so much. Now I time homework, video game playing, reading time. EVERYTHING worth living for with the exception of food comes to an end with a pronounced ‘Ding!’ and that is how I feel about fun these days. How many times have you been hit with an overwhelming sense of guilt and frustration after a fabulous night out? Maybe you spent an extra 6.99 on a dessert you didn’t like just so could have something else to hold on to – something to remember – then ‘Ding!’ it’s over because the fun quota has been reached. We practically killed ourselves to become grown- ups – got our own places to live – our own cars – we can go out when we want with whomever- and come home with the rising of the sun. Then after a girls evening out, why am I crunched over the kitchen table calculating how much I have left for groceries and rent? What the hell? Picture me scrambling to the internet to check my balances in every institution and taking full advantage of the email money transfer option @ 1.50 a pop. I have to funnel the money from somewhere! I can also be found searching the house for a blank cheque and I won’t even tell you how that can get me extra funds because it would take too long. The filing cabinet may be open with old bank account statements strewn across the floor ( Let’s see how much money is left in that old Bank of Montreal account…) So I think from now on I’m going set aside a portion of my salary for whatever enjoyment it will allow. There must be a way to please the bill collector and the bartender and myself at the same time; and that time needs to be now because my budget is leaving me too tired to enjoy anything past the F-U- in fun!