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New year, new paycheck. Shit's about to get tight around here. As a federal employee, my pay has been frozen since 2009. Thanks to a confluence of events, I'm going to have to really get on top of my finances.

First and foremost, I need to have some serious dental work done this year. I'm going to start paying (literally) for all those years sans dental insurance when I just ignored my teeth. Ug. I signed up for a HSA at work that's going to take an extra. $100 out of every paycheck. It's gonna hurt now but will save me a good bit on my 2013 taxes.

The social security tax holiday has come to an end as well. That'll be another $80-90 per month.

To make up for the shortfall, I've stopped moving money into my emergency fund. I'm going to do my best not to touch that money but you never know. I'll sell the small amount I have invested in stocks if I have to before that.

Next step is some tried and true frugal tips. First up is to start making more of my meals at home. As a single guy, I tend to eat out a lot. Also, going to try to curb drinking at bars although I really have cut that down over the last couple years (well, comparatively.) Lastly, book buying needs to be stopped. I have enough to last me and I can borrow anything else.

If things get worse, I can always get a roommate or sell some guitars. The situation isn't dire, it's just that I won't be making much progress for a bit.

I started Couch to 5k on sunday. Will I follow through with day 2 after work today? Stay tuned to find out.

New band is going great! Played three shows so far. Feeling good about it. Sold my old bass and got a new one. I felt awesome playing it on stage the other night, like I was wrestling with it (which is a good thing.)

Otherwise, things seem to be coasting into oblivion. Or at least obliviousness.

Some recent-ish pictures from rock shows. Superchunk, Iron Maiden, David Kilgour (of the Clean)

New band is going swimmingly. First show is tonight. Should be a lot of fun.

I need a new bass and amp. Not thrilled with how my stuff plays/sounds. I'm playing a short scale 70's fender. It's good for my smallish hands but doesn't have much oomph. Sadly, my p-bass was stolen a couple of years ago when my house was robbed 4 times in one year. Now I have a dog and an alarm.

Getting ready for an extra busy week. I'm hoping this will drag me out of my doldrums. Tonight I'm playing bass with a new band for the first time. It's kind of a "let's see how it goes" situation.

I decided one of the things making me so down and sluggish was not playing music enough. I have huge fear of commitment and of letting people down. Hopefully this goes smoothly and I won't find myself making stupid excuses to miss band practice.

In April I went on a no-alcohol binge. I made it 11 days which is the longest I've gone since sometime in my early twenties. No lie, I felt pretty good physically but I did have to face some rather obvious facts. I lean pretty heavily on booze to be and feel social.

Thing is, I love those once in a blue moon crazy nights where friends and circumstance come together. I don't think they'd be possible without alcohol. The problem comes as I try to chase those nights. For every night like that, there are 10 that where perfectly nice but where I did or said something stupid or mean or that result in an epic hangover.

I'm trying to learn moderation. Going to pub trivia or playing a softball game does not have to lead to drinking a 6 pack (or more.) I know this intellectually but if only I could learn it practically.

I bought an air purifier over the weekend. Having used it twice, it is without a doubt the single best thing I've ever done in my neverending fight with my allergies. I leave it on while I sleep and I magically wake up able to breathe! Out of both nostrils! A++!

All this sunshine makes me think about doing yardwork after I leave, uh, regular work. Wtf is wrong with me?

I've been thinking a lot about money and happiness and the trade offs. My job is fine, if mind numbing and soul crushing. But it pays decent, makes few demands, and is about as secure as is possible.

I've been wondering if there's something I can do to make it more fulfilling. I've always thought of this as a paycheck. I get my fulfillment outside of work. Playing music, friends, etc.

But I spend by far the majority of my time here. At my desk. What I'm afraid of is getting caught up in the institutional, bureaucratic clusterfuck that can be a government job. I totally GET the time-biding, not my department attitude govt workers adopt. How can I push past that without going nuts?