Money equals status, it equals independence, it equals evil, and it equals lots and lots of shopping. I have just returned from a 90-minute shopping trip during which I entered two stores and emerged armed with two peep toe pumps, black stilettos, sneakers, a short Victorian jacket and one yellow trench coat.

I went through the last dollars I had on me. Technically speaking, I can now beg for money and be absolutely honest about it. I cannot say “God bless you” by the end of the affair though, so I will have to come up with something of equal spiritual value to reward the generous. How about “I will send you positive vibes”?

In the stores today, I felt as if someone had taken off some invisible leash that had me bound to the couch during the past two days. I was, and still am, physically sapped after the trips to Toronto and Washington DC. During these trips I did not get any time to rest and I was living out of a bag, which is not nearly as romantic as it sounds. Consequently, I was drained to such a degree that I alternated between the couch and the bed for my birthday party yesterday.

To sum it all up, I am exhausted, bankrupt, and going home in three days. I am unsure what I should be feeling but thankfully, the forbidden fruits I just bought are my consolation.