I imagine the day after a major purchase is much like waking up the morning after a drunken one night stand and realizing that the person you picked up last night a) is utterly gorgeous, b) is double-jointed in ways you didn’t know were possible, c) is very enthusiastic in the sack and willing to try anything, d) is actually an alligator, e) has infected you with a particularly virulent strain of alligator herpes. You’re stunned (an alligator?!) but proud (but WHAT an alligator!), excited (at last my Crocodile Hunter Naughty School Girl fantasies will be realized) and wanting to show your friends (check out this hot alligator I totally banged last night) – but at the same time, worried (does my back normally bleed this much?) and overwhelmed (alligator herpes is sticky and spreads very quickly) by how long it will take to make things right in the public eye (I knew I shouldn’t have accepted that VP nomination).

I don’t have regrets over the purchase itself – we needed a new TV, researched the hell out of it and got it on sale – but this morning when consolidating our accounts and shoring up the resources, I had a mild panic attack at the number on the screen. It’s not enormous, but it’s bigger than it was on Saturday and that is alarming.

I have a Plan, though. While Ed is already cancelling Christmas in his mind, I know that we are in fine shape to pay off our new toys and still afford to eat. We’re making concessions where we can, too – for example, I canceled my parking pass downtown and found a free (and better!) alternative, saving us $85 a month. The Mazdabator will be completely paid off in March, and that’ll be a lovely chunk of change that will a) rapidly pay off the remaining debt and b) go into savings for future use. I moved the balance off the higher interest card and into the low interest line of credit, saving some more pennies along the way. It is good. Ed, stop freaking out.

All monetary concerns aside, I also feel somewhat sheepish at saying we needed a TV. It’s true, though. You can’t play Rock Band on No TV. In fact, there are many things you cannot do on No TV. I know it’s hip and cool to be all snooty and superior and crow the evils of television, but Ed likes hockey. Sure, I can download many programs and watch them on a computer as to eliminate the need to suckle at cable’s teat, but that doesn’t work as well for sports. I like having a TV. It makes using my various video game consoles much easier, and yes – sometimes I like to watch brain-rotting TV. Not often, though. I still get to keep SOME of my snooty elitist hipster cred.

If I could just convince someone to take our OLD TV out of my living room, everything would be just super.