I am not invincible.

Sorry to break it to some of you, I know that y’all worship me and everything, but sometimes I simply can’t do it all. I found that out this week based on what I thought was caffeine withdrawal. Turns out, lots of those symptoms are the same as whatever flu-like thing I’ve got going.

I came home from work after only 2 hours yesterday because I was pretty much useless. I was really trying to stick it out until the second key holder came in so that they had better coverage, but I really couldn’t. I then proceeded to sleep through the afternoon on the couch while half watching Sunshine Cleaning.

Then my angel Blythe came and brought me some soup! The food helped tons, and I felt much better before bed, though I ended up calling in sick today to make sure that I’m really getting over whatever this is before getting back to school on Monday.

Too bad I don’t have any grand stories about awesome adventures or anything, I think I’m going to be a grown up and not go out dancing tonight no matter if I’m feeling amazing later or not. Instead I’ve made some magnets and now I’m going to do what I can to catch up on the homework that I’ve gotten behind on while being sick.

HA! I wrote that hours ago, and have not gotten around to any homework, nor even posting this!

I was able to watch a few episodes of Ugly Betty and every episode of Glee on Hulu though. And now I’m about to go flip out on the neighbors who are playing music way too loud. Yes I realize that it’s only 8:30. Apparently I’m a grouchy invalid.

Will you remember my name?

Fame came out this weekend!!!!

I haven't gotten a chance to see it yet, but I was very stoked about it at work last night. That excitement definitely led to the moment that made my night.

When a customer did not buy a copy of the original Fame (ridiculous, I know) but left it at the counter for us to put back, I half jumped and said to Justin, "That came out today!" Which was technically wrong, it had come out the day before, but that's not really the point. Justing looked quite confused for a moment, until I was still stoked and kept talking about it. Then he seemed a little awkward and said, "Oh, the movie came out, that's not what I heard."

He refused to say what he did hear because it was, "inappropriate" which only made me push harder to know what it was.

Finally he admitted to hearing me say (with the enthusiasm of talking about Fame, remember), "I came out today!"

This then amused us both, as my attitude really didn't fit with that statement, and the environment in which I was telling Justin would have been even more inappropriate. I think he was really glad that I wasn't in any way offended though. It's not like I haven't been assumed to be gay before, and his confusion was partially in knowing that I'm not.

In other work news, there's a guy there I really don't like. I can't really do anything about it because in my history, sharing that kind of information with other people at work only makes it worse as I turn to them an roll my eyes whenever the offending party does something ridiculous. So, instead of being a gossip like I would have done in the past, I'm making myself more busy. I think I'm going to super annoy my manager by emailing her the random ideas that I have for the store every now and then. I'll make it clear that I don't expect to hear her opinion on each of them, more that I'm just voicing the things I'm thinking. Maybe then I'll have more projects to do and I can ignore that Unibrow doesn't seem to do anything.

Crazy

I literally laughed and probably looked crazy as I was walking to my car after work at the record store today. When I got off at 10:30 and had a half hour drive ahead of me, I realized that I work at 4:45 tomorrow morning, and I work until 11PM, with only a 3 hour break.

Should be an interesting day.

Money money money mon-ey, MONEY!

After several weeks of not quite enough hours at work and being unsure of making rent, I recently found myself another part time position. I was told at my new position that I would be getting a max of three days a week, at about six and a half hours each. Combined with the regular twenty that I've been getting at the first job, this is absolutely ideal for the last few weeks before school starts.

Cue irony.

Since I'm actually a rehire at the second job, and they have the time for someone who is already 95% trained, they've scheduled me for 32.5 hours in the next week (Wednesday-Tuesday). With the new job being awesome and getting the schedule done weeks in advance, I make the old one work around it, even if that means taking a cut in hours at the old job to make it work. I got there at 4:45AM today to find out that I'm actually scheduled for 28 hours (again Wednesday-Tuesday).

Anyone want to do that pretty simple math for a second?

A week and a half ago I would have been totally happy with 28 hours, and now I'm scheduled for more than 60! I'm sure it will actually be less than that with the way that the old job sends people home to cut hours, but I will be working much more than normal, which will mean a much bigger paycheck than normal!

With a little luck, I will have 1/3 of my credit card debt paid off before school starts again!

This should be a great weekend!

Considering how this week went, I thought that I was going to be flying high this weekend and riding out this awesome wave.

Turns out, not so much. I'm not going to keep myself down by focusing on what's currently pulling me down, instead I'm going to focus on some things that are happening in the relatively near future that I may or may not be looking forward to.

I just got a second job, which means that I will have some spending money soon. With that money I am hoping to get a new desk that will be much more functional for me this school year. I've got an idea of what I'd like from the wonderful Ikea, but but I'm not going to make any real decisions until I can hand over the cash to bring it all home.

I will really be working a lot in the next few weeks, but that doesn't mean that I won't be taking next weekend off to go to Clear Lake with my family to relax and really get a good tan!

Damn, I wanted to really have things to say and write a good entry, but making food before work is preventing that!

Money money money mon-ey, MONEY!

The Scheduled Disbursement date is the earliest date the Financial Aid Office is allowed to begin the check disbursement process and not the actual date you will receive your check. If your funds have been received from the appropriate federal, state, or private agency and you have no holds, the earliest you can expect your Fall 2009 check is around August 31 and your Spring 2010 check is around January 25.

I just found that on MySacState. My birthday may not be much fun this year. I had thought that my Financial Aid was going to come through on my birthday, but it looks like it may not be for another week or two after that. I guess it's time to start picking up shifts wherever I can at work. Oh wait, I've already been trying to do that! I did work with my manager last night, who had mistakenly been under the impression that I lived with my parents. Maybe now that he's been corrected he'll give me a bit of priority when it comes to hours. I mean, giving the 20-year-old bubbling idiot who happens to be trying to save up to get married is only doing his fiance a disservice.

Anyway, I get to start doing things like returning my plastic bottles and cashing in any spare change I can find for any amount of spending money I can get my hands on. I know that it may not be ideal, but I don't want to stop having a social life just because my loans don't come through until September.

If anyone has any other ideas for me to make money please let me know, when I have some I'll buy you a drink!

"I don't believe I want to live in a country where you have to be open on Sunday to do business."

Anyone else ever think that it would be kind of awesome to go back to the time where stores weren't open on Sundays and a National Holiday would close down all businesses?

I've thought that might be nice since seeing That Thing You Do! oh so many years ago, and then I had it even more reinforced after some contemplation post-Utah trip frustration with everything being closed. While it's very annoying if you are not expecting things to be closed, just a bit of warning could make it completely kosher.

Based on this, I'm going to do my best to not shop at all on Sundays. I don't know how successful I will be, but I do have a vote in how businesses are run by the way that I use my money within them, so why not support this crazy ideal of mine?

I just had to work on the 4th of July, and couldn't really get over the absurdity of it. In an attempt to turn that negative into a positive, I give you...

An open letter to anyone who is a customer anywhere on a national holiday.

Dear Potentially Awesome Customer,

Your smile and great attitude is grand. It's the type of thing that can make my day when I have to be to work on a Sunday or a National Holiday. Seriously, if I can't be spending my time with friends or relaxing in any way of my own choosing, seeing you and your wonderfully smiling face totally makes up for being on my feet for eight hours. I can't tell you how much I would rather pretend to be interested in your confusion over which smoothie to order instead of reading a new favorite book by a pool somewhere.

The smile that you flash on your way out the door to enjoy your afternoon with family is more than appreciated and keeps me motivated throughout the rest of my shift.

Either that, or it makes me want to hurl a frozen strawberry at your face.

Sure, it's great that you're friendly and wish me a Happy 4th when you come in to get your smoothie, but unless you're dropping a fiver in the tip jar, I promise you I would rather be spending time with my own family and friends. I know that you think that since we're open you're actually doing us a favor by giving us something to do, and sometimes I would agree with you, but not on National holidays.

You see, the only reason that we're open is that the company expects to be making money. If you were not there to be giving them money, they would have no desire to have us in the store taking money from them.

So this Labor Day, please show businesses that you really do care about the holiday and believe that their employees should be allowed to enjoy it as well by not spending your money in these places. Do you really need that extra 300 calories anyway?

Jamba Juice Team Members Everywhere.

Oh work...

So here was the original plan for this evening...

Work until 9:40-ish.
Get home, relax and catch up with friends.
(This was after the MJ get together got squashed.)
Write a blog about how awesome the past couple nights have been and the awesome friend who accompanied me on some grand adventures.
Sleep.

Here's how this evening actually went...

While at work get begged (not really, but it adds a dramatic flair) to switch for opening shift.
Figure out that opening would mean more cash and time to tan, so I accepted.
Work until 9:40-ish.
Get home, relax and catch up with friends and slightly catch up with friends.
Write a blog about how awesome the past couple nights have been and the awesome friend who accompanied me on some grand adventures not having time to write a blog.
Sleep.

The plan for tomorrow...

Work way too early, and a little too long. (4:45AM-1:00PM)
Tan/Read in park with friend(s?).
Make some extravagant plans.
Blog about the awesome week I'm having.
Dance the night away!

It will happen, you will be jealous of this week.

Bad Blogger

As busy as I am lately, I'm determined to blog regularly this summer. I don't think that I'll have something every day, but 3-4 times a week, with one of them actually having some sort of substance would be nice.

Maybe once I get used to this non-stop summer I seem to have gotten myself into.

I really like the way that my friend Gina blogs, it's usually after her posts that I'm kicking myself the most for not being a better blogger. I hope she doesn't mind me linking to her, she really cracks me up, so why not share?

I have my second night of the beginning swing series class I'm in at Midtown Stomp Friday and I'm stoked. I can't wait until I'm not being silly and doing stuff like looking at my feet when I'm dancing!

PS. Why do I look so blonde in pictures?

Grr to School

So this whole summer school thing is great right? I'll get my foreign language out of the way and be able to graduate on time, possibly with a minor in education, possibly with a jump start on the credential program.

That is of course until I have to actually PAY for my summer classes. I knew there was a down side to this situation that I was forgetting!

I'm going to have to start watching my money and really only spending it on dancing, food and gas. And by food I of course mean stuff from the grocery store, not so much going out.

Between dancing, school and work, I wonder what else I'll have time to do this summer.

Actually, it sounds kind of nice.

Productive Day!

I had a very productive day!

Woke up smiling and being distracted from studying. Eventually got to study, and then took a final for a class that I hope to pull a B in.

After the final I had a few hours before work, so I decided to go for a jog, and combine that with the errand I needed to get done! I ended up walking because my workout pants are too big for me now and fall when I run it seems. I ended up going for about 3 1/2 miles in around 45 minutes.

I couldn't get the errand done, but I did find out more information about it, I guess.

I made it to work on time even though I fell asleep less than an hour before I should have been there!

Now I get to go to bed because I'm working again in less than 6 hours. (I should mention that I've been home for only one hour.)

Tomorrow I intend to be just as much if not more productive!

Lots of things!

I might just be crazy!

Click for a larger image of course, and see just how crazy I am!

Those are the classes that I am currently enrolled in for the fall semester. There are LOTS more that I would love to take, but I do have to have time for homework for these classes, and you know, actual WORK. With some luck though, I'll be able to figure out a pretty regular work schedule on campus so that I don't have to worry about a changing schedule. I just remembered that I should have more freedom from money next semester, so I won't even need too many hours working, which is pretty awesome!

It's been hot in Sacramento lately. Not exactly hot enough that it justifies leaving a fan on all day when only the cats are home, yet my roommate does it. The bathroom stays pretty cool, and they hang out in there anyway, why leave the fan on in your room if there is no one to benefit from it? If I didn't already move so much I'd be really tempted to find my own place and just make sure I work more next semester.

I've really enjoyed dancing the past several weeks, and can't wait to learn more. If anyone reading this knows more than me (and I know there are at least two of you) please share with me what you know! Watching some videos of friends completely intimidates me, but also excites me and motivates me to see how far I can go!

I had a pretty productive day today.

After completing an "exercise in time management" provided by my English teacher (it's funny, time management isn't in the course description or the syllabus) I went to the grocery store and got some gas. I don't actually remember the last time that I got gas, but I'l try to pay attention to the next time that I do. I love living so close to everything that I do!

While I was at the grocery store I bought the items pictured below.



To avoid eating most of the box in just a few sittings, I bought the snack bags and divided it up!



I checked the box, and a serving is supposed to be only 55 little fishies, which those bags are definitely not. There are supposedly 32-ish servings in a box, I divided it into 18 bags. (Please note the earrings on the table, it was totally intense work while watching the season finale of 24.)

I have some pictures of a car that I see a lot that amuse me, but I think I've made this entry long enough, and I might forget all the things I think of tomorrow to write about, so I will save it until then!

Monday

I'm really not enjoying these early morning shifts, but I'm getting through them.

There is a new Jamba location going in on campus this summer, so I'm definitely hoping to transfer there and have a less stressful Fall semester while completely paying off my credit cards. Sure, I'll have a bit more student loans because of this, but those have a purpose, right?

I went to collect my paycheck from The Fund today. I haven't worked there for over a month already! I was pretty sure that I worked there for 3 shifts, but I only see 2 on my check. Oh well, guess it'll take me a little bit longer to pay my credit card off. It's really only a matter of about $20, but every $20 is that much closer to the end of it, right?

I will be trapped no more!

On the note of credit card debt, since I've mentioned it twice already, I'm currently at $2,038.01 in debt. At the beginning of this month it was more than $2,600. I've already got another payment set up and I'm pretty sure that I will be done paying it off before the summer is over. I will be updating on my status, I'm more than excited to start over without all of this stuff. If I continue with my eyes open as they are I should be in a nice position to do anything I'd like involving credit by the time I'm really out of school. That may or may not include purchasing a home.

As of 9:48PM Monday night, I have no idea whether or not I work on Wednesday morning. It's a bit frustrating that because the computer is down my manager waited until today to take the schedule home and do it by hand. It's how it is though, so I'll just have to track him down tomorrow to figure it out.

This post is far too boring to continue. It's now time for bed so that I might be more entertaining tomorrow!

So Tired!

It is 8:25PM and I am about to get ready for bed.

I am very tired from a very full weekend, and I have a big day tomorrow.

Work from 5:15AM to Noon.

Shower and gathering of school stuff until 12:45PM when Liz will pick me up.

Class 1:30PM-7:15PM.

Home around 7:45PM, and then SLEEP!

I've got a decent amount of reading that I need to do before class on Tuesday, not really sure when that will happen, hopefully some on my breaks at work, and then maybe during the one class that is in conferences tomorrow, though I'd hoped to be taking a nap at that point. Maybe we'll be slow at work and they can send me home early!

Just a note about today, since it's all I can really handle. Got off of work early and was able to go visit family, which was really good! I think a few of my cousins are going to join my sister-in-law and I in the Race for the Cure. I really hope that we can get a huge group together. Kristin is going to participate in a triathlon the weekend before, so she and I might actually skip ahead of those who are just wanting to walk. My brother suggested skipping the length, and if we could, I would LOVE to do that!