I just finished...

...watching Rent. It's just over 2 hours long, and I think I've been crying for about an hour. That is one heck of a moving film.

Well, well

I know it's been absolutely forever since I've posted here. Abonimable, is it not? I suspected as much myself, but alas, what was to be done? Anyway, I've been working at Barnes and Noble for coming up on a month. Hard to believe it's been that long already. I mean, I'm beginning to feel very comfortable there, which is great, considering how new jobs can be sometimes. It gets a little tedious at times, you know, but I'm just glad for the job. Speaking of which, I should go get my paycheck... Fridays have become my favorite days.

What else... not a whole lot is happening besides that. I'm apartment-searching. Just the beginnings of it right now because I need to save up enough to be able to pay the security deposit as well as first month's rent, Right now I'm eyeing some efficiencies, which, for those of you who don't know, is basically an apartment without a living room. Or, I should say, the living room and bedroom are all in one. Anyway, they tend to be cheaper, obviously, than a normal 1BR apartment, which is always good, and it's not like I have living room furniture anyway, so why bother? Actually, I was looking at this floor plan for the cutest little loft apartment, but the rent is like $120 more than I was hoping to spend on rent. Of course, that's to be expected. If it wasn't cute, it wouldn't cost that much. We'll see, though. I got all excited about an efficieny that was really cheap, and I went and looked at it, and wouldn't you know, there's a good reason it's that cheap. It was just the grossest place ever.

Well, if there is anyone out there who still reads this, I love you all and keep in touch.

My life is a science fiction flick

Sometimes it's scary to look at our society and realize just how close we are to some of those well-known novels. You know the ones I'm talking about - Brave New World, 1984, Animal Farm, The Giver. Okay, well, more similar to some than others, but you know what I mean. All that swiping of cards and filing of information. Don't get me wrong - I'm not some conspiracy theorist. I can't help but wonder sometimes, though, where it's all heading.

I'm too tired to ruminate further on this subject.

Post I must

So I think my job is going alright. You know, it's going to take a little getting used to because having a job is really like nothing I've ever experienced much before. Working at Whitestone is not even comparable, as I'm sure most know. But I think it will be okay.

Speaking of Whitestone... You know, it's hard to believe that I might never live there again. I don't know, it's just difficult to comprehend. It's like, looking back I realize how I really was an integral part of the community, and now it's almost like a dream. Call that a cliche if you like and you'd probably be right, but nevertheless... I don't know, maybe I'm just suffering from disconnectedness. I do want to go to the April convention in Georgia, but we'll have to see if I can get the money. I hope I can. I'd love to see people. Now I just have to figure out how to find a place to stay there and such. Ah well, it's a while off now.

I really, really, really, really hope I come into a large windfall. I would so love to go to Cornell University - it would be such a miracle. Of course, I have to get accepted, and I'm not sure I have a realistic view of the likelihood of that. And if I do get in, I have to pay for it. That's the clincher. I hope, I really do. I'm thinking that when I do go back to school, here or there, I'm going to double major in astronomy and chemistry. I mean, I like chemistry, it's a slightly more practicle degree, and I've done a bunch already. I really do miss school. I don't particularly like languishing about being lazy, but I have to admit I'm not a fan of going to work, predictable as it is. I like school. Anyway, enough of that.

Well, that's all, I think. I've already waxed more eloquent than I recently have, and I think my readers have outgrown my blog, so this is mostly for me anyway. A shout out to all cool people everywhere.

Hohoho and a bottle of amarula

I finally got a job. At Barnes and Noble. Part-time. Starting on Monday. Should be good.

On a different note, the US has now broken their record for the amount of medals won at a non-US Winter Olympics. Yay.

Fun times

Did I just say "fun"? That's not what I meant. Anyway, so the search for a job continues. I keep thinking that someone has to hire me, maybe just a few more days, and a few days pass, and no one has hired me. Oh well. As Carrie Underwood would say, I'm running low on "faith and gasoline." Literally. Anyway...

On Valentine's Day, I went out to eat with like, twelve girls and I think there may have been two guys. They're from the church I've been going to for the past few weeks. It was alright, although I don't really like hanging with a bunch of girls. Gets kinda boring. Then we went over to somebody's house and converged with some more guys and had fondue. My stomach was actually stretched to the max, but others ate it. I met some nice people there, as well. We sang some. It was fun. So that's been my one true social outting for months.

Well, I think I'm going to go to bed so that I can get up tomorrow and contemplate my meaningless existence some more.

One year ago

I realized that I just past the one year mark for this blog - yeah, sometime in the last month. Pretty crazy, hey? This is my 203rd blog post. Who woulda thunk it?

Anyway, this post is, yet again, overdue. Let's see, may parents are coming into town for a visit tomorrow. My mom says she wants to shoot some pool, after I told her how much fun Nathan and I had doing it last weekend. It's her birthday on Saturday, so we might come up with something fun to do. As for a job, I've had a couple of interviews, so I keep thinking that something has to pan out. I have another interview tomorrow at that Japanese restaurant I was telling you about last post, so we'll see how that goes.

Well, that's all for now folks.

Well, this post is certainly long overdue

I think I have set the record for the longest time between posts, and for no apparent reason, too. Oh well.

Well, since my last post I quit my job. It was out of control silly. Anyway, I had an interview for a part-time job at Barnes and Noble, and I'm waiting to hear from them, and I also applied for a waitressing job and KoFusion, a nifty Japanese restaurant downtown. At least, I think it's Japanese. I have no idea - I hate Oriental food. Why did I apply, you may ask. Well, mostly because they had an ad in the paper saying they were hiring, and these days that's all it takes for me.

I spent almost all day working on my application to Cornell. Let me tell you, it's quite the process. I think I managed to convince Eran Eads that I was entirely serious about auditioning for American Idol. Now that would be funny. I didn't know he was going to take me seriously. Hey, maybe I'll surprise you all someday, and me, too. After all, I am taking voice lessons. Speaking of which, what are some good songs from musicals, preferably lesser known ones? I need some ideas, and I'm really only familiar with mainstream ones like all the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Les Miserables, which have been vetoed due to overkill by my voice teacher. That is, my teacher says they have been overdone in general, not that she killed the musicals single-handedly. Anyway...

So, that's me. Loved the pics, Janelle.

I finally got a job

Yeah, this last Thursday. So, I've been working for three days, going on four. I'm working at Ducky's Bridal and Formal wear. You'd be surprised how rigorous it is. By the end of the day, I feel like my feet are just going to up and die all on their own. Basically I spend all day greeting customers, helping girls find prom dresses, organizing things, doing tux measurements and son on. And we only get half an hour for lunch. I have to admit that it's taking me a bit to get used to it. That's the nature of a full-time job. I just feel like it's taking up my whole life is working, and then when I get home I'm just languishing on the couch. Not that I have anything else to be doing - I don't have any people to hang out with. I'm just used to, you know, being in school where I'm doing something different every hour, and being fairly in charge of my own time. Well, it's only for a year, so that's good, and then back to school so I can do what I used to do.

My sister and Nathan have finished drywalling and mudding and priming my room downstairs. Yay! Now it's just the painting and the carpet, and minor other things, and I can have a room! And start paying rent! Argh. Well, that's all for now.

A day and an age

Sorry, I know it's been forever. I still don't have a job, although I've applied at a lot of places. Kinda depressing, but oh well. They just don't know what they're missing, righ? Anyway...

I went to a Curves today, and I get a week free, so we'll see if I feel like that does anything for me. It's kind of expensive, but if it works, it would be worth it. I also got information on violin lessons. We'll see - a bit expensive for me right now as I have to pay for a semester at a time. However, I do think I am going to start voice lessons, just for the fun of it. If I don't have the talent for it, then I won't have spent a lot of money because it's by class, but if I do, who knows what could happen?

I sold my old iBook. Someone paid $300 for it. I have to admit I was surprised, but I warned in the auction that there's no telling exactly what's wrong with it so...

My new favorite song is Like We Never Loved At All, by Faith Hill.

Back in Illinois

Yeah, so I'm getting ready to once again search for a job. We'll see how it goes. Um, so we're drywalling downstairs. That's it.

What an Orange Bowl

Yup, five hours folks. No wonder both teams were making errant field goals right and left. It went until 1 AM. It was crazy. Yay, Penn State. Meanwhile I was watching the amazing reports that 12 miners were found alive, only to hear on the radio this morning that only one was. It's heartwrenching. What's sad is that while everyone is looking for someone to blame, it seems like there really isn't anyone to blame. Very sad.

Now, talk about a football game. Go, Texas Longhorns!!!!! We love the Rose Bowl.

Some introspection

Here I sit, 10:30 pm. I'm half-heartedly watching ER on TV, drinking Mike's Hard Lime (good to be 21, eh?) Anyway...

Um, I was going to introspect, but I forgot what I was going to say.

I think I need my other blog.

Another post

Sorry, a bit of a dirth for interesting titles. Well, let's see... Christmas at my aunt's was fun. Saw Sue Sampsen there and other such people. It was relaxing. Now I'm back at my parents house in WV. My mother started having problems with her leg and she couldn't walk or stand or even sit. So I've been helping her manage. Last night I decided she needed to at least have someone look it but there was no way I could get her down the stairs and into the car and so on. So, we called the hospital and they sent an ambulance for her. Yeah, that was a first for me. I got to ride shotgun. We were there for quite some time. I mean, my dad met us there. I was there for about 4 hours, but then I came home and went to bed. Mom and Dad came home later. Apparently it's sciatic nerve problems and there's not really anything that can be done but to bear through it. Well, that's all for now.

Here in North Carolina

Well, I had to take the bus to Asheville, NC from Champaign because I wrecked my car. It was okay. Seemed kinda the ghetto way to travel, but hey, it was alright. Anyway, yesterday we went to eat on the Biltmore Estate. 'Twas very nice. Then we toured around the house. Supposedly it's the biggest house in the United States. Needless to say, it was very big. Very lavish. Kinda reminded me of what you might think of when you read a book set in the early 18th century, you know, like a lord's house or something. Very cool. Today we went back to the estate and toured around the grounds. Was also very nice. Yeah, so tomorrow, it's off to my Aunt Barbara's house where we will spend Christmas. It should be good. So that's all for now.

By the way, to all who asked, I am not damaged from the car wreck. My back was very stiff the first day after, but other than that I am fine. Could have been a lot worse. Fun fact: The guy who crashed into me was hauled away in handcuffs. I asked the cop why, and he said that there was a warrant out for his arrest. He said I should feel good for helping to take a wanted man off the streets, and I was like, yeah, too bad in doesn't pay for the car repairs.

So, now that's all.

News Flash

Guess what? I crashed my car yesterday. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I did. Got crashed into, I should say. Wanna see?



Now I have to deal with insurance crap. I can't believe it.

I guess I should post...

Yeah, sorry, not much introspection going on right now, so the blog is not that interesting. Um, I now have a cell phone, a car, um, working on the whole job thing. Making scarves for family, doing other Christmas presents. I'm driving back to WV in about 5 days, I think. I don't know what else to say. I don't miss Ireland. I'm happy where I am.

Here's a blast from the past: Cirque Du Soleil's Varekai is currently playing on Bravo. Brings back old times.

Just so you know

Well to my few faithful readers, I just wanted to let you know that I have arrived safely in Illinois. Drove about 8.5 hours today - wasn't too bad. Little bit of snow, but nothing like the other night. Anyway, my Bo and I are off to get a cell phone for me.

"We'd all be in trouble if God had an hoff day." ~ Horace Wilson

The most harrowing two hours ever

Well, I went to see Polkie in Philly, and that was cool. We went shopping in Lancaster, which is Amish country. I saw buggies!!!

Anyway, driving home was fine for the first four hours, and I was forty minutes from home when I hit the snowstorm. Oh, it was awful. It took me about two more hours to get home, and I couldn't see a thing. I thought I was not going to make it home. 30 mph on the interstate. It was just terrible. But I made it. Hope I never have to do that again.

Back in the US of A

Well, what can I say that it's good to be home. I was sad to go, but a little more excited to be back. Today I went and signed the papers for my car! And then I drove it all around! Yay! What a cool thing. Tomorrow I'm up to Philadelphia to see Polk. Yay! I told her she could drive. We will probably get desperately lost but oh well. I will be going to church with her tomorrow night, so I will meet all the people I've been hearing about. Anyway, not much else to say. Bought some wool to knit scarves for Mom and Aunt Barbara. Mom's is going to be way cool. Anyway, flights were uneventful, blah blah blah. All is well.