Junie's Online Thoughts
Friday, November 14, 2003
Now that my little horrible nervous breakdown is over, I can breathe. While I was at work today, Trish had called to tell me that Squeak went missing, probably out the front door when it was left open. He'd been gone all night by the time she called. While I knew that he was a serial bolter but wouldnt go far, it was the time thing that totally threw me into a panic. He's got no collar, no front claws and its cold. And moreover, what kind of mother am I when I cant even go out and look for him? FEH!!!! I called her when I got off the phone. Hung up. Then came Niagra. Picture me, hysterical, all the way home from Perimeter, raging at the universe that I cant take any more shit thrown at me, angry at everyone because Im a bad absent mother, angry at traffic, at my car, at that damn cat. Thank goodness for the searching crew--thanks Trish!!!!! and Lois, for listening on how to find Squeak when he's hiding and then rescuing him from the neighbor's yard by hearing his pitiful little squeaks. Thanks Jeremy for getting dressed at midnight in Ghana and walking to the comm center to call for me and to listen to me bawl my fool panicked head off for fifteen minutes or more. Thanks to my mom, for putting more minutes on my calling card so I could call Jeremy in the first place. Thanks to stupid sweet Squeak, who's consistent as hell and doesnt like to run too far. Just like his mama. Thanks to the universe for cutting me a break and not making me have a real nervous breakdown, which would be NO FUN.
I am exhausted. Damn. Nothing like crying for two hours straight to make you want to go to bed. Work was fine. Dont really give a hoot at this point in the evening. My brain is FRIED.
THANKS AGAIN TRISH!!!!!! Thanks for finding my baby.
Thursday, November 13, 2003
Whew. Well, I would like to amend my previous statement. I was still laying in bed like a lazy bastard at 10:30 am, despite my plans to go running, when the temp agency calls. Can I work a job tomorrow and Monday? Sure!! I picked up some shifts at Noodle for lunch next week, but this is perfect because neither job clashes with each other. HOORAY! So, I think as long as I get the short short-term projects (one to three days), and my shifts at Noodle remain flexible, things will be gravy.
Saw three movies last night (thanks Dave!)--Terminator Three (okay), Gerry (an unbelieveable piss-poor movie that consisted of 103 minutes of Matt Damon and Casey Affleck walking through the desert, barely talking, getting lost, getting sunburned, doing some sort of weirdo wrestling/mounting (what was that??), and having annoying Casey die. Dont worry, I didnt spoil anything. If you ever have the misfortune of watching this movie, you will cheer happily when he bites it at the end. The third movie was Finding Nemo, which was very good and had awesome visuals.
Tonight, instead of a brewery tour, Im going to happy hour with a few of the good people from my former employment at Hell. Should be fun. Well, Im off. I gotta get my pitiful butt going this morning. Have a good one y'all.
Wednesday, November 12, 2003
Well, that didnt go as planned. I learned a few things at my Axiom interview today. Number one: Standardized computer tests are stupid, but I type 80 words per minute. Number two: I made the stupid, stupid mistake of being honest and telling them that I wouldn't be here for more than three months, thus eliminating myself from nearly all of their long-term or temp to hire positions. Now Im torn on what to do....should I look elsewhere and lie, never sharing that six weeks after they hire me I'll be giving my two week notice? Should I be thankful that Noodle is giving me at least three shifts a week and that worst case scenario I'll still be okay (but not great) with finances? (Thanks Noodle!!) Should I enjoy this loose time in the U.S., knowing full well that this will be the one and only time in my life in the U.S. that I wont have to freak out about my job? Who knows? Number three: I hate driving in bad traffic. Not really a new lesson, but boy it sucks. Number four: Ive improved sooooo much on seeing things I would normally want to buy and then walking away, money still in my pocket. Much of this is due to Jeremy's repeated philosophy to me: Pretend that the store is a museum. Just because you think something is beautiful, doesnt mean you have to take it home with you. No wonder why I love this guy. :)
Ok. Gotta get some of this energy out. Im going for a run. Then Im seeing Dave (and Terminator Three) tonight. Tomorrow is another day. Who knows what will happen....
Yesterday didnt seem like it was going to be that fine of a day, but boy, it ended great. At my first shift at Noodle, I assumed all of my server training would come back in a flash and I would instantly be transported back into my former shoes. Thankfully, I did remember a lot, but I spent the first half of the night feeling spastic and missing my flow. It was a total mindf*ck time warp, like everything changed and nothing changed at the same time. I know that flow will come in time; its been a whole year since I did this! But you know me, wanting instant transformations with little inconvenience. Anyway, it wasnt too busy, but busy enough for me to handle multiple tables, drink orders, running food, poking at the new computer system (instead of hand written tickets) and remembering the new seating chart. By the end, I felt awesome...I loved running around and being active, I loved feeling productive and knowing that no matter what someone tipped me, it was all money in my pocket. I left with $73 and a sense of well-being. My expectations are rather low at this point, but damn! Im employed!!! Yahoo!! AND my favorite show on 88.5 (Cow tippers delight---old country) was on for the ride home. LIFE IS GOOD!
To my surprise, Im also scheduled for Saturday, which means I'll miss a bunch of the movies in the Out on FIlm festival that I wanted to see that night. Yet I need the money and experience, so I dont really mind. Im a floater there....where ever there's a shift open, I get it. Even if this whole temp job thing doesnt pan out, I can still make my goal of $1200 just by working at Noodle, I think, if I get three to five shifts a week and dont spend a lot while Im here. What a relief.......
Still miss Jeremy, but I know that I can forge ahead here and be okay. Whew.
Tuesday, November 11, 2003
I hate the big, cold, empty bed. I miss Jeremy. Feh.
No wacky dreams today, just laziness. I had to yank myself out of bed today....I could sleep all day. But things to do, places to go. I work my first shift at NOodle tonight and have lots of little errands. Otherwise, Im completely uninspired. Can you tell?
Monday, November 10, 2003
My cousin's friend has this great website, which Im totally jealous of but could never compete with. Anyway, there was a fabulously funny link on it today. Here it is. http://members.cox.net/impunity/endofworld.swf
Enjoy!
I woke up this morning from a messed up dream. My sister wanted me to reserve her hotel for their honeymoon. Every time I found a place, I told her about it and let her decide if it was okay. I finally booked one and when the time came for them to go, Stacy was mad that the hotel didnt sit right on the beach. I blew up at her, screaming and cussing that she had approved my decision so it wasnt my fault, while she stared at me in shock. Suddenly, we were at someone's hotel room celebrating their birthday. A bunch of folks were there and I lit a candle. The hotel manager came over the intercom, commanding that since someone had lit a match, the entire hotel had to be closed down. I felt very guilty, despite the fact that several other candles were previously lit in the room without any trouble. Just then I had to take a shower, but this girl I went to high school with was in the bathtub. Our cleaning lady from Ghana was there too, except she was a Hispanic guy, and I noticed that she/he was not cleaning the rooms, but throwing out everything on the floor. I told her/him to skip my room and she/he seemed to understand. For some reason, a few of my boxes from storage were stacked in front of me and I started sorting through them, having forgotten what I packed. At the bottom of one box was a big pile of peaches and nectarines and one banana, rotting into mush. I cried out and threw the gooey fruit over my shoulder, shocked that I would have packed something so stupid in our storage space, then wondering if the hotel would charge me for the fruit stains on the floor. I left the hotel room, sirens blaring in the hallway, and noticed that the entire place was deserted except for me. Where was I supposed to go? Was I supposed to grab anything? What was going on? Then I woke up. What the hell is that about?????? Somebody is a little anxious, I think. Anyway, when I woke up, I felt like I hadnt slept at all. Blech.
A bit daunted, I woke up and called a few temp agencies. None of them wanted to see me before looking at my resume. So I emailed eight places with my resume and a half-assed cover letter (Im soooooo out of practice with these things, I cant even write a cover letter anymore.) Only one temp agency offered any promise--one way out by Perimeter that was hosting a job fair-ish thing. So with some help (thanks Dave!), I found it and had a mini interview. She seemed to like me and asked me to come back on Wednesday afternoon for an official interview and the computer tests (mostly to check my math, grammar and typing skills). It feels hopeful and it would be so very, very nice if they could hook me up with a job by next Monday. I feel a little relieved...not like Im in the clear yet, but its nice to have a lead.
The drive home wasnt even that bad on 285, I worked out (which felt awesome...its been a whole month!), ate lunch and am about to run to the post office. Otherwise, its a quiet night tonight. Nothing on the agenda until tomorrow, when I pick up my first shift at Noodle. Its going to be strange after so long, but I hope I remember how to do my job.
Sunday, November 09, 2003
Happy blessings to Leah, who officially joined UUCA down here. Hooray! The service was really interesting and pleasant, but not really my style. I like seeing how other churches worship, even if Im not going to join their congregation. Im just happy for her that she found a spiritual community that she likes. Go Leah!
Today has been a busy, but satisfyingly productive day. I went to church with Leah, went to both the Farmer's Market and Krogers, made lunch and key lime pie and chili, and finished my resume. Im a woman on a mission.
Had a really fun night last night with Dave and Joey and Lamont. Got to see Chenise, too. Drank, played pool, laughed a lot. My friends rock.
Tomorrow is going to be a festival of interviews. It will be good. Im ready to play the game and find a job. Everybody wish me luck.
Okay...have to watch Alias. Take care, everybody.
