I've got thirty minutes before this battery dies, and I am not lugging my happy ass out of bed to plug my computer in, so I'll keep it short.
I'm laying here debating what I want to do (job-wise) when I get to Seattle. Serve people coffee? Write for a newspaper? Make pretty layouts for some magazine? Drive a school bus?
While some options are certainly more viable than others, I find myself pretty discouraged by the fact that chances are I won't be noticed even once I do apply. My feelings of overwhelmment aren't helped by the long queue of suggestions I've received regarding my occupational future. Some have been reasonable and helpful... such as looking into temp agencies and applying at coffeehouses (I've got an interview already lined up for my first day in Seattle.) Others have made me hopeful for jobs I have no chance of landing (even though I'd probably enjoy them the most... i.e. making layouts (or, in technical terms, graphic design). Some have been downright outlandish, like starting my own gift-basket arranging business...
... there are no words.
And what happens if, given my currently unfavorable debt-to-income ratio, coupled with the fact that I don't yet have a job lined up in Seattle, I am unable to rent an apartment? Then where does that leave me?
And how in the hell am I going to plan this whole damned garage sale AND produce two editions of The Spring Hill New Era, all while training my replacement, worrying about apartment hunting, and trying to find a way to tell my parents that I've decided that I am going to go on that roadtrip to Austin with my friends in a couple weeks after all without them blowing a gasket???
It all remains to be seen.
Logistics are a bitch.
Sunday, September 16
Saturday, September 15
Let's blow this joint.
Once or twice a year, my wrist starts aching as though I've either broken, sprained, twisted, snapped, or otherwise maimed the only part of my body that I'm actually happy with (I'm sorry... I like the way the little bump pops out...)
My friends, that time of the year is now.
What have I done to deserve this? Have I been partaking in too much physical exertion? Surely not. Or could it be that I spend too much time plunking away at the keys of my laptop? Nonsense. Lifting too many overlarge tomes? Ha! Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Jesus and I aren't exactly BFF? Couldn't be.
Really, I have no idea... but I wish my wrist would just get over itself long enough for me to enjoy one pain-free year. Seriously.
Ummm... that's all.
My friends, that time of the year is now.
What have I done to deserve this? Have I been partaking in too much physical exertion? Surely not. Or could it be that I spend too much time plunking away at the keys of my laptop? Nonsense. Lifting too many overlarge tomes? Ha! Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Jesus and I aren't exactly BFF? Couldn't be.
Really, I have no idea... but I wish my wrist would just get over itself long enough for me to enjoy one pain-free year. Seriously.
Ummm... that's all.
Thursday, September 13
Good riddance... sorta
I'm moving to Seattle. I feel like when I put it in my blog, then it's official (right?) But yeah. Oct. 5 is the day I drive away from Kansas with nothing but my Civic and all the shit I can cram into it. Woot woot! Here's hoping it works out!
In an effort to earn myself some extra cash (or at least the gas money it'll take to get me out there), I'm holding my first ever bona fide Garage Sale. So the past few days I've been sorting through all my excess shit (there's a lot)... it's liberating!
Today I spent a good portion of my time uploading my CD collections to my computer so I can (try to) sell all of them. It's something I've been meaning to do for awhile, and in spite of the fact that most of them are late 90's pop music, I'm really excited to have so many more options on my iPod. Right now I am debating between Eagle Eye Cherry, Lit, and Sugar Way for the drive to work... although I just bought the new Rogue Wave album, so that'll probably supercede this temporary bout of nostalgia. Seriously, the past few days I've been driving around with my windows down (the weather's been PERFECT) listening to Tonic. It's like I never left high school!
Oh Jesus.
But yeah... I'm also selling some DVD's (GASP), books, a VCR, my Nintendo 64, and a bunch of other shit. Plus, Jessica and my parents are probably going to throw in some stuff (including my old student cello... don't worry, we're keeping the good one). So if you need some cheap used crap, you know where to stop by next Saturday.
In an effort to earn myself some extra cash (or at least the gas money it'll take to get me out there), I'm holding my first ever bona fide Garage Sale. So the past few days I've been sorting through all my excess shit (there's a lot)... it's liberating!
Today I spent a good portion of my time uploading my CD collections to my computer so I can (try to) sell all of them. It's something I've been meaning to do for awhile, and in spite of the fact that most of them are late 90's pop music, I'm really excited to have so many more options on my iPod. Right now I am debating between Eagle Eye Cherry, Lit, and Sugar Way for the drive to work... although I just bought the new Rogue Wave album, so that'll probably supercede this temporary bout of nostalgia. Seriously, the past few days I've been driving around with my windows down (the weather's been PERFECT) listening to Tonic. It's like I never left high school!
Oh Jesus.
But yeah... I'm also selling some DVD's (GASP), books, a VCR, my Nintendo 64, and a bunch of other shit. Plus, Jessica and my parents are probably going to throw in some stuff (including my old student cello... don't worry, we're keeping the good one). So if you need some cheap used crap, you know where to stop by next Saturday.
Saturday, September 8
Like mother, like son.
My mom and I were sitting at Sonic tonight, waiting for some smoothies. If you haven't been to Sonic in the last couple of years... what the hell's wrong with you? (kidding)... they have a key pad where you can pay with your credit or debit card without having to inconvenience the carhop or, by extension, yourself. (The less human-interaction these days, the better, right?) These keypads are also kind enough to let you know your order is being delivered, as ours did just before my mother and I had this conversation...
Mom: I hate it when it does that.
Me: Why?
Mom: Because then I have to pretend to be happy.
Both: (laughter)
I know, it doesn't sound funny, but I still can't stop laughing about it... mainly because I feel exactly the same way. Because you know when that little message pops up that in about ten seconds, the carhop's going to come out and give you a big fake smile and pretend that she couldn't be more tickled to be delivering you a couple of smoothies that cost more than she makes in an hour. And, so, of course, you're going to have to pretend to be that happy too. It's just common courtesy, right?
Sometimes I feel like I am pretending to be happy all the time. The sad thing is it's not something I'm really even sad about (even though I know I should be)... I'm just never feel as happy as I pretend to be on the outside. Am I depressed? Maybe. But I don't feel depressed. I just feel like there's a level of happiness that has become accepted as normal (regardless of whether or not it really is), and my level of happiness is somewhat below that. Sometimes I wonder if there's something wrong with me, but I'm comforted by the fact that a lot of people - my mom included - feel exactly the same way.
I'm just going to blame it on our stupid society and our inability to be real with one another because we're afraid someone might get offended in the process. THat works, doesn't it?
Mom: I hate it when it does that.
Me: Why?
Mom: Because then I have to pretend to be happy.
Both: (laughter)
I know, it doesn't sound funny, but I still can't stop laughing about it... mainly because I feel exactly the same way. Because you know when that little message pops up that in about ten seconds, the carhop's going to come out and give you a big fake smile and pretend that she couldn't be more tickled to be delivering you a couple of smoothies that cost more than she makes in an hour. And, so, of course, you're going to have to pretend to be that happy too. It's just common courtesy, right?
Sometimes I feel like I am pretending to be happy all the time. The sad thing is it's not something I'm really even sad about (even though I know I should be)... I'm just never feel as happy as I pretend to be on the outside. Am I depressed? Maybe. But I don't feel depressed. I just feel like there's a level of happiness that has become accepted as normal (regardless of whether or not it really is), and my level of happiness is somewhat below that. Sometimes I wonder if there's something wrong with me, but I'm comforted by the fact that a lot of people - my mom included - feel exactly the same way.
I'm just going to blame it on our stupid society and our inability to be real with one another because we're afraid someone might get offended in the process. THat works, doesn't it?
Friday, September 7
It's the most wonderful time of the year...
(I wrote the title of this blog singing the song in my head, so if you didn't read it that way, I suggest you go back and do so just so you can get a better feel for the tone of this post. If you wanted to be really cool, you could even sing it out loud... particularly if you are reading this at work or in close proximity with a person or people who don't really understand your penchant to break out into song randomly... because that makes you even cooler in my eyes.)
Once a year, a lovely little civic group known as the Morning Grange takes it upon themselves to put processed meat dogs on sticks, slather them in a fluffy, slightly sweet (but not to the point of tasting like a pancake) batter, golden frying them (probably in melted lard), and then vending them to the dedicated citizens of Johnson County, Kan. who have come to crave them like a hooker craves crack.
Which is a lot.
That time, my friends, is right now... and it pains me to even be sitting here writing to you when I could be packing my sweet pink mouth so full of Grange Pups that surely I'd gain about eighty pounds. But I don't think Old Settlers starts up on Friday till about 11. So I wait.
Since I've been working at the paper for a couple years now, I actually know a fair number of Grange members, and have considered asking them this most sacred of sacred recipes. But then my conscience, a creepy little animated insect who looks nothing at all like Jiminy Cricket, kicks in and says, in his inner-city streetwise way "Yo, you cain't do that fo' three reasons, foo... first, you'd gain 'bout three hundred pounds and turn inta one a those fatasses who cain't get up out his house without no forklift. Second, you too lazy to cook them fo' yoself. And lastly, whatchoo gonna look forward to year after year? Huh? Harry Potter movies? Shiiiiiiiit..."
So I don't.
Anyway, if you're in or around Olathe during the next two days, I suggest you waddle on down to Chestnut street by the courthouse and try on of these deep-fried glories-on-a-stick. And if you aren't near Olathe (as I wasn't last year at this time)... I feel your pain.
Official 2007 Grange Pup Tally: 16
Once a year, a lovely little civic group known as the Morning Grange takes it upon themselves to put processed meat dogs on sticks, slather them in a fluffy, slightly sweet (but not to the point of tasting like a pancake) batter, golden frying them (probably in melted lard), and then vending them to the dedicated citizens of Johnson County, Kan. who have come to crave them like a hooker craves crack.
Which is a lot.
That time, my friends, is right now... and it pains me to even be sitting here writing to you when I could be packing my sweet pink mouth so full of Grange Pups that surely I'd gain about eighty pounds. But I don't think Old Settlers starts up on Friday till about 11. So I wait.
Since I've been working at the paper for a couple years now, I actually know a fair number of Grange members, and have considered asking them this most sacred of sacred recipes. But then my conscience, a creepy little animated insect who looks nothing at all like Jiminy Cricket, kicks in and says, in his inner-city streetwise way "Yo, you cain't do that fo' three reasons, foo... first, you'd gain 'bout three hundred pounds and turn inta one a those fatasses who cain't get up out his house without no forklift. Second, you too lazy to cook them fo' yoself. And lastly, whatchoo gonna look forward to year after year? Huh? Harry Potter movies? Shiiiiiiiit..."
So I don't.
Anyway, if you're in or around Olathe during the next two days, I suggest you waddle on down to Chestnut street by the courthouse and try on of these deep-fried glories-on-a-stick. And if you aren't near Olathe (as I wasn't last year at this time)... I feel your pain.
Official 2007 Grange Pup Tally: 16
Tuesday, September 4
Mixed media.
Are most people slaves to the media? Or just me? Because really, between my job at the newspaper, and a social life which, in the absence of friends in close-proximity, has come to consist of television, music, internet and video games, I don't have much else.
But anyway... I can't wait for Big Brother to be over, because A.) Jessica (from Wichita!) is getting evicted on Thursday and B.) it has officially taken over my life.
Also, Singing Bee. Is this not the single most entertaining half-hour (or, as was the case today, hour) currently on television??? I mean... the singing... the dancing... the all around non-"Who Wants to Be a Millionaire"ness of the whole thing... I defy anyone who thinks they can sit down to watch this show and not stand up beaming.
I'm loving "Twilight Princess." I'm about 25 hours in and I think I've only just passed the halfway point... but then I'm a Zelda completionist - one of those people who goes into every nook and cranny to find every damned piece of heart and rupee that the game can afford me. The only thing I don't like is that the graphics were obviously made for the Gamecube's capabilities, not the Wii's. But whatever.
And Rogue Wave. I can't wait for their new album, and if I'm living in Seattle in a month's time, I've definitely got to set aside some money to go to their concert (and if not, at least they're coming to Lawrence this fall!)
But anyway... I can't wait for Big Brother to be over, because A.) Jessica (from Wichita!) is getting evicted on Thursday and B.) it has officially taken over my life.
Also, Singing Bee. Is this not the single most entertaining half-hour (or, as was the case today, hour) currently on television??? I mean... the singing... the dancing... the all around non-"Who Wants to Be a Millionaire"ness of the whole thing... I defy anyone who thinks they can sit down to watch this show and not stand up beaming.
I'm loving "Twilight Princess." I'm about 25 hours in and I think I've only just passed the halfway point... but then I'm a Zelda completionist - one of those people who goes into every nook and cranny to find every damned piece of heart and rupee that the game can afford me. The only thing I don't like is that the graphics were obviously made for the Gamecube's capabilities, not the Wii's. But whatever.
And Rogue Wave. I can't wait for their new album, and if I'm living in Seattle in a month's time, I've definitely got to set aside some money to go to their concert (and if not, at least they're coming to Lawrence this fall!)
