Yikes! It's been a little while. Well, after I returned from vacation, let's just say I've been working quite a bit. I've picked up more hours at the store, and it's been nice to stay busy. It hasn't helped me with my workout routine, but at least my body is in constant motion during my four to five hour shifts. I'm doing my best to keep up with my activity, but I've had a hard time getting a workout in.
Along with work, I've been working on getting things ready for finding a teaching job. It's been hard, and everyone I know who has gotten a job has given their best advice but have said that it's all about luck. I don't know how well 'luck' will work for me, but I am making sure that I'm ready and as prepared as possible for when the time comes to look for a job again.
Because of my schedule, I haven't been able to draw as much, but I have kept up with writing. It's been a nice little outlet for me, and easy to take twenty minutes a day to write something down. I know I'll be able to keep that up. As far as money goes, it's been alright. Besides Christmas, I know I want to take a little time to splurge a little before money gets tight. At the end of November, I have to become a real adult and pay for my own health insurance. My parents are great, and will be helping out with my phone and car stuff as much as possible, but I can't believe I've finally reached this life milestone.
Lol. I know. I'm a little lame, and lucky in some respects. Whether I say it or not, I thank my parents for everything they have done so that I can take care of the most important things.
Besides work and eventually becoming a big kid, I also had my first lady doctor appointment. No details will be given, but I was more nervous than I should've been. Another first and life event to cross off my list. Next up, finding a normal doctor in case there's an emergency.
Also, in July, my sister and brother-in-law packed up their house in So Cal and finally made the move up to Seattle, Washington. I'll always love So Cal, but I can't wait to go and have the chance to explore Seattle! I know it will be fun.
Whelp, that's about all I've got this time around.
Later days! <3>
Friday, August 30, 2013
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Vacation to end all Vacations
Alrighty, as the title suggests, this is going to be a pretty lengthy post. After leaving you with a wondrous tale of my car woes, I finished packing and managed to get 3 hours of sleep before getting up to get ready to head to the airport. Before getting picked up by a friend, I decided to go and make sure that my car was locked up while taking out some trash. I'm glad I did! Apparently, in the chaos of the night, my car door hadn't shut all the way and was left ajar. Unfortunately, this meant the inside lights had stayed on... ALL NIGHT. If I hadn't checked to make sure my car was locked, my battery would've died while I was gone, and not only would I have had to figure out how to fix the steering wheel but I would've had to buy a new battery!
After closing up house, I was dropped off at the airport and because my flight was at 7:30 AM, it was a breeze to get through security. Literally. There were two people in line. Myself, and a woman ahead of me. We both got to use a scanner each, and were through security in under five minutes. Even on a slow day at our airport, I have never flown through security like that. It was amazing and I will gladly get up at the crack of dawn to fly somewhere if it means I get to experience the security line like that!
Anyway, there must have been someone smiling on me, or realized I needed to sleep, because on both of my flights I was the only person in my row. I would've been fine with curling up in my window seat should someone sit next to me, but having both seats to myself allowed me the chance to stretch out and get a total of one and a half hours extra sleep. Normally, even with my Dramamine, I can only sleep for half an hour on a flight. I was thankful for the extra time, and so happy the flight attendants were also really nice. I was able to get extra pretzels/peanuts because I was all alone in my row. Silly, I know, but I don't like to eat much until I get to where I'm going. Best flight ever!
Arriving in LA, I was ready for a week of relaxation. What I got, after grabbing some lunch, was a face plant into an air mattress when I got to my destination. After a two hour nap, I enjoyed some family time and we began the week of wonderfulness. The zoo and a coastal drive by the beach, and two dance recitals later, I was coming to the end of my vacation. But, as always, what would be a trip to So Cal without heading to my happiest place on Earth? It wouldn't. So we always make time while we're down there...because I'm slightly selfish and always want to go. :)
So, the plan this time, because it would be the last for a while, was to stay at one of the Disneyland hotels. With help from a friend, we were able to score a night's stay at Paradise Pier. So exciting! We headed down as early as we could, but traffic kept us from getting there early so we could enjoy Downtown Disney. I wasn't too upset with this, as we could still spend time at the pool. Well, all those plans were halted when we got to the check in desk and discovered a miscalculation: when making the reservation, the dates for the night had gotten switched! So, of course, there was panic all around because this was the only time to go, we were there, and the man behind the desk was not very helpful. Odd for a Disney employee, I know. But, needless to say, we were able to get a new reservation....
At the DISNEYLAND HOTEL!!
You guys. You guys, you guys, you guys! It was the first time in my twenty-five years of life, that I'd ever gotten to stay at a Disney hotel, let alone THE Disneyland Hotel. I about cried, and I'm not kidding. What had started as a bad experience turned into a golden one. The girl at the front desk at the D-land hotel was exactly what someone working at a hotel, let alone a Disneyland hotel, should be like. She was helpful and courteous, understanding and empathetic, and even found us at Goofy's Kitchen to let us know that she'd been able to get our two groups on the same floor. How wonderful was she? Above and beyond the call of customer service.
So with food in our bellies, rooms to finally crash in, we made our way to the Frontier wing and had a special Tinkerbell greeting for the girls in their room. Now, this may just be my love of everything Disney talking, and the fact that we were all exhausted, but those beds felt like Heaven. I kind of wish we'd had another night in those rooms, but it was wonderful while it lasted. Being tired and still emotionally charged from the day before, we were unable to use our special passes to get into the park early for breakfast, but we were still able to head over as they opened and enjoy California Adventures first before the crowds got too big.
Another first for me happened, as I got to go through the single rider line for one of the rides in Cars Land while my parents got breakfast. I went with my brother-in-law, and got to spend a little quality time with him. So much fun! My parents went after we returned, and I enjoyed my Disney breakfast while we woke up a little more and decided where best to head next. Needless to say, we got through almost all of Carsland and then headed over to ride Monsters while checking out a few characters we passed along the way. I even got a chance to enjoy the Mad Tea Party setup before ducking into the Sorcerer's Workshop, The Beast's Lair, and Ursula's Grotto. A few goodies were grabbed before we decided it was time to head to main park so we could get in a few rides before lunch.
Now, while I love C.A., Disneyland will always and forever be my place of Zen. I was able to get a Dole Whip for the first time, and I got soaked on Splash Mountain. The rest of the day was as magical as the park, but the best part had to be lunch at Blue Bayou. Now, it would've been amazing had we been able to get into Club 33, but you have to know people who are members, and while we're a cool group of people, we didn't know anybody that cool. Still, Blue Bayou is one of my favorite restaurants, and being that it was our last hoorah, my dad was able to reserve a table right by the water of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. That is something that needs advanced reservation, especially with a larger group. Thank you, thank you, thank you to the people who work at Disney for making that happen.
As much as I'd like to explain every fine detail of what we did in the park, I will just say that after lunch, we were able to get on every ride that we really wanted to go on. I also had a little time to myself to go through the Sleeping Beauty Castle walkthrough, as well as the Pixie Hallow walkthrough. We got to watch fireworks while eating dinner, and we ended the night with one more small round of shopping. While I know that I'll be able to go back, it was a wonderful trip, and I couldn't have been happier with the time we spent together.
Now, it wasn't the smartest plan, but it was the only way we could work the times. After leaving at midnight, we headed back home and flopped into bed. My parents and I were leaving the next morning after watching my youngest niece open her gifts. Her birthday is this next weekend, so we aren't going to be able to attend, so we wanted to have that moment before leaving. It was adorable and wonderful, but the time came to leave. As wonderful as it had been to be with family, and knowing they'd be moving in about a month, there was one family dynamic that would be changing.
Because of health, my fur-baby nephew, Jackson Jefferson Montgomery, was going to be put down. Ever since he arrived in the family, he's been a special dog. During visits when I would sleep on the couch, he would be my couch buddy and night time protector by sleeping on the floor below me. I loved to take walks with him, and he always provided some sort of entertainment when playing with him. Saying good bye to that overgrown puppy was the hardest thing I'd had to do in some time. Especially since I had to hold together in front of my nieces. I've had my cry since then, but it will be hard to know that when I see my family next, he won't be there. I love you Jack Jack.
Well, after all was said and done, we left So Cal and headed on back up to the mountains and blue skies. After barely getting an sleep before heading down, and barely getting any during the week, plus getting in late from Disneyland and taking a Dramamine, I don't remember much of the first day driving back. There's a few stops for potty breaks and food, but I don't remember much. I got rest, though, and was better the next day as we made it home.
Two days back and I still smile at everything we did. I don't know how it happened, but from the plane ride to the car ride home, everything was perfect even with the little hotel hiccup. I'll be back So Cal, but it may be a while. Until then, stay awesome.
And now, to end this lengthy post, I wish you all a good night.
Later days <3 br="">
After closing up house, I was dropped off at the airport and because my flight was at 7:30 AM, it was a breeze to get through security. Literally. There were two people in line. Myself, and a woman ahead of me. We both got to use a scanner each, and were through security in under five minutes. Even on a slow day at our airport, I have never flown through security like that. It was amazing and I will gladly get up at the crack of dawn to fly somewhere if it means I get to experience the security line like that!
Anyway, there must have been someone smiling on me, or realized I needed to sleep, because on both of my flights I was the only person in my row. I would've been fine with curling up in my window seat should someone sit next to me, but having both seats to myself allowed me the chance to stretch out and get a total of one and a half hours extra sleep. Normally, even with my Dramamine, I can only sleep for half an hour on a flight. I was thankful for the extra time, and so happy the flight attendants were also really nice. I was able to get extra pretzels/peanuts because I was all alone in my row. Silly, I know, but I don't like to eat much until I get to where I'm going. Best flight ever!
Arriving in LA, I was ready for a week of relaxation. What I got, after grabbing some lunch, was a face plant into an air mattress when I got to my destination. After a two hour nap, I enjoyed some family time and we began the week of wonderfulness. The zoo and a coastal drive by the beach, and two dance recitals later, I was coming to the end of my vacation. But, as always, what would be a trip to So Cal without heading to my happiest place on Earth? It wouldn't. So we always make time while we're down there...because I'm slightly selfish and always want to go. :)
So, the plan this time, because it would be the last for a while, was to stay at one of the Disneyland hotels. With help from a friend, we were able to score a night's stay at Paradise Pier. So exciting! We headed down as early as we could, but traffic kept us from getting there early so we could enjoy Downtown Disney. I wasn't too upset with this, as we could still spend time at the pool. Well, all those plans were halted when we got to the check in desk and discovered a miscalculation: when making the reservation, the dates for the night had gotten switched! So, of course, there was panic all around because this was the only time to go, we were there, and the man behind the desk was not very helpful. Odd for a Disney employee, I know. But, needless to say, we were able to get a new reservation....
At the DISNEYLAND HOTEL!!
You guys. You guys, you guys, you guys! It was the first time in my twenty-five years of life, that I'd ever gotten to stay at a Disney hotel, let alone THE Disneyland Hotel. I about cried, and I'm not kidding. What had started as a bad experience turned into a golden one. The girl at the front desk at the D-land hotel was exactly what someone working at a hotel, let alone a Disneyland hotel, should be like. She was helpful and courteous, understanding and empathetic, and even found us at Goofy's Kitchen to let us know that she'd been able to get our two groups on the same floor. How wonderful was she? Above and beyond the call of customer service.
So with food in our bellies, rooms to finally crash in, we made our way to the Frontier wing and had a special Tinkerbell greeting for the girls in their room. Now, this may just be my love of everything Disney talking, and the fact that we were all exhausted, but those beds felt like Heaven. I kind of wish we'd had another night in those rooms, but it was wonderful while it lasted. Being tired and still emotionally charged from the day before, we were unable to use our special passes to get into the park early for breakfast, but we were still able to head over as they opened and enjoy California Adventures first before the crowds got too big.
Another first for me happened, as I got to go through the single rider line for one of the rides in Cars Land while my parents got breakfast. I went with my brother-in-law, and got to spend a little quality time with him. So much fun! My parents went after we returned, and I enjoyed my Disney breakfast while we woke up a little more and decided where best to head next. Needless to say, we got through almost all of Carsland and then headed over to ride Monsters while checking out a few characters we passed along the way. I even got a chance to enjoy the Mad Tea Party setup before ducking into the Sorcerer's Workshop, The Beast's Lair, and Ursula's Grotto. A few goodies were grabbed before we decided it was time to head to main park so we could get in a few rides before lunch.
Now, while I love C.A., Disneyland will always and forever be my place of Zen. I was able to get a Dole Whip for the first time, and I got soaked on Splash Mountain. The rest of the day was as magical as the park, but the best part had to be lunch at Blue Bayou. Now, it would've been amazing had we been able to get into Club 33, but you have to know people who are members, and while we're a cool group of people, we didn't know anybody that cool. Still, Blue Bayou is one of my favorite restaurants, and being that it was our last hoorah, my dad was able to reserve a table right by the water of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. That is something that needs advanced reservation, especially with a larger group. Thank you, thank you, thank you to the people who work at Disney for making that happen.
As much as I'd like to explain every fine detail of what we did in the park, I will just say that after lunch, we were able to get on every ride that we really wanted to go on. I also had a little time to myself to go through the Sleeping Beauty Castle walkthrough, as well as the Pixie Hallow walkthrough. We got to watch fireworks while eating dinner, and we ended the night with one more small round of shopping. While I know that I'll be able to go back, it was a wonderful trip, and I couldn't have been happier with the time we spent together.
Now, it wasn't the smartest plan, but it was the only way we could work the times. After leaving at midnight, we headed back home and flopped into bed. My parents and I were leaving the next morning after watching my youngest niece open her gifts. Her birthday is this next weekend, so we aren't going to be able to attend, so we wanted to have that moment before leaving. It was adorable and wonderful, but the time came to leave. As wonderful as it had been to be with family, and knowing they'd be moving in about a month, there was one family dynamic that would be changing.
Because of health, my fur-baby nephew, Jackson Jefferson Montgomery, was going to be put down. Ever since he arrived in the family, he's been a special dog. During visits when I would sleep on the couch, he would be my couch buddy and night time protector by sleeping on the floor below me. I loved to take walks with him, and he always provided some sort of entertainment when playing with him. Saying good bye to that overgrown puppy was the hardest thing I'd had to do in some time. Especially since I had to hold together in front of my nieces. I've had my cry since then, but it will be hard to know that when I see my family next, he won't be there. I love you Jack Jack.
Well, after all was said and done, we left So Cal and headed on back up to the mountains and blue skies. After barely getting an sleep before heading down, and barely getting any during the week, plus getting in late from Disneyland and taking a Dramamine, I don't remember much of the first day driving back. There's a few stops for potty breaks and food, but I don't remember much. I got rest, though, and was better the next day as we made it home.
Two days back and I still smile at everything we did. I don't know how it happened, but from the plane ride to the car ride home, everything was perfect even with the little hotel hiccup. I'll be back So Cal, but it may be a while. Until then, stay awesome.
And now, to end this lengthy post, I wish you all a good night.
Later days <3 br="">
Sunday, June 16, 2013
June Madness
Lordy it has been a while. I had planned to post something a while ago, but the dance studio headed into recital mode in May at the same time that I had quite a few sub jobs. Work has also picked up because of sale time. So sadly, I hadn't been able to sit down and throw myself at the mercy of the blog until now. SO, here we go.
First off, Happy Father's Day!
Since March I have been super busy with subbing and working. So yay! The dance studio has been the most busy, though. We headed into full recital mode halfway through April, which included end of the year report cards. I managed to get those completed ahead of schedule (A real feat I tell you) and my classes spent the rest of our time together practicing and enjoying classes. Towards the end of May, classes ended and we had some time off. I spent most of it being with my grandma and prepping for the first week of rehearsals.
While I had no sub jobs in June, the rehearsals and work kept me busy. I've been working a lot more and constantly touching base with my bosses to make sure I stay on track with what I need to be doing. It's been great and I've been happier when going to work. Now, onto the dancing. Let me just say that the first and second recital went smashingly! Rehearsals and pictures were pretty much a breeze and all my girls danced beautifully. I was so proud and it was hard not to get choked up as I wished them fantastic summers the final nights. Gah! Thinking about it now gets me teary-eyed. Now, I won't be teaching during the summer, but I'll be teaching the same classes in the Fall and I couldn't be more excited. I hope to see some familiar faces, and I've got some more ideas for the new year.
Normally, I would end here, but I've actually got one more story to tell. It's kind of funny, but it was panic worthy when it was happening. Three days ago, my parents left to drive down to California to be with family. I would be leaving and flying out after I had finished with recital stuff. But this is beside the point. So, if you look at the time stamp, it's 1:00 AM on Sunday, June 16th. About five hours ago we finished our last night of recital. During that time, we all pitched in to clean up and tear down background props so we could all go and unwind at someone's house for a little bit. Nothing new. Neither was the request to use my truck to help load trash to take to the garbage instead of trying to haul it ourselves. Too bad that once I got to my car... it wouldn't start. Lights were coming on, my battery turned out to be find even after we attempted to jump it, and I didn't know what to do. I eventually got smart and called AAA. After getting someone to help out and come tow my car home, I prepared to hang out with only myself. I absolutely love the people I work with, as five of them decided to keep me safe and waited with me until the tow truck arrived. I love those girls, and they know how my I appreciated them sacrificing an hour of their time to wait out in the parking lot while a cold wind started blowing. Needless to say, the tow guy was really awesome and after telling him my woes, he tried to help me out after I called my dad and was informed to try to start the car in the other gears. Magic happened, and we were able to get my car into the garage.... while in neutral. It turns out that the gear shift had come loose and was out of whack. The tow guy thought it was hilarious, and so did I after I sad goodbye to him.
I also realized that all this happened because of a screw. Everything was fine when I drove to the auditorium where the recital was held. Parking was fine. But during the drive, a screw had dropped down. I was able to recover it and was glad I did. After calling my dad again, we came to the conclusion that this was the problem and would be fixed upon our return. When everything came to a close last night, I was highly stressed, somewhat relieved, and ready to be on the plane. Now that I've had some time to settle down, I feel much better. The only down side was that I missed out on hanging with the ladies at our boss's house, however, due to my tight schedule this evening.... er, morning, I am almost glad for what happened. I've accomplished everything I wanted.
Speaking of which, I've still got to shower and get some sleep before I have to be up and ready for my ride to the airport! Let's just hope I get enough sleep to function.
Until next time!
Later Days
First off, Happy Father's Day!
Since March I have been super busy with subbing and working. So yay! The dance studio has been the most busy, though. We headed into full recital mode halfway through April, which included end of the year report cards. I managed to get those completed ahead of schedule (A real feat I tell you) and my classes spent the rest of our time together practicing and enjoying classes. Towards the end of May, classes ended and we had some time off. I spent most of it being with my grandma and prepping for the first week of rehearsals.
While I had no sub jobs in June, the rehearsals and work kept me busy. I've been working a lot more and constantly touching base with my bosses to make sure I stay on track with what I need to be doing. It's been great and I've been happier when going to work. Now, onto the dancing. Let me just say that the first and second recital went smashingly! Rehearsals and pictures were pretty much a breeze and all my girls danced beautifully. I was so proud and it was hard not to get choked up as I wished them fantastic summers the final nights. Gah! Thinking about it now gets me teary-eyed. Now, I won't be teaching during the summer, but I'll be teaching the same classes in the Fall and I couldn't be more excited. I hope to see some familiar faces, and I've got some more ideas for the new year.
Normally, I would end here, but I've actually got one more story to tell. It's kind of funny, but it was panic worthy when it was happening. Three days ago, my parents left to drive down to California to be with family. I would be leaving and flying out after I had finished with recital stuff. But this is beside the point. So, if you look at the time stamp, it's 1:00 AM on Sunday, June 16th. About five hours ago we finished our last night of recital. During that time, we all pitched in to clean up and tear down background props so we could all go and unwind at someone's house for a little bit. Nothing new. Neither was the request to use my truck to help load trash to take to the garbage instead of trying to haul it ourselves. Too bad that once I got to my car... it wouldn't start. Lights were coming on, my battery turned out to be find even after we attempted to jump it, and I didn't know what to do. I eventually got smart and called AAA. After getting someone to help out and come tow my car home, I prepared to hang out with only myself. I absolutely love the people I work with, as five of them decided to keep me safe and waited with me until the tow truck arrived. I love those girls, and they know how my I appreciated them sacrificing an hour of their time to wait out in the parking lot while a cold wind started blowing. Needless to say, the tow guy was really awesome and after telling him my woes, he tried to help me out after I called my dad and was informed to try to start the car in the other gears. Magic happened, and we were able to get my car into the garage.... while in neutral. It turns out that the gear shift had come loose and was out of whack. The tow guy thought it was hilarious, and so did I after I sad goodbye to him.
I also realized that all this happened because of a screw. Everything was fine when I drove to the auditorium where the recital was held. Parking was fine. But during the drive, a screw had dropped down. I was able to recover it and was glad I did. After calling my dad again, we came to the conclusion that this was the problem and would be fixed upon our return. When everything came to a close last night, I was highly stressed, somewhat relieved, and ready to be on the plane. Now that I've had some time to settle down, I feel much better. The only down side was that I missed out on hanging with the ladies at our boss's house, however, due to my tight schedule this evening.... er, morning, I am almost glad for what happened. I've accomplished everything I wanted.
Speaking of which, I've still got to shower and get some sleep before I have to be up and ready for my ride to the airport! Let's just hope I get enough sleep to function.
Until next time!
Later Days
Friday, March 29, 2013
Busy Bee
Hello everyone!
Apologies for not posting anything for a while. It's been a little busy and I've finally managed to get a chance to sit and think about what to write for you all. In my last post, I talked about soul searching. Since that post I've really gotten back to myself and continue to improve myself at work. It also helps to have bosses who are amazing and supportive and want everyone to do their best. In that post, I also mentioned my mother possibly having breast cancer. I am very happy to say that she is in the clear!! The mass they detected turned out to be nothing, and we are very happy that everything is alright.
Now, let's me catch up all up. My resolutions have been doing alright. I've really kicked up the work out and eating healthy notch, and I am trying to keep a workout schedule going. I've also been avoiding soda, but I'm addicted to coffee. For substituting, I've replaced my coffee with tea, but at work I still grab a coffee. However, I'm limiting them to only when I really need a boost both for health and money reasons. With drawing and writing, I'm doing better at the latter than the former. I'm finding it harder and harder to get in the mood to draw, but I've kept up my doodling. Finances are being handled well. I'll be heading into the summer time, so I've really been working to make sure I have money for loans at the that time, and also money for fun. Being able to substitute almost every week/month has been helpful, but like any struggling student knows, there's always a need for more money.
Other than work and updates on resolutions, I also attended a dance convention three weeks ago. Not only did I attend, I was able to participate in classes for the first time in almost seven years. It was thrilling and wonderful and I got to speak with lots of new people, and an old face. I was also able to do something I had never done before: jump into a pool with my clothes on! Now, I know what you're thinking, why the heck is that so exciting? I would never say my childhood was lacking, but jumping willingly into a pool fully clothed was never something I did. It was so much fun, but I made the poor choice of wearing jeans and eventually had to stop and head back to the room to change. So, I guess I can check off that exciting thing to do from my resolution list!
Overall, the last few months have been wonderful and I look forward to the rest of the year!
Later Days!
Apologies for not posting anything for a while. It's been a little busy and I've finally managed to get a chance to sit and think about what to write for you all. In my last post, I talked about soul searching. Since that post I've really gotten back to myself and continue to improve myself at work. It also helps to have bosses who are amazing and supportive and want everyone to do their best. In that post, I also mentioned my mother possibly having breast cancer. I am very happy to say that she is in the clear!! The mass they detected turned out to be nothing, and we are very happy that everything is alright.
Now, let's me catch up all up. My resolutions have been doing alright. I've really kicked up the work out and eating healthy notch, and I am trying to keep a workout schedule going. I've also been avoiding soda, but I'm addicted to coffee. For substituting, I've replaced my coffee with tea, but at work I still grab a coffee. However, I'm limiting them to only when I really need a boost both for health and money reasons. With drawing and writing, I'm doing better at the latter than the former. I'm finding it harder and harder to get in the mood to draw, but I've kept up my doodling. Finances are being handled well. I'll be heading into the summer time, so I've really been working to make sure I have money for loans at the that time, and also money for fun. Being able to substitute almost every week/month has been helpful, but like any struggling student knows, there's always a need for more money.
Other than work and updates on resolutions, I also attended a dance convention three weeks ago. Not only did I attend, I was able to participate in classes for the first time in almost seven years. It was thrilling and wonderful and I got to speak with lots of new people, and an old face. I was also able to do something I had never done before: jump into a pool with my clothes on! Now, I know what you're thinking, why the heck is that so exciting? I would never say my childhood was lacking, but jumping willingly into a pool fully clothed was never something I did. It was so much fun, but I made the poor choice of wearing jeans and eventually had to stop and head back to the room to change. So, I guess I can check off that exciting thing to do from my resolution list!
Overall, the last few months have been wonderful and I look forward to the rest of the year!
Later Days!
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Soul Searching
For the last month, I haven't been working except for teaching at the dance studio and a few sub spots. I figured I wouldn't get many substituting jobs, but I was surprised and have kept busy with those. Other than that, I have had some time to do some soul searching. Or in other words: decompressing.
As I may have mentioned in a post a while ago, I was given the opportunity to take a step up at work. While I had a blast and kept myself busy, I was not as effective as I should have been. I thought I was, but after a good talk and reflection, I realized that I hadn't done everything that was expected of me. And I felt horrible. I don't like letting people down, and that's what I felt I had done. I started asking myself why this had happened, and what I could do to make myself better. I finally figured out that I had never let myself fully grieve after my grandma's funeral. Because of that, I allowed it to affect my personality, my work ethic, and others around me. And with my normal, happy personality hiding in the wings, I stressed myself out at work and tried to pretend that I was fine.
During this time, I was finally told that my mother might have breast cancer. You can imagine that my mood dropped further. But I pushed through. Now, here I sit after thinking and reflecting and I feel lighter. It also helps that I had the previously mentioned talk and was able to hash out everything that needed to be taken care of. I know now what I did, understand and accept it cannot be fixed, and I'm ready to work on getting back to myself and getting back into the groove of work.
Here's to improving the mind, body, and soul!
Later Days
As I may have mentioned in a post a while ago, I was given the opportunity to take a step up at work. While I had a blast and kept myself busy, I was not as effective as I should have been. I thought I was, but after a good talk and reflection, I realized that I hadn't done everything that was expected of me. And I felt horrible. I don't like letting people down, and that's what I felt I had done. I started asking myself why this had happened, and what I could do to make myself better. I finally figured out that I had never let myself fully grieve after my grandma's funeral. Because of that, I allowed it to affect my personality, my work ethic, and others around me. And with my normal, happy personality hiding in the wings, I stressed myself out at work and tried to pretend that I was fine.
During this time, I was finally told that my mother might have breast cancer. You can imagine that my mood dropped further. But I pushed through. Now, here I sit after thinking and reflecting and I feel lighter. It also helps that I had the previously mentioned talk and was able to hash out everything that needed to be taken care of. I know now what I did, understand and accept it cannot be fixed, and I'm ready to work on getting back to myself and getting back into the groove of work.
Here's to improving the mind, body, and soul!
Later Days
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Happy New Years!
Happy New Years!
We have once again moved on to another year, which means I need to look at what I accomplished as far as resolutions go. While I was not very diligent about getting healthy and losing the weight I wanted, I did manage to keep busy and keep moving. I also did very well with watching how much I was eating, and cutting out plenty of things I didn't need to be eating. Because of this, I've managed to keep off about three pounds. That might not be a lot, but that's three pounds less I have to deal with. As far as drawing goes, I started out well, but due to more work I had to keep to just small doodles. While that's not bad, I had planned to do more. Writing went very well. I managed to keep to writing a few minutes or more a day, but I did have some slow downs. This is always expected when writing, but I feel like I accomplished quite a bit. As far as finances go, I could've done better. I did really well up until September, and then got a little crazy with clothes shopping, and of course Christmas shopping. But, I will say that I did everything possible to make sure my loans were taken care of first and foremost. So far, I've been able to stay on track with those.
Now we enter a new year, and once again I get to make my resolutions. Sadly for those expecting and wanting for something new, I am going with the above resolutions. They fit what I want and need right now. The only other additions I might make would be to finally land a teaching job, or really get into the gear of finding one, and perhaps do one exciting thing this year--or at least something I find exciting.
And that's pretty much it for this post. Until next time!
Later Days!
We have once again moved on to another year, which means I need to look at what I accomplished as far as resolutions go. While I was not very diligent about getting healthy and losing the weight I wanted, I did manage to keep busy and keep moving. I also did very well with watching how much I was eating, and cutting out plenty of things I didn't need to be eating. Because of this, I've managed to keep off about three pounds. That might not be a lot, but that's three pounds less I have to deal with. As far as drawing goes, I started out well, but due to more work I had to keep to just small doodles. While that's not bad, I had planned to do more. Writing went very well. I managed to keep to writing a few minutes or more a day, but I did have some slow downs. This is always expected when writing, but I feel like I accomplished quite a bit. As far as finances go, I could've done better. I did really well up until September, and then got a little crazy with clothes shopping, and of course Christmas shopping. But, I will say that I did everything possible to make sure my loans were taken care of first and foremost. So far, I've been able to stay on track with those.
Now we enter a new year, and once again I get to make my resolutions. Sadly for those expecting and wanting for something new, I am going with the above resolutions. They fit what I want and need right now. The only other additions I might make would be to finally land a teaching job, or really get into the gear of finding one, and perhaps do one exciting thing this year--or at least something I find exciting.
And that's pretty much it for this post. Until next time!
Later Days!
Monday, December 24, 2012
The Holidays and a Merry Christmas.
Can it really have been almost 2 months since I last posted something? Apparently. It's not that I've been ignoring the blog, but in a way I have. I've been working a lot more; a ton actually. So by the time I get home, or when I do have a day off, I don't even have the brain power to come up with a decent post for that week or for the month.
So Happy Belated Turkey Day to everyone!
There, that's done. Now on to the month of December. Along with more hours comes the cold weather and holiday festivities. This year, I cracked down and got all my Christmas cards, plus some birthday ones, and all my presents excluding the ones for my mother done before the second week of December hit. I was ecstatic! Minus the fact that I had to get something for my mother. And you know moms, they always have to get something they like when they see it. Unless they're super awesome and resist the urge so us loved ones can purchase it for them. (Haha... we can all dream, right?) So, for a week, I panicked over what I should get her. I double-checked my budget. Panicked a little more. And then I finally found something she might like. With a week before Christmas to spare. Needless to say, I was a happy camper.
Then my happiness left. Well, not all of it. For those that work in retail, we know the pains of antsy, angry, and argumentative shoppers during the holiday season. Now let's tack on the extreme couponers. I don't know how many times I had to restrain myself from murdering certain customers, gently reminding them, for the fourth time, that no "We can't do more than one of those coupons per transaction, but we'll be happy to make sure you get all the deals." Some people are fine with that, but more than several turned up their noses and left. As much as I want to make sure every person leaves with everything they need, at a great deal, I can't break store rules. So don't take my happy just because you want to get your way. Go take a moment, get back your holiday spirit, and come back so we can help you get what you need.
It's also fun to watch families this time of year. And when I say 'fun,' I mean watching to see how some parents hardly control their small children in stores. It baffles me, really it does. But unless those kids get unruly and break something while their parent stands there, I can't force them out. Thankfully, this year didn't have too many of those, and I was happy to see as such. Maybe last year was an off year? Who knows.
And now, enough of my ranting. It's time for some cheer.
This year has had it's trials, especially near the end. My now only living grandparents is my grandmother on my mother's side. She turned 93 on December 23rd, 2012. And I hope she's on this Earth for another ten. I would like that, even love it, as I hope that in those ten years, I will find someone to love and have her at my wedding. Even better if she got to see another pair of great-grand babies. But I know that that may not happen, so I will cherish the time I do have. Including this Christmas.
Which reminds me: MERRY CHRISTMAS! I started this post on Christmas Eve, and it's now Christmas Day! I'm 25, and this is my 25th Christmas. Kind of wonderful. I hope that as the new year comes around, which it will now that the 'End of the World' crap is over and done with, I will have another wonderful year full of merriment and new opportunities. I've been blessed to know wonderful people, to be a part of their lives, and to enrich my own because of them. I've had new experiences, learned a little, and tried to better myself this year.
And now matter what I receive for Christmas, I know that they best gift I can have is my family. They are my biggest support system, and without them I would not be who I am today. I am lucky, and with everything else going on in the world, I am more than happy to have them in my life.
And now, since I managed to finish all my chores for the day earlier on, it is time for sleep. Much needed.
So in the spirit of Christmas:
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
So Happy Belated Turkey Day to everyone!
There, that's done. Now on to the month of December. Along with more hours comes the cold weather and holiday festivities. This year, I cracked down and got all my Christmas cards, plus some birthday ones, and all my presents excluding the ones for my mother done before the second week of December hit. I was ecstatic! Minus the fact that I had to get something for my mother. And you know moms, they always have to get something they like when they see it. Unless they're super awesome and resist the urge so us loved ones can purchase it for them. (Haha... we can all dream, right?) So, for a week, I panicked over what I should get her. I double-checked my budget. Panicked a little more. And then I finally found something she might like. With a week before Christmas to spare. Needless to say, I was a happy camper.
Then my happiness left. Well, not all of it. For those that work in retail, we know the pains of antsy, angry, and argumentative shoppers during the holiday season. Now let's tack on the extreme couponers. I don't know how many times I had to restrain myself from murdering certain customers, gently reminding them, for the fourth time, that no "We can't do more than one of those coupons per transaction, but we'll be happy to make sure you get all the deals." Some people are fine with that, but more than several turned up their noses and left. As much as I want to make sure every person leaves with everything they need, at a great deal, I can't break store rules. So don't take my happy just because you want to get your way. Go take a moment, get back your holiday spirit, and come back so we can help you get what you need.
It's also fun to watch families this time of year. And when I say 'fun,' I mean watching to see how some parents hardly control their small children in stores. It baffles me, really it does. But unless those kids get unruly and break something while their parent stands there, I can't force them out. Thankfully, this year didn't have too many of those, and I was happy to see as such. Maybe last year was an off year? Who knows.
And now, enough of my ranting. It's time for some cheer.
This year has had it's trials, especially near the end. My now only living grandparents is my grandmother on my mother's side. She turned 93 on December 23rd, 2012. And I hope she's on this Earth for another ten. I would like that, even love it, as I hope that in those ten years, I will find someone to love and have her at my wedding. Even better if she got to see another pair of great-grand babies. But I know that that may not happen, so I will cherish the time I do have. Including this Christmas.
Which reminds me: MERRY CHRISTMAS! I started this post on Christmas Eve, and it's now Christmas Day! I'm 25, and this is my 25th Christmas. Kind of wonderful. I hope that as the new year comes around, which it will now that the 'End of the World' crap is over and done with, I will have another wonderful year full of merriment and new opportunities. I've been blessed to know wonderful people, to be a part of their lives, and to enrich my own because of them. I've had new experiences, learned a little, and tried to better myself this year.
And now matter what I receive for Christmas, I know that they best gift I can have is my family. They are my biggest support system, and without them I would not be who I am today. I am lucky, and with everything else going on in the world, I am more than happy to have them in my life.
And now, since I managed to finish all my chores for the day earlier on, it is time for sleep. Much needed.
So in the spirit of Christmas:
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
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