Picture time!

Just a few random photos from the summer...

I *heart* IKEA

Before I got my cyst lanced yesterday, Abby and I went mattress hunting. IKEA was our first stop, and it was our last. I found this beauty of a mattress and fell in love. Part foam and part spring, this is so comfortable, and I plan on making it more comfortable by adding one of those feather pads you buy at Target to make it softer and fluffier. Life at Village House will start sweet. I can't wait to move! I still need sheets, however. Any suggestions?

Postsecret Sunday

Every Sunday, I find at least one postcard I love. This is this week's.

Pain, pain, and more pain

Have I mentioned pain?

If that's what lancing a cyst feels like, I don't even care to think about childbirth.

Oh, and I'll say it again. Pain. Followed by awkwardness because of the location of the cyst. Followed by sweet resident who doesn't want to inflict pain followed by supervising doctor who doesn't care. Pain. Pain. Pain.

What did I do to deserve such a prognosis. Shit. On Percocet right now, (did you know Percocet is actually Oxycondone? Is that like Oxycontin? Strong drugs. I should be asleep any minute now...

What a day.

Oh, and did I mention pain?

Any one want to clue me in?

What is this Zanna musical about? My guess is gay guys that want to overcome their fear of straight people and spread the love to everyone. That’s all I can gather from the music, but I’ll tell you one thing. The music is pretty damn catchy. I mean, I’ve been listening to it all day and I am just in the best mood.

“Love who you are and someone else will do the same.”

“Tonight we are going to go…straight…right to heaven.”

Posting some work reflections...for what it's worth

I can honestly say that I expected to hear every word I did from both of the teachers I work with. It’s assuring to see it writing, however.

I communicate well. I leave a trail of notes wherever I go if I can’t talk face-to-face with someone. People know where I am on an hourly basis. They know how I spend my time. I’m satisfied with my schedule. I was iffy, but I’m glad they think so. I need to stop doubting myself on a minute-to-minute basis.

I don’t give Mrs. K the time allotted because I don’t know how to spend the time I’m in her classroom. When I work with her students, I pull them out and we go to the library. I do more teacher assistance tasks for Ms. P because she asks me to do so and gives me explicit directions. I can’t read minds. My plan of attack is to go in to room 317 next Monday and ask Mrs. K directly and ask her how she would like me to improve upon the time spent in her classroom.

Part of this stems from the fact that I feel like I have to meet everyone’s expectations of me. Ms. P made her expectations clear up front, and Mrs. K is not quite as confrontational. The squeaky wheel always gets the grease. Mrs. K also has a student teacher, so a lot of the work I do for Ms. P is already done when I enter Mrs. K’s room and I spend a lot of time wondering what to do until it’s time to take my students.

Needless to say, I’m glad Mrs. K brought this “randomness” of time spent in her room to my attention now. I intend to fix this problem by taking the above steps. Ms. P also stated in her evaluation of me that she would gladly have me teach her class in her absence, which for an elementary teacher is high praise. So I do feel like my time so far this year has been effective, but no one is perfect. I’m improving. I will continue to improve by taking risks and trying my best. As noted by Ms. P, I learn most effectively by watching and doing, so I will continue to observe and teach my small groups and hope I can continue my service in a way that benefits me and the teachers I work with.

A Pain in the Ass

I apologize if this post is a little too graphic for those out there that are faint of heart. Stop reading now. If you really want to know, I've been suffering with an unusual pain on the bottom of my spine where it meets my ass. I have no idea what it is, but I do know that it is incredibly painful to sit for long periods of time, and drive. So it's been a literal and metaphorical pain in the ass. Worst thing is...I have the Ameri-insurance for ONE MORE WEEK. Which means I am googling symptoms that I can't do anything about until my Blue Cross Blue Shield of MN insurance kicks in August 1. WebMD tells me I either have a Pilonidal Cyst or I pulled a muscle in my hi-nee. But it doesn't actually tell me what do do about it. There needs to be another website for that. Anyone ever have one of these? Tips, advice, off-color comments welcome...as always.

Mattress needed, mattress wanted

When I move in less than three weeks, I will need a twin-sized, comfortable mattress to go in my new room. It's been at least a year since I've slept on a twin-sized mattress. I would like this mattress to be CLEAN and CHEAP, but still comfortable. Any ideas on where I should look? I have issues sleeping on stranger's mattresses. I would also like it delivered to my new home, because I am well beyond chasing down mattresses and moving the beast of a mattress myself. (I've done too much of that in my college days.) Is this attainable? IKEA.com is great, but they don't deliver, do they?

Another 'beauty' from PostSecret

Once again, why do I find myself agreeing with this postcard more than any other this week? I *heart* people and their secrets.

My shrink told me...

...that I will end up going to my grave never being sure of myself, and that I should just accept that. What do you think?

I'm too good for eHarmony.com!

For shits and giggles, I decided to take the eHarmony.com challenge. I took their little quizzes with no hopes what-so-ever. I was bored, and I thought it would be fun. Turns out, I am unmatchable! No joke, I get this message back from them:

Unable to Match

eHarmony is based upon a complex matching system developed through extensive research with married couples. One of the requirements for successful matching is that participants fall within certain defined profiles. If we find that we will not be able to match a user using these profiles, we feel it is only fair to inform them early in the process.

We are so convinced of the importance of creating compatible matches to help people establish happy, lasting relationships that we sometimes choose not to provide service rather than risk an uncertain match.

Unfortunately, we are not able to make our profiles work for you. Our matching model could not accurately predict with whom you would be best matched. This occurs for about 20% of potential users, so 1 in 5 people simply will not benefit from our service. We hope that you understand, and we regret our inability to provide service for you at this time.

Is that not the funniest thing you've ever read. Of course, it may be due to the fact that I said in one of the questions that I am not affiliated with a religious institution and I have no preference of a religion in me or a partner. Well no duh! eHarmony.com is a Christian dating site! They really need to do more to advertise their religious affiliation!

Other than that, I'm just going to accept the the fact that I am un-dateable, and un-matchable. There is no match for me world. Because I am good ALL BY MYSELF! (To steal from Em) HUZZAH!

Bird Brain

So yesterday when I arrived at my job, I had no clue I was walking into a zoo. Remind me to tell you about the Brooklyn Center Bird Brain story later...

So my car was broken into again!

Yes, that's right, my car was broken into again, on the same street, with 3 months of the first break in. No, they didn't take anything this time. I discovered this break-in upon leaving my house on Sunday morning to get my oil changed. My driver's side door was ajar, and the glove compartment was open. Some contents of the glove compartment were strewn about the passenger seat. BUT, NOTHING WAS MISSING! Is this not weird? I realize the bastards were looking for something of value, but all I have to my name (in my glove compartment, anyway) are a couple of band-aids, some maps of Minneapolis, business envelopes, and my car's owner's manual. Some trash was in there too. I guess I got really lucky that no glass was broken and I don't have to go through those shinanigans again.

I am really pissed, and slightly paranoid. I mean, what if I did have something I didn't know about? Like a spare check register or a receipt with my credit card info or something? TWO TIMES in three months? What kind of neighborhood do I live in?

As the technician at Valvoline said, (yes I told him because, yes, he's the first person I saw since I discovered it happened, and yes, I live alone...don't rub it in) "It's not a violent neighborhood, just a greedy one" (he also lives near Powderhorn Park, as I discovered in my conversation with him...as he was checking my brake fluid...) "Petty crimes are abundant" he says of the neighborhood. Yes, I suppose everyone is just after a dollar, but what happened to doing it the old-fashioned way? WORKING?

Also, upon telling ABBY this over lunch at Common Roots today, her first remark was, "You know this wouldn't happen if you actually had a social life and went out on Friday and Saturday nights!" OK, I KNOW I am a social hermit. But I've been one for years and it's not likely to change. I like being a hermit, and there is no reason criminals should pick on me just because I choose to stay home. So there.

And, the neighbors are having a party. They are very loud and drunk in their backyard. I want to close my window, but I know I will be hot

Great Soloiquies

That I identify with a tad bit too much, if you ask me...

1. On My Own (Les Mis)

2. It Sucks to be Me, Kate Monster's Role (Avenue Q)

3. I'm Not That Girl (Wicked)

4. Just Not Now (I Love You Because)

5. I Wish I Could Go Back to College (Avenue Q)

6. Who's Got Extra Love (Zanna, Don't!)

Random thought

I think jumping through flaming hoops would actually be easier than writing cover letter and resume bullets that match the requirements asked for and still make me look halfway intelligent. Just sayin'. I love my life.

How about this for a cover letter closing line? (thanks Em)

"Give me this f-ing job or your kids are dead." (This is where my patience for all things job search are right about now. But I've been at this for 8 hours and that's only today!)

Stupid thing I write all to frequently

...that must stop!!!

I feel like my prior experiences, positions, and educational opportunities directly align with the requirements posted to the job description.

What the hell is that supposed to mean? "I feel like..." What am I? A shrink now? I know feelings are important. Maybe I have a future as a counselor...or maybe I've just been to one too many conflict resolution sessions or diversity training meditations...but "I feel like" on a cover letter for a job? I don't think so.

Soundtrack of My Life, Part I

1. Love Song For No One
John Mayer
Room for Squares

Favorite line: "Could have met you in the sandbox/Could have met you on a sidewalk." I swear this is my life. I seem to miss opportunities for no good reason at all.


2. Even Though
Farah Alvin
I Love You Because (A Modern Day Musical Love Story)

Favorite line: "Even though I know your way of life is different/even though there's not a single thing we share...even though you're not like anyone I know/you take me to a place I didn't even know was there..."

OK, cheesy, I realize. But I can't help think of that someone IS out there, if only for a day. Hell, I'll settle for an HOUR at this point...

3. The Heart of the Matter
India.Arie
Sex and the City (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

A really great song from a really good movie.


4. Climbing Uphill
The Last 5 Years
The Last 5 Years

Right now, The way my career is going, I might as well be climbing uphill with molasses stuck to the bottom of my boots and a back pack full of bricks. I feel like Kathy describing her acting career comparing herself with the perky bimbos she faces as competition for work in this quirky musical about a failed marriage.

Favorite line:

"I am a good person/I am an attractive person/I am a talented person/Grant me grace..."


5. Auld Lang Syne
Mairi Campbell & Dave Francis
Sex and the City (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

There's a really touching scene in SATC the movie where Carrie runs to Miranda's home when either of them have no one to spend NYE with. My number one rule in life is similar to the FAB FOUR's: Girlfriends are the core of my very being, and since I have no biological sisters, my girlfriends are the closest thing to them. I would do anything for them, and this moving rendition of the NYE classic.


6. Belief
John Mayer
The Village Sessions

You have to believe in something, right?


7. Take Me Back to New Orleans
Cowboy Mouth
Take Me Back to New Orleans

I can't listen to this without tears. I think about my time in the Corps and the work we, Silver 7, did in the Gulf last year.

8. Alone
Courtney Balan, Farah Alvin & Jordan Leeds
I Love You Because (A Modern Day Musical Love Story)

I was destined to be ALONE for the rest of my life and I am almost happier that way. Enough said.

I love music and there is no song that can't lift my spirits when I am in a bad mood. (Excluding anything thing by Brittany Spears or family.) This is a draft edition of part I of the Soundtrack of My Life. I'm working on finding more songs and more descriptions of why they represent my current chapter of my life. What do you think? Comments welcome...

I enjoy the symbolism here

Feel free to elaborate and use your own imagination. This is a sign near the pond near my house. Why do I feel like it mirrors my life as of late?

This is my YouTube tribute to the country...

I miss the days when...

it was almost a given that you had plans for fireworks and the Fourth of July. My work plans canceled themselves WITHOUT calling me (ARG) and now I'm stuck in a state I don't know and my roommates are with their families and I miss the Camp Misty Mountain days where we would head up to Chattanooga and watch fireworks over the river and I always had someone to do something with. Even last summer was a blast. I was living in Charleston working at the museum, and headed down to meet said CMM crew in Savannah, and watched fireworks over the river. Now I'm in a town with a bigger river, but it's like I didn't meet anyone this year. Gosh getting old sucks. Gosh growing up sucks worse. I guess I'll deal, and I'm sorry for the rant. Just had to get it out there to the blogging world. Anyone else feel like this?

Ameri-fun for the Ameri-fourth?

I'm Ameri-fabulous because I spent all day Ameri-working on the Ameri-binder for my school. Then, I'm Ameri-working my other job from 4-8. Hopefully I'll get to see some Ameri-fireworks before getting up to do it all over again tomorrow. I can't help but feel like I am in the Ameri-rat race. When do I get an Ameri-break? I wouldn't know what to do with it if I did get one, to be honest. Alright...now I'm Ameri-off...later...

Do you have any idea...

...how many resumes I have saved to my desktop???

I swear, since I've been on this job search thing it's like I tweak this word and twinge that word and before you know it, I have 25 or so resumes saved to the computer, all with similar names.

Before I email my resume somewhere I'm checking 20-something files to make sure this is just the one that is going to represent me BEST on paper. It's getting kind of absurd really. There has to be a better way.

There just has to be a better way!

Why do I not like PAID work?

I swear I could volunteer ALL day everyday if I could survive. It's so much easier causes me way less stress than actual working. I get just as much done, without the fear of actually disappointing the person that is paying me and feeling that I've done something wrong. Volunteers are always appreciated, and if they aren't, they don't have to come back. There is accountability, but only the positive kind and it seems, as soon as one brings money in the picture the situation turns sour with the idea that one must actually prove their worth. So yes, I do feel that the world would be a better place if there were no jobs, and everyone took responsibility for their own tasks and were not so reliant on the next dollar to get them where they were going. Interesting concept, but I fear I have no idea what I am talking about. So take it for what it's worth.