A strange week. I was in two different states in two days this past weekend.
I got to visit Columbia but on the way, was also introduced to St. Louis. My favorite part of St. Louis, other than the beautiful arch, was all the old abandoned buildings...it gives the city character, in my opinion.
Now, Columbia...boy, a town of 8,900 with one McDonald's, one Quizno's, one Sonic (basically one of every fast food place I find tolerable or good minus Wendy's) with some amazing history of being a 162+ year old town. I fell in love with the small town feel of it...I'll find out on Tuesday if the church, St. Paul Lutheran Church, wants me to be part of their staff, congregation and community...I am praying that God place me where He sees fit.
I got to go to my first ever car show on Saturday morning after I had dinner with the Hiese family at Denny's in Waterloo (a town ten miles from Columbia) and before the drive to St. Louis for my afternoon flight. I was on the phone the whole time, telling my stepdad about the cars I was seeing...my favorite's being a red 1964 Ford Mustang Convertible, a 1965 steel blue Grand Prix Pontica, a 1969 dark red Corvette Convertible, and a car so old (yet very well kept) that it had a crank in the front that is used to get the motor going.
The rest of my week was strange. I had a job assignment in which I had orientation on Tuesday morning, worked 4 and a half hours yesterday and then was called today and told that the assignment has been put on hold. Basically, this assignment depends on the hurricanes and how much damage they make so I have to wait for Ike and Josephine to come around. Meanwhile, I get to check in everyday to see if they have anything else.
Great news, though. I have all four seasons of Corner Gas, a Canadian show I absolutely love. I finally deposited the reinbursement of my plane ticket and bought some food for my empty refrigerator. I got an e-mail from one of my junior high girls at Good Shepherd. My twin is coming over for a visit next week...YAY on that last one!
Well, other than all that, there's nothing much else going on with my life...
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Letting Go
My mother's mother passed away on Monday morning. It was difficult for her losing her mother and difficult for me to think about the time that will come when I will have to let go of her.
Saying good bye is never easy, even when you know that you will see that person in the after life if their hearts have been committed to Jesus Christ and the sacrifice he made for all of humanity.
I wish I were able to be there for her but that wasn't to be so. My mother has lost her mother and none of her own children are there to help her through this dark times. She has God though, and He has blessed her with insurmountables amounts of comfort and strength.
Well, other than that, my life is pretty much the same. Unemployed but not scared. I am waiting on God to show me the way and I know He will care for me the way no one else has. It is just a matter of trusting Him and following wherever He leads.
Saying good bye is never easy, even when you know that you will see that person in the after life if their hearts have been committed to Jesus Christ and the sacrifice he made for all of humanity.
I wish I were able to be there for her but that wasn't to be so. My mother has lost her mother and none of her own children are there to help her through this dark times. She has God though, and He has blessed her with insurmountables amounts of comfort and strength.
Well, other than that, my life is pretty much the same. Unemployed but not scared. I am waiting on God to show me the way and I know He will care for me the way no one else has. It is just a matter of trusting Him and following wherever He leads.
Friday, August 22, 2008
The Beginning of an Uncertain Weekend
As many of you know, I am not a fan of my temp job...no need to hear me whine anymore though because Tatex terminated me today. You would think they'd be professional enough to tell me before I left that I should take my things and didn't need to come back on Monday, but no, they let me walk out saying "See you Monday" to everyone left.
Lacey, from Jack of All Trades, called me to see how I was doing at Tatex so I told her if she could look around for something different, maybe a little more challenging, for me. Forty-five minutes later, she calls me to let me know that I no longer have a job with Tatex and that someone from the office brought my stuff to the JOAT office and that I'll get my paycheck on Monday when I go down there to pick up my stuff. Lacey told me she would look around for me and to call early Monday morning to see what's available.
Now, here's the thing: I was feeling kind of weird about all this before I even knew that it happened...I kind of had a premonition that I wasn't going to be around next week and sure enough, there it is. God's way of preparing me for this upsetting event. Now, I am applying for positions on-line once more and e-mailing my resume. Between JOAT and myself, I am sure I will come up with something. If anything, I am going by the Texas Oakly Bar and applying since they need waitresses....waitressing should be an interesting experience although I do need the 29th of this coming week off because I'll be flying to Columbia for my job interview...maybe that's why Tatex fell through...because Columbia is going to happen, but I won't let my hopes get up so I won't feel disappointed when it doesn't happen.
God has a plan...even though I don't know what it is, I know He has an amazingly beautiful plan for me.
Lacey, from Jack of All Trades, called me to see how I was doing at Tatex so I told her if she could look around for something different, maybe a little more challenging, for me. Forty-five minutes later, she calls me to let me know that I no longer have a job with Tatex and that someone from the office brought my stuff to the JOAT office and that I'll get my paycheck on Monday when I go down there to pick up my stuff. Lacey told me she would look around for me and to call early Monday morning to see what's available.
Now, here's the thing: I was feeling kind of weird about all this before I even knew that it happened...I kind of had a premonition that I wasn't going to be around next week and sure enough, there it is. God's way of preparing me for this upsetting event. Now, I am applying for positions on-line once more and e-mailing my resume. Between JOAT and myself, I am sure I will come up with something. If anything, I am going by the Texas Oakly Bar and applying since they need waitresses....waitressing should be an interesting experience although I do need the 29th of this coming week off because I'll be flying to Columbia for my job interview...maybe that's why Tatex fell through...because Columbia is going to happen, but I won't let my hopes get up so I won't feel disappointed when it doesn't happen.
God has a plan...even though I don't know what it is, I know He has an amazingly beautiful plan for me.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Things I've Learned At Work
* I learned it can take two hours to place double sided tape on both sides of 150 wooden fan handles if you time everything just right
* I learned that my supervisor thinks of me as a mole because she believes I like to "dig through stuff" just because I'm organized
* I learned that after organizing our albums and marketing supply closet so they could be aesthetically pleasing to the passing eye, I'm considered the "organized freak" of the department
* I learned that vellium paper is easier to fold than cardstock and that I don't plan on having folded invitations for my wedding
* I learned how to "log in" into my phone and that I have to give it a reason as to why I am not in my desk before I leave my desk
* I learned that no matter how hard I hit the keyboard keys, the computer still won't do what I want
* I learned that the soda machine as Dr. Pepper available in the morning but not in the afternoon when I really need one
* I learned that when my supervisor said to holler when I was ready for the next step, she didn't really mean it
* I learned that when I was put in charge of getting supplies for our department, and jokingly stating that I was the Supply Manager for the day as I made lists of who needed what, people were actually hearing "HI, I'm your slave for the day so feel free to interrupt me while I am working to let me know you need office supplies three hours after I asked you and have already brought everything from the back."
* I learned that because someone kept the white-out they borrowed from her, Ava has decided to keep the one she borrowed from me
* I learned that mold gives me migraines, the building gets that moldy smell when it rains, and it has rained for the past two days
* I learned that while I have no computer at my desk, I am still expected to answer my phone and deal with dealers while the computer I am using is on the opposite side of my desk
* I learned having my own cubicle isn't as fun as I had hoped...in fact, it is downright claustrophobic
* I learned that you can hate and develop deep loathing for an inanimate object, namely, my office chair
* I learned that even though I can fold 500 invitations in four hours I am also able to stretch that out for three days
* I learned that even though I am suppose to have an hour for lunch, it is not enough because all I do (as I eat) is lament how much I am hating my job
* I learned that a challenge at this workplace only last between two and five minutes and then I lose interest
* I learned I can look through boxes of supplies transported from the Alabama plant and waste away an hour and a half doing something that would of lasted thirty minutes
* I learned that the morning hours drag and the afternoon hours kill
* I learned that my supervisor thinks of me as a mole because she believes I like to "dig through stuff" just because I'm organized
* I learned that after organizing our albums and marketing supply closet so they could be aesthetically pleasing to the passing eye, I'm considered the "organized freak" of the department
* I learned that vellium paper is easier to fold than cardstock and that I don't plan on having folded invitations for my wedding
* I learned how to "log in" into my phone and that I have to give it a reason as to why I am not in my desk before I leave my desk
* I learned that no matter how hard I hit the keyboard keys, the computer still won't do what I want
* I learned that the soda machine as Dr. Pepper available in the morning but not in the afternoon when I really need one
* I learned that when my supervisor said to holler when I was ready for the next step, she didn't really mean it
* I learned that when I was put in charge of getting supplies for our department, and jokingly stating that I was the Supply Manager for the day as I made lists of who needed what, people were actually hearing "HI, I'm your slave for the day so feel free to interrupt me while I am working to let me know you need office supplies three hours after I asked you and have already brought everything from the back."
* I learned that because someone kept the white-out they borrowed from her, Ava has decided to keep the one she borrowed from me
* I learned that mold gives me migraines, the building gets that moldy smell when it rains, and it has rained for the past two days
* I learned that while I have no computer at my desk, I am still expected to answer my phone and deal with dealers while the computer I am using is on the opposite side of my desk
* I learned having my own cubicle isn't as fun as I had hoped...in fact, it is downright claustrophobic
* I learned that you can hate and develop deep loathing for an inanimate object, namely, my office chair
* I learned that even though I can fold 500 invitations in four hours I am also able to stretch that out for three days
* I learned that even though I am suppose to have an hour for lunch, it is not enough because all I do (as I eat) is lament how much I am hating my job
* I learned that a challenge at this workplace only last between two and five minutes and then I lose interest
* I learned I can look through boxes of supplies transported from the Alabama plant and waste away an hour and a half doing something that would of lasted thirty minutes
* I learned that the morning hours drag and the afternoon hours kill
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Dying Brain Cells
This has been a enlightening week at work, mostly because I've come to realize how little brain cells I actually use from 8AM to 5PM. In fact, the only times I was actually using my brain involved organizing our albums into our new space, learning to use the new Novatus system (imagine me, enjoying learning how to use a computer system...not only that, but actually understanding it! Shows how much my brain wants to be used) and organize our new supply closet. Other than that, I spend my days putting together orders of fans for weddings (which is fun 'cause I am doing something with my hands), typing in numbers and names and addresses...over and over and over and over...you get the point. Mind numbing work...I absolutely hate it. I need the challenge to learn something new, to create new programs, events, activities, to teach, to solve problems, discuss situations, discover answers...instead, I am doing a job that can be easily done by a middle school kid with enough computer training...
Well, I made a new friend. She's the graphic designer for the Marketing program at work and we are a lot alike it's slightly scary...I didn't think there was another person, other than Becca, that was similar to me. Allie is hilarious, strangely weird, and fun to hang out with. She reads the same books I read, listens to some of the same music, enjoys the same movies...and it turns out that she's even Lutheran, like me. Who would of thunk it?
I got a call on Friday that let me know I was moving on to step two of my career as a DCE. I am flying to Columbia on August 29th for an on site interview, then heading back to Waco on the 30th. In fact, I already bought my plane ticket, which will be reimbursed by the people at Columbia. I am excited about this opportunity and pray that this is what God has made me wait for.
Prayers will be very much appreciated...I want to hold this possibility with open hands, in case God has other plans. Open hands is a concept that Barbara Sweet, one of the youth leaders at Good Shepherd in Tulsa, taught me throughout the year that I was there. She said to me once that when I pray, I should pray with open hands, otherwise, I won't be able to get the blessings that God sends my way. Sometimes, we get so wrapped up in praying for specific things, telling God what we need and want, as if He didn't already know. We don't keep in mind that God has a different idea of what we need and want. I am not saying that we shouldn't bring our desires before God just that when we do, we should do it with our hands open, ready to let go of what we desire and take what God offers because in the long run, what He offers is better than what we desire.
Well, other than that, my life is pretty much the same thing all around. I will be watching a movie with Kevin today and am hoping to convince Allie to do something for Labor Day, which we have off from work. So adios to everyone and remember...
Well, I made a new friend. She's the graphic designer for the Marketing program at work and we are a lot alike it's slightly scary...I didn't think there was another person, other than Becca, that was similar to me. Allie is hilarious, strangely weird, and fun to hang out with. She reads the same books I read, listens to some of the same music, enjoys the same movies...and it turns out that she's even Lutheran, like me. Who would of thunk it?
I got a call on Friday that let me know I was moving on to step two of my career as a DCE. I am flying to Columbia on August 29th for an on site interview, then heading back to Waco on the 30th. In fact, I already bought my plane ticket, which will be reimbursed by the people at Columbia. I am excited about this opportunity and pray that this is what God has made me wait for.
Prayers will be very much appreciated...I want to hold this possibility with open hands, in case God has other plans. Open hands is a concept that Barbara Sweet, one of the youth leaders at Good Shepherd in Tulsa, taught me throughout the year that I was there. She said to me once that when I pray, I should pray with open hands, otherwise, I won't be able to get the blessings that God sends my way. Sometimes, we get so wrapped up in praying for specific things, telling God what we need and want, as if He didn't already know. We don't keep in mind that God has a different idea of what we need and want. I am not saying that we shouldn't bring our desires before God just that when we do, we should do it with our hands open, ready to let go of what we desire and take what God offers because in the long run, what He offers is better than what we desire.
Well, other than that, my life is pretty much the same thing all around. I will be watching a movie with Kevin today and am hoping to convince Allie to do something for Labor Day, which we have off from work. So adios to everyone and remember...
Laissez les bon temps rouler...
Let the good times roll!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Life Sucks and then You Die...If Only I Were So Lucky...
I know that title seems a little dark and down but for some weird reason, that phrase stuck with me. It is the entire prologue for the second book in Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer.
So what have I been doing with myself lately? You mean besides losing days at work and spending money I don't have on emergencies (which is why I got the credit card but still....)?
I've been stuck in Austin. I drove down on Thursday after work and got to Round Rock to watch my Becca play. That was a good game. As we got ready to leave to head to Kerbey's for some Kerbey queso, my car decided to be a jerk....It would start, run for a while then die. I called my step dad and he told me it was probably the gas pump. Long story short, had to get my car towed from Round Rock to Austin (oh yeah, stupid idiotic me locked the keys in my car so I had to pay an extra $60 to get my car unlocked), get it dropped off at Shreve's and then forget about it for the rest of the night.
Beccs and I went to Kerbey's and we ate and hung out sometime until 2 in the morning, I think. I woke up the next morning to call Shreve's but the mechanic wasn't in yet. Then, I got a call from the mechanic...a blown fuse, deteriorated insulation, computer, wires....and this was only the work he had to get done to check the rest of the car...and that alone will hit about $600. So I sighed, realized it couldn't be helped and told them to proceed.
Becca and I went to see The Dark Knight (greatest Batman movie ever! Joker became my favorite villain thanks to Heath Fledger (did I get his first name right? Or is it Keith?) and I fell in love with Christian Bale/Bruce Wayne/Batman...and his Lamborghini). After the movie, we went to get smoothies at Barnes & Noble (oh yeah, they do smoothies now too). I walked out without buying a single book, which made me so proud! That's when I got called...the parts needed won't be delivered until Monday morning so my car probably won't be ready until Monday afternoon...and that's if there's nothing else wrong with the car.
So because Becca was heading out Saturday morning for a cousin's wedding, I needed to find someone to stay with...Erin couldn't take me on, which I understood, so Jesse, one of my favorite guys, came to my rescue. I got to meet his sister Joanna and their friend Vanessa. He picked me up, we dropped my stuff off at his apartment, which is near the new Concordia campus, and we headed off to 6th Street. We went to Pete's, a piano bar. I had a lot of fun!
Yesterday, we had lunch with Joanna and Vanessa at Chipotle's, then went to the teacher supply store with them, then headed back to his apartment (which is gorgeous! My little apartment alone can fit into his living room/kitchen) and we watched the Olympics, I took a nap then spent the rest of the day reading The Host by Stephenie Meyer. Amazing book, by the way.
Today, I slept in and now I am just going to wait around until Becca gets back to Austin and Jesse drops me off...good thing Becca doesn't work tomorrow and she doesn't have BSF either. We get to spend an extra day together! Of course, at the expense of my earnings. All I pray is that my car is ready to go by Monday afternoon/evening or early Tuesday morning...I can't loose too many days of work...that won't be good because I don't have enough money on my account for that.
Well, that's the crap mixed in with the sunshine that has been this weekend.
So what have I been doing with myself lately? You mean besides losing days at work and spending money I don't have on emergencies (which is why I got the credit card but still....)?
I've been stuck in Austin. I drove down on Thursday after work and got to Round Rock to watch my Becca play. That was a good game. As we got ready to leave to head to Kerbey's for some Kerbey queso, my car decided to be a jerk....It would start, run for a while then die. I called my step dad and he told me it was probably the gas pump. Long story short, had to get my car towed from Round Rock to Austin (oh yeah, stupid idiotic me locked the keys in my car so I had to pay an extra $60 to get my car unlocked), get it dropped off at Shreve's and then forget about it for the rest of the night.
Beccs and I went to Kerbey's and we ate and hung out sometime until 2 in the morning, I think. I woke up the next morning to call Shreve's but the mechanic wasn't in yet. Then, I got a call from the mechanic...a blown fuse, deteriorated insulation, computer, wires....and this was only the work he had to get done to check the rest of the car...and that alone will hit about $600. So I sighed, realized it couldn't be helped and told them to proceed.
Becca and I went to see The Dark Knight (greatest Batman movie ever! Joker became my favorite villain thanks to Heath Fledger (did I get his first name right? Or is it Keith?) and I fell in love with Christian Bale/Bruce Wayne/Batman...and his Lamborghini). After the movie, we went to get smoothies at Barnes & Noble (oh yeah, they do smoothies now too). I walked out without buying a single book, which made me so proud! That's when I got called...the parts needed won't be delivered until Monday morning so my car probably won't be ready until Monday afternoon...and that's if there's nothing else wrong with the car.
So because Becca was heading out Saturday morning for a cousin's wedding, I needed to find someone to stay with...Erin couldn't take me on, which I understood, so Jesse, one of my favorite guys, came to my rescue. I got to meet his sister Joanna and their friend Vanessa. He picked me up, we dropped my stuff off at his apartment, which is near the new Concordia campus, and we headed off to 6th Street. We went to Pete's, a piano bar. I had a lot of fun!
Yesterday, we had lunch with Joanna and Vanessa at Chipotle's, then went to the teacher supply store with them, then headed back to his apartment (which is gorgeous! My little apartment alone can fit into his living room/kitchen) and we watched the Olympics, I took a nap then spent the rest of the day reading The Host by Stephenie Meyer. Amazing book, by the way.
Today, I slept in and now I am just going to wait around until Becca gets back to Austin and Jesse drops me off...good thing Becca doesn't work tomorrow and she doesn't have BSF either. We get to spend an extra day together! Of course, at the expense of my earnings. All I pray is that my car is ready to go by Monday afternoon/evening or early Tuesday morning...I can't loose too many days of work...that won't be good because I don't have enough money on my account for that.
Well, that's the crap mixed in with the sunshine that has been this weekend.
Monday, August 4, 2008
YUCKA...
I'm feeling weird today...not like psyche weird, but physical weird. I may be getting sick or something. I hope not 'cause I can't afford anymore days off this week since I won't be working on Friday.
On that note, I am heading to Austin Thursday after work! I get to see George play kickball in Round Rock and then we get to hang out, watch Annie Get Your Gun (since I got her a copy) and then on Friday, we'll go see the Batman movie, hopefully at a Alamo Drafthouse so we could have lunch while watching the movie, then I head back to Waco after dinner (Freebirds, anyone?)
Well, hopefully I get my bed sometime this week or next week. I will post pictures since it will be the first piece of furniture that I've bought...boy, I am growing up! I think the next thing I buy will be a pappazzan (sp?) chair for my teeny tiny living room.
I got to stand outside and watch a thunderstorm come in. It is the most beautiful thing to see, a thunderstorm rolling and growing and churning...a beautifully awesome display of emotion. The lightning and thunder releasing pent up energy, the rain pelting the ground in a true display of pain and anger. As I stood out there, I couldn't help but think of a line from one of my favorite movies: the thundercloud heads rolling...it's like their own religion.
Well, I must go make my food before my lunch hour is over. Will keep you up to date on what all else is going on in my life!
On that note, I am heading to Austin Thursday after work! I get to see George play kickball in Round Rock and then we get to hang out, watch Annie Get Your Gun (since I got her a copy) and then on Friday, we'll go see the Batman movie, hopefully at a Alamo Drafthouse so we could have lunch while watching the movie, then I head back to Waco after dinner (Freebirds, anyone?)
Well, hopefully I get my bed sometime this week or next week. I will post pictures since it will be the first piece of furniture that I've bought...boy, I am growing up! I think the next thing I buy will be a pappazzan (sp?) chair for my teeny tiny living room.
I got to stand outside and watch a thunderstorm come in. It is the most beautiful thing to see, a thunderstorm rolling and growing and churning...a beautifully awesome display of emotion. The lightning and thunder releasing pent up energy, the rain pelting the ground in a true display of pain and anger. As I stood out there, I couldn't help but think of a line from one of my favorite movies: the thundercloud heads rolling...it's like their own religion.
Well, I must go make my food before my lunch hour is over. Will keep you up to date on what all else is going on in my life!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)