Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Lis(z)t

11:23 p.m. Tuesday night.  I can't sleep so I'll try and get everything in my brain out into the open.

  1. Faith and I will be married in approximately four months!  It's really a wonderful thing to come home to someone who loves you.  I can't wait to start doing husband-y things like fixing the sink, washing the dog, and being a great cook.  I'm sure Faith believes I can do all of those things with flawless execution.  
  2. Today my coworkers and I went out for lunch.  I feel that we should do this at least once a week.  It's nice to actually get to know the people you're working with.
  3. Faith's sister has asked me to make her a mixed CD of music that I enjoy.  My first draft playlist has 49 tracks.  I LOVE making mixed CDs!  Although the last time I made one was for a girl I was interested in who was much younger than I am.  I remember the look on her face when I gave her the CD I had spent so much time on.  It was a look of bewilderment, embarrassment, and pity.  "I don't think I remember the last time I saw a CD" she said.  We dated for two weeks.  
  4. My sister and brother in law just got a new puppy.  His name is Charlie.  He is awesome:
     5.  Speaking of my sister, her 10 year high school reunion was a few weekends ago.  This means that my         10 year reunion is coming up in less than a year. Will I go?  Of course I will!  I'm actually looking forward to it.  There's food, prizes, and dancing.  AND you get to see how everybody's visual appearance has changed, which is kind of my favorite part.

    6.  My parents' 31st wedding anniversary is at the end of this month.  If you've met them, you should be honored.  

   7.  We move in 13 days.  It's really hard to believe that we've been in this house for a year!  So much has happened this past year that I'm  thankful for.  

   8.  I'm considering doing an accelerated degree program after I get my associate's degree.  The director of the department I used to work for recommended it to me.  Basically, I'd get a bachelor's degree in healthcare administration in a little over a year, which would be awesome.  I'll have to work out the difference of cost, but it may just happen.  

  9.  Speaking of school...it's almost over for the semester!  It's been quite an interesting fall!  My brain has been workin' overtime to learn my new job and still have space for asteroids, galaxies, and classical music.  It's kind of fun going back to school at this age and seeing what 18 year olds of today are like.  They aren't much different than I was, I suppose.  They dress nicer, but that's not really saying much.  

  10.  My old buddy Jarrett will be back in the natural state for the first time since August next month.  It'll be good to chat him up.

  11.  My friend Jessi got a new job!  It's very exciting and I'm very proud of her!  She deserved a new job!

  12.  My band, 5 Point Cove, is really hitting on all cylinders.  We had a great show at The Rev Room a few weeks ago, and are looking forward to playing again soon.  We're experimenting with new sounds constantly and I keep trying to write decent lyrics.  It's tough!  Thankfully, decent lyrics aren't a prerequisite to success in the music business anymore.  Although, I don't know that there's really a formula for success in the music business anymore; or even a music business for that matter.

We're now nearing midnight(yes, you and me).  I suppose I should give sleep another try since I need to be up early in the morning.  

Sunday, October 23, 2011

This is where the strings come in...

I find myself wanting to exclaim "Look at me!  Look how busy I am!" more and more lately.  I suppose it's because I feel a little guilty for being so incredibly not busy for so long, I want everyone to know that I've actually got things going on now that need my attention.  Perhaps it's because I'm a horribly vain person who desires the attention and approval of others.  Nah, of course not.  

Vanity happens to people of all shapes and sizes.
What used to be a place of work has now become (almost overnight) the foundation of my career in the healthcare field.  It's funny how I started out in the field completely by accident and have slowly worked my way up to a point where I can see this as a valid area to focus my efforts.  I've always told myself that I never really wanted a career, just a job would be quite enough, but now I find myself with 5 years of experience, 5 years of knowledge, and 0 years of any other skill set : )  Now, however, I actually enjoy going to work.  I believe that I feel this way because for the first time in 5 years of employment at the same place I don't feel like this is a dead end job.  There's a hope that if I can make it through a few years in my current position, opportunities for bigger and better positions will open up.  Of course, I could be fired tomorrow.  Suspense!

Of course, you can't get ahead unless you have a college degree, right?  I began college (for the fourth time) this past August and have been trying my hardest to stay afloat while working full time.  I know tons of people have done the same thing, I just wish I could talk to those people so they could give me tips on how to still be able to see your family and friends!  Apart from a late night "I love you" before strapping on the CPAP mask and falling asleep, I rarely get to see my fiance during the week.  I get to see my friends about as often as there's a large get together that's being thrown, and we're lucky to get those scheduled once a month because, of course, everyone else is quite busy too!  

I suppose this is the time in my life where I'm supposed to realize that I'm an adult now who's supposed to do adult things like be too busy for things like everybody else is.  November will be here and gone before I know it.  Work, school, band practice, out of town trips for the first and second weekend, moving, my sister's birthday, thanksgiving, my parent's anniversary, razorback games, etc. etc. etc. lie ahead.  Please wave if you see me running by.
Oh look!  A picture of me!


Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Goooooooooooal!!!!

I am happy to announce that I've accomplished one my goals...

I am now current on all of my student loans!

Mohela, Campus Partners, and American Education Services should send me a thank you card.

Now to conquer more goals!!

Saturday, February 12, 2011

When I was younger...

The following is a photo taken in late 2002:

I am apparently trying to crush Valerie's shoulder.
Look at that young man's face!  He's thin, he's smiling, his haircut isn't that awful, AND he's having the time of his life.  

Life as a college freshman was quite an eye opening experience.  It was something that transmogrified a bright, painfully shy, somewhat closed minded young man into a bright, slightly less painfully shy, much less closed minded young man.  I met some wonderful people.  I took a couple of interesting classes.  I made lasting friendships.  If given the chance to do it all over again, there are very few things I would change. 

After my freshman year, I had a decision to make.  My academic performance was less than stellar(ha!), and my once large scholarship would be cut in half if I returned for another year.  Oh to know then what I know now.  Back then I believed that the only way I was going to be successful was to finish college.  I was convinced that a college degree would guarantee a great job that was life affirming and lucrative.  In my 20 year old mind there was only one option:  go back to school in the coming fall and kick ass!  

I went back.  

I got my ass kicked.


The following photo was taken moments ago:
I wave because I care.  
I am now 26 and I'm a bit heftier, scruffier, and more knowledgeable.  I've learned that not having a college degree won't ruin your life.  I've been working for UAMS for five years this coming September and have managed to secure a nice paycheck.  Of course, a good chunk of that paycheck goes to student loans(over $500 this month alone) and credit card statements(we won't talk about that one).  Had I decided to end my college career after my freshman year, I wouldn't be paying these student loan payments, nor would my credit card bills be at the level they are.  Que sara, sara!

It's not that I don't plan to finish college.  I do.  I just know now that I should have waited on that sophomore year until now.  Would I advise high school seniors against going to college right away?  Never!  Everyone should give freshman year a try and if it works out, keep going.  If you come up short, maybe take a semester off, or a year off, or six years off : )  

Just keep working.



Tuesday, January 11, 2011

White (2 weeks after) Christmas!!

Last Friday I woke up to the above.   There were two men on the roof for hours.  Thankfully they fixed the roof when they did...
...because the above happened Sunday night.
The above is the view from the back porch.
4.5 inches Sunday night.  By Monday morning, we had well over 5 inches of snow!

We celebrated by making waffles.

We celebrated even more by making macaroni and cheese.



Monday we walked down to the park.

Brad and Faith doing their best Bigfoot photo impression.

Rocket slide surrounded by snow.

Brad surveying the land.

When we returned, I built this guy on the top of my car.

Brad decided to add some class to my snowman.

Later that afternoon we took a walk to the grocery store.

We would have driven, but Tuttle didn't quite make it.


The snow has all but vanished from the streets, but it's still holding strong in our yard.  While it was a fun couple of days, I can honestly say I'm ready for spring: )

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Gettin' up in 2011's guts

So this is the New Year
and I don't feel any different
The clanking of crystal
explosions off in the distance...

Remember that song?  If you're my age, you would've been around the age of 19 when Death Cab for Cutie released this song and ten others on their album "Transatlanticism" and this man became the vessel through which your heart wept:
I feel you, friend.  Look through my weird glasses into these eyes.  I will over-enunciate every word for you.


Regardless of the fact that nobody really cares about DCFC anymore, "Transatlantacism" was a great album.  Somebody is still listening to it!  According to Amazon, the album is in the top five of the genres of Shoegazing, Twee Pop, and Dream Pop.  I have no idea what those are, but hey, it was impressive enough for this girl to marry ol' weird glasses up there:


I know a guy that's in a band with Jim James.   Also, I'm pretty hot.


In other news, Operation 2011 Financial Lock-down has been put into place.  I've created a budget and have been calling Citibank every day to try and get them to lower my APR.   They always seem so disappointed when they tell me to call back at another time since they can't lower it for me at the present time.  It makes me think they probably really dislike their job.  Would you be happy if you had to answer call after call from angry customers all day long?  I always try to be cool headed when I call.  Kill 'em with kindness, right?  Their approach of "Kill 'em with incredibly high interest rates" seems to be working a little better, though.

Until next time...