Special K and Coffee
I don't really know why you'd be here. I mean, I know I'm the single most interesting person, but don't you people have lives? Really, it's quite sad.
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Sunday, August 29, 2004
Sad sadder day / Since I heard you went away / Sad sadder day / When I can't see your face
Last Monday we got the Dynasty into my name and I paid all the taxes and all that good stuff on it and got insurance. Tuesday I drove up to Storm Lake to interview for the position of Office Manager for Career Services at Buena Vista University. The interview went really well. She was very impressed by me, my resume, and my portfolio. And I was excited about this opportunity: great benefits, a job that would allow me to use my degree but wasn't entirely PR, a really nice boss, and an area where I would love to live. She told me that she should have her decision made by Thursday and would call me either way by Friday. Well, I was hoping to have good news for you all, but, alas, that is not to be. Friday afternoon I got the call that I knew was coming when I hadn't heard from her yet. She said the decision was really difficult, but she decided to go with someone else.
So now tomorrow I get to call them about the other jobs I've sent my resume for and find out what the status is on those because I'm losing patience. I just want something...I'm starting to not even care about benefits anymore...just something to get me somewhere I like so that I can more easily look for something better. I don't know. I hate this.
I got the sweetest thing in the mail on Friday: the past three months worth of newsletters for Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Greenville. I really miss them sometimes. And I'm starting to really seriously miss my GC friends because so many of them are back down there for the beginning of this school year. Heck, I'm just kinda down about the fact that I will not be going back to school like just about everyone else I know is and like I'm so used to doing. It's really strange. I don't know what's wrong with me. And no, Christy, Ryan, and Bill, I will not go to grad school.
Today, for the first time in my life (with the exception of the past two years when I was down at Greenville already), I didn't go to the annual Ames City Employee Picnic. Apparently, only those members of the family on the insurance policy were able to attend, so my parents went while I stayed home and watched some movies and Gilmore Girls to try to get myself out of this annoying funk I've been in.
OK, ending on some good notes: Yay Cael!! :-D Congratulations Bill on finally being able to answer, "yes, I am engaged." ;-) And happy birthday to Eric and apparently my Uncle Dave. :-) Oh, and for some reason when I topped-up my VirginMobile account tonight, they "added a $5 'Pass It On' airtime bonus"--whatever that means and whyever I got it...I ain't complainin'! :-D
Thursday, August 26, 2004
Things that make you go "hmm..." or "huh?" or "Oh man!!" or "What the...?" or... :-)
This is a radar image from KCCI yesterday afternoon. I'm not sure what it was on, but I think I want some. ;-)
And speaking of radar and KCCI...did we have some storms tonight!! I have been waiting so long for these--it is about dang time! I only wish, though, that I had been able to be out chasing 'em down. That's one of those things I don't think I'd do alone. I did, however, run (ok, jog) down to the railroad tracks to see what the storm rolling in looked like. And when the tornado warning was issued for Story County, I took a peek out the front door, again wishing I were out watching it. And I calmly grabbed phones and stuff and went downstairs like the good little girl I didn't want to be when the sirens finally sounded. I flipped on the TV and sat there riveted by the detailed coverage the three major stations had, until they returned me to regular programming. Now, normally, I would have been extremely happy to be back to CSI, but I'd take severe weather coverage over CSI any day and not because I thought I was at all in danger because I knew chances were good that I wasn't.
On to other things... I didn't know that anyone could be more talkative than Jessica, but her little sister Natalie is proving me wrong. Natalie is the newest custodian down at church and she likes to talk. She also cleans more thoroughly than I have ever seen anyone else at that church except for occasions when I'm looking for a whole lot more hours or there little things that usually go unnoticed are just really getting on my nerves.
I was watching Reba tonight on the WB because it's on after Blue Collar TV (during which I was watching storm coverage on KCCI and running down to North Dakota, of course, so I'll have to catch the rerun tomorrow night :-)) and because I find it entertaining. Van, Reba's son-in-law, was wearing something that made me do a double-take: A long-sleeved t-shirt with "OKOBOJI" written across the top and, unfortunately, by the time I realized what it said and how strange that was to see on a TV show that is taped in Hollywood and is supposed to take place in Texas, I never got a chance to see what the rest of the shirt had on it. Weirdness.
And then there's the new Hilton sisters' show. When I got bored tonight and went flipping channels for more weather coverage (not many options when you don't have cable), I ran across this bizarre little show. Let me tell ya, I don't get it. I don't get how they're cute or sexy or attractive at all. And I don't get how they can act they way they do and not get themselves killed--either from their own stupidity or from someone getting so irritated by them that they can't take it anymore.
Oh yeah, and I saw the awesomest meteor Tuesday night while I was driving home. Big, long, bright, and low. The only one I've seen that was better was the meteorite I heard. :-D
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Occasionally my faith in marriage is shaken....and sometimes it isn't.
We recently discovered that a very active, highly upstanding Christian couple at our church is at least separated. I was confirmed with one of their sons, both of whom were or are peer ministers for the Iowa State students who attend Memorial. I was so stunned that I just sat there for probably a full five minutes looking at the separate addresses in the directory trying to grasp the reality of what it meant. I'm not judging anyone, but it makes me extremely sad and wonder why I want that uncertainty and risk so much.
However...
Last night I stopped by the farm of a couple who have been LOOOONG time best friends of my grandparents and our family in general. My grandparents owned the farm next to theirs while my dad and his sisters were growing up. These two people are the most generous, kind, sacrificing, and wonderful people I have ever known. I was in need of a phone and knew they'd enjoy the surprise visit, so stopped by for some good conversation and phone and ended up with much more--most of which didn't surprise me one bit, but some of it did. In addition to Carol's cell phone (I was going to use a calling card), being fed a little supper (the woman doesn't take no for an answer ;-)), sent home with almost a dozen tomatoes and two cucumbers, some good, encouraging conversation, and being offered a place to stay both last night (if I didn't want to drive back from Ames after going up to Sac City) and if I need somewhere to stay while I look for an apartment if I get the job I interviewed for yesterday, I also got to hear a great story and teasing between both of them about how they got married--in Hawaii! I guarantee that anyone who knows these two but didn't know that fact (like me) never ever would have guessed that they had been to Hawaii, let alone gotten married there. They grew up on neighboring farms (his across US 71 from hers, which is where they raised their own family) and were engaged shortly before he joined the military. Three years went by with their only contact being mostly letters and she started having doubts about the relationship, so flew to Hawaii to see him. Before she left, they were married and he didn't come home for another two months. I can't count how many times last night she said, "we've never regretted it." They will be married 50 years in April 2006.
Then there's people like my parents, my dad's sisters and their husbands who I got to know all four of pretty well in July, heh, same with my dad's aunts and uncles, my grandparents (both sets), my pastors, and my boss down at church who has given me great hope with the story of her and her husband, too. Speaking of which, it is time for me to go to work...or at least go talk to Jeanne and maybe throw a little work in before PHS tonight. ;-)
Thursday, August 19, 2004
Where did all the anvils go?
Pink Barbie "tackle boxes." Pink "girl power" TVs. No Zebco 33s. Help us all.
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Exactly how many points are the Greeks worth anyway?
And are the rushers worth more? And do you get a bonus package-type-deal for a whole pack of them, or is it better to try for them one at a time? And what about the people who just don't know what they're doing or where they're going? And do the cars like that count for at least half the points of pedestrians?
These are all very important questions as I make my way through the unavoidable madness surrounding church, where I have to go this week for work and PHS practice. Gotta love move-in week...kinda wish I were...
Sunday, August 15, 2004
I do not really heart "I heart..."/"I do not heart..." phrases, but...
I heart driving. This weekend I drove from Racine to Ames, from Ames to Okoboji, and from Okoboji to Ames. Roads varied from six-lane city to four-lane divided to two-lane winding to one-lane hilly/winding to fairly heavy traffic on I-35. It was so much fun and we took many random detours either because we had to or we wanted to avoid slow traffic on heavily traveled two-lane roads (namely highways 71 and 169 :-)).
I heart county roads. They generally have virtually non-existent traffic, good surfaces, prettier scenery, no cops, and the same speed limit as a regular two-lane highway.
I heart camping and fire. For the third time this year, I got to go camping and build a campfire. I think this is some kind of record and one that I want to continually break.
I do not heart irresponsible and inconsiderate campers. This actually goes much deeper than simply "not hearting" them. First, irresponsible: bonfires are cool and all, but not in a campground. Campgrounds have fire pits and rings for good reason--to keep you morons from catching the park and everyone else in it on fire. This is also the reason you should never leave a fire unattended, especially a huge one that is not contained by either a pit or ring. I can't believe some of the fires I've seen at both Maquoketa and Gull Point State Parks this year that have fallen into both those categories and our closest neighbors this weekend were the worst. Now, inconsiderate: our next closest neighbors this weekend had apparently left the park sometime yesterday evening and came back late last night around 3:15--well after quiet hours began. And what did they do then? Built a big fire, cracked open some beers, and sat around talking LOUDLY (and sound really carries in that park). I thought that was bad enough, but then they decided they needed music, so they cranked the stereo in their Jeep. I would not have had a problem with any of this except for one little detail: IT WAS 3:30 IN THE FREAKIN' MORNING! An angry person from the campground up the hill from us drove down not long after and told them to turn down the music, to which we heard a couple of "sorry"s, but Beth and I both don't believe they really were. They still kept talking loudly, but neither of us had the balls to go over and tell them to shut up. We thought we should have taken a boombox over to their site around 9:00 this morning while they were still sleeping and everyone else was up.
Meteors do not heart us. The plan was to get up early enough before dawn to catch what was supposed to be the best time of night for meteors, then watch the sunrise over the lake. Well, the alarm was set for 3:30, figuring to actually get up and go to the beach a while after 3:30, but two of us were already wide awake and steaming mad, so we left not long after 3:30. We saw a few rather pathetic meteors as we huddled together with two blankets, then decided it wasn't worth staying up for sunrise, so waited until we saw a pretty good one and headed back to get some sleep. I think we were too far past the peak.
I heart Okoboji. Duh. I'm not sure I really need to explain that much...the lake, the camp...it's all great. :-)
I do not heart Hy-Vee coffee. I seriously think I may just throw out the rest of the grounds. The campfire didn't even make it good, and campfire coffee is the best.
I heart trains. There is this tiny little town that we drove through today called Marathon (because it is the distance of a marathon from Storm Lake--I kid you not). This little town of approximately 200 ornery people has a railroad museum. I was never sure exactly what that meant until we drove past it today and it was a little hard to tell exactly because I was being a good girl trying to concentrate on driving, but it definitely looked like something I'd like to go back and visit sometime.
I heart sleep. A lot.
Saturday, August 14, 2004
Miss Independent
I was born less than 6 hours before the Forth of July, but I don't know if that really has anything to do with this. Several times since getting my driver's license, I have contemplated fairly long trips on my own. Each time, my sister has expressed that she can't believe I want to do these so badly and that she doesn't like the idea of doing it herself when she's been driving much longer than I have. Honestly, it's an independence thing more than anything else. I have been at the mercy of friends, family, and public transportation so long that the idea of being able to get somewhere like Racine, WI, or Greenville, IL, all on my own is exciting and something I've been dreaming about for a long time. I was excited in a similar way the first time I took the train "home" from Galesburg, but even then I had to get fairly long rides to and from the train stations. In the same vein, I have also been dreaming about having my own life and apartment, which is why it's driving me so crazy that I'm still at home. While I didn't have the apartment, I did have the life in Greenville, and that was a big reason I wanted to go there instead of staying here at Iowa State.
My sister and I are alike in a lot of ways, but we are also very different--not that either of us is better than the other, just different, which is good. She jumped into her independence with another person and one year of college left. I wish it could have gone that way for me, too...she is so incredibly lucky. Instead, I get to learn things for myself and figure things out entirely on my own, which is extremely scary but exciting at the same time. And as much as I like the idea of being on my own, I know I often glamourize it in my head too much and I wish that I could have that person with which to do all the things I want to do, most of which are things that it's not all that smart for a girl to do on her own, which is unbelievably frustrating and one of the reasons I haven't even tried. Maybe someday...I'll just keep dreaming and looking for ways. :-)
[Please do not think that I am trying to make some sort of feminist statement here. Anyone who knows me really well knows how ill that all makes me (for goodness sake, I'd like to be a secretary and no higher!). This is just what's been on my mind lately and how the chips have fallen for me, whether I like it or not. :-)]
Thursday, August 12, 2004
A question for Kimberly and some other really random stuff
If I am wanting to apply for a third job with the same potential employer, should I revise my resume like you and I talked about, or would that possibly bring about more questions since HR has seen my resume twice already and this one would have additional information and be missing my mystery month working for ISU Dining? Thoughts? :-)
Other random stuff on my mind...I need to consolidate my loans...ugh. Congratulations to Seaman Patricia Tracey! My thoughts on the weekend mirror my sister's almost exactly. I get to go home to Iowa tomorrow--yay! I miss driving and trains and my computer and figuring out what the heck I'm doing with my life. Yeah, never thought I'd say that, but not really being able to do anything about it here is driving me nuts. I'm ready to MAKE THINGS HAPPEN!! hahaha....what a dork I am. And now I'm hungry and we're watching Gilmore Girls and I should see if Beth needs anything...at least she wasn't sick a week ago when we were flying back.
Oh yeah, and the weather has been absolutely amazing! It's 61 degrees right now! In the middle of August!! I do miss the severe weather that comes with the unbelievably hot and humid weather we normally enjoy this time of year. Speaking of which, I just found a whole bunch of new additions to my screen saver. They're stinkin' awesome. I hope I have some good pictures on my many rolls of film that I'm not looking forward to paying to get developed...wherever I decide to try. :-)
Tuesday, August 03, 2004
--"Yeah well, I don’t think the fries and the horseradish sauce was the best idea we ever had."
--"It was satisfying in the moment though."
Leftover onion rings at midnight=bad idea. :-P
Virginia Beach with a hurricane off the coast of North Carolina=very cool. :-D
[I will have to echo what Eric said several months ago about a quote such as above....it's scary some of the things people take the time to do and put up on the web, but at least it helps me have a correct and direct quote. ;-)]
Sunday, August 01, 2004
The big blue sky's like a swimming pool...Big fluffy clouds like a feather bed
Flying is every map/aerial photo junkie's heaven. I did not even think about that fact until we started flying over Lake Michigan. Our flight was about an hour and a half long but it only felt like about 20 minutes. I was mesmerized. Topping it all off were the clouds as we approached Reagan National Airport in Washington D.C., which not only looked awesome as we watched thunderstorms building (in the distance) from the air, but brought turbulence as we made our descent through layers upon layers of clouds. I'm sure a lot of people think I'm insane for liking that, but it was superfun and I wanna do it again! :-D
I love road trips, but I can definitely see why flying is a wonderful alternative and now do almost wonder if I should have looked into it as such when I was at Greenville.
