Work :)
Well, I haven't posted in awhile, don't know if anyone reads this! But life has been going pretty well lately. I've been going to the gym pretty regularily, and I'm getting better in shape. I really want to spend a lot of time outdoors this summer kayaking and hiking on the weekends and evenings, so I'd really like to be fit enough that I don't die every time! My job is going well, I do have a lot of decisions to make in the future. I love the company, and I think that there is room for growth here in different directions. I could learn how to use the spectrometers and possibly, if I get good enough travel doing some of the installs, or if the company continues to grow and I decide to start work on my MBA in the evening, there is a chance I could branch more into HR in the future. Right now it's a nice comfortable place to work, and it will be even better since we're moving to a new building in May! The people are great to work with and I love the laid back environment, and being able to wear jeans for work. I think I'll definitely stay here until I get my bills paid off, whether or not I start school in the evening is to be debated, and whether I go for Higher Ed Admin, my MBA or take classes on spectrometers are all up in the air right now!

I thought I moved to Madison to get away from Winter...however we have had a record snowfall winter...the most snow EVER and it's only February and doesn't show any signs of stopping! Oh no! Granted it's NOTHING even close to the UP, but still, I don't like shoveling out, or constantly brushing off my car and having to heat it up in the morning.

Last night I saw Obama at a rally at the Kohl Center, it was a great speech, but it was 3 hours of waiting, over half of that in the cold all for a 30 min. speech. The event was very poorly organized from the outside and there were SO many things they could have done better. I will be voting for Obama in the Primary on Tuesday unless Hillary comes and can change my mind. Well, I should get back to work. Today is Wednesday, which means free lunch, yum :) Though I've been munching on coffee cake and crackers/cheese spread all morning.....definitely going to the gym today since I've been horrible all week, and won't be able to go tomorrow since I have to work at the Terrace at 5.

Super Dorky Thought...
I was just thinking about being single and meeting guys (just watched a few episodes of Sex and the City) and I thought about my ideal way to meet a guy. Picture this...I am in Border's, probably in the sci-fi/fantasy aisle, find a great book and as I am reaching for it my dream guy reaches for the same one. We end up talking about it over coffee etc... Hmm...I'm a dork. That's ok. So if any of you people know any great single reading guys, please send them over to Borders when you know I'll be there!

Time to start being healthy again. I'm going back to my old wellness program goals:
No chips
No soda
No candy
No fried foods

I don't know that I have money for a gym just yet, but as soon as I start working on the 5th, I'm going to get in the habit of walking or working out after work...whether it means yoga or YBB...something will have to do. I'm almost tempted to walk to work in the morning since it's only 4 miles...but that would mean getting up THAT much earlier...yuck. I also need to cut out snacking. That will be easier once I get into a work routine and I'm not sitting around all day. But it will be harder here, since I'll be going out in the evenings and it's always tempting to get something at the restaurants....we shall see. I don't know what my rewards shall be...maybe if I make it a month without cheating I will get a trip to Chicago or something. I also need to check and see if I still have a big fine with Madison libraries....because I really need to get a constant stream of books...I've gone through all the ones I brought and Colleen doesn't have enough to last me for long!

So I am sitting in Espresso Royale right now. I moved back to Madison on Monday, and I have been spending time looking for a job. Not too many things have turned up, though I do have an interview with an Employment agency on Weds, and I have sent in MANY cover letters. We'll see what turns up. Today I came into town and hung out with Gi for awhile, then watched tuba euph ensemble and headed to dinner (sushi, yum) with some of the guys. Now I have some down time so I am just relaxing...doing some more job searching and reading. I will head to Biz's in a bit to chill. I need to stay awake, Gi is supposed to call tonight, and I'm supposed to head to see pick play at the high noon with Lindsay, and Josh is coming in tonight also....lots of plans late. Just nothing until then. I really need to meet some new people, most of my old crowd has left town, and I want to branch out and meet new people. Hopefully I'll find a good job that will allow me to settle in for a bit, work the terrace occasionally on the weekends so I can keep up those friendships and still have some time for relaxing and playing with Josie. Well...I think I'll head out now, I've finished my mocha. If anyone comes up with any job leads let me know!

I don't know what to do. Right now I have about 14,000 plus my student loans hanging over my head. I really want to get them paid off before I head back to grad school again in the Fall of 2008. However, I really want to travel with Erin. But that would put me even further in debt, and not allow me to dig myself out at all. I don't even know if I could keep my head above the water while I was doing it. I really just don't know...I don't know if I can stay in the UP for another year, but it would allow me to pay off everything but my student loans, and I would be able to start grad school with a clean slate. Which would be a totally different experience, since in DC I always had money hanging over my head. I should do the boring thing and stay at home and pay it all off, but the call of the unknown is really calling me, and I need a change to my routine. Grrr...I don't know what to do! I wish I could win the lottery ;)

Hi There.
So life has been going pretty good. We have a wellness program at work where you make 2 goals and then you can get gift certificates by hitting certain levels. My goals are NO: candy, pop, chips or fried food. I think i'm doing pretty good with this one, I've only missed one day so far, and that was the 1st day because I had forgotten it started. And my 2nd goal is to exercise 30 min/day 5 days/wk. For this one I've been getting up at 6:30 and walking 2 miles before work. I'm pretty tired, but hopefully it will all pay off. I've also been more conscious about what is in the food I eat.

Work is the same old same old....boring, but brings in money. My bills are slowly going down...though now I have to start paying on my student loans. Come January I hope to be somewhere new, whether it is some foreign country w. Erin, or the Peace Corps or Americorps is yet to be seen.

I am heading to Madison Aug 8?-11? I think...and I'll probably be heading down to Fayetteville to tour the U. Ark in late Oct. so that I can see the grad school there and talk to some people.

I'm doing the Sound of Music right now, shows are in the beginning of September. I am the Baroness, Erin is Maria, my mom is Frau Schmidt, and Rachel is Brigitta, it's a K* SHOW!

Well I should run, or I'll be late to work, AGAIN ;)

later!

Updates..

Sound of Music auditions were last week for the Calumet Players. The K's are taking over!

I am the Baroness, Erin is Maria, Mom is Frau Schmidt the housekeeper and Rachel is Brigitta one of the children. I am looking forward to the production.

We had a family reunion this weekend with all my mom's siblings here except Wayne. Both of my dead grandpa's siblings were here too, and Robert and Roxanne came from Seattle. Good times were had, but now I am thoroughly exhausted.

We did a 3.5 mile hike in Estivant Pines today, the weather was perfect and there were no bugs. I'm glad this week is broken up. I work the later shift Mon. and Tues, then Erin's bday so dinner, karaoke, fireworks...and the 4th off :) Maybe to the camp, we'll see. And then I'm down in Lake Linden on Thurs/Fri, so that will be nice. Perhaps we will go paddling w. Glenn and Lisa this weekend.

well, i'm off to catch up on missed sleep. goodnight!

What to do? I'm rather dying here. Today didn't help. My dad and I were having an argument and he had to point out the great place I am at in my life right now. I know that living at home, working as a receptionist and playing WoW is not using my degree at all, however, I can't afford to be living anywhere else right now. I really need to get my feet back under me financially so I can afford to go back to school. I can't even afford to move elsewhere and start a new job, because I don't have any start up money. If I could find an aupair job that pays high enough, maybe I will do that, I won't have rent and all my money could go towards my bills like it is, except I could be in a new location away from the depression that is setting in on me here. Well i'm going to go shower and get ready so I can go and possibly forget about my horrible life for awhile.

later.

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Well, I didn't get the job at Epic. That means it's time to explore other options. Maybe I'll move overseas with Erin in the fall....I'm also contemplating applying for jobs in DC. It is too late to apply to grad school and get good assistantships for the fall....so I think that is out of the picture. Maybe I'll just move somewhere else. But until then....I guess it is just going to be more living at home and saving money. Though I have been getting the going out bug more often. The job makes me just want to drink to get over the boredom. I've gotten back into yoga, and now that I know I'll be here for awhile more I guess I will join the gym and start going on my way home from work. May as well get into shape while I sit around and waste time up here. I do need to make more friends up here though....any suggestions? Well...I think I am going to do some exercising then a shower....drinks with erin and them while they eat dinner. If you live in the UP and read this....call me! I need rescuing from my boredom.

Life....

I have now been living with my parents for....2 months today. A little more than the couple weeks I was planning, but I still really can't afford to get my own place as the little money I have goes straight to bills. Hopefully I can pay off a credit card or two and then never use them again. Epic is flying me to Madison for an interview next week, so I'll be in town for a brief 24 hours, it's sort of going both ways in my mind, it would be great to get the job and get out of here, but then I will let myself put off grad school even longer since it will allow me to pay off even more bills. I think that's probably the best thing to do though, is to pay off my car, and start paying my loans, and all my cards before going back to grad school again, so that this time I will be able to focus.

My job here in Cal is boring, I'm a receptionist for a hospital and I really don't like being on the bottom of the ladder. The girls I work with are nice enough, but rather small town, with small town minds and prejudices. I spend a lot of time quiet at work when I'm not actually working. Today should be a super slow day as there are only 3 dr's seeing patients. I do see a lot of people that I used to know, so that can be sort of fun to catch up with teachers and friends. I had to get bloodwork done for the job and I am curious to know the results, since I've never had bloodwork done before so I have no clue of the state of my body.

I don't really leave my house much except for work. I've been getting out a little more lately, but as I don't have any money, I tend to just stay home and play WoW. That's another thing....a year ago, if you would have asked me if I was going to be living at home and playing WoW I would never have thought it a vague possibility. I suppose though....fortune changes. I'll get my life back on track soon enough, and it is rather nice not having many worries, not having monthly housing/food bills to pay, and it nice to get closer to sibs.

Well....I should go start my car and eat some breakfast before work. Later!

Off to work....I really don't like this whole 9-5 job thing. It's rather boring, and I go to bed early at nights. Oh well...i suppose it's all part of growing up, hopefully i can pay of my bills though, and pay my mother back all i owe her from last month. I probably won't be getting my own place anytime soon either to facilitate the saving. however....i must go blow my hair. later

So the UP......

I left Washington DC after a late fun night on Wednesday with the Ford's crew and an early dinner with Adrien. Was up until 4:30ish, went to sleep, woke up at 8:30, started packing my car. Left town at about 1:30 on Thursday. Got to Carol's house at about 10ish. I chilled there for a couple nights, just relaxing. Then I headed to Ann Arbor for lunch with Alex, and then headed west to my grandparents for dinner, then to my aunt Rhea's for Saturday night. Oddly enough, that night ended up being crazy. and I got to drive a big suburban :) and had some very interesting conversations with store clerks. Got up the next morning, left around 10:30 and hit the road. The drive up was pretty uneventful until around Marquette when it started snowing and then raining further north. I got home alright though. However, I did feel like shit the entire ride because I was sick, and I could barely walk once I got out of the car at the end....old bones.

So I've been 'home' since Sunday. Haven't really left the house much....left once when I gave in and went to see the doctor for antibiotics. Took my sister to buy some halfway decent looking clothes yesterday, and dropped another sister off for a meeting before school today. Other then that, I've just been doing job apps, and calling schools trying to get subbing jobs.

I'm trying to decide if I should leave the house for another car ride tomorrow. My mom and gram are driving my bro down to school tomorrow, which means free red lobster for lunch....however, it would be 4 hrs in a car..... I guess I will have to decide soon though. I wonder if my father is going to be home tomorrow, if not then it would be nice to have the house all to myself for the day (something that will rarely happen here i am sure.)

As for my finances....i basically have none. I finished paying my bills for the month and that just about wiped me out. However, I did just sell another textbook on amazon so that puts some money in the coffers....now I will just have to wait to start working. I HOPE I CAN GET A JOB SOON! I am a super money whore though....I did just purchase a macbook which gets here Wednesday. Actually....my parents put it on their credit card, and will make the first few payments as my christmas present, and then I will take over the payments after. My little bro Jared also bought my old laptop for $150, so that will go towards this new one. I am so excited to get it. The bad thing though is that it will allow me to start playing WoW...get ready ford's theatre.....i'm coming!

So, I'm still trying to decide if I should get my own place or have roomies. It would be completely amazing to have my own place, but I wonder if the dent it will put on my finances would really be worth it....I guess I shall have to see what kind of work I end up getting.

Bruneau (my miniature poodle) is doing great. He's such a great dog. Whenever I'm home if he doesn't sleep in the same room as me he whines all night, so he's been upstairs with me lately. I really wish that I could take him with me when I move, but I don't think I'll be home enough for a dog who is as needy as he is.

I realize that my blog is rather trivial....I'm sure not many people read it, but that is quite alright. We will see if I continue down my antisocial streak and just stay locked in with my books, or if i will actually make it out tomorrow with liane, and out with erin to see marty's band on saturday. I really wish the UP was smoke-free....I've now moved from two cities that are.

Well...happy 2007. This new years I was going to stay home and just sleep, against my best judgement I decided to go out. I had given up on going out after so many horrible ones (thanks ERIN ;) ) However, although it was definitely not exciting, it was rather chill and I had fun people watching. Though it was a little depressing watching all the couples make out. I do not regret going out, now I am home early and I am off to bed and I will enjoy sleeping in tomorrow before I start packing all my stuff for the big move up to the UP sometime this week. I think I am rather in denial about moving. Since school has let out, all that remains in DC is the great stuff, I am going to be really sad to leave. All I have been doing is working at Ford's with great people and going out with those same folks. I love them all and will miss them dearly, they may actually make me play an online video game for the first time in my life just so I can stay in touch.

Are you angry?

An acquaintance asked me the other day if I was an angry person. Of course I said no, but now I wonder if that is true. Should I really tell my true feelings or hide them inside. Usually I hide them all inside, I cover it up by telling lots of other things to make up for the truth. Lately I have realized that I am really lonely. However, I don't know what I can to do to become not lonely. I wonder, if I lose weight, would I be happier, less lonely? Will moving to the UP make me more lonely or will it help? Will I truly miss DC? Could I truly be happy and not lonely here? Would dating someone help me be not lonely? This question has really been on my mind. It has been a long while since I have really dated anyone. Sure, I've been on dates and been with people, but I haven't really dated anyone in years. I miss having someone there. Should I solve my problems on my own though, without being dependent on having someone there to be happy? I look around and it seems like everyone is in a couple. My friends are married, engaged, having babies. And here I am....sure I'm not completely alone in my singleness, but it seems to be bothering me more than usual lately. I haven't written like this in years...I hate being vulnerable and putting my rather shallow thoughts out there for people to read. Thoughts are just building up though and I really need an outlet. If I lost weight would I find someone to be in a relationship with? What do I need to do to find happiness?

So many questions....never enough answers. Life is very overwhelming right now, though a break is welcomed, I fear the time I will have alone with my thoughts.

Update:

Well things are finally getting busy here. I have a wonderful job at Ford's Theatre (where Lincoln was shot) I am the asst. House Manager, so it is pretty easy work, with great people. I can get homework done on the job too which is awesome. I've been working around 20 hrs a week there.

My money situation has finally worked itself out, the Dept. finally worked out my scholarship situation, and my assistantship is rather easy. My loans have all come through, and pretty soon I will finally be able to pay my rent ;)

My birthday was SO fun. I was worried that it was going to be lonely, but it wasn't. We had a party here, and although it wasn't huge, I had an amazing time and met a lot of new people. Including someone that I can practice my Finnish with. I also got a free sundae at Hard Rock after work, and hung out with Secret Service men at the VIP opening night at Ford's.

Classes are getting harder, lots of reading and papers to write. But it hasn't been too bad, I just need to get better about spreading it all out during the week.

I played the Gregson in a concerto competition today, and moved onto the finals. So I will be playing again tomorrow. It's rather amusing that I moved on, since I really haven't been practicing much, and my accompanist is rather horrible. Wish me luck, it would be really fun to play it with an orchestra.

Roommates have been good. There has been a little bit of tension between us. Mainly because one roommate is REALLY messy, and the other one is a little disrespectful and critical.

I still haven't found my niche in DC yet. I really just want to find a good hangout bar, or coffee shop....but we haven't found one yet. Hopefully we will find it soon. Though it is a little difficult, since I work til 10 every night on the weekends, and then if I take the metro I don't get home until 10:45, so I really need to plan ahead and bring a change of clothes to work, so I can just go out straight from there. I suppose I will fall into a routine.

I just found out about a workshop in NYC from Jan 2-12. It is the Orchestra Management workshop put on by ASOL. Adrien went last year and said it was an absolutely amazing experience. We'll see if I can get the 1900 for tuition, and fine someplace to stay in the city for those nights. That means that I probably won't be going home for christmas though. I am either going to Carol's for thanksgiving, or if I can find a cheap plane ticket I may try to go home. We'll see.....

well...I think that's all for now. later!

raise your hand if you're sure

If you comment on this post...
1. I’ll respond with something random about you.
2. I’ll challenge you to try something.
3. I’ll pick a color that I associate with you.
4. I’ll tell you something I like about you.
5. I’ll tell you my first/clearest memory of you.
6. I’ll tell you what animal,vegetable or mineral you remind me of.
7. I’ll ask you something I’ve always wanted to ask you.
8. If I do this for you, you must post this on yours.

As posted by Day and Lorn.




Just two so far....thank goodness, I didn't realize how hard this would be.
Lorn
1. I really like that you seem to make things good. Even if you move to a situation where you don't seem to like it at first, you make the best out of it, instead of mourning losses.
2. I challenge you this year, to really become the best trombone player ever. I was going to qualify that as woman tbone player, but it doesn't need a qualifier. I know it's always a constant goal for a musician, but really do it this year!
3. well....Earth tones, aren't really a color, but that's it.
4. I really admire that you are so open with your life. You always make me smile :)
5. I have the worst memory ever....but one of my memories of you, was the Valentine's Dance, and how you did such a good job of making me feel welcome and included always, even as a freshman :)
6. As predictable as it may be, I think of you as a cat. Adventurous, snuggly, comfortable, mysterious
7. How are you so confident?

Carol
1. I'm thinking of maybe coming up for Thanksgiving this year if you'll be around.
2. I challenge you to go out and do something artsy, go out for a night on the town a show or movie and a good dinner :)
3. Red for some reason...I don't think you wear a lot of red, but that's what pops in my head :)
4. I like that you are always so supportive. You're always there for mom or me or anyone in the family and I really appreciate it.
5. I don't know that I have a specific clear memory of you, but of your house, when we were living there and there was a diaper delivery service :)
6. Hmmm....tough question. Hmm, this might be odd, but a collie. It seems like you're a good rescuer. A Lassi of sorts, a friend in good and bad.
7. How do you find the strength to always keep going?

paul and i karaoke 

sergejs, spencer, modestas 

krissy and i