Things I've Learned in Life.

Being angry takes too much energy.

Everyone is a stranger until you get to know them. They tell us not to talk to strangers, but how do we meet people?

Read the fine print. Even if it is just for fun, and especially prior to signing your name on the dotted line.

Learn phonics. It will teach you to read and write in a language one understands instead of “txt tlk.” Huh? Would you like to buy a vowel? Vowels are important. There are five of them, sometimes six.

Watch Wheel of Fortune.

Play Scrabble. Even if it is against yourself. Don’t laugh, it is very possible.

Having street smarts usually means you know what common sense is and you also possess common sense.

Sing karaoke at least once in your life.

You are not afraid of the dark. You are afraid of what could be lurking under the shadow of darkness.

Relax.

Shrug things off. You do not have to make a gigantic ordeal out of everything. Others’ issues do not have to become your issues and vice versa.

Don’t look for love in the workplace.

Discipline your children. Don’t let them become part of the “entitled, gimme, gimme” of the future generation. Teach them how to work and respect. Because my carpal tunnel probably isn’t from playing hockey for 13 years; it’s probably from writing Ephesians 6:1 500 times or more by the time I was 10. Yes, I am 30 and have never forgotten….

Dream.

Keep a journal.

Journal about your dreams. Those you have while sleeping or awake.

Take pictures. Lots of them. And back them up online or on discs and keep them in a safe place. Because photographs and humans are about the only two valuable things that cannot be replaced if destroyed by flood or fire.

Don’t rush into marriage and starting a family. Having kids is great, but also, doing things alone with your significant other is amazing. Things you have always wanted to do but would be more difficult with an infant, if time even permits. I don’t know any young parent who regrets having children, but know plenty who have said they wish they had waited longer.

Always go with your gut instinct. It’s usually right.  

Pay attention to the weather. 

Sunrise and Sunset...

How many people are able to say they can watch both the sunrise and the sunset in the same day? At work, there is one post that I normally dread because it’s so boring and dull and time stands still and you’re lucky if you see anyone during that hour.

                Except for the last hour of the shift. The door faces south, but the large floor-to-ceiling windows give a great view of the eastern sky.

I cannot even begin to describe the colors. The thin wispy clouds closest to me in the west are kind of pinkish-orange-ish. Then eastbound the sky goes to a white-ish, blue-ish, pink-ish, leaving the separation of color by a few long, thin, periwinkle colored clouds, then strips of pink and dark blue above the tree line.

The morning weatherman said sunrise is at 6:24 today. It’s currently 6:20 but a tree line blocks my view for approximately another half hour.

Usually an hour at this post drags on forever. But the last hour of the day here watching the sun rise seems to make the time so much more precious. It’s the beginning of a new day for the majority of citizens, but for those of us who are referred to as “vampires” by “normal” people or 9 to 5’ers, it means another thing.

It’s bedtime.

And there are some of us who will be lucky enough to wake up just in time to see the same kind of spectacle on the opposite side of the horizon, as your day ends and mine begins again. 

The Christmas Ambiance I Love

My earliest Christmas memory is when I was 3, maybe 4 years old. Our old house in Grand Marsh had one small window that faced north and one large window that faced east. I remember falling asleep by the little window on Christmas Eve watching for Santa. I think I already knew there was no Santa, but I wanted to prove them wrong.

            

I remember getting my stuffed Belvidere. His nose lit up red when he was squeezed. There’s a picture of me standing in Poppy’s living room holding Belvidere. I think I was sick that Christmas. Well, poor Belvidere worked just fine until my brother decided to take him apart to see how he worked. I then remember his guts being on top of the refrigerator for a long time. I still have Belvidere but his guts are long gone.

            

I was a snooper, but Mom always seemed to know when I was in their room. I searched high and low for those hidden Christmas presents but never found them. We were convinced there was a trap door under their bed that Mom and Dad stored the gifts in. Even in 2004 when Mom and Dad moved out, my brother and I were caught stomping around on the floor where their bed had been looking for that darned trap door. See, the floor was a lil weak, so there could’ve been a door there… but the carpet was intact. Well, then Mom told us she hid our presents in the bottom of the dirty clothes hamper. Ewww! Great prank Mom! You’re right, who would think to look there?   

            

Snooping proved to be ineffective in another way. The vent in my room looked straight down to the Christmas tree in the kitchen below. This was an ancient house, so it wasn't like a vent you’re probably thinking of. It was a hole in the floor, and then about 4 inches directly below was the screen and vent that ended up being in the kitchen ceiling. Anyways, the Christmas tree sat either in front of the chimney, or in the corner next to the bottom of the stairs. I attempted to cheat and look while Mom put the presents under the tree. Of course they were already wrapped and I wasn’t very good at it, because I think when Mom heard me move the vent she would stop. But she never told me.

One of our Christmas traditions was to drive around town and look at all the Christmas lights. We would normally do this after church on Christmas Eve. I remember even throwing a hissy fit one year when we couldn't do so. I don’t really remember any grand setups, except for the guy who lived next door to the Jehovah’s Witnesses Hall on Hwy 13. Irony. I wish I had a picture of this yard to share but digital photography had not been invented yet. He had a carousel and moving objects and lots of lights. Then there was this elderly couple who lived out on J who actually would want people to come into their home and take a tour of their decorations around and inside their home, and everyone who came in signed a guestbook. Nowadays, that would be unheard of and asking yourself to become a victim. Sad that is, especially around this time of year.

            

I think it was in 6^th grade, we made a poetry book about Christmas. Believe it or not, I still have it. Yeah, I am somewhat of a packrat. I remember a haiku I wrote in that book about driving and looking at all the lights.

On Christmas Eve night

There are lots of bright lights.

I do drive around

To the edge of town.

And then there was the tree lighting ceremony on the Courthouse lawn, where they lit up the giant tree and had giant wrapped painted boxes under it and cookies and hot chocolate and Santa. I think sometime around my sophomore year in high school they added a Christmas parade in town prior to the ceremony. I saw it this year for the first time in quite a few years. Disappointing to say the least; the parade was over in 4 minutes, and we stood out there in the cold waiting for an hour.

But back in the day, the funnest part of the tree lighting ceremony was going to Hardee’s/Burger King afterwards and hanging out and having fun with Michele and Beth. We would stay there until they kicked us out at closing time.

And then there were the Christmas plays at church. The one where I dressed up as an angel. Another one where I was one of three kids in the family and one of my lines was to snore really loud and say “I’m sleeeeee-eeeeepinggggggg.” My now sister-in-law chickened out at the last minute. That was supposed to be her part.

I remember spending a Christmas up north in Park Falls at my grandparents’ home. I remember Grandpa telling us not to snoop under the tree to see which presents were ours. I tried telling him that wasn’t snooping. That didn’t work. Man, I miss that house. Not wanting to wash my clothes once we came home because the smell from the woodstove would remain in them for days.

And now I’m an adult. This is my 30^th Christmas. There’s been several I have been unable to get gifts for anyone. That always made me feel so depressed, and there were a few years in there I could care less about Christmas and being around others, and just wishing for it to be over since I felt so guilty for not being able to give back. I also remember a couple of Christmases growing up when we only received one Avon box full of small stuff that Mom and Dad had collected throughout the year. And we were disappointed to only see one gift under the tree, but more than happy when we opened it and found several things in there.

I’m not sure when I started hating society in general, as a whole. I’m saying I LOVE being in the stores at Christmastime because of the lights, the music, all the shiny decorations, the neat-o things I can dream about doing with some outside décor if I ever get into a house ever again, but I hate the greedy people and the screaming “I want that” children and the cranky cashiers and the crowded parking lots and the cold. Brrrrrr! I guess I have a love/hate relationship with this time of year.  

Turning 30...

I'm 30 now. No longer in my rip-roarin 20's. I don't feel any different. I don't feel any older.

My Mom decided I'm finally old enough to stop getting stuffed animals for every birthday and Christmas. Probably because I have a ton and they've pretty much outgrown the space I have to keep them in so now all but a select few are in storage totes in the garage. I have just about every stuffed animal one could imagine. I remember coming home from school one day and finding a little brown and white rabbit sitting on my bed. Right on my pillow. I named him Dalto after a character in a book by Judy Blume. I think the book was "then Again, Maybe I Won't" and Mr. Dalto was the kid's dad's boss I think. I just thought the name was funny.

I have a green T-rex named Gregory. I got him from school in 3rd grade. I don't remember but I think I won him in some kind of reading contest.

Gregory is the big green dinosaur there in the front. 

I loved to read in school. Book It! Winning the pizza certificates every month and getting your own personal pan pizzas! I loved the old Pizza Hut in the Rapids. Had those classic tabletop arcade games. I had always been at a higher reading level than most kids in my class. I pretty much only had one other student for competition. I probably still have one of those Book It! buttons with the stars on it in my toybox. 

I even think I might still have the shoelace from first grade with all the colored beads on it. One bead per book read, and a different color for each genre. I've had a library card since I was 3. I still have the original one, and the library's not even at that location anymore. It's got a crack in it and had about 6 new bar codes, but they told me last summer they won't give me a new one until it's completely destroyed. 

There was even one summer, I believe it was the one prior to my sophomore year, we went to the county over and got a library card there because they were in a different inter-library loan system and I could read all kinds of new books. It was about the same distance from home anyways. There was even a time in 2nd grade I did a book report on two different books with the same title ("My Favorite Book"). The teacher humiliated me in front of the entire class and would not even give me a chance to explain myself that they were two different books with a whole different story line. 

OK, back to the stuffed animals. Sealy is a white seal who glows in the dark. My Dad would light him up for me every night when he tucked me in. Stryper is a white lion who is so perfectly huggable that he almost still goes with me everywhere. Baby Bernard is a puppy dog and when I press his right front paw, his left ear pops up. Tyg is a tiger who when squeezed, he growls. Although he seems to have come down with chronic laryngitis. Cuddly is a leopard who purrs when moved. Tuppy is a giant white whale that came from Tupperware. Man, the old Tupperware toys were the best. Why ever did they get rid of the school bus that converted into a classroom? Always wanted one, never got one. Just like the Big Wheel. I see now they make an adult big wheel! 

http://www.amazon.com/High-Roller-Adult-Wheel-Trike/dp/B00ADICLBA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1377742917&sr=8-3&keywords=adult+big+wheel

When I was a kid, I was upset that the boys down the street had a Big Wheel and I didn't. Okay, probably jealous because by then I was too big for it anyway. So one day when I knew they weren't home I took it from their yard and hid it in the girl's bathroom at the park across the street. Two days later when they found it and their mom asked me about it, I told her I didn't know anything about it and it was probably the mean boys across the street. 

Well, yeah, reminiscing is fun and who knows what my 30s will bring. I know it will no longer bring stuffed animals for Christmas or birthdays... lol like my old college roommate used to say; "now that I live on my own, I don't get toys for Christmas anymore.... I get household items." LOL 

I could use a complete set of nice pots and pans that are dishwasher safe, with lids, and will last longer and not rust the first time I wash them. 

So Mom gave me a bawking chicken for my final stuffed animals. I don't have a chicken... got a couple baby chicks, but no chicken. 

Some Quirky Cooking Escapades

I have never cooked a turkey before. This last year was my first time, partly because my Mom doesn't like turkey so we always had ham for the holidays. Which is why once I was a teenager I always begged to go somewhere else for the holidays... somewhere I knew there would be turkey. :) Although Mom did pull through one year when she made two turkey legs just for me at Thanksgiving.

My place of employment gives everyone a turkey for Thanksgiving. Well.... honestly, we had two HUGE Thanksgiving dinners... one with my family on Thanksgiving, one with Zach's family two days later. So we decided to hold off on our turkey til around the second weekend in December.

I took this thing out of the freezer on Thursday with plans to cook it on Sunday. After three days in the fridge, it was STILL FROZEN. So Sunday morning we take it out and toss it in the sink of water... when we decided it was time to cook it... getting the guts out was another story.... it took about four different tools to yank that little plastic hook-y thing out of it. Melted a stick of butter, basted it over, shoved it in an oven bag, and attempted to put it in the oven.... well, forgetting that the turkey would not fit with both racks in the oven. Should have thought about that BEFORE I turned the oven on... so Zach grabs a hot pad and the rack and we quickly decide since this thing is already 500 degrees and Zach is standing in the kitchen holding it the only place to go with it is outside on the deck into the snowbank :). I run and open the door and he tosses it into the foot of snow on the deck and it sizzzzzllllleeesssssss pretty funny.

This is what the turkey looked like when it was done:

Not bad for my first one ever.

We had turkey for the next two weeks.

We had just gotten done being overindulged with turkey, when Zach texts me and says he has a surprise for me. His place of employment had given everyone a turkey for Christmas. Since we ended up having four Christmases and tons more food, we decided to wait a month or two before making this one...

So a couple weeks ago we decided instead of going shopping for meat, we would just make the turkey. Took another Sunday afternoon and cooked it. Took it out of the freezer on Wednesday, this one was defrosted by Sunday and yes, this time I remembered to take the oven rack out before pre heating the oven. But I couldn't find the bag of guts anywhere in the thing, had no trouble getting the plastic thingie and the neck out, and it turned out much better. I think brand name had something to do with it...

This one was much prettier. I found the bag of guts when I cut it up but it didn't seem to harm it any.

Meat loaf has always been something else I have struggled with. I could never figure out how to get it rounded in the middle, until my Mom told me you have to form it that way in the pan. Ooops LOL. I have also been making homemade hamburgers a lot lately and been adding a pouch of onion soup mix into the meat.... saves having to cut up an onion and crying. The meat loaf turned out really good.

Before:

After: 

It was delicioso. 

Oh.... and I just HAVE to share this with you all.... check out this awesome pizza spatula that my cousin gave Zach for Christmas: 

It so reminds me of the movie Uncle Buck, where he uses the shovel to flip over the mega huge pancakes he was making for the little man's birthday. And yes, I know I burnt the pizza. :)

Our Apartment Hunt

It started in July. Zach moved in with me at Mom and Dad's due to unforeseen circumstances he could not control. So we decided that we could find a place to live together closer to work instead of driving 35-40 miles one way apiece. So we started looking around Baraboo.

First place we looked at, was way too small. One bedroom tiny, I don't even think our bed would have fit in the bedroom. Awesome location though, with the Baraboo River right out the back door. We passed on that one.

Next one we looked at over by the hospital. It was upstairs, decent size. I loved the built in shelves in the kitchen. We filled out the application, returned it, never heard back.

We looked at another place on the edge of town. We really liked this one. We filled out the application and I returned it.... but discovered I had dropped it in the wrong mailbox! I put it in the outgoing mail box instead of the rent drop box! Then we freaked out quickly, thinking someone would pick it up and we were the next victims of identity theft, but the landlord assured me it was probably shredded at the post office. 

We looked at another place that he fell in love with, but I didn't really. I liked that it was not an apartment building; it was the upstairs of a house. 2 bedroom, huge kitchen, nice sun room and huge deck.... disadvantage was it was two blocks away from the circus and the circus music was soooo annoying! The bedrooms were tiny and there were alot of walls.... I didn't like how closed off it felt. Unfortunately, they were the ones who accepted us... with a co signer. My parents agreed to co sign for us for one year and the company agreed.... said if we could keep up on rent payments for one year then they would remove my parents as co signers. I don't really have a bad rental history, just not a steady one in between living with family and friends. So we made an appointment to sign the papers on  Monday afternoon before Zach went to work. Friday afternoon, he got fired from his job. So we had a little bit of a setback. But knowing my active guy like I do, I knew he would not go without a job for long. In the entire time I have known him, he has not gone more then 3 weeks without work. He did find another job about a week and a half later. Because there was no way we could have afforded that place on just my part time job income.

The first week of August I got my dream job in security at the casino. Full time. Benefits. Awesome. So we made the next quest to find a place to live by the beginning of October.

We looked at another place over in the same area where I dropped the application in the wrong box. The guy there was kind of weird... it was set up the same as the other building. But he made us give him a $99 utility deposit with our rental application, and a non refundable $20 background check fee. We gave it and he said we would hear something back in 3-5 days. Didn't. I called the guy and left messages..... he contacted me about two weeks later. Said he had to decline us due to the amount of money I am indebted to collections. I asked if it mattered that it was all medical bills, and he said it did not matter. He was a major jerk. He also said he could not rent to us because I work at Ho-Chunk and he knows for a fact that they do not help their employees with past debts. I was like WTF?

So we were shot down again. Not even 20 minutes after I got off the phone with him, I checked my email. I had received an email from the landlord of the place where I had put the app in the wrong box, and she was asking if we were still looking for a place because she just had one come available. I said yes and called her right away. We made plans to look at it on Saturday. We came down and looked at it.... filled out the app right in the apartment and handed it to her to make sure she got it this time (LOL) and she said she would be in touch. Monday morning I checked my email and she asked me to call Alliant Energy and ask if I could get the utilities in my name or if they would have to go in Zach's or would we need a deposit, etc. I thought this sounded like a good sign.... so I called the electric company and they said we were ok. I emailed her this info and the landlord replied "we're good to go for Oct. 1st, maybe sooner." I was so excited! We got the keys the Saturday prior to the first and moved in on the first.

It's a pretty decent size apartment. Nice deck, upstairs, it's warm, small kitchen, dining room, nice size bedrooms, tons of closet space with shelves... have a pantry AND a linen closet, I can have my kitty, and our first electric bill was only $37! It is soooo nice to have a 5 minute 3 mile drive to work instead of an hour and 35 mile drive one way! It's quiet, for the most part, except for the demon child downstairs I have dubbed Bam Bam because I swear he throws furniture (or himself) against the wall every night. It's on the edge of town, barely can tell we live in town.

Mall of America... FINALLY!

We finally made it to MOA! The day after my 29th birthday!

And what's the very first thing we did upon going inside? Yup! We rode the upside down rolly coaster! It was my first time on an actual roller coaster that took riders upside down... and the whole thing lasted only about 30 seconds!

 

And here I am riding the Pepsi Orange Streak roller coaster... this one went around the entire inside of the theme park... much longer but not as exciting...

 

Ahhh....enjoyin the good life. And a beer in this bar slash arcade slash bowling alley. Didn't really enjoy the price of the drinks though.....

But then we swam under the sharks in the aquarium. 

I think these little guys were my favorite. -->

SHARKS! DUN DUN... DUN DUN.... dun dundundundundun.....

This lil guy was just bobbling in the water... he was so still it was creepy.

Of course LegoLand was next.... here I am with Lego Woody. 

 

I can't believe you could just buy an assorted cup of Legos that you pick out! So many to choose from!

We went to Mystic Lakes and this band was playing live on the gaming floor! Zach had them wish me a Happy Birthday then he danced with me to the song they played for me.

Our hotel room was up there? Over there? Somewhere.... we had an amazing 5th floor view of the roof. But the most comfortable bed either one of us had ever slept in. Plus when we were checking in, the guy noticed I had a guide book, and told us there was a 20% off coupon for their hotel in there, and he even cut it out! Heck of a steal and the best nights sleep ever!

Moose Mountain Mini Golf. He looks so enthused.... 

Here is a better view of the upside down rolly coaster we first rode. We actually went back and rode it again before we left that night. 

 Rainforest Cafe for lunch on Sunday!

We got the best seats in the house. Table for two.... right next to this table-to-ceiling aquarium.

Cool flashy cup that I got to keep! Tropical drink melting in my hand..... 

Zach's enjoying his ribs... and his "Corona-rita"

Best pic we could get with all the people around. I wanted one with both of us but he didn't want to pose for another picture lol 

Cannot for the life of me figure out how this fits into the salon it is in.... but it is a cool bike anyway. Vintage. 

So yeah, so happy I FINALLY got to go to MOA. I swear we didn't even see everything in that entire place and we were there two days. We are more the type who would rather spend money and time with each other doing something fun, rather then buying stuff. I did bring home some cool little items for Mom and Dad, and got some magnets and postcards as souvenirs. Can't believe it took 21 years for me to get there! Tons o fun!

 

On the Job Hunt....

...and hopefully not for much longer cuz... I GOT A JOB! Yeah!

Although I would have loved to have gotten the dispatch job at the local sheriff's department, I didn't realize (but probably should have known) that the process would take over 3 months. I probably should have been looking much sooner and completely during that time... but yeah, I'm lazy.

The application was due Dec 13th, the exam was Jan 21st, and my interview was Feb. 29th. I thought things were looking good.... I even filled out the wrong application and the contact person emailed me informing me of this, giving me three days to turn in the right one!

Then came test day.... she said 55 applied, and 44 were taking the test.

Never found out my score, just got an email that I passed with a 77 or higher. 70 was qualifying. And to sign up for an interview time.... there were 19 time slots. So it was me vs. 18.

The day before the interview, we got kind of a wild winter weather storm, and I got an email saying the person in line before my time slot had cancelled, so could I come in a half hour sooner? Absolutely! Me vs. 17!

Within about 5 days of the interview I got an e-mail saying I wasn't selected, which I knew once the interview was over that I didn't get the job and knew exactly why. Even though the Sheriff in the panel interview asked me about my background, I told him completely, and he said "thanks for being honest" but I knew that's what killed it. Oh well. 40 hours a week, at 14 something an hour with full benefits... yeah I can find that elsewhere... just not in this county....

So what's the next best bet? Get a summer job in the Dells then get the hell outta here. Cause ya gotta be crazy to wanna live around here without a decent job, unless you like traveling at least an hour one way...

I took a Wednesday and went to the Dells on the job search. Took a friend with me who has also been looking for work. We went to Chula Vista (dispatcher, lifeguard, housekeeping), Holiday Wholesale (warehouse), Ho Chunk (security and Guest Services... was told the security position closed a week prior but they would keep ap on file for 45 days), Kalahari (security, housekeeping, lifeguard) and Wilderness (security, housekeeping, lifeguard). Also picked up applications at Christmas Mountain and Atlantis. We filled out the same apps, gave them to the same people, for pretty much the same positions... and three days later, she calls to tell me SHE got a job at the Wilderness for housekeeping.

Sigh.

Got a letter from Kalahari saying they don't have time to review all applications, it will stay on file for 30 days, if I'm selected they'll call, feel free to re-apply after 30 days, blah blah blah.

Few days later get a phone call from Chula for an interview for the dispatch position, for maintenance and housekeeping. Had the interview on a Monday, she said her last interview is on Thursday and I will hear from her by Friday. Didn't. Call her the following Monday, she tells me her last interview is Tuesday and to call her Wednesday.... stringing me along, I didn't call her back. Still haven't heard from her.

Soooooo.... off I go again. Took another friend with me. She filled out an app at Wilderness, we both filled out an app at Great Wolf, I picked up apps at Knuckleheads, Buffalo Phil's, Ponderosa. SHE gets an interview two days later at Great Wolf.

We both applied for lifeguard.... I have experience and current certification... she has no experience and not yet certified.

Sigh.

I'm going alone from now on. Or taking someone with me who has a job.

Saturday morning I get a phone call for an interview at Knuckleheads. Go in Monday morning.... the guy who interviewed me was more nervous than I was. I thought it went well... got the usual "got a few more interviews....I'll let you know by the end of the week."

Nothing.

I kind of got the impression that you have to be a knucklehead to work there and that I am overqualified to work in the Dells.

Tuesday evening around 8:15 p.m. I get a phone call from Ho Chunk. She asked me to come in and "talk to her". Set an appointment for the next afternoon.

I go in, and while I am sitting in her office waiting for her, I see the Intent to Hire paperwork sitting on her desk.... I'm sitting there thinking "is that for me?... I haven't even had an interview...."

She walks in and asks me one question: the fated "tell me about yourself."

Oy. I was myself. Don't remember what I said but she replied that she liked my application, she liked my demeanor, that I have an approachable face and this was the type of person she wanted at her front desk, someone who customers wouldn't be afraid to approach, and she was going to hire me.

So I asked her what she liked about my application (I left resumes with just about every app) and she said that she could tell I was working towards something, and she liked that, and usually when she came across someone like that she had to grab them while she could because there's usually a very short amount of time that she could.  

In other words, we got along great :)

She sent me down to HR to fill out some paperwork, then I had to go downstairs for my wiz quiz and get my picture taken, and I was told the results should be back Monday or Tuesday and then I would be called to come in and fill out the rest of the paperwork.

I got the phone call today. I go in tomorrow afternoon for the rest of the paperwork and orientation is April 16-17!

It will start out as an LTP, but she said if they like me and I work out well then they may consider hiring me on full time year round. She is aware of the fact that I may not want to remain in this area beyond mid September, but I told her we would see what happens between now and then. I will be trained on all three shifts, but will mostly be on thirds, which I love anyways. When I told her I would prefer overnights, she was surprised and kind of happy I think, and said she did not gather that I like overnights from my application.

Night owl for life!

 

Plan A... or B... or C...

... not to worry... there's 23 more letters of the alphabet....

The crazy dog is barking again. Because Dad's toast popped up in the toaster. Oh yeah, Lassie's a weirdo. She also barks when Dad pulls a Kleenex out of the box, when he blows his nose, when you open the microwave door, and if the microwave beeper goes off and you're not paying attention to it, she'll come stare at you like Eddie does on Frasier until you get up and fetch it. If you're standing up, she'll get behind you and poke her long nose into the back of your knee and herd you towards the kitchen. Goofy pup.

I pick things up and I put them down. :)

Mom is trying to convince me to go work on a cruise ship. Looks like fun. But it's not something that can just be done temporarily. They want you like 6-8 months at a time then it depends on the job you've got on if you even get to go off the ship in port. Along with sharing a cabin with 1-3 other people in a space that's tinier than a dorm room... although seeing tons of places I have never been or could never see otherwise would be amazing... Doesn't help that she is watching Cake Boss right now and they are featuring a Disney cruise line where they had to make a huge cake decorated like a cruise ship. Thing wouldn't fit in the elevator so they had to carry it down the stairs... I thought for sure that was going to be a cake disaster.

This last summer I was looking into doing the Disney College program, but after thinking about it and talking about it, and then looking into it even more... the day I went back to fill out the application... was a day too late. I may look into that for this summer. Again, it would be going somewhere I have never been and doing something I have never done. That looked like tons of fun.

This past Saturday I took the test for a job as dispatcher in the local sheriff's department. It's a really great job for this area. Basically, unless you work for the school district or the county or city, you're driving 30+ miles to find any good job. It would be a great position to get. Better than anything I have ever had before. But there is a lot riding on it. I mean, I am pretty sure I passed the test, although it will be close to two weeks or more before I even find out my score and if I make it on to the next wave of the process. If I get it, I'm staying here. No way I am giving that up. But it's a process. And highly competitive.

On the other side of that... that's the only thing riding on me staying here. If this doesn't come through for me, I am going to Phoenix to finish school on campus. Because these online classes are just insane. Everyone was telling me when I was in college that they did online classes here and there for what wasn't offered on ground. And they all said "oh they're so easy" and "you should try them, you'll like them" and yada yada yada. Well, y'all were wrong. I HATE THEM! I am in my third one now, and my first program core class, and it's annoying as heck. I feel like I am not learning anything. Like I am in a degree mill. And I hate that. I don't feel I learn this way effectively. I would rather be in the classroom. And the more I look into going to Phoenix, the more I want to go. Especially since I just changed my major and now I am looking at another two years of school for my master's degree.

And I need to work on finishing my book. I have a new laptop now, my notes are scattered who knows where in between a zillion places, and I have nothing better to do. Might as well get moving on that and look into publishing. I think it will be best as a trilogy though. Now if I could just figure out where to end it.

I pick things up and I put them down.

Like a Kid on Christmas Eve

These online classes just are not working for me. Why on Earth am I paying $70 per class to use an e textbook that doesn't even make sense to use? I can't highlight it, I can't take notes, I can't flip back and forth between pages without scrolling my eyes all out of focus and by the time finding what I am looking for, forgetting what I was seeking in the first place.

This is my first bout of online classes. The first two weren't so bad... but this is my first program course, principles of marketing... which shouldn't be a problem; I had a couple years of marketing in high school. Which.... was .... ten... years.... ago.

No. The problem I am having is with a bazillion folders having to be opened to locate one thing, and fifty more having to be opened and links to go through to find the other thing that goes with it (and with my lack of a short term memory, it can be rather frustrating) and that everything comes as a download instead of being directly on the site... why oh why does something so easy have to be so difficult? And it's something that doesn't even have to be difficult. They just like to make it that way it seems. Of course, there's reasons for why the school is laid out that way. I don't know them, but I am sure there is.

So what's the difference between the reason and an excuse? Hmmm.... it's a fine line. Imagine this common scenario.

Student walks in late to class. Teacher asks "what's your excuse?" Student says they overslept. That is the true and honest reason. Result: detention for being late.

I believe there is a difference between an excuse and a reason. I just think excuse is used improperly way too much.

Say someone just got fired from their job. Instead of picking up and finding something new, they stay up until the wee hours of the morning, sleep until 2 or 3 pm, and never leave the house all day. What's their reason for not finding something new? There is no valid reason. What's their reason? Making excuses. Laziness.

So why am I awake typing this at 230 a.m.? I'm way tired but don't feel like sleeping. I know I should, because at the moment I am like a kid waiting for Santa. When the parents tell the children "the sooner you go to sleep, the sooner Christmas morning will be here...."

Yes, the sooner I go to sleep, the sooner I will get to go home. This crazy weekend visiting La Crosse has had its ups and downs. Unfortunately, more downs than ups. I can just never make up my mind. When I am there, I want to be here; and when I am here, I want to be there.