:D

Well, I figure it's been nearly a month since I last updated (or at least three weeks which is close enough that most people wouldn't care) so I thought I should do a little update of my own since everyone else has. Not that there's anything exciting going on in my life right now. I mentioned I got the job at Macy's, at least I think I did. And that's about all that has changed. I, honestly, hate working in retail so it's definitely not my favorite job (at least at Payless I could try on shoes when there were no customers around. It's kinda hard to try on comforters and pillows--though I do like feeling how soft those are--or sheets and towels). Most people are reluctant to have you help them for one or two reasons. 1) They don't like being pestered by sales people that are only in their face because the associates get paid commission for selling and 2) they don't really know what they're shopping for but don't really want to admit that so they'll say they're just looking and no matter what sort of questions you ask you'll never get a straighter anser than "I really don't know right now, I'll just keep looking." Of course, it's probably this attitude that automatically commits me to being a failure as a sales associate. Oh well. That's why I got a degree in English and not retail.

In all honesty, I've only worked four days on the floor. My first day was my buddy training and that was on Halloween, one of the two nights I had plans to go out and do something. Work just HAD to get in the way of my plans...(the first night I wanted to go to a poetry reading but I had to do the POS training and the 22nd from 2-8 was the last available time slot). However, I learned quickly that even the permanent associates don't take being a sales associate as seriously as they should. And that is why they will forever remain to work in a mediocre job while I some day end up an owner of my own publishing firm, because I have an amount of dedication that they don't. When I am expected to do a job, I am bound determined to do it well. I don't get why these people I work with get half of what they are paid for on commission because they spend their time sitting behind the registers while the customers float around the department finding what they want on their own. Doesn't register in my mind as being ethical to put your sticker on the item saying that you sold them that item when you did nothing but be lucky you were the person they went to at the register. That is the example I got my first day. Suddenly my confidence was boosted exponentially.

However, my first week of working by myself was both disasterous and wonderful. I had some really great sales! It's amazing how much people will spend just so others will think they're worth something. Okay, so that might just be me being facisious and jealous that I don't have that kind of money to spend so my bed set is perfectly matched to my curtains in such a way that is exotic and original. I'm pretty sure most people are just luckier than I am when it comes to the financial department. However, I worry myself over nothing. I have a job while many people don't and I have a degree while many people will never accomplish such a task. Anyway, back to work. My first day by myself I was accredited for having an "outstanding" sale. I didn't do anything. A lady had four REALLY expensive things that just happened to total to over $450. Thankfully I'm not on commission so I don't have to feel guilty about this. Now, don't get me wrong, I would have helped the lady if she would have accepted my help. Any questions I asked were answered with a shrug and whatever feeling. Well, that put me off so I left her alone but I still go the credit for the sale. Go me! The only thing that would have made the sale perfect was if she had either opened a Macy's star rewards card or used her Macy's card. Which leads me to the disastrous part of my week: I didn't even get one person to apply for a Macy's card. That is a big no no on the Macy's team. I am required to have at least ONE person apply for a card. It doesn't necessarily have to be someone opens an account, just an application. Well, I failed miserably. By the time I was actually getting the courage to TELL people how much they could save by using their Macy's card, I was pretty much out of time for my work week. Oh well. I'm not entirely sure how strict they're going to be for seasonal people anyway. I'm sure if I were to want to spend the rest of my life working there I could really try a lot harder and get at least two or three applications filled out. However, I'm not strong enough to handle rejection. Just being scorned for suggesting "And if you use your Macy's card today you can save an extra 10%" was hard to deal with. Even being told "no, I'll just pay with cash" when I ask if they're going to use their star rewards card is so disheartening to me. Then, on top of that, I'm worried about having to tell someone that they aren't approved for a card. How embarrassing is that! On the other hand, I'm pretty sure that just about anyone can get a card because I can get cards to places like that and I don't have ANY credit at ALL. That's what I get for being a college kid!

However, I am getting pretty lucky on my scheduling. I haven't had to work a single Sunday yet and I'm not scheduled for the next two, I believe. That is very nice and comforting because it gives me an opportunity to participate in my usual Sunday activities. It's nice to still have this day to relax and just plain think (sometimes). I guess I can't really complain too much about Macy's. They're doing what they have to and can to survive as a store and I'm sure they know better than me as they've been around for 150 years now.

In other news, my hunt for editing jobs is still being continued. I've applied to two internships (same ones as before) and found out one has already been filled (yes, that made me a little upset as it's been less than a month since I applied before and there was no mention of when they'd choose a winter candidate) so I'll be applying for the spring opening by the end of this week (when I can get to a MAC to open the files they sent me to return my application and proofreading test (which I'm not very excited about because I don't do well at that....how do I expect to survive as an editor?!?!). I've also been told about a job opening for a company that is in Kirkland, which is quite a ways away from where I'm living now so if I can get that job I'll be moving very quickly. I'd really like to get a place of my own so I can move the rest of my stuff out here so I don't have to keep thinking about all the things I have at home that would be really super helpful for me now that I don't have because my car was too small and/or I didn't think to bring that item at the time.

Well, I guess this is getting long enough and I'm sure it's not that entertaining anyway to read about my complaints and woes. Enjoy life!

"Who am I?"

I bet that's the question everyone is asking...well, I mean about me, who am I. At least if you've been wondering what has happened to me in the last week or so, you might be wondering who I am to not be posting when I've made the craziest change in my life! Yes, I switched to Geico insurance! Actually, I don't know who I'm covered by because I'm still covered by my parents' insurance. Well, the big change is what I've been waiting for since April this year, I've moved to Washington state! Isn't that exciting! I know it is for me. Right now I'm living with a married couple that has an eighteen month old child. They're a very nice family to let me take over a room and bathroom. I'm assuming the reason they're renting this room out is because they need the money, but it might also be because they heard my prayers and felt they should offer me a place to stay. Daniel is in the military and will be gone for three months so it will just be the wife, the kid, and me. Though Melissa, the wife, says she'll be gone most of the time so I'll have the place to myself a lot. Which is great and not so great because I, right now, feel uncomfortable using the kitchen and being in the living room. So I've spent literally all of my time there in my room. But oh well. Once I get a normal schedule going I'll probably spend some time in the gym that they have. Or one of the indoor or outdoor pools they have! I also live by a lake, though I have yet to find said lake. Nor have I been looking for it, exactly. It was beautiful and sunny for the three days my mom was here with me, and then it started raining Thursday and has hardly quit. I love the rain! It feels so wonderful being here!

So far I haven't found a job. None of the places I've applied to have called back and I haven't mustered up the will to start applying to new places yet. I'm exhausted from the move and just want some time to relax. Isn't it amazing that you can get exhausted from driving? It wasn't too bad of a drive, though my mom and I did have to stop to stay the night. We stayed in Ontario. That's right, Ontario, Oregon! I would put pictures up of the drive but I didn't think to take any as I drove the entire time and my camera was packed away somewhere in the depths of my car. But it was mostly flat then there were a lot of trees. Basically like from driving through Salt Lake Valley into the mountains where the trees are. Lots of green. It was gorgeous! The ocean, however, (because my mom and I saw the ocean from afar) looked disgusting and gray. Let's just say I was glad I didn't have to go swim in it. Nonetheless, we had a great time and my mom's uncles were just grand! They've offered to help me as much as they can in regards to finding a job. I laughed because the one uncle I stayed at has a huge house that they use only a corner of but they still couldn't manage to find me a room to stay in for a long period of time. Oh well. The purpose of my coming out here was to find a way to live on my own, having my own apartment accomplishes that. Besides, if I were to stay there I'd have to figure out how to find my own place AND a job. Now I just have to worry about the job. I have a week left to find something good, otherwise it'll be back to payless or some sort just to make ends meet until I can find something serious. It's long hard work, but it should be worth it in the end.

So I felt like making a goals chart, just to see what I can do.
__find apartment (check)
__find job
__make friends (maybe :S)
__live happily ever after! :D

Anyway, I didn't make it through that seriously enough so I'll move on. Hopefully I'll be able to have my friends come visit me because it would be great to show them around and show them why I fell in love with the area. And that's about it. Right now I'm just avoiding finding a job on the internet because I don't seem to do so well, however, I've found some new keywords to toss into the mix of my searches! Yay, go me! :D

Looking up!

So I know it's a bit soon for me to be posting already as nothing has really happened in the past twenty-four hours that would seem to be exciting. Well, my grandma, who has a brother that lives in the Seattle area, has finally given me contact information so I can talk to him. He's (and I find this ironic that you mentioned to do this, Tasha) the bishop of a Single's ward in Seattle and knows girls that are looking for roommates. So that's one less task I have to worry about! Well, I mean, I still have to worry, but it shows that things do start looking up, even on cloudy days like today. I'm excited to get to know family I've never met before and get where I want to. I'm excited to have things start to work out. Hopefully I'll be contacted by the end of the week from one or more of the internships I've applied to. (Or I might just have to go work at Home Depot to earn some extra cash...) I'm actually hoping that if an internship doesn't work out that a job at Barnes and Noble will! I love bookstores and would DIE to work in one! I've applied every summer since I started college and have never been able to get a job with one, but as it's getting closer to Christmas, seasonal hiring is just GRAND! :D Well, that's about it for now.