Another year ends...

Well, today is the last day of the year. I celebrated it by going shopping for a new outfit. I hate shopping. I hate clothes. I don't like stores very much. Yeah. It wasn't the best idea, especially since I'm a sniffling little disease bag at the moment. Oh well, perhaps I shared my cold with other customers! MUAHAHAH!

-ahem- Anyway... Many things happened this year. Some good. Some bad. Some I just can't remember. But there was always one thing there: my friends! ^_^ I'm not trying to be all sappy and all that, but having my friends throughout this year was wonderful. When I went through a hard break-up, they were there as shoulders to cry on. (I still love that plant.) They were there to give me a nice party when I graduated. They've supported me through anything and everything that matters in life. I'm glad I have them and I'm glad to start a new year with them, even if we all are thousands of miles apart. We'll get together again soon and have lots to talk about.

I hope everyone has a great new year and I hope everyone can gain wonderful friends like I have! Be safe, play it smart, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Well, I just wanted to wish all my loyal readers a very merry Christmas! I know it's kinda late in the day (especially since I'm the farthest out in the time zone and last to have reached Christmas). I guess I can tell everyone how my Christmas went:

It was actually rather a great one for not being at home surrounded by family. I do miss my family at this time so I was worried about not having Christmas, but Paul made it wonderful! What he got me was an iPod and a digital picture frame! I'm so excited!!! I'm going to set it up as soon as I can and get pictures of my friends and family and not be so home sick. He also got me a 2GB memory card to put in there so it will have LOTS of pictures!

What I got Paul was a charging valet for his night stand, Kung Fu Panda, Dark Knight, and lots of stocking stuffers. Each came with a coupon saying what it was good for (like cuddles and cocoa and kisses etc). It was great. I also got myself some scrap booking things for my stocking (because I needed stuff to make Paul's coupons with!). Soon I'll be heading over to Paul's parent's house for Christmas dinner and more gift swapping.

Paul and his family have made me feel very welcome this Christmas. This morning we went over to a friend of the families and had breakfast. Don makes wonderful cinnamon rolls (he's quite the bake and Paul's dad for those that hadn't guessed). And while all the older adults talked I played Rockband 2 with Adam, Jim, and Paul (who wouldn't sing. The gooberhead!).

I hope everyone else had a great Christmas and that the New Year proves to be one of amazement and wonder! Tune in next time for another update of life in Washington!

Update of the Century!

Okay, so I figure a month of avoiding what's going on in my life is long enough. The biggest reason for lack of contact is because there has literally been nothing new or exciting going on. I still hate my current job and I am still applying like crazy to different positions. However, I'm doing this round with a little more enthusiasm and confidence. I realize that I can't sit and feel sorry for myself and the fact that I'm not getting a job because I'm not the only one. The way to make myself stand out is to work hard and not just give up. I need to show that even if the economy is down, I am not. I cannot let my excuses get me down. No matter what I am a competent and skilled editor. I have to do more than just try applying. I need to learn more about where I'm applying and learn why I want to apply there. Right now I'm going to have to take jobs I don't really want so I can spend my free time getting ready and qualified for the job that I really want.

My first step is in myself. My second step is in my outside appearance. I need to have my confidence emulated in what I wear and how I project who I am. Sometime I'm going to actually go shopping and actually buy some clothes like they show on "What not to Wear" that are sexy/mature yet professional. Which means I get to learn how to walk in pointy shoes with high thin heels...

In other news, I've been applying to places in Utah now as well. I figure if I'm not goign to get anything around here I should at least apply for out there and then I am covering more bases than just Washington. I don't want to leave here, but I might just have to until I can find a job here that is steady. That is life, I suppose. And this is it until something more happens, I suppose. ^_^

: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!

Superstitious?

So I sent out an Email Thursday, later evening. It was a chainmail, to be honest. Now, generally I don't believe in such foolish chainmails and delete them as soon as I see what they are, especially when they're sent to my "professional" email I use only for work purposes. Well, I happened to get one of these chainmails from my grandma because I unwisely shared with her that particular email address when I was trying to get help finding a job and place to live in Washington. Now I get lots of forwards, again, most of which I just erase. However, on this particular Thursday afternoon I decided to open the email and just read it, just because it gave me something to do. All I had to do was read it, make a wish, then send it off to ten people and my wish would come true if I sent it within the hour of my reading said email. I thought, "Sure, why not." So I made my wish, rolling my eyes as I roll down thinking this email was just like all the rest I'd done and my wish never came true for those ones. Well, I type up ten email addresses that I can remember because I don't have any of my friends' email addresses in that particular account. So I send it off and just go about my business (sadly I can't remember what I was doing afterwards...that's how boring it was). Well, within probably two hours I got a phone call and my wish came true!

I GOT A JOB!!! Okay, so it's not the best job and it's a job that just about any person with a brain (functional or not) could get. It's a temporary position that will give me enough money to last through the holiday season plus a little extra (maybe). I'll be working as a sales associate for Macy's. Particularly in the textile department, the holiday textile department. Basically I'll be selling sheets, comforters, and other bedding materials. FUN! I also find it slightly ironic as I don't even have myself a real bed! Yes, laugh it up with me! Thankfully I'm not on commission and hopefully it's a job I can handle. I was told I'll have to spend just a little more extra time with customers than say a shoe sales person or clothing seller or even cashier. Which I also find ironic as I was hoping to have a position that required as little contact with customers as possible. I think that's someone telling me I need to grow up. Anyway, that's about all the good news I have. Since I'll have most of my days free through the week I'm going to try getting on a volunteer staff that publishes a magazine! Yay for that! That will start giving me editing experience as well as what it's like to actually work in the publishing industry! So this is really a blessing in disguise. Or something like that.

So the next time you get one of those emails and you think it will never work, now you know someone that has actually had their wish come true! :D

The Perfect Number: 7

Okay, so I've been tagged to write seven random facts about myself by Erica. This is gonna be interesting, so bear with me.

Fact #1: I have a very active imagination. Okay, so that's a pretty boring one unless you understand what I mean by active imagination. (Now to the embarassing part of this fact) Though I haven't done so in the past couple of years one of my favorite activities is to live in the world of others, particularly books. I spent several several...several hours playing Harry Potter in my bedroom. I got so obsessed with the books I read them so many times I didn't even have to turn the page to know what the next words were. I have (note the still present) lists of all the spells that J.K. Rowling ever used in any of her books. I even made myself a wand. On top of that I saved several different coins to pretend they were the coins of wizards. Now that's out of the way, the rest of these facts just might be boring...

Fact #2: I potty trained myself. That's right. No need for parents to take me to the little potty and give me stickers for making it on time. One day I came home and told my parents I no longer wanted to wear diapers. I was about 18 months old (or young) and was basically trained from that point on. Sure, accidents may have happened...now to the next fact...

Fact #3: My favorite scent is vanilla. I just love it! I think it's a charming and romantic scent. I also happen to love the taste in cakes anc such. So much better than chocolate. That one just came to my head beacuse of the lotion I'm wearing right now that isn't vanilla and is kinda making me dizzy from how strong it is (I think I should have shaken the bottle).

Fact #4: I don't like chicken. There's just something about chicken that doesn't taste yummy to me. I'll eat it, especially if it's well hidden like in a soup or pasta type dish, but I have a really hard time eating just plain chicken. It's just...yucky to me. I think this hatred was enhanced by my trip to Europe when I had to eat chicken every day for lunch and dinner. It was hard to eat that much greasy food. Bleh. So now I'm very much a beef loving girl.

Fact #5: I enjoy playing WoW--short for World of Warcraft. I really know nothing of the game, but I happen to have a great time playing. I'm actually getting better after playing for just over a year... Granted, most of that year I wasn't playing because I couldn't get the game while living on campus.

Fact #6: I like cake decorating. I never thought I could get into it, but it's a challenging and quite exciting experience. I did it once for a cake walk I did for one of my jobs. I made a pretty barbie cake and enjoyed it quite a lot! I've decided I'd like to take cake decorating classes to get better at it and see if I really like it.

Fact #7: I'm a big baby. Really, I am. When things don't go right or there's something sad, I cry. Big fat tears. I usually try to hide it because crying is not the most attractive look in the world, but I'm a big baby. Happy endings, sad endings, love endings, they all make me cry.

So there you have it. Seven random (I'd like to put more emphasis on random) facts about me. Hope you all enjoyed! Oh, and I tag Ben and Rachel to do this same thing! Find seven random facts about yourself and post them someplace (or even just email them! :D) so we can all learn more about you too!

"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