Assorted Ramblings
I have given myself a time limit of 20 minutes (that's how long it's going to be until the drier is done and I have to switch laundry around) to type up whatever comes to mind. I figure I haven't updated this thing in forever so I might as well do it now. So ready or not... here I go. :)
The job is what it is. For the past week or so I have been counting down the days until Labor Day. I lost count yesterday, which I still don't know how that happened since one would think it would just be one day less than the previous day, but oh well. My theory is that a new count down became more important, that count down is how many days it is until I see Matt again, but more on that later.
So yes. The job. Is going alright. I only cry about once a week these days, an improvement really. The really strange thing about this job is that while I was counting down the days until the pools close, and I can't wait for certain life guards to go back to their home countries, and dealing with writing schedules for 10 pools really stresses me out... I'm not so sure that I won't apply for the same job next summer, depending on my circumstances of course. If I find some rocking job that I love and is full time, by all means, I won't come back to my current job next summer, but if I end up doing something like retail or being a waitress... yeah, I'd come back and do all this over again. Is that weird? I feel like that's really weird. Why would I subjugate myself to all the stress and torture that is an area supervisor for a pool management company? I'll tell you. Because I really enjoy talking to so many people. I enjoy working with my life guards (most days) and learning about their cultures and ways of life. I enjoy the fact that I am tan for the first time in my entire known memory. I enjoy our mandatory fun, even if it is at the crack of dawn (seriously, Life Guard Olympics was at 5AM!!!! Who does that? But it was a blast!). I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment I get when I figure out how to do something new, whether it's fixing a leaking parge or how to say funny in Ukrainian or how to replace a broken tube assembly in a chlorinator. I love how my boss almost never checks on me because he trusts me that I'm doing my job and doing it well (and I know he feels this way because he tells me so and because one of the other regionals told me that my boss is constantly bragging about me to the others). I love being able to drive around in my adorable car all day long and travel to different pools and not having to stay in one place. There are so many things about my job that I really enjoy and love. But as with every other story, this one has another side. I hate not having enough hours for all my life guards. I hate learning that my guards are breaking the rules and that I have to discipline then for it. I hate having to pick up a guard every day and drive him half an hour to a different pool because the management of that property has had issues with 6 of the 8 guards that live near that property. I hate having to tell properties that something is wrong with their pool/pump and it will cost them a ton of money to get it fixed/replaced. I hate feeling like I'm nagging a property about a situation that they need to fix but are dragging their feet on. I hate not having a single weekend all summer to go to the beach or to do whatever. I really hated not being able to spend anytime with my brother and his family when they came to visit at the beginning of the summer.
But... all those things considered... I totally believe that if the circumstances require it, I'd do the same job next year.
So this past weekend was tax free weekend, which I love. I love not having to pay tax on clothes and school supplies. And yes, I'm not really buy any school supplies, but I did buy some clothes. Over the course of the summer all my jeans have taken a royal beating. I think I've gone through three pairs of jeans and two pairs of shorts. Chlorine bleaches them pretty badly and if the chlorine didn't get them, I ripped them on a pump or something. So I was like yes! I get to buy new jeans for the fall! Hurray. I headed over to Old Navy because I'm in love with their sweetheart jeans. They are fabulous and I love them. I bought three pairs and some corduroys because I also love those. But the thing I'm most excited about is the fact that I got a jean jacket. I've wanted one for years but never really wanted to spend the money for one. I never get one in the fall and then come spring I think "man, I wish I had a jean jacket" but then it's too late to get one. So this year I sucked it up and bought one. I've only worn it around the house so far, but I'm loving it. I'm loving the fact that I finally bought one. So yay me. :)
For the past year people have randomly been asking me if I've been losing weight. The answer has always been no. Every so often I weigh myself and I always weigh the same, give or take about five pounds. Apparently your body can change shape and you still weigh the same. Who knew? Oh wait, I'm betting a lot of people did. I just never thought about it. That's apparently what's been happening to me. I'm now almost two pant sizes smaller than I was the last time I bought jeans from Old Navy (which was about 18 months ago). I don't think it's a huge deal, but it did really surprise me when I tried on the size that I thought I was and was practically eaten alive by it.
Speaking of being eaten alive, I went to see Julie & Julia last night. I thought it was super cute. Amy Adams was adorable as always and Meryl Streep was fantastic... as always. I really enjoyed it. I think one of my favorite parts is the fact that it's based on the lives of Julia Child and Julie Powell. It was fascinating to see how these two women lives their lives during the time the movie took place. We followed about a decade of Julia Child's life and about a year of Julie Powell's life. Plus watching this movie made me want to learn how to cook better... uh... no, no better, just learn how to cook. I would definitely like to learn how to cook the way these two women were throughout the movie.
Speaking of learning new things... my friend Ceste is giving me flute lessons. I've been interested in learning how to play a musical instrument for a while now and my dad found his old flute and offered it to me (well, I asked if I could have it and he said yes) and now Ceste is teaching me how to play it. I've had about four lessons so far and have barely been allowed to touch the flute. I suppose learning how to breathe properly is important and it's important to make sure that I understand the difference between all the notes and can hear different pitches and such. BUT COME ON! I feel like a little impatient child who just wants to pick up the flute and be able to play it already. All in good time... or so I'm told. I am allowed to blow into the mouth piece now though. My home work currently is to practice the different types of sounds I can make, doo or too. I've got to toos down, but the doos are proving to be a little be more difficult. It may not sound like much, but being allowed to touch the flute is keeping my dreams of dancing around the stage in Lord of the Dance alive. Not that I really expect to be the solo flutist in Lord of the Dance, but hey, everyone needs something to reach towards. :)
This week I'm reaching towards getting through to Friday. On Friday I'm flying out to Kansas to see Matt off. He's leaving for Iraq early next week. I still don't know how I feel about that. I honestly don't think that it's really hit me yet what's about to happen. Our entire relationship has been long distance so what's the difference between him being in Kansas and him being in Iraq? Well, the main thing is that there will be no more monthly visits or nightly phone calls. And, oh, you know, the fact that Iraq is a war zone. But those are the only main things really. I expect to be a complete and total WRECK on Wednesday because by then he'll be gone. One year, starting Wednesday. It's going to be rough.
Oh, times up.
Looks like I've got to go get laundry.
But for those who are wondering (and a lot of people are wondering) no, I have no plans of getting married in the next week nor engaged, and I'm not going to be coming home pregnant. Just want to throw that out there for the world to see.
The job is what it is. For the past week or so I have been counting down the days until Labor Day. I lost count yesterday, which I still don't know how that happened since one would think it would just be one day less than the previous day, but oh well. My theory is that a new count down became more important, that count down is how many days it is until I see Matt again, but more on that later.
So yes. The job. Is going alright. I only cry about once a week these days, an improvement really. The really strange thing about this job is that while I was counting down the days until the pools close, and I can't wait for certain life guards to go back to their home countries, and dealing with writing schedules for 10 pools really stresses me out... I'm not so sure that I won't apply for the same job next summer, depending on my circumstances of course. If I find some rocking job that I love and is full time, by all means, I won't come back to my current job next summer, but if I end up doing something like retail or being a waitress... yeah, I'd come back and do all this over again. Is that weird? I feel like that's really weird. Why would I subjugate myself to all the stress and torture that is an area supervisor for a pool management company? I'll tell you. Because I really enjoy talking to so many people. I enjoy working with my life guards (most days) and learning about their cultures and ways of life. I enjoy the fact that I am tan for the first time in my entire known memory. I enjoy our mandatory fun, even if it is at the crack of dawn (seriously, Life Guard Olympics was at 5AM!!!! Who does that? But it was a blast!). I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment I get when I figure out how to do something new, whether it's fixing a leaking parge or how to say funny in Ukrainian or how to replace a broken tube assembly in a chlorinator. I love how my boss almost never checks on me because he trusts me that I'm doing my job and doing it well (and I know he feels this way because he tells me so and because one of the other regionals told me that my boss is constantly bragging about me to the others). I love being able to drive around in my adorable car all day long and travel to different pools and not having to stay in one place. There are so many things about my job that I really enjoy and love. But as with every other story, this one has another side. I hate not having enough hours for all my life guards. I hate learning that my guards are breaking the rules and that I have to discipline then for it. I hate having to pick up a guard every day and drive him half an hour to a different pool because the management of that property has had issues with 6 of the 8 guards that live near that property. I hate having to tell properties that something is wrong with their pool/pump and it will cost them a ton of money to get it fixed/replaced. I hate feeling like I'm nagging a property about a situation that they need to fix but are dragging their feet on. I hate not having a single weekend all summer to go to the beach or to do whatever. I really hated not being able to spend anytime with my brother and his family when they came to visit at the beginning of the summer.
But... all those things considered... I totally believe that if the circumstances require it, I'd do the same job next year.
So this past weekend was tax free weekend, which I love. I love not having to pay tax on clothes and school supplies. And yes, I'm not really buy any school supplies, but I did buy some clothes. Over the course of the summer all my jeans have taken a royal beating. I think I've gone through three pairs of jeans and two pairs of shorts. Chlorine bleaches them pretty badly and if the chlorine didn't get them, I ripped them on a pump or something. So I was like yes! I get to buy new jeans for the fall! Hurray. I headed over to Old Navy because I'm in love with their sweetheart jeans. They are fabulous and I love them. I bought three pairs and some corduroys because I also love those. But the thing I'm most excited about is the fact that I got a jean jacket. I've wanted one for years but never really wanted to spend the money for one. I never get one in the fall and then come spring I think "man, I wish I had a jean jacket" but then it's too late to get one. So this year I sucked it up and bought one. I've only worn it around the house so far, but I'm loving it. I'm loving the fact that I finally bought one. So yay me. :)
For the past year people have randomly been asking me if I've been losing weight. The answer has always been no. Every so often I weigh myself and I always weigh the same, give or take about five pounds. Apparently your body can change shape and you still weigh the same. Who knew? Oh wait, I'm betting a lot of people did. I just never thought about it. That's apparently what's been happening to me. I'm now almost two pant sizes smaller than I was the last time I bought jeans from Old Navy (which was about 18 months ago). I don't think it's a huge deal, but it did really surprise me when I tried on the size that I thought I was and was practically eaten alive by it.
Speaking of being eaten alive, I went to see Julie & Julia last night. I thought it was super cute. Amy Adams was adorable as always and Meryl Streep was fantastic... as always. I really enjoyed it. I think one of my favorite parts is the fact that it's based on the lives of Julia Child and Julie Powell. It was fascinating to see how these two women lives their lives during the time the movie took place. We followed about a decade of Julia Child's life and about a year of Julie Powell's life. Plus watching this movie made me want to learn how to cook better... uh... no, no better, just learn how to cook. I would definitely like to learn how to cook the way these two women were throughout the movie.
Speaking of learning new things... my friend Ceste is giving me flute lessons. I've been interested in learning how to play a musical instrument for a while now and my dad found his old flute and offered it to me (well, I asked if I could have it and he said yes) and now Ceste is teaching me how to play it. I've had about four lessons so far and have barely been allowed to touch the flute. I suppose learning how to breathe properly is important and it's important to make sure that I understand the difference between all the notes and can hear different pitches and such. BUT COME ON! I feel like a little impatient child who just wants to pick up the flute and be able to play it already. All in good time... or so I'm told. I am allowed to blow into the mouth piece now though. My home work currently is to practice the different types of sounds I can make, doo or too. I've got to toos down, but the doos are proving to be a little be more difficult. It may not sound like much, but being allowed to touch the flute is keeping my dreams of dancing around the stage in Lord of the Dance alive. Not that I really expect to be the solo flutist in Lord of the Dance, but hey, everyone needs something to reach towards. :)
This week I'm reaching towards getting through to Friday. On Friday I'm flying out to Kansas to see Matt off. He's leaving for Iraq early next week. I still don't know how I feel about that. I honestly don't think that it's really hit me yet what's about to happen. Our entire relationship has been long distance so what's the difference between him being in Kansas and him being in Iraq? Well, the main thing is that there will be no more monthly visits or nightly phone calls. And, oh, you know, the fact that Iraq is a war zone. But those are the only main things really. I expect to be a complete and total WRECK on Wednesday because by then he'll be gone. One year, starting Wednesday. It's going to be rough.
Oh, times up.
Looks like I've got to go get laundry.
But for those who are wondering (and a lot of people are wondering) no, I have no plans of getting married in the next week nor engaged, and I'm not going to be coming home pregnant. Just want to throw that out there for the world to see.