New Year, New Excitement!
Figured I would start off the new year with a new entry in LJ! My last post wasn't very happy, now that I review it.
Since my last post I have officially become a shift manager at work, working shifts all by my lonesome and dealing with that fun stuff. It really hasn't been bad so far, and I'm pretty happy to finally have some responsibility for my work.
Kate has been loads better (Heather's actually been the source of a teeny bit of drama....) and I got Christmas weekend all scheduled. Chris and I went home to my parents house on Wednesday after his final exam and we stayed until midday Christmas. Then we high-tailed it over to his parents house and had second-Christmas. My parents were entertaining, as usual, and giving in the food department. We had kielbasa, pierogis and cheese and crackers and too much chocolate and other delectable delights. Overall, a good haul, too. I got a couple video games (The Sims 3 expansion, World Adventures, and Super Mario Bros. Wii), Lost Season 5, new WeatherTec mats for my car (these are amazing!), a combo coffee/espresso maker, a couple new kitchen pans, a pack of kitchen towels, sleep shorts, a brand spankin' new Johnsonville sweatshirt, refrigerator magnets (finally!) and a couple smaller items. From Chris's parents I received a gift card to Barnes & Noble, a bookmark and a stocking filled with candy. Very awesome! Also, I made a trip to B&N and ordered some stuff online just this morning and here were my choices:
-Player's guide for Super Mario Bros. Wii so I can get all those star coins!
-Brave Story, a book I saw in the store and didn't want to pay full price for, so decided to order online instead
-2010 Origami-a-day desk calendar
-Pre-ordered Fables Volume 13: The Great Fables Crossover (so excited for this!)
Speaking of shopping, I will also need to make a trip to Kohl's either today or Sunday because I need to purchase a new business suit and blouse. Why, you ask? Because I have an interview in Minneapolis for a position with Target.
YAY!
I had a short phone interview after I submitted my app online a while ago and then had a follow-up phone interview after which the interviewer told me she'd love to have me come to the headquarters during their next open time, which happens to fall in early January. So I took a couple days off work and am flying into town January 7, with the day full of fun on January 8. I'm also taking part in the optional tour of the city (considering I've never actually been to Minneapolis) the next day. Super excited about all of this! Chris keeps telling me to keep my head up about it, but I'm getting so used to failure that I'm almost 100% sure that I won't get a job offer. BUT, if I did, there would be a few things to think about:
The job starts March 1, so obviously I would have to move prior to Chris graduating. This isn't such a big deal, since he would just move in with me after he's done with school in mid-May. The problem lies in the fact that we have a lease on this apartment through August 14. There again, I'm sure we could find someone to sublet, especially since summers in Madison are incredibly popular and our apartment is in good shape. But, there's a bigger problem. We had to renew this apartment for another year (2010 - 2011) because of the shitty timeline for college campus living. So we'd have to find a way to get out of this lease. While I don't think McBride is going to give us a bunch of grief (considering their generous let for Chris's apartment living situation this year) I feel really bad about trying to get out of the lease, and technically, we're contracted. Basically my plan is if I get an offer, I'll ask for a formal writeup of the job contingent upon living in Minneapolis, show it to McBride and hope that they understand in this economy, this kind of thing is important. I don't think it'll be too big of a deal, I just hope something would get worked out.
Anyway, onto the sad portion of this post. Unfortunately, about 2 days after Chris and I came home for Christmas I called my parents to thank them again for my gifts and letting us stay. My mom got choked up and told me that Becky was put to sleep just that morning. My dad was very visibly upset and had immediately gone to sleep upon returning home. She was with us for 20 years. The vet couldn't believe she was that old, and fought my dad, nearly forcing him to show documentation. In the end, though, my parents believe she was in a good amount of pain, and that it was time. Christmas was rough for her, and I have a feeling they were going to take her prior to the holidays, but then decided since I didn't get to see Roxan before they put her down, it would be good for me to see Becky one last time. Good choice on their part. I will miss her terribly, to be honest. She's been a presence in my life since I was three, and although we haven't always gotten along, seeing her was like knowing that I was truly home. That constant isn't there anymore, and it's truly sad.
New Year's celebrations went well last night, and I had fun. We played some cards, rang in the New Year drinking champagne, giving kisses, clinking glasses and laughing our way through a hilarious Harry Potter parody. This morning was abrupt since Chris is leaving to go to Indiana for the first through the fourth, but not bad. I ended up getting up earlier, doing some online shopping and now I sit, collecting thoughts for the New Year.
All I have to say is that I hope this year is better than last. I truly think 2009 was an unlucky year for me, and I hope that 2010 brings nothing but the good.
Anyway, onto a day filled videogames and laundry, starting with a healthy breakfast and a good dose of Lost Season 5 special features.
Since my last post I have officially become a shift manager at work, working shifts all by my lonesome and dealing with that fun stuff. It really hasn't been bad so far, and I'm pretty happy to finally have some responsibility for my work.
Kate has been loads better (Heather's actually been the source of a teeny bit of drama....) and I got Christmas weekend all scheduled. Chris and I went home to my parents house on Wednesday after his final exam and we stayed until midday Christmas. Then we high-tailed it over to his parents house and had second-Christmas. My parents were entertaining, as usual, and giving in the food department. We had kielbasa, pierogis and cheese and crackers and too much chocolate and other delectable delights. Overall, a good haul, too. I got a couple video games (The Sims 3 expansion, World Adventures, and Super Mario Bros. Wii), Lost Season 5, new WeatherTec mats for my car (these are amazing!), a combo coffee/espresso maker, a couple new kitchen pans, a pack of kitchen towels, sleep shorts, a brand spankin' new Johnsonville sweatshirt, refrigerator magnets (finally!) and a couple smaller items. From Chris's parents I received a gift card to Barnes & Noble, a bookmark and a stocking filled with candy. Very awesome! Also, I made a trip to B&N and ordered some stuff online just this morning and here were my choices:
-Player's guide for Super Mario Bros. Wii so I can get all those star coins!
-Brave Story, a book I saw in the store and didn't want to pay full price for, so decided to order online instead
-2010 Origami-a-day desk calendar
-Pre-ordered Fables Volume 13: The Great Fables Crossover (so excited for this!)
Speaking of shopping, I will also need to make a trip to Kohl's either today or Sunday because I need to purchase a new business suit and blouse. Why, you ask? Because I have an interview in Minneapolis for a position with Target.
YAY!
I had a short phone interview after I submitted my app online a while ago and then had a follow-up phone interview after which the interviewer told me she'd love to have me come to the headquarters during their next open time, which happens to fall in early January. So I took a couple days off work and am flying into town January 7, with the day full of fun on January 8. I'm also taking part in the optional tour of the city (considering I've never actually been to Minneapolis) the next day. Super excited about all of this! Chris keeps telling me to keep my head up about it, but I'm getting so used to failure that I'm almost 100% sure that I won't get a job offer. BUT, if I did, there would be a few things to think about:
The job starts March 1, so obviously I would have to move prior to Chris graduating. This isn't such a big deal, since he would just move in with me after he's done with school in mid-May. The problem lies in the fact that we have a lease on this apartment through August 14. There again, I'm sure we could find someone to sublet, especially since summers in Madison are incredibly popular and our apartment is in good shape. But, there's a bigger problem. We had to renew this apartment for another year (2010 - 2011) because of the shitty timeline for college campus living. So we'd have to find a way to get out of this lease. While I don't think McBride is going to give us a bunch of grief (considering their generous let for Chris's apartment living situation this year) I feel really bad about trying to get out of the lease, and technically, we're contracted. Basically my plan is if I get an offer, I'll ask for a formal writeup of the job contingent upon living in Minneapolis, show it to McBride and hope that they understand in this economy, this kind of thing is important. I don't think it'll be too big of a deal, I just hope something would get worked out.
Anyway, onto the sad portion of this post. Unfortunately, about 2 days after Chris and I came home for Christmas I called my parents to thank them again for my gifts and letting us stay. My mom got choked up and told me that Becky was put to sleep just that morning. My dad was very visibly upset and had immediately gone to sleep upon returning home. She was with us for 20 years. The vet couldn't believe she was that old, and fought my dad, nearly forcing him to show documentation. In the end, though, my parents believe she was in a good amount of pain, and that it was time. Christmas was rough for her, and I have a feeling they were going to take her prior to the holidays, but then decided since I didn't get to see Roxan before they put her down, it would be good for me to see Becky one last time. Good choice on their part. I will miss her terribly, to be honest. She's been a presence in my life since I was three, and although we haven't always gotten along, seeing her was like knowing that I was truly home. That constant isn't there anymore, and it's truly sad.
New Year's celebrations went well last night, and I had fun. We played some cards, rang in the New Year drinking champagne, giving kisses, clinking glasses and laughing our way through a hilarious Harry Potter parody. This morning was abrupt since Chris is leaving to go to Indiana for the first through the fourth, but not bad. I ended up getting up earlier, doing some online shopping and now I sit, collecting thoughts for the New Year.
All I have to say is that I hope this year is better than last. I truly think 2009 was an unlucky year for me, and I hope that 2010 brings nothing but the good.
Anyway, onto a day filled videogames and laundry, starting with a healthy breakfast and a good dose of Lost Season 5 special features.