I totally have a headache and I have to work at Borders tonight. Ack. I just want to go home and go to bed. Ab - I will try to call you tonight and let you know what to come tomorrow, but they're not so good with letting me know when/how long I work.
I was not late for work today. I was actually quite on time. I even drove around the block a couple of times.
I had a HUGE mexican lunch at Manny's with friends, and as I was driving back to work I thought, "Wow, I kind of like my life. Kind of a lot." And then I remembered that I sit in the middle of the Yellow Pages library. And I have a lazy eye.
On my way to Manny's, I found a whole lot of things I thought I had lost. Jimmy John's. The church where Jessica got married. For weeks I've been wondering where they are and how I first got there and then BAM I see both within five minutes of each other. So even though I have no interest in food whatsoever right now, I might go to Jimmy John's and get a Slim 6 before I go to El Borders. And then I'll get married.
Wait.
I work with a boy whom I knew looked really familiar. I thought I went to school with him. He thought he went to school with me. It turns out that we played frisbee together a few months ago. How did I remember this? He reminds me of the person who introduced us. Mr. Chris Royer.
I sold three hats today. That equals $75. I win, I win.
I am going to be late for work. I can just feel it.
My new job is good, the people are super nice and not stuck up/trendy/vapid like the place I used to work (only some of the people were like that, not everyone, don't get me wrong). So far there has been a lot of crafting and cheese, which I heartily endorse. But that doesn't change the fact that I will probably be late.
The Halloween costume dilemma has been solved: I'm going to be Nancy Drew.
True, I don't like Nancy. I think she's an idiot and I hate her stupid boyfriend. But she's a literary character, I'm doing story time tonight (I think - that's a long story), and I have all of the necessary costume items - namely a skirt, socks, a shirt and a combover. I will be channeling Jim Lindstrom for that last one.
So very late.
Lots of news in my little world:
1. I have a job. Not just Borders, but a really great company with great people. It's not for sure "permanent," as I'm working on contract, but it's experience and I'm going to be learning a lot. That's good enough for me.
2. I went on a Yarn Crawl yesterday and had a really great time and bought some great stuff.
3. I hung out with Kella last night and it was the best. Talking, pasta, popcorn, good tunes and a feeling of peace knowing you're with a true friend.
4. This week, Penny has eaten pizza, Chinese food and a pumpkin.
The Yarn Crawl was fabulous. We went to three different stores (one of which I had never visited), I got something at each store (usually MORE than just "something") and they all had snacks for us. I appreciated that a lot. I got to knit with friends and touch every fiber in each store and it was just wonderful. I love knitting friends. I love knitting. I just got myself
Stitch 'n Bitch, a great book by the founder of
Bust, Debbie Stoller. She talks about the feminine history of knitting and reclaiming it and all that good stuff. And the patterns are great. For the first time since I moved here, I feel like I have a definite place and am liked and people want to be around me. I don't care that I'm the youngest member of the group or the one most likely to knit a scarf called "Ribbed for Her Pleasure" - everyone is so fun and has an amazing love for all things handmade. Those are my kind of women. They're also good eaters, which I appreciate. And they've taught me so much, not only about knitting, but just about the area and growing up.
I had originally thought I was going to go back for Homecoming this weekend, but really, isn't that the stupidest thing I've ever said? I'm notorious for hating Homecoming. I mean, I seriously HATE it. I hate everything it stands for and all the hullabaloo associated with it. I think I didn't even like it in high school. And I'm really sad I didn't get to see Abby this weekend, because she's my best mate (I mean that in the pirate sense, not in the Queen's language sense) and I miss her like crazy. But Homecoming is a lot like dinosaurs - I just don't believe in it.
I am once more totally in love with Liz Phair. whitechocolatespaceegg is a really good CD, especially since I put Jill Sobule's song about Kathie Lee and some Fleming and John on the end.
I still like working at Borders. I get to read a lot of magazines and see interesting books. AND I sold porn. That was probably my favorite part. One of the guys buying it was about my age and pretty hot. The other was rather old and unhot. I also sell a lot of gun magazines. I love finding books for people and it turns out that I'm really good at selling things. I can even sell the crappy bath foams we have. Grandmothers love that stuff.
Today I put on a puppet show with some holiday-themed animal pens, retailing at $4.49. The dog visited Santa and told Santa he wanted a frog for Christmas, and then he and the frog sang. And I rang up a book that was $3,987. The woman looked at me and said, "Does that include the 30% off?" and I said maybe there was a little problem. Then she paid $17.95. I still don't know how that happened - the computers were kind of crazy today. Puppet show envy.
For those of you not in my apartment complex, they're reroofing the entire place. The construction crew is made up of men who only speak Spanish and lie in the parking lot during their lunch break, after they have caution-taped the perimeter of my building. They started banging on the room at 7 a.m. and stopped shortly before 7 p.m. They're all over the neighborhood, and they remind me of the crows in The Wiz. I don't, however, think they know how to ease on down the road.
Oh, Ab, I'm not coming this weekend. I want to see you and eat everything in your house, but I have to work until midnight Friday. But check your mailbox Friday.
How to clean your house/apartment when you really don't want to: Turn on the Annie soundtrack and pretend you're an orphan. My apartment has never looked better.
My first day of work was good. It turns out that I make really good cappacinos. It was waaaay more hectic than I thought it would be - every time I've been in the store, it's been dead. Not so.
Chrissy and I watched
Drop Dead Gorgeous. Excellent. I loved every minute of it. I didn't even knit while watching it.
I think I may take a bath.
I work at Borders now. Children's section and music and DVDs (and training in the cafe). Justin is extremely jealous.
There isn't much to write about. I watch a lot of TV and knit. Sometimes I nap. I really really REALLY need a job.
But I might get one today. At a large chain store which sells books, music and movies (and coffee). It would pretty much be a dream job, albeit a part-time one. Cross your fingers for me. And please pray that somebody calls me back about a job that requires a college degree.
I went to the yarn store yesterday. That was fun. Actually, I left the house for the first time in days and was gone all day long. I got some yarn which, it turns out, was in need of some serious relaxation therapy, so I've been conducting my own relaxation experiment. I also bought some teal yarn, which I know will make Abby very happy. I also went to World Market and the library. I couldn't find Jimmy John's (I think it was a mirage in the night), so I went to Planet Sub. Not as good.
I should exercise, but the thought of that bores me.
I like riding the train. I don't like it when I almost miss the train, but the actual riding of the train is very nice.
So is being home and seeing my boyfriend. We watched a lot of baseball and ate a lot of hotdog-like meat. I shopped with my mom (and got some amazing shoes and a great coat), learned how to change antifreeze with my dad and played with the dog. Justin and I took P out for a big walk yesterday and she chased a bunch of squirrels until she wore herself out.
But when the train rolled into Kansas City, I thought, "I'm home," and it felt really good.
Having to pay $30 for parking does not feel very good.
I think it's going to rain. That would be delicious.
Today is a craft/movie day. I have a buttload of movies to watch before 7:30 tomorrow morning, when I leave for Iowa on an honest-to-goodness train. I have a lot of knitting to do (my love has been renewed) AND I'm going to sew myself a knitting needle holder. It's going to be a big day.
I went to a celebration of Taiwan's 92nd National Day last night. My friend (it feels so good to say that) Connie had been planning it for months and invited some of us to go. We had to wear "cocktail attire" and had some good buffet. I had a really nice time and enjoyed the ribbon dancing very much.
Yesterday I bought basket ($1.99, what a deal) to put all of my bath towels in. I'm very excited about it. I also went on a huge walk yesterday along the Overland Park Bike & Hike Trail, and it reminded me a lot of camp, without the screaming children. I did see a lot of squirrels, including a chipmunk.
I made my first omelet this morning and some yummy honey biscuits. I LOVE those Bisquick mixes. I think I liked the omelet, but I also think I won't use butter next time. At least not as much as the recipe told me.
West Wing tonight. I can't freaking wait.
Ooo, a survey. I love surveys.
I went to the world's biggest barbecue contest last night, and, oddly enough, ate no barbecue. I did have a bratwurst, which I like better than barbecue anyway. I met some ... interesting? people and got hit on by drunk guys. Lovely. Sorry, Charlies, I have a SERIOUS boyfriend (they were under the impression that if it wasn't serious, I would still sleep with them. Um, no.) It was a pretty good night, but someone broke my friend's (uncommitted) heart, so we went home early, only to find...
JIMMY JOHN'S. A Jimmy John's just opened in KC, right off Roanoke in the middle of Westport. So of course we stopped and of course I had a Slim 6. Now the only reason I would have to go to Lawrence is for the Yarn Barn. That was seriously the best part of my whole week. I might go back today, just for the hell of it. And maybe tomorrow. And the day after that and the day after that...
I watched
Cecil B. Demented yesterday and enjoyed it very much. I've managed to go through my entire time here without spending any money on video rentals, as I rely on the Johnson County public library system. Yesterday, I rented
The Red Shoes,
Amelie,
Welcome to the Dollhouse,
Charade,
Personal Velocity, a pilates DVD, the New York City Ballet workout and Ballet Bootcamp, which I am about to try. I'm interested in
Personal Velocity because I read the book of short stories of the same name, yet I can't remember anything that happened in it. I also got a mess of books.
As promised, I've been watching Regis and Kelly in the morning (while I also watch two episodes of Dawson each day), and Regis is one funny guy. He and Donald Trump go to baseball games together and he calls him "The Trumpster." Excellent.
I had my second (third and fourth) interview this morning. I'm not sure how it went. No clue. I'm worried because I really want this job. I'm worried because I hate not working. I'm worried because I really, really, really want this job.
My mom sent me two books today: a knitting book and a book about decorating your first apartment. The latter prompted me to clean, and everything looks very nice. I'm even on my last load of laundry. I'm making garlic mashed potatoes (more garlic than potatoes, it turns out) and it smells wonderful in here. The backdoor is open and I'm wearing an entire outfit made of fleece. It feels like fall.
I'm still not sure if I'm going to Columbia this weekend. I'm trying to conserve funds and I'm already going out Friday night (with friends! Hurrah!), and I'm not looking to spend a whole lot. And driving makes me tired. Advice?
