Turning Around the Days

I am going bananas! How do I turn my day around? I slept when I got home today (at 8:30am) up until 4pm and I have been feeling so tired! I need to make a schedule. When to eat, when to jog, when to sleep. My body feels so weird and out of it. Luckily Athena was here to care for the kiddies otherwise I'd be a complete mess.

Hmmmm, I guess the cool thing about this schedule is that I am off on Friday and Saturday nights which is when staying awake would be appropriate, especially with my track record. I go home when I'm tired. So in SB, if I was out, aka at Wildcat, and I got tired, I'd just go home. There were so many nights when we'd get to our destination...Wildcat...around 11pm and by midnight I was ready to go home. And I did. The alternative was that I'd nod off in clubs, bars...ok Wildcat... and they'd ask (kick me out) to leave. Hm, we shall see what becomes of all this...

Gotta go, work in an hour!

My New Temp Job

That job, I can't say it is in the bag, but I am IN! So, I began training on Friday, did some more on Saturday, and I had my first shift by myself last night (well this morning). I am ecstatic! 

The organization that I work (this is a temporary position because the person I am covering for is on leave...after she comes back I am going to be a floater) provides services for women that are in need of housing, counseling, child care, legal services, visitation services, job placement, and so much more (I literally spent two hours online yesterday trying to memorize all the different programs they have). They also provide some services for men, youth, and veterans, but the majority of our population are women.

The shift was 12 (midnight) to 8am this morning and it was very slllooowww up until 7am. So I sit in this office that faces the front door and the lobby. I am supposed to pick up phones, buzz people in (I have to buzz people in through two different doors. Also housing is located on site), transfer calls to the appropriate staff members, and I am supposed to keep an eyeball out on what is going on (we have video cameras in 16 different locations around the premises). There is a lot of security for the women that this organization serves however we do not have an actual security guard. BUT, I kid not, if the cameras, locked doors, and a couple of other security measures fail...we have a baseball bat within arm's reach. BOOM! (and whack!).

We have a tv, radio, and computer in the room that I can use to keep myself awake...but honestly...I want to do anything that will allow me to contribute anything to the org (I don't just want to sit there!). So tonight I am going to compile a list of the things I may hopefully be able to help with... In fact I must go soon, my shift begins in 51 minutes!

In the meantime, it was Athena's birthday (yay 26!) on the 22nd so here are some pictures of our diy event:

Jeffrey baked AND decorated this delicious cake for his lovely wife (I helped transfer it, that's about it)

Athena was quite pleased with her birthday iphone! We also ordered Olive Garden and it was a merry time

We put balloons up to decorate this festivity.

Well, I will write more tomorrow. Gotta run, g'night to you!

Pugs and Jobs

So I did interview with that non-profit organization... and I am waiting for their response...but I kind of received a response?!?! I interviewed with them on Thursday and on Friday I received a message from the HR department that asked if I would be interested in the position but at a different shift (a way different shift...full time from midnight to 8am as opposed to part time from 8am to 4pm).

I thought about it a bit before I called back. I had interviewed Friday morning with a bank and I felt pretty confident about that, even though that job was not offered...but in the end I really really want to work with the non-profit...so I called them back and said I was interested and I WANT TO WORK WITH THEM. I am young, I can handle my day being turned around, I think.

Well it is Monday and they have not called me back. But I emailed them so maybe tomorrow they'll call? My fingers are super duper crossed and I am worried but excited about this... That bank also did not call back... but it is ok. It will all be ok.

In the meantime, I am posting pictures of pugs from the internet because they make me happy and they're adorable and sweet.

So cute!!!!

I ♥ pugs. 

I recently found an organization that places unwanted pugs in homes! It's called the Midwest Pug Rescue and when I am ready, they will be receiving a call from me.

I have male and female pug names picked out. I know, I know. Weird. But I do.

Well that is all for now. Good night and happy thoughts all around! 

Traveling Petting Zoo (Boo)

I do not like going to circuses that include animals. I think it is mean and I do no believe it is humane. So when Jeffrey told me he was going to take the kids to the circus and if I would like to go... I just had to say no. Then, I found out it was a traveling petting zoo. In my head I pictured us going to some enclosed outdoor field where there would be rabbits, goats, maybe some ponies. I pictured a May Day celebration with sheep. I was actually curious and I went.

It was just... bad. 

There were several animals featured that I consider exotic and this was not the right place for them. To name a few there were camels, a kangaroo, a zebra, some yaks, and even an elephant. The event took place inside a warehouse. The animals were enclosed in small spaces. There were those little vending machine things were you can buy candy next to each enclosed animal but instead of candy you could put in 25 cents and get pebble feed for the animals. It was just so sad. I don't know. I think that there are better ways for people to be exposed to the animal kingdom and this does not garner any respect for them, or us.

I tried to think about it from the standpoint of a parent. I would want my child to get to see and experience the world (places, people, animals, etc.) but this form of exposure promotes little understanding and appreciation. At one point, Jeffrey pointed out that there were animals from all over the world, and they were being fed the SAME pebbles... for our fun.

So what do we do? What do I do? There are so many causes and I feel hopeless that I can't support each one. Is my only option to donate money to an organization that promotes saving these animals' homes? I don't know. I just do not know.

King of Prussia!

Hello, ok, so after much consideration, I am going to keep that last post up as a reminder to take it easy next time and uh, not post anything so intense...instead you may be one of my "lucky" friends receiving the letter that contains such angst.

I also realized that I really need a real camera. The camera on my phone is nice when I do not have a real camera, but a real camera would be very very nice.

Anyway, King of Prussia mall. What a name right?! King of Prussia is a city, or a place?, located north of Philly that contains this huge beast of a mall (biggest one on East coast). I mean there were some stores represented more than once (they have 3 AT&T's!) and tons of coffee places and we decided to check it out the day before we went out to Baltimore. And it was interesting, not really my thing, but I am super glad I went because afterwards Jeffrey got this huge urge to get a lobster (yep, he just decided it was time to order a lobster) so we went to Red Lobster. And had a blast.

This was the lobster that Jeffrey picked out and since this guy posed with it, what the heck, the more the merrier, I took a picture of him too!

 We posed with the remains... I'm not sure why but this pose seemed appropriate...

Actually, I do know why we thought the pose to be appropriate. This is why. Hee hee.

Then we went to Baltimore the next day. And that was King of Prussia. Next on what I wanna talk about to catch up:

-that place I applied to

-poor petting zoo animals (so sad)

-NYC

And then we are caught up! Yay!

Homesick.

I woke up sick. Physically. Stomach flu or something gross like that. And I usually never get sick. Being sick has always made me feel nostalgia. Nostalgic. And nostalgia has now turned into a deep longing for home. I miss home. I want to go home. But I haven't a clue where this may be anymore. And then I am saddened.

I do not have another home. Where is this place I miss? Because I can't picture it physically. So I picture theDinglehopper's bed, with him, telling me it will be ok and I tell him it will be ok and him making me laugh as we share the ridiculousness that is us. Being in his car and turning to look at him as we curse and cruise and Santa Barbara glows in the pink hue that showers our view. My Ma's living room, with her, while Josue and I make inappropriate jokes to make her laugh and Earl smiles too. Or my Ma running her fingers through my hair. Guy Ky, but just him, because the place we used to call ours makes me sad and his new place does not include me, so just him. I miss thinking about how lucky I was when once upon a time I was in love with him and he was in love with me and damn weren't we lucky, just so damn lucky, and it is all right there in that gaze that we share. Being with my dad as we get ready to visit our family and he talks to me about his doings and I want to hear and comment and show that I care and  that in itself seals that it is fact that we do love one another and the past passed. Laughing with My Thanh on the phone and planning our next drive to see one another. Then laughing uncontrollably when we are together because we are drinking and talking and writing each other's names with hearts in the mist on the glass that represents and is the moment that we are in.

I miss them. I want them to be near. But they are not. I am not. And so I just am left with this feeling that makes me an absurd melodramatic girl. And right now, I want to run back but I wouldn't have a particular location to go to. And sirens of sadness run through me. And I miss and I long.

So here I am, missing people and moments and times. And then feeling sad that home is not over there anymore. But right here and I am lonely and sick.

Interview?

Just finished watching the Clippers lose to Boston. Such talent on this team these Clipps have...where are you guys? Come on and glue together and sparkle! Griffin did have some sweet yammies and CP3 did have a broken nose, but c'mon!

Well in other/better news:

Today I finally got a call back from one of the places I applied to! This is the only place that has actually called me back to set up an interview. I don't really want to show how excited I am for an interview, well honestly for THIS interview, but I am. It is for a weekend receptionist position at an establishment whose aim it is to empower women. I really really really hope this goes through. It would be such a cool job because I would have a job that I feel is actually contributing something to the world. And there is so much that an organization like this one could accomplish and so many different ways to do so and I just really aspire to be a part of it but I gotta be cool. Composed. A cool composed cucumber. Calm. Efficient looking. AAHHHHHH!!!! So yes, I am going to hopefully be able to receive an interview this Thursday or Friday. I missed the call today so I left a blubbering message (yikes) back on the director's answering machine AND I emailed her too... Maybe a little too nutty? Maybe a little too crazy? Perhaps. Cool composed cucumber! Breath. I haven't told my Ma or anyone else... because I am scared I won't get it. Well, Athena and Mtm know about it but that's about it. Aggghhhhh. AAAAHHHHH!!!

Ok, ok... cucumber. I was going to talk about King of Prussia today but really it is kinda late and I am going to talk about it later and I seem to be building up to it for some reason. And right now all I really have on my mind is this interview which I am super excited/nervous about... Cucumber!!!!!!!