New pad :)

So Cait and I have moved in together. I couldn't be more pleased. We have been enjoying our apartment by drinking beer, sleeping, and watching Michael Jackson videos on you tube... :( Come visit!!! That is all <3

LIFE!

I'm just becoming overwhelmingly amused with my life lately. It feels wonderful. I'm making friends, finding time to play, and just living. And also, REALLY funny things have been happening to me lately...

So anywho, no one blogs anymore, me included. But I figured this is the best way to say to the people I know of who are cool enough to read this (AKA Josie, Noonan, Cleary, Cait, Mackey, and sometimes Rachel) I'm completely in love with you. That is all.

OOOooooneontaaaa

I'm done with classes and I'm heading to Oneonta on Monday for a whole week! I can't wait. Hopefully when I get back, things will be wayyyyy better around here for me. Cait will be nearby. I'm hopefully getting a real big girl job that's actually relevant to my future career. AND I get to move to a new apartment and hopefully make it really really cool looking! But for now, I'm just waaaiiitttting waiting...

Dear Josefin,

Dear Josefin,

Red pants season has returned:

Sincerely,
Your friend Jenn

PS: I had a difficult time managing this photograph. I hope you appreciate it!!

There is a storm brewing...

Thunder storms certainly are scary things... If this doesn't get people to vote down gay marriage, I don't know what will!!!

Its a fucked up world out there...

I just can't understand people. Iowa's decided that gays can marry (YAY). And opponents are already starting the process of trying to amend the state constitution to re-ban gay marriage. Meanwhile, some assholes went on a shooting spree in a Binghamton office where services are provided to refugees and immigrants. They killed several and were holding many more hostage for several hours.

And I am just perplexed. I mean seriously, if you don't like gays or immigrants, don't be friends with them. Maybe even throw in some derogatory language if you REALLY have a reason to hate them. But what is it about two men putting rings on each other's fingers or people speaking a different language that could make a person feel the need to write discrimination into a constitution or to commit murder. I'd like to amend the US constitution to outlaw douche-baggery in all 50 states... Unfortunately, we don't have the means to imprison all the offenders...

Ants in my pants

So I'm waiting to find out whether I got one of the Graduate Assistantships I applied for. Whether or not I get one is the basis for a majority of the decision that I am currently need to make. Its driving me loco!!

On the bright side of things, I found and signed a lease for a MOST FABULOUS new apartment that I'll move into June 30th(ish). And there I shall wait for Cait to start bringing home the bacon and move in with me. WAAHOOO!! Everything is better when you live with a friend :-D

And that is all I have to say.

Free time whaaaatt??

Not working is fabulous! I've spent the past two days organizing my life and my apartment. I have a budget so I don't run out of money, I have calendars and lists of all my assignments and projects that need to be done during the next two months, and my floors are clean!! Weird!! My mind feels so much less cluttered and I'm gunna be able to get so much done now! wahhhoooo!!

Also, I get to have so much fun for the next week. I'm going to lunch with Rahim today and then driving home to spend the weekend with Mommy. Sunday evening I'm having dinner with Mr. Sean Sherwood and I couldn't be more excited to spend some time with that man! Monday Alysa is coming here and we're just going to hang around, do homework, and enjoy some vacation. THEN we're going down to Oneonta on thursday with little Franklyn Baxter. Noonan's arm has been twisted in to coming to Otown two weekends in a row so I get to see that girl too. It was pretty tough to convince her but somehow it happened hahaha. While I'm there, Meg Dorak and I are going to play some pool with Sheila Serbay. OH MY GOSHHHH I'm so excited! EEEEeeeeee See ya soooooooonnnn!!!

Feeling about 2 inches tall...

I currently feel like the word's worst person. I went in to work, told my boss I was worried about the hours she was giving me and that I wasn't going to be able to juggle school and work. Monday night she told me that working 3 days a week wasn't going to be enough and that I wouldn't catch on or be of any use to her... TODAY she was acting like 3 days a week was what we had decided on and that would be fine (just like she had said in the beginning). I said I didn't want to have to worry about being given more hours than I could handle and I thought a lot about it and decided I was just going to make it work living off the money I have. She said I should have thought about that before she wasted her time training me since there were four other girls who had applied that she could have given the job to if she knew that I didn't really need a job and that I was "too old to be pulling stuff like that". After that, she just turned around and walked out of her office and left me there with two other employees staring at me. I honestly feel like I've just been in a fight by the lockers in middle school!... I'm not quite sure but I don't believe thats how you're supposed to treat your employees.

So now I feel like a big idiot, but at least I'm no longer working for someone who treats me like that. AND I'm free and clear for visiting loved ones whenever I want. Wahhooo
PS: This is my face for the crazy woman!!

Light at the end of the tunnel....

I haven't blogged in a while. Its been on purpose. I've only had negative things to say for a couple weeks and now I'm starting to see a light at the end of my tunnel!!

I quit Friendly's as announced. This past Sunday was my last day I feel so liberated. I got a new job at a dress shop up the street from my house. I started there two Sundays ago. If you do the math, that equals one week, two jobs. I was a little worn out. At first I really liked the new job but the honeymoon phase is over and I like it no longer. It would be totally doable if I were given the 15-20 hours I was promised. Unfortunately, this week I was given 29 hours. That is 9 hours too many, which makes a big difference in my life. When I brought this to the attention of the owner, she seemed to have no recollection of saying anything about 15-20 hours and pretty much told me that that was not a possibility. The woman terrifies me so I was unable to stand up for myself yesterday when I was talking to her. I've looked over my finances and budgeted out the loan refund money I have and have decided that I am just going to be unemployed for a while. Its not a good move financially, but lets be honest, NOTHING is a good move financially these days. Not working will allow me to get involved in a lot of things around here that I simply didn't have time for up until now. ALSO, I'll be able to make it to Oneontaaaa!!!! Waahooooo!!! I won't be able to spend any money while I'm there, but I think I know enough people who love me to work it out.

After arriving home from my dreadful encounter with the scary lady at work, I decided to go ahead and cut my finger right open on an aluminum can. It hurt quite a bit and I am currently typing with only nine digits. Oh welllll. Today was significantly better because after arriving home from class this evening, I received an email asking me for an interview for the two student affairs graduate assistantships that I applied to, one with the rape center and one with the LGBT center on campus. Allow me to elaborate on the various perks of either of these wonderful positions:
1) Paid tuition
2) A stipend that will allow me to survive without having to work some stupid job
3) Instant involvement on campus
4) Both are centers that i care a lot about and would LOVE to work in
5) Weekends off.. always.
6) School vacation off.. always.
7) Excellent resume builders
8) A feeling of deep personal satisfaction
There are many more but you get the gist.

I am also celebrating the fact that by quitting my job tomorrow, I will get a real live spring break!!! Granted, I have more than enough work to keep me busy but its still a vacation!!! I will see my fam, I will see my girl, and I will see my Oneonta! This is the happiest day I have had in quite a while and I reallyreallyreallyreally hope everything works out the way it seems to be headed!

Perhaps now that I'm out of my gloomy phase, I'll post more often, you never know!

:)

Friendly's will be the death of me

So apparently in Friendly's lingo, when you ask to have your hours cut back from 20-25, that really means give me 35-40... Awesome. Its vacation for the children of Syracuse so my manager said she would schedule me for the normal amount of hours this week and then cut back next week. That would have been fine it were what happened. I'm not sure what there going to do about all those hours when I quit...

I went to Alysa's house this past weekend (to celebrate her birthday that was a week ago and coincidentally the weekend encompassed february 14th, a pseudo-holiday which I refuse to acknowledge.) Anywayyyyy whilst I was there, I got a bit bored and went to visit Alysa's hairdresser, Bonnie. The woman is fabulous and THIS is what I look like now...



Its taking a little getting used to but I think I like it. I always wondered if I was one of those people who could pull off a super short haircut so I just went ahead and tried it! I like being brave :)

Living alone in the place is definitely making me a lot more independent and brave and things of that nature. Now I feel like I have a haircut to go along with all that. Its funny how I'm 21 years old and still trying to find an identity.... I guess its more exciting this way though. Being able to change and redefine my life will hopefully make it more exciting.

This week has been bad news city for too many of my friends. I do not approve and I wish it to stop this instant. So there. But just in case anyone's forgotten, I love you dearly... and hopefully you still love me with short hair!!

Now is the time for reading and note taking. I'm going to free meditation on campus at 5:30. Hopefully I will find my chi and zen out... or something like that.

Maybe spring should come....

I haven't written in a while because my life has been a little bleak. I've only been surviving from one visit to the next of people I love. Last weekend was Oneonta, this past weekend was Alysa, next weekend is home and mommy. The in between times are spent at class, at Friendly's which I hate more than anything, and alone in my apartment. I've been staying pretty posi about it though. I'm pretty good about getting my homework done and keeping my room clean with so little to do.

Friendly's is my bigggg problem right now. I have completely random hours and NEVER get out on time and I just can't get into a routine with that kind of job, so I'm searching elsewhere. I applied to a bank and they want to set up an interview, I'm just waiting to hear when. Its not an ideal job, but its low-stress and regular hours which is pretty much all I ask right now. I also put in an app at a SUPER SWEET little vegan/vegetarian coffeshop/restaurant/bar place. Either job would make m infinitely more happy than Friendly's and I would finally be able to do other things here in Syracuse because I wouldn't constantly be tip-toeing around my work schedule.

In one of my classes last week, we had to do a presentation about our family culture. It was very arts-and-craftsy and I HATED it. I mean, I love my family but lets be honest, we have NOTHING in common. So my presentation was pretty much about how much I differ from them and came off as me basically implying that I am like estranged from my family. Not true. Whatever, at least its over with and my first grad school presentation is behind me wahhoooo!!!

I'm still waiting on my loan and refund check to process through the school (story of my life!!) Once that happens, I'll be more secure with money and might be able to go do a thing or two in the city. I really want to sign up for a yoga class. I loved doing yoga at oneonta and itll be a super cool way to meet people. Its much more difficult to meet awesome, chill, fun people around here than it was in oneonta. There you pretty much look around, find anyone who doesn't have letters written across their chest, and they're your instant friend. SU is the land of rich cool kids... not my style. I'm to far from campus to be able to walk out my door and be involved in something, but too close to meet anyone but college kids within a 2 mile radius. What a pickle I am in!!

I think I shall just continue hibernating until spring. By then I'll have a better job, a better outlook, and a better internal body temperature.... sounds goooooodddd to me!!! :-D

I just watched this and cried through the whole thing.

I feel old... in a good way

Today I had the most bizarre feeling while doing homework... I was EXCITED to learn and ENJOYING reading from a textbook. I've heard of this feeling before, but never really experienced it myself. I mean, I was usually interested in what I was learning at Oneonta but now I feel excited....

Also today, I applied for a real big girl job working with developmentally disabled (autistic, mentally retarded, etc.). I had to rework my resume and write a cover letter off the top of my head. Aside from that, I cooked myself a meal and tidied up the apartment. And that is when it hit me... I am old and I don't mind.

Luckily, on Saturday, I get to go to Oneonta and be a kid again! Sometimes you CAN have your cake and eat it too :)

Now I must get ready for Friendlys. Guhhh-rooossssss!!

The Big F returns!

Today I started working at Friendly's. What I wouldn't give to never step foot in another Friendly's for the rest of my life! This place is completely different from the one in Oneonta so I was TOTALLY lost. Literally, the only similarity between the two stores is the low quality food... Luckily, this is a busy store so I'll be able to make some money which is the whole point in the first place.

After work I went to the first day of my third class. The work load for this class is going to be insane! Not hard, just a lot of it. Luckily it looks like its going to be really cool. Its pretty much just about diversity and how to go about counseling people who are different than you. The prof seems cool and we are doing a lot of activities.... Its basically being a RA for credit.

After class I went and bought the last of the books I need. I feel like I've been robbed. $300 for 3 classes. I haven't spent that much for 5 classes in a long time. Also, I'm broke as a joke :(

Now I'm just gunna watch a movie and go to sleep and then get up early tomorrow to do homework and clean the apartment. HOW FUN!

My happy place

I just discovered how I intend to survive being a grad student in my quiet little apartment! hahaha

BEER + BOOKS = not so bad!!

Research Methods

I survived 6 straight hours of class yesterday. I have nothing to do today so I guess that means recuperation time! Unfortunately, I was assigned 80-some pages of reading for my research methods class (and 2 chapters from a book I don't have yet for my other class). The plus side to research methods is that it seems that it will be very similar to the class I took at Oneonta. The down-side is, it was the most boring class ever the FIRST time around... Oy vey! So naturally, I'm taking a break from reading to write a lovely post.

Yesterday, I was so scared about finding my way around campus and getting to my classes. Luckily, I found a parking spot right away (which I overstayed by an hour without getting a ticket!! Wahoooo!!) Then I found my way to the bookstore and then to the ID card office without getting lost. I felt about 5 years old looking up at these big buildings, having no idea where I was. While walking, I played the always fun game where you think you see people you know, but turns out, they aren't who you thought they were. Luckily, I didn't go running up to any random people thinking they were loved ones! haha

In my fist class, everyone seemed to be at least in their late 20s and dressed like they had just come from fancy-schmancy grown-up jobs. I continued to feel 5. They all knew each other from having had classes together in the past. Awkward! Luckily at break time my professor, who is also my advisor, talked to me. He even remembered my name! He must have been able to tell how silly I felt and was nice enough to ease the tension. He's not so bad! haha

After that class, I had to drive 5 miles in the snow to the Jamesville-Dewitt middle school where the incredibly intelligent folks at Syracuse University decided would be a good place to have classes. Apparently from 7-10pm all the classrooms on campus are occupied?? I discovered that a couple people from my first class were heading to that class as well so we naturally fell into awkward conversation about driving conditions.... I guess any conversation is better than none!

In this class, I sat next to two girls who were friends. They chatted with me a bit and invited me to hang out with them and be their friend and yadda yadda. Unfortunately, they were about the most obnoxious girls ever! Some say beggars can't be choosers. I say hell to the nahhh! Maybe they just won't notice when I never manage to call them to hang out....

By the time 10 o'clock rolled around, I was tired as shit! My professor seems really cool, but somehow managed to make his discussion of the syllabus last for 1 1/2 hours... I've never seen anything like it! At least I have an INCREDIBLY firm grasp of EXACLTY what is going to be expected of me in that class.

So turns out, grad school isn't that much different that little old oneonta, except people wear grown-up clothes instead of greek letters haha.

Tomorrow I start at Friendlys... Its times like these I wish I was born into an obnoxiously wealthy family! hahaha

Lots of catching up to do

Oh my gosh I haven't posted in forever! Let's see let's see.... Christmas was good. Very low-key. I got a GPS as a graduation gift and a ton of apartment stuff for Christmas... thank goodness because I am broke as a joke and would just have nothing if it weren't for Christmas haha. I spent most of my break hanging out with my cousins who were up to visit from Virginia. For New Year Alysa and I went to Erin's house in Albany. We were a very fun crew early in the night but were all getting tired by around 11.... bedtime occurred around 12:30 hahaha.

After New Year I just hung around back and forth between Rome and 'Cuse. I got a job secured at the Friendly's in Dewitt... LAME. But I didn't have to job hunt and they are open from 6am till 11pm which works around my awkward class schedule. I also warned the manager that I like to go visiting on the weekends and she said thats okay as long as I give her notice. NO PROB!

I had a visitor all last week by the name of Laura Reckley. We did a lot of shooting the shit and relaxing. I also ended up seeing many people from high school because she was visiting with them. Seeing high school people is not something I make a habit of doing buttt it actually wasn't too horrible. Caity stayed a couple of nights with us in Syracuse and those two girl came with me to get my new babyyy!!!!

His name is Franklyn Baxter (or Franky, Baxter, FrankyB... anything you can think of really). The lady I got him (for free) from named him Scrappy... I thought that was a pretty undistinguished name so I amended the situation. He is much happier now, he told me so.

Laura and I also made friends with the boys downstairs. They are cool and good to hang out with so that made me happy. Hopefully I'll make friends in my classes too. They won't be as cool as Oneonta people though wah wahhhhh :-/

Tomorrow is my very first day of big girl school. I'm nervous. I hate first days.... Hopefully I'll be able to find a parking spot and I won't get lost finding my classroom. Unfortunately, my first class tomorrow is on SU campus ends at 7pm and the second begins at 7pm and takes place at the Jamesville-Dewitt middle school. If anyone has a teleporter they would be willing to let me borrow on tuesdays, it would be much appreciated.