So the other day I was randomly browsing Craigslist to see what was out there for jobs, and I sent out a couple emails on a whim. The next day I was checking my email and one of the managers I had emailed contacted me to set up an interview. The job is in Southington and quite a trek unfortunately, but I went to the interview anyway and the manager was really nice, very easy going, young, and funny. She set me up with another interview with the owner today, but I decided not to go for a couple of different reasons, the main one being that I wouldn't be able to pare down my hours as much as I wanted to when school comes along. I don't want to have to work during the week during the semester because I don't want anything to get in my way, and starting a new job wouldn't give me the opportunity to just work Fridays and Saturdays in just a few months. The commute is also horrible, having to drive down I-84 twice a day would be nerve wracking. It's unfortunate though, because the manager seemed wonderful, really friendly, understanding and interactive. I feel bad for not being able to go through with the second interview, but I really want to put school first 100% when I start.

Speaking of which, I keep checking the schools blackboard website, and still no news on financial aid. Granted, they did mention in the "preparing for school" checklist that I probably wouldn't get financial aid news until June or July, but I want to know NOW. I want to pick out classes and go shopping for school supplies and go NOW. I'm so ready to bunker down and study. I'm scared that I will get stressed out and overwhelmed, but with a few exceptions, I feel that I have been fairly mentally stable lately, and I'm just praying that there aren't any wrenches thrown in to throw me off.

Last night Paul and I double dated with Sal and his new girl to go see Sucker Punch, which I absolutely fell in love with. I loved the characters, the special effects, the costume and makeup designs, the storyline... everything! Especially the soundtrack. The soundtrack was incredible. The critics definitely seemed to dislike it, but it was a fun, captivating movie full of sexy ladies and amazing fight scenes. The only downside is that we went all the way to Wallingford to see the movie in 3D and they didn't have it anymore, so I want to go to Manchester before they take it out of Imax and see it again. I usually don't like the movies... it's uncomfortable and there's a lot of people that are either talking or chewing or people weird, plus it's always loud and I tend to get anxious or at least a headache... so it's not often that I love a movie enough to go see it again, or even once.

Tomorrow I go to get my hair dyed at Jessica's Color Room. I'm pretty excited because I haven't died my hair in almost a year, and I love having red hair. I need to get my camera from my grandmothers so that I can update with pictures. I haven't put any new pictures of myself on facebook, or anywhere, in almost two years I think. I'm crossing my fingers I get another amazing scalp massage again.

Ah well, Paul is at work right now so I'm going to read a bit since I didn't get to very much yesterday, even though I did upload my reading list here to share with everyone. I am debating whether I want to change my layout or wait. Maybe I will make it a monthly thing, because I love having a new layout, even if I do love my little robots up there. I can spend hours over at blogskins looking through different previews. I must have 50 saved in my bookmarks, at least.

I've been keeping track of all the books I've read (and finished) since June of last year, when I made the goal to read two books a month to keep my mind busy and out of trouble. I decided to include, and update, the list on here, since a good portion of my down time is dedicated to reading (and watching The Simpsons). Links are provided for the books I highly recommend. Books with a xx were horrible.

2010

June: Bridge Of Sighs - Richard Russo (641 pages)
July: The Doctors Wife - Elizabeth Brundage (340 pages)
July: Pretty Little Liars I - Sara Shepard
July: Pretty Little Liars II - Sara Shepard
July: Pretty Little Liars III - Sara Shepard (336 pages)
July: Pretty Little Liars IV - Sara Shepard (368 pages)
July: Pretty Little Liars V - Sara Shepard (336 pages)
July: Pretty Little Liars VI - Sara Shepard (352 pages)
July: Pretty Little Liars VII - Sara Shepard (288 pages)
July: Pretty Little Liars VIII - Sara Shepard (272 pages)
August: Keeping Faith - Jodi Picoult (502 pages)
August: Bad Marie - Marcy Dermansky (240 pages) xx
August: Waiter Rant - Steve Dublanica (302 pages)
August/September: The Hour I First Believed - Wally Lamb(723 pages)
September: Juliet Naked - Nick Hornby (406 pages)
September: Let The Great World Spin - Colum McCann (368 pages)
September: The Secret Life Of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd (302 pages)
September: The Basketball Diaries - Jim Carroll (303 pages)
September: The Kids Are All Right - Diana Welch, Amanda Welch, Liz Welch and Dan Welch (368 pages) xx
October: Room - Emma Donoghue (320 pages)
October: The Curious Incident of The Dog In The Nighttime - Mark Haddon
October: It - Stephen King (1104 pages)
November: The Virgin Suicides - Jeffrey Eugenides (256 pages) *Re-read
November: Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides (544 pages)
November: Apologize, Apologize! - Elizabeth Kelly (321 pages)
November: Beautiful Boy - David Sheff (317 pages)
November: Tweak - Nic Sheff (322 pages)
December: Brave New World - Aldous Huxley (384 pages)
December: Freedom - Jonathan Franzen (562 pages)

2011

January: East Of Eden - John Steinbeck (601 pages)
January: The Mermaid Chair - Sue Monk Kidd (335 pages) xx
January: The Corrections - Johnathan Franzen (566 pages)
January: The Winter Of Our Discontent - John Steinbeck
January: Strong Motions - Johnathan Franzen (507 pages)
February: Tortilla Flat* - John Steinbeck (144 pages)
February: The Red Pony* - John Steinbeck (56 pages)
February: Of Mice And Men* - John Steinbeck (71 pages) *Re-read
March: The Fates Will Find Their Way - Hannah Pittard (243 pages)
March: Annabel - Kathleen Winters (461 pages)
March: To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee (336 pages) *Re-read
March: The Moon is Down* - John Steinbeck (97 pages)
March: Cannery Row* - John Steinbeck (144 pages)
March: The Pearl* - John Steinbeck (63 pages)
March: Swamplandia! - Karen Russel (316 pages) xx
April: Cutting For Stone - Abraham Verghese (532 pages)
April: House Rules - Jodi Picoult (560 pages)
April: The Long Journey Home - Margaret Robison (375 pages) *Early Review Book
May: More Than It Hurts You - Darian Strauss (399 pages)
May: The Boys From Brazil - Ira Levin (254 pages)
May: New York - Edward Rutherfurd (890 pages)
May: Northwest Corner - John Burnham Shwartz (287 pages) *Early Review Book
May: Handle With Care - Jodi Picoult (477 pages)
May: Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte (507 pages) *Re-read
June: The Mists of Avalon - Marion Zimmer Bradley (876 pages)
June: The Time Travelers Wife - Audrey Niffenegger (536 pages)
June: Of Bees and Mist - Erick Setiawan (404 pages)
July: Interview With The Vampire** - Anne Rice (440 pages)
July: Q: A (Timeless) Love Story - Evan Mandery (355 pages) *Early Review Book
August: The Fountainhead - Ayn Rand (727 pages) *25th Anniversary Edition
August: Call Me When You Land - Michael Schiavone (239 pages) *Early Review Book
August: Wicked*** - Gregory Maguire (406 pages) *Re-read
August: Son Of A Witch*** - Gregory Maguire (327 pages)
October: Lost At Sea - Bryan O'Malley (168 pages) *Graphic Novel
October: The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern (387 pages)
November: The Magicians Nephew - C.S. Lewis (208 pages)

2012

January: The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck (455 pages)

* From The Short Novels of John Steinbeck
** From The Vampire Chronicles, from Barnes and Noble Classics
*** Combined edition From Barnes and Noble Classics


Currently Reading : TBA

Wishlist: Out Of Oz - Gregory Maguire


Most, if not all, of these are books that I own in my collection, so if anyone wants to borrow a copy to read, let me know. That is, if I know you well enough to lend out my babies.


*Updated 05/08/2011
Updated 11/17/2011
Updated 01/08/2012

Firefox prompted me to upgrade my version today and on the webpage they had a link to the cutest little fire fox cam . I can't really figure out if these red pandas are raccoons or foxes or pandas, but I want one, and it makes me sad that they are endangered. Firefox is sponsoring these little guys with the launch of it's new Firefox 4 Beta, and everyone who downloads the new version helps these little balls of fluff. Even if you don't use firefox or want to download the new version, you should still take a look at these little guys. I guess they are mostly sedentary during the day, but the last time I looked there was a little guy eating some bamboo on the "gnaw" cam, so go take a peek.

I'm always a little late in getting wind of the viral videos that are online for some reason, but today these came to my attention and I felt the need to share. I'm debating making this into a weekly post, but then I thought that I'm kind of out of the loop when it comes to online fads, so maybe not.

The first one is from Australia, and shows a victim of bullying getting his revenge.


This hit news in Autralia and went viral on the internet. The bully got suspended for 21 days, and the victim got suspended for 4 days, and has become an internet sensation and hero. It's definitely a shocking video to watch, it's hard to watch a little kid get body slammed, but at the same time, it's nice to see a bully get his just-desserts for once. Both boys were interviewed for stories over there, and the bigger boy, Casey I believe is his name, seems to be quiet and well mannered. He says he has been a victim of bullying for many years, and said he tried to not fight, but finally just snapped. I have to say I don't blame him, it's got to be hard to get punched in the face twice and laughed at by some little twerp and his friends. The smaller boy, Ritchard, said that Casey bullied him first, although that is obviously not the case on the video (why lie when there is video proof?) and that's why he punched him. But it seems to be that it's quite obvious by what is said, and done, that the bully was just being a jerk. He starts off by saying "I hear you've been talking shit" and the other boy answers "I haven't been talking shit." Then the smaller boy punches him, twice, and dances around him like a ballerina street fighter, when in reality, if he was that small, and the victim, would have probably run his ass off if he had the chance.

The second video is about a girl from UCLA who decided to use youtube to rant about her dislike of the Asians in her school.


Alexandra Wallace ended up either getting expelled, or left UCLA for her safety (she got death threats), I'm not sure which. She issued a public apology, but i doubt she's going to find any jobs in her near future considering when you google her name "Racist white bitch from UCLA" comes up.

Now, granted, it IS rude to talk on your phone in the library. But considering that she attempts to make a joke about how they are all trying to get in touch with their families in Japan, it makes their faux pas seem minuscule in comparison to hers. Not to mention it's pretty hilarious that she talks about good American manners while she continues to be a complete jerk, and makes me remember why other countries hate Americans so much.

----------------------

I finally got my haircut last night by Sara at Jessica's Color Room in Middletown. I've been wanting to check them out for a while now, they always get good reviews and win awards in the Hartford Advocate, but I always get so nervous about getting a new hairdresser so I drag my feet. Finally Paul got sick of hearing me complain about my hair and made me an appointment and we went last night. We both got our hair done by Sara and she was amazing. Because I'm shy it's always really awkward of me to have someone hovering over me and I feel the need to try to fill in the awkward silence, but she was really friendly and easy to talk to, plus she gave me the most amazing, incredible, relaxing scalp/temple massage with this tingly tea tree oil from Paul Mitchell and it felt so good. I would love to go back and get that done once a week for an hour... or four. I cut my hair up over my shoulders, so I took a good foot off, and she asked if I wouldn't mind donating to Locks of Love, which I thought was really awesome. I always wanted to donate my hair, but because its usually bleached or colored I never could. She said it probably wouldn't be a problem because it was long enough that they could trim off the damaged parts and they might be able to take it. So all in all I got a GREAT haircut, a really relaxing shampoo, and got to donate to a good cause. I also picked up some of that Tea Tree shampoo and conditioner, some spray wax that I loved, and some stick gel stuff for Paul. All in all, for two haircuts, and four Paul Mitchell products we only spent $107 in all. I was shocked that it was only that much, I thought it was going to be close to $200 because Paul Mitchell is so damn expensive, but I was pleasantly surprised. I scheduled another appointment for next Wednesday to get my hair colored, and I think, if money allows, I'm going to pick up some of that sea salt spray she used on my hair as well. I'm also crossing my fingers for another lovely shampoo and massage.

Tonight I have to work, and I'm not looking forward to it for multiple reasons that I won't get into here, because it's never a good idea to talk about work online, at least if you are using your real name. But let's just say some parties like to run me ragged and have me work for free, and since those parties are people from a supposedly very charitable group, it's pretty hilarious that they won't tip their waitress.

I'm going to work on finishing Swamplandia! before I have to get ready for work in about half an hour. I'm thisclose to being done, and I can't wait. The book definitely does not live up to it's hype, and I'm only finishing it because I hate to not finish a book. I'm finally done with Short Novels of John Steinbeck and as soon as I'm done with Swamplandia! I can finally start Cutting for Stone.

I was going to write a little bit about my thoughts on Libya right now, but I'm really tired and want to catch up on what's been happening the last day or so that I haven't been paying attention, so depending on what I find scouring the pages of the Times, I may write about that later on.

I really just wanted to post to share the link Book Of Adam / More Stupid Cat. Because it's too cute not to share. And I'm just sitting here with my (finally!) Iced Caramel Macchiato, bothering Paul by watching 1000 Ways To Die and enjoying the cute. Also writing fractured sentences in this horrible excuse for a blog post.

Today I may get a haircut, but most likely not if I'm to be truthful with myself. I do have to go to the store and buy coffee and food and something else that I really do need but can't remember for the life of me right now. Oh never mind, I remember that it was soda and I bought it last night. TA-DA. It's rainy today and it seems to have sizzled out my brain cells this afternoon. I'm going to try to finish The Moon Is Down so I can start Cannery Row because it's not exactly my cup of tea, but I don't want to skip any of the short novels that Mr. Steinbeck wrote because it would feel like skipping the middle of the book, even if it is all separate books, technically.

I'm going to give up the idea of writing anything substantial right now and post another cute picture.

The show was excellent, Against Me! was incredible, although their stage presence was a little lazy and so was the crowd. I like Dropkick Murphys but I don't know a lot of their songs, regardless they throw a fun show. The singer came down into the crowd at the end and that was when the crowd woke up and started doing what they should have been doing all night. I want to dodge fists and feet and make sure crowd surfers don't fall but there wasn't too much of that. I made my own little dance party though, so the hell with the rest of them.

I ended up driving home though, of course. Luckily I had stopped drinking around 7:30 or 8 and we left around 1, but I was not too pleased to have to drive Alex's big old Buick in unknown areas. GPS navigation needs some improvement, and I need to grow a foot so that I can reach the pedals in big cars. I also hate that I'm always the downer because I'm the safe driving police. I would love for once to NOT have to be a control freak, but apparently, Sunday night was not the night for that.

Yesterday was a lazy day, for the most part. We ordered food in and had our usual Simpsons marathon. Today Paul is at work, and then as soon as he gets home I have to go to work. I'm still sleepy and achy. I used to be able to go out and dance and get roughed up at a show and feel fine the next day. Now I have to go around smelling like Ben-gay and taking naps for the next two days.

I think the next few hours I will watch bad tv and read until I have to get ready for work. Hopefully I can leave early enough to get an Iced Caramel Macchiato, or at least an Iced Caramel Latte.


On an end note::
Molly Ringwald and Mimi from The Drew Carey show in one ABC family show... I don't know how to finish that sentence but... egads.

Daylight savings time always messes me up. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the fact that it's light out later and that I don't have to drive through three highways with the sun in my eyes on the way to work, but anytime I lose an hour of sleep my body revolts.
I'm finally starting to feel awake, even though I woke up four hours ago.

I set up my blog layout yesterday before I went to work. I didn't get to work out the kinks, all the minor details and whatnot, but the main part of it is set and I am in love with it. Blogskins has the best layouts that I can find, and even though it took me way longer than it should have to figure out how to insert the css onto blogger, I finally figured it out. Turns out, code has changed quite a bit since I was good at reading it, or at least, I have forgotten how I read it in the first place maybe. I was never really good at css though.

I'll probably work on it a little more before I leave for the casino tonight. Things are kind of falling apart as soon as they started to come together... but regardless, as long as I can be there I'll be happy. Plans were that Alex's brother was going to get a hotel so we didn't have to drive home after the show, responsibility and all, but that isn't working out so well, and I certainly am not willing to shell out almost $300 for a hotel room. It would have been nice to be able to go see the bands and then just walk on upstairs and go to sleep, especially in a lush hotel room, but it's not necessary.

I almost didn't get to go at all, but Kristen from work saved the day. I have started to actually like going to work on Fridays and Saturdays, with the exception of some gripes that will remain between a few like-minded people, lest they be seen. But minus that exception, the people I work with are great. It's a great group dynamic between my mother, Kristen and I. Lately I've even been getting along with the bartenders, which can sometimes be an epic battle of wills, but I really adore them when we aren't bickering. Speaking of which, I need to remember to tip them out for Saturday night on Tuesday.

I need to start getting ready in about 45 minutes, I have to shower and find my contacts in whatever bag or pile they landed in, and do my makeup and hair. I never get to go out and so it's fun to play dress up and do it up. The more I grow up and realize I have to start dressing like an "adult" the more I want to start dressing in my obnoxious punk clothes and big boots and pink hair. I also miss my lip ring daily, and hope for the day when paralegals can band together and wear whatever hair color and facial piercings they want.

Seriously though, I went to go get some business casual clothes the other day, places like The Limited and Express and I could not find anything that looked right on me. I look so young, and I always feel like I'm playing dress up. By the time I graduate though I will be, Jesus H Christ, 25 or 26, and may actually look like an adult when I go look for a job.

Than again, I went to go see Hall Pass the other day and got carded for the movie. I'M TWENTY-THREE. Poor Paul got carded as well and he's almost 30. The girl carding us was probably younger than us for gods sake.

I understand getting carded for liquor, even cigarettes, but a rated R movie. Come on.

Oh well.


Off to go seize the day, or night, or evening. Whatever.

OH! First, I finished To Kill A Mockingbird and it was amazing. Even more so than I remembered. Now I'm torn between finishing The Short Novels of John Steinbeck or this random book I picked up the other day when I went into Barnes & Noble to get one magazine and walked out with three magazines, a book, and a coffee. Good job, Jen. The book is Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese and looks incredible, with great reviews. I read the preface and already love it, but I hate being in the middle of a book. The next short novel of Mr. Steinbeck though is starting off soooo uninteresting though. It's all about invading and soldiers. Decisions, decisions.

Okay, off to get in the shower, get ready, track down a Caramel Macchiato, and go get in a pit of sweaty Irishmen and people drinking like them.

I need to go to the show tomorrow night. I NEED a night out where I can scream and dance and sing along with a crowd. I haven't been to any concerts in about a year, and there's just something so freeing about them. You get crushed in the crowd of sweaty, flailing fans and dodge arms and fists and feet and you don't care that you are claustrophobic or hate groups of people. You forget that loud noises bother you and crowds make you panic. Because you are a part of something. The crowd is one, the music is the binder. The beat and the noise and the vibrations are the heartbeat that make you GO. It's pure adrenaline. It's the need for survival in this stampede of people. It's the ability to scream and scream and scream and no one can even hear you because the speakers drown you out. You are alive, but you are invisible, you are not an individual but a shadow or an arm, or a leg, but not a person. It's too loud and too cramped for you to be a person. No one can hear you, no one can see you, so no one can judge you or criticize you. You are just another limb in this moving mass of human electricity.

I have created this, and the tumblr blog of the same name, to decide which interface and service I like better. I want an online journal I can share with the public. Something to focus on the every day mundane, trite crap that happens that makes life, life. I usually use my writing as a way to express my depressed, sad, melancholy feelings that I want to hide from people, and in doing so, they linger and grow and fester in my head and make me depressed, sad, and melancholy in turn. So, I figured, perhaps, in writing a blog about the everyday, happy, or boring, or interesting things, maybe I can learn instead to live in the moment, or at least in the day or week. Anywhere but the past. I could have a place to share my good thoughts, pictures I like, jokes I find, songs that get stuck in my head, books I read. Whatever. And people can follow me if they so choose. So, let's start. And we will see if not only do I like Tumblr or Blogspot better, but if I can create happiness with everyday thinking.