In Which I Pick Up, Amplify, and Relinquish Several Habits

Operation Job

Status: Complete

I'm supposed to start this week. I have not heard anything yet as to when to report. I am not complaining. As that fateful day approaches, though, I find myself more and more anxious. The pressure to excel is enormous. Any sort of free time is devoured, and my feelings are so hurt. For example: Mayer Hawthorne is going on tour this fall. Despite being from Ann Arbor, there is one Michigan tour date scheduled. Its in Grand Rapids. ON A WEDNESDAY. Obviously, this does not please me. There's a Chicago date, but could I make a weekend of it? Nooooooooooo, that has to be on a wednesday or thursday too. Whomp whomp.

I used today to (mostly) study for the GRE. It has been decided that all I need in order to ace the verbal portion is access to a good dictionary (preferably not an OED, that sucker is huuuuuuuuuge).

I haven't started studying for math yet. This is what I should be doing, instead of watching Ally McBeal and cruising the internet for social oddities. Words I can do, its the numbers that fuck things up.

Speaking of fucked up, how I've made it two years in one relationship is beyond me. Something's gotta be right about it, otherwise we would have been done long ago. I'm happy, he's happy, we're happy. The last few weeks have been pretty hurdle-y due to being the listening ear to two breakups, bitchy friends, and the inevitable insecurity that sets in because of them. However, in the words of Ben Folds "I can't wait until the future gets here".

Yes, I have been shopping pink ssapphires again.

Now I want to listen to Sting's Brand New Day album.

And could you please stop judging me for being excited for The Social Network? I blame Kanye West. It comes out this friday and I couldn't be more excited.

Sometimes the best things come out of the worst ones.

life is well scriped like that. The sitcom must happen.

Jen: "you better not let your mom check your mail anytime soon

i'm sending you a slap"

In Which I Wander Away and Come Back and Consider Professional Help.

Previously, on a very special blog post of The Likes of Which Have Never Been Scene:

Me: "I'm going to Chicago, and I have no idea how this is going to come together!"

fade to black.

So I was going to drive to Chicago, but ran into some parental opposition at the last minute, so I took the bus. I like the Megabus overall, but my primary criticism is that leaving Chicago was way too much trouble.

North Coast was boss as hell. Friday consisted of Chemical Brothers and getting way too close to my fellow man. Saturday, Grace Potter was awesome as was The New Deal (my first introduction to them). De La Soul was a lot of fun, and I was not drunk or high enough to put up with Moby fans. Should have tried to find some E. Sunday was definitely the best day. Mayer Hawthorne was everything I dreamed and then some. Lupe Fiasco killed it and Nas and Damian Marley were pretty good. Probably the best present ever.

I continued to celebrate throughout the week.

And then the following week, two of my best friends get dumped back to back, which threw me into a dizzying realm of anxiety I'm still kind of climbing out of. Well, that's what started it, but what kept it rolling was the following:

1. I was helping my (mom's) cousin out and watching their (cousin/wife) three girls under the age of ten. One's teething, one's three...or five...I'm not sure, and the oldest is nine. Great girls, but I'm not used to the sibling drama. I'm a kid person, but I'm not. It's weird.

2. After I worked things out being a babysittter, I get a call for the Detroit area Americorps job I applied for. They want to interview. I interviewed. I was awkward, they called me back to offer the position to me anyway. I start training on monday. I have no idea what I'm doing. Cue unwarranted tears, yelling, hyperventilation, irrational hatred.

3. Sometimes my friends are twats. I love them....but some of them can be major twats. Telling me things about Matt that I can't do anything about, or at least won't bring about anything positive or productive. I'm not that kind of girl. What was in the past stays in the past. I mean, i know I brought some of this on myself when I violated "girl code". Hang the code. They're more like guidelines anyway. But I followed the right protocol. I explicitly asked if my dating Matt was going to be a problem. I was told no. I can only operate from what I'm told. And I'd really appreciate if you'd not rip on my boyfriend of two years when I'm around. Kthx.

4. Since I'll be working at a school with Americorps, they want me to get a TB test and a child abuse clearance. Obtaining those things was the biggest exercise in inefficiency outside of college. No, really:

-renewing license: time in line~ 2-3 hours. Time actually spent renewing my license ~5-7 minutes.

-obtaining TB test: time spent at doctor's office: ~1.5-2 hours before realizing that my new insurance is shit, so I have to pay out of pocket. Cash only. Ride to the ATM (stuck behind old guy) and White Castle (stuck behind dumb heifer): ~ 40 minutes. Time spent in the waiting room after that: ~ 40 minutes. Time spent getting pricked with a needle: ~2 minutes.

-Obtaining child abuse clearance: time spent trying to find the office because its hidden in a strip mall and no sign on the marquis: ~ 1 hour. Time spent in line to ask if I'm even in the right place and get the freaking form: ~1.5 hours. Time spent filling out said form: ~3-5 minutes.

moral of the story? Fuck waiting rooms. And apparently I am impatient.

and 5. Two year anniversary in November. I have no idea what to get him, or how to tell him that I like pink Sapphires. Or how to really assess where our relationship is.

I guess shopping this afternoon (under the guise of work clothes/birthday present shopping), and drag queen bingo tonight. God help us all.

Tonight make me unstoppable. Give me grace and dancing feet.