A Theory On Why I Am Not the President

That's right. It was finally revealed to me, in a celestial dream, the reason why I am not now, nor will I ever be, the President of the United States (hereon referred to as POTUS). It takes a bit for me to drill down on my reasoning, so please be patient and hang with me...

It all started with me critically thinking about Group Work. As a bit of an introvert (and NO, that's not the reason why I'm not POTUS), I never really have been a fan of Group Work. I suppose that I used to like it when I was in high school and you were allowed to pick all your Besties as groupmates. But, as a college student, I detest Group Work. For one, even in situations where I can pick my group, I don't have any Besties in any college courses! But, more than that...I have found that I work much better alone. I know all that drivel about how you're supposed to work in groups so that you can better learn how it is to work in a work atmosphere with other employees. Yeah, yeah - whatev. When you are paying me, I'll do your Group Work. When I'm paying you, I just want to get'r done!

Sadly enough, I have three courses this semester where Group Work is required. Tonight's class was just one of these. This group had an opportunity to meet tonight to discuss our project and make some plans. First off, I was quite, quite impressed with my groupmates. Even though we hadn't all put forth 150% (although, one guy did and it was awesome), we all were intelligent enough to contribute to the discussion. Second, I was sure impressed with myself!

I made some (I felt) astute observations and some good contributions to our conversation. Furthermore, me and my organized-self took charge and decided to be the Group Mom. Honestly, if I'm not the Group Mom, then the person who takes this position ends up driving me bonkers. I realized this regarding one of the other groups.

Later, after my class and mothering were finished, I was ruminating a bit. I did a little attitude adjustment regarding my thoughts on Group Work. But, I also took note of my confidence level during tonight's discussion.

It's not out of the ordinary - or not anymore, shall we say. But, I do remember times, when I was younger (high school age and younger...especially those younger times) when my introverted-ness completely took over. Confident was not my strong suit. Honestly, who did have a strong, confident suit when they were 13? If someone says yes, they're lying. Or their confidence was completely inflated by peer opinion.

Not that my peer's opinions don't contribute to my confidence level. I have some great, great friends who aren't afraid to tell me that I AM AWESOME. And, let's not forget my sweet Mother who just can't say enough good things about me. But...I think that I am finally in a place where I am truly confident on my own.

The POTUS thing? Well, I realized that if I had been this confident when I was 13, I would have been well on my way to a place in politics. Most likely, I would be a state senator now and running for President in the election after next. The people who were confident when they were 13? Their names are...Hillary Rodham Clinton...Barack Obama... ... ... George W. Bush... ...Bill Clinton...

I'm glad I am where I am though. I don't really want to be POTUS. I mean, do you think that Barack Obama has any idea that there was an episode of Cougar Town, aired last season, paying homage to Top Gun? If you get right down to it, I barely have time to Netflix that darn show and watch it, even a season behind. And I, as we've already established, am not running the world.

The Thigh Bone's Connected to the Knee Bone...

Note: this post is not, not, not intended to garner sympathy or pity from you readers! It is intended to entertain you. I really hope it makes you chuckle a bit! Hey, if I'm laughing, you should be too!

This song is in my head a bit today. In order to best explain way, let me scoot back just a few days...
Over the past weekend, I ran my second (yes, my SECOND) half-marathon. Okay, done being super, overly proud of myself. Anyway, my last half-marathon was a success in that I finished it and accomplished one of my goals. However, it was an extremely painful success! I spent several days afterward in all kinds of pain - so sore that it was a challenge to walk up the stairs. Consequently, I made it a point to improve my efforts when I began training for my second half-marathon.
For the past few months, I have really stepped it up. I noticed a significant decrease in the number of times where I pulled a "I'm Too Tired To Run Today" move. I felt like a RUNNER. Also, I started doing my long training runs with a group of girlfriends. If anything is going to help me improve, it's chasing after a bunch of ladies who are about 100 times faster than I!
Alas...just a few weeks ago, I started having some very painful knee issues. There were a few times where I was limping about, basically dragging my right foot behind me. No longer a RUNNER. Still, I hadn't gotten so far in my training schedule to abandon ship. I iced, rested, took things a bit slower...etc.
Fast-forward to the day of the half-marathon (also known as...This Past Saturday). The girls and I drove up to Ashton, ID to run the Mesa Falls Half-Marathon or Marathon. Saturday morning, I was feeling fine and pumped for the race. Could not have asked for a better start to the day. For the first six miles or so, I felt like I was on top of the world! I was running better than I had ever run! The time was flying by!
Then, at about mile 6.5, it struck again. I was basically standing on the side of the road, trying not to cry. I was in pain (pain, pain, pain - by golly). But, I was also so disappointed! My LOVELY MOTHER (seriously, the best mother in the entire world!) came back and helped me limp through to the ending.

I finished, just barely. And the rest of our Idaho trip was quite fun. We stayed in a beautiful cabin and got some AWESOME massages (from the owner of the cabin!). It was a lovely trip. See the picture below with all of us lovely ladies smiling super big? A great indicator of how much fun was had!
But, I've been in some knee-pain since. I've been learning that rest and ice are the best remedies. However, I also learned that it's pretty likely that I have a common runner's injury in my IT Band. This is caused by stressing a muscle in the thigh. And...there you have it!! The Thigh Bone's Connected to the Knee Bone!!! See, the title of this post wasn't a trick afterall. And what led me to write it was this:

Sitting at my desk, working, I have noticed that if I massage my leg, it makes things feel a little better. THEN, I noticed if I massaged my hip/butt area, that felt better too!! It took me a moment, but I had to giggle at the fact that I was sitting at my desk, rubbing my own butt.

Daily Observation

The folks at Quizno's who were in charge of the new advertising campaign didn't really think it through...

I've just discovered a new blog!

Actually, I've been very busy discovering new blogs all week! They're all work related. They deserve a nod too - so here's my favorite of those.

But, THIS is the one I discovered on a more personal note and really enjoy so far! Seems to be on topic-ish with Dooce, but with a slightly different spin.

Read & enjoy!

PS: what really caught my eye was the title. WTH??

Book Report!

I am a big fan of reading. As a reader, I generally stick with fluffy, nonsensical, romance novels or mysterious thriller types. As often as possible, I try to get out of my shell and read something different. Usually, I do so in phases. I decide that now, I would like to read only historical fiction - or something similar. This was a phase like that. These phases, whatever they might consume, usually only last for a little while before I get back to my standard.

Last year, I got in a phase where I was fascinated with books written by celebrities. I read a lot of biographies (Fran Drescher, Alan Alda, Kristin Chenoweth, etc.) At that time, I hooked up with Tori Spelling to start reading her books. At the time, both STORItelling and Mommywood were out on the shelves. I read them both happily and I was pleased with the result. I'd gone in with some really low expectations (because I, of course, believe everything I see on TV or in the news). But, by the time I finished both, I was really satisfied with the result. I think that it was, partly, that I felt some empathy with Tori Spelling. Ha! - how often can someone say that?? But, I also found it inspiring that she was trying to write - something I have always wanted to do. I found her books to be funny and touching, very light-weight and easy reading. They were perfect "escape" material, which is something I generally require in a book.

So, it should come as no surprise that when the latest Tori Spelling book was released, Uncharted TerriTORI, I added it to my list at the library. I started at position #67 or something crazy like that. So, when I finally got it yesterday, I cracked it open with no hesitation. I was disappointed.

This was probably the book I'd been expecting to read when I read Tori Spelling's first books. The first two books were written seeming as if Tori had identified a story that she wanted to tell. They both had the feeling of being more important to Tori Spelling than she expected them to be to any fans. That is an important aspect of writing. This latest book had the feeling of being written because Tori felt like she needed to write a book. She had two previous successes and needed to continue to strike the hot iron.

Tori has mentioned her various neuroses and oddities before. Anyone who has read Tori Spelling's previous books knows that she has a crazy fear of flying and that she is into "other-world" healing. In the previous books, those things were small stories and they were funny. They did not consume the entire book and so, by extension, one could assume that they did not consume Tori Spelling.

Uncharted TerriTORI has a huge focus on Tori's neuroses. She turns into a twisted version of the crazy bag lady. No longer is she a quirky but humorous celebrity. I spent the first part of the book wondering why she was focusing so. Her previous two books had done such a good job of painting her in the "No really, I am normal" light. This book was undoing all of that work. But, like a car crash, I couldn't turn away.

What's more is that the first three-quarters of the book seems to wander. That may be part of the reason that Tori pays so much attention to her eccentricities. She has nothing else to write about - or nothing that would create a whole book, anyway. In the previous two books, she had a story to tell. She was talking about her unconventional marriage. Or, she was talking about being a celebrity and trying to build a family. This book doesn't get to the point until it's nearly over.

And the point is that Tori is a bit crazy, just like the rest of us, but MORE SO. And Tori needs to tone Tori down a little bit and just relax. It's a lesson that we all learn, most likely, at some point or another. And it's too bad that Tori took the first slot for writing a book about it. I expect that there are many others, celebrity or not, who could be more successful when writing about this journey than Ms. Spelling.

It's unfortunate, but I think that Tori Spelling has exhausted herself as an author. Two books were funny and refreshing. The third is tired and annoying. Here is a tip, Tori: now that you've learned to relax and take a time-out (so to speak), the first thing that should go is writing.

Gonna Have to Face It...

I'm addicted to cupcakes.

So, as I was researching for my last post, I was forced to peruse the Mini Cupcake website. I stumbled upon an exciting discovery! 'Sex & the City' cupcakes! OHMYGOSH. The thoughts tumbled into my brain, in no particular order:

1. Mini Cupcake needs to market these things better! I was just in the store on Saturday and I saw NO INFORMATION about all these sweet-sounding cupcakes!
2. I FREAKING ADORE a store that puts two of my favorite items together: 'Sex & the City' + Cupcakes = Jesse Is In Heaven. Seriously, I can think of only one thing that is better.
3. Umm...can I have one of these and one of these...and I want them RIGHT NOW

Random Thoughts

I have noticed over the past several days that I benefit from reading the blogs of many other people (like here, here and here - for example) and I have really slacked off on keeping up on my own. The thought occurred to me again this afternoon, as I was reading through lots of drivel on the internet (did you know that there is LOTS of drivel to be found on the internet???). Today, it didn't take me long to recognize at least one of the reasons behind the major shift in my blogging activity: I no longer have any ideas that I think are fun/funny/creative/entertaining. I used to be struck down in the middle of the day (or the middle of the night...occasionally, in the middle of the grocery store) by an inspiration. It was like something would click and Ta-da, I had a blog post!

That hasn't happened for a while now. And it really bums me out because I've been learning about blogging lately. Plus, I've been learning some other cool things that could be applied in this case. But I have nothing to write about! I feel as if I am experiencing a ginormous writing block.

As an example...I just thought for about 45 seconds about what word I could use to describe the size of my writing block. Words that instantly came to mind (please ignore their inappropriateness for this situation - I didn't actually use these words, afterall!): aggregate, major and huge. I am so distressed because a year ago, "ginormous" would have been the first word to spring into my brain! Not the last.

So, Reader, I apologize for the huge blog drought. I obviously need to start in on some yoga or meditation or walks through the park to help get my creative juices flowing again. I will say that I have experienced a near-fatal decline in my consumption of cupcakes from Mini Cupcake. I intend to remedy that as soon as possible. Maybe my writer's block is just a too-large sugar reduction? We shall see, we shall see...

Time to catch up

Yeah, 2 months later and the "catch-up" blog turns into a novel...a Twilight-sized one. So, sorry, but catch up is actually a bit of a misnomer.

I got a New Job. I just reread my last post and it involved some frustration with my not-so-good boss at my old job. I am thankful for not having to work with him and his disorganized, weird self anymore. New Job is a lot different from old job. It involves quite a bit more brainpower and a lot less sandwich-making. Really, a win-win situation!

PLUS, New Job is awesomely located in the heart of Downtown SLC. Okay, I have always been one of those people who claim that Salt Lake really has no downtown to speak of. I stand corrected. Yes, Salt Lake's downtown is small, but it's cool anyway. I can (and do) ride TRAX to work. I am very, very close to multiple bars and eating establishments. There are several coffee shops on the very same block. It rocks my socks. I was meant to work in this type of area. And when Toasters (the sandwich shoppe just downstairs) has their loudspeaker on, I like to pretend that I am living in NYC. A stretch, I know...but it's as close as I will ever get to living in Manhattan.

My Blackberry (I know, I know...I tried to un-technologize myself and ended up just making it worse) broke yesterday. So now I am really and truly un-technologized. My computer broke a little while ago, so I've been a bit adrift anyway. But now I am completely without computer-y type devices, till Friday anyway. It's odd and not just a little unsettling!

Trying my patience

Yep, I'm trying on some patience for size. It's an experiment I am continuously attempting (see here and here and, in a roundabout way, here). I began (again) yesterday. Things were going pretty smoothly until I got to work. Then, I was reminded that there are some folks who don't have much of a work ethic and there are some folks who are weird, somewhat inappropriate and, at times, jerk-ish.

Then, I came home to find a LIVE COCKROACH. This "little buddy" is a novel addition to my collection of DEAD COCKROACHES. Yes, I have a small collection of them - the warm weather draws them to my basement like moths to a flame.

But, guess what? It's ALL GOOD. I found something to make it better. Girl Scout Cookies! They rock. Plus, sure does make me feel better to complain in this arena. Thanks, Internet, for listening. LYLAS.

Think Spring???

For the past several days, I have convinced myself that Spring will visit Utah if only Utah's females will make it known that Spring is Welcome! It is a bit of a "If you build it...they will come" philosophy, applied to the changing of the seasons. I easily convinced myself that it would take only a nice pedicure, shaving of the legs more often than once monthly, and an application of spray-on/sunless tan then BOOM! Spring would appear and stay for good! My toenails are painted a very chipper purple (complete with the fun nail jewels I bought in a fit of feminity), I have shaved approximately two times a week for the past two weeks and, I even purchased a new bottle of sunless tanner, which I've also been using faithfully.

I should have known better! The philosophy of preparing for the things for which you are wishing hasn't really worked for me in the past. In the instances where it has actually worked, it's been a lot slower than a three or four day change. Why would a move to warmth and sun be any different? I finally came to this realization when the temperature dropped again this afternoon. Things really solidified when I read the National Weather Service's "Winter Storm Alert", cautioning drivers against wet roads to come and advising all to build extra time into their morning commute. Those things simply do not happen in Spring or Summer.

So, it's obviously not to be. But, now that I've finally gotten around to painting, shaving and tanning, I'm pretty happy with the results. So, even if Spring is going to take its sweet time getting to Utah, I'm not going to abandon those girl-ish rituals that generally accompany its arrival.

Wowsa - this radio thing is FOR REAL!

Over halfway through the semester, I am now pictured and called-by-name on the Globe Radio website. I expect that the addition of my photo to the radio's website will send droves of listeners (droves, I say) to the website, anxiously clammoring to listen to my program.

An update to the radio show... Please feel free to send me email with requests and any other feedback! Radio email to be directed to: globeradio3@gmail.com.

Thank you for listening! It's a fun ride, that's for sure.

Don't forget, tune in: Mondays, 3:00p - 4:00p MST

Beyond Time for a Resolution Update!

Wow. When I originally wrote my post about New Year's Resolutions (see here), I had some lofty ideas about posting (often!!) regarding my status and how things on each resolution were progressing.

So much for that wonderful idea! But, here I am posting, if not often, with a status update. I felt it important to post now because I've finally had some identifiable changes! I've listed the original resolutions to remind you (and me...) of where this lovely journey started:

Jesse's Official 2010 New Year's Resolutions
Train for and complete a half-marathon

The "training" portion of this resolution is officially complete. I just ran my last "training" run for my first half-marathon! The race itself takes place this Saturday. I am nervous/anxious/excited/almost-relieved to be running. The training portion has been a little bit of a rough road with some unexpected bumps, but not nearly as difficult as I thought it would be. I am hoping that the race experience is very similar. So far, I would say that there is a pretty good chance that I'd run another half-marathon someday. But my favorite development, by far, of this resolution has been the connections I've been able to make because of this goal! Just recently, I have found two other people who are also running their first half-marathon this year. I also found another person who has run several and will be running another in just a few weeks. All of these discoveries were made during my American Sign Language class. It's given the four of us a fun conversation topic - now that we know how to talk about running. :)

Work on technologically "un-tethering" myself

So, take the satisfaction and happiness with the half-marathon goal...this goal is the exact opposite! Well, maybe not the exact opposite. I have been more successful with ignoring my phone. That was my true intention behind this resolution, though I had other, less-altruistic intentions as well. Those haven't been quite so successful - though maybe I should take that as a sign to be a little less self-involved. Off tangent, back on track. So, while I have been better at detaching myself from my cell phone, I still feel a huge hole in my soul where my Blackberry used to live. It's very likely that I'll be replacing my current POS cell phone with a Blackberry or some other SmartPhone at some point in the near future. But, hopefully, I will have learned to leave it alone sometimes.

Have new neighbors moving in soon (I think)...be nice and neighborly to them

I do have new neighbors. I'm not exactly sure what I think of them yet, as they've only been in residence for about two weeks. But, I forced myself to extend a welcome. I made two loaves of bread last night: 1 for my house (been out for a while...) and 1 for their house. When I went over to their side to take them my offering, they didn't answer the door. Still, in my desire to complete my mission, I left the bread and a nice note by the door. I really hope they don't think I'm weird and/or trying to poison them. I'm NOT trying to poison you and I really save my weirdness for the people who are really close to me - Promise! I found it to be a good sign that the bread and note were no longer outside the door this morning. So, someone is getting some good out of it.

CHILLAX...stop stressing so much

Gah. Is it too late to take this one back??? The only times I seem to be able to enjoy any success with this goal is when I have a drink (or ten) in my hand. Maybe that's the way it's supposed to be??? Maybe I should be on Prozac???

So, all in all, I am seeing some small changes in the way I run my life. Of course, if I were to set my New Year's Resolutions today, they might be a little different. But I am pretty happy with what I've achieved because of the current Resolutions in place!

Au Super-Naturel

Blame this post on Ghost Whisperer. This is currently one of my favorite shows and not just because I love most of Melinda's (Jennifer Love Hewitt) wardrobe...

I self-identify as a pragmatist. How so? Well, for our purposes, let's discuss my beliefs (or lack thereof) in things 'other-worldly': ghosts, mutants, basically the supernatural. I cannot remember a time when I believed in ghosts. Even at that age when ghosts and haunted houses are really cool (I think that this time period spans over ages 11-18 or so), I never bought into any of it. I have always firmly believed that once you die, you're a lump in the ground or a pile of ash...whichever method you choose. You don't stand in the middle of the street and haunt passing cars; you don't remain in your childhood home and scare away tenants; etc. I also have always thought that so-called psychics, mediums, etc. are carnival acts. Not much there beyond smoke and mirrors and a lot of people who want to believe.

For a long time, it never even occurred to me to question any of these things. Just the way things are, right? Now I've been watching Ghost Whisperer marathon-style (this is the way I really like to watch TV shows...wait for them to come out on DVD and then rent multiple seasons at a time via Netflix). Add this TV show to the pile of "supernatural" romance novels (Kay Hooper series, for example), "mutant" movies (X-Men anyone?) and assorted other-worldly, pop-culture phenomena and PRESTO...you have a lady who is rethinking her perspective.

I still don't think any of these things exist. I don't think there are people out there who can talk to ghosts and I don't think there are men who look like Hugh Jackman and have blade-like claws, among other things. But I think the monumental shift is the fact that maybe I want to believe in some of these things. I want to believe that there are superheroes out there who will come and save the day.

Also, feel free to chalk up the wandering nature of the rest of this post to two facts: 1) my mp3 player died not even halfway through my 5 mile run this morning, so I've already been doing a lot of thinking today; 2) my one class for the day was cancelled...so I have all day to chatter.

The Jesse Show

Oh yeah...it's that time! I have been officially assigned a time slot for my aforementioned radio show. Tune in:

Mondays 3:00p - 4:00p MST

Knowing that this is a time that might be difficult for everyone to listen live, I will be attempting to post recordings of each show here on my blog. We'll see how that works. If anyone has any tips or advice on doing so, please let me know. Just in case you weren't already aware, I am a technophobe and am hopelessly behind the times on all things Internet and blog-related. But, I'm looking forward to learning!

Also...I am encouraging suggestions!! I need a better name than "The Jesse Show", so please feel free to send me ideas for a new and improved title. Also welcome are suggestions on content. What do you like about the radio station(s) to which you currently listen? What don't you like? Tell me, pretty please!!

Woo-Woo Radioland!

Greetings! One of my classes this semester is Intro to Radio Production. I am really enjoying things so far, but am certainly looking forward to the weeks to come. One requirement for this class is for each student to produce and air their own radio show each week. I haven't gotten my timeslot assigned yet, but I will know that info shortly.

In the meantime...you can listen to SLCC Globe Radio Online here. For anyone who is looking forward to listening to ME (God help us...), I will update when I hear which timeslot I'll be working.

Resolutions

So, another First for me in 2010 is resolutions. I've never been a big Resolution-er type gal. But, this year, I decided to give it a go. Now, as far as I can see, the biggest obstacle to Resolution-ing is the ability to set track-able Resolutions for yourself. So, I am planning on using my blog for tracking purposes. Yay for everyone who is totally STOKED to read about my Resolutions. I promise to try to make the blogs funny reading and I figure that I may not always have to try too hard...

Jesse's Official 2010 New Year's Resolutions

Train for and complete a half-marathon

Work on technologically "un-tethering" myself

Have new neighbors moving in soon (I think)...be nice and neighborly to them

CHILLAX...stop stressing so much

So, the half-marathon one is pretty straight-forward. I will be training and running in one - 'nuff said.

"Un-tethering"...I tried to think of a cool catch-phrase for this one. The coolest I could get was "No-'Tron" (as in: no electronics). But I didn't think that really described it. Anyway, here goes. I would like to learn to detach myself a little from my cell phone. When I worked at my old job, I was the proud owner of a sweet Blackberry. I also was the not-so-proud recipient of about a gazillion messages and phone calls. So, during my employment, I became one of those folks who checks their phone every ten seconds...pure necessity here. Anyway, now that I'm not in that career anymore, I get maybe 1/10,000 as many messages. However, I think that over the last few months, I am checking my phone MORE OFTEN. It's driving me bonkers. I've noticed other people doing it too and it drives me nuts. I don't have any control over other folks, but I sure can control myself! So, I will be turning my phone off (or possibly on 'silent'...haven't totally decided that yet) for at least ONE HOUR every day. Yo, yo. I am actually the most excited about this particular resolution. Do you know how depressing it is to check your phone every ten seconds and, OH! No messages still!!? So, I am WALKING AWAY FROM THE PHONE. Not completely away, because I do feel that cell phones have become a necessity. But definitely learning to lose the cell a little.

So, when I moved in to my current abode, I had neighbors who were on their way out. I had this super plan to make the new neighbors cookies and be very friendly!! For one reason or another (basically, I was just being my lazy and introverted hermit self), I never got around to it. Well, here we are about ten months later, and the current neighbors are moving out. So, someday here soon, I will be getting new neighbors. And I am setting that goal for myself again. At the very least, I should make them some freaking cookies. And let them know that trash day is Tuesday and they're more than welcome to take out and/or bring in the cans. :)

FINALLY...Chillax. Oh ye who read my Ranting at the Bank blog from the other day (or this freaking one from a while ago...man, I've had this problem too long) probably understand this one. Obviously, I need to learn to take a chill pill and let things simmer down a little bit. And even if it's not obvious in my blog, it definitely is in other areas of my life. Soooooo...this goal, not as trackable as the others...but still very important to my other goal of living happily for a little while.

So the explanation of the Resolutions took up a lot of time. I promise that follow-up posts about my status on each will be a lot shorter.

Mayonnaise...and other assorted items

So, the past two days have been my crash course in all things Corner Bakery Cafe. Well, not all things because I haven't gotten to taste much yet - that's to come on Thursday, I'm told. BUT, I have gotten to taste every variety of mayonnaise that is served at CBC! WOO-WOO! Yep...we've got pesto mayonnaise, sundried tomato & pesto mayonnaise, stoneground mustard mayonnaise and chipotle lime cilantro mayonnaise. I actually listed all of those out to test myself, see if I could remember them all. Whew, I just double checked and I did remember them all. Anyway, they were all enjoyable (though the chipotle lime is my personal favorite). Of course, they're all made with mayonnaise which is probably my favorite condiment - or, at the very least, in the top three. It was today that I officially decided that if I eat there too often, I will no longer fit through standard size doors. I mean, check out all the mayonnaise!! Not that what is served there is unhealthy because it's not. If you order a standard (or even customized) sandwich, it's probably a pretty healthy choice. Buuuuuuut...if you're the Sandwich Maker (like myself) and can go ahead and invent sandwiches for yourself (for example, the All Our Mayos Sandwich), you might end up gaining a few L.B's. Just sayin'... I will definitely need to practice my will-power.

The other thing I've been able to practice whilst working is walking around and yelling pertinent information about my location and/or what I'm carrying around. Example: "KNIFE! KNIFE COMING THROUGH!!" Or: "BEHIND YOU!! HOT SOUP BEHIND YOU!" I'm really not good at this and will need to improve my yelling skills. I will be spending a lot of time carrying and using knives. For anyone who knows my...er...klutziness, yes, I am a wee bit concerned. But I have been super careful so far.

And today, I learned how to julienne!! WOO-WOO. I've really always wanted to know how to do that. For starters, you need a really large and very sharp knife. I don't own a knife that falls under both of those categories, so I'll need to work on that. But otherwise, it's pretty cool. I do need to work on my speed-chopping.

Anyway...come try it out! Grand opening day is January 25th and I promise not to spit in your sanndwich.

Hoping to learn signs for swear words soon

Happy 2010! I decided, a while ago, to start this year a lot differently than I have for the past several years. Remember when I quit my job and decided to go back to school? Well, that means that January 2010 has been a lot different than the previous 7 Januarys in my life.

For one, I actually celebrated a Christmas ("Winter") break this year. Wow, that felt pretty awesome. I literally spent a week sleeping, playing with my Wii and eating. I am so used to celebrating Christmas and then going directly back to work that this vacation deal was pretty sweet and a little odd. I honestly kept looking over my shoulder, feeling like I was doing something wrong and someone was going to come and punish me for it. I mean, is it really okay for a 27-year-old to spend hours trying to beat a song on Guitar Hero? YES IT IS. Once I learned to embrace this feeling, I really enjoyed the vacation. I even managed to score myself a new job. So my break was actually fairly stress-free.

And my little vacation was long enough that I was ready to go back to school when classes started as well. This week was the first week of class and I feel smarter already. That's because I literally know more today than I did last Saturday. I now know the signs for about 100 words. And I didn't know them before! Not to mention, this entire week, I've kind of felt like I was dusting off my brain and getting back into gear.

I am really enjoying classes during the day too. For me, it's a really positive type of energy. I focus a lot more and enjoy the class work than I do when taking classes at night, after a long day of working. So far, the class time is passing a lot faster than it has in semesters past. This upcoming week, I actually start working regularly and I am looking forward to that too.

Seems like it's all coming together, huh?? Yeah, I sure hope so. Unfortunately, like any good story, this too has a dilemma...BANKS AND MONEY. Now, I'm not just talking about the current banking dilemma in the United States. Although, let me just say that I am not in favor of all of those bankers getting huge bonuses when Joe Smith can't even afford to go buy himself a new pair of shoes. But, that's not the issue that I am currently engaging. No, no, no. My personal dilemma is more along the line of student loans.

Let me interject here to say: I am quick to temper when dealing with customer service problems. Having been employed in the industry of serving customers for a long time, I know it from both ends. So I REALLY TRY not to be "That Customer" (you know, the real wench who yells at you and then figures out that the whole problem was her fault to begin with...).

That's why I'm wanting to have a working knowledge of Swears in Sign Language. Yes, I've learned some really helpful phrases this past week ("What's your name?", "Nice to meet you!"). But, the Swears would be specifically helpful when I'm on the phone with my bank, trying to unravel the mystery of "Where is my MONEY???" That way, when I am undoubtedly faced with losing my temper, I can just sign a few Swears and the banker on the other end will be none-the-wiser. Right? Right? Because, if I were to call my banker right now, it would be a miracle if their phone didn't dissolve in their hand because of all the venom I might (ha, ha...might? Change that: WILL) spew. Fortunately for the bankers, their customer service line is closed on Saturdays.

Maybe, when I call on Monday and I've had a little time to cool off, I'll just sign "What's your name?" over and over again, FURIOUSLY. Maybe that will provide the same relief. Or maybe I'll Rant/Blog about it and feel a little better. Havng just re-read this blog, I can see that it definitely falls into the category of "Rant", but I do feel a bit better.

Yes, this too shall pass. That little phrase has become my mantra the last coupe of days. Really looking forward to blogging (seriously, blogging - not ranting) here in a few days to say that it was all a crazy mix-up and all's well that ends well!! Fingers crossed, fingers crossed. It would be really, really nice if this would get all wrapped up and I could just enjoy my Brand New Life!!