Do or Do Not, There is No Try

So,

I've been busy. No, really. I've been busy. I am still trying to work my way into the carrot promotion the State dangled in front of me, but have had little success. Unfortunately, I am the contract manager of a ridiculous contractor. Ugh. Daily complaints and mishaps.

Also, at VS I am the 'cash wrap lead'. That means I can approve returns over 50 dollars and clock people in and out. A glorified keyholder position. Lots of drama there. Our store is doing so poorly that the district manager visits from Omaha once a week. But, at least she likes me. She's a former sorority sis and she appreciates people that do their job right. AND THEY DON'T WEAR TIGHTS AS PANTS. Okay, I've mentioned that enough on facebook. The last visit (yesterday) she told the manager basically that she has to man-up and start writing up people that don't do their jobs. *sigh* Really?! You had to be told to do that? I've been begging for some repercussions of the bad behaviors for weeks...

I digress. On a happier note, I am taking a half day for a Dr. Appt on Monday (allergy checkup, no biggie) and am taking the time to talk to an accountant about starting my own business, LLC deductions and the like. Yeah pole fitness!!

Kids these days

You know what I love? The fact that kids these days look so different. Not like differences in skin color, but just general style. I'm sitting in the allergy office and right now there are 10 kids in here two of the boys have nearly shaved heads while another is sporting a Rufio style faux-hawk. Cubs jerseys, oshkosh, those trendy animal shaped rubber bands, and another teenage girl just walked in with Jackie-O style shades. You can't tell who is a future geek versus jock or which girl will be homecoming queen. Watching 50s movies or even an old John Hughes film demonstrated how style made you a stereo typed kid. Now a goth kid could easily be a football player. Girls with that perfect hair might be the top science student.

I just love kids these days. :)
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What to do

Okay, so this last weekend my friend got engaged and asked me to be a bridesmaid. I'm super excited for this, but there is a small kink. Tell me if I was cool about handling this.

The wedding is going to be a destination wedding in the islands. The first estimate for the stay was $1200 a couple. That means that most likely I would be paying $800 for just me. (The room is no cheaper, just subtract meals.) Then, there's the plane ticket. It will most likely cost $400-$600 to fly there. Then, there is everything else you add for wedding. Now, that's not too bad, until you add on the second reception in NE, a $200 dress (and it's yellow, yikes!) And the fact that the wedding was originally planned for fall and is now in March!

All this added to the fact that I am going to Germany next fall (a little 30th b-day present to me), it's a little costly. I told her I want to be a bridesmaid, but in reality I kinda need an estimate on how much the wedding trip will cost. I was planning on going, but my saving period just got shortened by 6 months. :( She was cool with it and even said that she would understande if I couldn't make it. I am not sacrificing the trip/wedding for money but if the trip is going to cost $2500, then another $400 to be an attendant kind of bankrupts me. However, if it is close to the earlier $1500 estimate, I can swing the extra cash. (These specifics were not mentioned to her. She's got enough on her mind.)

What do you think? She said I could just be her personal attendant, too. I would rather stand with her if I can. Was I rude or inconsiderate to give a 'conditional' acceptance?
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New look

Okay, so I knew that I needed to update my description, location, picture, etc. Instead, I just did a whole makeover. What do you think? I kinda like it. Now, I've been trying to overhaul it for so long, it's 1 am and I'm too tired to write much...

Lost 5 of the 10 lbs I wanted to lose, my friend Beri is engaged, my friend Becky lost her dad unexpectedly which sent me into a tailspin (I always get to thinking about things I shouldn't... Had the email all written out to the X, but had the good sense to hit delete instead of send.)

That's about it.

Random thoughts

I feel like I'm just talking to myself. I really miss my blogging buddies... But I'll keep doing my thing until everyone has the time to rejoin.

My personal equivalent of nails on a chalkboard is box taping. There are two ladies here that tape boxes at least twice a week for an hour or so. I now know what torture victims feel like when they scream out, "I'll tell you anything, just make it stop!!"

I've lost 5 lbs in the biggest loser competition that Katie and I have going. I haven't been very consistent, but that just shows how out of shape I am.

I am loving catching up with old friends. Last night I had dinner with Marla, my roommate from the 12th street house almost ten years ago. We had a blast!!

That's all for now!
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The big 3-0

So, as this year flies by, I realize that I am getting closer to the big 3-0. (I have yet to feel that this is anything other than a reason to hold a big party. LOL) I'll save all the reminiscing for when the date gets closer. Expect some awesome pictures and stories to be told.

But I've been thinking. It's a little late for a bucket list, but there are a few things I want to do before I turn 30.
1. Be able to do the splits. This will be key for my pole gym.
2. Book a ticket for overseas travel. I won't have the vacation time yet, but I am planning to go to Germany in August/Septemberish.
3. Be able to do a shoulder mount on my pole: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KGrFRMHClE&feature=related
(The first trick that gets her inverted is called a shoulder mount.)
4. Have my own place. (A given... if only an apartment.)
5. Have a savings account. I'm old enough!!!


Anyway, that's my list. Just a few things to do and get started.

Two years... outloud!

Okay. So I've been working like crazy. I worked nearly 30 hours at VS a week ago trying to help the managers get the store straightened out. Too bad it probably did me no good with the store manager. (She went on a cruise for a week, the district manager came to visit and said our store was so bad she brought in a crew of eight people including a manager from the other mall here in town to fix it. I was one of the few people in the store deemed reliable and mildly intelligent -not that I'm only mildly intelligent, but that others are not. So, I got to help out. Though my current store manager will probably continue to be a bad manager and not treat me like an adult, I now have a guaranteed transfer to the other mall should I want to shift jobs. Oh, and did I mention that the district manager was an old sorority sister of mine? And that we got along?)

Anyway, while looking at my income, bills and debt, I discovered that if I just cut back a little on the eating out and shopping, I can have my care paid off in a year and a half. THEN, I can save for a few months and OPEN MY GYM!! I really want to make this happen. I've been creating business plans, building contacts, looking for ways to save on start up costs...

It just might happen, and I hope it will in two years. Now, I've said it outloud (in type). Here we go!!!

Large marge.

Okay, so at the end of my big adventure, I started to get big. Actually, AFTER my big adventure. I was in the best shape I have been in the last ten years of my life after working out at my gym in Orlando. Move to NE, gain over ten lbs. Yikes!! (The last 5 lbs came on in the last week, so I suspect my allergy meds, but I'm gonna try losing it while still taking them through allergy season.)

Enter the solution: The Biggest Loser. Okay, so I know I'm not obese or anything, but I bought a body fat percentage meter last year. I don't lose weight easily, so I figured this would help. Now, I have challenged Katie to a four week biggest loser challenge. The loser has to buy the winner a new workout outfit. This comes just in time for a visit to Dallas September 24th. (Details on that later.) We downloaded a bunch of four week exercise plans from fitnessmagazine.com to try (check it out!! they are free and in pdf format!). But here's the kicker: She's had two babies in the last four years and I still weigh five lbs more. *sigh* Make all the exception statements usually said, but she's still the smaller twin. Right now... ;)

Touche!

Tina: I know this is not a fun blog to start on, but welcome to the club!!

new blogger?

Okay ladies. So, when Tina was back she mentioned that she feels like she misses out on all the little things with the family. Health things, job things, fun things with children...

So, Katie had a great idea. Why not get her into the blogging circle? I know that we have all not been the bloggers that we used to be, but I'm thinking this might be a little motivation. (I would sure be motivated if I could use this to mess around at work, but alas, they monitor internet use... Sigh.)

What do you think??

And back again

Dad and I headed out from Orlando today. We went to Epcot last night to see the fireworks with Erin and then had breakfast at the Orlando Waffle Shop (Now called Keke's). We headed out a little later than expected, but otherwise it all went off without a hitch. Oh, and I have to mention Dad's mad packing skills. It took him a lot longer than I would have taken (well, probably not actually). Here's the result:













To refresh your memories, here was my packing job for the way to Tampa almost three years ago!!




We took a different route this time and headed up through Columbus, GA, Birmingham, AL and ended up in Memphis for the night. It was a long day of driving (almost 13 hours with stops), but I think Dad is satisfied with the digs... across the street from Graceland!! We are headed there tomorrow morning before heading for Springfield, MO to visit Captain. Oh, and mom, sorry if dad gets some redecorating ideas from the room. At least we didn't stay at the Heartbreak Hotel with the Elvis themed suites.



























They even have Elvis TV channels!!!!

YEAH!

I got the job, as you all know. I will be working in downtown Lincoln at Health and Human Services. Move job descriptions will occur after I start. You never know what you are walking in to, as I have discovered. Here is what I know:

I moved to FL. My job at the time sucked, but had nice perks. (Like letting me move to FL...)
That company started to tank so I left. (Okay, for real, the CEO was a jerk and I stated it outloud so they kinda tried to shove me out as I was walking through it...)
Started new job, got laid off.
Found current job. Have AMAZING supervisor who took a chance on me with no supervisory experience. I got the best evaluation ever just a month ago proving that I am indeed a stud.
Found job in NE that is almost exactly like current job. How perfect!! I could not have done it if I had not moved to Florida. I now have supervisory experience and opportunities that would never had befallen me should I have stayed with Talent Plus in Nebraska. Gotta love karma.

On to the present:

Booked a plane ticket for dad. It was free since I cashed in an unused flight. Ca-Ching!
Got a sweet deal on a moving truck. Shopped at lunch and when I went to book it this evening, it was over $100 cheaper! Ca-Ching!
Gonna be living with the sis in Lincoln so she gets my rent and I rent for cheap. Ca-Ching!
Three weeks ago I called VS at gateway and they were not hiring. Called today and they said they are taking applications and hope to hire in Mid-March. When I said I was a transfer, she said OF COURSE! I will be transferring to the store three blocks from the house. Ca-Ching!
All that vacation I was saving to go to Germany, will be cashed out for me when I leave. Ca-Ching!

What does this leave me with??? Being broke when the IRS takes everything left over from the move on April 15th.

*Sigh* At least my sister will keep me company as I eat pnut butter sandwiches and ramen noodles.

(Oh, and one more Ca-Ching. My teacher at the gym is not a seller of poles and she said she can get me a small discount. Here's to hoping I don't lose all my skills before I get the $$!)

Prayer

I did it. I found the perfect job. I believe the last two years of my work experience has set me up for this. No more details, I don't want to jinx it, but it is indeed.....

IN LINCOLN!!!!!!

Pray for me as I fill out the application and send my hopes off with it. I will also not jinx it with many updates, but if I hear anything, you will know.

2009

I was going to post about the last decade, but since I graduated highschool at the start, it would take forever to list all that I have done and learned. So here goes with 2009:

I learned this year that I could find a new strength in my body. Pole classes seems trashy to some people, but it is very similar to gymnastics such as the rings and aerial dancing with the long silk fabric strands. I love it and have finally found something that keeps me motivated.

I learned this year that I have a great strength of character. I have put myself through a lot while being away from family, but have endured. It has been rough, but I know that I am growing still, even after two years of being away from home.

Last January I became a supervisor for the first time. Though I do not enjoy it much, I learned that I am good at it. I can be level headed and actually have a knack for knowing when someone has crossed that invisible line of being unacceptable.

I learned that I miss family and am ready to come home. Being away when Baby K was born and missing out on birthdays, saying good-bye to important family members, and old friends weddings has really taken it's toll this year. I am now working on getting back home.

At the age of 28, I am now an adult. You know how I know this?? Retail. I am the most responsible person and EVERYONE knows it. It's not like in college where my managers loved me and the older coworkers hated me for being the well-liked college girl. I am liked and respected at my job.... at both jobs actually.

And my finally little notes of humor: I learned there are two kinds of stripper poles: one that spins and the static kind.
I learned that if I were to date a guy fresh out of high school, I would be a puma, not a cougar. (You have to be over 35 to be a cougar.)
I learned that girls will apologize in order to be your friend, once it is established that you ARE indeed the coolest chick with the coolest hook-ups in the place.

Farewell 2009, bring it on 2010!!