Un-unemployed

Good news! I'm no longer unemployed! Luckily it didn't take too long, less than 2 weeks since Breathe closed. I'm grateful for this, I was already getting a bit stir-crazy. Days and weeks last a lot longer when there's nowhere to go and nothing to do all day.

After losing a week due to software frustrations, sickness, half-marathon, and printer issues, I finally was able to put my resume into circulation. On Wednesday I drove to the Union Heights Massage Envy, and also dropped one off at the Sugarhouse location. Sugarhouse would have been more convenient, but Union Heights was way faster on the draw. I hadn't even made it home before they called me back. I had gotten through both interviews and been offered a job before Sugarhouse called me in for an interview. I'm not entirely sure I did the right thing in not slowing things down a bit and interviewing with Sugarhouse as well. I was afraid of losing this shot, then where would I be if Sugarhouse didn't want me? Back to square one is where. So, I made the decision. I hope it was the right one, but I'll never know for sure.

Today was orientation, tomorrow I work my first real shift. My schedule is still being hammered out. I'll be working mostly nights, 3-10 P.M., and my days off are not for certain yet. There is a chance I will have Saturdays and Sundays off. I'm hoping this is the option that works out. I would love to have 'normal' weekends for a while! As anyone who works weekends, especially Saturdays, knows you have to miss out on a lot of family gatherings, impromtu trips, etc. If not, my days off will be Fridays and Sundays. Do-able, but not as fun as having 2 days in a row. I guess I'll wait and see and be happy with what they give me. Beggars can't be choosers, right?

So that's where my employment stands for now. There's a 90 day probationary period before I become a full-fledged employee. Hopefully it all works out so I don't have to do the resume/interview thing for a while. It SUCKS! I am going to kind of keep my feelers out for a job in an actual spa, I was very content in my cushy little spa-world and hope to find that again someday. But for now, I'm just happy to have a job! So I'll leave this blog on a positive note, or else I'll start worrying about the fact that my lease is up in December. Isn't being a grown-up fun? :-)

Unemployed. No likey.

Just when you think you're safe, unemployment strikes.
Friday started out like any normal Friday. I got up, went to work, did a couple massages. Everything was fine.
Went to a bookstore with Amanda and Matt, then went to meet Chrystie and Preston for dinner. While heading for the restaurant, Matt ran into a buddy of his. While he chatted, I called in to work to see when I should be at work the next morning. My first appointment started at 9 A.M., with another around 11. Not a bad start to the day, and would probably get a walk-in or two.
Still no warning.
After dinner we went to a Halloween play at the Off-Broadway Theater. Amusing, but not as funny as last year. After Amanda and Matt dropped me off I logged on my 'puter and started chatting with a buddy. Realised it was getting late and I hadn't bothered to take my phone off silent mode or check for messages. By this time it was around 1:30 A.M. I saw my manager had sent some texts just minutes before. Odd for that time of night, but I figured someone was either sick or had a child come down with something and Ben was trying to get their shift covered for the day.
Nope.
He was texting those of us who were supposed to work Saturday morning to let us know not to drive to work, for he had just found out from the owners that Breathe Day Spa was no longer operating. That's right, I was given 7 whole hours notice that I was out of a job. Over TEXT MESSAGE. No blaming Ben at all, he's a good manager and trying to do the best thing. But the owners, for all their money and fancy-schmancy cars, seem to be lacking in the class department. No one had any idea at all this was coming. NONE.
So there I was, middle of the night, just found out that my job of almost 4 years that I totally loved was *poof* Gone. At this point I set feminism back a few years by calling Josh and crying at him 'til he invited me over out of pity, then cried at him in person for the rest of the night. He put up with my weepiness very well. Listened to my whiny venting, saying nice supportive things. Even earned himself some brownie points by telling me I looked pretty (with a straight face) even though I had been crying for hours, with all the accompanying facial swellings, discolorations, and discharges. Must have been the alluring Charlie Brown Halloween flannel pants and ratty, stained t-shirt. Think I might keep him around a while.
Saturday from about 2:30 A.M. on involved watching lots of '30 Rock' DVDs and Transformers 2 (which was really, really, bad. And not in the amusingly bad way. Just. Plain. BAD.) through leaky eyes and occasional bouts of sobs. I did drift off for a while, woke up around lunchtime. More brownie points for going out and picking us up some lunch before I thought it was time to go home and try to face the real world.
The e-mail from the owners of the spa didn't answer many questions, either. Basically, they are declaring bankruptcy and were advised by their legal whatevers to shut down the spa to stop incurring expenses. Last Friday was supposed to be payday as well, yet no one got paid. Now we all have to file for back pay and hope to get some of the money we earned the last 1.5 pay periods. I understand running a business is difficult. But something tells me it takes a little something special to take a popular and well-established spa and run it into the ground after it's been around for 10 years (we just celebrated the anniversary earlier this month). What really gets me is that they didn't bother to warn us lowly employees, not even the managers knew anything was wrong.
So there's my sob story. I'm filing for unemployment, and with the number of spas in this area I'm not too worried about finding a new job. Hopefully soon, so I can find a nearby apartment. I was struggling to afford this one even when I had a job and was looking to move pretty soon. But at the moment not sure where I'll end up so put that on hold. I'm sad to see Breathe end, and I already miss all my co-workers. I'll keep this updated and hopefully soon will be reporting I found a new job.

It was (is) a dark and stormy night

One of these days I'm going to stop doing things I know I'll regret later on. Staying up late. Eating large amounts of food containing large amounts of sugar. Not cleaning my room (don't tell Dad.) Finding creepy stuff on the Internet that will have me jumping at every sound the rest of the night. One of these days, but today is not that day.
I have mixed feeling on the whole supernatural/ghost/haunting thing. I'm sure most of what's out there is over-exaggerated if not downright fake. But what fun is not believing any of it? So I've been having a grand old time this evening, freaking myself right out reading 'real' ghost stories people have submitted on websites,listening to EVP's, looking at spooky pictures, etc. It is almost Halloween, might as well indulge my curiousity. All the time knowing full well what a wussy I am and that I'd regret this fun later.
While I was thus distracting myself, I would occasionally look outside to see the wind blowing the trees around. Then the dark clouds rolled in. Then night came. Welcome to later. So now I've gone and gotten myself in full-on creeped-out mode, I'm alone in my apartment, and every once in a while the wind gets a good gust up and literally howls around the corners of the building. Even when the wind itself isn't making ghoulish noises, it's scraping the tree branches against the apartment wall and rustling the leaves to make soft, chattering sounds.
Here in my room with my light on and TV keeping me company it's not so bad. But the walk to the kitchen for dinner felt long tonight. Through the dark living room, wind and trees causing moving shadows across the walls, hearing eerie stormy sounds. Even with distracting myself and thinking about other things, my heart was beating harder than necessary for such a short trip. Who needs to pay good money for scary movies and haunted houses? All I need is the idea that maybe, possibly, something could be out there (or in here!) and my own apartment seems foreboding. Add a little inclement weather and I can get a heart-pumping, what-the-heck-was-that-noise?!? rush going to rival anything I get at a spook alley. My logical mind tells me I'm safe and secure and tonight is just another night and you're a grown woman, for heaven's sake! The part of my brain where my inner child lives tells me the scary things are just waiting for my light to go out to slip from their hiding places. So we compromise, I'll be sleeping with my T.V. on tonight. . .
. . . . and feeling silly and regretting this blog in the morning, I'm sure.

It's fall, but I'm not complaining. Much.

I'm never sure what to put in my blogs. I assume most of my readers are my lovely family who I talk to on a regular basis anyway so mostly I don't want to be redundant. I'm not making any promises that I'll start writing on a regular basis, cuz I've promised that before and it has yet to actually happen. So I'll just do this one blog and see what happens after that.

Summer was fun and went by way too fast, as it does every year. I turned 28 during my very first trip to Lake Powell. I can definitely see how people get addicted to going down there, it's beautiful! I didn't get to try wake boarding like I had planned, but discovered I do have a natural talent at boat lounging.

I ran another half-marathon at Disneyland over Labor Day, and training took up a big chunk of my summer as well. It's a good thing I enjoy it :-) This year my Dad, Amanda, and Matt participated too. It makes it more fun when other people are sharing the same experience. I think I'm making this an annual tradition, anyone who wants to join me is more than welcome! I promise it's much more fun than it sounds.

I'm still working at the spa, and it's still slow. Not sure when this recession thing is supposed to end, but I'll be very glad when it does. Until then I'll try to just be happy that I have a job that pays enough to keep the bills paid and buy me my food I love so much. And occasional clothes and shoes. I seem to be developing a shoe fetish that is kept in check by the fact I can't afford to indulge it very often.

So now it's fall, and I'm trying to not be so whiny about the changing weather. I caught myself complaining and noticed how very ANNOYING I sounded! My whining isn't going to make it any warmer, and I'm not willing to move to a different climate. Therefore, I'm trying this year to take it all in stride and enjoy the changes for once. The key word here is try.

I'm looking forward to Halloween and just finished a playlist for my iPod. Turned out to be 8.1 hours long and 129 songs. Who knew I had such a dark side? Haha. I signed up for a half-marathon in Provo on Halloween morning, and am trying desperately to get my shift covered so I don't have to work afterwards. My costume this year is Lois Lane. I almost feel like it's cheating to have such an easy costume. My date for the evening will be dressed as Clark Kent/Superman (basically business clothes with a superman t-shirt showing through).

And that segues nicely into a whole new subject. It seems I have myself a boyfriend. Still feels weird to use that particular term, though. I usually refer to him by his name, Josh, or as 'the guy I'm seeing', or simply 'my guy', it sounds more natural that way. Boyfriend. Boyyyfriiieeennd. Totally weird.

Yes, this is the same Josh from previous posts. We've been dating for 9-ish months now, which more than doubles my previous record of 4 months for longest-running relationship. He's a cutie, very outgoing and social, and likes me despite my tendency to be shy and socially awkward. Best of all, in the last 9 months he has managed to not tick me off, make me cry, or mess with my head and cause paralyzing insecurity. Something no guy yet has been able to accomplish. I'll tell ya, it's a nice change from previous experience!

So that's it for this blog. Catch y'all later.

A little victory . . and some future plans.

I had a little personal victory this week. I paid my car loan off! 2 years early! My car is now MY car, not the credit union's car that I am borrowing. And I am going to drive that car 'til she can't drive no mo'. She may not be pretty or flashy, but we've bonded, and she gets great gas mileage. It took me a while to get the guts up to pay that much money all at once. I've been pretty much hoarding money in my savings account for the last year or two, waiting for disaster to strike. It never did, and even with work being much slower than it was, I'm still able to make ends meet and even have a little left over.
A couple of weeks ago, Whammo! I got the impression that it was time for me to get that car payment out of the way. Then to keep taking the same amount every month and put it towards a down payment on a house. Totally unexpected. I always assumed I'd buy a house one day, in the distant future. Houses are for grown-ups, aren't I still more or less a kid? I'll think about it later. Much later.
I want to enjoy my single, irresponsible years. . .
Sure, I'm not all that happy in an apartment. Starting to hate it, actually . . .
but still . . . Later.
After my terribly exciting life of . . . I dunno, travel and other such fun glamorous-ness.
I tried to argue these points with the impression, but the words "It's time." kept repeating in my mind. Can't argue with that, so I guess it is, in fact, time.
Now that I've decided I'm doing this, I'm liking the idea of a home of my own. Nothing big at all, probably one of the tiny 2 or 3 bedroom houses that are common in this area and throughout Sugarhouse. Decorated with my own silly but sentimental knick-knacks. Rooms painted the way I want them. A yard I can be outside in (and not have to go to the park!) with my dog, for there will be a dog. Possibly a cat. And my parakeets, who are currently being cared for by my Mom. They can squawk and squeak all the dang day, cuz there's only me and I don't mind the noise! And I will be able to be my nocturnal self. Wander through my house to my kitchen and make myself food at any hour I want and not worry about waking anyone up. Come home from trips and have that " Ah, I'm home!" feeling, instead of "Well, I'm . . . here. Again."
See?! There I go, getting ahead of myself.
I know it's going to be hard at times. Yards require lots of work. I won't have a pool. I'll be paying bills ALL by my loners. If anything breaks, I've gotta find someone to fix it and pay for it myself. Can't just call down to the office and have maintenance bail me out. I may not be ready for all that responsibility just yet, but I think by the time I have enough saved, I will be.
Or at least I'll learn real quick.

p.s. In the meantime, does anyone have advice as to the best way to start saving? I.R.A? Dedicated savings account? Some combination of the two?

So I'm a dysfunctional girl

For a while now I've had the sneaking suspicion that I don't have a whole lot in common with much of the female population of the world. At least not the female population T.V. stations seem to be targeting during the day. I work evenings most of the week, and since we have the most basic cable you can imagine, most of what is on during the day are things like "Rachel Ray", "Better" (as in "Better Homes and Gardens", but for T.V.), and "Good Day Utah". I try to get into it, but just find myself in a state of bemused detachment. I get this feeling a lot in Relief Society, and when listening to my friends discuss girly things, like movies and books. So for my own amusement I've started a list on ways I differ from friends or the ladies on television shows.

This is for entertainment only! I'm not trying to say I'm superior or inferior in any way. Just my own different self.

So, in no particular order

Why I am a dysfunctional girl:

1. I rarely, if ever, use "darling" as a descriptive word.

2. I don't see myself ever "scrapbooking". Can't I just put my pictures in an album without needing stickers? or themed paper? or special scissors? or paper punchers? Cuz really, I don't find those things exciting.

3. There are fashion/beauty magazines all over my apartment. I have never read any of them.

4. I hate shopping for clothes. It makes me grumpy and frustrated.

5. I have never shrieked and flapped my hands about because I am excited or startled. Nope. I prefer stealthy, ninja-like dropping to the ground.

6. I thought "Wuthering Heights" was twisted, and Heathcliff a creepy, brooding jerk. How is that story romantic??? I don't get it.

7. There is no "color scheme" whatsoever in my room. My sheets do not match my blankets, and my blankets do not match each other. My furniture is mismatched. And yet I sleep just fine.

8. I don't care what "What Not To Wear" says. I refuse to wear pointy-toed shoes.

9. I don't care which famous people are dating each other or not.


10. I don't care which non-famous people in my ward are dating each other or not.

11. If I pick up a book, and the description includes "love story" or "romance", 99% of the time it goes right back on the shelf.

12. Oprah has no effect on my opinions or choices in reading material. Especially since I don't watch her show.

13. On mornings when my choices are sleeping in or doing the hair/makeup thing, sleep wins.

14. There are days I don't give a crap what I look like. I'm not going to change clothes or put on makeup just to run to the store. People will just have to deal with looking at me in sweats and makeup-less once in a while.

15. I've never fantasized about my wedding day. No ideas on colors or flowers or dress or whatnot. I'd just as soon elope and avoid the hassle.

16. I find "chick flicks" boring and/or annoying. And they give girls unrealistic expectations on what to expect from guys.

17. I will most likely live a long and happy life, and never read "Twilight". Speaking of unrealistic expectations, there is going to be a generation of teenage girls shocked and dismayed when they get to high school and find . . . . . high school boys . No beautiful immortals. Poor kids.

I could go on for a while. But I'm tired and you get the idea. Hope everyone had a Happy Easter!

Yet another blog

Seriously, this blogging thing is not as easy as you'd think it would be. Several times in the last couple months I've logged on here with the intention of writing something, only to sit staring at the blank screen. I never realized just how uneventful my life is until I tried out this blogging thing. I haven't been anywhere in a while now, so no news there. I have no cute kids to write about or take pictures of. I do have 2 bettas, PrettyBoy and Guillermo. But they're private types and pretty much keep to themselves. They are also paparazzi-adverse and seem to take exception when I flash my camera into their bowls.

So there's just me. My life is (usually) simple and drama-free. This is the way I like it, so I'm a happy kid. The downside to it is boring blogs, or no blogging at all because they would be the most boring blogs of all time. But I guess it's time to write something.

Work is still slow, as it will probably be for a while yet. We seem to be holding steady at least, with occasional dips into uber-slowness that cause everyone to get a bit nervous. There were some rumors circulating about the spa closing, but I'm not putting much stock in them. Things have a tendency to get blown out of proportion by some of the people I work with. So until I hear something from someone in authority, I'm not too worried.

After being a huge slacker all winter, I'm getting back into running. My goal for this year is to graduate to actual RUNNING, instead of the leisurely jogging I have been doing and pretending it was running. There are a couple of girls I see at the park that have these gorgeous, muscular (not manly-muscular, but feminine, shapely-muscular) legs. They traipse on past me like I'm barely moving, and yet they seem as though they are hardly putting forth any effort at all. Plus they have the nerve to look fabulous at the same time! Makes me jealous! So I've made it my goal to become one of them, that I may make other people jealous. (Although I'd settle for improved running times and not quite as stork-like legs. We shall see.)

But I know the major reason people read my blog is for my boy news. Might as well entertain people with my attempts at a dating life, right? At the moment there is Josh, who I met while dancing at a club towards the end of January. I normally have a rule that I never give my number out at clubs, but decided to make an exception since he was easy to talk to and didn't try to "grind" up against me while dancing. (Besides, he was taller than me while I was wearing heels. And pretty darn cute.) He's a good guy and we have fun being total dorks together, but no, it's nothing serious or exclusive.

So, yay for me, I have blogged. I am no longer the biggest bloggie slacker. For a little while, at least.

Boys Kill Brain Cells

Alright kids, I have been trying unsuccessfully to think of something interesting to blog about. But since life has been fairly uneventful for a while, you get to hear some random rantings instead. Ready?


Here we go.


Once upon a time, not very long ago, I was a relatively intelligent person. Seriously. I know it's difficult to believe, but take my word for it.

"What happened?" You may wonder. Well, let me tell you. . .

Boys happened.

And now, I am getting dumber by the day.

Coincidence? I think not.


For most of my life, guys were hardly on the radar. I never bothered to learn the fine art of flirting. During my years in Junior High and High School when your average girls are perfecting these skills, I was shy to the point of being anti-social. Probably didn't help that I was overweight and had bangs that resembled a buffalo stuck to my forehead and tended to wear clothes that were not exactly flattering. (No, I'm not being mean to myself. Just stating facts. I do have photographic evidence if required.) So the male population and I blissfully ignored each other. And although I was disappointed that life was not like what was depicted on "Saved By the Bell", at least my brain cells remained intact.


Then I got a little older and came out of my shell a bit. Not entirely sure this was a good idea. Couple years ago I even started dating. Not entirely sure this was a good idea, either. About this same time, I have noticed a drop in my I.Q. Why else would I do these things that show a remarkable lack of reason and intelligence? For example:

- My mood can be changed dramatically by a text or e-mail (or lack thereof). We are talking Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde territory here.
- I have stare-downs with my phone when I naively believe that a guy will call when he says he will. My phone is very good at this game and wins 9 times out of 10. I suspect illegal doping.
- I'm actually scared to text guys, because I absolutely HATE the period of waiting to see if he'll text back or not.
- Calling is even worse. I'm scared that he'll answer and I'll be expected to put together comprehensible sentences. If he doesn't, I wonder if he's ignoring me.
- I have the almost-irresistible urge to hit married/involved people who claim to miss dating. I'd trade this "exciting" phase of my life for the "routine" feeling of having someone there no matter what any day. I know marriage/exclusive relationships have their own sets of issues and problems. But it would be a welcome change from this insanity.

See? I know all these behaviors are ridiculous, and yet I can't seem to help myself. What other conclusion is there but that boys cause brain damage?

Case dismissed.