I Made the Decision, Just Not the Timeline

This is not my favorite entry ever, but it's one that needs to be made.

In my New Year post, I talked about how I decided to make a big change in 2011. Some of you already know, but about a week before Christmas I got fed up with missing my family and feeling like Oklahoma just isn't working for me anymore.  I decided that within the next six months I wanted to move back to Dallas.

I've been really happy with the decision and was ready to move toward making it happen (finding a job in Dallas before moving, etc.) on my own timeline.

I really didn't want to run away from Oklahoma, though. I loved it here for the last 5 1/2 years.  I gave it a lot of time and nurturing and love and heartbreak.  I gave it more energy than some people thought it deserved.  All the same, I chose to live in Oklahoma throughout college and after, and I'm happy with that decision.  But, it's time to move on. I need a change. I need to be closer to my family (for me and for them). I need someplace better that will treat me well.  Maybe it's not the Great State's fault, but my time in OK over the last 2 years has not been gentle.  I guess I just got to the point where I felt that all of the crap is sign that maybe I don't belong here anymore. Maybe things aren't working out because they're not supposed to work out here.

I decided to wait until I found the RIGHT job in Dallas, not just any job.

Enter Snowpocalypse 2011 (The first one, not the one about to occur in the next 36 hours).

Our office was closed Tuesday with discretionary attendance Wednesday and Thursday.  Imagine my surprise when my manager called me at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday to talk about "changing my role in the company." What he meant was either demoting or firing me, depending on the CEO's decision. Immediately, I put the job search into overdrive.  I wanted to plan for the worst or at least have a backup plan to leave as soon as I could.

I was fired on Thursday over the phone (#tacky). If you ask me personally, I'll tell you more details, but not here.  I'm angry and frustrated and maybe a little defeated...but it's giving me a kick in the pants to be where I really want to be. On a side note, I have gotten overwhelming support from my co-workers who have such good friends to me over the past several months. I'm so thankful for them

So, at the end of February, my time in Oklahoma will be up. It's going to be sad, but I'm excited to be moving on to (hopefully) bigger and better things. I have exactly three more weeks left, a lot to get done, a lot of fun to be had, and a whole lot of jobs to apply for.

I'll be moving back into my parents' house (where my brother currently lives....REALITY CHECK!!!) temporarily until a couple of things are secured:

• A new job
• My credit cards are paid off (difficult when you have no new income...)
• My savings are built up a little more
• I find a new place that I both love and can afford (possibly with a roommate to share expenses)

On the short term, I plan to be there 3 months.  In reality (without a job), it's looking like closer to six months. I think the time there will be positive and I'll get to spend some quality time with my mom and help her out. She has fibromyalgia and struggles with most day-to-day exertions. With my dad traveling for work, I'd really like to help her out with the little stuff...picking up prescriptions, going to the store for her, running errands, etc....and continuing to do so after I move out.  This was a big motivation for me moving home in the first place. I'm also looking forward to helping my dad be more active (he keeps mentioning how he would enjoy biking and walking with me instead of alone).

So, yeah, I got fired.  But, everything is going to be just wonderful. I'm in a little bit of a pickle right now, but it's all going to work out just fine! 

A Pea in the Pod....or a whole f*cking watermelon.

I can't stand it when this happens.

Sunday night, I cleaned my apartment (to avoid working on my take-home final....). Monday, I worked on my take-home final ALL DAY and ALL NIGHT (including through the tornado). I turned in my final at 11:25 (due at 11:55), took a look around & realized....

The tornado started 3 miles SE of my apartment, took a sharp hook NW, traveled through my bedroom, then jumped back on its original route through eastern Oklahoma.

The rest of this week, I have done nothing about the mess, except fuel the fire. Again...I can't STAND when this happens. Monday night, Tuesday night & Wednesday night, I didn't sleep so well....and I think I just realized why.

Here's what I found (only counting stuff ON THE BED):

-5 pillows (completely normal)

-sheets

-blanket

-down comforter

-blue throw blanket that matches

-napkin (brown throw blanket that doesn't match but that I love more than any one possession)

-2 clutches

-sunglasses

-reading classes

-bag on rawhides

-3 dog treats

-1 sock

-1 sweatshirt

-1 wifebeater/tanktop

-hair straightening spray

-mousse

-1 comb

-5 pens

-2 pieces of gum

-1 headband

-2 sharpees

-monster screen cleaner

-computer lock

-flashlight

-umbrella

-handheld mirror

-makeup compact

-1 packet of slenda

-6 filing folders

-2 other folders

-3 moleskins

-2 Fla-Vor-Ice wrappers

-5000 crumbs

-1 Macbook Pro

-1 digital camera (used to take the picture, of course)

-1 iphone

-1 puplet

There was literally stuff in between every layer of sheets/comforter/blankets. I didn't even find the umbrella until I went back and looked a second time before posting.

RIDICULOUS!!!!

I can't wait to clean my bedroom tomorrow (I cleaned all others tonight).

I'm going to sleep like a baby tonight.

Greatness!!!

This is a very ecstatic post. May not start out that way, but I am excited about everything.

(Except for one thing: I've sucked at 365 ever since spring break. Things have been crazy. I'll get to it :D)

First off, I lived. That is definetly something to be ecstatic about. Yup, I'm talking abouttonight's tornado that started 3 miles from my house. From what I've heard so far there have only been 5 reported deaths in Oklahoma, which is a lot less than I expected it would be as I saw the tornadoes rip through central and eastern Oklahoma along I-40. Prayers go out to those who suffered damage and loss.

This was a really scary hour...I cleaned out my bathroom closet to get access to the basement if things got really bad (I'm terrified of this dungeon), wouldn't let Tucker out of my site (so I could grab him at a moment's notice if necessary), and couldn't take my eyes off of the TV. The problem was that I also had a take-home final due tonight & was worried that I wouldn't finish if I kept watching the news. As things died down, I took my laptop, my books and my dog and went to hide out in my bedroom closet., which worked out pretty well. I had to turn the TV off, but I felt better knowing there was nothing I could do & that I was in a pretty safe place; I also got stuff done, which was really REALLY important.

Second, on Thursday, I finished and turned in my two big papers. Mass Communications Law: 15 pages. Business of Media: 22 pages. I also had an exam and a presentation this day. I am so happy that May 6th is off of my calendar, because I had been dreading it for months.

Third, I'm finally getting caught up on sleep. See *Second*. Last weekend, I slept 10 hours total. Between Monday night and Thursday night, I slept 14 hours total. Yup, only 24 hours sleep in 7 nights. I was exhausted, and I've had a hard time catching up and making it through the day without a nap this weekend.

Fourth, I finished my take-home final for Business of Media tonight. 15 pages. RIDICULOUS!!! (And, if you're keeping track, that 37 pages and one presentation for this class in less than a week). Even more importantly, that means this horrible semester is OVER!!! It's not quite officially summer because I still have to work (some), but I'm verrrrrryyyyyy excited!!!!

Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth......Well, you may just have to wait and see what's in store for me. I haven't made up my mind yet about whether or not I'm ready for full disclosure. Most everything are really great, even though I have NO CLUE what I am doing. So, here's your cliffhanger!!

STICKIES!

It's Tuesday! Well, it's really early on Tuesday, but it counts. See first post-it.

a la prochaine.....

This one's for Hoonie.

I swear...I should get snowed in every week! I have gotten so much done, and it feels GREAT! I've been cleaning, grooming, blogging, finishing old projects, starting new ones, and getting caught up on Lost. Hopefully I'll keep blogging after snowy weather goes away, because I really have been enjoying it.

I also watched 6 episodes of Lost this afternoon. While I watched season 1 & 2 in real time, I stopped paying attention by third season. Last year about this time, I restarted from the beginning to pass the time after my foot surgery. I got completely caught up until the beginning of season 5, then I was forced to wait for either (a) ABC.com to put the episodes up, or (b) the box set to come out. So, at the end of December I rewatched the finales of 4, and got 1 whole episode of season 5 out of the way. I realized about a week ago that I was running out of time, so I started watching again, and I should be done with season 5 by Tuesday!!! IN TIME FOR THE PREMIER!! Anywho...that's not what this blog is about.

I: Video for Jaymee. And everyone -- this is my favorite video of all time. Turn up the sound.

This is my cousin's youngest daughter, Trynnity. She is 3, and she is adorable. When I was in Tucson earlier this month, I was getting ready in the bathroom and the iPod was playing. I came out of the bathroom to see this!!!

II: Corkboards for Jaymee!

Also when I was in Tucson, Jaymee and I wanted to make cute corkboards and frame them. After a rude confrontation with store employees, we left the craft store with no cork and no frames.

Personalized Cork Boards

You will need:

3-4 8x10" Frames, depending on how you want to arrange them. (Mine were 97 cents each at Wal-Mart)

1 pack of cork squares, contains 4 ($5 at Wal-Mart)

Painting supplies to decorate the cork & frames.

1 pack of Make Your Own Stencils, contains 3 (These were about $7 at Hobby Lobby. They were pricey, but if you're doing an intricait design, well worth it!! I still have 2 left over, too.)

1 x-acto knife

Scissors

3m strips

1. Start with your cork squares. Measure and cut them down to your frame size with the x-acto knife.

2. Paint the frames, if desired

3. Chose your design to go on the frames. I used Google Images to search for a large damask pattern that I could zoom in on.

4. Trace your design onto the stencil template. Cut out the template. (THIS WAS A LONG AND LENGTHY PROCESS!!! It's hard to maneuver the stencil template with the scissors, and the stencil was to tough to use the x-acto. For such a detailed pattern, I was happy with the labor and results, but it's up to you what goes on the cork boards)

5. Use the stencil to transfer the pattern to the cork board

6. Paint the pattern. Apply 3-4 coats. (really)

7. After allowing to dry, assemble your cork boards.

8. Hang with 3-m strips, being sure to level your frames and keep an equal distance between frames (my frames wouldn't allow me to nail in picture hangers into the wood)

9. ENJOY!!!

III. Follow Your Bliss, for me :o).

I had been wanting a to make a cute little sign like this for a while. I was drawn to the one-word signs made out of cut out letters that say "indulge," "family," or "home"...I just wanted an original one.

I have been particularly fond of the mantra "Follow Your Bliss" by Joseph Campbell. An American philosopher, he once wrote : "If you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Wherever you are—if you are following your bliss, you are enjoying that refreshment, that life within you, all the time."

Basically, if you do what naturally makes you happy every day, if you follow the path that this happiness leads you on, you will find your true calling.

Here's my "Follow Your Bliss" sign. It cost about $15 to make, and I got everything at Michael's.

I put on my entry table so that it's the first thing I see every time I walk into my apartment!

SNOWING!

It's SNOWING and it's BEAUTIFUL and I LOVE the snow and I HOPE it never stops because it's just so darn LOVELY!!!!

This afternoon I went to campus with my friend Drake and took some pictures of campus covered in snow. I think OUr campus is pretty on the nastiest of days, but this is something else!

Drake and Me!

Hiding in the icy-branch jail cell.

Me Outside of the Library

The Library

I wish I could take the credit for this clever snow blob....I found him on a hedge.

Back in the car, covered in snow!

At my apartment, I took Tucker out....there were lots of pictures, but this one was my favorite!

PS I started painting my kitchen cabinets today!!!

I'm posting again.

School aka work was cancelled, so in an attempt to be in a better mood, I am therapizing(new word, made it up, call webster).

For me, cleaning is so so sooo therapeutic, especially when it's not rushed or stressful. I enjoy cleaning, and I enjoy when things are

clean.

After doing some reading this morning, I decided to clean the bathroom before I took a shower.

Then I realized that Tucker needs groomed. I'm not going to clean the bathroom and take a shower before I groom the dog....that would be silly. So begins my afternoon.

Begin with dog. Okay, Tucker was not

ridiculously long, but it had been a long time since he had been groomed. Early November, I was in the process of painting my bedroom. Tucker was in the process of playing with paint. I ended up having to cut him very s

hort to get the paint out. He really needed to be bathed, but I figured I might as well give him a trim and make him look super purty.

Dog hair that ended up in the sink. Most ended up on me or on the floor.

Trimmed but still dirty puppy.

"Mom, stop. I don't take pictures of you right out of the shower."

And, Jaymee, everyone knows that after you dry your hair, you may need a few touch ups...

Time to brush his teeth! Beef flavored toothpaste...yummm!!!

Our least favorite part. Pedi paws. The damn thing scares me just as much as it scares the dog, but it does have a nice end result.

Now that the bathroom is covered in dog hair, it was time to go ahead with my original plan....clean the bathroom.

Much better! Clean sink, clean mirror, clean toilet, clean shower, clean floor...ahhh!

I also moved my washer and dryer. Behind it, I found 2 hangers, a box of dryer sheets, a bottle of Nyquil, Pledge, Swiffer Dust & Shine, a Clorox bleach pen, a comb, trash, 2 used dryer sheets, 3 pairs of paints, 6 mis-matched socks, a bra, and a cleaning rag. No money. Darn.

As I went to return my bathroom cleaning supplies to under the kitchen sink, I was faced with a nightmare.

Have you ever had the experience when you put something into an already full cabinet only to have 2 things fall out in its place?

So I emptied out the cabinet under my kitchen sink. I was faced with another nightmare. I hate the pepto pink that my cabinets were a few generations ago. Frankly, I hated everything about under-the-kitchen-sink. Convinced that I would keep under-the-kitchen-sink cleaner if it were prettier, I decided to do something about it.

First I primed.

Then I painted it. I love fresh white paint. I love it. White is such a lovely color, no?

Then I put everything away. My mom always laughs at how many cleaning products I have. I love cleaning products. When I find something I like, I want to tell the whole world, "Yes, the commercial is right...this is the best toilet cleaner on the planet."

Anyway, here's what I had: 7 cans of spray paint, a giant bottle of ammonia, 5 bathroom cleaners, 4 different bug killers, lamp oil, a box of brillo pads, 3 sizes of trash bags, 4 air fresheners, counter cleaner, 3 glass cleaners & windex wipes, clorox wipes, 3 bottles of dawn (2, 95% empty, were thrown away), goo-gone, 3 hard floor cleaners, 3 carpet cleaners, 3 cans of pledge, Swiffer Dust & Shine, Stainless Steel cleaner, Febreeze & wet sweeper cloths

It looks so much better!!!

And, so does Tucker!

Now, my apartment is trying desperately to lose power (*flashback to December 2007, Finals Week*). Hopefully this won't happen, but I have had 5 or 6 blackouts and up to 5 minutes without power already.....

...K WISH ME LUCK!

Okay, more studying.

Rainy Day Blues, but not yet FREEZING Rainy Day Blues

Things that have me down today...

The Rain:

Well, this only has me down partially. It IS freezing rain, therefore there is the potential toFREEZE....but the rain can very easily get me feeling blue. *exception* during the summer, when we could all use a break from the heat & it's warm enough to go outside and play */exception* This "Rainy Day Blues" syndrome was a big problem in France, as it rained every 99% of the days I was there. As of this second, the freezing rain is just rain. If it doesn't get cold enough, it has the potential to become really cold annoying rain that I have to walk in to get to campus.

The Freezing Part:

Or, the not yet freezing part. School is not yet officially closed. I'm waiting. I check in about every minutes. I keep looking for a text message from President Boren (It sounds so much more glamorous to say that it is "from President Boren" than to say it is "from the University email system donotreply@ou.edu," no?). What if nothing gets cancelled in this one little block of Norman, OK? Norman Public Schools are closed. Moore Public Schools are closed. OCCC, OCU, OSU & UCO.....are all closed. Why are we always the last to close?!?!

What If We Don't Close?:

If school is open, I have a test today. If school is open, I still have homework to finish. If school is open, I have reading to do for my night class (which surely will be cancelled...it should be snowing by then!). If school open, I have a tres important group presentation in my night class. I am not yet fully prepared for any of these yet. I can be & I will be if the need arises, but it just seems like a non-important stress factor. I tried to get everything done anyway last night. I was just too tired.

What If We Do Close?:

My list of things that I need to get done today, whether school is open or closed, is nearly identical in length. I need to spend a little bit more time finalizing the group presentation. I need to finish reading for my night class (I am certain we will get another reading assignment for next week, so I need to finish this weeks). I need to do my Mass Comm Law homework so that I don't get behind. I need to work on the website for the State Grant I am working on for one of my GA assignments. I need to do research for my other GA assignment. I need to read for the forum I volunteered to participate in. Basically, my list goes on and on and on whether campus is closed or not. I have things to do. I could put them off, but I stress out when I procrastinate. Let's avoid stress, k?

My List of Things:

My very long list of things to do is, just like everyday, preventing me from having a good time most of the time. I use my lists as an excuse to make myself a hermit. I have told friends that they need not ask if I would like to go....tell me to go out. I will find a way. Even if there is stress later on, I will find a way. But if people ask if I have time to go out, the answer is, almost always, no. I never have time. I try to fit too much into too little of a window. I am overweight with responsibility. The first thing to go is always social, and I truly, truly hate that. I want to change, but it's hard.

Oklahoma Natural Gas

I dread getting my ONG bill when it's this cold all the time. My bill this month? $193.07. Really??? It makes me want to cry.

AND IN OTHER NEWS....

This is what my car looks like.

I got into a bit of an accident last week. While I am thankful that I have car insurance, I am not in the best position to pay the $500 deductible after my car gets fixed. While I was faced with the option that I could total out my car and take the money, I am really not in a position to make even a small car payment since deciding to be in school this semester. If I were working, it would be a different story.

P.S. Other than a bit of whiplash, I'm fine. That's a lot to be thankful for.

Luckily, my mom loaned me her car until I get mine back since she rarely if ever drives.

Post-Its!! I Remembered!

I am so relieved that I did not have to chastise myself for forgetting to post the post-its.

It's not that I take it so seriously, I just hate when I forget to do something fun and I remember all the boring crap.

Anyway, on to Post-It Tuesday.

Something new: If you would love a personalized post-it for next week, comment :o). It keeps me motivated to keep posting.

No Title Here

I'm so bored. I have nothing to do.

scratch that.

I have plenty to do, I just choose to do nothing this moment in time.

Yesterday sucked. I hate that outlook, but it did.

I woke up way too early, cleaned, and then I went to go get my car cleaned. I picked everything up and put it into a laundry basket (since I had been living in my car for the last 2 months, this size was necessary), then vacuumed it out. It was really cold outside, of course, and my legs started hurting. Being as tough as I am, I continued my mission to clean my car. I then put 3 dollars in quarters into the car wash station hose. !@#!@!@#!@# It was frozen. It was not frozen a week ago!!! It was not frozen right after the snow! But it was frozen the day I actually needed to clean my car. Nevertheless, I abandoned the car wash station. On the way home I realized that my legs still hurt. Without a current mission, there was nothing to distract from discomfort turned to adrenaline rising pain ALL OVER MY LEGS.

Since it felt like I was being eaten alive by ants, the first thing I did once getting back to my apartment was strip down. No ants. Then, I started scratching...WHICH HURT. Then I rubbed half a tube of hydrocortizone all over my legs. Then, I noticed the welts on my legs. wtf. I was having an allergic reaction to the cold. Yes, it happens. At least, I'm guessing this is what happened. I had large hives all over my legs, and it was gross. I took a benedryl, napped, and woke up to non-welty bliss.

To rest my body after the recent trauma, I sat on my couch watching E! for the next 3 hours. Then I bought my new computer to make sure that I would be happy with my decision to get off my butt.

As night fell, I really wanted to go out. I was about to start making plans...when...*gurgle.* My stomach kept me in (and up) all night :o(. You don't need any more details.

Needless to say, yesterday sucked.

But, I AMMM excited for a couple of things.

1. Dallas next week
2. Tucson next week
3. School starting soon
4. My new Macbook Pro!!