Invasion

I feel pretty confident saying spring is nearly here. We've warmed up into the 50s and even some 60s, the majority of the snow has melted, and once again little streams and normally quiet creeks have turned into swollen, swift rivers. There is also a rash of new lakes where fields normally are. Basically, it is the normal spring invasion of water. I don't mind, though, because it means spring is here!

To prove the point I drove with the windows down today. And I saw (and more importantly, heard) my first Harley of the season.

I am officially a dork.

News from my life:

• Received a rejection letter from a job for which I thought I was at least guaranteed an interview.
• Had the oil in my car changed for the second time... I've driven 6,000 miles in 6 months. Is that about normal?
• Replaced the broken sway bars on the rear end of my car.
• Found out a good friend of mine is retiring.
• Fell behind in my daily journal but then caught up again.
• Got better from being sick but then got worse again. Still working on the getting better for a second time part.
• Successfully made it almost an entire month without drinking any pop. Additionally, have made it just as long not eating any fast food, unless Panera counts as fast food, in which case my second claim is false.
  
• Took my cat to the vet for his yearly check up. He's now 12 years old and weighs in a 10.6 pounds. He's becoming a really old man. (He's sitting next to me as I write this, staring at me and at my lap, which currently is holding a computer and not him. The judgment and disdain is intense.)
  
• Had some seriously awesome days at work when it came to sales. Hoping to keep it up this week as we head into our huge semi-annual sale this coming weekend.
• Planned a trip to Chicago in April to see some buddies and catch up.
• Sent my 3rd care package to the squad of Marines in Africa that I decided to adopt. Received a thank you note from the squad leader via the U.S. Postal Service.
• Made progress on several 101 goals - seeing a live art performance and writing letters to my elected representatives.
• Discovered the television show "Kitchen Nightmares" and may be developing a paranoia of any food not cooked by myself or a family member. Coincidentally, also starting craving some recipes that I haven't had in awhile. Dad, think you could cook up some chicken piccata and overnight it to me packed in dry ice?
  

I think those are the highlights. I am struggling to come up with anything else that may be even remotely interesting. It is a simple life I lead and really, not that exciting.

Was the location of the family reunion ever decided/booked?

Love!

~g

Goings-on

I am now officially into my second week of not drinking any pop. The first few days of my illness I had a throat so sore the thought of any carbonation passing over it made me cringe and preemptively gag. By the time my throat was feeling better I was well into the expected caffeine withdrawal headaches, so I decided to ride it out and use the initial aversion to my advantage.

Water, even in massive cups full of ice, is starting to get old so today while at Walmart I picked up a few flavoring options. Typically I do not really care for such packets because they are too sweet, but Crystal Light has a few flavors that aren't too bad. Today's find includes Green Tea Peach Mango and Raspberry Lemonade. I won't be able to drink water flavored with these packets all of the time (the artificial sweetener would really start to get to me) but once in awhile they will be a nice change.

I have my third care package ready to send to the troops that I decided to adopt. I have a Marine squad that is based in the Horn of Africa until September. I do not know if my first two packages have been received, but I figure I'll just keep sending the packages until I'm told not to. It's amazing how much you can fit in what are actually rather small APO/FPO boxes. This particular package, along with the snacks that I always include, also has a lawn game. Does anyone remember the Velcro-covered ball and the two mitt/paddle combo things used to "catch" said ball? That's the game I am sending, properly colored in Bronco blue and orange, of course. I look for things that can be fun and entertaining but that don't require batteries. Suggestions are always welcome!

Work has been interesting this week. Saturday is the last day of our fiscal year, so there has been a big push this whole week to end the year with a bang... a.k.a. big sales. Saturday will be the most interesting as there is a company-wide "New Year's Eve" competition, broken down by region so that there will be more winners. If you are thinking of going shopping at Christopher & Banks this weekend do it on Saturday and do it in my store. Can't come into my store? Call me at work and have me order what you want online for you. :) In case you are wondering, one of the prizes for being a top-10 store in the region is the privilege of wearing jeans to work for a week. We desperately want that prize.

I have been in one of my moods lately that any of my past roommates would recognize by the presence of multiple episodes of "The West Wing" playing on the television. I do not know how else to describe the mood other than quiet and a bit reclusive. I have just started season 4 ("20 Hours in America", especially the latter half, is, in my opinion, one of the best episodes of the entire series) and since I only own seasons 1-4 I will be coming out of my current state of mind shortly.

Cadbury Creme Eggs are back in stores in abundance, for which I am very happy. The original is the best.

Love!

~g

Mending

I have been down sick for a week now. I usually get a bad cold in the winter, but this one went way beyond bad. On day three of a sore throat so swollen I was literally choking on my food, I found myself at Urgent Care since, you know, I don't have health insurance.

Long story short, the nurse was incompetent (seriously... she had trouble using a manual blood pressure cuff) and the doctor was convinced, after hearing the time line of my symptoms and doing a cursory, 1-minute exam, that what ailed me was viral and therefore would be unresponsive to antibiotics.

I know who got me sick. I know how their illness progressed. I know antibiotics worked well for them. I went to the doctor so I could get a prescription and start to get healthy. And I met a doctor who did not want to give me prescription.

He and I eventually came to a silent agreement - I subject myself to a strep culture and in return I walk out with a script for the antibiotics I want and feel I need. The bartering system is alive and well in 21st century American health care.

I got my prescription and strong advice to wait a few days before filling. He wanted me to get sicker so I could be sure the prescription would help. I'm all for not over-medicating so as not to create medicine-resistant illnesses, but I knew antibiotics would help me. I filled the prescription and started feeling better that same day. I have five days left to go and I'm definitely on the mend.

I can hardly believe we are in the last week of February. Time certainly seems to be passing more quickly every year. I find it odd to think that, even if I live to 100, a quarter of my life has already passed. Craziness.

Work has been a bit nuts lately, what with half of our staff out ill, the spring line arriving in large quantities daily, and the build up to a large event. Still, the job remains fairly easy and I really can't find much to complain about. Our computers are horrible and cause a lot of problems, but I can't do anything about that.

Both my state and federal tax returns have come through. The state paid for the next six months of insurance on my car, a very small portion of the federal return went towards paying the doctor at urgent care, and the last 90%ish of my federal return went straight into my savings account. Go me with being responsible!

I'm looking forward to spring.

Love!

~g

I suppose it is about time

Time for a new post to show up in everyone's blog reels. I haven't had much to report or say lately so my blog has been very quiet. Life has just been trudging along.

Today I completed another goal on my 101 list. I sent 2 care packages to a Marine squad based in Djibouti, which is located in the Horn of Africa. The goal is complete since it was simply to send a (as in one) care package, but I will be sending a lot more to the squad I decided to adopt. I had enough items to completely fill two boxes so both went off today. I have decided I want to send at least 2 boxes a month from now on.

We hired another assistant manager at the store so I have lost about 5 hours a week but the store is now staffed like it is supposed to be. I am contemplating attending a higher education job placement exchange in Chicago in just a few weeks. I need to decide soon if I'm going so I can get places lined up to stay and pay the registration fee for the exchange. My decision would be much easier if my federal tax refund would come through.

Google Buzz is stupid. Facebook changed it's homepage AGAIN. I am kind of sad I have to work during the opening ceremonies for the Olympics. Tucker is getting strange in his old age. NCIS is a fantastic show and I have finally seen every season if it. Stopping the consumption of pop (a.k.a. soda for all you strange people out there) is difficult.

These are the little things that make up my rather unexciting life. :)

That's really about it. It's cold and snowy and just your basic beginning-of-the-year drudgery.

Love!

~g Djibouti

Possibilities

The question that has been beating on the inside of my head lately is quite simple in its phrasing and yet any potential answer is so complex I cannot even begin to fathom what it may be.

What could I do if I really tried?

Contrary to the popular, "What would you do if you won the lottery/had no limitations/had any one super power/etc." variations, the question that has been plaguing me has two distinct differences. "Could" and "tried".

What could I do if I really tried?

Like the rest of my family, I have been blessed with an average-to-above-average intelligence, decently varied and well-honed sets of skills and talents, and the ability to reasonably, if not always most efficiently, handle whatever comes my way. While all of these characteristics are truly blessings, they are also curses in that I have never really had to try.

Yes, I have had my struggles and yes, I have had some falls and failures, but for the most part my life thus far has been fairly easy and obstacle-free. I have been able to navigate much of the course with only one hand on the wheel. Not exactly something to complain about, I know, but detrimental none the less as I find myself in my mid-twenties with little understanding of who I am and what I am truly capable of, given a little passion and effort.

Take writing for example. When I was in grade school I felt I was destined to be a writer when I grew up and joined the mysteriously appealing order of adulthood. I was in writing clubs, some of which I co-founded. I read books well above my age level. In high school one side of my class ring showed our school mascot. The other showed a quill and parchment. I was born to be a writer.

Somewhere along the line, however, I either forgot I was born to be a writer, or I stopped caring. Writing became something I did only for tests and term papers. While it still came easily, passable work required very little time and effort, and thus very little time and effort was exuded.

Occasionally I have had flashes of my old passion and brilliance. I am truly proud of the work that has resulted from these moments. While most of my "work" is trash (when I choose to write at all), some is truly good and leads me to wonder, "What could I do if I really tried?" In the past year I have been compelled to really try with my writing twice. Both times resulted in something extraordinary. I have shared one of these results with the world. The other I keep for myself, at least for now.

Such success, limited as it may be, leads me to wonder about the rest of my life. What about a career and a mate and a family and a relationship with God? What about self-discovery, selfless living, and social awareness? What about emotionally, socially, and personally healthy choices? What about being the heroine of my story, rather than the longing observer?

What could I do if I really tried?

~g

Observations

We have the worst interactions with customers on Sundays. There could be many reasons for this, but I have narrowed it down to the two that I think are the most plausible. First, we are only open for 6 hours on Sunday, versus the 11 hours we are open every other day of the week. The customer craziness and difficulty levels are concentrated on Sundays.

My other theory revolves around church. It seems almost as if our customers, after going to the morning service and taking in a late brunch at IHOP, feel like their sin for the week is absolved and therefore they can begin filling their slates again.

Ok, so that second one may be a bit of a stretch, but some Sundays I really do wonder.

My other observation of the day revolves around animals. I have always known that I find it hard to see an animal contained, but I was realizing today just how much I hate it when it was and continues to be my pet that is contained.

Tucker seemed to have a bit of upset stomach this morning. By that I mean several vomiting sprees all over the house. Everything he was attempting to eat or drink was coming right back up. Knowing I had to work all day and that Mom was going to be gone as well, Tucker ended up shut in the bathroom on the main floor. That bathroom is approximately 8' x 4', which includes the tub.

I moved in his litter box, his throne of pillows and blankets, and his water. For about 8 hours today I seriously restricted his activity and his ingestion. It seems to have done the trick, but since he was without food all day and is therefore attacking the little portions I have been giving him since getting home from work, he's remaining in the bathroom overnight. And I hate it. I feel terrible he's in such a tiny place and is completely alone. I really cannot stand to see animals confined.

Tomorrow is blessedly a day off! I get to sleep in... a project I'll start working on now!

Love!

~g

Redesign 2.05320185

Those of you who are observant may have noticed my blog has changed its looks once again. While I really liked the prior template, it did not always load correctly. The best Justin could determine was that the server/site/etc that hosts the images for that particular template occasionally would be shut down and, as a result, cause things to not load correctly on my blog. It was a small issue, but one that rather annoyed me. We'll see how this new template works.

One benefit of having multiple blogs and multiple templates over the lifetime of those blogs is that I've learned to read and alter HTML coding, in a rudimentary way, of course. I may ask Justin for some help with the coding for this blog but I've already altered it somewhat by myself. I love practicing new skills!

It's been a good couple of lazy days off. Starting tomorrow I work several closes in a row. Not the most fun, but manageable. I'm just glad I have Monday nights off. Mondays, silly and unimportant as it is, is the night that my favorite TV shows are on. If you don't know them already, make sure you check out "Chuck" and "Castle" at some point.

It seems the bitterly cold snap may be easing. We are getting into double-digit ambient air temperatures during the day. The feels-like temps are still in the single digits, but that's better than what it has been. In all honesty, the cold temperatures have not really bothered me. I am always well dressed for the weather when I leave the house, so the only time I really get cold is when I get off at 9 pm and the wind is whipping pretty good from the north and I have to sit in my car as it warms up a bit before I can drive home.

Speaking of which, how long do you need to let the car warm up so it's safe to drive without overly stressing the engine?

There's not much else to report. It's pretty quiet around here lately.

Laundry to do and chicken pot pie to make! I love homemade comfort food!

Love!

~g

A passing

Just down the escalator from Christopher & Banks and on the other side of the carousel in Crossroads mall sits Walden Bookstore. Walden's has been located in one of the most prime locations in the mall for as long as I can remember. I have spent many hours in Walden's over the years, first as a child eager for the newest Thoroughbred book, then as an adolescent, seeking new and different fiction (Say Goodnight, Gracie). Lastly as an adult, wandering the stacks and occasionally hitting on a new treasure (Out of Harm's Way).

In a few weeks Walden's will cease to exist. In the era of mega stores and Kindle, a small bookstore in the mall does not stand a chance. The College Square mall is also losing its bookstore, B Dalton. By the end of this month the only place in the Cedar Valley to peruse a wide variety of titles and authors will be Barnes & Noble. I find it a sad situation.

My lunch breaks of late have been spent in Walden's. My own book collection, as well as that of my family, has grown a bit as I have taken advantage of the deep discounts. It seems I cannot walk into Walden's these days without walking out with at least two or three books, lately purchased for a grand total of less than $10. I am proud to say my latest purchases for myself include three books I have never read, two of which are by authors I have never heard of. Additionally, a new Bible has been added to my collection, as well as a copy of the Koran. There are new stories and new discoveries in my future.

Another purchase at Walden's included a 5-year journal. I have been wanting, for several years, to acquire and begin keeping a perpetual journal, yet I always found the cost rather prohibitive. At 50% off, however, a very nice leather journal that is designed to last for 5 years suddenly seemed reasonable. I began keeping the journal on the first of January and have already found I enjoy reaching for it at the end of the night to record a few simple thoughts and descriptions of my day.

I am grateful that my parents, grandparents, teachers, and friends over the years have instilled and encouraged in me a love affair with books, bookstores, and the written word - be it someone else's writing or my own. I am sure my infatuation will last a lifetime. Perhaps this is why I truly feel mournful and compelled to write about the impending loss of Walden's. It is truly as if I am losing a very familiar friend.

My dear family and friends, I know most of you that have read this far know exactly why I feel the sadness I feel. I am sure at one time or another each of you has faced a similar loss - perhaps not of a bookstore, but of a place that helped shape your identity in some way. The emotion and bit of ourselves that we leave scattered in the places we visit and the things we own astounds me and yet seems perfectly natural as well. It's why I still have all of my Thoroughbred books and why I re-read and re-watch movies. It's why walking into Walden's feels like walking into home. I reconnect with who I used to be whenever I somehow reconnect with these places and these things that have a piece of me.

What is it that holds some of you? Which books? What places? I'd love to know.

~g

Roxy

Is fantastic. She's handling this winter weather and the driving conditions that go along with it like a real champ. A combination of black ice and turned wheels sent me into my worst and scariest a skid/slide/spin/something-or-other tonight, but I was able to correct and keep going in part due to good driving, but mostly due to Roxy's responsiveness and handling. Go me with my awesome car.

Work today was a joke. We were open from 10 am until 9pm, and in that 11 hour span had three, count them, THREE customers. One was an employee sale, one was an exchange, and one was a single article from the $9.99 rack. We made a grand total of $25.63(ish) today. I vacuumed the entire store really well, read a bit of a book, and wrote out the answers to the supplemental questions of a job application that is due tomorrow. I think I answered some of the multiple choice questions incorrectly, but for the life of me I cannot find my budgeting textbooks to use as a reference. Budgeting was my poorest class at UIC, so of course it is those books I cannot locate. Murphy is a work in my life I guess!

In my occasional, non-vegging out on the couch time, I am trying very hard to get my room in order. In the last few months I have cleaned my room and reorganized it several times, but to no lasting effect. There is simply too much in my room and too little storage. I think that problem has been corrected, however, with the subtraction of a rarely used piece of furniture, and the addition of a shelving unit and storage totes. I am off on Sunday and Monday, so the room will definitely get finished, including the hanging of several of my pictures and other room decorations.

That's about it. I guess this post will serve as a mini update until I have something more interesting to write about. What I really need to do is catch up with my 101 blog..... eek!

Love!

~g

Miracles do happen

Apparently my laptop is a fan of 2010 and merely wanted a nice long rest at the end of 2009. For no reason, and having done nothing to correct any problem, my supposedly dead laptop started tonight as if there had never been a problem.

I don't know how long this will last, but at least it gave me a chance to get completely backed up. If I should suddenly find myself computer-less again I don't have to worry about losing anything. However, I don't trust my laptop anymore and will continue to look for a new computer. It's about time for a different laptop anyway.

Today Mom got in a serious cleaning and rearranging fit. The main change happened in our front room. She and I cleared a lot of floor space and, with Justin's aid, Justin and Carrie's old TV was put back in service. The idea is the room now has enough space to comfortably work out in by following videos on the TV. A second TV with a DVD/VHS player is also simply a good thing as it allows Mom or I to enjoy videos even if Justin or Carrie are using their setup. Yayy for options!

The job continues to go well. I worked a lot of hours in December; both because of the seasonal shopping and because of some staffing shortages as people came down sick or went on vacation. This past week I went over 40 hours for the first time since I started the job. As a part-timer I'm guessing there will be a bit of an issue with my next paycheck, but the extra hours could not be helped. I certainly don't mind the hours and, more specifically, the paycheck that results from work.

Our Christmas and New Year's celebrations were nice, albeit small and quiet. Thank you everyone for the cards and letters and seasonal wishes. There are a few of you who have yet to receive my Christmas letter... I promise the last of my cards and letters will go out this week. Think of it as an extension to the season and the fun.

That's about all there is to report. Life is pretty mundane right now... get up, get ready, start the car and let it warm up forever, bundle up really well, go to work, work, sit in the parking lot while the car warms up, come home, dink around, go to bed, sleep, get up and do it all again. Woo!

Much love to you all!

~g