I can’t believe it. August is here.

I’ve rather enjoyed my summer. I know I just dropped off the face of the earth, but it was much needed. I’ve been organizing my life, getting a new job, trying to make money so I’m not dead broke, so it was for a good reason.

Luckily, I managed to find a job really quickly. I am now a shoe salesman at Payless Shoe Source. I really love shoes, so that part is fun, and my coworkers are basically normal and friendly. But, it’s in the really dead mall in town, and it’s where all the super poor people come, people with no class or intelligence to speak of. 10% don’t even speak English….. but it’s a job. It’s funny, in high school my career aptitude test told me I should be a shoe maker. Seriously. Now here I am selling shoes. Coincidence, or fate? lol

So, I’ve basically been working my butt off trying to make up for the time I was jobless. I’ve almost made it through the summer without starving, and I didn’t even have to file for unemployment. I feel pretty good about myself right now.

During my unemployment and absence of Eamon, I passed the time by going to the gym. Then when I got a job again, I just kept going. I’ve lost 6 lbs this summer, and I’m feeling so much more alive and energetic, I’m going to do my best to keep going when school starts up. It’s amazing to not feel so sluggish. Maybe, just maybe, I can learn to love exercise.

I also spent my free time working on my vampire story. I haven’t really worked out all the details of the vampire part of it, but I’ve got a strong female lead all sorted out, and the gist of how the climax will play out. I have so much in my head, but I’ve only managed to write out a bit. Still, I’ve never had this much of a story actually work before. In the past, I’ve wanted to write a story, but after 5 pages or so it just fell apart. I guess it wasn’t meant to be. But this time, I keep on writing on it, thinking about it, going back and changing things and making it better, and it keeps on moving forward. It’s the most amazing feeling to see that it is actually finally working for me. I’ve written 45 pages this summer, which may not sound like a lot to you, but considering my attempts in the past, this is just so freaking amazing! I’m hoping to have about 60 pages written out before the semester starts, at which point I’ll have to change focus to school, but I’m not giving up this time. It’s going to work.

Next week I’m taking a family trip to see my mom’s side of the family in Iowa. It’ll be… fun. If you’re not from America, Iowa is nothing but cornfields and cornfields. Every so often, maybe a pea field. The nearest mall is 2 hours away. “Downtown” is like, a half a mile long at that, it’s really small, oldschool, farm life. I’m going to do my best not to lose my sanity.

So, once I get back from that joyful trip, you can expect for my life to get a little more straightened out. Then I might be making an appearance a little more often. I sure hope I will. For all those who have been coming back here, I really appreciate it, and I’ve missed you all. I look forward to getting back in touch with all of you soon!

What have you done this summer?

Have you ever taken a career aptitude test? What did it say?

Just thought I’d check in with you all to see how you’re doing, let you know how I’m doing. I’ve gotta say, I’ve been better.

I go into work 4 days ago and find out we’re closing in 3 weeks. Not a good way to start off the shift. So now I’m freaking out, pounding the pavement to apply anywhere I can think of. I’m not in such a bad shape that I will be screwed if I don’t find a job, but I’m definitely not going to live comfortably without one, you know? I feel worse for some of my coworkers who are utterly dependent on that job, they are the ones completely up creek. Others have two jobs, so they’ll be ok. I’ve got a school time job, so I’ve just got to make it through to August. And with a month’s pitiful severance pay to tide me over, I might make it through the summer without having my parents bail me out. I’ve always voluntarily quit a job, never lost one. I’ve gotta say, having it the other way around is not cool. I miss the control I had over it all in the past.

Other than my job, things are still kinda crappy. Eamon is away working at a car lot in his hometown. It sucks, but since we are in a bind money wise, I can’t really complain. He’s making better pay than I am at least, so that’ll definitely help. He was supposed to come back May 31st, but alas, he’s staying a whole other month. So, I have no one here but my fish and my sister to keep me company. And one of my fish just died, lol. I can’t wait till he comes back!

I am taking a summer class, though, so that kind of takes my mind off things for an hour and a half every morning. The history of math, quite exciting stuff. No, seriously. It’s better than actually having to do math anyways.

As for my projects, they’re under way. Well, one of them is. I’m really enjoying working on my story. I have 18 pages written thus far. For those of you thinking that’s not a lot, you’re right, maybe it isn’t, but I keep changing things and editing, making it better or changing my mind on how the plot will go. But all good changes I promise. Maybe I’ll have 60 pages by the end of the summer? That’d be cool. As for the movie… I don’t think I care anymore. I’m so sick of school. The thought of preparing a portfolio for grad school just doesn’t seem appealing anymore. I haven’t really done anything for it yet. Maybe I’ll feel better about it when my life gets a little more stable.

My birthday is on the 12th, so hopefully things will look better then. At least Eamon is making a trip to see me! I might post later to let you know how it went. Until then, later!

How’s your life?

Yeah, yeah, I know. It’s been a while.

I have no excuse for my deplorable behavior. I’m not going to give you one either. I just up and disappeared to get my life in order. Now I think it kind of is.

I just finished the worst semester of my college career thus far. With higher grades than I expected to get, too. I didn’t realize how much my classes were affecting my morale. Walking out of my last exam this morning, I instantly felt happier. I’ve been smiling, energized, and even went for a run! Eamon has recently given up video games, too. Instead he’s getting his daily fix in by playing farmville with me (which I think is so sweet and cute that he decided to play with me ), and he’s so much happier too. It’s funny how a few little changes can make us completely different people. We haven’t even snapped at each other in days. Now he’s got a good summer job lined up at a car dealership, and things are really looking up for him.

I guess it’s true that if you can weather the storm, a beautiful day is soon to come. I’m feeling better. I think taking a break was good for me. Although, some of my mood might be from the $30 check I got in the mail today from Inbox Dollars. I do love free money. But I would hope that my happiness goes deeper than that lol.

Hopefully I’ll get my act back together now. No promises though. I have so many things I want to do now, I’m itching to get them started!

For one, I want to work on a short film. If I’m going to apply to an animation grad school, I need to have some experience in animation. I keep talking about doing it, but I have yet to snap into it and actually DO it. So, I’ve got some idea for a 5 minute film I’m going to start. We’ll see how it goes.

I also have an idea for a novel. I’m so pumped, I’ve always dreamed of writing my own book, envisioned myself writing it, but never thought I’d actually do it. I’d have to come up with a story, and a good story is a rare thing indeed. But, I was lying in bed one night thinking about Anita Blake and it just hit me. I’ve been thinking it over more and more in my head, and I freakin LOVE this idea. I’m going to write my own story, and maybe, if I’m lucky enough, make my mark in the vampire genre. The fact that it just came to me, I didn’t have to force it, makes me feel like I’m supposed to be doing this, that this is a good thing. I really hope so. Since I’ve wanted to do this for so long, the fact that I have the story idea now has got to mean something, right?

So this summer, if you don’t hear from me often, it’s because I’m working on my two projects. I want to have something to show for it come August. If the fall rolls around and I haven’t shown you anything, you can totally come at me. I need to do this, for my own happiness. Let’s hope it all works out!

How have you been?

I don’t know why I let it get to me so much, but when I get a bad customer, it just gets under my skin. I get so angry inside, and it just stays inside me, stacking on top of all the anger of past customers. One day I’m afraid I’m going to lose it, but I just can’t help it.

This guy came in with a girl, I’m assuming on a date. Well, he wasn’t succeeding in impressing her. He was wearing your typical hip hop clothing, which isn’t that bad, but when you’re obviously gay and using it as a cover up to look straight, kinda ruins the effect. Also, he was probably 18, maybe slightly older. I hear him talking with the girl saying, “I usually go to starbucks, but ya know, I’m trying to save money.” Just because we’re cheaper than starbucks, doesn’t mean we’re crap. We actually taste better.

Then he starts trying to decide what to order with the girl, talking all big and tough, but I hear him admit he doesn’t know what a cappuccino is. He said, “Yeah, I’ve never had one, might as well try something different.” Then he comes up to order. I large cappuccino. So manly getting a large drink. >.>  So, I make him one. Remember what a cappuccino is? Steamed milk, espresso, and a foam cap. Lots of foam. I hand it to him and he walks away.

Well, 5 minutes later he comes back, without the girl, (I wonder why ) and throws the drink back in my face. “Ma’am, this is a latte. I ordered a cappuccino. You need to learn how to do your job.”

….

REALLY?! You admit you don’t even know what a cappuccino is to the girl, then dig a hole for yourself and make it worse by showing your ignorance to me? Well, I had had it at that point. He was not old enough to even have the right to talk down to me, which means he’s probably a spoiled brat that’s never had to work a day in his life, had people sucking up to him. Of course, I HAD to put him in his place. I usually try to kill them with kindness if a customer gives me attitude, but either he was just too much or I’m becoming too bitter. It felt soooo good to say to him, “Dude, the only difference between a latte is foam. A cappuccino has foam. Take off the lid and you will see foam on top of your drink. Before you throw it back in someone’s face, you should learn what you’re ordering. It just makes you look stupid.”

He gave me a ‘how dare you talk to me that way‘ sneer and walked off. Idiot.