Man, if I had my debit card in my pocket right now, my pocket would be on fire! I have used it this weekend to buy new tops from Aéropastale and Hollister, an anniversary gift for my wonderful sister and her hubbie (nope, not telling!), earrings from JCPenney’s, new slacks and a blouse from Target, countless bottles of Dr. Pepper from work to drink while at work (Dr. Pepper, you’re the only thing that gets me through some times!) and last night….I went to Bealls and bought new sneakers that should be here today or tomorrow (darn my big feet….heh). Phew, I’d like to cry just thinking about all those things and my money! I still have jean-envy, and wished that I had picked up those pinstripped jeans from Aéropastale on Sunday (they were on sale!) but alas, I didn’t.

Speaking of Dr. Pepper, I won! Of all the bottles of soda that I buy that say You could be a winner!….it’s never me. I never win! So, the other night as I twirled off the cap of the soda and looked at it - faint little letters on the bottom spelled out “uwin” mixed in the code. I practically jumped up and down and hugged people (okay, so I didn’t hug people, maybe just thought about it….) I went home and eagerly typed into the box online my code and big bold letters seemed to shout “You win, You win!” I scroll down………..yeah. I won alright. I won an Indiana Jones screensaver (pardon me, while I gather my composure). Just what I always wanted, a screensaver! a wonderful screensaver of a movie I’d never go see! Yay! (you do realize that I’m being sarcastic, right?)

So, today I called the other College, and in my best bubbly adult-please-help-me-before-I-explode voice, I tell the lady on the other end of the line my dilema. She tsk-tsks in that “I could care less” kind of manner, then tells me that I have to call the main campus. “Did you pay the fee?” she asked me. Fee?! There is a fee for my College to get my transcripts from the other College? omgwth?! If I had known that I would have driven over to Daytona today and used my already burning debit card and paid the fee and then shipped it off myself. How absurd! They have had my request for almost four weeks and not only did not bother to call me but they didn’t even shoot me a letter or email to tell me to pay up! I sat here and wasted four weeks waiting for these transcripts (that really kind of makes me wonder why I didn’t call earlier. I gave them the benefit of the doubt). I have nineteen days to get my transcript and in those nineteen days, I have to get my financial aid set up so that I can start school on the twenty-fifth. I feel like acting like a five year old and jumping up and down and stomping the floor and then doing a faceplant and having a tantrum.

Oh, so then I write on my message board that I’m a part of, (even though I am dogless), just an update on how I am. I posted some of my recent photography and the next day someone writes on there about how to leave the photography to the professionals, and it’s not a great business to be in and yadda, yadda, yadda. Okay, first beauty is in the eye of the beholder, don’t you agree? What I find interesting may not interest you - and just because I don’t have a Nikon D40x or a Digital Rebel XTi does not mean that I can’t shoot some good pictures. And who said that I wanted to be a professional? It’s a hobby; if people like my work and want a picture, then that’s their perogative and I’ll be happy to sign it and sell it - it’s my enjoyment. I never said that I wanted to be a Photographer - as a matter of fact, I was accepted to a Photography school in Tampa based on my portfolio alone a few years ago. But when they failed to proved me proof that I could earn what they were telling me, I decided that it just was not worth the effort. I just wish people could tell me to my face these things instead of writing about it for the whole world to see - and before you go all pointing fingers and “omg, that’s what you’re doing!” on me, I already messaged the person and told them.

And by the way Home Before Dark by Susan Wiggs is an awesome book; I’m currently reading it and it’s wonderful. And this is my new candleholder from Michaels.

So, today, I officially became “one of those girls” who shopped at Aéropostale and Hollister. I figured, if I’m going to be in school in August, I don’t want to go dressed as someone who doesn’t care about their looks. Clothes don’t make the person, but they make the first impression! I also bought a nice pair of slacks and a blouse at Target, just in case I happen to need to go somewhere and look professional or go somewhere that’s casual dressy. I saw these awesome pin stripe jeans and was going to get them, and they were on sale and I didn’t get them. Frankly, it was a choice between those jeans and a new pair of sneakers for work/school. My Sketchers that I wear, even though they are almost a year old, still look alright. But I found a new pair that I was just dying to have at Bealls, and they were 30% and I have a coupon for an extra 15% off. That would make them like $20.

I also feel a little disloyal to my major because I’m already second guessing it and I haven’t even started yet! I’m thinking about switching my major to become a Registered Nurse (RN) instead of majoring in Education. If I got my Associates degree in Nursing, I would be making about five or ten thousand more a year than I would be as a Teacher and if I continued on and got my Bachelors in Nursing, I would get about fifteen thousand more a year and let’s not even get into if I kept going and became an ARNP. That’s a lot of money! And I’m not going to lie, money is a big deal to me right now because now that I don’t have to sit here and scrounge to make ends meet (don’t get me wrong, I’m still not rich but you catch my point…) and I can finally buy clothes and whatnot and still have money to send off to pay my bills - I really enjoy it and I’ve learned that it’s not as shallow as I thought it was.

If I want to be able to afford the things I want, then I’m just going to have to work a little harder at other things. I really love the patient-care aspect of being a Certified Pharmacy Technician but frankly, the pay scale sucks in a retail setting. You really have to work in a Hospital or a managed care setting in order to get the most for your title. I love the people I work with and I love the benefits but having an extra dollar or two an hour wouldn’t hurt either. Every day is something different and I do enjoy that. On one hand, I’d be making a lot of money - but on the other hand, I would have to give up a set schedule and maybe have to even work some holidays that I don’t want to (Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter to name a few) and I am really going to sit down and seriously consider getting into it.

I was one of those people that thought that when I had a child I’d get the cord blood (stem cells) because I thought if that made a difference in my childs future if they ever got sick, that’s great. I never knew that a woman could use her monthly cycle for the same effect. I thought it was just a little odd but once I really read up on it, I’ve learned that this is a great idea. I found C’elle a little while ago and it’s interesting - did you know that the lining in the uterus has many of the same properties as bone marrow? I mean, seriously? Think about how many people have been saved by bone marrow transplants?! How many people could be helped by this? It’s easy, non-invasive and private.

Basically once a month when the woman has her menstrual cycle, there is an easy to use kit that allows one to preserve a specimen so that it can later be transported to a facility where it can be cryo-preserved (read: frozen). After the specimen is frozen, it can remain that way indefinitely and once needed it can be used.

Now, for those who feel that stem cell research is bad, do you feel this way about this? No living being is used unneccessarily and most people (yes even women) feel that this process (the menstrual cycle) is unsanitary. To be honest, this idea does seem different to me (not really in a bad way) but if something can be used out of that to the greater good, possibly even cure things such as “diabetes, stroke and heart disease, as well as neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis”….that to me is worth it. I know in my family, we’ve had both diabetes and heart disease and if I could prevent that or cure it to make sure that someone lives a long and productive life, isn’t that what is important?

With C’elle a womans menstrual cycle can provide a peace of mind to protect oneself and her family. Now the womb can be used to give life and preserve life - so Visit C’elle today!

Didja ever have those moments in your life that seem to just keep coming at you from all directions? The last three months have gone from horrible, to worse, to deplorable. But recently, I just feel like things are getting better. I’ve paid of two of my bills, now I just have 3 more and I’ll be all set. The High School sent my transcripts and I’m just waiting on the other College. I’ve been told that my inventory is doing excellent at work (by two different people). It appears, from the outside, that things are finally starting to go my way, which leads me to think that maybe I can do all the things that I need to do.

Yesterday I went out to the local nature park (the one I always used to take Keegan to). It was a little depressing not having her there with me, but I did manage to snap some really good photos. I totally can not wait until I can get a Digital SLR camera - which reminds me, I really should start doing my paid blogs. I got so aggrevated because I thought I wasn’t getting paid for them, until I used my paypal to see that there was a positive balance in my paypal account. I was like what the heck?! So, they were sending the payments to my paypal account, but I wasn’t getting notified that they were in there, so I never transferred that money out to my checking account!

Okay, you know you are getting old when you can no longer sleep on a couch without waking up stiff and sore. Remind me next time to buy an air mattress the next time company comes over. Sleeping in the bed for the last few days has helped but I feel entirely wiped out - I am beginning to think I am catching a cold or something of the sorts, although I am not coughing or whathaveyou, I just feel achey and crappy the last few days, almost like someone has taken a knife and just jammed it repeatedly between my ribs on my left side.

I’ve got to call my old high school next week and totally blast them for not sending my stupid transcripts over. If I don’t get a copy of those and from the other school, they can’t calculate my Financial Aid and I will not be able to afford classes this semester. How stupid. All it’s come down to is transcripts and I just want to rip my hair out. Though I am quite certain that once I am back in school I will be wishing I wasn’t! I keep wanting to change my math professor to the one my sister had recently but don’t know if I want to do that. My sister and I learn completely different and what she says was good for her may not be good for me.

They have an orientation the beginning of August that I need to RSVP for and I’ve marked it big, black and bold on my dayplanner. Funny how when I was younger I could have notes thrown everywhere and know where everything is, but now as an adult, I have to have things neat and organized! I never thought I’d see the day. I mean, it’s strange to think that I’ve got my big folder with all the bills (marked ‘paid’ on them with purple pen), my day planner and sticky notes that even just three years ago, I would have been fine with just letting the crap pile up! Anyway, the orientation is from 6-8 on August 4th and providing I get those documents from both of those schools, I don’t see why I shouldn’t attend, you know? Maybe I’ll meet some people to hang out with.

My supervisor and I were chit chatting today and he was telling me that when I get to school I’m going to meet so many people (and yadda yadda). He thinks that while I’m in school I will find a boyfriend and live happily ever after. Not so, I said to him. “I don’t need a man to make me happy anymore.” He just laughed at me. I wonder if this is how my Mom and Dad see me (my Dad is the same age as my supervisor)? I mean it would be nice to have attention, real attention, on me - with someone who treats me right, but I don’t need anybody to complete me. The whole reason I’m going to school is to make sure I can support myself, so I don’t have to be in a bad situation again. I wish people could just respect that!

I’m so happy to have a camera (that works) again, I have spent a lot of time recently just taking photos and yes, this is a new layout, and yes the picture above is mine, I took it last night. Even the picture quality on this camera is better than the one I sent back (which is surprising as this is the same model and everything!) As far as the layout goes, yes I’m reusing this one - it was good enough the last time….

And for a Keegan update - she is in her new home. I am very happy for her!

No, I haven’t kicked the bucket and I’m still here (much to the disappointment for some!) This last week has been crazy busy. From working 13 hours on Monday, Tuesday trying to get some stuff done for work (mostly studying up my inventory paperwork) and Wednesday shuffling back and forth places (like the library, school, etc.) And last night left me with about 5 hours trying to fix my darned computer because I couldn’t get on the internet and then realizing at 9 o’clock someone changed my firewall settings and it was set to “high” which blocked inbound and outbound internet access (d’oh!)

Let me just tell you, the world of Financial Aid is not easy and the school is absolutely no help whatsoever. They give you the paperwork and basically wave you off into your own journey of finding loans and whatnot. The other school was totally not like that at all and sat down with you and discussed your Financial Aid and how to do apply and even filled the applications out with you. This is very frustrating to me and has me about trying to rip my hair out. Sunday I’m going to sit down with my paperwork and put in to find some student loans, I’m not too sure how much money I should take out per year because I don’t know how many credit hours I want to take from January to May next year! This semester is only English Comp I and Pre-Algebra and I want to see if I can handle working full time and taking two classes before I overload myself and take too many. I want to be able to do my coursework and study as well as be able to work to get myself situated.

I did take two more books out from the Library (Salthill and Disobedience). Disobedience is alright, though I can’t really figure out where exactly the writer is going with this. One second they are talking about the younger sister and the next they are talking about another thing it’s a little confusing. This reminds me of why I did not like their other book; The Book of Ruth. That too was a little confusing!

I got my camera back from Polaroid with a note that said that the camera was basically a flunky and I got a brand new camera (same model and everything). This camera already works better than the first one - from the first use! I can actually turn this camera on and not have to hold the power button for 30 seconds. The face recognition works well and I just have to mess around with the auto-focus to get the settings right. I did take a video of Birdeo but am planning on taking a better one at some other point.

And one more thing? If I see the neighbors across the street I just might feel the urge to throw a firecracker at their faces (figuratively, not actually going to happen). I was helping my Mother load up my car (the passenger side) and I notice a big ol’ burn mark on my last window and on the design. Those people were lighting off those big professional grade fireworks on the Fourth of July and one of those stupid things hit my car. OMFG! My poor car, if it wasn’t devalued enough from getting rear ended twice, then having my mirror ripped off by having my Dad back into the car accidentally (it was like the first night I moved back in and Dad forgot my car was there), now I have a huge freaking burn mark on my car. *bleepity bleep bleep*!!! Trust me I am laughing about this now, but good old Goo Gone did not take the stuff off before and I almost cried. My poor car! lol