It has been a long time since I last wrote in here and a LOT has happened, so much that I just havent felt like writing about it, but now I think I need to cause there is so much that I need to decide on and so much to deal with right now its making me slightly crazy. I'm going to create some headings/categories for myself so I can keep things organized and make sure I cover everything. In order will be: Job hunting, Roomates, Moving, Maudes vs. RWOG, Me and Ben, Things to look forward to.
Job Hunting:
As of today I have been seriously looking for jobs for about two months. I have applied everywhere from Wells Fargo and Nationwide to the Embassy Suites hotel to the city of Ankeny. Most of them have some marketing/PR aspect to them, but lately I have been looking for almost anything that will pay me at least 30K and give me benefits and ideally work a typical 8-5. Doesnt sound too difficult does it? well I'm starting to feel really unqualified and discouraged. Ugh. and I even include cover letters and write each one unique to the job I'm applying for and I call people back. I cant tell you how many people have voicemails from me asking about jobs. When I write it out it makes me sound kinda pathetic. I'm really done with serving food as my primary source of income. It was great while it lasted but its not cutting it anymore. Currently I am pursuing an administrative marketing postition with the city of Ankeny. Its normal hours, benefits and pays 32-37K, and waiting for a response from American Equity doing insurance stuff, which is less than ideal but my friend Olga does it and she loves it. I even applied to be a store manager of American Eagle! and according to the job description I'm not even qualified to do that! Its frustrating when eveyone wants like 5 years of experience, but no one will let you start to get that experience....I feel like if I take just any job, and its not in marketing or PR, I"m just wasting time and my degree. Cause I neeeeeeed to get experience in that field so I can do what I want. When I move to Diego or wherever I can be the director of Marketing for the San Diego zoo! or be a famous publicist in Hollywood. Sigh. I"m a long ways from either of those right now.
Roomates: Ok so I'm going to shorten this becuase this could go on for pages. I live with Ben, his best friend and my mutual friend Mitch, his sister Kelly and all of our mutual friend Curtis. Last fall we all were having difficulties because me and Ben were seen as using too much utilities. We fought about it, and ultimately changed our ways. I really make a conscious effort to shorten my showers, turn off lights and do much less laundry than I used to and everything was fine. We arent the best of friends, but we live together fine. Then about two weeks ago me and Ben get a knock on the door. It is a maintenance man and he asks if Ben and Chris are home. We say that is us and he asks us to step outside. Wondering what is going on, we go out in the hallyway. The man informs us that a maintenance request was filled by "your roomates, asking for a bathroom lock to be changed because we have been disrespecting their property" We both look confused and say that we have not disrespected anyones property. He then asks if me and Ben host lots of parties and people puke in Kelly's bathroom. We say that we have had ONE party that was hosted by all five roomates and that someone did get sick in the bathroom but it was in the toilet and by no means made a mess or caused damage. The man then accused us of lying and asking about the party we were hosting that upcoming weekend. We said we were not hosting a party, that some people from Ben's fraternity were staying the night because they were from another chapter out of state and the formal was the next day. There would be no party or drinking and the roomates knew about the people. The man then said some other things and said that we basicly needed to be respectful of our roomates or there would be reprocussions. We were FURIOUS. Well I was. I was about to call Alice and have her "slap the bitch across her face" as she has suggested with Kelly in the past when I have told her stories. We texted Kelly and said we needed to talk to her when she could. She responded "I dont have time to fuck around what do you want", then Ben texted her what was going on and she said "yeah, I told maintenance that my bathroom has taken the brunt of your friends twice before, they were not happy". This was a friday and I had to work that night, I could not think about anything else except for how mad I was, I went in to work and they had an extra person on....so I volunteered to go home. I went to the gym and worked out to try to blow off some steam. What kind of person goes to maintenance behind your back without talking to you first and says we disrespect their property. PLUS, Kelly Courtney was the one who puked in Kelly Meier's bathroom and Ben was there with her and said she puked only in the toilet and Kelly herself said she didnt make a mess. Kelly Meier claims she puked in the sink on the counter and the floor and she spent ALLLL night cleaning it up and babysitting Kelly Courtney even though she had a final the next day. LIAR! Sorry, but I believe my best friend a million times before I believe you. And Ben even said she didnt make a mess.....and I'm pretty sure if you realy did babysit Kelly Courtney, you would have mentioned that she wasnt wearing pants! Fast forward and me and Ben decided to retaliate after talking to many outsiders. We turned them in for smoking on the porch which is a violation of our lease and for the burnt spot on the porch from their melted ash tray/cup. Since this, Kelly and Ben have talked and we are trying to find some civil way of getting along for the next two months and hopefully collaborating on finding sub leasers. Moral of the story, I will never live with roomates again. I come home to stress and tension all the time and thats just not right. I cant wait to get out of here.
Moving:
Currently me and Ben are looking for our first place together just us two. We are looking in Des Moines because California just doesnt seem possible right now. But we're fine with that at this point. We have looked at Ingersoll square, West Glen, Mansions and Jordan Creek, the Fountains, and Turtle Creek. So far we loooove Turtle Creek. it has a nice pool and fitness center, raquetball courts and its within walking distance (kind of) of West Glen and minutes from Jordan Creek and the interstate. the room is a one bedroom with a den. Everything about the place is nice...the only thing is that they have a 15 pound limit on dogs, which that lady said is not a firm rule, just needs to be a little dog. Which is kind of constraining but we could make it work. Only thing is to get this room, and $90 off per month, we would have to move April 1st. YIKES! While I'm ready to get out of here, we still have our lease through July and Ben is still in school. We really like the place and dont want to wait until July when there are no more rooms, but dont really have the means to move right now. What to do???? we're looking at some townhomes too, but they are a bit too expensive. Its coming down to the wire and we need to make a decision. Stresssssssss
Maudes vs. RWOG
Ok so I have been working here in Ames as a server at Aunt Maudes since August. Its a small local owned place that is rather pricey. I make pretty good money there and love my co-workers, but most of the time cannot stand the management and many of the policies of the restaurant. On top of that, I greatly miss RWOG. I pretty much got the pick of things there. Worked whenever I wanted, got the best sections, knew everyone, had customers ask for me and just generally felt important and loved being at work. Problem is, I make more money at Maudes. Sometimes its the same, but more often than not, I make more. At a tight financial time like this, I need whateve money I can get, but I really have grown to dislike my job more and more and never want to be there. It seems like people have changed and many people are always sour and so serious and squabbling and managment has become more rediculous. Saturday, my boss/ owner of Maudes Pat came was talking to me like I was mentally retarded and after I left for the night walked out the door behind me and yelled "hey who did your checkout!" long story short he just yelled at me for NO reason. Then I go to RWOG on Sunday, which I have been working there on Sundays since November for extra money and just cause I miss it and Aunt Maudes is closed on Sundays anyway. So I go in on Sunday and everyone is nice and the day goes well and I make good money and I'm thinking "why am I working at Maudes when I hate it every day?" then I hear that Robin is planning on firing 4 people and looking for new ones....is this a sign? should I go back to RWOG until I find a real job? I was planning on working a few nights there once we move back to Des Moines anyway. Ugh I cant decide. Money vs. Happiness plus I would miss people at Maudes. Cassie, Julie, Jill, Jericho, Jeff, Steve, Sarah, Haley (who I guess I never see anymore anyway)....but still. Stressssss
Me and Ben:
All this has led to stress between us. Not major. We dont 'fight', but I get snappy and he gets silent and wont talk about whats wrong....and he's become worse at communication, not telling me when he has things to do which interrupt what I had planned on being time for us to spend then I get upset. Or I get jealous when he spends so much time with Emily which is silly. Or he just stares blankly and wont talk and I have to ask him a hundred times whats wrong until he finally says "i'm just stressed about jobs and finding a place to live and school" its like "JUST TALK TO ME! if you cant talk to ME who can you talk to? we're supposed to know what is goign on with each other and help each other. Ultimately things are fine though. Really he is my main source of happiness and we can just lay on our bed together and I forget about everything else. Or we can watch and laugh at our fish or watch and gasp at Lost and everything is fine. I love him.
Things to look forward to:
I'll wrap this up with some positive things. April 3rd me and Ben are going to see Britney Spears and the Pussycat Dolls on the Circus tour which is going to be AMAZING! I've watched videos online of it and its looks sooooo good! People are saying "oh she lip sychs the whole time" well who goes to see Britney for her singing ability???? NO ONE. Its a show, just enjoy it. I think we'll spend the day in Minneapolis at the Mall then meet up with Casey Berndt (who I miss so much) and head to our fav trendy dinner spot in the Cities, Chino Latino. Then after dinner head to the Target Center for the CIRCUS! so excited. THEN, on June 12-14, Me, Ben, Andrew and Kathryn are going to Cedar Point! Ben has never been and the rest of us havent been forever! It will be like a reunion slash last little trip before andrew goes up to ISU and Kathryn joins the Guard. Its goign to be a blast! THEN on July 6th, Me, Ben, andrew, kathryn and Kelly Courtney are going to see No Doubt and Paramore in Kansas City. I LOVE GWEN and Cannoooooot wait for this concert!