I did it!

I quit my job. [YAY!] Well, I gave my two weeks notice to the general manager. I still need to tell the manager that handles the schedule...but more or less, I quit. I'm a tiny bit sad to go...I really like some of my coworkers, and the pay was nice for such an easy job. And Applebees is having a host shortage, so I feel a little guilty leaving--that's four more shifts every week that they'll have to find some way to cover--but I shouldn't make that my problem. For the most part, it feels really good to be leaving. It's going to be so amazing having FOUR homework days instead of one! That makes me wish I would have quit sooner. I'm already three weeks behind the suggested schedule for my two online classes...but it's still pretty early in the semester. Once I'm officially done with Applebees, I don't think I'll have any problems catching up.

Okay, back to homework. It's going to be a long night! Made worse by the fact that I have to get up two hours earlier for a meeting. /sigh.

Silly break.

Oh, this silly hour break I have between classes...not enough time to get anything done. Except eat [a late] lunch...and maybe fill out a survey?

Do you secretly like to go grocery shopping? Sometimes--if the store isn't busy and if I'm not shopping on a budget.
What wild animal would you love to have as a pet? A squirrel.
What brand name do you think if just way over the top expensive? I don't pay much attention to brand names, so I'm not sure.
What's your favourite magazine to read, if you read them at all? I don't read magazines anymore...when I was little, I had an American Girl subscription and when I was a teenager, I had a Brio subscription.
Do you find it hard to concentrate in really loud places? Usually.
Do you tend to get more sleep on the weekends than during the week? Not really. I sleep in on Saturday, but that gets canceled out because I'm up all night doing homework every Sunday.
Breakfast; yay or nay? I love it but hardly ever have it.
What's you opinion on Tiger Woods, after all that he's done? I wasn't too concerned with him before and I'm not too concerned with him now.
Do you feel the media can be too harsh on people? Yeah.
Are you comfortable talking to strangers? To an extent.
What's the most creepy experience you've ever had? Ha, I'm not sure.
What's the most boring game to exist? Why do you dislike it so much? I really dislike Monopoly...it's slow paced and it takes forever. The only thing entertaining about that game to me is the cute pieces.
Do you lie about not having extra pens, so you don't have to lend them? Haha, no. But I usually don't have extra pens/pencils.
Do you think the world is really going to end in 2012? No.
^ Have you seen the movie 2012? What's your opinion on it? I didn't see it.
Yay, you're going out on a date! What do you wear? Since our dates are never super fancy, a semi dressy shirt and dark jeans.
What's the last movie you saw in theatre? Was it good? Avatar. I liked it. As unoriginal as the storyline was, it was really beautiful.
When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? A writer. At times, I also wanted to be a singer and a cake decorator.
On average, how long would you say you're on the computer per week? A lot. 20 to 30 hours. Mostly for homework.
Do you like your music loud? No.
if you had to lose one of your five senses, which would it be? Smell.
Would you rather have no computer or no cellphone for a week? No cellphone.
What's you favourite thing to have for dessert? Tiramisu.
Do you tend to straighten or curl your hair more? With short hair, I straighten it more...but I hardly ever, because that flattens the little volume that I have.
What's your favourite summer sport? I don't have one.
Can you dance, or do you just completely fail at it? I fail.
What's your favourite YouTube video? What's it about? I don't have a favorite...but I like cute ones, with animals.
Do you get nervous when you're about to get a haircut? Not at all.
Choose one: Hanging out at the beach, or playing some winter sports? Beach.
Do you believe everything happens for a reason? For the most part.
What's the coolest place that you ever been too? What'd you do there? Cedar Point. Rode some of the best roller coasters in the world and spent way too much money on tasty amusement park food.
Don't infomercials make you laugh? What's your favourite? Yeah. SlapChop and Snuggie are both pretty hilarious.
Oh look, a shooting star! What's your wish? Is a million dollars to much to ask for?
When you were a kid, weren't I Spy books the coolest thing ever? Not quite...but they were pretty cool.
What do you do to pass the time when you're waiting for something? Fill out a survey, get on facebook, or play the keyboard. If I'm out in public, I read, if I have a book...or just wait.
What radio station do you listen to most? 96.5
Whenever you take pictures, do they always end up posted on Facebook? Most of the time.
What's the background on your computer right now? A collage of cute bunny pictures :)
Do you want to do something to make a difference in the world? Yes, though I'm not sure what yet.

Hold on! One more time with feeling...

Jordan doesn't like Regina Spektor. (Not a huge surprise--he dislikes most of the music that I like.) The last time I had her playing through my speakers, he said something along the lines of "she sounds like a cat screaming." Okay, sometimes she gets a little wild with her vocalizing...I won't argue that. Some of her songs are a bit too experimental for my liking. But, generally, I adore her. I'm in love with this song--One More Time with Feeling--off her most recent album. Something about it makes me tear up when I listen to it...the sadness of the verses contrasted with the hope of the chorus...it's fabulous. Listen to it sometime.

Your stitches are all out
But your scars are healing wrong
The helium balloon inside your room has come undone
And it's pushing up at the ceiling
And the flickering lights it cannot get beyond

Everyone takes turns
Now it's yours to play the part
And they're sitting all around you
Holding copies of your chart
And the misery inside their eyes is
Synchronized and reflecting into yours

Hold on!
One more time with feeling
Try it again, breathing's just a rhythm
Say it in your mind until you know that the words are right
This is why we fight

You thought by now you'd be
So much better than you are
You thought by now they'd see
That you have come so far

And the pride inside their eyes
Would synchronize into a love you've never known
So much more than you've been show

Hold on!
One more time with feeling
Try it again, breathing's just a rhythm
Say it in your mind until you know that the
Words are right

This is why we fight
This is why we fight

:)

My date with Jordan last night was fabulous...good food, good drinks, good conversation...and he even surprised me with a box of chocolates. I love him so much! As stressed out as I've been with school and work lately, the last couple months of our marriage have been really great. I can't even explain why...I just feel that we're closer than ever. :)

So, overwhelming as my classes are, they're going all right. Surprisingly well, actually. I'm getting a lot better at speaking up in my writing classes, to the delight of my professors (I imagine). It feels really good to not be the girl that never says a word. My European lit class is kind of falling to the wayside, though. That isn't a huge problem--the professor for that class isn't so strict about participation. But I do need to stop skipping it. I've already used three of my four free absences. Two of those times were because the parking garage was full and I didn't have any change to park at a metered spot...so I went home. Ridiculous, I know. I'm going to start taking my coin purse with me all the time, just in case that happens again. I'm still behind in my online classes because they're not my top priority, but I should be able to catch up on next Sunday. Currently, my top priority is my nonfiction workshop--my first essay is due on Thursday and is being workshopped on Tuesday. I am SO nervous! Even though I know I'm on par with these people as far as writing ability, part of me is still worried that they're going to think my essay sucks. But I guess even if they do think that, they won't be rude about it. They'll just try to help me make it better. And constructive criticism is always good...so I should probably stop freaking out and just write the thing.

But first, a survey.

Did you see your best friend today? No. Unless Jordan counts.
Did you have a Valentine this year? Yeah. :)
Do you even like Valentine's Day? Yeah. I recognize the silliness of it, but I still like it.
Have you watched Dear John? Nope. Probably won't see it until it's out on video.
How many more months is it until your birthday? Nine.
Who did you last take a picture with? Carissa, I think.
Do you have a job? Yeah.
If so, what is it? Hosting at stupid Applebees.
What kind of flower is your favorite? Daisies!
Do you remember the last time you were sick? I had a cold in December...but I was over it in less than a week.
Are you thinking about someone right now? Hilary Duff...because Jordan is streaming one of her songs over vent for the girls in his guild. Lol!
Which is better: MySpace or Facebook? Facebook.
Three words that describe your current mood? Worried, content, mellow. Kinda weird that I'm feeling all those at once, I know.
How many hours of sleep did you get last night? Seven, but in weird chunks because I kept waking up to do homework and then falling back asleep.
Do you have plans for tomorrow? Work in the morning, then work on my essay all day. And read the first volume of Hard Times.
When is the last time you saw snow? Today.
The last time you left your house, where did you go? Class.
What is your favorite holiday? Christmas.
Who is your last text from? Trey, telling me that he'd take my 5 PM shift tomorrow...he's my hero. I would've been up all night working on my essay if I'd had to keep my second shift.
What kind of car do you drive? Mercury Mystique
When is the last time you were at a funeral? It's been a while. I went to a visitation last year...but I think the last funeral was my Grandma's, in 2006.
How many people have you kissed this year? Just one.
Is there anything you're looking forward to? Spring break, graduation!!!, summer, working somewhere other than Applebees, moving to our new apartment.
Do you shop at Victoria's Secret? I browse their website a lot because they have really cute clothes. The VS store in the mall isn't that great, though. No actual clothes, just overpriced lingerie and makeup.
So, do you have a significant other? Yes.
Can you honestly say your happy right now? Yeah, for the most part.
Do you like to label others? No.
Why did you last cry? I can't remember...probably stress.
What is your favorite thing to do on the weekends? Pretty much anything that's not work or homework. I would really love to go shopping one of these weekends...I haven't done anything other than grocery shopping in months.
What is directly behind you? Pillow.
Are you in high school? No.
If so, what grade?
Who did you last call? Katie.
Have you talked to the person you like today? Yes. :)
Think about the person that hurt you the most; did you forgive them? Yes.
What is your biggest pet peeve? Pedestrians that don't follow traffic rules, drivers that space off at a stoplight and take five seconds to go once the light turns green...
Is there a language you wish you spoke? I'd like to speak any second language, really. Preferably the language of a country that I might visit someday.
Is there a candle in the room you're in? Yeah.
Do you have any special plans for the weekend? Working Friday and Saturday night, homework all day Sunday. Whoo.

Do-Over.

As far as Valentine's Days go, this one was totally unromantic. Jordan slept off last night's third shift and raided on WoW, I did homework all day and night, and we ordered Milio's subs for supper. Nice, huh? We did have a few really great couple-y moments, though, which are romantic in their own wonderful way...laughing together at a funny memory, talking about our future, cuddling in bed before he had to leave for work. But now he's gone and I have several horrible hours of homework ahead of me. Definitely not the ideal ending to our first Valentine's Day as a married couple. Don't worry, though...we're having a Valentine's Do-Over tomorrow. After I get out of class, we're going to Graze for dinner...I can't wait! The promise of chicken lips and a pear martini will help me through my painful three hour fiction seminar tomorrow afternoon...hopefully.

Ugh. I can't believe that I thought the fiction seminar would be my favorite class. The reading load is so heavy and we have to write four page journal entries every week...in addition to a writing exercise, most weeks (this week was an exception, thank goodness). The pile of homework makes sense, since the class only meets on Mondays. The problem is that I'm so busy trying to keep up with my other classes and my job that I don't get around to the fiction homework until Sunday. As a result, I race through the readings and barely get the homework done; I don't feel adequately prepared for class discussions about the readings because I don't care about them! It doesn't help that we've been reading a lot of experimental fiction, which I don't particularly enjoy. I'm worried about my participation; I've barely said a word in class. I'm going to try really hard to throw in some opinions tomorrow.

Obviously, I need to get to work...but I'm so not in the mood! I'm sick of homework! I want to watch a movie or play WoW or make biscotti (the ingredients have been sitting in our cabinet for a week) or just go to sleep. I'm not even tired but I would rather go to sleep than do more homework. I wish we would get five feet of snow over night. I could use a snow day...or a snow week.

Spring should come early this year.

I wish spring would show up already. I'm ready for skirt weather and thunderstorms and greenness. I'm ready to use our deck for something other than storage of pop cans! Spring is one of my favorite seasons (second to fall). It inspires me to write more than any other season...I'm not sure why. Something about the smells and sounds of nature waking up. I could use a little extra inspiration, with all the brilliant essays and stories I'm expected to produce this semester.


I came across an age appropriate survey (not written with high schoolers in mind), so I had to steal it.

This poll is for people 18+. Basics.
Male of female? Female
Name? Amy
Body type/ eyes/ hair? Average/blue/brown
Ethnicity? Caucasian
Sexual Orientation? Straight

School Questions
What year of college are you in? Senior
Did you have to move far from home for college? Nope, just a little over an hour.
What is your major/minor? English. I wish I would have minored in something...maybe music or communications...but that idea came a little too late.
What career aspirations do you have? To get my work published. If I could get published AND have a somewhat successful writing career, that would be amazing.
What is your favourite university course you've taken? Ooh, that's tough. I'd say it's a tie between 17th century lyrical poetry and the writing track playwriting seminar.
Least favourite? Tie between human biology and intro to the English major.
What is your typical studying routine? For the few classes that require actual studying (as opposed to reading, writing, and critical thinking), I have to highlight, underline, and reread a lot to get things into my head. I try to do it in small chunks, as opposed to cramming...but that doesn't always work with my schedule.
If you have a paper due, when do you start it? It depends on how busy I am with other stuff and how demanding the paper is. If they're six pages or less, I usually start them the day before they're due.

Extracurricular
Do you/did you play any sports in college? Which? No.
Are you a part of any committiees, etc.? Which? No.
Are you a member of a fraternity/sorority? No.
Where do you live? (dorm, apartment, etc.) Roomates? Apartment. I had four roommates last year and three this year.
Do you have a part-time job? What is it? Yeah...hosting at Applebees. I hate it! But it's super easy and the money is good.

Social Life
Are you currently in a relationship? Who with? Yes. My husband. lol
What is your favourite alcoholic drink? Amaretto sour. Delicious and there's not much alcohol in it.
What is your favourite movie? I can never answer that question...too many favorites.
What is you favourite TV show? The Office. And Chopped on the Food Network.
Have you ever experimented with drugs in college? No.
Have you ever sexually experimented with the same sex in college? No.
How many sexual partners have you had during your time in college? One.
Have you partaken in a game of strip poker, or other strip games? No.
Did you continue to date your highschool boy/girlfriend at first? No...my right-after-high-school boyfriend.
Have you ever gone anywhere interseting for spring break? Not really. I went to Michigan last year to see my brother. I didn't go anywhere for spring break when I was still at SCC.
Have you ever been naked in public? Nope.
Do you attend a party every weekend? Haha, no.
Do you ever go clubbing? No.
How often do you have one night stands? Never.
Who was the last person you slept with and what were the circumstances? Jordan...and the circumstances were pretty standard. Us, at home, wanting to have sex...lol.
What would your ideal Grad night look like? Nothing crazy. Doing the stuff that I never had time to do as a student...rent movies, be lazy, maybe have a couple drinks.

I don't have to work until 5:30 tonight. Yay! I took Friday and Saturday mornings off my availability because I was sick of working two double shifts every weekend. It feels so good to relax a bit. But I should probably do something productive...like homework. Blah.

As usual...

As usual, I'm giving my brain a break with a short survey.

Do you have more friends on the Internet or in reality? In reality.
Are you shorter than 5'5? Nope, I am 5'5". Maybe a tad taller.
When's the last time YOU got a package in the mail? A couple weeks ago. Nothing exciting, just ink for my printer.
When it snows and you really want something from a store, do you just order it online? No. I think that would be silly.
Do you like the sound of bells ringing? Depends on what kind of bells. Cute little tinkling bells that old ladies collect--those, I like.
Do you own any instrumental compact discs? Yeah.
Have you ever been hit on the head with a brick, rock, wooden block or bat? No.
PacMan or Mario? Mario!
Do you like the smell of lit matches? I've never noticed that they have a distinct smell...perhaps you mean a just-blown-out match?
Do you 'break necks' in public? I don't know what that means.
Did you learn how to play the recorder in fifth grade? I believe it was earlier than that...like fourth grade. I started the flute in fifth grade.
Don't you hate how some video/computer games have glitches? Well, yeah, it's rather annoying.
What do you usually get at McDonald's, that is if you ever go? Sometimes I get a craving for a Big Mac, but the fact that they're $4.00 a piece generally deters me...and I get a double cheeseburger instead. I love their iced mochas, too...but hate all their hot "McCafe" drinks...they taste like styrofoam.
How often do you wear skirts? Pretty often in summer...never in winter.
Have you ever seen a fat girl wearing really tight leggings? Yeah.
Do you have a weak or strong stomach? More on the weak side.
Have you ever broken something hella expensive at a mall? No.
Do you epically fail at playing the guitar? No...but I'm not epically amazing, either.
When's the last time you were on a tire swing? I dunno...maybe a decade ago? It's been a while.
Aren't see-saws fun!!?! Nah, I'm not a fan.
Have you ever worn skinny jeans that were yellow, purple, blue or pink? No. I don't own any skinny jeans.
What noise irritates you the most? When I'm trying to concentrate, or if I'm in a bad mood, just about any noise will irritate me.
Have you ever randomly broke out in song? Daily.
What's your perfect day? Most importantly, no work, no school, and no pressing homework or errands. Then waking up with Jordan and going out for breakfast (somewhere that serves breakfast all day so we could have it at 2 in the afternoon if we wanted), followed by a leisurely afternoon of playing the keyboard and writing, having a fabulous latte at some point during the day, making a tasty supper, then topping the night off with a good movie and great sex with my husband.
Would you consider yourself....emotionally fragile? Somewhat.
Are you sarcastic or serious? Both.
Do you smoke ciggies? No.
Have you ever made someone cry? Yeah.
Converses or Vans? I don't care. Neither.
Do you like making shadow puppets? I enjoyed it a lot more when I was little. I had the coolest book with instructions for making unique shadow puppets, and pages that you could use as puppets, too...it even came with a flashlight.
Do you have any blemishes, as of right now? Yeah. My skin has been horrible this past year.
What is the most pathetic thing you have ever heard someone say? I would have to think a very long time about that before coming up with an answer.
What are you thankful for? A lot. My entire life and everything about it, really.
If you could only own 3 things, what would they be? It depends on how and where I would be living...am I completely provided for and these 3 things would be wants, rather than needs?
Are you happy with your parents right now? Yeah. I miss them.
Who was the last person that you talked with online? I dunno...I never use instant messaging. I prefer email...and I last emailed my mom.
As a child, did you get under the kitchen sink a lot? A few times.

Okay. Back to work.

Craziness!

First round of workshopping today for my advanced essay class! After reading the first student's essay--a quirky narrative essay about his significant other's cat--I'm far less nervous about mine. I'm supposed to be working on my write-up of his essay right now, but I'm having trouble getting started....so here I am, wasting time. :) I'm not too worried about getting it done. It's only supposed to be about a page, and I don't have to leave for class until 2:00.

Well, this semester is in full swing and it has been craziness! I'm already falling behind the recommended schedule for my online classes...but just by a few days. I'm going to try to get caught up tonight. If not tonight, then tomorrow tonight. Thankfully, I found someone to take my P.M. shift so I won't have to work a double...yay! With as much homework as I have, I can't afford to work eight hours in a day...at least not in the middle of the week. I read for seven hours straight last night so I would be caught up in Pride and Prejudice for my 19th century lit class today. I didn't mind that so much...great book! It's so gratifying to read it after having seen the movie. First of all, I like picturing the actors as I read because I think they all portrayed the characters wonderfully. And every five pages, I'm going "so THAT'S what Elizabeth was thinking when she did that!" Like right after Mr. Darcy's horrible proposal. The movie can't really tell you what's going on in her head, since she doesn't talk to anyone about it. And of course there are all the minor scenes and details that were left out of the movie for the sake of time. Anyway...loving the book--definitely going to read it again in the future. And as soon as I have a few spare hours in the next week, I'm going to rent the movie because I'm so in the mood to watch it now!

Yesterday was our half-year anniversary. :) Of course I was so busy that I didn't remember until today, and Jordan slept most of the day because he worked the night before. Oh well. I can't believe it's been six months! People that haven't seen me for a while are still asking "how's married life?"...lol. Well, it's good. Being married hasn't changed us much--we were very happy before we were married and we're very happy now--but I do feel that we're somehow closer than ever. And I love being Amy Locke. Jordan says he still isn't used to hearing it, but I've adjusted to my new name very well. After six months of signing it, typing it, and saying it (and correcting many people on the spelling and pronunciation...you'd be surprised at how many people say "Lockee"), it seems perfectly natural. Amy Landon just doesn't look right!

Okay, enough blogging. It is now noon, so I should probably try to get through this write-up.