Job Hunt

I have officially applied for 15 jobs, all online. 2 of them required me taking my resume in, one of them I think I have a good chance at because my former boss/moms best friend is chummy with the boss there and said she would talk to him for me. Although it is working with developmentally disabled adults, not interior design...I loved my job working with Adults w/ DD and found it extremely rewarding but its not using my major so it makes me feel like college was sorta a waste. My other in person resume was at Carpet Barn which is an ALL commission job...which makes me extremely nervous because there was 1 person (the employee) in when I turned in my resume. I'm sure that I could probably make a lot of money there but I don't like not knowing how much I'll make...Today I got a call back for an interview, at Wyndham Resorts doing sales, it seems like a fun job, I know a guy who did it in HS and made BANK but I googled Wyndham after I made an interview time and realized its on the other side of Branson which equals a 58 minute drive, when not in old people traffic, one way to work everyday...I e-mailed the lady back and apologized but I didn't think I would take a job with such a commute and didn't want to waste her time, I'm sure I'll regret it if in 3 weeks I'm still unemployed but I'd like to think I'm eligable for SOMETHING with a college degree in Springfield Missouri!! I've applied for several college related advisor positions, seems like a really odd job for me but I like organizing and scheduling so... University of Phoenix had 2 and MSU has 1. MSU also screwed over my friend Amy and she is 1 credit hour short of her 125 to graduate TOMORROW so I'm pretty sure they need some Advisors who can count, plus its a 9 month contract which would equal 3 months of vacation for me!! I've also applied for Pharamacutical Rep jobs (but I can't really travel because Blake does so much and someone has to be home with the babies) Loan Processors, Store Managers, Receptionists and an Events Cordinator, oh yeah Home Depot is hiring a Designer...So in 13 days I've applied for 15 jobs. Also I have a call tomorrow with the unemployement office to figure some stuff out, they mailed me a letter. If I can get it all figured out I'll receive $85/week for up to 33 weeks...If I get $85/week for more than a month I will literally want to kill myself. I figured out if I spend NO MONEY on anything except rent, utilities & insurance it costs me $12/day to live = $40/month more to live than I'll make on unemployment if I don't eat, thankfully Blake has been taking care of me (semi) because I did take care of him for his 6 months of unemployment and I have some money saved up but BOY does being poor SUCK!!

High School

I guess some people NEVER change! There is a girl from my HS who I literally have not spoken to since 2 weeks before graduation in 2005, except once she sent me a message on facebook asking if I wanted to ever talk to someone about my father leaving my family I could always call her because "she'd been thru the same thing" Her father left her mom when she was pregnant with her, hardly the same thing as having your father leave when you are 18... I never responded and I guess it really bothered her. She was always real snooty in HS and thought her way was the only way. Just imagine the girl who always has to be right and multiply her by 3 to get Whitney. Her boyfriend in HS told me off because "I was telling people that she didn't like him" ...LOL even at the time. He later bought a house and put her name on the title, she painted the kitchen lime green, got drunk and told everyone he had a small penis, they broke up and he spent several months trying to get her name off the title to his home. She is now dating a big douche bag that she dated when she was 16 and he constantly has his status as something VERY ANTI Obama Healthcare planning. I find this extremely funny because she could not be more PRO Obama from all along. I pointed out on his status a few weeks ago that not only would we have to pay for illegal aliens to have healthcare but we are already paying for them to have education, because legally we have to provide everyone in the US under age 16 education (which almost always includes HEAVY english tutoring) she tried to argue with me that schools already have English as a Second Language tutors in place. Yeah because schools with 200 white kids have a heavy need to ESL teachers... he deleted his status because I'm sure she cried to him. Today his status is about Obama care and her status is that she hates people who talk politics over facebook. The same girl who for almost 6 months had something about how wonderful Obama was until he was elected. Guess she can only handle the truth her way.

Clutter

Twice now I've written a post and not had it be published. This one was a pretty good one but now you'll get the Readers Digest version of it. Blake is a packrat, not a terrible one I think its just laziness, he doesn't want to get rid of any of his belongings and prefers to just have his clothing overflow into the extra closet as well as have junk everywhere in his room. He had just a few items for my moms garage sale, mostly free t-shirts that didnt fit him but were in his closet anyways etc... He has a 1/2 a closet of clothing he never wears and I can not do his laundry for 3 weeks and he will still have an overflowing closet of clean clothes he could wear but he keeps buying new clothes and shoes. So at my moms garage sale we found a pair of 38x34 black dress pants that she said were in my closet, decided they were Blakes because they are his size, we sold them on the garage sale. I mentioned to him today if he had any idea why I might have a pair of his pants in my closet, he asked what I did with them, told him they sold for $1 not 25cents. He flipped out on my for selling his pants without his permission, best guess if they are his... they are from when we went to my friend Heather's wedding. Heather got married in October 2006. Almost 3 years later and you have never thought you were missing a pair of pants?? yeah that seems like too much stuff. I should have kept my mouth shut about the pants because he obviously didn't miss them but too late now. Would it be wrong to tell Blake they were a 34x34 and must have been my brother or dads?

Garage Sale

I spent the weekend with my mom, well Thursday & Friday... not working means any 2 days of a week are a weekend now. We sold a TON of crap. IE $245 worth of 25 cent sales an item is a lot of crap. It was great to see what was almost 6 SUV loads of the past disappear. I sold a lot of my old clothes and my mom sold a lot of books. She is soo ready to be away from our old house, it is selling and she is planning on changing her phone number and literally disappearing. I know it must be hard for her to leave where she lived for 25 years of her life but she is looking forward to "a new chapter" jon gosselin style, LOL.
My dad came down Wednesday afternoon and brought me my moms old roll top desk for the spare bedroom. I just got it all set up and I LOVE IT! I have everything all organized and put away, my laptop and printer set up and the door shut to my "office" I haven't had a desk since Sophomore year of College and I haven't used a desk since Freshman year. I love sitting here knowing I don't have any homework to do and can just relax. Speaking of college, I am getting ready to print off my resume, and cover letter to apply to be a education advisor at MSU. It is a 9month contract, which means I would have 3 months off a year and it doesn't pay terribly, $27k. I am also going Monday to apply to work at Arc of the Ozarks as a House Manager. I'm afraid I don't have enough experience for either job but at the cost of some resume paper and a few stamps it can't hurt to try. For 2 days now, as a college graduate, I felt ridiculous when someone asked me what I was doing now and I had to say I just got laid off last week. I wanted to lie and still say I worked at Fritz but when a friend's grandpa asked what my major was and I said Interior Design, he said so your going to be jobless, I laughed and knew he was right. I love Interior Design and maybe someday it'll be a profitable job but for now, NOTHING. I will be working to pay the bills and my mom keeps telling me I might find a job I end up loving, which is true.

Cheating

Today was Day 1 of offical unemployment, since I don't work on Mondays normally, although it feels like it has been a week. I have applied for several jobs online so keep your fingers crossed that in 2-3 weeks I will get a call. I want to organize and clean the entire house top to bottom but this rain has me unmotivated (when really it should make me want to clean since I can't do anything else)

A guy I use to work with at the Bank, he was my old man crush (OMC) early 40s good looking with a cute little BMW, who was also the Bank Presidents son-in-law moved his office out of the Bank not too shortly after I started working there. There was also a guy who worked there for several weeks across from me before he left to work as a Bank Examiner. His wife worked for my OMC in his new office and would come in to make deposits daily, which make sense for a business but to come into the office and than visit with your boss for an hour... when you could just make a drive-thru deposit. It ALWAYS seemed weird to me especially since after he moved his office she quit coming by and just did drive-thru. She would walk through and say Hi to her husband and than visit with her boss for an hour... I always assumed there was something going on. So about 6 months ago I found out that my OMC was getting a divorce, explains his moving his office out of his Father-In-Laws Bank. An old work friend stated that OMC was getting a divorce for having an affair and I immediatly thought of the lady who came in to see him. Work friend said there was no way because she was married w/ a little boy etc. etc. I told him to watch it because I was sure that is who it was, had to be, I had always thought they were having an affair even over a year ago! Sure enough this lady and her husbands divorce is offical today. The guy works with Blake now and they travel a lot for work. So Work friend and I were talking about the fact that she will get the kid & the house so the kid doesn't have to move. So this guy had his wife cheat on him with an old-coworker & her boss to get a divorce and lose his kid and house...Why is that fair?? I hate the way this worked out for this guy. I know so many people who get a divorce now-a-days because of an affair. I know they say that financial issues are a major cause of divorces but honestly I think its infidelity. I can't think of a single couple right now that got a divorce because of anything other than cheating from one or the other.

St.Louis

So Friday was probably the worst day of my life. We had planned a trip to STL to see two cardinals games for the weekend and stay in a hotel downtown. Before we left Friday afternoon, work informed me I was laid off, they were closing the whole shop, so now I'm unemployed... I am currently looking for any job in Springfield, especially something full time but until than I have a few weeks off... I am going to go stay with my mom and help her move into her new house and go see my friend Hannah that is getting ready to have a baby.
Since we had already bought tickets to the games and had booked a hotel room we went to STL. I was looking forward to a weekend away from Springfield. So we checked into our hotel in downtown St Louis and went into our hotel around 4:30 in the afternoon, we were leaving our hotel room around 5 to go grab some dinner before the game. As we were walking out of the hotel I noticed that the back window on Blake's car had been busted out. YES AT 4:30 IN THE AFTERNOON!! So we looked around and realized that the GPS had been stolen off the dash. We went inside and called the cops and spent about 2 hours with the cops getting evidence taken and filing a report. FYI: Real life cops are nothing like CSI. Their was a man sitting in his taxi 2 parking spots away from Blake's car and said he saw a "black man get out of his silver old cadillac and go over to the car, but just assumed it was his car, he didn't hear the window break or the man try to get into the car, just heard the alarm go off and assumed it was his car and he was getting some stuff out of it" n/m the fact that the taxi driver failed to ever look over at the car again to see that the window was busted out. He didn't get any more information about the man and the cop didn't seem to care. The Crime Scenes guy showed up and got some prints, that was just like CSI with the finger print dust and sticky tape. However their were no pictures taken and very little information taken down, obviously they didn't expect to ever catch the guy who stole the GPS. So we finally got it all fixed, well the window at least. Blake will be taking his car to the shop this week to get all the scratches, fixed on the inside and outside but so far just the window replacement was $318, good thing he has a $250 deductible. Just makes me angry at myself for not remembering to grab the GPS, scared that someone would be willing to steal a $200 GPS out of a car in broad daylight with a taxi driver just one spot over, and disapointed at how worthless the STL PD seems to be.

off to go job hunt!

Critizing

I've always felt like Moms are suppose to be supportive, the kind that makes you feel like you can do anything and offers support or suggestions to help you with that. My mom and I worked for a couple of hours working on these canvas's for Hannahs baby room. I thought they were pretty good, not perfect but good and Hannah loved them. I showed them to Donna and she asked, are you going to white wash over these? You could put a ribbon around the edge to hide the staples. I don't know why but it really upset me, it seems like more and more lately she has been mentioning things that aren't done right when I didn't ask her opinon. I was telling her about the plans for wood floors & a new kitchen for my house soon and she asked if we were going to drywall over the paneling and move a door in the backroom. 2 things we had never talked about and my mom actually helped me paint over the paneling not too long ago so that it wasn't noticeable... and move a door that is a HUGE amount of work inside and outside because we would have to re-siding the whole outside of the house to make it match. Neither one of those things bothered me about the house, once upon a time she mentioned replacing all the interior doors in the house, that would be like 10 doors or $400 for things that are in decent shape. I would like to assume that most of that is because she doesn't think about money like a normal person does. But than she does things like told her 21 yr old daughter that she was getting fat, Jordan didn't ask her opinon and Jordan probably weighs 130lbs (would love to hear what she actually thinks about me since I've always weighed more than that and am getting a food baby) It just makes me feel like lately I am being EXTREMELY judged by her for my every move, and living just an hour away if I stay with Blake she will always be in my life, which is another story in its own...

Oprah

I just caught the end of an Oprah & Dr. Oz episode. Dr. Oz basically listed about 80 vitamins a person should take DAILY to be healthy... this includes 2 baby asprin if you are over 40.

This list for a 20-40 year old woman includes: A, B6, B12, C, D3, E, F (folate), Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Biotin, Pantothenic acid, Calcium, Magnesium, Selenium, Zinc, Potassium, Lycopene, Lutein, Quericin, Omega-3, Cinnamon, Red Pepper, Tumeric, Coenzyme Q10,
Coffee & Green Tea.

It also included specific amounts of each item you should take and how often a day... I realize that most of these are in a multi-vitamin, but it just seems to me that a Doctor would recommend eating healthy before he would suggest taking a ton of vitamins. I had recently read an article online about how a lot of the vitamins, medications etc. we take are making their way straight to the water system. Wouldn't we encourage people to eat healthy before they put all of these items into their bodies?

Suze Orman

I hate Suze Orman but can't help myself and get caught watching her money show all the time, she seems to put it into a way that people who don't understand money or know how to handle it can understand. So I'm reading her book, which is where I got the idea to open a savings account... The book is called "Women & Money Owning the Power to Control Your Destiny" and is actually a good book about life not just money, which is what I think I needed especially as a fresh college graduate. I am on Chapter 5 and can't quit reading over this one part.

"A wealthy woman absolutely has money, but she also has happiness, courage, balance and harmony. A wealthy woman is generous, clean, wish, and therefore beautiful. A wealthy woman has it all, so to speak, and brings these qualities into every relationship, carries them with her in every waking moment of her life."

Words to live by.

Mothers

After spending a day with Blakes mom and than my Mom, I am thankful for my Mom. Blake's little brother obviously just got home 2 weeks ago from rehab for smoking pot and popping prescription pills. I realize that rehab is not something to take jokingly but it seems like everyone must now cater to Taylor. Anything and everything Taylor wants to do, he gets and it drives his older siblings insane. Taylor got a "Welcome Home" from rehab ice cream cake from dairy queen. Blake's mom FREAKED out on Blake for trying to pack a cooler of beer to take to see the fireworks show and drink with his father, at 24 he got scolded like a little kid. She claimed that the smell of alcohol might make Taylor relapse...Taylor only drank once or twice and said he hated the taste of alcohol, so obviously the beer isn't going to make him go pop pills. They treat their 17 year old like he is still 5 and if she was my mom I would want to kill her. Also I realized this weekend that the lady never sits down, she is ALWAYS dusting, sweeping, doing dishes, picking up stuff, doing laundry. I realize in a house of 5 people maybe laundry was a staple but only 3 of them live there now. She made a comment that she couldn't imagine not having a large washing machine anymore because of how much laundry she does. My mom claimed at the height to only do about 11 loads of laundry a week for 4 people, in her small washer. So even for Donna that should only average 9 loads a week now or 15 if everyone is home (which they never are) so is a large washer that different?

From the 4th of July at Blake's family, I realized how much different my mom is from Donna. My mom has a messy house, there are piles everywhere, she doesn't always vaccum and dishes can sit on the counter for days before getting washed. The mess annoys me but my mom once said that she didn't want her kids to remember her for always having a broom in her hand, and she did that. I remember PLAYING with my mom when I was little, and never having to worry about the mess in my room or cleaning up the kitchen. I appreciate that now, Donna is always cleaning and never around her children until that all is done even when they are only home for 2-3 days a month now. My mom is much less materialistic and judging, she doesn't walk into a room and go wow that color doesn't match or you look like you've gained some weight. She doesn't care what brand your shoes are or how much you paid for your haircut. My mom has prided herself on being very independant, she can change a light fixture (not just a bulb) she doesn't mind getting dirty, she will try anything and see if she can figure it out. She helped me install tile in my bathroom and put in a new toilet!! Donna paid someone to do that for her bathroom, even her husband didn't do that. My mom is not as close with her family as Donna. Donna's family gets together at least once a month and she talks to them about EVERYTHING! But my Mom has friends, people who aren't family that she spends time with, goes on vacation, eat dinner and talk on the phone, I've noticed recently that Donna does not hang out with anyone that is not a family member except for the lady she works with, and that I am pretty sure is only work related.

I love Donna and am not saying that everything she does is wrong, to each its own. I just know that I've learned to appreciate my Mother that much more. Also FYI You should look at the cool pictures my mom painted for my new upcoming God Son's room while she was down here yesterday. She use to paint all the time and is really good at it, I am so glad she got to do some stuff for Hannah's baby.

Fleas!!

So my poor puppy Winston has been battling with allergies and fleas and a yeast infection... He is basically bald on his ass and has been spoiled with good food and yogurt everyday. He is getting a little better but everything I've read said that NOTHING will matter until his fleas are gone. I bombed the house and sprayed the year about 3 weeks ago, I clean (vaccum & sweep) at least 3xs a week and nothing seems to be helping him. Today I mentioned to Blake that the boys are going to need some more frontline and some bug bombs/treatment for the house. He got all upset when I asked him to pay for it this time because I have ALWAYS bought anything dog realted and/or cleaning for the house. He said that "Leroy is fine" so why should I pay for anything.... ummm... lets see because Winston never had allergy issues and/or fleas until you brought Leroy home. Two dogs = 5xs the work and at least 3xs the bills but not for Blake!! Winston has been eating super expensive food $53 for 35lbs. because it is suppose to help his allergies, well Winston weighs 20lbs and Leroy weights 60lbs. so guess who eats most of the food. Now guess who pays for ALL of the food! We split "housing" down the middle, utilities, dish, internet and rent but otherwise I feel like its all on me and always has been. Last month when I asked for his $58 to cover everything except Rent, he actually mentioned I owed him money from our trip to Vegas (that he got me for my graduation) and managed to sneak his way out of the bills. It didn't bother me as much until this last month, I am struggling to get things in order after graudation, I currently have a lot more bills than I have ever had before and don't feel like I have the money to pay his half too. I supported him for 6 months while he did NOTHING after he graduated. All through college he was given $700/month from his parents to pay his bills, I got "rent" the last 2 years. $250/month vs. $700/month. I clean up the entire house, inside and out. I take care of his dog and mine. I feel like I am raising two people and two dogs on my tiny salary with growing bills while he is working his cushy job making lots of money and not doing anything. He freaked out like a toddler the other night when I asked him to "swiffer" the floors (which involves sweeping & moping them) to the point that I don't even want to ask him to help me anymore. I kindly mentioned that the next time we need clorox wipes it is his turn, "I'm not the one that uses them."

Okay wow this started out as a rant that my poor puppy is balding and has fleas and turned into a my boyfriend is a worthless mooch. Well I feel equally as strong about both situations!!

Savings

Savings update, just realized I still have a $210 bill to MSU due by 7/15/09... I feel like I could have been a rich person if I'd never went to college. I know they say college grads make more money but honestly I spent over 4 grand on ASA stuff and like what 48 grand on college tuition plus books and supplies. I once figured my design class cost me almost $800 including the markers I bought that I will never use again all of this so I can currently make $8/hour in a shitty economy. I was making $9.50/hour the summer before I came to college not counting that I worked almost 10 hours overtime a week. They give you a $1/hour raise every year so I'd be making $12.50/hour now, working full time and have not spent 52 grand on college... Why did I go to college again??