Making Robin Stew

a) I wish I was still listening to music, because as soon as I stopped, I recognized the extreme awkwardness at the table next to me.

b) Real things.

I'm really frustrated with the turnover rate at both of my jobs. Not with the fact that people are leaving, but that the people I like are leaving. I get really excited when a co-worker turns into a friend, and even more excited when they treat me like a friend. I have a few of those. At least 5 of them are leaving in the next week or so. Guh.

Otherwise, I'm really happy. No kidding. This kind of weather puts me in a mood that I can't really get rid of (a good mood, I might add). I was reassured today that this month will be easier to pay for than I thought. I still don't have as much as I want, but I have what I need for the most part. Plus, I'm able to make a trip to Nashville and buy a new pair of jeans... Schweet!

I just wrote a cover letter for a job I really want. It probably sucked a lot and they probably won't ever call me back. I usually don't write cover letters for jobs I apply for through Louisvilleworks.com, but I got an email prompt for one (for that particular job) a week after I submitted my resume, and I thought it was probably a good idea.

Here's to beautiful trees and writing awesome songs with the best roommate I've ever had. And getting calls back from jobs, please.


For about 20 minutes after I shut my computer down, I was trying to leave Heine Bros. but couldn't because I got caught in a conversation with two of the aforementioned people. I get to work with them for part or all of their last shifts, which is awesome. What's better is that they both made it known that they feel the same about moi. God blesses me.

Happiness, how'd you get to be happiness?

This day has been pretty awesome. First of all, I got to work with all pleasant people at Gap this morning - no drama, all happy, and lots of hilarity! We laughed until we cried a couple of times, and that is probably only the second time that's happened since I've been at the Summit Gap. Boo. I found out one of my favorite managers is leaving, as well as a couple of my favorite people at Heine Bros... Boo again. But, that didn't exactly affect my day.

So, I went home, took a quick nap with the cat, who is awesome and keeps me warm, woke up energized and ready for my second shift today (at Heine this time). I got here early enough to use the internet for a couple of hours, was complimented by my manager for closing the store well last night (on my first shift leader shift, sort of), and found out I didn't actually have to work tonight - I somehow got it mixed up with another week, I guess. Schweet.

Plus! I'm wearing a sweet sweater and my hair looks awesome today.

I get this feeling that we've been here before?

I'm totally washing whites with colors right now. I really hope my new completely white t-shirt doesn't turn some shade of blue or brown. I only had three pieces of white clothing and I thought it was absolutely stupid to use 8 quarters on that crap. I'm also here to use wireless and the lady at the counter is new and doesn't "know anything about it." Turns out the jokes on her, because I just typed something random in and it ended up being the actual password... free wireless for me!

I went to a cousin's wedding this weekend that I rarely see (and I'm not saying I'd rather see him more often). My dad's big on family polity when it comes to weddings, apparently. Christmas parties can suck it, but weddings - we must be present. It was weird for me to see that family in a church setting, though. I haven't ever thought of them as Christians, mostly because I wouldn't group their kind with my kind (and I'm not saying I'm any better, or that there are only two kinds of people - just that we're freakishly different). It was really interesting and sort of poetic to see them in the Catholic culture light. At the same time, it's easy for me to think that they're just following family tradition. Who knows, maybe they pray more than I do (seeing as I have a major problem with communicating with God).

My dad was pretty pleasant on Saturday... normally I feel pressured to do things (professionally) that I don't want to do (i.e. join the Air National Guard, etc.). I think since he's getting ready to retire he's getting happier and more introspective. I like it. He kept watching my 7 year old nephew and laughing at him, asking questions about him. Dad asked Liam when he was going to get married, and Liam replied "Never!" My sister told him he had to kiss the girl to his right during the greeting part of the homily, and the girl to his right was me, which made him scream "No!" in the middle of the service. Hilarious.

Friday was awesome. I love that I'm talking about the past few days backwards. Actually the beginning of Friday sucked a lot, but Friday night removed all of the stress that was piled on during the day. Eric was in town, and I finally got to actually meet the guys in Knapsackheroes, instead of just hearing about them. And Lindsey got to meet Eric! Finally... I had been waiting for that to happen for a loooong time. I still wish Daphne had been here, too.

Well, the wireless never actually connected. Good thing I didn't pay for it.

Here is to new friends, old friends meeting, dads being happy, nephews screaming in church and cousins... being distant! haha...

Hoo Man.

Well, several things going on in my life. Work, sleep, work, work, sleep, work, work, sleep, new baby nephew, work, sleep, work, etc. You get the point.

Baby Ethan was born! It has been so cool to watch his sister figure him out. She was really nervous at first, but that only lasted a minute tops. She was kissing him on the cheek soon after. At one point she heard him crying and she grabbed a toy giraffe someone had bought him and took it to him immediately. Hilarious. So sweet! I am too obsessed with them. (And blessed, I suppose...)

Still looking for jeorbs! I finally heard someone recognize how valuable I am at Gap, and it felt good to know that people think I'm a good employee, although I'll be leaving as soon as I find a higher paying job. I'm used to jobs where you get affirmed every once in a while. Megan started working at Heine Brothers last week, and I'm excited to work with her again. She's hilarious, and I'm so glad I get to live with her!

I just put a lot of new music (for me) on my playlist on the bottom of the page. Be sure to check it out, if you're interested in that sort of stuff. Obviously The Rolling Stones is nothing new, but it's sort of a remix that is catchy.

I need more interesting things to say. Oh yeah! In the NY Times Magazine today there was a column about how useless bachelors degrees are these days. SO TRUE, especially in my experience since I graduated. It sucks a lot, too. I feel like a lot of parents of college grads in recent years are angry because they aren't taking jobs that apply to their degrees right now. It's a little unfair, at this point. My dad has pressured me about it, and it sucks. I am desperate for more school. I want to learn and be intellectual. I feel like I'm losing brain cells by just working mindless jobs all of the time.

That was a run-on thought. :)

Funny how I open my mouth too early, too often...

My job experiences switched places after Monday. I had my first bad experience as a barista (involves boiling hot water/coffee on my hand, running out of brewed coffee and getting into trouble for not writing names on cups during a rush period. boo...), and started having a little more fun at Gap (some people may disagree that it is "fun," but I seriously enjoy putting decals on windows, dressing mannequins and setting up displays/walls... weird, but true).

We got a few new shirts in at Gap Kids the other day - you know what I'm getting at? One of the girls shirts says something about Sugar Cookies. That's all you need to know.

At 6 and 7 am, we spend a lot of time trying to keep ourselves awake by talking about things that make me feel a little lame around 5 pm. Our topic of choice is usually our top 5 list, meaning the top 5 actors that we think are attractive. I get in trouble for adding musicians too often. We don't collaborate, we each have a personal list, and here is mine, so far (haaaaaaaaaaa):

1. John Krasinski forever.
2. Jude Law (minus his skank-ness)
3. Luke Wilson
4. The guy who travels with Justin Townes Earle (whose name is Cory Younts, I believe) (This is my musician allowance.)

and... drum-roll please.....................................

5. Gary Busey.

Ok, Gary Busey is just a place holder until I can think of someone real to put in spot #5. Any suggestions?

Theories and Love

I have some theories brewing for this blog. One is about the clothing in Gap Kids. The shirts encourage boys to exercise (i.e. football, soccer, basketball, thumb-wrestling tees, etc.), and convince girls to EAT (i.e. "ice cream for breakfast, donuts for dinner," "french fries are vegetables, too," etc.). The other is about the MUSIC in Gap Kids. Seriously, in 5 hours time (with a 15 minute break) ALL of the songs were about love, or the middle school version of love. That just gives every kid false hope. If your 5th grade romance lasts forever, DENANG. I'm looking for that kind of love. Please.

I really love working at Heine Bros. It's such a relief to be here even after working at Gap all morning and getting off about an hour before I have to start making coffee. I like the people that come in to Heine Bros., for the most part. In the past three days I've been yelled at about 3 times at Gap by greedy customers that want to make returns past date, or get their one-time-use coupons back. One lady gave me a nice nick-name. Starts with a B and ends with a scratch. I hope that doesn't confuse you.

But, getting back to the good stuff, I really like that I'm sitting here, catching up on what's going on in the world, and a regular customer stopped to chat. That really makes me happy. I need more good people interaction, please.

I still miss you guys.

Que??

I can't believe none of you thought that dream was awesome.

I'm back at Panera. Boo. Their green tea sucks compared to what I've been drinking at Heine Bros. There is also a crying baby right behind me, and for some reason that really irks me today.

I've been so sick this week! And the sickness is moving into a different part of me every morning - weird, huh? First it was just my throat, blisters everywhere. Then it was my body aching all over (the throat stuff was mostly over at that point). Now, today, it's just a major head cold, i.e. snot EVERYWHERE, and I sound like a man. Grand! But it's not so bad because I got to sleep in today.

Not a whole lot of awesome stuff to talk about right now. I'm going to quit the Gap pretty soon. I'm getting uber frustrated with the management because they're doing a really bad job of scheduling and it's hurting me money-wise.

Recently I discovered Beirut, Smog and John Fahey, and was treated to some Townes Van Zandt, who I'd never really heard. One reason I love working at Heine Bros. - everyone has good taste in music. One of the girls I work with at Gap has an obsession with Miley Cyrus and it makes me want to barf. Guh.