Interests:I love photography and dabble in photoshop just a little bit. I love to write ... just about everything: lyrics, poems, papers, etc. I am a Navy wife and that in and of itself is an education -- sometimes horribly frustrating, sometimes very rewarding. I spent quite a bit of time studying to be a doula and look forward to going back to it whenever I can. :-) Expertise:Saving the world ... okay, so not really. :-) Occupation:Wife/Reception-Personal Assist Industry:Non-Profit & Cosmetology Schoo
Since my revelation about school and Flint the other day, I've had this song stuck in my head. It isn't the greatest music video, so you might want to close your eyes and just listen.
It would appear that I am, once again, fighting with my body. Several years ago I got very sick and after repeated trips to conventional doctors, and getting the same answer --- "Everything's fine!", I went on a whim to a friend of a friend who worked with a more homeopathic type of doctoring. She was finally able to correctly diagnose my issues and then started me on a path to recovery. Once again, however, due to high stress levels and not enough taking care of myself, I am sick. And let me just say, treating this is miserable! I've felt horrible the last week or so, but thankfully have had just enough to get through each day and keep up with school and work. No small feat! In about eight weeks, I should be in much better health and then the preventative maintenance will convene. Joys!
School continues to be more trial than joy. This is quite frustrating to me, but at this point, there really isn't anything I can do but press on and show through my actions that I am not like everyone else there. There has been increasing friction between the student body and certain of the leadership in the school. At some point it will come to a nasty head I am sure, but I am hoping that tempers and feelings will be kept in check enough that name-calling doesn't get public. It's frustrating because I can see both sides. I am concerned because of the number of times this has happened in this school between this particular leader and the student body.
I had quite the epiphany the other day though. I've been reading through the Bible with some friends of mine (although I must say I have been slacking sorely!) and, as always, when reading through the book of Exodus, I am amazed at how quickly the children of Israel would forget the things that God had done for them and the promises that He made them. After a particularly unpleasant student body meeting with the aforementioned leader, it dawned on me that being at this school is much like being in Flint --- only minus the Jesus connection. It made me stop and wonder what I had missed. Was there more that I should have gotten out of that time in life? Instead of looking outward and seeing things that others in the school need to change (which is so easy to do!), it made me stop and look introspectivly at myself. Although it hasn't made school more bearable, it has made it easier to let the crummy things roll off my back. That and the fact that graduation is quickly approaching! But still, I don't want to wish this time away if there is something that I need to be learning. And I am quite sure that there is plenty for me to learn.
Work is going quite well. The hours are sometimes quite long after a day at school, but the paycheck is sorely needed and I keep reminding myself that this truly is only a season of our lives. If I can just get my body to cooperate, we'll be just fine! Of course there are some little dramas but I've made it a point to stay far away from those, because more often than not they quickly blow over. I am loving getting to know the people I work with more and their quirks and things that make them unique. It's been fun.
Dan finished the crazy busy part of his summer schedule today. We celebrated by eating yummy pizza, which is completely not what I am supposed to be eating right now! (My body is showing stress toward dairy, wheat, and gluten.) So far though, I don't feel any worse than I did already, so I am unrepentant.
"Mark my words, this job will drive you to drink." -- Josh W regarding Applebee's.
Well, not quite. When Josh informed me that my job would make me drink more, I promptly responded with, "You don't go to school were I do." I kinda wish now that we had taken a wager on which one would prove to be more true. This week, I would have won.
I wish I knew exactly why this week has been so rough at school. I think that, as in many other circumstances in my life, it isn't really all school --- it's just that I've been taking my frustration out on that particular venue. Thankfully, I had Friday off this week. Monday through Thursday I came home every day telling Dan that I wasn't going back anymore. Obviously he took me back every morning, but in all honesty, some mornings I should have just stayed home. I sincerely hope that things improve, because if they continue as they are, I will be doing some serious reevaluating.
This is our "play" weekend. Since I had Friday off, we left Thursday night after Dan's night class and are spending some time with his Dad. We had intended to spend the weekend sunning and swimming, but it isn't to be this weekend. Thunder storms and nastiness all weekend makes for non-ideal swimming weather. And, as it just so happens every weekend!, I had to work. But it's been fun.
Next week is a shorter one --- kind of. We are leaving for Minnesota on Thursday and I cannot tell you how thrilled I am. It's been long anticipated and I'm really looking forward to some quality time with my Man. Can I get a woot-woot??
There simply does not seem to be enough time in each day to get everything done. For example, I put water on the stove to boil and while I was waiting I checked facebook and then got drawn into the world of xanga. By the time I remembered that I had water on the stove it had nearly boiled away. Apparently I also need a new brain. But no surprise there!!
I have been very busy at school the last two weeks. This is a major plus as it makes the hours go by so much faster, but it is also leaving me really tired at night! It is encouraging though that I am building up a small school clientelle. It gives me hope that once I move to a real salon, it won't be as challenging to build a new clientelle as I had originally thought. I am planning on holding onto my Applebee's job though, because until I have regulars in the salon, I will have little baby hours.
Warmer weather seems to have descended on Michigan, which is amazing. When it is warm, this is actually a nice place. (That was for you, Dad. ) Yesterday right after school, Dan and I drove to his dad's house and Dan helped take the cover off the pool while I ran around with Cindy. She was tickled pink when I let her climb into the car and play with all the controls. I even taught her where the horn was. We had some good laughs. And, of course!, we played on the swings.
Today on our way home, we stopped by Dan's cousin Hannah's high school graduation open house. We couldn't stay long because I had to get back for work, but it was good to touch base with family we hadn't seen in a few months. It ended up being a wash to rush back from work because after two hours, I was cut and am now home for the evening! That's the gamble in working in the food industry! I hope to make up the hours tomorrow night, but as long as this good weather lasts, people are grilling out instead of eating our yummy food. Strange people!
Dan and I are very eagerly anticipating our trip to Minnesota for Micah and Sarah's wedding in about a month. It seems to be coming up so quickly! At least until I think of everything that will get accomplished between now and then. Then it seems like pretty much for-freaking-ever. But it will most certainly be here before we know it. Yay!
It was a good day off -- and much needed. The only problem? It was WAY to short. We went to the Lansing airport and visited Willie at the control tower. I got a very thorough tour and enjoyed spending about an hour with Dan and Dad. While up in the actual tower, I got to watch a couple little planes take off and that was fun. I thought of you, Mommy!!
After the tower, we ran some errands in Lansing (we had to pick up Dan's computer which was in for servicing) and then went back to Dan's dad's house and spent the rest of the day and unexpectedly the night. Brian brought out some of his fun hunting toys and so we plinked with the .22 rifles and then the big toy was brought out --- the 12 gauge shotgun. I shot it once. To my credit I didn't fall over, but it did hurt my shoulder. Dan's shoulder has red marks on it where the impact of the shotgun (he shot it several times) broke surface blood vessels. Such fun!
We gave Lisa her mother's day card when she got home from work and we all had a good laugh over it. It was a singing card and Cindy had fun dancing to the song. Dan and I took Cindy to the swing set in the backyard and then we played back there with the frisbee. Cindy was more interested in gathering bits of moss and wild flowers than playing with the frisbee, but it was much fun for Dan and me.
I got the job with Applebee's and after my marvelous day off, I went into work at 10:30 on Saturday morning and didn't end up leaving until after 9pm that night. One of the hostess' called in sick and I happened to be the one who answered when I heard my name yelled. Now I know better. I called Dan from work (my phone had died) and told him I would be home late, but I didn't really know what time that would be and that my phone had died. Well he forgot the "my phone died" part and there were several tornados in the area and when he couldn't get ahold of me and it was getting closer to 10pm each minute, he got scared. I felt so horrible when I got home and realized he'd been worrying about me for the last several hours.
Sunday morning was spent trying to find black polo shirts in women's sizes for work. We went to NINE stores before we found them at Aeropostale for $10. We bought four. I also had to buy a black belt, black pants for work/school, and non-slip shoes. I told Dan part way through this shopping venture and I simply couldn't afford this job. It was sadly true. We shopped until I had to run home, change and then turn around to go to work. Dan dropped me off around 2:45pm and stayed to eat before I went on shift. Sometime during the shift (most of which I spent in the kitchen doing dishpit --- such good memories!) Brenda -- the manager who hired me -- came to me and asked if I would be able to take the closing shift and be the last hostess out. The girl who was supposed to be doing the close had gotten sick and was sent home. I said sure thinking that maybe I would be there until 10 and the extra $$ would be nice in my paycheck. Haha --- yeeeeeah. At 9pm a group of 30 came to the restaurant. I didn't clock out until after 11pm. Josh -- my favorite bartender! -- made me a margarita which I drank down like a shot and then listened while Dan and Josh bs-ed for a while. Between my two shifts, I had clocked something like 19 hours at work. Crazy, eh?
Around 12:30 I fell into bed and spent the entire night dreaming that I had fallen asleep at work and caught myself getting out of bed about 6 times to go wipe down phantom tables. It was miserable! When I informed Josh of this the next day, he simply laughed and said that I was a true employee of Applebee's now. These dreams are affectionately known as "Applemares". The term fits well.
Monday I was so sleep deprived that I was an emotional wreck. After a tough day at school, Dan and I went to the ANG recruiter in Battle Creek and talked with him some. It was good to meet him and it was also good to get some of our questions answered. The rest will just have to wait for now. We had dinner at Don Pablos, ran some errands and then I got to take a long luxurious soak with my new best friend -- Epsom Salts.
Today I played hookey from school.
Tomorrow I will be back at the grind --- school during the day and a closing shift at work. But for now, it's been a good day off ---- unless you consider that the car drank all my margarita money for the next year. Apparently Zoe felt the need for some TLC and $400+ later I hope she is satisfied. I showed her the bill and told her that the next 60,000 miles better be problem free.
But still, I don't want to wish this time away if there is something that I need to be learning. And I am quite sure that there is plenty for me to learn. 
Of course there are some little dramas but I've made it a point to stay far away from those, because more often than not they quickly blow over. I am loving getting to know the people I work with more and their quirks and things that make them unique. It's been fun. 
Apparently I also need a new brain. But no surprise there!!
