Oh, I'm off to see the wizard...

not really the wizard. I suppose you knew that anyway. but I am going back to Eugene on Sunday, testing Monday and hopefully interviewing on Tuesday. I generally test well, so I'm not really too worried about that. I hope I do really awesome in the interview though. sometimes I come across as a bit... much, I have a lot of personality, at least that's a nice way of saying it. so everyone think good thoughts and keep your fingers crossed for me!

Thanks for giving

and all that happy crappy
but really, Thanksgiving at my mom's house yesterday was surprisingly painless and far less dysfunctional than usual. I got there early enough that my mom was surprised by my punctuality. I got up that morning at 7:30 am, just so I could be there before noon and bring a ray of sunshine into my mom's existence (or at least not annoy her by being what she considers late). My niece was there and for those of you who read my blog you may remember last year when all the crap hit the fan with her, I was supposed to have her come live with me, she ran away after I went thru a bunch of crap to get permission to have her come, went to court, set up her school, etc. I hadn't seen her since then except for once and didn't speak to her that time and she had never apologized to me. So I walked in to find her sitting at the kitchen table and she didn't say anything to me, but then again she's a little afraid of me and probably didn't know if I would be talking to her. So I said hello, she did too and then I talked to my mom for a while. But by the end of the day I had spoken to her a bit more, she finally apologized for her actions (I think my mother suggested she do so which sort of negates it, but whatever). My sister got along with everyone, that was nice, and my weird ass drunk uncle didn't get too drunk and sniff my hair or say anything to piss me off. My mom was in a good mood all day, didn't let any small stuff make her all crazy. All in all it was one of the nicest, most mellow family holiday celebrations in a long time. I thought for sure I'd have to leave halfway thru the day but I stayed from 11-8:30 pm. Talked to my mom today and told her what a nice day it was, she thought so too. After I left there I went to my friend Natalie's, she was at her mom's house and they are all so nice, I love her family. Not that they aren't demented like every other family but they are always so welcoming. And the food there is the bomb, I had pumpkin flan, yummy, and pecan sweet potato pie, also yummy and her brother sells wine so there's always a nice red to try. I intended to stay for about an hour but somehow when I left it was 12:15 am. So I'm flying home down the 101, luckily really no cops out and I got home in 2 hours, 10 minutes (it's 160 miles), went to bed at 2:45 and came into work today at 11. I am very tired and can't wait for the end of the day.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that life isn't too hectic or crazy as we head into the end of the year.

My perfect day

I was thinking about what a perfect day would be for me. I know it's different for everybody but never really considered what I would do, where I'd be or who with if I was to experience a perfectly wonderful day. I think for it to be perfect, it actually would have to start the night before...
I sleep fairly crappy most of the time, so an awesome day would start with me having gone to bed the night before fairly late, midnight or 1:00 am or so and sleeping straight thru, not waking up until at least 8:00 am and not having a backache, headache or neck pain upon waking. Actually feeling rested and not in any kind of pain would be vonderbar.
I'd wake up to Monkee staring into my face from about an inch away like she does sometimes, feeling puffs of breath on my nose and eyes as she tries to figure out if I'm awake. Sometimes she pats me on the face with her paw too, to make me get up.
Then I'd get up, eat something healthy like yogurt and fruit and shower and then I'd leave the house. The weather would be nice; warm but not too hot, nice and clear blue skies. I'd go to the beach, one that wasn't overly crowded and sit and listen to the water and read a book, walk up and down the sand getting my feet wet and look for shells.
Later I'd find a nice casual place to get lunch right on the beach and after I ate I'd do some shopping, not in a mall but in little boutiques and maybe buy myself something cute.
Once it started to get late I'd head home and stop someplace to pick up dinner, something ethnic like Thai or Indian and a bottle of nice red wine like Pinot Noir. I'd also pick up a movie or two, go home, watch my movies, eat my yummy food and drink my wine and cuddle up with Monkee. And last I might take a bubble bath while listening to some classical music or jazz and having another glass of wine. Then read in bed till I was sleepy and that would be the end of my wonderful, perfect day.
And I notice when I write this that I don't have any interaction with anothe human person the whole day... what does that say about me and what makes me happy I wonder?

Too busy!

Omg, I've just been too busy to blog or do much of anything. I was so anti-social I didnt' even leave the house at all on Sunday, never even unlocked my door although I did go on my patio mometarily. I've been working overtime every week and with my drive to and from I am spending at least 50 hrs a week just for work purposes. And then trying to help plan my 20th HS reunion for January, somehow I ended up in charge, I have to stop being so bossy, it only gets me more work. Plus I am going back to Eugene Dec. 3rd for job testing and hopefully interviews so I had to book another flight and rent a car, everything is so damn expensive, haven't reserved a hotel yet but they are running kind of high right now... sigh
So keep fingers crossed that I don't have a brain fart and I do well on the test so they grant me an interview. Really I'm hoping to line up several since I will be there Monday thru Thursday, might as well not waste all that time. I've applied to be an Employee Benefits Rep, an Event Coordinator for a college, an Asst Textbook Buyer for another college and as a 9-1-1 operator (that's the one I am going for testing for). I'm hoping I get offered at least one position if not more and that they pay enough for me to accept.
As for Eugene, I think it will definitely take some getting used to, coming from a huge city like LA, it's much smaller and not metro at all but it's really beautiful up there, small enough to walk around, the people are nice and welcoming, the air is clean, so is the water, and if I can find a job that pays close to what I make here I can easily buy a house. My first day in town, I'd been there maybe 5 hours, and I was asked out on a date and had phone numbers for another two guys plus a girl who lives in Portland and offered to show me around that city in case I decided to move there instead. The second night I went on the date with Michael and the day after that I actually went to Portland but mostly to go to Powell's, a HUGE bookstore, there are actually maps of the inside it's so big. Then my last full day there I walked around the whole town, just walked all day, stopped in different shops and to eat and take pictures, but other than that just walked. Then I went back to my hotel and showered and changed and went back to the bar/restaurant I met everyone at and Michael called while I was there and asked if it was ok if he came down, so he did and I hung out with him and the other guys all night, the owner put me on his tab, I didn't have to buy one drink, it was great. And then the next day I flew out. I have been single except for very short relationships here in LA for 8 years but I have a feeling I wouldn't be single there for very long unless I really wanted to be. So I think I'm going to try it, I mean, hell, life is so short, it's just flying by, I'm going to be 40 in a year and a half and I want to own a house and I want a slower pace of life and better quality of life. Everyone think good thoughts for my interview(s) and all that and I'll keep y'all updated.
Oh yeah, one bad thing, my grandmother died while I was in Eugene, it was not unexpected as she was 95 and had Alzheimers, but still, and the weird thing is I haven't cried at all, not sure why, but anyway, my uncle had her cremated and I think we are going to scatter her ashes as a family, maybe I'll cry then...