Saturday, December 31, 2005

totally stole this from sarah

Since I'm sitting at home on my own, having watched two movies already, I thought I'd delve into the "New Year" spirit. And I stole it from Sarah.

What did you do in 2005 that you had never done before?
Wore makeup on my own accord, and applied it myself, unlike my Junior and Senior proms, where I had to have my mother apply the makeup for me, or I would have stabbed my eyeballs out with mascara wands.

Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't believe in making New Years' resolutions because I can never keep them

Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not that I'm aware of. If they did, they're very good at keeping secrets.

Did anyone close to you die?
My grandmother, on my Dad's side. I only saw her about once every other year, and during the last few visits to see her, she didn't really remember me, but it was really sad, nonetheless.

What countries did you visit?
Minnesota? Oh wait, that just borders another country. I was mostly a homebody this year. Except for trips to bordering states.

What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
The will power to get out of bed at a decent time, even if I don't have to, so I can accomplish things during the day.

What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Wednesday, March 9th: I was broken up with via email that day, and that is the night I met Aaron.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Entering over 990 bills into the Where's George? website. Only kidding. I think it would have to be having a relationship lasting longer than three months that is really meaningful.

What was your biggest failure?
Learning to play guitar.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
Hmm. I got sick for a bit in the spring, then again in the winter, but nothing deadly. I don't think I managed to hurt myself too badly this year, however. Unlike the three summers in a row I ended up in the Emergency Room.

What was the best thing you bought?
Oooh, I would have to say either my new digital camera, or my guitar (that I never play, but it's oh so pretty).

Whose behavior merited celebration?
My sister, who after completing two years of college at our hometown's community college, is ready to go back to a "real" school, after a four year hiatus of University. It's hard to go back to school once you've had a break.

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Hmm, that's pretty easy. Someone who's first name rhymes with the first part of testicle.

Where did most of your money go?
Food, gadgetry, and rent

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Getting OUT of Kmart and finding a new job that I really love. And having someone to come home to every night. *warm fuzzies*

What song(s) will always remind you of 2005?
"Anything But Mine" by Kenny Chesney; it's the newest song I listened to this year probably, and before Wes and I broke up, that song always made me think of him.
"Since U Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson; a song that fits for after Spring Break
"Hearts On Fire" by Hammerfall, 'cause seriously, you can't go to an epic Swedish 80s metal concert without one of the songs meaning something, right?

Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier, working more, living in a bigger apartment, and one year closer to graduating.

What do you wish you'd done more of?
Practiced guitar, read, had friends to hang with.

What do you wish you'd done less of?
Getting hung up on a boy, eating brownies (damn you, Aaron), and napping.

How will you be spending New Year's Eve?
Right here, in my bedroom, at my computer, alone, watching reruns and tv marathons.

What was the best book you read?
Hitchhiker's Guide series, or Harry Potter 6

What did you want and get?
An iPod. But I didn't even have to ask for it, Aaron just wanted me to have one of my own.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I worked on my birthday. I was up at 6 in the morning, on my birthday. Ugh. I turned a whopping 23.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Being able to travel more places with Aaron. I love road trips with friends.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
Non-existant. Although I did buy some really cute skirts.

Who did you miss?
Smelly Cat. Oh, and Jill. When the hell are you coming to visit me?!

Who was the best new person you met?
Duhhh. Aaron.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005:
Don't date people from the Internet who live 2,000 miles away.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Umm. I can't think of anything off the top of my head, sorry.

Friday, December 30, 2005

two posts in two days?!

So I just sorta kinda came to the realization that even though I have two weeks to get everything finished up over Christmas break, I still have to get ahold of teachers, over break, and get signatures from them. I knew this was going to be a pain in the ass, and that's probably why I waited so long to work on it. Which is why the realization kinda sorta came to me, not just HIT me like *BAM*...because I always knew it a little in the back of my head.

Also, I'm not passionate about anything. I don't think I really want to go into teaching. If I did, then I wouldn't be thinking things like that. I don't REALLY LOVE my job, but I like it. I'm not tolerating it, like I did Kmart, I like my job, but I don't love it. I don't want to go work out and get in shape. I don't have any projects that I really want to do, there's no clubs I'm a part of, I have no real close friends that I go do things with, I have no traditions. I have Aaron, who I love dearly with all my heart. I have my parents, who I see at least once a month now, which is fantastic. I have Aaron's parents, who have taken me under their wing and treat me as one of their own. And that's about it right now. All my close friends, the people who helped make me who I am, who I grew up with, have moved away, and so have I.

Wow, what a sob story. Sorry guys, didn't mean to be a downer on the holidays. I just get feeling poopy once in a while.

Oh, but with the new semester starting, I will have to buy a new "professional" wardrobe for school, so I will be getting myself some new classy clothes to wear to school here next week, and that should be fun and a good ego booster. G'night!

Thursday, December 29, 2005

Christmas

Well, Christmas is over, but we've just now gotten the snow for it. Aaron and I were in Deadwood, picking up our paychecks, and I had to have my gaming license renewed. It started snowing, and in that HOUR we were going around town, my car was covered in at least two inches of thick, wet, heavy snow. It was pretty scary to drive home through the hills. Eeek!

We celebrated Christmas with Aaron's parents on Monday morning before he and I had to go to work, where I met Aaron's older brother, as well. His parents are the type of people who love to give gifts, and so we came home with quite a few great things. Aaron got a coffee maker and a blender from his parents, I got a quilt rack for all the blankets in the living room, which is very beautiful, a photo "ferris wheel" picture holder, which makes the little frames like the seats on a ferris wheel, and it rotates. We also got a very nice glass chess/checkers/tic tac toe/backgammon set from Aaron's brother, Eric, and a wine box made of bamboo that holds two bottles of wine, and Aaron got me something to put under my laptop that has fans in it, plugs into my USB port, and keeps my laptop from overheating, and I got him a wire cookbook holder for the kitchen. I have a couple other things on order for him, but they were just delivered the other day.

Then on Wednesday, Aaron and I went to Rapid City to hang out with his friend Brandi, and he needed to exchange a coat he'd recieved as a gift from his sister and her husband. We were going to go to Olive Garden, but there was a 10 minute wait to get on the waiting list, so we went to Chili's instead. Then later in the night we had a dinner party at our apartment, and Lars and his girlfriend Whitney came over, and we had chicken and risoto, which was great.

And those are my last few days. I think my mom and sister are coming up to Deadwood if the weather gets nicer on New Years, so that will be fun. I think they just use me living so close to Deadwood as an excuse to go gamble, 'cause they never did it before. Hehe. Not that it bothers me, 'cause I don't have the time to come visit them on the weekends like they can come visit me, so it's nice. And there's more to do in Deadwood than my hometown.

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

does somebody have a case of the Mondays?

Okay, so this is how my day went:

I called Aaron as I was getting off work, a little late, to let him know I was on my way home. I clock out, unlock my locker, move things in and out of it, and tell him how I was short almost $200 tonight, I had put something in the "In" column when it should have been "Out" and miscounted my checks, and even after fixing those problems, I was still pretty damn short. Then I look at the table. Hmmm. Pat down my pockets. Where the hell is my phone? "Phone, phone, phone, where are you?" I sing to Aaron, looking, looking for it.

"How can you have lost your phone when you're talking to me on it?"

Saturday, December 24, 2005

a year in review

2005 started off in Tennessee, my last visit to see Wes. I had no idea at this time it would be the last time I would ever see him. I was working at Kmart, I thought I'd lost my job because of my trip to Tennessee, but it turns out I'd just read the schedule wrong. My refridgerator died and was replaced with a brand new one, free of charge, by my landlord.

I was taking classes at the university that I didn't really need to be taking, Philosophy, History, U.S. Government. I don't really remember much about school last semester.

I was living in a one bedroom apartment with no kitchen/cupboards/counters that was the size of the living room in my current apartment. I wasn't good friends with anyone on campus, save for Jill and Amy, two girls who helped keep my sanity through the semester.

Over Spring Break I was dumped. I dolled myself up, went to a bar, sat at a table by myself, and read a book. And that is where I met Aaron, completely oblivious to the fact that we would be together 9 and a half months later, and living together.

Jill moves in with me from the dorms during finals week. Right after school gets out in May, my mom, sister, and I fly to Mississippi to visit my grandma on the Gulf Coast (before Hurricane Katrina hit).

I finally come up with the courage to tell Aaron I love him in the summer, after weeks of tormenting myself with when and how to say it.

In the middle of August, my grandma on my Dad's side of the family died of congestive heart failure at the age of 89. It was a week before her 90th birthday. I had quit Kmart and was supposed to start working at Cadillac Jack's, but flew to New York with my family instead for the funeral. Aaron moved into the apartment while I was gone. After getting back, training, and getting the hang of things, Aaron, Lars, Henry, Brandon, and I drive to Minneapolis, Minnesota for the epic Hammerfall concert.

School started up again at the beginning of September, where I finally start a semester of classes that ALL pertain to my major, Elementary Education. I go through all my classes, floating along because they are pretty simple and/or stupid.

Now the semester is over, it's the second week of winter break, Christmas Eve, even, and here I am, alone because I worked the morning shift today and Aaron works the night shift. Same for tomorrow. But, on a good note, my family is coming up to Deadwood tomorrow, where we shall dine on prime rib and lobster tails when I get off work.

And that is my year in review. A little drama, heartbreak, love, sadness, frustration, and lonliness. Not necessarily in that order.

Friday, December 23, 2005

home for the holidays (a little early)

Yesterday morning, Aaron and I drug our butts out of bed in the morning so we can go to Gillette and do an early Christmas with my parents, since we will both be working on the weekend of Christmas. We went to his old apartment to drop off a CD for Brandon, went to his parents' house to get some cookies that Aaron and his mother spent until past 11pm the night before working on, and then went to the bank to cash a check for Aaron, before filling up the car and finally making it out to Wyoming, about 45 minutes later than planned.

Arrived in Gillette much earlier than anyone in the family was home, so we stopped to get something to eat (the Asian Buffet, 2pm, after the lunch rush. I'm suprised neither of us died of food poisoning from the food that had been sitting out since the rush left an hour earlier). Then we stopped at a coffee kiosk that my mom likes and picked up a gift card for her, along with a stop to Kmart for some Christmas cards for the family. Then we were on our way home.

Ashley and the kitties were the only people home when we got there, then Dad showed up, then Mom. We had snacks, some drinks, dinner (lasagna, YUM), desert, and some more drinks. Ashley was very eager to open presents, even though she'd been complaining all night that she only had one present under the tree, and she already knew what it was...silly.

I got Wario Ware Touched for Nintendo DS from Ashley, Dance Dance Revolution Extreme game and dance pad from Dad, and Aaron got a knife sharpener from my parents. I think everyone enjoyed their gifts, and we had a good time.

Aaron and I got up in the morning, deflated the air mattress that is bigger than the bed at the apartment (I'm so "borrowing" it one of these trips home...), cleaned up our mess, went to the shop to say goodbye to Dad, but he was in meetings all morning, went to the bank to say goodbye to Mom, and ate some breakfast before heading back to Spearfish.

It was busy, didn't feel like a day off at all, but it was a good time and I'm glad we went. When we got home, there was a package waiting for me, a present for Aaron; caffinated soap! Smells pepperminty! And he got me Land of the Dead, the next zombie movie from George A. Romero. We each have other gifts to give eachother, but they just haven't shown up yet. *Sigh* We're spreading Christmas out a little, I guess.

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

ahh, that holiday spirit is upon us.

Customer: Why is it that even if accompanied by a parent, children can't be on the casino floor after 8pm?
Me: Well, those are the house rules, sorry.
Customer: What if we're staying at the hotel here?
Me: We have an arcarde, a pool, and a gym. There are a lot of things that children can do here.
Customer: Most other casinos aren't like this.
Second Customer: Actually, ma'am, most other casinos ARE like this.
Customer: NO, only *names off three casinos, including mine* are like that.
Me: I'm sorry ma'am, those are just the rules.
Customer: Well, I can tell you right now we are never staying here again.

Me Thinking: Who cares.

---------
New Customer (who just tried all three of the ATMs, unsuccessfully): Is it okay if I write a check?
Me (knowing he's tried the ATMs): Sure. I could process your credit card here, but it would be a 7% charge.
New Customer: Well, what is it at the other ATMs?
Me: 2.5%
NC: Why the hell is it so much here?!
Me: Because the company we use charges a percent, and then we charge a percent for doing it.
NC: Well that's stupid. *finishes writing check*
Me: Okay, I'll just need your driver's license and player's club card.
NC: What the hell is that?
Me: It's a card for our casino. You have to have one in order to write a check here.
NC: How do I get one?
Me: If you go over to the player's club desk, they can make you one. It's free and only takes a couple of minutes.
NC: You know, I'm liking this casino less and less.

Urg.

So Aaron and I are going to Gillette on Wednesday to celebrate Christmas early with my family, since I have to work on Christmas Eve and Day. I think it will be fun. And then I think afterwards, we will spend some Christmas time with his parents.

And I'm pooped. Sorry it's been so long since I've updated.

Friday, December 16, 2005

Donnnnnnnnnnne!

I don't know what to do with myself now that I am done with school for the semester. Sure, I could do the dishes (all of them...every single last one is dirty), or clean the bedroom, vacuum the living room, redecorate the apartment...but do I really want to do that? No, not right now. I want to revel in my freedom.

That and it's butt-freezing cold out in the living room/kitchen area...

Now all I have to worry about for four weeks is work. That will be nice...I think I will treat myself to a full body massage some time this break...yeah...Mmmmm.

Thursday, December 15, 2005

little old man

While waiting for Aaron to get out of the Game Stop store by the food court at the mall, I noticed a little old man looking at me with some interest. I wasn't quite sure why he was looking at me so much, but I just smiled and looked away.

Little Old Man: Oklahoma State University?
Me: *looks at hoodie with orange "OSU" on front* No, Oregon State University
Aaron joins us at this time
LOM: Oh, I didn't know they were OSU, too. So whereabouts is OSU?
Me: In Corvallis, about an hour south of Portland.
LOM: Oh, I see. When do you have to go back to school?
Me: School starts up again on January 17th.
LOM: I see. Is this you friend? *looks at Aaron*
Me: Yeah, he's my boyfriend.
LOM: So are you from around here, too?
Aaron: Yeah, I live in Spearfish
LOM: Do you go to school in Oregon, too?
Aaron: No, I'm going to Black Hills State
LOM: I see, I see. Well, have a great Christmas break, and relax. Well, you probably won't be relaxing too much, will ya? *wink wink*
Me & Aaron: Hahaha, no, probably not...

And the little old man walked off. I didn't have the heart to tell him I wasn't actually attending school in Oregon, but that I'd just bought the hoodie at the University bookstore when I visited Lacey last time...If I'd done that, I wouldn't have had that conversation with him! It was kinda cute and funny.

Monday, December 12, 2005

lalalalalala

Tomorrow is my first final. It should be cake. I haven't even looked at the study guide for my final on Thursday, but our professor said we could have the front side of a sheet of paper (handwritten) with notes for the test, so that was nice of her. And she actually just gave us 10 questions, three of which we will answer for the final. Should be pretty easy.

My wrist started hurting again, from six years ago when it collapsed under my weight, so I've been having to wear my wrist brace at work. It's very clumsy, hard to hold on to things, and I've only been asked about a bazillion times "What happened to your arm?" "Oh, looks like you've got carpel tunnel syndrome." "Looks like someone took a fall." "Been out skiing?" But today should be better, at least all my co-workers know the story, and I'll only have to tell it to customers.

Mom said I should just tell people it was from lifting all the money (which isn't far from the truth, those racks of chips for poker are heavy and are I think what re-activated the soreness), but "skydiving injury" sounds cooler. And is more the truth :)

Aaron and I are going to have to rent and go to a LOT of movies over Christmas break to make up for everything we missed since school started this semester. And deep-clean the apartment; it really got neglected, as well. I can't wait for school to be out!!!

And I think that's about all the news I have, except I'm still not sure what to get Aaron for Christmas aside from gloves...he has video games, he doesn't really need anything for the kitchen, except a veggie peeler 'cause he doesn't like the one I have, and his parents are going to get us a coffee maker, which was one of my ideas. *shrug* A little help?