When I get sleep after being deprived...

Last night I had a dream that I was Britney Spears and I went on a crime spree. I then was on the run from the law. I think I would have rather just stayed awake all night...*shiver*

Prepare for a week of silence...

I'm staring at a week from hell. After spring break, I didn't realize that all hell would break loose as far as my classes are concerned. I have deadlines stacked upon deadlines stacked upon exams. The next week will be an experiment in the thresholds of caffiene consumption and stress tolerance. If you talk to me, I will speak in speeds previously unknown to man and probably in grouchy tones. I may or may not reach some sort of zen-bitch state...if that even exists...I shall find out. I apologize in advance for any major things I was supposed to remember. Like my name. Or the fact that I'm supposed to eat/sleep on a regular basis. I'll see you on the other side.

Another shift

It seems like every few months I go through some shift in self. It's either some sort of realization or a major decision to change something. Yesterday I spent a little time just thinking about things. Had I left some things the way they were, yesterday would have been my anniversary. The differences between who I was the day I got married and who I am today tend to surprise me. Outwardly, I was strong and stubborn but on the inside I was terrified. I remember being so worried about whether or not I was doing the right thing. I think I'm more strong now, both outwardly and inwardly. I don't have doubts about the choices I make. I'm okay being single because I'm not with someone for the wrong reason. I'm glad I'm back in school (although I will admit the debt because of it is a little unnerving). I'm happy I moved back because of all the craziness I've been through, my family have been the ones to always be there. Back when I was getting married, I knew that my entire life was pretty much planned out, it was safe. Now, I have no idea what will be going on in 5 years but I don't have any of the worries I had then. In the past year, I've been able to take some risks and open things up to dreaming about what I can do now. Granted, there were moments of terror but I think it comes with the territory. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it feels like things are starting to be me again. After almost a decade of being a stranger, I really feel like myself again.

Dear Client Who Tries to Get Everything Free

You have more money than you know what to do with. You are constantly ordering things that are more expensive than most and still want us to give you huge discounts, if not just give them to you for free. When you had an outstanding balance from last year, we were more than accomodating. You tried to ignore our letters and phone calls. You came in to place another order a month ago and it seemed like all was going to be right in the world. You paid for everything, albeit with a little bit of a scowl, but we were back on decent terms.

Were.

I got a notice in the mail saying you stopped payment on the credit card. Because the product was 'not as described or defective merchandise'. Now, if that were true, I would think I would have seen or heard from you since you were last in a month ago. Picking up your FOUR pairs of glasses. It makes me angry when I go out of my way to be understanding and then people like you just walk all over it. You have the money. You have a mercedes and a beach house on the east coast. As far as I'm concerned, it was worth four pairs of glasses to never have to work with a person like you again. Knowing you, we'll never hear from you again and that's fine with me. It's a good thing you stocked up on glasses before you decided to be a jerk.

Hugs and Kisses,
A Disgruntled Office Manager

Mama needs some beads

Last night was a blast. I went with a couple older friends of mine to the Irish restaraunt for Patty's day. The place was packed, the band was great, and the people were the weirdest mix I've seen in one place. I recognized teachers from my high school, professors from my university, local cops, business owners, and the requisite college students. Most people were enjoying themselves and then there were these few little groups of debbie downers. It was really weird. They were mostly older women and they sat in little huddles. They didn't eat or drink anything and they didn't even take their coats off. It was the mystery of the night.

The highlight was when we first got there. As we were weaving through the bar trying to get to the tent, one of the women I was with got approached by a guy dressed as a leprechaun. He just looked her in the eye and said " Mama needs some beads", and held out some green mardi gras beads. She looked over at me horrified. I turned to the guy and told him that she definitely did, as did the rest of us. After he walked away, she was so relieved she didn't have to flash anybody. The rest of the night was great, mostly. I got to introduce the ladies to the Dirty Girlscout shot...it ended up being a whole troop of them. There was good food, good music, good dancing. And then a really weird guy showed up. My friend kept telling me that he was trying to get my attention and he finally came over to get me to dance. He seemed a little too drunk so I really didn't want to but my friend pushed me out there anyways. He proceeded to tell me he was a naugahyde salesman and only in town for two more days and he wanted to spend more time with me. Barf. After I told him to cut the bullshit, he said he was actually a personal trainer but was still moving away in two days. Between the corny lines, him dancing a little too close for comfort, and he kept giving his friend fist pounds on the dancefloor, I got out of there pretty quick. I swore to my friend I would get even.
After that low point of the evening, things were good. I ended up babysitting the other friend. I determined she is the biggest lightweight I have ever met. I'm sure she's hurting this morning.
Near the end of the night, another guy walked up to me and asked if I could do him a favor. Ever skeptical, I asked what kind of favor. He pointed out his friend and told me it was his birthday and would I go tell him happy birthday, it would really make his night. I figured what the hell and walked over. I tapped him on the shoulder and when he turned around I recognized him as a client from my store (specifically, a client who had once asked my boss while I was in the back room whether or not I was married...to which my boss replied 'no, but you are!'). I figured what the hell and said "Hi! Happy birthday Jim!". His friends eyes got big and he turned to me, "He wasn't lying! He said he knew you and I didn't believe him!" After finding out it wasnt really his birthday, I was just settling a bet, we had a couple laughs. I noticed the friend I was babysitting was starting to spiral so we called it a night.
I ended up with a few strings of beads, a couple tshirts, and a sore leg from stomping it all night. I couldn't ask for a better Patty's day. Okay, maybe next year we skip the naugahyde salesman...

Kiss me, I'm Irish

Actually, I don't know you very well so I'll settle for a hug.

Today is my holiday. I'm Irish, redheaded, and even wearing green. In past years, this has been the holiday to break all holidays. A few years ago, it fell a couple days before I got married and it happened to turn into some sort of bachelor/ette St. Patty's day hoopla. Last year, I happened to be dating a redheaded Irish guy and I think we were the hit of all the bars. This year, I've decided to take it easy. I'm going to a local Irish restaraunt to hear an Irish band. I will drink Irish beer and eat Irish food. I'm going with a friend and she is on a mission to find me a new Irish guy. It should be fun. If you're doing anything that celebrates the motherland, I'd love to hear about it! There's always new ideas needed for next year...

Happy St. Patrick's day!

Bliss

Tomorrow morning at 8:00 AM I am handing in my project and bidding adieu to my classes for a jolly week. Granted, I'm working full time over the break but sometimes its good to just work and not have to worry about grades and deadlines. In honor of having a week off from coherent thought, I give you...bullets!

- I just spent the last hour talking with an older guy about all sorts of things. Because he found out who my dad and brother are. I don't know if this happens outside of smaller communities but if people find out who you're related to, you have something in common and can talk forever. I'm not complaining. He was a nice guy and I like hearing stories about my dad and brother. Muahahaha.

- My aforementioned project is on a designer from the turn of the century. Outwardly, he was very devout religiously and strict regarding his design. Inwardly, he was a freak. FREAK. I had to design a book about him. It's really hard to write about someone in glowing terms when you know he's a pedophile and he knows his pets (in the biblical sense). It's me we're talking about though, so those things got a page, against my instructors wishes. I'm just glad I'm done with it so I can quit having to do research. Ick.

- A friend of mine mentioned training for a race. It sounded like a good idea at the time but then I looked it up and its a 20K. As in Kilometers. As in, I don't have an inhaler that will last that long. It's at the end of May. If I think positive, I might be able to do it. Did I mention, I'm not a runner?!

- Today it was 56 degrees out (suck it, Dariush! HA!). I drove around town with the windows down and even took my coat off. As is typical in Iowa, I saw people wearing shorts and tshirts. I don't even wear shorts in the summer but whatev.

- This weekend, I have nothing to do (with the exception of weeks upon weeks of laundry but that isn't considered work really). I'm too excited to do nothing, you have no idea. NOTHING. ahhhhhhh...

Living the stereotype since 1992

Since coming back to school, most of my classes have been in the design building on college. I don't know if your school had one but it's the building with the strange architecture, walls covered in whatever reviews are going on that week, and its chocked full of the stereotype. The architects are wearing turtlenecks and thick plastic glasses. The interior designers are groups of sorority girls talking about fabric samples. The graphic designers are glued to their laptops sans umbilical cord. And the ones studying to be practicing artists are dressed in a strange eclectic fashion with an aura of unwashed angst.
I catch myself sometimes considering the eccentrics with a wide-eyed stare. There is one girl in particular that shows up in the most odd clothing. She came dressed as cleopatra once...in November. She wears hats that she makes to resemble cartoon animals. It is perpetually a surprise. I always catch myself wondering if she does it because she wants to or because she thinks its what artists should do. I wonder if she's been dressing like this forever or if it started with becoming immersed in an art environment.
I've been dressing like an art nerd for as long as I can remember. My mother criticized me frequently for only wearing black. I've expanded a little but my closet is still dominated by black, gray, and other dark colors. It's what I'm most comfortable in. I realize that I've grown up in the stereotype that I would one day be. Even as I type, I'm sitting in the design building, coffee cup in hand, dressed in black, wearing dark-framed glasses (and looking moody, I'm sure). It has never occurred to me to dress any differently to go against the stereotype. I guess maybe Hat-girl is the same way. She grew up quirky and it has never occurred to her to do anything differently. I wonder if the world is the same outside of the design building...do people grow up in the stereotypes or do they break out?

On opposite ends of the intelligence spectrum

I spent most of the weekend writing papers and doing projects...while watching E! So help me god if the Kardashians or The Soup influenced anything I did.

Paranoia

I'm trying not to jinx myself. I haven't been sick for awhile. By 'awhile' I mean since the first week of classes. Like, in January. That's a long time for me. Recently, everyone I know has been coming down with some form of ick. Family, friends, professors, everyone. My university sent out a mass email warning about the mad spread of flu as well as the appearance of walking pneumonia. I sit in my lecture of 400 people and it is a nonstop cacaphony of coughing and noseblowing. It gets to the point where I can smell the sick. Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about. It's disgusting.
At any rate, I have yet to come down with anything. I've been taking my vitamins, trying to get enough sleep (trying being the operative word), and attempting to consume plenty of fluids (is beer a fluid?). So far, I've managed to stay healthy. It's a record, as far as I'm concerned. Although, in the back of my mind I keep thinking that its definitely going to hit in two weeks...during spring break. Maybe my Irish luck will keep it away long enough to relish St.Patty's.