A Lil' of This and That....

Steven treated me to a movie today, Avatar in 3d.

It was A M A Z I N G.

I loved it. It's no surprise that it's been doing really well in the box office, because I'm sure people keep going back to see it. I know I want too! Hopefully my dad and I can go before it's done in the theaters, I think he will really enjoy it. KM, after watching it, said that it was like "Ferngully, but for adults". I can definitely see a slight parallel and I loved watching Ferngully when I was younger, so I was pretty certain this movie would be good too, at least after hearing that!

And I'm not going to lie, I really like the name "Neytiri", hahaha.

In other news, the Super Bowl (the 44th? I think?) was won by the New Orleans Saints, who beat the Indianapolis Colts. I was cheering for the Saints because not only have they never won a Super Bowl, but they had never been to one either! So congratulations to them, good job!

And some of my resolutions are slowly but surely taking effect. Like I talked about in my previous post, I've started to phase out of the restaurant, and I'm counting down the days! I'm going to try and stay out of the food industry, and am thinking about places to apply, including some quilting shops - which would be soooo much fun to work in! Not only would I be making money, but I could also learn more about quilting and sewing.....we'll see what happens though, they might not even be hiring, especially someone with little sewing experience. And taking better care of my teeth is going good as well, I'm now brushing my bottom teeth for around two minutes, then brushing my top teeth around two minutes - new paste each time. Then I floss, use Listerine with fluoride, and if it's before I go to bed, I put in my retainer. The brushing for four minutes separately was an idea from one of the girls at school who's sister is a dental hygienist. Hopefully I'll get good results! Steven and I also talked about starting p90x, which is a work-out program. Looks like Feb. 22 is the starting date, since I'll be done at the restaurant, giving me plenty of time in the morning to exercise. And he suggested that I start eating healthy now so I won't have such a hard time....probably should do what he says :)
And finally, my taxes are being turned in, so I just have to get hopping with the applications for schools! Little by little, things are getting there....fingers crossed!

And I don't have my test score back from my on-line class yet, but I think I did pretty solid on it. And C, L, and I got together last night to study for our expressive test in Linguistics, I think it'll be okay. I received the rest of my loan money yesterday so I'll put it in the bank tomorrow, purchase the rest of my books, and be all set for the rest of the semester! Finally it will be all organized :)

Have a good Monday!

Big Step

So I've decided to take a big (to me) step. I'm taking a 'leave of absence' from my restaurant job, starting Feb. 17 and ending May 26.

I'm not sure I will be going back.

My excuse is school and after this weekend/upcoming week, I'm definitely realizing how much time school is going to take up this semester. Now I don't feel as bad for using it :)

But really, I had an on-line test tonight, then Monday night we have our 'receptive'* and 'expressive'* tests in ASL Linguistics and same on Thursday for Fingerspelling and Numbers. Plus I will have homework due by Saturday for my on-line class, as well as three discussion posts, and then homework and a rough draft for a paper for my other residential class. I underestimated the time I would need to spend working on each class and I know the demand will only increase.

It's not just not really wanting to work there anymore. It's the constant driving back and forth and watching my gas gauge drop down by about 5 gallons, round-trip. Working at the restaurant is actually costing me money some days, other days I will just barely cover the gas expense. I've worked there for almost four years now and I'm pretty burned out. I don't know how I went to high school, did sports year-round, worked at the dealership two nights a week, and was the closing host every single Friday and Saturday night, often working until 2 in the morning. I worked my butt off and was ranked the #3 employee of the restaurant out of everyone and yet the salary I make there right now is only $7.50 (I started at $7.25). Granted, I moved to the 'car-side' position and yes, to serving (which I dislike) and really, just had no patience for it anymore. Instead of the smiling, happy, and personable person I usually was, I was just done with it. I think I realized (and I'm still realizing) that this is not going to be my job for the rest of my life. I don't want it to be and it won't.
Granted, that was a very short phase where my patience was thin and I'm back to my normal self (pretty much), I think it's because I realized that I was spreading myself thin and for what? I definitely didn't feel like they really appreciated me, rather they found someone who was willing to comply to everything and anything.

I try hard to not feel guilty about leaving, but it's difficult not to.

I'm going to miss everyone (well, mostly) =[

But, I'm probably going to take a few weeks, get some VERY important items taken care of (applications applications applications!) and then probably start looking for a new job. Those few weeks will be really nice, especially for school, but I know I'm going to start feeling guilty if I'm not making more money....and that I'll have all of this free time for a new job......

Hopefully I'll even be able to find a new one! Oh well, I can always just go back to the restaurant after my leave is up and work there until I find something......


*A receptive test for an American Sign Language course is where the instructor will sign the questions to the students who have to write down what the instructor is signing, thus allowing the teacher to see how much the student actually understands and is taking in.
*An expressive test for an American Sign Language course is where the student signs for the teacher, thus allowing the instructor to view how the students' signing skills are increasing.
You will never have one test without the other.

Quick Up-Date About Haiti....

This is a map of the damaged areas of Haiti along with where the epicenter was:

Although time has already made Haiti seem like a thing in the past, they still do need relief. Please remember to keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

My 2010 Resolutions :)

Okay, I know these are a bit late in coming, but I'm hoping that by starting my resolutions in February instead of January, I'll be better at following through with them.....we'll see, haha.

So in no particular order:

1. Start taking better care of my teeth. That sounds weird. Don't get me wrong, I brush every day, but when it comes to flossing, using mouth-rinse, and wearing my retainer at night, I'm horrible. I get cavities fairly easily and I want to be able to go to my dentist expecting to have none because I've taken very good care of my teeth. Plus the fact of the thousands of dollars my parents have spent on my mouth. Two years of prep-work for braces, four years of braces, and two retainers. One of my biggest fears is something hitting me in the mouth and knocking out some teeth, only because I would feel so bad about spending more money on my mouth. But I digress.

2. Locate the nearest library and get a library card. Then read one book a month just for myself. I LOVE to read. Love, love, love it! And I've always loved it ever since I finished learning how and I don't get to do it nearly enough.

3. Stay on top of my homework and thoroughly study for exams. This semester is more important than ever as I am beyond the basic ASL and after this semester will only have two more classes to complete my certificate program.

4. Start signing more than ever! I will only be able to increase my fluency, understanding, and knowledge of ASL if I "practice practice practice" as our teachers always impress upon us. It is frustrating at times because I don't know all of the words and I sign slow, but that just gives me an opportunity to practice my fingerspelling and eventually I will get to the next level!

5. Figure out this blog thing better so I can post more pictures and videos. I can't seem to figure it out :( Any help is appreciated! I also want to blog more.

6. Actually start saving money this year. I don't know if I will be able to this month, but even $5 to $10 a month will be a place to start!

7. Find a new job. I've worked at the car dealership for over five years now and at the restaurant for about four. Now that I live an hour round-trip from the restaurant where I make $7.50 an hour and it costs me $9.00 to drive there and home, it actually costs me money to work there some days, plus the wear and tear on my truck. Not good.

8. Lose weight, get fit, eat healthy. Typical resolution. But the truth is that I have gained 20+ pounds since high school. I went from playing sports year round to buffet-eating in college. And I am not happy with it. I have the opportunity every day to eat healthy and work-out, why don't I take advantage of it? No more slacking. This is the year where I ACTUALLY kick my butt in to high gear and reach my goal weight. More on this to come....

9. Do more around the house and keep my truck cleaned and organized. My dad sacrifices so much for me, the least I can do is the dishes and laundry.

10. Finish applications for schools, get all of my transcripts sent to them, complete my taxes, do my FAFSA, have it sent to all schools applied to, visit schools, then figure out which one is the best FOR ME. I get my do-over this year. Yes, I should technically be a junior this year and yes I should be graduating next Spring with a bachelors in something, but I'm not. And I'm fine with that. I know that I will be in school for probably at least two more years (a five-year senior is normal nowadays anyways!) and I'm going to go where I want to go. Where I feel I fit best and is the best choice. I can't worry about other people or money when I make this decision. I would prefer to not go to a school that costs roughly $40,000 a year, but if I feel it will give me the best future, I will go. Plus, my siblings both attended private collages so I should be allowed to as well!

11. Keep in better contact with friends, new and old. As well as relatives. I am so blessed to have them in my life, I need to take better care of them!

12. Grow out my hair and donate it to Locks of Love or a similar organization. It's pretty long, but I need to get probably three inches cut off so it's healthy, then grow it as long as I can :)

13. Work on my indecisiveness. Sometimes, making decisions is quite hard for me.

14. Sew a quilt. And then another. And maybe some other things. And learn how to make a flower garden quilt. Many females on my dads side sew, knit, crochet, etc. Anything creative they can do it. And I really desire to be added to the ranks of those who can. The only thing holding me back is lack of money for purchasing critical items such as a rotary cutter and a cutting board. As well as a table to put my sewing machine on, haha. But I really feel as if this will be a hobby that I will do the rest of my life and I think that it will really please my dad and Aunts if I get into it :)


The list could probably continue, but these are the items that I want to do the most starting this year. And many of them I want to do RIGHT NOW!! but everything takes time. Of which I seem to have little.

I do have faith though that the things most needing to be completed (even if they are not on the list) will be done. They will. And I will definitely share the journeys of this year with you :)