Just waiting on that diploma...

...which, apparently, I didn't need to get a good job. My current job was garnered from my secretary skills rather than my college education. A bit of angst before the news: I don't want to be a bookkeeper for the rest of my life... I don't think... I want to use my Spanish and Latin American Studies background and do good and travel and help people and travel and see things!!! Am I going to have a comfortable, mediocre life? Are my professors right and I should go to grad school? Argh!!! Where is my direction?!?!?! (How was that for negative and depressing...)

So, my professor emailed me and I got an A- in that Econ class, by the grace of God. This means I am happy, but will still not graduate with honors because I am .01 points away from a 3.79. .01 points!!!!!! And it's my own fault, too. Should have just taken out loans to begin with and I would have been done before now with a 3.9. Wow, I'm really feeling whiny today or something.

Some of you may have picked up on the vibe that I was/am thinking about moving to California. Well, when I got back last week my boss informed me that she intends to raise my pay to $15 an hour and when we get four more clients, she's going to give me medical insurance. Odds of my finding a job in CA that offers me anything remotely close? HA! So for now it looks like I'll be moving in with my brother and we'll just see how things develop. I wonder if the State Department's Latin American Division needs a secretary or a bookkeeper...

And finally, I have seed catalogs. Yes, you all know what this means. Soon, when I know where I'm going to live and all that, you will be receiving updates on the weather (by the way, it's been freezing cold and snowy here) and the state of my garden. The thrills never stop, I tell you what...

Diseased

For those of you (Mandy!!!!) who have noticed my lack of posting, I have but one word: mononucleosis. That's right, after managing to avoid that dreaded disease in high school when I was supposed to get it, I came down with it two days before that Aforementioned Day and didn't really move that much over the next week and a half... minus the road trip to Visalia that my parents hijacked (thank heavens!!) and which I spent vilely ill. Since the incubation period is 4-6 weeks, it looks like I contracted this lovely little number during my holiday visit in V., and in fact, Joel is supposed to find out today whether or not he has it, since he started having weird symptoms about the same time. *heavy, heavy sigh* Isn't my life supposed to be coming together right now, rather than falling apart?? On the plus side, I started a new job as a bookkeeper's assistant the Tuesday after I got sick, but my boss is being really cool about my hours being short for a bit as I try to avoid a relapse. This is harder than it sounds since I don't feel nearly as sick as I did, and I don't realize I've overdone it until it's too late. Ah well, such is life, I suppose, although I really hope that none of you EVER get this. *sighs again* Good life and good health to you all!

` nhbgmjyutnfryujhmn

The above is the noise my face makes as it hits the keyboard. I have been unbelievably ill for the last three days, with fever, swollen gland, stuffy nose, periods of utter and complete exhaustion, accelerated heart rate, the works. I had a recital for a friend yesterday and started sweating so badly that I thought I might drop my violin, but things turned out well and her mother even commented that on stage I didn't even look sick. Mum always did say I should have been an actress. So, CrazyLady, I'm afraid this is my cheesy apology for not emailing you sooner. I was going to do it this weekend but lacked the energy necessary to press that many keys.

I realize that some of you probably thought that this year I wasn't going to do a Valentine's Day tirade because my heart had been tenderly wounded by gentle Love's arrow, to which I reply "HA!" Valentine's Day still stinks and Joel and I have mutually decided not to celebrate it more than his calling me to sing his song "Valentine's Day is a Drag." Oh, I have a card for him and everything, but he's not going to get it until he's not expecting it. Once again, I would rather have my significant other SURPRISE me someday when I'm not expecting it rather than simply because he has to. V-Day should be about showing love to everyone, and not in some commercially-exploited manner either. Oh hey!! Why don't we declare Valentine's Day an official "Go Volunteer" Day?! I'm not hearing a very enthusiastic response out there... Oh well, I guess I'll just have to go back to bashing the day itself, and conveniently enough, someone else has done that for me here: http://msn.match.com/msn/article.aspx?articleid=5861&TrackingID=516311&BannerID=544657&menuid=6?GT1=7778
I totally concur with these points, minus the one about dating around. So there, Hallmark!! Have at thee, oh exploiter of singletons' feelings of loneliness and couples' indoctrination that romance must be scripted on a certain day!! Anyway, I have several other things to rave about and hopefully I won't keep you waiting too long.

PS Can anyone explain how to embed the hyperlink within the text? I tried and failed.

I'm DONE (the second middle)

And yesterday I turned in the final report for my Mexico internship, so, as fas as I know, I am done with my paperwork, minus my exit counseling for my loans. *sighs* And isn't it great having THOSE hanging over my head... Anyway, I think I'll go get myself some lunch. Hope you all have a good weekend!

I'm DONE (the middle)

Just so you all know, the econ stuff is all in. Now I just have to wait and see how awfully I performed on the tests, which does concern me quite a bit. Right now I'm finishing up the last of my final internship report which I'm turning in tomorrow. I'm also looking for work, either here or (fine, I'll admit it in public) in California. Life is just so stinking complicated once you have to start growing up!! I have to pack up all my stuff and I already have a garbage can full to get rid of, not to mention a bag plus of clothes to donate to Goodwill. And I'm barely even started yet. *sighs and covers eyes* You've all survived this, right? Right?!? Okay, enough whining, I need to get going, but thank you all for your support and I tell you that someday I will become interesting again.

Tolu, I PROMISE I will email you and I'm SO sorry I haven't yet. Please, please forgive me!!!

*snuffle*

Ugh. Mornings. I probably wouldn't have made it out of my bed at a semi-reasonable hour today except Joel called and inspired me. So, yeah, today I was supposed to go to work. I got up at 7, made oatmeal for Moo and I (he's baby-sitting me while my parents are off gallivanting away my inheritance), and then took him home before *RING* "This is Karen, just calling to remind you that we have rehearsal at 11 with Galina." AAAAAGGH!!! Why, yes, I had forgotten. I'm playing a violin duet with Karen at her Junior Recital in February and we NEED to rehearse with the pianist. *heavy sigh* So I called Becky, who very sweetly informed me that it was fine, I could go to Ashland for the practice, and, while I was at it, why didn't I GET MY BUTT HOME AND FINISH MY ECON HOMEWORK!!!!! And so I sit in the computer lab, updating my blog, waiting for 11, because of course I didn't bring my books with me. Oh yes, just got a note from my prof and I got an A- on the paper, and she'll probably be grading the test in the next week. So far, so good. I use the word 'so' a lot, don't I?

Weather: It's foggy here in Ashland, which means it's stinking cold. Anyone else ever noticed the peculiar ability of fog to hold in cold? But, it's going to be beautiful out at my house. *happy sigh*

I know, I know...

I left you all hanging for who knows how long. Well, I'm just going to post a little update as my parking time is going to run out soon. The paper is done and got mailed to my prof the 23rd. However, the rest of it isn't done yet (I blame other people) and I haven't heard back from said prof and so I begin to worry that the paper never made it to her, but I'm afraid to get ahold of her without more stuff to turn in.

I haven't been posting because I spent two and a half weeks down in California visiting Joel and then about a week up in Washington with Melodie. It rained in both locations and I had a lot of fun, but now it's back to the grindstone, this time with the added push to find a job and get all my school paperwork done and out of the way. Funny how things just kinda spring up at you that they don't really tell you about. I think they should have to make a checklist of things so we don't feel so lost.

Anyway, I hope everyone had wonderful holidays and I'll try to be better about posting and letting you all know I'm alive!!