I got off of work early and the sun is shining

So my friend Marika taught me how to cross stitch the other day and I finally made my work friend, Candi, a valentine like I'd wanted to since valentine's day. This took hours and hours. I knew cross stitching was time consuming but I had no idea how bad it was until I made this little guy. Still, I'm proud and that's why I am posting it up here for you guys to check out.

Other than that. Another of my work buddies got promoted to be a manager and they're in need of a new bus person for Fridays. So, I'm going to be that person. That is great news because the bus man typically gets tipped out a fair share. I'm excited about making myself some real money soon.

In non profit based news, I'm going to start volunteering at the Habitat for Humanity Restore in a couple of weeks. I'm pretty excited about that. The Restore is a sculptor's muse. It is filled with awesome, cheap things that you can make stuff with. I'm hoping that it will inspire me to make some artwork. I'm thinking that it will. Especially, if I have a little extra money from my Fridays to buy supplies. It is also a great cause and resource for the community so I'm overall, very excited to bring my skills to help them there.

Look at this orange. I got this orange at work. It perfectly embodies my day. It's so beautiful. Today is a good day. Hope you're having a good one too.

Tax Return

I'm getting my tax return shortly. Well, I just got my VA tax return in the mail and am waiting on my federal.

Since I first found out how much I was getting back for my tax return I started planning what I was going to do with my money. Was I going to save half of it and use the other half to buy new clothes and a new pillow? Perhaps I was going to buy a dresser, and some hangers. Maybe I was about to splurge on a membership to a rock climbing gym. All of those were ideas that I had batted around a bit. I might even want to replenish my greatly diminished earing supply with some of that tax money.

But then I realized my tax money is already pledged. I'm going on vacation to CO this year and that's where my tax return is going. It's pretty nice because it costs almost exactly the amount I'm getting back to fly to and from Colorado but I can't use any of the money for anything else. Is it too greedy to wish I was getting another $400 back from the government? Maybe but that doesn't stop me from dreaming. Oh a membership at a climbing gym... what a dream.

Still, I'm pretty psyched for some good travel and fun family time. That will be really nice. I'm actually looking forward to some of that later this month for Jon-Mike & Jackie's wedding. Yay! travels! I've been pretty homesick for the past few days and it'll be really nice to see those of you on the east coast and the east coast itself later on.

Hope you all have some fun plans in your near future. That's all for now.

Road running

I've got the racing bug. I've just spent the last hour and a half looking up races in the Portland area.

Specifically, I'd love to be able to train for a marathon. I don't know if that's something I could do without a team of supporters but I don't know, the idea is bouncing around my head quite a bit. The race that has me really interested is the Columbia Gorge Marathon. It sounds like a beautiful event. Still, there are a few obstacles for me. One is that there aren't a lot of spectators to lend emotional support and another is I know I should shoot for a half before I try and run the whole. It's hard not to get ahead of myself. Ah!

Who wants to fly out here and help me whip myself into shape? Any volunteers?! Oh boy.... I can't stop looking up races. I've got to get myself back into running!!

Saturday!

OK Saturday isn't that exciting of a day for me as it is part of my work week but at least the work week is over halfway through now! (It was a good week because I worked Monday and Friday as opposed to just this weekend). Another bonus on the work week front is that some of the servers quite and I now have to position of back up server secured. I don't know if I'll get to train for that or if they'll just throw me in. My guess is they'll just throw me in but we'll see.

The main obstacle that I'm facing right now is no bike. I went to see Social Network last night at one of the 2nd run theaters in town (good movie by the way) and my key broke so I can't get my bike unlocked. I am going to get a hand from one of my coworkers tomorrow after work and we will, hopefully be able to get it free. Wish me luck on that one.

My main shout out today goes to whole grain pancakes with dried apricots and walnuts inside. WHAT?! Who knew they'd be so delicious? Tomorrow, I think I'll try another combo with whole grain as my basis again. The benefit of working at a pancake restaurant is that you can get pancakes pretty much whenever you want them I guess.

That's pretty much it. Hope you're weekend is going well.

Snow, Hey!

So, I thought it didn't get cold enough here for snow but today I was proven wrong. It's nothing like you east coasters have been experiencing but late last night, or early this morning, we did get a little dusting of snow. Here are my pics to prove it.

Snow in the middle of the yard

Close up of something

Some of the tall plants we have with snow on them

You know, snow's not so annoying when there's only a little tiny bit of it. I, actually, kind of like it. I just wish it could be warmer in our house.

Working woman

Hi guys,

As you who have read my recent posts or talked to me on the phone, as of late, will know, I am honing in on some job opportunities. I've got an ice cream shop waiting for me, I applied to a restaurant were a friend of a friend works yesterday, and I'm constantly sending out the ol' resume to jobs I see on craigslist.

Well today, I was out, shopping at Target to get some sweet boots on clearance for my potential jobs & interviews when I got a call for just that, a job interview. So, tomorrow, I have a job interview for another hostess position. And, I have a clean and fancy pair of shoes to wear to that interview. Who's excited? (Hint they write a blog post three times a week and live in Portland, OR).

I also, may have a friend of a friend come out and stay with me sometime. Soon, that would be great as I miss these friends and would love to see a member of their group.

So anyways, I have a feeling, that you're about to be reading blog posts from a real working woman instead of this partially employed approximation of a working woman you've got posting now.

Wish me luck on getting one of these jobs!

oops

Ooops guys, I'm sorry. I forgot to update yesterday when I would typically update. This is largely in part to the fact that I've had some kind of unfriendly head cold and have been sleeping and drinking tea a lot instead of updating blogs, running, or even applying to jobs.

Some good news, I have a job offer at this place coolmoonicecream Some bad news, I wouldn't start for another month because they don't need me until the busier, warmer season begins. So, I'm still on the lookout during that time but if I find nothing, I do have that. Yay! yay! yay! They seem like a respectable business that will give me an opportunity to be a leader to some younger workers so that would be good experience. Other good news is, I'm working two days extra this week. Hip Hip Hurray and I am getting a good tax return this year so money should be pretty good for the next while.

Alright, I've got a phone date with a Mrs. Madeline Ogburn. I'll catch you guys on the flip side.