... and now for some whining

Whoever called yesterday about the job (I may not have mentioned this. They called the office and refused to leave a message) never called back... probably they found someone else.

Also, I can't apply for EI, because I wasn't actually having it deducted for my last job. Technically, I was a private contractor. You would think that I would have been making a lot more money if I didn't have any deductions, but I guess not.

I was supposed to do 'a couple of hours' of work today. I agreed because I'm desperate for the money.. but it ended up being four hours and now it's too dark to work out. This makes either four or five days in a row that I haven't worked out, due to random events.

I want hot water. I want my cell phone back. I want my apartment back. I want my life back. This sucks complete ass, and is, as ever, a result of me not following my gut instinct, way the hell back in October, when I should have said to hell with it and gotten another easy, meaningless job.

I told you this was going to be a whiney post.

EI

Ugh. It looks like I might have to file for employment insurance. I don't really see a way around it, if I can't find a job, and I have been looking. My brother, who quit is job and started looking after me found a job, one I can't work at, but still, you'd think I'd have found something by now. There are a lot of temp agencies in this city, and along with everywhere else, I've sent applications to them, too.

Apparently, there was one phone call for me at the office yesterday, but the caller refused to leave a message, so I have no idea whether it was to do with a job or not.

On the bright side, if I get EI, Murphy's law dictates that I will find a job right after I get my first cheque, but the paper work of cancelling will take too long, I'll get another cheque, and wind up being charged with fraud--but I will have found another job, and that will definitely be a plus.

I seriously didn't think it would come to this, but I guess it has. Oh well, at least I'm not living off the food bank... yet.

Rain, Rain

It's pouring out. Today was supposed to be my run-around-the-city-and-hand-out-resumes day, but instead it turned into my sit-in-my-house-and-finish-my-book day, which was a lot more fun, even if not so productive.

I just finished another one of Terry Pratchett's books, Monstrous Regiment. It may just be my favourite one of his books to date... maybe.

It follows Polly Perks on her journey through the army, which, of course, starts with her cutting off her hair, disguising herself as a man and joining up. I don't want to say more than that, 'cause I don't want to give it away, but it has everything you'd expect from one of Pratchett's novels: humour, hilarity and an uncompromising view of humanity.

Also, it means I'm up to three books this year, all of them Pratchett's.

In other news, I started something new. It began as a stray thought, which I planned on turning into a short story for Devereaux Court, and turned into a scene which I plan to be the opening for my next novel. The other things I'd started will likely have to wait, because this really does feel like my next big project. Of course, I'm going to spend the next two months editing Aigaion Gir, so I probably won't have much time for writing, but you never know. I can write down bits and pieces, and maybe a novel will be born.

I'm kind of bummed now, because I have nothing to read and sort-of nothing to write. Also, there were next to no new jobs on the job bank site, and the only one I was even remotely qualified for was at a place that I've already worked, where I'd really rather not work again, and where they're not terribly likely to want to hire me, if I'm honest.

Ah well. Not much to do for the moment, I guess. Laundry and stuff, but not much that will help me advance in the grand scheme of things, anyway. I guess that's it. Go read Monstrous Regiment, if you haven't already.

Celeron M

Sometimes, when I can't think of a title for my blog posts, I just pick something out of the room at random.

Okay, so first: Books.
I am very sorry (and a little bit horrified) to say that I've only read two books this year. That's right, two. The year is half-over and I've only read two books. And I read them in about three weeks.

Book #1 was Terry Pratchett's Nation, which his only non-Discworld book I've read (I'm not counting Good Omens, 'cause that was a collaborative effort with Neil Gaiman). It's absolutely amazing.

It's darker than most of his Discworld stuff, but I think that's because it's new, and Pratchett's work seems to get progressively darker - which is fine, because I've always loved that kind of unabashed cynicism. I think that's what drew me to him in the first place. I don't want to spoil it for you, so I'm not going to tell you what it's about, except that it's kind of about the end of the world, at least, the end of a world, which for the people living there is the same thing.

Book #2 was another Pratchett masterpiece, a much earlier Discworld book called Reaper Man. That copy has been in my family's house for years, and for years I didn't read it because I was terrified of the picture of Death on the front (not the same cover art as shown right - I couldn't find a picture of the book jacket ours used to have). When I was maybe 11, I tried to read The Colour of Magic and couldn't finish it, and then didn't read any Pratchett for ages. Reaper Man is pretty amazing, but I have to say that in parts, it seemed like Pratchett forgot his readers weren't in his head with him, so I found some parts confusing.

Mainly, I loved the story of Death essentially being fired, and going to live and work on a farm. It was all good, but that particular thread was just too amazing, and I found myself constantly wanting to run and give him a hug.

As with every other Terry Pratchett book I've read, I'd heartily recomend it to anyone who wants something funny, thoughful, thought-provoking and generally amazing to read.

Second: I still have no job. It's not that I haven't been applying, because I have. Maybe my applying hasn't been as rigorous as it could be - I've spent most of every day for the past few months writing my book (now finished!!!!!), working out and drinking tea. It may seem like wasting time, I guess, but c'mon - I wrote a bloody book and dropped at least two sizes. That has to count for something.

But still, I think the main problem is that there just aren't that many jobs available. I mean, if I had a car or a college and/or university education, there are plenty of jobs I could get... but no one seems to even be looking for people, and if they are, they want educated people. Why you need college-trained secretaries and forklift operators, I'll never know.

I think that's it. Edits on Aigaion Girl aren't going to start until July, 'cause I'm giving my brain some away-time from that story for the moment, as hard as that is. I feel like I should be writing but I went through all 26 of my pending stories the other day and I couldn't find anything that I felt like writing at the moment. Maybe I'll start something new.

Right now I'm off to go back through the job bank and see what's available. Monday, I'll have to plaster the city with resumes - which would be a lot easier to do if all of my summer clothes (and nice shoes) weren't sitting in some guys barn - another long story. Yes, I know I look like a hobo and I know I'm wearing flipflops/my youngest brother's handmedown running shoes, but seriously, take my resume, then call me at my mom's office, 'cause the home phone's been cut off and I can't get my cell phone hooked up until I get paid for work I did in January... Hire me.
Somehow, I don't see that working as well as I need it to.

Ah well. I'm grumbling again, and I really didn't mean this to be a grumbly post. But seriously, I should never have stayed in town for the summer. I should have just said screw it, despite the serious lack of job and money, and just gone wandering in May like I planned to. Ugh.

XD

I never see that as a face. As I mentioned on Devereaux Court, I always just see an X and a D, and in my mind it's a short form for eXciteD. Kind of like how I look at the big E of the Internet Explorer button, and think of it as the Everyone button... because the Internet connects you to everyone.

The reason I'm so eXciteD is simple: I finished my book. I had a very fun day today, the majority of which was spent floating down the river on a hot pink air mattress. I came home, had a two-hour nap, then got up and started writing... and continued writing for nearly four hours, at the end of which, I'd finished Aigaion Girl.

I'll post it on FictionPress tomorrow. Right now, I'm just going to enjoy the happiness that is going to sleep, because two hours is not enough to make up for being woken up by the police hammering on your door (a long story, which I'm graciously making interesting by the omission of any of the pertinant details), plus two or three hours of walking, plus four hours of writing. I is sleepified.

:P

I still have no job. That kind of sucks.

I still haven't finished the last chapter of Aigaion Girl. That really sucks.

I know, I'm whining. I really shouldn't be, but I'm just so... stuck. Not just stuck with my writing, but stuck with everything. I'm in the uber-rutt. The uber-rutt of life.

Okay, so the picture has nothing to do with anything, well, kinda. It's Apple from Aigaion Girl, but it really doesn't have to do with the rutt... but I felt like I could use a picture, so I picked one at random.

Ummm... yeah, I don't know what else. Jammy has moved to Nova Scotia for the summer, which leaves me all alone in b dot. Well, not alone, actually, but close to. The number of friends I see on a regular basis is definitely dwindling. I think I spelled that wrong, but what can you do?

I'm rambling, so I think I'm going to end this post here. I have to work out tonight, and hopefully I'll actually get some writing done tonight... le ugh.

Skipping

I got fired from my non-paying job. I have special talents.

Also, yesterday I got some money that the company owes me for work I did in January, so I was able to buy flip-flops (no more ugly-ass handmedown running shoes for me) and a shirt that I'd wanted forever that was finally on sale and a Bowie shirt, which is cool, even though it's a Diamond Dogs shirt, 'cause it doesn't say Diamond Dogs anywhere on it.

I also bought a skipping rope because I read that doing three minutes of intense cardio before working out helps you burn fat. It kind of sucks, because I can't actually skip. When I was in Brownies, kids made fun of me for not being able to skip. I don't know, I guess I just thought I'd be able to do it now or something.

I think that's it. I'm super tired now. I kinda want to go eat a chocolate bar and have a nap, but I think that might defeat the purpose of my crazy workoutness.

Stuff

I saw (the?) Ghosts of Girlfriends Past today. It was cute, in a I'm-glad-I-didn't-pay-to-see-it kind of way. It was basically like all other goofy romantic comedies. I'm still not sure why it came out in the summer, though, 'cause it was clearly designed to be a Christmas movie.

I also saw Juno for the first time tonight. It's pretty cool. I have new respect for Jason Bateman's acting abilities. The man has mad skills.

I'm up to 52000+ words in Aigaion Girl, which is pretty sweet, but the last chapter is coming sloooooooooowly. I may have grandchildren by the time I'm done.

Also, because I'm a retard, I started something new. Well, I started it a while ago, but before I only had characters, and now I actually have the almost-starting of a plot. Go me.

I think that's it. My weekend wraps up tomorrow, which is sad, but it's been a good weekend, and I'm looking forward to getting back to my daily workouts and... well, nothing else, really, but I miss my puppy.

Stuck

Ugh. I'm 50,874 words into what I'm fairly certain is the longest (possibly the second-longest?) book I've ever written, I'm writing the last chapter and I'm stuck. I was on a bit of a roll earlier tonight, but I'm staying with my brother and his girlfriend for the weekend, so it would be kind of rude to say, "yeah, have friends over. I'll sit in the kitchen like a hermit and ignore you all", so I stopped writing. I'm kind of wishing I hadn't.

I just don't know what to do. I have no idea how to get myself unstuck, but I really, really have to. I haven't posted a new chapter in too long, and that's counting the chapter from Death's perspective,which, really, isn't necessary for the advancement of the story at all. Ugh. Ugh, ugh, ugh.

I wonder if my brother will mind if I watch an episode of friends. Then, perhaps, I'll be able to get my mind in gear. Ugh.

Yawn, Stretch... SLEEP

Let me see.

Worked out with Rhiannon yesterday, and took Loki for his long walk. Oh, that was the other thing I did...

I finished the thing I was working on for my cousin. The thing that REALLY NEEDED TO BE DONE RIGHT AWAY... the thing that was the cause for a 45+ minute conference call, during which website guy interrupted every possible chance he got, with something irrelevant to what we were working on, or something we were going to be discussing later. I finished that yesterday. It looks really good (if I do say so myself). I emailed it to my cousin and website guy at 4:30, half an hour before I said it would be done. I still haven't heard anything back from either of them, or gotten any indication that they even received it.

Also, last night, while Rhiannon and I were *finally* making the pie we've been planning to get to all week, I bit my tongue. Really, bloody hard. I couldn't talk for a huge chunk of the night. I can talk now, but it hurts like hell, and I kind of sound like a semi-deaf person who can lip read but isn't sure how English words are supposed to sound.

Today we went to take pictures of our work out path, so we could put them in our little work out books, and record what we've been doing. I'm sorely tempted to put my before and current (not quite after) pictures up on here, but I won't, because I'm only wearing underclothes in them and somehow, the idea of putting half-naked pictures of myself on the Internet doesn't really seem like the best on ever. I do look damn good, though, and it is a big change.

I worked a lot of Aigaion Girl today, too. I wrote a chapterette from the perspective of Death, which went over fairly well, and now I'm 730 odd words into the final chapter. I really wish I just had the energy to sit down and finish it.

I suppose I should run. I had pizza at sevenish, but I'm pretty hungry and I could use something cold and fizzy for my poor punctured tongue. Since no interwebz at home, I'll have to actually shut my lappy down to do that.

So here I go. Wish me luck.

50,000 words!

I made it to 50,000 words!!!!!! Of course, I didn't do it in a month, like you're supposed to for NaNoWriMo, but I did it. 50,000. Eat it, naysayers.

HOUSE

Oh my effing god! I just watched the season finale. HOLY HELL, IT WAS AMAZING. I wanna watch season six now. Now, now, now, now, now! EEEEEEEEk!

House

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!XD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!^_^!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:{D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!XDXDXDXDXD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Huddy ftw!

Mmm, River

First, Spooey came back last night! She's been gone for a couple of weeks, so I've been working out with my dad or (far more often) alone. I had planned on going to bed early, but I stayed up until 3:00ish talking with her, then Vic. made it home, right after I climbed into bed.

Last night I did go to the casino with my mum. I started with $10, went up to $33, got greedy and kept playing, and ended up with $23. Still a win. We're going back tonight, because my mum didn't know how to work the slot machines properly, so she was only betting on one line last night, so she lost by a lot. Anyway, it was fun, which is the important thing.

Today Spooey and I got up late and went to work out. Since it was later than usual, it was hotter than usual, and I said something about how I wanted to swim in the river, and she said her bathing suit was at home - and the next thing we knew, we were planning a swimming trip to the river, which we went on as soon as we were done working out. Our lame younger siblings wouldn't come with us, because the idea of swimming in the river was just too gross for them, despite the fact that that's where everyone in the city gets their drinking water.

At some point, we decided to swim across the river (it's a big effing river), and part way out we realized that there was nothing under us except for spongey green algie stuff, which smelled gross if you touched it, so we had to keep swimming all the way across without stopping. By the time we got to the other side, I was laughing so hard that I had started to drool. It was hot.

Now I am so effing hungry I could die. I might, actually, if I don't get some food in me. I have to get cleaned up anyway (I still smell a little like river), and clean the kitchen (which there will be a rant about soon, no doubt), so I suppose I could eat somewhere in there as well. Mmm, eating.

Okay, I think that's it.

Motivational Ruffles, and All That's In Between

'Evening, Blogees.

I came into the office today to work on the identity guide for my cousin's business (I'm on my laptop, as my work station still has no Internet). Since I last mentioned said business, the logo has been redesigned by the website guy, aka, the bane of my existence. He's not really the bane of my existence; he's just a guy who went to college and assumes that this means he knows more about everything than us sad, uneducated people, who got our experience by designing magazine ads. At my cousin's request, I emailed him with what I have done so far for the identity guide (which he insists is absolutely vital), and asked if there was anything I needed to add before converting my svgs into one pdf. He responded with a fairly rude email, saying I had disregarded his instructions, and that a whole bunch of things I had included didn't need to be in there (these are things that every other visual identity guide in the world seems to have), and not to finalize anything until everyone had had a chance to look at it. I replied (and copied the reply to my cousin) as politely as I could, and asked a bunch of questions - basically, if I'm not supposed to do X, then what should I be doing instead? My cousin just wrote me back and told me she would let me get pointers from him. UGH. Whatever. I'm not dealing with it until tomorrow.

My mum and I walked to the store, got a bag of chips (I usually don't eat chips. God knows what we were thinking), and came back to the office to eat them. On the back of the bag, there was a story that started with:

At the age of 10, I lived with my family in the Fisher Housing Projects in Detroit, Michigan. By today's standards, we were considered poor.

It goes on for four paragraphs about this random kid stealing peaches from someone's backyard, then another two paragraphs about how he learned his lesson, and why self-control is great, and things to remember to help you demonstrate self control in everyday life. I feel like I'm in the twilight zone or something.

Last night, my mum and I watched the first three episodes of Dollhouse. She's completely addicted, just like I knew she would be.

A few months ago, at my brother's request, I brought V for Vendetta home from the office (I keep my movies at the office, to prevent the exact thing that ended up happening). He didn't watch it that night, but my mum and I and one of my other brothers did. The next night, that brother and the youngest one asked if they could borrow it, and I said yes, if they put it back on my shelf when they were done. Because I'm an idiot, I didn't check to see that they had put it back until last night, when my youngest brother asked if he could watch Once Upon a Time in Mexico. He insists that since both of them watched V, it isn't his fault that it didn't get put back. The other one insists that he watched the movie with my mother and I, after the youngest one watched it, so it's my fault if it didn't get put back. This is especially annoying, because this is the second copy of that movie that I've loaned out, only to have it disappear on me. My first copy is currently residing on my friend's uncle's shelf - unless, of course, he decided to lend it to someone else.

Tonight, I'm going to the casino with my mummy. I have $10 that I can spend, which I'll split into two $5 bills. Hopefully, if I go with my mum, the guard won't feel the need to ask me my middle name and have me spell it, while glaring at me and making it obvious that he thinks my ID is either fake or not my own. I should probably go work out now, since afterward, I have to heat my bathwater, clean up and get changed. Thank God it's not hair-wash day.

I didn't work out yesterday because I didn't feel like it. That's a dangerous habit to get into, especially because that makes it the third day in four weeks that I've missed, and this time, there was no good reason for it. I should work twice as hard, but I probably won't.

I think that's everything. I think. Oh, 5:55, time to make a wish. Alright. That's done with.

I missed one thing. I've started working on the final chapter of Aigaion Girl. As happy as I am to have nearly completed my... fourth book (likely the first one that will ever be published), it's a little bittersweet - and I feel an inordinate amount of pressure to get the ending perfect. I've been looking forward to writing this ending, but now I'm terrified that my readers are going to hate it. Eeek.

Okay, I really do think that's it. And I really do have to go work out. Right.

I.N. Out.

XD!!!

My cousin's having a baby!!!!! It's scheduled to arrive sometime around Christmas. This is baby #2 for her and her husband, and number 1 is absolutely adorable. Ooh, exciting!

Seven Years Ago Today...

Wow, I'm old. Seven years ago today, for the first time ever, I got flowers from a guy. A week later, he asked me out. Five months later, we broke up. We're still good friends. He bought me roses for our three-month anniversary, and no one's gotten me flowers since. This isn't a pity me post; actually, quite the opposite. I was in A&P the other day, looking at their flowers, and thinking of the time of year and for the life of me, I couldn't stop smiling. It's nice to have good memories like that, ones that will make you smile nearly a decade later.

Nearly a decade. God, I'm old.

I do kind of have to wonder where all the useful, gentlemanly gentlemen have gotten to, though. I haven't seen many of them around for... oh, about six and a half years.

Still no news on the job front; I'm going to have to do another round of resumeing, I think. Ugh.

I thought today was going to be a productive day, but I feel so unproductive. I still don't have Internet in the office (my wifi works fine :), which is fine for right now, but really needs to be fixed soon. I don't feel like working out, which is unusual and smelly, because I really do have to work out every day. Spooey's been out of town for two weeks now, so I've been going alone, which is gross and not really safe. About all I can do is change the time I go at every day, and hope the people that always seem to be on my route aren't going to turn into psycho stalkers. Muh-lah.

I did do one productive thing today, though. I fixed the squeak on the door that leads into the front room. As you may or may not be aware, I sleep in the corner of my parents' living room, right next to the front room, which has had, for the past eight years, a door that squeaks horrendously loudly every time it is opened. I've been there since February. Since the beginning of May, when I actually started sleeping through most nights, that door has been waking me up at all hours, and driving me crazy. This morning when it woke me up, I decided that I would make it my personal mission to see to it that it never squeaked again. That was actually fairly easy to achieve, since my dad left the WD-40 (the best-smelling substance on the face of the earth!) sitting on his jigsaw, so all I had to do was go into the basement, get it, and spray it on the door hinges. Nonetheless, I feel like I have the right to be proud of my fix-it prowess, because I fixed something that hasn't even been looked at it the last eight years - and because I'm a girl and I know what WD-40 is.

Now, I suppose, I must go and work out. I really, really don't wanna. On the bright side, I have about a million outfits that I couldn't wear until last week, and about a million more that I'll be able to wear by the end of the summer.

Mlah

My office got moved today. I okayed the move last night because, well, I hardly have any work to do here, and I'm free to come in and use the Internet access and my work computer and whatever else I want, pretty well whenever I want... so if I need to be in the front room to do so, then whatever.

The white panels with the holes in them that I was sure had been sold/given (/thrown) away were actually hiding in one of the closets and now make up one and a half walls of the cubicle that my desk now resides in - which is right by the front door. Also, I don't have Internet or a phone hooked up yet, but it's on its way.

Also, since me saying I'd be fine in the front room, apparently it's become necessary that another work station be added to the room, so we'll soon be back to doing the pac man thing to get in and out of the individual offices.

I shouldn't really complain. My only real problem with my new office is the fact that the entrance is a little narrower than a standard door, and people already have a habit of standing in it to talk to me... which would be fine if I was't agoraphobic and didn't nearly have an anxiety attack every time I was blocked in.

Ugh. I am not a happy camper.