That Was Unexpected...

I had an appointment with a dentist today at 10:30. I made the appointment yesterday. I didn't expect that would happen so fast.

I went in, and they told me they'd just be looking at my teeth and getting an idea of my overall dental health and creating a treatment plan so I could see what I was getting myself into. So, they poked and prodded and counted and remarked. Yes, I'm missing two teeth. No, that half-tooth in the back doesn't bother me now and has never hurt. Yes, I know I should floss.

And then they found something...

They kept referring to it as a "microdent." He said it's not a baby tooth. It's just...a tiny tooth that is extra and had lodged itself between to other teeth, just for funsies. So, since I'm apparently such an anomaly, he called in the hygienists and they all "ooh"ed and "ahh"ed and "that's really weird"ed over my mouth. And then we moved on. I wondered what he thought of it, how common it is, and what they were planning on doing about it...but we moved on. The hardest part of being at the dentists was not being able to talk and ask questions when I wanted to.

So.

He decided we should start with the upper left part of my mouth, around where I had my first tooth pulled. There were cavities in the teeth next to it and one other. He said I'd need my wisdom teeth removed. And they wanted to talk to me about getting implants where those two teeth were removed.

And then they told me that the upper left section of my mouth they could do today. So...I panicked. I wanted out, somehow. I've never had a cavity filled. I've never had much dental work at all done. And they wanted to just...get right to it. I wondered aloud if I'd be okay. They assured me that if I'd had a tooth pulled, I'd be okay. Except...the dental hygienist said that I'd "just be awake for this procedure." When I told them I was awake for the extractions, they all jumped back and were like, "Oh, honey, then this is going to be a cake walk."

And I explained to them my fear of needles, and they numbed my gums up with a swab...and another swab...and a third. And I didn't see or feel the needle. I just...closed my eyes and let them work. And before I knew it, I was getting drilled and filled.

And not in the good way.

I didn't expect it would happen so fast.

But there was no pain--just a lot of water and noise. I don't hate the sound of a dental drill. I do hate having to keep my mouth open so long. Ouch. My jaw is sore...

But I have three fillings now, and...that's good. Next Tuesday I get to have the lower left done. Maybe I'll be able to eat by then...

Out

The Longest Week...

Sunday night, Robb and I were talking on the way home from our Gay Christian Men's Group (that's the title...not so catchy. I kind of want to kick myself in the face every time I say it...), and he said to me, "It's gonna be a long week."

"Why?" I asked, probably arching an eyebrow.

"Avenue Q is on Friday!"

We're going to see the show this Friday! HOORAY! You may recall the "adult sesame street" videos I posted a while back...that's from the show. Amazing stuff! I'm so excited. But I didn't agree that the week would feel long. I figured it would race by like all my weeks.

Then I got the phone call that I start work on Monday! Now the week really is dragging...especially with the last Campus Ministries church service of the year tonight, summer volleyball starting tomorrow along with caramel cashew custard at Ollie's, and Mother's Day on Sunday (which I finally got a gift for at Goodwill).

It seems like the end of a chapter in my life...a short chapter, but a chapter nonetheless. I was unemployed, going to church on Wednesday nights, and not having anything to do on Thursday nights...and waiting anxiously for this show. Now, after Sunday, I'll be starting a new chapter...one of ties and shirts, of money and sales goals, of Thursday nights in the sand and Wednesday nights at home...

This, too, shall pass.

Out

Can't Sleep...Clowns Will Eat Me...

So, I'm awake. I have been awake since six o'clock-ish, when the boy got up to go to work. The second I woke up, my brain started compiling a to-do list for the day, a what-if list for the month, and a what-the-hell-am-I-gonna-wear list for my upcoming job.

Today I need to go to the dry cleaner. I've got a single shirt that needs a wash. I'll probably take some sweaters in, too, just so I don't look like a stupid person going in with ONE shirt.

I need to go shopping. I own two ties. One is black. One is white. There isn't a heck of a lot you can wear a white tie with. Well, maybe that's not true...but there isn't a heck of a lot I will wear a white tie with. Also, every tie I seem to buy ends up being too long. I tie it perfectly, and the extra tie that hangs out behind the actual tie always hangs down past the tip. Damn my short torso! So...I'm a little apprehensive about that. Can you shorten a tie? I just want to snip it off...because there's NOTHING else to do with it. Any solutions?

It's long sleeves, a collar, and a tie every day from here on out. No casual Saturdays. And now I work two Sundays a month. I've never had to regularly wear a tie. I don't mind it. I just have more tie issues than most people. Do ties come in different sizes? I don't even know...

Maybe the boy will take me to the Gap where I can buy a sweet white dress shirt. I don't have one of those. And I wouldn't mind getting some slim khakis. The ones I own make me look like a middle schooler on picture day...

And this is what keeps me awake in the morning...but I should get used to it.

I HAVE A JOB!!!

Out

Screw Feeling Whorey...

I'm feeling JUBLIANT!!!

That's right. After my gorgeous day on my bike, where I both ran into people I love AND was called hot, I came home to a quiet house. I got online. I updated my Myspace page, for some reason....and then...

Guess who got a very important phone call.

Guess who has a job!

Guess who is making money in the double digits?! For the first time EVER!!! Oh my gosh. I'm so happy I could pee a little. I think the boy and I are going out to celebrate tonight whether he wants to or not! WA-HOOO!!!! We're having Chinese tonight.

*piddles*

Out

Renege...Uncut Version...

So, I know I said yesterday that I was so sick of talking about jobs.  And I am.  But.

I applied for two bank jobs today.  A friend came through with an unexpected recommendation that went ALL THE WAY to the BANK OWNER!  So, I sent an email with my resume to one, filled out an application for another, and Ka-BAM!  I'm applied.

Let's just hope I'm employed soon...

***EDIT***

So, I applied at a different bank today thank the one I sent my resume to, because a friend of mine told me (when I ran into him and his girlfriend at Target last night--random!) that they were hiring.  So, I got an email to take a pre-recorded telephone interview...so I did.  Then HR calls me and asks about my termination from National City (ugh)!  THEN!  The bank manager calls me and asks me to interview on MONDAY!  Woot!  So...maybe something WILL work out!

***EDIT AGAIN***

And then I got a call from the bank I sent my resume to asking me to fill out an application, so I went to a branch and did just that!  It's like I hit the jackpot today...with that and yet ANOTHER Water Guy sighting (he waved at me first!).  Crazy...happy birthday to me!

***END***

In other news, it's turning out to be a lovely day!  I got my new T-shirt, and I got my prize from Club Nintendo...maybe I'll model them later.  Sweet.

***ANOTHER EDIT***

So, I got all nice and showered (second time today) and put on my cute new shirt.





Yes.  That IS Super Mario sushi.  Frog Mario on one end, Blooper on the other, and Cheep Cheeps in the middle.  Amazingly morbid and cute stuff!  Anywho...there's that.  And my Club Nintendo Prize?



It's a game/stylus holder for the DS, which is LOVE.  And the best part?



Rainbow stylus collection!  Yessirree!  And now you know what a big dork I am...if you're just joining us.  If you're a long-time reader and you didn't know that...shame on you!

***END***

And!  I think it looks nice enough outside that I might be able to slip in a bike ride.

Then?  Tonight my friend Katie is throwing a party for herself and me in celebration of our joint birthday (Sunday the 11th).  So...it's all kinds of great stuff!

OH!  And as an early birthday present, I ran into the Water Guy at Wal Mart last night.  He was browsing video games.  SCORE!!!  Did I say hello?  No...my brain went to mush and my only thought was "FLEE!!!"

Bah...I'll get it right one of these times.

Out

Renege...

So, I know I said yesterday that I was so sick of talking about jobs. And I am. But.

I applied for two bank jobs today. A friend came through with an unexpected recommendation that went ALL THE WAY to the BANK OWNER! So, I sent an email with my resume, filled out an application, and Ka-BAM! I'm applied.

Let's just hope I'm employed soon...

In other news, it's turning out to be a lovely day! I got my new T-shirt, and I got my prize from Club Nintendo...maybe I'll model them later. Sweet.

And! I think it looks nice enough outside that I might be able to slip in a bike ride.

Then? Tonight my friend Katie is throwing a party for herself and me in celebration of our joint birthday (Sunday the 11th). So...it's all kinds of great stuff!

OH! And as an early birthday present, I ran into the Water Guy at Wal Mart last night. He was browsing video games. SCORE!!! Did I say hello? No...my brain went to mush and my only thought was "FLEE!!!"

Bah...I'll get it right one of these times.

Out

What Can Brown Do For You?

Why does the UPS guy always show up when I'm naked? Seriously...

And why is my boyfriend getting strange packages that I have no idea about? And why didn't he respond to my text about it?

This morning is full of mysteries! Oooh boy! I'ma put on my brown houndstooth detective cap with the flaps and put my pipe in my mouth, grab my magnifying glass, and search for clues!

It's getting closer to my birthday, so I won't be opening that package. Who knows what's in it. The last time a strange package showed up at our door it was a Frank N. Furter costume. This time? Who knows!

Let me tell you. I'm a little spastic this morning for no good reason. I thought I'd already blogged, and then I realized I hadn't. And it's not even 10! What's the deal? I haven't had this kind of energy since...well, before I was fired, that's for sure.

AND!!!!

It's gonna be 70 this week. 75!!! Maybe it won't snow on my birthday (Apr. 11) for once! The last 2 years, it has snowed. Bitches. But hey...it's supposed to be 65 today. Maybe I'll go ride my bike. It sure would help me get rid of this spastic energy. BAH!!!!!!

Out

Morning Stops...

I went back to interview again this morning. It was sort of awkward, because he sat on the same side of the desk as me. We were in Lori's office again, and she was sitting behind her desk. It was obvious he was unprepared for the interview. He kept shuffling through my resume and application at breakneck speed, sort of like studying ten second before the test hits your desk.

I can't really fault him, though, because I don't think they told him he'd be interviewing me today until he walked in this morning, and since the lobby opens at nine, and I showed up at nine-fifteen, I'm guessing he didn't walk in too much further ahead of me. Blah.

I didn't feel like this interview went as well, but maybe that was just because he wasn't prepared as much. I don't know, really. It wasn't as smooth. And I didn't really like him.

And I called Lori by the wrong name. I called her Lisa. Dang it. But they seemed impressed that the old job was trusting me to do leadership type stuff. So, who knows. I think that might balance out "the incident", as I've come to call the specifics of my termination. Blah. He seemed a little shaken by that whole explanation...with good reason, but...

I dunno. Lori told me that the hiring process there works very slowly. We shall see. In the meantime, I'll just keep looking, applying, and calling around.

Oh, and I stopped by the library today. I checked out Maus (they actually had the full volume, which I didn't know before--that should make you happy, Maureen). And then I got some CDs. This is a window into my musical tastes: I got Norah Jones, Moby, and Switchfoot. All new. And then I listened to Adam Lambert on the way home.

And now? I think I'ma play Cave Story on my Wii. If you have a Wii and you liked any Metroid game that has come out before Gamecube, or you just like that retro charm and a kickass game, GET IT! Download it on the Wii Shop Channel for 1200 points. It's totally worth it.

I'm...Out

Success!

So, I was worried about my interview. I didn't sleep well. I imagined every terrible scenario, most of which involved them asking me why I'm no longer working with National City.

Turns out, I didn't really have much to worry about.

She DID ask me what happened over there, and I explained to her my situation, about the bad check and the woman who had had an account with us since the 70s and the policy for bypassing holds. And do you know what she said to me? She said, "I don't think it should be the teller's responsibility to decide whether or not to place holds on checks." Seriously. That was it. We talked about it, she said it was a raw deal and that she didn't think I did anything wrong, that I shouldn't have ever been fired for that.

She said exactly what everyone else has said every time I tell that story. Why did I assume she'd say anything different.?

We chatted. It turns out she lives in the town where I held my job before National City, that I probably know her from Sullivan's. Huh. How about that. So we have this instant rapport.

I was supposed to be in the interview with her and the branch's Assistant Manager. He had the day off unexpectedly, since he worked for a teller who was off on Tuesday. So I have another interview with HIM tomorrow. And now I'm thinking I'm worried because I don't make as great an impression on guys as I do with 40 something ladies.

But I think it went really well. I think I've got a good shot.

Out

Good News!

I'm'a let this post speak for itself.

I HAVE A JOB INTERVIEW TOMORROW!!!

That is all.

Oh, and I'm not LEAVING or quitting. I'm just cutting way back on the number of things I read each day here. I'm still posting. I'm still commenting on stuff. I'm just a little overwhelmed when I have to play catch up for three days for missing one day of reading blogs. It's a little ridiculous.

Anywho, I'm still here! Just in a diminished capacity on the reading front.

Out

Sew...

The party was canceled, because everyone backed out. My friend Nichole's dog is sick and she didn't feel like going out. Some other friends stayed with her for moral support. Two couldn't find a babysitter. One was in a play. So...that left three of us getting together. So we relocated the party to my house.

They brought wine. We had a Catawba pink, a moscato, a pinot grigio, and a bottle of super sweet red called Li'l Ol' Truk. It's my mom's favorite.

So, needless to say, we drank too much wine. Chips and salsa, chocolate covered raisins...it was a strange night. I saw a boob. I dated that boob in high school, middle school. I share a birthday with that boob. We talked, sat in the kitchen, perched on counters and stools, played with the cat, refilled and drained glasses.

I needed it.

The next night, we went to see a friend play the lead in Little Shop of Horrors. He was great. The rest of the cast? Eh...there were a few places where I was wincing. Harmonizing that didn't work, timing that was off, voices that couldn't be understood no matter what they said. But we had fun.

I needed it.

Last night I went home to see my mom. I picked up some jigsaw puzzles from home. I drank some wine, Port of Utica, which is like Li'l Ol' Truk on steroids. We had a huge dinner with a pork roast, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, apple sauce, biscuits, salad...it was wonderful.

I needed it.

And now? Who knows...currently I'm listening to Adam Lambert telling me that he's here for my entertainment. If only. Otherwise, I'm waiting for an employer to call me about a job in Sycamore. And I have to see if anybody got back to me about several jobs I applied for last week.

My standards have dropped, now that I'm not getting unemployment. Ugh. Maybe I'll have a promising interview somewhere good.

I need it.

Out

Weekend In Photos...

This is how the weekend started.  I threw on my blue plaid shirt with the green undershirt, the one that makes my chest and arms look bigger than they are.  Then people came over to our place, and we explored the attic space I'd been too scared to look in since we moved in.  No ghosts.  We took some video and ran voice recorders, hoping to pick up some kind of EVP from our apartment ghost(s?).  So far, nothing doing.  Then we took a midnight (train to Georgia...woo woo!) trip to another friend's house.  She wasn't expecting us, and we rolled out the welcome banner we'd made while she poured us some wine.  I drank too much and got kind of silly.  It was nice to visit.

Saturday, Robb and I visited the library in town.  I got some more CDs, and I was pleasantly surprised to see the daffodils (my favorite flower because the portend Spring) poking through the mud next to the walk.



We hung around the apartment, mostly.  It was nice having the boy home for a change, since the ski season is officially over.  So we basked in the homey Saturdayness of the morning and afternoon, and then we headed off.  We stopped to meet friends in Manhattan (not NY) where one of them was working.  Mutual harassment ensued.  Then we went back to her place and met her new friend:



That would be Sadie, the chinchilla.  So adorable, and soooo soft.  She was a little ball of crazy energy.

Sunday morning Robb and I planned to go to church, so we got up at 8:30, realized it was actually 9:30, and went back to bed.  I hate rushing to get ready in the morning.  It puts me in a bad mood.  So I just decided we would skip church entirely.  Well...we slept until 11:45.  I hadn't slept well in almost a week, so it was a nice change.  And then I rushed to get ready for my writer's group, which was having a special meeting. 



I drew this confused cat bird...sort of a way for me to sort out my feelings about a friend of mine who is newly transgendered.  It's really hard to stop calling him Ian and start calling her Elaine...and the pronouns...oh, the pronouns!  I'll get it right one day.

So...after a full day, Robb and I ordered pizza.  I hadn't eaten all day, so we finished the whole thing.  That night, I had the happiest dream ever!  I got a pygmy hippo as a pet, and he LOVED cat food and potatoes.  So freaking adorable I could spit!

And this morning?



I've got a whole list of things to do...one of which I can now cross off.

--Call on resume
--Rip CDs
--Take clothes and computer monitor to Goodwill
--Check jobs
--Do critique stuff
--Blog
--Pet the cat
--Check Wii Shop Channel

Out

Twitterpated...

It is Spring, y'all! How do I know? I went out last night without a coat on. The library had their front doors standing wide open. And it's been raining for days.

All I need is for Robb to tell me he's done for the season at the ski hill, and we're set. Heck, I even rode my bike the other day! I thought I was going to die, but I rode it.

In other news, I am letting my facial hair grow out. I'm keeping it clean, but I sort of like it, and I've had two compliments on it. Robb apparently likes the scruffy look more than he thought he would. Pictures will follow, eventually.

Has anyone ever read Maxwell Strangewell? I'm LOVING it.

Out

Another Bank?

Yes. I applied at another bank in town. This one's local (less bullshit and bureaucracy? I hope so.) and has a bunch of locations around town. They've got several teller openings, so...maybe I'll be able to get right back in where I left off, but with the competition.

I'm not ecstatic about another bank job, but I'm qualified and it would be a steady income. And in a smaller bank, the possibility for advancement seems much more likely, since they're recruiting people from inside AND not from all across the whole dang country.

So...there's that. I also checked on a few jobs yesterday. One of them turned out to be in a garage, fixing cars. That's NOT "customer service" last I checked.

And now I'm typing around the cat, who just scared the hell out of me by launching himself onto the computer desk with a yowl. It's hard to see the keyboard or the monitor around a 14 pound cat.

Okay. I guess it's time to feed his royal highness.

Out

My Mother's Son...

This weekend was much needed. Not that it was really a break from anything...

Saturday night I went out to a friend's, and we just vegged out and played video games, talked about the Olympics, laughed, and basically just had a good time. I needed it, for sure.

Sunday I gave a friend a ride to church. After the service my mom came up and delivered me a shit ton of groceries: juice, bread, eggs, soup, chicken, hamburger, frozen dinners, vegetables, jelly, salsa, and a whole mess of other things. It most definitely threw a wrench into my eating cycle.

Am I the only one who has an eating cycle?

I map out what I think I'll be eating for a while based on what's good in the fridge. Like, "Oh, we made that stir fry on Wednesday, so I'll be having leftovers from that for lunch on Thursday and Friday. But there's still some pasta from Monday, so I should eat that first. But I really want that pizza."

Am I the only one who does that? I just hate it when food goes bad. I'd rather have a leftover party than throw ANYTHING away.

Luckily, a lot of the stuff my mom brought is frozen, so there's no eat by date on those. I'm just grateful I have a mom who cares enough to help us out in hard times. AND who takes me out to lunch! I miss eating out. When I find a job I'm SO going out to eat every day for a week.

Before she left we were talking about the Pell Grant and how now might be a good time to think about going back to school. She said, "And it probably wouldn't hurt to tell them you're gay. It's two steps away from being a single black mother!" When she was leaving I got out of her truck and shut the door, but it didn't close all the way. I opened it again and she laughs at me and goes, "God, you don't have to shut the door like a gay guy!"

She's awesome. Pretty much the best mom ever.

Out

Unemployed: Day 2...

So, after a night full of dreams about zombies, I made this completely unrelated video blog. It's kind of long, so I understand if you don't watch it, as it's just another video confessional dealy-o. Forgive my absolutely terrifyingly scary paleness. It's winter in the Midwest and I don't tan for fear of getting cancer.



Now I need to shower and put on some real clothes. And eat. Eating is good.

Out

Anger Management...

Yesterday, at one point, I was screaming at my printer at the top of my lungs and smashing my fists on the desktop like some kind of giant baby throwing a tantrum. No, really.

My day went like this:

Me: I would love it if my camera worked again magically.
Camera: Okay! Done.
World: Oh, no...we can't have that.
Crap: We're on it!

And the floodgates opened.

Before I left for work my packages from Amazon showed up. I waited all day to get home and play the game I bought for my Wii. I was short $19.01 at work. I got home and popped said game into my Wii and it wouldn't read the disk. I tried and tried, to no avail, getting angrier all the time. That's what I do when inanimate objects malfunction...it's my rage trigger.

So I tried another game, and it worked perfectly. It was definitely the disk.

I called Robb to vent, and our conversation was sort of like this:

Me: I need to vent or I'll die.
Him: My phone's about to die; I'll call you later when I can plug it in. I'll call you later.
Me: Don't bother. I'll be at church...or lying in a heap because my head exploded. Bye.

Out of sheer hope, I cleaned the disk and tried again. No luck. So I threw it back into the box and got on Amazon. Their return policies are wonderful. I chose to print my own prepaid shipping label. I hit print after installing our printer driver on the new computer, and it started. Here's how it went down:

World: Ready, printer?
Printer: Ready! Ready crap?
Crap: Ready!

Out of ink. Paper jam. Flashing light that wouldn't go off no matter what I did. Print job that wouldn't cancel.

My printer was in dangerous territory, because NOTHING makes me angrier faster than printer malfunctions. I wish I were kidding, but I've been known to beat the shit out of a printer that won't stop being an idiot. I once punched a printer in the face and it spit out a handful of gears, and from then on it worked perfectly. It was so odd...

I have anger issues. I've always been a person with a terrible temper, but I've mostly gotten it under control over the years. It only comes out once in a while (mostly when printers are involved).

So...I did what any sane, logical, rational, calm person would do. I screamed," CANCEL THE FUCKING PRINT JOB!!!" at the top of my lungs and slammed my fists down on the desk top, scaring the cat out of the room.

I'm sure there were other choice words, but I was in a fugue at that point. I raised my fists at the printer, and then I put them down, unplugged it, emailed myself the link to the shipping label, and said I'd do it tomorrow at work.

I think that's progress. Don't you?

Out

Good Saturday...

You might think it's hard to have a good day on a Saturday when you have to be up at 6AM to get to work by 7; but!

I heard Bad Romance by Lady Gaga on the way to work.

I got in to work to find that my coworker had surprised me with a cinnamon crunch bagel from Panera. YUM!

I heard Bad Romance on the radio at work.

The boy is doing laundry whilst I am at work.

And to top it all off, it's a good hair day!

"Everything's coming up Milhouse!"

Out

Dirty Laundry List...

So, which do you want first, the good news, the bad news, or the ugly news?

Well, I'll let you pick, but they're all here.

The Bad News:

Our computers were updated at work. Now the comment section in 80% of your blogs doesn't work for me. I haven't stopped reading, and I'd love to leave you comments, but I can't do it while at work anymore. It's mainly pages that have the comments section built in (Tearing Up Houses, The Gay Gamer, Back of the Cereal Box, etc. I'm looking at you all). The ones you have to click and open up work fine, but the embedded ones never load for me. It's odd.

I hear you asking, "Well, why don't you just do your blogging at home?!"

That brings me to my next point.

The Worse News:

Robb's computer, the one that connects to the Internet, is officially dead. I went to work at noon two days ago and it was fine, and when I got home after 6, it was dead. Wouldn't turn on. So...we're in the process of shopping for a new computer or getting that one fixed, but until that's done, I can't even blog at home. Suckity-suck.

Now, the Good News:

My mom is buying me new glasses for Christmas. I know, it sounds lame. She think it's SO lame. But I think it's awesome. Best idea ever. Of course, I'd rather if she was spending $300-$400 on an XBox or PS3, but I really need the glasses. I've had the same glasses for at least 5 years, probably closer to 8...it's been a really long time. So...I'm EXCITED! My appointment is on Saturday, and I should get my glasses before Christmas. Suh-weet!

So there's that.

Out