3D dilemma

I’m taking a quick break from my house sitting job to hang out with my best friend. He works the most amazing shift ever: eleven at night to seven in the morning. This helps me with my insomnia, I finally have no reason to stay up. But it does make going out and having fun a little difficult. For two days we have been trying to go see a movie. The problem is, we sleep during the matinee time and the night movies, well they all seem to be in 3D.

I don’t like paying for 3D. If I have the option, I don’t watch the 3D version. Mainly, its because I can’t see the cool (so I’m told) effects. I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned this problem of mine, but I’m legally blind in one eye. And my other is perfect. This means, I lack depth perception, right side peripheral vision, and the ability to see 3D movies. But I still have to shell out thirteen bucks. No thank you. So, we haven’t been to the movies yet. Maybe tomorrow the movie theater industry will offer a night time 2D showing of this year’s Summer blockbuster. Or we could try waking up before four... doubt it.

Tan lines

I’ve spent the last couple of days house sitting for some friends. It’s a sweet gig: cable TV, stocked fridge, cuddle puppy. What I wasn’t expecting during this house sitting job, however, was the prospect of doing actual work. I didn’t know that my friends had built a home with the intent of building a jungle in Georgia. Every day I have to water a couple dozen houseplants. Then I get to water the entire back yard which has conveniently been transformed into a garden oasis. And next week, I get to mow the lawn... seriously? I guess I shouldn’t complain. I could be paying rent or living on someone’s couch. And in the pass three days I’ve gotten more sun than I have in years. Now I just need to find out how to word “can watch a dog and take care of plants good” in a way that will bulk up my resume.   

Still getting my sea legs

As I spend another weekend unemployed I’m reminded how much I miss a routine. My sleep schedule has been nearly opposite that of a “normal” person. My first step to routine rehabilitation is definitely getting myself to bed before two in the morning. I’m aiming at weaning myself off all night job hunting computer fests by going to bed earlier and earlier. And in order to make going to bed worth it, I’ll be needing to wake up before noon too... Sleeping is just so fun. But how can I have a legitimate job and get seventeen hours of sleep? Age old question really. At least I recognize my problem. I heard that’s the first step. Now, someone should rewarded me with a job.

Toughest thing

Being away from my dog is always the single hardest thing about not being at home. I knew leaving this time would be just as difficult, but I wasn't planning on the added difficulty of my roommate's dog. This dog is just so... not my dog. Besides the obvious fact that this tiny, tailless, short haired dog could never be as completely cuddlisious as my boarder collie lab mutt/ giant ball of energetic love fuzz, there's something about his mere presence. He reminds me that I don't have my dog. And not having my dog is sadder than not having a job.  Argh! Stupid apartment living, face-pace lifestyle that makes having an athletic dog non-practical. I guess this pain is what the country singers have been trying to warn me about for years.  

Hibernation

A wise person once told me that the month after graduation will cause even the most prepared ex-student to revert into an infantile state. Apparently, the post-grad needs about thirteen hours of sleep each day in order to function. Of course by function I mean sit around and lament the fact they have nothing to live for... or maybe that’s just me.

I hope that this ungracious period doesn’t last a whole month. But it will definitely take some time to get into a routine. I’m not used to living six hours away from my mother, to being jobless, or to lacking a daily purpose. I’ve already taken some steps to becoming an adult instead of an awkward, emotionally distraught bum. My resume is floating around the city and my blogging should become consistent again.

I know that, eventually, things will work themselves out. My body will recover from the shock of graduating; I’ll fully join society. But for now I play the “please give me a job” game, save my money, and call my mother... three times a day.   

Dead zone

Before I head out into the real world, I'm spending sometime at my mother's. Sadly, this means I'm in the terrible world of no Internet or cable tv. But, I'm not complaining. I'll get back into blogging once I settle into Atlanta and consistent Internet. Until then, assume I'm having a fantasic time sleeping, snuggling with my dog, and have repetitive conversations with my mother.

End game

I have a college degree. And I'm happy that I'm too busy spending time with my friends to blog. Maybe next week I'll be able to put into words how I feel. Now, I'm content spending time with my friends and listening to sappy songs. 

Heartbreak hotel

As I get ready to spend my last night in my college dorm, I’m an emotional mess. The posters are off my wall, my clothes are packed, and college is over. Luckily, I have a great day to look forward to tomorrow. The only thing standing in my way of graduation now is one night of sleep. The dorms are mostly empty, since all the non-graduating students cleared out yesterday, making this night less like a usual college night and more like a night in awkward hotel. A hotel with a bunch of empty rooms and uncontrollably cold air conditioning. A hotel room I would actually never stay in. It’s sad. I didn’t think I’d miss the yelling and booming bass from the younger students’ dorms... but I do. Stupid graduation making stupid pointless things full of emotions and point.

Puppy face

I moved home a car full of stuff two nights ago. My adorable puppy was happy to see me, but more happy to see all my things. It's like she knows that I need my stuff to be there in order to stay there a long time. I don't know how to tell her I'm going to bring all my stuff home and then leave... for pretty much ever. I think I'll just quietly leave one day over the summer and not tell her.
I know. She's a dog. But I know she has feelings. When she was sleeping on my feet the other night she kept have little puppy dreams. What if she is having nightmares about how horrible I am always leaving her? It scares me.
But more than just being terrified that I'm breaking my dog's heart, I'm terrified that in two weeks I'll be hundreds of miles from my family. I'll have to buckle down and get a job. And I won't have my puppy to keep me company at night. I guess it's one of the many sacrifices I have to make in order to be an adult. Why does it seem impossible to find a job that involves a ton of money and playing fetch all day?

Jobs I wouldn't mind working

Chalky candy heart message writer

Professional tweeter for Obama

Voice over  guy for movie trailers

Balloon artist

Dog walker

Cartoon Band-Aid designer

Anything that involves Legos

This is it?

I’ve taken my tests; I’ve turned in my essays; and I sold back my books. I’m done. All I have to do is finish packing my room and walk across the stage. I wish I had ended my school year with some sort of bang. But I guess ending the  school year slowly and with mediocre grades is good enough.  Now, I just need to find a job. I thought graduating was supposed to be the difficult part...

Not worth your time

As graduation looms... is that the right word? Isn't that what you use to make rugs? Anyway, as graduation approaches, I'm more and more focused on finding a job. You might remember in an earlier post when I had an amazing job interview... I ask that you read a few days after that when I had amazing surgery. Basically, those two weeks were a pain fueled state of confusion. I'm sure I royally screwed-up the interview. And I, quite obviously, didn't get the job. So, I've returned to the front lines of resume sending and application completing. Today I sent one out for a job I would really enjoy having. The website looked colorful and in the pictures, people were smiling. Sadly, as soon as I sent my cover letter and resume it became clear that this might not be a super happy place to work for. The automated response for my application sent to my email simply stated: don't call us. If we want you we'll call you, eventually. Really? That's nice. Maybe I should apply again, this time making sure to put in my cover letter that I am willing to send personalized replies to all applicants and actually act like a human with human emotions. After all, the company is plainly lacking in that field.

Everyone and thier mothers

Mother's day has always been a personal favorite of mine when it comes to holidays. Mainly because all I have ever had to do is give my mom a nice card and call my grandmother. But today, I was shocked by the amount of attention this minimally attentive holiday received. Where was all the mother traffic coming from? Facebook. I should have been suspicious earlier this week when people started changing profile pictures. But when my news feed blew up with well wishes, I was shocked by how many "world best mothers" there are. I was also shocked by the fact that, apparently, every body's mother has a Facebook. Now I've been friend requested by a few of my buddies' mothers but I didn't realize how many mothers there were. So, I have made a pledge and I ask my friends to join me. As soon as you have offspring old enough to social network, stop social networking. That simple. After all, isn't it easier to live vicariously? 

Pizza party

Today around campus I have seen about seven pizza boxes. And then I got a to thinking. Am I allowed to eat pizza every single day after I graduate? Sure, after graduation I'll spend a couple months years being super poor, but by some adult magic unspeakable power will Ramen noodles and greasy pizza be off limits? More than likely, my diet will be even more immature. Plus side, though, I won't  be sharing a living space with a hundred like minded immature college students. So the trash can in the hallway won't be perpetually filled with pizza boxes and noodle cups and I might be able to convince myself that I eat like a grown-up. However, that might be.

Working for the weekend

With the storms and rain on a temporary hiatus here in Kentucky, my school was able to hold a successful farewell festival and physical challenge filled messy competition. I enjoyed watching students throw water balloons and run the inflatable obstacle course. But, like a lot of the other end of the year activities, it wasn’t something I enjoy participating in. I love watching people make fools of themselves, but I don’t want to partake. That doesn’t mean I’m not having fun. Some of my favorite memories are watching other people have fun. That is fun for me. It is not fun to have people throw whipped cream in my hair. Seriously... why is that fun? But despite the nastiness of a few water balloons and dessert toppings today was a good day. My last weekend as a college student has started, and its good so far. I just wish I hadn’t had to wash my hair... twice.    

Let’s eat cake

Today was my last class as an undergraduate. It is over. After seventeen straight years of school, I am finally done with classes. I might someday decide to go to graduate school or take a class at a community center, but the streak has been broken. I have three finals to finish and the actual graduation ceremony, but I’m no longer a student. As if graduating wasn’t scary enough, but I’ve lost my occupation as well. I guess I should focus on trying to find a job to replace my student standing. But, not today. Today I’ve completed my last day of classes. I’m going to call that a good enough accomplishment.

These will embarrass Susan

This Sunday is Mother’s Day. So, here are a few actual conversations I’ve had with my mother.

After telling my mother I no longer wanted to go to school to be an astronaut

Mom: “Sagan, are you building a secret rocket?”

Me: “Like a rocket ship to fly in space?”

Mom: “Yeah, are you building one?”

Me: “No... should I?”

Mom: “Would you tell me if you ever built one?”

Me: “I’m never going to build a rocket ship, Mom.”

Mom: “You’re building a rocket ship aren’t you?”

Me: “Hannah and I are going to a swing competition.”

Mom: “Sagan, you can’t dance. You don’t even have a dance. And I never see you practice.”

Me: “A swing competition is two speech tournaments held on one day in one place.”

Mom: “Stop lying. You can’t dance; I’m not taking you to the mall.”

Me: “It’s for school.”

Mom: “Well take off that pant suit and find a dress you can swing in.”

After telling my mom about a bad dream where I yelled at her

Mom: “I don’t know why you would yell at me.”

Me: “It was a dream.”

Mom: “I would still appreciate an apology.”

Me: “I’m sorry I yelled at you in my dream.”

Mom: “I don’t believe you. Stop coming into my dreams.”

Can't rent fish forks in Kentucky

During my sophomore year I was rewarded a scholarship that came with a snazzy blazer and the title of presidential scholar. Tomorrow is my last event as a presidential scholar. That means I’ll be turning in my blazer tomorrow. I know that I would never wear my navy blue blazer anyway, but I will miss it. But losing my jacket isn’t the worse part of the last event. The event is a fancy dinner party with the president of the university and dean of students. That’s not a big deal, considering I’ve been text messaging the both of them for years, but the big deal is that this dinner is supposed to train the scholars on how to conduct themselves at a fancy dinner. I can’t wait to learn which forks to use, but I feel like someone should have taught me these things a couple of years ago. Let’s face it, now that I’m graduating what are the chances that I’ll be dining with dignitaries? Sure even as a scholar I didn’t go to fancy dinners, but my chances will definitely decrease after graduation.    

These glasses have no lenses

First day of the last week of classes is almost over. I’m emotionally stable, but the stress of research papers is building. The most stressful part of my last two papers is the fact that I will never know what I make on them. I will turn in my papers on the last day of class. By the time the teacher has them graded, I’ll be preparing to walk across the graduation stage. So, I’ll see my report card but, unless of course I waste my precious time emailing my instructor, I’ll never see the scores on my final paper. This makes me want to try even less. Just six more pages and I’ll be out the door. I need to focus. Looks like I’ll be spending the rest of my first day of the last week of classes in the library. I don’t need anything in the library, but maybe the professor will walk in and actually think I’m dedicated. Looking smart helps people be smart... right?

Let the games begin

Today was the first day of graduation related activities. The school held its annual honors convocation. I’ve attended this event for the past four years, but this convocation was different because, as a graduating senior, I wore my cap and gown. Something about being in academic dress makes any convocation more memorable. I even got to sit next to one of my best friends. Throughout the ceremony I kept having the strangest experiences of déjà vu. After spending four years thinking about graduating, seeing my best friend sitting next to me in her gown seemed so natural. Now, I just have to get through one week of classes and finals before I can experience graduation for real. I’m nervous as all get out, but I can’t wait to see everyone in their unflattering, wrinkled gowns.