This makes me a little sick

These folks should take some business ethics classes me thinks.

The beginning of the end

This morning I turned in my application for graduation.

It didn't help that
a) there wasn't a December 2008 application available or
b) information on where to send them or who needs to receive them.

So indicative about the whole process of being a seminary student if you commute or aren't around at all during the day.

But hey, it's done.

I had to fill in the information on my "home church." How much fun was that? None whatsoever. I recently (last week or maybe the week before) decided to give myself some grace on that home church front. It was a painful extraction that I went through and in some ways, am still going through. I was so unhappy for such a long time, yet so dearly love so many people there. That's also not to say that there was a lot of joy and growth while I was there, there was. I had to wait for God to say it was OK to go. I came out injured somehow. So I've given myself grace to be a little church home shy for a while longer.

So close, yet so far

I've lived in my apartment for almost an entire year. It's hard to comprehend that I've been in the city for that long. Clearly, one of my favorite things in living where I do now is the beach. Just that I can think - "hey, I'll go to the beach after work this evening" or wander over there on a Saturday morning or even think to stop at the beach after church on Sunday morning as I drive along the lake shore. When I lived out west the lake just seemed so far away and was something I enjoyed rarely. But not anymore.

These are from Sunday. The feeling changed significantly from when I got there to when I left.

Stoopid Kar

Sigh. $265 on a new alternator, tow and oil change. Happy to having a savings account.

I have a sneaking suspicion that they also changed out some of my tail lights for me. Since I was pulled over for not having brake lights the other night and they seemed to be working well as I made my mechanic take it around the block because when I picked it up it would die every time I came to a stop. So off he drove and they lights seemed to be working fine. The stalling has also stopped thank goodness. Next are the brakes.

Exciting Morning

So some of you might have actually felt a little shaking at 4:37 this morning. Because there was an earthquake in Illinois. I woke up because of it, blamed the cats until I heard the glasses rattling, realized it was an earthquake and rolled over to go back to sleep. I knew we were near a fault line. I figured it would have to happen at some point. So, hey, my first earthquake! That was cool.

Less happy? Waking up an hour early to the chatter on the radio about this earthquake. I woke up early to try and get my car taken care of nice and early because I had a new student coming in for a meeting at 9. Unfortunately I got in about 20 minutes too late and there was no sign of my new student.

But, I had to park my car illegally last night (blocking a sidewalk) and I didn't get a ticket, which I fully expected to see this morning. So, hey, that's something.

Lordy, lordy

So my alternator seems to have died. I really don't know much about cars. I can change a tire, put in new headlights and taillights if needed, add oil, anti-freeze/coolant, and washer fluid. If hard pressed I could probably jump my car with my fancy cables that Care-bear got me for Christmas. But I don't know much about alternators. What I have learned in the past 18 hours is that it seems to be the thing that keeps the battery charged, and seeing as how I just got a new battery at the beginning of January, it certainly couldn't be that my battery was bad. It's parked illegally, it died as I was turning a corner trying to find parking, after I got a jump from someone at Autozone, a very nice couple that apparently lives nearby. I had stopped to pick up oil, coolant and lights to replace my burnt out brake lights. And then it didn't want to move. Sigh.

But hey, there are nice people out there, nice people who will help a stranger, and that's a good thing to remember. It's not all mean people who will try to take advantage.

Blech

Today is a better day.

Yesterday was a not so great day. Firstly, I had a really hard time getting my butt up. I was trying to get reading done for class so I was up late late late. But still had to get up in time to get to work. It felt way too early. I was getting ready and as I was cleaning my glasses, my red framed ones, they snapped right in half at the bridge. I wasn't being rough on them at all, just doing the same thing I did every other morning. I'm trying to consider it a sign from God that it might be time to get my eyes tested. I've had this prescription for over a year and I should get them tested and maybe get some new glasses because who doesn't love new glasses? Also, I didn't move my car all weekend and only when I was walking to it Monday morning to go to work did I remember that it was parked where it should not be and I would likely have a ticket. Which, yes, there it was. Fan-freaking-tastic. And it's not just a $15 or $25 ticket - it's $50. I suppose I'll do better in remembering though for the rest of the season. Sigh. Then last night, I finally got my mid-term back and I did terrible. And I'm just frustrated about that. I knew it was going to be tough but I'm back to the same place I was when I took another class with this guy, the place of wanting to drop the class because I didn't do well on the mid-term. I just don't know what he's expecting out of these things. So, yeah, I'm frustrated and annoyed with myself for not doing better and annoyed with him for having rather vague instructions and guidance. And then I went home. And drove around for ages to find a parking spot.

Me Haces Falta

Friday night I spent some time with some great ladies that I don't know very well at all. Most of them were traditional undergrads where I work and two other staff members. We cooked tostones (fried plantain), chile rellenos (stuffed peppers), pollo guisado (chicken in a sauce), salsa, guacamole, and flan. It was such a great time. These girls are so great. They remind me of when I was that age - idealistic, enthusiastic, open. They were joyful and laughed a lot. They have heartaches and dreams. Most of them are wondering what comes next. Just being around them is life-giving. They share their idealism and their joy and their sorrows in such an open way.

Once upon a time I was like that. I used to be the loud one, or one of a very loud group of Latinas, unashamedly laughing until everyone in the room was looking, able to yell a greeting across the campus, expose my heart so blatantly. I don't know where that part of me went to. I don't know if it's gone forever or if it's just hiding somewhere. What I do know is that sometimes I miss myself.

Two things are certain

Doing taxes is just so... taxing.

I always procrastinate with my taxes. Used to be that I just put off doing them. I don't like math much. I remember once my parents had my taxes done back in college and they were actually late. Hah! I do manage to get them in on time when I'm doing them though.

But, the reason I hate tax season these days is because I have, while I've been at my current job, and taken graduate classes, had to pay taxes, both state and federal. Except for last year. So I dread the $300 that I'd been having to shell out for 5 years. Those free classes? The tuition that is waved is considered taxable income. So I've got almost $3000 worth of taxable income that I haven't yet paid on this year. It must have been worse in years past. The federal government wants to give me $79 back! Hurrah! And also, Turbo-Tax with your free e-file, I love you. But you keep trying to get me to upgrade my access to all the bells and whistles, which, honestly, I don't think that I need at all. And I can file my own state taxes just fine, thank you instead of going through you and paying thirty dollars. Because invariably, Illinois, bloodsucking leech that it is, has a state income tax, which I always have to pay more of. It's the first state where I've ever had to pay state income taxes. And, invariably, even if I get a federal return, I somehow owe the state of Illinois more money after all is said and done. I don't understand how that works.

Tonight, while waiting for 6:30 to roll around, I discovered that it's an even wash. The USA is sending me $79. I am sending a check to IL for $79.

It could be worse. I could have to pay for my degree. And that? Would be much more expensive.

Out and about

I did this up last week. Pencil on cardboard. Finally dropped it outside today - a dreary Thursday morning. Hopefully it will make someone smile. I have a few more trees done that just need a background. Maybe they'll go to Singapore.

Something that makes me smile? Battlestar Galactica. I feel like a sci-fi nerd just typing that but I know I'm not alone in this. Sadly, I don't have cable so I'm a season behind. But people! Oh. My. Goodness! The latest season is out on DVD and I got the first one through Netflix this weekend. Crazy Good!

Apologies for the excessive use of exclamation points, it's just that fabulous.

Am I Good Enough?

So, after sitting out the first round of It's Yours, Take it (but snagging a few fantastic pieces for myself) I've decided to play this go-round. Except I feel incredibly inadequate compared to these fantastic artists whose work I see that are also participating. I keep asking myself "what do I have to contribute?" "what sort of stuff should I do?" "is my work good enough?" "what if nobody wants it?" People! What if nobody wants it and it sits there for days?

Am I good enough?

Am I good enough?

Am I good enough?

Am I good enough?

Am I good enough?

Am I good enough?

In the meantime I'm trying to create a circus tent that ships flat but stands up 3-D like. Because everything has to be complicated.

Hair Envy

I have hair envy. The office manager got a new hair cut and it's all short and so cute and fun colors. Me? Well, the cut is better than it's been in the past year thanks to a friend. But not so much with the fun colors. I'm desperate to do something with it. I've been telling myself that growing it out to my natural color was a good idea. More professional and all that. I love my silver hairs - is that weird? So I'm sad that I dye over them when I do dye it all. And, hey, less work having to worry about color and such. But now it's just hard to not bleach it all out and dye it fire engine red.

Either I need more will power or more freedom. I'm not sure which.

Maybe I'll aim for a nose ring instead. That would be fun (and painful).

Anyone else have hair angst like this?

Good Mail

There's something lovely about getting packages. Whether is something I've ordered and it's arriving or a little package from someone out in the universe, packages are always fun. I've gotten a few lately and thought I would share. This one come courtesy of Melanie Pearl and Kim. Mel and I met years ago in eighth grade, both new girls at school and have been friends since. She's pretty much great, in my opinion. Kim is her awesome neighbor who I've never met but hope to soon.

So I got this box two weeks ago from Mel and it had a few things in it. All very fun.

Then, my friend Beth, with whom I worked with a few years ago, was sorting through things and thought of me when she found this:




I really like a couple of the patterns so I was so excited to have this and hope to work a few of them up soon. The pictures just crack me up though.

So, hooray for good mail!

Now if I could only receive another unexpected $200 check... (That actually happened last month, quite a nice surprise)