There are so many places I want to go in life. I never stop thinking about where I want to travel... it's always on my mind. I'm going to try to make a list... obviously I cannot think of everywhere and everything I want to see at one point, so I will be adding to this regularly.
1. Greece: Santorini, the Acropolis, Parthenon, the oracles at Delphi, Athens, rumored location of Sparta, etc etc
2. Egypt: pyramids, sphinx, tombs, Thebes, the Nile, ride a camel
3. Turkey: see the rumored location of Troy, Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Hellenistic city of Ephesus
4. Spain: running of the bulls, see a soccer game in Madrid, Barcelona,
5. Italy: Venice, Rome, leaning tower of Pisa, Colosseum, Florence, shop in expensive designer stores in Milan, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, The Vatican, Pompeii
6. France
7. Ireland
8. UK
9. Poland
10. Netherlands,
11. Germany
12. Czech Republic
13. Russia
14. Austria
15. Morocco
16. South Africa: visit the area filled with Great White Sharks and see a breaching shark (yes, I'm watching shark week right now)
17. New Zealand
18. China
19. Cambodia
20. India
21. Kazakhstan
22. Mongolia
23. Laos
24. Vietnam
25. Thailand (yes, I NEED to go back)
26. Sri Lanka
27. U.A.E.
28. Philippines
29. Bahamas
30. Venezuela
31. Chile: visit Easter Island, a couple hours off Chile's coast
32. Peru
33. Brazil
34. Argentina
35. Mexico
36. Panama
37. Iceland
38. Norway
39. Sweden
40. Finland
41. Belgium
42. Japan (trip #2)
43. Australia (trip #2)
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Wait... what??
I should have bitched about not having a job on this blog earlier, months ago in fact.
I applied for two jobs online yesterday, one is a long-term sub position for elementary social studies at a school in Glendale. The other is part-time tutoring.
One called within half an hour of me applying, and I set up a meeting with the tutoring business owner at 2:15pm today (Thursday). Not even 10 minutes later the other job called to set up an interview at 8am today.
I was a little skeptical about the long-term sub position because it is quite far from my apartment, about 40 minute drive one way. But after speaking to my mom I decided that I should go to the interview, and if I indeed got the job, its a job AND its temporary (in theory).
I went to the job interview at 8am and was super early, because I gave myself a little over an hour to get there, ensuring that if I hit traffic I would still be a little early to the interview. Oh no, I was over half an hour early. haha. So I sat in my car for awhile and read my book, then I went in and did the interview. The principal immediately hands me tax forms and asks me to fill them out. While I was filling them out, the secretary was calling my references. WHILE I WAS SITTING THERE! Ha. The principal said that I could start THAT DAY if they were able to get ahold of my references. They were not able to, unfortunately, because McClintock teachers went back today and had a 'Welcome Back breakfast' or something.
I left and drove home. Then I got home and took a nap. I'm a napper recently. I love naps. Not only that, but I didn't sleep too fantastically last night. When I got up at 12:30 I got myself ready again for my next interview, drove to Starbucks in Scottsdale and had a great interview with the lady from Bright Tutoring. She was a really cool lady and we hit it off immediately.
While I was sitting with her, the school in Glendale called and offered me the job. I called them back as soon as I got in the car and now I start Monday.
Admittedly the job is only a long-term sub position, BUT according to the principal, it could lead to being a full year teaching job depending on if the teacher comes back (maternity leave).
Either way, I don't care.
In the end I want to coach track again this coming spring at McClintock, so I'm torn. If I work there, I won't be able to coach because I won't get out of work until 3pm when track starts, and the school is all the way across town. I could TRY to make it work, and probably WILL try to make it work, assuming things work out that way. I love coaching, its the one thing I really enjoy in life. If this job is NOT a full year, I can just switch to subbing in Tempe, which would save me gas money and then I could 100% coach again. Either way works for me.
I can't wait to start working and actually have a paycheck. I need money so bad!!
I went to visit my mom after my 2nd interview in Scottsdale, she was at her school. I got there just as my dad got there to pick her up (they carpool). I ran up to my dad's truck, ripped open the door and shouted "I GOT A JOB DAD!!" and slammed the door, turning immediately and running into my mom's building and down the hall to her classroom. My parents were super excited for me :) I love my mom and dad, we are doing way better in our relationship these days. And if you know ANYTHING of my relationship with my parents in the past, you know that I have had some issues.
I wore the skirt I wore to my high school graduation today to my interview, and my mom says "that skirt is too big... it hangs off of you. it didn't hang off of you when you wore it to graduation". I'm apparently now smaller in size than I was when I was a senior in high school.
ONE OF THE FEW benefits of being poor. Yay!
Thats about it... I have typed a lot. Oh and I'm about to add some pictures to my plumeria post below this one :)
I applied for two jobs online yesterday, one is a long-term sub position for elementary social studies at a school in Glendale. The other is part-time tutoring.
One called within half an hour of me applying, and I set up a meeting with the tutoring business owner at 2:15pm today (Thursday). Not even 10 minutes later the other job called to set up an interview at 8am today.
I was a little skeptical about the long-term sub position because it is quite far from my apartment, about 40 minute drive one way. But after speaking to my mom I decided that I should go to the interview, and if I indeed got the job, its a job AND its temporary (in theory).
I went to the job interview at 8am and was super early, because I gave myself a little over an hour to get there, ensuring that if I hit traffic I would still be a little early to the interview. Oh no, I was over half an hour early. haha. So I sat in my car for awhile and read my book, then I went in and did the interview. The principal immediately hands me tax forms and asks me to fill them out. While I was filling them out, the secretary was calling my references. WHILE I WAS SITTING THERE! Ha. The principal said that I could start THAT DAY if they were able to get ahold of my references. They were not able to, unfortunately, because McClintock teachers went back today and had a 'Welcome Back breakfast' or something.
I left and drove home. Then I got home and took a nap. I'm a napper recently. I love naps. Not only that, but I didn't sleep too fantastically last night. When I got up at 12:30 I got myself ready again for my next interview, drove to Starbucks in Scottsdale and had a great interview with the lady from Bright Tutoring. She was a really cool lady and we hit it off immediately.
While I was sitting with her, the school in Glendale called and offered me the job. I called them back as soon as I got in the car and now I start Monday.
Admittedly the job is only a long-term sub position, BUT according to the principal, it could lead to being a full year teaching job depending on if the teacher comes back (maternity leave).
Either way, I don't care.
In the end I want to coach track again this coming spring at McClintock, so I'm torn. If I work there, I won't be able to coach because I won't get out of work until 3pm when track starts, and the school is all the way across town. I could TRY to make it work, and probably WILL try to make it work, assuming things work out that way. I love coaching, its the one thing I really enjoy in life. If this job is NOT a full year, I can just switch to subbing in Tempe, which would save me gas money and then I could 100% coach again. Either way works for me.
I can't wait to start working and actually have a paycheck. I need money so bad!!
I went to visit my mom after my 2nd interview in Scottsdale, she was at her school. I got there just as my dad got there to pick her up (they carpool). I ran up to my dad's truck, ripped open the door and shouted "I GOT A JOB DAD!!" and slammed the door, turning immediately and running into my mom's building and down the hall to her classroom. My parents were super excited for me :) I love my mom and dad, we are doing way better in our relationship these days. And if you know ANYTHING of my relationship with my parents in the past, you know that I have had some issues.
I wore the skirt I wore to my high school graduation today to my interview, and my mom says "that skirt is too big... it hangs off of you. it didn't hang off of you when you wore it to graduation". I'm apparently now smaller in size than I was when I was a senior in high school.
ONE OF THE FEW benefits of being poor. Yay!
Thats about it... I have typed a lot. Oh and I'm about to add some pictures to my plumeria post below this one :)
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Plumeria Tree Wonderfulness
I have this tree, a Plumeria tree, that my good friend Michael gave me upon my return from Korea on February 13th, 2009. Yes. Friday the 13th.
in case you don't know what a plumeria is... It's 1. my favorite flower, and 2. a tropical flower found in hawaii and thailand.
here is a photo of the flower itself:
Good things happen on that day. I'm telling you...
ANYWAY!. When I got the tree it was merely a really tall stick in a bucket. I didn't know if it was actually going to grow, or if it was just going to be a stick forever and eventually I would just assume it was dead.
Well this stick is over 7 feet tall. Its taller than Jeremy who is 6 foot 7 inches tall. It's... large.
Here are some photos of it over the last MONTH.
I baby this thing so much, because it is the only good thing in my life right now. THE ONLY THING. Which, sad to say, is not an exaggeration
July 03, 2009:
July 03, 2009 (the top)
July 06, 2009
July 13, 2009
July 30, 2009
July 30, 2009 (top)
August 05, 2009 (Night shot, not that good, but I forgot to take it during the day...)
August 06, 2009
August 06, 2009 (top)
August 21, 2009
August 21, 2009
(this may not LOOK like anything to you, but I assure you... there is something going on here. And by something going on, I mean that something is growing that will eventually lead to flowers. I AM SO EXCITED!!)
in case you don't know what a plumeria is... It's 1. my favorite flower, and 2. a tropical flower found in hawaii and thailand.
here is a photo of the flower itself:
Good things happen on that day. I'm telling you...
ANYWAY!. When I got the tree it was merely a really tall stick in a bucket. I didn't know if it was actually going to grow, or if it was just going to be a stick forever and eventually I would just assume it was dead.
Well this stick is over 7 feet tall. Its taller than Jeremy who is 6 foot 7 inches tall. It's... large.
Here are some photos of it over the last MONTH.
I baby this thing so much, because it is the only good thing in my life right now. THE ONLY THING. Which, sad to say, is not an exaggeration
July 03, 2009:
July 03, 2009 (the top)
July 06, 2009
July 13, 2009
July 30, 2009
July 30, 2009 (top)
August 05, 2009 (Night shot, not that good, but I forgot to take it during the day...)
August 06, 2009
August 06, 2009 (top)
August 21, 2009
August 21, 2009
(this may not LOOK like anything to you, but I assure you... there is something going on here. And by something going on, I mean that something is growing that will eventually lead to flowers. I AM SO EXCITED!!)
Positive aspects of being BROKE AS A JOKE
So, my roommate and I were discussing the positive aspects of being poor. I shall list.
This list will be short, but thorough.
1. I got on AHCCCS.... free healthcare for the poor!! YAY!
2. I renewed my library card in order to keep literate, not that it would really matter at this point.
3. I have lost weight from being poor.
4. I have a better relationship with my parents because they are ACTUALLY being there for me... for once.
5. I am well rested because all I do is sleep...
6. My fingernails are incredibly clean... because I have a ton of time to spend on my personal hygiene.
7. I am super thrifty and once I find a job, I can easily pay off my credit cards and go to Greece!
8. I have a wonderful relationship with my Plumeria tree... which I will write a blog about after this. It's quite a fascinating story.
Thats about it. If I think of more... I'll add.
This list will be short, but thorough.
1. I got on AHCCCS.... free healthcare for the poor!! YAY!
2. I renewed my library card in order to keep literate, not that it would really matter at this point.
3. I have lost weight from being poor.
4. I have a better relationship with my parents because they are ACTUALLY being there for me... for once.
5. I am well rested because all I do is sleep...
6. My fingernails are incredibly clean... because I have a ton of time to spend on my personal hygiene.
7. I am super thrifty and once I find a job, I can easily pay off my credit cards and go to Greece!
8. I have a wonderful relationship with my Plumeria tree... which I will write a blog about after this. It's quite a fascinating story.
Thats about it. If I think of more... I'll add.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
I succumb... I am consumed.
"We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope."
Martin Luther King
"Fall seven times, stand up eight."
Japanese proverb
"The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests."
Epictetus
Martin Luther King
"Fall seven times, stand up eight."
Japanese proverb
"The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests."
Epictetus
Throughout my life I have been blessed to have parents that take care of me and shield me from the hardships in life. I have since becoming an adult really had a fantastic life. I have never had financial hardships, I haven't had huge health issues. My life is fantastic. In the last 4 months everything has seemed to have bottomed out. All the dreams I had for myself have disappeared. I have lost hope in being able to fend for myself.
No matter how hard I try, I cannot seem to find employment with my degree, or without. Jobs that I could easily do, tell me that I am overqualified. I never knew that being educated could be such a deterant for employers. I was always told in school that going to college would open up so many more opportunities that may not have been available to me at that time. But yet... I find myself struggling in a Catch-22 situation. I went to college instead of finding a mindless job out of high school. I took the chance and gambled on myself. I graduated in 4 years without student loans. Now... I am unable to find even a part-time job.
I am hostessing at Sliders by Chase Field with my wonderful friend Kat, who is in the same boat as myself. What has my life come to that hostessing is the only job that I can get?? This is the job that I did when I was in high school: my first job. I have never been so ashamed in my ability or lack of ability, to provide for myself.
I have been able to afford my bills, rent, etc for this entire struggle that started in February of this year... until this month. After my last job closed (out of business) and getting this one that is only semi-part time, I am not making nearly enough money. For the first time in my life I cannot afford my credit card payments. Two of my three credit cards are understanding and are trying to work with me. The third, and the bank at which I have my few remaining dollars, is not so understanding. They harass me constantly, every 4 days to be exact. Trying to get me to give them $144 of my last $150 dollars. Which would leave me with $6.00 for my cell phone and cable bills. That wouldn't cover even half of those bills. What they do not understand is: I need both my cell phone and the internet to FIND a job in order to make the money to pay them.
I am just so defeated and I don't know what to do. I have cut myself off of so many of my friends because they don't understand. They don't try to understand, and why should they? They have jobs and are making fine money. I am just the loser friend who graduated college and is living day to day on very little money.
The only positive in this situation is that I've downed my food intake to 1 meal a day, if that... so I've lost an incredible amount of unneeded weight. I wish this was not the case, but unfortunately food is the first thing to go when you need to pay rent and have a place to live.
This is my life.
I am trying so hard to look to the future and think that things will improve soon and that I just have to get through the hard times. "Everyone goes through these hard times". I know. But I've never had to, so its new and really scary for me. I don't know where my next paycheck is coming from. I've applied to every job on the planet, some have gotten 2 applications from me because I don't remember if I've applied there yet. All I need is a break. And I can't seem to get one.
I just live day to day, plugging along, trying not to break down and fall into a deep depression that I know is pounding at the door. Complete and total sadness and failure is just mere minutes from overtaking my heart and soul, and it is all I can do to keep it from consuming me. Sometimes I want to let it consume me. I want to succumb to the blackness eating away at my heart and spirit. I have lost some of the spirit that I had, my ability to be happy in every situation and jokingly jolly all the time is gone. I am an empty shell of an individual.
I need.
I want.
I cry.
I bleed.
Sigh.
No matter how hard I try, I cannot seem to find employment with my degree, or without. Jobs that I could easily do, tell me that I am overqualified. I never knew that being educated could be such a deterant for employers. I was always told in school that going to college would open up so many more opportunities that may not have been available to me at that time. But yet... I find myself struggling in a Catch-22 situation. I went to college instead of finding a mindless job out of high school. I took the chance and gambled on myself. I graduated in 4 years without student loans. Now... I am unable to find even a part-time job.
I am hostessing at Sliders by Chase Field with my wonderful friend Kat, who is in the same boat as myself. What has my life come to that hostessing is the only job that I can get?? This is the job that I did when I was in high school: my first job. I have never been so ashamed in my ability or lack of ability, to provide for myself.
I have been able to afford my bills, rent, etc for this entire struggle that started in February of this year... until this month. After my last job closed (out of business) and getting this one that is only semi-part time, I am not making nearly enough money. For the first time in my life I cannot afford my credit card payments. Two of my three credit cards are understanding and are trying to work with me. The third, and the bank at which I have my few remaining dollars, is not so understanding. They harass me constantly, every 4 days to be exact. Trying to get me to give them $144 of my last $150 dollars. Which would leave me with $6.00 for my cell phone and cable bills. That wouldn't cover even half of those bills. What they do not understand is: I need both my cell phone and the internet to FIND a job in order to make the money to pay them.
I am just so defeated and I don't know what to do. I have cut myself off of so many of my friends because they don't understand. They don't try to understand, and why should they? They have jobs and are making fine money. I am just the loser friend who graduated college and is living day to day on very little money.
The only positive in this situation is that I've downed my food intake to 1 meal a day, if that... so I've lost an incredible amount of unneeded weight. I wish this was not the case, but unfortunately food is the first thing to go when you need to pay rent and have a place to live.
This is my life.
I am trying so hard to look to the future and think that things will improve soon and that I just have to get through the hard times. "Everyone goes through these hard times". I know. But I've never had to, so its new and really scary for me. I don't know where my next paycheck is coming from. I've applied to every job on the planet, some have gotten 2 applications from me because I don't remember if I've applied there yet. All I need is a break. And I can't seem to get one.
I just live day to day, plugging along, trying not to break down and fall into a deep depression that I know is pounding at the door. Complete and total sadness and failure is just mere minutes from overtaking my heart and soul, and it is all I can do to keep it from consuming me. Sometimes I want to let it consume me. I want to succumb to the blackness eating away at my heart and spirit. I have lost some of the spirit that I had, my ability to be happy in every situation and jokingly jolly all the time is gone. I am an empty shell of an individual.
I need.
I want.
I cry.
I bleed.
Sigh.
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