On Paying Taxes

June 5th was the last day I officially was employed.

Today I received my first real paycheck in over 4 months.

I am so excited to be paying income taxes again.

Seriously.

I have two jobs for the moment. Both are part-time, both are temporary, both will do for now.

One is at a retail store in a giant mall, the other in the box office at a local theatre.

One gives a generous 50% employee discount on clothing, the other gives benefits like comp theatre tickets.

I applied for 5 full-time jobs the other day. All non-profit related.

I still don’t know what I’m going to do with my life.

But things are looking up.

At least I have my own income now, small as it may be.

p.s. I keep promising to be a better, more regular blogger. I swear lots of interesting stuff happens in my life, especially when friends adventure with me. I need to put my experiences into words on a more regular basis. Also, I will be attempting once again to complete National Novel Writing Month in November. I have a million ideas for a novel, now I need to pick one.

Minnesota Magic

Last night, my beloved Minnesota Twins became the 2009 American League Central Division Champions.

Can I let that sink in a little?

I haven’t been able to say that for three years.

This seemingly impossible feat actually happened. They were clearly out of it a month ago. It should have been over 3 weeks ago when it was announced that Justin Morneau was out for the rest of the season. The last two weeks have been nothing short of a miracle. As I kept the hopefulness at bay, the team kept winning. And subsequently, Detroit kept losing. The “do or die” final series with Detroit last week should have been the end. The final weekend of the regular season was miraculous. But last night’s game? Stressful, Incredible, Amazing…words can barely describe the feelings as I sat on the couch, inning after inning, wondering when the end would eventually arrive.

Minnesota has been to game 163 before, last year in Chicago versus the White Sox. But that Metrodome had some magic remaining. It makes perfect sense that the Twins keep winning. The Metrodome is giving the Twins the ultimate “long Minnesota goodbye.” Every once in a while I get sentimental about the Dome. I recall July of 2007 when it was 98 degrees and my roommate Christina and I went to a game and sat in the perfect 70 degree temperature of the Dome. Or the end of September 2008 when Doug, Christina, and I went to a game in which the Twins came back to win after a 6-0 deficit. The atmosphere in the Dome that night was the best I’ve ever experienced. I never high-fived strangers with such enthusiasm before! The best part about winning? Watching the team of 20- and 30-something men acting like little boys. Running around, hugging each other, yelling, spraying beverages all over one another….

Here’s to you, 2009 Minnesota Twins. Regardless of the outcome of your Postseason experience, Thank You. Thank you for making the end of the era of the Metrodome so incredibly memorable. You made believers out of so many more.

P.S. I had a job interview for a retail position in the middle of the game. I received a phone call this morning and I can officially say I am employed once again. I have orientation on Sunday afternoon. I applied for this job not even an hour after I was told I did not get the temp position. It isn’t permanent, but it will do for now. I am happy to become a productive member of society again. I can’t wait to pay taxes! Plus, the employee discount will help me accrue a nice office-appropriate work wardrobe. And I get to work in a mall for the first time! This is good life experience for my writing. I can’t wait to start!

(Im)Patiently Waiting

In the four and a half plus months since graduating from college I’ve been feeling as though I am on the verge of having several aspects of my life work out quite nicely. I seem to have it in my brain that once I obtain permanent employment (with benefits), I will be content. Then everything will fall into place and I will suddenly be able to lose my college weight and find a boyfriend. No one claimed this would be easily. This being, graduating during a rather disheartening recession. Every once and a while this summer I would be extremely hopeful about employment prospects. This past week, in fact, I felt that everything might actually come together for me. I ended up losing a position to a person with more experience, of course. Again. Every day I send out resumes, cover letters, and applications to all sorts of jobs. Even retail and serving positions. Even the temp agency can’t find work for me. Well, they do, but they also send people with more experience than me to the same interviews. Unfortunately, I am always out of luck. There is always a person with more experience and fancier answers to the questions in the running. I understand the need/want to hire the person with the most experience. I would do the same thing if I were a hiring manager. I’m simply wondering what is out there for me? When will it be my turn?

I have an extensive to-do/wish list that cannot begin without being employed. Sometimes I wonder what I’ve been doing since the first week in June. What has this experience taught me? I keep telling myself that I am grateful that this is happening so early in my life. I know in hindsight this year will be an incredible learning experience and resource for the future. I appreciate everything in life much more these days. The value of work–to be able to have work–is astronomical in my mind. What I really would like in the end is to realize that waiting so very, very long for employment will be worth it. That something will come along that will remind me that someone up there is keeping an eye out for me. More than anything I want to be independent. This year isn’t doing much for my self-esteem. I am embarassed and ashamed that I haven’t found a job yet. I hate answering the obvious question in everyone’s mind: “So, do you have a job yet?” Only to see the confusion and sympathy in their eyes when I tell them no, not yet. I just want my family to be proud of me and the decisions I’ve made in life.

Adventures on Lost Weekends

Sometimes moments arise in my life when I think a film crew should be creating a television show or a movie from the nonsense that is occurring.

Two weeks ago, on a Friday night around 9:45, my friends and I decided to drive to Milwaukee. The original plan was to drive to Eau Claire, stay with friends, then proceed to drive the remaining distance in the morning. However, we thought it would be better to drive all the way, overnight. It proved to be a great idea in the end.

The trio of Molly, Douglas, and I make great travel partners. I’ve known the two of them for almost 9 years. It is better to adventure travel with those who share your enthusiasm for stopping on a whim. For example, sometime around 3:27 that morning, we saw a sign for the Majestic Pines Casino. Naturally, we had to play a dollar or two.

(Sidenote: Doug and I have a small obsession with majestic eagles. Eagles are always majestic, by the way. Therefore, the “Majestic Pines Casino” was a must-stop location.)

The entire weekend in Milwaukee was wonderful. The drive there from the Twin Cities Metro Area (in total) took 12 hours and 22 minutes. We made several stops, including an hour and a half nap at a truck stop. Once we arrived in Milwaukee just after 11 in the morning, we made use of the entire day. I went to an amazing used bookstore and walked along Lake Michigan AND stayed out at a bar until bar close. The next day we attempted a scavenger hunt, but due to car issues it was postponed. However, I did manage to see the Bronze Fonz, get pictures taken at two different breweries, act like a rabbit to gain access to the Safe House, browse Whole Foods for the first time, eat several fine cheese selections with (not so) fine wine, and obtain the secret password to the previously mentioned establishment.

The title of the endeavor? “Lost Weekend: The Kwik Trip.” (Kwik Trip happened to be our gas station rest stop of choice.) (Also: the 5 plus hour drive took 12 hours.) If Molly, Doug and I had a television series called “The Lost Weekend,” this would be the pilot episode. “The Kwik Trip” is the first of many adventures we will surely have in the future. However, if we ever drive across the country, we better plan to be away for at least a month.

A Tale of Two Kitties

Late Tuesday night, my roommate Douglas returned to the apartment from a trip to our hometown. He brought two cats with him; Atticus and Sir Thomas. I’ve had the name Atticus picked out for a future cat for about two years and finally I am able to bestow the honor of the name to the most beautiful cat in the world. He is two years old, striped gray and black with green eyes. Sir Thomas is a year old and black and fluffy with orange eyes. He is a handful and is full of spunk. He also enjoys giving kisses. All the time. Atticus is mellow. While Sir Thomas will get distracted by the shiny on a stick for minutes at a time, Atticus will stare at the thing for two seconds and silently walk away. They are typical brothers, always picking on one another and chasing each other around the apartment. They enjoy sitting on the windowsill spying on the neighbors, sleeping on the kitchen table, climbing the shelves to get to the bag of food (they’re going to be fat cats one day), and sneezing. They sneeze a lot. Doug gave them each a bath the other night, which they did not appreciate so much. I am convinced they already know their names and they certainly give their mommy and daddy lots of love. Here are a couple of pictures of my babies!

Sir Thomas

Atticus

The First Day of School

The year? 1992.

The month? September.

The event? My first day of Kindergarten.

For the first time in 17 years, I will not be going “back to school” on the day after Labor Day.

It has been 3 months and 21 days since my graduation from college. I am unemployed.

I recently moved from the college neighborhoods into a pleasant little suburb and I am finally feeling settled.

Tomorrow, my roommate will be bringing two cats back to our apartment. One is named Atticus, the other is to be named shortly.

The only thing missing is permanent employment. With benefits! Because as life currently stands, I am without health insurance. It is terrifying sometimes. I tend to not think about it too much because I really need to leave the apartment every once and awhile.

I spent the weekend with my family. We went to my cousin’s beautiful, country-themed wedding. (She is the first of my cousins to get married, so it was pretty exciting.) It was lovely to hang out, all six of us in one place. Now that my little brother is starting his freshman year in college, the moments when the entire family is together become few and far between. It could be Thanksgiving before I see everyone at once again. My grandparents were there too! (I was spoiled this summer because I was able to see the two of them in 4 different places. ) As we all get older, our relationships are becoming stronger. I appreciate my family more and more everyday. I LOVE YOU ALL!

I will turn 23 in just over two months. I am (almost) a “real” adult. Call me crazy, but I cant wait to wake up at 6 o’clock every morning and commute to work, go about my day, come home, make dinner, watch the news and do it all over again the next day. I am more than ready to be completely independent. I started applying for jobs at restaurants and retail stores so I can feel productive again. In the meantime, the job boards are calling.

It’s Time to Move Again

For the past three months, I have had a lot of time to sit and think. To re-evaluate my life and my direction for the future. In two weeks, school begins. It happens every year, only this time I won’t be joining the hordes of students returning to a life of constant study. Currently, my life consists of scouring the internet for job opportunites, going for 90 minute power walks, watching movies from Netflix, and reading. Next Wednesday I move away from the campus neighborhoods into a suburb. I realized that once I move, my ties to the University and the surrounding community will be severed. Because I remained in the same place immediately after graduation (and the fact that it has been summer), the fact that I am no longer a student has yet to fully hit me. Once I finish cleaning the house and turn in our keys to the landlord, and go into the month of September without needing to prepare for classes, I will know that a new chapter is beginning.

Today was a good day for me. In fact, the beginning of the week marked a change for me. I am sensing that I am on the upward climb. In general I feel that things are beginning to change for the better, all around. I am noticing signs all around me that the times, they are changing. I’m trying to stay positive, because all the negativity I subject myself to is not helping my situation.

Sending good thoughts your way…

Baseball Neglect

Does absence make the heart grow fonder?

Perhaps I will find the answer to that question next baseball season.

The house I am living in does not have cable beyond the basic network stations, I am unable to watch the Twins everyday like I did in 2007. (Last summer I was home in Wisconsin, so I watched the Brewers everyday.) I have caught a few games on TV, but I mostly rely on the updates I receive via Twitter through text messages to my cell phone. I haven’t attended many games this season either. Only one on Memorial Day. In 2006 I went to 5 games, 2007 I went to 12, and 2008 I attended 5 as well. I hope to get out to the Dome for one more before the season is finished, especially since they move to Target Field next season. (Even though I am not the Metrodome’s biggest fan.)

I move to an apartment in three weeks and my roommate and I plan to have cable, so maybe season’s end will bring more life into my fandom. I still enjoy baseball immensely. The problem I have this season is that I am deprived of watching the team play on a daily basis. It is difficult to come to conclusions about the team without hearing the endless commentary while the game is being played.

Next season will be interesting and very exciting. I will definitely make it a priority to watch every game because of the new locale. Fans who put the time and effort into following the team they love definitely reap the true rewards of being a fan. That is why I am unable to really connect with the Twins this seasons, because I am disconnected to the day-to-day play. Which brings me to 2010.

2010 will be a big year for me I predict. I will be working full-time for an entire year and will hopefully be getting my life in order. I am on the verge of becoming a real adult. (Once I find employment and no longer need to rely on the wonderful help of my parents.) On top of this I will be able to follow the Twins everyday, like I did when I was first introduced to baseball at the end of 2006 by my roommate at the time, Christina. (Thanks, by the way. You changed me life!) Bring on the outdoors. I am already ready for 2010.

Harry Potter

My brothers and sister and I received the first three Harry Potter books for Christmas in 1999. I just turned 13 years old. I had all three books finished in a week and a half. The following summer the fourth book was released. The first I heard of the books was when we received them for Christmas, so it was the first time I really understood how popular the books were. It was a long time before the fifth book was released, the summer of 2003. It was July and my class was having a rummage sale at our school in order to raise money for prom. When I was reading the sixth book I was in the car driving home after a fireworks display in our town toward the beginning of August (shortly after it was released). The particular part of the book I was reading during the short drive was the infamous death scene. It was so shocking and surprising that I burst into tears right in the car. My mother thought something was wrong with me!

When the seventh (and final) book came out in July 2007 I did not start reading the book the day it was released. Shortly before the book was released, the fifth movie came out in theaters. I decided to re-read the fifth book before going to the fifth movie, which I did not finish until the week before the seventh book was released. I decided I might as well re-read the sixth book before starting the seventh book too. So, I hurried through the sixth so I could start the seventh. The book was released on a Saturday and I began the book on a Monday, finishing it by the end of the week. I was gone the weekend the book came out and when I returned I found my roommate in tears, finishing the last 200 pages. I don’t remember which point I cried, or if I cried at all for that matter. I do remember once I finished the book I immediately placed J.K. Rowling atop my list of favorite authors.

(Side note: I have a plethora of “favorite” authors, but only a few hold the place of my FAVORITE authors. These are: Anton Chekhov, Jane Austen, and now…Jo Rowling herself.) My opinion of the series upon the completion of the final installment grew a thousandfold. Words cannot express how much her literary contribution means to me and the entire world. What she accomplished–not only giving her readers an incredible story and creating a world in which nearly every reader wished to be a real place one could visit–but teaching a young generation the benefits of reading. Now, post-Rowling, many people are reading on a regular basis. People who, in the past, wouldn’t read anything other than menus and road signs. More than anything I want people to appreciate literature and the act of reading the way I do. Knowing that Jo Rowling did this very thing, makes her one of my heroes.

This long-winded post basically is to tell everyone why I appreciate the world of Harry Potter so much. I am honored and lucky to have lived through the time in which these books were being created. Witnessing the midnight book release parties and midnight showings of the films at the movie theaters was incredible. Who would have thought people would be lining up by the millions to purchase a book at a bookstore? Going to see the midnight showing of the 6th Harry Potter movie last week unearthed (yet again) my adoration of the world of Hogwarts. I came to the conclusion that a person can appreciate both the book and the movie versions at the same time without complaining about what is left out of the film. I can read the book to get the entire picture of the world. I can watch the movie to see an abridged version of the world. You have to admit, the actors in the movies have done a wonderful job portraying the characters. Alan Rickman as Severus Snape is one of the greatest book-to-movie transformations by an actor…ever.

Here’s to you, Ms. Rowling. Yet again.

Unemployment in the Summertime

During the three weeks that followed my graduation day I worked 14 hours per week for the student position I held for the past three years. Unfortunately, as of June 8th the new fiscal year began and the college cut the funding for my position. So, this is the second week of my unemployment. It’s unfortuante I am no longer able to use the status of a student to describe myself. Now I’m part of the vast group of the unemployed. I have a few promising lead on jobs, but nothing substanial. Yet.

This brings me to what I am doing to occupy my time! Lots of job searching, reading, writing, walking, finding interesting things on the internet, looking for apartments for September, watching movies, watching bad reality television and exploring the metro area. I recently acquired my father’s collection of Ian Fleming’s James Bond books, so those will be read in the near future. Today I found a nice oscillating tower fan for my bedroom. We have central air in this house, but we are trying to get through the entire summer AC free. My roommates and I plan to have Sunday adventures exploring the area. We also declared Monday to be the day we go to the movie theater because one of the local theaters has 5 dollar movies during the week.

I went home at the end of May for a joint graduation party for my little brother and I, which was very nice. We had a lot of family and friends stop by and most of the food was consumed by day’s end! In theory I should be able to go home more often, but I also want to stay local during the job search. I am planning on getting home for the weekend of the Fourth.

I don’t have anything TOO exciting going on right now, but hopefully I will take the time to blog more during all the ample free time I possess.