A few years ago I was sitting in the food court at a mall next to one of those fake planter boxes when I noticed a mouse running around among the wood chips.

I keep hearing stories about a mouse running around the retail store where I am currently employed. For example, a couple of the managers were sitting in the office when the mouse ran across the desk. This morning one of my co-workers walked down the stairs from the men’s department and said, “So, there’s a mouse running around the fitting room upstairs.” To which we replied, “EWW! You’re the only boy here, it’s your job to catch it!”

I’m mildly afraid I will run into this fellow I dubbed Fifel while in back stock searching for a cream turtleneck sweater in a medium. Or while helping locate the correct marketing materials from the secret closet along the wall. Or apparently, while trying on clothes in the fitting room.

I don’t want to be one of those girls, screaming at the mention of a rodent, but this is a mall. I don’t want to think about the mice crawling over the tables of jeans and sweaters. Or what goes on in the many restaurants. This mall is too large to even begin to corral these critters. I just hope Fifel and I keep a good distance from one another.

Because I am a seasonal retail employee and my family lives across an entire state, I was a Thanksgiving Misfit this year. Despite the fact that I was away from family, I was able to enjoy my day immensely. I slept in, made a gingerbread house, watched It’s A Wonderful Life, and met people for dinner. I went to a buffet with my roommate, one of our best friends from high school who drove down to visit, two of my roommate’s co-workers, and Santa Claus.

Honestly. I spent my Thursday with Santa. I have his business card to prove it. My roommate mentioned the plan for Thanksgiving awhile ago, which included Santa, but it didn’t dawn on me until we walked up to them that he really is Santa Claus.

He is a lovely man with several fascinating stories. After dinner we played Catch Phrase and Scattergories. With Santa Claus.

These days I make my money folding clothes. Folding the same piles of clothes over and over again. There are several different types of folds that change regularly. The same type of shirt can be folded two different ways depending on where they are located within the store itself. The layout of the store changes every other week as well, which makes locating specific items a challenge. When I close, “recovery” is the key word. The goal every night is to have the entire store recovered so the morning crew can get the store ready in time for opening. Tomorrow a big sweater sale begins in preparation for Black Friday, so I re-stocked lots and lots of sweaters this evening. I’m strangely talented with folding clothes now. It doesn’t take much, but it’s important for the store to be tidy. It’s also nice to hear co-workers tell me they are glad I am working with them during a shift. It’s always comforting to hear, “Yay! Megan’s here! I’m so glad you’re closing tonight! You’re awesome!” et cetera.

I’m enjoying the job so far. It’s nice to learn how the retail business works since I’ve never had the opportunity to work in retail before. I’ve worked in assembly on a factory floor, in accounting departments and offices, and for a theatre, but not serving or retail. As a writer, it’s good to have a wide range of life experiences, so every choice I make in life adds to my repertoire for future stories. Be aware: all writers gather ideas from their own lives. Almost nothing is off-limits for me. I might notice you at a table next to me in a restaurant and I’ll borrow a personality trait for a character. I hope you don’t mind.

There appears to be a great divide in this country.

The topic? Whether it is acceptable to listen to “holiday” music before Thanksgiving. Be it Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, or Boxing Day, there is a group of people who are vehemently opposed to hearing any holiday music, decorating, or doing anything to start the holiday season before the 4th Friday in November.

The question I pose to this group is, why?

The season only comes once a year. Are you afraid of spreading too much joy and happiness? Why designate a clear, hard, immovable line  between November and THE HOLIDAYS?

Sure, the season can become crazy from time to time with social obligations, gifts, family functions, traveling, decorating, baking, and all the other wonderful traditions in the month of December. But, what’s wrong with radio stations playing Christmas music beginning on November 15th? The United States is the only country that celebrates a “Thanksgiving” on the 4th Thursday of November. If listening to Christmas music is SO TERRIBLE before Thanksgiving, how come the rest of the world doesn’t seem to mind?

It’s not a life or death issue, so why are people so passionate?

Personally, I don’t mind hearing “The Christmas Waltz” (my personal favorite) in May, let alone in the middle of November.

Also, if you don’t want to listen to the music, don’t listen to it. Not every radio station plays wall to wall Christmas music. Turn it off if you don’t like it. But don’t preach to me about how “wrong” it may or may not be if I want to sing “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” while decorating my Christmas tree on the 7th of November.

Our hometown hero, favorite son Joe Mauer was officially named the 2009 American League Most Valuable Player moments ago.

I remember the first time I heard of this Mauer fellow. It was my freshman year of college in the spring of 2006 and I was going to my first baseball game since 1991. (Yes, I am rather new to the game of baseball.) One of the guys in our “house” in the residence hall told us to keep an eye open for Joe Mauer, because he’s the hot one. (Side note: during that game my friend and I had no idea what was going on. We spent the game talking about everything besides baseball and left early. This was before I was converted to the game of baseball and all its wonders.)

Fast forward to the end of 2006. My roommate at the time (thanks Christina!) began the process of teaching me everything she knows about the game of baseball and the Twins ended their wild ride to winning the AL Central on the last day of the season. At this time I knew more about Mauer and just how much people in Minnesota love the guy. (It’s not difficult to figure this out.) However, I have this thing when a celebrity or public figure becomes too famous for being a heart-throb I lose interest. (For example, I had quite the crush on Robert Pattinson circa 2005 when he played Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter. Now? Bleh.) While nearly every woman (and many men) in Minnesota (and beyond) profess their love and adoration for Mr. Mauer, I say, “meh.” (In other words, I’m not one of the women dreaming about marrying the guy.)

I’m not saying that I do not find him attractive. No, I’m quite aware of his good looks. I’m more attracted to the fact that he truly embodies the qualities of an MVP. Many, many times this season his skills saved the day. I appreciate what he brings to Minnesota: being Minnesotan. This is why there is not a doubt in my mind that he will remain with the club forever. Lose Mauer and the Twins lose their fan base. There’s no use moving to Target Field if the fans don’t follow.

So, to all the fans in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles: keep dreaming. Only the fans in Minnesota can truly appreciate the phenomenon that is Joe Mauer. Until your big spending teams improve your own farm systems can you appreciate a similar feeling. I think it’s adorable and frankly, a little sad that you think you have the remotest chance of ever signing a guy like Joe Mauer.

Joe, to you I say this: Thank you. Thank you for every interview, your humility, the exasperating ease with which you play the game, and every hit, catch, swing, home run, and high five. You made Minnesota proud the day you signed with the Twins. Don’t go breaking our hearts, now.

It’s amazing how busy life has become for a woman who is barely employed. Yes, I have two-part time jobs right now, but this week I have three whole days off and my shifts are rarely 4 hours long. This blog has unfortunately been a victim of this unexpected busy lifestyle I apparently lead. For some strange reason, I believe once I am permanently employed full-time my desire to write will increase. Right now I think I am under the false impression that I have all the time in the world and other things are more important than my writing. (Which is false. I am not writing nearly enough. I already failed NaNoWriMo. I wrote a few hundred words on day one and in the weeks since, nothing. Which is fine.) I know I’ve written posts in the past claiming I will keep this blog up to date, but I’m going to try again. I have plenty of interesting things happen to me on a daily basis. I should keep better track of them.

This month I…

–turned 23. I spent 7 hours folding clothes in a mall. But I get paid on Friday.

–became more comfortable in my working environment. Sure, I’ve never completed a sales transaction at the registers, but that isn’t my main job. My main job is folding clothes. And being awesome, apparently. (I’ve been working hard trying to keep up with this new job and trying to learn the ropes as quickly as possible. I think I’m succeeding because I often get told that I’m awesome, or I’m a rock star, or I’m doing a great job. It really feels good to hear that from others because it has been difficult being unemployed all summer and I want to do the best job I can anywhere I can find work.)

–had a visit by my parents and little sister. They visited me at work, went to the Science Museum with me, made me an early Thanksgiving dinner, went to church with me, and celebrated my birthday.

–saw the Titanic exhibit at the Science Museum. Including the Imax film, Titanica. It’s well worth the $29 admission. (But I did minor in History, so this sort of thing is fascinating to me.)

–Spent time with my best friend on 3 separate occasions! Even though we live in the same area, for some reason we don’t always hang out. Which is ridiculous, but that’s kind of how our relationship goes. We’ve been best friends for 18 plus years and I moved away in 8th grade and we were apart for 5 years, so we’re used to it I suppose. (At least that has been our excuse.) However, we went out on Halloween (it counts, it was the 31st), saw a play, and she came over on my birthday weekend.

–saw The Importance of Being Earnest at the Guthrie. I love Oscar Wilde. I love this play. The first time I read it, I had a giant smile on my face the entire time. Same thing during the play. It’s brilliant, he’s brilliant. That is all.

–took an old fashioned photo with some co-workers. We were twenties gangsters. It’s going to be displayed in an area where patrons will be able to gaze upon our lovely faces. Or scare them into not complaining about the number of bathrooms, the amount of wine in the cup, or the fact that they had to be on hold for seven whole minutes.

–finished watching all current/available episodes of Torchwood and Doctor Who. I’m transforming into a mega-nerd. Watch out.

–realized that often I wish I were British. (Except British children sort of freak me out. But only a little. And I do feel badly for feeling this way. However, it all goes back to Doctor Who and the episode in Series One with the little boy in the gas mask asking “Mummy? Are you my Mummy?”)

–think I found a church to join. It’s a big step for me, even though I’ve basically lived here for the past 4 years. The church I went to on campus was nice, but very small and I didn’t transfer my membership from my hometown church. This will be the first time I am not a member of the same church as my parents. I’ve been taking my time visiting various churches in the area hoping to find a place I am comfortable and enjoy visiting. I’ve been to this particular church 3 times. I’m thinking the third time’s the charm. It’s a really big church, but I like it. There are pros and cons to everything, but this is a situation where I am going with my heart. I truly feel called to join this church. I feel drawn to certain places and choices in life more often than not. This church is where I am meant to be. This is how I chose my college, my major, the area I am settling down in, and my ultimate goal for a profession. Hopefully the same will apply when I start dating.

–set up the Christmas tree in the apartment. (Okay, this one was my roommate.) For all the haters who believe Christmas season beings ONLY AFTER THANKSGIVING I say, boo. Why would you limit yourself on spreading Holiday cheer? Just because our American Thanksgiving happens to be in close proximity to the “Holiday season” doesn’t mean it should cut off the period between plain old November and the HOLIDAYS! It doesn’t make the season any less special if you celebrate a few weeks early.

Now that I have thoroughly bored you all to tears recapping my month, I promise again to keep this updated on a regular basis. I would love to promise to post everyday, but…no.

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.

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!

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.

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.