I have to point out my utter lack of experience with other job shifts when I wrote this.
Luckily in less the 14 days I will be back at a normal business hour job schedule. January 11, 2010: you couldn't get here fast enough.
Here I am doing another graveyard shift at work, doing my best to stay awake and do something purposeful at the same time. My co-worker is snoring away and needless to say I'm quite jealous of him. I usually can't catch any zzzz's until the clock hits 4/5 a.m. Even then I constantly wake up because I feel myself falling out of my chair and am way too paranoid that someone is going to witness me doing so.
Thus, here I am doing practice GRE tests online (FYI- learnhub.com has some great sample tests). I have to admit, I rock something fierce when it comes to reading comprehension, sentence completion and even analogies. It's when we get to the math/quantitative sections that I have the major issues. Sure trying to figure out probability equations at 3 a.m. can give anyone ulcers or just fill one with indifference, but ayeyiyi, is it frustrating. Good thing my graduate program I'm applying for doesn't have much need for memorization of math equations. In fact, the professor who conducted the information seminar for the graduate program basically said if you have experience and good letters of support that the GRE scores don't weigh too heavily into the admissions decision. At least that's what I keep telling myself.
Back to work...
What better way to catch up on my blog but with an ode to 2010, things to do. Here goes nothing.
1). Watch less TV, do more reading, writing, thinking.
2). More photography. Period.
3). Travel! Let's hope some job stability can enable this to happen, since I'm close to having 300 hours of time off.
4). Make use of my sewing machine. Seriously.
5). Make a happy + healthy home. Basically this equates to cleaning more frequently, organizing, donating, designing, utilizing, purging..
6). Walk more. Public transit more. (Again, new stable job should help this)
7). More family + friends time.
8). More date-dates with the boyfriend.
9). GRAD SCHOOL! (fingers crossed)
10). No more credit card debt.
I miss you. This past year I've neglected you, and have truly missed writing. Starting now I shall pick up where I left off and do my best to spend at least a few days a week catching up with (on?) you. I don't want to over shoot and say I will update it every day, so for now I will attempt at least a few times a week for updates.
It's been a long year. Here's to a great 2010!
Happy New Year, to anyone who might still read this.
- nicole.
This one comes courtesy of a blog posted up on Daily Kos regarding the joint session of Congress that today approved a resolution disapproving of Congressmen Joe Wilson's "You Lie" outburst during Obama's speech last week.
Seriously?
For real?
Fucking Democrats in Congress have time to dedicate to this bullshit? They are debating someones visceral, yet immature, response to something in a piece of legislation... instead of actually debating and working on the actual legislation? When I read things like that it makes me want to punch a wall. Or squeeze a banana until it bursts out all over the place (may seem random to you but I'm staring at a bowl of bananas). It makes me want to run to the top of a hill and yell "ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!?"
Speaking of which... I see a hill now! Be right back....
More fun from this weekend...
So I achieved most of what was on my weekend's to-do-list, although I still a few hours until it comes to a close so I will hold off on noting down any of my lack of accomplishments. Here's some photos of my weekend (guess you can see some of the things I was able to get done this weekend).
So last Friday I set some weekend goals that I hoped to accomplish. I did a fair job I'd say, but wasn't able to accomplish the full list.
Here's what did & did not get done:
1.) Call landlord about getting new storage key [thus enabling me to move the holiday boxes back into storage and out of the downstairs storage closet I've been attempting to organize]. Although she didn't return my call until earlier this afternoon! >:O
2.) See "Inglorious Basterds." I have been trying to see this movie since it's release last week, Saturday matinee seems like as good of time as any to catch it. Soooo so so good! Very enjoyable movie from start to finish.
3.) Finish reading "Fool" by Christopher Moore [I've been reading this for far too long]. Although I think it was really Monday/Tuesday when I actually finished it. :]
4.) Pulling some more clothes from my closet for possible sale/donation. I managed to fill up three bags full of clothes to donate.
5.) Review at least 2-4 cds for KSCU to add on Sunday. I managed to get 5 done: Mew, Amy Millan, Dodos, Wild Beasts and Mark Mallman.
6.) Grocery shopping +/or Farmer's Market. My CSA box subscription I was doing at work recently was canceled so I guess it's back to the Farmer's Market for now. :[ No Farmer's Market sadly, but we did get a tiny bit of shopping done at Trader Joe's.
7.) Go through at least 5 old magazines so that they can be set aside for recycling/donation.
8.) Bake something. Unfortunately this one didn't get done. Although maybe that's fortunate for my waist line.
9.) Clean refrigerator. No luck on this one either. I did clear out some old food products but not the true cleaning that I had hoped for.
10.) Take some photographs [of anything]. It's been far too long since I've picked up my camera. Sadly, this one did not get done. I have too many hobbies!
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New list for this 3-day weekend:
1. Bake something.
2. Clean refrigerator.
3. Take some photographs [of anything]. It's been far too long since I've picked up my camera.
4. Go on a hike/nice walk. I'm hoping to meet up with my sister and my dad for nice, easy hike somewhere between here and Sacramento. Suggestions welcome.
5. Cook something new.
6. Go to the Mountain View Farmer's Market (per Nathan's suggestion).
7. Discard another 3-5 magazines.
8. Blog at least 2-4 more entries.
9. Get to at least page 100 of the new book I'm reading, The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom, by Slavomir Rawicz.
10. Spend time researching Graduate Studies programs and map out a timeline for what I need to get done.
Yup. There has been some good news in my life this past week or two... and that is that I am going to be returning to my former job.
After getting demoted two months ago and being forced into a new job that was so different than what I had been doing the previous 10 years, I thought my world was caving in. I had white hairs for the first time in my life. Although there have been several issues with my new work situation [working in a 24-hr/365 days/year facility, huge pay cut, no job training and management issues], I learned an incredible amount in just two months. I had been working with a population I have never worked with, met some great co-workers, and understood a different field of work that I never had before. While I had been longing for a change in my job for so long [working 10 years in the same field and being only 28 is a long time to be in one place], it was hard being forced into change.
When all is said and done, as I'm winding down my last graveyard shift [okay its only 2:40 am and I'm not off 'til 7:30 am but I'm all for wishful thinking], I can't help and feel bittersweet about going back to my "old" job, where I supposedly belong. The job I've had the last two months as been interesting, exciting and at times, admittedly a little scary. I'm not sure I've thought those things about my last job in quite some time. Working here has opened my eyes to new possibilities for my career and definitely spawned me to aggressively think about my next steps of my career path. I suppose also, that my dad will stop subtly nagging me and will be more than pleased that I'm actively looking into going back to school for graduate studies.
I guess this is my way of saying goodbye, but just for now.
Working a Friday night graveyard shift has really been eating up my weekend time these past two months. I end up loosing my Friday evening to nap attempts, and most of my Saturday disappears thanks to sleep catch-up. While I only have one more night of this shift [which thankfully ends after next Friday], I still would like to try and make the most out of my weekends. Here is a short list of somethings I'd like to accomplish:
1.) Call landlord about getting new storage key [thus enabling me to move the holiday boxes back into storage and out of the downstairs storage closet I've been attempting to organize].
2.) See "Inglorious Basterds." I have been trying to see this movie since it's release last week, Saturday matinee seems like as good of time as any to catch it.
3.) Finish reading "Fool" by Christopher Moore [I've been reading this for far too long].
4.) Pulling some more clothes from my closet for possible sale/donation.
5.) Review at least 2-4 cds for KSCU to add on Sunday.
6.) Grocery shopping +/or Farmer's Market. My CSA box subscription I was doing at work recently was canceled so I guess it's back to the Farmer's Market for now. :[
7.) Go through at least 5 old magazines so that they can be set aside for recycling/donation.
8.) Bake something.
9.) Clean refrigerator.
10.) Take some photographs [of anything]. It's been far too long since I've picked up my camera.
I guess I am a sucky blogger. What's the point of even having a blog if it doesn't get updated? I guess for me it's something for me to do during my one-night a week graveyard work shift.
Speaking of work, here are my top ten time killers for working in the wee-hours of night:
Is it spring or summer? Time is flying by so quickly, I'm not sure if I missed the official first day of summer yet. Regardless, the weather has been so beautiful lately, it's hard to stay indoors to get some much needed cleaning done on the weekends. Thus, I will try to do little by little during the week so I can avoid weekend duties guilt-free.
I actually am bummed I fell so behind on my Google Reader blogroll and missed the Apartment Therapy Spring Cure challenge. Although, as I already have the book, and haven taken part in previous challenges, I suppose I can go through it on my own. Although, reading the blog posts from them usually was what kept me motivated for as long as I managed in the past--which sadly was never til the end of the 8-week challenge, but pretty darn close.
Here are links to my previous attempts:
Fall Cure 08 (Before) - which was as far as I made it--and frankly my house doesn't look tons different from what's in these pictures.
Spring Cure 08 (After)
Spring Cure 08 (During)
Spring Cure 08 (Before)
Hopefully in the following month or two I can post some more updated photos of all the work I WILL accomplish.
Saw Pixar's Up this weekend with my boyfriend, unfortunately, only in 2-D. We were cheap and wanted to use our AMC giftcard. Man. That first fifteen to twenty minutes of the film killed me. As predicted, I cried, like a baby. It was such a sweet beginning of the movie, and I am always amazed at how quickly Pixar is able to make an audience instantly attached to their characters (though I'm still waiting for a Pixar film with a female lead character, COME ON ALREADY). Any way, the beginning was so sweet and tender, and made you really reflect about life, and living each day in the moment; taking chances in life and really doing everything you want. Don't just wait until it passes you by, thinking, "there is always one more day." Cheesy. Believe me, I know it's beyond cheesy, but it's true dammit! It begs the question "Is Up my worst fear?" Meaning, am I living life to the fullest? Living in the moment, the here and now? It made me think about the things I hope to do and see and accomplish and feel in my life, and how much I already have. Seriously, go see Up. So you can feel as dorky as I do about it.
Here are some things I'm looking forward to in the near future:
* Seeing Death Cab for Cutie at the Hollywood Bowl for my birthday, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic!
* Finding the KogiBBQ truck in LA and getting a Korean taco of some sort.
* Coldplay outreach with my Oxfam peeps.
and whatever else life brings me.............
- way optimistic, nicole
P.S. Was anyone else very uncomfortable with that Sacha Baren Cohen / Eminem stunt at the MTV Movie Awards? Eeek.
Lately I feel completely overwhelmed. I really need to learn how to say no to some things. Lately, it's my volunteer jobs (KSCU & Oxfam Action Corps) that are eating up most of my non-"work-work" time--not that I'm complaining. I love and value both of those organizations very much. BUT, that being said, there are some things I miss having time to do. Some of those things are:
* spending time with my boyfriend..
* lounging with my doggie watching lame, mindless & sometimes GOOD television
* reading for pleasure
* cooking
* my family... i miss the baird children, especially.
* taking photographs. how am i ever going to improve if i never shoot?
* clothes shopping. it's been... too long. lots of my stuff has holes! :/
* seeing movies
* exercising... my gym card has dust on it...
* working on my house. i don't even have time for basic cleaning these days.
* hanging out with friends, aside from just going to shows
I am sorry I have neglected you for over two months. I am sorry I have been cheating on you with Twitter and Facebook and other lesser social networking sites. I am sorry I have been subjecting my writing to mere 140 characters, when I should be practicing writing actual sentences. I am sorry that I only post to you to say I haven't posted in awhile. I am sorry I let spam comments be posted to you (the sure sign of a dead/dying blog).
I will try and be better. I will.
- nicole
Yikes. I haven't updated this in a very long time. I just don't have the energy for it lately--too much other stuff goin' on.
Any way, the dj blog has some playlist updates! :D
-neeeeeeeeeeeecole
p.s. i am very excited about some upcoming prospects! more later.
I just wanted to give a special shout out to my mom on her birthday! I love you so much mom and I appreciate everything that you've taught me (and continue to teach me) in life.
I'm not really even sure my mom reads this regularly, but I'm sure I can count on my dad to show this to her. Right dad?
- Nicole
P.S. The above photo is still one of my all time favorites of my mom and I.
I just got the cutest email to our Music Department account. It states the following:
Hi,
We are an all girl rock band outta Tacoma Wa and want to find out how to submit our original music to you for consideration.. We are 12 and 13 and play our own stuff as well as covers...
Thanks
Lizzy
Starstruck
How fucking cute is it that this little 12 or 13 year old named herself Lizzy Starstruck? I haven't even heard them yet but I'm already smitten! Plus I adore girl-groups!
Am I home from work yet?...
(caption: "this is ur dog when i got home!")Kinda cool minimalist version of your Flickr photostream. I hardly know her is the name of the site, and basically if you have a flickr your website would be www.ihardlyknowher.com/yourusername.
Pretty nifty.
Some self-portraits of sorts. Only six this week, since the previous week's wrap up included the first 8. I am debating switching to a more structured format, even though I didn't (don't?) want to. I think I'll wait until I've completed one month's worth of photos and join in to a structure at week 5. If anyone has any good theme 365's they are doing, please send me the link!
Yeah, I'm a tad obsessed, but these photos posted on the Boston Globe website are AMAZING. Click the below photo for the full set. You won't be sorry.
Wow. It has been an amazing and inspiring day! I can't stop watching the news coverage, it doesn't really get old now that this day has finally arrived. It feels like this day has taken forever, even since the election, but it's finally here and I couldn't have been more happy with PRESIDENT Obama's speech. I don't have much else to say that hasn't been said a hundred times over. Everyone will take something from this day--and hopefully turn it into something proactive to create positive change in this world. The day has been perfect.
We had a work celebration in the morning (see above shot). Here are some shots from the day.
But, first, video of PRESIDENT (never gets old) Obama's speech:
(Starbucks had special red, white and blue warmers. Displayed by my co-workers!)
(Jumped out from behind the camera for a quick capture for me to remember this day! As if I need it)
I know it's not the day for nerd-complaints (and I'll get to the bigger stuff from the day soon enough), but What the EFFE!!!!!!!!!! So LAME!
from Angry Asian Man site:
keanu will star in cowboy bebop
It's confirmed. Last week, Variety reported that Keanu Reeves will indeed star as future bounty hunter Spike Spiegel in 20th Century Fox's live-action adaptation of the popular anime series Cowboy Bebop: Keanu Reeves set for 'Bebop'.Don't hate me for saying this, but I don't think this is an entirely bad idea. Keanu gets a lot of hate for his low-charisma surfer-dudeness, but in the right role, he isn't half-bad. For Spike, I'd argue the most important elements is cool. Can Keanu pull this one off? For now, I am willing to find out.The series follows Spiegel and a ragtag group of bounty hunters traveling on their spaceship, the Bebop. I've always thought that out of all the anime properties to be translated for the big screen, Cowboy Bebop has enormous potential, particularly because the series itself successfully borrows pop culture elements from a variety of other genres. What's most encouraging though, is the close involvement of Sunrise Inc., which produced the original series. Sunrise's Kenji Uchida and Shinichiro Watanabe will serve as associate producers alongside series writer Keiko Nobumoto. And series producer Masahiko Minami will serve as a production consultant. Will Sunrise's participation help preserve some level of Cowboy Bebop's badass-ness? Or will this just be another crappy Hollywood handling of a beloved anime series? (Let's face it -- that Dragonball movie looks and is going to be baaaaaaaad.) I guess we'll see, whenever this actually happens.
angrylink
