back to school

Is it my imagination or are the back to school dates coming sooner and sooner? Lots of people have been going to my place of employment to buy school uniforms for their kids. One of our local school districts went back to school this past Monday. The others will be going in about two weeks. How sad for the kids. I remember going back to school in early September. I'm pretty excited because Brianna will now be required to wear a uniform. This is going to save a lot of "what are you going to wear tomorrow" time. I wish I had that when I was in school. Her uniform is a white or navy blue polo shirt with khaki or navy blue pants, shorts, skirts or skorts. Now the only challenge will be making these unisex uniforms look prissy enough for Brianna to wear. She refuses to wear jeans and most pants that aren't "cute enough" since they're "for boys". I'm planning on making her a few bows with the school colors and maybe get her some knee-high socks in order to get her to wear some loafers. I don't know what else will be on her school list. My friends whose kids are already in school got asked for some odd stuff. School lists now include batteries, antibacterial handwash (the kind you don't need water with) a realm of copy paper, and other stuff. Wow, I remember when we had to take school boxes and crayons.

feeling: eating strawberries with chocolate. yum!
watching: local news
what I should be doing instead of blogging: going through mail

hello!

I'm no longer going to apologize for taking long in between posts. By now you all probably know that I've been busy. I came to post today and just noticed that blogger changed again. Whoa! These are good changes!

Brianna is in California right now and I miss her. She and my parents left on Wednesday. Yesterday they called me from Universal Studios and today they are going to Disneyland. She's very excited but I miss her. She's barely five and this is going to be the fifth time she goes to Disneyland. Originally they were going to spend a few days in San Francisco but a change of plans made them stay in SoCal.

Incubus is coming back in concert on Sept. 8th. The last time they came I had just found out I was pregnant with Alec so we always say that Incubus was his first concert. Anyway, I was home yesterday morning and Jose Pasillas (the drummer) was on one of our morning radio shows. Rodrigo called me from the road and told me that they were about to give away some tickets and that I should listen and call in. I turned on the radio but the question was about the interview. I hadn't listened, so I didn't know the answer. Rodrigo called back and told me the answer was "Halo" (which video game they play on the tour bus) so I started calling. I kept redialing but couldn't get through. Finally I hear the dj say "We're here with Rod on the line. Rod, do you know the answer? . . . . . " Rodrigo got through and won. Yea! So we're going to see Incubus again.

Anyway, I've got a few things to do before I start getting for work, so I'll close now. Have a great Friday!

feeling: upset at a telemarketer
watching: The Today Show
what I should be doing instead of blogging: making the bed

burnout

It's not that I'm suffering from blogger burnout, I simply just haven't had time to post like I'd like to. This week I worked
1-9:30 on Monday, 9:45-6 on Tuesday, and 8-6 today. I don't go to work tomorrow but there's a lot of stuff to do around the house. You know, I was looking for a PART TIME job to avoid this exact thing but I'm getting full time hours. What's more is that I feel guilty about not being with Brianna and Alec all day like I used to be. I miss them.
My workplace is weird. There is a definite split between the "older ladies" and the "young girls". I happen to be in the latter in case you're wondering. I'm working retail. I've never been in that sort of setting so maybe that's the problem. We don't get paid on commission but you are expected to maintain a level of sales for raises or promotions. Well, the older ladies have this vulture attitude of wanting to hoard all the customers that walk in. I really believe that a few of them missed their calling as used car "salesmen". The ladies believe that as long as they said hi to someone, that person is their customer. We see it differently. If you are helping someone, not just saying hi, then that is your customer. Everyone else can be rung up be anyone. There are a few ladies who will stand around greeting everyone that walks in while we're off helping someone pick sizes or styles, then the vultures come and tell us, "That's my customer, that's my customer, and that's my customer". There has been a few instances where some of the vultures come running when we're ringing up a customer and yell, "You took my customer!" Yes, in front of the people. They will stand there and argue about a $20 sale even after the customer say no one was helping them. As long as they said hi, that's their sale. I hate that type of attitude but at least I know that not everyone there is like that. It's just that the few that are ruin it for everyone else. The rest of us get along really well and help each other out. But you know, there is always some sort of drama. Especially in a department made up completely of women.

feeling: nagging about work
watching: Conan O'Brien
what I should be doing instead of blogging: washing dishes

i live at work

I haven't had any free time lately. It's even worse than when Brianna was at school. I seriously feel like I'm living at work. One day I'll get out of there late and go in early the next day. I feel guilty for not spending at much time with my children and wonder if working to have money to buy them things is worth it. Then I know that I have to work because they have this habit of wanting to eat and wear clothes everyday. Ha, ha.
Yesterday was my birthday. I'm usually very excited about it letting everyone know weeks in advance and celebrating my "birthweek". Not this year. For the first time, I feel old. I'm now 28. That's almost 30. Ugh. I remember when my mom was 28 and I know I'm not as mature as she was. I'm old but still act the same way I did when I was in high school. So, does anyone know when we outgrow dorkiness? Oh well. Today at work some 19-ish looking girl told me, "Excuse me, Miss....." I looked behind me thinking she was talking to one of the older ladies, but no, it was me. I'm "Miss" to teenage girls. When did this happen? Wah! Well, I'm going back to mourning my lost youth. Boo hoo.

feeling: ancient
watching: The Tonight Show
what I should be doing instead of blogging: looking into botox

ahhh......

I finally got a chance to sit down and catch up on reading blogs and posting on my own. I hope everyone had a great 4th of July weekend! I'm going to do a quick post because I have a lot of reading to do.

Have you all seen the new refrigerator with the built-in tv? I think this is a bit much. Besides, I think if you absolutely have to watch tv in the fridge door, then there should also be a screen inside the fridge so that you don't miss whatever vital thing you're watching as you open the door. Heh, heh.

Anyone using Gmail yet? I have two invitations left. Any takers? Let me know if you want an account. First come, first served.

I absolutely LOVE getting goodies in the mail! Today I came home and found a package from my friend Diana. She sent me an apron for the dishwashing liquid. How cute! Thanks, Diana! How ever did you know I like sunflowers? :)


I'll post about my new job tomorrow. For now, I'm going to surf and read. Good night, all!

feeling: relaxed
watching: Law & Order
what I should be doing instead of blogging: reading

six degrees of separation

You've all heard about six degrees of separation, right? It is the theory that you can reach anyone in the world by six people. For example, if I wanted to reach the pope then I think my friend who works for the catholic diocese might know a bishop or something who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows the pope. I think this theory is probably true but I don't think there's a sure way to prove it seeing as to how we don't know everyone someone else knows. I mean, I am not aware of everyone who is related to my friends or everyone they know. Lately, though, it seems that a lot of people that I meet are relatives or friends of someone else I know. One of my new co-worker's niece was a really good friend of mine in high school. Another co-worker has a daughter in the same school as Brianna. Granted, we all live in the same city, but still. Then this morning as Rodrigo was getting ready for work, I was in the living room watching VH1. It was early and I had the day off so I was just bumbing around. I started flipping through channels and saw someone that looked familiar. I saw a girl on "A Baby Story" and thought I'd seen her before. Then I saw her husband and realized I "knew" her from blogging. I told Rodrigo, "Hey! That's Rubber Sol! (That is you, right, Leslie?) I thought, "I know her!" (Of course, not personally, but I "know" her). I kept watching then I felt like I was invading their privacy, so I stopped after the epidural and continued when their daughter was born.
So, Leslie, what a wonderful thing to have that experience documented that way. It was very sweet. Especially at the end when you're with your husband and your daughter.
So, there's the theory again. Through blogging, I "met" Alex who led me to Giao who led me to Leslie whom I saw on tv.
Columbia University has a study trying to prove this theory. I've been participating in it but not all the emails get passed along. So far, I haven't reached my targets. If you want to participate, you can find the Small World Project here. Have a good night, all!

feeling: relaxed
watching: some Bruce Lee documentary
what I should be doing instead of blogging: sleeping (I'm finishing this post at 1:33am)