Why does it have to be so difficult?

This finding a place to live thing is really stressing me out. I don't think I'm mature enough to handle this. I spent most of the day calling people about possible apartments and for the most part left disappointed. It's not because there are not apartments available. On contrary, there are a lot of apartments available in the Iowa City area but not what I want. Of all the people I talked to only one complex has a 1 bedroom apartment that allows cats. I don't have a cat yet but my friend Elizabeth's uncle breeds Maine Coon cats. One of his mama cats needs a good home and I was hoping to provide that for her but now I don't know. This apartment is one of the higher priced apartments and there is a pet fee on top of the rent. So, now the question I am asking myself is my want for a cat is more then my desire for something else? If I have a cat, what am I willing to give up? But the best question is can I really afford to have a cat? I've never lived alone before so I thought having a cat would help with the loneliness of not having a roommate and really I have wanted my own cat since I moved out of my parents house. I love our cat, Mittens but she lives in Marion and I only get to see her once and while. I miss having a cat sleep with you at night and wake you up in the morning and snuggling with you as you watch TV. But then again, I have lived 5 years without a cat, I can wait another year right? I'm so confused. Maybe it will be a good idea to see how I do by myself for a year. I can see how much money I have left over every month. Maybe I will have enough to keep a cat and maybe I won't. Now I have all these options but none of them is really what I want. I really don't know what to do. Maybe moving back home isn't such a bad idea after all. Oh, wait. Yes it is.

Somebody's Getting Married!

It wasn't that long ago. Ok, it was last December, my friends Melinda, Valerie and I were discussed how we thought it was crazy that people are age were getting married. See, we had just left Beth W.'s house for a party. It was attended by people we went to Junior/High School with. Most of the party we spent talking about those in our class who were already married, getting married or having children. It is amazing to me how many of my former classmates fit in one of the catergories or more. I mean, We are only 22-23 years old. We just graduated from college. Why settle down now? Well, I bring this up because Melinda just recently got engaged and is getting married this summer. I had lunch with her today and she asked me to be in her wedding. Of course I said yes because secretly I was hoping she would ask me but still I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE IS GETTING MARRIED!! I've been friends with her since 7th grade. She was one of my first friends when I moved to Iowa and to this day she is one of my closest friends. Out of the three of us, Melinda, Valerie and I, I'm not surprised that she is getting married. Especially since she was the only one of us who had a significant other. I haven't had a meaningful relationship since never and Val is a lesbian so she can't legally get married even if she wanted too. What a difference five months make. I would have never thought that both Melinda and my sister would be engaged. Oh, I don't want you all to think I'm not happy for her. I really am. I haven't meant the groom-to-be yet. In the past our schedules never matched up so we haven't had the chance but we will meet soon. I haven't seen Melinda this happy in a long time so I know this is the right decision for her. But one thing, I saw the Prudential's dress and um...It's coral. I'm not sure how I feel about that. *lol*

Announcement!

I guess it's true that when one door closes another one opens. So, I'm not moving to Chicago. I am still a little bummed but there is no reason to dwell on it. Well, yesterday I was promoted to a Lead position at my store. I'm excited about it. It really could not have come at a better time because I'm looking for a new apartment and since I know I will have 40 hours a week. Basically what I am saying is that I know how much I can spend on rent. I didn't really have a problem paying rent on what I was currently making because I was splitting with my roommates but I was a little nervous how I would be able to do it on my own, especially since my hours were sporadic. Some weeks I would close to 40 hours a week and sometimes I would only 20. That is worry of the past now.

So it's been a good week for my family and friends. I got a promotion. My sister finally told my parents she is getting married. My roommate Sarah, Graduated and got a B in GREEK! (believe that is a major accomplishment!) and my friend Melinda graduated and is getting married also! Plus the lovely Elizabeth has been here all week to celebrate with us. It's been a good week. :D

Love means nothing in Tennis

First of all, I think I should be given a round of applause because this is my 4th update in a week. This is either a sign that I have turned a corner and have need to communicate with the invisible people out there in cyberland or recently I have just had way too much time on my hands. Maybe it's a little bit of both.

A month ago, I signed up for the Tennis Channel. I have been waiting three years to get it and it was worth the wait and the extra $3.95 I'm paying. (I got other channels too with the upgrade but it was the Tennis Channel that I wanted.) For those who don't know me. I am a tennis NUT! I am the type of person who gets up at 2 in the morning to follow a match in Australia on my computer. Now, that's hardcore! The past couple of years ESPN has been my only outlet for tennis and while, yes their coverage has improved it still leaves little to be desired and to make things worse, they dropped most of the clay season. So come spring, I missed all the warm-up tournaments to the French Open. Oh that sucked. It's hard to handicap a field when didn't get a chance to see them. The clay season isn't my favorite part of the tennis year anyway but it drives me crazy that there is tennis on TV somewhere and I wasn't able to see it. Well, that is all in the past now. I got up around 9:30 this morning and I have seen Andy Roddick, Roger Federer, Marat Safin, and later Rafael Nadal! SWEET! And, the Tennis Channel is getting the Eurosport or Sky Sport feed so I don't have to listen to the all the gabbing between points. I do miss Mary and Cliffy but they will be back for the French. I love this channel so much!

What is a girl to do?

So I'm not moving to Chicago after all. This sucks but for now it is the best decision for me. I really don't know what I want to do so that makes it difficult to look for a job. But the real deciding factor is that I owe my parents too much money and I really don't want to go into anymore debt and anyway, if I wait another year for some of my friends to graduate, I'll have someone to live with in Chicago. So until then, I'm ok (well, maybe not ok but fine with) staying. I'm pretty sure I will be made a lead soon so that will help my cause. Of course it sucks, once I decide to stay others have decided to lead. Damn them! Now, if only I came to this decision before I gave up my apartment. I have two options. I can either move back into my parents house or find a cheap apartment here. My friends have already signed leases so so much for finding a roommate. I'm not really that comfortable placing an ad for one. and 1 bedroom apartments are expensive. But at least I wouldn't have to live with my parents. I'm not sure any of us are truly looking forward to that. My friend Melinda, just recently graduated from Creighton and is moving back. I tried to convince her to move in with me for the summer but I think I failed but I'm still hopeful. I'm really pretty stressed out about this whole thing. Being an adult sucks.

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

So, in honor of Cinco de Mayo, a restaurant downtown is having a special on Coronas. I think they are $2 for a bottle. I really don't know because I don't ever go downtown anymore, except maybe once a month but this is what my roommate Sarah tells me. Apparently when you order a Corona, it comes dressed in a little sombrero and bandana. How cute is that? Sarah has been going there every day this past week and brought home the little sombrereo and bandana to show me. They are now on my stuffed Chihuahua, squirrel?. And let me tell you, he looks absoulutely adorable. I'm sure you are looking at his name and puzzling what is with the question mark? Well that's part of his name. Squirrel? You have to say it as it is a question. Crazy, no? There is a story behind it. Of course there is a story. One does not come up with such things without having a reason for it. My sister and I like to watch the movie, Fools Rush In with Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek. Yes, not the best movie in the world but good when your in the mood for a nice light romantic comedy. Anyway, there is a scene where Matthew's character's parents show up at his house to surprise him and Salma's chihuahua runs out of the front door. The dad ask, "Squirrel?" Kat and I just think it was the funniest line of the whole movie and we joke that if we ever got a dog it had to be a chihuahua and it's name is going to be squirrel? And we would insist on everyone pronouncing it like they were posing a question. Now this idea has giving us hours of amusement and also amusement for our friends. This past Christmas, Sarah, my roommate, bought me a Beanie Baby Chihuahua. It was love at first sight. I knew from the moment I held it my hands that this Chihuahua was my squirrel?. When you put it down it naturally sits and cocks it's head to side as if itself is asking, squirrel? It is too cute. So, now I have my Squirrel?. Maybe one day I will get a real one but for now Squirrel? Is all the Chihuahua I need.

This is the kind of stupidity that I have to deal with. I had the following conversation with a customer on Saturday, April 29, 2006.

Scene: Barnes and Noble, Coralridge Mall, Coralville, Iowa City.

The Salesperson (ME) is standing at the computer in the fiction section, trying to clock out for her lunch. She is approached by the a middle aged blonde woman.

Customer: Excuse Miss, do you work here?

Me: Yes, what can I help you with? (Why are you bothering me now? All I want to do is go to lunch?)

Customer: Where is your non-fiction section?

Me: um...What are you looking for because everything except for this section we are standing in now is non-fiction. (I love this question because it is so stupid?)

Customer: Oh, everything on that side?

Me: Everywhere but right here, ok the cafe isn't non-fiction but everything else in the store is. What are you looking for? (ok she's an idiot)

Customer: I don't know. I need to do a book report for a class and I need, like, four non-fiction books?

Me: Ok, what are you interested in? What do you like to read?

Customer: I like mysteries. (She knows that mysteries are fiction right? Please do not tell me I'm going to have to explain to her what non-fiction is.)

Me: Ok, how about true crime.

Customer: that doesn't sound too bad. I don't want anything too heavy.

Me: Ok, well, um...Let's see.

Customer: Non-fiction is real right?

Me: Yes (Oh, good there is something going on upstairs.)

Customer: ok good.

Me: How about the Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil? Have you seen the movie?

Customer: Yes

Me: Well, you will like the book if you liked the movie. I'll let you look around. Let us know if you need any more help.

End Scene.