The Star

I was really worried about a food test I had to take for Flying Star, but I took it anyway, only studying for about a half hour before the test. The day after I took it, one of the managers came up to me and said she had some bad news about the test. Shoot! Then she said that I got one of the highest scores she's seen in months! I somehow managed to get a 98.5%... CRAZY, huh! If only I got grades like that when I was in college! Yet again, my theory of not studying has paid off.

The Star is good. So far, so good! The people I work with are all great so far, and really helpful - very nice for someone like me who is constantly asking about a million questions every minute. Wow. I like to exaggerate a lot (anyone seen the Dane Cook about the exaggerating girlfriend? Find it. Listen to it. FUNNY). Anyway. Tips from there are also a reason why I enjoy it. Two nights in a row I've come home making $10 an hour. Not too shabby. I'm told I could make more than that on the weekends...and less during the week. I'm content with that!

OH! I saw my first transvestite today! Well, that's kinda a lie. I saw one once in a shoe store in England. I was trying on shoes and saw a 'woman' walking around in reallly cute heels. Then I noticed that this 'woman' had not shaved. Then my eyes started slowly looking up at this 'woman' only to discover that 'she' was actually a 'he.' That was a long side note, sorry. So, anyway, this person walks in to the store and I notice that she's about as tall as my friend Jason is, maybe a little shorter. I also noticed that her hands were not the size of any girl I've ever seen. Longest story short, when I spoke to her it was clearly she was really a he.

To each his (or her) own!

Wine is good, and stuff.

Just got back from dinner at Trombino's, aka the best Italian food I've had this side of Italy. Damn it was good. I literally brought home enough leftovers for lunch for the next week. Combine that with the PF Changs leftovers and I won't have to buy food this coming week. Gotta love birthday and graduation celebrations. I've gotta say though, I'm a little tired of eating out. Since I've been in college, I haven't eaten out like this. Taco Bell and happy hour at "The Hat" doesn't count. I had a glass of Chianti with my spicey "Shrimp Fra Diavolo" and it paired perfectly. MMmm... By the time I was finished, about 10 bites in, I didn't even make a dent. Ok, enough about food!

Birthdays and Roadrunners

The day before my birthday I had a little breakdown. I was missing my friends, second guessing my job choice and just plain frustrated with everything. I went to bed with too much on my mind and tried to convince myself to wake up on the "right" side of the bed in the morning. I must have had some sweet dreams because when my uncle called me at 5 in the morning to wish me a Happy Birthday I felt as excited as a 5 year old on her 23rd birthday. - That sentence makes sense in my head....

Anyway, the day was overall very good! Work flew by and I met my mom for lunch at PF Changs. Thanks to my cousin, who was VERY generous with a graduation gift card, my mom and I enjoyed our meal. On the way out, I walked my mom back to her car and we noticed a large bird sitting on the top of her car:
Upon further investigation, and with quick clicking action of the camera, we realized that this was not just any bird, but our state bird: The Roadrunner!

This is out of focus (I'm SORRY!!):


And another (in focus this time):


...and one more (my favorite!):


My mom then started singing some "roadrunner" song...I don't I think it might have been from the Looney Tunes or something. Anyway, she scared the little roadrunner off the car:

So, that was exciting!!! Obviously it doesn't take much to make me happy. I was very happy for the rest of the day (except for about 5 minutes after the roadrunner sighting when some woman decided she would like to FLIP ME OFF while I was driving home). Anyway, I now have a new iPod - it's all sexy back, I mean black! I finished out my day by having a fantastic dinner at Casa de Benavidas (BEST New Mexican food in Albuquerque), chatting online with a new friend and then going to see Pan's Labyrinth with my friends.

All in all, it was a great day. Thank you to everyone who helped make my 23rd birthday special!

Dions, eat your heart out.

Wow. You never know how bad things actually are until you go somewhere else. Flying Star and Dion's are pretty much as different as night and day. I wouldn't even know where to begin. How I stayed at Dion's for as long as I did (off and on, of course), I'll never understand. I guess it was just the fact that I knew how to do everything at Dion's and it was convenient...all too easy too.

I forgot what it's like to be on your feet for 8-9 hours a shift, to learn an entire new menu and everything that goes along with new jobs. I have this huge adrenaline rush from closing and I don't really know how to calm down from it... My feet still feel as though they should be moving and my arms and back wants to continue pushing and scrubbing with the mop.

I was going to join the gym...but screw that! If I only eat the free salad we get while on shift and then close every night I work (which is what my schedule is like) then I have a built in gym for free.

There was a lot more on my mind, but right now i can only think about my feet hurting and how I still have to get up early and go to the mag. OH! But good news: I have my birthday off, Thursday night off (cause I asked for Thursday's off) and Friday off! YEA!!!

Ok. the adrenaline is slowly leaving my body which means I will now attempt to go to sleep. Thanks for reading. That is all.

Pet Peeve

I don't know if this can be considered a pet peeve, or just something I don't like: I can't stand morning shows on the radio. They drive me crazy! When I am up in the morning and driving somewhere I just want to listen to music that will keep me awake. I find myself pressing the preset buttons on my radio like a robot just to find a station that's actually playing music. I really wish my iPod wasn't broken so I could just listen to the music I want to hear...perhaps next week I'll have that chance!

Oh, in other news of the day: I should have become a meteorologist. Clearly you don't need any training*.

*I will retract this statement if we do end up getting snow sometime today.
**Ha. We got, maybe, 1/2 an inch. Lame.

I won!!

This is what I won yesterday on Ebay, it was my first experience with the website (well the third, actually, because I lost the first two things I bid on).


I've been looking for a magazine rack that wasn't like one of those traditional ones that sit on the floor and is made out of wicker. This one hangs on the wall, and I'm planning on putting the magazines that I have bylines in in them. I'm excited for it to come in!!! The one I got only has three slots for magazines, whoever took that picture bought a bajillion of them. I should be able to fit about 18 magazines.

Also, there is CRAZY weather going on. Check out the weather for Las Cruces: Seriously? The year I'm not there it actually snows? NOT fair! I realize that up here in Albuquerque we are supposed to get 4"-8", but I'd rather spend snow days down there with my girls...and the boys... Have fun guys!

So, I went to the info meeting for Team in Training and I REALLY want to do it. The only thing holding me back is all the fundraising I'd have to do, and trying to fit everything into my schedule. I'm still debating, I have about a week to come to a decision. If I don't do it this time, I will do it the next time they start up.

I think I'm out of relatively non-rambling things to talk about...

Gloves are handy when it's cold.

When I was in Amsteradm a few years ago I saw these fingerless gloves/mittens. They aren't the ones shown here - I just grabbed that pic. off the internet. Anyway, I saw those while I was there and I wish I bought them. The ones I wanted were stripped with crazy colors. I finally got a pair (two actually) for Christmas this year, but I'm still kicking myself for not getting the ones I saw while I was in Amsterdam. There are two things I wish I bought while I was in Europe that I didn't. The gloves were just a stupid mistake...there's not reason why I didn't buy them.

The other thing I wanted that I still think about was a T-Shirt from Urban Outfitters. On the shirt it said, "You say tomato, I say F*ck you!" Ok, granted I wouldn't wear it around very often, if ever, but it meant something to me while I was in the UK. I would have bought it if it wasn't 26 pounds...yeah...that would have come out to $42 American dollars and I couldn't see myself spending that much on a T-shirt.

Anyway, the point of this was that I think fingerless gloves are AWESOME...I love them and the next time I go to Amsterdam, or know someone who is there, I'm getting me a pair of their fingerless gloves/mittens!

Side note: I'm going to the Team in Training meeting tonight!!!

Oral fixations

Just a little blog to talk about my oral fixation with ice. Turns out I've always had this fixation. My mom was just telling me a story that when I was a little girl (little - I was still in a high chair) we were eating at Seagull Street and I started acting up and the waitress brought over some ice chips and I calmed right down! Apparently I was a very good child and my mom can only remember me acting up in a restaurant that one time. Anyway, I just think it's interesting that I still love to chew on ice cubes! Oh, I also like to chew on straws, pen caps and pencils...but I don't think any of those stem from my childhood...

Also, I'm watching the Golden Globes right now and Hugh Laurie from House, just won an award. He's currently blowing my mind right now - HE'S ENGLISH!!! His accent is so charming, I just can't believe it! I can't stand him in House, but boy do I now respect him as an actor. As someone who can't fake an accent to save my life (I have several friends who can vouch for that), I think it's remarkable when someone can can speak with an accent.

Guilty Pleasures

One of my many guilty pleasures is watching Extreme Makeover Home Edition Sunday nights on ABC. I'm not home that often on Sundays, so when I am it's almost guaranteed that I'll be watching Ty and his crew change lives.

Every time I watch this I feel the urge to volunteer and help change lives. I promised myself that once I graduated and moved back home I would make the time to help out around Albuquerque. There are several places I'm looking into volunteering, and at the top of my list is Team in Training with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Obviously that has a special connection to my life. Hopefully after I figure out my job situations/times I can schedule some free time to actually start doing what I talk about.

But, back to Extreme Home Makeover... On every show they send the family on vacation. Usually it's to Walt Disney World, but sometimes it's to other locations. Tonight it hit a nerve with me. Here are these families that have never been on vacation before. NEVER! How spoiled am I? And selfish even. I have been traveling on vacations since before I can even remember. There are only a handful of states I haven't been to in America, and I'm trying to plan my third trip back to Europe. Maybe I need to get my priorities back in line.

The other organization I've wanted to work with for some time is The Make-A-Wish Foundation. I'm only 22 and already I've had too many of my dreams come true. I think it would be awesome to actually help in seeing a child's dream come true.
The first time my dream came true (The side of a bus stop in Switzerland)

Can't think of a witty title...sorry!

I figured my avid readers need an update on my life. I know you all are so deeply concerned and intrigued with what I'm doing with my life and what my feelings are about this whole thing called "growing up."

We'll start with my living situation: I'm pretty much all moved in to my parents house. I still have a gigantic box of books eagerly waiting to be shelved on a bookcase that I do not have yet. There is also a desk taking up the space where the aforementioned bookcase will go... So how is living with the 'rents and the brother, you ask? Well, it's different. My dad asks me where I'm going every time I leave the house - weird - and my parents sleep less than ten feet away from my bedroom...and they snore...loud...NOT FUN. It's nice being around Chris though, I like to think we get along very well for how close in age we are and how much we used to fight when we were younger. He even goes out with me when we go to the bars and surprisingly it's not weird! I'm glad he gets along with my friends. Then again, he's Chris and can get along with practically anyone..

The job situation: Albuquerque the Magazine is great so far. I really like the people who work there, and I already feel like I'm part of the team. There's a really young and cool vibe in the office, and I'm working on a few things right now for the March issue. Also, please make your way to the nearest Barnes and Noble and pick up the latest issue of travelgirl magazine. When you get it, flip towards the back until your eyes land upon the horoscopes and MY byline. VERY EXCITING!!! To bring a little money into my bank (and pocket) I applied at Flying Star yesterday and they hired me on the spot. Not too shabby. I'm going to work nights (...I may see if I can switch to mornings/afternoons later on) and I have orientation next Wednesday. The pay is around what I was looking for and it's close to home, so I won't waste too much gas. I'm hoping to squeeze a life into this schedule somewhere, along with a daily trip to the gym and knitting lessons I plan on taking. Yes, knitting...it will happen!

The traveling situation: *Sigh* My passion in life has suddenly taken a pause. The next trip that is tentatively planned is a little road trip to Vegas with the girls in March. I hope it works out because I really want to go back there. Besides that, I'm still saving my pennies and checking airline prices to London more often than not. The crappy thing about having a job is that I won't have that three-month summer break off to go somewhere. I don't know how I feel about that.

The "whatever" situation: I just saw a commercial where a ten year old (i'm giving him the benefit of the doubt for being 10) wanted a cell phone. It sort of blew my mind. Why in the world would anyone need a cell phone if they can't even drive? I got my first cell phone when I started driving - something that seems completely reasonable to me. Who do middle schoolers have to call? They're in school and then they go home...where they can use their landline...like normal kids! WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO?! Geez. Also, I'm going to be 23 soon. And by soon I mean in less than two weeks, January 24th to be exact. This is feeling like a really good year for me. This may sound a little corny (ok, a lot corny), but I looked in the mirror earlier tonight and I think I looked older. I'm doing what I said I wanted to do. I'm freelancing for a travel magazine, I'm writing for another magazine and I'm going to work at a coffee shop. Things are grood. I mean great. Good and Great.

So there you have it. If you know me at all then you know I could have poured a lot more into this blog and rambled way more than I did.

Aggies...oh Aggies...

“Aggies, Oh Aggies
The hills send back the cry
We’re here to do or die

Aggies, Oh Aggies
We’ll win this game or know the reason why
And when we win this game
We’ll buy a keg of booze
And we’ll drink it to the Aggies
‘Til we wobble in our shoes

A-G-G-I-E-S

Yup...that's my school's fantastic fight song. And, after four and a half years I finally felt proud enough to scream those lyrics as loud as possible. Last night the Aggies beat the Lobos 103 to 72. Let me repeat that. The AGGIES beat the LOBOS by over 30 points. Yeah, that's right. Thanks to last nights game I am also one beer and $5 richer (damn, I should have bet more money and more booze)!

We got to the game tipsy and about five minutes late and the only place left to sit was in the nosebleed section. I don't think I"ve ever sat higher than the middle, and I'm even more sure that I've never seen the Pan Am that full. It may seem funny that so much hoopla and excitement was seen from this game, but you have to understand that being an Aggie and going to NMSU isn't seen as something to be proud of most of the time when it comes to our major athletic teams (*cough* we were last in the rankings last year for football *cough*). So, when we can crush a rival and have students actually excited about a game, it means so much more than just winning a game. The Battle of I-25 happened a few weeks ago in Albuquerque where the Aggies lost by two points. Losing by two points at The Pit hardly seems like a victory to me. All that place needed was about 10 more fans there cheering them on and we could have won. Coulda, woulda, shoulda... oh well.

In other exciting news - seeing as how this is our last official week of classes, Laura and I are on a mission to drink every night this week. So far so good. Last night, due to the fact that alcohol was not served at the Pan Am, we snuck in some very tasty SOBE beverages. Talk about making the massacre of the Lobos that much better!

Also, there are some really exciting things going on in the next week and a half. There is an awesome Tacky Christmas Sweater/Apparel coming up - seriously, how much fun is that going to be?! Then we've got birthdays to celebrate before school starts and, of course, graduation. Not to mention there's the whole wedding fiasco the few days before the end of the year. Very busy month ahead of me...good times!

Today is a scarf day

A few of my favorite things: Travel mugs - one of the best inventions ever. Hats - sometimes I can pull them off...I'm bringing hats back this winter. Autumn/fall - simply put, everything about it makes me smile. Scarves - they keep you warm and they can go with just about everything.

Today, I decided, is a scarf day. I woke up this morning and knew I'd be putting on my new red coat and would top it off with a scarf - no way was I letting the frigid weather get to me. Well, not really. I caved and lost the bet with Laura this morning...It was WAY too cold to even get out of bed, so on went the heater.

Right now I'm sitting here at work (clearly not working) sipping my vanilla black tea and jamming out to Christmas songs (playing right now is Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Round the Christmas Tree - from "Home Alone), and thinking about this weekend.

On my way to school this morning I decided that today is just a really great day. The ground looked like God had a party and threw confetti made of leaves all over the place. Everywhere I looked there was burnt orange, yellow, gold and green leaves thrown about. Now I just can't wait for the leaves to dry up so I can go and step on them and make that awesome crunching sound!

I think my graduation announcements come in today, so hopefully my mom and dad can get those sent out. My cousin did an amazing job designing them. Also, I am starting to look at tickets for Europe and figure out when exactly I want to go.

For those of you who are interested, The Round Up is now at this Web site again. I have two articles this week and I'm actually pretty proud of the one about New York Times bestseller Tony Hillerman. Check it out!

Ok. I need to do something 'productive' today.

just breathe

Just breathe...
Current mood: excited
Category: Goals, Plans, Hopes

..You have four years to be irresponsible here. Relax. Work is for people with jobs. You'll never remember class time, but you'll remember time you wasted hanging out with your friends. So, stay out late. Go out on a Tuesday with your friends when you have a paper due Wednesday. Spend money you don't have. Drink 'til sunrise. The work never ends, but college does..." ~Tom Petty

Whew. T-minus a few days and I will be finished with school forever. The last few posts have been very optimistic and happy, in other words, I don't think the fact that graduating had hit me. Well, you'll all be happy to know that while I was walking to class on Wednesday it hit me. After 18 years of knowing how to "do" school, I will have to find something else to do with my life. I have my internship at Albuquerque the Magazine, but I'm going to need another job, or two, in order to make some money. Basically it's going to be like a summer or winter break that never ends... minus the comfort zone of my family in Las Cruces.

Earlier this week Laura, Natalie, Jenna, Emily and I all drove to a concert in Tucson. This was just a random Monday night and we ended up taking off part of Tuesday from school. Will I still be able to do this once I have a "real" job? Probably not. It will also be ridiculously strange to not have all of my friends over at my house until 3 am - as it happens so often over here! Or weird for it to be Laura and I at dinner or happy hour and in a matter of minutes have a pretty large group of our friends gathered around us. I'm going to miss having parties within walking distcance to my house.

That's what I'll miss. I'm not sad to graduate - per say - just a little bit anxious about this next step in my life.

I think i've done a pretty damn good job of not over analyzing what's in store for me and just enjoying every minute that I have down here. There are still some pretty sweet days in store for us Las Cruces crew...even up in Albuquerque (Ginnie and Josh's wedding, New Year's Eve, Matt and Raina's wedding). ...Not to mention the fact that Las Cruces isn't going anywhere and as long as I still have friends down here I will drive the 3 hours down here on occasional weekends =)

With that said...I have to go meet up with some friends for dinner and a movie!

'text-speak'

This is outrageous! Seriously, is this what our language is coming to? I admit that I do the occasional "lol" or "brb" but have you ever tried to actually read "text-speak"? You can't. My freshman year in college I had a friend who would have me look over his papers. Instead of "you" he would have "u" along with countless other shorthand abbreviations. Needless to say, this friend of mine dropped out of school after his sophomore year - too much video game playing... It was annoying. It really makes me sad if this is the way things are going with the English language.

Reading Rainbow

I came home today and instead of cleaning my room - which has to happen sometime in the next few hours - I turned on the TV and started watching Reading Rainbow - yeah... that show from when we were kids! Get this: It's still LeVar Burton hosting it! How crazy is that?

Well, on the show they were talking to a woman who surived the Holocaust. It made me very sad because she was telling her story to her grandchildren. I wish Nany told us all she had stored up in her head.