The Locket

Today I had to walk to Walgreen's because of my Valentine's Day present.

For Valentine's Day Mike made me a mix CD and wrote me a poem, with the promise of a poem each month for the next year and a bound book of all the poems at the end. Thoughtful? Yes. But expensive? Not really. Other than the subscription fee to iTunes it didn't cost him a thing. That's not a problem for me...I was more interested in a thoughtful, romantic gesture than a big bill.

Mike's mom, however, had other ideas. She knew that we didn't have a lot of money so she took it upon herself to get a gift for Mike to give to me. Mike wasn't supposed to tell me about it, but he's not the type to keep things from me. He gave it to me last weekend. It's this locket.



I'm torn about it. On one hand, I hate that Mike's mom didn't trust us to take care of our own holiday. And I hate that she expected Mike to lie to me about where the locket came from. But on the other hand...I do kinda like it. It's not the type of thing I'd get for myself if I saw it in the store, but the more I look at it and wear it the more I like it.

So that brings me to the walk to Walgreens. I had ordered some wallet-sized photos of one of my wedding photos so I could cut out a little photo of me and Mike to fit inside the locket. I sometimes wonder about the wisdom behind my policy of walking, not driving, in bad weather. I mean, if it's bad weather wouldn't it make more sense for me to enclose myself in my little car instead of exposing myself to the elements? I hate driving in bad weather, but as I trudged alongside Mike I started to wonder if it was really that bad.

It was worth it, though, because now I have a cute little picture inside my locket.

I've also thought about taking it to a jeweler and having that little purple crystal removed. I have a tie tack from my grandfather and it has a little opal in it - roughly the same size, but oval instead of heart-shaped. I think it would be possible to tack it onto the locket. It might turn this little department store locket into something I'd like to pass on someday.

But if I do give it to someone I'm definitely going to drive there. It's like nobody in this neighborhood wants to shovel their damn sidewalks.

Bread

One thing that I wish Edison would stop doing is pursuing his love affair with bread.

I don't know any other cat that likes to chew on bread, but Edison loves it. Every time Mike and I come home from the grocery store Edison romps through the bags looking for a loaf or some buns to chew on. Early on Mike and I learned to keep the bread on top of the fridge. When Edison started making his way on top of the fridge we started keeping it inside the fridge, and then in a bread box we got for our wedding. It worked well until recently.

Last night Mike and I came home to find the bread box askew on its shelf, with a small, chewed-up corner of bread wrapper sticking out from under the lid. Apparently the last time Mike closed the bread box he left the top of the bread bag sticking out, and Edison had discovered it and yanked and chewed in an effort to free the bread from its stainless steel prison.

Not only is Edison stepping up his bread-getting efforts, though, he's also broadening his focus. He once stole a Saltine from a stack on Mike's desk and hightailed it through the apartment, the cracker in his teeth and me in hot pursuit. Just two days ago we found a plastic bag of tortillas in our bedroom. Edison had never bothered tortillas before, but apparently he now thinks they're close enough to bread to be delicious. He dragged the package off the shelf in the pantry and into the bedroom. He had gnawed through the plastic bag and had chewed a small semi-circle into the stack of tortillas. Of course, he had to chew through all eight tortillas. I'm not sure if Mike would have been willing to just cut the bitten portions off, but I'm not. We trashed the whole bag.

Maybe we can give Edison a more suitable focus, like chicken or catnip. Until then, no loaf is safe.

Damn straight

Stolen from Dave.

Your Language Arts Grade: 100%

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Summer Job

I really, really need a summer job.

This summer I'm in the unique position of not having to work. This year my employers gave me the option of spreading out my pay over 12 months like teachers do, instead of just getting paid the 9 months I work. This means that I'll have my normal income rolling in all through the summer. However, I really want a summer job as well. Just like I had trouble with the idea of taking a pay cut just when we're starting to save up for a house, I also have trouble with the idea of sitting on my ass all summer when I could be earning money to pay off our credit cards or my car loan.

So today I began looking for a summer job. I perused Craigslist, the Manpower temp agency website, and did a job search on Indeed.com. I learned to very important things:

1. The only well-paying jobs I'm qualified for are jobs I'd rather not take (for example, I'd rather not work with kids this summer)

2. All the low-paying jobs I'm qualified for suck

I think that Mike should be pretty grateful that I signed up for another year at my current job, because if my professional job search would be anything like my summer job search, I'd spend hours sitting at my computer and deleting job listings that get emailed to me. "This sucks...this sucks...don't want this...too far from home...this sucks..." I'm surprised anyone at all has managed to employ me.

I do have pretty lofty ideals for my "dream" summer job. I have two:

1. Wheelchair pusher at Mitchell International Airport. Apparently airports employ people just to push passengers' wheelchairs around. I imagine it's the type of job that would wear on you after months or years, but it would be a pleasant break for just three months. Plus you get tips. I've never, ever had a job where I got tips.

2. Train stewardess. I know that's not the term, but on the Amtrak train running between Milwaukee to Chicago they have people who sell snacks and whatnot. I'd love to do that. I could spend all day on the train, listening to the clack-clack. Plus the train has a neat name - it's called the Hiawatha service. I'd love to take the Hiawatha train to Chicago every day. It sounds so 1920s.

Okay, so they aren't jobs that would change the world or bring about world peace. Sue me. I spend nine months out of the year trying to change the world, or at least my students' worlds, I want three months just passing out snacks or pushing wheelchairs. Unfortunately, neither Mitchell nor Amtrak is hiring. This means I need to figure out a new plan.

I have no idea what I'll be doing this summer, but hopefully I'll find something.

Seventy questions? Why, yes!

Here's a meme for ya...

1. Are your parents married or divorced?

They’re still married, which is impressive after 30+ years.

2. Are you a vegetarian?

No, but I’m not crazy about cooking meat. I hate handling raw meat. Since Mike only knows how to cook with hamburger, we don’t eat meatful meals very often.

3. Do you believe in Heaven?

Yeah, it goes along with the whole Catholic thing.

4. Have you ever come close to dying?

No, I guess I’m dull.

5. What jewelery do you wear 24/7?

The closest I come to 24/7 jewelry is my wedding and engagement rings, although I take them off when I shower.

6. Favourite time of day?

My favorite time of day is when Mike gets home from work. By then I’ve usually decompressed from my day, and I can enjoy the rest of the evening.

7. Do you eat the stems of broccoli?

I don’t eat ANYTHING from the broccoli.

8. Do you wear makeup?

I wear it all the time. I’m just now getting to the point where I can run to the grocery store without any makeup and not feel completely self-conscious, but I usually wear some.

9. Have you ever had plastic surgery?

Nope

10. If you did, what would you do?

I’m not sure…I’d opt for electrolysis, but that probably doesn’t count as plastic surgery. I’d really like it, though…I hate shaving.

11. What do you wear to bed?

Depends on the season. Although I do always wear more clothes to bed when I’m home alone than when Mike’s around. That way I can jump up and fight burglars if they break in. I’m not an imposing figure to begin with, but I’m much more impressive in a t-shirt, pajama pants, and socks than I am in a tank top and underwear.

12. Have you ever done anything illegal?

Nothing too big – just the normal traffic violations (speeding, running red lights), underage drinking, and trespassing. I did smoke marijuana once, but it turns out I’m allergic.

13. Can you roll your tongue?

Nope, even before I got it pierced I couldn’t roll it.

14. Do you tweeze your eyebrows?

I’ll try someday. For now, I can’t bear the pain.

15. What kind of sneakers?

I can’t remember, but they’re white and blue.

16. Do you believe in abortions?

That’s a complicated answer. Actually, it’s not…the answer is “no.” But my reasons why are complicated.

17. What is your hair colour?

Natural or current? Naturally it’s sandy brown. Currently it’s red.

18. Future child's name?

Well, these are my opinions. Mike may not share them. Right now I’d like Philo Alexander for a boy, and Molly Teresa for a girl.

19. Do you snore?

Not that I’m aware of. Maybe I do!

20. If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be?

Someplace warm! Perhaps New Mexico? I’ve never been there.

21. Do you sleep with stuffed animals?

It depends…I have a few favorite stuffed animals on a shelf above my bed, and sometimes Lucky jumps onto the shelf and knocks them all down. So on those nights, I do sleep with stuffed animals. Otherwise, no.

22. If you won the lottery what would you do first?

Pay off my debts! Then buy a house.

23. Gold or silver?

Gold, but I prefer white gold.

24. Hamburger or hotdog?

Ugh, hamburger. I rarely eat hot dogs.

25. If you could eat one food for the rest of your life what would it be?

Pizza, hands down. I love pizza.

26. City, beach, or country?

City. The beach is full of bugs, and the country is far too quiet.

27. What was the last thing you touched.

Aside from this computer? Lucky, as he passed by.

28. Where did you eat last?

At the Laundromat.

29. When was the last time you cried?

I can’t remember the last time I cried. Probably the last time I had my period, since I tend to cry for no reason then.

30. Do you read blogs?

Of course…probably far too often.

31. Would you ever go out dressed like the opposite sex?

I don’t think it’s too risqué for a woman to go out in loose jeans and a sweatshirt. However, I don’t think I’d go out purposely trying to pass as a guy. I mean, why?

32. Have you ever been involved with the police?

When I got hit last weekend the police showed up. But I haven’t had any extended involvement with them.

33. What's your favourite shampoo, conditioner and soap?

It changes. Right now I’m using Pantene shampoo/conditioner, and some Bath & Body Works soap I got for Christmas.

34. Do you talk in your sleep?

Yeah, but not as much as Mike. His contribution last night: “Are you going to the store? Are you going to buy lotion? Or babies?”

35. Ocean or pool?

The pool – the ocean has creatures. Jellyfish freak me out.

36. Sauna or whirlpool?

Whirlpool, the jets make my back happy.

37. Starbucks or Krispy Kreme?

Krispy Kreme, although I’m not a donut snob. I’ll take anything.

38. Window seat or aisle?

Window, I like to see what’s going on!

39. Ever met anyone famous?

I don’t think so. I did briefly talk to Patricia McConnell at a book signing.

40. Do you feel you've had a truly successful life?

<>Oh, it depends on the day.

41. Do you twirl or cut your spaghetti?

I cut, and then twirl. I’m extremely uncoordinated at eating spaghetti, so I do all I can to make it an easy experience.

42. Ricki Lake or Oprah Winfrey?

Is Ricki Lake still on? Wow. I watched her in middle school.

43. Basketball or football?

Neither, I’m not big into sports.

44. How long do your showers last?

Usually 10 to 20 minutes…I used to take longer showers in my last apartment, but here the water heater gives up after about 20 minutes. It’s a shame because Mike got me a really fancy shower head for my birthday and I never get to really enjoy it because I hate cold showers.

45. Automatic or stick?

Automatic, I have no idea how to drive stick.

46. Cake or ice cream?

Ice cream, although ice cream cake is very pleasing.

47. Are you self conscious?

Contantly.

48. Have you ever drank so much you threw up?

A question with a shorter answer would be, “Have you ever drank so much but didn’t throw up?” I throw up frequently when I drink, even if I’m careful.

49. Have you ever given money to a beggar?

Sometimes, if I have change or money handy in my pocket. I always get apprehensive taking out my wallet or fumbling with my purse while they’re standing there. I’m always afraid they’ll run off with it.

50. Have you ever been in love?

Of course!

51. Where do you wish you were?

I thought we went over this. New Mexico!

52. Are you wearing socks?

Yeah, although that’s rare. I’m usually barefoot.

53. Have you ever ridden in an ambulance?

No, but now I have a new life goal.

54. Can you tango?

No, I’m extremely rhythm-impaired. I can barely do regular dancing, let alone fancy dancing.

55. What was the last gift you received?

My Valentine’s gifts from Mike.

56. What was the last sport you played?

Oh gosh…I can’t remember back to high school. Seriously, I hate sports.

57. What things do you spend a lot of money on?

Food…both groceries and eating out.

58. Where do you live?

In a little apartment in Milwaukee.

59. Where were you born?

Indiana

60. Last wedding attended?

Mine, I think. The one before that was my friend Suzy’s wedding.

61. Question 61 was missing...I heard it was inappropriate.

62. Favourite position?

And this isn't inappropriate? I’m not picky. Although my very favorite doesn’t have a name, and I’m not going to describe it here.

63. What is your most hated food?

There are so many to choose from! I suppose sauerkraut. I hate that stuff.

64. What is your most hated pop?

Grape, although I occasionally crave it.

65. Can you sing?

Not a bit. I sing in the car all the time, but anywhere there’s a chance people might hear me, I either sing extremely quietly (like in church or at home) or just stay silent.

66. Who was the last person you instant messaged?

Alec.

67. Where was the last place you went on holiday?

Like a real vacation? Mike and I have stayed at his parents’ camping trailer a few times, but the last real week-long vacation I took was probably when I was in high school. My family always went to northern Wisconsin.

68. Favourite regular drink?

Diet Pepsi. I need the caffeine.

69. Favourite current song?

Hm…I’m not sure. I haven’t listened to the radio much recently.

70. Tag 3 people.

No thanks. People will do it if they want.