I'm still breathing ... for now

Just a quick update to prove I'm still alive.

This past week and a half has been absolutely crazy. Saturday I punched out from work with 60 hours. Today is Wedesday and I've worked 24 hours this week, and I still have 3 more days to go. The paycheck will be nice, however, and I will be able to pay off one more credit card. In October we get 3 paychecks so I should be able to pay off one of my main cards ... or at least bring it down to under $200.

I'm trying trying trying to work on the spending. It's going ok I guess ... definitely a cut back from what I used to do. It'll get better ... all over time. I do need to start putting away money for Christmas shopping though. That always sucks. I LOVE shopping for people and tend to go overboard. I'll need to cut back on that.

Okay, time to go relax and work on some more laundry.

A post like this requires bullets ...

• One of my best friends got engaged yesterday. I couldn't be happier for her and I'm guessing for a wedding next summer.
• I'm more than likely staying with my parents and I'm okay with that. I've got plans to pay off debt and attempt to save a little
• I'm working TONS of overtime and I love it. I don't mind working 6 days a week because I know I desperately need the money
• I am constantly being asked if I'm losing weight. I can't see it but I'm flattered others are taking notice.
• I DO need to get in the habit of exercising.
• I've introduced myself to a new series and I absolutely LOVE it. I've read the 1st 3 books in 3 days and just ordered the remaining 5.
• The Cubs lucky number is 7 and they never cease to amaze me.
• Carlos Zambrano pitched a no-hitter yesterday ... the 1st done by a Cubs since Milt Pappas in 1972.
• Milwaukee continues to be my favorite city to watch the Cubs play in ...
• ... It's also more entertaining when they're not playing the Brewers.
• Ted Lilly threw a 1 hitter today ... hittless through 7. Very impressive considering he's one of our weakest.
• Milwaukee dropped the last 4 to the Phillies, concluding in the canning of Ned Yost this afternoon ... I can't say I'm surprised. They choked last year too.

That's really it. Time for TLC on Monday night!

I am not a fun person to be around right now

I am about ready to scream. Work is stressful. I'm constantly getting out at 3-3:30 because we're so busy. Yeah, it's overtime and the money will be nice, but it's aggravating because it's not my departments job I'm doing. We get flooded with service calls because apparently we don't have enough to do with our own calls, part orders and whiny technicians to deal with.

Other than that, life is still aggravating. I'm on a very short circuit and snap at almost everybody. I've been trying to keep to my self and not say anything lately just so I don't offend innocent bystanders.

Dana and I went to look at an apartment yesterday. It's in Vernon Hills and we LOVE it. No complaints whatsoever. It is more expensive but it's totally worth it. Fifteen minutes to work with no traffic. The only thing holding us up is Dana's boyfriend Bob. He just interviewed for a job in Milwaukee and if he gets it, then she's going to get an apartment with him in Kenosha.

I'm trying to weigh my options here. If that happens, I think I'm going to stay at home, convince my parents to only let me give them $200 a month to help with costs. I can also go back to school and not take out any loans ... at least for now. Score for me.

If we do get the apartment, I'm going to need to take out a loan.

We'll cross that bridge when it gets to that point.

Or I might put the idea of school on the back burner for now and just concentrate on working.

Who knows.

insert something witty here

I've decided to go for it. I 'applied' today for CLC and am going to call tomorrow to set up an appointment with an adviser to discuss the process for me to get my teaching certificate. I need to apply for students loans and that scares but, but I figure 90% of those who go to college need to take out some kind of loan. Plus, it's going to be substantially cheaper per semester. I was looking at tuition rates and it's only about $100 a credit hour after fees and I don't have to worry about room and board or anything.

Ideally, I'd like to take 3 or 4 classes in the spring but it all depends on what times things are offered and what I actually do need to take. I don't believe I'm going to be able to do everything through CLC but transferring credits is easy enough and I just want to get this done so I can actually move onto a career.

Nothing else really more to say. The weekend was amazing. I got to catch up with a lot of people and just relax. I went to Maurices and got a couple of cute tops that I cannot wait to wear.

It's going to be a lot of working for the next couple of weeks. Nothing too big going on ... just the real world.

I know who killed Jon Benett ....

Gah ... my family drives me crazy sometimes. I baked banana bread tonight because my boss gave me bananas to do so and all my parents (especially my mother) did was tell me how do it. Seriously people, back off! You're not doing it, leave me alone!

Anyway, tomorrow I head down to Macomb for the weekend and I'm taking Ricky with me so he can visit Kim. After working 5:30am-9:15pm yesterday (with only an hour break), I'm in need of a weekend off. The schedule is loose but structured ... I like that. Tomorrow night Greg and I are hanging out with Matt and Saturday is the first home game followed by the Cafe. I need to go to Maurices sometime in there and visit with Alyssa.

Right now my parents are watching McCain's speech. Now while I'm more towards the conservative side than liberal, this guy drives me crazy. I have no words for him other than it's completely obviously he's reading of a telepromter. His eyes are so glazed over and focused, it's ridiculous. Sarah Palin was a good move on his part but it's not like it's going to help him any. If he wins this election I'll be in complete awe of what morons make up this nation and what even bigger morons didn't make it out to the polls, simply because 'what does it matter' or 'I'm too busy.' It's bullshit.

My dad was saying that it may be Hilary vs Palin in 2012 or 2016. I can see that. I can also see me moving oversees when that happens.

Okay, time for bed. It's been a long day and will be an ever longer one tomorrow. I wanted to get a nap in today but didn't :(

Back in the swing of things

Well I'm all moved back in with my parents. Who knows how long I'll be staying for but the commute to work will sure be a nice break.

Not much really to update on. I'm getting a lot better; still a little congested but nothing that won't be 100% cured by Friday when I head down to Macomb for the weekend.

Speaking of Macomb, it seems it's going to be a big reunion weekend (for me anyway). Karlene heard I was coming and decided that she's going to come too. AND, I was able to almost convince Joe (Miller) to meet us down there as well. I haven't seen him in over 2 years and it's time for him, Katie, Kevin & I to do some serious damage.

That's really all I've got for now. I slept for almost 12 hours last night and think I'll be all caught up on my sleep by the time I have to go back to work on Tuesday. Hooray for 4 days weeks :)

Lisa, vampires are make-believe; like elves, gremlins & eskimos

I swear I have some sort of sickness ... aside from the massive cold I inherited from my co-worker, anyway.

With the apartment packed up, with the exception of the essentials I need to survive the rest of the week, I have come to realize I have a lot of time on my hands. I packed away all DVDs and don't really feel like staring at the TV for hours on end that I turned to one of my favorite past times; reading.

I've already mentioned that I've read "Twilight," the 1st of 4 books in the series by Stephanie Meyer. On Sunday I managed to read the 2nd book, "New Moon." All of it. All 580+ pages of it. I literally sat on the couch for a good portion of 9 hours reading. It's amazing I don't have a massive headache from it. The only thing that sucks is that I wanted to read while lounging out by the pool since it was a GORGEOUS day outside. However, due to the nice sign outside the office that said the pool was closed due to no lifeguard, I was stuck inside because I didn't have the energy to drive anywhere (not that there was anywhere else to go).

So I finished the 2nd book. My mom only gave me the first 2 because she hadn't read the 2nd two yet (and probably didn't think I would manage to read 1,100 pages in 4 days). I thought I could go until I moved back home to wait to continue the journey, but I was mistaken. I stopped at Borders on my way home from work today and bought "Eclipse." I also picked up "Marked," another Vampire series that was sitting on the 'recommended' table because I love reading about the supernatural, especially Vampires.

I got home and decided since I bought the 3rd book, I might as well complete the set. I bought the other 3 - because I love books and will eventually read them again ... and again ... and again. I also bought the other 2 books of the other Vampire series along with the 1st 2 or 3 (I can't remember) of another series I've been meaning to read by the same author of 2 series (with 12 books each plus a 3 book conclusion .. and then a new series on a different character that is in process now...eee!) that I've read countless times. My mom yells at me every couple of months when she catches me re-reading them. It's rediculous.

I VERY rarely read books that aren't apart of a series. I love the continuation of stories. I love character development. I don't think one book is enough for my mind. I feel like I grow with the characters and they are my friends too.

Okay, I've rambled on enough about my love for reading ... time to get back to "Eclipse!"