Days 4-7 because I suck and can't keep up.

( behind the cut )In real life, I started Weight Watchers on Monday as I mentioned. I tracked points and out of curiosity I put it into SparkPeople's tracker just to see. It turns out the points system kept me within recommended calories/fat/carbs on SP. Whoda thunk it works? I might do both for a while. I know SP works for me when I stay conscious of it. Maybe the meetings will keep me more accountable and conscious. Who knows?

I have today off, unpaid furlough day, and Monday off, paid Governor's Day. The governor gives State workers and extra "vacation" day around the holidays. Pretty spiffy. Furlough is every State worker is forced to take 12-14 days of unpaid leave in attempt to save money. I don't get why we get the gov's day if it's such a problem. Whatever.

Anyway, yay four-day weekend! I think Mom and I are going up to the Oregon Zoo to see the Xmas lights either tonight or tomorrow. Maybe not since we're apparently broke. We get into the zoo free since we're members but gas money is a concern. I'm glad I bought her one little gift with my money last month while at the aquarium in Newport because that and an alarm clock may be all she gets. The clock is the only thing she's mentioned lately that she needs. Next year I should be back to a place where I can afford to get her something wonderful. And she deserves it.

Day 03 :: Your favourite television programme

I think I have to go with

( okay, okay, I'll cut the videos )In real life news, I joined Weight Watchers today. Finally remembered to call to get my code. The state employee board provides 13 weeks at a time free of charge. It's working super well for my mom --she's where I was when I started losing weight in June 08-- so I'm joining her at Monday night meetings. I hope this is the motivation I need.

I really should have been in bed half an hour ago. No wonder I'm always exhausted. Not enough hours in the day to sleep the 10 hours my body seems to want every night. It helps that my loud neighbor is moving out. She's partially deaf and has her TV up far, far too loud until around 2 every night. Earplugs don't make for restful sleep. I'm hoping the apartment stays empty for a while. [We live in a house split into a 2-bedroom house up front and a 1-bedroom apartment in back. The apartment's living room shares a wall with my bedroom. Apparently her TV was actually on the other side of the room. I assumed it was up against my wall. I can still understand every word.]

Day 02 :: Your favourite movie

This one's a bit easier than yesterday.

My all time favorite movie forever and ever:




Oliver!

There are other movies I love and adore, but Oliver! always wins.

Totally following in thatgaychick's footsteps. I've really got to get back to writing. Usually I'd start on the 1st or something but I'm wrapping up NaNoWriMo and hope to use that momentum to start writing here again.

No guarantees that I'll write every day for 30 days, but I'll at least answer all the questions.

So we begin.

Day 01 → Your favourite song

Of course they start with a hard one. Who actually has one favorite song?

According to my Last.fm profile, my most-listened-to song since 31 Jan 2005 has been Oasis - Wonderwall, tied with Tonic - If You Could Only See. Last 6 months: Sawyer Brown – The Race Is On, though I would argue I prefer Six Days on the Road.



Okay, okay. My favorite song ever? The song I turn up every single time I hear it and wouldn't think about changing the station?

Ummm...

Well, they don't play it on the radio, but I'd say...



( The next 29 days )

The story isn't done. I don't know if it's wrapping up (it may be) or if I have more shit to throw at my main character. We'll see.

I almost like my story this year, even if MC did turn gay. Again. I think I may have some issues that come out when I'm writing like a lunatic.

Had Thanksgiving at the Oregon Garden. It was disappointing, to say the least. Mom won a turkey at work so we're doing that this weekend, anyway. It'll make up for today.

I work tomorrow. I'm having a difficult time getting that idea through my head. It's nearly 11pm. I should probably go to bed and let my MC sit for a bit.

Oh, right, what I'm thankful for:

Having a damn good job.
Having a place to live.
Having a mother who cares enough to give me said place to live.
You guys because without you guys I would have no friends.
Books.

Okay, that was sappy enough.

It's NaNoWriMo time so when I actually turn on my computer (didn't four days last week), I'm doing that. I'm almost caught up from not turning on my computer, but you don't care.

I also have the issue of I hate typing on my new keyboard. It's stiff and some of the keys are in the wrong spot. Like the left-hand control key. I use that key A LOT. It's one place to the right of where it should be so I never hit it. I've ordered a new keyboard. It's the same model as the one I thought I was "upgrading" when it broke. This is a poorly designed upgrade. I'll sell it on eBay and most likely will get my money back. I still have the packaging.

Work is going well. I think I may actually enjoy my job when I get to do it for real. Weird. I'm carpooling in with someone, which saves me $120 a month in parking + gas, or $55 a month in bus fare + an hour waiting around every evening. He's in a wheelchair, so he also get seriously good parking spots. :-D That sounds so heartless, but I say it to his face, so whatever.

I'm really, really enjoying the NaNoWriMo write-ins. It's so nice to be in a region that actually does something. There's a write-in in Salem every weekend and I'm also going to the all-state write-in on the 22nd.

Working a government job, I actually have Veteran's Day off. We're going to the zoo, because why not go to the zoo? I also have Thursday off as my first furlough day. I work for Motor Carrier, so I'm one of those big, red "except for" offices and we have to take our 12 unpaid days off whenever we can. I happen to have a two-day weekend in the middle of the week. I didn't even think of Vet's Day when I requested it, it was just the only day this month someone else didn't have off. I'll be using Thursday to catch up/get ahead on my NaNovel.

I've pretty well stopped Twittering, so hopefully that means I'll get back to writing real entries. Maybe. No promises.

Okay, I have 570 words to catch up on tonight, not to mention showering and starting Unseen Academicals, so we'll call this an entry.

---

I'm generally actually amused. The worse the joke, the harder I laugh.

I know, it's a problem I've come to terms with.

So I've made it through two days with ODOT. I work for the Motor Carrier Transportation Division. Still not entirely sure what I do. Something to do with permitting and taxes for trucks. See, the woman training and I have had our manager/trainer in the room for all of two hours in the last two days. The rest of the time we've sat around. I read the entire manual for motor carriers today--all 141 pages--and that's the only reason I have a clue as to what the department does.

All I know is that after working here for any period of time, I'll never look at a truck the same way again. Kind of like being a geology major makes me see bad slopes to be building on and working in insurance makes me see what buildings are going to burn. Looks like I'll be working Monday through Friday from 8 to 5 for at least a few months. I won't even be on the phone for a couple months. Thank goodness there's, in theory, training this time. There's a ton to learn.

My manager/trainer was out on vacation the last two weeks and is retiring at the end of November so she's being pulled in 25 directions. I just have to keep reminding myself I'm being paid very well to sit around doing nothing. Though time draaaags. At least the woman hired with me is interesting.

My mom's coworker at the theater said he could probably find me a well-running Jetta for 1000 dollars. He's big into VWs, so it would also mean I have a mechanic for cheap. She asked him to watch out for a car for me. Though parking at work is 6 bucks a day so I'll probably start taking the bus in, which means I have to leave early and will get home way late because the bus leaves Salem at 6:00. Still, the 55 dollar bus pass is cheaper than 120 plus gas per month. Can you tell my dollar sign key isn't working? My keyboard should be here Friday, according to UPS, but it's already in Portland tonight. Crossing my fingers.

I start my new job tomorrow. I have zero idea what to expect. I'm not even totally certain of where I'm supposed to show up since my manager-to-be never bothered mailing me the letter she said she should mail to me but probably wouldn't because she was going on vacation 2 days after offering me the job. Since I actually asked on the phone when she offered the job, I got a vague, "Oh, go where you went for your interview and ask for me." It took three tries to get a time out of her.

I'm already praying this woman isn't my direct supervisor.

I'll wear something office casual because the dress code is another thing I have no clue on. Other employees looked pretty casual when I was there for the interview and remembered to look around.

I'm nervous. Trying not to anticipate hating my job, but it's hard not to. It's a friggin call center. Again. At least I'm back into DirecTV-level hours and benefits. Actually, the benefits are even better and the pay is much better even approaching my 3-year mark at DTV. I kinda hope I'm not the only one starting tomorrow. Group training helps me feel superior to my fellow employees. Sad, but true. Hoping the weeding-out process has gotten rid of the true morons here.

I'm annoyed that I have to pay for parking for this week of training and the carpool lots are not anywhere more convenient than the office and you have to pay to catch the bus from those, anyway. Apparently at the actual place where I'll actually be working, the parking is free. I really wish I knew where this place was. They mentioned a cross street in the interview, but I didn't catch it and don't know the Capital building area that well, anyway. I think they said Front Street, which seems to be out of the way of the really annoying congestion. That would be nice.

In other news, the number row of my keyboard has died. I went ahead and ordered a replacement because I never realized how often I use parentheses and other assorted punctuation. My End key is also dead, which I also never realized how much I use it. I love trying to find a cause. Trust me, it's not that something was spilled into my keyboard. It's made of silicone. I went ahead and upgraded to the blue keyboard that lights up since I would have had to pay for shipping on the cheaper one. Then I went and paid for faster shipping, anyway, but that's against the point.

Going to go see Where the Wild Things Are again this afternoon because why not? In the middle of reading And Another Thing... Seems to be the right tone. Still a little upset that it exists at all. A bit heavy on the deus ex machina, but that's kind of the point. All I pray is that this is it. Even without knowing how it ends. Okay, we got the characters out of the nasty spot Adams left them in, let them be.

I should be updating tomorrow evening to let you all know if I know anything more. Right after I get home from work, we're turning around and goign back to water aerobics, so if I'm still awake when we get back from that, I'll update. In other words, don't expect too much.

I get sucked in by the weirdest/oldest memes sometimes.

Click em for me?

Got sick over the weekend. Worked Saturday from 5:30a to around 9:30a, came home, ate something and passed out. Woke up once to eat, but basically slept through until late Sunday morning. Yesterday was full of cat naps but was awake a little more. Dared to go into work this morning. Got home around 10:00, ate lunch, and slept again until 2:00. Somehow I don't think this feeling-like-shit is all in my head. I just wish I wasn't so damn hungry. Cannot get satisfied. Trying not to gorge too much since I just got back on track with weight loss and I really don't want to go to the gym at the moment.

Only two more working days left, assuming I make it Wednesday. I have to make it at least Friday because if I don't finish out my two weeks notice, I can never be hired back at Target, and Target is a good backup plan (and/or part-time second job).

Found out today one of my competent coworkers also applied for the ODOT job I got. Heh. He never got a call for an interview. I guess my degree and far too long in call centers was a good thing. I just have to keep reminding myself it's just a foot in the door. I can do anything for six months to a year. Hopefully by then the hiring freezes are relaxed. It's much easier to transfer when already working for the state. Not to mention my benefits are great and I may even be able to retire someday since I'm starting before I'm 30. Once I've dug myself out of my financial hole, and I'm not living paycheck-to-paycheck, I'll actually start putting money away towards retirement.

God damn this being an adult.

Okay, I've been vertical long enough. Crawling back into bed.

My LJ has been paid again. I have icons now. And apparently earned one more while unpaid. Cool. Now I just have to pick this year's NaNoWriMo icon.

I've also changed my layout to something more Halloweeny. :-D

It's that time of year again, folks. Well, almost.

I've said it before and I'll say it over and over again: I'm crazy to be doing this. Again.

Why is it a horrible idea this year?

I start a new job in 2 weeks. I don't know what my shifts will look like. I don't know how much work it'll actually be. I don't know if I'll want to come home and shoot myself.

I already wrote two 50-thousand-plus word stories over the summer. Depression brings out my creativity. One of said stories is almost *gasp* good. If not good, at least readable. And it even has a title. A title that makes sense in context of the story. Wow.

It's always a bad idea. Who in their right mind would sit down and write a 50K novel in a month for no apparent reason? It was really hard explaining to my mother what NaNo is when I brought it up at an author meet-and-greet this weekend. The lady who brought in the author was a teacher trying to get students to read and I suggested she check out the Young Writers Program and the author had actually heard of NaNo and totally accepted "No, there are no prizes. It's just a race against yourself."

So assuming I come up with some inkling of a story in the next 26ish days, I'm doing this crazy thing yet again. Anyone in with me?

(Note to self: Upgrade LJ with paycheck Friday so you can have some damn icons.)

My internet's been down for a few days. Overdue bill. It's been a rough summer financially around these parts.

Anyway, it's the first, so it was Mom's payday, so I'm back.

And I'm back with great news. :-D

ODOT called. I start the call center job on the 19th.

!!!!!

On top of that, just before the internet went down on Tuesday, I found a job with the City of Salem in the Urban Planning department. If you remember, my minor was Land Use Planning. (To be blatantly obvious: THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO WITH MY LIFE.) I'm going to go ahead and apply. I'm probably going to be overqualified (like I was for Woodburn-- Salem is again only asking for a HS diploma), but now that I don't really need the job and it'll be a tiny pay cut ($100/month or so), they'll be begging me to work for them.

My first two or three paychecks are already spent in my head [on an iPhone (and related deposits to AT&T because my credit sucks) and car (probably in that order)], but I'm thrilled to have a job that actually pays, even if it's not something I really want to do for any length of time whatsoever.

Also, went to the new gym last night. Walked/ran a mile in 20 minutes and felt like I was dying, forgot my swimsuit so I couldn't do the water aerobics with my mom, but man it's niiice. I was almost afraid to touch the fancy brand new treadmill but did to turn the channel so I could watch Cash Cab. Exercising the brain with the body and all that. Swimsuit is now in the right bag for next Monday or Wednesday (I switched bags mid-packing and transferred everything but that). Maybe I'll even someday climb the rock wall. I'm afraid of heights, but it's not like I'll be able to get that high. *laughs*

So, um, I'm feeling pretty damn good right now, headache notwithstanding.

I didn't get the City of Woodburn job.

At least the head of the division called personally.

Feel like puking.

I realized I forgot to write about my interview with the City of Woodburn last Thursday. I think it went OK. Actually, as I left I had no idea how I felt about it, but then I ran through it with my mom and she thinks I did well. It was only 15-20ish minutes, but they seemed impressed with a few answers and the head of the division gave me his card on the way out the door. Now I'm just waiting for a damn phone call saying I got it or a letter saying I didn't from both them and the Department of Transportation.

I just got a letter from DOT today. Nearly cried thinking that meant I didn't get the call center job.

It was my new driver's license. D'oh. In my defense, I only got it last Friday and expected it to take weeks like it did in NM. However, I'm only a few miles from the state capital and mail here actually works.

---

I got Animal Crossing: City Folk yesterday (and the adapter to hook my Wii up to my ancient TV today). I almost still prefer it in the DS but I think it'll grow on me very quickly. I haven't even been to the city yet. My friend code is 3051-6873-0947 if you want to add me and come visit. :-D

---

Another question for y'all, T-Mobile has pissed me off. I want to separate my account from Pete's and I dare to want to do this in the middle of a cell phone contract. To do this, they run me through all the new customer credit checks and deposits and such (though I had my own account with them before) including a new 2-year contract but I wouldn't qualify for a new phone with all of this. Fuck that. I'm not keeping this shitty phone for four years.

So I'm looking for a new cell provider. Unfortunately, T-Mobile has the best plan for what I need, but if five years of loyalty means nothing, fuck them. So now I'm looking at phones since plans elsewhere are pretty comparable. This is all on hold until I get one of those real job things.

I'm thinking of jumping in and getting an iPhone. Is it worth it? The cost of the phone really isn't a problem since I'd buy an iPod Touch soon enough anyway. The main concern is the $30 monthly data package and the slightly-more-expensive-than-elsewhere plans. I used to have AT&T before they got bought out and loved them, but had problems when they became Cingular. I'm hoping those issues have been ironed out. I have verified 3G coverage wherever I'll be for any length of time. So if you have either an iPhone or AT&T (or whatever they're called now), what do you think?

If you don't, what internet-enabled phone do you have and love? How much is your data plan?

---

Okay, off to play more Animal Crossing. I've got issues.

Had my interview with ODOT for the call center job today. I'm glad I left way early. The parking around the capitol is a bitch. I didn't realize it was going to be all parking meters at the building where I went. Luckily there was a lot two blocks away that took credit cards. Who the hell carries change? When they told me I'd have to pay for parking for the interview, I expected to use bills. They really should mention they're meters. Then when I got to the building after driving forever around the lot to find an open spot, I couldn't find the right place. You enter through a sunken doorway, then the map on the wall said "lower level", "first floor", "upper floor". So I assumed I was on the first level. Upstairs and back to figure out where I needed to be was right where I came in. The "interviews this-way" sign was *inside* the door I was looking at, not outside where it would be useful and convenient.

I still made it with a couple minutes by their clock, which was five minutes behind mine. Thank goodness.

It was a panel interview with three ladies. I think it went okay. I'm pretty sure I didn't talk enough. They had a whole page to write in for each question and each of my answers only took up about 1/4 page. But they wrote longer than I talked, which I think is good. They also had the questions to be asked taped to the table in front of me so I could prepare ahead a few seconds. That was kind of nice.

After the 25-minute interview (for 10 questions, I don't know what that means), I took a quick data-entry test. It was timed for 5 minutes. I got to the top of the third (and final) page with I believe no errors. The girl who showed me where to test and printed out my results seemed really impressed at my lack of errors. It looked like the only errors were the ones I didn't get to, which is annoying. She stated she's never seen anyone finish, so that I partway through the last page makes me feel better. I had 5 minutes to do the test. It was 3 pages of entering data on what looks like information cards. I think there were 5 cards per page and I had two or three left of the 15. Not too bad in 5 minutes with a crappy keyboard.

I had to mail in the signed authorization to the state to run a background check. I swung it by a post office before leaving town. They should get that tomorrow. Then the background check next week. The main woman interviewing me said they should have whoever gets hired starting by the first. Assuming the State gets the background check cleared quickly. She cracked a joke about how long the state takes doing things so it may be slightly longer. I think her telling me all of this is a good sign that I didn't totally turn them off. I'm guessing I was the second interview today, which I like. I don't want to be first or at the end when they're sick of talking to people.

So now I have a week until my Woodburn interview next Thursday.

Still have no friggin clue which job I want.

Still have no friggin clue what I'll be offered, if anything.

I just have to remember I interview extremely well, no matter how I feel directly after the interview. The only interview where I've never been offered a job was this last time at Spencer's and I think that's because I'm overqualified and they knew it. Not that I wanted to work for that store manager, anyway.

I called this one. I knew as soon as I had a job interview for a job that I was nearly guaranteed to land, I’d get another interview.

I got a voicemail yesterday that I didn’t realize I had missed until I picked my phone up today and saw it was on vibrate and had voicemail waiting. It was the City of Woodburn (the job I did the computer test for a week and a half ago) calling back to schedule an interview. It’s now scheduled for Thursday September 10 at 3pm after me waiting forever for a returned call. My own fault that I missed the other call. Hopefully it’s not a strike against me. I was at work when she called yesterday (at noon. I started at 4.) and was so exhausted I didn’t realize I hadn’t checked my phone and left it in my purse.

I found the salary for the Woodburn job in its 08-09 yearly budget. It pays just over $100 a month more than the ODOT job, which would be good. But Woodburn scares me just a little bit. Big gang area. Half Hispanic. It would be a much more enjoyable job than the State job. I don’t really want to work in another call center and that’s what ODOT would be. It’s about 5 minutes closer to where I’m living now than ODOT according to Google Maps.

So, basically, I don’t know which job I want. I’m almost certain I’ll be offered the call center job. I don’t even know if Woodburn would want me.

So ODOT interview this Thursday at 10:30am. Woodburn interview next Thursday at 3:00pm.

Quit Target before the end of the month? Maybe. (I wouldn’t mind keeping the part-time job and discount but I don’t think I could switch to later hours and another department. And if I was working Woodburn, I wouldn’t want to drive into Salem to work part-time.)

So… yeah. I have to figure out what to wear to interviews. Nearly certain a skirt will be involved. (Yes, I own a few.)