Cubed: Where's my letter dude?

HEEEEEEY kids! Ok, so here's another new type of entry for ya'll. "Cubed" is for entries that have a mixture of entry topics...

So, on Tuesday, I accepted the STN job and I was supposed to receive a formal offer letter by e-mail detailing the arrangements. Never received it. And earlier in the week, on Tuesday or Wednesday, around that same time, I received an e-mail from J from work with pictures that was 9.8 MB, which is half of the allotted space within emich. So I re-sent an e-mail today asking if she had received my previous e-mail, blah blah blah. Hopefully everything is working out ok!

And it's officially the official end of spring semester. All grades are in and drum roll please....
I PASSED ALGEBRA!!! And not even by the skinny skin skin of my chin! So excited. So I sold all my books back today and J got Harry Potter tickets with them! I think that's an effective use of book money.

Venting time... I have no idea if we're doing a summer issue due tomorrow. And frankly, I'm over it. This is honestly too short of notice for everyone. I'm angry....

Tonight, as part of my pre-packing packing, I'm going to look through all of the cupboards and find out which food I can give away, which food I'm going to force J to eat, and which food I can make as meals for the two of us. I want kitchen packing to be as minimal as possible come August so hopefully this will help in that. If anyone has any other tips on packing, please let me know. I've only done it once and frankly, it S-U-C-K-E-D! We did it all in one day and it was hot and too much work. I'm hoping that this time we can do it over the span of a few days.

Alrighty, I'm off to the kitchen. I'm a little scared of what I might find...

Life Happens: Official end of spring semester

I am so excited spring semester is officially over.

Tomorrow I get to sell my ENG books back, but I'm not selling my algebra book back until I know I passed, which I am 99.99999999% sure I did, but last time I was 99% sure, and we all know how that turned out, so this time... I'm waiting.

I'm just really excited. I did so many errands today and started cleaning up the house. I hate end of semester time because my house is such a reflection of that. It gets so messy! The kitchen was uncookable in. If that makes sense. It does to me. Give me a week before I start making sense again... that usually happens at the end of semester too. My brain needs a rest.

I just can't wait until graduation. Tomorrow, I'm going to take an audit form to Pierce Hall. As far as I know, I have two classes left to take, but the evaluation of degree through my emich is saying I haven't met my poli sci requirements or my phys ed requirements, which is bull honky. One because I met with the head of the poli sci dept. just last week and he confirmed what I actually believed - that I have met my poli sci requirements. And as for my phys ed... I know I have because at Delta College, you have to take a gym class (like actually doing physical work) and an educational class (where I learned how fat and unhealthy I was :)) before you can graduate. Which I did. I have the degree (and it's not a transfer degree) to prove it! So hopefully doing this will help clear up any misconception on my part and on EMU's.

Other than that, I'm kind of at a loss. I start my new job July 10, but after the first two weeks, I'm basically going to be kind of bored again. I have so many books to read and only 6 more movies to watch, but I'm so not in the mood for either.

But two things I am in the mood for:
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Movie and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows book!!!

I don't think I'm going to go to the midnight showing, even though J and I usually do. I think we're going to go to a Friday night showing, but the next time we get paid is two weeks from today!!! Which is one day before the movie comes out. So possibly, it may be later depending on if they've sold out! And the book I'm just going to read at B&N because I don't typically buy them until they come out in paperback. I do, however, want the 7 book boxed set in hardcover, but don't have the cash right now. I'm hoping for it as a Christmas gift from my J.

Anyway.... bye!

Echo: To have or have not...

I'm getting kind of frustrated. I don't know as of yet whether the Echo is having summer issues. It really wouldn't be a pressing subject, but if we do have summer print issues, I have deadlines this Saturday at midnight. And, bless the Edit Board, I need more time than that to get ahold of everyone because most don't respond to my e-mails.

GRR.

I just want to know how to plan my summer...

STN: My new job!!!

For those of you who may be reading this, I started this blog for my ENG class, but am going to try to continue it through the rest of - well at least - my academic career which is until December. After that, I think I can definitely maintain it, but my goal is until at least then!!!

Anyways, in my blog essay, I wrote about how I wanted to expand my topics from more than just "Echo" and "Life Happens" and I have new entry category!!! "STN" which stands for Second to None is my new place of employment!!! This is the job I really really really really wanted. So I get to edit reports through the Internet from my house or the office or wherever and I get PAID to proofread. I LOVE proofreading. It's really therapeutic in a really sick way. So I am soooo excited. I start July 10 which gives me exactly one week off from the Echo before I start this! Once school starts, I'll be juggling school, Echo, and STN but I've done stuff like this before and I'm sure I can do it again.

So this makes Operation W&H sooo kick ass, I cannot wait until December!!!!

Anyways, just wanted to update you all on my job process. Which BTW, I am so glad I don't have to keep job hunting because I still look a little bit like a freak from my sunburn!!!!

Life Happens: Sunburn, classes, etc.

So I had my garage sale on Saturday which I think was successful. I sold my computer for a lot less than I ideally wanted to, but it went to someone I know so at least I know it's going to a good home. I tend to get really attached to my stuff, so my computer felt like a huge part of me and I didn't want someone to take it just to take it apart and mess with it. But I didn't have any sunscreen on because I don't have any and didn't have any money to go get some. I knew my arms would get burned, but I didn't think my face would - usually it just gets a little red.

Nope. It burned. Badly. I have blisters all over my face. Now, I just want the week to be over so my face and arms can heal and I can go on with my life without pain.

So... for math, I have to study really hard. My teacher put the test in the testing center for me so I can take it when I can - I've been really busy and sick, and now this sunburn. I think I'm going to take it Wednesday so I'm going to study all day tomorrow.

Today, I'm going to try and finish my ENG class. I have to do all of the wiki work, which quite frankly, I'm completely not interested in. I'm going to do as much as I can make myself and then settle for whatever happens.

In the meantime, I'm trying to avoid mirrors and touching my face...

GARAGE SALE

Garage Sale!!!
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
At the Schooner Cove Apartment Complex!!!!!

Life Happens: New look, new day

I got bored of my old blogger look so I switched it up. A bit more summery and personalized I think.

Today was the interview - the "please I want this job" interview. The interview for the job I really really want. I think it went really well and I'll hear next week if I get it. I imagine they're hiring more than one person, so let's keep our fingers crossed!

I found out, literally yesterday, that my apartment complex is having a community wide parking lot sale this weekend!!! The only reason I can even do it is because Jason and I have already stared packing, so thank goodness for that. So anyone who wants to come out, please do. It's at Schooner Cove in Ypsilanti. I'm selling a computer, bookcase, dresser, and some other items that are less expensive like a blender, humidifer, and clothes and stuff. Everything that is electronic is in full working order. In fact, I'm rather sad to sell the computer, but beyond having no space for it in the new place, I also have a laptop. So while it's nice to just have an extra computer, I don't need it, don't want it. But it's great. It's a bit old, but I got upgrades done it less than two years ago. Price tag for that, with monitor, linksys broadband connector, external ethernet modem, and keyboard is $150. Hopefully someone will buy it at that price or make me a good offer!!! We have 7 boxes of stuff we're selling too, like clothes and whatnot. It's free to have the table, so hopefully I just make something.

And of course, my fiance has to work, so he can't be there... but he volunteered me to sell lemonade for Arby's. They're trying to do this catering thing, which is all nice and good, but I don't work there. So why am I doing it? Because he's trying to get promoted. Soon, he'll be salaried. That sounds so good. I don't even care if they make him work 60 hours a week. Which they're not. I think by the "rules" of Arby's, he can't work over 48 as manager...
Anyways, so I'm selling lemonade, $2 a cup, for Arby's. I'm told the cups are rather large and re-usable. If they're not selling well, I'm thinking of offering a free clothing item with a lemonade. But who knows...

So Saturday, from 9-4 I will be out there all by my lonesome. Sigh...

COME BUY STUFF!!!!!!! :)

Life Happens: Signed a 1 year lease!

Perrin street was exactly what I expected - small, cheap, and ugly in a lovable way! So Jason and I signed a one year lease! To be honest, I'm really excited. I think this represents a fresh start for all of us... and it's like the dorm I never had. I've always talked about how much I regret never doing the "student" thing - going away to college, having a dorm, etc. But my dreams were always different. I didn't want to party, I wanted a cat, and I wanted Jason. But this is like having the dorm I never had because it's so small! So I'm pretty excited.

The kitchen is like ridiculously small so I guess I won't cook as much... which is kinda just fine with me. Jimmy John's is right down the street as well as a bevy of other restaurants so I'll just eat there!

So we move in mid-August and we've already packed most of our living room. We're figuring stuff out space-wise too. Trying to purge ourselves of junk we really don't need, but want to hang on to. But I boxed up three boxes of clothes I don't want. I have a box of literally crap (stupid stuff) to give to my parents to rummage. I think we're going to use the space under our bed at the apartment for our Christmas stuff (tree, decorations, etc.). I think this is actually going to work.

Tomorrow is my all-important job interview. The one I really want. The one I think I'm pretty much hired for since I am perfect for the job - it's editing, which is part of what I do at the Echo! I'd earn about $650 a month doing the editing from home on my computer and in the fall, I'll earn about $850 a month for copy editing and being opinions editor. Jason makes about $1,100 a month, so all of that is a lot! Considering we're paying (in the fall) $535 for rent including water, internet, cable (over 100 channels!), and having a cat. To give you all a comparison, right now we pay $740 and that includes nothing. We don't even have the internet or cable right now, although we used to when we both made more money at different jobs.

I just can't wait til I get our lives back on track. I can't wait until we have more money!!!

Life Happens: Good news day!!!

My life was nearly ruined this weekend.... but this day was the best day ever!!! So excited!!!

Well, Saturday night, my darling fiance put his shorts (containing his cell phone, wallet (with credit cards, driver's license, etc.), jump drive) on top of his car and then drove off... with them still on top. He got home from work, got me, and we went right back, but of course they were gone.

Sunday, he went around the all the mall stores dropping off a list of what got stolen and promise of a cash reward for whoever turns it in. I was pretty hopeful since the shorts were lost at 10 p.m. at the mall and no one had used his debit card yet, which had some money in the account, but had checks in the mail for that money. Of course, early this morning, it was discovered over $400 had been "used" from his debit account so not only do we have to deal with THAT, but we don't even have access to our own money!!!!

Maybe you're feeling sorry for me, but let me tell you, I'm almost glad all that happened because the most amazing stuff happened to us today!

First, Best Bank was really cool about the whole thing.
Second, we found out through Verizon Wireless that we're eligible for a free phone! I thought we had to wait until April, but we're eligible now!!! I love new phones :)
Third, I have three interviews lined up over the next two days and one of them is for a job I really really really really want. It's editing reports for a corporation. L.O.V.E.! The Echo is basically on hiatus for July and August, so I need a job, but this job I could also do this fall while I'm in school. Hello wonderful Operation W&H!!! Hello MONEY!
Fourth, while at the bank cashing my wonderful Echo check, Jason finds three pennies on the floor and picks them up. They're right near that cash machine, CoinStar, where you give them your coins and they give you cash for it. Sitting right in the bottom thing were over $4 worth of coins! So we got a Howie Nowie for dinner!
Fifth, the guy from the apartment place called me back and we get to tour it tomorrow. I expressed to him how much I already love it, so I think he's going to not let anyone else take it. I hope so because I really really really really want it.

I'm soooo happy right now. Jason and I already started packing our stuff. I just can't believe all of our good luck. I mean, obviously, something terrible happened, but it's not even unfixable, like say a fractured wrist, or a lost job (which happened to us last summer!!!).

HAPPY DAYS!

Life Happens: Marriage, the new place, etc.

Today, Jason and I were out doing errands and decided to try to find the place we might be moving to. It's on Perrin Street, super close to Pray-Harrold and Jimmy John's. I LOVE IT!!!! It's a brick house, so gorgeous with a huge deck out front. I'm in love. I'm going to call Monday five hundred times until I get ahold of somebody to tour the apartment and sign a lease. We decided to go with a one year lease... so maybe I'll be here another year!!!

So last night, an old friend of mine IMed me. We were best friends for a really long time and she's getting married in October. I'm getting invited which I think is appropriate and cool, but I hope my parents or my best friend Amber (who was friends with Traci as well) gets invited! Otherwise, it might be kinda boring... but I looked up Traci's registries and although her family is probably a little bit more well-off than mine, they're not rich, but she registered for actual china! Like $250 teapot china. Like $143 per place setting china.
I was really surprised, but I think maybe he comes from a rich family?
Either way, I would never do that. But then again, I'm content never to be married. I've been with my guy for almost four years and I'm content to keep living in sin like we do - you know, unmarried with a clearly consummated relationship and living together.

In fact, we'll have lived together for two years as of August 15th and have been together for four years as of October 10th. I remember the day I met him like yesterday... I swear, I keep on blinking and entire years are passing before me. I need to stop all that blinking...

I hope, pray, wish we get the apartment at Perrin... wish me luck!

Life Happens: Moving, the Point, classes, etc.

So after much consternation... I've decided to move this August. I'm really sad because I really really really like my apartment, but my wallet is saying "I'm empty much too often." Hence, the move.

I'm pretty sure I'm moving to an apartment on Perrin street, which I know is in downtown Ypsi (pepper spray anyone?) and I'm going to try to go see it next week with Jason to make the official decision, but my mind is pretty much set. I'll save $235 a month, but in reality, I'm saving more than that. I don't have real Internet or any cable right now here, and I will there. I pay for my water here and I won't there. So that's like at least a hundred dollars of savings right there. Do I like that it's in downtown? No, but it's only for six months. Well for me, anyway. I graduate in December, God willing, and I've already had a job offer in Montana. I have someone interested in California and hopefully more people will jump on the Jess wagon. I think we'll sign a year lease because the probability of Jason being able to move with me right at that moment is slim. Do we want to be apart? No, but again... that's just the way it's going to have to be.

But in other news...
I get to go to Cedar Point in less than two weeks!!! This is a huge thing because every summer since I was two until the time I was about 15, my family and I went to the Point. It was our family vaca (which is odd cause my parents are loaded, but hey different ppl have different priorities). And from 15 on, I've only went sporadically, but I don't think I've been there since I was... 18? Somewhere around there. It's been at least four years! So me and Jason are going (our first time together) and my mum, dad, brother, cousin and his girlfriend, and I think my brother's "girlfriend" is going too. Apparently, everyone's staying the night at my apartment, which I personally think is not a good idea because I'm just not a fan of everyone staying here, but again... parents are buying our tickets, so I feel I need to give something back.

I kind of wish money didn't dictate my life...

And I hate math. I don't hate English especially since the website I'm making for the class will be so useful to me in the fall. I'm going to use for the opinions section and I think my e-mail box will be very happy about that.

SYTYCD (so you think you can dance) is really good this year. Props to Mia for her awesome choreography but boo to the hot Shane Sparks for his not-so-hot choreography. Can't wait til next week!!!

Echo: Crime column

While I don't mind defending my work and opinion, I have to say... I think people have missed my point. In my column "Crime: too common to ignore" which was in the June 5th issue, the point was that it doesn't matter (for being safe) if anyone knows about a specific murder, rape, crime that occurred near their home, where they work, their school, etc.

The point: there are a million crimes that happen every day. Hundreds just in Ypsilanti. While I believe that we should know if a crime does happen as soon as other people know (ie. the police), we shouldn't be more cautious as a result. We should be cautious all of the time, regardless.

I'm starting to understand, albeit unwillingly, that people believe crime doesn't happen. How they can believe this, I don't know. It's hard for me to fall asleep at night knowing that people think the world is safe. I pray for their safety because I'm scared they'll die as a result of trusting they are invincible and that nothing will ever happen to them.

I beg everyone in Ypsilanti and particularly around the Eastern Michigan University area to understand that no one is safe. We're all suscepitible to being victimized. Please, please be careful.

Echo: Corrupt administration

Well just when things on campus seemed to be dying down, the drama starts again.

Butzel Long revealed their long awaited report today and I must say, for as much drama as I could have imagined, I was nowhere as close as to the real drama that's actually out there.

An incident report shredded? C'mon EMU. If you're going to be corrupt, don't get caught. This is the second consecutive corrupt president EMU has seen. When are we going to smarten up?

I don't personally know Jim Vick, so excuse me to all those Vick lovers out there, but I don't care who said what to whom. An incident report was SHREDDED. As far as my thoughts go, the whole admin should be fired. Fallon, Vick, Hall... they all weren't doing their job.

Fallon didn't have enough info to know the death was a murder. Well that doesn't seem like he's doing his job then.

Vick had an incident report shredded. Sounds like he's not doing his job.

Hall denies telling Vick to shred the report, yet from day one, she still knew the death wasn't innocent, yet failed to comply with the Clery Act. Sounds like she's not doing her job.

A lot of people blame the Echo for bringing to light the fact that the Clery Act exists. Why are you mad at us? We're trying to help EMU be a better place, be responsible for its actions. It's not our fault that the admin isn't doing their job. We didn't tell them not to follow the Clery Act. They did it. In fact, after we brought that all up, they could've retracted, fixed the "no foul play" statement and admitted to their wrongdoings. But they still played dumb.

I know we're all looking for someone to blame, trust me, I get that. Maybe the Echo shouldn't be so quick as to find people's shortcomings. But that's the newspaper business. Maybe the admin shouldn't have lied. But that's the way the real world is. People lie, people cheat, and you know what? People get caught.

Why did Fallon et al think they wouldn't?

But, I'll rise above. My opinions won't affect this next week's staff edit. So keep that in mind when you're reading it. I may have to write things I don't believe, but in order to protect and preserve the nature of the paper, I will write the things the edit board believes in. If that means a reinstatement of Vick, then so be it.

But I stand firm by my beliefs. At least, for now.

Life Happens: Hot wind, the OC, etc.

I don't think I have ever felt a hot wind, but I did today. Kind of freaky...

I own a lot of DVDs and I only have five left to watch that I have not watched since I purchased them. After that, I guess I'll just be bored because I'm trying to conserve money which means no new DVDs. Right now, I'm re-watching the OC just because I don't feel like watching any of the other movies... I always need to be in the mood to watch movies and I'm not. So blech.

I'm working my way through Wicked by Gregory Maguire right now. I have about 150 pages left, but it's kind of painful. Which is not good. Because I own three other books by him. Certain parts are really intriguing and then others, not so much. Plus, there are little bits that are just a bit too sexual for me. I mean, if I wanted to read romance, I'd pick up a Harlequin. But I don't enjoy romance like that. Chick lit is fine, but pure all out romance? Not my cup of tea.

Speaking of tea, I could really go for some apple cinnamon tea right now... or apple cider from Wiard's Orchard. Mmm caramel apples.

That's ok, Jason promised to make me homemade popcorn tonight. I'll watch my OC drama with yummy popcorn.

Life Happens: Summer reading, misc. items

Yesterday, I signed up for the Ypsi's summer reading program at the library. I didn't really want to because I'm against all things organized (even though some of those things are good, and I realize not everything is corrupt), but my fiance joined up because he needs to read more and I thought it was cool that you get a $5 gift certificate for the library (to use for fines, printing, etc.) and the librarian talked me into it.

I'm almost done with my first book. I read really fast, plus I take time for it when I shouldn't. Case in point: I should be revising my ENG paper and searching for a different sky on flickr. But I'm not. I'm reading. Oh well.

The summer reading program is for 8 books, but my personal goal is 16. So the one I'm almost done with is "Lake News" by Barabara Delinsky. I don't typically read her work because... well I'm not sure. I just typically don't. But I got it at one of the library's book sales for next to nothing and I plan to re-donate it when I'm done and it's actually pretty good. In fact, if all of her books were similar to this, I would definitely consider collecting them. But there's so many authors I enjoy that I just can't...

But one book I'm sooo excited for is "Sammy's House" by Kristin Gore. Her debut novel was "Sammy's Hill" and I don't care if you're guy, girl, artsy, political, what-have-you... the book is downright hilarious and even in a weird way, touching. Last year, I bought my best friend the book and I think this year I'm going to give the book to my future sister-in-law for Christmas. I think I've made it my personal goal to give someone this book each year. It's just all around fantastic. So I can't wait for that.

Other than that, I'm kind of pissed off about the gas prices. Last Friday, I had a dentist appt. in Birch Run, which is fine. My parents usually pay for my gas whenever I visit so that was paid for - not that I enjoy taking their money, I'd much rather be completely independent. But you do what you have to do. But I'm mad because I had so much fun in the pool and stuff and I won't be able to visit a lot because of work... gas prices... school. Blech.

Oh, I do have other good news... Ritz Camera wants to do an interview with me so that's all kinds of cool. After July 12, I have no income until mid-September from the Echo. So I need money. Plus I need to save for Christmas (yes, that's right CHRISTmas) and for a little thing I like to call "Operation W & H." Which is kind of a secret.

So anyway, I'm going to stop in there tomorrow and set that all up. Hopefully, I can start working sooner than later because I think I can handle that and the Echo plus the two classes I'm taking. I literally have not much else going on in my life and I'm used to doing more than this... hence, the long periods of reading.

Ok, back to my book and then later... on the ENG. Oh yea - and I think "So You Think You Can Dance" is on tonight. LOVE that show!