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[BrittanyMarie]

when i woke up to roll over, my boyfriend's cat was under the covers. clearly, to my mind, that means that i must have smothered her in my sleep. she is fine and cuddling me right now but i can't go back to sleep! oh panic disorder, please go away

[pwhodges]

my boyfriend's cat was under the covers.

So where was your boyfriend?

[BrittanyMarie]

right next to me. all three of us under the covers in a twin sized bed. OH and i meant to say she was under my knees

[Patrick]

Dear blog,

I had a pretty freaking crazy but absolutely rad day today.

Worst I can complain about was this incredibly stupid lady who followed me and two other coworkers for an hour apiece, making us read the boxes to her because she didn't want to interpret the information on it and preferred to have it spoonfed to her. She asked questions that we answered literally by reading the box, and did so with an attitude that reeked of prejudice toward my intelligence. She asked the kind of shit that you should only need to ask once, but did so repeatedly because she WOULDN'T FUCKING LISTEN. The exchange was literally a full hour of the following:

"Is this the doll of that movie Tangled?"
"Yes ma'am, it says right here that this here doll is Rapunzel, the main character of the film."
"Yes but is it the one from the movie?"
"...yes ma'am, this is the main character of the film, the copyright and trademark info is written on the box."
"That's nice, but is this the one from the movie!"
"Yes!"
"Alright well what you doin' boy put that in the cart!"
"Ma'am this item is required to be team lifted, if you'll please hang on for a few seconds I can get another team member to help me."
"Why are you leaving, I'm trying to buy this, don't you want my business?!"

It got better though after that ordeal was finally over though. A lot better.

Just before I went to clock out for my lunch, though, a 50-or-so lady came up to me and asked me to help her look at the printer/scanner/copier/fax that we had for sale, and was comparing it to one on an adjacent endcap. She read one of the boxes and asked me to help her compare, and asked me to read her the information for a certain attribute while she read it on the other for an immediate comparison. She assisted me in helping her, and it was a very pleasant matter to help her. She was very appreciative and complimentary of my help, while the other lady didn't even bother to thank me for anything and I spent 12x as much time with her. And while this lady was thanking me she told me she was going to talk to my manager and say nice things about me. Right in front of two old friends of mine, who quietly cheered me on afterward.

Then 30 minutes before my shift ended, I ran into one of my sister's old friends. She and her now husband, both of whom I last saw 8 years ago at most recent, were always very kind to me despite my being the super annoying little brother. We chatted very briefly, and talked about some stuff we remembered from the last time we all hung out together. It was really nice to talk to somebody I interacted with that long ago.

It was, all in all, a very good day, despite the rough start. I haven't even mentioned the piss puddle I had to wipe up at one point today. Until now I had actually forgotten about it. Hell, it was a really damn good day.

[Jimmy the Squid]

I had my first day at my new job today! I hate it! I'm looking for a new job! Frankly I'm regretting not staying at my old, shit job. At least that one was easy. This one is 11 hours a day of lifting boxes, 5 days a week.

Oh hey apparently that is illegal! Unless I get overtime. I might ask about that tomorrow.

http://www.fairwork.gov.au/employment/conditions-of-employment/pages/hours-of-work.aspx

[Lines]

Is it bad that I've had those annoying customers like Pat and then walked away within 5 minutes of that? Because I have. But she was a regular and always acts like that and is crazy and she wrote a nasty email about our store to the owner and we all told him we don't care because she's CRAZY and he was like, "Ok, bitch is crazy." CRAZY PEOPLE, STAY OUT OF STORES.

Edit: this part is better for the pet thread.

[Jimmy the Squid]

The more and more I think about it (and it's a lot. I can't sleep), the more and more I realise what a large mistake I made. I really hate this job and I much preferred my old one. Yes it made me miserable but at least I was able to do it and I understood why it made me miserable. I don't mind hard physical labour, I just feel so incredibly out of place, surrounded by people with whom I cannot identify with. I feel like I'm back in highschool. Except with lots of booze. No wait...just like highschool.

[Ptommydski]

Give it a week or two Jim. I always feel like that when I start a new job. It sucks being the new guy but after a while that feeling abates.

[Jimmy the Squid]

It doesn't help that I'm required to work 50 hours a week which means that I am unable to go to band practice and can basically never spend time with my girlfriend who is usually asleep by the time I would get home from work every day. I just really don't feel like this is a good fit for me.

[benji]

That sounds like something that would have happened at my under-grad school. What actually needs to get decided by a student council?

[öde]

That sucks Jimmy. Luckily I really enjoy what I'm doing at the moment, and while I don't like my current job anymore I still enjoy bar tending/waiting. Good luck finding something that suits you better.

I don't think I've mentioned it on here but I'm moving to a new city in a few weeks, and starting an Open University course! Terrifying!

Jens, that is hilarious and awesome.

[sean]

b) cheese for the vegetarians that is actually vegetarian cheese.

cheese is not meat

[Slick]

I think this sloth thing is really going to take off guys.

[pwhodges]

b) cheese for the vegetarians that is actually vegetarian cheese.

cheese is not meat

But:

The problem occurs once the rennet is added. Traditionally, rennet has been sourced from the stomach juices of animals - usually calves. More recently, a microbial alternative (suitable for vegetarians) has been more commonly used in cheese making, but this is by no means across the board.

[sean]

 

[Metope]

'stomach juices' 

[David_Dovey]

b) cheese for the vegetarians that is actually vegetarian cheese.

cheese is not meat

Yes it is, a tasty yellow beef.

[David_Dovey]

I think this sloth thing is really going to take off guys.

I know , right? I'm pretty proud of the amount of people from different social circles on my friends list are picking up on it.

[Allybee]

holy fuck how much of these cheese that I've eaten has not been vegetarian???? shit

[Lines]

Why can't they buy their own cheese? Or is this cheese for the places where people eat on campus? (That would be really cool if all the places on campus have vegetarian cheese.)

I hope your second student council thing is more productive than the first.

[Ladybug]

Friday a little over a week ago, I was told that I'd gotten a summer job which, although not very interesting and probably not what I am best at, was actually relevant to what I'm studying. And the contract will supposedly be sent out this week.

Today I got an e-mail telling me that I would receive an invitation this week to an interview in January for a summer job as an interaction designer. Which is exactly what I'm really, really interested in and would love to do. But I am by no means guaranteed to get that job, because I'm really bad at interviews and my grades are also not top notch (but they can't be bad enough that they don't want me, since I'll get called in for an interview). Anyways, I really want this job. But I don't feel like I can say no to the ones who already offered me one, since that could leave me without a job entirely, and it would also be kind of rude. But… I know I'll drive myself nuts thinking about this job that I could have gotten. Ugh. Say no to actual offered job and perhaps be without a job but perhaps get an awesome job, or say yes to actual offered job, get some okay experience and go around wondering if I could've gotten the other job :/

I do not need this going around in my head when I'm supposed to be studying.

[Drill King]

You should just apply for the other one, and if you don't get it, let the other people know you can't do it anymore. Like, it might seem rude but as far as initial career experience, this shit is vital. There's enough people in the job market that the other people would be able to find someone.

[Patrick]

Dear blag,

You know, I haven't realized this until now, but all but one of my friends have been huge dicks about helping me handle my breakup. I listen to all of their shit whenever shit's bad for them, but as soon as it's my turn everybody's just like "God damn it man just sack up and get over it" and you know what that shit just doesn't fucking help. I sat patiently and listened to them pour their hearts out but I never have anybody to do that with.

And for being 'friends' she isn't exactly there for me either. Even though she promised she'd always be there if I needed anything. I've been needing things, and I haven't been shy in asking for help and support, and I haven't gotten a lick of it.

People wonder why my bouts of positivity are few and far between.

[Slick]

I think this sloth thing is really going to take off guys.

I know , right? I'm pretty proud of the amount of people from different social circles on my friends list are picking up on it.

The main issue with the whole cartoons for child violence or whatever was that it was just a silly frickin' thing that didn't amount to much besides a big childhood fetishization because there was no meaningful discussion or information.
I aim to change that for sloth week!

[Slick]

You know, I haven't realized this until now, but all but one of my friends have been huge dicks about helping me handle my breakup. I listen to all of their shit whenever shit's bad for them, but as soon as it's my turn everybody's just like "God damn it man just sack up and get over it" and you know what that shit just doesn't fucking help. I sat patiently and listened to them pour their hearts out but I never have anybody to do that with.

Maybe it is the way you are doing it? Maybe you sound more needy or whiny when you do it? Maybe you are more self-involved? Maybe you do it too much?
I am really not trying to call you names here even though that is what it looks like, I am just offering speculation as to why all of your friends seem to respond the same way. Critical self analysis is important to personal development!
Take up yoga. For real.

And for being 'friends' she isn't exactly there for me either. Even though she promised she'd always be there if I needed anything. I've been needing things, and I haven't been shy in asking for help and support, and I haven't gotten a lick of it.

Patrick that is a thing people say. When relationships fall apart people are reluctant to just abandon all emotional connection because that would seem to invalidate all the time spent together. Right after a breakup, leaning on an ex is not healthy.

[StaedlerMars]

Wait is it sloth week, because I am on board with that.

Sloths are the raddest animals.

Also I am so full of food at this moment it is ridiculous. It was a 10 pound bowl of nachos and it was bigger than a football. I had to share it with a friend to be able to finish it. My stomach is about to burst.

[Runs_With_Scissors]

Sloths are the raddest animals.

http://thestar.blogs.com/photodesk/2010/08/the-daily-beast-august-29-2010.html

Also, I found out that if you don't have health insurance (I'm uninsurable), and you go to a really busy clinic, they don't exactly put you as a priority. Going on 4 days without a prescription. The cool thing is they told me nothing was wrong in the first place. Google told me that my kidneys could be damaged now. Yayyy healthcare.

[pwhodges]

Google will tell you lots of things; read it really critically.

[Scandanavian War Machine]

we got a kitty! it is so cute! 

we haven't settled on a name yet, but we've narrowed it down to Minerva, Bear, Badger, and Sneezy. She gets low and fast like a badger and it's so cute because, unlike a badger, she won't rip my organs out through my face. d'awww

[allison]

Reading about illnesses on the internet will convince you that you are going to die immediately.

[Ladybug]

You should just apply for the other one, and if you don't get it, let the other people know you can't do it anymore. Like, it might seem rude but as far as initial career experience, this shit is vital. There's enough people in the job market that the other people would be able to find someone.

I can't really break a contract, though. They probably require about a month's notice if I'm going to quit, and according to the law, it is never really specified if that only counts after the actual employment date (when I start working) or just when the contract is signed. Obviously, they'll probably not want me to start if I'm only going to be there for a month, but it's a pretty huge consulting firm and breaking the contract will probably remove the company from my list of possible employers once I'm done with school. That would be bad.

Since it's just a summer job and getting relevant summer jobs is really difficult, I'm leaning towards taking the offered job. Because I'll really be screwed if I end up with no job, and there's far from any guarantee that I'll get the other one, even though I really, really want it and it would be awesome. The one I'm already offered isn't a bad job at all and it's relevant and will probably be interesting, just probably not something I'm really passionate about. If it was a steady job post-graduation, on the other hand, then I would probably go for the awesome one. But I'm not completely sure yet, I'll discuss it with my parents and I don't even know yet when they want the signed contract. But… It will suck to have to turn down the interview invitation, if that is what I end up doing. It's not like it precludes me from working in that field once I'm done, at all, I'll just be turning down the chance to maybe have a nice point on my resume that will sort of "validate" that interest. But turning down that chance means saying yes to a guaranteed point on my resume within a huge consulting firm and probably learning lots and lots. Not about what I really love, but still something I'm interested in :/ Ugh. Decisions.

[scarred]

Reading about illnesses on the internet will convince you that you are going to die immediately.

this is why i never go on webMD anymore.

[nobo]

webMD is the devil. I got fat and I convinced myself it was cushing's disease. Got blood work done and it turned out I was just lazy.

[pwhodges]

Reading about illnesses on the internet will convince you that you are going to die immediately.

It's a cunning plot - when you don't actually die, you will be really, grovellingly, grateful for anything and everything.

For reference, I have the Merck Manual on my phone (I have a paper copy in my office, as we ran a clinical trial for Merck until recently).

[Patrick]

a lot of good words

You know, walking around town today I actually had a similar thought process. Maybe it's not them, it's me, and I need to approach it differently when trying to discuss it all. As for yoga, I don't know about that, but I've been involving myself in some EFT self-study. It's actually been helping a lot. After doing my EFT routine I sit and I think about my problems again and it does wonders for my overall attitude and stress levels.

Dear guys,

I heard a bunch of young teenagers screaming downtown, so I walked over to investigate from a safe distance. Turned out they were yelling about how they wanted to kill each other and shit. So I called the cops. That has been my whole day, save for getting coffee and guitar strings.

[vegkitkat]

I think this sloth thing is really going to take off guys.

James, I just wanted you to know, your sloth videos and fun facts are my favorite thing right now.

[benji]

I can't really break a contract, though. They probably require about a month's notice if I'm going to quit, and according to the law, it is never really specified if that only counts after the actual employment date (when I start working) or just when the contract is signed. Obviously, they'll probably not want me to start if I'm only going to be there for a month, but it's a pretty huge consulting firm and breaking the contract will probably remove the company from my list of possible employers once I'm done with school. That would be bad.

Since it's just a summer job and getting relevant summer jobs is really difficult, I'm leaning towards taking the offered job. Because I'll really be screwed if I end up with no job, and there's far from any guarantee that I'll get the other one, even though I really, really want it and it would be awesome. The one I'm already offered isn't a bad job at all and it's relevant and will probably be interesting, just probably not something I'm really passionate about. If it was a steady job post-graduation, on the other hand, then I would probably go for the awesome one. But I'm not completely sure yet, I'll discuss it with my parents and I don't even know yet when they want the signed contract. But… It will suck to have to turn down the interview invitation, if that is what I end up doing. It's not like it precludes me from working in that field once I'm done, at all, I'll just be turning down the chance to maybe have a nice point on my resume that will sort of "validate" that interest. But turning down that chance means saying yes to a guaranteed point on my resume within a huge consulting firm and probably learning lots and lots. Not about what I really love, but still something I'm interested in :/ Ugh. Decisions.

If you can, you should put off signing the contract as long as you can. At your interview, at the end when they ask if there's anything else you'd like to say or any questions you have, just be straight with them. Say you've already been offered another position but you think theirs is a better fit for you and so you hope they'll make their decision quickly. There's nothing wrong with presenting yourself as a hot commodity. Then, if you don't hear back in time you can still sign the other contract with the knowledge that you did your best to get the job you would have preferred and it didn't work out.

[Jimmy the Squid]

Day two of my new job was pretty shit! I am no longer panicky though. The hours for this job are stupid and definitely just inside the limit of the law (i work 50 hours one week, 30 hours the next week but get paid for 40 hours for both weeks). We don't get overtime and apparently a former employee is taking the company to court over non-payment of wages. Basically, this is not a company I want to work for. I can however, do this job for as long as I have to until I can find something else/better. I spoke to my old boss at my previous job and if possible, I'm just going to return there for the time being. I know it stresses me out and shit but at the very least I had time to not be at work and to do the things I wanted to do.

[Lines]

So having a tiny metal rod inserted into your salivary duct SUCKS. My face hurts.

(I went to the dentist to have something checked out and they were worried it might affect my saliva glands. It's not.)

[snalin]

I can't really break a contract, though. They probably require about a month's notice if I'm going to quit, and according to the law, it is never really specified if that only counts after the actual employment date (when I start working) or just when the contract is signed. Obviously, they'll probably not want me to start if I'm only going to be there for a month, but it's a pretty huge consulting firm and breaking the contract will probably remove the company from my list of possible employers once I'm done with school. That would be bad.

Since it's just a summer job and getting relevant summer jobs is really difficult, I'm leaning towards taking the offered job. Because I'll really be screwed if I end up with no job, and there's far from any guarantee that I'll get the other one, even though I really, really want it and it would be awesome. The one I'm already offered isn't a bad job at all and it's relevant and will probably be interesting, just probably not something I'm really passionate about. If it was a steady job post-graduation, on the other hand, then I would probably go for the awesome one. But I'm not completely sure yet, I'll discuss it with my parents and I don't even know yet when they want the signed contract. But… It will suck to have to turn down the interview invitation, if that is what I end up doing. It's not like it precludes me from working in that field once I'm done, at all, I'll just be turning down the chance to maybe have a nice point on my resume that will sort of "validate" that interest. But turning down that chance means saying yes to a guaranteed point on my resume within a huge consulting firm and probably learning lots and lots. Not about what I really love, but still something I'm interested in :/ Ugh. Decisions.

If you can, you should put off signing the contract as long as you can. At your interview, at the end when they ask if there's anything else you'd like to say or any questions you have, just be straight with them. Say you've already been offered another position but you think theirs is a better fit for you and so you hope they'll make their decision quickly. There's nothing wrong with presenting yourself as a hot commodity. Then, if you don't hear back in time you can still sign the other contract with the knowledge that you did your best to get the job you would have preferred and it didn't work out.

you could probably call them and explain the situation and try to get the interview at an earlier date, if possible.

[squawk]

So apparently to the three different UPS packages I am tracking, THEY ARE ALL ARRIVING AT MY HOUSE TODAY, WHY

(normally this would be the awesomest shit but i'm still at school so this is just kind of like, bad because it's going to confuse my parents and why did i spend so much money last week.)

[jodizzle]

GUYS!  HEY HEY HEY GUYS!  GUESS WHERE I WILL BE IN LATE JULY/AUGUST NEXT YEAR. ROLLERCON MOTHERFUCKERS! 

Which means I will be in Uh-Meeeerica and visiting Jordan and then going to Vegas to wear hotpants and play the derbies and OH MY GOD!  If Aaron can get monies we are doing a Route 66 road trip too.  Otherwise I have to leave him home and just go to JOORODDAANn <3 and Vegas but I AM EXCITED FUCK YEAH ROLLERCON AND AMERICAN FOOD!

[Patrick]

Come to the Bay Area and let's hang outtttttttttt there's hella people up in hurr

Like, seriously, I could talk to Yelley and see if I can't throw down gas money so we can all hang out in Berkeley for a day.

[Joseph]

First exam is over and it went really awesomely! All the silly English majors were freaking out afterward, but I knew the answers that they apparently didn't! Woo!

Now I get to bike home in the snow and I love doing that. Skidding around corners rules, and I don't overheat.

But then I have this other exam which is going to be miserable Thursday. Which doesn't mean I can't drink a beer or a few tonight.

[valley_parade]

Do you yell POWERRRRRRRRRR in a posh English accent while sliding around said corners?

[squawk]

Yes Jodie please come to california. I am always down to chill in Berkeley

[Liz]

See this works perfectly! We were kind of talking about doing next year's con in San Francisco, so we can just schedule it at the end of Jodie's Next Trip to America and she can hang out with us again!

Please please pretty please? I want a good reason to buy a plane ticket and visit the west coast!

[valley_parade]

Really? I'm sort of planning on being in the Bay Area in mid-June.

[jmrz]

So I kind of skipped a bunch of the last pages because I haven't been on the forums in a few weeks and I have no idea what's going on.

I just got back from JAPAN! I was there for two and a half weeks on a study tour which was based through my university and the Sony Institute of Higher Education, Shohoku College in a place called Hon-Atsugi in Japan. IT WAS ALL SORTS OF AMAZING. The Japanese students planned a whole bunch of things and activities for us and were absolutely adorable, kind and went out of their way to ensure that we had an awesome time.

I made some new friends with people on the tour and we went to Tokyo a few times and I met up with a guy who I hosted for a month back in February when he was in Australia. We went to a Maid Cafe (which was an interesting experience) and I got to see a bunch of the cool places around Tokyo. The family I stayed with for a weekend was so welcoming and lovely and I have to write them a letter this week to thank them for accepting me into their home.

I can't really explain how much of an amazing experience it was. The students put in so much effort to make sure we had the best time and were all so so so sad to see us going home. Some of them wrote us letters, one girl stayed up all night and baked us cookies and wrote everyone a letter that she'd translated into English (and her English was not good). The college gave us a bunch of presents and the students gave us kaleidoscopes, chopsticks and a group photo of us all at Kamakura. Everything was just amazing.

I went shopping a bunch in Harajuku and got some AWESOME AND AMAZING dresses. The girls kept asking me to have a photo with them. Random girls kept trying to take my photo in some donut shop and be sneaky about it, but it was completely obvious what they were doing given the amount of staring they were doing. One of the Japanese guys who spent a lot of time with us told me that I was "the most beautiful", told me he loved me and asked if I had a boyfriend. It's kind of amazing how the language barrier makes that adorable instead of downright creepy.

Aghhhh I miss Japan so much already.

[Patrick]

Oh holy shit yes, con in the City please!

Dear blag,

I'm really glad there's so many people at my work who need their shifts covered. It basically means that I get to eat almost every day now. Yesterday was an exception because I need new guitar strings pretty desperately, and I really couldn't pay for them any other way. But I am doing better and better. And covering hella shifts at work is going to make my employers say "Hey, you know what, it's pretty goddamn nice having you work here, we're going to give you these hours our own selves now." I'm at the point where my call-in:call-out ratio is approximately 15:1. No joke. I have covered somebody else's shift 30 times since I started work and I have only ever called off twice. Fuck yeah I rock.

Life continues improving. I'm learning to look at stuff in a more positive light.