Cat vs Coke Box

Christmas Cat and the Card

Wow I haven't updated this in a while.

I did finally find a new job. I started in September as an Account Manager at Discover Card. Basically I answer phones all day. It's 10x better than my last job though. I get paid better and get tons of time off and still the flexibility to work and do other things. The biggest thing I have learned though is to appreciate the people who are on the line when you call in to a company. We all hate when someone tries to sell us something on the phone when we call in about something simple. But as the person whose progress at work is primarily rated on whether or not a product is offered (not sold) I am more than willing to take the time to sit through a little bit of a longer conversation and then say that I'm not interested.

In November I went to the Humane Society of Utah to adopt a cat and came home with this hunk of love.
Roxy fit in and was right home from the second she walked in the door. She wouldn't eat (when she did she'd throw it up) or go to the bathroom and on top of that she cam down with an upper respiratory infection. Because she wouldn't eat her cough and runny nose just kept getting worse and worse for the week that I had her. Finally the hard decision was made to take her back so she could find a home that had more time to really care for her the way she needed. The policy of the Humane Society is that if the animal you adopt has to be returned within 30 days, you can exchange it for another animal.

So the following week I went back and found the cutest 3month old kitten. Her name was Enigma. But I changed it to Juno (much easier to say).

Now a month later she is Queen of the apartment. Every thing is a toy. The garbage. The blinds. The dirty dishes int he sink. My glasses. Every cord, string, and piece of paper. But most especially..the refrigerator.

She of course as every cat does, loves to climb and jump and I catch her in the weirdest places taking naps. Like the kitchen counter next to my keys, work badge, and bus pass. I also find her napping in the bathroom sink and playing int he toilet. : [


Even though I'm a little too poor to make it home for Christmas this year. I decided instead to invest in a little Christmas cheer. Namely in a tree.

Three feet of dazzling lights and fake Douglas Fir means Christmas is definitely coming to my little part of Salt Lake City. Thanks Wal-Mart. Yes my lava lamp is for some reason next to the tree.

I will be going up to Idaho to spend Christmas with the family that I can. It will be Juno's first adventure out into the world and getting to meet some new people. It will mostly be nice to get away for a few days and get to see family to make Christmas feel a little more real.

With this posting I was to wish a happy and safe Christmas to everyone and their families!!

New Apartment

In October I moved into a new Apartment in Salt Lake. Well actually it's right on the border of Salt Lake City and Murray. I live with one of my old roommates Brina and her adorable dog Moose. It's a brand new apartment complex so most of the apartments are still empty but filling up quickly. The apartment is much nicer than the other places I've lived and in a much better neighborhood and right across the street from a Trax station.

Long ago it was requested that I put up pictures of my new place and I haven't yet so I am now. :)

The rest of the kitchen

Living room (my TV that I got for free)

The rest of the living room

Bedroom (view from the bed)

Laundry room (I love having a washer and dryer right in my apartment!)

Bathroom

Updated Reunion Department

Things You Should Know:

- I am alive.

- I am considering pursuing a Masters degree in Social Work as opposed to the planned Masters in Psychology. I've learned that training in Social Work can get me qualified to do the kind of work I'd most like to be doing...and the program is 2 years instead of 4. Lol

- I got to spend a lot of time with my family this weekend. Scott, Cassie, Dan, Patty, Sarah, and Larin all made their way to Salt Lake. I also got to see my beautiful sister Brooke and her family. I met for the first time Cael and Landry, and got to see again Lincoln and Savannah, and host this mini family reunion in my very small basement apartment.

- I have learned that I work for a very unorganized company, and spend the majority of my time dealing with complaints rather than actually booking calls. I also have to thank my coworkers for their vote of confidence in me, as they made bets that I would quit a week after I started. They just don't realize how bad I need this job! And needless to say, my job hunt continues.

- Thanks to an unwanted peeping Tom, I've become closely aquaited with several officers from the Sex Crimes unit of my local Police Department. I also now have a golf club by my back door and sleep with a BB Gun (thanks Patty).

- If I was a kid I'd live at the Treehouse Museum in Ogden.

- I lik-a do the cha-cha.

My Own Spill, Dogs, and Jobs

Here in Salt Lake we experienced our own oil spill 21,000 gallons of crude oil from a damaged Chevron pipe leaked from the Red Butte Creek into the Jordan River and other smaller streams. For those who have visited me or looked on a map where I live I am just across the street from the Jordan River. I went on a walk today to see the damage...

These are booms they placed in a northern part of the river to sop up the oil before it can travel farther down the river.

An oil shimmer can be seen here...you can probably see it better if you tilt your screen a little. These were seen up and down the river. It's pretty sad...and very stinky. So much damage from something we all depend on so much and would never be able to live without.

In other news, I got a new job this last week working as a Client Care Representative at Whipple Service Champions. I got the job on Friday (after a very scary group interview process) and start on Monday. I'm pretty nervous, but this job could potentially give me the ability to go to school in the Fall instead of needing to take a semester off!

I also while trying to do homework have to deal with these two little turds. Moose (dark brown) and Naiyah (fawn colored). I'm pretty sure they're friends even though this is pretty much all they do.

When they finally wear each other out and pass out they're terrifically adorable! I've def become a huge dog fan even though I never grew up with one. Even when they're annoying, it's better than being alone!

There's so much to look forward to this week...and looking to the future as well. I'm so grateful for my new job and all the possibilities it brings with it. I'm also so grateful for the prayers that I know brought this blessing about. Thanks for all of your support and prayers on my behalf!

Rejected Bug Doll

In my world...this is the lowest way to be turned down from a job. I was obviously not worth a phone call or an email...just a letter in the mail 2 months after applying. Thank you Marriott.

Though I may still be hitting a brick wall in the job department...I am at least in good company!

Just kidding. This guy is not good company. He's (I assume it's male for a number of reasons that I won't share here) the epitome of disgusting creepy crawlers. And whatever this bug is, enjoys sharing the shower with me nearly every morning no matter how many who have gone before him I have flushed. Living in a basement as the warm weather comes has brought with it a number of other creepy crawlies, but none near as big or ugly as this one!

I have learned that leaving anything edible on the floor of my room for even 30min will result in it becoming the conquest of the local ants. The worst ever was a pizza box...empty..but still apparently with enough viddles to get their attention. I left it on the floor for an hour and when I went to take it outside, it was literally crawling in ants. So I spent an hour grabbing ants off the floor and squishing them with my bare hands. OH YES, I made it personal.

This last weekend Patty and Dan came to visit me, which was way fun!! They took me out to a comedy improv show and the to a midnight dinner at IHOP, and they brought with them an early birthday present! A Jim Carrey doll that Patty made!! She even gave him crazy Ace Ventura like pants! Now my two favorite men can keep each other company when I'm not around!! Thanks so much Patty and Dan!!

This also opens the invitation to everyone to come visit me! I miss all my friends and especially my family. I need better company than grasshopper-centipede morphed bugs!!

I like to ride my...bicycle, bIcYcLe, BICYCLE!!!!

Since my $8/hr job does not leave much excess in my fiances I have picked up new means of getting myself around.

(Yes I keep my bike locked to my back porch at ALL times. Better safe than sorry!)

I bought it for $70 off ksl.com from a pretty shady character, but it works great and is in really good condition. The exercise is doing me good as is the fresh air! Once my hindquarters get used to the not-so-comfy seat it'll be even better!

It's textbook buyback season which means good hours for me!! A total of 47 very good hours this week alone to be exact. On Friday, we gave back more than $5,000 for books and I personally boxed up 10 boxes when our daily average is more like 3-4. It's a fun job and has taught me a lot. For example, this next semester I will only be getting 2 books from the campus bookstore, the other ones I'll be getting online and saving myself like $200!!

Classes I'm registered for this coming semester (most of them general ed requirements):
-Psychology as a Science and Profession
-Gender and Sexuality
-Labor economics
-Intro to Music Theory
-The Global Citizen
and maybe
-Survey of Clinical Psychology

I am moving along in the clinical trial I'm in. I haven't started taking the actual medicine, but until I do, I have to pee in a cup every morning and take an ovulation test to monitor my LH levels), because once I'm ovulating I go in and get my first round of meds. I'm definitely prepared in case I ever need to closely monitor my cycle to have kids or anything!


Here is my little kit, a cup to pee in, strips to dip into the pee, the tester (the blank circle means that I'm not ovulating today, it gives a smiley face when I am lol), and then my electronic diary where I record all of my test results, level of pain, and symptoms. It's all pretty nifty I think!!

My life has definitely changed but for the better, I'm so happy here in Utah. I miss my family but I am SOOO excited to get back into school in a few weeks!!

A Weak Week

I have had quite the week.

I decided to take part in a clinical drug trial for a drug (VA111913) that is supposed to relieve symptoms of Dysmenorrhea. The worst listed side effect of taking the drug is nausea, which is something I have to deal with even if I don't take it, so I figure its pretty safe. Beside possible new treatment for my monthly pain, I'll also be getting paid $950 for participating!!
I also somehow managed to strain my shoulder. I'm not sure what I did but it hurt bad enough on Wednesday night that I only slept for a few hours. The feeling is similar to when I strained both of my wrists playing church ball. It's made worse though by the fact that my shoulder hurts constantly, I think because gravity if constantly pulling it down. It's still really sore and moving my arm is pretty difficult, but I'm hoping by this next week it will have fixed itself!

No luck on the job front this week. I'm still looking for a night job/graveyard shift to pick up in addition to my bookstore job. If I had a car it would be SOOO much easier to get one but I've got to work with what I've got!

One thing that helped me smile this week: My favorite chocolate donut!

Me Again!

Hey there. It's been a while. I just thought I'd update this.

I'm in the process now of switching man cave locations to a bigger room in the basement where I'm staying. Its a little less cave-y than the other one. After I cleaned out all of my boxes into my new room, I slept in the little alcove under the stairs...and woke up int he morning with terrible cramps in my legs, proof that sleeping like a hamster was better in thought than in actuality.

I also have started watching a friends chihuahua on the weekends while she works three different jobs. His name is Moose and he is the most lovable snuggly little puppy ever!!

(This was our serious picture lol)

I did get a job that for now is giving me about 7hrs a week. I am still looking for another one. Hopefully one at night so I can keep it while I'm in class. Speaking of class I'll be starting at the University of Utah in May, and I'm really really excited!!! I love love love being here in Utah!!

This is an early birthday present from a good friend that I got a few days ago. If you recognize who this is you'll know why this molding of his face (real not sculpted) is pretty much the best present EVER!!!

Til next time.

Pictures!!

Here are some pictures of my new place. Yes my room is partly under the stairs, which just makes me feel a little bit like Harry Potter. Its nice and cozy...what you probably can't tell is that the ceilings are really low...I am in the basement so its all pretty tight even the pace between the floor and ceiling. I, at not quite 5'6, have only a few inches between my head and the top of the door frame. I feel like a giant walking around :) There's not a lot of space but I welcome visitors!!!

All Growed Up

Keys to my very own room. In a beautiful house. That I found on my own like a grown up would. Nuff said.