Happy Festivus!

And Merry Christmas and all that.

It's pretty clear that the holidays make people (ok, mostly adults) insane. A friend says that the whole point of the holidays is that they're for the kids, and that more or less the grown-ups have to deal. But my family, aside from a couple cousins, doesn't have kids involved. Yet we still drive ourselves and each other CRAZY.

We procrastinate buying gifts, we spend WAAAAY more than we have/than we intended, we stress over the perfect decorations, we willfully battle gridlocked mall parking lots, and we volunteer/bring upon ourselves to cook or prepare far too many dishes.

I fall into almost all of those categories, most notably the last (except for the malls, I'm an online shopaholic). Every holiday I offer to cook or bring some sort of dish and I turn it into far more complicated of an affair than it ever should have been. Additionally, I greatly dislike cooking, and nor am I particularly good at it. Are we all just masochists around the holidays?

I hope that maybe deep within our mildly demented hearts and minds that the real reason for driving ourselves and families nuts is not just "for the kids" but really for each other. To show the people in our lives that we actually do care even though we've been screaming at them for the past week, or biting their heads off, or were just plain crabby since the day after thanksgiving.

And I hope that everyone can see that in spite of all the mass commercialized glut, the 80 million tins of cookies, the late night gift wrapping, the stress of the family parties, et al, that we are all pretty damn lucky to have so many people in our lives who DO care about us and who just want to make us feel happy and loved. We should let them, and we should make sure they know we want them to be happy and loved, too. Because everyone, not just the kids, needs to know that.

I love you all! And happy holidays :)

Yippee!!!

I finally graduated, on Sunday, and then yesterday was my last day at Target. It was a great feeling walking away from the store, knowing that I never have to go back and listen to all the annoying crap that goes on there, or work late nights or weekends or anything like that.

I am probably going to miss classes, just for the fact that I am a total nerd. BUT I am excited to start my new job. Pam (my new boss) had to go out of town unexpectedly so I get a nice little vacation out of the deal before starting (which is good because I REALLY need to shop for some new clothes...all I have is red and khaki and t-shirts and jeans, and I just don't think that will cut it at the office!).

The only downer is that I have been attacked by the pesky cold sore virus again (no doubt due to the stress of last week, and possibly me losing my chapstick for over 15 hours on Friday). I do hope I am healed before Christmas, because there are going to be at least two darling babies that I will want to see and play with, but also because I look like Ronald McDonald when I don't smother my face in concealer.

Alright, off to go reapply a good layer of aquaphor on my mouth. Gross, right? Sorry!

I don't believe it.

But I am finished with school. The last 6 and a half years of studying and dealing with scheduling work and school and my almost non-existent social life have finally come to an end, and I actually did pretty well. Looks like I'll end up with 3 A's and a B, although that's not quite for sure. But I don't believe I am in any danger of failing, so on Sunday I will FINALLY get to walk across the stage, get my empty diploma folder, and get a flipping life.

In job related news, I have accepted the position at Sterling Financial Advisers in Chesterfield. I was playing phone tag with the lady for days, but we finally got ahold of each other (she had to go out of town, deal with her parents, someone was sick or something). But we are meeting next week to work out the details of the position (she is now hiring two people, not just one), and my start date (she wants me to be able to "enjoy my Christmas"). Enjoy it I will, because for the first time in my adult life (since I was 16) I do NOT have to work the week before Christmas (Monday is my last shift), and I might not have to work the day after, either.

I'll need the time to clean my room, catch up on months of laundry, buy new work clothes, burn some red and khaki, and recycle all my old notebooks and folders. And chill out. I can't wait to do that. Plus all the out of towners are coming in, and I can't WAIT to see them. The holidays actually might be enjoyable this year. I'm still broke, but at least I'll have some time to enjoy it all.

FINALLY, for anyone Target related, or whoever just wants to have a drink with me, we will be having a happy hour to celebrate my escape from the big red T this coming Monday at Mike Duffy's in K-wood from 5-8ish. Good times will be had, but I'm saying it now, just for the record, I am NOT doing any shots. Thankyouverymuch.

:)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

oh yeah

There was a bird in Target today, all day. I named him Flakey cause he kept sitting on top of this snowflake decoration hanging from the ceiling in my department and a bird has to be pretty damn flakey to fly into a flipping Target. I hope he got out, it started to make me sad seeing him fly in swooping circles from the checkouts, around Food Ave, and across the front doors, but never quite figuring out how or when to get through the doors. Maybe he made it to the stockroom and he got out that way.

Life

It's starting to get interesting....

I got an offer from the job in Chesterfield today. It is decent, but by no means amazing given that the entire pay raise will pretty much cover my student loan payments and that's it.

But...I have an appointment on Wednesday to discuss an offer with the job in Clayton. I'm crossing my fingers that its more money, or at least includes health benefits (Chesterfield doesn't).

Either way, I am putting in my two weeks at Target tomorrow. It's unreal, so I haven't started freaking out just yet, but that's just a matter of time. This means I don't have to work there after the 19th. Amazing.

Graduation is coming up quickly, too, and I can't really think about what life will be like come January and I have no classes to go to. Probably pretty wonderful.

In other news, I learned how to play poker yesterday. Yes, I was a brat about some of the weird rules but in the end, I enjoyed myself. Maybe cause I won. I think Andrew let me, though. He likes to fold, and I like to live on the edge AKA bet on my pair of 3's.

Maybe not

Both my front doors on my car are iced completely shut. I have been going all around the edges clearing the ice away, but the seals are frozen, and I don't want to snap off the door handle by pulling too hard. All the advice I have read online says to use a hairdryer. Um, right. My car is across the street and do you think I own an extension cord that long? Not sure if it will get easier to open because it is not going to warm up past 29 today.

Luckily I have power. The folks across the street totally do not. No one else in my building has tried to leave yet, but if they do, I don't think they'll get too far.

When I called work again to update them, I said I would take a cab if they paid for it. The manager who answered was like, "eh, um, no, no one is really going to shop today." I hope she's right. But people are crazy and they love to do shit like that. I told her I'd keep trying to come in, but honestly, what can I do? Not much.

One more thing. As much as I made fun of all those people who were "stocking up" on Wednesday well, looks like my foot is in my mouth now. I have very little in the way of appetizing food. No good soups or meat or veggies or butter. Some bread, pb and j, tuna, tomato soup, frozen peas and bocas. I'm not starving, but I sure will be bored after lunch!

Winter

I made it throught the night with my power...though I set a battery alarm just in case. Brendan's area of Dogtown wasn't so lucky. I checked the news and Kirkwood reportedly has major outages. That includes my happy little Target BUT we have a generator which is running the registers, some lights, and our scanning guns. The boss said 18 people actually made it in for the overnight shift, which is impressive for their often-sketchy attendance. So I'm off to scrape my car for the next twenty minutes and then creep my way to work, on Manchester to Lindbergh most likely. Big Bend is too hilly. I hate driving in this crap!

I hope everyone else (non Targeteers) get to enjoy a snow day, or perhaps at least a late start! Be safe on the roads. And when you think about how it was just like 70 degrees on Wednesday, well, perhaps maybe this is a result of that global warming thing people like to talk about!

What did we do without the internet?

Thanks, Al Gore. I owe you!

Yahoo Answers is brilliant.

Not sure what to do about the hacking neighbor upstairs? Just ask all the other random nightowls up on Yahoo Answers. You are sure to get some good advice. And some good laughs, too!

SuperMegaJumbo Frustration

I can't write research papers. Academically, I am pretty good at most other types of assignments. But I have NEVER been a good research paper writer.

I think I have enough articles and books to get me about halfway through this thing (6 out of 12 pages). But after that, I don't know what I'm gonna do. Get more, I suppose, but that's flippin time consuming (obviously).

I don't know what I would do though without Nina. She is an excellent advice giver and cheerer-upper.

I am on my fifth page. I'd like to get the sixth one done tonight, but I also think I might just do the bibliography since nothing I write sounds very good right now, every other sentence is passive, and I can't seem to concentrate enough to fix them. Plus I always leave the bibliography till the end, and then I stress out about the proper formatting and stuff and wind up getting it done late or something.

I don't want to stress anymore about this, but I clearly will be doing just that until it's turned in on Thursday.

I am also tired of listening to my upstairs neighbor hack his lungs up. He sounds flippin horrible, it's really gross, but I don't think its too serious cause he and his girlfriend have been in and out of the damn place all day. But he's been coughing all week. Maybe I should leave a bottle of robitussin at the door...

Ok, back to the paper. Man, stupid polysci class, its the most stressful out of all my classes and it's not even my damn major. Lame.

To Do, oh crap!

I have a lot to do in the next 11 days. Then I have two finals.

1. Write my 12 page Afghanistan paper. Due THIS Thursday. Crap. Currently have one paragraph written.

2. Write 2-4 pages on Universal Health Care. Due the 7th, which is not all that far away.

3. 20 page (ish) report about my creation of a 20-security mutual fund. Due the 7th as well. Yuck.

4. Two homework assignments for investments due this Tuesday. Both half finished. Not hard, just hard to prioritize over #1.

Sleep is going to be optional till I get my shit together. This is senioritis at it's worst, I guess. Why I do it to myself, I don't know. But as Thom says, "that's what really hurts."
Ha. Wish me luck. I hope I don't have to go for any second interviews until after Thursday. Not that I don't want these jobs, but man I have no free time.

Highlights from "Black Friday"

I just got home after a lovely afternoon/evening/night/early morning at Target. Godwilling my last day after Thanksgiving ever.

The best things about tonight were:

1. Some hoosier lady coming back over to yell at me for being rude after I told her that we had sold out of the "video rocker". Apparently, I had said it VERY rudely. It was 6 pm, for christsakes. Don't take your procrastinating shopping habits' bad fortune out on me.

2. Another crazy person asking me in a most serious tone at 9:30 pm if we had any tickle me elmo's left. I honestly laughed. But in a nice way this time, and was like, "um, no, not at 9:30, but maybe tomorrow morning at 8 right when we open." Wow.

Other than that, it was just a long day of saying, "sorry we are sold out of that", "maybe tomorrow we'll have more", "the $3.98 dvds are in the red box around the corner and no we do not have March of the Penguins" and "can someone PLEASE answer that hardware call!"

I'm so over it. I really think something is wrong with Americans after I work these weekends. But I personally hate to shop. Regardless, it's out of control, and brings out the worst in people. It has nothing to do with Christmas if you wanna go there, and it just makes people go deeper into debt, and for what? I suppose that nine Christmas seasons at Target has made me a teeny bit bitter, but I don't care. I appreciate the insight about consumerism that I've gained. And when it's all said and done, I'll still do my shopping online, where there are no shelves to mess up, no hoosiers and their 20 kids to listen to, and no slowly creeping checkout lines to waste my time in.

Becoming like my father?

For the past 18 or so hours, I have spent most of my waking moments wearing an apron. And I think I liked it. Dad should be proud.

My eyes are STILL watering from slicing a bunch of shallots, but overall, I think I've done a pretty decent job cooking up some stuff for Thanksgiving. I made Cranberry Citrus Pomegranate Relish last night, and it tastes delish! Then I made "Judiciously Updated" Green Bean Casserole today. It probably took me double or triple the time a normal person would have needed, but I did it, all my fingers are intact, and barring any unforseen circumstances with the casserole in the oven or the transport to Mom and Dad's, things look pretty good.

And as far as things to be thankful for this year, aside from all of the obviously wonderful people I know, is that I had two really great (albeit LONG) interviews this week, both of which I have a strong feeling that I will be offered a position. I'm lucky to be in this position before I've even thrown my cap into the air and all that, and moving on to bigger and better things BEFORE Christmas is clearly quite appealing. Wish me luck, and I'm sure I'll need advice weighing my options in the next few weeks.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone, and PLEASE make sure to stuff yourselves silly, drink lots of good wine, have lots of good conversation, and make it home safely and happily. And be nice to all the retail employees you come across the next few days. ;)

The interview

It went well. I got there super early and waited in my car forever. I was incredibly nervous but thinking about how over Target I am and how close I am to graduating so I kept myself reasonably calm. Pam, the woman I'd be working for interviewed me. It was really casual; she told me about the firm, and herself, and how she got into the financial planning business, as well as a bit about the job I'd be doing, where I could go with it, and why her previous assistant quit.

First off, it was clear that the office is business casual, and actually only 7 people work there: three planners, and a few assistants. I'd be the assistant at the door with a desk in the "lobby" but otherwise I would just work for Pam. They don't share clients or employees, but they all have similar philosophies about planning and all have their CFP designation.

She seemed really nice and she was impressed by all the courses I have taken that relate to the field. UMSL is one of the few colleges in the state to offer a program for financial planning, and is the only one in St. Louis. Needless to say, I think she liked the fact that I wouldn't have the learn that part of the business from the ground up.

She didn't really ask me too many of the stereotypical questions, and actually she didn't even really write much down at all. But she was very friendly, and seemed really down to earth. All in all, I think it went really well. She is interviewing this week and next, but she asked when the earliest I could start would be, and I told her all I needed was two weeks notice.

We briefly discussed money, and I told her my range was $33,000 to $43,000 dependent on benefits and job responsibilities (it seems like there are a lot of responsibilities, with room to grow). She offers vacation days right away, retirement savings after a year, and no group medical, but they do have a plan I can join through which would probably be cheaper than going it alone. I think it's an HSA like at Target but oh well. She said she had to pay more because she didn't offer medical, which sounds great to me!

All in all, I have a pretty good feeling about it. I still have another interview on Wednesday in Clayton, and I think it might be very different that this one. It's also potentially for an internship but I am going to use the fact that I am interviewing for a full-time position at a similar firm as leverage if possible.

The only thing that would suck is of course, working in Chesterfield. Aside from Nina being nearby for a little while, I have absolutely no desire whatsoever to work there or have anything to do with it. Plus my car doesn't like the idea of that commute...though I need a new one anyway. But I better be on the upper end of that salary range if I want to get a car, otherwise I'm gonna be paycheck to paycheck just like today. And I can't forget about all FOUR of my student loan payments that are gonna be due here in a few weeks and months. Yucko.

Well, wish me luck. I hope I'm offered a job, and I hope that I get to quit Target soon!

Elmo

I might be the best godmother ever. This is what my godson Jacob is getting from his favorite godparent for Christmas, and I think it's flippin great. He loves Elmo, and this toy cracks my shit up!

On that note, I wish I could just add youtube videos to my blog, but it doesn't recognize my account or something. This is the second time I've tried. Gerald, you sometimes put videos up, how did you do it?

Another application

I applied at another CFP firm, this time it's for an internship that pays $10-$15 for 20hrs/wk. Not bad. I'd have to stay on part time at Target, until I got something more permanent, but it would look awesome on my resume, no doubt. And as for my other interview, it's scheduled for 4pm next Monday. I have a lot to do to get ready, and a flippin' 15 page paper and a group project to worry about, too. Aahhh!! I can't wait for this semester to be over with, but the prospect of getting out of Target before Christmas just keeps me going.

I GOT AN INTERVIEW!!!!!!!

Kind of a big deal.

It's with a CFP (certified financial planner) in Chesterfield. She has her own practice, Sterling Financial Advisors. Here's the job description:

This is an excellent opportunity for a candidate wanting to get into Financial Advising/ Sales. Opportunities for advancement are available for the right person.

Administrative
Servicing client phone calls
Processing client applications for investments
Following up on pending business
Maintaining producer licenses
Maintaining client database (Junxure)

Portfolio Management
Prepare client investment reviews
Download and maintain data in performance database (Centerpiece)
Monitor/analyze news regarding preferred mutual funds and managers

Other
Lobby workstation requires friendly/professional interaction with clients
Contact with property management company regarding office concerns

Qualifications:
Proficiency in MS Excel, MS Word and Internet
ParaPlanner designation within 6 months of employment
Attention to details is imperative, financial experience is not
This is a position for a focused, proactive person interested in being part of a growing independent financial planning practice. This mature individual will assist with managing my existing clients as well as helping to develop new client relations. I need someone who is flexible and creative; organized, efficient and can handle several tasks at once. This job requires the ability to be an excellent team player, yet must be equally adept at working independently


YAY!!!!!!! I have to set up an interview with her for either next Thursday or the following Monday. Probably Monday. I need a suit and all kinds of stuff. Katie, I wish you were here in St. Louis to shop for me!

How nerveracking!!!! And how awesome that there is a chance that I WON'T be at Target this Christmas :)

I bought my cap and gown today

But before I get to do any walking around in it (in flats, they were out of my size so I had to get one made for short-er people), I must finish a bunch of obnoxious stuff:

1. 15 page polysci paper about the war in Afghanistan. This is the scariest assignment of them all, and I should probably be figuring out my thesis and doing research right now.

2. 3-5 pager on Universal Health Care- luckily Massachusettes just implemented a plan, so I should have plenty to go on there.

3. My last group project ever! (as an undergrad...who knows if I'm really gonna be done with school, right?). It's next Wednesday, my group sucks of course, and I have to use their answers to write my answer and no one has done anything yet. Oh yeah, and it's a company analysis of Ford. They kinda suck these days.

4. Two regular homework assignments, one about bond pricing, the other about derivative securities. Thrilling.

5. A portfolio project where I create and analyze a $10,000,000 mutual fund of 20 securities. Supposedly it's gonna be 20 pages, and lots of excel graphs and tables. Fun.

6. Two finals, but I'm not worrying about those until classes are over on Dec. 7th.

And I'm really so over this. I'm over my job, I'm over rushing to get to class, I'm over not EVER sleeping in, I'm over staring at the damn computer when I'd rather be outside or working out, and I'm over being poor. I want to have money on payday, not barely enough left after paying all the damn bills so that I feel guilty for buying a bag of groceries at Whole Foods instead of Schnucks.

Like whoa.

For the first time in my politically-aware life (obviously, since I was only 12 in 1994 when the GOP took control of Congress), the Democrats have BOTH the House and the Senate. I think my mind is just blown. I can't wait to see what will come of it. It's an enormous relief/sense of excitement to think about what the political news will be. Instead of "more of the same" and stagnating right wing agendas, could we possibly be ready to experience a few liberal improvements? Instead of just making me more and more disappointed, pessimistic, embarrassed, and sad, could our government ACTUALLY make something better? Considering our country's condition in '94, and the HUGE desire for new strategies all around, I think so.

(And stem cell research for all!)

Election Update, FYI

Here's a handy reference to the Missouri statute governing recounts. It may become relevent here in the next few hours.

What about recounts for non-candidate issues? When do those get recounted?



11/9: YAY FOR NO RECOUNTS!!!

Election Nights

I've worked the majority of Tuesday nights for the past 7 years or so. I have worked a lot of election nights (including the Gore/Bush '00 debacle). I usually work early the next day. But, I CAN'T possibly go to sleep without knowing the outcome. I am an optimist, so even if my candidate is currently down 4% with 65% of precincts reporting, I'm still holding out. Same with the proposition I'm desperately rooting for. It's killer.

Right now, I have 5 tabs open in my browser: this, npr, msnbc, cnn, and bbc. I'm obsessed. I could just be doing some homework, and check up after a half hour or so, but I've decided to stalk the news websites instead.

Well, in other news, I have 40, almost 39 days left until graduation. And only 23 more shifts at Target until then, too. Actually, make that 22 if I get the day off for Maggie and Beth's graduation down in Springfield. Pretty exciting. I have yet to get a good hit from any of the many resumes I've sent out, but it seems like everyone wants people with actual degrees. Not someone who has, oh, 8 1/2 years of work experience and ALMOST a degree. But whatever.

I plan on bombarding many potential employers about two weeks before I graduate. I'm going to have to write a million cover letters, but I'm going to make sure that they don't sound contrived. I would seriously flip out if I actually had a job offer BEFORE Christmas. Even if I couldn't start until after the new year, just knowing that I was getting out for sure would be amazing.

Here's another election related bit of info I learned tonight: I asked our store manager (who's pretty in the know, not just a corporate robot) what the impact the raise in the minimum wage in Missouri would have on our store. I was curious because we currently hire people at what would be the new minimum wage, and I had a feeling that Target wouldn't ever pay people the minimum, because it makes them look bad. We've been having hiring issues lately, and we are all sure that our low starting wage doesn't help. We've asked HQ for an increase in our base pay three times this year, but they've denied it every time. But Tim, our manager, said that most likely HQ wouldn't ignore this. So...not only will Target folks in MO make more than the Jan. 1 minimum wage of $6.50 (which is also tied to inflation), BUT there would most likely be pay increases across the board to allow for continuity- those of us well above the minimum would get a proportional increase. Brilliant, since I still don't think I make enough, and I'm not even capped (though fewer and fewer team leads seem to be staying long enough to be eligible for wage ceilings, but I digress).

Ok, well, I'm off to stare at the ever-narrowing gap on cnn, msnbc, npr, etc.

Best News of the Week!!!!

I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!

"The forthcoming record, We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank, is set for release early next year with a full World tour to follow."

I heart Modest Mouse.

$48,000?!

Yes Please!

Here's to hoping that I can live up to the "average UMSL Business School graduate" standards!

Because procrastinating is my best talent

1. The fall is great because it's not hot, but spring is still better because there is no such thing as ragweed then.

2. A good way to clean out your refrigerator is to stop going to the grocery store for a month, then take your car to the shop for three days and then make every last possible creation you can from the can of soup, frozen waffles, and box of noodles you have in your possession. Also, go broke repairing said car, and then spend your last (almost) $35 on a T.M.X.

3. If anyone needs to know about how to purchase insurance, I have just created a fantastic powerpoint slide show that is sure to be quite riveting, as well as earn me an A tomorrow morning.

4. Knowing you get to sleep in your own bed is a really good feeling sometimes.

It was passive aggressive day at Target

Who wants to hear another Target story?
That's what I thought! Everyone!

I mostly vented all this to Missy and Andrew, but I still feel like putting it out there because someday when I have a new job that isn't just total bullshit all the time, I want to be able to look back and remember everything I don't miss.

My "new" boss (she's been there almost three months, and it's not a hard job), seems to lack the ability to ask me to do the stuff that she wants me to do. It's pretty stupid because she's the boss, and doesn't seem to have problems telling other people what to do. I don't know why she can't do that with me. She mentioned something about my attitude towards her talking to me, but I think thats baloney. If you're the boss, and you want something done, you tell the person or you deal with the fact that you didn't ask, so you can't get mad that it isn't done.

That's what I think about when I choose to avoid people I don't like/don't feel like dealing with. Either you suck it up and tell them what you need, or you deal with the consequences of it not getting done. Because most people aren't mind readers, things aren't just gonna happen.

All day yesterday, I knew my boss was going to need help setting a new display in my department. There were two left to get set on Wednesday, and she told me to do one, and she'd do the other on Thursday. I pulled my share of the work, getting the display set and filled, all while working a short shift and taking care of all the other junk that happens during the day.

When I came in on Friday, she hadn't done a damn thing for her end of the deal. So, around 8:30, she said she was going to do it. Fine. I can always find 8 million other things to do, so I busied myself with a bunch of other stuff, had a chat with the store manager about planning for the holidays, and talked to Gerald. All day long, my boss just sort of ignored me, not really saying anything as she walked by (which is usual), and also not really getting anything done on the project. I noticed a mess she started to make, but no real progress.

At 12:30, she left me a post-it on my desk (I was on the phone and I guess she didn't think she could talk to me), telling me to meet her by the new set. I did, and she said, I've been really busy all day, blah blah blah, I'm going to need help. I said, do you want me to set it for you? And she said no, I just need some help getting it done.

How stupid. I knew she wasn't going to get it done, but did she have to wait FOUR hours to ask for help? She is the flipping boss, but apparently I am a scary monster that she is afraid of. Go me.

I wind up setting the entire thing, putting up the new signing, and cleaning up the mess that she made while trying to get it all started. She took two and a half hours to pull the merchandise out of the backroom. It wasn't even that much stuff.

So then it was like 3:30, and we get off at 4. But she wanted to have a meeting, with the other two girls that she is in charge of. I told her we left at 4, and that I had plans. Somehow, though, we wound up being stuck in the conference room with her till nearly 4:20, not getting anything accomplished. It ended when I told her that if she wants something done, it's her job to ask, I don't read minds, and I was supposed to leave, so I am going now. I got up, and left. It was a flippin' Friday afternoon and she thought she could keep us there late just to bitch? Hell no.

She started to just go after me, but I wasn't having it. I can play her little game, too. She is the boss, she needs to make the effort to talk to me and tell me what she needs. If I need something from her, I'll tell her. But that is probably never going to happen, since I can just tell Kathy or Tim. Honestly, I'd be perfectly happy if she just left me and my department alone. I really don't need any help ever, I'd rather just do my thing and leave. I don't care about it, but I don't do stuff for no reason. If she has a plan, she needs to tell me what the hell it is. She really lacks that sort of leadership quality. And I don't have any respect for her. I've been there too long, and seen too many shitty managers, that they really have to earn my respect, I don't just give it away. And she has not done much in the way of convincing me she deserves it.

All this junk going through my head.

I haven't been able to get to sleep very easily lately. I think there is too much junk going through my head, and most of the time I keep thinking about the bad stuff (like that last post, or my aching foot, or whatever).

Also, it probably seems like I'm always pissed off, which, as I hope all of you know, is so not true.

So, here are a few good things about today.
-Gabbing away with Anita at lunch at school (instead of studying!)
-Breezing through my first investments test in like 25 minutes. This is the class I got a D+ in last semester. Things are going much better the second time around, obviously.
-Amazingly yummy coffee from the pony espresso at school. I think Matt said its some new stronger sumatra blend. Whatever it is, I love it.
-Finding out I got a 100% on my first junior level polysci class test. I'm a genius, it's no big deal.
-Seeing Amy at Target and getting to have a brief moment of girly talk, like we used to when I wasn't taking 12 hours and could go see her and the boys.
-Having some folks from a school supply "store" for needy kids come and clear out my overloaded 75% off clearance displays. I'm calling them back tomorrow to come get more. You couldn't believe how many folders we still have. I'm glad kids who will appreciate them are getting the good deals, and not cheap asses from k-wood who can afford to pay full price.
-Getting myspaced by Katie F, from the good ol St. Pete and UA. I was just thinking about her, too, it was all ESP like.
-Getting an email from Nina AND getting to read another survey. Oh silliness.

So yeah, everything is not all so bad. Maybe now I will be able to sleep and not be all restless and not hate the world tomorrow at work.

GRRRR

I need a new job. I've sent out a bunch of applications and I am stalking the career services listing, but I am so close to the edge these days, I can't stand it.

We were trying to close, but all the stupid people decided to shop at 10pm tonight.

First, I really want to punch this one stupid kid where it hurts, badly. He smarted off to me when I asked him to leave, cause DUH the lights were out. Had to ask him twice, and tell him, no, I was not being rude to him, but the store was CLOSED, so he couldn't shop anymore. What sucks the worst is that Kathy agreed with him when he "complained to the manager". WTF? Last time I checked it was part of my JOB to get people out of the store when we closed. Yeah. And he was like 15. I could have taken him, and haven't been that close to punching someone in a long time.

But then, this totally wasted/stoned/crazy dude was still in the CD's, and I asked him to go up front. NICELY. I have this down, and I know I wasn't being rude. THE FLIPPIN LIGHTS ARE OUT. I tried to help him find the cd he wanted, but he was completely incoherent. Then, he yells up to his girlfriend, "this fucking white girl won't let me get the cd." Again, WTF? We didn't have the damn cd and seriously, how the hell does race play into this? Why is it always about race? I wouldn't ever dream of saying to anyone "this black girl is making me leave." It doesn't f-ing matter what color my skin is. The lights are out, we gave three closing announcements, and you can't just figure it out that you should leave?

GRRRRRRR.

I do really hate people in general. They are pretty much all jerks. I would kill for a good month without any contact with people I don't already know and like. It would be amazing.

I shouldn't have waited this long to get new work shoes.

I bought new shoes for work yesterday, finally, because my old ones had been around since the week after Christmas, and had not one, not two, but three types of insoles added to them, and the heels had been completely worn out.

But I think it was too late. Now, I am not the kind of person who has any hypochrondiac-esque traits. Hell, I haven't seen a regular doctor since my senior year of high school. I don't even HAVE a regular doctor anymore, cause that was my pediatrician. I've been to a few random specialists, and of course, the oh-so-fun annual girl exam, but otherwise, I just don't get sick or hurt enough to warrant shelling out the time and money to go to a doctor.

But back to the shoe/foot issue. I think I gave myself a stupid stress fracture with those shitty old NewB's. I googled it and every website concurred with my symptoms. The bottom of my right foot has been hurting for about three weeks now. Nothing too horribly painful, but it's noticibly worse after a long day at work and first thing in the morning.

But I don't really want to go to a doctor because I picked the shitty insurance where I have cheap premiums but a flippin $2300 deductible before they cover ANYTHING. All I get is a lousy fee reduction if I use an in-network doc. Big deal. I'll save like $20 off a $100 visit, and then have to pay straight up for whatever tests or x-rays or bone scans they want to do. I don't know about all that. I don't know if it's worth it. But then again, you only get one right foot. If it actually breaks that would probably be a lot worse.

Eh. Stupid Target. First it was the stress induced heartburn. Then the spider veins. Now it's my damn feet.

I may be losing it.

I have been trying to start my PAGES and PAGES of reading this afternoon for about an hour now. I did everything I could do that didn't involve reading for homework, and now I need to hunker down. But for whatever psychotic reason, I can't concentrate. I just spent way too long completely emptying out my backpack and looking at all my folders and stuff because I can't find my little tab things I use to mark my pages, and for whatever dumb reason, I can't concentrate on reading unless I can mark my page with them like a nutcase or something.

I'd blame it on too much caffeine, but I only had a cup of coffee and half a bottle of tea. That's nothing. In fact, making coffee right now sounds wonderful, but I am afraid it will make me even more insane.

I also can't stand sitting on my crappy futon trying to read for long periods of time. It's moments like this that I consider just going into debt and ordering up a fancy-schmancy Crate and Barrel couch. And white-glove delivery is only $69. But luckily I have amazing self-restraint. I have been coveting that damn thing for about a year. I keep telling myself I have to wait until I graduate and get a real job, and can afford to pay it off quickly, or even save and pay cash.

Either way, I seem to have major problems getting into a studying routine. I'm distracted by everything right now. I've got to get over it.

If you like The Flaming Lips

Rent their totally way cool rockumentary The Fearless Freaks.
You will love it.

I think this post is pretty much for Jerry. If anyone else (besides you Andrew. Duh, it's your movie), likes them too, you should tell me. I will love you more than I already do.
;)

More Metrolink

I'll try to make this one shorter ;)

Now that the new routes are in service, and many bus lines are feeding into the Metrolink stations, I've noticed a severe increase in the number of riders, both on the morning train to school and the afternoon train home. This has been especially bad on the 3:27 train Eastbound, because it's the first of the rush-hour 10-minute interval trains, and the first Eastbound train for 25 minutes (the last one leaves UM-North at 3:02).

I should mention, also, that yes, I'd just as soon wait for the next train at 3:37, but I have to BE at Target at 4:30, and I'm already a late person as is. I can't afford to wait.

Anyway, the problem with this huge crowd is that it just gets bigger and bigger at each successive stop. People don't seem to know what to do, and since this is not a big city with constant rushes like this, no one really knows how to take it in stride. No one goes and stands in the middle aisle, no one gives up their seats for those who might need them more than others, no one opens paths for those getting off, and the people getting on at the stops immediately crowd in wherever they think they can.

It's rough. And at times, slightly scary. People seem cranky and tired and at the moment, hot, and unwilling to be very tolerant.

I thought it couldn't hurt to pass along my feelings to the folks at Metrolink, because I know it's not just a one-time deal, it's happened every Tuesday and Thursday this semester. I also wanted to suggest them moving back the first 10 min. rush hour train to 3:17, to help alleviate things a bit. I mean, one train would really make a huge difference, and it couldn't be that hard, right?

Actually, I imagine scheduling those trains is a logistical feat, even with software simulations, and it would not be very likely to happen, but I figured it didn't hurt to ask.

I wrote the customer service department last night around midnight. I got my first response this morning at 10:30, from a representative who explained how they determine whether or not a train is beyond desired capacity (it's 216 passengers by the way), and that she would forward my comments on.

I got my second response, this time from a person in the scheduling department, at 4 pm. I am totally impressed with their response times. And this guy told me that they were aware of the problem, and looking at switching one of the trains from leaving Shrewsbury to leave Lambert at this time. They think it will benefit more riders, but it is not likely to happen until November.

All new things have kinks to work out, but I really am impressed that the people at Metro actually listened to my issue and gave me realistic and quick answers. AND something is being done. Not because I asked, but still, it's good to know that someone is looking out for the little guy (or girl, as I happen to be).

Public Transit (or, I Am My Father's Daughter)

Alright, I'd like to preface this entry by first saying that I just spent WAY too much time figuring this out. I SHOULD have been reading for class tomorrow, but instead, I was calculating routes and times and costs and savings and all sorts of junk, but I've been waiting for the new Metro schedules to begin (which was today, by the way), so that I can prove a point. Or points, as it will likely turn out to be.

As most everyone in the STL area realizes, the new Cross County Metrolink extension opened for full-service use today. Along with this new line, efficiently designed or not, comes a completely revamped Metrobus service. I believe that every line was affected, and was either re-routed, eliminated, expanded, combined, or otherwise changed so as to accommodate the 8 new station stops, as well as to hopefully allow for more practical and widespread use of our city's somewhat pitiful albeit dedicated mass transit system.

Now, about a month ago, knowing that drastic changes were in store, I used Metro's "Tripfinder" feature to determine how I, poor little Colleen who's sick of paying nearly $3/gallon to drive from Dogtown to her dear job in Kirkwood, might be able to commute via public transportation, and if such a feat would be at all efficient.

Both Mapquest and Metro agreed that my commute was approximately 9.62 miles, and by my usual drive down I-44, this takes 13 minutes. Some other points that I included in Tripfinder was that I wanted to arrive at Target by 7:30am, and leave around 4:30pm (this was before school started, and I didn't get to bust out of there at 2, but regardless).

So...out pop my results, and it's scary. Three buses in the morning commute, the #'s 16, 57, and 49, and I'd have to leave from Skinker and Clayton at 6:14am!!! just to get there on time. The way home was also over an hour commute but this time with only two buses, the #47 and 52. I'd have to leave Target at 4:20 and would arrive back at Skinker and Clayton at 5:23. Ouch.

I don't even need to go on explaining how it can't possibly be reasonable for a sleep-deprived college kid to try to make it to a bus stop by 6:14am, let alone rationalize spending over an hour going from bus to bus just to get to work less than 10 miles away. It's wrong for so many reasons. And it's certainly tragic for all of those who have no choice but to do this every single day simply because they aren't as fortunate as I am with my trusty little Honda.

Well, now fast forward a month or so to today, when the new schedules are in effect, and the Tripfinder is all set up to help me show that sometimes all of those changes actually DO make sense. And what to my surprise do I discover? It is A LOT better. Most obviously, it's just one bus, the new #59 Shaw-Kirkwood, and it's the same bus and route going to and from work. Secondly, it's just a 35 minute trip in the morning, and 42 in the afternoon. That's a lot more appealing to me. Finally, it is a bus that stops at the top of my street on Clayton Avenue! Less than two blocks away! It drops me off right at Lindbergh and Big Bend, too, so I really can't imagine it being more convenient.

The bus would be practical for me on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, when I don't close. It doesn't run late enough on Tuesday nights for my closing shift, and the weekend schedule is a bit sketchy, as well. That aspect of the new schedules doesn't seem to have changed, although here on the fourth point down, Metro says that they have improved night and weekend service on "key routes", so hopefully the people who really need better access will see some improvements.

One last detail about this whole Metrobus commuting thing that makes it seem more and more appealing. The cost. Or should I say, the savings?

Mind you, I currently ride the Metrolink 8 times a week, and bought a super cheap UMSL student pass for the semester for only $45. This includes all the Metrolink and Metrobus rides I want, not just to and from school. My savings with this pass are great already, considering only the price of parking at UMSL ($216 for this semester if I had caved and bought my first one ever for my last semester ever).

Now, let me get to the numbers, which I am basing on just my drive to and from work, and only 13 times a month, since I'd replace approximately that number of drives with a leisurely ride on the bus. I got the figures through another feature on Metro's website, their cost of driving calculator.

The inputs were: 20 miles round trip, 13 days/month driven to work, average MPG of the good 'ol Honda: 25 (and yes, I've figured this out before, too), cost of parking: $0, and cost/mile in maintenence, repairs, depreciation, and insurance: 25¢. That last figure was given by AAA as 56.1¢/mile, but I halved it since I have low insurance (just liability), a low resale value (that baby is over 13 years old. Anyone who's ever taken any accounting can tell you that it has long since passed it's useful lifespan for depreciation purposes), and well, the fact that by driving a Honda, pretty much everything is cheaper. I haven't had a major repair in a year. Knock on wood, but the car just doesn't give up that easily.

ANYWAY. It costs me $93.60 per month to make those 13 round trips to work. The pass I could buy if I wasn't an UMSL student would cost $60 per month. Right there I'm saving over $30. In reality, I'm saving the whole amount since the pass is done and paid for anyway so that I can get to school. I can think of a MILLION ways to spend that $30, and I really know my credit card would appreciate that extra $90 payment.

Finally, I have to mention that I would also be saving myself some much despised driving time. I. Hate. Driving. Most of you know this. I generally drive like a grandma, and unless I'm completely familiar with the route, I'm a nervous nellie the whole time. I try to be more relaxed about it all, but I just don't like it. I don't like knowing that I'm polluting, either, but that's a whole other blog. Regardless, it would only be good for my jittery nerves (egged on the two cups of coffee I chug on the way to work), and I'd have chill time to wear down my iPod battery, and possibly even get some reading done (if I can convince my stomach that it's cool).

While I wrote this as a hypothetical report on the new and "improved" Metrobus service, I genuinely am considering trying it. If anything, I know I have the option to do so, and that could come in handy when the old Accord just doesn't feel like going anymore. I still have to talk to my Dad, and see how his bus routes were affected and whether or not the changes have helped him or just gotten longer and less direct. I doubt it. Whatever the changes were, though, he wouldn't stop riding. He's probably seen a revamp like this a hundred times. Though most recently it's been cutbacks, not increases in service. All I can do is hope that this trend continues. Public transportation is one of the most decisive factors in whether or not a city can be reconnected and continue to grow. St. Louis needs to do lots of both. I look forward to seeing some promising results.

Hmmm. I don't know about this ;)

About Flippin' Time!

This is amazing! I am sort of surprised that it has finally been approved, after all the drama...
Can't wait to hear what NPR has to say :)

Tuesdays

I am not sure why, but for pretty much the past 6 years, minus one semseter when I had a night class then, I have closed on Tuesdays. That also means that I go to class pretty much most of the day and work my butt off before going to work (minus one semester when I didn't take ANY classes...for a really stupid reason that I think only Nina or Katie remembers).

What this means is that Tuesdays SUCK. Briefly, they were tolerable, when all I was dealing with was Mera-Slack courseloads and had a decent partner in crime to work with (Jeff for the majority, Jen for a while, Missy for a couple nights, and Kyndall nowadays).

But, as college got successively more difficult/time consuming, I've grown to loathe this stupid second day of the work week. Even during the summer it sucks: you start the day off nice, sleeping in, getting stuff done, and just when you get a nice rhythm of being able to just do your thing, you look at the clock, and shit, it's time to get ready for work.

Not to mention the fact that I pretty much HATE closing. It's also gotten successively worse over the years, but you can pretty much always count on the complete uncertainty that all the stupid kids will show up, that all hell may break loose at the checkouts, and that the returns desk might just explode with junk needing to be put away. Or that the store itself went through a veritable holocaust and if we're lucky, we've got competent enough people who can put it back together in a fashion acceptable to the varying and nitpicking whims of that evening's manager.

I hate to rant about work because, well, it's TARGET. However, last night was especially ridiculous, or I just got fed up. I had to close Friday, Sunday, and Tuesday, and I think it was too much. Plus I hate the place more than ever, with all the changes and stuff going on, and I'm just done with it. I don't care about one bit of it. It's all an act now, and I pretty much just broke down last night. I cried. My mom brought me dinner (Bread Co, it was good), and I refrained from just walking out and quitting, but I was up late when I got home looking for other jobs or paid internships or other illicit money making "ventures." (Ok, so maybe not that last one). But still. I don't know if I can do it for another four months. Every day just seems to get worse, or at least be harder to tolerate.

Plus there's an obnoxious weirdo in all three of my Tuesday morning classes at school. It's just a super day, really.

Last First Day (#1)

Right, so tonight was my last first day of school, at least the first one. I count two because I only had one class tonight, and there are still three more to get through tomorrow.

I'm really excited to be almost done, and I really feel like I've been at that school WAY too long. I notice too many subtle differences in the buildings (they finally finished the drop ceiling in the business building basement...no more hanging wires and light fixtures), landscape (there is something going on AGAIN near the "lakes" and the place looks more and more like a golf course), the scenery along the metrolink route (burnt out buildings next to Wellston are STILL there, some new graffiti to look at, new signs at the cemeteries, etc.), hell, even that we apparently switched from being a Coke school to a Pepsi one.

Well, that last one is kind of a big deal, since it means all new vending machines (that hopefully won't rip you off so freely), and Aquafina water, instead of Dasani. This is great, because Coke puts salt in Dasani. Not quite so refreshing, when it's dehydrating you as you drink it. Also, it means Gatorade, instead of Powerade, and that is wonderful because a nice red Gatorade is my hangover cure, and with a 9:30 class two days a week, I might need it.

But there are always the things that stay the same. Like the super majorly dorky guy with bad breath who approached me after class to ask if I was in "Budsky's" class last semester. What? I mean, I was exactly sure who this kid was, but I played dumb and pretended like I had no clue what he was talking about. "Budsky", he said. "Bud Banis's class". Right. Dr. Bud Banis...the Operations Mgt. prof. whose class I nearly failed, but pulled off a B in. I confirmed his suspicions then quickly whipped out my iPod headphones and booked it to the computer lab (to print my resume so I can update it for career services), and luckily lost the dork on my way to the mac section.

We'll see how tomorrow goes. Three classes, one hour-ish break, and work pretty much right after class until close. Looking forward to it, really.

But first I need some of this deliciousness for dinner, and then a nice cold drink of some sort, and I'll just pretend like summer isn't really over until tomorrow.

This could be a record.

This upcoming season will be my NINTH Christmas holiday at Target, and I thought I'd seen it all.

However, I think they broke a record for starting to sell "holiday themed" merchandise (read: crap) at ungodly early times.

Today, the Domestics team lead put up a small side display of, yes, Christmas Tree and Reindeer vinyl tablecloths.
You'd better rush in to get one, I'm sure they'll be selling like mad.

It's August.

Ok, this is important.

Excuse my languange, but what the fuck?

I can't believe what I just saw. That is ridiculous, and shameful. And people cheered. Disgusting.

Here's a letter I got that is trying to solicit fundraising to defeat this guy. I'm all for it.

By now you've probably heard about the remarks recently made by Senator George Allen at one of his campaign events, aimed at a young Democratic volunteer who was attending and videotaping the event.

Watch Senator Allen's stunning remarks here. (link is above)

As you can see in the video, Senator Allen calls this young Webb campaign volunteer of Indian descent "macaca," which means monkey, and is a racial epithet used in some European cultures for people with dark skin. And he doesn't use this term once, but twice. On top of that, Senator Allen tells him, "Welcome to America" as if he's some kind of outsider.

Well, this young Webb campaign volunteer has a name, and it's S.R. Sidarth. Senator Allen should have known this because Mr. Sidarth introduced himself to the Senator before the event. Mr. Sidarth is a student at the University of Virginia, and he's an American, born and raised in Virginia.

This is just one more example -- a very visible and disturbing one -- of how out of touch Senator Allen is. So far he has only offered a half-hearted apology to Mr. Sidarth, claiming he had no idea "macaca" was a racially charged term. The facts belie this explanation.

This feeble attempt at an apology is simply not good enough.

Let's send Senator Allen a strong message from our PAC for a Change community that America deserves better. If George Allen can't appreciate the diversity of Virginia, then he simply doesn't understand that this is what makes America so strong.

Stand up and reject Senator Allen's divisive politics -- Please contribute to Virginia Democratic nominee Jim Webb's campaign for U.S. Senate today!

Click to Contribute

As you know, Democrats have a great shot at taking back the Senate this year. And even before George Allen's recent gaffe, Virginia has already been a huge potential pick-up opportunity, thanks to Democratic nominee Jim Webb.

Jim Webb is a decorated Marine, winner of the Navy Cross and two Purple Hearts, and former Secretary of the Navy. As a soldier, Jim was a legendary fighter. As a citizen, Jim has been a principled and persuasive leader. An early and frequent critic of the Bush Administration's foreign policy, Webb opposed President Bush's invasion of Iraq from the very beginning, while Sen. Allen has been the chief cheerleader of this war.

Please contribute $50, $25, or even $10 to Jim Webb as he takes on Senator George Allen to win back the Senate seat in Virginia!

http://www.actblue.com/page/boxer4webb

If Jim Webb wins on November 7th, there's no stopping us! With your help, Democrats can -- and will -- take back the Senate this fall.

In Friendship,

Barbara Boxer
U.S. Senator

Because I can't think of anything else to write about.

I always thought her parents did it.
Huh.

Yes, I'm a big dork

School doesn't start for another 12 days, however....

I now have all 5 of my textbooks in my possession, and I've started going through a couple already.

Maybe I'm subconciously trying to make up for such horrendous performance last semester, or maybe I'm trying to be the good student I always wished I was. Either way, I'm feeling like a nerd hardcore. Whatever. All I know is that after this semester I won't be stuck at the big red T anymore with the "barbie brigade" and people who could be my little sisters bossing me around. If that's not motivation to be studious, then I don't know what is.

A Rhetorical Question for Everyone

IF my Honda has a 13 gallon tank,
THEN why did it just cost $40 to fill it up?

Two things missing

There are two things missing from the vicinity of my apartment, and I wish that they both could come back.

1. The tree that used to be outside my living room window, in the front yard. It was apparently a casualty of the Great Storm of '06 (remember, it was a State of Emergency), which I missed while in Ireland. Now I just miss the shade. Badly. My living room is bright and hot, even with the shades pulled. It was a crappy tree, but I appreciated it.

2. My mail from the entire month that I was gone. I finally got through with the post office people yesterday. I had a vacation hold placed on my address for 30 days, and the confirmation number to prove it. But the manager at my post office said that apparently my mail carrier never got the message. So....all my mail got sent back. Fantastic, there is nothing anyone can do about it, and I'm quite sure I didn't even get a "sorry" out of her. Lame. All my student loan paperwork should have been coming last month, so who knows what I missed. Some people have been calling to check my address, and resending stuff, but that seems to be the exception.

Yuck.

I'm sure I'll get over both these dramas, but I'm just in a mood. Target. New boss, not so great. I can't wait to leave that place. I wish that they would all just leave me alone, and let me do my job. I've been there longer than most all the managers put together and I know how to do my job. They don't seem to get it. If there's anything I can't stand, it's people who have worked in retail for about a month breathing down my neck and expecting me to read their minds. And talking to me in a "smart" tone. But I can give it right back, and if they don't leave me alone, you better believe I will.

ahhhh. Better now.

Some things may change, but they really stay the same.

I didn't really expect life at the big red T to be any different when I got back. It wasn't.

That's not to say that there weren't like 5 million personnel changes, rearrangements, and new hires. There are. It's just that I've seen it all happen before, and I think I'm finally numb to it.

I used to get really sad when people left. I remember the first time someone I really liked quit. It was at the old Kirkwood store, and I was 16. I was heartbroken, and I couldn't stop thinking about it for like a month. Granted, I WAS 16, so that probably had a lot to do with it. As the years went on, I would still be sad though, when someone I especially got along with (or maybe just had a huge crush on) would leave.

But for the past couple of years, I've really just gotten over it. I mean, mostly I'm jealous of the people who leave for another job. I know that I will be there someday, too, but if that day was tomorrow I'd really be thrilled.

Even with all of the people moving around, though, my 40-hour a week life at Target isn't going to be all that different. Probably just a bit quieter, especially with Jeff leaving. It was noticeably quieter when Jerry stepped down and wasn't there for break-time entertainment purposes and throwing pillows at people. Other than that, there are still going to be the same hoosier shoppers, screaming kids, grumpy old men, and me answering the same questions over and over again (a perk of being in charge of the first department that the majority of our shoppers walk through).

My main goal is to be ambivalent about it all, not let the masses get to me, and make it through two (maybe three) more transitions, one last Christmas, and as soon as humanly possible after graduation QUIT. That'll be the day, and it will be a BIG party. You all will be invited.

Home again (a few days late)

Obviously I'm home. The trip was fine, long, but relatively uneventful. Turbulence isn't so awful in an Airbus, luckily, since we had about three hours of it. I also think we were on the plane on the ground at O'Hare longer than actually in the air on the way to St. Louis. A bit frustrating, but it was all but forgotten when I walked through security and saw Andrew (awww. sorry, it's the truth.)

Now I'm a bit cranky, even though I think I didn't really have any jetlag. I just was tired from being awake for 24 hours Saturday, and then coming home to 100 degree weather. It's really fantastic here in St. Louis right now. I mean, who needs Ireland's 65 degree July days, right?

I've got one more day off before reality hits and I go back to Target. It's not really something that I'm looking forward too. I honestly wish I could just never go back. I know that things have gotten pretty crazy there lately, and with another tough semester at school on the horizon, I really don't feel like giving that place one more drop of my energy. As soon as school starts, though, I'm signing up with Career Services and plan on sending out resume's like no other...who knows, maybe someone will even hire me before I graduate. At least I'll have that thought to keep my going.

Of course I miss Ireland, and I know that someday I will go back. It will be amazing to go to another country and in a way, feel at home. I know it will continue to grow and change, but Galway will always feel familiar. I can't wait to see it again.

For now though, I'm so happy to be back in my apartment (which is incredibly clean...and rearranged thanks to Andrew!), with my bed and my good pillow and towels and peace and quiet and all this space to myself.

Alright, this has taken way too long to write, my brain is still not going at full speed...
Thanks everyone for reading while I was in Ireland, I really loved knowing that I had so many people back home who cared about me and my first ever trip out of the country, and away from St. Louis for more than a week!

I could really go for a...

Nice cold bottle of red gatorade and a package of saltines. And a tylenol.

I'm completely hungover, along with Anita and Laine, and probably the vast majority of NUIG summer school students. Last night was a success, you could say, but we sure are paying for it now.

We had a final reception at school around 6, and you know what that means. Free pints. The first two are included, the next two were the result of being bums who wouldn't leave and go out in the rain, so we stayed with one of the coordinators and got more drinks as they were closing up the bar. Free is so grand.

We headed out with a group of people that we just recently started talking to (and as in recently, I mean up until that night we couldn't stand a few of them, but hey, after a few drinks, we're totally bff, right?) . Barry (the coordinator guy) took us to another pub that is pretty much all local kids, The Front Door. It was lots of fun, and I saw people take shots for the first time since I've been here-and it was Jager, too! Luckily, I stayed away from the stuff, at this point I think I'd sampled three different beer styles and I figured I should just stick with the pints.

Next we headed over the The Living Room (man these pubs are homey!) and met up with Coley (the other coordinator guy), and more kids from school. It was packed, Thursday night is busier than Saturdays sometimes. Craziness. We were drunk, and enjoying ourselves, and somehow I managed to get a pint of water, which probably helped me more that I can imagine.

It didn't help on the walk home, though. It's typically a 15 minute walk, but I had to pee like no other, and Supermacs was just locking their doors when we got there, dying for their delicious fries...and a toilet. Ready to pass out or pee my pants, we booked it right through the middle of the roundabout and almost ran to our apartments. I don't even know how I found my bed and got under the covers, but Laine and Anita apparently stayed up another hour, made noodles, and checked out the remnants of the kegger that took place across the street (those kids tried to get us to go, but no way would we have paid €10 for flippin keg Fosters. Gross).

I paid dearly for my time last night, and I am afraid to turn on my camera and see the evidence. But it was well worth it, to have a total drunken experience here in Galway one last time. Today we're all business for souvenier shopping and packing...early bus tomorrow and there is no way I'm gonna get drunk again tonight. Barfing on the bus would not be a pretty sight (sort of like the dried, smeered puke all over Anita's apartment's front hallway, thanks to their socially awkward housemate James who we're pretty sure just starting drinking, and getting hammered, on this trip. Nasty!).

Hope you all enjoyed that! I know I did ;) See you in the Lou.

Almost there

I should be studying. Obviously, since the final assessments are in less than 2 hours. I think this time it's going to be easier, since we know what to expect. However, I don't think I have been preparing as much...plus I am not looking forward to having my hand nearly fall off after 9 more pages of writing.

I'm not going to complain, though. After these tests, we have a little party tonight (who doesn't like free beer on campus?), and then I expect a late night out at the pubs. There may be whisky involved, we'll see. Tomorrow we have an evaluation at 11, get our grades, and have a lunch meeting with our UMSL advisor at 1. Then that's it! No more obligations, no more NUIG, just souvenier shopping in town, packing, and getting ready for an 8 am bus to the airport on Saturday. Then, after about 16 hours of travelling, I'll be back in St. Louis. It feels really close now, but sort of far, still.

Saturday will be a long day, 30 hours long as a matter of fact. I'm ready for it, though.

Can't wait to see everyone again, even if it is going to be at Target for many of you. For those of you UA girls reading this, you had better be at the Hacienda shindig Monday night, ok? I am planning on sending all 250 or so pictures I have to the Yahoo/Target photo developing thing, and getting them into an album before I'm back at work (oh, and there is no way I'll be picking them up at Kirkwood, probably Brentwood or SoCo).

I'll probably be able to get to a computer tomorrow, but that'll be it until at least Sunday, if I feel like doing anything other than sleeping. I miss my bed and it is going to be fantastic.

Alright, off to lunch, and then I promise: a little cramming!

It's a start. Maybe others will follow.

This is some pretty great news if you ask me. I can't believe a city as big and powerful as Chicago has actually stood up to Wally World. It is a huge step in the right direction, and the little blurb about Target not having any comment yet will hopefully be replaced by Target expressing full support. They are already well established in the city of Chicago, so I can't imagine them abandoning such a potential windfall (no Walmart to compete with), just because they have to pay people a little more. I know that they adjust their wages geographically all the time. Even the kids in Chesterfield started about a dollar higher than the Kirkwood minimum when that hideous monstronsity of a shopping center opened in the "Valley" (aka Flood Plain).

Walmart: The High Cost of Low Prices is really good, too.

You know you've made it w hen...

People stop you on the street in a city you don't live in and ask you for directions.
This happened to me not once, but twice last night. And I was able to give directions, to the two different places, completely accurately. It was cool to realize that I actually know my way around this city well enough to help other people. And apparently I must look like I have a clue.

Today, after a quick lunch at school, I decided to make my way into town to kill an hour and a half between classes. I now know about three different routes into town, I know how to get to the places I want to go to without wandering the streets (none of which are laid out into any grid-like format, just so you know), and I made it back in time, without getting lost, or even close to it.

This is not really a small feat, considering that only three weeks ago we were wandering around, completely disoriented, and spending an extra hour or so getting home because we were so clueless. It's a good feeling to know that if (when) I ever come back, that I will be able to just head out to wherever I want to go, no map, no directions, and feel comfortable with my sense of direction. I guess after a month, you'd hope a person would have a sense of direction in a previously foreign environment, but I have never really been in this position, so it's reassuring to know that if I ever moved or anything, I could deal.

Alright, back to class. It's almost over...just two more classes, two more assessments (tomorrow! must study!), and really only two more full days. In a way it doesn't feel like a month, but then I think about everything I've done, and it really does.

Photos

There are more pictures up in my yahoo album. I am still trying to get all the older ones turned around correctly and captioned, but the new ones should be good. The new ones are all at the bottom of the page. I hope to get it better organized eventually, but it takes so long to upload the changes...it may have to wait till I'm home and bored in front of my computer.

16 oz cans

I think that the concept of the 16 oz. beer can was somewhat genius. I mean, in the States, most beer comes in the standard 12 oz. can or bottle, and anything larger generally has a cheap/trashy connotation or image. However, here in Ireland these are the primary form of vehicle for holding the mass-consumed beers (Guinness, Harp, Stella Artois, Heineken, Amstel, Murphy's, etc, etc). Of course, there are plenty of imported bottles, and a few domestic bottles to choose from (Bulmer's Cider being by far the most common...it is enjoyed, however, in a glass, over ice), but the 500 ml (or 16 oz for those of us stuck in the world of non-metric measurements) clearly has the grip on the market.

And that is mostly why I like them. They make so much more sense when you are holding them. The can itself, being a few inches (or several centimeters) taller than the US cans, allows the drinker to hold their cold beverage of choice without inflicting direct body contact to the chilled contents. And given the fact that most of the time, you are drinking these away from the convenience of say, a pint glass at home, this is a handy feature.

Also, I don't think there is really any law against drinking on the streets, and that definitely makes the walk home from our favorite Off-License (aka Liquor Store) far more pleasurable.

A Long Weekend

We toured. Oh yes, we were tourists for all of Saturday and Sunday. Lots of time on Mercedes Benz tour buses and staring out the windows. From the front row, of course.

I saw W.B. Yeats country home...a quaint cottage attached to a CASTLE TOWER. It was cool. I saw Lady Gregory's country estate, as well as a beautiful Copper Beech tree that has all of her famous writer friends initials carved into it. I saw the tallest round tower, built in the 14th century, that is perfectly intact and leans a bit like the tower of Pisa.

I drank nearly an entire bottle of wine, then walked up to the pitch black beach with the girls and didn't drink anymore, just a red bull, but it was really creepy and windy and cool. On the way home we stopped at a bar we like to go to, The Living Room, because there is a bathroom right up this front set of stairs (bypassing the crazy Saturday night crowds), and we waited in line and convinced the bouncer not to worry about us not having IDs so we could get in, use the toilets, and get out without him seeing us. Then I was the designated walker because everyone was drunk (we met some other kids on the way home to the apartments), and I thought we were going to have a few casualties crossing the "circle of death" (aka the Bodkin Roundabout near our apartment...7 different crossings to make), but we all made it. Amazingly.

I went on a tour to the Burren (lots of rocks, limestone, really cool mountains), the Ailwee Caves, the Cliffs of Moher, a beach where there are surfers, a cute small town in County Clare (who was playing a big rugby match and beat Wexford. Raise the Banner! That's their cheer. Whatever). Some more cliffs that weren't covered in tourists (at least 4 buses of Italian kids at Moher), and some other stops and beautiful scenery and an even more beautiful (though very windy) day. It was gorgeous. Tiring though.

I finished my Chuck Klosterman book last night (fantastic, as usual) and went to bed around 10. I am still tired, but today is rainy and gross so maybe it will be good to just chill out, finish editing my papers, and read some more.

I'll have a ton of pictures up whenever I can find a computer without an Admin lock on the USB ports...I can at least charge my iPod, but I can't upload anything. Also, Anita has a ton of pictures, she hasn't uploaded in like 2 weeks or more, so when her's are up I'll steal them for my album, too.

Now I think it's coffee time. And maybe a little more Rolling Stones on the iPod. Too much bagpipe music this weekend ;)

Too uninspired to come up with a title.

I'm tired. Still. I have a decent caffeine buzz thanks to the cappucino I just downed, but that hasn't changed the fact that my mind is worn out. I am not sleeping well anymore, and I can't seem to get any work done anywhere because there are no comfortable places to spread out and work without the interruptions at the apartment or the noise of a million obnoxious Italian kids at the lounge at school, or the disgusting lack of air circulation at the library.

I got up early this morning to get to the lab and try to compose my paper before it got busy. I had no focus, still, and stared at the screen with nothing.

But I think the real problem is that I sort of feel hypocritical about all of this. I mean, here I am, little American girl who has been taking three weeks of classes in Irish Studies and now I am supposed to have some sort of opinion to write a paper that actually matters? Who am I? What do I really know about this country? I wouldn't want anyone who lived here their whole life to read whatever nonsense I come up with. I mean, what authority do I have to theorize about someone else's country and culture? I got my first grade back last night, from my first Lit and Film test, and I got an A. Not everyone did, so in terms of my fellow American students, I supposed I earned it. But is that just because they are grading us as American students who three weeks ago knew nothing about their country, aside from it's exportation of fine alcoholic beverages? Probably.

I feel like a fake. The papers I write back home are all based on my own knowledge from years of studying on the subjects. This doesn't seem at all the same. Everyone BS's a little in their papers, but I feel like everything I'm saying is just mimicked out of the three texts I have been reading, and that I have no legitimate personal knowledge or experiences yet.

And I feel pressured to do just as well on the next tests, even though I'm not sure these grades even transfer, because I know that I am capable of coming up with A material. Even if it does seem somehow undeserved.

State of Emergency?!

So, I just finished watching a slightly disturbing Irish film about two junkies (Adam and Paul), and I came over to the computer lab to see if I had any email. The first one I read was a message from Andrew about the huge storm that encompassed the entire metro area last night. Looking for more info and power outage news, I read through the STLtoday article, and the update on KSDK.com. Craziness. Can't believe all the damage. Next thing I see when I update the channel 5 website is that Mayor Slay has asked for a State of Emergency to be declared, and that the National Guard is on it's way. I went from shock to total disbelief. I hope that everyone is ok. I hope that no one you know got hurt, and that everyone's homes and cars are still intact. I don't even know how many people will be able to read this, because I am sure many of you are without power. I hope that the Target people got a day off! But most importantly, I hope everyone is safe.

And I just think everyone who hasn't seen it yet will now go see An Inconvenient Truth. It may help explain the insane weather patterns that are causing all of this destruction. I don't think we can just brush it off anymore. Something has to change. Global Warming is the real state of emergency.

tired

So there are these Italian kids everywhere. They are a pain in the ass. There are tons of them, they go to an English camp at our school, they live in the apartments by us, they hoard the sidewalks, I mean footpaths, and they don't know how to share. Plus they stay up all damn night making noise...I was woken up at 5 am by them STILL being up screaming outside, and since it gets light here so early, I could hardly fall asleep.
I'm tired.
I can't think of anything else to say, so I'm off to get a cappucino before my next class.
It's a long day again today, and will probably be another long night of hand writing a paper at home. The good news is that it rained a little, and the temperatures are cooling off a bit, but the humidity is just like home. No escape from that, I suppose.
There are a few new pictures up, and I will steal a couple more from the other girls, but this weekend I will probably be very snap-happy since it's the last chance to be a tourist.
9 days.

Typing, Cafeteria Food, and British Summer Time

As I sit here, putting off the typing of my first essay which I hand wrote last night (and which my left hand still hasn't forgiven me for), I would just like to reflect on the fact that cafeteria food, no matter what country you are in, can be strangely, and oftentimes unecessarily mysterious. I just finished a quick lunch in the cafe with my roommate Laine, and we both ventured for the veggie burritos. In Ireland the food is incredibly similar to what we are familiar with at home, with the and exception being the addition of "spring corn" and "spring onions" to the vast majority of selections. Oh, and there is obviously no such thing as mashed potato flakes, and so even the cafeteria version of this staple is authentic and delish. The veggie burrito was interesting though. It was filled mostly with tomatoes and carrots, with a few random black beans. I guess that is just one of the characteristic features of these school lunch companies. They sure like to make stuff up that makes absolutely no sense.

I also would like to say that being on "British Summer Time" (which is an hour earlier than GMT even though it is to the west of the Greenwich timeline) is getting tiring. I spend most of my time online well before any of you think about waking up, let alone have time to go online and respond and so I feel like everything is so one-sided. I write an email, or blog, and then have to wait some 24 hours before getting a response. I know that sounds crazy, but I guess it's just being a product of the internet age, and this generation's lack of patience. But it's lonely not being able to email back and forth throughout the day. I miss Central Time. And having a computer of my own at home.

Not much going on here...

I have a feeling that the bulk of this week is going to be a bit boring, and mostly spent in class, with my nose in a book, or either pen in hand or typing at a keyboard working on my papers. They are due Tuesday, but we don't have computer access on the weekends, so I have just a few chances to really type between now and then, and I can't just sit down in front of the computer and write it then, because there are so few computers available for everyone and that wouldn't be fair. Anyway, that's what I'm here to do, learn about Ireland and society and stuff, so I'm not really upset that I won't be partying it up at the pubs this week. Next week we just have our assessments, which shouldn't be bad, and a normal class schedule and PACKING. I will make sure to have a couple more nights of drunken debauchery then, but not until these essays are finished.

I've also started to think about this coming fall semester and I've gotta say that after these short weeks as a full-time student with no job, that I'd be a damn good college student, possibly even getting straight A's if I wasn't working. I love just going to school and reading and studying, hell, even research is fun when that is all you have to worry about. As a 24 year old undergrad, I don't regret my decisions to work full time while school took a backseat, but I do wonder what my life would have been like had I taken the more traditional path of the 4 year student.

There's nothing you can do about your past, and I'm not crying over any of it. I feel like trying, though, this (hopefully!) last semester to do really well and not procrastinate and settle for half-ass work at school. I always say stuff like that, but I think the reality that this is my last chance to be proud of my own hard work (cheesy, yes) has hit me, and I don't want to be ashamed of my 6 and a half year trek towards my bachelors.

And I REALLY don't want the twins to graduate a semester before me. If that isn't motivation, then I don't know what is! Nothing like a little sibling rivalry to get you moving. It's bad enough that their graduation ceremony is two days before mine this December! Ha!

12 days to go.

So there are just 12 days left. I am feeling somewhat relieved that this is the home stretch. There aren't any more crazy weekends travelling around planned, and we have two 1,500 word papers due next Tuesday (which I plan on starting today, but we'll see). I really really really miss my life (sans Target) in St. Louis. I miss having a big bed, my good pillow, and real coffee. I miss a quiet street without tons of noisy Italian kids cramming the sidewalks and all of the big shady trees. I miss the people, of course. That goes without saying. I miss going out to eat, and not feeling like you've been robbed (the high price of dining out in Ireland is a major complaint amongst many locals, so it isn't just the exchange rate pinch). I miss good wine, beer that isn't stout or cider, and chill bars like the Royale, that aren't dance clubs or old-man magnets.
Ok, that's enough.

We had a really good time this weekend, and a brief overview includes me getting carded (I'm the oldest one in the group and the drinking age is 18!), supermac's fries at 3 am, the best smelling farmers market and yummy olives and falafel sent from heaven, a ride on a connemara pony across a beach, a 6 mile walk in flip flops, real fish and chips, a 500ml can of Stella Artois, dead jellyfish on a chilly beach, and a nice sunburn on my shoulders to get rid of my farmer's tan.

It was fun. Now we get to hit the books this week, and I hope it will be a distraction from what I am missing. And I hope my iPod can hold a charge in between trips to the lab...it's being crappy lately.

Postcards are in the mail to many people. Keep your eye out.

PS: The new Sonic Youth album is fantastic.

Exploring

Today, probably the most beautiful day so far, I am FINALLY going to spend the day on my own, exploring. The other girls (I think all of them) are either going on their Dingle trip, or to Connemara and the Kylemore Abbey. Cool things, but I really can't stand the idea of being cooped up in a tour bus AGAIN, especially on such a nice day. Plus, I am in desperate need of Colleen time. I love the girls, but I am an independent person so I really miss being on my own, for the most part.
So after class, I am going exploring. It's sort of hard to get lost in Galway, you can always see the University and Cathedral towers, so your sense of direction is never confused. But there are lots of streets I haven't been down and cute shops I have been wanting to check out.
I can't wait. Hopefully I'll get to a computer again before Monday and fill you all in.
And hopefully, now that first exams are out of the way, we will be hitting the pubs again this weekend! Woohoo!

You mean we have to take tests?

So it's almost 11am here, I have two essay tests this afternoon at 3, and I am sitting in the computer lab obviously NOT studying. I studied for a couple hours yesterday, but it seems like my ability to procrastinate like no other has followed me across the Atlantic. It is nice though, not having to work and knowing that I can sit in the library for the next 3 hours and cram, after getting a full nights sleep and not dealing with the crap of everyday life.
However, I haven't taken a test like this in years (I'm a finance major, we don't do essays), so I am worried. Plus my hand is gonna fall off from writing so much.
BUT I guess this all proves that I really am going to learn stuff, and I think I know more about the causes and effects of the Irish war for freedom from Britain than the US's. And who would have ever thought that I'd even have the slightest clue who Lady Gregory was? But I do. I hope. We'll see in 4 hours.
Wish me luck. And then it's party time in Galway this weekend, for sure.

No escape from frat boys.

I hate to complain about stuff on this trip, because Ireland really is amazing and beautiful and fun and different and I love it, but some people always have to ruin it.
We spent the weekend in the beautiful (thought cold, blustery, and rainy) town of Dingle, and the surrounding peninsula. There is so much to see and do and luckily we had a warm (sometimes), dry bus to retreat to in between stops.
The first night we went to a pub (that was unfortunately filled with our fellow students), and had a decent time, until the drunken Irishmen started to corner us and vie for our attention. We wound up having to walk home one of our coordinators from NUI, because he is not a drinker and the stupid frat boys had him chug pint after pint...he wound up drinking 8 in just a few hours and he really wanted to go home.
That was fine, we made it back to the B&B, got into bed around 2:30, and when the rest of the groups came home, they made some noise, but the owner had them quiet down pretty quickly and we were able to sleep.
The next night (after our tiring, cold trip around the peninsula), we napped, then walked around town in the rain looking for a non-seafood restaurant that wouldn't break the bank (I had a bad run-in with chowder the night before and the smell of it was going to bring back some not-too appetizing feelings). We had excellent quiche and baked potatoes and feeling warmed and sleepy, we heading back with a bottle of wine to get some rest.
We fell asleep around midnight, but were awoken at 2:30 to the sounds of shrill screams and loud yells from the incoming drunks who were sadly a part of our group. Hoping that it would calm down quickly like the night before, I held on to the thought of sleep. After nearly 15 minutes, though, there was no end. Group after group of drunken brats from Villanova and Lehigh stumbled into the lodge with absolutely no regard for their fellow travelers, all of whom were undoubtedly tossing and turning and mad.
We were awake for over an hour, and I was livid. These kids didn't have to pay for this trip, it is quite obvious. They have no respect for others, no concern for the academic aspects of the experience, and only want to drink. Many of them aren't 21, so the thought of getting wasted at a pub is the only thing on their mind. It is ridiculous. Our guides from NUI said they have never seen such horrible behavior, and everyone I spoke with about it was just appalled and embarrassed and of course, exhaustsed.
Luckily, that was the last overnight trip we have planned with the group, and it seems like for the most part now, they all just skip most classes and we can ignore them more or less.
But it was sad and completely pathetic that they had to ruin such a wonderful weekend. It really makes me glad that I didn't go away to college. I have no tolerance whatsoever for such insanely juvenile behavior. It is not funny, or cool, and I hope someday they realize what idiots they were. I know that sometimes a small minority can give the larger group a bad name. But this was more than a small minority, and being in any way associated with them was not a pleasant experience.
Perhaps that will be the only downside to this month in Ireland, and now it can only get better!

Yummy food in STL and Galway

Duff's has been voted "Best Brunch" by the Sauce Magazine Readers Poll. Quite accurate, if you ask me ;)
Check out the list for some other interesting local establishments that you may not have heard of, too, and give them a try. St. Louis has an amazing amount of fantastic restaurants (sometimes I wonder if it's too many, per capita of those who choose to eat out at non-chain restaurants), and that is something that I really do miss here in Ireland. There can be a lot of monotony here, especially if you are on a budget.
I will say that my favorite place to eat here in Galway so far, though, is a yummy baked potato restaurant called Spud House (or something like that), and it seems to be something of a chain or small franchise...but it is fantastic. They take the idea of the baked potato stuffed with yummy things, and run with it. I can't really describe all of the options, but last night I had one stuffed with ham, mushrooms, pineapple, grilled onions, and pizza sauce and it was DELISH. I love me some potatoes!

Because there are probably lots of people who like free beer...

A little shameless self-promotion for Andrew:


Please join us this Saturday, July 8th between 2-6pm at Bon Vivant Wines for a complimentary tasting of some classic European beers.

The line-up for Saturday is as follows:

Germany:

Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen-Classic German wheat; juicy, spicy, complex and oh, so drinkable.
Monchshof Kellerbier- A very smooth, unfiltered Bavarian lager. A unique beer that you will make quick friends with.
Kostritzer Schwarzbier-Dry, light bodied, roasted and moderately bitter-a nice surprise for those who claim not to like "dark beer".
Schneider and Sons Aventinus Weizenbock- A very intense wheat dopplebock with a myriad of aromas and flavors.

UK:

Adnams Suffolk Special Bitter- A dry, hoppy and very refreshing amber bitter.
Wychwood Hobgoblin- Brown coloured ale w/ nutty, toffee flavours on the centre palate. One of my favourites-could drink by the litre.
Harvey's Tom Paine Porter- In this Age of Reason it's one of our Rights of Man and simply Common Sense to drink great beer.
Belhaven Wee Heavy- "I love Scotch. Scotchy, scotch, scotch. Here it goes down, down into my belly..."

Belgium:

Cantillon Rose de Gambrinus- A complex, dry, intensely tart raspberry/cherry Iambic that begs for food. The true Champagne of Beers.
Fantome Saison- Fruity, funky and refreshing farmhouse ale.
Achel 8 Blonde- A strong, hoppy, authentic Trappist ale.
Duvel- A world classic Belgian strong ale for good reason. Soft, round texture and layers of flavor.

France:

Dupont Organic Cidre- Say au revoir to thin and bland & sweet and simple ciders. True apple flavors abound in this lightly sweet brunch time treat.



*****************************Forward this message along to all of your beer loving friends. Thanks!*********************************

Bon Vivant Wines
123 S. Main
Columbia, IL
618.281.3464
www.bonvivantwines.net

Plumbing

So I never thought that I would have an appreciation for American plumbing, nor would I ever consider it unique or well-designed. But after a little more than a week here in Ireland, I can say that the good ol US of A has a pretty logical take on things.
For one, we don't have showers that require you to pull a string coming from the bathroom ceiling somewhere before you even have a chance of turning on the water. I mean, this thing looks like a light switch pull leftover from a previous wiring set-up, and as I have heard, is not unique to our apartment complex. So my two and half days without a shower could have been avoided with a two-second motion that no one bothered to mention was a requirement to us "stupid Americans."
Frustrating.
Secondly, have you ever been in an old building or house and noticed that some sinks have separate taps for the hot and cold water? It makes pretty much no sense at all, and turns things like washing your hands or face into an uncomfortable, at best, endeavor. These lovely faucets are more or less everywhere, including our apartment complex and I do not like them. I'm dealing, and you see the locals turn them both on, and quickly move their hands back and forth. It's awkward and you better hope that the hot isn't going to scald. Last night at a more modern bar they had automatic sinks and it was amazing. Perfectly temperature regulated water from one faucet! Brilliant.
To go along with the handwashing drama, they do not use paper towels any where in Ireland really, which of course is great for conservation and litter purposes. However, the automatic dryers that take the place of the nice brown paper towel roll seem to often be cheap, finicky, and inefficient. It's ok, though, because I would rather use my pants legs and see a cleaner, less wasteful bathroom...But it's different, for sure.
And now on to the toilets. Or should I say WC? It's called either name, and not "restroom." First of all, it can then feel somewhat awkward to ask a bartender in a loud pub where the toilets are. But that is just because I'm a foreigner and they don't think anything of it. It is better to use the local terms, of course...Otherwise you sound stupid. Like the girl in front of me at school who asked for a bag of chips, not crisps, and then tried to correct herself by saying "or is it fries." Wow. Do a little homework, chickie. But I digress.
The toilets. For one, they usually really are a "water closet", with the flusher coming out of the wall and not attached to the actual toilet. And the flusher is on the left, when facing the bowl, rather than the right. And then there is the water. The level in the bowl is incredibly low, making everything really really loud. That's right. Everything. Fine, if conservation is the idea, right? Well, then you flush, and this huge rush of water comes swirling out and goes around and around and keeps coming and goes for what seems like minutes until it all drains away back to it's clean, yet low, former level. Odd. They are loud as anything, and my roomie and I have adopted a no flushing in the middle of the night rule because that thing could wake the dead.
I have to finish by saying that I am well aware that every country has their own way of doing things (such as driving on the left side of the road) and there is nothing, absolutely nothing wrong with that. Homogeneity is boring. That is what traveling is about, seeing new and different ways of living life. But I have taken my observations into account with an open mind, and I still don't see the benefit of the two-headed faucet, or low level, torrential flushing toilet. But maybe I am just being a stupid American. I gotta represent, you know ;)