Your Days of Plenty Are Numbered

So, I'm home, and that's amazing. I really really love it here. That said, I desperately need to find an apartment with the following:
-vintage charm (no brown, gray, or commercial carpet. in fact, no carpet if possible)
-a decent to fabulous kitchen
-good light
-grass nearby
-on a major bus route
-inside of 35th ave to the east, sandy, powell, and 30th ave to the west. or near broadway.
-allows cats
-no more than $600 a month

of course, I'm flexible on most of those, but it's still been unnecessarily hard.

I'll budge on price when I know what my job will pay, and I'm actually safely employed.

Until then, the basement of Sam's mom's house will just have to do. It'll be better when Sam gets back from California. It would be even better if he was a reliable, employed, supportive roommate. Oh well. We take what we can get.

Bah.

Today, I saw a one bedroom apartment in a 1910 building with great light, hardwood floors, allowed cats, was on 5th ave right next to psu, with a park nearby. The kitchen was so sketchy that even being $575 a month couldn't save it. Sigh. It had a claw foot tub too. On the bright side, I bought an unnecessarily expensive skirt for the vampire ball that is to die for. Who needs a home when they have a pretty skirt?

Okay, that's it for now.

If anyone knows of a place that fits my criteria, let me know.

Peace.

Hey y'all!
I'm coming home on Saturday!!! Hurrah! I get in at 4:30. If you've called and I haven't answered, my cell phone is buried under luggage and I currently can't find it. No worries. Also, Rasputina is playing June 2nd and I want to go. Any takers? I think there was something else, but I don't remember what it is, so I'll see everyone soon. Can't wait!!

Last minute addition:
I remember what my request was going to be: I have to move all of my stuff out of the apt in Multnomah Village prior to June first and get it to SE Portland. Any helpers? I'll buy pizza and beer.

Hey, Hey, Hey (fat albert?)
So, as the subject says, I'm moving home in 14 days. It appears as though I will be staying with Sam and his mom for a bit while I search for an apartment. This has the potential to be horribly awkward, but I'm hoping that due to her location, I'll be able to find a place I like fast and get out of there, just as soon as I'm assured of a job. STRESSFUL!

I'm really sad that I'm leaving the family here and my 3 good friends, as well as a volunteer job that I really enjoy. That aside, I think about all I miss from home and there just isn't really any competition. Now I just need the people I like from here to come to Portland!

My hip is freaking killing me. I think I have a pinched nerve.

I think my whole lower body is just exhausted. I spent seven and a half hours running around at the clinic yesterday. Fortunately there was only a fraction of the vomit and passing out. In fact, aside from 3 women with (fairly moderate) emotional trauma, the day was busy but smooth. That said, I missed my bus out of there and ended up walking over 2 miles in the rain to get home, which leads me to my new favorite image:

On the way home, I needed to get cash so that I could put money on my laundry card, so I stopped at this market to pick up toilet paper and candy for the apartment and Sam respectively. In the process, I also saw marshmallows, and since I hadn't eaten since late evening the night before, I grabbed them. After paying (and not getting cash because I forgot my debit card DOH!), I started walking again. Mind you that I live in a largely Puerto Rican/African American area, so I already look a bit out of place as the white girl walking around downtown Springfield.

Well, I decide that I want food now, so I broke into my marshmallows and this guy is looking at me with a look that is expecting anything to come out of that bag.... except marshmallows. He gave me the most fabulous look as I made eye contact with him, and BIT into the marshmallow. Then I just kept on my way while thinking:

"This is the most surreal moment I've had in ages: a white girl walking through the rain, eating marshmallows."

So, my flight yesterday was hell, but I made it. Do you have any idea how easy it is to get on the wrong plane? Yeah. Let's not talk about that anymore. I had an amazing time at home, so that was nice. It was wonderful to see all of my friends again! It's raining here, and I just watched a terrible/bloody movie. All in all, Oregon is sounding better and better.

What else? Hm. I dunno. I should be back in Springfield tonight, I hope. Then I can see Sam and Serendipity, who I miss bunches.

That's really it, so I'm gonna jet.

I loves me my Frenchmen. So, since I've been sans work, I've done two volunteer projects (the abortion clinic was rough yesterday, but I'm going again on Friday). I dropped off some pictures that needed to be developed for work, although I'm not sure how much they'll want them from me. I've cleaned my bedroom and my toilet. I'm still working with Serendipity on the leash thing which is going very well. We're going to go out on the fire escape later today. I've chatted with friends, and the family last night. I do wish that Miss Serendipity would refrain from awakening me at 6:30 onward to inform me that she wants awake company. Especially since she just goes to sleep after I get up. Alas, she's my girl, thus she's nuts. Lol.

That's really all there is to say. Excitement about The Future is high, so everyone wish me the perfect job in the perfect place, for a good sum of money. If/when Sam goes back to school, I will likely be livin' la vida solo, so we all need to hope I get a job that will afford me a nice place (sweet sweet puns).

For all interested in my subject choice, I'm reading The Knight of the Maison Rouge right now. It's an Alexandre Dumas book that was only recently translated for the first time. It's a lovely read. Thus, Dumas rocks my world.

Yesterday was my last day with MASSPIRG!! I'm a free woman. That's the good news part. The bad news is that they lost the funding battle on my campus. I actually thought they would win, and I wanted them to. They lost by 3 votes. That said, Sam and Jennifer both feel as though it was better that way. I'm still taking it a bit personally. Essentially they voted against me, but not really I guess. Jennifer was right when she said that I'd only been here for 5 months, so it couldn't have been ALL me. True enough. That and I just don't care that much. The student activities director on the campus is freaking thrilled. There ya go.

Back to good news: I started training Serendipity yesterday. By the end of next month I'm hoping she'll be able to conduct herself fairly well on a leash. She was really good with the harness yesterday, so I think that's a good sign. She wasn't even afraid of the leash. That's right folks, I've raised yet another cat with no concept of fear. It has it's ups and downs.

Well, that's my big news, so I'm going to go get dressed (yes, it's 7:27am Saturday the day after I've quit, and I'm STILL planning to leave at 8am) as I promised to help Jennifer with her volunteer project today. I hate that I have to tell them we're leaving. I wish they would come with us, but they both love their jobs, so the best I can hope for is vacationing.

Sigh.

It's still mostly on the up side.

All my love!

You scored as Socialist. <'Imunimaginative's Deviantart Page'> </td> Democrat 100% Socialist 100% Anarchism 100% Green 92% Communism 92% Fascism 42% Nazi 0% Republican 0% What Political Party Do Your Beliefs Put You In? created with QuizFarm.com

Haha, Democrat. Whatever. Socialist should have won hands down. Anyway, life is a bit better, which is nice. My last day of work is Friday but I have an interview Wednesday and am going to see if I can't round something up that's just menial but available until everything else works out.

I had an amazing Easter weekend. Sam and I went to Madison, CT with our two friends here. We had such a good time! A weekend at the beach, I touched the Atlantic, a cute hotel room, and eventually a little shopping spree in a quaint little town. We picked up Super Scrabble (twice as many letters!!!) and I got two new books, that I shouldn't have bought since I'm soon to be unemployed, but wanted anyway. We also got Jennifer and Cindy (our friends) a cookbook that was about the food from Madison. They'll love it. I also picked up a surprise for Sonya, so I'm excited.

All in all, things are looking up and I'm back to being hopefull. I need to get back to work now, but I love you all!

Hello, and welcome to today's issue of the life and times of an organizer.

Yesterday was the biggest event of my semester. 100 people and four media outlets were scheduled to be there, as well as 1 mayor, 2 representatives, and 1 city council person. But as they say, actual results may vary.

We got: 10 people, no mayor, no representatives, 1 council person, and 2 media hits. Fortunately, we called in some favors and managed to boost our numbers to 60 people (still no VIP's), and had a fairly successful event. Regardless, it has called up some questions for me.

More and more I'm beginning to question my value as an organizer. As a volunteer, I'm wonderful. As someone who gets volunteers, it is unclear. Friends I've spoken with are blaming the organization, however, I'm reticent to do that as I'm positive that other people have been more successful. It can't just be a crappy organization. Some of it has to be a crappy organizer. I'm not stupid, I fully understand that I'm not without fault. I could name 50 things that I did wrong during this process.

Of course, it's over now, so I guess it doesn't matter; however, i still have to talk with my boss about it (today at 4pm), and he will inevitably ask me things like "what do you think happened?" Then again, since I'm quitting, he'll most likely end up focusing on the four campaigns (6 projects) I still have to finish (in 12 days mind you).

I'm going to end up failing everything I've done here. I've failed at keeping the job, I failed in recruiting a core group of dedicated students, I failed at this event, and I'm not certain that any of what I do from here on out will be a success either.

All the way around, I'm wondering if maybe I should focus on being a volunteer and working a "normal" job. Something simple and 9-5. I'm going to keep trying, but this has hit me really really hard.

I miss everyone so much and really wish I could come home.

The one up-side is that I have two amazing friends here, who were wonderful last night. I really need to think of something nice to do for them.

It's time for another episode of "Heather found new quizzes." For these, we can thank my internet budy Lara, who found a rather fun site and I stole the links from her page. It's a little odd that we seem to have gotten very similar results, but that reinforces my belief that there's really only one result to any of these things.

You Are Funky Panties

You're stylish, trendy, but not over the top. You know how to look good - without looking like you're trying too hard. Men think that you're cute, friendly, and approachable. And you've got a spunky, feisty side that comes out after a while!

Ew. They're blue. Ick.

You Are Sexy Black Boots

You only look like you could walk all over someone...

Pretty much, but not these boots. They're really ugly.

Your Makeup Look Is

Dramatic Eyes with Naked Lips You rock an edgy, modern look with feminine grace

If I had any make-up skill at all, this might be correct.

You Are Chocolate Ice Cream

Dramatic. Powerful. Flirty.

Shock to whom?

Your Inner Pop Princess Is Kelly Clarkson

"Grew up in a small town And when the rain would fall down I'd just stare out my window Dreaming of what could be" No doubt about it, you have star quality. Might just take a while to get there.

Yup, you heard it here first. I'm kelly freaking clarkson. Isn't she one of the American Idol hoards?

Your Inner Retro Girl Is

1980s Goth Girl

Holy crap. It got that with one question. I'm impressed.

Your 80s Heartthrob Is

John Stamos

Um, his wife is hot...

You Should Get An Asian Inspired Tattoo

Mysterious and expressive You like to show off, but you also like to keep some allure

I hate it when people get tattoos without knowing what they mean. This one fails.

Your Famous Movie Kiss is from Cruel Intentions

"I'm the only girl you can't have, and it kills you."

Okay, they got another one pretty close.

You are Bettie Page

Girl next door with a wild streak You're a famous beauty - with unique look And the people like you are cultish about it

I wish!

Your Passion is Red!

You've got that spark - a good dose of intensity, power, and determination. You do whatever you want in life ... to hell with what anyone thinks! With so many interests and loves, you're always running around doing something new. You have fire in your eyes, and it shows. Bet you're even wearing something red!

Indeed I am wearing something red. Damn the government and their spying.

You Are Midtown

You love so many things, you don't fit into any one label. Your city girl persona goes to a fancy restaurant one night and a dive bar the next.

Pretty much, yeah. Why am I living in a ghetto then?

Your Pick Up Line Is

You've been a bad boy! Now go to MY room!

Like I'd let them come to MY apartment. Pshaw.

You Are So Not Ready To Get Married

Deep down, you might wonder if marriage will ever be right for you You still have a lot to figure out when it comes to love, life, and making yourself happiest That's okay... take your time. The better you know yourself, the better partner you'll be. And if you really feel panicked from the alter, it's best to take a little time off.

No duh.

Your Inner Muse is Thalia

You are most like this playful muse of comedy. Life is all about laughter to you, and you're a natural comic. You make people laugh until their sides split. And you're always up for some play time!

If they say so.

Okay, that's it. In the real world, not quiz world, I applied to a couple more jobs and will continue to do that this evening. Exciting, no? Sam is out grocery shopping, I volunteered again today and it went really well. Things are on an up swing and I'm starting to feel more like I can get out of here again.

Love to all.

And that was your Beatles lyric du jour. Currently, I'm sitting at home, waiting for my bread to arrive, checking my email and doing some work from home on a computer that won't crash on me, prior to getting up to campus to do yet more work and possibly pine over the fact that my bread and I have been separated.

As for yesterday, I called in sick to work to avoid spending the day with my boss, and spent it with Sam instead. We hung out, did lots of "nauseating" cuddling, and recovered from the fight we'd had the night before. (I rang in my birthday by fighting over stupid crap. Not a good omen." After that, I still had to take an hour long bus ride to get to meeting with students I knew wouldn't show up, and low and behold, I was correct. No one came, so I hopped on the next bus and went home. Sam had decided to replicate almost exactly what I did on Valentine's Day. He set up the fireplace with a log and made the loving room floor all comfy, then he made me chili cheese fries and a bottle of Asti Spumonte (I brought home chinese take out and Shiraz). What it lacked in creativity, it made up for in surprise factor. It was very sweet. He also rented us the second Zorro movie and the Weatherman, which may or may not be good.

All in all, it was quite nice, and thank you everyone who wrote and called. It was wonderful that so many of you remembered!