kicked out of the nest

 Yesterday the assnt. dean of my college gathered together the other office managers and fiscal managers, etc etc and let us know that there was a major plan for restructuring and we could expect layoffs.  As she droned on, it because clear that I would be one of the ones to go.  My office is in "Phase I" of the cuts.  Am I going to wait around until April to get my lay-off letter?  Oh hellllllll no. 

The sad thing is that I got emailed about a job I applied to.  I didn't know what the rate of pay would be, so I just went for it.  It's actually slightly less than I make now.  They emailed me to ask me if I still wanted to be considered and I said......yes. 

I know that everyone is struggling right now (unless you work on Wall St.), but it is hard not to feel disheartened when just 5 days ago I found my dream house and now I'm just hoping to get an assistant's position for less than I make now.  Good thing I can use my down-payment to keep myself solvent when I am unemployed. 

I just want to get a little bit ahead....

Luckily this was my horoscope:

Some good news will probably arrive in the nick of time. It may not be the news you were expecting or hoping for, but it's good nonetheless. Focus on that if you're tempted to get upset or indulge in self-pity.

Luckily though, I got to have dinner last night with my good friend Koh from college.  That was good.

lately

 I've feel like I've been belly-aching and bitching on here a lot lately. 

Me:  boohooo, I want to buy a house, boohooo I want to get out of this dead-end job blah blah blah.  Two tears in a bucket!

Even though none of that has changed, I do really enjoy my friends and Turkish class.  I really, really like my Turkish class.  So much so, that I've only paused doing my homework to write about liking class on xanga.  

My friends are great too.  They care about me enough to pretend they are interested when I go off on a whining streak about wanting a garden and a closet....

I just got a wedding invite-- June in Jamaica.  I wonder if I'll be able to pull that off?

Poll:  Jamaica--  terrifying      OR   worth it??

Also, I am making progress on my Daughters of the American Revolution application.  This is possibly the most conservative thing I've done since going to those NRA banquets.  What's next? I could join the Elks Lodge. 

offer fail

 About that dream house.  I decided taxes be damned, to go ahead and put an offer on it.  Even my cheapo parents were in support of this.  I called the realtor and we agreed to meet Sunday afternoon to sign the documents and put some money in escrow.  This left me 2 nights; one to built up my hopes and dreams and the other to panic. 

I handled this situation with the same grace and poise I usually muster in the face of life's major decisions and milestones.  I went out, got obliterated at the bar and came home only to collapse on the floor in a pile of tears and self-loathing.  Now that I am Scottish and all, I did this while watching Braveheart. 

I had a recurring nightmare 3 times of some Lisa Frank looking pink and purple monster trying to destroy me.  I woke up bathed in sweat.  Unable to get back to sleep, I moved to couch to spend the next 5 hours in a foggy state of fear.  Admitting to myself I that I was still far too drunk to go to church, I laid there until noon.  I woke Kyohei up and then he hastily attempted to go over our budget.  This caused the undesirable effect of Kyohei discovering how much money I waste every month on amusing myself. 

Still, we went to realtor's to sign the papers and ask questions.  As soon as we got there, she starts talking us out of this house AGAIN!  Now it is because there is no record of the roof and A/C ever being updated.  How easily our determination failed!  Then we went to look at another house with a new roof and new A/C unit.  I don't care if the damn house had fifteen new roofs on it.  The entire thing could be brand new from the ground up, but the only thing that matters is location.  I am very afraid of living somewhere where I could run for 20 minutes and still not reach a store.

I moved listlessly through the house like a shell-shocked zombie.  As Kyohei cheerfully opened up all the appliances in the kitchen, I stared up at the obscenely large sattelite dish and wondered 1) were they trying to get a signal from Jupiter?  2) Is this really the alternative to my dream house?  Maybe I'll just live in our 800 sq. ft apartment until I die.  I also wondered whether or not it was time to seriously consider starting to smoke pot.

Kyohei called me out on acting "dark."  "This isn't fun if you are going to be all quiet and dark," he says, "you're acting like someone died." 

"Someone did die," I respond.  "The person inside of me who had hopes and dreams."

Nothing like the dramatic to make your spouse wish they had married someone normal. 

taxes

 So Kyohei and I finally find our dream house in a neighborhood we want to live in AND potentially in our price range, but the taxes are so high on it.... it looks like it is out of reach.  House hunting is demoralizing.

disaster, disaster, disappointment.  

I should just give up, take my down-payment and pay off the car, get lasik eye surgery, and call it a day.

justgotspaid's future residence:

Valentine's Day; survived

  Being a part-time florist for the past 6 years I've developed a special dread for Vday.  This year was the same in a lot of ways and different at the same time.  Sure, I worked 31 hours from Monday Feb 13- Feb 14 (not to mention Saturday and Sunday before that), but my time was split between 2 shops this year!

My best friend from the old, crazy shop quit in October and got her own store up and running just 3 weeks ago.  I took Mon & Tues off from my regular office job to help her in her shop.  I told the owner of the old, crazy flower shop that I wasn't able to get out of work (I didn't say which one).  So I did 9-5 at her shop and then 5-1am at the other place.  I kind of like having a secret job from my other secret part-time job.

My friend ended up getting a lot of business for a store that is so new and unknown.  We got everything done quickly and efficiently and worked together well as a team.  It was delightful, busy, and fun.

The other shop is much more high volume.  Because the owner managed to run all of the former employees off by being an asshole and not paying us, etc etc., this is the first time he has had to actually "run" his own shop on a major holiday.  He took very little of my advice and the entire operation collapsed into a screaming nightmare of inefficiency and pissed-off customers.  

When I arrived around 7pm on Valentine's Day, many orders had not only not been delivered yet, but not even MADE, nee not even PULLED OFF THE COMPUTER.  Amazing fail.  The dude's excuse was that the other designer didn't show up (her bf rammed his car into hers...wtf) and he was distracted by the cops showing up at the store 3 times that day (actually not that unusual). 

I had to laugh.  Talk about making your bed and the laying in it.  I tore through the last 20 or so arrangements for the win in record time.  Around 9 or 10 o'clock one of the scads of temporary workers hired for the rush was sent to the liquor store.  I guess you know it's all gone to shit when instead of sending out for Applebees like the night before, we just went straight to booze.  While the street urchins hired to "work" on putting delivery confirmations in the computer did shots of tequila, I nursed my own 6-pack of Hoegaarden in lieu of dinner with my new friend-- a convict on work release from prison.  I don't even care about all those tattoos on his neck, he is actually a pretty nice kid and the best temp worker we had.  I wonder what he did.....  

And that was my Valentine's Day.  Not exactly what you see in those FTD, Teleflora, and 1-800 Flowers commercials, is it?

JOBS

My co-worker has pissed me off so much today, I've already started 2 job applications. Am I reactionary much? Who cares, I want some money and to be rid of his punk-ass.

The funny thing about jobs is that I always think I can do everything. For instance;
when I was planning my wedding, I was convinced I would be an awesome wedding planner.
When we were shopping for a car, I knew I could be a good car sales(wo)man
Now that we are house-hunting, I am equally convinced that I would be a stellar real estate agent.

Other things I want: a rhinestone wall hanging that says "Bossy" and matching super sharp letter-opener. I should stop listening to Kellis while filling out spreadsheets.

Happy 31!

 I'm a week late, but eh

Kyohei took me Universal Studios Islands of Adventure on Wednesday. 

 

We started the day off on the Hulk ride.  No easing into things for me-- right onto the most intense coster in the park!  It was totally awesome though, and we ended up riding it again.

  

Spiderman is always a good time too

I got lots of funny photos of Kyohei actually:

 

  couples animal print visors.  Only in Florida!

  I got this wildlife shot of a squirrel too.

 

One of the best things about going on a Wednesday in the middle of January is that the park was NOT crowded.  We basically just walked onto most rides. 

 

Dr. Seuss land is so trippy. 

At night, when the park closed and I was sufficiently nauseated from having rode so many rides, we went to our new-found favorite sushi place in Orlando--Sushiology.  They have umeboshi and natto!  Natto sushi is one of my favorites!

What a birthday treat!

 

The next day, at the office I got some pretty amazing flowers from my Aunt! 

I love having a birthday because you get calls and texts and emails and visits all day!  It was so fun.

When I got home from work, I caught up with lots of friends on the phone and then went out for Thursday night trivia as usual. 

Ashley (atypicalindividual on xanga), Bobby and Kristen were there as usual

 

Even Roger joined, wearing the most ridiculous shirt ever

  

CAKE!!

 

After Trivia (which we WON!= $30 in free food), we headed down to the piano bar and met up with Tara, friends and her cousin.  After another bar, Kyohei came to retrieve me. 

I was sooo sick the next morning.  I think it has more to do with the dodgy quesadilla I ordered at 1am than the drinking.  That's what I'm going to go with.  A plunger was necessary to clean up-- let's just leave it at that.

I went to work feeling pretty shady.  Luckily, Mallory got me some amazing Justin Bieber (lol) perfume so I could hopefully mask my liquor and vomit smell.  God, I am the best employee EVER.

After work, it was back on the town (after a trip to the gyno)  Side story:  a medical student was there to do my exam.  This is not unusual since I go to a giant university hospital.  The worst thing is that his guy was really cute! It was terrible.  Not only was I feeling hungover and sweaty, now I have to show my EVERYTHING to a guy who is my age and really attractive.  Pure torture. 

Then I went to see Haywire with Mallory and Buket.  The popcorn did wonders for my stomach.  The movie was kick-ass awesome too.

Once downtown, we were terrified to see this on the side of the road:

 

so scary.  The dude stayed in character too..... creepy

 

professor justgotspaid and the periodic table of delicious beer she embarked to imbibe.

 

resident accomplices

 

Then we went to see my friend Keli, formerly of the flower shop and her husband play in a band.  They actually rocked! 

Me reenacting a move from Haywire

  

I'm not sure what the hell I thought I was doing here, but look how sparkly my shoes are! 

What a fun birthday

Winning!

 I already posted this on Facebook, but a couple days ago I got a letter in the mail telling me that I had won 3rd place in the Cemetery Photo Contest and a check for $25.  

 

It's funny, I spent so much time trying to decide which of these photos from Oct. 2010 to select, I forget which ones I actually submitted.  I'm pretty sure this one is the winner though.  The letter said these will be displayed around my hometown.  This is awesome.  It pleased me more than I expected to get a thumbs up on something artistic. 

Stay tuned for more trips to the cemetery. 

Happy New (dragon) Year

 Ok, so I'm a day late.  I wanted to share this cool NorKor photo:

 

These are paper Kimjongilia, the famed specialty Begonia named after the late leader (how I want these flowers).  It's been almost about a month already and people are still laying flowers on his statue.  Kim Jong Un must be feeling a little unloved right now.  Especially since his big brother has been talking so much smack on the regime. teehee.  I do hope the regime falls. 

 

About this year:  my Daily Chinese Horoscope says:

Here is your Daily Chinese Horoscope for Monday, January 23

The start of Dragon year is good news for you! In what's predicted to be one of your best years yet, today is a cause for celebration. Sit down tonight and write out some goals for the next few months. With a little planning and preparation, you can make it happen.

HOWEVER,

I am turning 31 in 2 days, hence officially entering the time of YAKUDOSHI!   (click the link for an explanation for those of you not versed in your East Asian religions. 

Really my "danger year" is 32, but according to Kyohei, the year before is like an appetizer to the coming calamity.  So.... for the next three years, without some exorcism by a Shinto priest, I can expect hardship, illness and misfortune.  Crap!  Just when I want to stay out of the hospital and buy a house. 

I suppose I've already survived 2 previous yakudoshi years: 12 and 18, albeit I was pretty miserable in grades 6-7 (I did have one particularly harrowing sledding accident) and my Sr year- 1st semester of college was pretty unhappy as well, but not THAT bad.  Though come to think of it, I was admitted to the hospital and my mom told my whole family at Thanksgiving that I was an alcoholic (NOT true, despite all the beer references on the blog) and I was in an emotionally abusive relationship and I opened my first credit card and I felt like I didn't have any friends.... hhmmm OK, so maybe it was a terrible time. fuck.

Which will it be?  A great year or AWFUL?  Stay tuned.....

house hunting

 Kyohei and I went to look at a house that is in foreclosure on Sunday.  It is there for a good reason; cracked foundation and an overall architectural disaster.  Let's just say, if we bought this house we could never invite a guest taller than 5'10. 

Our 'real estate agent' (in quotes because I'm not 100% sure I will continue to contact him and use his services, and I don't care how sorry I feel that his mother is sick) took us around to see 3 more houses which were all either awful, out of our price range or too far away. 

I completely hate this.  I think looking online at real estate is creating some sort of OCD- depression in me too.  

groan.