Madness

My life is becoming a never ending, maddening cycle. I'm over it. I need a break. I need sleep. I also need to not be working two jobs. It's just not going to work long term.

Staples? You and I may not be buddies for much longer. Just saying.

http://www.di.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/the-holstee-manifesto1.jpg

That's a really cool wordle-type thing. It's a bit more...readable than a wordle, though. Pretty inspirational. Enjoy!

Emotions. Bleh.

Sometimes, my emotions get the best of me. I've found myself in tears on my drive home from work more than 5 times in the last couple of weeks. Yes, a lot of it is probably lack of adequate sleep. However, I think it's really just the whole situation of life hitting me hard. I mean, this last year (plus!) has been extremely tough. I am far away from my best friends, and even though my family is here, I tend to turn to my friends instead of my family, especially when it's my family that's taking the hits the hardest.

Anyways, things I feel are absurd now when I consider them have been making me cry. Things I shouldn't be thinking about, because they're just daydreams and temptations. They are meant to distract me, and recently they've been doing a good job. I need to refocus, and allow God to heal me when I'm emotional. I need to remember to pray and thank him for his many blessings, because they are abundant, even though the trials are nearing the abundant mark as well.

Work is going well. Not that I really have much to update. I'm floating around the school, helping in different classrooms and also teaching my health classes. So far, so good. And Staples is the same ol', same ol'. Jason's pushing us to make more ESP sales and to give better customer service. Not that that's really new...

Anyways, I miss my friends. I feel like my social life is non-existent. At least I have had a little bit of time to spend with Emily over the last 2 weeks. I need that. Time with any friend is special these days, but Emily just lifts my spirits. We laugh, and somehow we convince each other to join music groups/musicals at church, etc. Ha. It's good. =)

Seriously, I'm getting up in less than 5 1/2 hours, so goodnight! <3

Note to our Country...or Society?

Dear America,

You need to stop being so selfish and learn to read. Here are my reasons:

#1, you need to learn to read because when your coupons expire, you can't use them! Seriously, people. If the date says you can't use them, why do you think I can automatically make it so you can use it? I am not a magician. I am also not a manager. Due to these pieces of information, it's important that you consider the expiration date BEFORE entering the store and attempting to use your coupon. Also, if YOU make a mistake (you're human, I'm aware) and try to use an expired coupon, please don't get mad at me. I am sincerely sorry that your coupon expired before you could use it. However, it's not my fault, and there's nothing I can do. Just so you're aware.

#2, If you can't read the fine print, then why read the ad at all? Our ad says the limit and the end date for the sales. Please read it. If the sale ends Wednesday, why one earth do you expect to receive the deal on the following Saturday? That's not how it works. Also, there are limits. If you bring 15 notebooks when the limit is 2, expect the total to be higher. Seriously.

#3, stop being selfish. Yes, we have coupons and cheap sales at times. But if you make a mistake, don't demand that we fix it for you. It's not my job to make sure that the world turns at the speed you expect. Make sure you've got your facts straight and that you're sure your deal/coupon is still in affect/usable. Otherwise, don't get mad at me. You're just being dumb.

Anyways, America, take a moment and consider things before you enter the store. Are you sure you know what you want? Are you sure your coupon is usable? If you can answer either of these questions with, "No," then get the heck out of our store. Our job is not to think for you, or to make sure that you can use things that are no longer good according to their date. Seriously. Think about it.

Erin

Playing catchup...

I am so behind on blogging. This week was CRAZY. I am now working two jobs (Staples and St. John the Apostle Catholic School). I am teaching 2 sixth grade health classes, and subbing throughout the school. This last week, I worked 22 hours (or so) at the school and 34.5 (or so) hours at Staples. Oh my! If you were wondering where I've been, I've been working. Seriously.

At St. John's, we had meetings and things early in the week, and I've been getting to know the staff. I've helped people set up classrooms, watched training videos, and shredded a bunch of papers. Literally. On Wednesday, we had "Faith and Formation" day, which was at St. Therese up in Portland. As a part of this day, there was a mass service. It was my first mass, and I was kind of nervous and excited, because I didn't really know what to expect. I liked it, though. It was uncomfortable at some points, because everyone knew what to say and when. I didn't know what was going on for most of it, but I liked the formality of it. I don't think I'd like to have mass as my only worship service, but I like that it's the history of our religion. While Protestants don't agree with everything that Catholics believe, all Christians descend from the Catholic faith. Anyways, I'm looking forward to more masses and learning how they work/what to say when, etc.

Things have been going really well, though. I've been so busy, but it's going to be good financially, and I've been doing really well at Staples. I've sold 11 ESP (product replacement plans, etc.) in the last week or so. That's pretty good, and I'm in 3rd place for the store's competition. I'm working to beat out the others, but they're definitely more experienced than I am. I've also been selling a lot of pens and getting donations. That's also a big deal, I guess. Woo. =) My bosses seem to be noticing that I'm working hard, and they've told me that I'm doing well and also that a customer called to tell them that I was very helpful. Awesome!

I'm not sure what else you would want to know. I'm going to try to update more often, even if it's short. That way, you'll know what's going on! Sorry to be so MIA lately! Miss you guys!

Just call me Ms. Wilson!

I got a teaching job! I'll be starting at St. John the Apostle Catholic School in Oregon City on Monday. I'm teaching two 6th grade health classes (2 hours each week, with 1 hour prep). I'm also a sub for the TA's and teachers. There are also some additional possibilities for more teaching later in the year. We'll see what happens.

For the time being, I'm going to continue working at Staples, but I need to talk to my boss and clarify my schedule and make sure he's ok with the change and all. Nervous for that conversation.

Anyways, my sister and I are watching Ever After right now. I absolutely LOVE this movie. It got me thinking, though. There's that one scene where Henry finds out that Danielle is not Nicole De Lancret, and he discovers that she is infact a servant. The raw emotion that I feel during that time seems to be the emotion I have felt a lot throughout my life, pre-teen years to now. It's that feeling that you're just not good enough for the guy you're interested in. I have that feeling all the time, and I absolutely hate it. I think Cinderella (especially this Ever After version) is a wonderful story that crosses those boundaries of class and societal rules. While we may not have those class distinctions today, there are times I feel that a guy I am interested in is "out of my league". This story is a great reminder that love crosses those "league" boundaries. I just hope my Prince Henry (or Charming in the Disney Cinderella) shows up pretty soon, and he realizes what a catch I am. =)

Ok. That's all for now. I need to do another Scripture Trip. I am too tired tonight, but hopefully I'll do one tomorrow.

Ink-stained hands

Hello there! I haven't posted in a few days. Woops! I've been pretty busy working, and also spending time with my sister a bit more.

Let's see...I closed on my own for the first time the other night. It went pretty well, and I closed on my own again last night. So far, so good. I have been coming home with ink stains on my hands, though, from all the recycled ink cartridges. Yesterday my right hand was magenta. The day before my left hand was cyan. Ha.

Side note...I had a job interview this afternoon at St. John the Apostle Catholic School for a teacher's assistant position. I'm really hoping I get it, because then I'd get to work with kids, rather than just selling things at Staples. It might be nice to have two jobs, and then I can save more money and pay things off, etc. *sigh* I find out about it next week.

Tomorrow is my sister's birthday. I don't know what we're doing tomorrow evening, but I know she wanted to do something. We were considering going to the drive in, but they took away the movie she wanted to see. Now they're showing the Smurfs and Transformers. She's totally uninterested. Ah, well. She'll plan something, or we'll hang out at home. Either is fine with me.

I want to do a Scripture Trip again, but tonight I'm too tired. Maybe tomorrow or Saturday.

Night!