September's a beautiful month in Chicago, if life works in your favor. But not for me.

I caught a vicious virus a few weeks ago, one that lingered for nearly two weeks. I might've had the swine flu, and then again, I might've just had the flu. Or maybe it was entirely bacterial. What I do know is that I was coughing, sneezing, stuffy, nauseous, had a terrible sore throat, and was unable to walk around from severe bodyaches. One evening, I even had trouble breathing. Yet the worst of all was that my left ear hurt more than my head from the pain. I was afraid to take any painkillers because in August I took a half dose for cramps, and it made me weak. I hate being so fragile.

If you know me well, you know I don't get distressingly sick that often. The real bummer about it was that I missed a possible ft job with Sears Optical. I couldn't even get out of bed, let alone dress up and attend an interview. I called in the day of, yet when I called back in a couple of days to reschedule, the manager didn't answer, and he never replied to the message I left. Sometimes I think I have the worst timing.

Happily, Joseph was promoted to assistant manager at his more recent part-time job. So at least one of us is getting somewhere. ;) He'll receive more hours now, and he's moved in with one of the other managers which will help him out tenfold. Back when he had no job and no place to sleep, I told him we'd look back at all the misery and laugh. I guess it really isn't as humorous as I imagined, but now with him coming here in a few days, I'm looking forward to more tears of joy than those from trial and tribulation.

I'm tempted to go on a trip soon, maybe out of the country. Me alone. My parents recommended it now that they plan to buy a second car in February or March, and it's pretty tempting. I should do it while I have the time, youth, and extra cash, before a job, completing college, and family take over. But until I get another adventure rolling, I'm going to soak in being with my Boy this weekend first. :)

I visited the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus a couple of weeks ago. My sister plans to attend there next month if she receives decent enough financial aid. She's smart, extracurriculars-oriented, and could've gone somewhere in-state for a great deal, I'm sure, but her heart is set on being a Badger (not like she isn't one already ;). The school so far hasn't been all that generous, but my parents are doing their best to get her in. You can imagine it's been extremely stressful here while waiting for the official yes or no.

I had an interview with a Spa/Teahouse right before the roadtrip, and I'm currently waiting for a callback. The owner said she was going away for a week, and that it would be a total of two weeks in the least before she'd make her decision. So it could be any time now. Even though it's not photography, I'm willing to try it since the hours are good and it seems like an easy job. And if it doesn't happen or fit my situation, it won't dash my dreams or anything.

With the ease of summer, I've thought again deeply about what I want to finish school in. I'm thinking that when I do go back, I'm going to get my bachelor's in graphic design. I'd planned on it years ago, but then I changed it as my artistic interests blossomed and decided on fine arts in general (which is what my associate's is in). Yet what I keep noticing is that I'm constantly drawn back to design, whether it's logos, fashion, typography, simple illustration...I'm confident it can be my passion if I find the proper outlet.

It was Joseph's 21st birthday on Monday. He doesn't drink, so it's not all that remarkable for him, but he made me laugh when he called me to say he was in a bar at the moment and had ordered a Coke. ;) He's a darling. I've decided I'm going to visit him in a month or so unless my parents let him fly here; we'll have to push back the opportunity to move together because of our financial situations.

This week, I'd like to get a haircut and color. Been ages since a professional color job; probably I'll go red again. While we're on superficials, I madly adore this whole outfit, so I'm going to have to find a similar one for about 1% of the cost. Or less.

Yep. Sifted out the ones who haven't posted in years and never held any sort of acquaintance/friendship with me. I don't normally do these formally, as I wait for my f-listers to cut me first (I'm sentimental like that and apparently uninteresting to you guys eventually), but even I must admit that it was long overdue. Honestly, I really should only have about 10-15 people friended anyway, since I don't know most of y'all all that well and commenting is sparse.

If you do so happen to want to hop back aboard, just reply here.

No, truth be told I am feeling better than ever since summer's come around. It was long overdue. And yes, I am aware that we've experienced a wave of deaths in the media world, but in all honesty I wasn't a fan of anyone who passed. Even the OxiClean man. ;) So the most difficult of all was the death of my hamster, Remy.

She died on Tuesday. After reading more about her breed, I think it was due to her old age mixed with the rise in temperature. My family told me she was fine with the heat last summer, but as she was at least 2 years old this month (which is the average lifespan for a dwarf), she probably couldn't take it as well this time around. She had been sleeping in the middle of the cage out in the open, and the website noted that that is a good sign of being close to the end.

On Friday, I visited our town's annual "end of June" fest. I hadn't been there since they moved to the newer location several years ago. All in all, the weather was perfect, and I was able to go out and spend an evening with my mom again which was fun. Saturday, we went shopping together at Woodfield and found some amazing deals, including the VS sale. I got a $68 bra for $20. It's hands down the best one I've ever owned, lol. And while I am no Coach enthusiast, I did fall in love with this. I really kind of want it.

I've been doing a lot of browsing and purchasing new clothes here and there enough to admit that I think my fashion sense is maturing. My wardrobe has transitioned a fair amount lately, as I'm trying to move out of my "juniors department store" look into more womanly styles. It's okay if I physically look 15, but I'm tired of dressing that age. I guess that this month I've been granted a great deal more time to think about certain aspects of my life that I'm normally too busy to fixate on, and to be given the time to work on some of my external traits should hopefully prove its worth.

Chicago's snapshot summer doesn't know if it's coming or going this year, but either way, I'm taking advantage.

In the past several days, I've gone golfing, crafting, visiting family, and swimming at my apartment pool. The last activity is usually rare in my case, but honestly lately I've wanted to hit the water. And in my newfound enthusiasm, I ordered two bikinis from Victoria's Secret, a bandeau and low-rise and a triangle set. The first one I'd been eyeing for awhile now and waited till it went on sale; the second was so cheap that I ended up ordering it the next day (I got it and a t-shirt for the cost of shipping!). You have to understand that before this week I hadn't bought a two-piece in years, literally, and had been sticking to unmatched or one-piece beachwear. So I thought it was time.

Crafts-wise, I finished making a rug that I'd been working on for a few weeks, a little at a time. Someone in my building gave the kit away in the laundry room. It's of a unicorn in a fantasy setting, and maybe it seems kind of an 'old lady'-ish hobby, but occasionally I do like to latch hook. My mom used to do it in the 70s while my dad was performing in his bands or whatever, so I suppose I got it from her. ;)

My sister's graduation was of course the Sunday before last, and also of course started off horribly but finished with a dinner that hushed the entire family from its discord. Wildfire is a fine restaurant, and the funny thing is that I don't ever remember hearing about it. I saw Up during the week too and liked it a lot. It's not the best Pixar movie, but it was good and presented certain themes I can't say I've seen in many animated films before.

Now if there's anything else to say, then I'll say time goes by too darned fast because I feel like an auntie to a couple of my youngest cousins. I hadn't seen them in maybe 4 or so years and wow, did they grow! It seems like yesterday that I was reading children's books to boys that are about to beat me now in height and girth. Sigh.

I can't believe it's already June! My sister's finished high school and has her graduation next Sunday, and my mom's school year ends on Friday. She won't be working there next fall (she was moved to two others due to the eco crisis), and she'll be sad to go, but we have a lot to look forward to in the summer. Back on May 25th was Joseph's and my one year together as well, making it a pivotal time in all our lives.

To kind of round things out, my dad's birthday is tomorrow. So when I went shopping this weekend I bought him another black shirt because, if you've seen my dad in person, you'll know that's the only color he wears. ;) Picked up a new pair of light green Franco Sarto sandals too, to match all my red or green dresses (10 bucks on ebay!). I also got a large forest green Fossil tote for myself, since it was 70% off and I've been looking for a big purse to carry around my camera in. I've used my two LeSportsac hobos (awesome bags, by the way. You can put them in the wash!) for a few years now and thought it was time for something new.

So things have been fine at home, but well this has been on my mind, and yeah. I just learned that my best friend's house burned down, and that she lost her job not two weeks later. We don't call each other much anymore because she's so busy, but I hadn't heard from her since my birthday and was wondering how she'd been lately. ( More on that. )

It's been over a year since I put up a new layout, so a few days ago I did just that. The credit link is in my userinfo. :) I think this is the first time I've used someone else's layout verbatim, but I started seriously looking around and found this one suited my personality rather well.

As my boyfriend was watching the series and mentioned it, in the last couple weeks I ended up seeing all that was made of the CBS drama Jericho. I very much liked it and am sad to know it's officially over. Yet like most other good canceled shows, it's probably smart to have ended prematurely considering how awful many long-running series become. Anyway, if you haven't heard of it, it's about a small town in Kansas that must deal with the consequences of nearly two dozen nuclear bombs detonating across the US. It somewhat reminded me of Lost; I'm into off-beat stuff so you get the idea.

And while we're on Lost, I saw the finale, and ( I have one thing to say. )

Really lately I've just been hanging out at home. Walking outside now that it's warmer; shopping with my mom and picking up great deals here and there. For Mother's Day, I bought her a white waistbelt she had been eyeing, and my dad took us to Nordstrom Cafe for dinner since she likes the salmon there. This Tuesday is my sister's final choir performance, and I look forward to seeing it. Before you know it, both she and I will be gone from here, and I'm sure I'm bound to get nostalgic very soon.

I saw Franz Ferdinand last night. It was a blast, the whole little mass of dance floor bouncing up and down and singing along. Didn't expect some of the song line-up, but it was nice to hear "Tell Her Tonight" and "40'" in there. And of course "Lucid Dreams" in all its maddening glory. If you were wondering, no, I didn't bring my camera to the venue because I knew it'd be too professional-looking to get away with. In time I realized that was actually wonderful for me as for once, I could enjoy a performance without any distractions!

( On meeting Nicholas. )

Sunday was Greek Easter. I totally slept through it! How embarrassing.

Luckily my mom and I ate at TGI Friday's the day before, so I was sort of off the hook for it.
I was very pleasantly surprised at how decent the food was considering that the last (and first) time we dined there, pretty much everything was awful. I chose to give it another chance these many years later, and I'm glad I did. The Jack Daniel's flat iron steak was delicious, and with their Stripes card, we received $10 off our order. So overall I had a more fulfilling night than usual.

Other than being able to oversleep, there's been such excessive free time for me since regular Easter that I've begun to read The Lord of the Rings over again. In truth, it's almost as if I'm reading it for the first time: it's pleasantly fresh and exciting in my mind. I suppose I'll never be sick of it.

I've spent several spare moments on Facebook as well, searching for old acquaintances and extended family. In fact, the very first friend I ever made accepted my friends request last week. We met before I went to kindergarten; she was 4, and I was 5. We were best friends until she moved to southern Illinois about 5 years later; we wrote long letters to each other for a good while until one day, she didn't send one back. Anyway, it's really something to see a person grow from 10 to 23 with those 13 years in-between baring no knowledge to me. She has a kid now, too, and while I can see the "old" Jessica in pictures where she smiles, the present Jessica is foreign to me.

In more pressing matters, I'm a little worried about Joseph. A few weeks ago he badly sprained his ankle playing basketball, and after a physical for his job he found out that he shattered the cartilage involved. Therefore he could no longer work as security guard. He had money for rent this month, but he's going to have to rely on government now until he is considered "fit to hire". The doctor told him the injury is going to affect him the rest of his life, and that was panic enough to keep him from finding more work that could aggravate it. I trust in God's will concerning this, but any thoughts or prayers would be appreciated. :)

No, seriously. I love how pitiful I sounded in my last blog considering that a week later, I interviewed for a part-time job at the Picture People and eventually snagged a position! Yeah yeah, I've heard the company is crap, but the one at Stratford Square needed extra photographers for Easter, so at least I have something temporarily. Although not exactly what I'd like, I'm thankful for any photo work at all.

I had a quiet "3-17" this year with just my parents. My sister didn't even want to spend time with me; she was only going to celebrate if we ate at Potbelly's (honestly, wtf? we can go there anytime!). Instead, I picked out our local Red Robin as I've never been there before, and I received a free meal and dessert for my birthday there too. As a gift from the folks, I picked up my ticket in the mail to see Franz Ferdinand next month. :)

From Joseph, a handwritten letter arrived exactly on my birthday. I was a puddly, romantic mess after reading it; geez, even his handwriting is adorable and cute and just about a million times more readable than mine! Also, since he can't afford a phone plan for his cell right now, the fact that my aunt sent me a 900 minute phone card was -for once- a wonderful thing! She's been giving them as presents every year (and partially used lots of times. yeah, my family is strange), but never before have I had such a need for one.

Before my parents and I came home last night, we went to a pub and had a drink. We were lucky to find a corner booth open in such a close-knit place, but I suppose lucky is what I'm to be on a day like yesterday, right? ;) So I had a beer and knocked out appropriately at the end of my 24th St. Patrick's Day.

( ABC's Meme )

I don't know about you, and maybe it's just all the economy's fault, but I'm feeling particularly down this year. I think I even went through a bit of a depression, a label I'd never before put on myself. At least I can tell why, though. With knowing I have real freedom comes fear, financial fears. Before, I spent 8 months feeling more or less secure, traveling, learning and dealing with love. Now I sit on my bed, reading books and going online, giving the faintest impression that I'm yet alive and in the game. However inside, I'm scared for my future, even if I've heard time and again that everything will be fine.

And I'm sure it will be, even though there's still no feasible job prospects. To keep myself busy, I've been surfing a buffaload of freebie sites along with applying. Signing up for birthday clubs that actually cater to adults (try noodles&co, coldstone, and red robin, for instance), and receiving free samples of stuff I'll probably never use or give to my sister.

Then there's the coupon codes, a deal that VictoriasSecret.com granted me today. With the help of having their credit card, I was able to purchase a bra (retail $24.50) and panty ($16.50) for a grand total of $1.14, including shipping. I doubt you can get much better than that. If you're curious as to how I did it, just ask; I'd like to see it work for someone else.

I volunteered at my church on Saturday, as planned. It was open house for the new extension, and albeit that I get awkward around church members, it wasn't so bad. Similarly my Mandalay Bay photo is on schmap now, which you can view here. It's kinda fun to see it on a popular mobile internet site, besides being that its subject is travel. I think it means something.

I registered a Twitter as well. Am openly amused about how it's a site that's basically dedicated to the Facebook Status. But I'm keen to flist friending and following nonetheless.

See? I'm feeling better already.

I'm home.

Hawaii was amazing and beautiful and just like in the magazines, and then eighteen hours, one boyfriend & his scooter, and three airplane rides later, I arrived back in Chicago. To -30 degree weather.

I don't plan to think too hard for about another week or so. Right now I'm comfortable hibernating, full of local pizza, listening to Franz Ferdinand's new album, and going through the 1300 photos I took in Oahu. Fine ways to celebrate my 8-month anniversary since having altered the fates.

Seriously, no joke. I've been working my booty off. I'm starting to be sick, and the worst of the holidays have barely kicked in yet. Thanksgiving week was a sample of my inadmirable future, consisting of several 7:30am shifts in a row along with a rather late dinner on the Thursday, giving me little time to digest my food. It was very yummy though; my roommate Tasha's a good cook, but that's pretty much the most you can say about her.

Between last post and now, Joseph finally picked up a full-time security job (starting on Monday). I'm really excited about how well he's put himself back together. The irony of all ironies? On the same day he got a callback for it, he received a text that his father was now officially unemployed. My, how the tables have turned.

Interestingly enough, my roommate Georgie aced the interview too and snagged a professional internship in Florida at the Animal Kingdom. Conservation Station. Her challenge, however, is to get there on time to begin the program: she has to make a cross-country trip there in three days! To help, Tasha will be carpooling with her to do a regular college program. And while we're on that, three weeks ago a third roommate, Marina, came in. She's a very sweet Brazilian girl, and we're already having good times together. She's a lot like Georgie.

Tomorrow I'll be taking a break from reality and will watch the Candlelight Processional after work. It's been a tradition every December. Since the 1950's, a well-known actor has narrated the Nativity in Town Square, Disneyland, along with the following of a large choir performance; Epcot at Disney World does similarly. John Stamos is the guest speaker this year (yes, Uncle Jesse is going to tell us a story).
To add to the fun, there's the cast holiday party on Tuesday where Disneyland employees get to enjoy the park late at night as a private celebration. As well as 50% off most merchandise, the funnest part of all. ;)

I'm heading to bed. Don't forget Holiday Cards! My address is there now too. :)

Got back from Phoenix yesterday. Had a lovely time with the boyfriend though certainly not enough of a stay. Regretfully also I didn't bother taking pics of the hotel or the area surrounding because um, yeah. Well, you know. :P But Arizona's beautiful in its own way.

I came back to work to see a larger than life tree set up at Town Square at Disneyland; the holiday season's finally begun. Even earlier, the Saturday previous, was the taping for Disney's Very Merry Christmas special. So yes, technically "Christmas Day" on ABC is November 8th. ;) I was scheduled at Matterhorn Way early in the morning and so I watched the Jonas Brothers perform "Joy To the World" about six times. By the third time I thought I might need ear plugs. But what probably proved more annoying was hearing Ryan Seacrest's voice boom across Main Street over, and over, and over.

The week with the_tim_world and her brother was great. Took them around Disneyland and a few good places to eat (In-N-Out, baby!), and on the 5th I enjoyed my Christmas present: A trip to Sea World, San Diego. I won't ever forget. I touched a dolphin, watched the dolphin splash Amanda in the face, and then ate a Shamu cookie. What more could one ask for? ;)

( Photos I took of Las Vegas, the Hoover Dam, and Lake Mead. Not dial-up safe. )

On an awkward note, my co-worker Ciara proved less than worthy. She was supposed to give my share of the Vegas money to her friend that charged everything, but she never did. I found out two weeks later that she and Mia hadn't been in touch since and that Mia'd been trying to get our monetary share from us. Ciara played both of us, and so far I don't know why yet because she quit working here right around the time of question, and moved back to Iowa. :\

Time for bed.

I don't know why I decided to go to work today.

Maybe because I need the cash dearly, but only fifteen minutes in and I felt like I was going to pass out. Basically what's been going on is that within the last week I've discovered that I have an infection coming from the pulp of my bottom right wisdom tooth. Totally uncomfortable for my poor cheek back there. Pretty much it erupted sideways and tore into the skin on the inside of my mouth, and the infection has grown and taken its place. Thus I've had tremendous pain from the right side of my head down to the start of my neck for the past three days.

The problem is that I just can't get x-rays done right now, let alone an extraction of any kind. It hurts to open my mouth more than halfway! I've been taking my father's advice to just rest and take pain killers, to avoid the dentist since that could make everything worse. He was right about the flu-like thing I had last month, so I don't know, I'll continue to trust him I suppose. My roommate Georgie is still a million shades of awesome and offered to take me somewhere to get help, but I just had to thank her repeatedly and leave be.

Speaking of roommates, want to hear some wonderfully ridiculous irony? Well remember Janel, the roommie who threatened to kick me out of housing due to bathroom trash? Let's just say that karma proved its worth three days ago as yes, she was in fact permanently kicked out of the program because she couldn't pay September's rent.

Don't ya love happy endings?

( Well then here's some more. )

Today was a particularly good day.

I simply went shopping and touring by myself, and it felt wonderful, to be honest. I bought a small purse and new sunglasses (I still don't know if my old ones are lost or stolen) along with a silver etched necklace purchased a few days ago. I ate a Mickey waffle breakfast on Main Street, and I snagged a couple of character autographs. It may be silly to some, but finding a Disneyland autograph book at the Cast Member discount warehouse for only 50 cents gave me the inclination to try to collect as many siggys as I could. Sometimes it's nice to experience something you did as a kid as an adult, you know? Just for fun.

So I've been taking it easy lately, not really doing anything while I plow through the Cali heat. Besides, there are lots of ride/restaurant rehabs going on here in September as well. What I'm looking forward to are the final three months: the holiday season. :) I've never been to a Disney park during Halloween, and I've certainly never spent Thanksgiving or Christmas at one without family! I think it will be interesting.

returnofthegaze asked me ( five questions. )

I now conclude with something much more interesting: ( more pictures. )

Gahh! I'm so poor, people!

Last weekend, I took four days off of work because of how sick I was. On Fantasy Faire days too; it makes me mad to even think about it! And although I'm much better now, I'm still in the dark as to what I had. At times it came off like the flu, but I didn't develop a fever; at others, it seemed like pneumonia, except I didn't think it'd hit the lungs. Maybe it was bacterial, maybe it was a bad type of cold I simply never thought existed. But whatever it was took everything out of me.

Add that to all else that had been going on with me, and I was thisclose to leaving the program. Only when I was completely well again did I change my mind. I decided it was a rash thought and that I didn't want to throw everything I'd achieved away.

It also helped that my co-worker, Ciara, invited me to go to Vegas with her other friends. Something that totally makes up for what went on with Janel. We'll be gone October 6-9, snagged great deals on a room, and have plans to do all the necessaries in town. ;) Besides that, the_tim_world is visiting for a week afterwards, which couldn't be less than anxiously anticipated. So yeah, of course I can't leave now!

By the by, if you were wondering, the boyfriend's prospects are improving. He picked up his "guard card" for being a security guard (which is what he was before Disney), and he's received numerous offers for a place to stay. Each day I let him know I'm there for him, and he does the same; even if we are 5 hours away from each other we understand that love has no bounds. :)

Oh yeah, for all you stuck on the stars. One of my co-workers took pictures of Christian Bale and his family at Princess Fantasy Faire on Wednesday. It was my day off and I was in the park, actually. Anywho, she said he wanted to know what Photopass was, yet when she tried to explain it to him, she started to lose it and had to unbutton her shirt! Eventually the group of us were all mocking her, saying, "Please, Christian, just let me unbutton my shirt so I can explain it better." Rofl. ;)
(And yes, I saw the pics if you were curious.)

Meme time: Comment and i'll give you a letter; then you have to list ten things you love that begin with that letter. Afterward, post this in your journal and give out some letters of your own.

( I received the letter A )

This happens. LOL. Hiya ^.^

Edit: Hah, I knew teaching him lj would work against me. ;)

Howdy, guys. I'm on my roommate's laptop (my HP's new battery is hopeless), but as most situations have gone about since May 19th, things are working out even better than expected. I'm getting paid a dollar more an hour than originally informed, and I received half off on the rent last month due to complaints. Add that to the $400 my uncle bestowed upon me for his no-show and I'm getting a new laptop by the end of the week. :D

Besides, my job's definitely what I anticipated. The cast members at Disneyland seem nicer overall compared to WDW, though they are like one big clique and tend to spread the gossip. We get free food almost everyday, leftover from private tours that we take pictures for, and I cannot wait until I work in Princess Fantasy Faire. Capturing pictures of little girls in sparkly dresses, mesmerized by Belle or Cinderella or Jasmine and going up to wrap their arms around them, is just absolutely priceless.

There's a boy, too. It's totally a fling; we both know it and yet we keep going because we are so comfortable with one another. Admittedly more comfortable than either of us has ever been with the opposite sex. We can tell each other anything, stay up until 4 in the morning talking about God, bipolar disorder, and even advice on how to get the girl he likes in the apartment complex one block over, or the cute Southern guy I admire at work. Where I go wrong is letting it happen and not letting emotions get to me; he's 4 years younger than me and I'm having too much fun here to care.

I'm going to Burbank later this month to visit Walt Disney Studios with the roommates. We went to Newport and Huntington beaches last week, then saw the new Indy film together. I had a blast last night with my half-cousin and her family at Disneyland, their treating me to dinner and a Main Street ice cream sundae, and I found out I took the Picture of the Day for California Adventure park on my second day of shooting. As exhausting as these past weeks have been, I am having the best time, ever.

Hey y'all. I'm on my iTouch right now so I won't get into detail but, California?
I don't know what it is about this place, but man, I could get used to this. It's like a siren in good old Greek mythology.

Oh, yeah. My roommates couldn't be better. I think I did right.