This is the story of a girl...

I'm still alive.

2008-05-12T10:02:35Z

Haven't been too good about putting words down lately. It's been kind of hectic, and I've been kind of sleep-deprived. There is not a lot going on, despite the aforementioned hecticness. 10 days of school left, and summer coursework is right around the corner. Just trying to keep everything in order. I did see Jon Stewart, though. That was pretty awesome.

I know. Not very exciting, but I never claimed to be a thrill a minute.

Here. Have a video. Weez the juice.

Things, life, what-not.

2008-05-04T15:18:29Z

Things are going well, or well enough. There are 15 days of school left. The next 3 weeks are going to be a big ol' blur. Since I know where I will be working next year, it is easier to get things done. My apartment is immaculate, save for my spare bedroom. It is currently a holding place for things I plan on consigning or donating to a thrift store as soon as I get a little more time to sort through it. I've got a head start on one of my summer courses (adolescent literature), so I feel good about that.

Today I think I'll take a walk around town, maybe pick up some more library books. This adolescent lit class has me reading nonstop, but it's not too bad. I'm enjoying this weather, as long as it doesn't get too hot. My lack of real AC makes summer a real kick in the pants.

Wheeeeeeee!

I rest my case.

2008-04-28T10:22:14Z

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaay! I slept! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Now it's time to get ready to be at work until 6:30 tonight. What a treat...

I'm so tired, I haven't slept a wink.

2008-04-27T14:39:09Z

Slept from about 5:00 until 7:30. At least I got to play a lot of Tetris, watched The Pianist, and I'm 1/4 of the way through this adolescent literature reading list (and corresponding written responses) for a course I'm taking this summer. Yay, productivity! Boo, insomnia!

I think I'll try to take a mid-morning nap. Wish me luck!

Insomniaaaaaaaaaaa

2008-04-27T08:33:51Z

Despite going to bed at 3:00am last night, getting up at 9:00 this morning, and doing stuff around my house all day, I am still unable to get to sleep at 4:30am.

It's going to be a fun Sunday...

Tinitis!

2008-04-26T14:51:06Z

Seeing Bruce Springsteen was a blast. I was standing the whole time down on the floor, and from what I could see around me, the place was packed. Dude can put on a show, that's for sure. I lost track of time, but I'm pretty sure it was about 2.5 hours of non-stop music; no breaks at all. Not too shabby for a bunch of old folks.

I think this was my favorite song of the night:

Didn't get to hear "I'm On Fire", but I guess I'll live.

Tramps like us...

2008-04-25T20:37:55Z

Since I am several types of awesome, I got a free ticket to go see The Boss tonight. Don't ask me how or with whom I'm going. Just know that I will be there, dancin' in the dark.

SEE YA!

Blur.

2008-04-23T10:49:51Z

Hmmm, I haven't been writing much lately. Sorry. I can't access this at work, and by the time I get home, I can't think of anything inspiring to say. Speaking of work, I have 25 more days of it. Strange to think about, but also something to look forward to. The warm weather and more plentiful sunlight are doing me well.

Hope everyone is rocking and/or rolling. Are you?

It's electric!

2008-04-19T13:18:05Z

I was just electrocuted while trying to change the bulb in an old lamp.

Twice.

It didn't hurt... felt kind of funny, but I think I'm awake now.

Timeless.

2008-04-18T10:51:19Z

This week has been incredibly busy, and I don't see much changing in the near future. Our big statewide standardized test starts next week, and carries over into the following week. By then, it will be May, and I'll have all of 4 weeks left at work. Still have no clue what I'll be doing come August, and I wouldn't mind so much if I didn't have to start setting up my library internship. I'm sure it will all work out just peachy, right? Ha.

I'm looking forward to not waking up early tomorrow. Mmmm, sweet uninterrupted sleep! Hope everyone is doing well out there in internet world. Tell me of your (un)fascinating weekend plans! I can't wait to read a book and tackle a pile of papers that need to be filed or shredded. What a treat!

Here. Enjoy this. For some reason, I can't stop watching it.

Spring broke.

2008-04-11T13:09:40Z

Spring Break has gone by too quickly. I spent Tuesday through Thursday in Savannah with my mom. I didn't have a lot of downtime while I was there, since I was at the mercy of others, but it was a nice time.

I will spend my last day of non-working doing nothing other than working on some assignments that are due this weekend. Blah.

30 days of school left. SUMMER VACATION!

Switch it up.

2008-04-07T14:54:05Z

I kinda wanna do something ridiculous, like move to New Jersey or Wisconsin.

Anyone wanna go?

The Write Stuff

2008-04-06T14:24:32Z

I knocked out a substantial chunk of my semester's grade last night. I still have a few more small assignments to get done (mostly by next Saturday), but this one was giant and now it's gone. Here's what my professor said about it:

Hope you got some sleep. Beautiful, Melissa. So well done. It's a keeper. J.

Ha! She so crazy.

Guess my writing is going to keep on keepin' on. I'm taking an adolescent literature course over the summer, and there are 20 books I have to read. For each book, I have to do a 1-page commentary, and then there are 3 larger papers of 4-8 pages.

Arrrrrrrgh.

I should probably take a break from writing anything and do my taxes. George Michael Unplugged is on VH-1 Classic, so I think that's good ambiance for figuring out something as ridiculous as taxes, no?

Oh, and speaking of George Michael, here is the uncut version of the Father Figure video with freaky bonus at the very end, for those interested.

Break me off a piece...

2008-04-04T11:07:33Z

Today's the last day before Spring Break.

It's gonna be a blast. I've got some Advil ready.

Random fact:

2008-04-03T10:43:46Z

I have never been a bridesmaid.

I was supposed to be one when I was about 13 or so, but my cousin called it off with the bemulleted dude she was with. Tragedy!

Since a lot of my gal pals are already married (and they all had sisters/cousins/better friends than yours truly to include in the bridal party), I see a very small chance of me every donning an impractical dress and planning functions where mojitos, appletinis, mani-pedis, and/or beefcake male strippers are involved.

Always a bridesmaid, never a bride... Never a bridesmaid... dunno about that one.

Rejection!

2008-04-03T00:38:18Z

I got this a few minutes ago from the better interview I had Friday. That is not my last name.

Good evening Ms. Montgomery,

The interview team and I would like to thank you for interviewing at _________ Elementary School. After completing all of our interviews, we have decided that we are unable to extend an invitation to join our staff at this time. Please know that this decision was based on the skill set needed for the 2008-2009 school year. It was a pleasure to meet you and I wish you the very best with your future endeavors.

Thank you.

I was confused for a minute, but they were kind enough to send out another rejection email with my correct last name in it.

Whew. That could have been awkward.

This is how we do it...

2008-04-02T03:34:47Z

I had a really crappy interview today. I showed up about 10 minutes early for a 1:00pm meeting. I wait and wait and wait some more in a hot, stuffy office. At 1:45, the interview starts. That's 45 minutes late, for those doing the math. As soon as we sit down, the principal looks at my resume (which I had emailed when I inquired about the position) and says,

"So you're not currently working in a school library?"

Whatever happened to screening a resume before scheduling an interview? If I don't have the 3 years of experience you're looking for, DON'T CALL ME IN FOR AN INTERVIEW. Save me and yourself the time. She said, "Well, I'll go ahead and interview you anyway." 15 minutes later, I was done and felt like a total jackass. Why?! Pointless. This is exactly what happened at my first interview I had Friday.

Luckily, the 3:00 interview I had redeemed the afternoon (and provided justification for the half-day I had to take off). I got there at 2:55, and was ushered right into the library where a panel of the principal plus 7 teachers were waiting to interview me. They asked great questions, and were all jotting down notes as I answered. I threw out some questions of my own, and even sent a follow-up email thanking them for their time and adding in some library-specific questions for their retiring librarian. They said they'd be making a decision the week after next (next week is Spring Break), so we'll see what happens.

I WANT THIS JOB! Cross your fingers, or, if it's more your style, feel free to do this:

Excitement!

2008-04-01T12:38:01Z

Someone must have called in sick today in the IT department, because all the usually-blocked sites are a free-for-all! Livejournal, my Gmail chat isn't disabled, Twitter... fun!

I wonder how long it will last...

On bended knee.

2008-03-31T23:25:29Z

I received a marriage proposal today.

From a 13-year old.

In the middle of my 2nd period English class.

"Miss Payne, will you marry me?"

I must say, for a 6th grader, he did a good job. He got down on one knee, took one of the many rings he was wearing off his hand (it was a gold band with small diamonds around it), and held it out to me.

Desperately wanting to avoid what could be a very awkward situation, I laughed, advised him to stay in school, and walked away.

"Ok, so you think about it and get back to me tomorrow, right?"

I didn't feel so special after he also asked 2 other teachers, but I guess in an attempt to redeem himself, he tried it again at lunch.

Reminds me of when I was in 4th grade or so. A boy that lived 2 houses down from me showed up at my doorstep with one of those little rings that comes from a gumball machine at the supermarket. It was "gold" with a green "stone" in it. It was still in the little plastic bubble container. He said "You're the prettiest girl in the world and I want you to marry me one day". Looking back, it was a bold statement, considering I was a rather awkward 9-10 year old and he was probably 7 or 8.

I wonder what ever happened to that kid. Michael Ballentine, if you're out there, I hope life has been kind to you.

Gonna make you sweat.... SWE-AT!

2008-03-31T03:06:37Z

I should join a gym. I have some options here.

1. Join LA Fitness sometime before the end of the day tomorrow while we're having a special through work. No sign-up fee, no contract, $35 a month, first and last month due at sign-up. They have a lot of locations and a good amount of classes, but there aren't any that are in my route to-from work at the moment.

2. Join the hospital's wellness center. It is right around the corner, so I can walk/bike to it if I like. No sign-up fee, $39 a month, no contract. There's only one location, and there are classes, but not quite as many as LA Fitness. They do have on-site nutritionists and such, though, being that they are a hospital.

I could also go with the Y, but it's more expensive. There's also a place not too far from here that's recently opened up, but I always like to see if things are going to last a few months before getting invested in it.

I should do something, though. It's time to get swoll!

I could never be your woman.

2008-03-30T16:38:30Z

THERE'S NEVER ANY TIME!

2008-03-29T06:46:58Z

I got my group's draft compiled for tomorrow's class. I have finished 4/10 of the journal article analyses that are due by the end of the day tomorrow. Well, actually, tomorrow is technically today; I just haven't gone to sleep yet. A paper is due on April 5. Another assignment is due April 12. Taxes are due on April 15 and I haven't started. I have to find a job. Think my head is going to explode. I feel like this.

Although I didn't get all my writing accomplished and I'm terribly behind on a lot of things, I did manage to run up and down my stairs outside (along with walking to the end of my street and running back 2 times). Also, I mopped the kitchen and bathroom floors, paid my rent, put my monthly chunk o' change into savings, and balanced my checkbook. My clothes are still in piles. I lose.

Is this what being on meth is like? Probably not, because my teeth are in great shape and I am not rail thin. Also, I'm not afraid of my dwelling blowing up.

Ok, it's 2:46am. I have class tomorrow from 9am-3pm. I should really go to sleep.

Srsly ppl wtf?!

2008-03-28T16:49:28Z

Ok, I'm going to rant.

Yesterday I had an interview scheduled for 3:00pm. It had been scheduled since the morning of Monday, March 17. I have emails to substantiate this claim. At 9:00am yesterday, my phone rang.

"This is ____ from ____ School. Where are you?"

"Excuse me?"

"We've been waiting for you since 8:30."

"Um, my interview is at 3:00pm today."

"No, we have 8:30."

"Um, no."

So, I forwarded the relevant emails showing their folly. Here is the response I got:

"I will see if I can reschedule this for you, but I don't know if I will be able to. Regardless, don't show up here at 3:00, because we won't be here."

Whatever, dudes.

So, today I had an 11:00am interview. I got to the school at 10:50, just in case I needed to complete any paperwork. I did not, so I sat and waited. And waited. And waited. My interview started at 11:45, and ended at noon. They seemed disappointed that I was not yet a school librarian, but how about previewing that resume I sent you 2 weeks ago when you called to set up the interview? On top of that, I didn't end up leaving until 12:25, because a parent was blocking me in (and the office staff refused to call out over the PA until I got indignant with them).

Here's hoping my 2:00 is not quite as fubared.

I miss corporate America.

Bizzy

2008-03-28T12:31:16Z

I have a few key items to accomplish today (on my day off!):

-Register for summer courses (must get into adolescent literature class that's offered online)
-Interview for librarian position at 11:00am
-Interview for nondescript teaching position at 2:00pm
-Pull of some total magic and get all this writing done before my class tomorrow at 9:00am.

Somewhere in there I should clean up this apartment a bit. I've let it get a bit cluttered this week. Keep in mind, my idea of cluttered is probably much different from other people's, so what I mean is that there is some mail scattered on my coffee table and a few shirts that need to be put on hangers.

Guess I'll get cleaned up and go make some decent copies of my resume. Hope everyone has a nice weekend!

Run Fatboy Run

2008-03-26T20:29:45Z

Last night I saw Run Fatboy Fun, which was directed by this handsome fella:

It was written by this not-quite-as-handsome fella:

The movie was great and all, but this post was really just a vehicle for delicious kosher manwich pix.