Oklahoma to Alabama to Oklahoma to Alabama to...

Living over 700 miles from where I grew up sometimes gets a little complicated. I love my family and want to be there for every activity that happens. But I love my friends in Norman and want to be there for every activity that happens. This can be difficult when there are things going on in both places. Especially around the holidays. As of Tuesday at 1:30pm, I became officially unemployed. That's exciting. I was offered a job at Republic Bank and Trust, but regretfully turned it down due to family commitments and weddings I am involved in and promised to be in or at. I am happy with that decision. (I guess I shouldn't have said regretfully then). Over the past couple of days I have been concerned with how I am going to make it financially until I return to Norman in mid-January to see what other job opportunities I could find. I have brainstormed different part time seasonal businesses I could start...Annie Mac's Holiday Snacks seemed to be the best of all. Basically, I would send out something to people that have Christmas parties in Huntsville and see if they need someone to bake things for them. And then they'd pay me. Simple right? I think so. I will still potentially do that.

Today, my dad called me and told me some happenings at ministry he runs in Huntsville. They are in need of someone to work at their preschool from now until the holidays. I said that I could do that. It seems like a pretty good deal. I will get to be at home for the holidays, getting paid and directly working with people. The downside, I already have a lot of plans in Oklahoma between now and Dec. 25. So, I will be in Huntsville for a week then drive to Tulsa for a few days then back to Alabama and stay for a little bit then back to Tulsa then back to Alabama then to Georgia and back to Alabama and then finally back to Norman. I'm going to need some good music. Suggestions?

Etsy

I've heard about Etsy for a long time, but have not spent a good deal of time looking through the stuff talented people all over the country make by hand! It's great! I am a sucker for hand crafted, one of a kind (or at least not mass produced) stuff. It is inspiring. I want to start painting again, learn to sew better and just do awesome stuff. I would also love to learn how to make pottery. Become a potter, as it were. Here are some of my favorite things I've seen on so far.



This is a watercolor print. You can buy it for $12. I really like the style of the trees.

This is a ceramic mug. ha. I like that it is just "brown" but there are so many other colors making it just brown. It can also be bought, but for $20.



This is a rubber stamp to put in your books. I would probably get it to say Anna McDowell rather than Stacey Burns. I think that could get confusing. $13.50

This seller has a lot of cute post earrings. I really like them. And they are only $4.50-$6.50. Right there is a deal for buy 3 get 1 free on all of the seller's stuff. Woot.

I guess that wraps up this post.

Job Update #3

I have a second interview on Wednesday for the bank job. That seems like good news. That's all I have at the moment.

Job Update #2

I have officially put in my two weeks notice at La Baguette. My last day will be November 10th. I'm pretty excited about this! No, I do not have another job at the moment. You might be thinking, "That's crazy!!" It probably is. But I do have two interviews this week. So, I am hoping that something great comes from one or both of those. The first one is today (Thursday) at a consulting company for a receptionist job. They work with companies to help them reduce the amount of energy they use. That seems pretty great of them to do that. Ha. The second one is tomorrow (Friday) at Republic Bank and Trust for a teller position. A bank is where people deposit and withdraw money...along with many other things. I am pretty excited that people are at least interested in talking in person with me. That seems promising. I am trying to trust God in all of this. He is faithful and good even when I am not. I am thankful for that.

Fictional Couples.

Over the past month or so the topic of fidelity among "fictional couples" has been addressed briefly several times. I am amazed at how in television and books we often hope the heroic person cheats on their tyrant of a spouse because the "other" person is SO much more likable. I think this all the time. For instance, in the television series, Glee, Will Schuester the show choir director is married to a woman, Terri, who outwardly lies to him about being pregnant, demands a better house and nicer things that are way out of their means of living, and manipulates his every move. The show does a good job of portraying as a terrible person to be married to. Will does his best to provide for her, takes on a second job but still does not reach her expectations. So, we don't like Terri...she's terrible. But we do like the guidance counselor, Emma. She is sweet and caring and is totally in love with Will Schuester. They are friends and talk often. The entire time I am watching this show I find myself wanting them to end up together, completely forgetting that he is MARRIED and she is engaged to someone else. This is something I feel like no one would be pulling for in real life. But for some reason in television, movies, books, theater or other made up media and art forms I find myself wanting things to happen to people that in real life would be awful and forever damaging to people. We hope people have affairs. We want people to get killed. We want what seems like will make that person happy in that moment, but neglect the overall affects of their decisions and the last results that it would have on the people if they actually existed. I find this interesting. And all the more evidence to our total depravity. I am not saying that we should not necessarily be watching or reading things that contain these things, but that I have become aware of what I am apparently hoping for with these people it completely contradicts what I believe in actual life. I don't feel like there should be such a divide. I could be wrong. This entire blog could be completely incomprehensible. My bad. Thoughts?

Job Update #1

My second round of job searching has begun! I spent all afternoon researching and applying to jobs personally and electronically. I am really hoping something materializes soon. I traded shifts with a girl at La Baguette, so I am not working on Thursday. That is good news because it gives me the whole day to beat down the doors of potential employers. My thought process is this...I'm not making much and my job is really not great, so I feel like I can find and easier job for the same amount of money. I am hopeful. I'll try and keep this updated. We'll see how that goes.

Kind of depressing and Concerts!!!!!!!

To update those that actually read this blog, my life is different than I expected. It has been a surprising roller coaster of trying to make life everything I want it to be. I think that is the problem. I need to let go of trying to MAKE it something it is not. I am trying to be everything to everyone and I feel like I am failing miserably. I think more than anything I am worn out. I wake up too early and go to bed too late and work really hard the 8 hours I am at work everyday. I am constantly wishing for a slow day or an early out...those usually don't happen, but it's a great day when it does! I am still looking for other jobs. I am hoping something more consistent and "real job" like comes up. I am praying. I am realizing that not getting enough sleep or rest makes me crazy. I have WAY over reacted to things that are definitely not big deals and really under reacted to things that are. It seems like in the past 5 years I have been pretty consistent in my reactions to things and I am unsure of my sanity.

On a good note, I am going to a lot of concerts this semester! Michael and I recently went to go see Blink 182. It was at least interesting. We were stuck in traffic for two hours in Dallas and missed the first two bands, but it turned out ok. Blink 182 are definitely entertaining in one way or another. ha. Also, on the line up there is U2, Brian Regan, Ben Folds, hopefully Regina Spektor and Jon Foreman with Switchfoot. I have decided I really like concerts and seeing bands and hearing music I listen to in my car on on my ipod. It seems like a worthwhile experience.

Things are going to get better. I am hopeful.