Holey Hell.

The start of September is a great time of reflection. I start to think about my upcoming birthday and think about what I have (or have not) accomplished since the last one. I reminisce on past birthday's and it is astonishing how little I can remember about most of them. Historically, I've never been a huge "birthday celebrater" and don't normally rally friends for a huge gathering or do anything out of the ordinary.  There have been years when I've whooped it up more than usual, but I feel like I don't automatically remember "For my 26th birthday I remember doing..." Generally I have to spend time counting back, looking at ticket stubs, etc.

When I was on my east coast vacation I met up with a high school classmate. I hadn't seen her in more years than I'd like to type, as typing them would make me truly realize how long ago it was that I graduated from high school, and I had a great time learning what she's been up to (all these years!) and gossiping about life in general.  After brunch we window-shopped and browsed along Newbury Street and for a few minutes we talked earrings. She has multiple piercings (three) in both ears, and seeing them reminded me that I never wear earrings in my second holes.  Why, I'm not sure, because I remember how excited I was to get second holes.

I got my first holes pierced when I was in kindergarten and can't conjure up a memory about the experience. Was I scared? Probably. Did I throw a fit? Not sure. Were there tears? Maybe. I'll have to consult with my mother for the details. I remember the studs from my first piercing: fake sapphires (my birthstone) in gold. I do not remember any troubles with my first holes, other than having to cover them with athletic tape before soccer games.

In high school I told my mom I was going to get second holes, very nonchalantly, and was taken aback when she firmly stated "No you are not. Not until you're 18." I obviously thought this was cruel and unusual, but since my parents were otherwise really chill about a lot of stuff (not tattoos, as we've discussed) I decided "Okay...it'll be an 18th birthday treat to myself!"

In school I was always considerably (a few months feels "considerably" when everyone has their drivers license and you have to wait six more months) younger than the other people in my grade. Because of this, I didn't turn 18 until five weeks after shipping off to college. Consequently, the only time I EVER used someone's ID was to be 18. The people on my floor were going to Uptown, an 18+ dance "bar", and I borrowed an ID so I could get in. I never used someone's ID to be 21, probably because we were masterful at sneaking me into 21+ bars until I was legal.

As my 18th birthday approached, I recall mentioning my desire to get my ears double-pierced as a birthday treat to my roommate and the women who lived in the room next to us. My roommate, a sweet woman who grew up in a town with literally only one streetlight, was supportive of my desire to accomplish my wish but said she was NOT able to accompany me for fear of passing out, because the idea of getting holes put in her ears was apparently one of the most horrible and painful things she'd ever heard. A quick look flip through her Facebook albums and it appears as though she still has not pierced her ears, but she has had four kids (!!!!)

With full support and a cheery farewell from my roommate, the neighbor gals and I headed to Franklin Park Mall in Toledo, the metropolis of Northwest Ohio. I was nervous, but personally the thought of showing pain/weakness in public is worse than the thought of actual pain, so I knew I'd come through all right. I actually can't remember what I picked out as studs. I'm sure if I were to flip through an old jewelry box I would come across a lone earring that might trigger a memory, but at the time I'm drawing a blank. I've lost touch with the two women who were with me for this memorable occasion, but I hope they know that they've made an impact on my life.

I was prompted to write all this because yesterday, on the first day of September, I wore earrings in my second holes.

This is what job searching drives us to.

Cbusgrrl (4:17:54 PM): changing the subject for a brief moment...

Cbusgrrl (4:18:07 PM): I had a weird dream that I made out with John Gosselin

Cbusgrrl (4:18:10 PM): what?!

Dtownqt (4:21:14 PM): how was he?

Cbusgrrl (4:21:38 PM): not that great

Dtownqt (4:21:45 PM): was he wearing ed hardy?

Cbusgrrl (4:21:54 PM): he tried to have sex with me, but I said no

Dtownqt (4:21:57 PM): ed hardy boxer shorts?

Dtownqt (4:22:03 PM): shit...even in your dreams you are a tease.

Cbusgrrl (4:22:09 PM): I don't know about the shorts

Cbusgrrl (4:22:13 PM): I know!

Cbusgrrl (4:22:24 PM): He was still a douche in my dream

Cbusgrrl (4:22:54 PM): Kate came over and I had to hide in the closet

Dtownqt (4:26:10 PM): she will cut a bitch

Cbusgrrl (4:26:57 PM): I think the moral of the story is I need to make out

Cbusgrrl (4:27:02 PM): or more

SIDE NOTE - No, these are not our real AIM addresses, but I kinda wish they were.

I am so diverse, with my right-leaning friends...

Check out one of my favorites over here.

It's a wonder we are friends...I kid, I kid! Hearts to you Lu! :) Welcome to the blogosphere. :)

Day 21 - The day I discover 1/4 priced appetizers

There are few things better in life than sharing insanely-cheap, but tasty, food with friends, and washing it down with 1/2 priced bottles of wine. That is all.

Day 6 - The day I have lunch with a former coworker

Disclaimer - I am only counting actual "work days" as unemployement days, since Saturday and Sunday's have not been "normal" working days.

So yes, I am looking for a new job. No, I can't say I am by any means "busting my ass" to look for a new job, but I am looking. I am trying to figure out what path I want to go down in life and want to be sure my next move is one that takes me closer to that path, however I realize a lot of job searching is a numbers game (much like dating, apparently), so I'm looking at a lot of different options.

Today I met a former coworker (not one from my group) for lunch. It was nice to see him and nice to hear some people from the venue have mentioned that they miss me. Apparently his department is even giving attitude to my old group, which is completely unnecessary (and I told him as much), but I'd be lying if I didn't think it was sweet. It's like their loyalty is with me and therefore the people who are remaining are the "enemy". I also heard some things that made me realize the place is really just like a grown-up version of a junior high, with the cattiness, politics, back-stabbing, etc. Apparently one of the hourly employees mentioned to my friend that she was really sad to see me go, and she thinks they let me go because I really "didn't mesh with the other girls" and she had heard I "didn't get along with them". Well. Ha! That's funny that she said that, because I never, ever, never said anything unfavorable about the girls I worked with to any of the hourly employees (I am much more professional than that) so I wonder where she got that from? Just more support for the idea that those girls would sell your soul if they thought it'd help them get ahead.