Good and bad

[mis_creation]

On the Yay! side of things: I've paid for everything (cell phone, DoE loan, credit card, ISP) already, so the next paycheck is mostly for fun. Well, fun and paying off the credit card even more, because I sort of went over the limit (and then was even worse because of fines and fees and that's the stupidest thing about banks). But next paycheck is going to be about $300, so I can pay $150 off the card and still have some money to play with.

On the Not!Yay! side of things: Sister still horrible to mom. They tried to go shopping yesterday, and of course it didn't work. Mom was mostly-not-joking about moving out. I really want to drop-kick my sister most of the time, but when she makes my mom cry I want to shoot her someplace painful with my arrows.

I want to tell her to stop being such a self-centered, stuck-up, passive-aggressive, mean, callous bitch, especially to our mother who of all people does not deserve to be treated like this. I want to tell her that it's really no wonder to me that she doesn't have a lot of friends, doesn't have a boyfriend, doesn't have a better job, or anything like that, because she thinks the world revolves around her and that's not particularly conducive to getting anywhere in life.

But of course, then I'd sound like a bitch, she'd get all self-riteous, Daddy would get pissed and have to pop a nitro, and I don't even know what mom would do.

And I think I just found out that my dad's being sued (or at least needs a legal-type mediator), which explains why he's been so pissy lately. Though it does make me think I should buy groceries after I get paid. I can do that.

*****

I sent in two e-mails w/resumes for jobs that seem to be mostly telecommuting, which would be ideal.

I also picked up an app for B&N, and I'll be turning it in soon, Sunday or Monday maybe. I was talking to one of the employees when I asked for the app and he heavily implied that my library experience will probably help. Which I knew, but is nice to have it confirmed.

Starbucks is also on my list.

Aaand now I have to clean my room and do laundry which I probably should've done a week ago, but there you are... Gonna pop in a DVD and clean.

...watch me go...

Comments

[dukerevolution.livejournal.com]

There's nothing better than having some extra cash to play around with. Besides love, acceptance, and all that stuff. But close.

Your sister sounds like a real joy. I don't know how anyone would put up with that. Makes me thankful my brother and I are on good terms.

[mis-creation.livejournal.com]

*snerk*

Oh yeah. I'm thinking about putting her up on eBay, but I might have to pay to get rid of her.

Wow...that was deeply bitter, wasn't it?

Yeah, I've always envied people who got along with their sibs. Cait and Brian, love them though I do, drive me absolutely crazy with what-ifs.

[ayla-britestar.livejournal.com]

Good luck with the job applications!

If it's fast cash you're after, I'd recommend getting a waitressing job. Even though it's not the most exciting job ever, it tends to be fast-paced, requires people skills and once you get used to multi-tasking, you can seriously bank. I made over $100 in cash after working Sunday. Legally, we're all supposed to claim all our tips for the IRS, but nobody does. Most record about 40% of their actual tip money.

Waitressing is definitely not a career job, but it is a good way to get extra money. Not that there's anything wrong with a minimum-wage type job, like Starbucks, but you'll make more an hour at waitressing. Plus, it feels good to walk out of work with physical cash in my pocket. Just a suggestion.

Why would anybody want to sue your dad? He's such a nice guy!

[mis-creation.livejournal.com]

I have considered this many, many, many times. But the fact is, I would be a terrible waitress. I've seen how they're often treated, and I'm not nice enough or patient enough to put up with that with a smile. My memory is terrible, especially short-term. I've tried this before, a few times working at the Mariott I had to go out and take orders and I got things wrong even when I wrote stuff down. I just don't have what it takes to be a good waitress, and they're the ones that make money.

Not sure I can do it at Starbucks, either, of course. It's just a possibility, mostly because they're always hiring and there's lots of them with a steady client base. B&N would be ideal, but that's kind of a prestigious job to get here in town.

I would love to have a job with tips, though. I see the cash my friend the stylist pulls in, and even when she's not happy with them, she usually makes more in tips a day than I do in two shifts at the library. But, whatever...

I think they think he's overcharging. But I kinda found out by snooping, so I can't ask... I'm nosy.

[ayla-britestar.livejournal.com]

Ah, OK. It is hard to remember details. It took me a long time before I could remember what people at my different tables were drinking without having to check my pad of paper. Well, once in a while I still cheat, but this memory ability has happened slowly.

Starbucks would be a cool job, because then you'd know how to make different types of coffee. All I know how to do is use a coffee pot and dump in milk.

I also think B&N would be a cool job. I've wanted to work in a bookstore for years. Not only for the discount, but because I love being surrounded by books. New books, in particular. Not there's anything wrong with the used ones as a library, but something about a glossy paperback or new hardcover. It just reeks of a brand-new adventure waiting to be explored. Am I totally cheesy for thinking of books as an adventure (even the nonfiction ones)?

[riovanes.livejournal.com]

Please, take this as it's meant:

You are too goddamn smart and far too talented to be settling for minimum wage work. I understand that the economy is far from ideal at the moment (especially for new grads in liberal arts disciplines--believe me, the MA is no advantage right now), but I have to wonder if there's nothing else nearby that you find yourself capable of doing. I'm not snapping at you (we've had our go-rounds, and I'm not interested in rekindling that old snark-fest), but I would like to make clear that I believe you're selling yourself short.

In all honesty, I know we didn't get on as well as we could have in school, but you're better than this. What is it about either your area or yourself that is keeping you in the mode you appear to be in?

Understand that I'm not implying that minimum wage jobs are for lesser people--what I'm trying to say is that you worked hard through school. Don't you think you deserve something a bit more in keeping with your training?

Oh, and so you know, I watched Firefly.

All of it.

I still say parts of it feel ripped from every other work that had ever gone before (egregiously so), but despite my resistance, the series grew on me until I found myself wanting to own it. I am particularly fond of the episode in which Jane (sp?) finds himself the subject of a local hero legend, complete with statue.

Serenity was also entertaining, once I'd seen the series.

I apologize for my bull-headedness in being unwilling to accept it earlier.

[mis-creation.livejournal.com]

Wow, okay, so my response to your job-question got really really long (probably I'm just being long-winded), so I made it a post. Short answer: I might be selling myself short, but I have my reasons, and thank you for the compliments. So, look for that to be posted either tonight or ...well, later today.

I didn't care if you liked it, and I'm sorry if I pressured you to. I'm kind of intrinsically baffled when people don't like Firefly, but that's your opinion and you're entitled to it and I respect it. I just objected to your 1) constant putting it down in front of me and others who did like it (which I probably should've interpreted as snark since I'm such a snarky bitch myself often, so I'll apologize for that, too) and 2) your, as you said, bull-headedness in refusing to give it a chance. I also freely admit there are flaws, but I'm a lot less into analysis than you are, so you're bound to find more.

So, yes, I think our biggest problem as friends was communication. I accept your apologies and offer my own in return.

[riovanes.livejournal.com]

Yeeeeah.

There was a time, not too long ago, when I felt that criticism = intelligent discourse.

I was mistaken, and it took me a long time to figure that out. Unfortunately, my time with you, Cait, Bug, Deth and Ryan occurred smack in the middle of that, "If I put something down, it means I understand it better than people who love that very thing," mode.

It was like being a hipster, only without the unwashed corduroy pants and coke-bottle glasses.

Or, more accurately, it was like being an insufferable douchebag.

So, yeah. Sorry about that. We all have to grow up sometime, and I just took a bit longer getting around to it than I should have. My apologies for my transgressions.

[ayla-britestar.livejournal.com]

When we hung out, I didn't think of you as an insufferable douchebag. We had fun as a group and I can't recall getting too offended at any criticism you offered.

[ayla-britestar.livejournal.com]

I know this comment is meant for Bonnie, and I hope she reads this (even though I'm replying to you). Well said, Jason. I am in complete agreement with you.

Also, I'm floored that you watched Firefly. What made you change your mind?

[riovanes.livejournal.com]

Remember meeting my buddy Aaron? He talked me into it. Turned out to be pretty good, actually, though I still have an issue with Firefly suffering from a severe case of genre-identity-crisis.

It's an exceptionally well written series from a character development point of view, but the whole, "It's a Western! No, wait, it's a Samurai series! No, now it's British! But we're going to speak Chinese!" thing kinda ate at me the entire time. That aside, it's definitely not a bad piece of work at all.

It almost makes Buffy forgivable. ;)

[ayla-britestar.livejournal.com]

Aaron, the let's-have-a-candy-picnic guy? He seemed pretty cool.

Would it lessen your opinion of me if I admitted to loving every episode of Buffy (even the musical one)?

The Chinese thing did bother me quite a bit. There is no delicate way to deal with profanity. Fashioning a futuristic world that lets all social classes speak one of the most complicated languages on the planet to avoid bleeping is not an all-star way of avoiding swearing in character dialogue, in my opinion.