Tuesday, May 27, 2008 

Lately I find myself appreciating certain things more than usual. Things I usually take for granted - I really am a pretty fortunate person. I don't really want to make a list here, because that seems sort of trite, and I'll feel pressure to think of every single thing/person I appreciate to some degree or another. I also find myself looking at the "bigger picture" more, and how everything in my picture fits together as a whole.

I really can't think of anything else to say on the subject without sounding absurd.

I've just had a few fascinating ideas for projects but I don't know if they're worthwhile. I'll decide tomorrow.

So, in the foreseeable future I have an 80's party and, a few weeks later, a summer solstice party. A potential trip to Chicago has been postponed until probably August. Hopefully there's another trip to somewhere a little further away in between.

How's your "summer" so far?

Posted by Rachel at 6:44 PM |

Friday, May 23, 2008 

Gas is up to $4.18 a gallon - up an entire dollar since January. Our government sucks. And I won't be taking any trips for leisure any time soon (unless my destination is within walking distance).

I've also acquired a cold, which I'm not pleased about. But at least the weather is finally starting to behave. Last Friday I went to a prom-themed party hosted by the Red Eye (which was pretty exciting - I stayed out much later than anticipated, especially since I had to be to work at 9am Saturday). It was worth the sort-of hangover I had the next morning (which I attribute more to lack of sleep than anything else). Tonight, however, I expect to be lame and sit home.

I just finished the book Pride and Prejudice today too, and rather enjoyed it. Now I want to see how the movie compares. Maybe that's what I'll do tonight.

Posted by Rachel at 3:09 PM |

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 

Guess who got their tax rebate today! Yes, that would be me. I went online to check my account balance this morning, since it's pay day, and was thrilled to find that there was about double what I was anticipating. Of course the first thing I did (after paying some bills) was go shopping for clothes. I bought two things that I'd seen at the mall Sunday but was too poor to buy at the time. I want to buy a new phone, but I don't want to pay as much as Verizon wants for one. Sigh. Maybe in a few months when the price goes down.

The last couple weeks I've just been working, hanging out with Jake, and painting when the urge strikes me. I saw a neat set of paintings in a furniture store a few months ago that I'm trying to replicate, and I've got a couple others started as well. Who knows when I'll finish any of them.

And Jeff finally moved in last Tuesday; if it weren't for a bag of leftover KFC in the fridge, I would hardly know he's here. I usually work days and he does nights, so I've seen him about 3 times since then, especially since he goes to Cari's on the weekend. But he's more fun to have around when he is here than Liz was. Plus having someone to split the bills is always appealing.

In other news, Ryan and I are planning another trip to Chicago for two nights, probably sometime in mid/late June. Amtrak is just under $50 a person for a round-trip ticket and I found a hotel for about $110 a night (which would be divided up among everyone going - if we got two other people and all shared one room it'd be about $60 per person). Anyone else want to go? I think we're both planning on shopping, mostly, but I'd like to go to the Shedd Aquarium since I didn't get to go on my birthday. If all else fails, we could wander the streets like bums and take lots of pictures...

Posted by Rachel at 4:46 PM |

Friday, May 02, 2008 

This is officially my 500th post. Congratulations to me.

I think in honor of that, I'm actually going to start saving and removing archives (for real this time). The list of months in the side bar is getting just a little too long for comfort.

Speaking of comfort, I really need to get a better computer chair.

My last exam of the semester was Wednesday at 4pm; I spent at least two of the three hours previous to that studying. Nonetheless, when I was finished and out the door by 4:32, I was a little concerned. I apparently answered 67 multiple choice and short answer questions in 32 minutes. So either I did really well or I accidentally skipped a page... I guess I'll find out next week.

The night before that, I turned in a massive paper worth 25% of my grade (looking back, I probably should have written more than I did...) and had an exam that consisted of two essays and was worth 15% of my grade. Once I was done with that, I had to sit outside at Starbucks for a minute and catch my bearings. A few of my classmates complained about their hands being sore afterward; I still do enough real writing to avoid that problem but it was rather intense nonetheless.

One of my friends from the class (at least, I think she's my friend - myspace says she is!) came with me to Tropical Smoothie Cafe afterward. I swear, it kind of felt like I was asking for a date when I invited her out - maybe because I usually wait for other people to do the inviting. Is there a program for this? A ritual I should follow? This is new territory for me! I invited a few other people from class too, but no one else showed, so she and I sat and talked about various subjects. She's a creative writer like me (though quite a bit more skilled, I must admit) and I meant to talk about writing with her, but we ended up talking about other random topics instead. I also had my first smoothie ever, which was quite delicious. I suspect I'll end up at the Cafe a time or two this summer to sample other flavors.

Anyone want to come?
(Does that count as an invite?)

Jeff is supposedly still moving in, though every time I talk to him, he pushes the date back a few more days and I get a little more skeptical (it was supposed to be last weekend, now it's "definitely by May 7th at the latest"). He spends so much time with Cari that it's a wonder he makes it to work... I guess he's got some of his priorities straight, anyway. Rent's due, which means I get to attempt to explain to the landlord once again what's going on with my would-be roommate. He swears he's moving in though, and apparently we're going to celebrate once he finally does. So, you're invited to that too. :P

Posted by Rachel at 4:01 PM |