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| Well, I've neglected this for awhile, so I thought I'd grace people with an update, haha. :P
Anyway, it's now getting way toward mid-June and a week short of a month ago graduating from Converse. How scary is that? I never have to go back to that place unless I choose to visit or show up for a reunion! I think it's slowly but surely sinking in! I had a good time at our luncheon afterward, but then it was hell to pack up and get everything together. My family ended up heading back but Mike and I went up toward Charlotte because I was going to see Erin for her birthday... and eventually wound up seeing the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition that was in town. It was really neat!
A few days after that I headed up to Hartsville, SC to help Brooke out before her wedding and got to hang out with all my beloved Connies. Alma has since left for her mission, and Brooke is now out in Vegas. w00t for Nevada girls, haha. I had a great time with them, though.
Got back home and 2 days after that the great "Re-Move In" occurred, since our house is FINALLY done being repaired from the fire back in November. Mike came down 8 hrs to help out for a few days, which was really sweet of him, and we managed to move out of the townhouse and partially back into the house and also into a hotel until the house was completely finished (like glass ont eh shower doors etc). Today we finally got carpeting on our stairs and new flooring in the kitchen from where the people scratched it all up removing the stove. Now, 530 boxes later, we've been trying to unpack and organize everything back to normal. The bonus room is the only social part of the house that needs working on, but the basement is a whole other matter, haha. Today alone, I unpacked 45 boxes in the bonus room filled with books and VCR tapes... and a few with some ceramic figurines and record albums. We must have had over 100 boxes in this room alone, and I have about 30-40 more to go, bleh. It's really rather exhausting and overwhelming with the amount of boxes and paper that is all around, but we've been trying to get rid of and contain it as best as possible.
Sadly, my brother hasn't been volunteering to help much. Granted he does work a job during the day wiring electrical stuff in houses with his friend's dad's company, but he takes us all for granted and has developed some sort of hostility toward me. He comes home just flat out mean, and is completely disrespectful to my parents. I have a feeling his days at home are limited. FINALLY they are taking action. But even today he got into a mood and fit with me... calling me the "pampered princess" and "Favored child" and how my catering job wasn't a job at all this past year, and that all I did was "go to a nice school that my dad paid for." Ummm... excuse me, but weren't you given the same exact opportunities and just failed to take advantage of it? You chose the path you went down buddy, so don't be jealous of me for whatever reason. In any case, he stormed in here and stated that he was no longer going to be a groomsman, nor even attend the wedding next month. That's fine by me, I can always have Anson darling to fill the spot. He can try to ruin that day for us, but he won't succeed.
Speaking of which... the time is winding down, and I'm getting the little things out of the way! I finally got my dress altered and my bouquet ordered. I found and put together my bridesmaid's bouquets, and now all I really have left is to buy my little gifties for people. Oh, and get the marriage license of course. So everything is wrapping up and then I have the wonderful move up to Camp Lejeune for a few days before heading out to Reno. It's going to be a pain to load up my furniture and drive out there, but I believe it'll be worth it.
Anyway, it's bed time for me! Hope everyone is doing well! | | |
| So among the many Converse traditions is being thrown into the fountain
in the back courtyard. This happens upon a friend getting engaged
normally, but there are times when students prance about in it to be
silly, or when there are class photos made at the beginning of each
year now apparently. Anyway, tonight was finally my time, haha, and boy
was I not expecting it! :P Here I was, working yet AGAIN catering for
Inauguration week, and tonight my job was to watch over the 2 huge
chocolate fountains, mmmm. Well I did that job great, and Jim even let
me stay in my dressy attire instead of donning the "penguin outfit" as
I so call it. Afterwards, Bert and I were cleaning up, and Alma,
Brooke, Ashley, and Becca come strolling up the hill and ask if they
can help. Well duh, how can I refuse? So they assist in breaking
everything down, and Bert rolls up the way with the golf cart and the
rest of us carry stuff inside. Ashley then tells me that Bert needs me
down in the courtyard for some reason, and I comply since there are a
couple other things to pick up. Then I noticed that Becca had dropped
this one table cloth that I'd specifically asked her to take in, and
thought that a was a little weird but it didn't phase me. Down the
steps, Alma grabbed my cellphone out of my pocket, but her randomness
didn't set off any bells either. It was only when Bert suggested I help
her fold up this ONE table (out of 3), which facilities normally does,
that I got a bit confused. But by that time I didn't have an option of
thinking, because I was grabbed up and tossed into the water by 5
hands!!! Apparently they'd also gotten one of the guys who works on
campus to take pictures, too! Oh lordy, was I soaked! Then I got
wrapped in that tablecloth and sent on my way to the showers *shakes
head* Oh Connies, how I love thee! :) At least they listened to me when
I asked that they not do it when it was freaking A cold outside!!
The
year is wrapping up way too fast! 22 days till graduation!?!?! Ack! I
even gave my senior thesis presentation today and it went rather well!
Dr. McCoy even praised me on my use of APA Format (Eat that Ian, haha).
*crosses fingers* Oh how I would love to make an A or A- in that class,
but given the prof, a trend of B's and B+'s may be in the works. I can
always hope, though!
K, off to finish yet another paper... I'm
finally getting to go out to Camp Lejeune again this weekend! It's been
a little over a month, I believe! Yay for Mikey J!!! If the weather is
nice, we shall hit up the beaches, but rain may be in the forecast, grr. | | |
| It's my birthday... yay for 22 yrs of being alive. It really
doesn't have the magic anymore for some reason. Oh well, guess
I'm an old fart, haha. Mikey and I celebrated this past weekend
and he took me to the Wilmington Aquarium which was really nice
although smaller than others I've been to. Then we walked on the
beach but it was freaking A cold out and windy! He gave me this
nice Marine Corps throw (yes, I'm motivated, haha), a horse movie (yay!
even though it was made in like the 70's and ghettofied, haha), and a
cell phone headset! I even played beer pong for the first time...
though we women used wine instead of beer. But mike and I left
fairly early because we didn't want to deal with the drunkenness.
Instead we got on the phone with Mike's sis and set up the music for
our wedding ceremony because she's going to play the violin for
us! I'm excited. We also ordered our invitations
finally! I can't wait for them to come in!
Saw Erin today and my godson in Charlotte! He's already getting
big and adorable! She took me out to dinner for my bday and we
got to catch up a bit. Bill was there and actually really talked
to me for the first time instead of being spacey. I guess there's
hope for the guy after all, but I can say, I'm quite impressed with how
much he's there for Erin and the baby---definitely not a deadbeat dad
like we'd wondered about!
Tonight some of the Connies are taking me out to dinner to Olive Garden
to celebrate mine and Brooke's birthdays. That should be
fun. Converse does have it's good moments I suppose--and I should
give them all a little more credit. Drama can get on my nerves,
but they're definitely sweet at heart.
Ok, bedtime for me.
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| Some of you may just about fall over in a second, knowing my attitude
about my Mary Kay business, lol. In any case, I at first begrudgingly
went with my mother to some events and training this weekend, but I
think for the first time I truly LISTENED. Deep down I've always known,
but I was always trying to rebel and get away from the constant MK
world.
So anyway, I've decided to take it more seriously, and
am going to be more active with it. I may be asking some of you close
girlfriends of mine if you wouldn't mind helping me out by having some
interested friends get together for a class, or by just letting me
practice on you! lol. I know, I'm hopeless :) Or if any of you ladies
(or guys... you do have mothers and girlfriends, and you do have skin
that can be taken care of, lol) are interested, please let me know!
AND, which I'm really excited about, Mike said he'd totally be willing
to stop by Dallas, TX on the way out to NV and attend Seminar with me!
I've never been, but know it would be the opportunity to really see the
dream and GET EXCITED so I start off great in Nevada not even knowing
anyone really! And what's really nice, is that I'll get to see my mama
cross the stage for her Queen of Personal Sales and receive her earned
diamond ring! This will be the first time in 13 years that anyone in my
family has gone there to see my mom on stage, so she's looking forward
to it VERY much!
But I was sitting there last night realizing
that when I move out to Nevada I DO NOT want to be slaving away under
someone else's dictated hours. I WANT to be paid for what I think I'm
worth, and around $20,000 just isn't close to cutting it! In fact, I
know several top ladies who have done their businesses right who make
THAT MUCH and sometimes MORE in ONE FREAKING MONTH from the company! I
could definitely deal with that!
I want job security, I want
to be able to work my own schedule and work with people I want to work
with, make new friends, make great money, and earn all the little
goodies I can! When we do start wanting kids, I want to be able to stay
at home with them but still be able to have a flexible schedule in
order to make money and get out and interact with other people other
than my infant, haha. PLUS, I was thinking about how nice it would be
to earn a free car, which really isn't that hard if I got on the ball,
to replace my Civic that will be needing to be replaced eventually. And
you know what's nice on top of that free car? They pay 85% of the
insurance (hell to the yah!) the tag fee, and ad-valorum (sp?). Oh and
they replace that car with a new one every other year. I could REALLY
live with that!
I would also like to get to the director point
AND ABOVE (why stop there?) where they cover life insurance and
disabilities. And why should Mike have to buy me jewelry when I can
earn it? Or grand trips around the world all expenses paid with husband
in tow for free!?! And I definitely want financial freedom and be doing
something what I enjoy doing. I KNOW I have fun whenever I do open up
my showcase and make sales that in turn make the customer happy, it's
just a matter of making that happen MORE. No more excuses, options, or
drama as one of the Nationals said today! I believe in the product and
love it, so why not share it?
So I'm definitely happy and
determined. Granted I'm still in school and that's still my main focus,
but January is pretty flexible this year so I want to try and get going
now. Oh, and I know some of you will probably fall over at this, lol,
but picture me this weekend wearing THOSE stupid pointy toed shoes
(black), PANTY HOES!?!?!? (haven't worn those in years), and a
just-past-the-knee length skirt!!! O_o
So please, if you're interested let me know! I also have a website www.marykay.com/egodsall
Btw,
all of our product is 100% guaranteed, we have great customer service,
the best selling brand for 11 out of the last 12 years, and what other
store gives you a 15% bday discount all month long or gives you the
option of earning free Mary Kay for referring FRIENDS? Ok ok ok, end of
that plug, haha | | |
| So I have a lot of different things on my mind. For instance, I was driving home to Atlanta and passed tons and tons of SUVs. Ok, I realize this is nothing new. But then I started thinking about how this lady I kind of know is looking at this used Excursion and I'm like wtf. Granted, she's got 2 kids, but umm, they can easily fit into the back of a compact car! I began to get highly annoyed. First of all, you see a lot of young families, in particular, trying to make ends meet by living check to check, but then you realize a lot of them have these huge vehicles that suck down gas like nobody's business. HELLO!?!?! And to what end? So you can show your neighbor that your vehicle is bigger than theirs? It's got all the latest gadgets in it and spinners to top? *claps hands* Congratulations, you're a moron. It's like the "my penis is bigger than yours" deal except with cars, but who really suffers from this ridiculous materialism? So many people don't look at the big picture. Yay, they have their stylish big cars that they've always wanted... bitch about how expensive gas is and how much it costs them... but do they stop driving the beasts? No, of course not. Instead, they further drain the worlds oil supply because they're too good for anything else.
And please, spare me from the issue of kids and safety. If I, myself, can feel safe in my little Honda Civic, you'd better believe I'd put my kids in one. "Oh but the big cars on the road make me feel unsafe!" Well thanks, you just added to more people's anxiety on the roads. And I could slap the people that just want them because they look so pretty. *rolls eyes* Get over yourselves. If I could have a dream car, it'd be something that was a hybrid. I personally find it morally wrong for someone to go out and purchase a gas-guzzling vehicle unless they absolutely need it or use it for work. People who actually USE their trucks are fine in my eyes... the ones for show irritate me. Oh and if you need more space for your huge family maybe you should have considered controlling your breeding habits, or at least invest in a vehicle that supports your family but gets the best gas mileage. >< People really need to start thinking long term instead of just in their bubble worlds.
Another issue: Living together before marriage versus not. So I was having this debate with a friend the other night...actually several friends. In any case, my stance is against living together before marriage for several reasons. Originally the idea appealed to me even though I've never fully wanted it myself, but then I looked into it and am definitely glad I'm not going that route. Other people can do their thing for their own reasons, it's their lives. I'm just going to state my own personal beliefs, and they're not even due to religious reasons.
1) Statistics show that those who live together before marriage are more likely to divorce later on. Obviously not always the case, but this knowledge surprised me when I first came across it because I would have thought it would be the opposite. Studies show this is due mostly to an attitude. Basically you live together with the knowledge that "hey, if we don't work out, one of us can leave!" Fabulous, this is true. Unfortunately that attidute usually carries over once the marital documents are signed.
2) To me, living together before marriage is like BEING married without signing the documents. As Sara once said, what magic is left in actually getting married if you're already doing everything? Some say that if they don't work out, it's less hassle than an actual divorce. Maybe, maybe not. One or the other will have to move out, items will have to be settled, mutual possessions split somehow, and then there's the overall emotional aspect of breaking up on top of all that. Plus, in my opinion, it may be harder to actually get out of a relationship if you realize it's not working out if you're living together due to wanting to AVOID the hassle. Whereas if you were living in two separate places independent of one another, you just have to deal with the breakup aspect primarily, or it is easier to say adios.
3) And the whole concept behind "needing a testing period" bugs the crap out of me. I find it to be extremely insulting, and would be if someone told me that. "Oh hey, btw, I'm considering getting married to you since we've been dating x years, but umm yah, I want to live with you first to make sure about everything." Wow. And then what... I move in and am constantly put under the microscope because you want to see if I'm still clean, generous, ambitious, good with money, and overall the person you think I am? Hate to break it to you, but people's habits don't just change at the drop of a hat. And if you have the kind of doubts that require you to "test" the other person, I'll go right ahead and tell you that obviously there are red flags and you would be better off ending it and finding someone more compatible. There really is no point in uprooting the person you're wanting to test if you have huge doubts! That person may be nice, but at the same time, he/she may not be right for you!
I am getting married in July, and although we've had a long distance relationship the ENTIRE time, I have no need of living together before we're married! Why? Because I already know in general what to expect. I suppose Mike could just be showing me this OCD face of his and be a ridiculously sloppy guy who'll also throw me around the room once we're married, but I highly doubt it because we are always true to one another. We don't lie to one another nor take advantage of one another. I have no suspicions about his character, and if I did, we wouldn't be getting married. I know what most of his habits are, both good and bad, from observation. Sure we haven't gotten to spend more than 2 weeks together consecutively, but if you talk to his friends or family members who HAVE, they'll tell you the same things I've observed. Plus both of us are going into this marriage willingly and wanting it to work. No it's not always going to be smooth and lovely, and to think that would be out of my mind, but we're not just going to throw our relationship away because of a spat or wanting to do different things in our lives. And if you haven't figured out what your signficant other is going to be like to live with after dating them for awhile, then either you're in denial or flat out blind. There should be no reason for a "testing period," and if there is, you can still test BEFORE moving in together. What a concept, I know!
Ok, I think I have more issues on my mind, but for the time being I must depart to get ready for an event. | | |
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