Papa would have been proud

I spent $22 at Macy's yesterday.  My total savings - $219

No news

I've been really busy lately.  I've picked up a bunch of hours at work (which has been a lot easier to do since a full-time person quit) and they've also given me a raise.  Which is nice.
I've also started taking a math class so I can get into MSU.  This part of my life I'm a bit on the fence about.  The class is online and a lot of work.  It also has a tendency to stress me out and I'm worried that I'm going to start having panic attacks again.  Some of you might know that the last time I was in school I started having panic attacks before class and thus never obtained a college diploma.  There were a lot of reasons for these moments but I'm not going to get into them today.  Also, I know that being worried about having panic attacks that I haven't started having yet... is a little crazy.
I've also started a jewelry blog.  It isn't quite where I want it to be yet, so I'm not going to post a link.  On the blog I post a picture of a piece of jewelry I made once a day (ideally for 366 days... however I'm getting the sense this is going to be much harder to do than originally thought).  At the end of the post the plan is to have a link to a place where you can buy my jewelry.  I really liked the idea of the blog, and I've always wanted to have a jewelry blog, but it has been hard.  Taking good pictures and editing them everyday is very time consuming.  So is coming up with a business plan and pricing the pieces.  
Besides these three part-time "jobs" things have been overall good.  As much as I love Chicago and miss my friends and family the distance has been really good for me.  It has given me the chance to reflect and figure out what I want.  It has allowed me to really appreciate my little family here.  Potato has been the best thing to ever happened to me.   I've hit some very low lows but he has been there for me and pulled me out of them each and every time.  I've also gotten very close to this little man :

He does a good job of reminding me that life is short and it's important to be happy.  Even when you have a weird face.  

Bug was faking sick.  I think he knew we were going out of town.  All of you (especially Moose because I know you were REALLY WORRIED) can sleep easy.
Anywhozers, Potato and I will be coming into town next Sunday.

Oh Buggers.

The little man isn't feeling well. Potato just let me know that the vet took the little guy into the back because she thought Bug was biting her to protect Potato.  Adorable.

Playlist

I listen to songs on repeat repeatedly (HA!).  My roommates hate me.
Anyway, this is what I've been listening to on repeat since I moved to EL-

Mason Jennings - Which Way Your Heart Will Go
Al Green - Lets Stay Together
Ray LaMontagne - Trouble
Gotye- Somebody I Used to Know
Belle & Sebastian - Get Me Away From Here I'm Dying


This is how I waste my time.  That, watching Friday Night Lights, and playing Bejeweled.

I've always been outspoken advocate against running.  I'd often whine about how it's not fun and people who say they like running are lying to themselves.  Nobody likes running.  It's horrible and playing sports is a better exercising outlet. Oddly enough, Potato and I have started running together.  I guess it started because I was getting to the point where I needed to buy new pants if I didn't lose weight.  I didn't actually care about the number the scale said or my body shape.  I've always been pretty comfortable with myself.  It's because I'm a cheap ass that I started running.  I like new clothes but I don't like spending money on them.  A great deal of my clothes are from high school.  I'm actually wearing a sweater and socks that I've had since 8th grade at the moment.  I won’t get into the details about my underwear... you get the idea. So buying new clothes simply wasn't an option. 

I imagine it is just as painful to watch us run as it is for me to physically do it.  Potato easily could walk next to me but he putters alongside doing the "knees glued together trot." I always hear people saying if they don't get their daily run in they feel guilty and like mush.  I'm actually starting to agree with them.  I still am horribly slow but I've gotten better about distance.  Yesterday on our run I was terrified of falling due to the icy roads.  I tiptoed for a mile rather than actually jogging.  But I still felt good about doing it.  I've lost weight and it shouldn't be long until my pants fit comfortably again.  

In other news, Macy's kept me.  It's funny; I didn't really want the job. So, naturally I nailed the interview (I'm a total freak when I'm nervous - I give off the crazy vibe).  I haven't decided what department I want to be in yet.  Everybody says you can make a lot of money in shoes... but I'm not at that point.  I know I should be rewriting my resume and applying to other places but it's hard to get started with that again.  I feel depleted.  The motivation for job searching again isn't coming as naturally to me as it usually does.  I'm hoping that being underemployed will wear thin soon.  I know I would love a full-time job.    

At the moment I’m saving money for a good camera.  I figure as long as I’m in E.L. I might as well be working on my jewelry.  I think I’ll prefer jewelry parties to selling online but that isn’t going to be enough living here.  It’s time to suck it up and get online.  I’ve stalled long enough.  

Highlights '11

- At 12:01 January 1, 2011 I was sipping champagne at a party filled with well-dressed strangers.  That's basically my last memory of the night.  Panic button!
- I started working as a nanny for the D-list celebrity family.  Baby was cute.  I still miss her.
-Attempting to sell Bird's hair... But mostly just failing miserably at it. At least I got a good blog post out of it
- The beloved Catman.  Wow that guy was a creep.  He would sit in the cramped hall of our condo and play with his cats at all hours of the night.  Cats are creepy and so are the people that are really into them.
- Visiting Bloomington .... BAH! kidding! That place blows.  HAHAHAHAHAHAH
- I watched Groundhogs Day a LOT in February.  I miss having cable TV.
-Snowpocolypes.  No, wait.  I wasn't there.  The pictures looked neat.
- Having somebody try and help Potato push my car up a small hill after a big snow.  He did a face-plant into the snowy street after he lost traction and my car got over the hill.  I really appreciated the help!  I doubt this story made it onto his highlights of the year...
- K-Stillz surprise bday party.  Has there ever been a more happy birthday girl?  No.  The answer is no.
- My birthday party.  There was a great turnout for whirlyball and it was awesome seeing everybody.  I kicked ass by the way.  Hey, remember when Joe flung the ball at Potato's face from about 10 feet away from him?  Classic.
-Beerfest with Moose and Potato.  It was a grand ol' time.  Next year's fest is on Feb 25th.  Mark your calendars.
- Getting Bed Bug!  Or, Bug for short.  Buggers has been the cutest addition to the family since my own birth.  He has also been the moodiest.
- April Fools's fake engagement.  ooops
- Softball in EL.  Our team was pretty horrible but it was nice to meet some people not in Potato's program to hang out with.
- Bug getting fixed.  There is nothing more pathetic than a 4lbs dog unable to lift his head due to the weight of a 1lb cone.  It was one of the most depressing weeks of my life.  Poor Buggers.
- Former roommate's wedding.  I was kinnda freaking out about going to such a small wedding (I think there were 30 people there) but it ended up being pretty cool.  Going to the bar with the bridal party afterwards was also nice.  It was interesting to see a relaxed wedding.  Maybe something Potato should look into... Ahem.
- I missed Easter, the 4th, and Bristol this year.  Mistakes? I have 3.
- Chigger bites.  In some ways just as horrible as salmonella. 
- Pop's birthday was really amusing this year.  I don't think there was a person on the field that made less than 3 errors but nothing could wipe the smile from Dad's face that day.  Giddy Dad is my favorite.
- Mark Buerle's perfect game.  Wait, that wasn't this year?  You're right.  I just wanted to remind everybody that I was there.
- Moving sucks.  I never want to move again.  That is, unless it is to Chicago.
- Getting robbed two weeks after moving was equally as sucky.  The EL cops taking 40mins to come and tell us that the robber had indeed left the house was infuriating.
- My wonderful family buying me a new computer after my broken one was stolen.
- EL street festivals.  They have all the fun of big city festivals with the comfort of a small town.  Lovely.
- Chicago visit with J Temperature and co.  It's hard to be a host when you don't live in the city you're attempting to host in.  However, we were able to make it work and it was an enjoyable weekend.
- The owl trying to scoop up Bug on a walk.
-Spartan football games and tailgating with undergrads
- Most amazing festival ever in Lincoln Park (the park).  The festival included free food, free drinks, unique vendors, and awesome bands.  If they have it again next year I plan to go.  It really had something for everybody.  
- Finally quitting my job.
-  Cousin wedding.  It was a fun wedding and perfectly timed to when I needed to see family.
- Working at Macy's.  Big companies are not my favorite companies.
- Dancing with my roommates on Halloween.  Both of them were in Tobias costumes from Arrested Development.  Attractive?  Not really.  Funny?  Very.
- Fakesgiving.  The food was great and so was the company.  Seeing Bug fall asleep in Big Bird's arms was adorable.  So was talking about puke and poop.
-Thanksgiving potluck with friends.  Oh man.  Never have I had a better homemade meal.  Some of my friends have mad cooking skills.
-Working the 4AM shift on Black Friday.  Longest. Day. Ever.  Especially since it was my first day working the register.  Oy.
- Going to see the Muppet movie with my roommate and Potato.  Making Christmas decorations when we got home.
- Going to my first bears game.  It wasn't pretty on the field but at least it wasn't freezing
- Joey's surprise 30th.  I loved the look of awe on his face as he scanned the room.  I do think his entrance would have been awesome if it were just T-Bone sitting in the room by himself  in a hug-ready position... but there's always his 40th.
- D&A stealing Potato's phone
- I had a really fun Christmas this year.  I enjoyed the poems written by T-Bone and S.K. The family grab bag was also pretty fun with the butt ticklers
- And last but certainly not least - Potato and celebrated our 5-year anniversary on December 28th.  Yikes.  I  still remember our first date.  We went out for coffee after dinner, then bowling (the only time I've ever beaten him), and to Ihop for some late night snacks.  I knew on that date that something good was starting and I'm happy that I can say it worked out.  I love you Potato and I'm a very lucky girl to have you.
- NYE spent at Maura's cottage.  Fun time.  Totally worth the hangover.