summer to do list

i like lists. i like plans. i like writing my lists and writing my plans in my calendar. these things make me feel productive and help me stay on track. this summer, however, i have failed in my list making and even more in completing the tasks on any lists i have made. i realize that the fact that this bothers me may make some people to think that i am ocd or a control freak. really i just like to know what each day will contain, and i do like to actually get things done. it's satisfying. think what you will. i don't care.

i'm writing to say i'm turning over a new summer leaf:

starting now. lists lists lists. i'm making them and sticking to them.

the only problem now is that i wish my summer list looked like this:

1. camping
2. hiking
3. swimming
4. traveling (anywhere and everywhere)
5. playing with my doggies
6. eating my momma's yummy summer foods (grilled everything and lots of fruit)
7. reading whatever i want
8. going to baseball games
9. and the list goes on and on
   

rather than this:

1. grocery store
2. post office
3. barnes and noble (for work not play)
4. read theory
5. laundry
6. coffee/lunch/other activity with friend(s) (this of course is the highlight and something i would want to be on any list)

anyway, it's a slow summer, but i'm going to make it more productive starting now!

Last summer my parents and I took our dogs Nash and Sasha to a "DogJog"...5k run and 2k dog walk to raise funds for rescue dogs in Oklahoma. The event is coming up again soon, and the group that puts it on has started publicizing the event. This is one of the pictures they are using:
That's right, the Nasher-man is the face of "The 4th Annual Dog Jog," and he has a cute little beagle admirer!

if you and/or your pup want to walk/run go to this cite:
http://www.traineddogs.org/

back to paper writing!

i want to move

i really want to move to a different apartment. maybe a cute little duplex closer to campus? i found a place that would be perfect if i had a pal or double my current income. it's a two story duplex and is green with an adorable porch.

i'll keep looking, but it's hard not to get discouraged. where i am now i just feel really isolated and it's too big for one person. makes me feel lonely and miss living amongst all of the people i love so much.

friday the 13th...

so today is friday the 13th, and next month there is also a friday the 13th. this has got me thinking...

what is the mythology/superstition behind friday the 13th? is it any thing other than a ploy by producers of scary movies?

i really can't remember ever knowing. i just remember a friday the 13th in 5th grade. my then friend Shelley Swain asked me on the play ground, "why aren't you wearing black?" i of course stared at her baffled. she urged, "you know to keep the bad luck away." she then proceeded to inform the naive 12 year old version of myself of all of the friday the 13th 'films.'

i've since always taken note of friday the 13th. however, i still know pretty much nothing about the occasion...

in other news, i'm figuring out more of what i want to study by the day. it's exciting, and it means i can start looking at ph.d. programs!

free books

so i guess i don't use this very much...sorry.

uhmmm, i got some free books today from norton publishing company. exciting for me, but kind of bad overall. free books for teachers means books for students are more expensive. i guess i'm shooting myself in the foot as i am both teacher and student.

new classes on tuesday!

Tomorrow I am going to be a teacher, or at least I am going to put on my teacher hat and try to dance the jig. On absolutely no authority other than that I made it through undergrad, I am going to waltz into Burton hall room 229 and the Armory room who knows what and pretend that I have something to offer these people who are paying good money to sit in Burton hall room 229 and the Armory room who knows what. Two classes, 30 or more students, and me. I know that people who actually do know what they are doing chose me to do this job. They even decided to give me money. I just have to suck it up and know that even though I don't have three degrees that say so, I do know how to write. Let's just hope that they don't see through my act tomorrow.

While I deeply wish that I could be starting class at OBU on Wednesday, I know in my head that it is good to move on. Also, I'm really glad that although it isn't at OBU, I get to go to class this week! Such a nerdy sentiment, I know. It's just that I've never felt more myself than sitting in a classroom. I just wish I could be doing it with all of my best friends.

toilet bowl cleaner
comet
all purpose kitchen cleaner
all purpose bathroom cleaner
all purpose all purpose cleaner
all purpose cleaning wipes
paper towels
napkins
dishwashing soap
dishwashing soap (again)
bathroom trashcan
febreze
starch
laundry detergent
stain remover
sponges
trashbags
lysol
windex

you may be curious what these things have in common...they comprise my new army of cleaning supplies that should have cost (i'm guessing here) more than $50; however, I decided to check The Dollar Tree: Where everything is a dollar for cleaning supplies. This list of 19 items cost me only $20 and some change!

I realize this is a rather mundane and silly thing to be posting, but I really couldn't believe how much money I saved by going to the dollar store. Sure, some of the items are knock off brands, and it is possible that they won't work as well as the name brands. Really though, I'm probably not going to be so dirty that I need industrial strength windex. So I've converted, and I think you should too.

as promised

upon the command of my dear friend claire, this business is finally going to see some real action. at least that is the current plan.

basically, i'm getting ready to move away from my home to a big city (relatively speaking) where I will live all alone. i'm excited for the opportunity to continue my education, but nervous that i'm going to be getting pretty lonely. i guess it wouldn't be much of an adventure if not for at least a small amount of anxiety. regardless, the move means hanging up my waitress apron (thank the good Lord) for a while and repositioning my thinking cap.

while working at Chili's:


I have learned a bit about myself and collected many observation scraps for future stories, poems, and/or daydreams.

one such character: Drew the creeper cook:

Upon first meeting this tall, wiry character of approximately 29, I was told I looked like a sexy librarian because of my glasses. He requested that I put my hair in a bun, neatly place a pencil in the bun and then make a "shhhhshing motion" as if to request that he, my rowdy student, quiet down. That's right ladies and gentlemen, nothing like a good bit of minor, workplace sexual harassment. Annoying as his comments were, they were not threatening so i decided to let them pass. Over the course of about a month, I heard him request that another girl play "doctor" with him, recommend The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men (I wonder what Steinbeck would have to say about this) and explain the meaning of Revelations. He was a know it all with enough education only to hurt himself and enough drugs to make him think he was an authority on all things. Needless to say he was fired after only a month, but I'm thinking he has the makings of an excellent villain. We shall see.

basically...the ole day to day has been a bit of a bore this summer, but maybe sometimes we all need that.