Hello Summer Break!

As of yesterday, I am done with the fall semester! Four months went by rather quickly and I'm just happy that I'll be getting some extended time off to rest and relax.  :)

First on my agenda is to tend to my mother's needs. She may need surgery in the next month or so and I need to be available for her, and my father. Second is catching up with friends. I literally don't have much time to partake in anything fun during the semester, so I'm hoping to get together with some friends during my break. Oh, and I can't forget that I need to do some spring cleaning too. In the meantime, I'll be anxiously waiting for my grades to be posted.

About a month ago, someone from my school emailed me inviting me to join some organization. I first thought it was an invitation to join a sorority, which I have NO plans of ever joining! Anyway, I ignored those two emails and today I received another invitation--this time by mail--inviting me to join my school's chapter of a particular honors organization.

I've never been one to join clubs or other types of organizations because groups have never been my thing, but I think this organization is different. I'm considering joining it and hope that it will help me in the long-run, especially when I graduate, which is hopefully late next year.

The thought of joining a club or an organization of any kind reminded me of this quote:

"I sent the club a wire stating, please accept my resignation. I don't want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member." ~Groucho Marx

Giving Up...and the Silver Lining That Came Soon After

I'm so disappointed in the educational system. No wonder students get discouraged and often give up on fulfilling their dreams or goals. It’s because schools (i.e. in this case, colleges) make it difficult for them to finish...especially if it takes them a bit longer to complete their education.

I remember watching the film Admission with Paul Rudd and Tina Fey, and after the film, my friend and I discussed it and the reality of the college/university system. As my friend said, “It’s a business. You’re just a number to them.” What she meant was that they don’t care about you. Unfortunately, this message has resonated with me all too well, especially this year.

Several weeks ago, I received another letter from my school in which they--once again--rejected me. Rejection seems to be following me everywhere lately. :(

Within a few days and after I received my millionth rejection, I received some good news. I received a call that I wasn't expecting. Since last December, I've volunteered at this business where I live. Usually I'm only there on Sundays. Well, one of the employees I worked with, who recently left her permanent position there, recommended me for a permanent part-time job there. The new admin. assistant called me saying that "L" referred me and thought I'd be interested in the position, which would now include Saturdays. I told her YES and accepted the position!

I wasn't anticipating being busy every single day of the week! I'm at my internship three days a week, I attend class twice a week and now I work on the weekends. Because I didn't have a real vacation this summer, I'm already asking, "Is it December yet?!  ;-)

Just when I thought everything was going in the wrong direction, a silver lining appeared. I'm blessed and grateful to have been given another (new) opportunity. I just hope I can keep up with everything!

Disappointments and Other News

Do you ever feel like you’re stuck in a rut or no matter how hard you try to accomplish a goal of yours, you fail at doing so? For the last two-plus months, I have felt like Cher Horowitz from the film Clueless, specifically when she tried to pass her drivers license test, but wasn't successful. 

As I mentioned in my previous post, I found out in mid-March that the university I applied to rejected me from fall 2013 admission. Well, about a month ago, I received a letter from the school stating that I didn't receive the scholarship I applied for, which was back in January.

I'm going to backtrack a little and explain what happened, which led to me applying for the scholarship. In late November/early December 2012 and per the request of the university I was applying to, I needed to ask two current or former instructors if they could fill out a recommendation form and answer a few questions on my behalf. I asked two of my former instructors, who I was in close contact with, to see if they'd recommend me. I asked my journalism adviser, who I’ve known for six years, and another former instructor, who has been my guidance counselor for the last 20 years and who I saw as a mentor.

The scholarship application was due Jan. 15 and I had contacted both people about a month in advance. Within two weeks, my journalism adviser had her letter/form typed up and ready for me to submit with my applicaiton. On Dec. 5, I had contacted my guidance counselor and then the following evening, I saw her at an event where she was the guest speaker. I spoke to her at the event and asked if she had received my message. She answered yes and said that we would discuss it further. Weeks went by and I still hadn’t heard from my guidance counselor/mentor. I reached out to her several ways, six times: via several emails and calls to her home, and to her cell phone...before and after the semester ended (i.e. a week before Christmas). Nonetheless, I still hadn’t heard from her and I was beginning to worry. In the meantime, I had to act fast and chose to contact someone else I knew and asked if she would recommend me for the scholarship. Without hesitation, she did.

About six days before I needed to submit/turn in my scholarship application and recommendation forms (I chose to turn it in one day before it was due because the due date fell on my 1st day of classes...meaning that there was no way I could leave campus), I drove to my school to purchase my books for spring semester. I thought my guidance counselor would be in her office a few days before school started (which was Jan. 15) to prepare for the new semester. I walked in to her office and spoke to a student assistant. He said she wouldn't be back in her office until the following Monday...which was the first day of classes and it was the SAME day I had planned to drop off my scholarship forms at the university. As I left my mentor's office, I became upset.

The third person I asked, who was my back-up reference, had her recommendation form filled out and signed about five days before I needed to submit it. I was eternally grateful she could do it for me on such short notice! However, about two days before I turned in my scholarship forms at the university, I received a private Facebook message from my guidance counselor/mentor who told me to call her on her cell phone. I waited a few hours and called her. She didn't pick up her phone, so I left her a voicemail. I told her that since I hadn't heard back from her and time was running out, I had to find someone else to write the recommendation and that maybe next time she could write one for me. Yeah, like the latter will ever happen! I will never ask for her help ever again!

I was so disappointed in my mentor/guidance counselor. I haven't seen or spoken to her since that incident and she has never once apologized to me for not making herself available. I guess our friendship didn't mean as much to her as it meant to me.

In other news, the last day of the semester was two weeks ago. I'm so happy to be on summer vacation! However, my mood quickly changed from happy to sad shortly thereafter when I received an email from my school. The email stated that my math instructor had submitted all of her students' grades for the semester. I didn't hesitate to log in to my account, although I already had an idea of what grade I was going to receive. In the last few weeks, part of me thought there was some hope in that my instructor could possibly have a change of heart and would pass all of her students. Despite submitting all of my online homework assignments in on time, submitting all lab assignments and a group project in on time, I thought I would be receiving at least some credit...although three out of four of my exam scores were horrible. When I finally saw my grade, I was not jumping up and down for joy.  :-(

With the grade I received, it now means that I have one more chance to take the class over again at my current school. However, if I do not pass the course this time around, I either have to find another school to take it at or I can petition to retake it at my current school--with a valid reason. I know some people out there are probably thinking, "How can she not pass the course?" Honestly, math has NEVER come easy to me. Since junior high, I've always had difficulty with the subject. Since the first day I began taking advanced math courses at my current school, I've sought the help of a tutor once a week (courtesy of my school). I've also sought the help of other tutors whenever I needed help with my homework. My main problem is with taking exams. I sometimes get anxiety and other times I just can't retain certain concepts when it comes to taking tests.

I register for fall classes in about three weeks and plan to only retake math. I figure that if I just take this course by itself then I can focus all my time on completing my homework and preparing for my exams ahead of time. I'm very adamant in passing this class in December!

On a side note: Last Friday, I received some positive news in the form of a letter from my school. It said something along the lines of "Congratulations! You've been awarded the [insert scholarship name here] journalism scholarship for the 2013-2014 school year." I was elated to have received this letter, but then I became a little disappointed because I won't be able to use it toward the fall semester since I didn't get accepted into the university. I'm praying that I pass my math course because I'm only able to defer the scholarship until the spring semester.

In other news, I've heard from a few family members that my oldest cousin (on my mother's side), T, is very ill. About three weeks ago, she was visiting one of her children and woke up with a pain in her stomach. She was taken to the hospital and was told that she had gall stones. Apparently soon after, the doctors weren't doing much for her, so a male cousin of mine, who's a doctor and works at another hospital, intervened and advised my cousin to seek better health care by going to see her doctor in the states. My cousin has now been in a So Cal hospital for the last 3 or 4 days and is currently in intensive care. My family and I have gotten word that my cousin now has pneumonia and other ailments, and things aren't looking good for her. :-( We're just praying for a miracle to happen now.

Bad News: Rejection...Party of One

The theme of my life lately seems to be a word that I'm all too familiar with: rejection. I’ve been through all forms of it within the last three-plus years: (potential) relationships, jobs I applied for and was qualified for--but didn't get--and NOW academics.

In the last two or three weeks while working on my homework in the math lab, I overheard some fellow students chatting with their friends about how they just got accepted at such-and-such university or at some prestigious school, like UC Berkeley. After hearing all this, I was anxious to find out when I was going to receive notice regarding my acceptance in to my local university. Every day for the last several weeks, I've logged in to my account at the university's self-service page hoping to find out if I got accepted into their school for the Fall of 2013.

On Wednesday, I checked the online status of my college application, which I had submitted last November to the only university I applied to, which is about a 25 minute drive from where I live. I chose the school because 1) it's a good school and 2) it would be less expensive to attend as opposed to if I were to move away and attend school elsewhere, then I'd probably have to delay my education again. Anyway, the following comment, which was written by the transfer admissions specialist assigned to my application, is what I read regarding my university application status:

“You were not selected for Communication Studies. Competition for the Communication Studies program is very competitive and the COMS department has had to make difficult decisions in the selection process.” So today, I went to check the status again--knowing that I'd be reading the same thing--only to find out that they updated my file with the following sentence at the top: "You have not met the requirements and have been denied admission to..."

REJECTED...yet again! :-( Of course, the first thing I did when I found out that I didn't get accepted was to cry. In fact, I did that for the next two hours and I also cried myself to sleep that night. I felt a tad better yesterday--except for in the morning--and today I'm feeling better.

Throughout this whole university application process, I've bee trying to remain positive. In fact, I've tried projecting positivity with everything that has been happening in my life: applying for jobs I know I'm absolutely qualified for, but then don't end up getting; a relationship that never flourishes with the opposite sex because there's no mutual attraction on his part; and now with not getting accepted into the university after I've worked so hard for many years to get to this point.

Although I feel the reason I was initially given regarding why I didn't get accepted is pretty lame (I even contacted the transfer admissions specialist to find out the real reason why I didn't get accepted and she too didn't give me a valid reason), I know 100% why I probably didn't get accepted for the 2013 fall semester: this (spring) semester I'm enrolled in one class I have left to take, which is math, which is holding me back from transferring. This course has been a thorn and a BIG pain in my side for the last few years I've been attending the community college. Actually, math has been a pain in my side since junior high!

I had every intention of completing my last math course last semester, until I met with my math instructor last November. Just a month shy of completing this course, he recommended I drop it because although my homework and quiz scores, and work ethic were great, my exam scores were not. :-( My goal now is to pass this course in May so that I won't have to take it again!

This semester, I tried enrolling into a statistics course that was taught by an instructor I was recommended to by three people. I had also read positive reviews of her and her class. After showing up to this instructor's class twice during the first week of school, in January, I was unable to get into her class because there were 11 other students competing to get in. I ended up staying with the instructor I was stuck with, who I hadn't heard anything positive about.

My current situation: I'm dealing with an instructor who's fairly new, scattered and goes off-topic numerous times during her lecture (note: last week, she went off for about 15 minutes or so, which was a total waste of our valuable time). The con: the instructor doesn't give us enough lecture notes, which I feel would help us with our homework; she does not go over any of the homework problems in class since all the homework is done and submitted online; and 65% of the time the book doesn't give us enough information to help solve the homework problems. The ONLY pro: the tests are shorter. Also, I do meet one-on-one with a tutor once a week and go over some of the problems I need help with. I'm also in the math lab getting help with the problems I don't understand; however, it's unfortunate that not every tutor or lab assistant knows statistics, so I'm often there when there's an actual statistics tutor available.

I did alright on my last math test, but the most recent test I took, which was a week ago, well, let's just say that my anxiety got the best of me this time and I'm certain that I didn't do well. Go figure that when I submitted the last two assignments last Friday, which were associated with last Thursday's test, I received a 99% and 100%! I wish the 100% would've been my score for the actual test! I know I have to try harder for the next test because it's the last one I take BEFORE the (cumulative) final, in May.

With the recent news, along with everything else that's happened to me within the last 3 years, it frustrates and discourages me, and I often wonder if I should continue pursuing my education. I mean, I already have some journalism experience; however, many companies would prefer applicants possess a bachelor's degree in communications or journalism when applying for a position. I don't have my communications degree yet, because this math course I'm trying to pass is the obstruction in letting me move on so that I can finally start working on my bachelor's!

There's so much I need to think about between now and the end of this semester, as well as what I'm going to be doing for the coming fall semester. I intend that I will find the answers soon regarding my future.

I'll leave you with this song, which pretty much sums up the last two days, the rest of my week and year, and probably most of 2014:

Frustrated with School

There's an old saying that goes like this: "If it isn't one thing it's another." This couldn't be more truthful. You see, I just recently applied to the university for which I'm hoping I'll be accepted in to for fall 2013. However, every time I set foot in to my class where my instructor advices all of his students on the application process, etc., I continue to grow very skeptical and nervous over the latest updates on what it now takes to get accepted in to higher education.

I submitted my online application to the university about two weeks ago and will likely not find out if I was accepted until around March 2013. To make matters worst, I just experienced a major (well, at least to me it is) setback.

There's another saying that goes, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." On November 15, I had a meeting with my math instructor. Just before class had ended about an hour earlier, he handed us back our 2nd exam, which we had all taken the week prior. I didn't do very well on this test. I met with my instructor immediately after class and he recommended that I drop the course and try again next semester. This was technically supposed to be my last semester and next semester was going to be reserved for taking one class for my major and one elective course. Well, that's all changed now because I will have to re-take math again in January. :-(

Honestly, I wish I had the brain for all college-levels of math. Instead, I ended up with the English gene. I've put in many countless hours doing homework, getting one-on-one tutoring every week and going to both math tutorial centers, four days a week, to get assistance. Unfortunately, all the hard work hasn't paid off yet. :-(

After having spoken to my instructor and after having cried for a little bit, I composed myself. I then called my guidance counselor's office to see if I could make an appointment to see her before I register for spring classes, which is in two weeks. Unfortunately, she had nothing available until the day before I register, so I decided I was going to go to drop-in counseling the following day. In the meantime, I headed over to the math tutorial and attempted to work on my math homework. However, during the entire time I was there, all I could think about was how I failed terribly. :-(

The next morning, I drove to school and met with a guidance counselor. I discussed with her what my instructor had recommended and I asked her if it was better to drop the course altogether or should I remain in the class and accept the grade I was going to receive. The counselor agreed with my instructor in that I should drop this course, which I ended up dropping on Friday.

This is NOT what I had intended to happen. I really wanted to pass this course THIS semester! I know that I'm not a good test taker and I have a really hard time remembering certain concepts. While I felt that the lectures in this class moved at a quicker pace, my brain was still behind and still trying to figure out what I was taught during the previous lecture! UGH!!

Next semester, I will start new, hoping this time that I will pass my math course. I'm so ready to move on with my life and be done with this school! 

News Recap

I've been so busy with school, work and life that I haven't had much time to blog until now. Here's a breakdown of what's been happening in my life in the last month.

On Sept. 12, my parents, niece and I drove 10.5 hours to Southern California to attend my cousin "T's" rosary. We left at 4:30 a.m. and didn't arrive until about 3:20 p.m. Needless to say, we were all tired and sleepy, but we had to arrive at my other cousin's ("T's" sister) place and rest for a little bit until it was time to attend the rosary at 7 p.m. The next day, most of my cousins--minus a few and my two siblings, who couldn't make it--gathered to say our final goodbyes to my cousin. Although the reason we were all there wasn't pleasant, it was good that we were able to visit with my mother's relatives since we don't get to see them very often.

Recently, I've sought therapy for some issues that have plagued me since childhood. I won't go into details, but I'm hoping it helps me overcome some of the things I've dealt with throughout my life.

Men. What can I say about them except they're from Mars. ;-) Honestly, I'm coming to a point in my life where I really want to make some new, permanent changes, including "throwing in the towel" to feelings I've had for someone who I know will never like me back. It is what it is and I can't make a person like me nor will I beg someone for that matter. My motto is, "What you see is what you get." If the other person doesn't like the qualities I have to offer, then he's missing out. I am no longer going to waste my time and effort. As I've said before, if I'm meant to be in a relationship, then so be it. And if it doesn't happen, then I'll learn to accept whatever God has planned for me. Anyway, I'm going to continue focusing on what's more important to me right now and that's completing my studies.

School is going smoothly. I've been spending a lot of time on-campus, either working on my math homework or seeking extra help at the math tutorial center. I didn't do well on my first exam and I'm striving to get a better grade on my 2nd test. School is over in about 9 weeks and I'm intending I pass this class so I can concentrate on taking classes for my major.

Since returning to school in August, I recently had to cut back on my freelancing job with the organization I've been working with. However, the amount of work I'm doing now for them isn't helping me pay my bills, which means that I am now looking for a new job...one that's flexible, stable, permanent and with better pay. However, I get really discouraged when I receive rejection from a company or an organization because I know they're thinking that I'm overqualified for their position. Instead of "judging a book by its cover," they should allow me to interview first before they judge me based on my background or experience. I mean, why do they post the open position and then not give interested job seekers the opportunity to interview AFTER all the effort he/she has gone into contacting them and sending them his/her resume? This is what frustrates me the most. :(

On Oct. 13, I received something in the mail, which I've been working on for the past seven years: my Associate degree! What took me by surprise was the word located just underneath my name, which was 'Honors.' :-) Anyway, about two weeks ago, I had an appointment with my guidance counselor to discuss the college application I need to fill out before the end of November. She started reviewing all the courses I've taken at the college and told me that as of this past May, I completed all the requirements needed for my Associate degree! Another piece of good news she gave me: since I passed my previous math course in May, I don't have to take the competency exam after all. This last bit of news was such a relief! Now it's just a matter of going through graduation ceremonies next May and passing this final math course (i.e. Stats) in December so that I can finally transfer to the university in August 2013! A final anecdote: my counselor told me that I need to take one more Journalism class, which I could very well take at the university, but she recommended I take it in the spring. So much for getting a real break from school next semester! Well, the good thing about this class is that I know the instructor very well and I'm certain she'll be happy to see me in her class again. :)

I was recently asked by a relative what I was going to do for my birthday, which is in a month. I told her that I wasn't going to do anything. You see, I'm celebrating a "milestone" birthday this year and my cousin's older siblings (they're twins) had a party for their "milestone" b-day last year. However, there's a big difference in how they celebrate and in how I celebrate, which I might discuss here someday. Anyway, I initially wanted to do some fun activity with a few of my closest friends, but I don't think I can afford to do so right now. I think I might just go out to dinner with my family and possibly with some close friends since most of them will be around for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Lastly, I recently received an email from my editor. She commented on the unique events I email her every week for the two calendars I'm responsible for. She also asked if I planned to continue writing after the semester was over or if I was done with writing altogether. I'm in the process of replying to her. I honestly and seriously can't be making "chump" change for all that I do. This part-time job has been a blessing and a headache at the same time. Although I'd like to continue contributing, I'd like to get some more experience in doing other things involving writing. However, those opportunities haven't risen lately. Also, with how the economy is right now, I need a job, but I also need a better income so that I can pay the bills and do some fun things in the future, including taking a trip or two on my bucket list. Besides, I really need something to look forward to after all the stress from school and work.

Back to School...and some prayers needed

This week I started back at school again. I'm taking two classes this semester, except the second one is a short-term course and doesn't begin until October, where as the other class I'm taking currently is math, aka Statistics, aka my "enemy."

Recently, a few people had asked me what class I was going to be taking in the fall and I mentioned the Statistics class. The comments I got were not at all comforting. Some told me that it was a hard class, while others said that they wished they would've taken another class. Last Thursday, I had a one-on-one conversation with my instructor and told him that since junior high, math has never been my best subject. He did tell me that this class is a lot different than the Algebra class I took with him two semesters ago. I'm just praying that I pass it because it's the last class I need to take so that I can transfer next fall.

This semester, I intend to get one-on-one tutoring (again) and will be doing drop-in tutoring whenever I need help. I just finished the first two homework assignments earlier this week and I didn't find them to be too hard. However, I know I need to work on memorizing the vocabulary in my book. I'm crossing my fingers and intending that everything goes well.

In other news, today I found out that my cousin "T," who's 50, is not doing so well. My mother had a conversation with her older brother today and he told my mother that his sister has liver cancer. We knew she was sick with cancer, but we didn't know to what extent. Her brother said that her cancer is advanced and is currently seeking another opinion, in San Diego. She lives about two hours northeast from San Diego and the doctors there don't seem to be doing much for her in her hometown. Then again, it seems that there's not much more they can do on their end since her cancer is so advanced. :(

I'm still holding out and praying that my cousin gets well. However, I'm just dreading the day when my mom gets THE call from one of her nieces or nephews telling her that my cousin didn't survive. My family has already gone through two deaths within the last year and I'm not sure how much more we can take.

Life isn't fair, especially when you have a loved one who is ill and there's nothing you can do about it. Word of advice: get yourself tested when you're supposed to and/or seek out the proper medical attention before it's too late and spend as much time as you can with your family before it's too late.

The Times Are a Changing & Good News

It’s funny how when you get older, some of the things that you used to love doing, say a few years ago, really don’t mean as much to you as they once did. Personally, my priorities have shifted 100% and I just want to enjoy different adventures, opportunities and new milestones, as well as spend much time with my family and close friends. :) So per my previous post, I was hoping to land a job with a local publishing company. After thinking about it some more, it dawned on me later how I probably wouldn't have been a good fit for it because although it would've involved writing, an integral part of the company consisted of being immersed in something I don't really know much about. Thankfully, the company never called me.

Around this same time, I was feeling sort of down and hopeless that my job prospects were getting very slim. Well, a few days later, I had come home from my evening class when decided to check my email. When I opened it, I noticed I had received an email from a woman I had emailed like a week prior. One of my Journalism classmates is currently working for this woman and is writing for a section of the major newspaper company that's located in our area. Anyway, I had sent my cover letter to this woman--the editor of the section--and what she basically said in the email was to not give up on her, that she was busy, but that she was interested in talking to me and would be in touch soon. A few days later while I was helping with the production of the school newspaper, I received a call from the editor. She'd like to meet with me and discuss potentially writing for what I had proposed in my cover letter.

So last Monday, the editor and I met and she asked me about my Journalism experience as I handed her my portfolio, which included clips of some of the articles and stories I've had published. So a day later, she calls me and asks if I'd be interested in taking on an assignment where I live. The deal was that I'd attend an event and I'd have to submit the story the same day so it could get posted on the newspaper's website. Well, it turns out that it didn't get posted until the following day. Anyway, so I'm happy to say that I'm currently freelancing as a correspondent for this company! :) The editor had mentioned during our meeting that she currently has someone working as a permanent correspondent for this section of the paper. If this person decides this job isn't for her, then she said she could offer me the position. However, the one slight problem I see with this is that the job is full-time and as I told her, I'm really adamant in finishing my college education. Well, if I ever have to cross that bridge, then I'll deal with it then. As for now, I just want to enjoy the work I'm doing.

So in other news fronts, Mr. Theatre tweets every now and then, but just not to me (ok, so he did tweet me back that one and only time). :( I had no clue who he was until I saw him in the play he was performing in at my college back in March. When I saw him make his appearance onto the stage, I said to myself, "Who is that?!" :) Anyway, he's getting ready to leave Southern California and head back to his home in the UK (he's originally from the U.S.) in a few weeks. He and the other two actors (their company's main office is located within my county) in the play are taking the show to London for several weeks and will be performing it live in and around that area.

Speaking of plays, Mr. Theatre and the other two actors did an AMAZING job in the play they performed at my college a month ago! They're all gifted, talented actors and I don't know why I never caught one of their shows before. I guess it could also be because they only play select cities throughout the U.S.--as well as other countries--with sometimes a different set of actors, including an actor friend/former colleague of mine.

The story about my trip to L.A. last month will have to wait for the next blog post because right now I'm trying to balance posting this, as well as transcribing a one-hour lecture I attended last week for a story I'm writing for my section of the school newspaper, as well as work on some questions for an interview I'm conducting tomorrow for another story for the school newspaper AND work on 2 new stories for the newspaper I'm freelancing for. Boy, I cannot wait until the end of the semester, which is in a matter of 3 weeks! :) I just want to be able to relax and catch up on some personal tasks I've had to put off.

Adios!

Latest Update

First of all, I need to get something off my chest. Why do most all cute guys always go for the younger, cute girls? :-( I guess that's the story of my life. Ok, I'm getting off my soapbox now.

I've been trying to update my blog for the last 3 weeks, but I haven't had a chance to. I'll be trying to post an update soon about two things that happened to me last month: 1) during my trip to Southern California and 2) that took place at my school.

Also, there's a new crush alert (see item #2 above). For now, I'll only refer to him as Mr. Actor or aka Mr. Theatre. I think he can be best categorized as being a non-celeb and/or maybe a 'D' or 'E' celeb. ;-) Anyway, now that he's my friend (we actually have 1 friend and 1 acquaintance in common) on two social networking sites, I have to be mum about this crush on those sites because that's all it is--nothing more.

More later.

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

Last week, a co-worker of mine--who happens to be the bosses assistant--asked for my personal e-mail address, so I gave it to her. My first thought was, "Ok, what did I do wrong?" A couple of minutes later, I opened the "confidential" e-mail, which stated that the boss told her that she could hire a part-time employee to take over some of the specific duties she shouldn't be doing. She told me that she was happy with my work and asked if I'd be interested in this position. The pay is actually a LOT better than what I'm currently making, which is music to my ears! In addition, I can still have the flexibility of taking classes, plus I could work a few extra hours. I told her that I was going to think about it and I'm actually supposed to meet with her this week to further discuss the job.

I'd say that within the last few months, I've been fortunate to have had some things happen to me, which I had hoped would lead me into fulfilling more of my goals this year. I have tried putting all my positive energy into finding a new job and, well, with the help of my vision board, I think things are starting to fall into place! Staying positive is something I will continue doing because I still have a few other goals I'd like to accomplish this year. :)

My winter break is over and I started classes again this week. I'm slowly getting into my two Anthropology classes because I've never been one to like anything associated with science (or math)! I haven't taken a science class in YEARS, so that's why I'm a little scared! What's funny is that one of my instructors is five years younger than me, so at least I can relate to her in that sense.

And what would my blog be without some NKOTB news! Recently, fans were e-mailed a message stating to "save the dates" for a very special event. Well, as many Blockheads had speculated, the event turned out to be a cruise!! The Block's ship will set sail from Florida to the Bahamas from May 15 - 18. When word got out that this event could be a cruise, I said, "There's definitely NO way I'm going!" Twenty years ago, the Kids did a "Magic Summer" cruise, which I didn't take part in because I couldn't afford it. Well, fast forward to the present and I still can't afford a cruise! I've never been on one before and yes, a trip to Florida (where I've always wanted to go) and the Bahamas (really, any island will do for me) would've been great, but I don't have the means nor the time to go. Actually, I have finals around those dates, so it was poor planning on their part! ;) No worries because I'm still holding out and saving my money for the upcoming tours in the spring and summer! 

Good news!

I recently e-mailed the Editor of the publication {the same one where I had applied to in Nov.} that I had submitted my profile story to and asked her if she had read the story. This was her reply:

"Yes and it's a great start! I gave it to the Managing Editor and we'll get back to you when we can. Right now things are crazy, but yes, I'm going to put it in the May issue. So it may be a little while before we get back to you again, but I'm happy with what you sent. Great job!"

I am SO ecstatic! If I understood and read the e-mail correctly, I'm getting my FIRST article published! :) I have to go out and celebrate! :)

So I went to go pay for my schooling, parking, and books today. I was told that I owed $36, so as I went to pay for it, the clerk told me that my scholarship was taking care of it. I told her that I still hadn't received my parking permit, which I so desperately need. The clerk said that they mailed it to me today. Why does the school wait until the last minute to do this? I don't think I should have to pay any additional money when I've already paid for it! She told me that if I didn't receive the permit by the first day of class, which is this Monday, then I'll need to go to the Campus Police and let them know my situation. Ughhhhh!! The things I have to deal with in order to get a good education.

Speaking of education, I just found out my grades & am very pleased with myself. I received a "C" in Food & Nutrition, a "B" in Philosophy, and (drumroll, please) an "A" in Journalism (Magazine Writing)! This also deserves a celebration! ;)

I went by "Mr. Cutie's" POB this afternoon, but I didn't see him around, so I didn't bother going in. :( I could have used some hot cocoa, but I know there's going to be another opportunity to go in & say hello, SOON! :)