Hard Workin' Woman

Today is my last day of work at both of my jobs.

It's going by so slowly I can barely stand it!

New adventures on the way. :)

Three Good Things:

• Mini-vacay with sorors tomorrow.
• Potluck after work today.
• COOLER WEATHER!
  

"Off the coast and I'm headed nowhere..."

I've spent the better part of today updating my Monster.com profile. There are going to be some personnel cuts at my job and I'm just trying to get ready.

Whew. It just seems like one thing after another these days. It kind of reminds me of a few months ago, when I would think about my credit card debt and literally feel like I was drowning in it; my head would spin, my heart would race, and I just couldn't seem to take another breath.

But everything will be okay; I know it will. Even if I do get downsized, I'll make it through just fine. I'm going to have to leave this one up to God. Sorry things have been so depressing here lately, but what can I say? I'm going through a rough time. Hopefully things will look up soon.

Brick (Album Version) - Ben Fo...

Three Good Things:

• The sun is shining after a morning of rain.
• Daria comes out in about two weeks.
• I'm still breathing.
  

Another day...

It's Monday, peeps. Day 1 of another six-day-straight work week. You probably won't be hearing from me for a while. :)

Here It Goes Again (UK Surf) -...

Three Good Things:

• The weather is absolutely PERFECT.
• I'm making extra $$ for being team leader at my job tonight.
• I saw Alice in Wonderland yesterday with Mario and Des.
  

Tired is an understatement at this point.

I'm currently on Day 3 of working a week straight at my part-time job. I'm having problems keeping my eyes open, hence the lack of updates. At the end of the week, I'll hopefully be awake enough to write something awesome for y'all. Until then...*yawn*

Three Good Things:

• My boyfriend is awesome.
• I'm gonna get a nice check from all these sleepless, work-filled nights.
• Fruit Roll-Ups.
  

Ordinary Day

I woke up this morning with a headache, so the morning started off a bit roughly. After eating lunch and taking an aspirin--and also treating myself to a double-scoop of Andes Candies frozen custard at Culver's--I was feeling much better. Now I'm sitting at work, counting down the minutes until I leave here to go home and pretend to sleep for a few hours before my part-time job. Same old, same old.

I've been trying to relax and clear my head, but something keeps bothering me. I'm not going to talk about it here just yet because I'm still trying to work things out in my head. I'll let you know when I get things figured out though. One think I can say is that I'm clearly not very good at interacting with men. I don't get them, and I'm pretty sure they don't get me either. Oh well. More later.

Ordinary Day - Vanessa Carlton

Three Good Things:

• Andes Candies frozen custard at Culver's.
• I talked to my mommy this morning.
• I've got peanut butter Oreos waiting for me at home.
  

(I think I'm stress-eating; I keep mentioning food.)

Bad Day

Today has been rough to say the least. Time to think of the good things.

Baby Don't Cry (Keep Ya Head U...

Three Good Things:

• I woke up this morning.
• I have a reliable job that pays me enough to get the things I need.
• SS. He's awesome, and always there when I need a smile. Thank you.
  

Defying Gravity

It feels like forever since I last posted, but life has been picking up and I'm trying to stay afloat. I started my part-time job on Monday night and it honestly wasn't as bad as I though it would be. I literally picked up trash, swept, and mopped. Not too complicated, right?

I was there from 9 p.m. until just after midnight, but once I got home I couldn't sleep. Ever since then, I've been having issues when it comes to getting some shut-eye. For some reason I'm just not tired. Maybe I just need some time to get adjusted. It also doesn't help that, just as I'm finally dozing off, my phone starts blowing up with text messages and phone calls. (Seriously, do you need to discuss finding a place to stay until your dorm opens at midnight??? You need to make those type of calls during business hours, sir. I'm trying to sleep.)

But I'm working tonight and tomorrow night as well, so hopefully I'll be good and tired so I can sleep well Friday night (which, coincidentally, is when Mr. I-need-somewhere-to-stay-for-so-I'm-going-to-text-you-a-million-times-while-you're-sleeping is getting back in town. Okay, I'm done ranting now.). I swear, if I'm not tired after that then I'm gonna have to break down and invest in some Ambien. Or some alcohol. Whichever.

The real reason I wanted to write today is because, all of a sudden, I've gotten tired of playing by other people's rules. Sometimes I just want things to happen on my terms, you know? I'm the type of person who constantly works to make other people happy and comfortable, and a lot of times that comes at the sacrifice of my comfort and happiness. Sometimes I want to be pursued, coddled, and taken care of. But I'm not too worried about it. It makes me happy to do things for others; sometimes I'd just like something in return. But it's better to give than to receive, and I know that God's gift of grace for selflessness is much better than any earthly gift.

Defying Gravity - Glee Cast

Three Good Things:

• I treated myself to dinner at Culver's yesterday.
• I get paid weekly at my part-time job, so I'll consistently have extra money coming in pretty soon.
• I'm going home to spend some time with my family (and do laundry) on Sunday.

Clean Up Woman

I'm starting to think that me updating this blog so often is a curse as well as a blessing. Granted, I'm keeping up you up to date with all the things that are going on in my life, but I'm starting to run out of things to write about. I don't want to bore you to death with all the droll details of my ordinary life, so please let me know if things start getting trite and I'll try to spice things up a bit. How, I'm not sure yet, but I promise you I'll try.

Today I started keeping a food journal of all the things I eat. It's really beneficial to see all the calories you take in written down on paper--you can't deny them when they're in black and white. My problem is that I forget to write stuff down. Hopefully I won't have this issue forever (it's only my first day writing in the damn thing) and keeping this food diary will help me lose the few extra pounds I've been complaining about.

One of my main reasons for wanting to lose a few is because of the traveling I hope to do in the next few months. Speech nationals are in April, and I have to look my best if my former DOF (Director of Forensics) asks me to come and judge for them. I REFUSE to have my former competitors look and me and whisper amongst themselves about how fat I've gotten. (Not that I think I'm fat, but five pounds always looks like 10 to the people who haven't seen you in a while.) I really hope I get to go to nationals with the team; I miss speech more than I can say. I also need to see the people that I love from the circuit--I miss my speech boos!

Speaking of boos...well, sort-of boos (maybe), I was invited by SS* yesterday to fly out for his college graduation in May. Needless to say I'm ridiculously excited about this, and even looked up a few flights today while I was at work. I'm hesitant to book one, though, at least until I get confirmation details from him. I also need to save up some money to pay for it. Do you know how much flights cost these days??? Too damn much! I do hope things work out though; I'm really looking forward to sharing a really important moment with someone I really care for. Plus, the town he lives in has an Ihop, where I'll probably put back on all the weight I plan to lose. Strawberry banana pancakes are my weakness, y'all.

But hopefully I'll have some extra cash pretty soon; I got a part-time job today. I haven't actually been hired yet (I have to take a drug test tomorrow and wait for those results to come back) but I'm extremely confident I'll get the job. The position would be cleaning up the basketball arena on campus after games and concerts; I know how to use a mop and broom--plus I have a bachelors' degree--so I definitely feel qualified for the job. The downside? Cleaning from 9 p.m. to midnight--or later. But the lack of sleep will be more than worth the extra cash. And it's not like I haven't lived off 4 hours of sleep before. Remember senior year of college, when I had a full-time management job, was both a speech team member AND a prophyte in my sorority? Yeah. I do too. I didn't go to college so I could clean up after people, but I'm humble--there are plenty of people who would love to have this job or ANY job.

So that's what's been happening in my life thus far. I'm about to do a workout video in my living room (don't laugh) and then just relax at home for the rest of the night. If anything pops off, you'll be the first to know. Oh, and I'm also posting a fun song for you--I heard it on AOL Radio earlier and it's been stuck in my head all day!

Three Good Things:

• I'm actually looking forward to working out right now.
• A lady at work complimented my nail polish today (I told SS that pink was a good color!)
• If the weather is too bad tomorrow, the office will be closed a.k.a. I won't have to go to work!

Let's Hear It For The Boy (Alb...

*Since I always refer to this gentleman as "someone special," I'm going to make his formal name Someone Special (or SS) for the purposes of this blog. I would just say his name, but I don't want all my bidness out in the streets. Plus, he knows who he is. ;)

"Take a deep breath, girl."

Whew! Hectic is a VAST understatement for what's been going on at work today. The phone's been ringing off the hook, my desk is completely covered in paperwork--typical Monday-after-a-holiday hysteria. Things have finally started to slow down (knock on wood), so I thought I'd take a few minutes to let you know what's been going on.

After last night's meltdown and a few encouraging words from someone special, I'm feeling much better. In keeping with the advice of an extremely wise and amazingly gorgeous man, I will now list three good things about my life/day at the end of every post. This is a great way to count my blessings and give myself an instant mood lift. So, here goes!

Three Good Things:

• I got free pizza for lunch today at work.
• It's supposed to snow this weekend.
• I have been craving pickles for the past two days, so I'm going to buy myself a jar after work today.
  

I'm planning on just staying in tonight; I'll probably watch a movie, wash my hair, read more of my GRE prep book, and clean up my apartment a bit. Hopefully I'll get to bed a bit earlier to catch up on the sleep I missed last night. Speaking of missing sleep, the fact that I couldn't fall asleep last night seems like a bad thing, right? But I used the time that I was awake to read my bible, and I found a verse that really spoke to me:

"I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.' The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will also show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men." Lamentations 3: 19-27, 31-33

See? I'm getting better at looking on the bright side already. :)

All quiet on the western front...

Mmmkay. So I promised a longer blog, and here it is. The problem is, I don't really have that much to talk about. But I'm a determined individual, so I'll try to keep y'all entertained as I talk about my current (and somewhat boring) life.

I start my new job next Tuesday, and I'm really excited about it. I'll definitely miss most of the people I work with, along with that 30% discount. But hopefully switching to a job outside of the mall will save me money--I won't be tempted to buy the new cute shirt/panties/bra/nail polish we just got in stock, shop on my lunch break, or buy dinner in the food court. That's what I'm hoping anyway. I'm also looking forward to doing something different and getting away from some of the drama that exists at VS. Try as people might to deny that drama exists, it does--mostly because they cause it.

But on a much less passive-aggressive note, I haven't really been up to too much lately. I'm mostly watching a lot of 'Hey Arnold' and hanging out around the house. I've actually hung out with Colby and Sammie a few times, and they're loads of fun. We watched 'Too Wong Foo: Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar' last night and made chicken salad--it was awesome. :)

Tomorrow is my day off and I've got some errands to run: getting my car window fixed, shopping for work clothes, making appointments, blah blah blah. But some of us were thinking about going to a club in Nashville tomorrow night, so hopefully some crunkness will transpire. Sorry about the lack of excitement in this post; as soon as something pops off, y'all will be the first to know. Promise.

In My Ears: Jesse McCartney, 'It's Over'; Shakira, 'She-Wolf'; Beyonce, 'If I Were a Boy'

...or should I just keep chasing pavements?

I have to ask this before my head explodes from frustration. Why is it that once you get in a relationship with someone, everyone in the free world suddenly wants to get all flirty with you? I honestly don't get it. I've been single for who knows how long, waiting for someone to pay me attention, then I get a boyfriend and BAM! Ashley's the hottest thing on the block. It just doesn't make sense, people.

But now that I've vented a bit, I'll let you know about the other events taking place in my life thus far. I'm officially leaving Victoria's Secret. I don't want to, but I've got some other opportunities that I want to take advantage of right now. Hopefully one day I can come back to the company, but for right now I think I'm doing the right thing. I'm really excited about my new job and will definitely keep you updated on how it goes once I officially get started.

On the personal side, the male species has taken a spontaneous interest in me as of late. Who knows why, really. I'm kind of into it, but mostly just confused. Am I emitting some sort of pheromones or something? Anyway, Marcus will be here the last week of this month to visit. I'm really excited to see him, but I can't lie--this long-distance thing has been really hard. Maybe it will get better after I see him again, but I'm not the type of person who can build a relationship on occasional text messages and phone calls. But I'll think about all that once he gets here; we'll talk and see if we can work things out.

Other than those things, nothing major has been happening. I go to work, hang out with friends, and play The Sims 3 WAAAYY more than I should. I can't complain about life though--things are going pretty well. If things pop off, you'll be the first to know. Later.

Sunrise, Sunset

Today was a loooooong day. I woke up at sunrise after a night full of crazy dreams and just couldn't seem to get back to sleep--my head was full of to-do lists and worries that I'd oversleep. I had to be at work at 9 this morning, but ended up going in at 8:30 to revamp a few tables that were looking pretty empty. After opening the store, I proceed to cater to the citizens of Bowling Green and all their bra, panty, and beauty needs.

The day is slow and the store fairly empty; we don't make our goals and I have to cut shifts and work with just one other person--this proceeds to get hectic when things get busy. I work and work and work...and then get a call about a job offer I've been considering that's pretty sweet. [More on that in another post.] Around 5, the other managers go for their hour-long weekly meeting. I'm supposed to get off at six as soon as they finish up.

Six comes...then six-thirty...seven. A thunderstorm is raging outside and I really just want to go home. Finally--at seven-thirty--the other managers roll in and I'm allowed to leave. I don't really mind (I love working more because overtime pay is sweet) but I was really looking forward to getting home before the sun went down--maybe next time. Tomorrow is my day off and I'm thanking Jesus for it; I need to get some things done. I open again on Wednesday, and hopefully then I'll be able to leave before sunset.