So I have many plans for the end of this week. 
Friday I have a photoshoot, and I'm meeting with a prospective person who might do a little marketing for my photography.  He's a retired photographer, so I'm hoping we can work something out.  Also, Chris returns from Albany Friday night.   We get to see each other for the grand total of about one and a half days before I get on a bus for NY Monday morning.   November has entirely flown by.  It feels like just yesterday he was getting the phone call that he had gotten the Flextronics job, and we were jumping up and down and hugging. Well I may have been the only one jumping up and down, but the hugging was definitely mutual. 

The trip to Albany last Friday was quite fantabulous.  The two hour drive was filled with Nickelback, chatting with Nicole about the Navy and teaching highschool, with interjected "That's what she said" jokes from Brandon and John.  There were a few deviations from this, but that about sums up the trip.  All in all they are forever awesome people in my book for taking me all the way to Albany to see Chris for a few hours.  Gold stars all around!  On that note I'm a much more tense person when he's not around.  Not awesome.

I also have lots of big plans for my week home.  Tuesday and Wednesday are a mix of photoshoots, a hair appointment (hopefully!), and coffee and catching up with friends.  Thursday and Friday are of course dedicated to Thanksgiving and Christmas Tree Shopping traditions, Saturday I'm planning on spending mostly with my sister and her husband, taking more photos for her, and then Sunday is Mom's birthday.  Monday I'm on a bus back here, and I actually get to see Chris for more than a day for the first time in three weeks. 

Random: Watching Buffy makes me feel more like kicking ass.  Only having access to a DVD player and no cable in the apartment limits my entertainment, and FYE had some cheap used seasons of Buffy.  I only bought one, and its definitely good for me to have my random ass-kicking inspiration right now.  I get bored, especially without Chris around and when I get bored I start thinking about all the things that are difficult or problematic in my life and I get depressed.  My solution to this is to stay busy, and watch more Buffy.  So I'm either just not bored, or when I do start thinking about my problems I'm more inspired to kick their respective asses.  Clarification: my problems are not specific people, more the lack of finances in various areas.  Sometime when I actually have stable income and transportation I'll go back to taking martial arts, but sadly that hasn't magically happened yet, and the whole teaching yourself martial arts thing seems pretty damn ineffective. 

On a happy note, I got the cuddliest sweater EVER at Target.  I don't want to take it off, ever. It's just like this, only black.  I have a definite weakness for cuddly sweaters. 
  


On another positive note, I babysat for a shorter period of time for the same family with 11yr old diva... and she didn't seem to hate me.  I kinda expected her to, because if I had gotten a speech from someone I had just met when I was 11 I would probably hold it against her for a couple weeks to a month.  I did compliment her lip gloss though, maybe that was all it took.  Her sisters had decided to play with barbies, which I realized I cannot play with, at least around children.  The only things that come into my head are pretty much not appropriate to share in a babysitting atmosphere.    Did you ever realize that barbies can't itch their butts?  They can't reach with their unbendy plastic arms.  Also, their houses are never quite the right size for them.  The stairs are never right, and sitting at tables is always problematic. Barbies disturb me. 

I have been randomly hungry lately, and not felt like eating anything I have immediate access to.  Also grocery shopping is no help, because nothing looks good to me when I walk in the store, except for skittles, chocolate, and coffee.  And you can't survive on skittles, chocolate, and coffee alone, unfortunately.  You get pretty shaky, which is no good when you're a photographer.  It even makes folding panties difficult, especially when they put those damn sensors on them.  Apparently I did 40% of the business during our segment at VS last night.  It was helpful that they're running a bunch of half off sales.  Any hoodies or sweats 49.50 or less you can get for 25 this week, plus the secret santa promotion, and the free lacie panty with a purchase of $30.  Seriously they're paying people to shop there. 

Oh, I also saw the new Boondock Saints movie.  That's a story in and of itself - navigating a parking garage in New Haven, and being overcharged for popcorn. and skittles.  It was pretty good popcorn though, and the movie was awesomeness.   With that I think I'm pretty much storied out.  Ta ta!

-A bird from the pet store getting loose and flying all around the store, and my manager completely freaking out.
-Working a 12 hour shift from 7pm to 7am.  The words "bra storm" were used.  There were bras all over the floor. literally. Every shape, size, and color. 
- PANTY BARS. hell to keep neat.  Really.  "Can I help you find your size?" means " I just arranged those for the fiftymillionth time, so if you touch them I will hunt you down when my shift ends." 
- A meeting just to tell us about two new perfumes and that Victorias Secret during the holidays is one of the most difficult retailers to work for.  Uhhhh yay?  *slight cringe*
-People who cannot read coupons or signs themselves but have to have you tell them what it says. 
-Conversion, a really annoying way to track sales. (ratio of people who come into the store to people who spend money.  yes they count them)

Unfortunately I have an annoying head cold right now... and I'm having trouble sleeping so I'm on xanga. But really October has been going well.  Its been so busy my head is spinning.  I'm trying to make my plans for going home over Thanksgiving, iron out my living arrangements, and keep work going.  I miss everyone at home like crazy of course.  For the most part I actually don't mind working at VS.  I don't even entirely mind doing the panty bars... at least for the first nine  times of the day.   The girls there are interesting... I think if I stay on long enough I could have enough material for a "Confessions of a Victorias Secret Associate" book.  But nevertheless a quick intro. 
We have: The OCD Manager, The girl who really likes to gossip and complains about getting hours, The pretty much awesome manager, The store manager who freaks everyone out, The girl who only likes dance music (and listens to it for the ENTIRE time we're doing the floorset.)  Anyways such is life...

On a separate note I've been able to see more of old friends lately.  Yay for a day of making apple pies and pumpkin carving!  I also finally bought Donald Millers new book.  I'm really enjoying it.  It's not nearly as intense as parts of "Searching for God Knows What", but he definitely digs into a lot about motivation and what it means to live a good life, with a good story.  Sometimes I feel like life is this maze I will never know if I took the right turn or not in... and some of his perspectives have given me a bit more clarity. 

I'm starting to look into marketing my photography more heavily as well.  I'm seriously considering taking college courses in photojournalism and or graphic design if I can get grants and or scholarships towards a degree.  I really feel like photojournalism is what's best suited for me, because I'm always mentally quantifying and describing life, events, and trying to find ways to document it that will be intriguing.   Also I'm happiest with my photos that tell a story.  Then there's the whole photo - documentary side of things...  So much to think about.  Anyways I'm finally getting a bit sleepy, so I'll sign out for now.