Before I forget...

Thank you to my friends who helped me move, you are the greatest!

I'm Back!

I know, you missed me right? Riigght. Anyway, I don't have much to say, I'm just got my internet back today. The house is officially no longer mine. I'm in a neat little place in central St. Louis area. I'm still working on the 'being moved in part.' Work-school is going well. Learning-School is pretty crazy with very large amounts of time-consuming homework. Good news is... I received an "A" on my first test. I have another one this weekend, which I'm gearing up for. Eric and I have officially been dating for a year, and our 'anniversary' is coming up soon. Craziness! Life has been pretty hectic, and that pretty much sums it up.

Moving on Sunday!

I'm starting to pack

I'm moving on Sunday.

School starts tommorow.

AHHHHH!

Moving Soon

I'm planning to move VERY soon. I'm selling this dresser if anyone who knows me is interested. If you can think of anything else you might want to buy of mine, let me know, and I'll tell you if it's available. More than likely I'll be looking at selling my only 3 years old refridgerator (good size one too.)

On My Way

My house is under contract!

I only have 2 days left at my summer job!

Plans to attend school are in progress!

Hopefully I will be outta here soon, and on my way!

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!

Getting Back to Normal

The power finally came back on on Sunday. What a relief! I was not having a good Saturday and getting electricity was a happy surprise. As of Monday, my friend, Brie, still did not have power. On Saturday I took care of some business at my parents, one of which was to find out the bank put my money in the wrong account (luckily a number that didn't exist) and I had to wait two days to get it back. I was stressed!

On Monday, I ran a bunch of errands including going to a salvage yard to get a new tail light because my car wouldn't pass inspection without it. I finally finished my scholarship application, and applied for a student loan should I need it. Eric and I cleaned the gutters and removed the big debris from the storm. Then I had to get my teeth cleaned, yeah, my second cavity ever :(

Today I went back to my summer job. I was soooo bored until my manager moved me over to Lancome for the night. I had a blast! Make-up is fun! All I can is, Mary Kay, has a long way to go if they want to catch up to their mascara among other products. I wish I would have been in cosmetics a long time ago like they mentioned when I was hired. Now there are a bunch of openings, and I'm leaving. Oh well. What can ya do?

No electricity!

I'm sitting at my parents' house writing this blog for those who still have access to the Internet. For those of you not living in St. Louis, you might not be aware that we were hit with 2 major storm systems, the likes of which haven't been recorded for over 150 years so they say.

My subdivision in North County area looked like a war zone when I returned home from work on Wednesday night. I have no electricity, and there is nothing in my fridge because it's all been removed. Other than a zillion trees limbs and twigs, I luckily did not sustain any material damages. We were hit with yet another storm affecting mostly St. Charles and the North St. Louis area again on Friday. I was in the middle of getting a much delayed and needed chiropractic treatment when they lost power.

My only link to the 'outside world' is my cell phone, coworkers, and listening to KMOX 1120 am while in the car. It is estimated that while some have restored power, there are still 400,000 homes without electricity, at an estimated 2.5 million people.

I hope I can once again enjoy the modern convienances of life soon. Currently I'm at my parents' doing laundry because I won't have anything to wear for work if I don't. They are in South County and had power restored Friday. Incidently I left work earlier today to get it done or I'd be out of 'work' clothes.

On another note, I went to the the Journey/ Def Leopard concert last night. It was an awesome sold out show and we all braved the formidable sky despite the possiblity of another storm. I've also gotten back to my 'reading roots' as I've had nothing to two without electricity. All I can say is thank God I camp and have a camping light fan combo. Wal-mart is totally out of all useful electric camping supplies. I had to have a friend buy batteries in Chesterfield because no one in my area as power. It's pretty crazy. Nothing like waiting at McD's for 40 minutes just to eat! I've never seen fast food places so busy until recently. I guess at least I can cook on the stove (gas stove), and I hear the boil order is off in my area so the water is safe now.

Cars and the Environment

I was watching Opera a few weeks ago and they were discussing environmental concerns. Global warming is real, and we need to wake up. Alledgly, America is only 5% of the population but we are the main cause of global warming.

Things I learned:

Cars that are good for the environment based on pollution and gas guzzeling:
Honda Civic-Hybrid
Honda Insight
Toyota Prius
Ford Focus
Toyota Echo
Chevy Aveo

Worst Suv's:
Ford Expedition
Dodge Durango
Nissan Armada
Chevy Suburban

Things to do to help right now:
Recycle! (Plastic does not and will not ever decompose!)
Unplug things when you aren't using them, even if they are turned off they supposedly suck energy
If everyone replaced their current lightbulbs with the "Compact Floresant Bulb," it would be the same thing as taking 30 million cars off the road. It's a more expensive bub, but lasts a lot longer and cuts WAY down on energy costs (think lower UE bill.)

Camping/Float Trip

Round Spring, Eminence, Missouri

This year marked the 4th annual float trip with my friends. We decided to try the Current River, but ended up going to Jack's Fork River due to reservation constraints. It was a really fun time, and I hope to enjoy more in the future.

On the way back home, Eric and I explored the surrounding scenery by visiting the Round Spring and then did an impromtu visit of Saltpeter Cave now known as "Meramac Caverns." It was neat and eerie all at the same time. I had never really been in a cave and I'm just glad that at least my first experience was somewhat commercial so that when we hope to revisit the Round Spring cave, the non-commercial tour will be more exciting. I highly recommend a float trip. It's fun, not too expensive, and a good way to enjoy the company of friends.

***
Things I learned about the Round Spring: It is 55 ft deep (shown in picture) and pumps out about 25+ million gallons of water each year. The most recorded was something like 333 million gallons in one year.

***
Things I learned in the "Meramac Tavern:" It has a natural onyx area. Jesse James used it as part of his hide-out. The ballroom was originally used for square dancing and is the largest open area of the cave. Part of Lassie and Tom Sawyer were filmed there. A couple was given a 10 night stay prize and they 'lived' in the cave for 10 days (while the cave was still having tours) until they found a key planted by a game show (on the last day) where they won a real honeymoon. They have a stalagtite/stalagmite that grew so large it 'killed itself' and is starting to rust. It is about 25 million years old (I think.) A part of the cavern that was once underwater is known as the wine garden. The rock formations look like grape clusters. This area also has the 2nd largest table rock in the world. It is a type of rock that grew up from the bottom of the water and then formed it's own little island. It has four legs. Now it has to be supported by a beam to keep it standing (from age.) The 'Greatest Show Under the Earth" is a light display in an area where the rocks formed a kind of theater with the billion? year old rock formation (still 'alive'.) It was really hard to get pictures to show up well, so you should check it out :)

Glimpse of "Greatest Show Under the Earth" Rock Formation

Living in a "Prison"

I wish I could more easily accept the things that I cannot change. I'm am ready for change, but as it currently stands I'm waiting around for the 'go signal.' For me that signal is getting out of this house. The house is a great buy for those who don't want to have to make any major changes because they've already been done with a newer: roof, a/c, windows, water heater, furnace, carpet, paint, covered deck (newly stained), woodburning stove, finished basement etc. The problem seems to be that many of the houses around me that are starting to go on sale are priced really low, but also don't have as much to offer. So I sucked it up, and lowered the price. This weekend will be another open house. I pray that God looks out for me because I'm ready to move on to the next chapter in my life.

Truth be told, I enjoyed living here. Lots of space. Freedom to do what I want. No noise from apt. neighbors. Very close to work and places I need to be. What I didn't enjoy were prices going up (taxes, insurance) and things I had to fix unexpectedly along the way. It must be a rule in my life that I will never get ahead financially.

This month I was going to 'be ahead,' but no I get a speeding ticket on the way home and that was WITH actually following the signs. The guy pulled me over apparently because I didn't instantly slam on the breaks when it went from 65 to 45 in a very small area of road. He even followed me for the equivalent of a few blocks at the correct speed and then pulled me over. How rude! So there goes another amount to have it taken care of, among other things I need to pay for this month.

So, basically, I feel like I'm living in a prison. What is to be my time to recooperate before going full swing again in another month in a half, is going to be full-time work at a very not-so-exciting job. It's not bad if you like standing around, despearately waiting for a customer just for something to do. There are only so many times you can organize and clean.

In another way I'm almost insulted that I have to work two jobs, technically I have 3. I did the same amount of schooling another friend of mine did. She makes $90k and I will make much much much less than that this next year. I'm getting a pay cut, she'll probably be getting a pay raise. I will be getting paid the equivalent of a 2nd year salary, and I should be making the six year salary. I wish I really understood what my parents referred to as: you won't make a lot of money. I translated my choice to: I'll be happy, and I'll make enough to be comfortable. Every year I've had to worry about whether I'm going to be full time, and there is only so much a person can take. It's very disheartening in many many ways to realize that America does not value my job or education required to do my job enough for me to make a decent living. Most people do not realize what we really do and what our job entails. Our positions are not as cush-cush as most thing.

It's hard not to take it personally. I feel like a failure, very much I felt I had failed my whole life yesterday. So what I graduated, and have some things to show for it. But eeking by every day from check to check, and every year worrying about job status is not a stable experience.

God please let the house sell in time. I have to start moving on this Fall. I want things to change, I just need you to let me.

Botantical Gardens: Chihuly Exhibit

If you haven't already, you need to go see the "Glass in the Garden" exhibit at the Botanical Gardens. It runs until October 31, 2006. Today Eric and I went to see the exhbit, and all I can say it WOW! On my one day off this week, I'm very glad I decided to do something enlightening and relaxing. I took a ton of pictures, and thanks to my picture editor software, enhanced their quality (being that my digital camera is now in the archaic ages.) It runs about $10 per person during the day ($4 admission (for St. Louis residents) and an additional $6 for the exhibit in the Climatron.) You can also see the exhibt at night for $15.

Also, don't forget this week is the last week of Julius Ceasar from "Shakespeare in the Park." I saw that on the unexpectedly dry and cool night of Sunday past. Always a good idea for culture and closeness with friends.

Two Movies You Have to See

I recently rented If Only and A Very Long Engagement. While it took me a while to 'get into' A Very Long Engagement, it was like a mystery theater / love story in one. Very cool. If Only was moving to me and I cried for at least a good 10 minutes here and there. Definitely recommend these two if you are looking for some good love stories.

I'm Ready

I'm ready to move on, ready to get out of here, ready to start over. I began looking at apartments today, hopeful that I will soon be leaving a place I called home for 3 years (longest I've lived anywhere since college). My requirements: location, dishwasher, w/d hook-ups or in-unit, pets allowed, within a certain budget. I decided that while owning a home is an adventure, it is one that I no longer wish to partake. Sure you might get tax credits or a discount on insurance, but those credits equal money I end up putting back in the house for up-keep or repairs. No more mowing the lawn, shoveling the driveway, repairing odds and ends, I'm ready to be done with that now.

I'm ready to find a place on my own to call home for a bit. I will not choose a temporary fix apartment; I want to choose something I could handle for a year or two while I get other areas of my life in order. Maybe I bought a home because my last apartment wasn't the greatest; it was cheap for the area. I wanted to do something on my own, something I thought would make me feel secure, with a fence for my dog. Well, she's gone now (ran away) and I'm moving on to a different chapter of my life.

I'm ready, let's go.

What is Love?

This was an email forward, but I thought it too cute not to share it with the world, especially because I am a teacher.

Subject: what love means to children

Slow down for three minutes to read this. It is so worth it. Touching words from the mouth of babes.

What does Love mean?

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, "What does love mean?"

The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think :

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."

Rebecca- age 8

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." Billy - age 4 (I love this one)

"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."

Karl - age 5

"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."

Chrissy - age 6

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."

Terri - age 4

"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."

Danny - age 7

Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss"

Emily - age 8

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."

Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,"

Nikka - age 6

(we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)

"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."

Noelle - age 7

"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."

Tommy - age 6

"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken."

Elaine-age 5

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."

Chris - age 7

"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."

Mary Ann - age 4

"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones."

Lauren - age 4

"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." (what an image)

Karen - age 7

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross."

Mark - age 6

"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."

Jessica - age 8

And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.

Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry."

Ou est ta mere?

Today at work a little girl came up to us at the counter and said, "I'm French, RalphLauren?" My co-worker and I just looked at each other confused. She asked if we spoke French. I told her I knew it "a little" or un petit peu. She pointed to a sign and said "le marque Polo et Ralph Lauren?" My co-worker thought she wanted to see our Ralph Lauren cologne and signaled over to the other counter. I wasn't sure and just observed thinking "Ok she said, the sign Polo Ralph Lauren." We watched her for a bit as I scrambled to remember French from 3 years in high school and one year in college. She looked lost and I was trying to find the words for "Are you lost," but I couldn't remember a thing. I asked "le toilette?" thinking she was looking for the bathroom (scrambling for words really), and she said no.

She circled in place, like someone lost, and then walked off really fast. I had a feeling she was lost and couldn't find her parents, so I followed her as I tried to recall what little French I could. If you don't use it, next to never, it's hard to remember things out of no where without just staring and looking dumb. I saw her stop in women's fragrances and she started to cry. I finally remembed how to say mom, and muttered a pathetic "ta mere?" She noded and said she was with them toward whence she just came. Then she repeated, "le marque Polo et Ralph Lauren." I put two and two together and figured she came from men's (which looks totally different from where she was and it's really easy to get lost in the store even for adults) by the Ralph Lauren section. As we went back the other way she looked like she remembered where she came from, and voila, her parents were there. They looked so relieved to see her. I was relieved to help her find them. They said "Merci" and I couldn't even remember how to say "Your Welcome." Which I know remember as "Dorien."

5 minutes later I remembered "Pas du tout" (not at all) and "Pas De Probleme" which was what I ended up saying in English. 20 minutes later I finally remembered how to say "Ou (where) est ta mere?" instead of grunting out "ta mere? (your mom?)" I spent the car ride home trying to conjure up a lot of lost French. It would have been really handy if I could have remembered to say something like "Vous direz moi en Francais et j'assiste." This is probably like child-speak but "You tell me in French and I (will) help." (I can't even remember the correct future verb tense.) I couldn't think of the words, but I understood most of what she said.

I was just glad I was there to help. I was worried for what could have happened had she not run into someone who know barely some French, especially when she was heading towad the opposite direction of her parents. Having been lost in a foreign country myself (because I went down the wrong street in Germany) I understand how frustrating/ worrisome it is to be lost when you can't even ask for directions or get them back in a way you understand. This poor girl only knew how to say the word "French" as a response to our English questions. I wish I could have remembered more to be of more help at the time; I guess that's what happens when you are caught off guard and you haven't used a language in almost 10 years.

I still can't think of how to ask "Are you lost?" I can only conjure "Je cherche" (I find/look). Only twice have my conversational French skills been challenged and both a failure. C'est la vie.

2 days left

Today I went to my 'other school' to get some things and clean up. Originally they told us not to come becuase of the Variety Show, but I hadn't seen them last week and I wanted to say goodbye. It's hard to say goodbye to a great set of K'ers who don't want to go home because they know it's the last time we'll have class together. Some kids I'm glad to see move on to middle school or another school, but for whatever reason, this class really bonded with me, and I with them. They'll be in 1st grade next year, but I'll be teaching K again to the new kids on the block. I hope I get lucky with another great set of kids over there. This class was why I became a teacher. :)

On another note... 2 more days left of school! Tommorow is the Talent Show (made much easier thanks to my G5 mac and iTunes) and Field Day. Friday is a work day with the end-of-the-year luncheon. This year flew by fast. I hope the summer goes slow. At least I know now that I'll be .91 instead of .79 which helps alleviate a lot of financial stress.

Keep praying, I really need to sell the house.

HALLELUJAH!

MY ROOMMATE MOVED OUT TODAY! WHAT A GIFT FROM GOD (cue Handel's Messiah)! I have an open house tommorow and now it will be presentable without the roommate's smelly room and things all over the basement. I even steam cleaned all the carpets and febreezed the heck out of them to eradicate her smell. YUCK! My house looks 10 times bigger without her stuff all over the place!

God was looking out for me today. I did SUPER at my second job for sales too :)

Thank you, if you prayed for me.

Countdown

I wish I knew how to do computer stuff. But instead I'll just initiate countdown and you can do the math.

13 more days until I am ROOMMATE FREE!

Untitled

99% of the time I have no clue what to 'name' my random ramblings, which are but a miniscule detail in my ever-changing, complex world these days. I was reading a friend's blog today on communities and it encouraged me to rethink the thing I usually say to people when asking how they are doing. Anyone who knows me, I'm sure, has heard "So, how's it going in your world?" or "How's life been treating you in 'Lori' land?" for example. I know it's silly, but if you think about it, we all might live on the same planet, but we all have our different lives or 'worlds' as I like to call them.

I was thinking about how I have pretty much chosen to be isolate from the community in which I live. I live in a house close to work, that I bought and updated. At the time it was my pet project, but now I'm ready to move on. I have no desire to be tied down to a house that I once thought would bring me some sense of security. While I have not moved in three years, there are still uncertain increases in price with a home that would be almost the equivelant of rent going up at an apartment. While the tax credit is nice, I no longer desire to be tied down. I want out of the current world that I have built for myself. I no longer desire the dwelling of a home, but at least an apartment with laundry hook-ups or my own personal washer dryer included would be ok, I think. I no longer need or want the back yard. I've only moved up to an uncovered driveway so that's not much to boast about. So what, I'm a single girl with her own house. It's really not as uncommon as my parents led me to believe. Many of my teacher friends have their own houses, I'm just sure they don't have as much student loans following them around like I do.

Which reminds me, how is it fair that I can't get student loan forgiveness simply because I took out my student loan in 1996 as opposed to 1998 when my school will be labeled as low-income next year? Another random reason why I'm disgruntled with 'my world.'

I never planned for an escape route after choosing a stable, secure plan for college, for living, for life. I did not fully prepare for a major change as what I'm currently undertaking. In the back of my mind I always knew this to be a possibility, but I never thought it would come to fruition. I can't go back or change my decisions, I can only deal with the cards I chose to be 'hit' with or the ones I chose to keep or toss.

My world is a wild zoo yet to be finished-- with clear cut paths on roads already accomplished and dirt trails emerging toward places yet to be discovered. I have so much occuring in my life, it's almost ridiculous. It's not anything I can't handle, just sometimes I allow it to overwhelm me and I feel like I can't handle it. I'm not sure if it's coincidence, but my body is worn down and I'm always getting headaches where I hadn't ever had much of problem with these before. I guess that's because I really do need to see the chiropractor; an adjustment and massage would do me good. I'm sure I can hold out till Friday, it's already been at least a month. Do you ever realize that if you follow through with things on a consistent basis you forget how you were benefitting or why you were doing it to begin with? I mean I don't really start to notice my spinal disalignments until I'm not adjusted for a long period of time, and life's wear and tears start wearing and tearing on me just that much harder. Interesting.

And so it begins...

I started training today for my part-time position. I think the job will be very interesting. I'm already scheduled for a fair amount of hours. At least it's all perfect timing, because I'll need to start making up for the shortage of not having a roommate by the end of this month. However, I'd rather work than continue my current situation past the original agreement. *I still have no clue what will happen with my full-time job, but prospects continue to look good for full-time employment as opposed to the original fractional number I was given. Hopefully I will know more when this month comes more into play. *Eric and I are going stronger with each passing day. It's hard to believe that I actually found someone who seems to really fit me well and vice versa. When we met, we both had the same position that we would end up being single 'forever' and had given up hope of really finding anything meaningful. I guess we were wrong. It's hard to believe it's been almost 8 months since we started dating. *As for the open house last Sunday, I understand it to be a 'bust' as it rained off and on most of the time. I'm sure I'll be having another one soon. I really would like to be out of the house. The sooner the better (of course not until May 31.)