The Latest

Well, it's been a while since I've updated. Sorry to those who are paying attention. I've signed up for my last SCC term and it looks like I'll be taking Modern Fiction, Basic Nutrition, and Intro. to Art History and Criticism. The front of our house is entirely primed and ready for paint. The back is 99.8% primed. The south still needs a TON of work, but we're moving along. There was a day last weekend when I had 4 other people helping out, which is a great change from me doing it all. I've been trying to do more work out there but the new meds make me dizzy when I'm out in the heat/humidity on ladders and scaffolding. I'm on week 7 in my Creative Writing class and we've passed poetry and have gone on to discussing dialogue in writing. I have a few assignments due tonight including a partner assignment, which should be interesting.
My dad got tickets for the family to see the Titanic exhibit in Omaha. Should be cool to see the artifacts, which include the bell that was rung when they saw the iceberg, people's personal items, a light fixture from 1st class, and more.
The kittens have been named Arwen (from The Lord of the Rings) and Joey (from Friends).
Song of the Day: "Deliver Me" by Sarah Brightman. Also check out the version by David Crowder Band.
Peace out,
Steve

deja vu all over again

Life has been tons of fun...not.
I've started yet ANOTHER medicine, this time something of a completely new 'family' that may actually be the thing I need to finally get my health in order. Prayers are appreciated! I'm also getting ready to register for my next (and last) term at SCC. Haven't found any online classes that meet requirements. The telecourses don't really fit well either. On campus classes are split between two campuses and I can't find any two that are back-to-back in one spot. I have no idea what I'm gonna do. I also have another loan exit counseling session to do since I'm below half-time status. This means that I'll do yet another entrance counseling session in October to regain deferment as I'll be full-time. God this gets annoying.
The university here starts back up this week so I'll finally have some peers in this town that I can hang with. Might have the first hint of a social life since MMC!
Our nosey neighbors have joined together in complaining about "our" stray cats that roam the block. The thing is they aren't ours and every neighbor that is complaining has also put out food for them. Hint: if you don't want cats around, don't put out food. One particularly dramatic neighbor came over to our house and said she had called the city to have the cats removed. Knowing that the city sends out an a$$hole of a human being who thinks he's a cop that automatically takes the animals to be killed, I caught the three tiger cats and went to Lincoln with my mom to the Humane Society to give them a chance at adoption...what can I say, I'm a nice guy. It wasn't easy though. Another neighbor who NEVER shuts up came through our yard when I was trying to get the cats and scared them all away by her presence. She wanted us to know that the city had been called. We told her we knew (hence the damn cage) and she kept explaining. My mom told her she needed to leave so we could catch the cats and she kept talking, telling her story 5 times in a row. I almost killed an old lady that day. Not sure what the shelter will do with them, but I'm going to check the website to see if they come on. My mom started sobbing when we were leaving and I felt bad that she had to deal with all this crap.
House still needs work--priming isn't even done--it would be nice if just one person could help me. I have my dad's office to clean tonight and a lot to mow tomorrow.
See ya later,
Steve

busy day

Hi guys.
Ran errands like a pro today. Got 5 3-gallon water jugs since our town water sucks, went to my mom's office to design a bulletin board for the CCC/Godparent programs, went home and inhaled a sandwich, took some stuff to my dad for his fair booth, ran to True Value for him, went back to the fairgrounds, went to the store and got 5 cases of bottled water for him to give away, went back to him, went home, painted, did homework. Whew.
The church had a garage sale to raise money this week and the congregation brought things to donate that the church could sell. There were a few nice looking computer monitors, so I took the 17" one. Got it home and hooked it up and it worked well, except sizes and colors are slightly off. Today the thing went totally black while I was doing an assignment. Great. Guess that doesn't solve my monitor issue. Maybe I'll throw holy water on it and do a dance.
Today I quit my piece of shit job at MPV and don't plan on going back. To my amusement, there were 2 things on the schedule bitching about my boss' shitty scheduling!! She'll read that on top of my letter and have a good cry I'm sure. Looks like I may not be the only one leaving. 2 might be out this month.
I'm tired and tomorrow is my dad's 55th, so I'm out.
SB

Back by popular demand!

Ok, so the demand wasn't all that big, but Erin did say she checked to see if anything new had been posted. I don't have anything interesting to say, but here's an update nonetheless.
I'm still working on the house. Dad got 2 new pieces of siding and some wood for the eaves that we'll have to put in. I was painting some wood that had been worked on and splinters fell into my eye. I had to get down the ladder blindly and go to a mirror where I could see what was in there. Turns out a painted sliver of the old eaves got in there. I used a Q-tip to get it out. ouch.
Called the owner of Sonic drive-ins and established my new job keeping the property looking nice. He's a really nice guy and is paying me well. Unfortunately, he kept calling me my dad's name.
Got a financial aid package from CU yesterday. They forgot work study and included fall semester, which I told them I wouldn't be in. I'm also needing to audition for vocal, instrumental, and theater scholarships. As for the cost...holy damn.
Tonight I clean out the office, so I'm going to print out my letter of resignation (which I'll turn in next week). I'm also going to work up a monthly statement for the new job.
Song of the Day: "Adia" by Sarah McLachlan.
See ya!

August has arrived

Hey all. August is here, which means my best friends will get their asses back to college and start communicating with me more since they have technology at their disposal. 'Bout time! I miss a bunch of you (you know who I'm talking about) (yes you) (you, ya fool!) and can't wait to hear about your new classes, jobs, whatever. I have a cell phone with more minutes than I need, so those of you who want a call, let me know. I'm bored enough to talk a while--know that in advance! The university here starts up in about 20 days so I'll be hanging out there, trying to get used to the campus from a non-"local" perspective and finding friends to chill with when I start classes here in January. Until then, I'll still be doing the SCC thing, which has gone remarkably well. I'm already in week 4 of my 10 week online course. I love having only 2 classes a week. The subject is right up my alley and I'm able to do most assignments the day of instead of working days in advance. This break is needed.
On another note, I have typed up a letter of resignation for my job at MPV. I'm tired of working there (or NOT working there) due to the messed up schedule and I have included a lengthy list of reasons why I'm quitting in the letter. Still have to print it and sign it, but it will happen. As the saying goes, "God works in mysterious ways" and he surely does. Here's the latest example. I went in to rent a DVD and my co-worker of 2.5 years didn't give me the employee discount. When I asked why, she said I hadn't worked enough lately to earn it. Pissed off, I told her that my absence from the schedule was due to my boss, who ignored a letter I wrote her specifying good shifts for me. She reluctantly gave me the discount, but I was very upset and for the first time my mom really saw the shit I deal with everytime I work there. That day I typed up the letter. Our printer is shit, so I need to save to disk and print the letter elsewhere. So here's the God part--I was worried about finding a new job, doing the interview thing, etc. and a job just came to me. Literally. I didn't ask for it, apply for it, work for it, or anything. My dad is a realtor and is working with the owner of Sonic restaurants to bring one to our town. The guy bought the lot but won't be building on it for one or two years. In that time someone needs to mow the lot to keep up appearances. My dad offered the job to me and now it's mine. I get to use a riding lawn mower and the lot is not big enough to complain about. I'll get paid per mowing and be making more in the next few months than I have at MPV this entire year!!! Praise Jesus for the times when we doubt and He shows us why we shouldn't. With that and the job at C21 (also offered by my dad) I will actually have something in the old bank accounts.
Just had the headliner replaced in the Chevy. It's a lighter gray than the visors, but I have multi-tonal grays in the interior so it works OK. $146.00. I need a new fuel pump, so it'll have to go in soon to the car doc. (Thank God again for the jobs). Mom's has been in 3 times in the last 2 weeks and is going in tomorrow for a head gasket---yes, she actually blew a gasket. Enough money spent on that car this year to get a newer used one. If only we had known...
House has paint on every side but the south side which is the largest and most chipped/destroyed side. I've power blasted 3 times and you can't tell. Getting used to spending evenings on the top of a 2 story ladder with a bucket of paint and a 4 inch brush.
Thanks to all who read the last blog---I had to do something for giggles. Glad you liked.
Is this my longest blog? Feels like it.
Song of the Day: "Float On" by Modest Mouse
Comment on whatever you feel like,
Steve