Archive for September, 2004
The Solution
Apparently Alan isn’t going to the conference. This isn’t because I’m a bitch and I didn’t let him, this is because Corner Suite Studios isn’t going. Alan was kind of upset about it, but he couldn’t do much, because he doesn’t have a car. None of the people who wanted to go had a car. Go figure.
At the time that I got a hold of him (just about a half hour ago), I had already talked to Sara about staying over Friday night at her place, so that Alan could go and I wouldn’t be crashing at his apartment while he was gone. I suppose this isn’t necessary now, although I’m sure I’ll see Sara this weekend.
So, the plan is, I’m driving down to Champaign Thursday for improv. Alan is being used as a shield by Becky to try to give the hint to this guy that the dinner and a movie he invited her to is not a date that same night. Hopefully this will work such that we have a barbeque with him (so I can eat dinner with them) and go to the movie while I’m at improv. So long as they’re back before 11pm, I’m set. If not, something else will have to be figured out, like Becky actually telling the guy that it’s not a date.
I will be in Champaign until Saturday or Sunday, depending on Alan’s workload. I know Alan was looking forward to the conference, and it really sucks that he can’t go, but it made scheduling for this weekend go much better. I truly appreciate that.
Feeling: Relieved.
Listening to: Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled Water
September 23, 2004
Someone Please Solve
I was supposed to go to Champaign this weekend. Alan found out about this conference for computer games in Chicago that Corner Suite Studios is pretty much all going to. Here’s the problem:
The Facts:
The conference is Saturday from 9am to 5pm. With or without Alan, transport between this conference and Champaign will occur on Friday afternoon/evening and Saturday evening. I am very emotionally drained. Alan has papers to grade, a project to do, and other work for the weekend, due Tuesday at the soonest.
Alan’s Side:
1) The conference has many different parts; he would be the only one going to the game design something part.
2) This conference is $60. They’re usually much more expensive than that.
3) These conferences only happen a few times a year.
4) He wants me to go see him next weekend instead (which screws up my pattern; long story). He has a test to study for that weekend, making it a very undesireable time to visit. In addition, I may very well be working by then (which would mean I could only go Saturday morning and leave Sunday before his CSS meeting).
My Side:
1) I had asked him if I could come out to visit before he heard about the conference.
2) The company already has multiple books and the internet to research what he wants to learn from this conference.
3) If I do not see him this weekend, I will not get to see him for a month (save the next weekend clause).
4) If I do start work soon (which is somewhat likely), I will no longer be able to attend improv meetings, which would make this Thursday the last time I could go.
Feeling: Frustrated
Listening to: The Clocks Tick
September 22, 2004
Been Busy, Sick, and Interviewed
So, let’s start with yesterday. I finished the hat for Alan in the morning.
I went to Michaels with Jen, then we went to Target and Walgreens. We got Chinese take out and watched the second Harry Potter movie. Then I finished my scarf. I started my hat.
I went home and did some preparing for the interview this morning, and tried to fall asleep. I wasn’t very good at falling asleep.
[Job] I woke up at 6:30 and went to the interview with All Tile, Inc. It was surprisingly good. The guy there seemed to be very impressed with my experience (not only my “college degree – a big plus,” but the stuff I did for TravelCLICK). My original read on the guy seems to be right; he focused the interview not on the “is Karen right for this position” idea but on “is this position right for Karen.” I won’t say that this was the easiest interview I’ve been on (he did have one good stumper for me), but I did have a good feeling about no longer being unemployed. He said he would offer me “as high as he could go” – if he gave me an offer. I had the feeling that the “if” part was very non-existant but there for technical reasons. He did have 12 more interviews to go. He said he’d let me know Friday afternoon or “early next week at the latest.”
Then I went over to Renee’s to crochet for a while. I finished my hat…
…and started on a steering wheel cover. If anyone really wants something, now’s the time to ask. I’m running out of things that I can crochet (and not become a crazy crochet lady). Hats take about a day. Scarves take a few days to a week, depending on their width and length. Renee wanted me to come to work with her, but I didn’t want to swim laps or sit there and crochet some more. I’m glad I didn’t go, because now I feel sick. I am in dire need of a nap.
Feeling: Sick to my Stomach and Head
Listening to: Norah Jones
September 21, 2004
No Time to Post
Sorry everyone, but I have no time to post. I have a job interview tomorrow morning at 9am, and I need to get some sleep. I have a lot to tell, but no time in which to tell it. Stay on the edge of your seats, people, and you’ll hear from me tomorrow, I promise.
Feeling: Excited, Empowered
Listening to: Beastie Boys – Brass Monkey
September 20, 2004
My Child Loves Me
My cousin’s computer is giving her lots of stupid video card driver problems. First there’s the one that came with it made her computer restart when it saw the 3D Flowerbox screensaver (even the mini one in her display properties menu). Rolling back the driver fixed it, but she still can’t get her cames to run. They turn the screen black and then minimize. I want to go to sleep.
I visited Jen at work for adoption day. Then we went to Jewel and bought stuff. Then we went to her house, baked cookies, pizza, and chili dip. We watched Beauty and the Beast, and then we were too tired to watch another movie, so I went home.
The hat I’m crocheting for Alan finally looks like a hat this time. This is its fourth incarnation. I want to go finish that and go to bed.
Feeling: Allergied
Listening to: I’m the Only Gay Eskimo (SNL?)
September 19, 2004
Damn Site was Down
I swear I was going to post earlier today but my site was down. If crazyhosting starts doing the downtime it did a year ago, I’m going to be very upset. I already changed the email on my resume to my gmail account (thanks to Heidi – and Alex who would have given me one, but was a half hour too late). I don’t know if I will keep it that way, but I probably should. I don’t want employers getting emails bounced back to them if they want to hire me. Any advice on this would be appreciated.
Today I went to my cousin’s to deliver her computer. Setup went very well, and they seem to be very happy with the computer. I’m glad that it all went well and everything, but it was a little hard to let the computer go. I mean, I put a lot of effort into it, and it was a very good computer. I told Alex it was like giving up a kid… but not just any kid, though, a really smart one.
[Job] Before I left for my cousin’s, I applied for two (and a half) jobs. I got a call for one of them shortly after I got to her house. I have an interview on Tuesday morning. The job is with All Tile, Inc. It is a little more “administrative assistant” than I would prefer, but the job is definitely in the direction that I want to go in my career, so I am willing to do that. I would be working directly for the Director of Marketing in that company, and I would get the opportunity to do layout and proofing, which I really enjoy. It makes sense to have a job like this, especially considering that I am very well qualified for it (the listing says “college degree a big plus”). It’s full time (huzzah!) and would pay a little less than what TravelCLICK offered me. Again, I’m willing to take the pay cut so that I can do the things that I want to do. It’s in Elk Grove Village, so it’s pretty close to home as well. Overall, I have a good feeling about this place.
After that, I went to IHOP and to see Without a Paddle. The waiter at IHOP was hitting on me and Jen (mostly Jen) which was pretty obnoxious, especially considering that he didn’t bring us maple syrup and threatened to “sit here and watch [Jen] eat.” A little more than kind of weird. At least he didn’t write his phone number on the bill, but we were hoping he’d give us a discount or free stuff. We took a comment card. The movie was pretty bad. I laughed at some parts of it, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I expected to. All of the good parts were in the previews.
Renee called, so at around 9:30 we left for Fridays. She wanted to get out of the house. She was very tired, so I don’t know why she wanted to go out, but it’s Renee. We stayed there for an hour and then went back home.
So, tomorrow I’m supposed to visit Jen at work during adoption day (between 11 and 3). That should be fun. Renee also invited me to a party for her cousin’s 21st birthday. In the meantime, I should keep applying for jobs and crocheting my scarf. I want it to be done before the coldness starts.
Feeling: Excited
Listening to: The Strokes – Someday
September 17, 2004
Built Computer
I spent most of today building the computer for my cousin. The hardware installation when much better than expected (everything worked the first time I powered it up). The software installation was frustrating, though. I went to install Norton Internet Security 2003, when I realized that it didn’t come with a product key. I called Chipmax (whom I ordered it from), and they gave me one over the phone (which was especially nice of them). When I registered it, however, it never asked for this product key. It appears that this NIS 2003 is a beta version or something; I don’t quite understand it. When the firewall is fully updated via Live Update, the program no longer starts, giving some jargon-filled error message. Mind you, these problems are all with the firewall half and not with the antivirus half. They have free updates for a year, which is normal, so I guess I’ll just recommend that they get a newer version after a year. This will most likely cause no more problems. This is how beautiful it is.
After doing all that, I took a nap, then I finally finished applying to the job that my parents interrupted yesterday. It is a very interesting job with a company called Epic, and I very much hope to get an interview. The job title is “Word Artist,” which sounds oh-so where I want to be right now. The company deals with healthcare, meaning that it will probably do well in the upcoming healthcare boom (due to older baby boomers).
I’m primarily crocheting on that second scarf (the purple one for myself which I’m using the correct single crochet method for). I haven’t given up on Alan’s hat, but first of all, he doesn’t really want it, and second of all, I don’t know if I’m going to redo all of it or not. Once I finish this scarf, I will probably decide. I also bought furry yarn to make a kind of accessory boa scarf deal, like the one I saw in Charlotte Russe. It’s much harder to make than I had first thought; it’s very hard to see your stitches. I hope that it will look like this, only in a light blue, once I’m finished.
Feeling: Accomplished, but very tired.
Listening to: Everclear – Slide
September 16, 2004
Crocheting with One Hand in my Pocket
Well, a couple of interesting things happened today, but in all honesty it was a pretty slow day. My NewEgg.com sticker came. I’m working on my purple scarf. Renee is more or less depressed. I had Lou Malnati’s for dinner (yum) and called Alan shortly after, but he couldn’t talk. Jen works until close today, so I’m short on friends with nothing to do at the moment, unless I want Renee to talk about Matt, Matt, Matt for the rest of the day and possibly crying on my shirt. It doesn’t sound that exciting to me. I’ll stick to my scarf.
On a bland side note, I had been crocheting all wrong. What I thought was a “single crochet” was really half of the stitch, and what I thought was a “double crochet” was really a “single crochet.” So that’s why Alan’s hat was coming out funny (at least, that’s what I think). I’m practicing the *real* single crochet on my scarf, but I don’t like it as much as my 1/2 crochet. The way I was doing it before left no big holes, and single crochet does. I guess it has to do with the size hook I’m using too (I am using a 9mm N hook).
Feeling: Stuffed
Listening to: Alanis Morrisette – One Hand in my Pocket
September 15, 2004
Congested, as Usual
Well, I did shower and go to see Jen at work with Renee. However, we did not get to pet the chinchilla 
. She was kind of busy, so Renee and I went to Michaels, Sbarro, and Barnes & Noble. I started to teach Renee how to crochet. When Jen was done with work, we went to the mall for a little while, then to Walmart. We stopped off at her place so that she could change and pick up some stuff to bring to my house, and we found one of her hamsters (the sick one) died. We had a short burial service in her back yard, then played with the other two for quite a while. They’re small and precious.
We got back to my place and ate dinner, then we watched Scooby Doo and Scooby Doo 2. Renee came over for a while, but she left because she said she was feeling sick. Matt called her and told her he found out that she was “dating” Chad and that he wasn’t going to talk to her again. After she left, Renee called me twice and emailed me. I don’t understand why she didn’t just stay over. Anyway, she really needs to cut and run with this Matt boy. She just messed up so badly that she doesn’t even REMEMBER the terrible things she did.
Jen slept over last night, and we woke up at around 10am. We watched Maury (it was talented kids this time, not paternity tests for a change). She left shortly after, because she had to work. I’m supposed to get my cousin’s computer’s case in tomorrow, so I will FINALLY be able to assemble it. It’s ridiculous, because we ordered all the parts August 4th. Stupid eCost.com. I’m never shopping there again.
Feeling: Sick and Congested
Listening to: The Ramones – I Wanna be Sedated
September 15, 2004
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