baby Joyce

It's not about figuring out how to wait, of course. But about living, fully, even while you're waiting for whatever it is you think you want.
-London is the Best City in America

It was a great weekend. Friday I went to Jacksons. Ok.....not going to lie, that was a little to much of my past creeping into my future.  I could physically feel myself removing my rose tinted glass and not regretting leaving that all behind. Regardless, I love that place. You can't have it.

Saturday was Ashley's babyshower, and I think it went really well :) Huge shout out to Louisa and Cassie. Three people putting on a shower was a great idea! Ashley is adorable (see above) and I look fat, that dress is not flattering. Good to know. I am so excited to meet baby Joyce. Crossing my fingers for a Libra!

Thank you all for stopping by
But as I am a little shy.
I thought today I'd stay away
Mommy said that its ok.
Friendship is so hard to measure
But something mommy (and daddy) will treasure.
I hope to see you very soon,
Because in here there ain't much room.
Love from Baby Joyce.

Sunday I went and saw Crazy, Stupid Love. There are scenes that make your heart break. Then there are scenes where you are hurled over crying because you are laughing so hard. It's worth seeing. Then we went and saw Ferris Beuler's day off...in the park. It was such a Denver evening. 

So sorry friends sorry I have been MIA. I didn't realize how exhausting starting a new job really is. I'm really liking it though. Cheers to that! I live in the bubble of downtown. Seriously...I don't get to burbs often. It's a different pace that's for sure. 

I'm getting my hair cut on Saturday. I'm thinking bangs. I'll keep you updated.

“Some things are so impossible, so fantastic, that when they happen, you are not at all surprised. Their sheer impossibility has made you imagine them too many times in your head, and when you find yourself on that longed-for moonlit path, it seems unreal but still, somehow, familiar. You dreamed of it, of course; you know it like a memory.” 

Harry Potter Week!

...yes, he gets a week.

I'm procrastinating on studying for tomorrow. I know right? It's like I'm in school again. How's the new job going? It's good. I no longer dread getting up in the morning and going to a place I can't stand. I'm not banging my head against the desk, or complaining non-stop to my way too supportive friends. I'm meeting some cool people, and learning a lot. Really, it's over load. I could go on a rant about how much better this job is, but I don't think my blog is a proper place to do that. Call me--I'll fill you in.

This weekend was good. Catch-up time with Ashley and Cole. HI ASHLEY! Man, I missed them. We watched Weeds...which I sorta love a lot. I did other stuff too, but it's all a blur. I think this past 3 weeks has been a whirl-wind and I'm just along for the ride.

Jessica asked me to be in her wedding! I'm really honored and excited--more than willing to wear Ohio State colors for her. We have been planning this since 8th grade :)

Harry Potter this week! Yes, I will be at the midnight showing...in 3D. To say I'm excited is true, but I'm also sad. I don't want it to end! Ok I must go study before I fall asleep....ooh oh oh! I forced my oven to work! Well I managed to make pizza...and it didn't burn! The fire alarm didn't go off. Gas Oven-2 Mandy-1 Don't worry people I'll catch up!

Common sense is not so common

This is me NOT cleaning my room.

So this week I have been working ( I know right? ) So far I really like it. I like the people I work with and the job itself is right up my ally. It reminds me of sorority recruitment--seriously. Other than work I have been reading for my internship, because I am convinced I can do both and looking for apartments. It's strange to think I have only been here 4 months and yet my life is so...full. Well I mean it's missing a couple parts, but that will all work out when it's supposed to.

My Grandfather died this past week. My father's father so I don't know the guy. Wouldn't recognize him if I passed him on the street. My heart goes out to his family (No I am not his family, family is more than blood-it's a connection and I don't have that with them). So yea I was looking at his Obituary and low and behold there was a grandchild listed that I didn't know...right after me and Ryan. So I started researching, finally I gave up and emailed my grandmother.

This is her response :
Hello Amanda, Thank you for writing, we thought about you a lot, more than you could ever guess. Tracy was adopted by your Dad and his 2nd wife at the age of 12. She had a very hard life and they tried to make things easier for her. Thinking of you, Grandma

There is so much wrong with this I'm not sure where to start. Let's begin with my name, everyone who knows me knows I go by Mandy. I have for years. I'm just going to skip the thinking about me part because it's a lie. Ha now we get to the good stuff my "dad" adopted a girl my exact age to give her a better life---13 years ago. So ok I have a step-sister...That no one told me about (And yes they have had opportunities to tell us). Anyways she was adopted because my father wanted to give her a better life. Common sense if you have two BIOLOGICAL kids and you can't take care them you probably should not adopt another one. Just a thought. She ends with Grandma, a term I have NEVER called her. I was never angry with the Gusemans, that is until this week when I found out I have a step sister no one bothered to tell me about. Awesome.

I got a job!!!

I was offered a job with
National American University
as an Admissions Representative and I accepted.

I AM SO EXCITED!

These past two weeks have been exhausting. I had 9 interviews (and 2 more scheduled for next week, which felt really good to cancel). The job entails getting in touch with people who have filled out interest forms with the University and then interviewing them and having them enroll. In other words it's like recruitment, and you all know I love that. The job pays well AND had benefits. It's in a great location downtown-ish, and it's only 1o minutes away from my internship. Yes I intend to still intern. I acknowledge I am going to be a busy girl.

I'm just so happy right now I can't stop smiling!

Sometimes willpower is really more like won't-power.

I had 8 job interviews this week! It was exhausting--but for sure a good thing. 3 of them were all for the same place, so I hope it turns into something. Needless to say it was a REALLY long week. The job I had 3 interviews for started as a group interview. They took 10 people and narrowed it down to 3 of us. I loved when they called my name---it must be how people feel on the Bachelor when they get a rose. Remind me never to go on that show.

Last night Tom had a Whiskey tasting party so me and Rachel headed to his house. It was A LOT of fun. We met Gabe who works for a white water rafting company and he said he would let us go for free. SCORE. Here is one pic of this night. It's me Rachel, Tom, Gabe and Kevin.

Spice of your life

I usually only write in a journal or something when I am upset, so this whole blog thing has been tricky. Especially considering I'm not upset. Things are going good.

I had an interview on Saturday morning. It was really awkward though. There were 20 of us interviewing and we all had to stand up and speak for 20 minutes as to why we would be the best person for the job. Uh--seriously? I think I did alright, met a Sigma Nu in the process. He gave me a weird look when I told him I had his frats sweet heart pin. Maybe I should have explained that better? lol I have another interview Wednesday evening and during the day Tom and I are going to try to sneak into DU's career fair. It's all Government and non-prof jobs. So it can't hurt to try :)

This past weekend was good. Friday I did a late happy hour with people from the campaign and Saturday I went out with the Kappas and Kyle. We went to the Rio Grande then back to Sally's and played Apple to Apples. I think it's the first time since I got to Denver that I have been anywhere near drunk. lol Good Times.

Caucus Day!

No I don't know what that means either. Something Colorado does for reasons unknown to me.

I have a job interview on Friday. It's full time. $15 an hour and benefits. I just have to figure out a way to fit that in AND do my internship. It's going to be busy, but I like it that way. Honestly though I can not turn down a job that pays that much. I can not give up this internship either, so I am just going to have to make it work.

Have you ever over analyzed something simple because you wanted it to mean something more than it does? Or maybe it does mean that, but you over analyzed everything so now you can't be sure? I have. I blame it on the fact that I am a Libra.

Break Even

I deleted my twitter...not on purpose. Freaking lame is all I have to say about that. So stay tuned...I'm going to have to make another one. Right now I'm just to upset at Twitter to do that.

So for my internship we are supposed to actively partake in blogging and commenting. Well people are mean on the blogs, really it's bad for my self esteem. Today was fun though me and Brenden went around Denver filming for a youtube video. I think I am more familiar with downtown Denver than Downtown Cleveland. AND I am adjusted to one way streets (they actually make sense now) and the highways. I just HAVE to learn how to parallel park asap.

This was a hard week. The weekend was boring, and parts of it were awkward. Which is alright, and really it's my first weekend here where I didn't have a lot to do. It's about time I felt kinda homesick. But what makes this week harder is well I was offered a job. BUT (big but) it was only $10 an hour. No benefits Really? Yea I could eat and get gas with that, but I want more than that. I moved here to become completely independent and be a grown up. I want my own place and I need to be saving for that. So I turned it down, and it was still hard. Because what if something better doesn't come around ya know? Well luckily today I got a call and I have an interview on Friday for a job that is $12-14 and has benefits :) Upgrade. So I hope that goes well. AND the women said they could prolly work around my internship. Cheers to that! (VERY important to me)

I finely made it to the Tattered Cover, which is a popular book store in Denver. It's adorable, and I respect the people who told me to go there even more!

So yea thats that. The fam is in california this weekend so I have the place to myself!!! What should I do?????

Percy Jackson

I saw Percy Jackson and the Olympian-The Lightening Thief. It was a lot different from the book, but it was really good in it's own right. The kid who played Percy was adorable and great at the part. In a few years he will be gorgeous. But the acting was good, the movie was funny. I def think YOU need to see the movie. You will like it--oh and read the books they are better (aren't they always?) All in all a nice way to spend the afternoon.

I'm still actively applying for jobs, and I have a good feeling about where things are headed. In other news I'm still completely obsessed with The Office--it's lingering on being unhealthy. Honestly how did I not realize how amazing this show is???

Tomorrow night me and Meredith are going to a Kappa Alumni event. Its Fondue night and Ritual review--which is cool because I have prolly forgotten everything. But hopefully the girls are cool and not all visa visa MasterCard kind of people.

So yea things are good, still glad to be here.

Columbine

I'm writing this as a way of procrastinating preparing for my interviews tomorrow. I am making this ok in my head because my 11:00am is a phone interview. My 4:00 interview is downtown, but that gives me a large chunk of the day to prepare.

This weekend was good. Friday me and Meredith went to Columbine. I was disappointed with their lack of security---they of all schools should know better. I thought it would be interesting in that I studied the shooting so I knew where everything has happened. Which was cool because when we got there we walked into the West entrance, right by the cafeteria and downstairs from where the library used to be (the West side of the school is where the shootings occurred). More than anything though it was sad. Really sad and kinda creepy. In the end though I'm still glad we went there. I have wanted to do that for a really long time.

Then on Saturday me and Sally went to this really good Thai place near her old apartment. Yummy. She also agreed to see the Percy Jackson movies with me. Snap! So things are good, I just hope the interviews go ok! Well better than ok, I would really like to be done with job searching!

Interviews

I have two interviews on Monday!

Cross your fingers, Pray, just do whatever it is you do!

a little of this, a little of that

Things have been good. Last Sunday (wow it's already Thursday?) Bret and Mandi came over to watch football. We wanted to watch the game and eat dinner so naturaly our solution was to move the entire table-as you can see.

One more rant about the roads in Denver. They are not straight. They curve every way possible. Then there are the highways. Siiighhh. They have random exists they split more than necessary, and random lanes end. Combined with all the freaking one way streets it makes Ohio look like child's play. OH!! AND I need to learn to parallel park...awesome. But I will become so used to the roads here when I visit Ohio I'll be super confused :) That is my goal.

Still looking for a job, but I am getting closer. It's looking like I might have options. I'm bummed I have not heard back from the campaign yet. Lame, but everything for a reason. The not having a job thing reminds me of this quote: "When I was 19 and I didn't have a boyfriend I never felt bad about it because I figured someday I would. My friends and I had plenty of fun alone. What ruins the fun is the fear that you will be single forever"-Starting From Square Two. See right now I don't have a job and I should be enjoying all the time off, but I'm just stressing about finding a job because I don't want to be jobless forever. I'm going to look back on these days and shake my head at myself.

Other than that I met up with some Oklahoma Kappas last night. Their chapter had 270 girls in it, like 80 per pledge class. It was the largest sorority in the country. Period. Craziness. We went to this cute little Mexican place. The entire drive there I had an amazing view of Denver. I still feel like I'm where I'm supposed to be.

Tomorrow Meredith and I are going to Columbine. Kind of excited about that, which I accept is weird. They have a basketball game and a play going on so we should be able to get into the building for one of those two things. Ha Don't you worry we did our research. Then Saturday we are going downtown again. Yay!

Lots of love, miss you all!

First week in Denver

Today I realized that Denver has entirely too many one way streets. They are everywhere, and they make the city twice as hard to navigate. Thus making me very upset with Thomas (the poor guy is confused, honestly though I don't blame him)

I have been talking with Kappas around the area, and I met up with one for lunch today. It went good :) There is a large Kappa base here, it's comforting. I think I understand why I joined a sorority. It's looking like I am getting involved with the local Night Owls.

Other than that I have been exploring the area and getting lost in the process (again with the one way streets!)

The job search is continuing. It looks like I found a job, the pay would be alright. I just don't think I would LIKE the job. That and it has nothing to do with politics. I really do want to use my degree for something. I did send in my resume for a campaign job, hopefully they don't mind that I have not lived in Colorado for long... But I will keep you posted.