What's going on?

What happened to winter in Michigan? I don't really know why, but seeing a fly on the window today seemed really odd to me. I don't ever recall that happening this time of year before. It is December 30th, is it not? What, am I going to see a robin next?

Before I consider going out to sunbathe, I'll wish all my readers a Happy New Year. Best wishes for 2007.

At Long Last

I have been waiting to do this:

for a very long time.

Now it's time for my nap.

Good day.

The Year - 2006

I vaguely remember doing something like this last year on myspace - so here it is for this year on blogger. Enjoy.

January - All about the Bauer

• After catching up with Jack Bauer 1 -4, the Season 5 premiere becomes planner worthy.
• The Super Chev earned the nickname Bauermobile when the crankshaft decided to break the same week as the premiere. Beware of Jack's wrath.
• Learned the register at the store after three months of working there. Must have been an oversight somewhere.
• Started my blogger to supplement and separate myself from my myspace audience.

February - 28 days of work and play

• 4th: the date that changed my life
• Superbowl, Detroit style
• Spread my ushering wings - this time to the Masonic Temple and Annie.

March - A foundation is cemented

• Spent three days teaching an awesome bunch of second graders - the most fun I had teaching ever.
• When he called the Joe my "office," I knew I was hooked.
• Continued working three jobs - overall, a pretty mundane month.

April - Hellos and Good-byes

• Got my first ticket that I didn't get out of on the spot. I could laugh about it then and can still laugh about it today - what a fun learning experience! Thanks, Waterford PD!
• Attended my first Opening Day game. :) Go Tiggies.
• Row two for Les Mis at the Fisher - Absolutely.
• After working what would be my final game, met Brian to watch three more. Hockey, anyone?

May - The month my whole life changed

• We made it official.
• Back-to-back interviews with people at the Detroit Historical Society.
• Hired and started training at the Museum - my professional destiny realized.
• Substituted for the last time. My dream of teaching extinguished.

June - Meet the Baby

• I bought something I never thought I would be able to and did so on my own: a new car! I only consider buying American, so I purchased a 2006 Chevy Aveo - affectionately named the Maui Blue Pearl.
• Got to see Rob Thomas at Pine Knob. :)
• The Stanley Cup is won in seven games

July - Work, work, work, and work some more.

• Worked 28 straight days - including the Fourth - at two places.
• Captain Jack, anyone?
• Paid $70 for electronic fingerprints for teaching to never have to go back to it. Bummer.
• After being run down to the ground and noticing a severe change in my personality - decided to put my two weeks at the store. Hardest. Resignation. Ever.

August - A dream come true

• Finally made it to Boston! History is alive in that city - I loved every minute of that vacation.
• I turned 25. And I got to go to Fenway Park to celebrate. Best. Birthday. Ever.
• Coop-town or bust! Reluctant to come back to separate lives in Michigan, we stopped at the Baseball Hall of Fame. Just awesome.
• Mark this as the only year August only had six days. None of the other ones matter.

September - Reality bites

• After catching up with House 1-2, the season three premiere becomes planner worthy. At this time, I was very much the same person as House is - with the temper of Jack Bauer. FOX owes me big time royalities.
• With free time on my hands for the first time in a year, I spend it all in Lansing.
• Helped paint some Museum exhibits before we Re-Opened our doors.
• Camping in Ludington was fun, minus the whole falling and breaking my hip part. That's okay, the rum made me feel better.
• The Museum Re-Opened after a ten-week, $800,000 Makeover. 10,000 people came through the building that weekend - it was HUGE!

October - Welcome to the Big Leagues

• Tigers go to the playoffs! I got to go to the Division Series deciding game. I've never seen Comerica that alive - it was amazing to be a part of that.
• My boss resigned. I got her spot. This promotion puts me as a full-time, salaried, eventual Monday - Friday employee. It will take two very long months before I am able to enjoy this M-F luxury.
• Tigers won the pennant. Let's go to the World Series!
• My car turned 10,000 miles in four months.

November - Home Sweet Home

• Election day - A great day to be a Democrat. Bring on '08!
• Gained full control of the gift shop at the Museum. Bring it on.
• Necessary and important steps up the road of life: I moved out of my parents and in with my boyfriend.
• For the first time since August, I have a place to call home.

December - Happy Holidays

• Mounting pressures at work drive me to become a very short-tempered person. Or at least one that frequently loses her mind. And yes, this is newsworthy since I have been recovering rather remarkably after retail ruined me.
• Finally found a replacement as a weekend manager, however my transition to Monday - Friday ended with a bout with a 24-hour bug but resulted in an extended holiday weekend. Merry Christmas to me.
• Another holiday balancing two families and I thought it went really very well.
• Might the year end in the long-awaited delivery of a couch? Only time will tell...but let's not jinx it.

Realizations

As today is the first day of winter, tomorrow is the first day of spring. Think about it - the days will only start to get longer from this point on! Yay!!!

Your safety is never as great as a paycheck, no matter how desperate you are. There are always other options.

I worked 30 days in a row in July and did so without much complaint. As I am nearing the completion of working nine days in a row as I switched over to a Monday - Friday schedule, I am struggling. The full-time salaried title has spoiled me. I'm sure as well it should - I deserve it.

It is a little disappointing when you don't get anything from your employees who put you through hell on a daily basis, but awesome when you get a gift of candy from a coworker. Though, I think my favorite is a simple Christmas card that pulled a heart string and my present from boss which was totally unexpected. But giving the gift cards I bought to my staff was my favorite, because it's the thought that counts and I could tell they liked it. Even if it was just a little.

Working in a museum, you get benefits. Being able to see (hopefully) Night at the Museum before it opens nationally is priceless. I've been waiting since June to see this - I'm sure I'll be able to relate on many, many levels.

If I don't get to this before, Happy Holidays to everyone who may come across this blog. The very best to you and yours. :-)

'Tis the Season to be Broke

Happy Birthday! My baby turned six months old today.

To celebrate, I got ripped off at an oil change place that confirmed my loyalty to Kevin, my car mechanic. Not only will I get my synthetic oil changed at half the price of these overpriced-try-to-rob you chains, I will have the comfort of knowing the person changing the oil. It's either that or learn how to do it myself which might prove to be more fun. :)

Now I'm back to the starving artist routine for two months since half of my paycheck is already missing - which really sucks, considering the awesomeness of my income. I hate the big student loan payments - but at least now I am seeing the service and value of its high dollar amount. Sigh.

On a happy note, I am done Christmas shopping - except for stocking stuffers, if we get those before the after-Christmas sales.

Honoring that which I Live By

Today is Pearl Harbor day. 65 years ago today, the entire world changed. And it barely is mentioned anymore. Sad, really.

In other news, I have a weekend manager. Now I might be able to start getting organized at work and stop coming home with near migraines. Though eating chicken noodle soup for dinner while sitting in my living room with the Christmas tree lit and lights dimmed watching Christmas specials on the family channel is hard to beat. There is only one thing missing....

Aye, the Rum too

I am not yet accustomed to the West Side. People don't know how to drive or act or be nice to each other. It's stay out of their way or get run over. Literally. Ugh. I couldn't stand it when I had to come over this way for something and I can't stand it now that I live here. I will never accept being called a West Sider, either. Let me and my East Side foundations trump the snobbery and impatience and rudeness I find myself in.

Today is Jack day. Sparrow and Bauer all in one day. This is a great day, but Davy Jones and his croonies still kinda creep me out.