Baby, it's really cold outside...

First, I will start off by saying that I love the skincare line, Philosophy. They make wonderful products like the one in the picture, which is a 3-in-1 shampoo, bath gel, and bubble bath. I just ordered this flavor, Red Velvet cake, today; in the past, I've gotten Cinnamon Buns, Pumpkin Pie, and Lavender Pound Cake, as well as their wonderful face wash-- purity. Honestly, I wish I could try every kind.
Well, enough about skincare. Yesterday, I worked at another branch of the bank in a town called Westborough, which is about fifteen minutes from my apartment. The people who work there are nice and it is much more organized than my branch. My friend Gouri will be working at that branch starting next week full time and I will miss her. I left work at 5, picked up my dry cleaning (which was a whopping $30 for six pieces), and then came home. Brian and I went to Keith and Sarah's house in Spencer for dinner and fun. I made this oreo dessert (in a box) for them and we had take out from this pizza/sandwich place. They just got the Wii nintendo game system and it is really fun. I'm not very good at playing video games myself, but it was fun to try.
Since it was freezing yesterday (the high temperature was 15 degrees) and we like to stay up late, Brian and I spent the night in their guest room. We also had to leave early in the morning because I had to work today at the bank. Haha, next week I don't have to! Yay! We stopped at the ubiquitous Dunkin donuts for breakfast sandwiches and coffee and then I went to work until 12:30. Brian picked me up after I went to the grocery store (which is next door to the bank and I go there every day) for fruit, etc.
Today has not been full of activity. I watched TV for a little while, Brian and I played this computer game called Dreamfall-The longest journey, and I went to the library to pick up some videos, including the Gilmore Girls seasons 5 & 6. Right now, I'm watching "Real Women Have Curves" with the excellent America Ferrera.
I finished "The Devil Wears Prada" on Wednesday and started "American Psycho" Thursday but haven't gotten into it much. However, it looks great.
Brian, wake up soon, so that we can eat!!

Adjusting to life here in the Mass...

Well, I think that I am just going to stay at BankNorth. This is being bolstered by the fact that I like my co-workers, I don't want to keep switching jobs, I don't have to totally re-train, and the glorious fact that I will receive almost $500 in incentive money next Friday. I can't believe it-- I want to buy a light grey suit with the money and maybe some new perfume or makeup or something that I wouldn't normally buy for myself. Anyway, so much for talking about shopping but I simply love to shop! I really want to go to IKEA--there is one in Stoughton, which is like an hour away and it looks like fun.

This is the first week in six months that I will be working forty hours again, and to be honest, I don't mind a bit. Yes, I like a vacation once in a while, but I like to have a set schedule. You could say that I'm a pretty structured person; I try to be a little more relaxed but it doesn't seem to happen. Like I yelled at Brian for not cleaning today; it was a bitchy thing to do. So, anyway, I am happy with working, but am sometimes bored at work when there is nothing to do. I am often on the internet, looking at newspaper websites, imdb, or whatever.

Last night I went to yoga at the gym; I haven't done that in six months either. It was a little hard, but I think I will get back in the swing of things. My arms are a little sore today, but I still love the yoga. I hope to go at least once a week; yoga is offered Tuesday and Thursday nights and Sunday mornings.

Well, I'm pretty sure that I am going to take a cake decorating class at this high school that offers a lot of night/adult ed. classes. It starts in March and lasts for five weeks. This is something I really want to do, so I'm going to register this week.

My new favorite show is on right now-- "Top Chef." I love it because I really like food, and the drama, of course. The finale is next week and I have no idea who I want to win.

Well, the picture is of my sweet little cat, Morgan. She is a little doll who loves to eat crab, play on the bed when I am trying to make it, and she loves playing with her toy mouse and cuddling with her owners. Oh, I am not turning into a cat person, I promise.

They do the walk, they do the walk of life...

There are new revelations in the job field and I feel happy today. So yeah, I obviously didn't get the Fidelity job (although now that I'm reading "The Devil Wears Prada," the "thankless" job appears more like that of Miranda Priestly's lackey and the boss did look kind of like Stanley Tucci), but now I have been offered the Bank North job and I have yet another interview with the Credit Union (although for a different position) on Thursday. It is exciting and a little nerve racking. With the BankNorth job, I already know the people I will be working with and the teller system (it's a teller/customer service position); it is also a larger bank and I could have more opportunity to advance within the bank. However, the smaller credit union is more like Stock Yards bank, I would get paid a little more, and I still know the systems on the customer service side. Well, I won't make any decisions until I find out about the St. Mary's job. Oh, and both jobs are only two miles from my house, so I will save money on gas regardless. Yes! I am helping the environment (sort of ).
The Stow choir is fine. I've been to three rehearsals so far and I am now a glorified alto. I really enjoy singing in my lower range. To be honest, even in my last few semesters of choir, I was struggling with the higher notes. Also, I'm meeting some new people, but I'm not sure about potential friends yet. You could say I'm kind of reserved when it comes to making new friends sometimes.

Listening to Bruce Springsteen...

Yeah, I don't really listen to him very much, but Gretchen (Brian's mom) is really into him, especially since he started writing this music about 9/11. It's pretty good, but so far what I've heard sounds like the E-Street band circa 1983 or 85/"Glory Days." He reminds me (and many others I'm sure) of Bob Dylan because his singing voice is not so great (although better than Dylan's) but he is a good lyricist. Actually, I like some of the songs Bob Dylan sang himself rather than songs others have performed, like "Mr. Tambourine." To me, his version is more genuine, honest, and is a good song to play when you want to go to sleep.

Alright, I have digressed. I'm not going back to school this semester. I just found out on Thursday, which is the day I was determined to find out the answer anyway. So, now I'm really trying to find a full-time job. I had the interview at Fidelity on Wednesday, which I haven't heard about yet. I have an interview at St. Mary's Credit Union in Marlborough tomorrow. Also, there is a full-time position open at my branch now, which I will take, but I would honestly probably rather work somewhere else. I also am hoping to get interviewed for another position at Fidelity, this time a customer service position.

To bide the time and also to get involved with extracurricular activities, I joined a community choir last night in Stow, Massachusetts, which is about twenty minutes from here. There was a small fee to join, and they have three concerts a year, with the first one in March. We are singing a Bach piece, "Komm, Jesu, komm," and "Missa Dei Filii" by Jan Zelenka. It's pretty neat and I really missed being in a choir. There are a lot of old people in the choir, which is normal, and one girl about my age, but I'm not sure what I think of her yet. I also am going to join a gym again and went with a free pass to Gold's Gym in Marlborough. I was going to attend the yoga class tonight, but my stomach feels bad. I'm also reading books for recreation again, and pondering whether to try Faulkner's "Absalom, Absalom," or "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

Not too much happened this past weekend, except that I ate out both nights--on Friday with Brian at this Mexican place called Acapulco's and on Saturday with my friend from work, Gouri, who is from India. I really wanted to eat Indian food and we went to this place in Shrewsbury called the Bollywood Grill. It was so good! We had chicken tikka for an appetizer, this really good spicy shrimp, a spinach dish called palak paneer, rice, and bread for dinner. I know that we have some diversity in Louisville, but not nearly as much as we have here in suburban Boston, so I find that really cool. Gouri is a very nice person and she has a lovely family, too. She has the cutest daughter, Aishi, who is two years old.

On Sunday night, we went over to Brian's parent's house for dinner. This is kind of becoming a weekly tradition. We had a nice dinner and then played the game of Life, which I either have never played or just haven't played in years and years.

This week, I'm just working the normal twenty-two hours or so. Tomorrow, we are going to this nice restaurant in Worcester, courtesy of Brian's nice gift certificate to me for Christmas. I also will go to the gym and to my interview. And hopefully, I will keep looking and will get called back about some other possibilities.

The cat tried to get in the shower today, while it was running. Silly Morgan.

It's a Beautiful Day in the neighborhood...

Yesterday, I went back to the bank after the holiday. It can be so boring there sometimes, but I like working with Andy and Lisa. Lisa is the branch supervisor (actually, head teller) and she is funny. After work, I came home, cleaned up a little bit, and Brian brought home Boston Market. Hmmm, I love that place. We watched "The Two Towers," as part of our LOTR marathon. Although, I fell asleep at 9:30, per usual. I told Brian that we have to watch "Indiana Jones" next. I can't believe they're making a fourth installment of that series. Harrison Ford is like sixty-four!
Because I do not know about my tuition waiver for school (which starts on Monday, by the way), I am looking for a full-time job. I interviewed today at a Fidelity Investments Branch in Worcester, which is about twenty minutes from where I live. I don't know if I got the job, because there are a lot of other candidates and I'm not sure if my experience is up to par with the other interviewees. However, the manager of the branch did inform me that two other people who he hired recently were from other banks. And I saw another girl at the interview who wasn't even wearing a suit. For shame... I would apply for a full-time position with the BankNorth, but I'm not sure I can switch positions unless I'm at one for six months; I've only worked for them for three months, so I don't think changing positions is option right now. Well, anyway, I am still looking around also want to apply for a assistant position at a museum in Newton.
So now I am at home with the day off and it is nice. It is a very sunny day here and I am watching old episodes of "Sex and the City." Also, the laundry is going and the cat is sitting here, basking in the sun and waiting to be petted. And maybe tomorrow, I will find out what I am doing this year.

A New Year and a new love of Vermont...

Today is New Year's Day and I cannot help thinking about that U2 song of the same name. I want to recap the time just before Christmas and then I will move on to the present. On December 23rd, Brian and I drove down to Louisville for Christmas. We drove from 7:30 am until 10:30 pm. I didn't sleep the night before (except for like an hour) and I had to drive the first shift. However, we made it without any problems (there were more to come later on in the trip). That night, we stayed at Jason's house. On Sunday, I went over to visit my grandfather, had lunch with my brother at Baja, and then shopped a little before getting ready for the Christmas Eve party at my Aunt Diane's. It's always a fun and lively affair, but I never end up talking to everyone. I went over and visited with Brian and Jason later that evening and we watched "Maximum Overdrive," a very silly Stephen King movie. On Christmas Day, we opened presents at Grandad's. I got some wonderful gifts, as did everyone else. Then, Brian and I drove over to Patty's for brunch. However, I had a problem with my car on the way there. The rear brake cylinder blew and all of the brake fluid leaked out of the car; I had the cylinder replaced and new shoe horns put on the next day, but I was still upset about the whole incident. Fords are just not the best cars. On Christmas night, we all had a wonderful home-cooked meal made by my mom at Eliot's house. Eliot, Graham, Sarah, Mom, Walt, Mel, Mike, Yvonne, Danny and their kids were there, too. We watched old home movies that my grandfather taped a long time ago of the three kids. They made me nostalgic, especially for my grandma. It was a wonderful treat for the holiday.
On Tuesday, Brian and I went downtown with my mom to have lunch with Graham and Eliot. I got a haircut that day and later that night, I ate at Qdoba with Marianne, Katherine, Eric, William, and Molly and then we saw "The Holiday" at Stonybrook. Hooray for cute, sappy movies! And of course, I love seeing my old friends. On Tuesday night, I didn't get enough sleep (of course; this is totally a terrible problem which I hope ends in 2007), and I definitely had a full day on Wednesday. Seriously, I had four social dates with old friends-- morning coffee with Emmy, lunch at Havana Rumba with Jeff, dinner with my Stock Yards girls, Lindsey, Steph, and Natalie, and drinks with Phil, Kyla, Brian, Celeste, etc. So, it was certainly crazy. I feel bad when I can't spend more time with my friends, but since I was in KY for just a few days, I had to use my time wisely.
We drove back to Massachusetts on Thursday, listening to Dire Straits, the Alan Parsons Project, and other bands on the way back. Leaving my home made me realize how much I have missed Louisville and everyone there. Honestly, it is just not the same here. I still do not know a lot of people and the life that I am missing there makes me so sad. I thought I wanted graduate school and a big city so much, and it turns out, I guess I was happier at home.
On Friday and Saturday I worked and Brian went back to his gigs at Perennials in Sturbridge. We got little Morgan (the cat) back from Brian's parents; I missed her more than anything else here in Mass. Yesterday, we drove to Manchester, Vermont, for New Year's Eve to an historic inn called the Wilburton. It was beautiful amidst the snow and mountains of Vermont. Although it did remind me a bit of "The Shining." However, no hedge animals came alive the entire time. Brian played in a ten-piece band for a New Year's party. His compensation was a night's stay at the inn, dinner, breakfast, and drinks, and $200. And I got to come along, so I was happy. I have been sick lately though and my throat has constantly felt bad. I hung out with one of the backup singer's girlfriends, danced a little, and took a short nap before midnight. The band played until one and then Brian and I hung out with some people until 3:30. The next day, we ate a fabulous breakfast, shopped in town at outlets, and then went to the Yankee Candle Village in Deerfield, Mass. before heading home. And we had a fabulous New Year. I hope that 2007 is a prosperous year that brings peace and our men home from the Middle East. Personally, I hope that I can figure out what I want to do with my life, gain self-confidence and be satisfied with my personal relationships with people. And I do hope that I can be an adult...