Hail, hail, the gang's all here...
Sorry for the punny headline, but I just couldn't resist. Today we got about 5 minutes of straight hail. I opened the door to take a picture and one flew onto my carpet. I measured it at about 1/2 inch diameter. Not the dinky, intantly-melted stuff we usually get in the summer. How odd. Here's the sandbox and the would-be flower bed at my apartment, both filled with hail stones.
At least Memorial Day Weekend had nice weather. Brent and I had adventures at Washington Park on Sunday. We rode the lightrail there and rented a paddle boat to pedal around one of the lakes. After that we had some more pedal time on a tandem bike, because Brent saw it at the rental place and couldn't resist its retro charm.
In other news, I'm jobless for a couple of weeks. My test-grading assignment ended on Friday (actually for me it ended Thursday because I would have had to re-test on Friday, which they didn't see as being worth it). Westaff called today with an offer for this weekend, but I was busy so they'll get back to me. To be specific, Brent and I are planning a camping trip this weekend to celebrate the six-month mark of our relationship. Next week we're heading up to South Dakota for his family reunion, which should be fun since I haven't been there. After that I'm set to take over managerial duties for a week at Ten Thousand Villages. That will conclude my busy few weeks, at which point I hope to find some type of permanent or long-term temporary employment. Wish me luck. Now I'm off to do some chores around the apartment.
Working nights gives me lots of free time to do random stuff...like this...
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? My great-grandmother.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? when I was reading Grand Avenue. So much emotion in that book.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? For the most part. I like to practice my cursive.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Pastrami
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? No.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS
WITH YOU? If I was another person who was my friend, then yes...
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? when necessary
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yep. I rule. No throat mutilation for me.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Doubtful. I'd sooner hang glide.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Cracklin Oat Bran. It's been so long.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? I have to, or they won't come off.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Parts of me are.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Chocolate chip cookie dough.
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Hmm...the way they talk, probably.
15. RED OR PINK? Red
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Unresolved elements of my past.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Erik, and Moroccan friends.
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? If anyone feels inclined to do this an send it to me, more power to you. No pressure though.
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Ha! Shows what you know! I'm barefoot in a sarong!
20.WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Chocolate chip oatmeal.
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The tapping of the keys while I type.
22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Something unusual like Copper or Fuschia
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? Spices, good food, a clean boyfriend
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE
PHONE? Brent, when I was on the train
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Love him
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Is ballroom dancing a sport? What about daytime TV?
27. HAIR COLOR? Dirty blonde with some red dye in parts
28. Eye Color? Blue/gray
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No. I fear I may need glasses in a while though.
30. FAVORITE FOOD? Pastilla, Lamb and prune Tagine, Indian, Greek
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? I like bittersweet endings, so scary wins, I guess.
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Spiderman III. I don't recommend it.
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Sarong, people!
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer, except for the part of winter that contains my birthday.
35. HUGS OR KISSES? Either and both.
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Chocolate mousse, or creme broulee.
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? people with lots of free time
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Lazy or busy people
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? None. Just finished Grand Avenue and haven't started anything else yet.
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Not applicable. My mouse is a touch-pad.
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? I was working last night, but during the day I watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
42. FAVORITE SOUND? Music, but not just any music. The best is something that triggers old emotions.
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? They're both good.
44. WHAT IS THE FURTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Morocco. Geographically, I guess either Fez or Essouira would be the furthest.
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? A few. I like to be well-rounded.
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? St. Joseph's Hospital in Denver
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING
BACK? Whoever feels like responding, I guess. I just like to hear from people.
One week later, and home again
It was exactly one week ago (plus or minus a few hours) that I last posted here. Today I'm not home because of my knee, but because I really have nowhere else to be. I was set to start grading again this week, but since it was a new test, we had to go through training again. Since I passed all the exams on the first try last time, I assumed I would have no trouble with it this time either. Apparently I was wrong. Not only are we grading a different age group, but we are grading on a different set of traits which I apparently don't understand well enough to pass. Oh well, it wasn't looking like a very pleasant two weeks anyway. I'm waiting to hear from Westaff, my temp agency, on a job that might open this week or thereabouts. Otherwise I'm going to go in next Monday and try for the night shift, since they are grading yet another test. If that works out I'll have two weeks of part-time work, better than nothing I guess. If I can convince myself to sit here long enough, maybe I can take the time to apply for some real jobs elsewhere. Staring at a computer screen makes my eyes tired though...
