The curse strikes again

Well, it has happened again. Yet another creepy old man has hit on me. It has become such an epidemic that my mom actually suggested to me that I pray and ask God to take this affliction from me.

So church was really good today. Really good.

Then after church, a TON of us (like about 25-30) stayed and all ate together, including a couple of old homeless men who had come in.

Well, one of them stared at me all through dinner. I was sitting very far away and was doing my level best to not look at him. Then he calls all the way across the table, introduces himself and says "We'll meet again."

Eeek!

Then if this is not enough, I overhear this conversation between him and one of the older men in the church. (Closer people to them filled me in on all the creepy details I missed.)

Creepy man: I want to know something about HER. (Points at me). Is she married?

Christian man: Well, she is really young, and going to school. (Tone of voice suggesting that he was actually saying, "ew! she is a third of your age you pervert, that is totally innapropriate!).

Creepy Man: Well, that's not what I asked. I asked if she was married. I am not seeing anyone.

So my reaction to this was to get my cousin Robbie to act like my boyfriend. We sat on the same chair, he put his arm around me, I put my head on his shoulder and we called each other honey and dear.

But he never stopped staring at me.

So my dad is at the moment buying him a bus ticket to Calgary.

My Workload this Term

I have now been to one of each class I have this term. I was wondering why I felt stressed, so I made a list of things I have to do for school.

- 15 hours of class a week
- 2 full days of field placement
- Read 8 complete textbooks, all of which are directly related to most of the assignments, so it can't slide
- 7 tests (not too bad there I guess
- 14 papers, which will total about 95 pages of writing
- 3 group projects

And all of the due dates are piled on top of each other. There are several things where 5 things are due that week!

I hate this. How are we supposed to practise self care with these demands?

I should be out celebrating

So university students everywhere are all celebrating the end of term. All of the assignments and deadlines and responsibilities are out of the way until the New Year, and they can all settle down to family time, vacations in exotic places, and celebrating the holidays.

Not me. I still have an assignment to finish, and three more days of field placement to make up for some of the time I missed earlier in term. It actually feels like a bit of a letdown.

Two Discoveries and a Confirmation Today

Discovery #1:

I hate groups. It does not matter whether or not I am facilitating, whether or not I am being watched, or whether or not I am merely a participant. I hate them. They make me feel vulnerable, insecure, and incompetant.

Discovery #2:

My computer is acting up- it won't let me open anything up on Word. My poor, expensive baby... :( What is wrong with you?

Confirmation:

I hate crowds. I get lost in them, and nothing meaningful is ever said, and I feel as though I get ignored in them.

Conclusion:

Either I am PMSing, or I am bummed out.

NOW Group Facilitation Scares the Beejeebers Outta Me!

So, today in my Group Work class, there was six of us who did a role play. We had made a proposal for a psychoeducational group for teenaged girls to talk about self-esteem. All we had to do was the initial stage, which was fairly easy (or so we thought) because a lot of what you have to talk about is already frameworked for you.

So I made up eight profiles on fairly realistic teenaged girls- there were all different types of girls, but most women would be able to connect with several of them. Then another girl and I facilitated while classmates were the members.

Well, okeedina!!!!

I did not think my classmates would be so difficult! The horrible thing was that all of them stayed within their roles perfectly- but the conflict! There was conflict over showing emotion! There was conflict over how some had lots of friends and some didn't! There was even name calling!

And they moved so fast! You could not deal with one conflict, and try to relate it back to group process and the topic at hand, before there was another, and another, and another! It was like, which fire do I put out first? Or do I ignore the fires, and slog on with my agenda?

Then, to really botch it up, I chose dealing with the fires, and my cofacilitator chose slogging on with the agenda! It was a mess!! At the end of the group, none of the participants felt good about the group- and it was just a role play!!!!

Well, let me tell you, when it comes time for their role plays, I am going to be one of THE MOST challenging participants EVER!!!

So, what was supposed to be an excersise in feeling good about groups ended up scaring me to death.

By the way, I am sorry that only May-B really understood what I was talking about. :)

Creepy Story of the Day

So, two months ago I bought a really good steak sandwich in the food court at the mall.

Today, this simpleminded man about my mom's age comes into my store in a different mall. He remembered me from when I bought that stupid sandwich from him!! Two months ago! Isn't that wierd? And if that isn't enough, he promptly hits on me and asked me out!

So what was my response? I said, "No" and then hid in the back room until he left- which, by the way, took an inordinate amount of time, especially considering he wasn't buying anything.

So, this is my qustion to the world: WHY ME???

Why is it that all the creepy and wierd people are attracted to me? Am I a wierdo magnet?? And the normal, intellegent, great guys (so few of them, I know, but they are out there)- well, do I repell them or something? None of them ever flirt with me. Just the wackos.

I mean, let's take an inventory of the people who have asked me out:

1. Convict. Doing community service.

2. OK, this one isn't bad. Actually, I was kinda sad to say no, but he wasn't a Christan and had no interest in becoming one. Anyway, he was a student going into the army.

3. Wierd person on the bus.

4. Creepy guy who remembered me from 2 months previously.

That is it. Where are all the normal people??

And now I'll be looking over my shoulder for the rest of the week. And every time I go to the mall where I bought that sandwhich.

Locks hate me

Just as an odd little tidbit about me, locks hate me. My dad had had to replace the lock and/or doorknob on his door more times than I can count, all on account of me.

Well, today the curse struck again. At work today, I broke multiple locks. They all just fell apart in my hand!! So then I'd have to get pliers to reattatch them, and get my coworker to take a look at them.

So, what lesson do we learn from this? Jen should never become a locksmith.

Someone, give me something too do!!!

I am at work. However, since yesterday afternoon, no one has had anything for me to do. So I am hanging around, passing time. I'll give it a couple more hours, and then go home. I have mainly been keeping entertained on blogthings, but even that is starting to wear thin.

I hate being paid to do nothing. Why, oh why, didn't the manager leave me a list of stuff to do???

Urguff

I am sick.

I woke up this morning unable to swallow cuz it hurt so bad, with a headache, lethargic, with gunk in my lungs, and alternately, a fever or chills.

Can I hibernate until this is over?

Walking Things

I am never going to complain about heat ever again. (Wait. I take that back, as that would be a lie.) Anyways, irony hit my life in that as soon as I complained about the heat, I was sent to a store that I had to walk about 10 blocks to get to after I got off the bus. This, of course, is the time it decides to pour rain for three solid days. I was terrified of getting splashed by cars while walking. I also wore three jackets to keep the rain and cold away from me. Then, as soon as I am done at that store, it gets sunny and warm again.

Today, while walking (with only one really nice jacket), I got horn tooted at twice and whistled at once. I am unsure what to think of this. I mean, firstly, it is a compliment. Some people think I am pretty. Then, of course, it is an insult. I mean, I am a person, people, not an object. Then, I wonder why it is only strangers that think I am hot. I really would appreciate it if people would keep their rude compliments to themselves, to let me avoid all of this circular thinking.

Hot... so hot....

I am melting....

Work gunk

Well, I got a call today, and tomorrow I start my new job at Source, as a merchandiser. I will be do glad to have a routine again- I have been spending too much time with me.

In other news, yesterday I forgot to attend a staff meeting for work (my little job), as well, my paperwork is late. As such, I spent the day screening my calls and only picked up when I recognized the number. So I missed, like, 3 calls on purpose, so hopefully none of them were imprortant. I just couldn't deal with any more yapping about the people in Accounting. So what if it causes them extra trouble? They screwed me over pretty bad, why can't I screw them over a little too? I mean, if I am not delaying my pay, what incentive is there to get my paperwork in on time? I really don't like that job.

I had a funny story about the kids at the Jewish school down the street, but it is also kinda depressing, so it isn't funny to me right now. Maybe I'll tell it later when I'm in a funny mood.

Sometimes, I can be lame...

The most exciting thing in my life lately has been a Friends marathon and a Spider Solitaire tournament.

By myself.

My to do list

Well, I was bored during English, so I decided to make a to do list.

It was depressing.

There are THIRTY EIGHT items on it. They all have to be done before Saryn's wedding. Many have to be done by Wednesday.

Although, I can cross one thing off... I just finished my paper that was due Wednesday and e-mailed it away.

Two more papers to write before Wednesday. Both of them already have special extentions.

Eeeeek!!!!

Rambling

Well, I have realized that a pattern is emerging on my blog, namely that it seems to consist of lots of lists and surveys, which can get tiring after a while, so I thought I'd actually write something myself.

Ummm... what to write..... Let's see, earlier I posted some blogging ideas... what were they.... Oh. I really have posted too many surveys. They are off the main page. Wow. I haven't gone through a page that fast yet. Hmmm..... none of them were that interesting- either that, or I already did that.

Well, today I.... ran out of the house really fast this morning so I could catch the bus, as opposed to walking in the cold, and accidentally left my bus pass, Bible and keys behind. So I ended up having to pay for my bus ride, and get the keys from my manager.... I nearly left my cell phone behind too; luckily, my roomie gave it to me as I was leaving.

I went Christmas carolling last night for young people's, and it was SUPER COLD!!!!!!!! Brrr...... It was nice, though. It was Christmasy.

Wow. I am being snarky to an old friend of mine on MSN. She deserves it though. Honestly, some people..... Growl. All I ask for is a little respect, and all I get is..... Hurrumph.

Well, sorry for leaving on such a downer..... Toodles.

Hotmail Died

You have hotmail to thank for this blog post. Were it not dead, I would likely not be posting. Now, the only question we have is: What should I post about?

Should I post about the lengthy list of end-of-term assignments that I am steadily (and sometimes not so steadily) working on paring down? Should I post about my theories about what I affectionately call "the vibe", "my muse", or "inspiration"? Should I post about my to do list for the day? Should I post my rant that I didn't know I had about residental schools? Should I post, for that matter, small segments of my essays that may, to the outside world, be interesting? Should I post my Christamas wish list? Should I post a list of movies I want to see?

So many decisions, so little time...

What I am wearing: blue jeans, black t-shirt with laces, and off white cardigan.

Instead, I think, I will post about nothing.

I've been disillusioned...

So, last night, I decided to get a head start on my reading for class and read one chapter for class. It was 20 pages long, not that bad, right?

Ha! It took me two hours! I can usually finish a BOOK in two hours! I highlighted stuff, resisted distraction (That part was supremely difficult), and discovered that underneath all the big words and complex sentance structure, there was some valuable information on basic themes of being a social worker.

Normally I am not one to complain about big words, or complex sentance structure, so I know it was hard.

This morning I realized I didn't remember any of wht I'd written, so I typed up the highlighted parts, and got 4 pages. This time it made more sense, so it looks like I'll have to do that for nearly everything. Sigh.

People did warn me college would be tougher than high school....

Wowzas.

So I bought a computer today. At first I thought I wouldn't pay much- the tower, moniter, printer (which is a printer/copier/scanner together), keyboard, mouse, and speakers all came together for really cheap. But then you had to add the programming, the warranty, the techno disk thing, the chord, and other various accessories. I almost died when they told me the price. Then I handed over a wad of cash as thick as my arm and only got $1.25 back. I nearly burst into tears there in the store. Actually, tears are coming to my eyes thinking about it right now...

So now I am on a mission: Get all of that to my new apartment where it is insured. Only then will I be truly at comfortable again...

Namecalling...

Some idiot nearly ran me off the road this morning! Right on Opal Road, this semi pulling 2 trailers passes me WITH a car coming. As if that wasn't bad enough, he started switching lanes back into my lane when only one of his two trailers had passed me! What a moron! So I braked and moved over as much as I could, and he kept moving over! The turdpile! His rig came within 2 feet of my car, and the ninkompoop didn't care at all.

Hrrmph. If I hadn't been turning of the road in a mile, I would have passed him. How on earth did a lamebrain like that get a drivers license?

In happier news, tomorrow I am going to Victoria and next weekend I am going to Saskatoon, so I'll see a bunch of you then. I'd better go hom to pack...

Urg...

I went to the zoo and camping yesterday.

Sounds like fun, yes?

No.

I was working, my kids were grumpy, irritable, spazzed out, defiant, whiny, and, in a word, bratty.

Now work is done, and I should be chillaxin, but instead, here I am, grumpy as ever.

Til next time....