Why?

Why did I just order pizza? I am not particularly hungry. More bored. Is that not the sickest thing ever? But it's okay. I love leftover pizza and maybe I'll want some later. Gotta be prepared... it may be time to seriously face the fact that I have an unhealthy obsession with eating.

Speaking of... who's up for Thanksgiving? :) A holiday devoted to food. Joy!

Why am I sick? N0t puke-sick thankfully. But the type where it hurts too swallow, talk, breathe, and your head is 35 pounds heavier than normal. So of course I called into work and their response was, "That's too bad. Come in anyway." Then I came in and worked like a dog. Tomorrow I am not going in. They can shove it. If they want me up at 6 am the day after Thanksgiving, they have to let me get healthy.

Why did Happy Feet have to be mediocre? As you may remember from past blog posts, I was obsessed with that movie. Why? Because #1 it was animated #2 It was about penguins and #3 the penguins tap danced. This is like my dream movie. I saw it on opening night and was stoked beyond belief, but it was only B- at best. So very crushed.

I really want to see the new Bond flick. Don't know why, usually think Bond movies are dumb with all the bad puns and male fantasy but I'm just in the mood for hot british men who blow stuff up.

Why can't I find something that inspires me? I went on a job interview in Fargo *(really need a job if I'm gonna move there)*. I was interviewing at a mental hospital. I thought it might be an okay place since I've considered counseling as a grad school option. Within two minutes there I was convinced I wouldn't make a good employee. They gave me a tour of the hospital. "This is solitary, we put people here who may be actively trying to kill themselves. We also have a chair with restraints." Um yeah.... which way is the exit? I think this is very important work but one experience strapping a suicidal person in a chair and I'd be reduced to tears in the corner.

Why can't I find my dream job?

Why can't I breathe out my nose?

Why can't professors just axe these last stupid filler papers and let me start on my final projects. I hate busy work.

Why do I have to wait until next Tuesday to see the fantastic conclusion of Veronica Mars? I LOVE THAT SHOW.

Why don't I just go to sleep. I'm tired and my head is heavy.... maybe just one piece of pizza :)

Highlights

Sometimes I'm so grateful to be in college. Back in high school certain things would have brought me to tears. Now I just laugh.

Take for instance flashing your entire P.E. class~ Cause yeah.... I did that. Our swim instructor decided that swim relay races would be a brilliant plan. Not being an Olympic swimmer I don't have the ultimate Speedo one-piece suit. Swimming really fast in water and then jumping out at the end means the v-neck tankini may drag a bit, and in my case completely fall down exposing my chest. Hooray!

Luckily, I was expecting as much and pulled it up quickly. Unfortunately I think some people caught the show. So there I am gasping at the edge of the pool, dripping wet and the teacher (in Hungarian accent) asks-- "Emily, is your swimsuit..... uh.... safe?"

Well. No. Clearly not or you wouldn't have just seen my boobs!

From that point on I didn't have to jump in and out of the pool anymore.

Relays were still an exercise in humiliation. I had to swim without my glasses *(aka: swim blind)* so when our teacher threw bright colored rings out to the pool for us to "go find" I sort of just swam in circles squinting. Yeah, I didn't/couldn't catch anything. He even went and got a huge beach ball just for me. And I could see that but other classmates swam faster and took it before I got there. Bitches :)

The whole time I just felt degraded. Like one of those dolphins at sea world. GO! Go get the ring! Good girl. Here, open up and eat a fish!

Lame.

~~~~
Last Tuesday Tyler and I went to Fargo for a career fair. I knew before hand that it wasn't exactly going to be up my alley-- lots of financial advisor positions and insurance stuff. But online it also said liberal arts majors would find places. Peace Corps was there also positions within City of Fargo etc. I thought -- cool, I could be a clerk or something.

Um yeah. They failed to specify that the city of Fargo was hiring police officers and firefighters!! I approached their table and they were all excited. "Oh are you interested in becoming a firefighter?"

I had to fight the urge to drop my jaw and ask, "Do you see me? Do I look like firefighter material?" Come on now, fellas. I've seen Backdraft & Ladder 49... no way in hell!" Bath & Body is the most excitement I can handle, thank you... and really it's too much excitement most days. F***ing Canadians are nuts.

~~~~
Speaking of B&B, I'm nervous. Lately we've had several store meetings that are making me feel like a soldier in a war game.

Manager: Okay, Emily, day after Thanksgiving we will place you here at the entrance to handle the welcome and flow. Direct them here to Katie who will sort them for Melinda. etc. Shannon, you are responsible for holding back the flow! Bianca! HOLD FAST and Annie GUARD THE COUPONS!

We've had several role-plays to try and plan for various catastrophes. I just plan on hiding in the back room behind the body butter if it gets ugly. Every time I end up working retail the day after Thanksgiving I just ask myself-- WHY. I have to get myself a career so I NEVER have to do this again.

~~

Speaking of career and big kid decisions. While Tyler and I were in Fargo we also got a lease signed. We will be living together. A decision my mother does not "support" and my father pretends not to acknowledge but we are happy and excited for this next step. Neither of us have a for-sure job but we've got lines on some promising stuff. Monday I have an interview with a hospital... we shall see.

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Pro-choice news. The D.S. covered our demonstration- if you are interested, you can read it. And you are welcome to comment on the site :)

Next our group is sponsoring a viewing of a FABULOUS documentary called "Speak out: I had an abortion" -- I hope we have a packed house for the show. I have been reading literature on "choice" for years and much of the movie shocked me and gave me new stuff to think about. I think pro-life and pro-choice would benefit from it. You get a surprising mix of views.

So those are some highlights. Lots of news. Some good, some ugly (swim class) but I would love to hear from you, dear friends.

All my love,
E.T.

We did it!

Only one person called me "Pro-death" and accussed me of murdering babies. Everyone else gave us positive feedback "Keep it up!" and "YEAH PRO CHOICE!" One woman came and bought the whole group hot chocolate *we were outside from 8-6 and it was 30 some degrees). I have a full album of pics on facebook but here are some highlights :)







These are our posters-- click to enlarge:

D-Day

Pretty sure I didn't sleep a wink last night. So excited/NERVOUS for the demonstration today. I have been pumped up until this point but when the alarm went off, I had this overwhelming urge to dive back under the covers and hide.

Can't someone else do this? I'm such a wimp.

Just gotta do some positive thinking: No one is going to throw things at you... you'll be fine. You are not a baby-killer....

In... out... BREATHE.

Wish me luck!!!!

Blog-- oh how I miss thee

It's been far too long. I know interesting things have happened but I can't think of anything right now-- damn I hate blogging after a long break.

The reason for the prolonged absence is-- school-- what else? I have been very much annoyed lately at the amount of work. If you give someone a research paper ahead of time so they can work ahead, what is the point of giving them more papers in the meantime? Yeah I can totally work on your three papers all at once, not to mention all the other crap I have to do. Lame lamoid lameness.

Halloween was a huge let down. Tyler and I were so busy we couldn't find time to carve pumpkins or even BUY a pumpkin. I had to go to the fun costume party on my own because Tyler was too busy working to even come out. Then I couldn't even stay at the fun costume party that long because I was too exhausted. I went home still in my witch costume and made mac and cheese, I was literally standing in my kitchen, in witch-getup with a broom, boiling water--- that's halloweenie... but only if I was about to boil bats and brew bad thing. Kraft mac and cheese is not so much witch-ie :)

A job fair is coming up soon and I'm thinking of taking time off school to run down to Fargo for it. At this point since I'm graduating in December, a job seems a bit more important than sitting in class.

Another thing taking up a considerable amount of time right now is a pro-choice demonstration I'm planning at UND. I honestly don't remember how this wild idea happened. I've thought for years that I should do something like start a pro-choice student organization but when do I decide to actually do it?-- Oh yeah, 45 days before I graduate.

The big day is Monday-- day before the big S.D. election so we're showing solidarity with all our pro-choice counterparts who are fighting the good fight down there. I came across a really great, powerful short film called "The Exception" on You Tube-- only 4 minutes long, it shows a possible situation that could happen in S.D. if people allowed something like this abortion ban to go through.

Planning this I've had several moments of panic-- what if people throw things at us? What if no one wants to help me etc. But so far 70 people have joined our group and I talked to campus police so we should have help if anyone wants to throw things. I hope not but I'm ready. The pro-life side is statistically more apt to be violent-- kinda ironic huh? But dangit we have the right to say our piece. I put up with the pro-life display a few weeks ago and that was just insulting-- they had a "cemetery for the unborn" with graves marked by little crosses--- I guess all unborn babies are Christians??

Whatever-- political rant-- I need to stop- I have a whole 'nother blog for that business :) But I am proud of what we're doing and will post photos after we demonstrate. Hopefully we will have a good day!

PS: Brian... I love you for noticing me when I'm gone :)