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.

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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.

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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.

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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.