New Year Resolutions

I'm leaving tomorrow to attend an anime convention and celebrate New Year's Eve in Austin. Because I'll be without internet access for the next few days, I'm going ahead and posting the list of resolutions I've decided to work on in the upcoming year. They are in no particular order.

1. Work out more! I’m not trying to lose weight. I weigh 135 lbs and I am very happy with that, but I’d like to build muscle. I’ve secretly wanted a six pack for a very long time. Playing videogames, watching tv, and chatting online for hours at a time have failed to yield any results toward this goal (go figure), so I’m taking a different approach. I actually received a one-year gym membership to Plex as a door prize a couple months ago. I'm taking this as a sign from the universe that it's time to take steps toward this goal. During all of the holiday chaos, I didn’t have time to visit the gym…but I did today! I’ll be one of the many who begins in January and--hopefully--one of the few who hangs in there beyond March and through this time next year.

2. Write more! This blog is my first step. Writing about events in my life really helps me to clear my mind and make sense of my emotions, but I also love creative writing. Writing poetry, short stories, and fanfics is one of my favorite hobbies. Last semester, however, working two jobs really interfered with my leisure time. I want to devote more time to this in the upcoming year. It would be great to have a small poetry collection or short novel by the end of the year!

3. Be more patient! This is a big one for me. Because of the multiple roles I play daily, I get stressed pretty easily. Last year my schedule went something like this: get up early in the morning and teach all day; go to my night job or to my night class; come home and grade and write lesson plans; rinse and repeat. Now I’m done with student teaching, so I’m dealing with only one job—an office cashier at Brookshires. One job is definitely easier to manage than two, but this one really tries my patience. I deal with the public (enough said, right?). Responsibilities include selling and redeeming lottery; selling money orders; sending and receiving Western Unions; cashing checks and Coinstar vouchers; servicing ATM, self-checkout machines, and Coinstar; accounting for all cash flow in and out of the store; ordering change; ordering uniforms and name tags; handling customer complaints; processing refunds and returns; answering the phone; overseeing all front-end employees; scheduling breaks and lunches; training new employees; and assisting with voids and alcohol scans. It takes me only about five minutes (uninterrupted) to count all of a cashier’s cash, checks, WIC, coupons, and stamps. But it takes me about thirty minutes to do this because of cashiers needing assistance, issuing change, answering the phone, and helping customers at the office. When someone interrupts me from my work, it breaks my concentration and causes me to fall behind. I tend to get frustrated and snappy. I want to control this in the upcoming year. This change will help me to enjoy and better appreciate the 40 hours of life I spend weekly at my job.

These are my goals for 2011. If you have writing exercises, meditation strategies, or tips for working out, let me know! It would also be cool to have a work-out partner—both for motivation purposes and to make it a little more enjoyable. Maybe you have chosen the same things to work on this year; if so, we could share our strategies and progress. Or, if you just want to post your encouragement, that would be great too!

I hope you all have a great weekend and a happy and safe New Year's. I'll post pics from my trip upon my return.

A Little about Me

This is an introductory-type post where I will share 15 random facts about myself as well as a recent pic.

15 Random Facts about Me

1. I’m an only child

2. I speak English, Spanish, and German

3. I don’t eat seafood…at all

4. My shoe size is 13

5. I have lived in the same town for 22 years

6. I have never dated anyone younger than me

7. I finished college in 3 and a half years with only A’s and B’s

8. Sometimes a few lines of a song get stuck in my head and stay there all day

9. I’ve come up with a nickname for nearly all of my coworkers (i.e. Ebony = Eboneezer, Victoria = Notorious, Donnada = Donna)

10. My friends and I go to anime conventions and dress up as our favorite characters

11. I refer to cheesy rice as “sleazy rice” and refried beans as “refined beans”

12. I secretly hope that some day refined beans will give in to sleazy rice…

13. I usually do not go to bed before 2:00 AM

14. I have a black belt in tae kwon do

15. My ideal vacation spot is a quiet beach with warm sand and clear water

And now, the pic:

It was taken at the Louisiana State Fair last month. Pina colada + funnel cake = the perfect day off!

So that's a little about me. Now leave a comment and tell me some interesting things about you!

2010 Reflection Survey

I found this survey online and thought it would be a good companion post to my previous entry.

1) DRINKING BUDDY OF THE YEAR?
CTC: Megan, Adriane, Bob, Cameron, and JoNathan. We're a six pack :)

2) LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD - LONGEST FRIEND?
Megan. Carol and Ricco both moved away :(

3) NEWCOMER AWARD - NEWEST FRIEND?
Terry, Steven, and Kristie

3) HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR?
Completing my requirements for teacher certification!

4) LOW POINT OF THE YEAR?
Putting my dog to sleep...

5) BEST HOLIDAY?
St. Patrick's Day. Don't ask me what made it the best, though, cause I don't remember.

6) ANTHEM FOR 2010?
"Tik Tok" by Ke$ha

7) ANY REGRETS?
Enrolling in the alternative certification program at LSUS...

8) BEST NIGHT OUT?
That night under the stars at our secret place

9) WORST NIGHT OUT?
Bob's birthday... Everyone was throwing up and I had to take the drunks home and take care of them.

10) WHO DID YOU SPEND VALENTINE'S WITH?
No one. We celebrated it the following week.

11) BEST RELATIONSHIP?
Me + CTC. We always have a good time and we've got each other's back, no matter what.

12) WORST RELATIONSHIP?
Me + some of the idiots I have to deal with at work

13) BEST DECISION MADE THIS YEAR?
Choosing student teaching over the internship and opening up more to my parents

14) WORST DECISION MADE THIS YEAR?
Deciding to enroll at LSUS -_-

16) WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR?
Improve my physical fitness and devote more time to writing

17) MOST STUPID IDEA WHEN DRUNK?
Let's roam around the hotel, find a patient lift, and drag it up four flights of stairs back to our room!!

19) MOST LOYAL FRIEND?
Megan. We hung out at least once a week.

20) BIGGEST CHANGE OF THE YEAR?
I learned so much about the field of education. I've also finished my own schooling, so for the first time in 18 years I'm not enrolled in school.

2010 Year in Review

I realized today that it's been a really long time since I've sat down and made a blog post. The date of my last entry told me that it had been a year and a half, to be exact. I read over a few of my old posts and decided to delete them. This is a new year and I--like many--am seeing it as a new beginning. Out with the old and in with the new, as they say.

I've also realized that a lot of things have changed over the last year, both good and bad. This entry will be a sort of year-in-recap.

1. I entered a relationship late in January and am currently still in that relationship. This is the longest I have ever been with anyone, so I'm very proud of that accomplishment. We don't get to spend a lot of time together, and things aren't perfect between us, but I'm staying positive. I'm already coming up with fun ways for us to spend our anniversary :)

2. I obtained my Bachelor's degree! I earned it in only 7 semesters, which I'm also proud of.

3. I just finished my teacher certification program and am currently looking for employment at a school in Caddo or DeSoto.

4. I learned SO MUCH from my cooperating teacher during student teaching. She shared with me valuable strategies, activities, suggestions, and advice. She is both my mentor and a good friend. Thank you, Kristie!

5. I was named Cashier of the Year for my second consecutive year. I also trained a few new people in the office.

6. I put my dog to sleep. It's the hardest decision I've ever had to make in my life, but I believe it was for the best. He was 14 years old and his body was shutting down. The vet gave me a long list of things he suspected to be happening internally and I just couldn't bear to let him suffer any longer. He was my first dog and--since I'm an only child--my brother. I love and miss you, Buddy.

In retrospect, it's been an interesting year. I accomplished a lot, but I also struggled through some hard times. I guess that's life. Going into this new year is bittersweet. I'm done with school! I've made it to the end of a long journey, but I've got to continue moving forward. My life is no longer mapped out by degree programs and college advisors. I'm in control now...and that's kinda scary.

I'm also trying to decide on a New Year's Resolution (or perhaps a few). If you know me, I welcome your suggestions in a comment; tell me what YOU would like me to change about myself. If you don't know me, share what your own resolution is. Maybe it will inspire me.