Things I've been doing: working, working, working, going to the beach, working, watching British Scifi Tv shows, and working.

I know, such an interesting life I lead.

Actually I did have some fun this week. On Tuesday I went down to Indianapolis and went to Warped Tour. I've somehow managed to never go to Warped Tour before, so it was interesting. I managed to not see a lot of bands, but I had fun anyway! (Except for like 1.5 hours in the afternoon where a stupid band gave me a feminist rage plus I was tired and it was hot. But I sat under a tent for a while and after that, it was totally cool.) I drove back to Chicago when it was over, and compared to driving back from St. Louis last month, it wasn't that bad. :)

Yesterday it was rainy and gross so I slept in, read books, and watched TV, which was awesome.

Today was back to work which sucked, we were busy and I am super sick of that place. And it's like, I can get up at 6am drive 3 hours to Indianapolis, spend 9 hours outside, then drive 3 hours back, and be tired, sure, but not crushingly exhausted. And 7 hours at Starbucks makes me not want to move for the rest of the night. Bleh.

Although APPARENTLY, someone tried to commit suicide in our cafe on Monday night? Like, they ODed on Tylenol PM and ambulances had to be called, etc. Fucking crazy.

ALSO, Beckah was jumped on Tuesday night? By some rough looking teenagers who punched one of her companions in the face repeatedly. But then Beckah made them run away by scolding them and calling them "Young Man". My roommate is GREAT you guys.

I am going to a work outing tonight, and it starts in 45 minutes and I haven't even showered yet. Oh well.

Oh and also, I get to see THE GET UP KIDS in October. FUCK YES.

Stef: Rei, srsly...
Please beat me upside the head
A lot
me: *beat*
*beat*beat*beat*beat*
Stef: thank you sir, may I please have another?
me: *beat*








In other news, change of plans, and my east coast trip will now be August 6-10, or thereabouts.

Had excellent weekend last week, and have been horribly bored since.

I went and saw my mom in Ann Arbor, had several excellent meals, one successful shopping trip, one awesome hair cut, and many good nights of sleep. Monday night, I drove the hour down to Toledo to see The Scenic, which was excellent. Went back to Ann Arbor with one drummer in tow, and the next day we drove to St. Louis by way of Indianapolis. The morning was gloomy but the afternoon was sunny and warm and excellent driving weather, especially with good music to sing along to blasting from the speakers.

I got really stupidly excited to see the big arch as we drove into St. Louis. Whatever, I'd never been to St. Louis before! It rained pretty much the entire time we were in St. Louis, and there were approximately 2 people at the show besides the bands and me. But um, there was a really good restaurant across from the venue? And I actually spent a good portion of the night watching hockey. The one flaw in this adventure is that I did not have anywhere to stay in St. Louis, so I ended up driving the 4.5 hours back to Chicago that night. I had a lot of red bull.

Most of the days in Chicago since have been rainy and gross, leaving me bored and restless and irritated. (Apparently it is the wettest June in Chicago in like 50 years or something. Yuck.) I had a good time the 2 days it was nice though! Took a lot of long walks and got sunburned, but enjoyed it.

Also, Beckah and I decided that we were going to have our own book club this summer where we reread the first 3 books of the Vampire Chronicles. (I refuse to read past Queen of the Damned ever again.) To aid that, I found the first three books in one volume at Myopic, and I am probably more excited than any normal person.

Hmmm, what else? I'm working a lot the next 2 weeks. Hopefully this is a trend that will continue. Because despite my acute wanderlust, my plan for the summer is to stay in Chicago and work as much as possible (except for visiting xnotalovesong) until I go to Italy.

WAIT, DID I MENTION ITALY? My mom wants to go for her 60th birthday, and she wants me to go with her for part of it and I AM SO EXCITED! I've never been to Italy and I really really wanna go, OMG.

So yeah. Anyway. It'll make for a kind of boring summer, but hopefully it'll stop raining at some point and I can spend my afternoons at the beach? Plus, I refuse to believe that I'll be bored in Chicago during the summer. Hopefully everything going on here will curb my restlessness.

Um, the end, I think.

I am trying to be a human being again. I went from possibly having cancer to nicotine withdrawl to respiratory infection without any breaks in between, and now that I'm mostly healthy for the first time in 3 weeks I don't have any excuses for being an anti-social bitch.

However, this is somewhat delayed due to being completely broke and my schedule this week. So I'm staying home watching TV, reading, and knitting all this week so I don't spend any money, and also because I am opening every day this week except today and getting up every day at 4am makes me tired. :\

But hey, it's okay, because I am going to have an awesome 4 day weekend starting on Saturday. I'm going to see my mom in Ann Arbor, and then on Monday I'm gonna go see The Scenic in Toledo, and I may or may not also go to see them in St. Louis the next day. I haven't really left Chicago since I got back from PA in April, and as much as I love Chicago, I am so excited to be *somewhere else* for a couple days.

Speaking of somewhere else, the next time I will be on the east coast will be the end of July/the first weekend of Musikfest. I'll be flying into DC to see The Cab and hang with xnotalovesong and then going up to Philly/Bethlehem. The first night of Musikfest I'll be seeing Panic and Owl City, and the next day I'll probably be spending with my aunts and sister in New York. I am trying to convince myself that I need to be back in Chicago before Tuesday and therefore cannot go see Third Eye Blind.

Oh ALSO, the only thing I'm spending money on this week is a ticket to see Blink 182, Fall Out Boy, and Panic at the Disco at the SAME SHOW. Be still my heart!

Anything else we haven't covered? No? Okay.

It's nice when your friends support you in both your old and new interests.

For instance, Dan's idea of updating me on the Blackhawks game on Sunday:

Danno: Franzen and Havlat start fighting, then make out.
Danno: I'll let you know when Toews gets involved. Rowr.

Here's a fun little story. I'd been getting sick all last week: sore throat, general ickiness, etc. I stayed home all my days off and rested, trying NOT to get sick, but it didn't work as well as one would hope, and by that I mean AT ALL. So Saturday I worked, and then I was supposed to go up to Milwaukee to see Fall Out Boy, and then I was supposed to open on Sunday.

But the by the middle of my shift on Saturday, I was like, UGH CANNOT FUNCTION. So I decided I would not go see Fall Out Boy. Take a moment to ponder that. *I* felt so sick that I skipped *Fall Out Boy.* Right. I doubted my ability to get my shift covered the next day, so I was like, I'll just go, and get through it, and then I can go home and sleep. This probably would have worked better had it not be and 8.5 hour shift. By the last hour my entire body ached so bad I was leaning against the pastry case being pathetic, plus I had started coughing, and my chest hurt. Great, right?

They sent me home half an hour early. I dragged my ass home, took a shower, ate some soup even though it hurt to swallow, and put myself to bed. Of course, by this time I have a fever, complete with chills and all. Woke up a couple hours later feeling not at all better and promptly started looking for urgent care centers that were open. What with it being 5pm on a Sunday, none were. (Which like, wtf is the point of an urgent care center if it is only open during normal business hours? idek.)

At this point I just started sobbing because I was feverish and in immense pain and alone and miserable. And I was supposed to open the next morning and I could get anyone to cover my shift.

This woke my roommate. I incoherently explained to her what was wrong, she called her grandfather, and I called my mother, and they both agreed that if nothing else was open I should get myself to an emergency room.

Meanwhile, I got on the phone to work, we fixed it so that I didn't have to be there the next day and now I think I owe everyone serious amounts of baked goods.

So we got a cab to the closest hospital and their ER was not at all busy so I got in pretty quickly and was promptly left alone in an examination room in a hospital gown, with nothing besides a chair, shivering and trying to huddle in my sweatshirt to be warm. Finally after an hour, the doctor came in, told me I didn't look that bad and that he couldn't detect anything wrong with me but he was going to give me antibiotics and get a strep culture done anyway. Least helpful doctor EVER.

It took another 20 minutes for the nurse to actually DO the strep culture and tell me I could go home. Went to Walgreens, got my prescription filled, went back home, and got halfway through a bowl of soup before I couldn't even sit up anymore and went back to bed.

Yeah, not a fun day at all.

I am feeling much better now - even left the house this morning! And the antibiotics are helping because now when I cough, I'm coughing up all the crap that has been in my lungs (so fuck you, stupid er doctor). I still get tired really easily though, as today I went out for coffee and put away laundry and then had to go lie down for a while. Still, I'm on track to be good on Friday when xnotalovesong gets here! Yay!

I quit smoking last week.

I did it because it was medically required of me, and I hate it. I also hate that people keep saying "Good for you!" and then I want to punch them in the face. I also hate that spring has always been my favorite time to go out for a cigarette (not just smoke, but go out for a cigarette) and now I can't.

So like ... this is my excuse for being a bitch, now that I know I don't have cancer. Okay, maybe that's a little dramatic. I am really trying not to take this out on people. Really trying very hard.

I have also been eating a lot of lollipops and chewing a lot of gum.

And then for some reason I decided that I should cut espresso out of my diet. Note that I am still drinking coffee, but I was up to 7 or 8 shots a day when I opened the store, and it was starting to lose its effect. So I haven't had a cigarette in 7 days and I haven't had espresso in 4 days and my brain is very quietly falling apart.

Dammit, I LIKE my vices. That's why they were my vices.

Additionally, I had to explain to my parents today about how I spent 7 weeks not telling them that I maybe had cancer.

ugh.

Okay, so. Here's what was happening over the last 7 weeks that I didn't tell you.

At the end of February I went and had a physical for the first time in oh, at least 3 years. I had blood taken and a pap smear done. Mid March I found out that my pap smear came back abnormal. The doctor told me I had a mild case of dysplasia and a high-risk strain of HPV. Both of these are risk factors for cervical cancer, and she told me I should get a biopsy done ASAP.

I couldn't get an appointment for the biopsy until last Friday. So basically I spent 6 weeks thinking I might have cervical cancer.

I know, I didn't tell you. I didn't tell ANYONE. Not even my parents.

The results of the biopsy came back today, and I don't have cancer.

Repeat: I DO NOT HAVE CANCER.

Which is awesome. I just have to go back every 6 months for a pap smear to make sure everything is still okay. Not the most comfortable procedure to have to endure every 6 months, but more comfortable than say, having my uterus removed.

So I'm sorry if I was cranky or mean or impatient with you, or if I overreacted to something ridiculous. That's what was going on.

so you win again, march.

i'll get you next year.

This morning I dragged my ass out of bed at 4:15, dragged it to work, only to find out that I was not, in fact, scheduled to open. So I went back home, slept for an hour, and went BACK to work. For 4 hours.

That pretty much set the tone for the whole day.

I've been staying in because I am super super broke until tomorrow, when I will be able to pay rent, and then I'll be super broke again. I AM SO BORED OH MY GOD. Today I did my taxes, because I couldn't think of anything else to do.

Actually, I should read more. But I'm to this point in my book where um, they're cutting up a body? Kind of graphically? And I can only read one or two paragraphs at a time.

I applied to the most random assortment of craigslist jobs the other day, from a mystery job that requires the skills of writing and observing people without them knowing, to ghostwriter, to bar website photographer. Of course have heard nothing. Also, I'm getting totally screwed on hours next week, so I am pretty much going to stay bored for the rest of my existence.

That is, until I go back to PA! Which will be April 13! (Well, technically, I'm leaving on April 12, but won't be in Bethlehem till April 13.) And I'm staying till April 23! Whoo!

Oh and hey, remember! This Saturday, if you want something to do, Croc Rock for The Scenic!

fuck you, march.

and fuck you too.

but you wouldn't know a good thing if it came up and slit your throat.

Yo, Bethlehem people!

If you are looking for something do to on March 28th, you should go to Croc Rock and see The Scenic!

No, really. Go! I can't go what with being in Chicago and all, so y'all need to go for me. Also, then you'll get to see The Scenic, and they are pretty awesome.

Here's a link to the facebook event page if you're into that kinda thing. It has more details. :)

In other news, I've actually had a pretty excellent last few days. I hope this isn't March lulling me into a false sense of security before kicking my ass.

every year, i dread february.

and every year, i get suckerpunched by march.

so, *crosses fingers*

but i'm not feeling optimistic.

I just got a new tattoo like, 2 months ago, so you'd think I'd be satisfied, at least for a little while. But you'd be WRONG.

I got linked to Diving Swallow Tattoo, and specifically to Marie Wadman's art, and I'm sitting here staring at my computer with my mouth hanging open and my brain filled with OMG WANT. No seriously, just look at THIS.

Oh, and did I mention that this place is in San Francisco? And Marie Wadman is actually booked through the entirety of 2009. Which, actually, it'll probably be like, 2011 by the time I've saved up enough money for the tattoo I want, so I guess that doesn't matter. But apparently now I also have to have enough money to get to San Francisco, because now that I've seen what kind of art she can do, I can't imagine having anything on my body that looks less amazing. Holy crap.

O___O

(earlier, this picture)

Beckah: So I think Zena and I are gonna go find an orgy tonight. Wanna come with?
Me: NO.
Beckah: Why not?!
Me: I told you, I'm boycotting life tonight.
Beckah: Orgies aren't real! They don't have consequences!

Happy VD, flist. Here, I made you something.



( oh, the horror of our love )

♥

Holy crap, let me tell you about my insane morning.

( First of all )

In other news, the plague I had over the weekend is lingering, and now my throat's starting to hurt again and I have to open the next 4 mornings too, and I hate everything.

AND, if you're bored on the internet at any time go here and vote for The Scenic. Then, if you're still bored, vote again. And again. And again. You can vote as many times as you want. It's like a really bad but addictive video game. You keep clicking the button, and sometimes the number goes up! It's exciting! Plus, you'll be helping people I like to not starve on their next tour.

It's 5pm, and for the first time in months, it's not pitch dark outside.

It's a nice little reminder that it's not going to be freezing forever, even though it kinda feels that way now. As I walked back to my apartment from the train today, I found myself unable to remember what the sidewalk looks like without snow. It's going to be winter for a while longer, but at least spring seems a little closer.

Anyway, hi! How are you? Things have been slightly boring for me, since they've cut hours at work and I'm pretty broke, and I'm trying to save money, so I'm staying in and watching movies and TV on DVD, for the most part. Doesn't make for very interesting journal entries.

Hmmm. The Scenic was here over the weekend, so I got to take a bunch of people to their show and make fans out of them, plus hang out with Shane, which was A+.

I'm going to see my mom and my sister in Ann Arbor tomorrow. And going to the Ann Arbor folk fest to see Jeff Tweedy and Old Crow Medicine Show, which I'm super excited about.

Um. I'm thinking of taking a class starting in March. We'll see.

I am thinking of coming back to Bethlehem sometime towards the end of March. Suggestions?