Monday, December 24, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Finally feeling festive
I decided my first week back in July that an unpaid internship is probably the worst thing in the world. It's your first big 'job' where you are learning about computer programs you have to use and irritating people that don't return calls and you get in trouble for things you didn't even know you were doing wrong. I work my butt off at my practicum, and what do I get in return? The friendly reminder e-mails that paychecks are in for all the other people who actually get paid. I will never see a dime from this agency and I do just as much work as the rest of them.
Working for no money can make a person feel really crappy. Especially when it's holiday season and gifts are expected to be purchased for others. As the years have progressed, I have become increasingly poor (isn't is supposed to work out, oh... I dunno... the OTHER way?!?! Isn't a person supposed to make more $$ the longer they have been in school??? But I digress...). This year in fact, I'm more broke then ever and seriously considered canning Christmas altogether.
Things turned around this afternoon as I got a call from an overly-excited co-worker that the gifts for the severely under-served families I work with had in fact come in and I could in fact pick them up!!! I trotted to the office (I l'trally had a skip in my step) and arrived to a ginormous box full of HotWheels and books and board games and Barbies!!!! These families can barely afford rent let alone gifts for their 6+ children. It was like Christmas for me! So I scooted home and stopped by my neighborhood Rite Aid where I picked up ribbon, bows, labels and tape to get wrapping.
70+ gifts later my back is killing me and I'm exhausted, but it was all worth it. I got to spread a little holiday cheer and these families will be so appreciative, so much more thankful then I probably ever was or ever will be at Christmas. And even though I couldn't afford gifts for everyone I wished I could buy for, I (with the help of the county of Sacramento) gave the gift of Christmas to at least 2 families.
Now do you really need to buy that $200 sweater for the Aunt you talk to twice a year? Get off your fanny and go volunteer people!
Working for no money can make a person feel really crappy. Especially when it's holiday season and gifts are expected to be purchased for others. As the years have progressed, I have become increasingly poor (isn't is supposed to work out, oh... I dunno... the OTHER way?!?! Isn't a person supposed to make more $$ the longer they have been in school??? But I digress...). This year in fact, I'm more broke then ever and seriously considered canning Christmas altogether.
Things turned around this afternoon as I got a call from an overly-excited co-worker that the gifts for the severely under-served families I work with had in fact come in and I could in fact pick them up!!! I trotted to the office (I l'trally had a skip in my step) and arrived to a ginormous box full of HotWheels and books and board games and Barbies!!!! These families can barely afford rent let alone gifts for their 6+ children. It was like Christmas for me! So I scooted home and stopped by my neighborhood Rite Aid where I picked up ribbon, bows, labels and tape to get wrapping.
70+ gifts later my back is killing me and I'm exhausted, but it was all worth it. I got to spread a little holiday cheer and these families will be so appreciative, so much more thankful then I probably ever was or ever will be at Christmas. And even though I couldn't afford gifts for everyone I wished I could buy for, I (with the help of the county of Sacramento) gave the gift of Christmas to at least 2 families.
Now do you really need to buy that $200 sweater for the Aunt you talk to twice a year? Get off your fanny and go volunteer people!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Feeling skinny at Christmas!
I attended my first holiday party of the season which was a delight. Now, I'm not at all the girl who makes absurd resolutions to lose weight at the start of the New Year, nor do I hold back on indulging in all things gravy/chocolate/wine during Christmas. I love Jesus, am glad he was born, and take pride in celebrating his birth, even if it is slightly self-serving. As I got ready for the festivities, my jeans were fitting just a little too tight... Thank goodness I had the host cat at the party to comfort me in my time of feeling obese.
You see, this cat is not what one pictures when one pictures a cat. This cat is HUGE. I think it's a combination of being a rescue cat/insane amounts of fur. It takes up an entire ottoman:
I intentionally left this picture the way it is. It's as if angels from above have been reincarnated into this little kitty's body and are shining through his eyes. Or perhaps, I can't figure out how to photo-shop the glare from the flash...
But anyways, as the party progressed, the cat and I became friendly and another party-goer cracked an awesome joke:
A seven and a nine year-old walk into a drug store and pick up a box of tampons. They proceed to the checkout where the clerk gives them an inquisitive stare.
Clerk: You boys buying these for your mom?
Boys: No.
Clerk: Your sister?
Boys: No. It said on the commercial if you use these you can play tennis and ride bikes, and our older brother's not very good at anything, so we're trying to help him out.
My reaction to the joke is evident from my classic smile (and those who are close to me can hear my laughter ringing in their ears simply by looking at this photo), such funny friends I have!!! By the end of the night, the cat was out like a light and I was toasty warm from my feline blanket.
The cat is practically as wide as I am! I'm as skinny as a cat!
That cat gave me the best Christmas gift ever.
Ever.
You see, this cat is not what one pictures when one pictures a cat. This cat is HUGE. I think it's a combination of being a rescue cat/insane amounts of fur. It takes up an entire ottoman:
I intentionally left this picture the way it is. It's as if angels from above have been reincarnated into this little kitty's body and are shining through his eyes. Or perhaps, I can't figure out how to photo-shop the glare from the flash...
But anyways, as the party progressed, the cat and I became friendly and another party-goer cracked an awesome joke:
A seven and a nine year-old walk into a drug store and pick up a box of tampons. They proceed to the checkout where the clerk gives them an inquisitive stare.
Clerk: You boys buying these for your mom?
Boys: No.
Clerk: Your sister?
Boys: No. It said on the commercial if you use these you can play tennis and ride bikes, and our older brother's not very good at anything, so we're trying to help him out.
My reaction to the joke is evident from my classic smile (and those who are close to me can hear my laughter ringing in their ears simply by looking at this photo), such funny friends I have!!! By the end of the night, the cat was out like a light and I was toasty warm from my feline blanket.
The cat is practically as wide as I am! I'm as skinny as a cat!
That cat gave me the best Christmas gift ever.
Ever.
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