Could This Day Get Any Better?

This is kind of a continuation from the last post, but can I just say the past few days for me have been amazing?! Yesterday, I had my first real job and lined up most of the details for my east coast trip. Today, even more great things have been happening and it feels like everything in my life is falling right into place!

I didn't have a job today, so I started out the day by waking up early purely for the sake of sitting in my pajamas and watching one of the movies from my AFI list that I'm working on, Reds. So far, so good, but I'm pretty sure it's like 4 hours long, so needless to say, I'm saving the rest of it for another time.

Then, I got out of the shower and heard my phone ringing. I rushed to my room and answered it just in time... it was the principal of a special school I'm trying to volunteer at in order to bolster my resume for grad school. My original plan was to set something up so I could volunteer weekly, say, every Wednesday or something. He called to let me know that not only would I be able to help out in some capacity, but that it would be easier for everyone if I signed on as a sub for them. Translation: I'm still getting the same experience and something great to put on my resume, but now I'm setting my own schedule AND getting paid for it. So lucky right?

Less than an hour later, I got called from the school I worked at yesterday to see if I wanted to work Monday and Tuesday! I had to decline the Monday offer, since I'll be in beautiful Santa Barbara for an info session at my first choice school (not too bummed about that, obviously), but accepted for Tuesday! It will be a 3/4 combination class, and I can't wait! Money in the bank is always good, but I'm really excited to get to work with another age group so I'll have a broad level of expertise to brag about in grad school interviews. :)

After that, I talked to my wonderful friend Vida in San Diego where she is putting the final touches on her new place... which happens to have a loft... aka MY ROOM! Looks like another trip is in the works for me, and hopefully while I'm there I'll be able to catch a Chargers game, since that's something I absolutely MUST do before I die.

Now I think I'll head over for a quick visit with my grandpa to see how he's doing. He's been handling everything with my grandma's death really well recently, but I know it's hard on him, so hopefully some of my fabulous luck and great mood will be able to rub off on him. If not, I'm bringing homemade chocolate cream pie... hopefully it will lift his spirits a bit.

Can't wait to see what other great things today has in store!

It's About Time!

I am proud to report that I am FINALLY a functional member of society!! I got my first job subbing today, and I have to say, it went pretty darn well! I subbed for a 6th grade classroom that had 37 students in it, so needless to say, I was a little overwhelmed at first. But honestly, as far as a first day goes, I don't think the situation could have been any better! I was only there for a half day, and I can do even some of the most dreadful things if it's only for a few hours! And luckily, this wasn't dreadful at all! My students were great independent workers, followed directions amazingly, and weren't nearly as chatty as I was expecting. Being on my feet the whole time wasn't my favorite, but it kept me from getting bored, so overall it was totally worth it. And two of the students asked if I could come back tomorrow! Needless to say, I consider today a success! And I'll admit, I'm a total nerd... I don't think I slept at all last night because I was so excited! So, for sure after the 37 students and no sleep, I am ready for a nap!

It's funny how one day of work makes me feel like my whole life is coming together, but it really does! I made a pretty epic check-list to get me through the end of the month and was pretty overwhelmed with all the trip, work, and grad school related things I needed to accomplish. But I've been checking things off at a breakneck pace, so I'm feeling really good about the direction my life is going. I will have a paycheck for the first time since June, and I can't complain about that! I've made calls to places to volunteer, so hopefully that will be coming together soon. And I leave for my east coast adventure in exactly TWO WEEKS! Part of me wants to cry thinking of how little time I have left to plan, but I am SO EXCITED!! Still a little nervous about doing everything alone, but the more I plan for it, the less scared I get, so I think this is a good thing! I reserved my very first car rental, and am working on booking rooms for the different places, and have reserved a spot in info sessions for all three Pennsylvania schools! I can't wait to see what they have to offer (and see my sister too... duh).

I've been terrible about calling people back over the past few days in my productive fervor, but I promise, I'm getting to it as soon as I can (VIDA)! I seriously can't express how pumped I am to FINALLY have something blogworthy in my life, and some things to accomplish! Free time is great and all, but the past few months have shown me it is just not my thing! I'd rather be too busy to breathe, and from now on, that is exactly what I'm going to try to be! Although, not to the point of sacrificing my health of course. I'm reading all about the effects of stress in Robert Sapolsky's book Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers... fascinating stuff. I can definitely recommend it to anyone who's interested!

Update

I've been fairly MIA recently, and that's due in part to me finally getting the proper paperwork and footwork completed to be part of the workforce (hallelujah!) and, sadly, to the really unexpected loss of my grandmother a little over two weeks ago. Even though I've felt like a whirling dervish of activity the past few weeks, it's a little difficult to put into words anything blog-worthy that I've been up to. I'm not a big one on expressing emotions (although I've gotten quite good at recognizing them... baby steps, I suppose) and am a big fan of the mantra: when uncomfortable, crack a joke! But I guess it would be slightly inappropriate to be cracking jokes about the death of someone I loved so much, so here's my best attempt as an honest, but not too sappy, outpouring of emotion.

If I'm being perfectly honest, I spent the two weeks between the death and memorial service feeling incredibly guilty for not being sad enough about my grandma's passing. I mean, yes, it would be different, and no, I wasn't thrilled with the turn of events, but I was really surprised at how ok I was. I didn't even cry. And I assumed that if I could be consistently fine for two weeks, I would stay that way. My feelings on this seemed to oscillate between the aforementioned guilt and some major relief that I wasn't going to fall apart like I'd been waiting for the rest of the family to do.

But, as we all know, nothing in my life (or anyone's, I'm guessing) is ever simple. I waited until about 5 minutes before the memorial to realize exactly how devastating this death was to me. So, naturally, the snotty, choking mess of grief that I became only happened once I was in full view of dozens of family and friends. To anyone who's wondering: a funeral is NOT the time to try out more dramatic eye makeup. Lesson learned.

That said, I guess it's only natural to feel some pretty intense grief at the first major loss I've experienced in my life (and trust me, I realize how absolutely blessed I am for that). My grandma was a vivacious, playful, happy, fighter of a woman, and in my memories of her, I'm constantly remembering traits I'd be smart to try to encourage in my own personality. She was a lady who knew what she wanted, and went out and got it, no matter what.

So here's what I want: no more funerals, no more deaths, no more loss. Call me selfish, but I'm not really a fan of making a spectacle of myself in front of a large group by crying, nor am a fan of crying for any reason. So friends, family, loved ones: listen up. Take a multivitamin, get out and move, know your body and when it changes, and for God's sake, laugh every chance you get. I promise to do my best to do the same.

I miss you Grandma. You were one hell of a woman. Rest in peace.