Saturday, September 10, 2005

Out With the Old, In With the New

Hello again. I have returned for one final post. I am at my dad's house, on my sister's computer, so I'll try to keep this short and sweet.

I am all moved in, love my new job (all the bad and good that goes with it), and couldn't see myself doing anything but teaching. The smiles and hugs I get every day are definitely worth it!

Lots of other things have happened, but in respect to time and such, I'm not going to share today.

I still don't have internet in the new place, but when I do, I'm starting a shiny, new blog. This one is feeling constricting and old, like last year's gym shoes. I don't know when or where, but I will return to the internet. I promise.

TTFN, Ta Ta For Now!

~ Miss Brandi

posted by miss_brandi @ 8:04 PM 10 comments

Friday, August 19, 2005

I Missed You, Internet!!!

As most of you have noticed, I'm sure, I have been quite absent from this site the past several days. I have limited access to the internet now, so posts will be few and far between. I will do my best to update you on what has been happening while trying not to turn this into a gigantic post.

I have missed the internet so much. I became so accustomed to checking my email and reading the blogs I frequent at least twice a day. Now I am down to once a week-ish, and it's not fun. I hope you missed me as much as I missed you.

I successfully moved most of my belongings to my new apartment. The remaining items are with me at my mom's home until tomorrow. By tomorrow evening, I will be an official resident of the teeny tiny town I'll be teaching in.

ALL of my fish survived the move, thanks to the kind help of Sid. I checked on them Wednesday when I went up there for a workshop, and they all looked great. I hope they are still doing well when I get there tomorrow.

Tomorrow is my last day at the liquor/convenience store. I will miss the people there a lot. I have become more attached to them than I thought possible. They are all genuine, caring, fun people that I enjoyed spending time with, both at work and outside of work.

I start teaching in five days. I am so excited to begin, but I feel very nervous and underprepared. I don't think I'd feel any different if I had more time; the newness and the unknown aspects of the situation are just making me a little antsy.

posted by miss_brandi @ 9:14 PM 6 comments

Sunday, August 14, 2005

Happy Moving Day To Me!

In less than 10 hours, I will begin moving all of my belonings to my new home. I have almost everything packed and cleaned. Most of the things that are left can't really be done until I leave (example: packing up food from the fridge) I did very little procrastinating (Yay Me!), and I'll be ready to roll in the morning.

I have rounded up the best moving crew around, and I am excited to spend some time with them and put them all to work :) I'm sure they will be impressed with (or annoyed by) my color-coded system for placement of my belongings when we get to the new place. I even made little cheat sheets that say what each color stands for.

Ok, maybe I went a little overboard with the organization, but if your belongings are in order, then your life is in order, remember?

I got off work a little bit ago. Work was ok. The newness of the job is finally worn off, and it's becoming less fun and more work. I'll be glad to be done with this job and starting my career. Next week is my last week at the convenience/liquor store, as well as my last week with the Japanese students. I have learned lots of fun and useful words and phrases from them. For example:

ah-ree-gah-toe = thank you
ah-may = rain or candy
ee-koo-yo = let's go
chin chin = penis
so so so so = I understand or I agree

I also learned how to say "Let's go drink," but it was long and complicated and I forgot it.

posted by miss_brandi @ 12:58 AM 3 comments

Friday, August 12, 2005

In The Name of "Friendship"

I just got one of the most infuriating emails I have ever received. It is from someone who claims to be my friend. The email is in regards to my recent plans to see Nick in a few weeks. I wanted to share some of the gems, taken directly from it. Any errors in spelling, grammar, etc… are from the original writer, not me.

“i know your just looking for anyone who will pay attention to you right now”

If that’s all I wanted, I could be with any number of other guys right now. I’m not trying to sound snide, but if all I wanted from a man was attention, I would be at the bar, getting drunk and going home with the first man who looked my way. I would like to think I have a little more self-respect than that.
“has to be better than this druggy you are dating now “

First of all, we are not dating. I don’t know what we are. Second, I wouldn’t call one mistake being a druggy, but my definition may be different that that of other people. I’m going with my gut feeling, which says he’s not.

“the ONLY reason he, and maybe you, are even trying to make a 10 hour relationship work is for someone to be with in the bedroom”
…
“and PLEASE PLEASE tell me he doiesnt have you doin weed or meth or cocain” … “you are going to have drug tests at work”
…
“dont just be lookin to hook up with the first guy that wants to get in your pants”

What kind of person does he think I am? Later on, he claims to “know me better than anyone,” yet he says stupid shit like this to me? According to him, I’m some rejected loser girl whose only goal in life is to get attention from guys, do drugs, and have random sex with “the first guy that wants to get in my pants.” Do you honestly think that after how many months, that he is the first? Again, I’m not trying to be arrogant; I’m just trying to make a point.

If I have abstained from such behavior (while single, might I add) for this long, what makes you think my moral judgment is so low that I would suddenly change my values and beliefs and partake in said activities? Yeah, he knows me so, so well.
“i know you will be mad that i wrote this stuff” … “i hope your not to mad”

Mad? Me? Now, why would I be mad that someone I once truly cared about has such a low opinion of me? Honestly, I shouldn’t give a shit what he thinks, but he knows exactly what to say to push my buttons. He loves to manipulate the situation in his favor, and it pisses me off to no end. I read this while on the phone with him (after seeing he called twice at 3 AM) and was so furious that I was shaking.

Maybe I am making a mistake asking Nick and Brad to visit me for a weekend. Maybe Nick is expecting more than I am. I am not concerned with the “drug” thing, because I understand the situation behind that, but who knows. If you honestly can, someone please tell me I’m not making a mistake, and that I’m making more out of this email than I should.
.
I hope those of you that know me, don’t share such an opinion of me. I would like to think that I am a stronger/smarter person than the one described above.

posted by miss_brandi @ 8:42 AM 3 comments

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

See You In My Dreams

I was pretty sleepy most of the day today. I didn't sleep well last night. I had a bad dream, but I couldn't remember what it was once I woke up. I had to work at 7 AM, which came way too early. Today was truck day, so I stayed pretty busy and the hours flew by.

After work, I went to DSU to work with the Japanese students. We played Uno (I lost both games), Pictionary (my team won - I'm the pictionary champ!), and made dreamcatchers. This was difficult for everyone involved. You try explaining detailed directions to someone with limited English skills. Or better yet, try following directions given in a language you are not extremely fluent in. There was a lot of pantomime and gesturing, but everyone got it in the end. Mine turned out beautifully. I'm hoping it will bring me lots of pleasant dreams.

When I got home, I did some packing and cleaning, and then got a phone call from Nick. We chatted for a while, and picked a weekend for him to come visit me. He will be here (well, not here, but at my new apartment) September 2nd (and Brad too, I hope ... hint, hint, this means you have to come with him Bradley). I feel a little bad that he has to drive so far, but at the same time, I'm shocked that he's willing to do that.

Tonight I'm supposed to meet Billie and Marcus in Sioux Falls. I'm not going to hold my breath on that one though, since Marcus has a history of changing plans at the last minute. It would be nice to hang out with him before I move this weekend. (eek! I have so much to do before Sunday!!!)

Which reminds me. This is your official invitation. If you are not doing anything on Sunday, please please PLEASE come help me move. I can't pay you, but I can see to it that you are well-fed and well-hydrated with the beverage of your choice. Any takers?

posted by miss_brandi @ 6:33 PM 3 comments

Sunday, August 07, 2005

My Life Has Become ...

... a string of days between weekends. Nothing exciting happens to me during the week. I just seem to coast through until Friday arrives and brings me some excitement. This weekend was no exception.

Friday morning, I got up early and went to do some research and preparation at my school. I got to meet some of the teachers, and being one of two single females in the entire school, they are already trying to marry me off. Apparently, eligible bachelorettes are a hot commodity around there.

After staying and talking far longer than I should have, I arrived back in town late, and was very late getting on the coach for the big weekend in the cities. The coach bus was very nice - complete with several leather couches and a big screen TV.

At Valley Fair, I rode on all the roller coasters at least once. Steel Venom is my favorite, by far. Mall day was much too long for me (ten hours). Half a day would have been plenty. Near the end, I did lots of sitting. The Twins game this afternoon was a first for me, and a lot of fun. I even saw some guy propose on the big screen without gagging (progress!!).

I think the Japanese students were most impressed by the Twins game. They have huge shopping malls and amusement parks in Japan, so I don't think that was really anything new for them. Although they have baseball in Japan, it's not nearly as popular as in the US, and I don't think many of the students had been to a game.

I posted some pictures from the weekend below. I wish I would have taken more pictures, but I didn't bring an actual camera, and forgot the charger for my cell phone.

I also had the fortunate experience of my first blind date with a great guy named Nick. (Thank you, Brad!) It was kind of a spur-of-the-moment, last minute thing, but I had a very nice time. With him living in Duluth, and me several hours away in another state, I don't know what will come of this, but it was definitely fun.

We got back around 10:30 tonight, and I came home to a sweltering apartment. My poor fish were practically boiled while I was gone. I felt pretty bad for them. One of the first things I did was appease my internet withdrawls and check all my regular sites and emails. It's nice to be home :)

Next weekend is the big move, and the weekend after that? Well, who knows ...

posted by miss_brandi @ 10:50 PM 4 comments

Lego Land in the MOA

Me and my man Harry Potter. My sister has a picture almost identical to this, but with her in it, so I had to get one too.

posted by miss_brandi @ 10:38 PM 1 comments

Twins Game

Me in the HHH Metrodome. It is much bigger than it looks on TV. We had great seats along the foul line behind first base.

posted by miss_brandi @ 10:27 PM 0 comments

Thursday, August 04, 2005

I Just Don't Get It

Why are guys obsessed with poop?

I have heard countless guys talk about poop - especially their own. They like to share with you that they have to take a dump or that they just took a crap. They like to describe the color, shape, hardness, and consistecy of their fecal matter. I've even heard stories about one guy calling people into the bathroom to show off his toilet treasure.

Most girls, on the other hand, do not discuss the contents of their bowels. We may talk about every other topic under the sun, including other abdominal occurrences that make boys blush, but poop is rarely mentioned. Nor do most women enjoy hearing about a man's bowel movements.

Any explanation of this phenomenon would be greatly appreciated.

posted by miss_brandi @ 7:32 PM 5 comments