41 Days

I think that Oregon is screaming at me, "Go! Go! Go!" with it's weather. Yes, that's right, it's now 26 days through June, and it is STILL nothing but rain and cold. I am sitting here bundled up in a blanket, as if it were November, looking at a thermometer that reads 53 degrees.

I think my recent trip to sunny California, has my mind craving more melanin and vitamin D, which is a rarity in Oregon. I looked up the weather in Tulsa, and tomorrow's forecast is a scorching 102!! Yum and Yikes! That's part of the reason why I want to leave Oregon though. I want to live somewhere that has actual seasons. Warm Fall, Cold Winter, Wet Spring, and Hot Summer. Here in Oregon it's A Lot Of Rain and A Little Less Rain; cold, not so cold.
Now that, that little rant is over... I have a little story to share of my thoughts today on just how glad I am for my new boss and job. I once left the gallon of skim milk out on the counter, at my old job, while I went to grab a banana out of the back. When I came back, my boss was shouting out, "Who left the milk here?!" I think had to apologize profusely and explain my reasoning. After a long and dramatic moment of apology, my boss snarled, "Just don't do it again!" At my new job, there is a guy who lives there, who has a tendency to get violent at times, and throws things at people if objects are available. Because of this, we have to keep everything locked up and have nothing sitting out that he could turn into a weapon. Today wiener wraps was cooked on a pan for one of the guy's lunch, and my new boss asked me to put the left overs away, and clean up the mess. I put the food away, and wiped up the counters and swept the floor, then got distracted by something with one of the guys in the other room. A few seconds later I heard my boss call out from a few feet away, "Anna, you can't leave this pan out." My mind instantly went to my memory of my old job, and I started apologizing as I hurried back to take care of it. My boss interrupted my apology and said, "Correction, you can leave the pan out, as long as you don't mind one of the guys throwing it at your head in a few minutes, ha, ha, ha." I greatly appreciated the way she gave me correction, while we both had a giggle. I love how there's no gossip, no backstabbing, no power trips. I love how everyone is there to work...not there to be some else's superior. A few minutes after that, I was lost in thought of my gratefulness to God for this final days blessing. I am making more money, in a much better environment, with people who make me smile, a place I am encouraged to learn, at a place that will help resume professionally down the road. I really feel God is looking out for me. Ever since I re-applied to ORU I have felt such a pleasant peace that whatever happens, God will take care of me, but today was a special little reminder of that. :)

On my way home from work, I stopped at a local little fruit stand that is quite popular in the area. It was surprisingly my first time being a customer there. I bought a mango and some oranges(one of which I am currently snacking on). All the fruit I have eaten so far has been heavenly yummy so far. I highly recommend if you live near by, you stop in this week! Everything is perfectly ripe right now.
Once I arrived home it was wet and cold, so I snuggled up in a blanket and have been working on writing in a book I have been forming for a little over a year now. As I sat typing away, I decided to make it my goal to submit it to at least 2 literacy agents before I leave. Who knows, maybe this story could end up paying off my school loans???? =D
Tomorrow I have some delectable funny pranks up my sleeve. Stay tuned to hear how they go!

Documenting the final days

Whether anyone reads this or not, I have learned from old blogs that what I love the most about blogging, is going back and reading it later on. So here I write to update family and friends, but also to remember these days later on.
Today was my fourth day working at my new job. They still don't have me doing a whole lot, aside from house chores and watching the other staff, but it's an exciting learning experience. One of the guys who live there, takes a car ride every Monday to have fun going around corners. I got to ride along today for the loop which was a VERY windy 1 mile. I had eaten a small breakfast, and forgot a lunch, and was starving hungry. It was a blessing in disguise because if I had eaten properly, the car sickness would have caused it to go all over the van.
When we got back to the house, my boss had me washing and putting clothes away. I found out she is very picky about the way things are folded. She went so far as to warn me that she has had people quit due to her pickyness. Here comes the nerd in me......she taught me how to fold a fitted sheet! I was so excited by how easy it was and how neat it looked, that when I got home I had to show my mom. Once I got home I wanted to go and fold all the fitted sheets because I was so excited about the new technique.
One of the guys who lives there, is very violent at times, and the whole house has to work around it. His laundry cannot be put away, his room cannot be cleaned, and the dishes cannot go into the dishwasher, until he is out of the house. The last hour of my shift he left the house for a while, and I went put the laundry away in his room. Once in his room, I discovered he had smeared his poo all over the wall. I was then assigned the task of cleaning the mess off the wall.
The weird side of my humor shined then, and I laughed at the thought of, "How many times will I do this in my life?" I've dealt with dirty diapers before, and wiped up animal messes on the floor, but this is the first time I have ever cleaned up a manly mess off the wall. (Okay, alright, that was lame...but I warned you I was weird).
I got home and was exhausted. I sat on the couch and zoned out. I sat there for about an hour before Mom came home and I realized I had just wasted my day away sitting and staring. I couldn't understand why I was so tired. My job is not a highly physically demanding job, and the three other days I worked I felt good enough to go jogging after my shift. Then it clicked and I realized I am just THAT addicted to coffee, that when I skipped this morning, I was dead by 4pm.
I drank a cup of coffee and that's when I got the energy to share my exciting news with Mom, that I had learned how to nicely fold a fitted sheet.
After sharing my fun lesson with my mom, I went for a half hour walk up my road. On the walk I was surprised to see a slug being carried to an ant hill by ants. It's June 25 and it's a cold, cloudy day in Oregon. I think all this cold and darkness is what's chased me out of Oregon. It was a delightful 75 when I visited Oklahoma in March. I just got home from sunny California last night, so it's aggravating to go back to winter. Do you know the four seasons in Oregon? Almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction. That's one sight I never thought I'd see on my my middle of no where gravel road...yes, a road work sign!

Eventful week

My bedroom now has half the amount of stuff it did a month ago. I am downsizing slowly. Eventually I will need to cut the size in half again, but I have let myself numb to that thought lol.
I started my new job and then quit my old job this past week. I now work at a group home for three mentally disabled men, helping live in day to day activities. This last week I worked a total of three days, a total of 21 hours, a total twice what I was making at my old job.
My first week I mostly read all the rules and regulations, and shadowed the other staff. It is quite the different experience, where you have to use your brain a whole lot more than your back(yay me!). I have to convince one guy to come out of his bed, talk another guy out of beating himself when he's frustrated, and be on alert for the third guy who likes to punch at random times.
The job is 6 miles from home, unlike the twenty five at my old job, and pays very well. So far it's been very interesting and I am excited to start doing more. I told them I'll be leaving August 5th for more schooling, and they were fine with that, saying it would work out well with another staff who is on maternity.
I now have 43 days until I leave!!!! We mailed out invitations, and made a facebook announcement, for a going away party on July 29.
This weekend Steve, Nick, Mom, and I drove down to San Jose, California for a family reunion at my uncle and aunts house. After a 12 hour drive, I got home, just now in fact. I'll end with some pictures, then off to sleep I go! :)