Updating While Snowed In

There's about two feet of snow on the ground outside, so I figured now would be a good time to update.

I've been working at my new job for exactly four weeks, and I find that I actually kind of like it better than any of the other jobs I've ever had. Over the years, I've figured out that I prefer jobs where I can be "behind the scenes," and don't have to deal with disgruntled customers.

At my new job, that's basically the idea. I'm in the stockroom, pulling parts for the various jobs everyone in the production area does, and management talks to any customers who actually come to the building.

The dress code is good too. I can wear jeans and sneakers, but I also have to wear a static jacket and heel straps to ground me so that electrostatic discharges don't damage the electronic components. So the clothes are comfortable, and the static jacket is actually warmer than it looks, so I can just wear a tee-shirt underneath it and be comfortable, temperature-wise.

My first paycheck was only half of what I'd usually be getting, since I came in at the middle of the pay period. I was really worried at the time, because that meant I'd still be about half-a-month behind on paying my bills. Luckily, around that time, all three of my W-2s from last year's jobs came in, and I was able to file my taxes in the last week of January. I got the state return back ($618) on Friday, January 30th, and my federal return ($655) came early this past week.

I got caught up on the bills that were overdue, and then held the rest for when I got my first full paycheck (plus 2½ hours of overtime, since they'd asked me to stay late last Friday to help finish a project) yesterday.

I wasn't able to completely pay off what's left of my car loan, but going off of the payoff amount posted online, I was able to get about half of what's left paid. I also helped with this month's rent (though I couldn't afford the whole rent, what with knowing I'd have to pay my whole portion in two weeks again), paid my portion of the utilities, and paid all the bills that are due before my next paycheck. I now have about $70 in the bank, and $15.16 in cash (for snacks while I'm at the Haven) until February 19th.

I'm only going to use what's in the bank to fill up my gas tank when I start to run out--I've got half-a-tank still--and then save the rest to go toward bills with my next paycheck. It'll also be used for emergencies, if there are any between now and then.

Tomorrow, Anna and Tim have been planning to have people over for a Superbowl party, but we're not sure if they're actually going to be able to get here, what with the snow and all. Whether they do come or not, it's all good to me. I'm not even going to watch the game (I don't like football), but the three of us are already starting to go a little stir crazy from being stuck inside, so it'll be nice to have some visitors.

I've joined another RPG at the Haven. It's a game called Nobilis. It's totally dice-less, and looks/sounds really interesting. I already created my character, who is completely different from any character I've ever played before.

I usually play characters who are a lot like me (female, relatively good, interested in a lot of the same things I am . . . makes it easier to stay in character that way), but since I know the GM-ing style of the person running the game (I'd been in his Vampire: The Masquerade game for a little while a couple years ago) I decided to try something different. For one thing, my Nobilis character is a guy. For another, he's not all goody-two-shoes at all, but rather devious. It'll be a challenge to play this character, and I'm looking forward to it.

The game itself will have about 30 or so players, but we're not all going to be playing at once. The way the GM is running it, there will be set gaming sessions, and there will also be random, "Okay, who's here from the Nobilis game? Anyone up for a one-off?" sessions. We players just have to participate in only one session every two months, at the least, to be allowed to stay in the game.

Not bad, considering that the weekly Serenity game is pretty much the most regular gaming I can handle. It cuts into my sleep time on Thursday nights, so Fridays are a bit rough, but it's worth it, since the game is so frickin' awesome.

Holy Crap, it's Snowing.

That was my reaction when I went downstairs to pack my lunch this morning and looked out the kitchen window. First snow of the season. We now return to our regularly scheduled lives.

SNOW

Grrr . . . it snowed yesterday. I hate snow. I mean, it's pretty and all, but it's also cold and wet--one of my least favorite combinations.

The allergist was closed for shots yesterday, so I'm going this evening. Spring semester starts on Saturday, but my first class session isn't until a week from tomorrow. This Thursday after work, I'm going to David's Bridal for my first fitting of my bridesmaid's dress.

That last part is pretty exciting--I get a really nice gown to wear, altered specifically for me! But I won't have anywhere to wear it after the wedding, so it'll just sit in my closet getting old and tatty. :( I wish I could afford to take a ballroom dance class. Then maybe I could wear that to dance events and such.

First Snow of the Season

For the first time in years, it's actually snowing before Christmas. I can't remember the last time that happened. Yesterday, they said that the meteorologist called for 2-4 inches today.

When I left for work this morning, it was coming down, sort of flurry-like, but there was a lot of it in the air. It had just barely begun to stick. I checked on it again before lunch, and there was at least 3/4 of an inch on the ground outside the basement office.

Just checked again--there are about two inches.

I'm going to have to shovel the walks when I get home today, or else I won't be able to move the car when I have to go to work. I can't afford to take snow days off right now, since I was just out sick for two days last week, and I didn't even have enough paid time off saved for that.

Last weekend, Anna and Jason came over and helped us decorate for Christmas. We got the tree set up, plus a few things we put in the cubby over the fireplace. Anna also set up the stockings, I think.

Snowed in, Again

It snowed on Sunday, so Monday I was snowed in again. I did shovel the back way on Sunday though, so I could get out really easily today. Everything melted pretty fast this time--hopefully, we won't have any big March snow storms.

I think the whole Girls' Camp trip is pretty much off now, since I've had to take another day's worth of paid vacation yesterday. Ah well, at least I'll still be able to afford SEFF (or LAFF).

Saturday, I copied Sister Act and Hook to DVD--I had my dad's old copied-from-TV VHSs of those two movies. It took three tries to get Hook. The first time, Kayla and Cassie and Jason O. stopped it shortly after I started, and I didn't get RW discs, only recordables, so I had to throw that disc out. The second time, I forgot to rewind the tape back to the beginning before I started recording, but the third time, I got everything just right.

Since it snowed on Sunday, I didn't go to my parents' house for dinner. I think I had a bologna and cheese sandwich with grapes on the side instead--but it's been two days, so I can't remember if that was Sunday's dinner, or Saturday's lunch.

Also due to not going to dinner on Sunday, Anna hasn't had a chance to look at the car yet.

She did come over Saturday night just to say "Hi," and to give me a few "non-chocolate-chip" cookies, but it was dark by the time she got to my place. Non-chocolate-chip cookies are not to be confused with sugar cookies--they're two completely different recipes.

Ok, no need to panic . . .

This morning, I had trouble staying asleep. I woke up around 6am, looked at the clock, and then tried to go back to sleep.

I had a nice sleep, then I realized that it had probably been too long to wait for my alarm. I looked at the clock, and and it was completely blank! So I went downstairs and looked at my cell phone--it was 7:49! We had had a power outage sometime between 6 & 7 this morning.

I turned off the laptop (the dock had no power, and the screen had frozen, so I had to take out the battery), looked out the window and saw all the snow, so I called work and left a message saying I wouldn't be coming in because the roads were un-driveable. I probably wouldn't have been able to get my car out of the street anyway.

So, I tried to get on the 'net and make this post once the power came back on, but my wireless connection wasn't working. I thought it was the wireless card, because the wireless router seemed to be working fine. Turns out, it was the internet connection itself.

Dad couldn't help over the phone, but Kayla fixed it a little while ago. She fiddled with the connections to the router, and then flipped the light switch for the internet connection on and off. All I had to do was restart my computer after that, and connection was a snap!

Thank goodness. I'd've hated to have to wait until tomorrow for any sort of internet connection (at work) and then have to wait until my dad could get here to fix the connection. He already needs to help me with the drapes in my room.

I took some pictures of my new place while I was waiting for the computer to re-boot, so I'll get those uploaded and then post them later.

Snow Day

It's been snowing off and on today. I hope the roads aren't too bad by quitting time.

I added a recent picture of myself to my profile. Last week, I had Anna take a picture of me with my digital camera (I got it for Christmas) while I was sitting at my desk in my new place.

I've been thinking about writing a fanfic for The Class, and I even have a plan for one, but haven't really gotten around to typing it up. I should though--it's making me unable to continue the Lois & Clark fanfic I've been writing for a while now.

YES! We just got an e-mail from our HR person at work here--we're all leaving at 3pm, instead of 5! WOOHOO!

I'm kinda bored though, and will be for the next 50 minutes. I don't feel like reading any more of Anna Karenina right now (I just finished part III earlier, and I don't want to start on part IV yet), and I've played all the games on my Palm Pilot so often, they're not even addicting anymore. Not to mention, my e-mail inbox for work is completely empty.