Sunday, September 28, 2008

Sunday

Ok, so I'm just getting off of work at Gap Kids. My days are pretty funny because I deal with soccer moms and screaming children. Would you believe that soccer moms are the biggest shop lifters? It's crazy how much merchandise we lose daily-more than the adult side, that's for sure. Here are some of my favorite tales from work:

A woman walked in with her young son. He had to be like 4, and he was asking her a question. She said, "Shut up you little shit," and he repeated her. She freaked out and said, "Don't you dare talk to mommy like that!!!"

One lady made her eight year old cry. They were going on vacation and the girl invited two friends, but only one was allowed to go. The mom started screaming at her, blaming her for all her life's problems. The littel girl started crying hysterically.

A kid tried to walk out of the store with a mannequin-enough said there.

This lady was yelling at her kid in a stroller. She kept screaming, "Sit!! Sit!!" over and over, and the little boy started barking. LMAO

One lady started smacking her kids around in the store. She dragged them out of there crying.

Today, however, I didn't deal with any craziness-just busy work. There were a lot of customers, and I was main cashier. Today this lady told me to go further than retail. LOL, I wasn't offended, I told her I'm a college student, and I will. Hmmm... The customers say that I really know how to sell stuff, so I should go into a field that requires persuasion. I do admit, I am not afraid to engage in a conversation, but I think journalism will do for me. Hey, it kinda rocks my socks.

That reminds me of something. A lot of people who work there, REALLY work there. I know my next move-well I kinda do. I freak out now about the thought of not having a career, but what about those people who are older and depend on this work? When I say older, I mean over 25. After that, you're kinda outta school, and should be starting some kind of career. I'm so high strung that I would not be able to live with myself. I guess I let my family and the media influence me enough to feel like I have to MAKE IT in order to make it. Hey, I'm still young, so I have some time to screw up and change my mind, so I really can't worry about it now.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Movin up in the journalism world

So I saw Joe Biden speak yesterday. I think after waiting for two hours and unintentionally skipping class, the speech was well worth it.  He discussed our economic crisis, and plans to fix it. He really got the crowd fired up.

On my Facebook I changed my status to one about me writing an article about Biden's speech. My friend called me out of the blue. This is the one who works on Capitol Hill. He asked me to send him the finished product of my article, some of his people would like to see it. He said "I'm gonna hook you up Tonya on this  one. I'll scratch your back. People want to know about Biden, and they want to see your writing." My professor just edited my article for me, and I feel like it's good to go. I'm excited about DC seeing my journalistic capabilities. 

Alright, so I know not everyone reading this enjoys politics or hearing about my future plans, but I think it's necessary to say. I have so many negative things happening everyday with my eating disorder and my family, I need something to smile about. God gives me opportunities to show I can rise above, and I am taking advantage. I think that's the wise thing to do-don't you?

Okay, so there's this guy I've kinda been interested in. He's sexy, and he seems very genuine and intelligent. He told me he was going to see Biden speak, so I was blown away. He has some common sense too lol. Now that I suddenly have things to do, I don't think I really care about him. It took me an hour to decide I don't like him anymore. Oh well. lol. My DC friend has been on my mind lately anyway... 

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Odd Day

So today started off very strange. I woke up at 3am and couldn’t fall back asleep. There was the most annoying cat outside my window. I swore it was Sid, but he was in the house. I managed to fall back asleep and get up at my normal time. I still managed to be late for class lol. I discovered my desktop had internet for the first time in like a week, so I took advantage. Facebook made me late for class (sigh).

I went to get in the car and I couldn’t find the car keys. Where the hell did they go? I was running around like a madwoman trying to find them. I noticed Dawn was up, and she told me they were on the third floor. Grrrr…. I went outside and noticed the garbage man pulling up. He blocked me in!! I finally got to school, and as I reached the parking lot my song came on-“Sure Looks Good to Me” by Alicia Keys. I stayed in the car and blasted the song. It was as good as ALWAYS. Lol. Then I ran across campus to my mass communications class. I breathlessly strolled in, and the professor knew it was me without even looking up. He told me to research chicken manure. Um… okay? Then we watched an episode of Family Guy. FREAKIN AWESOME!!!

Here’s something interesting today. In philosophy class, many unanswered questions were discussed in a video. It had to do with the development of the world and the accuracy of what has been laid out for us to believe. So I thought about something-If I could ask God anything, I’d ask:
· Who built Stonehenge?
· Where is Atlantis?
· Are we the only ones, or are others out there?

I just got back from seeing Joe Biden speak. It took sooo long so I wound up missing my public speaking class. I'm not too upset, though, because I got to see a speech lol. Plus I get to feel what it's really like to be a journalist. You finish up at an event then you run and type it up. I feel kinda important, too. Dawn's going to make the kids write papers on the speech today since they didn't get to do schoolwork (they do school online). They have to rely on the notes that I took to write their paper. I took down sooo many quotes. This should be a good one!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Philosophy Class

Today my philosophy professor went off on a tangent talking about Lance Armstrong. She is fascinated with him battling cancer and still competing. She believes that we should be inspired by him. "Extreme people are road maps for what we can do." 

Wow, that quote has burned a whole through me all day. I believe it.  I know I probably said it before, but we control our directions in life. I reject "The Man" theories and my gender holding me back. I control my own destiny. I control my education, my finances, my recovery, my happiness. I refuse to let negative thinking hold me back. 

The professor asked how we approach education. The Greeks-like many other cultures, saw education as a privilege. What is the point of being in school if I'm not going to jump in whole-hearted? I feel like my attitude toward  school is changing. Many days I look at school as a chore, rolling my eyes as I get out of bed. Everyday I need to want to learn. I always wondered whether or not I'm wasting my time in college, but school is not to get a good job, but to educate myself. I need to stop trying to rush through this semester and just take it slow, absorb ever piece of information thrown at me. 

She also posed another question-What are words and the power of words? Now, I can't define words, but I can discuss their power. A word's magnitude is not determined by its length. BE is a two-letter word, but it is profound. It means to exist. Humans BEings exist. Mankind IS, which is another word similar to BE. God is the great I Am.  What does antidisestablismentarianism mean to me? Nothing, but LOVE means a great deal to me. It is everything. GOD shapes me, has made me, and defines me. Words like HATE can pierce the soul, WAR can tear people apart. MONEY ruins us all. Hmmm... I think I will throw some of my thought processes into my paper. I may not be able to define words, but because I FEEL, I can talk about their power. 

(sigh) It's amazing how much I learn when I stay awake in class...

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Over-booking

I feel like I don't measure up for my family. I really feel like everyone thinks that I have it too easy, so I am tightening up my schedule. I don't know whether this will help me or hurt me, but my schedule has more tasks in it now. Here's what's on my agenda:
  • Women for Obama group
  • Six classes
  • Working at least 3 days a week
  • Newspaper obligations
  • Radio show 1 day a week
  • And as of today, I am secretary of the Literary Arts Society-which is interesting, because they elected when I actually found out about the group only ten minutes before I strolled in.
  • Applying for summer internships
  • Submitting query letters and writing samples for publications
  • Hanging with the chittlin's
Oh yeah, and I'm applying for an internship like... after I finish typing this blog. The internship, work, and school are of course at the top of my lists. Of course, hanging with the kids too. I want/need them to see this well-put together side of me-the side that eats and has friends and gives a darn about life.

I really like the thought of a tight schedule, not just because I want my family to think I'm a hard worker. I really need to retrain myself to take a beating, so that I can handle it later when my career throws me strife. It also keeps me from feeling too much, and that could lead to a problem because being super busy leads to me not thinking about eating. I'm learning how to balance a go, go, go lifestyle and healthy eating, which is something I had never really mastered. My eating disorder always used that as a crutch. I'm taking six classes so that I can knock some out before I go back to St. John's. This will save me some money. I'm also contemplating taking one or two online classes over winter break.

For now, I'm just going to cross my fingers and stay positive. I'm excited about the possibilities of my future!!

Friday, September 19, 2008

My introduction

Ok I think i should say a little about me. I am 20 years old, and I am in college. I'm doing a semester at some weird community college in Nowheresville, PA, but my heart is at St. John's University. I am a journalism student. This is because since I was a young child, I have been able to write my butt off. I am a nomad. In the last year I have lived in three states, my most recent being PA. Each place leaving a crumb trail WORTH telling about. I'm currently staying with my older sister Dawn, in attempts to keep me grounded.

What are my intentions for this blog? I guess to enlighten everyone about the daily happenings in my life. What makes my life special? I have crazy stuff happen to me all the time, I know how to write to get attention, I will make my mark with my writing. I am also in recovery for an eating disorder, for which I struggle daily. Mix in some sarcasm, some idealistic thoughts, some cultural hang-ups, and 20 year old nonsense, I think you have the formula for an interesting blog. ENJOY!!!

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Prosperity

We are all only as powerful as we think. I am going to go really far. How do I know? Because I feel it in my bones. My possibilities are limitless. I'm going to make my mark with journalism, just because I want to. The passion burns in my soul. 

I refuse to just... make it? How will I grow? My dreams are too big to be bottled up. What happens if you shake up a soda bottle? The contents come exploding out. My ideas shake up the bottle, and prosperity will leak out when it gets the chance...