Well, it's official. High school football has begun. Tonight, HHS will not play Central but will play E-town instead. Last night on the local news they discussed nothing but football and the re-org of the L-L League. For about 10 seconds I missed all the hoopla. And then it passed. But still, it reminds me of a less stressful time. I mean, of course there was homework stress, and first day of school stress, and marching band stress and having to wear a uniform that consisted of well-placed bits of sliver lame over WHITE SPANDEX that became totally transparent in the rain!!!!! Ahem. So, as I was saying, there was no "I don't have health insurance" or "I can't believe this ridiculous quote for car insurance" or "I totally got shafted on my stafford loan." It's tough to be a grown-up sometimes and I think that's all I'm getting at here. But I do sort of miss red and black face paint, confetti and "Basin Street Blues." But now I'm starting to sound like an idiot so I'll go get ready to take the girls out to play at the tennis courts. Shana and Killian are really into chasing tennis balls and each other around the courts until their tongues hang out. It's pretty darnded cute.

I tried to avail myself of commenting services from YACCS but they are no longer accepting new YACC users. Perhaps another time. I did go to Roots yesterday and got an awesome parking space. I also effectively managed (can you tell that I recently worked on my resume?) to avoid Finks French Fries-- the best fries ever! Thrashers fries are good, but Finks fries provides a touch of nostalgia lacking in Thrashers. Yay fall weather and football games and the Time Warp in the stands! Woo! I am such a nerd. Anyway, I was unable to discover the legend behind Whoopie Pies. Will have to don my anthropologist hat (exactly like Indiana Jones' fedora) and go out into the field for some research. And now I'm an even bigger nerd. I suppose I should stop while I am ahead.

Hmmm. You know, I'm not exactly in the Windy anymore. I'm in the Lanky now. Hmmm...Fummer in the Lanky...uh, not so good. So I get an email this morning from the Office of Annual Giving about participating in the Phonathon in 2 weeks. Hmph. I really like my new friend M, but she's on the Alumni Board and is the one who gave out my email address so that they could ask me to participate. She also gets on my ass about donations. Not too bad, really, since I've been unemployed, but I had to promise to donate $15 after I start working. "It's not the amount that you donate, it's that you donate." Blah, blah, blah. And you know, I don't mind the idea of donating to my Alma Mater since the school was kind enough to give me a full-ride scholarship, but I have to tell you that I am not impressed with the new Pres. and I'm not sure I like where the College is heading. Still, the time to give back is soon approaching and I will do my duty and give a little something. And I do mean little b/c my first priority is to get an apartment and go haul my crap out of my mother's house and into said apartment. Off to Roots now. No more outtings to Roots in the middle of the morning after today. I will have to go at 5pm when everyone else that is not a tourist or a stay-at-home mom goes. I can smell the Whoopie Pies already...Whoopie Pies...I'll have to ask why they are called Whoopie Pies...hmmm...

Well, my last week as an unemployed person is upon me. So far, all is well. I got up at 7:45 (trying to get myself back on schedule) and am ready to get busy. Just the usual chores of laundry and grocery shopping and going to the gym ("Oh, the GYME" for Simpsons fans). I'm quite excited about my new job and getting to meet lots of new people. I think it will be good:> I wish I had the financial means to go *skydiving* before going back to work--I'm envious of J's excursion into the world of 120 mph. And hey, the "trash can mouth" thing is pretty darned sexy:> Maybe when I have a permanent job and real health insurance that does not threaten to void my policy for participating in said activity. I would much rather jump out of a plane than go skiing down a hill. Ooh, laundry's done--must go! Happy First Day of School to Amanda and Alissa and HEF!!! You guys are awesome!

RAIN!!!!!!!! It has finally RAINED in LANKY! Wheeeeee! I mean, Lanky isn't the only place that's afflicted by drought, but I am way excited about rain. Except that my dog refuses to go out to pee while it is raining. It's supposed to rain all day but it's not right now, so guess it's taking a break. Now it's a lazy rainy day and I don't want to do anything but lay around and nap. Must do work. Have things to do. Maybe after I post my blog:> So, I have to admit that I saw Kyle from the Real World at Park City last Sunday. Alissa made me do it! Well, truth be told, I had forgotten. Alissa and I were having dinner at T.G.I.F.'s when SHE reminded me. I swear. So, we decided to go check it out. He walked right past us with his big stupid head. And all the while A and I were getting hit upon by some guy at the little kiosk that sells those rainbow coloring things from t.v. He told us that he was too old for us, or something like that. Skeevy mall guy. But you should have seen how many girls (and 2 guys) were lined up for Kyle's autograph. The line was 3-4 across and all the way back to Formal Affairs (the store immediately inside the doors of that entrance). I read in the paper that he was there until 10 pm signing autographs. I wonder if he signs body parts...Just kidding. And you should have heard the girls scream when he came out flanked by mall security. Oh, so funny. Stupid Kyle on Podunk Mall Tour. What an idiot. I should have heckled him. I should have yelled that I'm not impressed by his "dry, rythmless humping." Hee hee hee. So very, very funny.

You know, I'm starting to lose my faith in the justice system a little more each day. Now, for those of you who keep up with the local news here in Lanky, the MT graduates who were arrested on charges of assault while at Senior Week in OCMD are going to get off scott-free. I knew this was going to happen. And the description of the assualt changes every time. Now the guys just threw food at the naked body of an underage girl while she was passed out. JUST THREW FOOD AT THE NAKED BODY OF AN UNDERAGE GIRL WHILE SHE WAS PASSED OUT. What the hell is this?!? The one kid is at Princeton already at football camp and they are acting like nothing happened. Now, only one of the three guys arrested is actually facing charges and he will probably get off, too. Who in their right mind thinks that it is acceptable to videotape a girl who has passed out from too much alcohal while others take off her clothes and throw food at/insert food in her???? And now they are getting away with it with less than a slap on the wrist. No one is going to hold these men accountable for their despicable acts and it won't be long before everyone forgets about it. It just makes me sick.

Okay. Have regrouped and blown off steam. Not a good idea to freak out on one's blog if that is all one does on a regular basis. Have managed to procure a 12-week gig with potential employer discussed in previous blog. Got a call yesterday (only 2 days later than promised but is okay now) and was told that they chose the other candidate b/c she has previous fundraising experience. That's a valid reason not to pick ME. Hee hee hee. Anyway, have been offered a short term position with the possibility that it could turn into a FT permanent position at the end of the 12 weeks. If there is no extra funding to support such a position, I am sure to find another job as 12-week position will allow me to meet with many bigwigs in Lanky. Then maybe I will end up with something in the for-profit sector--we will just have to wait and see what happens. I remain in the LAND OF SUCK until I receive a paycheck (in about 4 weeks). I start my new job the day after Labor Day and until then, I will try to enjoy the remaining days of unemployment, like going to Roots in the middle of the morning and sleeping in until 8 am and then leisurely drinking a cup of coffee and reading the paper. And no more trips to the gym at 2 pm. Will have to go at 5 with all the other alumni who want to work out before going home for the day. I realize that I COULD work out in the morning but that would mean getting up at the crack of dawn just to go get sweaty and then having to take a communal shower with a professor or something. I am NOT going to go there. Yay new job!

Welcome to the LAND OF SUCK! A new term coined by Amanda that accurately describes my current state of affairs. My blog is frequently full of the negative and I had vowed that if I didn't have something positive to say about my life then I wasn't going to post it. Well, screw that! Today, I got another big blow off by a potential employer who, once again, did not have the fucking courtesy to at least let me know that they had decided upon the other candidate. And it's okay that they didn't choose me, but for god's sake they could have at least called like they said they would. I feel like my fucking college education means nothing since the only jobs that anyone would want to hire me for require only a high school diploma or a GED. How sad is that? Well, I guess it's off to the LAND OF SUCKY WAITRESS GIGS.

I made it to NJ for the remainder of the weekend. I made good time, too--only 2.5 hrs. I was under the impression that people from Jersey are crazy drivers and speed everywhere, however, almost all the drivers with NJ plates were driving UNDER the damned speed limit. That is so annoying. Nevertheless, I allowed my roomates to drag me on a whirlwind tour of their favorite weekend hot spots. I finally saw the notorious Rich Meyer show and a good time was had by all. Then we were dragged to a club a few blocks away full of good looking young people wearing too tight clothes. Dancing was good, tho, and great music. Now, I am not really a clubbing kind of person, but we had a good time and I might be ready to do it again in another year:> And stupidly, I wore impractical shoes that hurt the hell out of my feet all because they looked great with my outfit. That was so dumb. And I knew that when I packed them. After a few short hours of sleep, we had brunch and headed to the beach. SB had to work so M and I just hung out by the guard chair and had some fun in the sun for a couple of hours. Water was nice and I managed to excape with only a slight burn on my shoulders. That's what happens when you wear expired sunscreen. Oops. It was nice to see my roomates and can't wait for Alumni Weekend in October so we can do it again. Shana is recovering nicely from her little bout with gastritis. And, she played with Killian for the first time at the tennis courts last night! This is a big deal for her since she's been traumatized by attacks by other dogs when we were in Chicago. I'm very excited for her--she is making excellent progress.

I am sooo bad at blogging. Anyway, weekend in NJ with the roomates cancelled on account of doggie gastritis. Poor baby. If I had to miss this weekend for any reason, this would be it. So, now I am home boiling hamburger and rice and cleaning up little piles of vomit and forcefeeding doggie Tagamet to my dog. Whew. I don't know if I can handle all this excitement. There is a possibility that I can drive to NJ tomorrow evening and come back Sunday. We will have to wait and see. It depends on a certian furry mutt butt. Still no job and starting to realize that it's soon time to head for the temp agencies. Unlike someone I know, I don't collect unemployment while I look for a new job. Not going back to I's, tho. No way. So....last weekend was a lot of fun. And I really LIKED our salmon (Scott). It was awfully darned good for having been purchased at Stauffer's in Lititz. Craft show was okay. Too many vendors selling chenille scarves. It was the same old group of carnies like every other time. We had fun anyway. I hate to say this, but Austin Powers was very funny. It should have been shorter, tho, by about 45 minutes. Fun nonetheless. Thank you all for a nice weekend. Must get back to boiling rice and hamburger. I want to come back as my dog in my next life.