Desert? Yeah, right!

There have been days when I longed for rain. There have been days when I have prayed for rain.

These last couple of weeks have filled my quota for the rest of the year.

I am sick and tired of being sopping wet. I miss the blue sky, and I miss the sun. It was exciting and fun for the first two days, but now, I'm really ready for it to stop.

Rain, rain, go away...

My roommates are happy that it is raining. I am completely miserable about it. It makes us all feel guilty, and we tip-toe around each other, trying not to mention the weather.

It doesn't help that my family lives in an area surrounded by a usually shallow creek which is now dangerously swollen. There's going to be flooding down there, the question is just "how bad?" And I'm constantly worried that one of the little kids in our neighborhood is going to try to explore the excitingly changed creek, and end up drowning.

Rain, rain, go away...

I'm cold and wet, trapped in my apartment because - with no car - I don't feel like swimming anywhere. I just sit alone on the couch, dismally watching the world drip.

My mood is heavy, stormy, and gray. But I don't see why it shouldn't be. It's just mimicking the world outside. That's fair, isn't it?


"Rain, rain, go away.
Come again on some other guy."
                  - Tigger

What's Up with Russia?

For those of you keeping track, there are approximately 96 days left until I leave for St. Petersburg.

Yeah! It just keeps getting closer and closer. It's starting to freak me out a little (which is NOTHING compared to what it's doing to my parents). I'm very excited, though, and very busy because now I have to do all that "last minute" paperwork.

Here's my International Language Program To-Do list for the next few months:

1. Register with the American Embassy in St. Petersburg
2. Verify that my health insurance covers emergency medial evacuation service
3. Go to the doctor and get a physical, to make sure I'm healthy enough to be abroad/working with children for four months
4. Provide a record of my immunization/vaccination history
5. Pass an HIV test (I'm pretty sure that, to pass, you're supposed to not have HIV)
6. Get a copy of my high school diploma sent to the ILP office
7. Fill out a questionnaire, so that the ILP in St. Petersburg can find a host family that will like me

Then, I've still got to make sure I've got all the supplies I'll need (including dark and warm clothing), renew my driver's license (since it'll expire while I'm away), see my personal soul eater orthodontist, and FIND A JOB ALREADY!!!!

Sigh. Anyway, just wanted to update you on my plans for fleeing the country. Y'know, in case I owe you money or something and you want to make sure you collect before I run off. (But don't try anything funny, because I intend to come back with all sorts of Mafia connections . . . )

New Singles Ward

Yesterday, with my best dress on and my smile nervously in place, I walked to church by myself (silly out-of-town roommates!) to meet my new singles ward.

And guess what? They actually all seem really cool! And not even that weird! (Well, maybe a little weird...)

I decided to be proactive and actually meet people, since last year I was a total recluse and completely miserable in my singles ward. And God helped me, too. Because every time I met someone and thought oh good, now I can just follow this person around all day... God would shake His head and say I don't think so. You need to meet LOTS of people. and suddenly that nice, friendly person I just met would completely ditch me. It happened more than once. So I met lots and LOTS of people yesterday, but I'm all the better for it.

Let's see which names I can remember:

There's Lizzy, who was apparently in my English 250 class. She was super nice and gave me her number in case I ever wanted to hang out or something.

Then there was Christine, and her friends Ariel and Aaron who were swooning about the awesomeness of Bleach the whole time I was with them.

There was Kimber, who lives two apartments down from me; Tiffany, from Payson, who shared her hymnbook with me; and Sarah who sat by me in ward choir.

Because I went to ward choir! Like a good, involved, go-getter type person. (Because I've been inspired by 2 Nephi 2:16 "The Lord gave unto man that he should act for himself.") I went to ward choir so that I could develop/share my talents, meet people who like singing, and OF COURSE so that I could become introduced to all of the attractive, singing men.

Because there were plenty. (*evil grin*)

Verbatim Phone Conversation with My Dad

Me: Hello?

Dad: Hey, Jess.

Me: Oh! Hi, Dad.

Dad: I need to talk to you. I need to make sure we've got something cleared up.

Me(*warily*): Er, okay...

Dad(*strategic wording*): What . . . is your understanding . . . of when you are supposed to kill me?

Me: ...uh, it's before you turn 104, right?

Dad: Yes, yes. But I mean, is that, like, the day of my 103rd birthday? Or the day before I turn 104?

Me: I'd say the day before you turn 104.

Dad: So, that'd be March 1st, then?

Me: Yeah, yeah I guess so.

Dad: Okay, good. I thought maybe you'd be confused and think you were supposed to kill me on my 103rd birthday, and that would just be wrong.

Me: No, no. It's definitely just before you turn 104. Because you want to live to be 103, but not any older.

Dad: Right.

Me: Right.

Dad: . . . Okay! Well, as long as that's settled, I'll see you later! Love ya!

Me: Love you too, Dad. Bye.

Dad: Bye!

Dumped in Dragon Age

I just got dumped in Dragon Age.

Yup. Alistair dumped me. Even after all the work I went through to get him to like me again after the "letting a blood mage kill Lady Isolde" incident. I get him to the landsmeet, fight Loghain for Alistair's right to the throne, and when Alistair finally gets the crown he tells me, "Hey, now that I'm king, I'm gonna need to make a royal baby heir; since we Grey Wardens don't live very long, I'm thinking you're not the best candidate for my kid's mama. Sorry and all that."

Pfft. Jerk. So then I have the option of convincing him to let me be his royal consort. But seriously, that is SO beneath me. So I called him a filthy name and he went off to camp to sulk.

Well, that's that. And since I already turned down Zevran's colorful offer of going back to my tent for an Antivan massage...

...that means my romance options are pretty much dried up. What else is new?

Fortunately, I have my own awesomeness to comfort me. Seriously, could Alistair or Zevran have taken down nine vicious werewolves singlehanded? I think not! (Down you go, Witherfang!)

Here's to my superior strength, giant war-axe, and sheer fantasticness. Why would I need men when I'm already me?

Doesn't Anybody Want to Hire Me?

I only have three days left at my freakishly-early custodial job. (*crowds cheer*) Yes, yes, I am delighted. Finally I will be able to return to my natural, nearly-nocturnal circadian rhythm. I will get to stay up late with my roommates; I will get to wake up AFTER seven o'clock; and best of all, I will get to have more than five hours of sleep every night. I am so excited to not feel exhausted all the time!

HOWEVER. Because of the life-is-a-boulder-trying-to-run-me-down complex I've had for the last couple of weeks (end-of-semester blues) I haven't been able to accomplish what now seems like the most important task on my list. I still haven't found a new job. (*facepalm*)

Don't get me wrong. I've applied for a few different jobs, but nothing's worked out and I haven't been trying as hard as I should have. (Foolishly, I keep thinking that if I don't feel well I shouldn't have to do anything. I'm learning the fallacy of THAT thinking real fast.) I'm currently in a layered application process with some company called Property Solutions Inc, which is looking for part-time writers. But I am increasingly worried that the next few weeks will find me very unemployed. And I've got to start making payments to the ILP for my Russia trip!

I hate money. And I hate looking for a job. All my other jobs thus far have come through my own connections (I knew someone who knew someone who gave me a job, that type of thing). I'm not sure how long it will take me to find a job on my own, and I don't have a lot of time to spare.

Anyway, if any of you knows of any job opportunities, I'd be much obliged if you'd pass them along. I'm not picky, just poor.

And now, off to bed! I'm not through with the custodial job yet.