The first date

That's right, a date.  Yesterday was just wonderful.  I left at about 11:30AM and got my hair trimmed and brushed out so it was smooth and styled for my first time meeting Scott Steiner.  He and I met on eHarmony in my last few days of having a subscription.  He was wonderful.  Scott is a Jewish Medical student living in North Miami.  We met at 4:30PM to see Thor at the movie theater in the Saw Grass Mills mall.  The movie was great and all went well, better then well even.  He is the type to talk durring movies; point out character flaws, spot product placement, and laugh at the randomness of some of the characters.  That is a wonderful thing though.  As my friend Danielle Toomer knows, I am also the type that can not stay 100% silent through a movie.  I Have to point things out and it's great to have someone to do that with.

After the movie, we moved onto dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.  I am mostly sure that the people at the table beside ours were disturbed by our conversation topics ranging from older animes to ulcers and the symptoms associated with certain diseases and medical conditions.  It was wonderful and insightful conversation.  After many glasses of ice water, a plate of calamari, fresh breads, and our actual dinner plates we departed and began a short walk through the 2nd largest mall in Florida. 

We did stop at GameStop where I traded a few games (Cooking Mama, Cooking Mama 2, Gardening Mama, Avatar the Last Air Bender, Bleach, Big Brain Academy, Brain age 1, Brain age 2, Trace Memory, and Magentica) for $57 in store credit.  I got Pokemon Black, reserved Camping Mama, and still have $17 left over.

Then we found a lovely fountain where we took a seat and we stayed there for nearly 2 hours, just talking about random things.  Before I knew it, it was 10:30PM and I had told my Uncle I would be home around 9ish.  After discovering the time, he insisted on walking me back to my car and we stood and talked for yet another 10 minutes or so, quickly deciding that it was not going to be much of a choice for us to meet again for another date. 

Next time we'll be going to the Avantura Mall.  I'll keep everyone updated. 

Day four: Soldiers should be home now

So I spent my day today wondering how work was going to go and I am happy to report that it went just fine.  A lot of things are different at this store.  The managers and the other trainer are quite anal about organization and for that I am glad.  I am also a bit anal about organization in the work place.  I don't function well when things don't have a place.

Now it's late and I've had a very long day.  There is one thing I would like to mention though.  Soldiers.  That's right, I said soldiers.  I know 1 person who is or was fighting and I lost contact with him over the years so I don't know if he is still there or not.  I always watch for his name on the news just in case.  I want to talk about the videos for soldiers coming home and surprising family.  I always cry, there is no stopping the tears that come when I watch these videos.  There are so many of them.  It's the kids that get to me, but I want to say this, if you ever just want to see a video that is going to evoke some kind of emotion in your cold dead heart, I suggest clicking this link and finding a moment to watch.

Soldiers coming home

I firmly believe they should all be home by now.

Day three: Shopping

This morning had purpose for me.  I was downright ordered by my very own Grandmother to take some of her money and go buy at least three more pairs of pants for work.  After a small conversation trying to explain that I do not need more then one pair, I gave in, took the $300 she sent me and did just as she said, I went to target and got exactly three pairs of pants.  Well that was only $80.  So what now to do with the rest of the money?

After a small stroll in target and finding one delightful pair of sandals, I headed to Ross.  You know what I love about their store?  You can and will find both cheep and higher quality items for the same low costs.  I bought a top today for $5.99.  All together I got 4 tops and 1 adorable bolero for $40.  Tomorrow I'll get some photos to add to this of the clothing I purchased.  I'm honestly proud of myself. 

Before my stomach started screaming at me, I made my last stop over at JC Penny.  If someone had told me that there would be a full Sephora store inside that damn retailer I would have found somewhere else to go.  Why, you may ask?  Well let me just say this.  I LOVE L-O-V-E Sephora.  Seeing this store was like seeing the proverbial gates to heaven.  Not to mention that located just at those gates and inside were two extremely well dressed and well spoken homosexual men.  It was like I'd died and gone to... Sephora. 

After seeing all of this I felt somewhat obligated to make a purchase or 4.  So without much thought to it I bought a brush for lips, a brush for liquid liners, a small jar of smokey cream line, and a glitter black crayon eye liner pencil.  I was just feeling so accomplished.  Then as I was exiting, I saw a lovely end-cap of this.

Kat Von D. and Sephora have come out with a rather nice selection of pallets and colors.  That green pallet right there in the middle is one I am going to be purchasing in the near future.

After this productive shopping spree, I headed home where I spent my day watching Ponyo and anything that appealed really.  Just as I was about to sit down and be done for the night, my Aunt came in and placed 5 small bottles and jars of Clinique and Lancome pieces in front of me.  Turns out that my grandmother gets a basket from them once a month and these things she does not use.  Well guess what Grandma!  I use Clinique and you have just saved me about $80. 

This day ends well for me and tomorrow starts my new job.  Same company, different and much more trafficy location.  So I think it's about time I hit the hay.  Good night all!  Wish me luck!

Day two: As uneventful as if gets

I awoke this morning at 10:38AM.  It took me a moment to notice that it was a text message that woke me, not Harlee, the smaller beagle of the two I live with.  I have never been here and awoke to anything accept Harlee whining and barking.  It was quite nice to not be awoken like that. 

I went about my morning plans of making sure they were walked and fed enough to not have issues later on.  It was so quiet, so ridiculously quiet.  There was of course the phone call from my father wanting to make sure I had everything right with my auto insurance.  Appreciated but still kind of annoying. 

Once again I found myself sitting in my pajamas until around 3:30 watching The Princess and the Frog, and The Pianist until my Aunt and Uncle came home.  We proceeded to have breakfast for dinner and now I am sitting behind my computer in a new set of pajamas, blaying OMGPOP's Balloono.  If you've never played it, it can be addicting, I warn you.

I think it's time to go to Barnes&Noble.

The death of a madman

On this night of May 1, my very first night away from home, and starting my new life in the city of my birth, America received news of the confirmed killing of Osama Bin Laden.  I wondered how today could get much better but with just 9 minutes left until midnight I am not sure what to do with myself. 

The President's speech was well delivered from beginning to end, and I am glad that I was not only alive, but awake and in front of the television from the moment the white house issued a 10 minute warning until a Presidential address at 10:30PM Sunday, until 11:48 when he walked away from the podium and the rain made the satellite go out.  This is yet another day that I will always remember where I was, whom I was with, and what I was doing.

September 11, 2001:  I was 14-years-old, sitting in my 9th great Earth Space Science class at the 9th grade center of West Orange High school, and then moved to my Algebra 1 class where we skipped all class work to watch the news.

The death of Micheal Jackson:  I was 22-years-old and sitting on my Aunt and Uncle's couch watching the news.

May 1, 2011:  I was again sitting on my Aunt and Uncle's couch, assisting with paperwork for the next day, watching the news.


All in all... this is going to be a hard day to beat.

First day and a long awaited taste of freedom

I woke up this morning bright and early at 8AM to see my brother and father off to Ocoee.  We headed to Diane's Country Kitchen.  This place has been one of my favorite breakfast spots in the Coral Springs area since I first went many years ago.  It is a seat yourself restaurant with down home waitresses and a great service reputation.  The food is always good but I  will warn you, if you ask for a side of egg salad, tuna salad, or anything of the sort, it won't end up being a cheep meal.  My suggestion is to stick to the menu.  The bagels are large and fresh, the eggs always come out right and they are more then willing to accommodate any variation of food you want.  For me 3 eggs scrambled, 1 toasted everything bagel, and a side of hash browns is just fine. 

Now this breakfast was a wonderful occasion for me and not so much for my father.  You see, if you know me, then you know that I have lived in the same home for the past 18-years of my life.  I have never worked more then a mile or two from my front door, and I have been begging for changes in my surroundings for years.  The day I turned 18 I started thinking about the day I would strike out on my own, but the circumstances and the people whom I wanted to move out with were never really ready to leave their own homes.  Well today is my day.  After breakfast I said goodbye to my dad and my younger (but much taller) brother.  It's odd to be without them, but I think I can get used to it.  That's what Skype is for afterall, right?

So we left Diane's and headed to a grocery store called the Fresh Market.  This store is just wonderful.  An oasis of organic products, fresh produce, and delightful sweets.  I picked up a few tangelo's and some tiny star cookies. 

The most impressive counter for me is the one containing cakes, cookies, and sweets.  I can't actually eat them in large amounts due to my acid reflux but as I taste things, I will gladly report back to you all and tell you what's good and what's not going back in my kitchen.  Today I sampled the Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies.  Essentially it is a peanut butter cookie with creamy chocolate chunks in it.  I won't say it's one of my personal favorites, but it will satisfy anyone's craving for chocolate or peanut butter.  I could mention something witty and comical about how they compare to a Reese's cup, but nothing will replace those for me.

 

Before leaving I had to check and see that the store carried a product when I came across this beauty.

Pumpkin Waffle mix.  It's something I HAVE to try.  However first things first, I'll need a waffle maker.  I have never had a fresh waffle before that wasn't previously frozen, and when I do, you all will be the first to find out.  

I got more unpacked today as well.  My dolls are once more out and dressed, and my new work pants are sitting behind me in my closet, waiting for Wednesday.  You all will hear from me though, before and after.  If you ever have a resturaunt suggestion or product suggestion, feel free to let me know.  

Bye for now!