Happy Halloween!

We had a monster invade our apartment this evening, but don't you worry your pretty little head...Miss Bennet was up for a fight. She took that monster down and ripped it open so that we could sleep in peace and safety. I'm so glad she's around to protect me.

Ahhh...Saturday.

I lied today.

I don't like doing that. So I feel a little bad.

But you would have done the same thing in my situation.

See, I was in the grocery store, standing in the beans aisle, selecting my dry goods.  There were a few of us in the aisle, and I heard someone say "Excuse me, beautiful." Instinctively, I glanced up, wondering if I was the person in the way. There was a man standing there, staring at me, and it sunk in what he'd actually said. Then he said, "Man, you really are beautiful." I was mute, completely flabbergasted. Then, as he was moving around me and away, he asks, "Do you got a boyfriend?"

What was I supposed to do? I hesitated a second, then finally said, firmly, though almost too late to be effective, "Yes."

I even ran through a quick list of my guy friends, debating which one to temporarily place in the boyfriend slot in case Sir Creeps-A-Lot decided to ask any follow-up questions.

I suppose I should be flattered when Random Stranger makes a pass at me or calls me beautiful. But there is a difference between such comments being sincere or flattering and them seeming simply predatory.

I've also just never understood hitting on someone by way of introduction. So I lied.

In other news, today is Saturday! I slept in this morning (6:30am, whoo!), spent some time in bed reading, changed the address on my driver's license, paid rent, went to the bank, Austin Community College to talk to admissions, the library to get a card, H-E-B for some banana bread baking groceries, and then home. It's been a relaxing, yet busy day -- a wonderful end to my extended workweek.

I hope y'all are having a wonderful day too. :)

Much Love from Texas,

C-Jo

And I will bookmark this.

As a habitual "loser," I find this to be brilliant:

You go to the website, type in your phone, and it gets called automatically. For seriously.

I even tested it.

My phone didn't go off.

Or so I thought.

Apparently when I was testing the "find your phone" service, I actually did lose my phone.

It wasn't in the house.

I checked the car.

No dice.

So I hit the button again.

Didn't hear it.

And again.

And walked back out to my car.

There it was, ringing away.

So yeah, it works.

(via)

I'm over the Electra Townie.

This is my new bicycling obsession:

(via www.bikereviews.com)

Gary Fisher Simple City 3.

Sold in Austin.

I'm avoiding going to the bike store so that I won't buy anything before I have the actual cash in hand.

But I want it.

Titles are good.

This post will probably make no sense, which I blame me being super duper tired, which I attribute to today being on the fifth day of an 8-day work week immediately preceded by a whirlwind trip to Galveston and an additional workday.

Only three days left until the weekend, people.

I have every intention to spend the day doing nothing. Unless, of course, I have the opportunity to be social. In which case, I choose society. Because rest is awesome, but sometimes friends are awesome-r.

Mmkay. So part of the reason I'm so tired, besides the longedy long long work week is a total fliparoo in my schedule (pronounce it like this: SHED-jewel). I went from working afternoons/nights in a bar to working mornings and afternoons with book lovers.

I got up at 5:30 this AM. I left my apartment 15 minutes before my body scheduled itself to actually wake up. I've been getting up at 7:30am, without fail, for more than a month. Now it's all kinds of wonky up in here, with me having to be at work by eight. What the deuce?

I'll tell you what the deuce: I LOVE MY NEW JOB.

LOVE IT.

LOVE LOVE LOVE IT.

Yes, I'm a receptionist (except I'm called a "Front Office Assistant"), which I didn't really expect to be my profession at almost-25-years old. I don't make great money. It's not a long-term career position.

But here's the dealio: I work for an awesome organization which I will not name on this blog, but I will be happy to share with you provided you are not a creeper or stalker. I'm in a for-now position that will give me amazing experience and connections. I work with three full-time employees who started out as temporary staff members through the agency that pays my bills. And I LOVE IT.

So that's good, right?

Also, working with bookish people means nobody thinks twice about me sitting outside at the picnic table reading for my entire lunch hour. Want to hear about it? Go here: austinbookworm.blogspot.com.

Much loves from Tejas,

C-to-the-JO

Have a nap...and zen fire ze missiles!

Hokay, so.... I am le tired.

This morning I decided it was high time I got back on track with running. So I started a half-marathon training program asking me to walk a total of four miles and run one today.

Admittedly, I only walked 2.5 (because I ran out of time), but I ran the one at (for me) a pretty good clip.

And then I went to work, where a huge party filled the bar and were hungry and waiting to order when we walked in. I can't tell you how many times I ran up and down those stairs (a full flight) and around the bar serving customers. I made a nice chunk of money in under three hours, and then had a couple of hours to do little or nothing before I was cut loose.

I got home a little after five, and took Bennet to the dog park. Sure, I didn't do much there but watch her, but that was more than plenty to push me over the edge. All I want to do now is crawl into bed and pass out, but it's not even 9:00 and I'm not sure I'm okay with being quite that lame at the age of 24.

I might be that lame anyway.

Sundays are a great way to start the week.

Bennet is lying on the floor just staring at me right now. She's kind of adorable.

Oh wait, now there are noises. She wants something, but she needs to wait a moment.

I'm sitting here looking up churches online. There are a few I'd really like to check out - if I didn't have to work at noon. It turns out that agreeing to this work schedule addition is messing up my plans even more than I expected.

Thankfully it'll only be this week and next and then I'll be free (FREE!) on Sundays following. Last night I talked to the manager and told him the situation. I felt bad because there I was, on my first non-training day, telling him I was quitting. But he was totally cool about it, and I'll be working through the next week's schedule before I start the temp-to-hire position.

No, it's not set in stone yet. But Jessica, the staffing manager, is only presenting one candidate (me), and told me it's pretty much a sure thing. So I'm trusting in that, and if not, then I just hope she finds me some other wonderful temp. work to keep me busy and in the monetary way.

I hope you all have a wonderful, restful, and worshipful Sunday!

Much love from ATX,

C-Jo

I Heart Books.

Sometimes I send my friend Kyle really ridiculous text messages, in part because I know that his response is usually of amusement, and never of judgmental cynicism.

So today I sent him this:

So who is dumb and agreed to work on Sunday when she was planning to go to the book festival? Me! Also...I'm toying with the idea of restarting my classic lit project with a blog about it and about the places I read in Austin. I have a new obsession with becoming a legit blogger.

And then:

Thought it would probably still feature photos of my dog...
I need a social life.

And finally:

I'm being pitched for a full time position at a nonprofit involving books!



Okay, so to clarify a few things:
1) The Texas Book Festival is tomorrow and Sunday here in Austin. I'll be there tomorrow morning for a couple of hours before work. I'm super excited. I love booksy people.

2) I'm serious about the blog. But I need a name for it. Something catchy, not too obscure, the more it makes me laugh, the better. Help me, please. I'm terrible at this. My future children are likely to remain nameless for a large portion of time following their births because I can't choose names. It feels too much like choosing an identity. And they're stuck with it. FOREVER.

3) For realsies on the job thing. This was a while after the other two texts. It's a temp-to-hire position, and though I can't say much right now, I'll share more as things become set in stone (so excited).

P.S.

I made $4 in tips last night.

I know, I know...I should be careful carrying around that much cash. I tucked it into a safe place.

And it's the first deposit into my "I live in Austin, and gas is expensive. Why the deuce am I driving when I could be riding a sweet two-wheeler?" fund.

Yes, I have a bike now. It's a beach cruiser. Great for, you know, cruising beaches.

Not so great for heavy traffic and hills.

This is the one I want:

(via)

Electra Townie Euro 8D.

Solid bike, great reviews, 8 speeds, vintage stylings. Excellent.

Except apparently nobody in Austin carries the Townie Euros except REI, and they only carry the men's versions.

Lamesauce.

Double P.S. The more I eat my soup concoction, the more I like it. Though I burned my tongue on the first bite, and my deadened tasters might be contributing to that fondness.

I worked today (yay!). I spent the day at the temporary staffing agency where I'm registered, and just made phone calls all day.

If there's one thing working for the Episcopal Diocese of Texas broke me of, it's my fear of phone calls.

So the first half of the day, I phoned associates (people registered with the agency) to wish them a happy birthday. They were several days behind, so that took a while. But people were really cute when they realized why I was calling, and one woman called back in the afternoon to tell me that I'd made an old lady's day.

The afternoon was spent calling professional references for potential associates, which was not as enjoyable as well-wishing, but certainly not bad. It was fun to be in an office again, to get to wear my heels and pencil skirt and a cardigan and to play professional, peppy Carolyn.

When I got home a little while ago, I couldn't figure out why I was so tired. I sat at a desk all day, and the work isn't even as mentally taxing as it used to be on me.

Oh, that's right, I didn't sleep last night.

Okay, I slept some. I got home from work at the bar around 10:30, took Bennet out, and decompressed for a while. But I was still restless. I blame the dirty chai I picked up from Whole Foods right before my shift, but it may as well have been my busy mind that kept me from rest. I tossed and turned for a few hours, then laid awake, checking my phone after periods of time that felt like ages (which were actually something more like four, seven, and three minutes long), then half-dozed until my alarm went off at 6:15am.

I was afraid this morning that I'd be miserable at work, but the newness was enough to keep my adrenaline going, and the coffee made up the difference.

But as soon as I got home, I crashed, feeling the exhaustion, and my promise to Bennet that we'd go to the doggy park is now going unfulfilled.

Instead, I'm combining leftover spinach, tomato, a chicken soup mix (without the chicken), and some extra pasta into a hearty vegetarian soup for dinner. I'm pretty damn proud of myself for using what's already in my kitchen (go me), but I'm also crossing my fingers that it doesn't taste like something only bacteria could love.

Verdict: Bacteria would love it, but I don't hate it. Win.

Please come in!

I'm working today, but not until 5:00, so I've spent the morning tidying and taking photos of the apartment. I also did a short-short run (1/2 mile?), and I need to run out to the mall in a bit. But first, the long-awaited photos of my home:

 Living Room/Bedroom

Kitchen/Dining Room

Entryway

OK Corral

Miscellaneous Fun Details

Okay, well, now I have to be downtown at 3:30 for an interview.

It's the interview that I had scheduled for Friday, but I called and asked to change it because I'm going to be doing temp. work tomorrow and Friday. I don't really know how this job would work out all things considered, but I'm going to go find out, and then I can weigh my options and make the best decision about my employment future.

Real life is complicated, people. I didn't sign up for this.

Much love from Texas!

C-Jo

Hot Mess

After searching high and low for the USB cable that connects my camera to my computer, I gave up last week and ordered a replacement on Amazon. It arrived today, which means I can finally share photos of my new home!

Unfortunately, my camera battery died while I was uploading all the old pictures I hadn't put up yet, and so now I can't take any new pictures. I could share photos of an empty apartment, but that's hardly any fun. I'll charge up the battery tonight, and y'all will have something to look at tomorrow. But I will give you a preview.

 This room has a view:

And this is not where the horses are kept, though it could be where the "spirits" are stored. Just don't mess with the gunslingers who hang out here:

And this is my dog:

You actually get a funny story with the dog picture this time. See, the week after moving in and retrieving Bennet from Galveston, was surprisingly busy. I kept myself working almost constantly, whether it was applying for professional positions, walking around downtown with a stack of resumes in hand, or taking Bennet to the dog park.

The first day she was scared to bits. It was her first day in Austin, and she'd spent most of the morning hiding under my bed with the saddest eyes you ever could see. So late that afternoon I put her in the car, and we drove up to Riverside. It was a little after business hours, and the place was packed - dogs of all shapes, sizes, and colors were running around the field and trails. Bennet, however, spent most of the hour we were there sitting on the stone wall next to me, occasionally whining slightly because she kind of wanted to play, but not really.

When we went back two days later, I was surprised to see her jump right in with the pack. Except when the pack was diving into the river after tennis balls and other various chase-able items. She'd stop short at the edge of the water, barely daring to tip her nose over the edge, lest she fall in. After a while, she finally tiptoed into the shallowest area, barking at the swimmers retrieving their catch from the middle of the river, but refusing to follow.

So I had an idea.

It was a mean idea.

But I was curious.

What would happen if I just sort of, um, pushed her in?

I found out, let me tell you. What happens is that puppy-face becomes cranky-face, who panics and scrambles to get out of the water, then runs pell-mell back and forth across the trail until finally she throws herself on the gravel and rolls around until she turns brown.

Brown and crispy, as a matter of fact, after just a few minutes under the hot sun.

Hence the photo, taken immediately prior to bath time (which she hates). Please note my new white bathroom mat, now not-so-white.

And after surveying the wreckage of my bathroom...

...I vowed to take Bennet to a self-serve dog wash next time. Which happened yesterday.

I'm not actually sure what's better: perpetual dirt in my bathtub (I still can't get it all to go away) or paying $16 for someone else to clean up the mess. Really, as long as she's clean and I'm happy, I don't care.

I know, two in a row.

 

But she did that unprompted, and just...stayed there. It was hilarious.

I'm sure I'll have something otherwise relevant and witty to say soon. :)

Puppy in a Basket!

Do y'all ever get tired of seeing pictures of my dog? It can't be possible.

I mean, look at that fluffy white face. I just can't help but be madly in love with her.

I doubt you can either.

And if your furry little friend had taken up residence in your laundry basket, 

you'd be snapping photos too, don't you think?

Sure, I'm now counting everything on top as "unclean," 

but I just can't bring myself to kick her off. 

She's too adorable.

Aren't you, Bennie-boo-boo-boo-boo-boo?

Pondering.

Tonight I'm thoughtful, unsettled.

Tonight I'm weighing my options, considering my decisions.

Earlier this week I interviewed for and was offered a position. I accepted, and tonight I had my first training. But since that time, I've also had an interview with a temp. agency, was accepted as one of their "A-List" associates, and even did a phone interview with a local company for a job that could start this week. Plus, another restaurant called me, and I have an interview with them on Friday.

Should I choose to work multiple jobs, I could be bringing home a TON of money in the next few months. But at what cost? My time, as I face potentially working seven days a week? My social life, as that type of schedule doesn't leave a lot of room for making friends? My joy of living in Austin, as I'd no longer have the time or energy to enjoy all it has to offer?

And should I choose one job, or even choose more than one, which do I choose? The job I've started is evenings-only, except on weekends, when the hours are a little longer. So I'd be free to do other things during the day, such as work or sew or explore my new home. But it's not super flexible because of the specific role I'd be filling, and I'd be working most nights when others are free. The temporary jobs I'd be up for are daytime, putting me on a standard 9-5(ish) schedule. And they're mostly office positions, which are much better for a resume than being a food server at a bar. Still not flexible, and not likely to work around a potential school schedule should I decide to take some classes this spring (though, for the record, 3 of the 4 potential classes I'd be taking for the program I'd like to do are online). And then there's the other restaurant job, which I still have to interview for...it's a classier establishment, and the promise of set hours, though the job itself would offer more opportunities to be flexible should my availability change.

I'll admit that I didn't anticipate having so many options or opportunities laid before me. I accepted the first position in part because I felt I'd be a fool to turn down something in this economy. But I wonder if that was not necessarily the right decision, now that I see my situation as being far from desperate.

It's safe to say I have a lot to think about, and a lot to consider. That seems to be a theme in my life these days.

I hate driving.

Today, I spent nearly an hour trying to get home from the campus area. I did loops multiple times on the same road, fighting traffic and the sun to find my way. Then I somehow ended up on a road that had the potential to lead me home, even though I have no idea how I got there.

And then I got in a fender-bender. I may have made an illegal right turn (I'm still not sure the validity of that claim), and as I was almost through it, the truck behind me hit the back of my car, and a van hit them. No damage done to my car or the truck, and the van's bumper was a little saggy, but they were fine with it. No reason to call cops or insurance, and as we were all getting back into our cars, the old man from the van told me to be careful, I said I would, and then the guy in the truck looks me straight in the eye and says:

"You need to apologize to me and to the old people."

He had that "I'm your dad, and I know better" tone, even though he was maybe five years older than me, and I thought he was kidding. He wasn't.

"Apologize to the old people."

Me: "Are you serious? YOU hit ME."

"You need to apologize."

Again, "You hit me. I didn't do anything wrong."

"You made an illegal turn."

"I did not!"

And then the lady gets into it. She gets back out of the van, and starts informing me that yes, I did make an illegal turn. So they're all yelling at me, and I'm getting hopping mad, and yelling at the guy in the truck for basically being a big jerk, who's telling me, hey, we all love Austin as much as you do, so just apologize and we'll be fine, and the woman is asking me how long I've been driving that I don't know the laws, and I apologize, sort of, but that's not enough, and they ask if I want the cops to come out and corroborate their claim, and finally I say, "I'm sorry. If I did wrong, I didn't know it, but I'm sorry that it caused you problems" and they all leave in a relatively satisfied huff.

And I sit in the parking lot and cry and don't want to drive home because not only may I have done something wrong that I honestly didn't know was wrong and could have caused far greater problems than it did, but everyone was yelling at me too.

I hate being yelled at.

Hello Austin.

I've officially been an Austinite for one week!!

I'm super excited about that, and while I still don't have pictures (I'll tell y'all that story later), I do have lots to share about the move and what's been happening since then.

Sooo....here is is.

Last Friday I woke up early after going to bed late. I was super exhausted, kind of frustrated with certain parts of life (ugh, boys), and not excited about having to pack and move my stuff again. After moving out of my house and into a friend's apartment, then moving my extra stuff from the house into the office, then moving out of the apartment, I was SO not ready to move again.

Beazley, one of the current interns for TEDRD, was crazy kind enough to loan me his '92 Ford Ranger for my maiden voyage. But I still had a ton of stuff in my car, so I headed to the office well before eight to arrange things and figure out what went where and when.

And that's when I set off the burglary alarm. See, we have this alarm system that recently needed to be re-set. And, in fact, was re-set. But nobody told me, and, as I normally come in long after someone else has punched in their code, was blissfully unaware of the change. So I unlock the door, hear the beeps, punch in my code, and...nothing. No response. I try again. Nope, wrong answer. Suddenly the system starts screaming with siren noises. Seriously. Loud as can be, while I panic and call Kyle. Voicemail. Twice. Then I call Beazley. Voicemail. Then I call Luke, who actually answers, gives me the code, and I punch it in, then run for the phone to talk to the alarm company who are calling me to tell me there's a potential intruder in the building.

Alarm Company: We're calling in response to an alarm.
Me: Yeah, sorry, that was me. I didn't know they changed the codes.
Al-Co: How'd you get in?
Me: I have a key.
Al-Co: How'd you turn the alarm off?
Me: I got the code from a coworker.
Al-Co: What's your name?
Me: Carolyn.
Al-Co: What's your code?
Me: ****
Al-Co: What is the airspeed velocity of a coconut-laden swallow?
Me: African or European?

Okay, the last part (and half of the other) might have been a slight fabrication, but you get the gist. I spent the next couple of hours being harassed by Luke for not having/knowing the code, packing up, and trying not to panic because I was, in fact, actually moving to Austin.

I proceeded from there to the bank, where I held up the line and made the teller's day a living hell by attempting to not only deposit, but also access a large amount of money to pay for my move-in expenses. Then I dropped in to Eatcetera to pick up lunch from the counter guy who looks remarkably like Elijah Wood and happens to be about the same height as a hobbit.

(via)

Just so you know, asparagus-and-blue-cheese-cream sandwiches are delicious, but not the best travel food. Half of it ended up down my shirt before I left the island.

You should also know that a '92 Ford Ranger in which the bench seat no longer moves forward the originally intended amount is not all that comfortable for at 5'0" lady to drive. Not only did I have a pillow behind my back, but I had my legs fully extended in order to reach the pedals. And there is no cruise control. So I was over it before I hit Houston, and still had three hours to drive. Thankfully, I had Starbucks to keep me going.

There are no cupholders in the truck. I had to improvise.

I stopped in Brenham for a rest, and got a Blue Bell ice cream bar. It seemed appropriate, and it was delicious. Then I hopped back in the truck, situated my pillow, and drove on into Austin, and joined the rush hour traffic on the I-35 corridor.

Rush Hour + Not My Truck + No Rearview Mirror + Full Truck Bed = TERRIFYING

Not to mention that my cell phone, often used as my trusty navigator, had died 20 miles out. Just as I was ready to compose my last words and phone in my goodbyes, I found my exit, departed, and landed at my apartment complex. Seventy billion signatures and a lot of things I didn't really read later, I walked in the door to my new apartment.

And saw brown walls.

Not all the walls. Just two of them. "Accent" walls if you will.

Now you have to understand that I'm a girl who appreciates brown. It can be nice. Lots of people like it. I just happen to not be one of them.

It just doesn't play nice with the silver/grey/teal/yellow/lime green world I choose to live in.

So I trudged BACK to the leasing office, pouting, and asking for a reprieve from the "Otter" colored walls flanking my new home. They gave in, and assured me they could paint over it sometime next week (thank you!). They're still brown, but I have faith that they won't last.

In any case, I left the office, went back to my new and empty apartment, sat on the floor, and cried.

I was just a wee bit overwhelmed, y'all. It happens.

Then I sucked it up, and started unloading the truck. I met a neighbor (Stella, lives downstairs), and an older man saw me moving in alone, took pity on me, and helped me out, piling my stuff in the dining room to be sorted out later.

I went to bed on an air mattress that night after a three-hour phone conversation with my dear friend Kali, exhausted, overwhelmed, but HOME.

Hokay, so.

I owe y'all a post. Like for realsies.

But I'm in the process of searching for my camera connector. As soon as I find that I'll have pictures and other wonderful goodness to share.

In the meantime, know that I'm here in Austin, settling in and loving it.

And I have a job interview tomorrow. It's for a bar/lounge, so it's not My Dream Job. But it is, in fact, A Job. And that's wonderful.

Reasons I LOVE Texas.

Picked this up in Brenham, where they make Blue Bell. YUM.

Today I move to Austin.

There will be pictures, I promise.

I have to dig out my camera, but there will be pictures.

Much love from Texas,

Caro-Jo