Another Happy List!

I apparently missed updating last Monday.  I was sooo tired that day.  I thought I had scheduled a post but I guess not.  Oh well.  Anyway, I've felt the need to make another "happy list" aka reasons to be happy about life.

1. My job is amazing.  I don't dread going to work (unless it's at 9 a.m. ... I'm not a morning person) and I love being there.
2. I'm getting paid more than minimum wage and I can ALWAYS make my rent.
3. I really enjoy my apartment - it's spacious and cute and comfortable.
4. I just got my hamster a new cage and it's larger and has more things to do in it - I think she'll be really happy with it.
5. My hamster is the most adorable thing in the world.
6. I have an awesome boyfriend who is always awesome.
7. I was not feeling very great last week but I've been feeling a lot better today and yesterday.
8. I got some awesome Black Friday deals!
9. I'm pretty much done my Christmas shopping (I love Christmas shopping).
10. I'm excited about staying meat-free ... although I miss meat ... I know it's a really good thing for me to do!
11. I got a new computer about a month ago (I've been needing one for a while) and it is gorgeous.
12. Christmas is in less than a month which means I get to go visit my family for a couple days.
13. I got to see fireworks today.
14. I watched a couple episodes of The Big Bang Theory today ... and I forgot how absolutely hilarious it is!
15. I have super awesome friends and family!

Tell me some positives in your life!

I've Been Busy

I've been the WORST about blogging for the past little while.  I've had some good things happen though recently.  I went through a REALLY tough time with money issues and house issues and legal issues (that weren't my fault but someone stole money from me).

BUT although it isn't all over ... I'm getting back on my feet!

I have a "real" job now.  It's part time BUT it will make enough for rent, groceries, the necessities.  My other job, which varies from month to month, will be the bonuses.  So I think it's pretty good.

I've been spending a lot of time with my boyfriend and our friends.  I have some amazing friends who I have really bonded with lately and I'm very excited about that.  I have never had really good friends but seems like I have some now which is great.

I also really love my new place.  I love having my own place.  It's a basement apartment and it's so cute.  It's nice to be able to have friends over and family over and it's all good!  My landlord lives right above me, in the actual house, which is nice because then it's always looked after and stuff.

My hamster is also super adorable!  For sure!

And I've been trying to eat really healthy.  My boyfriend has been teaching me how to use spices in cooking (I've always hated them and I don't know why).  We have made some delicious meals recently!  So amazing!  I've also started eating tofu and I'm slowly going vegetarian lol.  I have eliminated red meat from my diet (grrr I love burgers!) but I think it's for the better!  I still eat chicken and stuff like that but we are getting there!  Honestly part of it is that I have some chicken left in my freezer and I don't like things going to waste.  Really :p.

So I'm going to try and write some more blogs of substance soon! :P  Hah!  I do have some ideas, all written down, but I need to actually write them!

Hope you have all been having a great September! :)

Earning Less Money Than Your Partner

Do you earn more or less money than your partner?  Are you married, serious relationship, or starting to date?  My boyfriend and I are in a pretty serious relationship - we have been together for about a year.  I've just finished college so I don't have a full time job yet.  He is on co-op at college though so he's making quite a bit more than me right now.  During the school year, he was doing full time co-op and I was working two part time jobs making minimum wage.  So, really, he's always made more than me while we've been dating.

Sometimes it does make me feel a bit insecure.  I don't want to be with him just for his money (okay, I'm obviously not).  But I feel bad when he is the one often paying for dates and stuff.  I do try to still pay for dates on occasion, but he definitely does more often.  For me, I try to do little things that don't cost money that kind of make up for it.  But I still feel bad when he is paying for most things.

But he will be done co-op and back in school in September.  As long as things go well, I will be paying for more starting then.  We are both still students so our salaries will fluctuate quite a bit until we get settled.

I feel like even if we got married and everything and he earned more than me, I wouldn't feel too bad.  I would help more with cooking and cleaning if he had more income.  But if we were working the same amount of hours then I'd expect him to do some of that too!  It also might depend on the difference.  If he's making $5,000 more than me a year, that is different than making like $40,000 more than me a year.  But still ... hmmm!

I just read about this on a forum that I frequent, I thought it seemed interesting.  I don't feel too insecure about it now but I guess a lot of people do!  Tell me what you think about this.

Failed My Work Placement

This past week and a half has been quite drama filled.  I started a work placement, which is necessary to graduate.  The point of the work placement: to get experience and expand on what I learned at college.  What did I do?  Sort through folders and carried heavy piles of folders and boxes.  Definitely not what I have learned at college.  Anyway, so I asked them about it.  Basically said, I was hoping to use my skills, is there something else I could do.  They kept saying I'd be doing data entry later.  But that never happened.  So I asked again.  They basically responded with "all employees do filing".  What I was doing was not really filing.  And there were only two of us doing it.  If I had done a little bit of that and then done something else, that's would have worked.  But no, it was straight moving folders.

This was my cleavage!

One morning I was called down to my supervisor's office (who hasn't even been there for the past couple days).  He gives me two options - 1. Find a new placement. 2. Go home and change.  If you look at the picture, that's how much "skin" I was showing.  I had full pants on, my shoes even had socks in them, and my shirt was definitely long enough to cover my butt and everything!  So my supervisor gives me a copy of the dress code and tells me that I have been dressing provocatively and revealing.  He tells me how distracting it is.  I'm thinking that this is not my problem.  I have worn that combination of tops in my other office positions.  I don't see how this is provocative at all!

I went to see my teacher, who wasn't at the school.  I found myself another work placement.  But it turns out that isn't allowed.  And then I met with my teacher today.  I guess she is upset with me for standing up for myself.  Apparently saying "manual labour" is rude.  Hmmm.  Then the chair doesn't want me to graduate this year or something.  And the whole faculty hates me.  Saying that I am representing our school poorly.  Just for standing up for myself!

It's been a mess.  Now I have to complete my work placement in May.  Ridiculous!

I'm pretty upset with the college.  And the teachers.  And the work placement.  It is rather annoying, and frustrating.  Especially since I have plans for May that involve work and moving.  Not volunteer work placement!  I do have a lead though, so hopefully that will work out for me.  Cross your fingers ... 

My Favourite Things

I've been having a terrible week, and I know the next week and a half will be equally bad.  This is due to a terrible "unpaid job" that I have to do as a requirement for graduation.  So I've decided to try and be more positive by thinking about all the things in life that I love ... or enjoy ... or something.  Well, things that make me happy!

1. my boyfriend
2. my friends
3. amazing music
4. dancing and partying
5. swimming
6. getting dressed up
7. baking delicious cookies
8. challenging myself with a computer problem
9. vanilla scent
10. cats

Random ... I know.  That's the point.  So name a few things that make you happy?

Graduating From College

Right now, I'm at the stage where I'm only three months away from graduating from college. It is a very intimidating experience. Right now, I'm just thinking "what am I going to do?" I'm realizing the expenses of graduating. Right now, I'll be honest, my parents are paying for my rent. It is really nice to save that $400/month. Right now, I really only have to pay for my groceries, bus pass, tuition, books, Internet, and cell phone. Those are the main things. It really isn't that expensive when you take rent out of it. But I have a few part time jobs (yes, multiple ones!) and I'm making it through.

I am calculating how much I expect to make at a future job and the amount is just barely greater than my expenses. I cannot believe the expenses that I'm going to have! I know my rent will increase (because I plan to live in an actual apartment instead of renting a house with roommates). But besides that, how much m ore expensive will it really be?

I was actually thinking about getting a pet. A pet cat, to be more precise. I'm realizing, with the amount that I am making, that I will likely not be able to afford a cat unfortunately. Perhaps I'll be able to work up to it. I may stick with a pet fish (I already kind of have one) because they are nice to have. There are lots of other pets available though ... maybe a hamster? I used to have a hamster. That could be nice. They are not as expensive as cats!

It should be nice not to have to save up for tuition and books though. That can get fairly costly (it was over $3,000 per year for the past two years). Then books are about $100 per class ... on term, I had nine classes. The books added up!

There is just so much to deal with once I graduate. Unfortunately, my parents aren't being supportive. They don't really want me to follow my dreams. I think they just want me to stick with something basic and boring. They also expect me to earn $20/hour immediately after graduating which I really don't think will happen (okay, I guarantee it!). Perhaps they just don't understand the market out there right now. They haven't done the research on jobs ... I'm the person who has!

Anyway, I am thinking a lot about my future. I just get so nervous about it! But in three months, I will officially be a college graduate. Scary, especially since I'm only 20. Although I am looking forward to it. I might as well start working and gaining experience at this age anyway. And who knows what will happen!

Hey there, 2011!

Welcome to 2011 everyone! We all made it here ... I have to say that's a good thing! How did you ring in the new year? Did you make any resolutions? As for me, I had a great time at a party with some friends. And as for resolutions, I don't always make them. I mean, I always have goals for myself. New years is just a time to re-evaluate them. But in the spirit if the new year, I will list them in typical new year resolution style.

1. Lose weight. I know, typical. But I have a plan. I'll go to the gym three days a week and go swimming once a week. One of my part time jobs involves walking so I'll keep that up. I have a feeling my three day per week gym goal will go down to two, but it is a start anyway. And I will keep eating healthy. I am taking a course on healthy foods so I will put that to good use!

2. Get straight As. Not even out of reach. Actually, it is expected. I've gotten very few marks lower than an A in my time at college (I think only two marks ... Possibly three ... Under an A). For me, it is a probable goal and the same goal that I always have at the beginning of every term.

3. Find a full time job by September. I graduate in April so I'm giving myself four months to find employment. I hope to get one sooner. The thing is, if I don't find something by September, I'll probably have to move home with my parents. And, as much as I love my parents, I do not want to move back home!

4. Be a good person. You know, give money to charity and stuff like that. I've been trying to find a place to volunteer but I can't really, no one is looking for volunteers. But even ensuring that I'm doing basic things like recycling, throwing my garbage away, using less water, etc. is a good way to start, I think.

5. Be a good friend and a good girlfriend. I am almost always a good girlfriend. I'm the type of person who puts a lot into a relationship. With friends, not quite as much. I'm going to work on being a good friend. And spending time with my friends outside of school. It is hard to find time for everyone but I'm going to put away some time for my friends now!

I'm sure everyone is asking what your resolutions are. I'm asking what they are AND how you will implement them. Most of the time, they aren't magical!

Happy New Year, everyone!!

Trying To Volunteer

I have been noticing lately how hard it is to get a volunteer position. I have contacted a number of organizations in my area in the past few months to see what positions are open. I have not heard back from any of them, even to say that they are not accepting volunteers at the present time.

I feel like organizations who have volunteers should be kind and respectful and friendly to those who want to help. I really just wanted to help out somewhere but no one contacted me. It is not like I am under qualified. In fact, I am often over qualified. But organizations being insensitive just makes me want to never volunteer for them or donate my money to them. What happens when they are looking for volunteers next year? I certainly won't volunteer. They couldn't bother with me before so they don't deserve me now.

I'm not going to list names or anything but there have been about ten organizations that I have contacted. Perhaps my message got lost once or something. That may be an excuse for one or two, but not all ten. Either way, I personally am not too pleased with those organizations although I'm not going to name them because they are still good organizations, no matter how poor their customer service is.

It just seems to me that not for profit organizations aren't very friendly to others. They think they are doing a good deed by helping but they aren't helping others help. I feel like I could make a difference if they would let me.

I want to be a good person. I want to make a difference. I want to help people who are less fortunate than me. But no one wants me to. Is that how this world works? They don't even talk to me to find out if I am qualified. They don't get checks on me to see if I have a bad background or something. There is no reason why I shouldn't be able to help someone. But I can't.

It also bothers me when people say that others should be volunteering. Maybe they would, if the organizations would let them. Willing volunteers are not going to bother the organization relentlessly (for the most part) because if the organization doesn't want us, that's the organization's loss.

About Me

Hey everyone!  I thought I'd just give a quick little introduction about myself after the first post.

I am currently a college student in Ontario, Canada.  It's the summer right now so I have a full time job at home and, in less than a month, I get to move back to college, which I am very excited about.  I have a couple part time jobs for when I am at school.  I am the type of person who enjoys being busy (thus why I'm a full time student, have two jobs, and have a volunteer position that I think will be about as much as the jobs!).

Some of my interests include friends and family, computers, current events, music, college, decorating, fashion, health and fitness, and food.  Quite a variety, yes, and I do plan to post about all of these!  Because it's August right now, I think I will stick to some posts about college and current events for now and then gradually move on to other topics.  I'll see what my readers would like!

I am very close to my family and friends. I feel very lucky actually to be so close to my family. I always keep in contact with them when I'm away at school. I just have one sister and she is awesome so I don't want to lose the relationship with her. I have some great friends. I will likely mention them in future blogs as well, perhaps without names, but they will be referenced. But friends and family are important to me.

I am always open to opinions - comments, compliments, criticism - whatever you have to say.  You can email me personally at blog.llama112@yahoo.com or comment on any of my posts. If you make a comment that I feel would go well in one of my blogs, I may use it. I will respond to you and ask if you would like your name attached to it. If not, I will reference you as Anonymous. If you would not like something posted, just let me know in the email, no problem!

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to ask. I think this works for an introduction! Happy reading!