1) I am now happily employed. And by happily I mean that I never realized how much a person's feet could hurt from running around a department store for 6 hours a day. But, I get a lot of hours, the people are nice, and the job is certainly not one that I would consider "in the real world" so I am content. Also, I'm making money, which is an absolute joy after being unemployed for over a month.
2) Jordan got another job as a personal trainer at a gym here in Madison (hooray for one of us actually using his bachelor's degree to secure employment). He's still in the training of the trainer mode, which of course he hates, because the boy simply can't enjoy anything he finds to be a waste of time (which is to the total opposite of me, since I love a good waste of time). I must admit I feel for him, he's been training people for over a year now and, from what I understand, is quite good at it. He doesn't need to go over possible speaking points (he's charming enough on his own anyway), and he's anxious to start making some big bucks. But, with time, it will come.
3) I've decided to take the year off from school. I've recently come to realize (oddly, the thought truly took shape after watching the movie The Box) that I think I do want to get my master's in English instead of education. Also, the idea of spending $40,000 on furthering my education has finally sunk in and has left me running for the exit. So, I'm taking the year off, enjoying my change of scenery and the wonderful company of my wonderful boyfriend, and doing a little bit of thinking about my future. Jordan has recently decided to do the same (mostly for financial reasons) and it gives us both a chance to have another fresh start if we so choose. I'm happy to have my year away, but not content on where I saw my life going on the path it was currently on. It's looking as though the upcoming year will either find us back in Carbondale (what?! a return to the dreaded SO ILL?!? I admit it, I'm sentimental about the place.. plus it's likely they'd give me a free education) or a trip all the way down to the big horn state. But, really, who knows. We may be at neither. It seems Jordan may have developed into as impulsive of a person as me, which is good for entertainment, but could lead us into interesting places with no stable goal setter in the relationship. Oh well, we're young and I love an adventure.
4) I just recently had a nice weekend away with the family on a little camping excursion. I wish I had photos to share, but the combination of me forgetting and knowing I looked like a showerless slob lead me to taking none. My cousin, Matt, does have some quality videos of two of my favorite young men doing "squatch calls" to each other. I'll have to make sure he posts them on the internet for all the world to see! They are just too entertaining to miss (and if you've never stopped to watch any of Finding Bigfoot on Animal Planet, I whole-heartedly recommend the experience). I've been spending quite a bit of time with the family lately, and I must say I have really enjoyed it. Honestly, who wouldn't enjoy such a group of good looking and happy spirited people?
5) I spent my day off reading The Hunger Games and I'm absolutely in love already. It's so wonderful and exciting to read something I wasn't assigned and that doesn't take hours of going over for me to fully understand (yes, I did say I want to go back for my master's in English). But still, reading for pleasure, I didn't realize how much I missed you until now. I can't wait to read the next two, but I'm already a bit sad because I know they will be over too quickly. Well, I need to get on cleaning the house and doing the dishes. The pretty-much-future-mother-in-law visits tomorrow and I feel the need to clean as strongly as they always do in the movies. I leave you with the cutest possible picture of the day: two of the most wonderful men I've ever had the pleasure of getting to know.
