So, let's see...

Jane came back about a week of being lost outiside. When I say "came back", what I mean is that I had to crawl underneath the defunct outdoor pool of our apartment complex and wait an hour in freezing cold weather calling her out from a muddy hole that I couldn't get to and then wait another twenty minutes for friends to come pull open a door so I could crawl out while my cat dug her claws into my flesh. So, fun.

Earlier this month, I got a call from a man who offered me a job. He called me on a Sunday night and said he saw my resume online (something I had posted at the beginning of summer) and wanted me to start the next day. It sounded really sketchy at first, so I said I wanted to do some research on his company. After all, nothing could really be sketchier than where I was working. Consumer Depot (where I had been employed) was in the middle of a class-action lawsuit that had 18000 filed complaints against them. I did the research and looked over the business and decided that it seemed legit. I called the guy back and said I would start on Tuesday, thinking to at least tie things up with Consumer Depot. Normally I would give a two-week notice, but not for those bastards.

The company I now work for is called Flatsigned Press. If you want to know about the business, Google "Flatsigned" and it will be the first thing to come up. Its a company that deals in rare first edition books and signed literature. While we have the more mundane stuff like Dean Koontz and Stephen King signed books, I have also had the pleasure of touching books signed by John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Albert Einstein, the Dalai Lama, Winston Churchill, Harper Lee, Daniel Defoe, and many others. I've gotten to see a Bible printed in the late 18th century, a 1750 printing of Romeo and Juliet, some early Mark Twain first edition stuff and lots of others. The cool factor of this job is definitely a 10, but the glamor wears off after awhile. Plus, it means I have an awesome resource for neat gifts for people.

Things with Sarah are going well. We have our fights and our makeups and highs and lows and everything in between. She's the most wonderful woman I've ever met and I love her more and more with each passing day. She just got offered a full-time teaching position teaching Latin and English by a high school here in town. They're desperate for a Latin teacher, so they're overlooking that she doesn't have a teaching degree and the position is temporary until the end of the school year. However, if she does a good job and makes an honest effort to pursue a teaching certificate, I'm sure they will hire her back. Needless to say, she's nervous about the whole thing. She'd be making about eight grand more a year over her current job, so money's not an issue with it. It really comes down to whether or not she's prepared. At first we fought about it, but I think we've both come to our own understanding. I love her very much and support her decision.

Christmas is the day after tomorrow and I got some neat gifts for Sarah. Woot! I hope she likes them.

On the Lookout

My cat ran away. I am so devastated. I haven't shaved since Friday and this bushy shadow is coming in over my face.

Something to understand about Jane (my cat), is that she saw me through depression and moving twice. Many of the claw marks in my arm are scarred there forever because of her. She has comforted me through many a rough time and drooled into the crook of my arm more times than I can count. I miss her so, so, so much.

Other than being sad about that, I went to this rare & used book store here in Nashville and found a London copy of Droll Stories by Balzac printed in 1874. This is a first edition of the first printing in English, though the book had been 50 years old by then. I went to the store to also buy Sarah a book that she wanted, but couldn't remember the name or the author. After I left, telling the store owner that I'd be back once I figured it out, Sarah came into the store and was going to buy herself the book she wanted and Droll Stories. The owner apparently had a good laugh at that one. Match point to Sarah for remembering what I wanted.

Come back, kitty. Come back, Jane. ::sigh::

Hodgepodge

Let's see...

My sister came and lived in Nashville. She moved in with Sarah and I, spent three weeks on our couch looking for a job, and then decided this place wasn't for her. So, she left, and I lost my video game playing partner. I'm sad too.

All my body parts are broken. In addition to the shoulder with no ligaments, my left knee has been hurting a LOT lately inexplicably. I have insurance, but doctor visits still cost money, especially if they have to x-ray and stuff.

I failed the emissions test on my car and my tags expired at the end of September. I also don't have auto insurance, but I plan on getting it mid-month. Someone suggested I put rubbing alcohol in the gas tank and then go straight to the emissions testing center to pass. I don't mind cheating as long as it works.

Work is still unenjoyable. Having a lot of hurt lately too isn't good.

My "service engine soon" light came on the morning I went in for my emissions test. Yippie. Getting my driver's licence, getting my registration, and going to the doctor were all supposed to happen on that day, but my plans got all sent to crap. I also found out you have to have 2 forms of proof of citizenship and they don't accept a copy of your birth certificate (only a CERTIFIED one). So, I'm driving around in illegal triplicate, but I'll be okay until I get pulled over. Next paycheck, I hope to have a few things straightened out. The only thing I did accomplished was taping my sideview mirror back on with a load of electrical tape (because its black). Ghetto as anything, but I look at the funny side of it.

Oh, the mirror? Well, some idiot ran into it and knocked it off in the parking lot and didn't tell me. Jackass.

Sarah and I are great. I'm also delving into learning Farsi.

So, that's a brief synopsis. I really need to write in here more...

We apologize for the delay. A representative will be with you soon...

This Too Shall Pass

So, short update:

I got my hair cut in a cute bob style and dyed it "light brown burgundy" (according to the dye box). I LOVE the cut and the color.

I've decided to give up the dream of teaching for now, especially since I haven't started college ever, and become a cosmetologist. I wouldn't have to give up my piercings or cover up my tattoos for the latter, and I love playing with hair and makeup. I love the glowy feeling I get when I help someone look their best, too. All-in-all, I think it would be fun. I have also applied at several beauty stores so that I can be Josie instead of the un-airconditioned warehouse where I work and sweat like a boy (ugh!).

Sarah and I are doing wonderful. I convinced her to get a haircut to get the dead ends off from multi-multi-multi dye jobs. Its really short, but is sexy as hell.