Dream job hasn't been posted on CL. I know they have to be hiring for the holiday season shortly. C'mon, dream job...

Last night's nightmare customer was a woman who came up to me while I was busy with customers and mumbled, "I need a curling iron." I looked at her, acknowledged her by saying, "Okay..." to which she wandered off without another word. I figured, "Uhh, guess she knows where they are," and continued with my customers.

She wandered up 10 minutes later looking very peeved. "I said I need a curling iron." My brows lowered a tad. "Did you look on such&such aisle?" "Yes!" she got madder.

Then she clued me in on why she was at my counter and not getting the curling iron she wanted, "They're locked up, omfg!"

My brows disappeared into my hairline. "O rly?" I'd known they'd recently put the mp3 players and memory cards on this annoying lock mechanism to which someone has to win the attentions of an associate to unlock the damned thing, but... curling irons? That was a new one.

I had called another cashier to take care of the woman and he strode up just as she was barking at me about the locks. He nodded and said, "Yeah, just this morning."

The lady spat at me, flailed her arms, and looked about to leave the store. The other cashier grabbed the unlocker doohicky, located in the farthest part of the store, and she followed him angrily into the aisle. "Is she retarded?" I heard her ask on her way back.

She came up to the counter with her item, and I apologized. "That's a very new lock they put on there, I didn't know." She barked at me to just finish the transaction so that she could get the hell out of there, and started complaining loudly to the male who joined her at the counter.

I love when the store changes stuff and doesn't tell anyone in any form what is happening. Like I knew to go to that aisle today and view the locks for myself, htf was I supposed to know they'd magically appeared? :P

Dah.

There's a stretch of road that the bus travels on which features two lanes, rural paths on either side of the road, and maple trees partially shading the road overhead. It's nearly exactly like a portion of road just to the east of Lake Crescent, and I have this sudden mental image of the glacial lake appearing just around the bend. I'm so happy I live here, it's as green as home was. *grins*

Also, I was trudging up to the front door of my apartment (my fabulous, wonderful apartment that I officially love to bits) and noticed I could see the tall buildings of downtown, looking very nearby. I wanted to cry again for it. I'm happy to be here.

Happy happy happy. *sated sigh* Now if I could just find a job nearby so that I stop having delusions of sawing my feet off at the ankles to save myself the horrific pain... ;P

I'm sobbing at the bus stop, my feet hurt so much I'm shaking. *sighs* I'll have to call in tomorrow if I can't find a solution. I can't do this, it is unbearable, I even took 15 ibuprofin to get me to the bus stop and it doesn't even make a dent. Augh. I need a frikkin' car. Yeah right, I might as well give up right now. :p

As for my first day on evening shift yesterday, it went well. Started feeling droopy at 9pm, the 6 hour mark, but I know that I can push myself to finish the shift if I've had sufficient sleep, which I did thanks to a purposefully very lazy weekend. They stuck me at a register and that's where I stayed, as there were too many customers to wander about and face stuff. The supervisor was off doing her thing and she had her regular girl reorganizing a shelf. I took baskets to their area and pushed carts back into their place as they piled up at my register, which let me stretch my legs and move my feet around a little. I was even able to get my third break in before Cap came on, to which she was thankful to not have to waste time giving me rest.

It was a very anticlimactic first day, was good. I was on my toes to get to the last bus home, and the walk from the nearest bus stop made my feet ache something horrible, to which I'll probably have to start using my cane, but a good night's rest and that'd be all better. I crashed as soon as I fell in the door and kept forcing myself back to sleep, woke up after 9 hours feeling like I couldn't manage any more for the day, which gives me a nice little pocket of downtime in which to goof around online for a bit.

I said last year I felt like I'd need a hip replacement in five years. Four years sounds about right for now, my left socket felt like it was going to break last night as I tried to bring up my foot to retie my annoyingly loose shoelaces. Gah, ouch.

And for the record, Skechers makes nice fitting shoes, but they use inferior plastics and stitchings and glue, I've had these for two weeks and they're already falling apart. Expect more whining about aching feet as I try to find a pair that won't blow up and that fit. *sighs* I still resent that salesguy for refusing to help me at the foofy shoe place, I was prepared to spend $200 on a pair but he refused to sell them to me. "They won't fit." "But they're the only ones in this store that come close, please." "No." Bah.

So, since the beginning of the year, I've rarely had the opportunity for fresh veggies and fruits. I've made an effort to have bananas, apples, and recently, nectarines on hand lately, and I ought to get the occasional broccoli and tomatoes to nosh on too. Once a paycheck, I'll buy a container of berries, which of course I scarf up all at once because I could live on berries if I could afford them, hehe.

My stomach (the organ, not the tummy area) is so shrunken lately that one whole nectarine or peach satisfies as much as a whole meal once did. That Japanese stuff I got a couple of days ago, with all that rice and noodles, filled me beyond capacity with very partial portions.

Anyway, if you feel the need to admonish me for buying the occasional meal rather than cooking, I do budget to eat something significant and not processed twice a month. Next month I'll probably procure a pan and enough ingredients for a casserole or two.

The rest of the time, I live off the dollar menu at McD's, or a TV dinner, or one of those tuna salad things that come with crackers, which is why I try to bring something auxillary to suppliment with.

I'll get there, eventually. Just need a better paying job. Yes, I apply regularly and often for food stamps. Lord knows I could use it effectively. No go, yet, they overlook me in deference to women with children. "Next time," they say as they grin apologetically. I've been next-timing since last July, dang it, I need to eat. :P

Bought a loaf of cinnamon chip bread before work yesterday (I wanted to type "last night" but that no longer applies, HEEHEE!) for the night girls to nosh on, there was already half a loaf missing as I was running out of the store to the bus. :)

Tonight's spam heading: "Yoour wifee wiill becmoe dluled by yoour satmina and enduranceVaigra Proo."

Apparently he fapped so hard he broke his keyboard, or wore out his hand, or something.

"Dluled"? The wife will "lawl" at you?

"Proo"? Professional defecation? :P

I was in a singing mood, for some dorky reason. So here.

Additionally, I found a neat widget to replace a desktop thingie that no workie any longer: metronome online. :P

Gah, my microphone sucks. My whole computer, for that matter.

Crap crap crap. I need a car, like srsly, post haste. Totally serious, going to waste sleeptime right now by calling places about credit options, and scouring CL for someone who wants a quick sale on a heap o'junk.

One good thing about living with a guy who lives as a girl--the toilet seat is always down.

Just sayin'. :)

Fifteen applications and three automated phone interviews. Not bad for three hours. Lessee how many more I can do before I need to crash.

Shopping list, incidentals:
two large garbage cans, one for kitchen, one for my room
garbage bags
food, snacks
rags
cleaning supplies (raid old apartment)
dishwasher soap
dish soap
Tylenol, Aleve
cups

Shopping list, major:
computer
lcd monitor
XL shirts, size 12 pants, undies
simple, not-corner desk big enough for two monitors
lamp
CAR

Happy birthday, bristol_girl! Whew, I made it back in time to say so! ^^

I sent a mildly grry text to Chris, to lament my lack of net. She came home after work to set it up. She managed to dig up a wifi card (it helps to work for a computer company), which I immediately absconded with and installed on my system. Then Chris came into my room and waved her nerdy fingers and fixed the DNS problems I could see but not fix.

It works now. And of course my other computer is now up and running via the usual network cable.

My main machine has gotten very cranky and is in desperate need of a mindwipe (fdisk & reinstall), which I will attempt on my next weekend. My secondary machine is the one I use for Flyff--I can't wait to replace the yicky CRT monitor.

After Flyffing for a half hour, I was ready for a nap, and just woke up from a six hour crashfest. Feels so good.

My blinds and screen door are open, and I'm enjoying the sight of the city at night. I see the dashed headlights of cars heading westward over the Ross Island Bridge, and the illumination casting off of the OHSU ski gondola Tram which floats noiselessly directly above this complex. The street isn't busy this time of night, which is reassuring. But busy enough, as busy as Murray Blvd. There's an unlighted crosswalk about thirty paces in the wrong direction, which is fine, or a traffic light about two hundred paces in the right direction, which is a bit much.

There's the very beginning of predawn glow over the distant hills.

I'm going to spend the remainder of my awake time applying for jobs I couldn't on my phone because these major corporations think Flash is shiny. There's one lead I got the very day I moved and I've been absolutely DYING to pounce on it.

The apartment is arranged pretty well. Walking into the front door, you're immediately in the entryway alcove. Directly ahead you see a straight hallway to the living room, to the far left the kitchen nook, and to your immediate left, a half bathroom, consisting of toilet, sink, and stacked washer-dryer. I couldn't hope we'd get a washing machine at a new place, but very thankful we do.

The fridge has only four things in it at the moment--a multipack of burritos that Chris has decimated, cheese, a huge tub of cottage cheese that Chris will also decimate, and half&half. In the freezer are the TV dinners Chris won't touch because they contain meat, which means I'll be able to eat before work.

Walking forward out of the entryway alcove to stand next to the kitchen, you see the view from the one living room window--the narrow parking lot, beyond it Barbur Blvd, residential homes further down the hill and their crummy trees blocking views of Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens, beyond that new industrial construction, offices or apartments I do not know, and beyond that, the water of the Willamette. Off to the left are the major buildings of Portland proper. Squarely in the view, one can see the lower tower of the OHSU Tram, its two cables allowing one gondola on each to drift back and forth. I thought it was a round-trip thing, but no, it's just a line with two ends that one boat traverses back and forth. Interesting, I may have to ride that sometime just to be the dumbassed tourist I still am. :)

My first night view, I'd been anticipating this.

Anyway, if you hang a right at the kitchen rather than going left into the kitchen or straight to the living room, you'll see a narrow hallway with a closet on your right, and beyond the closet, three doors, one to your left, one ahead, and one to the right. My bedroom is the door on the left. The bathroom that separates our bedrooms is located in the middle, ahead. Chris' room is on the right.

My bedroom is sparce at the moment--I got my Big Lots twin bed frame, it's like a cheaper version of a captain's bed, with three drawers underneath, made entirely of particle board, with a white finish. I can use that as a guest bed or comfy seating if I ever upgrade that sucker. Last night before work, someone had put a well-built, light, sturdy four-shelf bookcase out by the dumpster. It's now in the nook on the left side of my room, where I had pondered putting a desk. It holds the TV, DVD, my four DVDs, and right now, a couple boxes are stacked beside it. To the left of the nook, on the wall shared by the living room, is a big-ass closet with three doors. Directly ahead as you walk into my bedroom, is the sliding glass door out to the balcony. The balcony has a half wall rather than railing, I suppose for privacy but it obscures the view unless you are standing up and out there. The balcony is recessed, rather than jutting out into the air. Besides my glass door, it has another entryway through the living room, a simple glass door off to one side.

I want to buy a tree or tall shrub to put out there, I'd like that a lot.

My computers are resting presently upon clear plastic crates. My faithful computer chair is here too. Behind me, along the wall shared by the bathroom, is my bed, and a small sidetable upon which I've put my clock, a lamp, my earplugs, and my phone when it is charging. My radio is there too, though I may move that to the same bookcase the TV is on at the moment.

I'm glad I got this room, it's very zen-like. I always did prefer being able to look out the window beyond my computer, and there's no shortage of stuff to look at through this one. I ought to buy binoculars to be really creepy.

At this moment, with everything else out of my head but the silly newness of a new apartment, I am happy. I'm also mildly hungry--I'll take care of that later.

For the first time in over twelve years, I have not beige/light brown/off-white carpet beneath my feet, but a dusky blue pile. It's old and used, but adequate.

I'm gonna go apply for jobs now. *breathes deeply* Almost home, just a few random things still to grab at the apartment, clean the thing, hand in my keys, and I shall be relocated.

Chris is buying me a buspass for the remainder of the month. I'll have to budget for that next month.

I'm so flipping getting a car by the end of the year. Dah, this standing-room-only public transportation is for the birds. lol I wish I knew someone who could give me one for next to nothing, but I can't hope for that, that's way disproportional to reality. ;P

Ooh, and I must learn new bus routes I also couldn't see on the phone because they also use webstuffs the phone can't render. Yay.

I must get a new job. I must, I've even started threatening to leave to Cap. I gotta find a company where I actually get paid for the work I do. I don't care how long I have to stand on the bus to get there, I just want to get paid.

Well, shoot. One computer won't connect to the net at all, and the other can't boot up. So much for finding a new job this week.

This is officially the worst week of my life-no sleep, no food, no ability to jobhunt, bills that need to be paid, my very first overdraft ever that I can't fix for lack of net, a fubar'd paycheck... I think I better call someone before I take a knife to myself. Blah.

Had to purge myself of pants again, kept only my two work pairs, a pair of capris that slither off my hips without a belt, and the World's Best Pants, still unhemmed and now way too large for me. Size 12, here I come.

I'm am also going to have to make a trip to Goodwill very soon for XL shirts, I'm absolutely swimming in what I have, but the boobage is still too much for mere large.

Forced shopping trip, wah. ;)

I continue to be the only person in the entire store having payroll problems. I don't want to have to start every night in a crying fit. The universe is screaming at me that I need to work elsewhere. I do hear you, I'm just trying to get enough sleep to survive another night at work. I feel that I am suffering mightily on that topic.

The internet was finally connected after the Comcast guy insisted I ought to have On Demand along with my barebones cable and I insisted it's not part of the package. His supervisor finally confirmed this. I lost 3 sleeping hours waiting for the guy to leave. It took another 45 minutes to crash at long last. And I still have to wait for Chris to set us up the net as she wants it, so expect more delays while I wait for her to get situated, with her firewall between us and the world. :p

It will be a relief to go home and rest, and not be woken up by the alarm, and actually unpack. Next time, I'll just take time off, and rent a UHaul, I can't depend on anyone.

I also need to make sure I have enough for at least three more busrides. And I need to figure out where the nearest grocery stores are.

Thanks for listening.

Quickly...

Cap never did show up Tuesday, never called, I was depressed at the prospect of starting over from literally zero as I build up my possessions again.

Saw Cap @ work on Wednesday, she said she was at ER with sis in law who had broken finger. She belatedly made good on offer, used SUV to haul one load of crap over. I spent my first day here yesterday.

Took 2 hours to get to work tonight. New girl Smelly (facer, not cashier) made brownies, enjoyed one and was told 2 hours later it contained copious amounts of cream cheese. Oh. That will hurt me very much. Is beginning now, sweating, stomach trying tobescape thru back end. Work was work on 3 hrs sleep. Cap said we'd get another load here, but Putz had her leave early.

Am home, must sleep, wake early, pay late rent on old place and kill a couple hours before work.

No time to sleep yet.

Must get new desk, abandoning what I have.

Well... I have two days to find an alternate way to get my crap from here to there. Uhaul or renting a car would be too expensive. I don't know anyone here. Guess I'll just have to abandon it all, I don't have any way. Lovely.

Last night I confirmed with Cap that I would be borrowing her and whatever vehicle she wandered over with today, Tuesday, to schlep crap from here to there. She said that was fine.

The appointed time came and went and I didn't hear from her, didn't see her sitting outside, etc. I called her, and have been doing so, for the past five hours now, leaving my number each time because I'm not sure she has it. Chris took the day off of work to help.

So we're sitting here, ready to call the day a wash because Cap can't bother to at least call back and let us know she has other stuff going on.

What the hell. What quality people I work with.

Guess I'm reserving a UHaul for Saturday. *sighs, grumbles*

No longer in the apartment as of tonight, in the new place. Internet guy comes over sometime on Sunday morning. Until then, I'll keep tabs as much as I can through phone. ;)