My first day as a productive member of society...

The morning's activities started out a bit rough. The orientation schedule said I was supposed to bring a deposit slip or a voided check. However, they didn't like the deposit slip I brought. The instructor told me I needed to go and get a different one. So I went back to the bank. There I was told that they were sorry, but there were no other kinds of deposit slips. In the end I had to get a counter check with my savings number on it and void that one. They took that one, thankfully.

Anywho, orientation lasted a very long time and encompassed an enormous amount of paperwork. We watched several cheesy training videos from the sixties and took some competency tests and whatnot. I passed the food handlers' test, so I'll be getting the permit shortly.

I had to go get a TB test too, and for about three hours, my arm felt like it wanted to fall off. It's okay, now, though. I have to go back on Wednesday and get the results figured out, then take the paperwork into the office. Then I'll be able to start right away. My problem at the moment is that I'm only scheduled for ten hours a week. For two hours per day, five days a week, and all the pay that would earn me, I could pretty much just work at McDonalds and not have to bother with all the health tests and certifications. Therefore, I need to have a chat with the supervisors about this.

I also registered my truck. I still have to get a safety inspection for it; I'm doing that tomorrow. Then I take in the results and get my new SUU license plates. Woohoo!

Anyway... more complications with Jason's daughter. Apparently, now that Jason has arrived, the girl's mother is changing the story, saying that the hearing is closed and he can't come. It's just to determine the guilt of the stepfather, not to decide custody of the girl. It's starting to look more like something the girl's mom made up in order to gain control over the girl. Which, I think if that's the case, she ought to be taken away anyway. Children shouldn't be used and humiliated in that fashion. Sickening. If it does turn out that it's the truth, though, there's a good chance that Jason will get his daughter, we hope. At any road, he'll have to get another job when he gets back home. It will be seriously upsetting if he had to use the last of their savings and fly down there for a farce and a power play.

The road winds ever on and on... down from the door where it began...
--Anna Grace

The merit in tragedy.

There is something to be said for tragedy, and the way it brings people together. It inspires acts of desperate bravery, and for a few moments, makes people forget all the differences and enmities that lie between them. Today's tragedy does not belong to me, but to Angie's entire family. Jason has another daughter, who he has not seen since she was seven years old. She is fourteen years old and has grown up in a home where her mother taught her to hate Jason and Angie, and their family. She does not know about Meghan and Daniel.

Today, Jason received word that her stepfather has been abusing her. She has been taken out of custody of the mother and stepfather and is in Reno, where court will be held tomorrow to determine where she will go. Jason is flying out tomorrow morning to file for custody. He will probably be taking her to live with his mother for a while, because the girl knows her grandmother. She does not know Jason. Jason is using the last of their savings to fly to the court.

This situation is heartbreaking to the whole family, who have always loved the girl from afar, even if she doesn't know them. This isn't going to be easy on anyone - Jason especially, who has made the decision to take responsibility for his daughter, that doesn't know, that for all he knows, hates his guts. I'd say that takes a great deal of courage on his part, and the family to stand by and support them.

I may be a little bit insane, or maybe just imagining things, but I have this overwhelming feeling that everything's going to be okay. I have had this feeling before, and it has always turned out the be correct. I'd tell you when and what happened, but then you'd really think I was nuts... I really think it's going to be alright, though, if not in the way that people might expect, or in the time they think it will. It'll be rough going for sure, but it will be well in the end. If I may quote the Bible for a moment, "All things work to the good of those who love the Lord." Somehow, this is going to turn out well.

Please don't think for a moment that I'm belittling this girl's pain and suggesting that we sugar-coat everything to say that the situation isn't absolutely horrible or that we can just ignore it and it will go away. That's not what I'm saying at all. I have the greatest sympathy with both the girl and the family. I only pray that the girl has the courage to continue with what must be done.

Just weathering another storm.
--Anna Grace

I'm sleeping in!

I'm finally done babysitting. Oh, but sometimes children are monsters. Justus is going with his dad from now on, who is now headed to Wyoming until August. And I'm house-sitting, so I'm packing up my junk and moving next door, with my dog, who will definitely get in less trouble there.

I'll have everything I need - washing machines, dishwasher, everything. Except for the internet. I'll still have to go back to Angie's for internet. I'm gonna miss my music... However, this can be dealt with. It's gonna be kinda lonely, though, since I'll be there all by myself. No big deal, though. I'm okay with being by myself. I tell myself that I can always head over to Angie's if I'm feeling lonely, but truthfully, I don't know that I will, since I severely dislike barging in on people without an invitation.

In other news, I'm planning on coloring my hair again, quite soon. I'm not yet sure what color I want it. Reddish brown, though, I'm thinking. Thankfully, I've made enough money that I can pay my mom back what I owe her, and maybe even fix and register my truck - before my real job even starts. The problem with registering now will be getting Jeremy down to the DMV to get a replacement title and then sign it over.

Anyway... I'm so stinking tired. But I'm done babysitting, so tomorrow I'm sleeping in. Then I'm going to get up and write City Council!

Hooray for weekend freedom before starting real life!
--Anna Grace

In which life continues...

I babysat Justus. Nothing unsual happened. Screaming, drooling, hair-pulling... One new thing, though, is that he's starting to walk. He stood up and took two steps by himself. He took about five the other day for Angie and Jeremy. Walking children are terrifying... imagine all the stuff he'll be able to get into!

Anyway, Jeremy got home about two, so I went home and relaxed on the couch for a bit. During which time Jason thought it would be funny to dump a glass of cold water over me... I tried to stuff some ice cubes down the back of his shirt. It didn't really work, though... Apparently Marines are all trained in ice-cube self defense. This isn't over, though... I'm gonna ice cube him when he least expects it!

Anyway, I was also called into Turn to sign some papers and confirm my starting date, which is MONDAY!! I'm rather psyched. The lady in charge said she wants to start putting me on the schedule ASAP. Apparently, they're stretched for hands. I haven't got a problem with that. Boy, do I need a paycheck. I just sunk my last $8 on this planet into my gas tank to get home. The thing is, that because of this late start in working, I'm not going to have much saved up. At all. My bank account is empty. My first paycheck will most likely go to paying back my mom (since I owe her plenty, plus, she's lending me money to register my pickup) and to fixing my pickup, which needs a new water pump. Not the cheapest critter to put in. That's assuming that they pay monthly, and not bi-monthly, in which probably my first two would have to be dedicated to repaying debts. After that, I have about one more month to work before school starts. Hopefully I'll have saved up enough to at least buy my books.

That leaves one more worry. Somewhere to stay. Angie and Jason are going to be remodeling, so the room that is currently mine will be demolished and turned into part of the garage. I'm not going to have time to work at Turn with everything else that's going on, and the Journal, though I love it, doesn't even pay enough per month to make rent on a camp trailer, much less to live on. I can't afford the gas back and forth from my parents' house, either. So... the backup plan...

My friend and ex-editor, Angie (not the Angie I live with... I know lots of Angies...), once theorized that all a person needs to live comfortably is a car, a gym membership, and a cafeteria meal plan. Sleep in the car, shower in the gym, and eat at the cafeteria. My happy little pickup has a camper shell to put on the back, and I have quite a few happy memories of camping out in the back of a pickup. Now luckily, at SUU, a student can use the swimming pool, and consequently, the locker room showers, for absolutely free. Therefore, I wouldn't even need a gym membership. The small salary that reporting pays will keep gas in my truck and food in the cafeteria, as long as I'm frugal.

Now, before you go off your rocker about how I'm actually considering this bit of insanity, chill for a second. I don't consider it as "ooh, I'm destitute, I live in a truck," I think it would be an adventure! Need a change of scenery? Fine! Park somewhere else! The Journal office has a fridge I can keep things in if need be, as well as a bathroom, and computers I can use. And, it's open to anyone with a keycard at all hours. A keycard, which I shall acquire at the beginning of the semester. Economy living at its best. I really think it would be fun! Now, this isn't some brand-new idea manifested recently. I've been wanting to do something like this for years. I always wanted to camp out under the bridge by the high school. I love the idea of roughing it.

The only real problem would be Tovie - as in, what would I do with him? Obviously, he can't stay locked up in my pickup forever. Speaking of the little butthead... he got into the garbage tonight. Between him and the wind, it was scattered all over the yard. Jason was not happy. I was not happy either. Stinking little garbage hound. He seems to enjoy chewing on dirty diapers, and this was the object of his garbage diving tonight. Little stinker. I've got to figure out a way to break him of that or I doubt that Jason is going to tolerate him around much longer.

I have been wondering lately, about dreams. About whether they really mean anything, or if they're just random babble our brains spout during the night. Last night I had a weird/disturbing dream. There was a wedding, and I was helping set it up. It was Jim/Virginia's wedding (they're already married, so that's a bit odd). I was setting things up, when suddenly, we received word that Aaron, who had gone back to Iraq, had been killed in battle. It was three days from his own wedding. Mom and I were horrified, devastated. Obviously, we didn't feel so festive about planning the other wedding anymore. Jerry, who was supposed to perform the ceremony, was very angry with me, because I couldn't pretend I was happy while I strung up balloons. He told me that at the moment, my brother's death wasn't the important thing, and that I needed to focus on Jim and Virginia. I got angry, and I left.
What the heck kind of messed up dream is that, and how did it get in my head?

Anyway... tomorrow beckons! Aaron is getting married tomorrow, and Justus will be cranky, and there's city council meeting. Ever life continues onward.
--Anna Grace

Blood in my Mountain Dew system?

I'm so tired... Mountain Dew is no longer helping to keep me awake. I think my body has finally started to recognize it as a natural body fluid... I babysit Justus again tomorrow.

In other news, as long as nothing's changed in the dates again, Aaron and Lauren are getting married the day after tomorrow. It's so hard to believe... I mean, I'm excited, for sure. It's a strange feeling, having one's family expand. I mean... from here on out, I'll be able to tell people that I have a sister-in-law! Isn't that weird? And someday I'll have nieces and nephews. I keep telling Aaron he's my only shot for me to be an aunt unless Ari picks up better hygiene habits. Probably not, but it's a fun joke sometimes. In reality, Ari's better than he used to be.

Anyway, my eyelids are rebelling against me, so I feel compelled to close them in preparation for tomorrow and another long day...

Good night!
--Anna Grace

Grey hairs...

I wouldn't be surprised if I get grey hairs this week or the next. Justus is cutting teeth, so he's cranky and won't sleep, which makes him crankier. Which makes me lose sleep, which makes me crankier. Jeremy's working longer, leaving earlier, so he doesn't get back to relieve me until 2 or 3 in the afternoon. By which time it's too late for me to take a nap.

This was supposed to last five days, but it's turning into a two-week endeavor. Two weeks of slobbery, fussy, cranky Justus and a complete caffeine dependancy - since I have to be there before 5 a.m., as Jeremy has to be at the airport in Parowan around 5:30. Handy dandy.
Then, I got a call from Christina, who also wants me to babysit. Tomorrow. In the middle of Meghan's birthday party. By which time Jeremy will not be back, so I'll have both of them at the same time. Christiana is a little easier to watch, thankfully. She can just run around with the other kids. No biggie. I want a backpack for Justus, though.

If I have hair left by the sixteenth, when I start my job training, I'm betting it will be iron grey. If I'm ever crazy enough to say I want kids, I fully expect someone to shoot me and put me out of my misery, right after reminding me of these two weeks from Hell.

A bit of catching up...

I haven't blogged much lately, so there are a few things you should know, just in case you don't already. Firstly, I finally (FINALLY!!!) got my drivers' license. No longer will I be a burden on my friends in gasoline and time. I need to go today and price out a water pump for my pickup. Oh... I need a rear-view mirror, too. Other than that, there's a little less than a quarter tank in it, so I should be good to go.

Also, I sort of have a temporary job babysitting Justus - hence the reason I've not been around much. Jeeminy... that kid is so sweet when he's in a good mood - he's the smiliest baby of the brood. But when he's cranky... Wow. It never seems too early for naptime. He screams and crawls all over you... pulls hair, wants up, wants down, won't drink his bottle... I don't think I could handle a kid like that for overlong. He doesn't quite walk yet, but he crawls well, and consequently, gets into everything. I know... story of babies, right? Nothing remotely unusual.

In other news, it's raining today. The sky is silver and beautiful, and I hear thunder in the distance. My window is just a tad open, and that fresh, clean, scent of rain is coming in. Mmmm. Beautiful. I do love days like today. And while the rain is certainly needed and it's absolutely gorgeous and nicely cool, I don't really relish the opportunity to drive in it with my stick-shift pickup that I'm not quite used to yet. I've got to go to city council meeting tonight. Hopefully it will have cleared up by then, though. I also need to swing by the auto shop and see what kind of pump I need. Fun stuff.

Anyway, things are going well at the moment. I shall post again when another blog-worthy event comes along.
Au revoir!
--Anna Grace