Finally Karaoke!

Tomorrow I am going up to Trista and Dan's! I saw a bar near their place that has karaoke on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights so I told them that they are going to go with me. Trista said she'll go but not sing. I can probably get Dan to sing though.

I am thrilled to go singing again!

Saturday morning, Trista and I will meet my mom and my "brothers'" mom at the outlets in Reading. That should be fun too.

Whoops!

This weekend Trista and Dan surprised us by stopping by the house. We had dinner, went to Rita's for water ice and then played cards. It was late when we finished so they stayed over.

The next morning my parents and I joined them at their church in Kutztown. I'm glad because it was fun! Actually, as soon as I walked in I noticed a nice looking guy. When church started I saw that he was even playing the guitar (ahh!) But I forgot to ask Trista about him.

After church we all went out for lunch at a cute little bar/restaurant. Then we went back to Dan and Trista's house. Trista, Mom and I played Rack-O and Dad and Dan loaded the truck with some fallen tree and took it to the outskirts of town...because that is what you do in that town. Then it was time to leave and Trista invited me to stay the night so that we could hang out on Monday so that is what I did.

I forgot to mention that Trista has two adorable little cats! They are so tiny!! Their heads are half the size of Spike's head (and Spike had a small head). The girl is black and she is named Sumitomo (Sumi), named after their tires. The boy is Ventus (Venny), named for the tire. He is black and white. Yes, it is kind of sick to name your cats after car tires but Dan and Trista are not really normal.

On Monday, Trista and I went to the mall in Allentown and Trista bought all of Dan's birthday presents. Then we went to a Christian bookstore where Trista found a new Bible for Dan and I looked for music to sing at my cousin's upcoming wedding in Kansas this October. We went to Home Depot and got some paint for the living room and Panera for lunch. At Panera Trista mentioned that at church the day before she was thinking that she should set me up with a guy named Jason. I asked her who he was and she said he was the guy who was playing the guitar! I laughed and told her that I noticed him as soon as I walked into the building!! She thought it was funny too. So, being a good sister, she suggested I stay another night so that I can go to their house group that night since he is in their group. I was willing to stay.

We got back to the house to hear a message from their realtor saying the house would be shown the next day so we all decided to paint the living room and be late for house group. Dan called his brother, Nate, to let him know the plans. As we were finishing what we planned Nate called to inform us the house group was on the way over to help out!

15 people ended up coming over so Dan, Trista and I wandered to help people out. Trista made me take the upstairs because Jason was up there. I didn't mind. Well, I started to help one girl hang some wallpaper. To do so I had to stand on a wobbly chair. It was really really really hot in there! Well, I ended up passing out and hitting my head on the other girl's chair and getting the back of my head smooshed by my chair! I woke up to see Jason running out of his assigned room to see if everything was okay! Not exactly the best first impression but definitely a memorable one!

I now have a black eye. It's making a good conversation starter at job interviews!

Generic Updates

Let's see. Where do I begin.

Well, I had the date with the youth pastor. I don't think it is going to work out. I just didn't feel anything. But, it was just the first date. I'll give it a couple more times to decide... although I am dreading the next date. That's probably not a good sign.

The job search is going so so. I had the second interview at the one company. I'm still waiting to hear anything but it is only Monday. We'll see. A couple agenccies contacted me about registering with them so I will do that on Wednesday. Tomorrow I have an interview scheduled at a company looking for a fill in for a maternity leave but I don't know if I can do that to myself. My right side is getting weaker by the day and I really need insurance. We'll see on that one too.

I got to hang out with Janette last week. It was so much fun to see her again! She is fun.

What else is going on... Hmm... I found out that the bar on the corner from the house has karaoke on Thursday nights! That's a start. I can probably network from there.

I went to the Shore this last weekend. It was really nice. It was only about 80 but there was 95% humidity so it was so hot and sticky! My mom and I went on a walk and we were sweating by the time we reached the next block! It was crazy. The hurricanes down south (which are very very early in the season) have caused so many thunderstorms and the humidity to skyrocket. Hurricanes don't usually strikes so often until late August through September. The humidity is making it unbearable to go outside but we are dealing.

I got the new Harry Potter book but it is so hard to read it since only one room is air conditioned. Everyone gathers in that room making it impossible to read. That's okay though. They need to keep cool too. I was able to read some while everyone was at work today so that was good.

Anyway, the book is really intense! I cannot believe everything that is going on! If you have finished it please do not tell me anything!!!

Interview Update

I interviewed at a company yesterday and it went very well. Actually, it went much better than I expected. They told me that they were going to call the people they liked to have them come back and meet with the owner of the company. Well, after I met with the second person that day he left the room and after about 10 minutes the woman I originally met that afternoon came in and said they both wanted me to meet with the owner on Thursday! I took that as a good sign since she first told me they were going to call those they wanted to come back.

Honestly, I think they liked me because I was "Midwestern". The woman I met with was originally from the Chicago area and the guy I met with was from Michigan. When he came in to interview me his first words were "Joan tells me there is another midwesterner here!" So I told him that I am originally from the Philly area but am a midwesterner at heart.

We'll see how it goes.

I Can't Sleep

For the past few days my arm has been losing stregth then going back to somewhat normal. Tonight, however, it is losing more and more stregth by the hour. I am trying to go to bed because I have a job interview in the morning and an interview with an agency down town in the afternoon. Anyway, my arm is losing so much stregth that it is undescribably painful. Come to think of it, I did not take communion today because my arm was being funny and I didn't want to get grape juice on my white shirt because I was unable to hold the little cup. Hmmm....

I think I might need to reschedule with the agency because there is no way I can effectively take my tests when I am unable to use my arm! Do you know how many times I am using the delete key just to type this!

Tomorrow night I am going to go visit my friend Susie. She is technically Jamie's friend from high school because they were in the same grade but she and I were friends too. We had choir together the year she was at DC (Delaware County Christin Shcool). She is married now and has 3 adorable kids. Jamie and I are going to go down there to exercise with her after the kids go to bed. We'll probably just go for a walk but that's good. I like to walk.

I got a call from my friend Janette today. She has off on Thursday so I am going to probably do something with her then. That will be good. I did not realize that I have not talked to her since she came to visit me over Easter! She is the kind of friend you can not talk to for years and pick up again right where you left off. Friends like her are rare.

I think that is all. I'll write more if I think about it.

Storehouse

I went to Storehouse Church today. That's my dad's "hippie church". You know what? I really enjoyed it today. I think I am going to give it a few more weeks.

I still have not felt the at home "this is my church" feeling but that probably won't come until I get involved. Now I just need to find the right people to help me get involved. That can be very intimidating because I am so shy.

They are planning a missions trip to Mexico City for January. I think that since I am living at home I will be able to save up the money for it pretty easily so I decided I am going to go to the informational meeting. It would be fun to go as their translator.

Updates!

I have a date on Friday!

Looks Promising

There is a tentative date scheduled. We are deciding what day and time works best.

More on Live 8

I am a little annoyed.

I watched some of Live 8 and could not believe it when celebrities were being interviewed and pleaded with the viewers to go to a website to sign a petition. The reasoning was "We don't have the money to help but our governments do". (I will just go back to my mansion and pools and big fancy cars after the show... was this in my rider??)

Six Hundred Thousand (600,000) people attended the concert in Philadelphia alone! To see one performer those same people would have paid AT LEAST $20 a ticket at any other venue. BUT this concert was free!! If they would have charged everyone attending just $5 for the day they could have raised THREE MILLION DOLLARS but that was not the intent. They wanted to raise awareness so the governments of the world could pay the money. Let the people a good time. Plus! Each performer was paid $1,200 to be there! As if that was not enough, each performer was given a $12,000 gift bag filled with all kinds of luxuries from guitars to designer jeans.

Can I ask a question? Who is being selfish here? There are people starving and you want to save them but you can gladly accept $1200 for one day when millions of people you are trying to help are surviving on less than $1 a day? How is that ethical?

This is just America alone! There were concerts all over the world that day and MILLIONS of people attended!! MILLIONS of dollars could have been raised but people wanted to enjoy a free concert and tell the government what it should do.

I don't get it.

Amendments

The other book I got was The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing.

Also, I said a couple hundred people went to Live 8 in Philadelphia. There were actually close to 600,000 there.

Personal Responsibility

I am so tired of this eliminate poverty thing going on.

I don't like the idea of people dying in Africa any more than anyone else. It is sad. It is heartbreaking. What makes me mad is hearing these celebrities getting up during the Live 8 concert telling me it is our government's responsibility to help people in Africa!

Why should it be the world government's responsibility to eliminate poverty? Where is personal responsibility?

If everyone around the globe who participated in the Live 8 events would just go sponsor a Hope Child (a child affected by HIV/AIDS) through World Vision, they can get their mision accomplished!

Sure, you sign a petition so you can feel better for a day or two. What good are you really doing though?

Go donate your own money to an organization that can help more directly! Make a difference on your own! Why is it my government's responsibility? Take some of the responsibility yourself!

I'm done.

Nothing Really

I was thinking about what to write about today and I realized that my life has become pretty boring since I moved here. I used to go out and be busy all of the time now I have done nothing but hang out at home and then that one moring I went to the Jersey shore but that was with my parents and it was to clean!

I need to find something to do with myself and I need to find it soon!

I went to the mall during lunch today. While there I stopped off at Borders because I saw a sign that told me to reserve Harry Potter so that I can get it at 40% off. Since it will be here in 10 days I thought I had better do it! Well, I ended up getting a copy of Angels and Demons because I was told I should read that before reading The DiVinci Code and that was the reason I cannot get into the latter. We'll see. Then I thought, since I am here I should just get a copy of the sequel to Briget Jones's Diary The Edge of Reason because I am really enjoying the first one. The sales person saw my enthusiasm for books and noted that I could get a fourth book free if I buy 3. So, I asked her what she suggested and she brought me to a shelf and said I would probably enjoy The Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood. That was now in my stack and I needed a fourth book so I could get something in my collection for free. The woman then took me to another shelf and gave me two options. I went for the cheeper of the two. That book is in my car and I will have to go look at it because I forgot the title but it looked and sounded like it would be similar in genre to Briget Jones's Diary. I'm a sucker.

I got two calls about jobs today! One was for a bilingual administrative assistant job. I talked with the woman entirely in Spanish and I was so poud of myself for not stumbling over my words! I have not spoken Spanish on a daily basis in more than 2 years! She is going to email something to me so that I can correct the Spanish grammar/language. I am hopeful about that one because I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to speak Spanish in my job again.

The other was for a financial company looking for an admin. I have an interview scheduled with them for next week. This place is closer to where I live and is close to King of Prussia, where I am looking at apartments.

On Friday I am interviewing for a longe term temporary admin position. It is a $5,000 pay cut and come October I will be in the same boat again but it would at least give me steady income each week. I told the agency I would interview for it on the condition that, should I get the job, I will be able to interview elsewhere as opportunity came about. She agreed.

Things are progressing with that guy but no date yet. I'll keep you posted.

Sunday

I decided to go to the church my parents sometimes attend. My dad likes to call it the "Hippie Church" because it is casual and most of the attendees are my age.

I am glad I went. It was a nice envoronment and I saw a girl I went to high school with. I know I said I didn't want to see anyone but it was kind of nice seeing someone I used to be friends with. Her name is Robin and I did not recognize her! Luckily, she recognized me. I seriously had to ask her name because she did not look the same... and she was a good friend! We even had senior lunch together! She offered to introduce me to people the next time I come. I could not meet anyone today because my parents wanted to leave. Maybe I should drive myself next time.

The message was good. It hit me that I have not been talking about the good things God is doing in my life. He's doing a lot and I have not been sharing that as much as I used to.

This church has a youth group so I picked up some information on how to get involved in leadership.

After church my mom and I went grocery shopping for the 4th. Lola is coming down tomorrow so that should be fun. I'm excited.

I met a youth pastor/worship leader. That's all I am saying right now.

Live 8 and other stuff

Today "Live 8" was held around the world. Philadelphia was the home to America's contribution to the global event. One million people were anticipated but only a couple hundred thousand showed up today. It looked great from the TV footage I saw though. It was held on the Art Museum steps and half of the city was closed off. I would have liked to have seen Keith Urban because he's HOT but I think I'd see him better on CMT (which I have now).

Well, despite Live 8, I went to New Jersey with Mom and Dad this morning. I was surprised at the lack of traffic but I think it helped that we went a route that took us south of the city.

We stopped and had breakfast then went to my parents' house and cleaned it for this week's renters. Carpet cleaners had to come because the week before this past one, my dad rented the place to some high school senior girls for senior week (I don't know what he was thinking!) and they RUINED the carpets. The cleaners got it up perfectly though. That was good.

I really like this house that my parents have. I liked their past places but this is BY FAR my favorite. You people need to come out to visit me so we can go to the beach house. It's great and only 3 blocks from the beach/boardwalk.

After we cleaned, my dad dropped me and mom off at the beach and he went to empty the water from his boat. I got a slight sunburn but not too bad. It was surprising considering the amount of sunblock I applied and it was not even sunny. It was perfect! It was not too hot and there was a great beeze and it was overcast so the sun was not too bright so the sand was not like hot coals.

I started Bridget Jones' Diary and it is great! I can't wait to pick it up again! Karen, that was a great choice!!!!

After the beach we went and got pizza then went home. When we got back to Plymouth Meeting my dad took us to Rita's for water ice. I have not had that in so long and have been hoping to go when I get a paycheck.

Well, when I got home I was surprised by a message from Carol so I called her. It was nice to talk to someone from Chicago.

I think that is all for now

More Thoughts on Temp Work

I'm thinking it might not be the wisest decision for me to go to Bethlehem to work for a week because that will be one week that I will be unable to interview in the Philadelphia area.

It would be fun but I think I will be doing it because they told me it would help them out since I am already trained on the systems they use. I really need to focus on finding a job not helping other people out.

I have to remind myself that it IS okay to think about my own needs first.

My temp Job

This week and next I am working for a claims adjuster (at least that is what I think they are called). They are the people that go out and do estimates after a disaster and tell the insurance company the costs.

Well, today the Lehigh Valley office in Bethlehem (PA) called me to find out where I lived. Then they told me they were asking because they want me to go work for their office the week after I finish my assignment at the King of Prussia office. It could work out because my sister lives in a town close to Bethlehem and I could just live with her for a week.

That would be nice seeing that I chose to come home so I could be with her before she moves to the other side of the globe.

We'll see if it works out. I'll keep you updated.

Dan and Trista came down on Wednesday and so did Jamie's boyfriend, Ken. It was a ton of fun! We grilled and played cards.

Clay Aiken

I voted for Clay Aiken.

I voted for him every week and voted more than once each time.

The truth is there and it is now public knowledge.