I just started my third week on second shift.  That's 3-11pm, Monday through Friday.  Second shift seems to work really well for me so far...It's going to make visits interesting for a while, though.
FYI, I'm a manager trainee at a Nestle Purina plant and part of my training program involves a tour of back shift supervising (you know, to develop leadership skills and gain a greater understanding of what I'll be potentially managing someday).
I actually entered the supervising stage about two months early in one of the most intense roles in the plant right now - Material Handling Supervisor/Production Data Coordinator/Receiving.  It's definitely a challenge and I'm pretty excited about that.  Seriously, I'm absolutely, positively, thrilled to be so busy and learning so much and making positive contributions to the company.  The world is at my feet.

I've been working a whole lot, which I really like right now (that "I'm accomplishing something" thrill mixed with a dash of beaucoup positive feedback).  However, I have an increasing desire for adventure in my off hours.  Girlfriend wants to do something amazing and live it up...as soon as I have weekend free. 
Wanna go adventuring?

I need a good book to read. Something lighter than the holocaust memoirs I'll be sandwiching it between, yet not brain rotting. Nothing that might feature a flowing-haired Fabio on the cover.

"Man is capable of changing the world for the better if possible, and of changing himself for the better if necessary."
~ Viktor E. Frankl

Tags: books/poems/reading, quotes, work
Current Location: Jiggity Jig
The Bottomline: satisfied
Background Noise ♫: The Killers - Romeo and Juliet

On Tuesday, my dog Peri died. I missed his funeral because I had to work. Mom, Dad, Natalia and Steve were there to bury him near his brother Gallie and my cat Chelsea. I got to see him briefly on Sunday. Dad told me that he wasn't doing well and he was worried (although we've been worried about his health for about half a decade) and he didn't come out with the other dogs when dad opened the door to the dog room (the laundry room, which has the outside doggie door). I went back to the dog room and found him curled up in a towel on one of the dog beds (he had always loved to curl up in blankets and such) and I petted for a couple of minutes.
When we first got him he was really little and skittish and I helped get him comfortable by having him sleep in my bed (something he wasn't allowed to do with his previous owners). As a result of how small he was, he was able to find new areas in the fence to burrow under (dachshunds are bred to dig, thus fences have to be super reinforced and diligently patched) and we had to re-dachshund-proof the fence again. I remember one of the first times he got out I called him and he came running right away (usually when they got out they'd totally ignore you and run as far down the neighborhood as they could). He just looked so joyful and happy to see me and I've never forgotten. I wish I could have cuddled him more, he was a big cuddler. He was a good dog and we'll miss him.
I need to take more pictures of the doggies.

Finished reading The Blind Assassin. The word "desolate" rang through my head for a good hour afterwards. Love then Tragedy. Brief moments of stolen joy followed by a lifetime of empty. I hate that formula. I want to believe that a happy existence is possible. I want to keep the wolves at bay.
It was a good book, but it did put me in a bit of a funk this weekend.

Tags: books/poems/reading, death, family, interesting links
The Bottomline: a bit down

I hope all Christmas celebrators had a lovely holiday...and a fantastic Sunday to everyone else. I don't think I'll get my celebration until Wednesday...and as I understand it no one had bought me anything yet, so we're shopping tomorrow.
I haven't felt incredibly in the Christmas spirit this year because all the craziness and moving around. We did drive all over Northwest Arkansas yesterday to find a live Christmas tree (since festivities were supposed to be in Hot Springs, we weren't decorated up here). Also, I went to the 10:30 Episcopalian Christmas Eve service (during which it actually became Christmas) with Dad, Mom, and Steve (step dad) and kind of Natalia (step mom, who was playing her harp up front), followed by port and brie at dad's until 2 am. I haven't slept in my own bed in two nights, yet I haven't left town.

I talked on the phone until it went dead and disconnected us (~3.5 hours) on Friday. I missed a call from a Missourian today and unfortunately it's a wee bit too late to return it now. le damn.

Mid post fun announcements: 1) Three-tiered Chocolate Fountains. Sam's Club. $40. 2) I may (temporarily) dye my hair red and go as a school girl to a New Year's Eve Party. I have a short purple plaid skirt just for such emergencies.

Mom got a trashy romance novel, as part of a Secret Santa gag gift at work, entitled Blow Me Down (a virtual reality pirate adventure!). I read it today. Wow. The scene with pudding, custard and a thick, stick tart was...interesting. Also, having two pages of dialog about being pissy that your lady-friend called it "sex" instead of "making love" (when you just freaking met a couple of days ago) is lame, especially when you're a well-built, millionaire, genius computer programming, sex god, pirate. It's not like she used the f-word.

Also, agh!

And now for a random, out of context thought that ran through my head just a minute ago: "let's face it, cellulite looks better with a tan."
Thank you, and good night.

Tags: books/poems/reading, family, interesting links, tyler
Background Noise ♫: hold me closer tony danza

Poll #554189 My Hairs
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 7

What color should

I went to a beauty supply shop today and looked at some Manic Panic colors today. I liked the Hot Hot Pink and Infra Red a lot. The turquoise looked interesting as well.
I probably wont end up doing it, but it's intriguing. I should have been a blonde then I could temporary the heck out of my hair with out the dreadedly permanent bleach.

I finished A Child Called It* today. It's very good. It's also very...gut wrenching. It's hard to believe that the horrible abuse happened to a real person...and nobody did anything for so long. Wo-ah.
* Autobiographical story of the third worst child abuse case in California. He's doing alright now. Also, the laws at the time were such that his mother never faced legal consequences.

Tags: body alteration, books/poems/reading

So I've taken livejournal up on the offer for paid members to sign up for the brand new automatic payment system and get 3 months free with the year plan.
I also now have room for 100 icons. That's a hell of a lot of so I can afford to be frivolous. All the suggestions your little mind can come up with for icons are welcome (emotions, themes, situations, etc)!
Maybe later this week I'll have some free time and be feeling particularly pretty and take pictures!

I just finished The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood. Glorious. Hot damn and holy moley!

I'm working now, and I'm decently sure I'm getting paid better than minimum wage, so that's cool.
In reproductive news, I think I'm going to get off depo come October. I haven't had a period in a year so it might be a little weird at first. I don't know what I'm going to get on though. Ug. Responsibility and passion.
Also, I've looked at a few sites about egg donations. Just looking is all. (although having plentiful baby Alexes running around the world could only be a good thing, and I'm not sure I'm up to the challenge myself :P)

I was just talking to peggy_the_angel online and I thought she was in her room across the hall like she normally is when we talk online. Turns out she's in Perryville.

Tags: books/poems/reading, friends, health/medical, livejournal
The Bottomline: tired
Background Noise ♫: IM beep beep

He dropped me off today. We made it from Little Rock to Fayetteville in and amazing 2.5 hours, after a romp in the park and lunch at an "award-winning" pizza place.
He brought back my pillow, but let me keep his.
We talked, hugged, kissed and said our goodbyes on the inside stairs, then again at my door. As he was about to get in his car, I ran out to give him one last hug and kiss and went back to watch from my open door. He waved just as he drove off. I waved back, but I don't think he saw.
As I closed the door I had an urge to run outside and watch his car a little longer, but I knew it was already gone around the corner by then. I just wanted to be near him, the car, the things surrounding him. I wanted not to be left behind.

I feel dumb and overly girly, claustrophobic, lonely, sad to the pit of my stomach, and hopeful about a whole lot of things.

I think the world is conspiring to keep me from seeing the end of The Notebook, but just maybe I'll watch Monk Season Three instead. I finished a book Tuesday (Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister) and started another yesterday (Going After Cacciato, although it might be a little to war drama-y for my taste, but I'll be damned if Tomcat in Love didn't rock my socks off).

Tags: books/poems/reading, breakups, movies/plays/television, william

Little Alex had a party at her place with a many of the ex-employees at Rice Village. Little Alex managed to sprain her ankle while slightly on the drunk side of tipsy. According to my dad, when we are under the influence, us Byerses skip straight from the happy stages of drunk to the invincible stages of drunk (we never reach the invisible stage, though). This means I walked around for about 5 hours on said foot with only mild discomfort....the morning was a different story, on the other hand. Dad and I went out to eat and we had matching limps.
So I call into work today to tell them I can't come in because I'm all hobbly and I'm pretty much told since it was my last week and I may take a while to heal, that I'm quitting.
To be quite honest, I am not displeased with this outcome. The last week has been dragging on and I've actually been waking up hoping to either be mildly sick or walk in and get fired for one of their ridiculous reasons. Isn't that kind of sick? Yeah, I know.
Anyway, I'm free now and I think I'm going to spend the week with William while I'm still gimpy.

And now for Party Pics!

Josh (former kitchen guy), Iris/Chiamin (former waitress), Me, Peggy Sue (my roommate), Laura (former waitress), Josh (Laura's boyfriend), and Letty (waitress).


Puppy Pile! Everyone but Iris.


Roommate Love! Me and Peggy Sue.


Laura and her Josh.


Letty crashed out before the pictures started, but not before she licked my wrist and made me take two shots of tequila.


I've been playing Sims 2 again lately, I find it ever so much more fun now that people are actually starting to make good hacked objects (which weren't around much when I first got the game). It's just a lot more fun when you can cheat in game, otherwise things can get a little slow.
I also finally got mom's copy of Harry Potter and devoured it this weekend. Unfortunately, the internet is an evil place and I already knew who died. After I finished the book, I realized I'm reading at least 5 other books at the same time (although to be fair, I may not finish Civilization and it's Discontents and The Zombie Survival Guide is more reference guide than story book).

Tags: books/poems/reading, health/medical, nerdiness, pictures, work
The Bottomline: crippled
Background Noise ♫: Dispatch - The General

Mom and Steve got married today. It's was lovely and perfect and wonderful. I danced and danced at the reception.
I'm so tired right now, I may say more later.

I'm off to hang out with the wonderful nikloo on her 23rd birthday! *Shake*

When William and I first met, he wrote a poem about me. We met a second time about a month later and were going out within days.
He would never let me read the poem. I finally wore him down with my pleading and nagging and he severly edited and shortened the poem and let me read it.
( This is that second version (because I still haven't read the first). )

Beth has totally moved out, I need to somehow move stuff over to that room by tomorrow when Peggy Sue moves in. Garowl.

Tags: books/poems/reading, wedding related, william

Sometimes when you read too much you start to feel a little melancholy. You start internal monologues in as lofty language as your untrained mind can muster up, having neither time to edit or the good old shift-F7 for a thesaurus.
My mind is racing through all sorts of important, self-examining thoughts...it's so much I can hardly let it sink in before it slips away.
Alex want make pretty words. *alas*

I wish I could see all the marvelous movies out lately, but I am poverty-stricken and paychecks don't come in for a while.
Also, you know, no one loves me and all that. I think I'll wrap myself in black, quote bad poetry in dark coffee shops (where I drink caffeinated drinks that are as complicated as humanly possible). and maybe get some generically hardcore/deep tattoos (although, to be honest, the idea of scarification is more appealing...not the pain, but the outcome - scars have more character and look more natural than just ink).

This weekend I went to Little Rock and Hot Springs to visit the grandparents and the boy. Marvelous.
I spent two nights with William. On the first night we went to the weekend theater to see his friend Jonathan in the Cradle Will Rock (I enjoyed it a lot) and then go to a nearby karaoke piano bar (where I got to hear lots of fun piano songs, including a few Rent songs by William's friends). The second night we stayed over at Jonathan's house along with two other friends of theirs, where I had the pleasure of watching them bounce off the walls and sing more songs (watching them sing Seasons of Love was amazing...They were all arm in arm and smiling like crazy...I love it when boys sing). William had an audition for a summer musical theater thing and spent a lot of the weekend practicing a monologue (A Boy's Life, "I fucked a girl while she was unconscious...") and song (Mr. Cellophane) for it. I read Tomcat in Love, which was utterly fantastic.
My Fayetteville friends will be glad to know that they are not the only set made uncomfortable by our public displays of affection. Although, I think his friend's might have mistook it for "I miss you" affection and not the everyday kind (we hadn't seen each other in all of four days!).

My birthday is this Sunday! Shower me with the lovin's!!!

Tags: angsty, books/poems/reading, william
The Bottomline: bouncy
Background Noise ♫: Flogging Molly - Far Away Boys

I was finished with school (for the semester) last Monday. I had two exams and a statistics paper due...before my first (7:30am) test and the paper deadline, I got approximately 1-1.5 hours sleep; before the last test I sneaked in another hour nap.
The rest of last week I worked the shifts at the book drive booth and started work again at the flower shop. I still need a second job...preferably with in walking distance. blah.

Saturday the lovely nikloo and springle graduated, however I missed their ceremonies because I got called into work to help with inventory. When we finished inventory, I was allowed to go home and spent the rest of the afternoon helping William move the heck out of his dorm room. That evening I got to go to Jenni's graduation party, where a good time was had by all.

William left today after dropping me off to work. It was the teary brand of sad. Fortunately he'll be back for my birthday in two weeks (May 29th). He's already asking when peggy_the_angel will be going down (she's up here for summer school and her hometown is close to William's, so when she visits she says I can too). We still have to watch the last disk on my Monk Season Two set.

For the first time in four years I'm not taking summer classes...I'm really looking forward to coming home and having time be my own...no homework or tests or projects stressing me the hell out...just pure Alex time. I'm even reading books for pleasure!!! I can't do that during the school semester most the time, because I feel so damn guilty that I'm not reading school material or doing homework. So far I've read The Rule of Four...or I've read all but the last 2-3 pages of it, the ending annoyed me and I haven't decided if I really want to take the time to finish it yet. I'm over half-way through with Waiting, which I'm really enjoying (I borrowed the copy I found when helping William move out, it has a signed message from the author to William's dad). My next conquest is A Clockwork Orange (hell, I do own and enjoy the movie), once I find that nice dictionary Clark told me about. I am open to other book recommendations!
I also plan on using my time to redesign a few of the websites in my care (the current total is 5, not including blogs, pet websites, or deviantart and the like) and maybe pick up a new (computer) language or two.

Tags: books/poems/reading, school, website stuff, william, work
The Bottomline: ellipsical
Background Noise ♫: my speakers are on strike