I have been so busy doing I'm not even sure what, that I haven't had much time to come online. In fact, I not only have not been updating my xanga, but I haven't been checking my emails, nor posting on my book review blog.. and I'm supposed to do that five days a week! I have managed to get up one or two posts thanks to @Karoline1982 who has been doing the actual book reviews for me. I have just been quickly putting up the author interviews I had already written up. 

I think part of the problem is that I'm spending nearly ten hours per day, three to five days a week, on the computer. I do not know how other people do it in their office jobs, because my eyes KILL before the day is even done. Needless to say, work is making me not want to come home and go on MacLappy. 

The good news is that I have finally been given a couple new assignments to work on, after spending three weeks on the same one. I was proofreading this really interesting textbook, and I keep getting distracted and end up reading the dratted thing. I am also learning something new, as I will eventually be doing work to do with text-to-tablet stuff. I think that will be really fun! But because I was given these two new assignments, I am now behind on the previous one that I was two weeks ahead on 

With all that I have been doing, I have not been having rehearsals. Right after the theatre picnic, our director was ill. Everyone thought it was just heat stroke at first, but he kept getting worse until he landed in the hospital. They admitted him for a few days because he had a severe case of pneumonia  Thankfully our director is on the mend, but still not doing so great as yet. 

That is not to say I have not been doing anything entertaining as I went to the movies not too long ago. I happened to noticed that a girl I was in South Pacific with (two years ago) wanted to see the same movie I did, but also did not want to go alone. I jumped right in to say I would come, as did another girl who was in the play with us. I should have done my research a little better because all I knew was that the movie was inspired on the lead actor's life and had hawt guys without shirts... Well, Magic Mike had a lot more than muscled chests and six-pack abs showing! 

While drooling and sighs of admiration did occur, there was the added bonus of discovering that these two ladies, another cast-member, and some others have a book club. They don't start back up until September, but I was totally invited to join! It is one book a month and they take turns meeting at each other's houses. I've always wanted to be in a book club!

My cousin came to visit this past weekend. She tries to come this way to see our grandparents and the other aunts and cousins who live down here. T apparently came down and stayed at G&Gs the first day, went on what she thought was a day trip with an aunt to another aunt's cottage to see the aunt and cousins but ended up staying the night, came back the next day to hang out with me where we went to visit two other aunts and a cousin. 

I also did something else rather fun the same weekend, but I'll write about that later once I get the photos off my dad's camera. I'll only hint that it was myself and my parents and pure torture!

Just to finish things, I'll add a bit about another weird dream I had. The setting alternated between a cottage that was my Nana's but didn't look like the real one, and what was either a hotel or a really posh apartment. At the cottage there was myself, Sunnie, and two others on the back porch when a wildcat jumped onto it with us. The other three ran for the back door which was closest, but had to deal with not being eaten by the cat and getting inside without the cat also entering. I ran around to the front door to enter that way and hoped that the cat wasn't following me. Oddly enough I could see what both what the others were doing at the back of the cottage, and what my dream self was doing around the side to the front of the cottage. 

Then I was in the posh place going down the elevator. I kept thinking that I should have taken the stairs because elevators are freaky. It was a really big elevator that had a division down the middle making it two elevators, but you could hear the people on the other side of the tinnish divider wall. The two girls on the left side were having hysterics, or rather one was because the other girl vanished. I was talking to a guy who I think might have been Ryan from high school, when he disappeared too. When I got off the elevator and stepped into the hall (which was all pure white), I looked back into the elevator trying to figure out where R went, when he appeared behind me and still talking. 

Back at the cottage S and I are having a sleepover, when my ex-bf from high school was there (I can't recall why he said he came). I think another guy was there with him off and on, maybe a brother or a best friend. The guy was sometimes there and sometimes not, but it was still normal cuz it was a dream *shrug* While J was there doing whatever, he was also hinting at wanting to possibly try dating again (he's the one who it was just bad timing that caused our breakup, rather than anything else). We'd hold hands and gaze adoringly at each other, et al, while talking to the others or whatever J was there to do. S, however, didn't think we should try again since we had dated before, but it was really because she kind of wanted J for herself. We ignored her and were considering working things out. 

I was somehow back upstairs at the apartment/hotel -as I had been going to the lobby before- and people were there looking at my movie and book collection. Everything was set up like it was a rental store or library though I don't know if people were going to be able to borrow anything or if they could just look at my things like it was a museum. The room was white on white with white display shelves and everything... and I was talking to R again, as well as other people who had questions about my stuff. 

There was more to this dream I am fairly certain, but that is all I can remember from it AND my dratted alarm woke me up which interrupted my dreaming. If anyone wants to try to interpret it, have a go!  

SUMR

1. Go for a half-hour walk once a week and ten push-ups a day
I have been doing better, walking home from work nearly every day and occasionally taking a walk during my lunch break. I will need to fit in those push-ups and some sit-ups in there yet.

2. Brush and floss teeth before going to bed every night
I  really, really need to stop falling asleep on my couch. Maybe I should set my alarm for a specific time each evening to brush...  

3. Do something social twice a month with or without friends
I think Lauren and Brett's wedding covers more than enough! Dress fittings, bouquet-making gatherings, decorating parties, rehearsal dinner, the actual wedding and reception, et al *L0L* I also went to the movies with a couple friends (*drool* Magic Mike), and hung out with my cousin who came down for a day. 

4. Go on a date if someone asks (provided they aren't creepy) 
Well, I asked Buttercup to be my date to the wedding, so I think that totally counts

5. Work on assignments for at an hour every day -two if still unemployed
With all the wedding stuff to help with, I only managed to work on my assignment for a couple hours that week. Then I didn't even touch anything again until the last weekend of the month -I'm horrible!

6. Write for an hour a week on any WiP
I  worked a bit on a new script idea, but it is still in the planning stages. 

7. Save and plan for UK dream vacation
I have been trying to work out a budget so I can save!

 SUMR

I know, I know, two posts in one day? From the girl who sometimes forgets to write for weeks at a time? First of all, because I wrote that other post this morning I ended up with only twenty minutes in which to get ready for church *wh00ps* I almost didn't get to go, because I was running behind since my da had to be there before service started to run the sound system. Thankfully I did make it, because something the pastor said really struck a cord with me. Three things, really... 

1.) understanding is impacted by perspective
2.) God gives us each a gift and a purpose
3.) the book of Revelations is like Sci-Fi

So here is what hit me: I should write a script about Revelations. I don't want it to be one of those indie movies we used to watch in Sunday School that were incredibly cheesy and badly filmed; I want it to be more like Chronicles of Narnia. The story wouldn't be an obvious depiction of the Bible, but alluding to it through fantasy-like symbolism as Narnia does (ie. the lion being jesus, etc). The craziness of the apocalypse wouldn't be the main plot, but more of what happens in the background setting for the main characters to endure.

I want there to be a handful of teenagers who band together to survive, one of which will be a Christian girl. I think there should also be a homosexual, because I don't feel Christianity is anti-gay but rather that being some people's interpretation. But what other types of characters would a modern audience want to see and can relate to? And what sort of emotional situations would you want them to overcome? 

So all you movie-lovers out there, would you go see a movie like this? what plot and characters would you want in it? Or do you think Apocalyptic stories are overdone? 

SUMR

I had a weird dream, which I blame on the fact I was at a bridal shower yesterday. I don't recall the beginning of it, just the part that was moments before waking up. I got engaged -this is the part I know was in the dream, but can't recall very well. I know it wasn't anything overly romantic, but I was still really happy about it. I walked into a building and my fiancé's arms were wrapped around my shoulders from behind; the first person I saw was Kodie from the play and I said "Guess what?", showing her my ring. The ring was actually the claddagh that Buttercup got me for graduation, which I was using as a temporary placement until I got a different one. Kodie didn't understand what she was to have guessed and I said to fiancé-man that she would figure it out eventually. 

We walked through the halls talking and searching for someone, but the weird thing is that I was looking for my fiancé even as he was holding me. Also, the person I was searching for was Buttercup because I believed to have found him at one point, but didn't, and thought "Whoops, that wasn't Buttercup. I'm glad I didn't hug him by accident!" (I think the fiancé became Buttercup because my non-dreaming brain thought it was weird to be using a ring that was given to me by another guy as an engagement ring... even though that is what claddagh's are eventually used for.)

By this point the building I am in has become my old high school, and I really should be going to my locker to get my books before class, but I'm still looking for my fiancé. (Also, he is no longer holding me because in my dream I was confused why I would search for someone who is with me, so I guess my brain got rid of the surplus guy.) I recognized some people from my old school, saying hi to some but being ignored like I wasn't heard -which is what I assumed was the case. Trying to get through the back corner of school, I weaving through these guys in black leather jackets. They tried to close in on me with the intent of hitting on me in a heckling way. I got through their circle and even shoved another guy aside quite easily, and kept going. 

As I round the lower corner of that hall I wave to a redhead guy with a beard who is getting a piggyback from another guy due to having some sort of physical malady. This guy had been from earlier in my dream, is a little weird, and that is when he was injured hence the being carried now. After waving to him, this dark-haired girl at her locker with some boys speaks to me with a Cockney accent, saying something along the lines of "Gor Blimey", before switching to normal speech after I say "pardon?". She told me that acknowledging that guy put me at the bottom of the popularity meter and the only way to get back up was to publicly be mean to the redhead guy and if I didn't, things would go bad for me. I just said "what will happen, will happen" and walked away to continue my search. 

I made it down the front hall and around to the west hall, back to that same corner with the hecklers but this time it was a bunch of guys and girls standing there not moving because of music playing over the PA system. It wasn't the national anthem but it was 8:05 according to my watch, which I thought was weird because no warning bell had rung. I weaved my way through the people who had suddenly started to move, and practically ran to my locker. As I went, I was worried about not remembering my combination because I constantly forget it (something that happened a lot when I was in college). The person who had the locker next to mine was from one of the places I worked and he was talking to me, not overly nice but neither truly cruel. I ignored him as I grabbed books from my locker and was running to class when the final bell rang. 

And then I woke up because my alarm went off. Wasn't that weird? I was engaged to someone who was and wasn't Buttercup, I was in my old high school, and people I know from various places outside of any school were the students -some of whom, by the way, looked like they belonged in a '50s movie (that fact was probably because I just watched Clueless and Christian had a very rat-pack style of dress). 

SUMR

As I have mentioned many times, my friends Brett and Lauren were getting married this past week. It was arranged that I would go up at the beginning of the week to help with the final wedding details before friday, so on Tuesday my dad gave me a ride to Oshawa where I met Brett at his work. He would be finishing for the day when I arrived, and then I would travel the rest of the way with him. 

But we didn't go straight to the house, as Brett had some local errands to run. We stopped at Michaels to pick up some supplies, such as glass for a picture frame Lauren accidentally broke the night prior, popsicle sticks for Brett to build a mini-bridge (an inside joke Brett has with Laur's Dad), and some other things. We also stopped to pick up Brett's tuxedo: 

Lauren was out with her parents when we got back to the house, so Brett made us dinner -a yummy pasta that had just a touch too much spices- and we watched TV until Laur got back a couple hours after. The three of us started working on folding napkins and putting them in the napkin rings with little tags tied to them saying "Thank You! B&L". I wrote those while the other two tied and folded... at least until the DJ called and both of them had to talk to him. I finished up the napkins before they even got off the phone, and there were about 75 of them.

On Wednesday was our dress fitting, but first Lauren and I picked up her wedding dress. We were shown how to bustle it up, and told how to pack and store it until the big day. The dress was stunning and I could hardly wait to see Laur in it! After picking up the dress we went to Jenn's house where her mum would be doing the fittings for our bridesmaid dresses. Only Ashlea (the thirteen year old) and her grandmother Sharon were there when we arrived, though Laur's mum and gramma arrived a little later just to be part of it. 

Lauren wanted to wait until Ashley and Jenn showed up before leaving, so she had her mum take me back to the house. Lauren did this because she didn't think she would have time to take me back before going to a job interview she had been called about on Tuesday. I spent the afternoon working on my editing until it was time to go to Lauren's parents' house to work on the flower arrangements and the bouquets, etc. The previous plan was to do those at 5pm and then Laur and I were going to see Magic Mike, but the job interview caused everything to be rearranged. The unfortunate part was that the flowers took us until 11pm and Laur and I never ended up going to the movies, not even a late show. 

The hardest part was dealing with the dried baby's breath that had be covered with silver glitter. Those sparkles goT EVERYWHERE! There wasn't one person or thing in that room that did not get covered with the bits of glitter. It was in hair, on faces, stuck to hands and feet, plastering clothes, and covering the floor. Needless to say there were a lot of Peter Pan and Twilight jokes. 

On Thursday Lauren was going with her mother to the gym and then to get their nails done. I saw Lauren for maybe five minutes that morning when she let Brett's mum in as she was about to leave. I wanted to go back to sleep because it was so early, but Brett's mum isn't the most quiet woman in the world. I ended up getting up for the day, having a shower and eating breakfast on the porch with Luna as I did the day prior. Brett's mum apparently hadn't slept all night and was unable to sleep, so Brett and I left her watching TV as he and I went grocery shopping and did some other errands. 

When we got back we put away the groceries and started cleaning the house to get it ready for the night's rehearsal dinner. Lauren was supposed to have come back after lunch, but ended up staying at her parents' instead and met us at the Hall where the wedding was being held. Brett and I stopped to pick up Ashlea and then went to decorate the reception room and to do a rehearsal with the officiant in the back garden. 

After doing a run-through (short one groomsman), we went back to the house. Brett and I arrived first, and finished any last minute cleaning that his mum "forgot" to do -aka she slept the whole time- and then the other's started to arrive shortly thereafter. It was a lot of fun with confetti fights, party horns, firecrackers, and a huge BBQ. Everyone was given their bridesmaid or groomsman prezzies then, too. I was asked to hide away in another room and put the groomsmen gifts together because Lauren hadn't been around to do them yet. The boys got half-yard booze glasses, while us girls got a gorgeous clutch purse with a pearl necklace, bracelet, and earrings.  

Everyone left by 11pm, including the groom who was going to stay at his brother's place. It was the first time that I got to spend so much as an hour with Lauren without us rushing all over the place trying to get things done... well, during that time we discussed plans for the next day and packed out bags -her for things she needed the next day, and i had to pack all my things because I wouldn't be returning to the house after the ceremony. Nevertheless, we got a bit of girl time in. 

We went to bed about midnight, so technically it was already Friday, and I was woken up around 3am for some unknown reason. I heard whispering, and thought Brett had snuck back to spend the night. Luna, the chocolate lab, decided around that time to join me on the couch (I decided not to deal with the evil futon in the spare room) and she's a bit of a bed hog. I took some gravel to get back to sleep, stuck in some earplugs, found a compromise with the dog, and didn't wake until just after 7am. I swear to you that I saw Brett wandering around, feeding Luna and taking a quick shower, but Lauren maintains that he was not there because it's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding. I decided I wasn't going to let that possible lie ruin my day, and figure at some point Laur will say to me, "remember when...? Well, he really was there."

Lauren and I got ready to go to the hairdresser, and were on our way with goodies. We took Luna with us because we were dropping the dog off at Laur's parents, and picking up her mum to come for hair and make-up. We stopped at a grocery store to pick up a fruit tray and veggie tray, as well as to get cash back rather than finding two different banks so that we might pay the ladies who apparently only take cash and not debit. While we were in the store, Luna got into the munchies and ate most of the banana chocolate chip loaf, the naomi bars, and a couple pieces of raspberry cake. There was slobbery food everywhere and icing all over the dog, but the worry was about how much chocolate she ingested. 

I spent a lot of time waiting around as there were only two hairdressers, one make-up lady, and seven of us getting stuff done. Well, six until Brett's mum finally showed up a couple hours later. I ended up having my face done first my hair done last which was the worst possibly thing: We ordered in pizza to go with our munchies which meant all my lip gunk was gone before I even left the hairdressers, and my hair didn't have time to set which I needed because my locks don't take well to curls and need the extra time!

Because I was last, the other girls left for Jenn's while Jenn waiting around for me to be finished which wasn't long because I was rushed out of there pretty quick. My hair was already started to fall out by the time we got back to Jenn's place to get dressed! The plan was for us girls to get ready and then help Lauren get into her dress, but Jenn and Ashley took over and said I wasn't needed. I really wanted to help Laur get ready, but I did at least get to help Lauren on with her necklace and carry her train to the car when we were leaving. All the other girls had been in a limo at least a couple times before -even the kid!- but I thought it was pretty exciting and took a lot of photos in the car. I didn't get to take any of the car itself because I was busy dealing with Laur's dress. 

Lauren had inadvertently picked the hottest day of summer to have her outdoor wedding so everyone was boiling! The ladies and I at least got to wait inside the air conditioned building until it was time to start, but the guests and groomsmen were outside for a half hour prior. I had to go first down the aisle -scary!- and had a little trouble walking on the cobbled stones in my heels, but made it. We were told to walk slowly, but the other girls were trucking it down the aisle after me. The ceremony was lovely even though I could only see the bride's back and the groom's hat. 

Afterwards we all went back in where the new Mr & Mrs did a receiving line, and us bridal party waited around for the photos to start. The pictures took forever but thankfully one nice catering person brought out a couple platters of food and a trolly of water was left for us. Once the photos were finished we had to wait in the foyer for the champaign to finish being served so we could make a promenade into the reception room. We were told to do something cute in the middle of the dance floor before going back to our spots, so I did a little twirl with Shaun. Ashlea didn't do anything and ducked to her spot as soon as possible though Mike did a pose, Brent and Jenn didn't do anything, and Chris bowed while Ashley did nothing either. Brett and Lauren came in and did the exact same thing Shaun and I did *whoops* And note to self, have the groomsmen help seat their bridesmaid because it can lead to awkward situations otherwise. 

We were served salad, then pasta, then our main course, then some sort of dessert -only the pasta was any good. During each course, halfway through people eating, various people were called up to make a speech. It was a great way to do it because no one went hungry which meant people were actually able to focus on the words and not how hungry they are. Laur's Dad was first and mentioned everyone in the bridal party, even mentioning how it was because of me the pair met and fell in love. He was absolutely hilarious, and everyone just adores him! Then came Chris, followed by Ashley, and finally the bride and groom themselves. The funny thing is that Laur said it was love at first sight when that night she told me "I'm not sure I like him". 

The cutting of the cake was next, then the dancing started. The dj started with an oldies song, so I dragged Ashlea out with me and was teaching her how to swing dance. People started coming out onto the floor after that, so it is a good thing that I am always willing to get the dancing started! *L0L* I must have danced nearly every fast song, and a lot of them were oldies or ones with set dance moves (ie Time Warp, Macarina, Electric Slide, etc). My date was Buttercup, but he's not much of a dancer so he mostly talked to other people he met through the course of the evening, while I danced with anyone and everyone on the dance floor. Sadly, whenever a slow song came on he was already outside having a smoke. That is the unfortunately thing about asking a guy who smokes to be your date, not only does he smell a bit icky but he misses a lot of danceable songs! 

Later the bouquet was tossed -Lauren aimed it at Ashley- as well as the garter (which Steve or Graham caught). I also ended up talking to a lot of the boys from the guys' house were invited and I hadn't seen in years. It was nice catching up with them, Steve, Graham, Gord, Wilkie, Shaun and Rebecca (Gord's wife Jaime didn't come because their daughter was sick, so he brought Wilkie as his "date"). Apparently at some point one of the boys wanted to ask me a question, and so they planned to wait until one of them was drunk enough to do so. I don't know why they wanted to know something so personal, but I just said "Of course not, I'm not married yet". 

Because Buttercup had worked the night prior and only got four hours sleep before coming to Oshawa, we ended up leaving at 1130pm though the place was open until about 2am. I was fairly okay with that since my feet were killing me from being on them all day and usually in three inch heels, I was pretty tired from being up early, and I'd rather him not be tired when driving us home. We were just about to leave when Ashlea came tearing out after me to say I forgot my bouquet and vase, so we gathered those up and then I left after giving goodbye hugs to everyone.

All in all, it was a pretty fun time and a great experience. I can hardly believe that it is all over now and that Brett and Laur are finally married. It seems like it was all just a bit of a dream, but the happy couple are by now getting ready to leave for some tropical island for a week. I am so unbelievably happy for them!!!

SUMR

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!

On the way to the bay, i saw this truck in front of us covered with balloons and flags. 

Waiting for the fireworks, around 9:30/10 pm.

My camera has a horrible delay, so I didn't always get as much awesomeness as I wanted.

Loved the low fireworks, always pretty. Mum likened to them to an upside-down waterfall.  

More fireworks exploding over the bay.  

Finally got a fairly awesome shot!

Leaving after the light show, i saw two sailboats near each other on the water all decked out in lights.  

I got fed up trying to get photos and just videod it!  If I ever manage to get the video to download I shall post it *L0L*

SUMR

 1. Go for a half-hour walk once a week and ten push-ups a day
I basically stopped exercising since it made me gain weight last month. I have been trying to do some push-ups though... but that didn't last long. I use the stairs at work -I'm on the third floor- and I have walked home nearly every day this week. 

2. Brush and floss teeth before going to bed every night
I  am improving! If I don't stay up late reading and actually plan on going to bed, I remember to. 

3. Do something social twice a month with or without friends
During the first weekend of the month I attended Laur's Bridal shower, and later in the month I went for a walk with Buttercup.  I went to two auditions, a call back, as well as two rehearsals. 

4. Go on a date if someone asks (provided they aren't creepy) 
I  have not been asked out, but a car full of males smiled, waved, and even hand-hearted *L0L*

5. Work on assignments for at an hour every day -two if still unemployed
The first week I had my computer off because it pretty much stormed the entire time. I did get an assignment shortly after that, but I only worked on it for a couple hours total. Then I got so busy I haven't had time nor the inclination to so much as look at a computer screen any longer. 

6. Write for an hour a week on any WiP
I   don't even know that I even so much as thought about any of my stories *wh00ps*

7. Save and plan for UK dream vacation
I have been attempting to get a job that will allow me to save for Ireland, and I told Buttercup about my plan to go there by my 30th birthday so that is sort of like planning it... maybe. 

 SUMR

So today began as slightly stressful. I had to work, then go to my hair appointment, and finally rehearsal. I managed to make it to work for 9:15am so that I might leave fifteen minutes earlier than I would have... but then I found out most people wanted to leave early today. I don't yet have a key or access code or what-have-you, so when everyone else was leaving I would have to leave too. 

But until then, I was freezing to death! It was so incredibly cold in there today, I was literally shivering at times. Another person called in sick, and one went home sick; do you think the air conditioning is to blame? I went outside for a break in the afternoon to thaw out, but when I went back in it I felt so much colder than before I left for those few minutes. I only stayed about an hour after that because I finished my assignment and M didn't want to give me any new work since I would be gone all next week. 

I did find out that the blog post I wrote a day or two ago for the Bicycle Opera Project had been read by the people who came up with the idea. Apparently they loved it so much they want to use it as an article in a magazine! To be honest, I just took the information from their press release, then reworded and reorganized it -nothing spectacular. Nevertheless, I should try to find out what magazine it is and get a copy...

I was lucky enough to finish all my work by four o'clock, which was when the others wanted to leave.  I came home for something quick to eat, then was off to my hair appointment. My normal hairdresser was away on maternity leave, so I went to someone new who was suggested by the receptionist. I had played phone-tag with him all day yesterday, having called before leaving for work, him calling in the morning, my calling back at lunch, him calling in the afternoon, then my calling again after work! *0y* 

I decided I wanted to keep my hair as long as possible; just trim up the ends, add layers, and straighten out my bangs... oh goodness, did I ever to a hack-job on my bangs! They were quite, quite crooked  I'm sure you probably can't even tell the difference from the pictures I posted when I dyed my hair, but I am quite happy with the result. I thought this new girl was quite fantastic; not just because she did a good job on my hair, but because she was very talkative and I like that in a hair dresser. It would seem ever so awkward to just sit there and say nothing for an hour! 

After I returned home I went outside to my wonderful swing to hang out for fifteen minutes before I would have to depart again for rehearsal. There didn't seem much point in doing anything else for that amount of time! Well, it was a few more minutes than that, but I made myself a milkshake to have while relaxing in the back yard doing nothing.  I'm not good at doing nothing, it seems, and I ended up texting the bride to chat about next week. It turns out that she went to the salon today as well to get her hair done *L0L*

When I got to rehearsal all the theatre doors were locked. Not one was left open for us to get in  Most of the others had the pass code to get into the theatre, but they were all in the first act and I didn't have to go to that rehearsal on wednesday. Only one other person didn't have code and they showed up after I did and the door was propped open. I had to text and call, trying to find someone who could hear their phone. I finally got the director after texting and calling, so he let me in. 

Rehearsal was quite enjoyable, I do think these people to be much fun! Algy and I kept whispering to each other -such a cutie- and it turns out that he, too, had a haircut today. Go figure! At one point I'm supposed to run my hands through his hair so I patted him on the head as he was kneeling next to my chair at the time. It turns out that he was already to have pulled me to standing and embrace me, but reaching his hair while we're standing rather than my sitting and his keeling is gonna be a feat *shakes head* 

Which leads me to the fact that Gwen, and the others,  kept teasing me about my height. It was sadly noticeable just how short I am compared to everyone else as we were doing the blocking for today's rehearsal... I think the next shortest person is about 5'6" or 5'8" which is just a couple inches shy of a foot taller than myself. Though I had already stood next to him, Algy said he didn't quite comprehend just how short I was until he was looking at me standing next to Gwen *shakes head* I'm supposed to kiss Lady B's cheek and he is the tallest of them all! I swear to you he must be close to six and a half feet! I just stood there craning my neck up at him, and said: "Yeah, just isn't going to happen." Lady B now sits down a bit sooner than previously planned just so I can do kiss his cheek

The director decided that he will have at least one rehearsal a week to do short scenes with people. He is meeting with the two boys first since at least half the femmes are going away next week or have some prior plans, myself included. It is probably in one of these small sessions that the director will talk to myself and Algy about our kissing scenes, and we have two or three! I'm a bit nervous about that as I've never had to kiss anyone onstage, nor kissed many guys at all for that matter... 

SUMR

As I already mentioned, I had an interview a week ago and have been in "testing" at a company. The "come in for some testing" became one-to-two days, which became three days, then became five days... They were giving me real work to do for two reasons, they were busy they didn't have time to create tests and they were so busy they didn't have enough time to do everything themselves without more overtime. 

I was a bit worried about whether they would hire me because the designers wanted someone with formatting skills, which I don't have, but they kept bringing me back in. I was also a bit worried today because I missed a phone call and the owner noticed. The thing is, I was asked to do something in the gallery and I assumed the phone there was connected to the one at the front desk. I mean, why else is it friggen there?

When it rang I went to answer it but no one was there, so I assumed it was similar to yesterday where I would hear one of the others' office phone ringing and thought it was the front desk. I don't know how anyone could get upstairs to answer the phone if you're downstairs *shakes head* There is apparently a way to connect the lines when you're in the gallery, but the only person who knows how is off sick. 

So at five tonight when I was supposed to be finished, the boss lady of the upstairs crew was missing and I didn't want to leave without her going over the work I had already done... or telling me if they wanted me back tomorrow! I presumed she was in a meeting with the owner talking about me and whether I could do the work. She came back up an hour later to tell me they though I would be a good fit... even though I wasn't quite up to par with formatting.

I am to work part time, from Tuesday through Thursdays doing proofreading, formatting, and filling in at the front desk when N is doing sales work, etc. I am alternating with their other part-time girl who has mad formatting talents (but possibly no proofing skills), and she will be there on Mon, Thurs, and Fridays. She'll obviously be dealing with the admin work for N on the days I'm not there, and they are having us cross-over on Thursdays so that I can focus only on proofreading.

They said that during busy times they will have us in full time, and maybe later things will change that they will need both of us full-time (like that possible future editorial position the owner mentioned in the interview hopefully!). This and next week is one of those said "busy times" and they want both of us in for full hours... the only problem is that the other girl is going away that week as am I! It is Laur and Brett's wedding and there is no way I can miss my dress fitting nor the wedding! Maybe the lady who is off sick will be better by then 

It turns out that while I will not be paid for the three days of planned testing, but my official start date was this past Tuesday *L0L* I am to come in for the rest of this week, next Tuesday morning if I can, and to come back on the following Tuesday morning. My hours are from 930am until 5pm, though that often ends up being until 6pm with all the work to be done right now. 

So there you have it, one year after graduating I finally got a job at a publishing company! Well, one that actually has an office anyways... 

SUMR

I mentioned last week that I was asked in for an interview. When the owner called me he said they did not have any editing positions but there was a need for someone to help with admin work and do some proofreading, because the girl currently doing that job (N) was planning to do more work in another department that would take her away from the office on occasion. It is only an entry level position for just over minimum wage, with as yet unknown (to me) hours. 

During my interview on Wednesday, the owner said that there was a lot of growth from this position. I could move to another department like N, and in time there might be a need for an in-house editor, that it was something they had been considering and will likely become necessary down the line. He also told me that the "people upstairs" were currently wanting someone who had a senior level of formatting experience. If the fact that I do NOT have said experience is acceptable to them, then I would be asked in for some testing to see where my skill-level is at... First of all, not part of the previously given job description. Second of all, that isn't entry-level work. 

I was called and asked to come in for a day or two for the testing. Thursday was fine, I was just proofreading, which took me about six hours to do the one chapter. It shouldn't have taken that long, but I was very nervous and it was a bit before I got into the swing of things figuring out what they were actually wanting from me. Friday I was to do one assignment, but given that was taking forever to load onto my computer they had me format a word doc onto their design program using style sheets. I had a lot of trouble with that because I have never had to use a style sheet before, I hadn't used that program in over a year, and I was not taught everything that program could do -like style sheets! 

On Friday I was asked to come back on Monday to do the "test" I didn't do (the one that took forever to load) and later learn about the admin work. When I arrived at the designated time, the person who told me that time (M) had not even arrived yet and didn't for another hour. I decided to go downstairs to learn about what gets done downstairs at the front desk and in the gallery for something to do. Before N was finished explaining some things, M showed up and said to come up in a few minutes to go over Friday's work, yet M was too busy to deal with me for another half-hour to an hour! Thankfully one of the other workers there, C, gave me some tax forms and an agreement to deal with -which makes it seem like I will be hired- but I couldn't finish them due to needing to get/know the numbers from my other job of editing for taxation purposes. 

M and I finally went over what was done on Friday, and I was told it was a lot better after it being checked on Friday afternoon. I had called her over because I wasn't sure what I was doing, which made her a bit worried about my abilities in that regard. She made some minor improvements to it, things I did not and still don't know how to do, but not too many changes. There were some things I could have done had I known it was permissible, but considering I was not trained in this department I didn't know it was something I was to do. 

After lunch I started working on the planned project, but within an hour something came up that caused a rearranging of priorities and assignments. I was asked if I knew any web coding -I don't- and ended up being given the work R had been working on so that R could work on the coding. It was just some alterations on a word doc based on the notes made on a pdf file. I thought this was the easiest work yet! Well, I couldn't do anything about the graphics that needed changing because I had no access to the originals, but I did do all the textual edits. I even stayed an hour later than expected getting those done so R wouldn't have to add that on top of all the extra time the coding would take. 

Because of this mad scramble, it was decided that my one-to-two-days-that-became-three-days of testing would now have another two days added! Tomorrow I am expected back a little earlier so that I can finish up the abandoned project, then actually get some training for the admin work, and who knows what else. I guess I will be shadowing N for a time and eventually be left on my own to do it while N is out of the office. Personally, I don't think it is very smart to be leaving someone who hasn't even been hired yet in charge of the front desk with no one to ask questions of, but c'est la vie. 

 I am merely hoping that the five days will NOT become seven, because I have some freelance editing I need to get going on and my book review blog interviews to catch up with and also get ready for my week out of town for my bff's wedding!

SUMR