Friday, February 12, 2010

Oh, the weather outside is frightful...


























Here's one picture from the "Snowpocalypse" lol. I really like this one, actually. And yes, looking at the architecture of buildings that mirror the one I live in, and see just how off-kilter some of them look...oh my. In our living room, actually, one windowsill is 2 inches higher than the other. And when we sit on desk chairs with wheels, we naturally slide across the hardwood floor, giving in to gravity. You get accustomed to grabbing your desk before putting your full body weight into the seat. Lol.

I've realized lately that honesty is incredibly important to me. I cannot stand liars anymore. I've hated myself for more of life than not, and now that I actually like myself, I feel so confident and it's helped me see what things matter. I've been shit on, and walked all over, and I'm over that. I got to start over when I moved out here, and it's really great to be able to do that! You can stay in one place so long that you just blend into the background and feel yourself fading out slowly. It was hard in a smaller place, where you knew a lot of people, and they already had an impression of you. A clean slate. And I haven't changed much. But I'm much braver! I can pretty much say anything I want to anyone and I'm not afraid to. I don't say disrespectful or mean things. Just things that need to be said and a lot of people are afraid to say them. For instance, the other day, a co-worker noticed some of our carts going up the elevator to the fancy-pants realtor's office that rents the top of our building. Which our store owns. When my managers found out, they began discussing who should go check it out. I instantly offered when I heard about it. I went next door and asked if they had any of our carts, since someone had saw some there. The lady looked around but didn't see any. When I got back, the managers (two really sweet girls in the late 20s) kept going on about how they could never have asked them about the carts! Yea, I was nervous (for some reason, I'm secretly terrified by the wealthy. I think I've seen too many movies about the rich being able to do anything they want cause money rules the world or something.), but I did it! lol. But seriously though. This ass came into work the other day saying some bullshit about how the Magic Jack should be 19.95, that he heard it advertised for that at Walgreens. I told him no, we've always sold it for 39.99, that's what it's advertised as, etc. He got all high and mighty with me, asking if he could bring it back and get a $20 refund when he proved me wrong. I told him no, we don't do price comparisons. He continued to annoy me, telling me how right he was and how wrong I was and how he was gonna come back and prove me wrong. A little later, I got called up for an IC3. He happened to be one of my customers. "Oh!" he says to me, "you were right by the way!" I told him that I knew I was right. He told me I didn't have to have an attitude. This, of course, pissed me off. I simply told him that I was only giving him the attitude he gave me. Go ahead and complain, sir, you won't be the first to complain about me. Okay, maybe the third in 2 years. I've never once been written up at work (knock on wood) and since I don't plan on moving up much further, I don't care if I do get a write-up. Shit, I've never been written up or even gotten detention. So bring it! lol jk jk.
But yea, honesty is great. I wish people couldn't lie. Like in Liar, Liar. That'd be so awesome.

First train home, got to get on it.

This is my boyfriend and I. We've been together for 3.5 years now. :)
He got a loan from school and we just paid off all of our credit cards! What a huuge relief!! Debt sucks! Now just to pay off all those yucky students loans we've piled up. Ick.

So this winter has been the worst one that Philadelphia has EVER seen. We had a 23 inch blizzard in early December, which was crazy for the area as it was. Then, last week, we got a lovely 28.5 inch blizzard that ranked second for all-time snowstorms here. And then on Wednesday, we got another foot and a half of snow on top of the two feet we already had! Insanity! I feel like this may be our fault..it seems to have followed us from Erie! On Wednesday, I was scheduled to work at 8. I got up at 6 to see what it looked like outside, and it wasn't too bad. I considered not going in, since it normally takes me 30+ minutes to make it to work. However, when I texted my manager to see if that was ok, she said yea, but the district manager said that we can't use any sort of personal day, sick day, or holiday! Which sucked, and I already missed work on Saturday cause the weather was so bad, so I went in. The roads sucked. Now, I am an amazing driver in the snow. I've had 6 years of practice with living in Erie, so it's honestly nothing for me. It's just that everyone here can't drive in this weather, so I have to deal with the idiots. Lots of them. A million and a half of them, actually. lol. So it was a stressful drive. I get to work, and we hear all these reports about how awful the weather is about to turn. Around 10 or so, the snow began to fall again-very hard. (that's what she said ;)) My manager, Ann, the pharmacist, Cory (both of who live in Old City, which is 35-40 blocks further from our store than I live!), and I decided we probably shouldn't try driving home..so we took the train. Well, Cory couldn't leave til the other pharmacist showed, so Ann and I left for the train. Luckily, it's only three blocks from our store, so not too bad of a walk. It was exciting though, and my first regional rail train ride! Then I had to get off at the 30th street station and walk to the subway, then take that to 46th, then walk 3 blocks home. Quite an adventure!
I've noticed I've been having a ton of random-ass adventures here that would NEVER have happened in Erie! And I love it! For instance, two weekends ago, Chris and I went with a bunch of people from his poli-sci program to this vegan restaurant in Chinatown. We got to rent out the downstairs banquet room, and did karaoke for hours!! It was soo much fun!! I was one of only two girls there lol but so much fun! And up until last year, I didn't sing in front of just anyone. In fact, I never really started singing in front of Chris until a few months ago. :)
I think I should write a book on how to drive/park/get around in a huge city during a blizzard! I got to drive a cab during the December blizzard, cause the driver couldn't get through an intersection. I got through first try! :) Then the other day, I watched this car of guys try over 15 times to get out of an alley behind my apartment. Finally, I went up and knocked on the driver's window. I told him that he shouldn't gun his engine, and instead gently go. He tried this, and I swear to god, he got out his first try! :D That's right, I'm amazing. lol.
Yesterday, we went sledding! In a city! There's a nice park about 5 blocks from us that we met up with some of our friends at. It was a ton of fun. There were tons of kids and adults there, and they were all really nice-some kids let us borrow some sleds since we just had cardboard!! However, I'm also the biggest klutz ever, cause I hurt my knee! I ruined the tendons and ligaments in my right ankle about 12 years ago, and never got it fixed. For the first time in 3 years I twisted said ankle, which didn't hurt, but it did hurt when I landed right on my left kneecap on the one patch of cleared-off cement! Ugh! It's pretty badly bruised, and hurts like hell, I'm hoping it'll be ok. This morning, I had to catch the subway and train again back to work to get my car, and while walking down some stairs in the train station, I missed the last step and landed hard on my knees again! Gah! I need a helmet and to be wrapped in bubble wrap, please!! :D
I really wish some of my good friends would move out here! The fun we would have...wow. It's just so amazing to live here, I love it!
I'm obsessed with "First Train Home" by Imogen Heap. Such a catchy song!