Pink Oompa Loompas

The Oompa Loompas have turned pink! They are no longer orange! Beware, lest they turn on you... beware...

Monday, April 21, 2008

Let's Be Honest

Life sucks. It really does, unless you have money, or you don't notice what's going on around you. You all must be thinking, "Another negative, depressing, ranting note from Michelle." Yeah, it is. I've just had the last blow in a day that started off badly, in a week and month that have been far from positive. If I were a violent person, I would have killed or seriously maimed someone by now. Luckily I'm not. I just need to get it all out. Or most of it, anyway.

It just seems like I'm watching my life do something like "Whee... falling... back up! up! down... down... up a little... whee... SPLAT!"

(I'm in a slightly better mood than I was when I first started this note. There was a glimmer of hope in Alex's message about going to Brainerd this weekend.)

But, yes. The splatting bit. It has just been a bad month/week/and especially day. I might as well say what I think, and not dance around it. Some people may be annoyed by it, but... Oh well. It started out near the end of spring break, when Pat and I broke up. I was surprisingly fine the day it happened, considering trying alcohol the day afterward to see if being happily oblivious would be fun. (I wouldn't actually do it, don't worry. No idea where I'd get alcohol, anyway.) The next few days were decent. The first week afterward I survived, thought a lot, but was fine. I was actually fine and doing well for the most part until the end of last week. Thursday, I think. A few things triggered thoughts, and I curled into an emotional ball again. Luckily Sara knows how to distract me and make me feel better.

He said that he still wanted to be good friends. Do they all say that? The only contact we've had in about a month is one set of posts on each other's facebook walls. He didn't even wish me a happy birthday. We go out for over a year, and then he forgets I exist. I can't decide if it's better or worse this way. It's kind of cruel, or at least I think so. I'm not this bitter most days. It's just a really bad day.

This weekend was pretty good. Celina came to keep me company, and then Jessy and I hung out a lot and tried to go on spontaneous adventures. I knew Saturday was prom in Brainerd, and that if things had worked out differently, I would have been there.

Yesterday Amanda told me about what she'd seen at Grand March on Saturday. It kind of depressed me, until I learned a bit more from Nick through Sara.
Today, though... My day started off with me opening Facebook, seeing pictures from prom posted in friends' albums, and blithely clicking into one specific album. There was one picture in particular that I saw that made me very, very close to crying. Only the thought that I had to be in class in 15 minutes kept me from dissolving into tears.

Now, my logical self knows that there are good, innocent reasons behind it. I doubt they were specifically trying to hurt me. Well, they probably didn't even think about me, actually, which may or may not be even more depressing. Unfortunately, the psycho-emotional Michelle tends to win these mental arguments more often. She is stronger and more compelling than logical, reasonable and understanding Michelle. I'm overreacting, and I know it. But I can't help it. Any female that isn't heartless would probably feel the same way. Not that that justifies it, but still.

I know, mentally, anyway, that I'm better off single. It was miserable the last few months, to be honest. Now I have less to deal with, but there are still doubts, nagging thoughts, wonderings... I won't go into that, though.

I was just starting to feel better when my parents called a while ago. They started off the conversation saying how glad they were that I was coming home this weekend, was it Friday at 10 when they'll be picking me up? And then they asked if they could borrow a few dollars for gas money. Yeah... I don't blame them. They've got half a tank of gas and $15 to last them until next Thursday. They can't afford a trip down here to get me, no matter how badly they want to see me and I want to go home.

And I really, really want to go home. There's just something nice and comforting about it. I haven't been home in about a month. I think that's the longest I've gone. I was looking forward to going to the play this weekend, seeing friends, just being in Brainerd.... But, no. No home for me. At this point I actually did start crying.

Not only was I thinking about how I was denied my visit home, but how much my parents' lives must suck not having any money at all, and having to disappoint me by telling me no. And then... I may have to help them get by this summer with whatever I make, which means I won't be able to save money to pay for school next year, or anything else I need... And how much the world sucks for people who don't have money, and how poverty is a vicious cycle, and that I'm never going to rise above it and probably have to drop out of school and get a job and be no better than my parents... and, and... *screams*

It's just one of those days where everything seems hopeless and pointless. Everyone has them. Today just happened to be the day when everything hit me at once and I collapsed. I want to give up, but know there are still good things in my life, and that it will get better. I hope. It has to.

I'll stop now. There's more I could write, but if I want to retain a shred of sanity, I should probably just stop thinking about it.

Let's Be Honest

Life sucks. It really does, unless you have money, or you don't notice what's going on around you. You all must be thinking, "Another negative, depressing, ranting note from Michelle." Yeah, it is. I've just had the last blow in a day that started off badly, in a week and month that have been far from positive. If I were a violent person, I would have killed or seriously maimed someone by now. Luckily I'm not.

It just seems like I'm watching my life do something like "Whee... falling... back up! up! down... down... up a little... whee... SPLAT!"

(I'm in a slightly better mood than I was when I first started this note. There was a glimmer of hope in Alex's message about going to Brainerd this weekend.)

But, yes. The splatting bit. It has just been a bad month/week/and especially day. I might as well say what I think, and not dance around it. Some people may be annoyed by it, but... Oh well. It started out near the end of spring break, when Pat and I broke up. I was surprisingly fine the day it happened, considering trying alcohol the day afterward to see if being happily oblivious would be fun. (I wouldn't actually do it, don't worry. No idea where I'd get alcohol, anyway.) The next few days were decent. The first week afterward I survived, thought a lot, but was fine. I was actually fine and doing well for the most part until the end of last week. Thursday, I think. A few things triggered thoughts, and I curled into an emotional ball again. Luckily Sara knows how to distract me and make me feel better.

This weekend was pretty good. Celina came to keep me company, and then Jessy and I hung out a lot and tried to go on spontaneous adventures. I knew Saturday was prom in Brainerd, and that if things had worked out differently, I would have been there.

Yesterday Amanda told me about what she'd seen at Grand March on Saturday. It kind of depressed me, until I learned a bit more from Nick through Sara.
Today, though... My day started off with me opening Facebook, seeing pictures from prom posted in friends' albums, and blithely clicking into one specific album. There was one picture in particular that I saw that made me very, very close to crying. Only the thought that I had to be in class in 15 minutes kept me from dissolving into tears.

Now, my logical self knows that there are good, innocent reasons behind it. I doubt they were specifically trying to hurt me. Well, they probably didn't even think about me, actually, which may or may not be even more depressing. Unfortunately, the psycho-emotional Michelle tends to win these mental arguments more often. She is stronger and more compelling than logical, reasonable and understanding Michelle. I'm overreacting, and I know it. But I can't help it. Any female that isn't heartless would probably feel the same way. Not that that justifies it, but still.

I know, mentally, anyway, that I'm better off single. It was miserable the last few months, to be honest. Now I have less to deal with, but there are still doubts, nagging thoughts, wonderings... I won't go into that, though.

I was just starting to feel better when my parents called a while ago. They started off the conversation saying how glad they were that I was coming home this weekend, was it Friday at 10 when they'll be picking me up? And then they asked if they could borrow a few dollars for gas money. Yeah... I don't blame them. They've got half a tank of gas and $15 to last them until next Thursday. They can't afford a trip down here to get me, no matter how badly they want to see me and I want to go home.

And I really, really want to go home. There's just something nice and comforting about it. I haven't been home in about a month. I think that's the longest I've gone. I was looking forward to going to the play this weekend, seeing friends, just being in Brainerd.... But, no. No home for me. At this point I actually did start crying.

Not only was I thinking about how I was denied my visit home, but how much my parents' lives must suck not having any money at all, and having to disappoint me by telling me no. And then... I may have to help them get by this summer with whatever I make, which means I won't be able to save money to pay for school next year, or anything else I need... And how much the world sucks for people who don't have money, and how poverty is a vicious cycle, and that I'm never going to rise above it and probably have to drop out of school and get a job and be no better than my parents... and, and... *screams*

It's just one of those days where everything seems hopeless and pointless. Everyone has them. Today just happened to be the day when everything hit me at once and I collapsed. I want to give up, but know there are still good things in my life, and that it will get better. I hope. It has to.

I'll stop now. There's more I could write, but if I want to retain a shred of sanity, I should probably just stop thinking about it.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Moving!

Hello, everyone! Sara and I have combined blogs, so I shall now be posting over on hers, which is significantly prettier and fancier than mine. If you don't know the address already, it is http://gregariousmime.blogspot.com/.

Please forward all comments, complaints, postcards, and other forms of mail to my new address. It shall reach me there.

I don't have the heart to delete this one, since I've written so much on it, so it will still be here.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Shopping!

Things I bought for our dorm:
2 sets of 10 blue hangers
Short green trash can
Toaster ($7! Ha!)
2 pink and green stripey towels
2 pink and green stripey washcloths
Black down comforter
Purple sheets/pillowcases
Silver desk lamp
White laundry basket (Which quite nicely holds everything else I bought.)
Set of 4 13 oz. orange tumblers
Two orange plates
4 orange bowls
6 each of forks, knives, and spoons
1 super-firm pillow

Still to buy:
Squishy chair
Printer
Plastic storage things
iPod
Various other smallish things, like laundry detergent, etc


Must order microfridge thing eventually....

Am I forgetting anything?

Friday, June 08, 2007

It's Been a While

Looking at the calendar... Yeah, it's been quite a while since the last time I posted. The time since graduation has actually been pretty busy, which is impressive for someone without a job. I'm debating looking for one. Money would be really nice, but I'm going to be gone for quite a few chunks of time. How likely is it that an employer would be kind enough to let me off for all of them? Unless I got a sweet job like the one working for Sara's mom again...
"I don't think I'm going to come in today."
"Ok! Have fun!"
Doesn't happen with regular jobs, I'm afraid.

Let's see. I've got the Dive into Hamline leadership retreat June 21-24. (Yep, they decided that I can come.) The Winnipeg Folk Festival is July 5-8... Plus I would like to go to people's grad parties, hang out with friends before they and I all move away, take a trip to Valleyfair, the Renaissance Festival, do some dorm shopping... Obviously, I have no time for a job. Right? Besides, I'll be working for the rest of my life. Might as well take a summer off. Even though I took last summer off, too. But really. I started working when I was 14. Break time.

Next task... Finding a way down to Hamline. I don't trust our van to make it that far, so I'm thinking I may call my darling sister Suzy, who lives in the Cities.

Calyn moved to Illinois.

I should find out sometime this month where I'm living on campus next year. Good times. I can't say that having any particular dorm would be less appealing than having another. I think most of them at Hamline are decent. (Please, God, not the Health and Wellness floor... )

I have most of my stuff sorted out for next year. Minus a loan or two. I'll get around to that eventually. Maybe one of them today.

I cleaned my room. (Kind of.) If organizing random piles of stuff and throwing away mountains of unneeded paperwork counts as cleaning. There's more floor space now that the piles of books are neater.

On that note... How am I to decide which books to bring with me? I came to the conclusion that I will not bring my own bookshelf so as to bring all of my books. It's not realistic, and I won't read them all. I'll just bring my favorites. Must also decide how much of my wardrobe to bring. Do all of the little porcelain figurines, action figures, and various other shiny objects and random souvenirs need to come? Ugh. I'm going to have to sort through my entire life, it seems.

I should probably go start doing some of that. Maybe I'll take out that Wells Fargo student loan online, or make a list of things I need to buy...

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

You May Now Begin to Panic

I graduate tomorrow.
....
....
....

Waiting for it to hit me.
Here it comes....
Ready...

BOOM!

Noo!! *runs in circles* You can't make me! I won't go!
But I want to go. It'll be exciting. New places, new friends, new things in general.

But I don't want to! Must leave old friends, family, boyfriend...
*runs in circles some more*
*gnaws on arm*

That about sums up my thoughts. Excited, yet scared. Proud of myself for graduating (with distinction at that), but depressed that I have to leave. Will we all really keep in touch? I don't want to lose all of the friends I have. I love my friends. Can a long-distance relationship work? Without one of us going insane? (That one probably being me.) The song I'm listening to isn't helping at all. Aerosmith's I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing.

Lalalalala....
I don't know. Maybe it will be great, and everything will work out. We'll all stay friends, visit each other, not drift away.

I'm going to cry tomorrow at graduation. I know I will. I'll try really hard not to, and to hide it. I almost cried at Melby's retirement party, the band banquet, during lang today when Niemi gave her final advice and such to us. Or maybe I won't cry until grad blast. But that will be fun. I'll put all of the depressing thoughts away until I get home. Must look happy in public.

All of my family will be there. Mostly. One sister may not be able to get off work in time. She'll try. She'll probably be late. Trying to organize all of the siblings is obnoxious. None of them ever answer their bloody phones. I should probably go try Shane again...

Or maybe I'll go stand in the rain. Wait, it stopped raining. I can roll in a puddle. Kind of close. Or maybe hide under my bed, in the closet, in Canada...

Saturday, May 26, 2007

Yo Ho...

Yo ho, haul together, hoist the colours high! Heave ho, thieves and beggars, never shall we die!

So, I liked the new Pirates movie. Much better than the second, but still not quite as original and witty as the first, dialogue-wise. I won't go into specifics out of respect for anyone who has yet to see it. (Although I'm pretty sure almost everyone who reads my blog has. I was sitting with three of you! :D) Jace just had to keep going about what happened at school... so I knew what was coming. Phooey. Oh well. Still good.

The choir concert was good, as well. Windfall had excellent vocals, although they really could have used more energy. (I'm not being mean, Sara! It was true.) They all looked bored, except for maybe Christine and KoreAnn. Bards was marvelous. When a group has lightsabers and plastic swords and shields on stage... Yeah, I loved it. They were the only ones to get a standing ovation. Chorale was alright, Herd of Bananas good, Acapella awesome as always. I really liked the Australian song.

In other news... Target did not hire me. I got a postcard in the mail.
"Michelle,

Hello, thanks for taking the time to apply with us. While we're unable to offer you a position at this time, we do appreciate your interest in Target."
I don't think I'm going to try too hard to find another job. There's a lot of stuff I want to/need to do this summer that would be difficult with a full-time job.
The Things They Carried came in the mail today. I can start reading that now.
I got $170 in the mail from various relatives for graduation. Yay family! They're all very proud of me, apparently.
I'm excited to go to the cast party at Nicole's today. Jace is bringing Risk! Yay! That'll be good for at least 3 hours of amusement. And cussing... Back-stabbing, secret alliances, mock hatred, death, anger... Ah, such a good game!

Right then. Must eat, take a shower, and get ready to go. Should probably call Sara eventually, too.

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Sleepy....

Maybe naps aren't such a good idea. I still haven't completely woken up from my 2 hour one. *slaps self* Nope, that didn't help. Oh well. I'll become un-drowsy eventually.

I saw Sarah and Rianna both Friday night at the band concert. Yay! And Sarah and James yesterday at the movie theater. Crystal is also back. Life is good! Hehe.

So, today I did useful things.
I emailed my application for the leadership weekend. (They think I don't know what close reading and critical thinking are. How cute! They're even making me journal.)
Ordered the summer reading program book on Amazon.com.
Did homework.
Finished Stafford loan application, told parents to mail it.
Signed Master Promissory Note thingy online, after spending a very long time reading it. Very repetitive. I learned that if I die, my loans will be discharged. Nice to know.
Read some more of Slaughterhouse-Five. Such an uplifting book. So it goes.
Watched Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. Good movie.
Watched part of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.
Took a nap.

I didn't, however, put away my clean clothes. Guess I'll be digging for something to wear tomorrow. Oh well. So it goes.