private blogs and rss feeds

Alison's blog went private and now my bloglines account doesn't show when it's been updated. Does anyone use an RSS feed that will show a "private" blog so I don't have to remember to go to a million websites everyday? Pageflakes? Google? Anyone?

I'm soooo excited!

You may remember that around the time of my birthday, I purchased a new bag from my friend Alison, who lives in Chicago. My polka-dotted hand bag is perfect for day trips and those times when I need (read: feel like I need) to carry more than just my wallet and phone. In other words, it was perfect for my old job, where I just needed something to hold a few extra things, like a book or the newspaper and my ever important nano.

Since I started my new job (gasp) over 3 weeks ago and have found that I need to carry much, much more with me everyday. I now have a work issued cell phone and palm pilot, keyboard for my palm pilot, case files to carry to court, office keys, and random training materials that I have to carry with me everywhere. On top of that, I now have a crap load of Weight Watchers books to tote (yes, I finally gussied up and joined the WW plan), books for class, and every now and then, my MacBook to bring with me to class. In other words, I have outgrown my fabulous polka-dotted work bag.

Enter: Alison. I e-mailed her a few weeks ago with my dilemma and explained exactly the type of bag I need (read: think I need) for work and/or school, complete with an explanation of why I need a velcro on all of the pockets (which I need many of) and why I need a flap (if you lost your wallet on an airplane on your way to the middle of nowhere South Dakota, you would need a flap on your bag and velcro on your pockets too). Amazing as she is, she designed a pattern, picked out fabric, and sewed it up for my sweet ass (that I like to think has become sweeter since W). She posted the pictures and I CANNOT WAIT for it to get here!


Here is a preview:





But you can see the rest of the photos here.

grocery shopping

I have a love-hate relationship with the grocery store. On one hand, I love having a stocked kitchen and a decent selection of what I eat everyday. On the other hand, I HATE going to the grocery store. People tend to stop their carts in the middle of each aisle with no regard to who might be waiting (and waiting and waiting) for them to move to the side or go forward just another few feet. I prefer to get in and out of there as quickly as possible and like to think that I hold the record for the fastest grocery shopper in Ada County--so fast that I really could win big on Supermarket Sweet. When I finally get to the check-out line, I almost always pick the slowest checker who seems to find it fun to strike up a conversation about the weather, making my stay at the store even longer. And finally, when all is said and done, I've spent entirely too much money on food that will last only a short while.

So you guessed it--today I had to go grocery shopping. I usually just shop by the week and pick up whatever is cheapest at the Albertsons just a few miles down the road. Today, in true procrastination practice, I decided to go to WinCo for my grocery shopping and pick up stuff for more than just a week. WinCo, for those who don't know, is the somewhat-ghetto grocery store, where you have to bag your own groceries and nearly everyone is lacking in shopper etiquette that seems to be just a bit more apparent in Albertsons or Fred Meyer. But it's cheap, and I like cheap. To make my excursion even more dramatic, I was in a pretty pissy mood and really was not looking forward to faking a smile and saying, "excuse me" every time I turned a corner. For some reason, I left WinCo today in better spirits than I was in when I entered. Maybe it was the fact that no one was blocking my way when I was bagging my groceries, or the fact that I had all of my groceries bagged by the time the checker started next person's cart, or maybe even the fact that I got a ton of groceries for roughly $70, when it would have cost me $150 at Albertsons. I don't know what it was about, but I do feel better--still irritated, but better. And I have a full kitchen.

yuck

I have to finish writing a paper tonight about a book we read for last week's juvenile justice class and I don't want to do it. I'm half-way through, and could probably pump it out in the matter of an hour, but just can't get through it.

It's pretty bad when, during the 3rd week of class, I am already procrastinating by blogging.

Dammit.

2 really good things and 2 sort of shitty things.

1 really good thing: my job.

I rule at my job so far. Today I finally felt like I was able to do part of my job without supervision. Kind of. I suppose I should preface by saying that these past 2 weeks have been full of lots (and I mean LOTS) of observation. There has been very little "doing" going on. I guess I was OK with that, except that I've been really, really excited (and antsy) to start the "doing" part. So when I was reviewing a case of mine and my supervisor came in, I thought she'd tell me to come watch her do something....again. Instead, she pointed to me and said, "I need you to do intakes." Upon further findings, I was informed that she really doesn't know much of the process and that I needed to fill in because 98% of the probation department was at a conference. So I did it. And later I found out that I did it really well and productively. I felt awesome.

Later, while observing Detention Hearings, another supervisor pulled me aside to explain the terms of 24/7 supervision and other release terms to a client. I would have assumed that I should someone supervise me while doing this for the first time, but she just let me have at it.

Later, my most direct supervisor told me that I was "glowing." I said it was because I finally felt like I had a grasp on my position and was really excited to be doing my job.

And it's the truth.


1 shitty thing: my hair dryer broke.

This is the second one I've gone through since about May. I don't know what the problem is.

The other shitty thing: my professor doesn't really want to acknowledge the fact that I'm in his class.

I hate the fact that he gave me permission to take an incomplete in the class last fall, yet after 3 prompts to send me the supplemental readings that he's been sending to everyone else, I have yet to receive anything. I'm not technically on the roster, but he has my information from the past 2 times I've e-mailed him (the third prompt was at the end of class last week). Top that off with the girl who drives me nuts and you've got one pissy Miranda.

The other really good thing: money.

I'll be the first to tell you that I haven't had any for a really long time, but today I got my dividend check in the mail from State Farm and have an extra $72.10 in my pocket and with my first paycheck coming on Friday, I'll actually have money leftover when I buy my new tires for my car. Hmmm, maybe now is a good time to buy that hubcap that I've been missing since last fall...or an iphone. Hmmm...choices choices.