Star Wars Rocks

Packing with a Vengeance

So much is going on - and it will still be crazy for a few more weeks yet! It's surreal that I'm moving in 3 weeks. I found a 1 bedroom apartment available in Portsmouth, for a decent rent and it's less than 4 miles to my work. I applied and was accepted - so now I have a place to live. Now I've been packing in any free moment I've had. It's hard because half of my belongings are at Grammy's house - but I've decided to just get everything ready at each respective location and I'll drive the moving van to each place and pack it up! Grammy is giving me her flowered love-seat, I'm taking the big dresser from Mom & Dad's and I have my bed at my house. Plus, boxes galore. I'm trying to be a wise packer by putting heavier things in the smaller boxes, and the lighter things in the bigger boxes. Hopefully this won't strain any one's back - especially mine! I wish I could have my sister, Anna, with me as my personal consultant - but we don't have that luxury anymore! I'll just have to make due with my own abilities!
So, I'm packing all I can this week. Then, next week I'm going up to Canada to visit my friend Jocelyn for my birthday week. I just didn't want to sit at home and feel sorry for myself on my 30th birthday. So, Canada here I come! Jocelyn is so excited - we're going to have a great time.
I'll get back from Canada on Sunday the 8th, and that week will be my last week of work at the library - as well as my last chance to pack everything up. No doubt I will be getting together with many friends - because it will be our last chance for a long time. I'm trying not to think about my good-byes because I start to getting really sad!

Canadian Candy-gram

I'm going to Canada a week from today. My Canadian friend, Jocelyn, is really excited and she sent me this candy-gram! How fun is that! Plus, I get to try out some unknown Canadian candy bars! Yum!

Sayonara little Honda!

I sold my Honda! I had 2 people come by and test drive it. The second person offered $500 because he thought the transmission needed some work done. He even took it to a transmission place. Well, the next day I took it over to Flash Gordon's transmission place and he drove it around and said that the transmission and clutch were fine - just a bit noisy. He did recommend new spark plugs for the engine, because it had been sluggish for a few months. I told him that I was trying to sell and he said that if I could get $1,200 for it that would be good. I put $1,500 as my price. Later that evening, David put in new spark plugs and the engine was working great.
So, this guy Edgar came for a test drive that Friday morning and put an offer for it. I negotiated to sell it for $1,100 - it was lower than I had hoped - but I was just glad that he wanted to buy it. Plus, I got the money I needed to buy the Dodge. Well, I wasn't ready for a buyer so I had to hurry and empty all my stuff out of the car, find and sign the title, and take off the license plates, etc.. Then, he took me over to Office Max so I could get a copy of the title. I had posted the car on KSL online classified and Edgar called me later that day to ask if I could take off the listing. I guess he's going to fix it up and sell it again! Oh well, it's not in my hands anymore!
I was car less at this point and Dad had me come by, care of the downtown Trax, and pick up the stratus from the Church Office parking lot. I had the day open, so I took the Dodge to get 2 new tires, so I could get the safety/emission to pass. Then I deposited the cash that Edgar paid me for in the bank - and I made a down payment on the Dodge Stratus. In the long run, this was a long day, long week, involving cars! Today I went over the DMV, waited for an hour, and got a new title and license plates - so now I'm set until I need to leave! Phew!

Caliente!

I did my first puppet show this last Saturday and it went pretty well. Our theme was funny stories from the south and I think we picked some fun stories. We did our first show at the Day Riverside library and we had a good little group show up. I could hear them giggling as the show went on. Mom and Dad even showed up! I think we did good for our first time in front of a live audience. We have two more shows, on the next two Saturdays. They should go even better!

NEW JOB! Finally!

View Larger Map

So, I had a phone interview with a job in Chesapeake, Virginia a few months ago, didn't get myself too excited just because I've had so many and I've learned not to get my hopes up. Well, last month they called and wanted me to send my background info - fingerprints, criminal history, child protective services background and a copy of my Masters degree diploma. Still, I wasn't getting too excited, but the thought started lingering that I might have to move to Virginia.
Well, I got a call Thursday morning from the manager of the library and she offered me the job. I was so shocked that I couldn't give her a direct answer, but she was nice and said I had the weekend to decide. After getting off the phone I instantly started calling people: Dad, Mom, Anna, my roomies, etc etc. I had the day off so I thought and talked about it all day. Mom and Dad are sad, but excited. Anna is way stoked. David was just surprised. After talking it out all day I felt like this is want I wanted, and needed, to do. I called the manager Friday morning and accepted the job.
She's giving me 6 weeks until I need to start - so that has me starting on February 23rd. I'll probably leave on Feb. 18th - that give me about three days to drive across country. Google Maps says it's a 1 day, 9 hour trip. We'll see about that. I have to rent a U-Haul to move all my stuff - then tow my car behind it. We'll see who can help me out! I've got a month to figure all of this out! I'll keep you updated! This should be a good experience!

Selling the Honda

So, I'm selling my car, but no buyers yet. I have a sign posted in the car window and a posting on Craigslist. I have had a few calls and emails, but no offers yet. I'm just praying I can sell it before I need to leave! I can't place that burden on someone else - and I need the extra funds to go towards my u-haul rental! I have it for $2000, but if someone is willing to give me even $1500 then I'll take it.

Here is the posting on Craigslist.com: http://saltlakecity.craigslist.org/cto/994523252.html

1994 Honda Civic LX, dark grey, 181,000 miles, $2,000 OBO, Clean title history, All maintenance has been done in time, clean bill of heath on last oil change inspection, Good tires, Great gas mileage: 20mpg city/30mpg highways, CD Stereo missing (it was stolen)...

Kids Events @ The City Library

Here are some of the programs that I'm helping with this month! I'm excited! Check them out!

	January 6, 2009 Storytimes, crafts, music, magic! The City Library is dedicated to giving kids and their grown-ups plenty to discover year-round. Read below for Kids Events at The City Library. January 16, 2:00 p.m., Sweet Library January 16, 4:00 p.m., Main Library January 24, 2:00 p.m., Day-Riverside Library January 30, 2:00 p.m., Sprague Library If you laugh like a girl because you are a girl, then come to our Daring Book Club for Girls! There will be stories, activities and jokes (Knock knock. Who's there? Boys. SLAM!) That's right - a boy-free zone! January 17, 2:00 p.m., Day-Riverside Library January 24, 2:00 p.m., Sprague Library January 31, 2:00 p.m., Main Library ¡Caliente! Warm up your winter! Whizgiggle's Puppet Theater presents hot stories from the American South and south of the border. For more information about The City Library's events and services, please call us at 524-8200 or visit our website: www.slcpl.org. All City Library events are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.

Michael Jackson Doll

I love you Michael Jackson!

New Year's Extravaganza

New Year's Eve was really fun. Everyone had plans and I was starting to worry about where I was going to go - then I got a text from a friend inviting me to go to First Night with half-off tickets. I was excited (only $4). We met up at Temple Square and watched a few concerts in the Assembly Hall. The first one we saw was some Polynesian dancers, that was fun, then Jon Schmidt came out and did a fun concert. He's a great performer. After that we rushed over to the Gallivan Center to see fireworks at midnight. I love fireworks! Happy New Year!

New Year's Day was really low key - my brother and I ended up working on some cleaning chores around my parent's house. I don't think I even changed out of my pajamas! Yikes! That's ok - you could say I started the new year on a fresh clean slate! Hopefully literally that is true!

Happy New Year! 2009!