Writings on the Walls of My Box

Yay Monday

2009-02-09T18:22:28Z

Ok, long time no write. So, update. I’m in Chicago, I have the man I love, we just found out we have a baby on the way, and his dreams are on the verge of coming true (yay rock star status). I love my job, my boss rocks, and I have two of the oddest and most lovey kittehs in the world. I play entirely too much WoW, I have no life, few friends outside of work, and am becoming increasingly lonely. Admittedly I’ve been hiding from everyone because it’s very hard to talk to the people you miss so much (salt in wounds and all that). I miss everyone like crazy, but now that I’m no longer allowed to take my migraine meds, the possibility of travel has become even more unsteady. If anyone ever wanted to perhaps make a trip to Chicago that would be awesome. Amazingly Kelly (my old room mate from ferris) is now living in Chicago!...but I have yet to see her. She’s (as she always is) very busy off being Kelly.

Well, I’m off back to work. I feel like crap today (I think that if I were to actually throw up it might actually improve things.)

New Job!

2007-09-27T21:37:44Z

Hello everyone! I started my new job yesterday and I love it. I really like my boss, even though she’s in North Dakota. The office has a lot of people my age so I think I’ll be able to make friends here. And I’m not an ADMIN!! YAY!!! I’m Data Quality, one of two in the whole affiliate (which happens to encompass 11 states). Which means that I’m a data-monkey. And, while it’s not really all that exciting, I don’t have to manage other people’s schedules, or their tasks, or keep anyone other than myself and my new hive of information organized. I get millions of $’s worth of records to manage and maintain. I hold the keys to the tracking system for all of our affiliate’s events, donors, and partner organizations. luckily I really only have to worry about the top thousand records of each. Basically, if we’re not getting at least $10,000+ from it, I don’t need to worry about it (how often can someone say that! hehe...). I'll need to clean up a lot of other people’s messes, but I get to do it my way and I get to be involved in deciding how the system and processes should be changed along the way. Unlike Perrigo, when I went over my job expectations with my new boss, I know I can do this, and I know I can do it well. At Perrigo, I left that conversation with a sense of “how the hell am I going to pull all that off??...”. This is going to be great.

I get to go to St. Louis in a couple weeks for the New Hire Orientation. Woot! I get to fly, I get to stay in a hotel, and best of all, I don’t have to pay a dime. I’m so excited. Then a week later, the whole team (since we’re all spread out over various states) is coming to Chicago for our first ever entire group meeting which will also include a ‘Haunted Tour of Chicago’. It should be a lot of fun.

Tomorrow is the Heart Walk, so the entire office is running around crazy to get ready. It’s the largest walk in the country and we’ll raise several hundred thousand dollars just on the day itself, not even counting the donations that we’ve already received. Best part, I get to go, and be paid to do it. It should be a lot of fun, I’m looking forward to it.

Loki is adjusting to city life....slowly. He’s turned into an under-the-bed-kitty. He hides whenever I’m not there and he has yet to let Jen even come near him. He’s getting past his boredom now that I showed him how to play with the toys I got him. He is now a thing-that-hangs-on-elastic-string-in-the-doorway-kitty-fiend. Doom to the dangling mouse thing. Matthew is amazed how odd Loki is when it comes to me. He’s never seen a cat that was so entirely devoted to a single human before. He says it’s almost doglike loyalty and attention. I’m so proud of my kitty, he loves me as much as I love him. Soooo cool ^_^

But it’s the end of the day and time to leave my still rather barren cube. I can’t wait to run home and get all my “office stuff” to clutter up this place. After all, I need to fit in ^_~

Hehe, so true sometimes...

2007-09-08T02:22:14Z

Gotta respect the female gamer that can admit it.

City rantings catch up

2007-08-29T15:11:39Z

Hello all! I’m alive!! Most of you all know, but for those of you who may not, I am currently living in the great city of Chicago. I’ve been here for a little over 3 weeks after failing miserably to find work in MI. I had forgotten how much I loved the city. Chicago is fabulous. It has strange squirrels with skinny tails (one of which leapt out of a tree straight at me, I think it was trying to eat me but then thought better of that idea), it has people all over that are just amusing to see (like the fashion clichés straight from the voguish magazines ever imagined or the people in outfits that wouldn’t even make sense on sci-fi network), it has the oddities of literally crossing a street and finding yourself in neighborhoods so drastically different to that of the one you just left that you have to wonder if you in fact teleported to another place altogether, and best of all it has pigeons in all colors, shapes, and sizes!! (I love pidggies!!) I think I have met every dog in the neighborhood where I’m staying. My favorite of which is currently the two brown Dobermans that are lean and muscular enough to inspire scary feelings in just about anyone and who are almost identical but who’s appearance is made absolutely adorable by that the slightly larger one (Duke) wears an all metal spiked collar, while the other (Daisy) wears a pink ribbon with a giant flower on it. They are just sooooo cute! And then there’s Darwin, the ridiculously fuzzy golden retriever that is terrified by everything and has to be frequently rescued from the horrible taloned and vicious monsters known as squirrels and pigeons. Admittedly, my days have been dark and lonely without the shining light that is my Loki. This has been far too long to be without My Love. But that should be fixed soon, I plan to relocate him as soon as possible. Though I don’t have my own place as of yet, I will soon hopefully, but it’s just too long to wait, I need my kitty now.

After a few weeks of really searching, I was beginning to become disappointed with my lack of any real solid job offers. I’ve been working as a temp for this time and admittedly have been making consistently more than I did at Habitat and at times even more than I had been making at Perrigo. Then it all hit at once. The American Heart Association made an offer the same day that Grenzebach Glier & Associates scheduled a final interview. I held off AHA till I found out about G&G (yesterday), AHA increased their offer, and then mixed into the mess was a third offer from the Chicago Teaching Center. After a lot of thought and talking to people, I’ve accepted the offer from AHA. So right now it’s just pending a background check, and I will officially be home in a new job. I did find it rather odd however that the main HR person at AHA that I interviewed with and ultimately was hired through, is located in guess where...Grand Rapids Michigan...go figure. But hay, I have a job! It pays enough to live on, it’ll be fun to work there, and the lengths they went to to get me were extraordinary so I know they really want me (it’s nice to feel wanted). As soon as I get my debts paid up to current, I can look for my own place, just me and Loki.

::looks out the window:: wow...I’m on the 27th floor looking out Chicago downtown and the Chicago River (this building is 444 N. Michigan Ave so it has great view and location) with the beautiful Wrigley Building’s (one of my favorites) dome/tower right in front of me, and more importantly, there is a lady bug crawling on the window. Somehow it seems strange that one would be this high up, but then why wouldn’t it be... I’m here on a temp gig for the morning doing absolutely nothing. I’m here to answer the phones but apparently they only ring about once an hour or so. So, I’m killing time by writing here about what’s been up with me and generally rambling on incessantly. Yay $12/hr!

I was very disappointed that I missed Gencon. I just didn’t have the $. But next year I’ll make up for it, and it will be good.

Hmm...I think I have run out of things to talk about...either that or I’m just tired of writing, but I might just be tired in general. I was up at stupid early this morning. Oddly enough I’ve become a fan of the “Wait, wait, don’t tell me” NPR quiz show. I get it on podcast and it is good. It’s a funny way of keeping up with current events. There’s just something about hearing about the squirrels that were arrested by Iranian officials on charges of espionage. Go Secret Squirrel!! It’s news, but it’s also amusing. I still chuckle every time I think the $54-million pants. “It’s a good thing that such a great member of our judicial branch is standing up for our rights and for those of us who cannot stand up for ourselves, because we have no pants.”

oninokoneko @ 2007-05-22T22:41:00

2007-05-23T02:45:13Z

Yep, these ones are infertile. This is apparently common in their first time. I think I am slightly relieved. Now luckily they usually only have one or two clutches a year and amazingly this is actually the right time of year for it (even though their day schedule is artificial due to our room being in the basement with no natural sunlight). However, it still means that there may be another clutch possible if I don't separate them...but the hard part is that I have no idea who is the male(s) or female(s). I should have realized that 3 would be an odd number of snakes to have...Ohh well. But if I separate them, I may never be able to reintroduce them to each other without conflict issues. *Sigh* well, that I can worry about tomorrow. Now to bed.

Ohh my god

2007-05-23T02:34:37Z

My snakes have laid eggs...Ohh my GOD!!! I just went into the tank to feed them and i noticed these strange things under a piece of their climbing stuff and when i looked, there were eggs! 12 of them!! 12! They don't look particularly healthy so i think they might not be a viable batch, but this does sort of change things in the life of my pets...shit. i need to do research... *goes off to scower the internet for info on snake breeding because i won't be able to sleep untill i do*...

I Love My New Job!!

2007-02-27T16:29:24Z

Hello everyone!! Sorry I’ve been MIA for so long. Working at the coffee shop really played havoc on my social life and communication lines. But then working 6 nights a week will do that to you. But for those who may not have heard, I got the dream job that i had been working towards. I am the new Human Resource Development Coordinator for Perrigo (the worlds largest low cost pharmaceutical company). I love my new job! It’s awesome! I’m getting to use all my psyc & research skills; practical business applications, training, survey development and analysis. I get to do graphic/publication design, which rocks. I get to run a scholarship program (all by my lonesome), I’ll get to teach training classes, order all the office supplies I want, and I get to work with some pretty awesome people! Turns out that Nancy-(really cool theater chick on my team and sits across from me)’s fiancé and the guy who just left the department are both gamers! My boss is cool. I was a little intimidated by here when I first started, but after meeting with her a couple times we’ve both gotten a lot more comfortable. I love my desk and oddly enough I love the cubical environment. I think cubicle mazes are far more entertaining for tall people. It’s so neat being able to see little floating heads wandering around in the maze bobbing as they walk. Being able to just stand up and look around for who’s going where, like little gofers. And having Jason and Nancy (two very cool peps on my team) just over the wall is fun. Getting paid every week ROCKS! Everyone says I’m doing great, and I’ve already taken on several projects and my own personal crusade to acquire the Adobe Designer program. It’s a kick butt program and I’ve rallied several others to the cause (which isn’t all that hard considering that it will save everyone thousands of dollars in time, resources and frustration). I think I’ve won over 3 of the 5 directors, I’ll get the others too, and if I get my proposal through for A.D. the saved money for the department will win me more points than a million perfect attendance days.

In short, it is soooooo worth being up at 6 to drive an hour each way!! I barely even notice the drive anymore, and thanks to Mama-Lynda I’m no longer terrified by the snow. The ‘Magic-Tires’ are truly astounding.

well, saw this coming....

2007-01-10T21:17:11Z

Friday is my last day at Habitat. (Maybe even Thursday, we'll see)

Josh just gave me the news. I am no longer in the budget in any way. Even without me, Habitat is far-far in the red.

Thankfuly I have another interview on Monday,
lets hope something comes of it...

oninokoneko @ 2007-01-03T11:43:00

2007-01-03T16:50:08Z

Hmmm….I really dislike that man. Joshua is such a pain in the ass. But hay, apparently he thinks the same of me ^.^ go figure. Beth and I are sooooo jumping ship. She’s already sent out 2 resumes and I just sent out another batch of apps myself. I really feel bad for Beth. She gave up a good job to come here and work with Mom and Habitat, and now what was an amazing and fun place to work has turned into OCD hell under the constant aggravation of the Ego-Overlord Joshua. It’s ridiculous and I feel bad for the families this year because if she quits, it will most likely mean there’ll be no way for Habitat to reach their goals.

BTW for those who may not have heard, I am now a Barista in training. I now work about 4 nights a week at Jumping Java in downtown GH. It’s fun and I like it. Although, yesterday’s 15-hour day was a bit taxing, especially considering that I’m doing a 16-hour day today...well, at least I have all of tomorrow off ^_^ I am soooo going to pass the f* out. I’m still praying for the job at JSJ, but either way, I need to get out of Habitat before I wreck my professional record by going crazy. Well, back to work...

oninokoneko @ 2006-12-21T10:25:00

2006-12-21T15:28:36Z

Well, apparently I’m on probation at Habitat... for not coming in on my vacation coupled with the lack of balloons on Saturday (don’t ask). He had suggested that I should, though I’m not sure why considering there isn’t anything here that needs my immediate attention. But I said that I might come in for a couple hours in the afternoon to meet Marcy. Things came up and I really couldn’t come in. Admittedly I should have called him to tell him personally, and it was stupid of me to let my dislike of speaking to him sway me on that. I called Marcy and rescheduled everything, it was fine. Right now I’m feeling very OfficeSpace. It’s amazing what one wanker of a boss does to one’s professionalism. To be honest I just don’t really care much about this job right now, he’s tainted me that much….but if I don’t get that JSJ position, I’ll be stuck here with the putz. Where else could I get a part time that pays 12.50 ~.~

AWESOME!!! LOL!!!

2006-12-14T22:07:53Z

All the people ones are perfect!! HEHEheeeheee!!

On the twelfth day of Christmas, Oninokoneko sent to me...

Twelve portes drumming

Eleven onimasters piping

Ten torakhans a-leaping

Nine etherbunnys dancing

Eight aidan_mcprydes a-milking

Seven leddemos a-sewing

Six animercurys a-reading

Five ho-o-o-orses

Four videogames

Three flowers

Two snakes

...and a music in a photography.

oninokoneko @ 2006-12-13T20:37:00

2006-12-13T21:37:37Z

Well, I got the word about my job. They’re not laying me off completely. They’re just cutting my hours more than in half and taking away my benefits effective January 1st. Shit. On the bright side I did discover that I can get my pills even without my insurance (yay Walmart!! Even if it is the corporate evil) so at least i'm not completely dependant on finding a job with benefits. I’ve been putting in applications like mad, hopefully I’ll be able to find something by the 1^st so that I’ll be able to manage bills. I may have a lead at the Jumping-Java coffee shop. I was talking to the gals there and they said I might be able to work there at least a couple days a week or something. That’d be fun. It won’t pay well, but I bet I’ll enjoy it enough not to mind. And if I can find another part-time something, somewhere, then between that, Habitat, and the coffee shop I might be able to make ends meet. We’ll have to see…

Regardless, I’ve probably already told everyone, but I can’t do Christmas presents this year. At all, for anyone. I’m sorry. So please don’t get me anything. I feel guilty enough as it is. Instead, I’d just like to be able to see everyone at some point or better yet, have a nice big Christmas dinner thing (not actually on Christmas but close to).

Anyway, back to work...

oninokoneko @ 2006-12-11T19:14:00

2006-12-11T20:14:44Z

Chippy coming! Chippy coming! *does a little dance* Chippy coming home!! *sings in time with the 'White Christmas' song playing on radio* And may all your Christmases have Chipmunks... ^_^

0.0

2006-12-01T19:04:22Z

Wow...LOL. I love it when these things are so dead on!! Even when it's not all that complimentary.

....only one digit?..cool

2006-12-01T18:45:26Z

I jsut paid a bill online and got this....

"Your payment has been made. A confirmation e-mail has been sent to....

Your confirmation number is 2. If you have any questions, please use this number as reference. "

...2?...wow, usually it's about 15 digets with a few letters thrown in to spice things up. This is awesome.

HELP!!!

2006-11-29T15:12:07Z

HELP!! I'm in serious dodo.

I need to find volunteers for a special event this weekend (yes I know, it sucks). I’m quite a few short of the number I need. Anyone that might be willing to help me out on this will earn my eternal gratitude!! This event is very important to Habitat, and more personally to me considering the precarious situation my employment is in.

The job at hand: I have to fill 20, 2-3 hour, time slots to help out at the homes that are featured in this year’s Classic Holiday Home Tour. Volunteers will be guiding (and keeping an eye on) visitors that are touring the 8 homes throughout GH and SL that have been all decked up for the holidays. It’s easy, and if you’re ok with talking to people and things Christmasy in general, it’s actually a lot of fun. I still have houses that have more than one slot open, so friends can work together.

I still need help on:

Saturday Dec. 2^nd 2:45-6pm

Sunday Dec. 3^rd 12:45-2:45pm

Sunday Dec 3^rd 2:30-5pm

Please, if you know anyone who’d be willing to help out, call me here at the Habitat office @ 846-1505

BTW

2006-11-28T22:16:59Z

As for gaming night tonight, I won't be able to make it. There's a meeting here in the office that I need to be here for and it doesn't get out till close to 8pm (actually over a half an hour earlier than was originally planed)

Valuable Lessons Learned by Katie

2006-11-27T22:19:49Z

And important lesson I learned last week…

Never put the bag that Little Creaser’s Crazy Bread come in, in the microwave. It catches on fire in 1.73 seconds!

The oddity of Loki

2006-11-27T18:32:15Z

Ok, my cat is officially odd. Last night he kept biting my face and neck, I’d thwap him on the nose and he’d purr and snuggle and purr and then bite me again. I’d thwap him and the cycle would repeat. The part that distinguishes this night from all the others is that today I am covered with little tiny hickies all over my neck, chin, and shoulders. Over the day, a lot of them have faded, but there’s still quite a few left inspiring questions like “what happened to your neck?!? Is that a rash?”

Daffy cat...

oninokoneko @ 2006-11-22T14:25:00

2006-11-22T15:25:27Z

Days like today remind me how much I love my job. The office is full of volunteers stuffing envelopes, while the computer in the other room blasts Christmas music, and Joshua is not here. Life is good today. And to top it all off, two of said volunteers are 11 year old girls who seem to have taken a liking to me. They made me a Christmas card and a plate of brownies that they made themselves. They are so sweet.

~.~*

2006-11-20T16:26:08Z

I really don't like my boss... he is so annoying *growl* but it does give me a good excuse to go shopping. (apparently I don't dress professionally enough)

Ahh, Monday...

2006-11-20T15:44:16Z

God I needed this weekend. I was so burned out. For those of you who do not know, I ran up to Ferris on Saturday after I got out of work. It was Hentai Night with the Oni No Anime crowed.

The hentai was a little disappointing, but at least it wasn’t nearly as bad as the disastrous choices mad a year ago. But regardless of the particular choices for the evening, the party was a success and there were lots and lots of people all piled on Jamie & Amber’s living room floor. Was good. I made potato bacon soup, also good. And it was rather amusing when we put on “Bondage Queen Kate” and everyone looked at me (no, I’m not the one who chose it).

Anyway, we discovered a very strange coincidence. Amber and Jamie recently found a new kitten. His name is Loki. And even odder, is that he actually looks just like my Loki only with short hair. They both have the same facial markings and the same stripes on their arms, tails, and tummies. It’s bizarre. But very, very cute. Last night I had a very amusing dream about the two Lokis coming together and upon meeting it created a space time rift and brought about the end of the world. Twas awesome!

Missed meeting Terry (P&T’s new puppy) but I hear he is an extremely powerful cuteness elemental. Simon barely survived his encounter with this being of ferocious cuteness. Luckily, Simon fled in terror and was able to successfully hide until the beast had gone. It was a very traumatic experience for him and it will not be forgotten easily. I bet even now Simon is sleeping on the chair haunted by nightmares fill with small furry demons that go “Yiiip!”. Poor Siminony.

I wound up staying way, way, waaay too late last night. But after Loki-Also (what I’m calling the big rapids Loki) knocked Amber’s laptop off the desk, I wanted to make sure she didn’t skin him and turn him into stew.

Yay for the day Mom and Dad made Matt and I ^_~

2006-10-31T16:35:58Z

Happy Halloween

Here's to candy, suggestive costumes, creepy music, and jello with fake-severed-hands in them!!

Katie’s list of Halloween ideas:

Best Costume: A serial killer.

Why??: it’s cheep and easy, they look like everyone else.

Best Group Activity: A Zombie movie marathon (starting with the Ramiro classics and climaxing with Shawn Of the Dead)

Why??: Because everyone wishes they had an invincible zombie.

Best Halloween Song: Tie- ‘People are Strange’ by the Doors, ‘Thriller’ by that creepy guy

Why??: Duh, if you have to ask then you obviously have no taste.

Best Idea for Decorations: Singing-animatronic-undead-pirates (Matt and I saw it on HG-Channel)… but Shadow is a close second.

Why??: Again, you shouldn’t have to ask…

Your Observation Skills Get A C-

You tend to notice the big things in life...
But the details aren't exactly your forte

How Observant Are You?

I have a new hero

2006-10-27T13:45:45Z

And her name is Dee. She is a truly wonderful woman and I hope that when I'm her age that I have even half the warmth and kindness she does. She definitely deserves the universal adoration of all that know her. Yep, I have now officially joined the Dee Podehl fan club (which seems to include most of the tri-cities area).

(No, none of you would probably have even the lightest clue who she is, I just felt the need to make a public statement to the universe singing her praise and saying that I think she’s fantastic)

Toad Sucking (trust me, it's worth a listen ^_^)

2006-10-26T15:01:07Z

Matt and I heard this story on NPR last Tuesday and it had us laughing ourselves silly. Go to this site and hit the "Listen" button at the top and sit back and enjoy a truly amusing story about a cocker spaniel with a drug problem....toad sucking.

(I know it really shouldn’t be funny, and normally I would be horribly offended, but the artistry in her storytelling makes this tragic tale truly funny.)

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6376594