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Not too much occurred yesterday besides shopping, working, packing and reading stuff for BLOCK 0. Actually, it was just late and I didn’t feel like writing a blog post.

HOWEVER, today was all sorts of merriment!

The day started off (as usual) with a trip to the outlets, where we greeted each sales associate by name and social security number. Then we proceeded to list off the entire clearance stock, and chose a few things to purchase with an unlimited amount of printed email 20% off coupons (had to print the coupons ghetto-style at the library because our printer at home is way too complicated even for a PhD candidate like me to figure out).

On our way out of Bath and Body works, I saw an old friend from high school and we hugged it out and later planned on a breakfast date on Thursday. At American Eagle, I saw another classmate and we caught up over the 30 seconds it took to ring up my $8.99 dress. Padre decided to buy another pair of flip flops from Kenneth Cole. Although the sales lady has figuratively become my blood relative over the past few days, she seemed a bit miffed by our constant haggling for $3 sandals (we officially have four of the SAME pair). Finally, a last mad dash to Calvin Klein resulted in two new zip-up sweaters for me (I count them as jackets) and a pair of ankle length pants. Not a bad haul, and Padre was feeling especially generous after a busy Friday night’s business at the restaurant the night before.

Back at the restaurant by 11am, first Burger King sandwiches were purchased for Hair and the restaurant worker that worked valiantly  through dinner rush, despite the dimwittedness of the hired help (to whom I shall now refer as “Bird Lady” due to her screeching speech). I opted out of breakfast and emptied out the tip jar instead, ran to the grocery store next door, bought potato (and sweet potato! Yum) chips for Hair, soy milk (they were out of Light Vanilla so I had to buy Light Original, which was actually much better than I had anticipated) and two 6-packs of cup-o-noodles for the local food drive. My good deed of the day! 

The local video rental store is closing and today was the last day. All the remaining movies were only $0.95! Padre bought one movie and one CD ($1.50), both of which were not noteworthy but at least cheap. I took the car home to do some reading for BLOCK 0 and passed a yard sale, but decided against informing Padre about it since he had already made too many impulse buys and it was still before noon (I did tell him later about it, but it was over). 

After starting to read more for BLOCK 0 once on the couch at home, I decided to make the most of my time spent sitting on my butt and instead sat on my butt outside in the sun, in my bikini. It was fantastic! I now have a red chest and stomach, which will surely turn into a beautiful tan after excruciating pain and skin peeling! This only justifies my reason for tanning again tomorrow!

After reading the required parts of Chapter 3 (only 4, 5, and 7 to go! And I am writing down parts of answers and bookmarkers for each required question, so it won’t take as long to do the questions afterwards), I went to the restaurant to get $$$ to get gas for the car and have soup before work (Padre is in what I like to call his “soup phase,” where he makes extensive amounts of soup every day in the Crock Pot, and expects everyone to contribute to finishing the pot – forgetting that we also have a restaurant that has an unlimited supply of food). On the way home to get soup, I passed a yard giving away some free items! Padre and I soon went back and snatched a large microwave and water boiler (the things that boil 10 cups of water). There was a George Foreman grill but Padre didn’t seem interested. If it’s still there in the morning, I’m going to take it! Even though we got a lot of great deals today, the free microwave and water boiler were probably the best deal. I am beginning to like more and more the small-town lifestyle!

The restaurant wasn’t very busy tonight, and Bird Lady was much more helpful (I suppose she just freezes when it gets too busy, which is not very helpful). We are going to start a new “white” girl on Monday (this took Padre much convincing) that will hopefully be better than Bird Lady, and who won’t sound like a bird, either. 

In succession but apart from each other and not intended, I saw another four classmates from high school in the time period between 7:40 to 8:00pm. Two kids came in together and I almost didn’t recognize the one kid even though we went to college together (new hair, new piercing, clothing?). Then the former prom king (I was queen!) came in. Then Catman and his girlfriend came in (personal friend of The Boyf and professional poker player). THEN the mother of a girl I used to attend church with came in and asked me about housing at Penn State, where her daughter is staying. SO MANY PEOPLE TO TALK TO!

Even though most people who are back home tonight are probably out at the bars, I went on Facebook and updated my status about seeing so many people from high school. THEN another high school friend contacted me, and I now have a breakfast date in the morning! It was nice seeing people that I haven’t seen in a while, but also kind of weird. It’s that weird transition phase between college student and professional. So some people are still in school (me), some people are working, and some people are looking for jobs/schools.

Oy vey. 

WHERE DID MY CHILDHOOD GO!? minorpanicattackMINORPANICATTACKminorpanicattackMINORPANICATTACKminorpanicattak

Okay, I’m fine. But anyway…

It’ll be nice to be in Atlanta next Saturday.