I Can Hear the Bells

It has been awhile since I last wrote and it's not because I forgot because I thought about it multiple times it has just been crazy around my house in the past couple weeks. In the past week or so since I wrote my Dad's toes got infected and my Mom was stung by wasps in our backyard while we were doing some work to clean up my Dad's workshop/family storage building and she is apparently allergic to bee stings. So for the third time in the last month we ended up at the emergency room. She is doing much, much better now.
On Sunday was the second bridal shower for my former roommate Shannon (whom's wedding I'm maid of honor, part of me wants to refer to her as my "bride" but now that I think that it just sounds weird lol) with her finance's family in Waco. I didn't have anything to do with the planning of this shower, she just asked me to be there to have a friend and I guess to represent the bridesmaids, so all I had to do was show up with a gift. I live about an hour from Waco so this was a much easier trip and marks the farthest my parents have let me drive alone in their car.
Of course I misspelled the street name so I ended up in a completely different part of town than the shower but with a few simple directions I made it with no other problems. The neighborhood and the house was beautiful and everyone was so nice. It was a very simple shower; the punch and cake were delicious! Shannon recieved some really great and useful gifts: a vacuum, towels, several candles, more kitchen supplies. Her fiancé's grandmother also gave her a gift I thought was a wonderful heirloom type gift. She bought an address book and filled it with all the family addresses. What a useful gift! Instead of having to call around and collect them when Christmas comes around they have already been gathered. She also put all the family birthdays in the back. This wasn't only a practical and considerate gift, it also seems to me like a way of welcoming a new member of the family. It was very sweet and thoughtful.
Instead of buying a gift for Shannon, this time I decided to make her a gift. A few blogs ago I shared Derek's graduation gift. Shannon's was similar to that except I used a board that was longer than it is wide and, using the same style letters, spelled out what will soon be their last name, "Billeaud." I painted it in the colors Shannon told me were their living room. I also put a doggie on it since they have a dog. She really liked it and already sent me a picture of it hung up in their living room.

Shannon's new sign!

Our bridesmaid dresses. Obviously this is not me, it's the picture on the Alfred Angelo website.

Speaking of the wedding, my bridesmaid dress came in! Yay! lol. Now I just have to get it fitted and I'll be all ready for the wedding. (My shoes came in two weeks ago). The dress is really comfortable. I tried it on for Cassi, my other engaged friend whose wedding I am also in, on Monday when we hung out just to make sure I could actually put it on. Good news is it only has to be altered slightly.

Was That Just a Waste

The following post is dedicated to the President of the United States, the hopefuls for the upcoming election and all the other lawmakers on the national and state levels. It also hopefully reflects how some of my fellow recent and soon to be college graduates feel.

As I get ready for bed tonight I can't help but wonder what it is really worth. And by it I mean the 4 1/2 years and $51,000 my parents spent on my college education and the framed degree that now sits on a self in my room. What does that piece of paper and all the time, effort and money spent to get that paper really get me. 

I graduated in December of 2011 with a Bachelor's of Science in both Criminal Justice and Psychology from Sam Houston State, which I must say is not one of the more expensive schools, but still it wasn't cheap. I was so excited I had finally reached that milestone. Ever since I was young I was told that I would go to college and get a degree because it would help me achieve a better future for myself. I never argued with it because I wanted a better future and I understood that a high school diploma would not get me where I wanted to go. Getting into college made me feel so accomplished and like I was really going somewhere and getting to the point of graduating felt like getting to a new level on a video game after you've been stuck on the same level for ages. I was finally done with school. 

I knew that after graduation I would have to begin the search for a job. I couldn't just sit around all day and expect to get everything I wanted. I gave myself the Christmas holidays to relax since I hadn't really been able to do that ever in my life without the next semester of school looming ahead. So in January I began the hunt. A part of me hoped for a job right off the bat but another part of me knew it would take some time. I hunted and hunted through website after website of job listings at hospitals, schools, local governments, and law offices. Some jobs jumped off the page others I wasn't really sure was what I wanted to do but I told myself any job that will get me experience was good. The only limitation I put on myself was I did not want to do jobs in retail or food service because I wanted experience in jobs that required more than just being able to service people. I wanted experience working in places where I would have the opportunity to go somewhere or at least take those skills to a job where I could go somewhere and not just become manager of the local Bath and Body Works. Everyone I talked to said that was good because with my degrees I should be looking for at least $9-10 an hour and these jobs were really below what I should be looking for. I thought great I'm right on track.

I never expected it would be June and I still would be without a job. I have applied my butt off to the point I can't count on my hands and feet combined the number of applications I've filled out and still nothing. There have been a couple I thought might pan out but still nothing. I'm getting to the point where I feel like I might as well apply at McDonald's and be done with it. So now I find myself wondering did I waste my time going to college when my only option left would be working in retail hoping to get enough hours to make decent money to pay for gas in my parents car because I can't even afford one of my own. 

We encourage our kids to go to college and get a degree because it will give them a better chance getting a job. Our lawmakers pass all kinds of mandates like "No Child Left Behind" and encourage better education so that every child can receive a college degree. For What? So they can end up working at a burger joint or clothing store doing a job they could have done without even a high school diploma? I know we are in an economic crisis but there are thousands of college graduates ready to work yet there are no jobs. 

There are so many times I have felt not good enough because I don't even have the opportunity to get experience working in the "real world." My parents allowed me to focus on my education so therefore I didn't work and now I feel like I'm being punished for making sure I focused on my education instead of getting work experience. So someone tell me did I waste my time and effort and my parents money for a piece of paper that isn't doing me any good? I'm sick of feeling like a waste of space. I just want someone to give me a chance to prove myself. I learn quickly.

Btw if any of the candidates want my vote for president I need to see some kind of idea how they plan to work with congress to create jobs for people who are educated and willing to work because if I had the money I would be spending it (of course I would be saving some up for a car and to build my savings account but otherwise I would be buying the things I want). 

Pomp and Circumstance

So I said I would post on Saturday about graduation and Derek's gift but we had another emergency and we ended up having to take my Dad to the hospital early Saturday morning. This time they kept him and he is still there now. Please be praying for him.

Graduation was spectacular! It's such an exciting time and this year's class was one of the largest in school history. It was also exciting because my little brother graduated this year. He is such a smarty; he graduated 7th of 446. We always sit in the same spot right in the front even with the first row of students so we were sitting right where Derek was, since the top 10 and class officers get to walk first. 

Derek walking across stage.

Usually we have to wait for the people we are there for but we didn't this year so we started getting bored and started looking at the girl's shoes. Everyone wants to make a statement so you can bet you will see some eye catching heels. This year it seemed cowboy boots and flats were the choice for most.

Tim and Derek after graduation.

Well afterwards we all meet outside to wait for the graduates. It's kind of a chaotic time but thankfully Tim found Derek and they found me and their parents found us. Derek looked so dignified in his cap and gown and he had two leis. I finally got to give him the gift I've been working on and he really liked it which I was super glad about. Now both of my brothers are graduated. It's gonna be weird when both of them are gone during the fall and spring now. Ironically on Saturday, after getting back from the hospital, I received a letter in the mail from Sam Houston's Alumni Association to help sponsor the tailgating for the Sam Houston vs. Baylor game.

Derek's gift. He's going to Baylor.

Musical Memories

Last night was the annual spring concert at my high school. Since I graduated in 2007, I have been to at least the spring concert every year. I always enjoy getting to hear the bands play and seeing everyone I haven't seen in awhile. It also ends up being a very emotional night because it is the night all the graduating seniors are recognized and the outgoing drum majors hand over their whistles to the new drum majors and conduct the band one last time. My senior year was important because I was graduating and for the three years after that I knew most of the seniors because I was in band with them. In 2009 Tim was graduating so that was an important year also. This year Tim's younger brother Derek is graduating. Their family is pretty much my extended family so of course I could not miss this year.

Copperas Cove High School Wind Ensemble. Derek is directly to the right of the director on clarinet.

I remember last year being so anxious during the whole concert leading up to the announcing of the new drum majors. It was so nerve wrecking. I also remember how excited I was when his name was announced. What a year it has been! I am so proud of my little "brother" and everything he has done. I can't believe he is graduating in two days! Of course I will be there to support him and whether he hears me or not I will be cheering as loud as I can. 

Derek during senior recognition.

Well last night they recognized the seniors and of course we cheered for Derek, then we sang the alma mater like every year. Then it was time to recognize the drum majors and I got just as anxious as I had the year before. They each got a cool little plaque from Mr. Kelley and then conducted the band through "Old Scottish Melody" like they do every year. The new drum majors were announced and the whistles were handed over. I only know one of the drum majors and only because he is friends with Derek, but the reactions are the best part because you really see how much it means to them. 

Passing the whistles.

I'm so proud of Derek and this past year and all the things he has accomplished and I can't wait to see what he does at Baylor! I've been working on his graduation gift and I would put a picture up so far to show how awesome it looks but he might see this so I don't want to give it away (I'll post on Saturday with all the graduation updates!) I wish the new drum majors all the best!

Bathroom Hoarding

Ok so today I started working on assimilating my apartment things and the things already at home in my room. This is a lot of work and I know I have a couple of crazy weeks ahead of me as far as that goes but I'm also taking this opportunity to go through things and really clear out the physical "clutter" in my life. At one point I was working on the top of my dresser where I keep all my beauty products. I must say that I am very pleased with how it turned out; I don't think my dresser has ever looked this organized.
Well I eventually came across some things that went in the bathroom. Let me just say we have a small bathroom with not a lot of storage to begin with. My mom and I have a love of Bath and Body Works which results in a stockpiling of their products. In our bathroom, the cabinets are already filled with stuff. So tonight when I went in there I had had ENOUGH! I ended up finding medicines from the early 2000s, 90s and even a couple from the 80s. I basically overhauled our bathroom cabinets and now all of my Mom's Bath and Body Works fits in the cabinet with a little room left over.
What I've learned tonight is that my parents really do have a problem throwing things away or at least getting rid of them. I hope I can help my parents while I'm living here to clear out the "clutter" in their lives. I also found a huge collection of hotel soaps and other toiletries we will never use so I'm going to donate them to a local shelter.

So tonight I accomplished:
1. Organizing my dresser top.
2. Cleaning out the bathroom cabinet.
3. Finding room for all the left out toiletries.
4. Being able to find room for my towels in the bathroom cabinet and not in my room.
5. Creating a donation bag for those who are less fortunate.

Medical Emergencies

Tuesday seemed like a normal day when I woke up. The only thing different was my appointment with the optometrist (eye doctor). That changed though when I got back from that appointment. I walk in the door to find my Dad holding a bloody handkerchief to his face and his eye all black and blue. Apparently while I was gone he went outside to work in his shop, which is good cause he needs to be outside more, but he tripped over an air compressor hose and fell onto the back driveway face first. His nose was bleeding, his eye looked like he got punched in the face, and his glasses were scratched.
Long story short he ended up going to the hospital because the paramedics wanted to make sure he didn't have a concussion. After spending FOUR HOURS at the emergency room and a CAT scan they determined that it was all just superficial injuries. Nothing was broken and there was nothing serious enough to keep him. It took another day for the nose to stop bleeding completely but his eye is open again and the swelling and bruising appears to be going away.
I have some really great people around me, like my BFF Tim who called the next day to make sure my Dad was ok and his Mom, who is like a mom to me, who texted me the next morning to check on my Dad and prayed for his recovery. I'm really grateful for the people God has placed in my life. It's beautiful.

We just found out yesterday, though, when my Aunt called to check on my Dad, that their half brother had a heart attack on the same day all of this was going on with him. He survived and they had to put a stint in to clear the blockage. He had 90% blockage. It's kinda scary to think about how my Dad's side of the family is so much older and they are having all of these medical issues.

Technical Difficulties

Sooooo this past week my computer started acting weird. The screen kept going black and sometimes it would recover and others I would have to restart it. One day the display crashed at least five times within  two or three hours. I got fed up and started browsing for computers and, although I know computers don't have consciousness, I think my computer got scared because the next time I used it, it worked perfectly fine and actually seemed to be running faster haha. Well the next day I guess it just couldn't keep up the facade and quit turning on completely. After talking to some people it was determined that my computer had bit the dust permanently.
I have to give a moment to my Dell XPS. I got it right before going to college in the summer of 2007 and it was the first computer I could call my own. It got me through college and was a wonderful computer. I've dropped it off of several beds, had a friend spill coffee on it and through all of that it continued to run. After 5 years I think it served well. The most likely cause of death was old age. I almost feel like I should give it a proper burial or something lol.

Well after years of saying I would never own a Mac in my life, I bought one. Well technically my mom did but lets not split hairs. Now I am the proud owner of a 17-in. Macbook Pro. It is so big but much thinner than the Dell. It almost feel like the Mac is reading my thoughts sometimes. It's taking some getting used to since I've used PCs for my whole life but after having three iPods, an iPad, and an iPhone it's not as hard to get used to as I thought it might. I'm really excited that I have an awesome movie maker so I can make my own. Maybe I'll share my first attempt whenever that is.

Now I can continue applying to jobs. I feel like I'm close. I've applied to a job and I would really like to get it since it's at my old elementary school and it's only a few blocks from my house. I could really use the job to help pay for gas and help my mom pay off my computer. Please be praying for favor with the human resources people and interviewers.