Letdown

The day after my race, the big marathon one, I had a very difficult time moving. I did moderately okay if I kept moving, but if I sat still for more than 28 seconds my muscles froze. I would then, to my family’s delight, have to hobble around bent nearly double for the next 3-5.2 minutes until they un-froze.

Thankfully that was the worst day, but then I had to go to work where the roughnecks got to make fun of me for walking like an old man for the next 3.27 days.

Today’s Exploit:

I was really excited for my new class to start, really exited because I though it would be about business management. The title contained the words “Career Management”, so I was sure that this one actually might help me a little.

While I enjoy getting good grades, I now have a 4.0 in worthless English classes. I say “worthless” because none of the papers I received 100% on would have passed my high school English teacher, Mr. Patrick, without being slathered in red ink with a note saying “Re-write or fail”. Probably they wouldn’t get a passing grade from my middle school English teacher, Mrs, Babel, either. (I now beg for criticism at the beginning of each class, and so far have not received anything other than “Good Job” or “Nice work”.)

But I digress.

I was excited for a business class. 

But naturally, that excitement was dashed when I got the email saying I needed to take an assessment for my UNIV___ class. 

Wait.

UNIV does not equal business. UNIV equals general university class.

And “Career Management” does not quite equal “Business Management”.

Crap.

Another goal setting class.

Maybe this guy will have higher expectations and I won’t ace the class. Maybe he’ll actually have some suggestions for me. 

Maybe.

Dancing the Night Away

Yesterday I made cinnamon rolls.  When I took them to the rig floor the crew actually cheered.  

Today’s Exploit:

I went dancing last weekend.  Swing dancing.  It was very exciting.  I haven’t been swing dancing in ages.  

This dance was in Dallas, and it lasted from 8:00 - 11:59 pm.  Lots of people were there.  Some really amazing dancers were there, too.  It was fun to watch.  

Being a newbie, I sat on the wrong side of the room to see them very well.  Most of the “in” crowd sat and danced on the other side of the room.  

I also danced a lot.  And had lots of people ask if I’d been to this dance before.  They were amazed when I said no.  Most of this amazement stems from another girl that apparently looks like me.

Some people were amazed because I could follow, and were a bit too dense to realize that my first time at this dance didn’t necessarily mean my first time dancing. 

At any rate, I think I made some new friends.  Certainly lots of new acquaintances.  I hope to be able to see them again.  And sit on the “cool people” side of the room so that I can see them better.

I Like Recreational Math, Don’t You?

I just read The Time Machine by H.G. Wells. It was very good, I recommend it.

Today’s Exploit:

Last night I was talking to the new DD. New, as in, this is his first job as a DD new.

He is doing homework and takings tests to qualify for his classes. Part of that is a math section. He said he hates math.

I was appalled. Math is amazing.

So he asked if I’d help him. Naturally I jumped at the chance to do some recreational math. I even went through all the practice tests I have on my computer and answered all the questions to refresh my memory last night. It was a good way to waste a couple hours of the never-ending night.

When I gave him the papers for reference he was rather shocked. And WAY overly grateful.

I think he thanked me 27 times for the notes to use as examples.

I thought it was really funny, I felt like I should be thanking him for the nice diversion.

Running Away

For Dad: The Oatmeal.

Today’s Exploit:

While at rigs I run most every day. I like the rigs that have miles of deserted dirt roads to get to. That means that I don’t have to worry about traffic, just an occasional cow.

This rig has a quarter mile of dirt road. Then a relatively busy highway is mo only option for a mile and a half.

It’s frustrating trying to run in the gutter to avoid the constant traffic.

The other day I was pulled over by the local sheriff. The one with the dog.

He told me about the high school track. And that it was open to public. While I generally hate running in circles, I’ve decided that it is better than being run off the road by 18-wheelers.

I have been averaging 4 miles. That is 16 circles looking at the same bleachers and hurdles and stripes. But the track is cushy, and I can gauge my pace easily. Also since I’m the only one there I can even run clockwise whenever I get a hankering. Yesterday was the first day I ran backwards on a track. It was weird. It made my knee hurt. And it was very rewarding.

I think I might do it again today.

Studying Hard

I wasn't lying to my father.  I was at school when I wrote that.  Gosh, mom.

Today's Exploit:

School will be the death of me.  I studied until 10:30 pm. then I coudn't keep my eyes open.  And when I got to bed I couldn't go to sleep.  Then, naturally I woke at 4:00 am. So I studied some more.  I'm still not ready for this morning's exam. 

Wish me luck.  I'm really going to need it.

UPDATE!  I got a 91%  Woo hoo!

Mattress Adventure

I went through some boxes, at my parents’ house, of things saved for me. They had saved some things from when I was younger and some of my grandparents’ things that they thought I might want. Among the items were an ice cream maker, an American Girls doll, a woven blanket and a wooden plate with a hummingbird painting. Most of the stuff I understand, but the plate? And the blanket? I’m not sure why they ended up in my box.

I also went through some boxes that were for my sister, looking for a particular piano book that is still unaccounted for. In her box I found a book that I had requested. I was a little huffy, and took the book. I got it home to my Oklahoma flat and discovered that she had somehow found another copy of the same book. Now I have two copies, and I feel rather sheepish for taking her book.

Today’s Exploit:

Today I went furniture shopping. My main goal was a mattress. Mine is about as heavy as a large elephant, and it is older than my sister. This equates to way too many years of use, considering all the commercials I’ve heard lately suggest maybe eight years.

I looked at a couple styles at the first store I went to, and was rather shocked by some prices. They were a teensy bit more than I expected. I sat on some beds and wandered around the other sections of the store trying to avoid both crowds and the overzealous sales people that mob me when I enter. They somehow never seem to understand that I’m more likely to spend money if they give me some space.

Finally I gave up and went to another store hoping for fewer customers. I was lucky and told the very chatty salesperson that I was looking for mattresses. She took me to them and told me about a few between telling me about her shoes, the weather, having a tall family and calling me Miss Lady. She called me Miss Lady even after I told her my name. She was funny. She spent most of the time telling me that I am not short.

I ordered my favorite mattress to be delivered tomorrow morning. Then I went shopping for new sheets for my new mattress. I made my selection and got home very excited for the morning. I walked into my flat and realized that it is a disaster and must be cleaned before the mattress delivery people arrive.

This proceeded to entail cleaning, moving furniture and organizing all of my rooms. In the process I began looking for a painting. And a photograph. I have looked on every surface and gone through every box several times but they are nowhere to be found.

I’m beginning to think that someone broke in while I was on holiday to steal these two items. Everything else I own has been accounted for in this process. I am miffed about where the two pieces could be. I know I saw them several times each day I was home before my holiday.

I also just realized that I still have a large pile of junk near my door that must be dealt with sometime soon.

Please send me positive wishes that I did not throw my painting in a dumpster inadvertently!

PS Dad: Tonight you should make Ground Beef Gyros

Cinderella, by Roald Dahl

Something reminded me of being on the speech team recently. Remembering the speech team makes me think of Cinderella. Because that was the best piece I did. So I looked it up. And I found it!

This was the one thing that I could do to have EVERYONE rolling on the floor laughing.  Usually I was to self concious and hid in the background.  I may have to have another speech recital...


Today’s Exploit:

Once upon a time…no, that’s not how it goes.
Long ago and far away…no, that’s not it either.
In a magnificent kingdom lived…no, no no.
Oh, yes, that’s it…
Cinderella by Roald Dahl

I guess you think you know this story.
You don't. The real one's much more gory.
The phoney one, the one you know,
Was cooked up years and years ago,
And made to sound all soft and sappy
just to keep the children happy.
Mind you, they got the first bit right,
The bit where, in the dead of night,
The Ugly Sisters, jewels and all,
Departed for the Palace Ball,
While darling little Cinderella
Was locked up in a slimy cellar,
Where rats who wanted things to eat,
Began to nibble at her feet.

She bellowed 'Help!' and 'Let me out!
The Magic Fairy heard her shout.
Appearing in a blaze of light,
She said: 'My dear, are you all right?'
'All right?' cried Cindy .'Can't you see
'I feel as rotten as can be!'
She beat her fist against the wall,
And shouted, 'Get me to the Ball!
'There is a Disco at the Palace!
'The rest have gone and I am jealous!
'I want a dress! I want a coach!
'And earrings and a diamond brooch!
'And silver slippers, two of those!
'And lovely nylon panty hose!
'Done up like that I'll guarantee
'The handsome Prince will fall for me!'
The Fairy said, 'Hang on a tick.'
She gave her wand a mighty flick
And quickly, in no time at all,
Cindy was at the Palace Ball!

It made the Ugly Sisters wince
To see her dancing with the Prince.
She held him very tight and pressed
herself against his manly chest.
The Prince himself was turned to pulp,
All he could do was gasp and gulp.
Then midnight struck. She shouted,'Heck!
I've got to run to save my neck!'
The Prince cried, 'No! Alas! Alack!'
He grabbed her dress to hold her back.
As Cindy shouted, 'Let me go!'
The dress was ripped from head to toe.

She ran out in her underwear,
And lost one slipper on the stair.
The Prince was on it like a dart,
He pressed it to his pounding heart,
'The girl this slipper fits,' he cried,
'Tomorrow morn shall be my bride!
I'll visit every house in town
'Until I've tracked the maiden down!'
Then rather carelessly, I fear,
He placed it on a crate of beer.

At once, one of the Ugly Sisters,
(The one whose face was blotched with blisters)
Sneaked up and grabbed the dainty shoe,
And quickly flushed it down the loo.
Then in its place she calmly put
The slipper from her own left foot.
Ah ha, you see, the plot grows thicker,
And Cindy's luck starts looking sicker.

Next day, the Prince went charging down
To knock on all the doors in town.
In every house, the tension grew.
Who was the owner of the shoe?
The shoe was long and very wide.
(A normal foot got lost inside.)
Also it smelled a wee bit icky.
(The owner's feet were hot and sticky.)
Thousands of eager people came
To try it on, but all in vain.
Now came the Ugly Sisters' go.
One tried it on. The Prince screamed, 'No!'
But she screamed, 'Yes! It fits! Whoopee!
'So now you've got to marry me!'
The Prince went white from ear to ear.
He muttered, 'Let me out of here.'
'Oh no you don't! You made a vow!
'There's no way you can back out now!'
'Off with her head!'The Prince roared back.
They chopped it off with one big whack.
This pleased the Prince. He smiled and said,
'She's prettier without her head.'
Then up came Sister Number Two,
Who yelled, 'Now I will try the shoe!'
'Try this instead!' the Prince yelled back.
He swung his trusty sword and smack
Her head went crashing to the ground.
It bounced a bit and rolled around.
In the kitchen, peeling spuds,
Cinderella heard the thuds
Of bouncing heads upon the floor,
And poked her own head round the door.
'What's all the racket? 'Cindy cried.
'Mind your own bizz,' the Prince replied.
Poor Cindy's heart was torn to shreds.
My Prince! she thought. He chops off heads!
How could I marry anyone
Who does that sort of thing for fun?

The Prince cried, 'Who's this dirty slut?
'Off with her nut! Off with her nut!'
Just then, all in a blaze of light,
The Magic Fairy hove in sight,
Her Magic Wand went swoosh and swish!
'Cindy! 'she cried, 'come make a wish!
'Wish anything and have no doubt
'That I will make it come about!'
Cindy answered, 'Oh kind Fairy,
'This time I shall be more wary.
'No more Princes, no more money.
'I have had my taste of honey.
I'm wishing for a decent man.
'They're hard to find. D'you think you can?'
Within a minute, Cinderella
Was married to a lovely feller,
A simple jam maker by trade,
Who sold good home-made marmalade.
Their house was filled with smiles and laughter
And they were happy ever after.