Wrecks and Good Service

Tere Blogisphere-

Hm...I haven't updated in almost a week. And let me tell ya, it was an interesting week. I was to start my new job at Threadgill's on Tuesday evening at 5. I left work about 10 minutes early so that I could stop by Target (about 1o minutes north of my other job) to buy a belt for my first night. As I was about to exit to get onto the freeway I ran into a woman in front of me on the access road. I knew I had hit her pretty hard, but not until I got out of the car did I realize how bad the damage really was. The entire front end of my car pretty much was destroyed. Both the woman and I called the police out to the scene and after three calls and a little over an hour someone (or somethree) finally showed up. The officers were really nice and friendly (I guess they know how stressful this situation already is, and don't want to add to it, thanks Austin PD for this).

I got a ticket for "failure to maintain assured clear distance" whatever that means, and they called a tow truck out to get Attila (the Honda). One of my roommate, C, and his girlfriend came to get me and took me home.

I'm usually a very scared person when it comes to four things, spiders, needles, plastic bags (don't ask), and car accidents. Anyone that knows me well, knows that I always jump when there is an accident scene in movies or anything. One of my best friends since childhood, Destiny, and I were in a pretty awful accident our junior year in high school and that moment, along with my first wreck, always just stick in the back of my head. Remembering how scared we were. The look on Destiny's mom's face when she drove up to the crash and saw Destiny being rolled into a stretcher. How afraid my mom was hearing the accident because I was on the phone with her when the crash happened. I never wanted to put anyone through that or put myself through that again. Accidents are traumatic events in lives. But this one was different.

My heart didn't even skip a beat when I slammed into the woman. It was like instantly my adrenaline kicked in and reminded me "Jessica you're on your own here...you have to get this together and figure this out, cause Mom and Dad aren't 10 miles away to come save your butt." And I did. I called the insurance company, filed a claim, figured out where the car would be sent, found a ride home, and called the new job to let them know what was going on, and that I probably wouldn't make it to work. It was like instantly in that moment I became an adult. Very strange situation.

Yes, I was still, VERY upset, I love my baby, and I love my freedom that it allows me, but I realized that it happened for a reason, to teach me some lesson, and reenforced my idea of how lucky I am. I'm in the right place right now, surrounded (from near and afar) by the right people, who love me and support me for the right reasons.

The car isn't totaled, thank god, only (yeah right) $6000 in damage, but I have wonderful full coverage insurance that is taking care of all but $500. With the new job that should be easy to do in the 2 weeks it will take me to get her back.

So watch our roads, I will conquer you again. Soon!

In the meantime, another one of my roommates, B, is kind enough to let me borrow his car to get to the early morning job. I can use the bus system in Austin any other time, but it doesn't run that early in the morning, and I think he'd rather just let me drive it 10 miles than have to get up at 4am to take me. Smart guy!

I officially learned how to ride a public bus though. Small feat I know, but very big for me. I've always wanted to be a "city girl" but I'm a pretty big pansy when I come to actually doing that. So now I'm one with the city, late at night riding home with the drunks, homeless, and other carless citizens of the good city of Austin. Maybe I can't save a life, but I can save the ozone layer, one less car ride at a time. I'm thinking I might stick to the bus thing even when I do get my car back. It's a lot cheaper, and a lot cleaner.

A good friend, Conan, was kind enough to take me out for dinner and margaritas the night of my accident. I think I needed the human interaction and the getting out of my house. I've cooped myself up in my room a lot in the last few weeks. I'm punishing myself for not having saved more before I moved, so I figure if I hermit I won't spend the little cash I do have. That and I'm exhausted from trying to figure out how to have 2 semi-full (more than part-time-less than full-time) jobs.

I'm enjoying Threadgill's. The people are very kind, and extremely laid back. It's working there that makes me realize why I'm not employed at the sushi restaurant I was at before. These are more my people, the food is more my style. I love getting to listen to live bluegrass on Sunday mornings while I'm waiting tables. Pretty sweet deal.

I finish training on Tuesday and plan to pick up a bunch of shifts until I have enough saved to pay my car damage off ASAP.

I'm exhausted for today. Been up since 4am and worked at both jobs. So I'm going to try and crash early. I promise to update more soon!

-littleJ

Mint and Short Weekends...

привет Blogisphere- 

I took a few days off so that something interesting would happen in my life to write about. Ha. 

Life is slowly, but surely falling into place. 

I worked most of the weekend early mornings at Starbucks, and Walt came down Saturday afternoon. We had burgers (veggie) for lunch and then hit up a happy hour special at a bar downtown (219 West). We decided the next day that we should have had one less martini at happy hour, but they were so delicious and well priced it was hard to say no. Walt had his first Mint Julip, which always makes me feel like a Southern Plantation worker in South Carolina waiting for my tobacco to be harvested. He enjoyed it. But what's not to enjoy about it? We realized how less uppity the restaurants/bars in Austin are than the ones we had encountered in Dallas/Fort Worth. Walt and I are both young, and we both also look young for our age. So usually when I walk into a more upscale restaurant/bar, no matter how I'm dressed, I get a dirty look from either the servers or the bartenders. I can see the wheels spinning in their heads as they think to themselves..."OH great...more college kids that are going to stiff me"...when in reality I'm an incredible tipper, who will give the worst service at least something to go home with. But at this particular restaurant, we got really great service and didn't feel the usual intimidation that we feel at these type of establishments. It made me actually feel like an adult, which is all I want to feel most days. 

We probably made an unwise choice of going to see Harry Potter after drinking the aforementioned martinis, because we both ended up falling asleep in the movie. I ranted afterwards about how bad it probably was because I hardly ever fall asleep in movies...but when I thought about it more, it was a combination of the alcohol, the fact that the movie didn't start until 10:45pm when I had worked all morning without a nap, and he had driven all day without a nap, and maybe a bit of boredom. Both of us agreed that we'd go see again, maybe separately, in the daylight hours. 

Walt left pretty early Sunday afternoon to head back to Arlington. He brought my bike with him thought, which I'm totally excited about. It's still a bit too hot for me to ride it in the day (I know I'm a huge, air conditioned pansy) but I want to get used to the heat somehow, and maybe riding to the grocery store or to get coffee will condition me. Plus I'd like to loose some weight, or at least tone up, and I've seen what riding has done for Dustin. I defiantly wouldn't mind that. 

Been catching up a lot on Warcraft (nerdy I know), and I reinstated my Netflix account, after asking around about movie stores in the area. Most have agreed that the typical Austinite uses Netflix or Blockbuster online. While I'm all about supporting my local business...I'm also about saving money and convenience. Netflix offers me the ability to watch tv shows and movies instantly from my computer, and then they also send me movies in the mail. Can't ask for much more.

Had my first day at Threadgill's today. Just an orentation of the restaurant, and an introduction to all the employees and the layout. Easy enough. I have my first official training day on Wednesday evening, and I wrap up my training schedule on Tuesday of next week, so hopefully I can start picking up some shifts after that. Then the dough will just start rolling in and I will bathe in dollar bills and diamonds. 

On a side note, I know a lot of you have had a special family member in your thoughts and prayers. He's needed it and finally I think God is really starting to put the ball back into his court. I got an update from him today and he sounded really optimistic and excited about his new lease on life. He moves into a new apartment on Monday and he starts a new job at the beginning of Austin. Please continue to think about him as I know times get tough and we all can fall from Grace. Hearing from him, and that he's doing well, was a HUGE weight off my shoulders, and it just made my day more than I can describe. He wants to keep Mr. Catsputin, he says they have bonded. I'm questioning whether or not I should let this happen. Don't get me wrong, I love my cat more than mac and cheese, but I worry what damage it will do to him moving him this far, with a dog in the house (he's not friendly towards other stuff(and by stuff, i mean anything other than what he's been used to for the last 4 years)). I will sleep on this notion and have a decision by the end of the week. 

-little J

Potatoes and Harry Potter

Wataj Blogisphere-

 

I'm realizing that God really has a plan for me and things are going to be ok. I had a second interview yesterday at a restaurant in town called "Threadgill's". After my interview she asked if I could come back in an hour to interview with the server manager. I came back and the guy was very nice. He told me it was between me and another girl and that he'd call me by Friday to let me know. I got a call about an hour later letting me know I got a job. :) 

I start on Monday. So I'll probably spend the weekend learning the menu. Fine by me, I don't have much to do anyways. Walt's coming on Saturday I think. He's decided to get an apartment, so he'll probably be looking at areas he wants to live in. 

I have decided that I want to get better at cooking. When I actually take the time out and try I'm ok at it. It's just rare that I make the time and do it. But it's very therapeutic. I haven't done much cooking since I got here. More like combining and heating things up. Which is fine, but not as fun. Until I have a steady income coming in from both jobs I'm being pretty frugal with everything, including groceries, so I'm making due with what I have. I'm making cheesy potato pancakes. The first round was a very unsuccessful so i threw some sour cream on top and just ate them. I made them smaller and now they are turning out pretty well. Make for a good lunch tomorrow at work. 

I'm a little bummed. This week I realized I'm growing up and it kinda made me sad. Honestly the saddest part is the realization came from Harry Potter. This is the first year that I haven't seen HP at midnight. I know this is small, but it's odd. Every year my friends and I would get really excited, throw little parties, read the books, different things, and then all go see the movie together. This year I didn't really have the huge urge that I have in years past. Perhaps partly because I was so disappointed in the 5th installment, partly because I was here and had no one to share the extreme excitement that a midnight Harry Potter entails.  

I'll see if Walt wants to go see it with me this weekend. It might be nice to see it without as many fanatics around. Ha. 

Bubbled tires

Merhaba Blogisphere 

Today will be a day of complaining and ranting. If you care not to read, that is fine, that's your business, but it's my blog and I can say what I want to. So there. 

The day started with me waking up nearly an hour late. Thank god for my ability to get ready ridiculously fast, because if not I would have been a lot later to work than I was. Only five minutes. Work wasn't too bad. It was 4 hours longer than I would have liked, but I'm truly grateful for the hours I'm getting right now because I know a lot of people aren't getting them at other stores. 

After work I was driving home and my car started to make funny noises. I knew what it was from. About 2 weeks ago, a piece on the front of my car started to come loose and shake around under my bumper. I saw it sagging and honestly I should have taken care of it while I was still back in DFW, but I didn't because I figured it was fine and I'm stubborn. So today the sound was awful, so I took it to a Honda dealership here in Austin that honors my warranty (which by the way I'm paying an extra like 200 bucks on my note for that "extended warranty"). The service was awful, which is not what I'm used to (the Honda dealership I go to in DFW goes above and beyond to make sure you're happy with everything, although I guess it helps that I've been going to them for service for 6 years). The guy looked at it and told me it was broke (no shit, pardon my French). He said it wasn't covered in my warranty (of course not) but that he could just cut it off. It's at the point where it's so worn out that they would have had to replace it any ways, which is a $100 part, so I told him to just cut it off and I'd replace it when I had the cash. It's a cosmetic piece and it will matter when I'm trying to sell it later, but for now it's something that can wait.  

He came back out about 30 minutes later, after cutting off the piece to let me know that there was a bubble in my tire, apparently I had hit something so hard that it bubbled my tire up. SO now I need a new tire, and that's not something cosmetic that can wait. FML! 

I've been trying to keep sane to just see the good things, but I'm about to go crazy. 

Many of you know, many of you don't, but a HUGE part of me moving down to Austin was to transfer with my other job. I worked at a sushi restaurant in Fort Worth, and had been tending bar and serving for a little over a year. I loved it there. I worked with a bunch of really awesome people who I all considered to be friends. When they announced early in the year that they would be opening a location in Austin, I got so excited. Walt and I had already been talking about moving down here, and it was a perfect opportunity to be opening shop in a new city with a place I already knew. Cooperate and I had already discussed me moving down there and training the new employees for the store to be open at the beginning of July. So I found a place to live in May and started paying rent to hold my spot until the store was to be open. I kept working shifts at the Fort Worth location as usual, and then a week to the day before I was supposed to leave for Austin I got a call from my manager telling me I needed to come in. I figured there was a mix up with something and it wasn't a big deal. I knew everyone in the company and 100% felt secure with my job. Well, come to find out they accused me of something I wasn't physically or morally capable of doing. There was a paper trail saying that SOMEONE did it...so someone had to be fired, that someone was me. 

I was devastated. I felt betrayed. I had spent so much time, in work and out, with these people. I still to this day don't know what really happened. Who did it, why me...I guess I'll probably never know. Maybe it's better that way. Anyways, so that's why I'm in the job hunting mode. I hate it, but hell, who LIKES hunting for a job? It's just days away from bills being paid, and that extra income (the second job) isn't there to help pay said bills. I know I'll find something. I have to right? 

I'm really lucky though. I have crazy supportive parents and friends, and a boyfriend who would hang the moon for me. So I know I have all those things, and I have food, and a house and a nice car, I'm just stressed. Freaking out about whats next. Mad at myself for not having savings, and letting the bills pile up. But there's a light at the end of the tunnel. I can't see it just yet, but it will present itself. RIght? 

-little J

Interviews and Veggie Chili Dogs

أهلا  Blogisphere-

Day started with the early job. I woke up a few minutes late, which was kind of a bummer. I got to work on time though, prepared for an 8 hour shift. I had my can of soup and my box of oatmeal for all my meals. Then I looked at the schedule and realized my shift was only 4 hours! ZING! Good thing too, because by 8am I was crashing hard to the point where I wasn't hearing things correctly and dropping everything in site. Oh well, my manager asked if I wanted to trade my 4 hour shift on Thursday, which I had just picked up to hit 40 hours, for the rest of her shift today, I swiftly said no. I was exhausted. 

I went home after work and had a brief nap and then got ready for my interview at Chuy's. It went well. I didn't interview with the manager like I was told I was going to. Apparently you have to interview with the server manager before the head manager, which I thought I already did...guess not. So I interviewed with her. She said she liked me but she didn't have any room on her schedule right now. She said if unforeseen circumstances happen, ie. someone getting fired, moving, dying, etc., she would call me. Which I guess that happens a lot in Austin. She told me that I should hear from her by Friday if anythings going to happen. 

Got a little bummed at that point, but I'm trying to keep my head high. Went to put in applications at 5 more places around Austin. Got an interview at a place called Threadgill's on Wednesday. Keeping my fingers crossed. Seems like a cool enough place. Anything is good at this point. I'll just keep putting in applications until something comes along. Something has to come along, right? 

After a hot, lame afternoon of job hunting, my friend Hixon invited me to join her and her friend Lindsey for dinner at a new hot dog joint downtown. Sounds less exciting than it really was. I've been a vegetarian for a long time now, and i'm hardpressed to find things that really excite me in the food world. But news of a chili cheese veggie dog flew my way and got me all hot and bothered. :) It was delicious to say the least. I dare a non-veg to try it and tell me they can taste the difference. It's also a meat friendly place too. It's called "Frank". They had pretty good mixed drinks too. I had a Cherry Ginger Lemonaid that was pretty tasty. They infuse their own bacon whiskey, which I'm figuring out that "infusing" liquor is a pretty popular thing in Austin. BTW: Thanks Jessbot for the dinner and drinks. You're a true pal! 

Anyways, now i'm here a home, checking my stuff...seeing what's going on. 

I'm a boring girl today. Maybe i'll be more exciting tomorrow...maybe not....

-little J 

My first weekend

Guten Tag Blogishphere. 

Little J here. 

Long weekend that went by way too slow. Started off with an odd Friday night. A friend of mine, we'll call her C, called me up wanting to hang out. I told her that I would like to, but I'm terribly boring these days, not to mention, broke, so she was welcome to come over and hang out if that involved not spending any money. She showed up about an hour later, with two bottles of wine in hand and her roommate in tow. At this point Walt had already called to say he had taken the exit to my house and would be there shortly. C and her roommate had already been having a "good time" all day long at the lake, and were feeling pretty good. I was a little hormonal and tired from working all day, not to mention nervous about Walt seeing the house for the first time. Once he got there I asked the girls to go home, and told them I'd call them the next day. They decided to go next door, to where my neighbor was having a party, and while I found this to be odd considering that C and her roommate don't know my neighbor, I didn't say anything because I just wanted to spend time with Walt. 

I went to check on C about an hour later and she was a lot more intoxicated than before, not to mention, her roommate had already gone home, leaving her stranded. I asked her if she wanted me to take her home and she didn't seem interested in that idea. Not really knowing what to do, I called her boyfriend, who lives out of town and asked him to call her. We both at this point realized that she didn't have her phone on her, so I went back next door and took her home. She was less than pleased at me, which I've been in that situation and I was less than happy at the driver as well, but I didn't want her to be stranded in some foreign place, not to mention without her phone. She mentioned that I was being mean to her, which I wasn't trying to do, I was just a little frustrated with the situation and not to mention, Walt had just gotten there so I wanted to see him. At least she got home safely. That's all I can do, and if she's upset for that, well...I dunno. 

Saturday morning I had to work for a few hours before the rest of the world was awake. I took home some coffee for Walt and we got ready to go have breakfast. There is a little place that my friend, Coco, had taken me a few weeks back when he was home from Chicago, and the whole place just screamed Walter. It's a local chain called Torchy's, but there is a location in South Austin off 1st street. It's the South Austin Trailer Park and Eatery. 

We had delicious breakfast tacos and bottled coke! :) 

The rest of the day we spent looking around town. Went to the South Congress area and looked at a lot of cool shops. Found a very awesome costume shop called "Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds".  They had a bunch of awesome masks, and I'm thinking about having a "V" party for my birthday and having everyone wear "V" masks. I always liked the idea of masquerade balls, and this would be a cheaper, more modern twist. 

Around 6pm we went to the Arboretum area of Austin so Walt could look at some houses, and show me the apartment complex that he was maybe interested in living in. We got a little lost, but it's a beautiful area so we didn't really mind. Saw a mother and father deer with their baby in some houses front yard just hanging out, which was really cool. Then we went to Clarisse and Lindy's to visit and so Walt could see baby Alice. (He hadn't met her yet) Apparently she had been a terror all day, but was on her best for us. :) 

Stayed there for a few hours and then headed to grab some dinner before our 10:15pm movie. Had some beer and delicious mexican food at Trudy's on their patio (it was finally cool enough outside to do this) and then went to see Bruno at Alamo Draft House. 

Movie was beyond hilarious, but I don't want to ruin it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet. But be forewarned..there is a lot of penis. Ha. I don't know how his wife puts up with him in real life. 

Weekend was fun, got a lot of quality time with the Walt-man, which is always great. Had a wonderful brunch with The Roquemore's at Kerbey Lane this morning followed by more house hunting. 

Then I bid farewell to Walter as he took his journey back north so he could grind away at work tomorrow morning. But no worries, he'll be back next weekend. :) 

-little J

Welcome to Austin

Hola Blogisphere. 

A new adventure began for me on Sunday night. I packed up all my possessions (minus my fabulous feline friend, Catsputin, he will be here in a few weeks) and did what I'd been telling myself I'd do for a while. I moved. Filled up the tank in my Honda Fit and drove the 3 hours south on 35 to Austin, Texas. While to some, a 3 hour difference isn't much of a move, once you realize the vast differences between Central Texas and North Texas you'd understand. 

So here I am. In a cute little house I share with 3 boys I grew up in the same hometown of Denton, Texas with. We will call them B, C, and S, for the sake of keeping them privatized. They are all incredibly nice, quiet guys, and for the most part they keep to themselves, which you can't ask much more from in a roommate (or 3). 

I transfered my job down here to Austin. I'm very lucky to be employed by a company that has SO many locations all over the world for me to be able to transfer. Keeps the bills paid. Plus, since I'm new in the city, and don't know many people, it helps me to make new friends. I was transfered to the busiest store in the Austin area and honestly it's kicking my butt. I've never worked with a drive-thru location with my company and it's a completely different atmosphere. Way more customers, way more employees, hopefully not way more drama...

I'm in the process of looking for a new job waiting tables or bartending in the Austin area. Just something to make extra money a few nights a week. Moving is expensive and I'm in debt to enough people to bother me. So maybe when I pay them back I will allow myself not to work so much. Or maybe that's just how I am. A crazy work-a-holic. Had an interview at a local Mexican chain, Chuy's, and they scheduled me for a second interview on Monday. Fingers crossed please. 

I'm totally ready to get back into the grove of school. I have been lazy enough for long enough, and now it's time to kick it into gear and get that damn degree hung on my parents fridge. 

So when the leaves start to turn, I'm turning a new leaf. 

Wish me luck...

Walt's in town starting tomorrow for the weekend. Very exciting. He has yet to see the house or where I work, or anything of my new life, and I can't wait to begin to share it all with him. Plus it will be nice to have a familiar face around for a few days. 

Going to go make some whole wheat pasta and vodka sauce and change out of my stinky coffee infested clothes. 

Sleep tight America! 

-little J