Deal with stomp-stomp creek-creek or lift heavy objects

I've lived at my current apartment for just under 2 years, which is a record for me. I normally move every 6 months to a year. My lease is up the end of August and I must give 60 days notice if I want to move, which means I have just under a week to figure out if I want to stay put or move out.

For the most part, I have really enjoyed my little place. That is, until the past 2 months when the new upstairs neighbors from hell moved in! Now, I've lived in apartments for the greater part of my adult life so I am accepting of a lot of things, but these neighbors are ridiculous! The are night owls who like to start pacing above my bed at exactly the time I am trying to go to sleep. I know you are going to think I am just being dramatic, but I swear they wear lead boots too. They also play a game every night where they open and shut every drawer and cupboard in their place then go out on the balcony 3 or 4 times slamming the door on their way. I'm sure it's a lot of fun for them but all I hear is stomp-creek, slam, slide, creek, creek, stomp, stomp and occasionally the err err, err err of their bed while they are doing the nasty.

The worst part is, there is absolutely nothing I can do about it... except move.

But I don't want to move! What with all the packing and lifting of heavy furniture. Ugh! I've moved 5 times in the last 4 years and none of the times has been what I consider fun.

So what's a girl to do?

I spoke with the leasing office and they said I could upgrade to a newly remodeled top level apartment for basically the same price as I am paying now (guess the economy has been hard on them too).

But moving... again? Blah!

So now it's crunch time. Deal with annoying neighbors for another year or move. Somehow I don't feel like there is a right answer here.

Blogfully yours,

Summer

PS - anyone have a truck?

I Can’t Believe She Actually Hit Me!

Yesterday was much like any other day. I got off work and headed to school. I pulled into a parking spot near the back of the lot, parked and began my ritual of putting on a fresh coat of lipstick and powdering my nose. I was lost in my own thoughts while looking at my reflection when I was rudely jolted into consciousness by another car pulling in and hitting the front of my car! I snapped the visor mirror shut and stared at the driver who was now backing up a few inches so that she was no longer on top of my car. The driver did not meet my jaw dropped, appalled gaze. No courtesy wave. No mouthing of "oops" or "sorry". No getting out to make sure my bumper was still attached. No, this reckless SUV driving student did nothing. I kept on staring at her, in shock of this woman's ignorance and lack of common courtesy manners. Surely at any minute she was going to get out of her car and apologize. I had no idea what I should do. Do I walk over, pound on her door and demand an apology? Do I try to out wait her (at this point she is busy continuing to act like she is oblivious to me and collecting her things) and confront her then?

In the end I did nothing. I’m not a confrontational person and I was on my way to take a math test so, I did nothing. Seriously, what does one do in this situation? No damage was done to either of our cars. Really it was only a parking nudge, but it’s the principle of this person having the audacity to completely ignore the fact that she hit me. It irks me! It also irks me that I don’t know if I should have responded or not.

What would you have done?

Blogfully yours,

Summer

Damn Doctor Knows Best

Over the weekend I disobeyed the doctors orders and it felt great! That is, until Monday morning.

Friday I went to the X96 Big Ass Show with Karina the Russian. I was a lot more behaved than I was last year when I was running around getting my picture taken with every rock star I laid eyes on. But, when you have VIP tickets which give you access to free beer.... it would have been a shame to let it go to waste.

A few of the bands I really enjoyed watching were The Airborne Toxic Event (seriously in love with these guys! If you don't know who they are watch THIS), Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and of course Offspring. Offspring was the headlining band and they tore it up! It was so funny to watch Karina looking at everyone else sing along to the songs. "You don't know this one?" I would scream over the crowd. Then she would look at me with her of course I don't know this one I'm from Russia bitch look. I would of course laugh and she would tell me how she was going to take me to Russia and laugh at me when I didn't know the bands who were playing.

The next morning Karina and I went to brunch. I had coffee and the most amazing crab Benedict served over cornbread with an avocado relish. I'm drooling thinking about it again. I kept marveling as we sat outside on the patio at how I really felt OK. All of the symptoms from last week seemed to have magically disappeared. How amazingly wonderful for me!

Saturday night I went to 2 barbecues where the food, margaritas and wine flowed freely. I felt great and had a wonderful time. Then Sunday came along. Damn you Sunday. Such a fun wrecker. I studied for over 12 hours trying to make up for all of my play time then I had a stress induced anxiety attack.

So now here I am, back where I started. Taking several over the counter meds and eating bland foods. Apparently when they talk about school being a sacrifice they are not kidding. My body is telling me I can no longer play like I used to plus handle the stress of work, school and finances. I think it sucks. I think I SHOULD be able to handle it all. But sadly, superwoman left the building a long time ago.

Blogfully yours,

Summer

Stress is a Real Buzz Kill

Did you know that holding stress inside for prolonged periods of time can make you physically ill? True story. In fact, it can make you so sick that you have to give up the things you love in order to get better - doctors orders!

I had written a post over the weekend (that I chose not to post) titled "Some Stories Are Not Meant To Be Told". It was basically about holding painful memories back and how it is probably the "right" thing to do.

Apparently... I was wrong.

I am now on a "bland" food diet until I get my "stress/gut symptoms" back under control. That means no spicy food, no acidic food, no greasy food, no chocolate, no alcohol, oh and no coffee or soda! Yeah, so basically what I am telling you is that holding stress inside has ruined my life... at least for the next week or so.

I highly recommend you find ways to communicate your stress, maybe see a counselor or hit a punching bag, that you will not end up like me - sober and eating oatmeal.

Blogfully yours,

Summer

Superwoman Can't Fly Right Now, Check Back Tomorrow

Sunday I was Superwoman, my alter-ego. I spent the morning doing homework, work projects and other obligations. Then I took a break to meet up with my family at the park to hide Easter eggs for the nieces and nephews. After hiding eggs, I went for a jog around the park then shopping at Wal Mart (no body cares if your sweaty and slightly smelly there) for some essentials. After I got back home I swept my porch and vacuumed my floors and couches, then went strait back to studying. I even made it to bed before midnight.

Yes, Sunday I was Superwoman. But now, Sunday is long gone and I'm afraid Superwoman has flown the coop.

I am utterly exhausted. I have no idea how to keep going at the rate I have been going. I know I am not the only person to work full time and go to school, but I don't know how to keep going like this. I leave my house at 7:30 every morning and don't get home until after 9 PM most days. When I finally unlock my door, drop my bags to the floor and change into my pajamas, I am spent. I want to do NOTHING but that is not exactly an option and stupid perky Superwoman is not around, so I have to literally force myself to get things done. I look like hell, makeup can only do so much to hide the dark circles from lack of a good nights rest. I am just plain overwhelmed.

The only thing that keeps me going? Just 3 more weeks until this semester is done, then I get a break.

I can do this... with or without my flaky Superwoman alter-ego.

Blogfully yours,

Summer

Lunch Time Studying. I've Almost Given Up.

Apparently some men are much denser than I give them credit for. The following happened at a new coffee shop that a co-worker, who obviously hates me, recommended.

I'm feverishly studying at lunch - head down, books sprawled open, look of concentration on my face - when I was approached by a man on his way to the restroom.

"Excuse me", he says.

I look up from homework with an are you seriously going to bug me expression and grunt out a "yes?"

"So... you, um, studying?"

"Um... yeah."

"Oh... um... what 'cha studying?" Stepping closer to inspect my work.

"Math. Algebra." I say, using my I am not amused or interested in this conversation what-so-ever tone. Or at least that is what I was going for. But alas, he continued on.

"Wow. That looks... um... heavy."

With one final leave me alone look, I answer "Yeah", look down and continue trying to find out why in the hell it takes Sue 20 minutes longer to paddle her canoe upstream than it does Beth.

So I know I was really bitchy, but honestly it is just plain rude to come up and interrupt someone who is obviously trying to study. I don't know what more I could have done, short of hanging a "Do Not Disturb" sign on my forehead, to let him know that I didn't want to be bothered.

I guess the quest to find a peaceful place to study while getting a bite to eat continues.

Blogfully yours,

Summer

Computers will be the death...or salvation of me!

My personal computer at home is a custom built PC laptop that I bought over 4 years ago with my ex-husband. Luckily in the divorce I ended up with it. Unluckily, I know nothing about it, or any other computer for that matter, outside of how to turn it on, close all the pop-up anti-spywear thingys and get onto the web.

Computer savvy I am not.

The other day I brought my laptop to work on a paper during my lunch break. I booted up, entered in my not-so-clever password and the bastard decided that it didn't feel like working today. No, instead it felt like restarting itself over and over again, like it had some sort of compulsive disorder and no amount of sweet talking (my normal way of getting it to work) was going to calm it down.

Good news? The place I originally bought it from, Superior Computers, is still in business and has a lifetime service warranty! Woo Hoo! No out of money expenses for my computers therapy!

Bad news? I have been without a computer for 3 days! Holy cow I didn't realize how dependent I have become on one. Luckily I have my lover the iPhone, only he has his "short comings". I can't exactly type up my 5 page essay for English (that is due on Tuesday!) on him, but he has been there in most other ways. Stroking my hair, telling me everything will be ok and playing me a happy song when I need it.

Now I know what most of you are thinking, "you should get a Mac," yeah, well I can't exactly afford one right now because this starving college student made a mistake on her federal witholding form and now has to pay on her taxes. So unless someone has an extra Mac notebook laying around they want to donate to help the cause, and by cause I mean me, I'm stuck with my manic PC.

Oh well, could be worse. I could be without a computer all together!

Blogfully yours,

Summer

Whoever said beauty is pain, should be shot!

I'll come right out and say it before anyone has a chance to. I am a hypocrite. I go and write this whole blog post about the dangers of "Environmental Dating" then I go and do exactly what I am not supposed to do.

I met ED (like that? ED? Short for Environmental dating? Yeah, I'm pretty clever like that.) about 1.5 years ago and things didn't work out due to timing or not being at the same place in our lives or some cliche lines like that. Well, we reconnected via facebook and have been hanging out for a little while. He is cute. I like him. That's about as far into the mushy stuff as I am capable of going. Anyway, ED is a personal trainer as well as a full time student studying to be a Physical Therapist.

So Saturday I am sitting on my butt eating Carmel Hershey Kisses getting caught up on my Tivo when I get the bright idea that ED could help motivate me to get back into shape. I text him asking if he would be willing to train me, which luckily he was. We set up a time on Sunday to work out at my gym. He gets me to commit to the days I will work out as well as my time commitment. I say 3 days a week for an hour and a half. Little did I know that an hour and a half meant 45 minutes of cardio and 45 minutes of guy style weight training.

We met up Sunday, I did my cardio before he got there. 35 minutes of walking wasn't exactly what he had in mind, but he didn't push the matter. Instead he decided to punish me by making me stick out my butt as I did squats (form my ass!), lift really heavy stuff a whole bunch of times and die of embarrassment at not being able to do a pull up or a dip thingy - even on the assisted machines! To finish things off, ED helped me stretch which was the most painful feeling of release I have ever experience.

By the time we left the gym my legs were jello. I laughed it off trying to be tough and cute at the same time while cursing him under my breath, knowing full well that the stiffness I felt then would be nothing compared to the following days.

I text ED the next morning requesting he meet me at my work to carry me up the stairs to my office. He didn't show. Obviously he is not as committed to a second chance relationship as I thought he was. Maybe Karina is right that there should be no second chance, then again, maybe I just need to buck up and not let myself get so damn out of shape! Either way, I can barely move right now and I am perfectly fine with letting ED take all the blame.

Blogfully yours,

Summer

Required classes require a new attitude

I am a 28 year old freshman in college. I have been a business professional since I was 20 in one capacity or another. I have worked my way up in whatever field or company I have been employed with because I work hard and I am a quick learner.

As a freshman starting out there are, of course, a series of required classes you must take. I am in 3 of them this semester. My Monday night class is COMM 1010. When I told a good friend of mine that I would be taking this class he laughed and said that I could teach the class. At first I dismissed this as a kind thing to say and was pleased that he thought so highly of me, but now after attending class, reading the syllabus and skimming through the book, I am quite confident I could. This is not so much a boast on my part but a slam on how simplistic this class is. To be fair, I work in a communication industry and have for over 5 years. I am sure to some of my 18 or 19 year old classmates learning about writing formal letters and proper phone etiquette will be of great benefit to them; I'll be the girl in the back of the class hanging herself.

I am well aware that I need an attitude adjustment. I swear I am working on it! I am sure I can learn something from this class. My skills are not perfect and can always be improved upon. However, the most encouraging thought I've come up with is there are only 12 (normally 15) classes due to national holidays and the teacher taking a vacation. I can suffer through 12.

If nothing else, I can always make myself available in case the teacher needs a sub. There's one way to ensure an A.

I can do this.

Blogfully yours,
Summer

The things I can't say

So here is the problem with having a blog, people read it. I know, sounds dumb right? I WANT people to read it, but at the same time, it hinders me from talking about the things that are really on my mind.

A wise woman once told me that blogging is cheaper than therapy. So true, but what good is it if you can't really say what is on your mind? For example, item one I'd like to talk about is x's, in particular a recent conversation with one. There is so much I could say, so much I need to get off my chest, but writing about x's has inadvertently hurt them in the past when they have read my blog. I never meant for it to hurt them, but it did. So now, to avoid that happening again, I CAN'T WRITE ABOUT THEM.

Second...how do I say what it is without saying it? How about I just say, in a very tip toe manner, it has to do with dating and whether or not to accept an invitation (with a much older man)? Shit, that is probably saying too much. But what am I supposed to do? Write about my cat all the time? It is, after all, MY blog. I should be able to say whatever I want. Right? But then there is the whole people having feelings and what not. I mean to the person(s) I am writing, or not writing about, it will be completely obvious that I am talking about them even if the rest of the world has not idea. I guess the problem lies in me caring. I should just learn not to give a crap. That's the obvious answer here.

Anywho, here is my random rant of a post for the day. Since I am sure this post has not left you feeling uplifted, I'm steal someone else's profound words...they seemed to help me today anyway.

"Our life's a stage, a comedy: either learn to play and take it lightly, or bear its troubles patiently."
- Palladas

Here's to taking it lightly!

Blogfully yours,
Summer

My tummy hurts

Stress effects everyone differently. For some unfair reason, stress seems to take it's toll on my physically. Normally I get an upset stomach that is really painful. Lately though it has been not just the upset stomach, but heartburn as well. I'm sure it's nothing that a good dose of Prilosec can't fix but it's still a major pain in the ass. Another lovely accompanying factor of my stress is lack of sleep. Man, I love my sleep too! I don't really know any way to prevent it from happening either. It's not like the stresses of work and school and life are going to just magically go away. Maybe this is just the adjustment period and everything will start getting easier soon. Wishful thinking, but hey you gotta cling to some sense of hope right? Oh, and here is the extra icing on the cake. The guy I admitted to liking, well I think I chased him away because he is moving to another state. Maybe as soon as 2 weeks from now. See, I told you it was the kiss of death! Honestly I don't know why I date anymore. I think I am a hopeless cause. Ok that was a little dramatic but I figure while I am complaining and fishing for sympathy I should throw that in there.