dianaschnuth

Yesterday, Aaron and I went down to the local GameStop so he could pick up some used video games during their buy-2-get-1-free sale. While we were in the strip mall, we just so happened to notice that there was a clothing store next door for sizes 14 and up. Not sure how I missed that, after living in the area for almost four years, but there it was.

Since I had been saying I needed more business casual attire, and since I’d gone into the game store with Aaron, he convinced me to go into the plus size clothing store and get myself some work clothes.

Aaron actually found the stretchy black button-down shirt, and I think he saw the cable sweater first, too. I know he pointed out the red pullover (which is a darker red IRL). I wasn’t sure about the wraparound shirt, but it actually slims me quite a bit.

In addition to the four shirts, I got two microfiber underwire bras and one wireless bra. Thanks to my interest in this sports bra (before I realized it was a $65 sports bra), I’d recently re-measured myself to determine my correct bra size, which is actually an odd and difficult-to-find combination of band and cup sizes. Avenue had it, though, no problem.

I ended up spending nearly $200 on four shirts and three bras. Really, though, in the grand scheme of women’s clothes, and especially plus sizes, that’s not too bad. And now I have some classier business casual that isn’t looking like it’s past its prime.

Next time, though, I’ll have to get some pants.

I am thankful for my new job, which is helping me grow both personally and professionally.
I am thankful for my loving husband, who supports me in everything I do.
I am thankful for my house, in which I feel safe and at home.
I am thankful for our two cars, which help us get to work and other places.
I am thankful for my health, without which life would be a lot more stressful and uncertain.
I am thankful for my glasses, which allow me to see clearly to read and drive and live.
I am thankful for confusion, which prompts me to seek out answers.
I am thankful for the internet, which helps me locate the answers I am seeking.
I am thankful for Huntington Bank, whose acquisition of Sky Bank spurred me to seek a new job.
I am thankful for my friends, who are understanding and supportive.
I am thankful for my bed, which is much more comfortable than an air mattress or a sleeping bag.
I am thankful for my family, who reminds me who I am and where I came from.
I am thankful for Riverview Elementary, whose Gifted program first developed my interest in computers.
I am thankful for Mary (Bindis) Franzosa, who introduced me to my husband nearly 12 years ago.
I am thankful for readers who leave comments, who assure me that I am relevant and interesting.

8:51am – Alarm goes off, reminding me that I want to go to aikido at 10am. I roll over and go back to sleep.

10:45am – I realize that I need to leave soon to take Sensei’s digital recorder back to the dojo while someone is still there and the door is unlocked. Get up, get dressed, pull hair back, and drive to dojo.

11:00am – Sensei isn’t at the dojo, and a senior student is teaching the class that is just concluding. I put the recorder on Sensei’s desk and beat a hasty retreat.

11:10am – Arrive home. Eat breakfast of Chocolatey Special K. Read e-mails and blog entries.

12:00pm – Attempt to wake the husband. Am shot down in favor of continued sleep. Come back downstairs and begin trying to fix my iTunes library (another story entirely).

12:30pm – The husband awakes and showers. Begin working on Zen podcast.

1:15pm – Lunch: one breaded, stuffed cordon bleu chicken breast, cooked by Aaron.

1:30pm – Resume editing podcast.

2:00pm – Upload podcast. Send e-mail to Sensei with a link and some potential show notes. Begin backing up CDs with drum corps photos and other materials onto my computer in preparation for sending them to the new Executive Director. Alternate computer availability between WinRAR and iTunes.

3:00pm – Backups complete. Take break to watch Aaron play Bioshock. Eat banana.

3:30pm – Receive e-mail that reminds me to check the drum corps forums’ permissions. Realize, after some research, that there is no foul play and that I have b0rked the permissions myself. Rig a temporary fix so that members can actually see all the forums.

4:00pm – Forums unb0rked. Begin packing up CDs in a makeshift cardboard sleeve to be mailed to the Executive Director.

4:15pm – CDs packed. Do some more work on iTunes library. Talk with Aaron. Look over my to-do list. Cringe.

5:00pm – Talk with Aaron while he gets ready for work.

5:30pm – Say goodbye to Aaron. Feed the cat. Make dinner. Blog while eating at the computer.

It sure seems like I’ve been doing a lot of stuff today. So why do I feel like I’m treading water? Aaron says that maybe it’s because everything I’ve done today (just about) has been for someone else, either the corps or the sangha.

Next on the agenda: Go for a walk and listen to the hour-long podcast I just put together (since I missed the actual talk, being out of town). Review some SQL for tomorrow’s second interview downtown. Do some more cleaning and organizing, maybe.

Coming up on one month of joblessness. Hmm.

ETA: This article saved my ass the next day. Everything is magically fine again, without having to right-click on every damned file and browse to find its new location. Fantastic!

I’m feeling the need to write something, although I don’t really have a topic I want to rant about tonight.

Was pretty productive with the job search today. Applied for three jobs, and have a fourth in the works.

Worked on the redesign of my drum corps’ website. Am satisfied with the first comp for now. Have some feedback from the Executive Director for some tweaks, which I will apply later this week.

Made some banana-coconut (a.k.a. Banana Cream Pie) candles tonight. At this point, I’m trying to whittle down my supply of old, half-used scents so I can justify buying more new ones. Still undecided about the holiday push for candle sales. It would really necessitate a website overhaul to work the way I want.

Am planning to do NaNoWriMo this year, even if I don’t have a job by November. I’ll have to split up my time between writing and job-searching (and working on the corps’ website), but I think I can do it. I’ve never won NaNo before (i.e. written 50,000 words in 30 days), and it’s about time I did. I have a premise and a few characters’ subplots. They’ll all come together at the end of my dystopian future society tale. Somehow.

Trying to get my sleep schedule back on track. Getting up before noon is an accomplishment, as is getting to bed before 2am. I’d sleep ten to twelve hours a night if I let myself, and I really don’t think that’s healthy.

Overall, I’m doing OK. Gained a little weight, am sometimes bored or depressed, but am trying to keep myself upbeat. I can pay bills. I’m relatively healthy. I’ve had a couple job interviews. I’m OK.