I don't think it's a secret anymore that I'm attempting to be a writer. I guess that's not true. I AM a writer, I'm attempting to become a published author.
For the past two years, I have particiapted in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and last year was awesome because I met some really great people. Those of us who are really serious about getting into good writing habits have decided to stick around in the "off season" to support each other. Last month we decided to do a mini NaNo and write 20,000 words of fiction. I completed that challenge.
This month we are giving writing prompts each week and then writing a short story based on the prompt we chose. Last week, a girl posted a prompt asking to write a story about a girl's summer vacation during 1969. I loved the idea and immediately started looking for a story to tell. Unfortuantely I couldn't quite come up with anything that I was overly thrilled with. So I decided to ask people who were actually alive in '69, and let the idea simmer in the back of my brain.
I then turned my attentions to a short story I started last year after a good friend of mine issued me a personal challenge. She asked me to write about the perfect relationship or an ideal relationship. It's grown and evolved since then and I now have a working plot for that story. With a new direction, I am excited to go ahead and finally finish that one.
After I finish this older short story, I will start my research for my 1969 piece. My dad gave me the great idea of highlighting the death of the idealistic 60's and the free love movement. It's an idea that is right up my alley and I am super excited to start it in the next couple of days.
After that I am either going to start working on my novel again, or I am going to do some plotting/planning for last year's NaNo piece. I think it could be turned into a relatively good contemporary romance series. I want to flesh out my characters and my fictional town of King's Mountain.
I have so much I want to write. Sometimes I wish I could just think it and it would be on paper because my hands can't keep up with the ideas flowing in my brain.
Health, Peace, & Happiness
lindsayallison
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Saturday, March 3, 2012
new year, new look
Well, I decided it was time for another facelift for the blog.
I had decided to expand the colors in my wardrobe this year as I start buying smaller sizes. I wanted more bright colors in my closet. So in keeping with that frame of mind I chose this much brighter, cleaner, and easier to read format. I had tried to make this thing look "cool" and like it had a lot to offer with multiple columns and stuff. But when I sat down to update this tonight I felt like it was just too much. I'm a simple kind of girl (okay, so not really but we can pretend, right?) and so a simple look is what I need.
I think I am going to like this a lot. I hope that it's easy to navigate and that you can really get a feel for who I am and what I'm up to. I think with all the side bars you can easily keep up with what I'm working on as far as reading and writing goes.
I don't have a lot more to update you on than that. New year, new look! I've changed my hair color, I'm losing weight, and I'm powering through with positive thinking!
Until next time!
Health, Peace, & Happiness,
lindsayallison
I had decided to expand the colors in my wardrobe this year as I start buying smaller sizes. I wanted more bright colors in my closet. So in keeping with that frame of mind I chose this much brighter, cleaner, and easier to read format. I had tried to make this thing look "cool" and like it had a lot to offer with multiple columns and stuff. But when I sat down to update this tonight I felt like it was just too much. I'm a simple kind of girl (okay, so not really but we can pretend, right?) and so a simple look is what I need.
I think I am going to like this a lot. I hope that it's easy to navigate and that you can really get a feel for who I am and what I'm up to. I think with all the side bars you can easily keep up with what I'm working on as far as reading and writing goes.
I don't have a lot more to update you on than that. New year, new look! I've changed my hair color, I'm losing weight, and I'm powering through with positive thinking!
Until next time!
Health, Peace, & Happiness,
lindsayallison
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
progress not perfection
Tyra always tells her models, "Progress not perfection."
I need to keep that in mind myself. I need to remember that my heaviest weigh in was 225lbs at 5'7". And that's just the highest number I ever saw. Who KNOWS what my actual heaviest weight was.
I am currently sitting at 186lbs. For those of you keeping track that's about 40lbs lost so far. I had lost some weight on my own about a year and a half ago when I just stopped eating out so much and just tried to cut back on portions a little.
I have lost 11 pounds since I started really trying to change my lifestyle. I have fallen off the wagon a little bit with my eating, but I plan to go grocery shopping tomorrow and get all my healthy foods.
My goal is to get to 150lbs and/or a size 10. Once I get there, I will reassess and see if I can safely go smaller. I have some curves to me that will definitely hinder me getting to be stick thin, lol.
I can and will do this. I just have to remember that I need PROGRESS not PERFECTION.
Three years ago, I was close to a size 18. Three years ago, I couldn't get my belt ends to meet, never mind put it on. Three years ago, I couldn't wrap a towel around myself and be covered. Three years ago, I couldn't get my class ring on my finger. Three years ago, I weighed close to 230lbs.
Today, I am a size 12 and even those are getting a little loose. Today I not only wear my belt, and I'm about to move it down another notch. Today, I can wear a towel and it will stay on. Today, I am wearing my class ring. Today, I am 186lbs.
Just keep reminding yourself of where you've been, how far you've come, and then look at where you want to go. Whether your destination is just a few feet away from you or it's that tiny dot on the horizon just remember that the destination IS IN SIGHT.
lindsayallison
I need to keep that in mind myself. I need to remember that my heaviest weigh in was 225lbs at 5'7". And that's just the highest number I ever saw. Who KNOWS what my actual heaviest weight was.
I am currently sitting at 186lbs. For those of you keeping track that's about 40lbs lost so far. I had lost some weight on my own about a year and a half ago when I just stopped eating out so much and just tried to cut back on portions a little.
I have lost 11 pounds since I started really trying to change my lifestyle. I have fallen off the wagon a little bit with my eating, but I plan to go grocery shopping tomorrow and get all my healthy foods.
My goal is to get to 150lbs and/or a size 10. Once I get there, I will reassess and see if I can safely go smaller. I have some curves to me that will definitely hinder me getting to be stick thin, lol.
I can and will do this. I just have to remember that I need PROGRESS not PERFECTION.
Three years ago, I was close to a size 18. Three years ago, I couldn't get my belt ends to meet, never mind put it on. Three years ago, I couldn't wrap a towel around myself and be covered. Three years ago, I couldn't get my class ring on my finger. Three years ago, I weighed close to 230lbs.
Today, I am a size 12 and even those are getting a little loose. Today I not only wear my belt, and I'm about to move it down another notch. Today, I can wear a towel and it will stay on. Today, I am wearing my class ring. Today, I am 186lbs.
Just keep reminding yourself of where you've been, how far you've come, and then look at where you want to go. Whether your destination is just a few feet away from you or it's that tiny dot on the horizon just remember that the destination IS IN SIGHT.
lindsayallison
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Far Away
The room was rather small for a bar, but it had all the characteristics. The lighting was dim and the air full of the smoke from cigarettes. The room was half full, but the soft murmur of talking made it seem as if only a few people were there.
It was a night like any other at her local karaoke bar. All of the regulars were there, talking and laughing together. It was the weekend and singing over a crackling speaker was their means of relaxing after a stressful week. There was a sense of calm in the slow pace of the bar. Nothing ever changed which brought a feeling of comfort to each of them.
She heard her name called over the low noise of the bar. She looked up at the DJ for confirmation that she had indeed heard her name. She smiled as she walked gracefully to the area at the front of the room that acted as the stage. She subconsciously pressed a hand to her abdomen in an attempt to calm the butterflies in her stomach. It didn’t seem to matter how many times she did this, she always got nervous before she performed.
She had been coming to this karaoke bar for over two years now. Like all of the regulars, she had a lineup of her “normal” songs. They were hers and no one else dared sing them without asking her permission first. It was an unspoken rule that they all followed. But this next song was not one that anyone had ever really shown an interest in singing.
It had been added to her repertoire of songs about three months prior. She had loved this song from the first time she heard it. She felt a deep connection to the song and it had taken a lot of nerve for her to finally try it. So when she finally did try it the nervous energy seemed to drive the feeling of the song. She had been told that despite it originally being sung by a male vocalist with a raspy voice, there was something about a female voice that made the song even more beautiful.
She picked up the mic and made sure to flip the switch so that it was turned on. She gently tapped the top of the mic out of mindless habit to make sure she could hear it over the crappy speakers of the bar. The music started up and the small crowd cheered. This was definitely one of her more popular songs. She took a deep breath and bowed her head, memories and emotions she dared not say aloud filling her entire being. Her eyes closed as the first line flowed from her lips.
“This time, this place, misused, mistakes. Too long, too late…who was I to make you wait? Just one chance, just one breath, just in case there’s just one left. ‘Cause you know, you know, you know…” She sang out in a strong and clear voice. Her thoughts went to the same place they always went to when she heard or sang this song. It went to a boy- a man- who haunted her dreams on more nights than she cared to admit to. She always felt that this song had been written just for them.
“I love you. I have loved you all along. And I miss you…been far away for far too long. I keep dreaming, you’ll be with me and you’ll never go. I’d stop breathing if I don’t see you anymore.” He was the boy she had loved since her first year of high school. The boy she had given up on and reinvested in over and over again. They had started out as best friends, confiding in each other right from the start. Their connection was based on an instinctive understanding of each other. They had never experienced that kind of bond with anyone else. With a connection so deep, it hadn’t taken long before their feelings for each other started to grow beyond the platonic. But it seemed that no matter what they tried, their timing was never right.
“On my knees, I’ll ask...last chance for one last dance. ‘Cause with you, I’d withstand all of hell to hold your hand. I’d give it all, I’d give for us…give anything but I won’t give up. ‘Cause you know, you know, you know…” They had always kept in touch with each other, even if it had grown more sporadic over the years due to life’s interference. But each time they picked up right where they left off, like nothing had changed. This time though, life had different plans it seemed. He had joined the army two years ago and it had been almost a year since she’d heard from him. She would never give up the hope that they would one day get their timing straight. One day, she hoped, one day.
“I love you. I have loved you all along. And I miss you…been far away for far too long. I keep dreaming, you’ll be with me and you’ll never go. I’d stop breathing if I don’t see you anymore.” She let herself get lost in the music and lyrics of the song. They consumed her and brought back memories she sometimes wished she could just forget. But tonight she let the feelings of love, loss, and loneliness flow around her like a warm wind. She felt a tingling sensation and she slowly opened her eyes. Her heart skipped a beat and she gasped loudly. She could swear that she was looking right at him. Had she felt those emotions so powerfully that she was now seeing him here? But no, there he was, in person, in flesh, standing on the opposite side of the room. It was him.
The song continued on and she vaguely realized that she was supposed to start singing again. It took her a few seconds to recover from the shock of seeing him. She locked eyes with him and started singing directly to him. This song was for him, after all.
“I wanted, I wanted you to stay. ‘Cause I needed, I need to hear you say…that I love you, I have loved you all along. And I forgive you for being away for far too long. So keep breathing, ‘cause I’m not leaving you anymore. Believe it, hold onto me and never let me go.” She sang the song with more feeling than she ever had before. His presence brought something indescribable out of her, something that made the song more powerful. There was the faintest ghost of a smile on his face as he watched her sing. Her voice cracked, but she kept going. Normally she would be mortified that her voice had faltered, but tonight she didn’t care. She felt dizzy from the conflicting emotions she was feeling. Her head spun with confusion, her heart pounded with anticipation, and her stomach flipped with happiness.
“Keep breathing, ‘cause I’m not leaving you anymore. Believe it, hold onto me and never let me go. Believe it, hold onto me never let me go…Hold onto me and never let me go…Hold onto me and never let me go…”
The song’s music came to a quiet end, but she didn’t move. She stood frozen there, staring at him, staring at her. The bar went completely silent as the rest of the room watched them, confused as to what was playing out before them. All she could hear was the buzz of the ceiling fan and the pounding of her own heart. Time stood still and everyone held their breath. Somehow they knew this was a moment that should not be disrupted.
The smile on his face told her he was impressed with her performance. His hand were tucked in his pockets which she knew meant he was feeling just as nervous as she was.
“What are you doing here?” She finally whispered the question that had been burning at her lips since she had seen him. Still clutching the mic right in front of her mouth her question was made loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Watching my best friend sing, what does it look like?” His hinted smile blossomed into a full blown smirk. His voice was just as she remembered it. It was rich and ran down her spine the way warm honey slid down the back of her throat.
She hadn’t realized that tears were welling up in her eyes until one slipped down her cheek. She tried to force a smile. The mic moved away from her chest and she tried to stop the tears. She set it down next to the DJ and looked back up at him.
“I see you actually listened to me for once,” she said. The catch in her breath and the quiver in her voice betrayed her.
He cocked his head ever so slightly to the side, his smirk fell into a small frown. A silent question on his face. She almost rolled her eyes. Of course he wouldn’t know what she was talking about.
“Well, I don’t see any holes in you and you’re obviously not dead if you’re standing here in front of me,” she said. She seemed to have regained some control of herself because a smirk of her own was forming on her face. “I guess I’ll have to hold off on kicking your ass for now. You know, since you came back from war in one piece.”
He let out a breath he’d been holding and laughed. His laugh was rich and deep. She had always loved his laugh. He looked her up and down, his eyes twinkling with happiness. “What does a soldier have to do to get a hug around here?”
That was all it took. She launched herself at him from across the room. She flung her arms around his neck with a force that lifted her off the ground and almost knocked him over. She held him as tightly as she could. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her as close to him as he could. His breathing was heavy and she knew he was trying to contain his own emotions.
“God, I’ve missed you!” She whispered into his ear so that only he could hear her. She squeezed her eyes closed to keep from crying hysterically.
“I’ve missed you too, baby.” His voice broke slightly and her heart nearly burst. She rarely saw this uncontrolled side of him.
They held each other for a solid minute before they finally pulled away. He set her down on the ground, but kept his arms draped loosely around her waist. Her hands were playing with his hair. They smiled giddily at each other. Time started up again and everyone in the bar was whispering furiously as they watched the scene unfold in front of them.
He brought hands up and gently cupped her face. Her heart started thudding against her ribs and she was certain the whole room could hear it. He tilted her face up ever so slowly. Her eyes slid closed as his lips fell onto hers. The regulars, her friends, burst into cheers, but she hardly heard them.
It was the most gentle and passionate kiss she had ever experienced in her life. She was sure her heart would explode from the sheer intensity of it. When he pulled away she nearly whimpered from the loss of contact. He rested his forehead against hers, a lazy smile lifted one corner of his mouth up. “I love you. I have loved you all along…” he sang softly.
“And I forgive you for being away for far too long.” Her voice was so low that she hoped he had actually heard her. “Are you home for good now?” It was a question she was scared to know the answer to, but she remained hopeful.
He frowned slightly. “No, baby, I have to go back in 30 days.”
Her face fell. “Oh, I see. I guess I was hoping- it’s silly really. Never mind.” She knew she was babbling, but it was the only way to keep herself from crying. She looked down at her feet as her ears and cheeks burned with embarrassment. The crowd seemed to have lost interest in their reunion. Talking had resumed and the next singer had taken the stage. She was glad that no one seemed to be paying her any attention.
He put his finger under her chin and forced her to look up at him. “I have to go back. But I don’t want to go back without finally making you mine.”
Her smile burst from her like the sun’s rays coming through a cloud. “We’ve finally found the right time?”
He chuckled lightly. “I think we have.” He pressed his lips against her forehead and she sighed contentedly. It was finally time.
It was a night like any other at her local karaoke bar. All of the regulars were there, talking and laughing together. It was the weekend and singing over a crackling speaker was their means of relaxing after a stressful week. There was a sense of calm in the slow pace of the bar. Nothing ever changed which brought a feeling of comfort to each of them.
She heard her name called over the low noise of the bar. She looked up at the DJ for confirmation that she had indeed heard her name. She smiled as she walked gracefully to the area at the front of the room that acted as the stage. She subconsciously pressed a hand to her abdomen in an attempt to calm the butterflies in her stomach. It didn’t seem to matter how many times she did this, she always got nervous before she performed.
She had been coming to this karaoke bar for over two years now. Like all of the regulars, she had a lineup of her “normal” songs. They were hers and no one else dared sing them without asking her permission first. It was an unspoken rule that they all followed. But this next song was not one that anyone had ever really shown an interest in singing.
It had been added to her repertoire of songs about three months prior. She had loved this song from the first time she heard it. She felt a deep connection to the song and it had taken a lot of nerve for her to finally try it. So when she finally did try it the nervous energy seemed to drive the feeling of the song. She had been told that despite it originally being sung by a male vocalist with a raspy voice, there was something about a female voice that made the song even more beautiful.
She picked up the mic and made sure to flip the switch so that it was turned on. She gently tapped the top of the mic out of mindless habit to make sure she could hear it over the crappy speakers of the bar. The music started up and the small crowd cheered. This was definitely one of her more popular songs. She took a deep breath and bowed her head, memories and emotions she dared not say aloud filling her entire being. Her eyes closed as the first line flowed from her lips.
“This time, this place, misused, mistakes. Too long, too late…who was I to make you wait? Just one chance, just one breath, just in case there’s just one left. ‘Cause you know, you know, you know…” She sang out in a strong and clear voice. Her thoughts went to the same place they always went to when she heard or sang this song. It went to a boy- a man- who haunted her dreams on more nights than she cared to admit to. She always felt that this song had been written just for them.
“I love you. I have loved you all along. And I miss you…been far away for far too long. I keep dreaming, you’ll be with me and you’ll never go. I’d stop breathing if I don’t see you anymore.” He was the boy she had loved since her first year of high school. The boy she had given up on and reinvested in over and over again. They had started out as best friends, confiding in each other right from the start. Their connection was based on an instinctive understanding of each other. They had never experienced that kind of bond with anyone else. With a connection so deep, it hadn’t taken long before their feelings for each other started to grow beyond the platonic. But it seemed that no matter what they tried, their timing was never right.
“On my knees, I’ll ask...last chance for one last dance. ‘Cause with you, I’d withstand all of hell to hold your hand. I’d give it all, I’d give for us…give anything but I won’t give up. ‘Cause you know, you know, you know…” They had always kept in touch with each other, even if it had grown more sporadic over the years due to life’s interference. But each time they picked up right where they left off, like nothing had changed. This time though, life had different plans it seemed. He had joined the army two years ago and it had been almost a year since she’d heard from him. She would never give up the hope that they would one day get their timing straight. One day, she hoped, one day.
“I love you. I have loved you all along. And I miss you…been far away for far too long. I keep dreaming, you’ll be with me and you’ll never go. I’d stop breathing if I don’t see you anymore.” She let herself get lost in the music and lyrics of the song. They consumed her and brought back memories she sometimes wished she could just forget. But tonight she let the feelings of love, loss, and loneliness flow around her like a warm wind. She felt a tingling sensation and she slowly opened her eyes. Her heart skipped a beat and she gasped loudly. She could swear that she was looking right at him. Had she felt those emotions so powerfully that she was now seeing him here? But no, there he was, in person, in flesh, standing on the opposite side of the room. It was him.
The song continued on and she vaguely realized that she was supposed to start singing again. It took her a few seconds to recover from the shock of seeing him. She locked eyes with him and started singing directly to him. This song was for him, after all.
“I wanted, I wanted you to stay. ‘Cause I needed, I need to hear you say…that I love you, I have loved you all along. And I forgive you for being away for far too long. So keep breathing, ‘cause I’m not leaving you anymore. Believe it, hold onto me and never let me go.” She sang the song with more feeling than she ever had before. His presence brought something indescribable out of her, something that made the song more powerful. There was the faintest ghost of a smile on his face as he watched her sing. Her voice cracked, but she kept going. Normally she would be mortified that her voice had faltered, but tonight she didn’t care. She felt dizzy from the conflicting emotions she was feeling. Her head spun with confusion, her heart pounded with anticipation, and her stomach flipped with happiness.
“Keep breathing, ‘cause I’m not leaving you anymore. Believe it, hold onto me and never let me go. Believe it, hold onto me never let me go…Hold onto me and never let me go…Hold onto me and never let me go…”
The song’s music came to a quiet end, but she didn’t move. She stood frozen there, staring at him, staring at her. The bar went completely silent as the rest of the room watched them, confused as to what was playing out before them. All she could hear was the buzz of the ceiling fan and the pounding of her own heart. Time stood still and everyone held their breath. Somehow they knew this was a moment that should not be disrupted.
The smile on his face told her he was impressed with her performance. His hand were tucked in his pockets which she knew meant he was feeling just as nervous as she was.
“What are you doing here?” She finally whispered the question that had been burning at her lips since she had seen him. Still clutching the mic right in front of her mouth her question was made loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Watching my best friend sing, what does it look like?” His hinted smile blossomed into a full blown smirk. His voice was just as she remembered it. It was rich and ran down her spine the way warm honey slid down the back of her throat.
She hadn’t realized that tears were welling up in her eyes until one slipped down her cheek. She tried to force a smile. The mic moved away from her chest and she tried to stop the tears. She set it down next to the DJ and looked back up at him.
“I see you actually listened to me for once,” she said. The catch in her breath and the quiver in her voice betrayed her.
He cocked his head ever so slightly to the side, his smirk fell into a small frown. A silent question on his face. She almost rolled her eyes. Of course he wouldn’t know what she was talking about.
“Well, I don’t see any holes in you and you’re obviously not dead if you’re standing here in front of me,” she said. She seemed to have regained some control of herself because a smirk of her own was forming on her face. “I guess I’ll have to hold off on kicking your ass for now. You know, since you came back from war in one piece.”
He let out a breath he’d been holding and laughed. His laugh was rich and deep. She had always loved his laugh. He looked her up and down, his eyes twinkling with happiness. “What does a soldier have to do to get a hug around here?”
That was all it took. She launched herself at him from across the room. She flung her arms around his neck with a force that lifted her off the ground and almost knocked him over. She held him as tightly as she could. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her as close to him as he could. His breathing was heavy and she knew he was trying to contain his own emotions.
“God, I’ve missed you!” She whispered into his ear so that only he could hear her. She squeezed her eyes closed to keep from crying hysterically.
“I’ve missed you too, baby.” His voice broke slightly and her heart nearly burst. She rarely saw this uncontrolled side of him.
They held each other for a solid minute before they finally pulled away. He set her down on the ground, but kept his arms draped loosely around her waist. Her hands were playing with his hair. They smiled giddily at each other. Time started up again and everyone in the bar was whispering furiously as they watched the scene unfold in front of them.
He brought hands up and gently cupped her face. Her heart started thudding against her ribs and she was certain the whole room could hear it. He tilted her face up ever so slowly. Her eyes slid closed as his lips fell onto hers. The regulars, her friends, burst into cheers, but she hardly heard them.
It was the most gentle and passionate kiss she had ever experienced in her life. She was sure her heart would explode from the sheer intensity of it. When he pulled away she nearly whimpered from the loss of contact. He rested his forehead against hers, a lazy smile lifted one corner of his mouth up. “I love you. I have loved you all along…” he sang softly.
“And I forgive you for being away for far too long.” Her voice was so low that she hoped he had actually heard her. “Are you home for good now?” It was a question she was scared to know the answer to, but she remained hopeful.
He frowned slightly. “No, baby, I have to go back in 30 days.”
Her face fell. “Oh, I see. I guess I was hoping- it’s silly really. Never mind.” She knew she was babbling, but it was the only way to keep herself from crying. She looked down at her feet as her ears and cheeks burned with embarrassment. The crowd seemed to have lost interest in their reunion. Talking had resumed and the next singer had taken the stage. She was glad that no one seemed to be paying her any attention.
He put his finger under her chin and forced her to look up at him. “I have to go back. But I don’t want to go back without finally making you mine.”
Her smile burst from her like the sun’s rays coming through a cloud. “We’ve finally found the right time?”
He chuckled lightly. “I think we have.” He pressed his lips against her forehead and she sighed contentedly. It was finally time.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
no words
So, I'm sitting at my desk, having just finished my word count for the day (2183 for November 9) and I'm clicking around the internet, pretty much wasting time.
I am kind of hungry but am being too lazy to go downstairs in search of food. A part of me wants a cigarette, but it's cold outside and the alarm is probably already set. I can do without the cigarette right now. I will probably end up downstairs for food before too much longer.
I've got the TV on and I'm contemplating getting a head start on November 10's word count seeing as a second wind is headed my way.
Then I see Blogger under my favorites and I think: I want to update my blog.
Then I realize: I have no words.
I don't know what I want to write about! I'm not talking about my novel. I know where that's going, I think. I want to talk about my life, but I don't know what to say!
It's been a crazy, hectic week and I feel like I have been chaotically busy. Today is my first day off in a week and I couldn't be happier for it. I want to spend the rest of the day locked up in my room, writing and watching tv, and maybe even reading (gasp!). I am looking forward to a quiet, drama free day.
First on Sunday & Monday we had a special coupon available to our customers that kept work incredibly busy. Then we had some people from another store come in to help us get decorated for Christmas. Yup, that's right, Halloween is over so that means Christmas is in full swing in the retail world. As much hard work as it was, the store looks fantastic.
Luckily for us it has slowed down just a touch and it probably will stay that way for the next week or two. It will be a nice break.
Well, now that I'm finishing up this random, stream-of-consciousness style blog post, I think maybe I will just go to bed. It is late. And I am tired.
lindsayallison
I am kind of hungry but am being too lazy to go downstairs in search of food. A part of me wants a cigarette, but it's cold outside and the alarm is probably already set. I can do without the cigarette right now. I will probably end up downstairs for food before too much longer.
I've got the TV on and I'm contemplating getting a head start on November 10's word count seeing as a second wind is headed my way.
Then I see Blogger under my favorites and I think: I want to update my blog.
Then I realize: I have no words.
I don't know what I want to write about! I'm not talking about my novel. I know where that's going, I think. I want to talk about my life, but I don't know what to say!
It's been a crazy, hectic week and I feel like I have been chaotically busy. Today is my first day off in a week and I couldn't be happier for it. I want to spend the rest of the day locked up in my room, writing and watching tv, and maybe even reading (gasp!). I am looking forward to a quiet, drama free day.
First on Sunday & Monday we had a special coupon available to our customers that kept work incredibly busy. Then we had some people from another store come in to help us get decorated for Christmas. Yup, that's right, Halloween is over so that means Christmas is in full swing in the retail world. As much hard work as it was, the store looks fantastic.
Luckily for us it has slowed down just a touch and it probably will stay that way for the next week or two. It will be a nice break.
Well, now that I'm finishing up this random, stream-of-consciousness style blog post, I think maybe I will just go to bed. It is late. And I am tired.
lindsayallison
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Fly
**Please note: I did NOT come up with most of these lines. I took lines from songs on my current mixed CD and smushed them together in a weird poem/song/hybrid thingy. Some words were changed, some were taken away and some were added. Credits at the end.**
Fly
Get ready for it, I came to win.
I came to fly, fly away…
It’s been a long time since I came around,
But this time I’m not leaving without you.
I shouldn’t miss you, but I’d rather die –
You’re the only one who really knew me at all.
So I become alive in a time of pain and fear.
Spent my whole life looking for that somebody
Who knew where I kept my better side.
Yeah, you’ve got a piece of me.
And try as I may, I could never explain –
How we’re forever united here somehow.
And how wonderful life is, now you’re in the world.
So lying underneath those stormy skies,
You pulled on me like the moon pulls on the tide.
You said, “Sit back down where you belong.
“Lights will guide you home and I will try to fix you.”
Away I flew and dreamed of paradise.
Trying to forgive you for abandoning me.
The tears come streaming down my face.
I cried my eyes out for days upon days.
Drowning in a river of my own tears,
Every tear became a waterfall –
A broken promise and a broken heart.
Life goes on, could it be worse?
I hear the criticism loud and clear:
I am lost, I am vain.
I pray but I’m still an angel away.
It gets so heavy, this burden placed upon me.
And there’s nothing left here to remind me.
I can’t erase, so I’ll take the blame.
For what’s being said between your heart and mine.
Come the night, you’re only what I want.
Come the day you could be my confidant –
But I follow the night.
There’s a chance I could take:
I could follow the day.
When will I begin to live again?
I will never be the same…
I close my eyes and run away in my sleep.
I wished for so much, but if flew from my reach.
In the night, the stormy night
The Wheel breaks the butterfly.
Every time I close my eyes.
I’ll try my best, but even if I don’t succeed
I’ll know just what I’m worth.
But if I never try then I’ll never know.
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
And this could be paradise.
I can’t quit now, this can’t be right!
In the night, the stormy night
I know the sun must set to rise.
The troubles start coming and I start rising
And this is how I know that the time is near.
I am not one who can easily hide
For I represent an entire generation.
The time is now.
Take a look at me now,
For one day I’ll fly away.
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes.
I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive.
And I will win, thrive, soar higher and higher.
‘Cause I am not a word and I am not a line.
I am not a girl that could ever be defined.
Credits:
Fly by Nicki Minaj & Rihanna
Paradise & Fix You by Coldplay
One Day I'll Fly Away & Your Song from "Moulin Rouge"
You and I by Lady Gaga
When You Say Nothing At All, Baby Now That I've Found You, & Dimming of the Day by Alison Krauss
Without You by David Guetta & Usher
Against All Odds by Phil Collins
My Life Would Suck Without You by Kelly Clarkson
Fly
Get ready for it, I came to win.
I came to fly, fly away…
It’s been a long time since I came around,
But this time I’m not leaving without you.
I shouldn’t miss you, but I’d rather die –
You’re the only one who really knew me at all.
So I become alive in a time of pain and fear.
Spent my whole life looking for that somebody
Who knew where I kept my better side.
Yeah, you’ve got a piece of me.
And try as I may, I could never explain –
How we’re forever united here somehow.
And how wonderful life is, now you’re in the world.
So lying underneath those stormy skies,
You pulled on me like the moon pulls on the tide.
You said, “Sit back down where you belong.
“Lights will guide you home and I will try to fix you.”
Away I flew and dreamed of paradise.
Trying to forgive you for abandoning me.
The tears come streaming down my face.
I cried my eyes out for days upon days.
Drowning in a river of my own tears,
Every tear became a waterfall –
A broken promise and a broken heart.
Life goes on, could it be worse?
I hear the criticism loud and clear:
I am lost, I am vain.
I pray but I’m still an angel away.
It gets so heavy, this burden placed upon me.
And there’s nothing left here to remind me.
I can’t erase, so I’ll take the blame.
For what’s being said between your heart and mine.
Come the night, you’re only what I want.
Come the day you could be my confidant –
But I follow the night.
There’s a chance I could take:
I could follow the day.
When will I begin to live again?
I will never be the same…
I close my eyes and run away in my sleep.
I wished for so much, but if flew from my reach.
In the night, the stormy night
The Wheel breaks the butterfly.
Every time I close my eyes.
I’ll try my best, but even if I don’t succeed
I’ll know just what I’m worth.
But if I never try then I’ll never know.
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
And this could be paradise.
I can’t quit now, this can’t be right!
In the night, the stormy night
I know the sun must set to rise.
The troubles start coming and I start rising
And this is how I know that the time is near.
I am not one who can easily hide
For I represent an entire generation.
The time is now.
Take a look at me now,
For one day I’ll fly away.
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes.
I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive.
And I will win, thrive, soar higher and higher.
‘Cause I am not a word and I am not a line.
I am not a girl that could ever be defined.
Credits:
Fly by Nicki Minaj & Rihanna
Paradise & Fix You by Coldplay
One Day I'll Fly Away & Your Song from "Moulin Rouge"
You and I by Lady Gaga
When You Say Nothing At All, Baby Now That I've Found You, & Dimming of the Day by Alison Krauss
Without You by David Guetta & Usher
Against All Odds by Phil Collins
My Life Would Suck Without You by Kelly Clarkson
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
A Christmas to Remember: Prologue
Prologue
December 25, 2010
It was dark, cold and slick on the roads that night. There had been a mist like rain all day that seemed to keep everything damp and cold. Even though the snow had not yet started, the weather man from Richmond had been predicting all week that Virginia would indeed see a white Christmas. But that fancy Richmond man was being met with skepticism seeing as Christmas was almost over and not a speck of the white stuff had been seen all day.
For most in the Kings Mountain area, snow was not a highly anticipated event. Snow often meant being cut off entirely from the outside world, so it was a relief to the residents of Kings Mountain, Virginia, that snow had not shown up at all that day.
None of this mattered at all to Michelle King as she gripped the steering wheel tight with her left hand. Snow, or the lack of it, wasn’t even on her mind as she reached around the passenger seat for her purse. Once her hand brushed against the leather bag, she smiled and started reaching around in her purse in an attempt to find her pack of cigarettes. She frowned as her hand seemed to grasp everything but her cigarettes.
Michelle let out a frustrated sigh as she grabbed her purse and threw it in her lap. The car swerved slightly on the dark road as her attention was diverted to the bag. She lowered her eyes for a brief moment and she saw her pack of cigarettes lying on the bottom of her purse. Michelle smiled in satisfaction.
“’Bout damn time!” She said to no one. The car swerved again. She reached in her purse just as the blare from another car came screeching by her window. Michelle immediately put both hands on the steering wheel as she attempted to straighten out her car. Her eyes went wide and she gave a nervous giggle. Her grip tightened on the wheel for just a moment as she tried to breathe through the pounding of her heart.
She blinked her eyes rapidly and shook her head slightly trying to clear the buzz that surrounded her brain.
“I should not have had that last martini.” She once again said to no one. She gave a nervous little giggle at her statement. She shook her head again, and noticed that there were little white flakes dusting her windshield. Her face broke out into a huge smile. Michelle had always loved snow.
Remembering that she had originally wanted a cigarette, she looked down into her purse again. Seeing the pack, she reached her left hand in and grabbed it, flipped the lid open with her thumb and slid one out with her teeth. Throwing her cigarettes down in her purse and flinging her purse back into the passenger seat, Michelle stretched her hips out and started using her left hand to dig around in the pocket of her jeans to find her lighter.
The car started swerving again as she struggled to maintain control of the car while she dug through her pocket. Finally wrapping her fingers around the lighter, Michelle yanked it out of her pocket and brought it up in front of her face. She focused her eyes on the road, making sure that no one was directly in front of her before she turned her focus to the lighter that was in front of her face. She flicked the button and watched as the flame burst to life. She used her lips to push the cigarette towards the flame, inhaling deeply once the cigarette was directly over the flame.
Once she was satisfied that the cigarette was sufficiently lit, she let go of the button and the flame died out. She tossed the lighter into her purse and pushed down on the button that let the windows down. She reached up for the cigarette with her left hand; resting the cigarette between her fingers she blew the smoke out of the window. She shuddered slightly at the chill that took over the car through the open window.
Michelle took another drag of her cigarette, blowing smoke out of the window yet again. Feeling the chill, she started looking around her car for her jacket. She turned to check the passenger seat and then she craned her head, looking in the back seat via the rearview mirror. The car swerved again.
Michelle put both hands on the steering wheel, straightening the car out again. She rolled her eyes at her inability to do multiple things. She was normally much better at multitasking.
“Must be the alcohol.”
The silent response was deafening. “And there I go talking to myself again.” Michelle rolled her eyes. “I’m such a fuckin’ nut job.”
She took another drag from her cigarette and relished in the warmth the smoke gave her as it invaded her lungs. She blew the smoke out, enjoying the taste in her mouth. She smiled and her eyes drifted closed, the rush of nicotine mixed with the buzz of the alcohol she had been drinking all afternoon and all night gave her head a pleasantly fuzzy feeling. She sighed as her head nodded forward, her senses starting to fade out.
The car swerved again. The blaring horn from the oncoming driver wrenched Michelle from her dozing and her eyes went wide with terror. She flung both of her arms out to grasp the steering wheel, dropping the cigarette on the floor of the car as she did so. The lights were bright, blinding her as she attempted to correct her car. Her only instincts were to jerk the car away from the oncoming lights as hard and as quickly as she could.
Michelle turned the wheel all the way to the right, jerking the car across the road. The speed of the car and the sudden jerk caused her car to lose its balance. Michelle screamed at the top of her lungs as her car flipped over the guardrail that edged the road. Her car was plunged into darkness as it rolled down the hill, throwing Michelle around like a rag doll in a washing machine.
The world was spinning in front of her eyes as leaves, rocks, and trees rushed passed her in a kaleidoscope of terror.
Dear God, help me. Was the last thing Michelle thought before the entire world went black.
Jason Parker was sitting in his living room, drinking a cold beer and watching some crappy Christmas movie when the phone rang. He frowned and looked at the clock. It was 11:00 p.m.
“Who the hell is calling this late at night?” Jason asked aloud, not caring that his company was in the other room and couldn’t answer him.
He reached for the phone and picked up. “Hello?” He asked lazily. He took a quiet sip of his beer.
“Parker, you’d better get your ass up of your couch and down to the station.” The gruff voice on the other end of the line said bluntly.
“Fuller?” Jason asked. “What the hell is going on?”
“There’s been an accident. You need to come quick.” Robert Fuller said. There was a tension in his voice that Jason had never heard before.
“Fuller.” Jason said, sitting up straight. He placed his beer on the coffee table, his whole body was on full alert. “There is something you’re not telling me. What the hell is going on?”
There was a moment of silence. “There’s been a car accident down the mountain a ways.” Fuller said, his voice was quiet. Quieter than Jason had ever heard it. “Car flipped over the rail and rolled down the hillside.”
Jason’s jaw clenched. “Tell me who.”
There was another moment of silence. “Jason, it looks like Michelle’s car.”
“Damn it!” Jason yelled out as he flung himself back into the couch. “When? Where is she? How is she? Damn it, tell me, Fuller!”
“Jason, I don’t have any other information! I just got the call myself. They think it’s Michelle’s car.” Fuller said. “Just come down to the site. You need to be here.”
“I’ll be there soon.” Jason said as he hung up the phone. He rested his elbows on his knees, cradling his head in his hands for a brief moment. “Damn it.” He muttered under his breath.
Jason stood up and reached for his boots. “That woman really knows how to be the center of attention, no matter what the situation is.” Jason said to himself. He was going have some severe words for her when he saw her again. “I’ll be she got into a little fender bender after too many martinis.”
“Ma!” He called out to his mother in the next room. “I just got a call, I gotta head out for a bit. I’ll be late, so don’t wait up for me.”
Jason rolled his eyes. So much for my quiet night.
Robert Fuller stood at the top of the hill, bathed in the flashing blue lights of his squad car. His face was set in a deep frown as he looked at the scene that lay before him at the bottom of the hill. The car was easily recognizable. Not many people in this area drove a BMW, especially not one with a custom paint job in cherry red.
Flashing yellow lights caught Fuller’s attention and he saw the wrecker heading towards him. He nodded towards the driver as he got out of the truck.
“What’s goin’ on, deputy?” The driver asked as he gave a suppressed cough. He breathed in hard. It was obvious his nose was stopped up. He struggled to quiet his breathing.
“Bad accident, looks like it’s Michelle King’s car down there. It’s pretty recognizable.” Fuller said, a slight hint of sadness in his voice.
The driver gasped audibly. “Nah, shit. Ya serious?” He asked. The disbelief was evident in his voice and on his face.
Fuller nodded and didn’t say another word. He looked around sadly as the flashing red lights of a fire truck and an ambulance came to a rapid stop right next to his cruiser. A couple of paramedics jumped out of the ambulance as a fireman stepped down from his truck. They crowded around the mangled guardrail as the paramedics slowly made their way down to the overturned car.
Fuller held his breath as he watched them. He prayed for the first time in forty five years for a miracle. He prayed that what he knew was down there was really what was down there. He squeezed his eyes shut, preparing himself mentally as best he could for what he knew was about to happen.
The sirens of the emergency vehicles faded from his head as focused on his prayer. He opened his eyes and looked down at the paramedics who had made it to the edge of the car. One of them looked up at him with sad eyes and shook his head slowly.
“Fuck.” Fuller hissed. This was bad. This was very, very bad.
He heard a car drive up behind him and come to a stop. Fuller took a deep breath and tried to calm the nerves that had suddenly jumped started his heart. Fuller turned around to look at Jason Parker as he got out of his car, slamming the door.
“What the hell did she do now?” Jason asked, obviously annoyed. Fuller felt a tightness in his chest. Parker was going to regret those words.
“Jason.” Fuller said quietly. Jason sensed the tension and heard the edge his voice. It stopped him dead in his tracks.
“Fuller?” He questioned softly. “Where is she? Where is Michelle?”
Fuller didn’t have to turn around to see that the paramedics were bringing Michelle back up the hill. He watched Jason’s eyes go wide with fear and then shock as she watched the covered stretcher move towards the ambulance. He noticed the change in Jason’s demeanor almost immediately.
Fuller saw the subtle body movements in Jason and he stepped in front of the younger man as he lunged towards the paramedics.
“Jason!” Fuller said harshly. “Stop it! Stop!”
“Where is she?” He cried out. “Where the hell is she?”
Fuller was a tough man who had seen more than his share of pain and sadness in the world. He had somewhat grown accustom to that aspect of life, but watching Jason Parker lose it this way was something he never thought he would have to see. Jason pushed against him, trying to get past him. Desperation and fear were radiating off of him so strongly Fuller could practically feel it enveloping him as well.
“Jason, there’s no use.” Fuller said softly. He tried to speak quietly and softly in an attempt comfort the man who was now weeping right in front of him.
Jason shook his head as his body started trembling. “No.” He whispered, his voice cracking. “No.” The pain in his voice was tangible.
“Jason, there’s no use. I’m so sorry.” Fuller repeated himself. “Michelle King is dead.”
December 25, 2010
It was dark, cold and slick on the roads that night. There had been a mist like rain all day that seemed to keep everything damp and cold. Even though the snow had not yet started, the weather man from Richmond had been predicting all week that Virginia would indeed see a white Christmas. But that fancy Richmond man was being met with skepticism seeing as Christmas was almost over and not a speck of the white stuff had been seen all day.
For most in the Kings Mountain area, snow was not a highly anticipated event. Snow often meant being cut off entirely from the outside world, so it was a relief to the residents of Kings Mountain, Virginia, that snow had not shown up at all that day.
None of this mattered at all to Michelle King as she gripped the steering wheel tight with her left hand. Snow, or the lack of it, wasn’t even on her mind as she reached around the passenger seat for her purse. Once her hand brushed against the leather bag, she smiled and started reaching around in her purse in an attempt to find her pack of cigarettes. She frowned as her hand seemed to grasp everything but her cigarettes.
Michelle let out a frustrated sigh as she grabbed her purse and threw it in her lap. The car swerved slightly on the dark road as her attention was diverted to the bag. She lowered her eyes for a brief moment and she saw her pack of cigarettes lying on the bottom of her purse. Michelle smiled in satisfaction.
“’Bout damn time!” She said to no one. The car swerved again. She reached in her purse just as the blare from another car came screeching by her window. Michelle immediately put both hands on the steering wheel as she attempted to straighten out her car. Her eyes went wide and she gave a nervous giggle. Her grip tightened on the wheel for just a moment as she tried to breathe through the pounding of her heart.
She blinked her eyes rapidly and shook her head slightly trying to clear the buzz that surrounded her brain.
“I should not have had that last martini.” She once again said to no one. She gave a nervous little giggle at her statement. She shook her head again, and noticed that there were little white flakes dusting her windshield. Her face broke out into a huge smile. Michelle had always loved snow.
Remembering that she had originally wanted a cigarette, she looked down into her purse again. Seeing the pack, she reached her left hand in and grabbed it, flipped the lid open with her thumb and slid one out with her teeth. Throwing her cigarettes down in her purse and flinging her purse back into the passenger seat, Michelle stretched her hips out and started using her left hand to dig around in the pocket of her jeans to find her lighter.
The car started swerving again as she struggled to maintain control of the car while she dug through her pocket. Finally wrapping her fingers around the lighter, Michelle yanked it out of her pocket and brought it up in front of her face. She focused her eyes on the road, making sure that no one was directly in front of her before she turned her focus to the lighter that was in front of her face. She flicked the button and watched as the flame burst to life. She used her lips to push the cigarette towards the flame, inhaling deeply once the cigarette was directly over the flame.
Once she was satisfied that the cigarette was sufficiently lit, she let go of the button and the flame died out. She tossed the lighter into her purse and pushed down on the button that let the windows down. She reached up for the cigarette with her left hand; resting the cigarette between her fingers she blew the smoke out of the window. She shuddered slightly at the chill that took over the car through the open window.
Michelle took another drag of her cigarette, blowing smoke out of the window yet again. Feeling the chill, she started looking around her car for her jacket. She turned to check the passenger seat and then she craned her head, looking in the back seat via the rearview mirror. The car swerved again.
Michelle put both hands on the steering wheel, straightening the car out again. She rolled her eyes at her inability to do multiple things. She was normally much better at multitasking.
“Must be the alcohol.”
The silent response was deafening. “And there I go talking to myself again.” Michelle rolled her eyes. “I’m such a fuckin’ nut job.”
She took another drag from her cigarette and relished in the warmth the smoke gave her as it invaded her lungs. She blew the smoke out, enjoying the taste in her mouth. She smiled and her eyes drifted closed, the rush of nicotine mixed with the buzz of the alcohol she had been drinking all afternoon and all night gave her head a pleasantly fuzzy feeling. She sighed as her head nodded forward, her senses starting to fade out.
The car swerved again. The blaring horn from the oncoming driver wrenched Michelle from her dozing and her eyes went wide with terror. She flung both of her arms out to grasp the steering wheel, dropping the cigarette on the floor of the car as she did so. The lights were bright, blinding her as she attempted to correct her car. Her only instincts were to jerk the car away from the oncoming lights as hard and as quickly as she could.
Michelle turned the wheel all the way to the right, jerking the car across the road. The speed of the car and the sudden jerk caused her car to lose its balance. Michelle screamed at the top of her lungs as her car flipped over the guardrail that edged the road. Her car was plunged into darkness as it rolled down the hill, throwing Michelle around like a rag doll in a washing machine.
The world was spinning in front of her eyes as leaves, rocks, and trees rushed passed her in a kaleidoscope of terror.
Dear God, help me. Was the last thing Michelle thought before the entire world went black.
Jason Parker was sitting in his living room, drinking a cold beer and watching some crappy Christmas movie when the phone rang. He frowned and looked at the clock. It was 11:00 p.m.
“Who the hell is calling this late at night?” Jason asked aloud, not caring that his company was in the other room and couldn’t answer him.
He reached for the phone and picked up. “Hello?” He asked lazily. He took a quiet sip of his beer.
“Parker, you’d better get your ass up of your couch and down to the station.” The gruff voice on the other end of the line said bluntly.
“Fuller?” Jason asked. “What the hell is going on?”
“There’s been an accident. You need to come quick.” Robert Fuller said. There was a tension in his voice that Jason had never heard before.
“Fuller.” Jason said, sitting up straight. He placed his beer on the coffee table, his whole body was on full alert. “There is something you’re not telling me. What the hell is going on?”
There was a moment of silence. “There’s been a car accident down the mountain a ways.” Fuller said, his voice was quiet. Quieter than Jason had ever heard it. “Car flipped over the rail and rolled down the hillside.”
Jason’s jaw clenched. “Tell me who.”
There was another moment of silence. “Jason, it looks like Michelle’s car.”
“Damn it!” Jason yelled out as he flung himself back into the couch. “When? Where is she? How is she? Damn it, tell me, Fuller!”
“Jason, I don’t have any other information! I just got the call myself. They think it’s Michelle’s car.” Fuller said. “Just come down to the site. You need to be here.”
“I’ll be there soon.” Jason said as he hung up the phone. He rested his elbows on his knees, cradling his head in his hands for a brief moment. “Damn it.” He muttered under his breath.
Jason stood up and reached for his boots. “That woman really knows how to be the center of attention, no matter what the situation is.” Jason said to himself. He was going have some severe words for her when he saw her again. “I’ll be she got into a little fender bender after too many martinis.”
“Ma!” He called out to his mother in the next room. “I just got a call, I gotta head out for a bit. I’ll be late, so don’t wait up for me.”
Jason rolled his eyes. So much for my quiet night.
Robert Fuller stood at the top of the hill, bathed in the flashing blue lights of his squad car. His face was set in a deep frown as he looked at the scene that lay before him at the bottom of the hill. The car was easily recognizable. Not many people in this area drove a BMW, especially not one with a custom paint job in cherry red.
Flashing yellow lights caught Fuller’s attention and he saw the wrecker heading towards him. He nodded towards the driver as he got out of the truck.
“What’s goin’ on, deputy?” The driver asked as he gave a suppressed cough. He breathed in hard. It was obvious his nose was stopped up. He struggled to quiet his breathing.
“Bad accident, looks like it’s Michelle King’s car down there. It’s pretty recognizable.” Fuller said, a slight hint of sadness in his voice.
The driver gasped audibly. “Nah, shit. Ya serious?” He asked. The disbelief was evident in his voice and on his face.
Fuller nodded and didn’t say another word. He looked around sadly as the flashing red lights of a fire truck and an ambulance came to a rapid stop right next to his cruiser. A couple of paramedics jumped out of the ambulance as a fireman stepped down from his truck. They crowded around the mangled guardrail as the paramedics slowly made their way down to the overturned car.
Fuller held his breath as he watched them. He prayed for the first time in forty five years for a miracle. He prayed that what he knew was down there was really what was down there. He squeezed his eyes shut, preparing himself mentally as best he could for what he knew was about to happen.
The sirens of the emergency vehicles faded from his head as focused on his prayer. He opened his eyes and looked down at the paramedics who had made it to the edge of the car. One of them looked up at him with sad eyes and shook his head slowly.
“Fuck.” Fuller hissed. This was bad. This was very, very bad.
He heard a car drive up behind him and come to a stop. Fuller took a deep breath and tried to calm the nerves that had suddenly jumped started his heart. Fuller turned around to look at Jason Parker as he got out of his car, slamming the door.
“What the hell did she do now?” Jason asked, obviously annoyed. Fuller felt a tightness in his chest. Parker was going to regret those words.
“Jason.” Fuller said quietly. Jason sensed the tension and heard the edge his voice. It stopped him dead in his tracks.
“Fuller?” He questioned softly. “Where is she? Where is Michelle?”
Fuller didn’t have to turn around to see that the paramedics were bringing Michelle back up the hill. He watched Jason’s eyes go wide with fear and then shock as she watched the covered stretcher move towards the ambulance. He noticed the change in Jason’s demeanor almost immediately.
Fuller saw the subtle body movements in Jason and he stepped in front of the younger man as he lunged towards the paramedics.
“Jason!” Fuller said harshly. “Stop it! Stop!”
“Where is she?” He cried out. “Where the hell is she?”
Fuller was a tough man who had seen more than his share of pain and sadness in the world. He had somewhat grown accustom to that aspect of life, but watching Jason Parker lose it this way was something he never thought he would have to see. Jason pushed against him, trying to get past him. Desperation and fear were radiating off of him so strongly Fuller could practically feel it enveloping him as well.
“Jason, there’s no use.” Fuller said softly. He tried to speak quietly and softly in an attempt comfort the man who was now weeping right in front of him.
Jason shook his head as his body started trembling. “No.” He whispered, his voice cracking. “No.” The pain in his voice was tangible.
“Jason, there’s no use. I’m so sorry.” Fuller repeated himself. “Michelle King is dead.”
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
soulmate
It has been said that humans used to be both male and female. They had two heads, two hearts, four arms and four legs. The gods became angry with this creature and they separated them into two halves. Thus humans were destined to spend their existence walking the Earth, searching for their other half.
I've heard this myth twice in recent weeks from two different sources. And because of that, I've been thinking about it A LOT lately. And talking about it. I'm lucky to have friends in my life who are willing to listen to my crazy topics of conversation. I have one friend in particular, who has only recently become a close friend, and he has opened my eyes to a new perspective on the topic.
Up until recently, I was certain of what I wanted out of life. I was certain I had found it, I just needed to convince fate that it was meant to be. But it turns out, I think there is something much better out there for me! Not to say that the people I have loved are not good enough, oh no, far from it. I think that the people who have been in my life up to now are irreplacable and I couldn't imagine not having them around. I am just beginning to wonder if perhaps I'm still in the middle of the search, not at the end like I thought.
I've always wanted a love like my grandparents had. The story, as it has been told to me, goes like this: Grandpa was stationed in California where he met Grandma. He liked her a lot, thought she was beautiful and he loved walking her home from church every Sunday. Grandma was playing the field. She liked Grandpa, but was ok with other men walking her home. Grandpa was NOT ok with this. Well, Grandpa got moved. He and Grandma started writing letters and she realized just how much she missed him. He asked her to marry him and she said yes. Grandma and Grandpa got married and he was immediately off again, seeing as he was in the US Airforce.
Grandma and Grandpa were passionately in love for the next 63 years, until the day he died.
I want something like that. I want my other half, someone that I will spend the next 60+ years falling in love with each and every day. I mean, who doesn't want that? Doesn't that sound ridiculously cool?
My friend, who I mentioned earlier, has told me that there is no better feeling than to love and be loved in return.
So, that's what I want. I want someone who will not only put up with my crazy, but cherish it as well. I don't want to have to convince someone that being together would be great, I want him to know it too.
I want to know on the first date that he was "the One". I want him to look at me and think the same thing. Conceivably, I want the type of crazy connection that could lead to an elope-ment with 24 hours. (Ok, not that I would necessarily do that, but I'm leaving my options open.)
Do you get my point?
I want someone who is just as crazy as I am. I want someone who will help me with what I want to do with my life. I need someone who is going to challenge me and compliment me.
Now...where to find him?
lindsayallison
I've heard this myth twice in recent weeks from two different sources. And because of that, I've been thinking about it A LOT lately. And talking about it. I'm lucky to have friends in my life who are willing to listen to my crazy topics of conversation. I have one friend in particular, who has only recently become a close friend, and he has opened my eyes to a new perspective on the topic.
Up until recently, I was certain of what I wanted out of life. I was certain I had found it, I just needed to convince fate that it was meant to be. But it turns out, I think there is something much better out there for me! Not to say that the people I have loved are not good enough, oh no, far from it. I think that the people who have been in my life up to now are irreplacable and I couldn't imagine not having them around. I am just beginning to wonder if perhaps I'm still in the middle of the search, not at the end like I thought.
I've always wanted a love like my grandparents had. The story, as it has been told to me, goes like this: Grandpa was stationed in California where he met Grandma. He liked her a lot, thought she was beautiful and he loved walking her home from church every Sunday. Grandma was playing the field. She liked Grandpa, but was ok with other men walking her home. Grandpa was NOT ok with this. Well, Grandpa got moved. He and Grandma started writing letters and she realized just how much she missed him. He asked her to marry him and she said yes. Grandma and Grandpa got married and he was immediately off again, seeing as he was in the US Airforce.
Grandma and Grandpa were passionately in love for the next 63 years, until the day he died.
I want something like that. I want my other half, someone that I will spend the next 60+ years falling in love with each and every day. I mean, who doesn't want that? Doesn't that sound ridiculously cool?
My friend, who I mentioned earlier, has told me that there is no better feeling than to love and be loved in return.
So, that's what I want. I want someone who will not only put up with my crazy, but cherish it as well. I don't want to have to convince someone that being together would be great, I want him to know it too.
I want to know on the first date that he was "the One". I want him to look at me and think the same thing. Conceivably, I want the type of crazy connection that could lead to an elope-ment with 24 hours. (Ok, not that I would necessarily do that, but I'm leaving my options open.)
Do you get my point?
I want someone who is just as crazy as I am. I want someone who will help me with what I want to do with my life. I need someone who is going to challenge me and compliment me.
Now...where to find him?
lindsayallison
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
updates!
Well, the Insanity thing didn't last. Mainly because I got terrible shin splints and had to stop the program completely. I decided not to be completely stupid and try it again (while it is called Insanity, I am not insane enough to try it again expecting not to get splints again). I've been off any kind of exercise since then.
But today I have cleared out a space in my room to bring my exercise bike in. I'm really excited. I love my bike and I am excited to finally have a place in my room for it.
In other news, NaNoWriMo is starting up in less than two weeks. It's been great chatting with the writing buddies I made last year (my first year) while we all figure out what we're going to attempt to write this November.
For those of you who don't know, November is National Novel Writing Month. It's a challenge (affectionately known as NaNoWriMo) to write 50,000 words in 30 days. I did my first NaNo last year and won! I finished the challenge! It was crazy and fun and I can't wait for November to start up again so that I can do it all over! (Please see sidebar for my new novel.)
Lovin' my job still. I have a great set of coworkers and I work for a great company. Nothin' more to say about that.
Well, it's time for me to be off again...I need to do some more planning for my novel.
lindsayallison
But today I have cleared out a space in my room to bring my exercise bike in. I'm really excited. I love my bike and I am excited to finally have a place in my room for it.
In other news, NaNoWriMo is starting up in less than two weeks. It's been great chatting with the writing buddies I made last year (my first year) while we all figure out what we're going to attempt to write this November.
For those of you who don't know, November is National Novel Writing Month. It's a challenge (affectionately known as NaNoWriMo) to write 50,000 words in 30 days. I did my first NaNo last year and won! I finished the challenge! It was crazy and fun and I can't wait for November to start up again so that I can do it all over! (Please see sidebar for my new novel.)
Lovin' my job still. I have a great set of coworkers and I work for a great company. Nothin' more to say about that.
Well, it's time for me to be off again...I need to do some more planning for my novel.
lindsayallison
Friday, August 12, 2011
insanity
Ah, Insanity.
60 days of hating life to come out on the other side a much more attractive person.
So far, so good. The first couple of days brought about a bit of fatigue but not a lot of soreness.
Oh the sorness hit me yesterday morning. It hurt. A lot.
But today is MUCH better. It also helps that today is my first day off in 9 days. That's right, I worked 9 days in a row straight. It actually wasn't that bad. I didn't get really tired until the last two days and that was only towards the end of my shift.
I really shouldn't complain. I'm the one who decided to start Insanity in the middle of a 9 day stretch, lol.
Life's been so good lately. Work has been great, and busy. I have been keeping busy with friends, work, and my own personal projects. It's SO good to be busy. I collapse into bed each night exhausted, but it's the good kind of exhausted. It's the kind of exhausted you get from having a full and wonderful life.
And today, on my day off, I'm going to drink more coffee, relax and work on a few projects.
lindsayallison
60 days of hating life to come out on the other side a much more attractive person.
So far, so good. The first couple of days brought about a bit of fatigue but not a lot of soreness.
Oh the sorness hit me yesterday morning. It hurt. A lot.
But today is MUCH better. It also helps that today is my first day off in 9 days. That's right, I worked 9 days in a row straight. It actually wasn't that bad. I didn't get really tired until the last two days and that was only towards the end of my shift.
I really shouldn't complain. I'm the one who decided to start Insanity in the middle of a 9 day stretch, lol.
Life's been so good lately. Work has been great, and busy. I have been keeping busy with friends, work, and my own personal projects. It's SO good to be busy. I collapse into bed each night exhausted, but it's the good kind of exhausted. It's the kind of exhausted you get from having a full and wonderful life.
And today, on my day off, I'm going to drink more coffee, relax and work on a few projects.
lindsayallison
Thursday, July 14, 2011
the puppers
A little over four years ago, when B was still working security at the mall, a very unfortunate event occured. During the course of one of his shifts, B and one of his fellow officers, Celeste, found a very beautiful, fully grown female boxer tied up outside. She had been abandoned.
It was a hot day in late spring and B and Celeste did not want to leave her outside, but they could not keep her at the mall. B gave Celeste permission to take the dog back to her place and then return back to work. B was unable to have pets at his apartment and so they decided that Celeste would care for the dog until they found the proper owner.
They spoke with their superiors and did all that was required to find the owners. No one ever showed up.
Celeste named her Tyra. A few weeks later, Tyra turned up pregnant.
B and I had already been thinking that we wanted to get a puppy. The apartment we were living in didn't allow pets but we knew that we were going to be moving right around the time the puppies would be born. A couple of months later, we had six adorable puppies.
B went to see the puppies right away, the very day they were born. I unfortunately had to work and so I went a few days later. B said he chose our puppy because when all the other puppies were awake and squirming around, ours was quiet and asleep. When the others were asleep, he was off exploring and making noise. He was the odd ball, the runt. So B chose him.
We had discussed names, but I had told B he could name the puppy as long as it wasn't too outrageous. We were originally set on Tiberius, but once we saw the puppy we knew that that wouldn't do. B picked out the name, "Hal" after the super hero, Hal Jordan aka Green Lantern.
Six weeks later, we brought Hal home. He was so small, we could put him on the bed and cover him with a washcloth. He was so nervous that he stuck close by B for most of the night. I remember that night we had put him in his bed and B said he had to stay there to get used to it. But once we turned off the lights, Hal started crying because he was so nervous. I couldn't let him cry all night and be scared and alone! So I pulled him into the bed with us as soon as B fell asleep.
Hal has been spoiled rotten ever since.
It has been a fantastic four years since the puppy came into our lives. He is a welcome force of chaos and mischief and I wouldn't have him any other way. Today is his 4th birthday and I am on my way to spend the day with him.
I have the best puppy in the world!
lindsayallison
Hal Jordan Mehaffey, July 14, 2007
Saturday, June 18, 2011
enthusiasm
I still feel so excited about the opportunities that have presented themselves in front of me. Even if nothing comes of this management thing, I still have this very strong feeling that things are about to change for me in a very big way. I think and feel like everything that I now know I want is really going to come together for me.
Things at the store are great. I'm still having a blast working there and I can see that it's going to continue to be so much fun. Some days I wish that things would slow down just a touch, but at the same time I know that this is job security. Although, I kinda wish people would stop telling me that. Questions/comments I'm asked/told EVERY single day:
Are you always this busy?
How have you guys been doing?
How long have you been open?
I'm so glad you're here!
Yeah, it's busy but it's job security!
I bet this is a fun place to work.
Are you hiring?
I hope this brings downtown back.
Do you know what else is opening around here?
And the list goes on. Most of the time I'm happy to answer the question for the 80,000th time but every once in awhile it gets a bit tedious. So let me set the record straight:
"The new Mast General Store in Columbia is fantastic. It IS a fun place to work, and you'd have to ask management about applying. We have been busy since day one and while it has slowed down some, we are still constantly busy. Things are going well, I don't see us leaving in the foreseeable future. Yes, other places are opening up, but I do not have any further details than that."
With that out of the way, I'm still really excited. And because a very good friend gave me some great advice, I have not been detracted from going after what I want. Yay!
lindsayallison
Things at the store are great. I'm still having a blast working there and I can see that it's going to continue to be so much fun. Some days I wish that things would slow down just a touch, but at the same time I know that this is job security. Although, I kinda wish people would stop telling me that. Questions/comments I'm asked/told EVERY single day:
Are you always this busy?
How have you guys been doing?
How long have you been open?
I'm so glad you're here!
Yeah, it's busy but it's job security!
I bet this is a fun place to work.
Are you hiring?
I hope this brings downtown back.
Do you know what else is opening around here?
And the list goes on. Most of the time I'm happy to answer the question for the 80,000th time but every once in awhile it gets a bit tedious. So let me set the record straight:
"The new Mast General Store in Columbia is fantastic. It IS a fun place to work, and you'd have to ask management about applying. We have been busy since day one and while it has slowed down some, we are still constantly busy. Things are going well, I don't see us leaving in the foreseeable future. Yes, other places are opening up, but I do not have any further details than that."
With that out of the way, I'm still really excited. And because a very good friend gave me some great advice, I have not been detracted from going after what I want. Yay!
lindsayallison
Thursday, June 16, 2011
coming together
Have you ever felt like things started coming together all at once?
First, I got this amazing job working at Mast General Store. I have excellent pay, great coworkers, and even better: I get to have FUN at work! The company provided great training for the great products they sell. I have felt so much happier and so less stressed the past couple of months.
So the less stress at work has caused me to have the mental capacity to do some soul searching. I was able to clear my mind of so much negative energy and I was able to come up with a goal for my life.
I started writing again. Still gonna keep the current project under wraps because I don't know where it's gonna lead to. But the writing is really helping to keep me cathartic. I'm loving it.
Then two days ago happened. I had the day off, but apparently one of the managers resigned. Why she did, I don't know. But now I have this huge opportunity right in front of me. I could apply for and possibly get a management position.
This feels so...right for me. I feel like my body is humming so much with excitement and positive energy that I feel like my hands and feet are almost vibrating. It's a good feeling.
I just pray that this all isn't in my head. How could so many good, right-feeling things come together at once if it wasn't meant to be?
lindsayallison
First, I got this amazing job working at Mast General Store. I have excellent pay, great coworkers, and even better: I get to have FUN at work! The company provided great training for the great products they sell. I have felt so much happier and so less stressed the past couple of months.
So the less stress at work has caused me to have the mental capacity to do some soul searching. I was able to clear my mind of so much negative energy and I was able to come up with a goal for my life.
I started writing again. Still gonna keep the current project under wraps because I don't know where it's gonna lead to. But the writing is really helping to keep me cathartic. I'm loving it.
Then two days ago happened. I had the day off, but apparently one of the managers resigned. Why she did, I don't know. But now I have this huge opportunity right in front of me. I could apply for and possibly get a management position.
This feels so...right for me. I feel like my body is humming so much with excitement and positive energy that I feel like my hands and feet are almost vibrating. It's a good feeling.
I just pray that this all isn't in my head. How could so many good, right-feeling things come together at once if it wasn't meant to be?
lindsayallison
Thursday, June 9, 2011
overwhelmed
I find myself stressing out over things that have not even happened yet.
My biggest goal at the moment is to purchase my own home. I have been a renter before and I find that it is a waste of money. Why spend so much each month on a place to live when at the end of the lease you have nothing to show for it? Why not put that money towards a mortgage? Granted it takes a while, but eventually the residence becomes yours.
Step one of the goal: Save up some money while paying down debt.
Step one is well under way. What I'm stressing about now is if I'll have the money to afford a house. I keep thinking that yes, I have so much money each month that I could put towards a mortgage. And I think, yes, I can afford to have a house!
But then I think, what about the power bill? And the water bill? And the internet bill? And all of those things that I'll need to have to be in a house. Yes, I could get a roommate, but something inside of me wants so desperately to have MY house and be on my own.
Then I get discouraged.
And then I think: Why am I getting discouraged already? Shouldn't I just trust that if it's meant to be and if I work hard and smart towards my goal that it will happen?
If I think about it, it's going to take time to save up the money that I'll need for inspections and closing costs. During that time, I could pay off one of my student loans. That right there will free up $60 a month. That could be half an electric bill. Or it could be a water bill or an internet bill.
I am not giving up. I want my house. I need my house. I am 24 years old and I think I'm a little old to be dependent on others. I want to be self sufficient. I think I can do this.
Then I think: You know what would help supplement your income? Writing a book. And getting it published.
Yeah, I think I'll do that.
lindsayallison
My biggest goal at the moment is to purchase my own home. I have been a renter before and I find that it is a waste of money. Why spend so much each month on a place to live when at the end of the lease you have nothing to show for it? Why not put that money towards a mortgage? Granted it takes a while, but eventually the residence becomes yours.
Step one of the goal: Save up some money while paying down debt.
Step one is well under way. What I'm stressing about now is if I'll have the money to afford a house. I keep thinking that yes, I have so much money each month that I could put towards a mortgage. And I think, yes, I can afford to have a house!
But then I think, what about the power bill? And the water bill? And the internet bill? And all of those things that I'll need to have to be in a house. Yes, I could get a roommate, but something inside of me wants so desperately to have MY house and be on my own.
Then I get discouraged.
And then I think: Why am I getting discouraged already? Shouldn't I just trust that if it's meant to be and if I work hard and smart towards my goal that it will happen?
If I think about it, it's going to take time to save up the money that I'll need for inspections and closing costs. During that time, I could pay off one of my student loans. That right there will free up $60 a month. That could be half an electric bill. Or it could be a water bill or an internet bill.
I am not giving up. I want my house. I need my house. I am 24 years old and I think I'm a little old to be dependent on others. I want to be self sufficient. I think I can do this.
Then I think: You know what would help supplement your income? Writing a book. And getting it published.
Yeah, I think I'll do that.
lindsayallison
Saturday, May 21, 2011
you are here
For the past couple of years, I have really struggled with the feeling of being lost and directionless. I have thought about and talked about what I might want to do with my life. I have searched for meaning and I have wondered what (if anything) I had already accomplished in my short life.
Well, dear friends, in this past week I have finally figured out what it is I want to do with my life. It kinda hit me like a frisbee to the face or a 2 x 4 to the knees. For the time being, there are some things I would rather keep to myself seeing as I don't have all the kinks worked out yet. I've decided that I don't want to create a very specified plan on how to accomplish my goals, because I feel like that has been my downfall in the past. I try to plan too much and then when things don't go exactly right I start to feel like I've failed. I've finally realized that you can't plan out life down to every detail because things happen that you don't plan on.
Anyways, I'm feeling pretty confident about the goals I have in mind. I've already started taking steps to accomplish them.
I can tell you that my biggest goal right now is to buy a house. I have already started working towards this goal by being more careful with my finances and paying down my debt. I'm really excited to start putting some money away. I have a new coworker who sells real estate who is really excited to help me start this process.
She's been great because she understands that I'm new to this process and she wants to make sure I get something I love, something I can afford, and she wants to make sure I do this the right way. She loves working with buyers because she loves getting excited with them as they start looking for a new home.
I really want to pay down my debt. I am 24 years old now. I want to be completely debt free by the time I'm 26. I have less than $12,000 in student loans left and that is the ONLY debt that I have. I do not have a credit card and I never have. I plan to never have a credit card in my name. I have adopted the philosophy that if I need a credit card to purchase something, I can't afford it and therefore don't need it. The only debt I plan to have at age 26 is a mortgage.
So that's my big news. And all I have to say at the moment. :)
lindsayallison
Well, dear friends, in this past week I have finally figured out what it is I want to do with my life. It kinda hit me like a frisbee to the face or a 2 x 4 to the knees. For the time being, there are some things I would rather keep to myself seeing as I don't have all the kinks worked out yet. I've decided that I don't want to create a very specified plan on how to accomplish my goals, because I feel like that has been my downfall in the past. I try to plan too much and then when things don't go exactly right I start to feel like I've failed. I've finally realized that you can't plan out life down to every detail because things happen that you don't plan on.
Anyways, I'm feeling pretty confident about the goals I have in mind. I've already started taking steps to accomplish them.
I can tell you that my biggest goal right now is to buy a house. I have already started working towards this goal by being more careful with my finances and paying down my debt. I'm really excited to start putting some money away. I have a new coworker who sells real estate who is really excited to help me start this process.
She's been great because she understands that I'm new to this process and she wants to make sure I get something I love, something I can afford, and she wants to make sure I do this the right way. She loves working with buyers because she loves getting excited with them as they start looking for a new home.
I really want to pay down my debt. I am 24 years old now. I want to be completely debt free by the time I'm 26. I have less than $12,000 in student loans left and that is the ONLY debt that I have. I do not have a credit card and I never have. I plan to never have a credit card in my name. I have adopted the philosophy that if I need a credit card to purchase something, I can't afford it and therefore don't need it. The only debt I plan to have at age 26 is a mortgage.
So that's my big news. And all I have to say at the moment. :)
lindsayallison
Thursday, May 19, 2011
the end is near
Ah, the end is coming!
No, no, no, I'm not talking about the end of the world. I'm talking about the end of all the long hours and hard work we've been putting in at the store to get ready for the opening next week!
I can hardly believe that tomorrow is our LAST day of fixing things up and cleaning before we start bringing "outsiders" into the store next week!
On Monday, we have other businesses in the area coming to tour the store. After that, we have the media coming in to tour the store and take pictures and all that. After all of that, we have a few hours to get ourselves all prettied up before our families get to come in for family night! It's going to be so exciting because so much of the support staff will be there! And our families will get to see all of the hard work we've been doing for almost two months! Plus we get to be the first ones to shop the store and that's gonna be so awesome!
Tuesday we get the day off. There is a big gala that night for big wigs from the city get to come and look around. The managers are going to work that one so us regular kids get the night off.
Then wednesday morning is the big day! Ribbon cutting will happen first thing in the morning and then we are OPEN FOR BUSINESS!!
So all in all, I guess the hard work is really just beginning!
lindsayallison
No, no, no, I'm not talking about the end of the world. I'm talking about the end of all the long hours and hard work we've been putting in at the store to get ready for the opening next week!
I can hardly believe that tomorrow is our LAST day of fixing things up and cleaning before we start bringing "outsiders" into the store next week!
On Monday, we have other businesses in the area coming to tour the store. After that, we have the media coming in to tour the store and take pictures and all that. After all of that, we have a few hours to get ourselves all prettied up before our families get to come in for family night! It's going to be so exciting because so much of the support staff will be there! And our families will get to see all of the hard work we've been doing for almost two months! Plus we get to be the first ones to shop the store and that's gonna be so awesome!
Tuesday we get the day off. There is a big gala that night for big wigs from the city get to come and look around. The managers are going to work that one so us regular kids get the night off.
Then wednesday morning is the big day! Ribbon cutting will happen first thing in the morning and then we are OPEN FOR BUSINESS!!
So all in all, I guess the hard work is really just beginning!
lindsayallison
Sunday, April 24, 2011
leadership
I haven't written in this for quite some time. I just haven't had much to say lately because while I've been keeping busy, it's pretty much the same old, same old.
We've been working really hard in the store and this week, the product starts coming in! I'm so excited because this is where I will be especially helpful. I'm really good at merchandising and setting up displays. It's going to be so pretty once we're all done.
It's been a pretty awesome experience for me so far. Last tuesday I decided that I was sick of working in the downstairs, so I told all of my coworkers that we had to finish up the downstairs that day because I refused to work down there on wednesday. Well, the goal was accepted as a challenge by myself and everyone else who worked that day. And we accomplished the goal! We were all so excited to finish up the downstairs.
Because of my success in the downstairs on tuesday, when we got into the store on wednesday, everyone turned to me for direction on what to do in the upstairs. I was stunned, but I rose to the occasion and took charge of the work that day. It did not go unnoticed. One of my managers thanked me for taking charge and being the leader that day.
The next day, I was ready to get back into the hard work and finish this stuff up. Twenty minutes in, a higher up (similar to a district manager) came and said he wanted to reassign me. He had me help out an employee from another store who was setting up our antiques. That was pretty neat, being able to help decorate the store. I was a little concerned that I had been pulled from the harder work because it was unsatisfactory. I talked to my manager and it turns out that, nope, it was not because my work was unsatisfactory. It was because I have an opinion and I'm not afraid to voice it. Which is seen as a very good thing.
I'm so excited that I have been able to set myself apart from the others and step out as a leader in my store. I always strive for the best and it makes me happy that within a month I have already started showing myself as a strong personality and an effective leader.
In other news, Melissa and I are having another sale on saturday at the flea market. I think I'll be lucky to break a hundred bucks out of this, but whatever I make will be more than what I had before.
lindsayallison
We've been working really hard in the store and this week, the product starts coming in! I'm so excited because this is where I will be especially helpful. I'm really good at merchandising and setting up displays. It's going to be so pretty once we're all done.
It's been a pretty awesome experience for me so far. Last tuesday I decided that I was sick of working in the downstairs, so I told all of my coworkers that we had to finish up the downstairs that day because I refused to work down there on wednesday. Well, the goal was accepted as a challenge by myself and everyone else who worked that day. And we accomplished the goal! We were all so excited to finish up the downstairs.
Because of my success in the downstairs on tuesday, when we got into the store on wednesday, everyone turned to me for direction on what to do in the upstairs. I was stunned, but I rose to the occasion and took charge of the work that day. It did not go unnoticed. One of my managers thanked me for taking charge and being the leader that day.
The next day, I was ready to get back into the hard work and finish this stuff up. Twenty minutes in, a higher up (similar to a district manager) came and said he wanted to reassign me. He had me help out an employee from another store who was setting up our antiques. That was pretty neat, being able to help decorate the store. I was a little concerned that I had been pulled from the harder work because it was unsatisfactory. I talked to my manager and it turns out that, nope, it was not because my work was unsatisfactory. It was because I have an opinion and I'm not afraid to voice it. Which is seen as a very good thing.
I'm so excited that I have been able to set myself apart from the others and step out as a leader in my store. I always strive for the best and it makes me happy that within a month I have already started showing myself as a strong personality and an effective leader.
In other news, Melissa and I are having another sale on saturday at the flea market. I think I'll be lucky to break a hundred bucks out of this, but whatever I make will be more than what I had before.
lindsayallison
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
workin' hard
I have been so busy the past few days! My new job is totally awesome! It's been pretty interesting being on the construction site where the store will be. Things are really coming together and we're hoping that the bottom floor will be ready very soon for us to put the finishing touches on fixtures and what not. The top floor still has quite a ways to go.
I got my first battle injury today! We were sliding two by fours down a chute we have and the girl sliding them down lost control of one just as I was turning around to grab the next board. I wasn't expecting it and so it slid right into my left knee and rebounded on my right one. I have a technicolor bruise the size of a half dollar (maybe even bigger!) on my left knee. It's all kinds of blue and purple, lol! But I don't mind. It only hurts if I put pressure directly on the spot.
I'm also very actively working towards trying to unload some of my things. My very good friend, Melissa, had a great idea. Sell the crap you don't need and start actively paying down your debt! She went through her things and found a bunch of stuff she wasn't using. Then she talked to her friends who donated items for her to sell so she could keep the profit to pay off some bills. She actually did very well at the sale.
So many people wanted to donate so much stuff that we're going to have another sale at the end of the month and this time, I will have some stuff at the sale too. I want to make a few extra dollars, but more importantly I feel like it's time to lighten the load.
I am holding on to so much stuff and most of it is just trinkets from the past ten or fifteen years that really don't mean anything. Sure, there are items that have sentimental value, but most of what I have is just crap.
My next big goal is to buy a house. I'm very excited about this idea. I really don't want to rent again because I feel like it's a waste of money. Anyways, when I finally get to the point where I can buy a house, I want to be able to start over. I want to have only the possessions that mean something to me and then I want to rebuild a home from the ground up.
The best way to do that is to throw away, sell, or donate the things I'm not using or are just plain garbage. This plan is really killing two birds with one stone because before I can buy a house, I want to be 100% debt free. And with this sale, that will give me a boost to getting there!
I'm really excited about this new direction I have. I've been drifting for so long and now I have a goal, a plan, and a hell of a lot of motivation to get there!
lindsayallison
Monday, April 4, 2011
back to work!
I am so excited about my new job! Orientation was on Friday, April 1, and I was just stunned by the information I learned about my new company.
They are 100% dedicated to employee and customer happiness and to giving back to the community. They are green in every possible way they can be green. This company is not about the bottom line, it's about the people. I wish more companies understood that to make the bottom line, you can't worry about the bottom line. You have to make your employees and customers happy and that will take care of your bottom line.
Panama City was fantastic. I had a glorious time! It was so nice to have five whole days with absolutely nothing to do! Unfortunately it was raining most of the time so I didn't get much beach time. But I had a fabulous time anyway.
Not much else to report. Just excited to go to work tomorrow.
lindsayallison
Friday, March 25, 2011
panama city
Tomorrow is my last day at Staples. After that I have five whole days off and I am headed to Panama City to see my bestie, Felicia for a few days. I can not wait to get out of here and not have to worry about a thing for a few days.
I am super excited about starting my new job, but I realized today that there are some people that I really am going to miss at Staples. It's been kinda rough saying goodbye to everyone, but everyone has been super sweet to me and some have even said some really nice things to me.
Today I got to meet my Dad's new girlfriend. She was super nice and sweet. My Dad seems to be really happy these days and that makes me happy.
Gah, I'm super sleepy now. It's bed time for me!
lindsayallison
I am super excited about starting my new job, but I realized today that there are some people that I really am going to miss at Staples. It's been kinda rough saying goodbye to everyone, but everyone has been super sweet to me and some have even said some really nice things to me.
Today I got to meet my Dad's new girlfriend. She was super nice and sweet. My Dad seems to be really happy these days and that makes me happy.
Gah, I'm super sleepy now. It's bed time for me!
lindsayallison
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