Change is good, sales are even better

Barack Obama is to be our next President. He is giving his first speech as President Elect as I am typing this.

I am proud of him. I wanted him to win. I believe in him. This is the first election that I have felt this way about any candidate. I hope he is up to the challenge in taking on this job.

Barack's kids are getting a new puppy! Woo Hoo!

Earlier today I went shopping for a pair of Naturalizer shoes. I had preselected them last week, and had to wait until today to purchase them, because my credit card cycle begins today. I was a little concerned that they might not be there in my size, but not only were they still there, but there was a "Senior Sale" I had to ask at what age do they consider someone to be a senior. Happily, the lady behind the cash register said age 55, so I told her I was 56. Then she asked to see my driver's license. Woo Hoo. I don't look my age.

Anyway, I got 15 percent off, so I saved $7.50. That was a nice reward for waiting to buy my shoes. The only problem is, I want to go back tomorrow to see if there is anything else at the Bonton I would like to buy on the Senior Sale. The sale is on for today and tomorrow only.

I took my DD to vote for the very first time. She and I are both elated because Barack Obama won. Yayyyy!

Get out and vote!

I don't care which party you vote for, just be sure and vote. It will be DD's first vote, and she is excited.

I think Obama did a good 30 minute ad last night. He's ready for the POTUS position, IMHO.

Meanwhile, DH says he is voting secret ballot, so he won't tell us who he is voting for. Tee hee - I know it's Obama.

New Speakers

I just received new speakers for my laptop. I'm excited, as now I have better quality and louder sound. Now I can listen to some great tunes, and movies. Yay!

Beautiful Fall

Love the music and the scenery.

Started a Facebook account

I wanted to find a way to stay in touch with my sister who doesn't have a phone. I guess I will be writing her and my brother letters instead, giving them my information. We really need to talk about that will.

In the meantime, I have good days and bad days. Yesterday I tried exercising on the rowing machine. It took me 15 minutes to figure out how to get down on it. I have pain in my knees and this was not easy, though I think my knee pain diminished afterward, so I will use it again today.

DD has a cold, so she didn't go to her morning class, and we haven't gotten her learner's permit. I guess that can wait until Monday, because tomorrow is going to be busy. DH and I are going to the DC Temple, and having lunch at the Hong Kong restaurant down in Kensington. I enjoy Chinese food, but I really wish they served it with brown rice. I wonder if there is a place that does that? Maybe in California, but probably not in MD.

I usually order something with shrimp in it. I think the Hong Kong has better food than most of the Frederick restaurants.

I still have a store trip to make to buy orange juice, chicken noodle soup, and english muffins. DD had a fever of 102 last night, so that's when I knew she was really ill. I just hope I don't catch it.

DD and I had lunch with our friend Stephanie on Wednesday. It was a little hard to pin down a restaurant as our tastes are different. We finally decided on Boston Market. The lunch was $5 specials, and I had a coupon for DD and I. I ordered the dark meat rotieserrie meal with mashed potatoes, and corn bread, no drink. I brought filtered water from home in my stainless steel cup. I left it out in the car though. DD had the chicken salad sandwich with mashed potatoes, and a drink. Stephanie had the rotiserrie chicken sandwich with a side of yams, and a drink. We had a nice little talk.

I think the next time we go, sometime next month, it will be at Wendy's maybe. I can enjoy a Mandarin chicken salad. Their dressing has changed and doesn't have high fructose corn syrup in it.

I really don't believe those advertisements for hfcs. They've really got to be kidding.

The Chocolate Pearl

Well, I have this ring that I bought a while ago. I purchased it from the internet, and it was an estate (read used) piece. It was 2 4mm pearls in a gold setting with 2 small diamonds. I hardly ever wore it because it was kind of boring.

Then one day I remembered the day and night pearl ring I used to have as a teenager. A BF had bought it for me. It was a going steady ring. Do kids do that anymore? Anyway, I gave it back to him when he broke up with me. He didn't ask for it back, but I just thought it was the right thing to do.

I decided it would be nice to have a day and night pearl ring again, but they are either expensive or hard to find. I took that 2 pearl ring, and colored one of the pearls with a black magic marker. Of course it looked tacky. I then decided I wanted to remove one of the pearls so I could replace one with a black pearl. I tugged at one of the pearls, but it did not budge at first. Then, in the process of wearing the ring, one of the pearls fell off. Wahla! Now I could replace one of pearls with a black one.

I then decided to look for a small black pearl online. It would have to be about the same size and round, not one of the fresh water pearls.

I did find a place that sold black pearls, but in the process of choosing a pearl, I decided I really liked the look of the chocolate colored pearls, so I ordered one to glue onto the ring. I'm not a professional jewelry maker or anything, so I'm a little apprehensive about doing this.

I ordered the chocolate pearl, but forgot to inspect the ring first. It turns out that I need a half drilled pearl, but I had ordered it not drilled at all. This would not do, so days after I had placed my order, I emailed them. My email system informed me the mail was undeliverable for some strange reason.

Much to my surprise, the company answered my email, telling me they would change the order. I am so excited. I can't wait to get my hands on my new pearl.

Community College

Today DD and I went to the Community College in our area for an orientation. We have already been through placement testing (last week), paid for tuition (over $700 for 2 courses), and bought books (218 total, 155 was for an elementary math book).

It was interesting to see the staff as they informed us of what to expect. The college president is a nice lady, who has a good presence. I need to be more like that. Lately I've been lacking some self-esteem. Anyway, the presentation was valuable.

Now, here's the thing. I want to apply for a position there at the college - one that seems to be right up my alley, but I have to convince them of that. The last 2 jobs I applied for told me I did not have any "secretarial experience", even though my days as an accounting technician was mosting typing reports, answering phones, filing and such. I disagreed, but decided not to call them on it. It just felt like I wasn't supposed to get that job.

This job is in the registration and transcript department. I would be doing lots of data entry, helping people register, and so on. It is a full time job, though, and I've been wanting just a part time position of 20 hours a week. I don't know if I can hack it, and take care of my house.

Anyway, getting a job there would mean DD's tuition is absolutely free. I would love that part, but I'm her ride to school, so she would have to possibly take a bus to or from school on some days. It would not hurt her to do this. She has a class on Monday night, and one on Friday morning. The job is mostly days, but there is one night until 7 PM.

I'm a bit nervous just thinking about the interview. I haven't worked in 19 years, even though I've done some computer work for the church in the interim, and I've worked as an elections judge.

I really think a better job is out there. I would love a part time job in the library, working at the circulation desk. I've seen them posted, but the timing has not been right. Maybe I should just wait. Most of the library circulation desk jobs are 17 to 20 hours a week and that would be just fine, except for maybe having to work weekends.

We just want DD to get used to going to school, so no job for her yet. She may be able to apply for Christmas jobs in October, because there are numerous opportunities right here in our neighborhood for that kind of work.