Prospects, Pageants and Paychecks

I have been in the most amazing mood for about two weeks and I have no real explanation for it.

I'm thinking it may have something to do with the plethora of things I have to look forward to in the ensuing months. (Despite the fact that it includes a pretty hectic workload and quite a demanding schedule.)

To elaborate, I started my first real job today and I actually like it a lot. I really just happened upon it, and almost chose not to go to the open interview, but something told me I should. And even with just ten minutes left I put on my best, plodded through the rain and went inside with a positive attitude. Fortunately, I was hired on the spot and my excitement thereafter was overflowing. (Nothing happens before its time right?)

In fact, I was so excited that when I walked outside to find that I had left my headlights on and killed the car battery I barely had a reaction. I was still partially celebrating but gradually transitioned into fix-it mode.

What happened was that it was a pretty gloomy and rainy day and I had an appointment elsewhere right when the open interviewing began. I carried my friend with me to the appointment and after leaving, with only a few minutes to spare, I let her know that I was going to an interview. In my usual fashion, I literally had only a few minutes to spare and rushed off without remembering I had my lights on to see through the rain.

Nevertheless, my friend stayed in the car; completely unaware that the headlights were on.

Hence, before I got to telling her my amazing news, she blurted out that the car would not start. It was still raining at the time and there were two cars parked beside me, (The one time I did not reverse into the parking spot. Go figure.) so I had to wait until later on that day when the parking lot cleared out a bit to get it up and running.

Thankfully, my cousin was able to come for me and take me home in the meanwhile.

As for school-related activities, I am taking Editing I this semester. So needless to say I will become even more of a freak after I am done with the class.

I am also taking Comm Law which I presume is gonna kick my ass be really demanding. I hope, though, that it will also be interesting because I don't want to die of boredom while failing a class. It's just too much "fail" for me to wrap my mind around.

And how could I ever forget Advanced Reporting. (Yeah. This is pretty much just an advanced version of the class I took last semester that I was fretting about, which by the way I ended up getting an 'A' in.) For this class we get to write for the Orlando Sentinel. (Yay!) It operates more like a newsroom than a class. No tests or book needed. Just reporting reporting and more reporting.

Fun stuff.

The last class I am taking is Info Graphics, which really is not as much about Bar Graphs and Flow charts as it sounds. (Last class I made Spongebob with Adobe Illustrator.) It is only once a week and it keeps me entertained. No book or test for this class either.

Imagine my excitement.

With all of that said, I figured now would be as good a semester as any to be more active on campus and, ultimately to get a job; so I'm going to shock some of you who know me well with this next piece of information...I signed up for a pageant.

I know. I'm too short to be in a pageant. But before you get your panties in a bunch, I just want to say that it is not a professional pageant or anything. It's just for the one organization on campus that I am a part of, CSA, and I figured it would be a good way to overcome my fear of crowds.

Hopefully I don't get cold feet.

Does it suffice to say I have a lot of good to look forward to? I certainly think so.

It may sound like a mouthful but I'm not complaining. I"ll just sit back and ride this wave until it crashes into the shore and flatlines.

I've Always Loved This

This one is for you Roch.

"The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it will increase your mediocrity. An important attribute in successful people is their impatience with negative thinking and negative acting people.

As you grow, your associates will change. Some of your friends will not want you to go on. They will want you to stay where they are. Friends that don't help you climb will want you to crawl. Your friends will stretch your vision or choke your dreams. Those that don't increase you will eventually decrease you.

Consider this.

Never receive counsel from unproductive people. Never discuss your problems with someone incapable of contributing to the solution, because those who never succeed themselves are always the first to tell you how. Not everyone has a right to speak into your life. You are certain to get the worst of the bargain when you exchange ideas with the wrong person. Don't follow anyone who is not going anywhere.

With some people you spend an evening, with others you invest it. Be careful where you go to enquire for directions along the road of life. Wise is the person who fortifies his life with the right friendships. If you run with wolves, you will howl; but if you associate with eagles, you will learn how to soar to great heights. " A mirror reflects a mans face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses." The simple but true fact of life is that you become like those with whom you closely associate - for the good and the bad.

Be not mistaken, that is applicable to family as well. Yes, do love, appreciate, and be thankful for your family, for they will always be your family no matter what. Just know that they are human first and though they are family to you, they may be a friend to someone else and will fit somewhere in the criteria above.

In prosperity our friends know us, in adversity we know our friends. Never make someone a priority when you are only an option for them. If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop a habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude."
- Colin Powell

It's About Time

My trip to Jamaica was nothing short of interesting--as usual.

Only in Jamaica can you go to KFC and be told there is no chicken. Seriously. Kentucky Fried Chicken with no chicken. (It really is as ridiculous as it sounds.)

Anyone who moved up here from Ja can tell you that one of the first things they want to eat when they go back is KFC. But nothing is more frustrating than coming off the airplane and heading straight there with the taste of the barbecue chicken already in your mouth only to be told there is none--which happens way too often.

What took the cake on this trip, though, was that every time we went something else was missing. There was no mashed potato, no corn, no breast pieces, no popcorn chicken, no wings... Still, it was beyond the point of frustration. Instead, we just laughed it off. (Even after we sat in the drive-thru for half an hour at a time and oftentimes left with nothing.)

Aside from the food situation, which was a large part of the trip of course, I decided beforehand that I needed to make a trip to Kingston. I felt like if I was going to talk about the place, I'd better at least have some experience under my belt. Granted, I have been to Kingston before but it was never anything to write down.

This time I made sure I stayed over night and went out and tried to get the full experience. (I was there from Sunday night to Thursday.) My conclusion is that the only thing better about Kingston is the night life--and that is only because it is something new and exciting. After a while if I lived there I'm not sure it would be as exciting.

On Monday night I went to Fiction. All was good until an incident made the night end on a semi-bad note. I admit that it is a good club and I did enjoy myself. I almost felt like I was in Miami, which for Jamaica is a really good thing. On Tuesday night I played Kalooki with some friends. (Haven't heard about that game in a while have you?) On Wednesday night I slept, and Thursday I left.

As for the daytime, there really is nothing to do. (Unless you're one of those super rich people who can just hop in your helicopter and fly up to Hollywell just because...well...you're rich; and you can do that.) For the normal people there's nothing to do but go to work I guess. No beach. No beach. And did I mention no beach?

I was having withdrawal--which is part of the reason I left ahead of time. (I was supposed to stay for a whole week, so that I spent New Year's Eve night there and partied with the Kingstonians.) No matter how cold the water was every time I went, I still went. I still swam and I still enjoyed myself.

I did manage to get to a beach the day before I left, though. More specifically it was a beach party on a little strip of sand they call Maiden Cay. The party was packed and there were boats everywhere. There was alcohol, beach, bikinis, and music. And it was all f r e e. (I can't forget the lady who walked around all day selling peppered shrimps. Delicious!) Needless to say, the party was awesome.

If there was anything about that trip that made me remotely interested in going back to town, it was the beach party. No surprise there.

I might just have to be regular.