Freaking out. GRE on Saturday. Not prepared. Holy shit. *stressouttothemax*

I’ve kinda resigned myself to the fact that I will be taking the GRE again, and I guess I’m kinda considering this one as “practice.” Though, I did take a fake GRE this afternoon and I didn’t do too badly… the math is killing me right now, but I’m gonna spend the next few days going over formulas and stuff. I hate standardized tests. I think my best bet is just to go to school out of the country, where they don’t require you to take the GRE. I’ve always wanted to leave the country for good. This might be my chance. (You hear that, Canada? Clear some space. I’m coming.)

Other than this GRE crap, not much is going on. Work, which is all kinds of awesome, has been going so well. I’m glad that I started when I did, because it gives me ample time to get comfortable with my duties so that when application season comes around, I should be a pro. I’m really quite happy there. As I’ve said numerous times before. (Sorry.)

ZOMG - Dumbledore is totes teh ghey. Who knew? o_O

Also, I have developed a slight obsession with Mr. David Ten-Inch Tennant. (The Scots get me every time.) He’s so amazingly adorkable. I just wanna ruffle his hair and give him a lollipop.

I vow to make a new layout post-GRE. This one’s feeling pretty drab at the mo’. Need a bit of color in here. Gonna work on that.

Friday was my very last day at the old job, and I celebrated the only way I know how - lots of vodka with my favorite co-workers and an impromtu cow-grilling session at Steven’s (yummy!). It was the most incredibly joyous feeling knowing that I would never have to go back to that shit-hole ever again. Seriously. I don’t know that I can eloquently express how amazing it is to be out of there… especially after hearing what’s going down at the moment. Seems that all hell has broken loose, and there is no end in sight to 56 hour weeks until well into next summer, at the earliest. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have escaped when I did… mostly because I’m positive that the last round of changes regarding the EB process would have sent me into a fit that would have likely resulted in me being arrested for aggravated assault, and subsequently, me being fired, as well.

My new job is amazing. The people are amazing. The work is amazing. The lack of stress is amazing. It’s so chill. Everyone is so cooperative, and they all care about each other. They’ve been so great at making me feel so welcome. I’m excited to be there. So, so excited. And I’m so much happier now than I have been in the last four years, for sure. It feels amazing. (I’ve know I’ve used that adjective about 50 times in the last few sentences, but there are no other words I can use to express how I feel. Overjoyed…  or elated, perhaps. Regardless, I am simply really very happy. Very, very, very happytimesinfinity.)

I feel like I’m making positive changes in my life right now, and everything seems to be falling into place. I cut back on smoking (soon, I hope to quit entirely), and I’m watching what I eat. Next week, I’ll start exercising again. And plan out a budget. I’m really gonna try to… I dunno… grow up, I suppose. Start taking responsibility for myself and my actions. I’m have until the end of the year to get myself sorted. Just gotta get into the routine again. Stop being so self-indulgent. Cut out the excess. Focus on myself.

I’m gonna go have some bubblegum ice cream. Just a little bit. A before-bed treat, and whatnot. *looks around innocently*

I’m blogging just for you, Abby. Because you’re totes special, and all.

So, the most excellentest, fantasticalest news ever - I HAVE A NEW JOB! Yes, I have finally found a way out of that hell-hole they call the guv’ment and will now be working at the University as an International Admissions Evaluator for the Graduate School. Sounds amazing, doesn’t it?! I know! If you can’t tell, I’m incredibly excited about it, and I start in two weeks. Two insanely long weeks. I didn’t realize how difficult it would be to go to work everyday knowing that you only have to be there another week and a few days until just yesterday, when I found myself fucking around for most of the day and accomplishing absolutely nothing. It’s really kinda awesome not having to work there anymore. No 56 hour weeks. No mandatory Saturdays. A normal schedule. And better pay. AMAZING.

Due to my recent good fortune, grad school will be on hold. At least for now. I’d really like to see if, perhaps, I have a future in this kinda work. I’ve delved back into academia, which I’ve always been magnetically drawn to, and I think that this might be my calling. If not, I still plan to take the GRE in October, so if in five years if I decide that this isn’t a good fit, I can always start the grad school process again. It’ll all work out in the end.

I’ve also been recruited as a Teacher’s Assistant for Mila’s Russian 101/102 class this year, which means I will be preparing quizzes, grading homework, and organizing projects for the Beginning Russian classes. It’s totally unpaid, but the experience is entirely worth it. I really enjoy working with Mila, and having input in what happens in the classroom makes me feel good. Plus, it’s a great refresher for me, having to basically study Russian 101 all over again. I’ll be far more prepared for grad school if I do decide to go back.

I really feel like I have direction and motivation for the first time in a long time. Things are going really well right now. About fucking time, really.

Soon, I must find the motivation (and time) to make a new layout. Maybe this weekend. Though probably not. I’ll be out drinking and celebrating, most likely. Priorities, and all.

Crys and I have successfully made it through another move - with bumps and bruises to prove it. Such battle scars come with lugging large pieces of furniture and hundreds of boxes up and down three flights of stairs, I guess. It feels nice to be out of our old place, though… bad vibes festering there, and such. This place is smaller, but not in an uncomfortable way. It’s just cozy. I loves it.

Now that that’s out of the way, I can finally re-focus all of my attention on the GRE. Apparently, however, I am choosing not to. Every night I find myself with a bit of free time, I’ll do something completely inane and boring in an attempt to keep myself from picking up that book and studying. I know that I need to do it. I don’t think it’s ever been so apparent, really. Upon returning to work on Monday after a mini-break last week, I realized that I need out of there. In fact, I specifically remember the phrase, “I cannot do this for the rest of my life,” going through my mind at one point. It was so depressing. I need to do something about this.

It’s times like this that I wish I wasn’t so fucking lazy. *le sigh*

Work is kicking my ass right now. 58 hour weeks for the rest of the summer. My wallet will be getting fatter, true - but what will happen to what’s left of my sanity?! Oh, the horror.

The Potter comes out in a month. I think I just peed a little. *keyboardsmashlikewoah*

Things have been hectic as of late. By the time I get home from work and get the essentials out of the way - eating dinner; checking email, livejournal, and Potter sites; winding down from the workday; etc. - I seem to have little time for anything else. Lately, that little time left has been spent organizing, minimizing, and packing up all the shit I’ve accumulated over the past eight years of my life, as Crys and I will be moving to a new (smaller) home at the end of the month. I’m excited for the change of scenery, but completely overwhelmed by the actual moving process. This, however, will be our last move until the “big move”, to wherever we end up going to grad school. And when that happens, I fully intend to sell everything I own and move halfway across the country with only a bag full of clothes and a wad of cash in my pocket.

Celebrated my 27th birthday last Friday, first with pizza and beer courtesy of Josh, then with lots of vodka and some random shots at the Hole with the rest of the crew. A fun time was had by all, and especially by me. Because I was all kinds of drunk, really.

I totally just realized that I’m getting way old. I’m in my late 20’s, yeah? Wow. I need to do something with my life. The GRE has been postponed until late July or August because of all of this moving crap, so I’ll have to start re-studying (does that make sense?) after we’re settled. Crys wil be taking it then, too, so she says we’ll study together. It’s nice that she’ll be there to kick me in the ass - because I know that I’ll need it. And more than once, most likely.

Today’s just one of those days. The kind where you’re just not feeling it. I have an entire list of shit that needs to get done, but I really just don’t want to do it. Instead, I’d like to camp out in front of the telly and watch Potter movies all night. With a pint of Ben & Jerry’s in my hand.

Maybe I’ll have ice cream for dinner.