Alice hates ...

Today marks the close of seven quite sucky days. In a row. A very hard week.


First off, Monday, where upon arrival to my class, my professor points out that I have more stories due than I can possibly turn in according to the syllabus. Meaning, she told me I either drop or she has to fail me.

Which sucked. So a terrible, no-good, very bad morning followed. Matt tried his best to cheer me up, and I made plans to meet up with Amanda that evening. I left class as early as I could, feeling like a failure. (which I am, but besides the point.) Since I was feeling very down on myself, I tried listening to high-energy music, but when I started crying during a Fall Out Boy Song (I'm like a lawyer, always trying to get you off (me & you)) I changed tactics and stuck my iPod on Radiohead songs.

Matt and Marcia tried to cheer me up at lunch, and when I got back to my desk feeling slightly better (and if I were to refer to the 'ol Quantify Alice's Mood Game, I'd give myself a 3 out of 10) my Prof., C., had emailed me. (subtract all three points I'd gained)

She said the best I could do is turn in at least one story a day, and she would accept them. But if I missed a day, including Saturday and Sunday, the deal was off and she'd fail me.

Matt and Marcia both encouraged me to try, so I did. And that's been me this week, trying to finish 11 stories, with at least one a day, by the end of class (this coming Wendesday). You know, plus being a bad-ass at work, too.

*Note: If you remember, I had made plans to see Amanda on Monday. I didn't follow through, and I suck for that. I had honestly forgotten all about her in the excitement/stress/sadness of the day, until I got her text at 9. I am a terrible person, since I know Amanda probably needs some good bonding time too. And I am a date-breaker.

In the course of this, Matt stepped up to keep me on track, which I absolutely appreciate. He, first off, helped me believe I could actually do this, which as of Monday morning, seemed impossible. (He seems to have unshakable faith in me, which I'm sure is misplaced.) Secondly, he helped me find story ideas and keep to the Game Plan. We even got lunch on Thursday at Unos, and spent most of it plotting on paper napkins, which I hung on my cubical at work:






So he played the role of editor all week, it was great. He set me deadlines, stricter than absolutely necessary, to make sure I get ahead. And, my punishment if I didn't finish a story I said I would, I didn't get to see him.

Here's a selection of his cheering me on:

Waffles: That first link is freaky
2:16 PM The second one is cute
Are you going to call/email Christia?
2:20 PM me: Yes, I'll email her.
2:21 PM Waffles: Please take her up on the offer.
She's really going out on a limb for you. People like that, you want to listen to/make happy.
2:22 PM me: Ick... I don't want her to go out on a limb for me. Or her to think I'm a failure.
Waffles: Then do as she says!!!
me: I WANT to ignore it and have it dissappear.
Waffles: NO!
me: ::poof::
2:23 PM Waffles: That's how you got in this problem to begin with
Rachael Quattrini
you better bust your ass for this woman
Do not chicken out of this.
me: You're very good at being my cheerleader, you know.
Waffles: I hope I am.
2:24 PM I am right. Trust me on this. You can do this.
You are more than capable of doing it.
And when you do it
and succeed
which you will do
I'll throw a big giant party at Piestewa Peak for you
With all your friends
2:25 PM me: lol
Is that bribery?
Okay, I can do this.
2:26 PM Waffles: It's not bribery
me: I have this story for Lori due, plus I have the AIMS story done that I can turn in.
So theres two by tomorrow
Waffles: Exactly
see!?
You can do this
me: And tonight I'll make a list of what I have left to do and figure out what to cover.
Waffles: You're a rock star.
You can do it.
me: I'll do a court case and two public meetings wednesday
since those are the pains
Waffles: Don't listen to Debbie Downer
me: LOL
Waffles: She's a bitch
and a whore
and a liar
A lying bitch whore
who's been sitting inside your mind for far too long
me: lol
2:27 PM Waffles: I'm fucking exterminating that rancid cunt
Burning her out with fucking flamethrower
that will conveniently only hurt her.
me: Good, cause that would be a flame thrower applied to my mind
Waffles: I know. That's why I had this flame thrower especially made
2:29 PM me: :D
Waffles: And let me know if you need me to do anything to help
and don't whine about not needing help
if it's the difference between not making it through this and making it
accept the help
Besides reporters ask me for things all the time
me: no help
2:30 PM I don't like help.
:D
2:31 PM Waffles: I know you don't like help. I'm not reporting or writing for you
but I can get you numbers
or do analysis for you
like I do for reporters all over this newsroom
For my uni payroll story I got all sorts of help from Anne.
2:32 PM me: Then I shall stay away from numbers!
:D
Waffles: :p
me: numbers = the devil anyway
2:33 PM Waffles: Spoken like a true reporter
2:35 PM Just know
you're going to be sick of me nagging you for the next three weeks
The rules are thus:
2:36 PM me: three weeks?
The class is over next week.
Waffles: oh
ok for the next week
:D
me: Yep, I don't even have three weeks.
Don't nag...
Waffles: Either way
I will
the rules are thus:
me: I don't want to have to cut you...
Waffles: You cannot hang out with me
unless you've finished your story for the day
me: OMG that made me gasp
2:37 PM You just squeazed the air out of me
lol
Waffles: So you know I'm serious.
Good.
Remember that
and get your stories done so I can see you
And no fricking lying
2:38 PM I would be absolutely apocolyptic if you lied to me so you could hang out with me.
me: ...
Waffles: You cannot imagine how mad I'd be.
2:40 PM me: oh dear.
Waffles: I'm dead serious though.
I'd be really really really mad.
So do your stories.
:D

And it especially doesn't help that my sweetie is also busy at work, being a data master (I is in ur public records, analyzin' ur payrollz'). I mean, he's been great, and it's a little fun having both of us being busy kicking ass, taking names. Feels like we're a team, out to conquer all.

But really it's just been a string of days where we both end up exhausted, feeling like a cheese grated has been working our souls into piles of lemon zest.


So, I've been doing that this week. One story a day, mostly. Tuesday, I did three and I think I did two another day this week. But as of right now, I'm rocking 8 stories completed.

Monday, my indepth story is due. And then all I'll have left is a politics story, which I'll do something short and sweet to have it all finished in time.


When I'm done, next week, (Monday, that's my self-deadline) I'm going to be so extra nice to Matt! I'll be like his secretary, bring him soda and neck massages every hour*. Pretty much July is going to suck for him, so I'll be as sweet as I can to help the month pass quickly and pleasantly as possible.

*Funny story: On day, in the break room getting lunch with Marcia, I ran into one of my most favorite reporters, who was getting soup with one of my least favorite reporters. Least favorite reporter knows about Matt and I, while my favorite did not. So, of course, my least favorite (who's nickname is F-er, btw) has to rat me out by teasing me. Cue terrible blushing and shyness, etc.

So, days later, Favorite reporter stops Matt on his way out to lunch, and proceeds to tell him how much she likes me and approves of him. The way he tells it, she says very nice things (smart as a whip, cute as a button) and that I deserve a great guy, but he'll do. (See? She's funny.)

*End Scene


So that's my plan for this week. Lemme outline it for you again.

This Week

1. Kick more ass, take more names
2. Have class work completed by Monday
3. Be extra nice to Matt this week
4. Speak at NIE conference Wednesday
5. Rock out at Snow Patrol concert Wednesday night
6. Make family time!
7. Catch up on social engagements (Amanda! Jenny!)
8. Have a game night?
9. Catch more Pokemon!
10. Find the store in Harvest Moon DS. Seriously, this is just sad. Girl needs some seeds!!!
11. Pay credit card bill, aw yeah
12. Whatever else that would make me, Matt, or my friends and family happy.
13. Sleep more.


Isn't that nice? I'm liking this already.

Oh, but for tonight!


Tonight!!

1. Speech story: Former rocker "Head" from the band Korn is speaking at Phoenix First Assembly about Jesus and his faith reformation. Go, write, turn in.
2. Laundry!
3. Cook dinner. Wait, I need to pick up feta cheese on the way home, since I want to try cooking what I had the other night at this greek restaurant. But with more olives. (I likes olives)
4. Clean, watch a movie, lay out clothes for tomorrow
5. Call Matt Darling
6. Catch me some Pokemon! (until I pass out)


That's it, that's all I've got. Other than my love and inspiring personal warmth to share with all*.

*Related story:

Rachel is a m'f'ing ice princess! She's frigid, and I mean temperature-wise! At the concert, during a snack break (that mess of a concert was FIVE hours long.) I got sleepy and started laying on Matt. Rachel came over, just to add to my snuggle-comfort, I'm sure, but she was cold as ice! So I took one hand, and stuck it under my shirt so she was grabbing my side, and held her other hand to keep it warm.
Because I am an inexhaustible source of heat. :D


Okay, done now. If you have any suggestions for my week, feel free to add on to my to -do list.


Closing with catz,
A