It's starting to feel like summer

My boss found out I am computer literate today and put me in charge of the facebook page and wants me to create a website for her bakery. Cool! I love being paid for being on the computer. My job is cool so far. Lots of wrapping baked goods and the occasional helping out in the kitchen when i'm needed. It's a long drive, but i'm getting better at driving Zach's car and not stalling too much... only once. i hate hills a lot.

In general, i've been doing a lot of cooking and baking. Zach and I usually end up cooking dinner for us and his dad on most nights. I guess I'm getting good at it :-)

I think most of the 4th of July celebrations are happening on the 3rd in Montpelier, and Zach is on call that night so I'm not sure what we're doing yet. But i love any of these ideas.

I'm excited to get my paycheck and head back to the chiropractor and then do some shopping in Burlington. I don't remember the last time I went shopping in a real mall. The mall that's 20 minutes away is just sad. I miss Texas shopping malls. I guess some things really are bigger in Texas.

I got an email recently from my first roommate (at Interlochen) who got married two months ago. Weirrrrd. (She's Mormon). It's so crazy that people my age (or anywhere near my age, for that matter) are getting married.

I'm trying to figure out travel arrangements for the end of the summer, because it looks like I want to be home sooner than Zach should leave. I'm aiming to be home (somehow miraculously...maybe by learning to apparate) on August 25th.

That's all for now, I dont think much else is new. I made curtains for our room, i'll post pictures later maybe.

Listen to the music of the moment

I'm working at the Magic Spoon Bakery in Hardwick, VT. Perfect timing, because once SMU cashes my check, i'll have a grand total of $4 in my bank account. Today was my first day, and I didn't really do anything except wrap and label cookies. And stir something on the stove once. It's about a 50 minute commute and I'm only getting $8.50 an hour, but I think it might be under-the-table, and I believe it's only 2-3 days a week. I'm still waiting to hear back from McDonalds, JC Penney, Maurices, Bath and Body Works, Hallmark, Rue21, Claires, RadioShack, and Capitol Grounds (coffee shop). I'm pretty sure McDonalds is going to call me this week, and maybe then I can work both jobs!

Zach and I watched Shrek 3 yesterday,because we realized Shrek 4 is in theaters now, and neither of us had seen the third. Speaking of which, I don't believe I've seen Toy Story 2, so Zach and I are trying to find that so we can go see the third one.

I'm also watching Sex and the City, season 2 that Liz bought me. I'm probably a little more than half way through the season, because I only watch it when Zach isn't around and there isn't any cleaning to do.

Hmm, that's everything that's going on here. Kathy & Kristen need to update their blogs more!

Vroom Vroom

I was never really interested in cars until recently. At SMU, every kid in Highland Park owned a BMW or a Mercedes, several mini coopers and Nissan 350zs. Even one kid had a 2010 Bugatti Veyron. The price average must be around $50,000, with many cars exceeding that price. After much "shopping" and looking around, there are 7 cars that I find cute and consider "reasonable dream cars" complete with pictures and everything! These are in order from lowest price to highest (no car exceeding roughly $32,000).

1. 2003 Ford Mustang

I love the look of the fourth generation Mustangs (1994-2004), and 2002-2003 is a good compromise. Ideally, I like the convertible, but I do like the looks of both. This year of Mustang averages around $8,000, but because it's a used vehicle, the price is flexible depending on mileage/condition. The gas mileage (city/highway) is 17/25 for an automatic and 17/27 for a manual, so not fabulous. But the car is so damn cute!

The next vehicles are all listed as 2009 and therefore have a heftier price tag, but I'm not opposed to getting an older model than listed.* (Does the fine print asterisk come before or after the period?)

2. 2009 Honda Civic 2-door Coupe

$15,000

Automatic: 25/36 mpg

Good gas mileage, and very cute in the two door. I especially love the blue!

3. 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse

Both images show the 2007, which would be cheaper.

$20,000

Automatic: 19/26

4. 2009 Nissan Altima 2.5S Coupe

(Pictured is a 2010)

$22,000

Automatic: 23/31

5. 2009 Ford F150

(I don't believe this is a 2009 pictured).

$22,000

Automatic: 14/19

Because who doesn't like the idea of a girl driving a truck? It's so fun! Except parking it. :-/ And buying gas for it. I love the blue, definitely. Though it gets horrible gas mileage.

6. 2009 Volkswagen GTI, 2-door

$24,000

Automatic: 22/29

7. 2009 Volkswagen Eos Convertible

Automatic: $32,000 Manual: $31,000

Automatic: 22/29 Manual: 21/31

I don't think all of the cars hold a particular ranking, but I know the Volkswagen GTI and Eos are definitely the top choices, followed quickly by the Mustang.

Conclusion: I cannot afford a car right now and spend too much time looking at them. The End.

:-)

*Except the Honda Civic. The older models aren't nearly as cute.

The overpriced and underqualified armchair

The job hunt continues! I'm still looking for a job, still taking clutch lessons, but today I went out with Tim and drove around without stalling (which is seemingly difficult with all of the hills in Vermont). So I am crossing off #40 on my Day Zero Project list of learning to drive stick. Yay!

Yesterday, Zach and I went into Burlington to go to the chiropractor. I'd never been before but Zach insisted that I needed it, because my back and neck are always very stiff (yay being a musician and using too many back muscles). I'm glad he convinced me because I feel a ton better now.

Apparently I owe SMU $18.18 because some kid thought it would be funny to cut the chair in the lobby, and because nobody came forward, our entire floor was held responsible. Which is dumb because someone from another building could have done the damage. And because it's SMU, it of course costs $600 to repair two small cuts in an armchair. Our floor representative suggested the idea that you could buy a similar looking chair from ikea for only $300, or that the cuts could be simply repaired for next to nothing. But obviously the building director did not find this idea pleasing because the lobby chairs are "special chairs that are less flammable and more safe/sturdy" and also way more uncomfortable than any ikea chair. Hmm. Irritating.

I dyed my hair the other day, too. It's still blonde, but slightly less red and my roots match now. Yay!

I'm going to make a list of dream cars, coming soon. :-)

The big truck and the time I almost didn't get lost

I'm in Vermont!

So far, I've been doing a lot of job hunting, unpacking and cleaning. Wednesday, I helped Tim build a wall, yesterday he taught me how to drive the truck (ford f250 shown beside), and today I'm starting clutch lessons. (And I believe next week is the tractor?)

Today, I drove into Barre to apply for jobs. It's only my third day in Vermont and I took the truck out there (maybe 10-15 minutes away) and made it without getting lost! On the way back, I took a different route and got a little lost though. I kept driving for a couple minutes, then decided to call Tim, considering the truck gets a whopping 8 miles per gallon, I didn't think it was the best idea to keep driving around when I wasn't sure where I was. However, it turned out I wasn't too far away from where I needed to be! I only missed the turn by a half mile. Yay :)

So far, I've applied for a job at Radio Shack, an ice cream parlor, and McDonalds. I plan on applying at Jo Anns and JC Penney soon, too.

Vermont is really pretty. and really hilly. At some point, Zach and I are going to test drive some cars. Definitely a GTI and maybe a stratus. I'm sure some others, too. I'll make a dream car list soon.

Also, I've crossed off a number of Day Zero goals, like organizing someone's stuff, having a pillow fight, taking a vacation to somewhere i've never been (Vermont), and driving a long distance alone.