I have my phone back!

Working on my paper- everything is off, so if you need me, leave a message.

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Isn't she adorable?! This is Mairead or MayMay. :)

Confessions of a drug test-ee Part 4

I know I know, it took me FOREVER to get the conclusion up, but, if you watch my video, you'll see the anguish in my eyes as I make excuse after excuse. Anyway, here it is, (finally!) the conlusion to my mini-series, "Confessions of a Drug Test-ee!"


I was stuck. Mom couldn't be reached, Dad couldn't be reached, I was 3,000 miles away from home without my cell phone; or memory of my Aunt's phone number. Then, in the blink of an eye, my brightest lightbulb ever popped on. Of course! My "aunt," is not actually my biological aunt at all, instead, she's a very close family friend. SO, with that fact in mind, I used her as a reference on my applications, (as Liam's long-time babysitter.) Bingo! I have a very friendly boss at Top, so I asked for a phone book, found the store, asked for the manager and explained the situation. She laughed, and told me the number. I was saved! I found myself riding away in the gold minivan and happened to glance at the clock. It read 10:58, nearly 3 and a half hours after the whole ordeal began. :)

I sincerely hope that you've enjoyed this series... I enjoyed writing it, and, (once I was safe and sound at home) enjoyed recalling the event... Okay, I admit that took some time. :)

P.S. I had 38 messages on my phone when I got home that night at 7. :)

Off to babysit!

Vlog #2 (Be patient- it will take a little while to load!)

Oh yes, one more thing. I changed the settings on the blog to where anyone can comment on a post or picture, without having to register. Try it out! :) ~ M

Another busy day! I'll try to update tomorrow with the conclusion of my miniseries, Confessions of a drug test-ee and what all I did, aside from working on my constitutional law paper. :)

At Barnes and Noble... They're open late!!! :-D

Confessions of a drug test-ee Part 3

So I'm standing in the lobby, realizing that I'm 3,000 miles away from home, and the sole person who knows where I am, has a phone number that I don't remember. I get the sudden inspiration to call my mother! (Hi mom!) Here's how that conversation went.

Brrrrring! Brrrrrrrring!

Her: Hello?
Me: Um.. Is... Lynn there?
Her: Who??!
Me: *realizing that it was NOT my mother who answered the phone* I'm sorry, wrong number.
Her: Okay, bye...

I frantically hang up and look at the number. Indeed, it is correct. *Thinking* "Hm. Maybe I just hit wrong number. I'll try again!"

Brrrrrrring! Brrrrrrrrrrring!

Her: Hello?
Me: *Realizing that the same thing happened AGAIN* Oh, I'm sorry, wrong number. *I then go to hang up the phone*
Her: Wait Wait Wait, young lady! I got a wrong call JUST a minute ago. What number were you trying to reach? *I tell her the number* Oh well, that's not my number! Okay. Hmmmm. Maybe it's the phone company! I'll call them!
Me: I'm sorry, have a good day...
Her: Okay, you too.
Me: *Hang up*


I realize that I'm (once again) 3,000 miles away from home, and my "When in doubt, call mommy" plan just failed. AHH! Then the lightbulb above my head turns on again! DAD!

Brrrrrrrrring! Brrrrrrrrrrring!

We're sorry, but this call cannot be completed because the number your were trying to call has been disconnected. Please hang up and try again.

It's now 10:24. Calling mom has failed, calling dad has failed... How ever will I get home!?

Stay tuned for Part 4!

Confessions of a drug test-ee Part 2

Finally, 10:00 rolls around. By this time, the receptionist has told me his story about how a similar test took him 8 hours, and 21 other people have come and gone. All of the water I had eagerly consumed during my two and a half hour lobby lounge now came back to visit me, and I couldn't have been more ecstatic. Went in, and this time, the third time, (it IS a charm!) emerged victorious! Problem? My cell phone was left at home, in it the number of my Aunt, gloriously put on speed dial so that I wouldn't have to memorize it. Ha. Stay tuned for part 3!

Confessions of a drug test-ee Part 1

This post WILL be a little gross, so you may opt to skip it- I won't hold anything against you, but it IS going to be rather amusing... Your choice. So, as I wrote yesterday, I had a urine test today. If you know me, you know that drug tests aren't my thing. (And no, the "drug" part isn't my problem.) I woke up at 6:30am in order to be at the lab when it opened, pee in the cup and be on my way. 7:30- Can't go. 8:00- Can't go. 9:00- STILL can't go! Aunt Cindi had to leave, but told me to call her when I was done. BELIEVE ME I tried everything. Splits, jumping jacks, touching my toes walking, drinking as much water as I could. Nothing worked. READ: Part 2 Coming Soon!

The grocery store Top called me back on Friday, and said that my background check came back clear, and that they would hire me- after a drug test. The drug part of the test isn't a problem, that is as long as I make sure to write down the Sudafed, Allegra, and Mucinex that I've been on for my allergies and cold. No, my problem is that I've been gifted with the bladder of steel. Oh well, I just drank a glass of water, and we're going to be AT the door of the place at 7:30am when they open. Lovely.

Leavenworth!

We took a road trip to Leavenworth today, 111 miles by road from the apartment. Leavenworth is a cute little Bavarian-stle town/village nestled in the mountains. (Yes, Mom I took LOTS of pictures, don't worry) Here are just a few of the highlights. (and yes, I had Sound of Music Flashbacks.)


On the road...





The town!

Road trip!

A whole album!

I'm going to continue posting my favorite pictures/highlights directly on here, but overall, here's a link to a public Facebook album. I hope it works! Click HERE

Seattle!

The Fresh Market!






The VERY FIRST Starbucks!

Eating breakfast at a cute little cafe...:)

It's hard for me to believe that I've been here for only one week. At times, I it seemed that everything was going by too fast, then looking back on everything that I've done this week, some things seem so much farther back than simply a couple of days. I don't like to prematurely say that I like something, but I can honestly say that I LOVE it here. Even in Bellevue, everything is close by and there's so many cultures! As you may see, I went to the city of Seattle (Bellevue, where I am now, is about 10 miles away from the actual Seattle, just across a bridge) and I took somewhere near 200 pictures. I have an album on Facebook uploaded, but I'll try to get some of my favorites up here tomorrow, so check throughout the day! Happy Memorial day! (Hi mom!)

Long day... :)

Sipping an iced latte and walking through Seattle. I love it here!

At Pike Place Market!

The City

Going to downtown Seattle! :)

The Witty Knitter

Knit it myself! :)

Doing laundry and knitting...

Gee it was good!

A 40oz steak! Split between three people of course! :-D

On July 15th

Spot the HUGE Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince sign? :-D

Going to see Night in the Museum!

Hmmm... I must find a place that rents Bollywood movies...

Cool building!

like? It's Microsoft... :)

This is the last one- promise.

Ah there's a little more of it! :)

yet AGAIN

Even MORE! The City of Bellevue skyline- actually, only part of it.

and again...

This is a really cool bridge/walkway connecting two malls. :)

Drivin around again...

More downtown Bellevue!

Drivin around.

Downtown Bellevue. :)

I love this kid.

My, Liam! How You've grown!

In a room full of 16 people, there are three others that look like me. I LOVE IT! :)

Yay cool building!

Cool huh? :)

I spy...

Spot the Starbucks? :)

Once upon a time...

Liam reading... Can you believe the kid is 8?

At Starbucks. :)

You're not supposed to take pictures on the plane?!? Phoenix Pictures!

The extent that I saw Phoenix... from inside the airport. (Hi, Ms. Joni!)












I think we figured out this was New Mexico.. ? It's pretty cool all the same.

We interrupt this broadcast...

One of the things that I left at home. :)

A shout-out.

I have so many people that I'm thinking about while I'm out here, but I'd like to send a special shout-out to Abbey A.- Good Morning! :D

Ain't it purty?

:)

Apartment girl.

So far we haven't really had any problem with the neighbors, but there is one apartment below us that plays their music relatively loud, but the weird part is the music that they play... Think polka, or Larry's part in the Veggie Tales theme song, you know, the one where he has the tuba, and just goes buh-bah-buh-bah-buh-bah-buh-bah... It's quiet enough to not be an issue, I just wonder how someone could stand it! :)

Interview at TOP Update

It went really well! If did get the job, it would be as a courtesy clerk- not ideal, but hey. A job's a job. :)

At an interview for the grocery store Top. :)

It cut me off at the end! But it's a video just the same.

Sipping an Americano and filling out job applications. :)

Finally! My first Seattle day! Rainy and cloudy!

I originally was excited about the fact that when I came to the west coast, I wouldn't have to calculate when it would be okay to call certain people out here... Then, I realized that for the three people I didn't have to calculate, there was my whole back home life that I now DID have to calculate! No longer can I call my mom or friends at eleven at night, that is unless I know that they're regularly up at 2 am. Oh well!

Irish pub for dinner then coffee! :)

Drooling at the Microsoft campus. ^_^

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Look at this food court!!

On the plane- Charlotte to Phoenix, 10:30 am ET.

This summer will be unlike any I've ever experienced before. It's going to be tough, because I'm leaving my life behind, and there are times that I've honestly not too sure I like the idea. Am I crazy? I'm not going to see my best friend, family or church family for three whole months- that's over 90 days! Put it this way, the challengers on Survivor go for half that much time. Yet I sit here on the plane (it's insane how much I can get done on here!) and realize how much I'll be gaining. I'm incredibly blessed to be able to pick up and pretty much have a three month vacation, with family that I love so much that it hurts sometimes. On top of that, I get a layover in Phoenix, YAY! (Haha, I really am fine with the connection, it screwed up our plans a bit, but hey. I've never been to Arizona!) I'm looking forward to all of the spiritual journeys I'll be taking... No, I'm not getting all weird and earthy or something. I'm just going to a new church (Pastor Lao told everyone who I was, thankfully I didn't have to stand up. Phew!) with people I've never met, from all around the world (So far I've met people from Japan, Thailand, China, Burma, and Hawaii!) In addition to being a pastor, Pastor Lao is also a neurosurgeon. Crazy, huh? I'm going to be working, which will be an adventure in itself. Looking down out my window, I think I'd like to go Skydiving some day... I doubt you could pay me to bungee jump, but with sky diving, you have a parachute! What if your bungee broke mid suicide fall? With sky diving, you're EXPECTED to land on your feet! I'm going to shut up here, because I still have another whole flight to write on. Off to read Sense and Sensibility!

So I lied.

We're all four still a bit wacky (ha-like we weren't all wacky to begin with!) and happened to wake up at about six this morning, and had to be at church by ten... So, to church we went! It was very fascinating... different, but I really enjoyed it. Here's a picture of me and my favorite 8 year old. :D

Your forecast...

The weather here is to DIE for! It's cool, slightly breezy, and has next to no humidity at ALL. It's not dry feeling, just.... ahh! I love it! I have pictures and some plane-written blog posts to put up but, so for now just sit tight! We're staying home from church tomorrow, heathen I know- but we're all coming from the eastern time zone, and got here at around 8:00, in eastern time 11:00. Sleep now! :)

I'm here!! We just landed. :)

View from my seat...

I have the best seat on the plane!

Boarding- here we come Phoenix! :)

In Charlotte- running from concourse E to B in order to fly out of Charlotte to Phoenix by 9:30. I need coffee!

At our gate. Yay boring details!!

Up and driving to the airport... :) Charlotte here I come!

I'm turning my phone off for the night- my charger is packed, and I don't dare try and unzip the thing. :) I'm coming Seattle!! Eventually..

YOU.HAVE.GOT.TO.BE.KIDDING.ME!!!!! OUR FLIGHT WAS CANCELLED!!!!

At the airport! :) here we go!

Here we go!

I'm packed and leaving for the airport now... I'll miss you, home!

Where does all the time go?

My plans to go to Seattle were (for the most part) finalized a month ago, and here I am, leaving in less than three days. Where does all the time go!? I have to pack!






...and so the scrambling begins.