Time is in my side

...that is, until school begins again and time continues at this rapid pace. Then I'd prefer Father Time to put every day in slow motion so I will be able to sit back and bask in contentment. I just can't believe that a few posts ago, I was lamenting the two months I had left of summer. And now I'll be back in two weeks!

Fortunately, now that I'm done with my babysitting job, I have a bit more free time. Thus, I have been researching/starting craft projects like a woman who just discovered she had arms. I already made a vase out of old magazines and am currently seeking a sturdy ceramic piece to make a lamp base. I'm pretty excited about testing out my wiring abilities. (My mom, on the other hand, has her doubts.)

I absolutely cannot wait to move into our dorm room and decorate. I've been hoarding interior design ideas like it's my job (and sometimes I do it instead of my job, whoops.) There are so many great blogs I've added to my RSS feed, I'm overwhelmed. In fact, I believe I'll go look at them now...

Arts 'n Crafts

This weekend, I had the desperate urge to create something. And since making babies was out of the question, I opted to make the world's most fabulous jewelry display. It came to me as an epiphany, driving home from work Friday evening. Window screen and buttons, of course! I immediately set out on a journey that would involve Michael's, JoAnn's and Home Depot. And an immense amount of patience and measuring.

And this is the result:



I would tell you how I made it, but then I couldn't exploit you for a profit, now could I?

Seeking Unnecessary Employment

I'm not sure of the exact moment that I became addicted to applying for and accepting jobs. It must have been around the same time that I realized that I have expensive dreams.

How does one even combat such an addiction? All I need is computer access and I can be gone for hours, lost in the digital world of endless opportunities. I hesitate to compare my problem to the one men seem to have in regards to porn, but the similarities are there. They fantasize about unrealistic sexual situations and I fantasize about worldly travels and big city living.

I suppose my fantasies may be slightly more attainable. Right?

And it's about more than just money. I crave the experience that goes along with a job-- particularly an exciting one. Plus, the money I earn allows me to add even more experiences to my memory bank through vacations and spontaneous trips with friends. Those moments define ones life far more than most jobs could.

My fears also drive me. The current job market and my dad's tumultuous job history simply make me nervous. I figure that if I can became a Jack-of-most-trades, I'll also always be armed with a back-up plan or two.

So right now, I have four(ish) jobs. I work every day of the week. Just like any addict, I'm not leading the healthiest lifestyle, but I can't seem to stop the endless pattern of working, sleeping and eating. Repeat. As opposed to a drug or sex addict, however, I'm living for the future rather than in the present.

This summer, while definitely exacerbating my desire to return to school, has taught me a valuable lesson. The effort I'm putting into planning the rest of my life will ensure that I never, ever have to work four jobs again. That is both an observation and a promise to myself.

I will always work to live, not live to work.

So if anyone out there in Cyberland is seeking a writer/blogger/babysitter/baker/customer service representative/intern, I'm sorry, but I'm not available.

Until August.