So, I have a pretty big love of magazines. There was a time that I was subscribing to about 8 magazines or so (high school years and part of college). Through the years my subscriptions have dwindled down to 2, largely because I couldn't keep up with so many! Some of those magazines from 07 and 08 I still have in my closet. And when I say "some" I mean quite a few piles. I haven't gotten a chance to read all of them, and I'm one of those people that hates to throw a magazine away without at least skimming it. I often end up tearing out editorials or other things I like and saving them in a folder. Well, now my mom has told me it's time to throw these magazines away-that there are just too many and it's getting out of control. I couldn't just pick them up and throw them all away at once, so I made a deal with her and myself that I would go through 10 magazines a week. After I've finished going through them I'll toss them. So what have I been doing this Friday evening? Going through magazines! I've made it through 8, and after 2 more I've met my first 10 goal. Thanks Mom for helping me fight my packrat tendencies.
In addition to going through magazines and browsing the interweb, I've been watching "Legends of the Fall," which is showing on TV tonight. I've never seen this movie and it's kinda crazy to see Brad Pitt so young and with such long hair.
Let's imagine that money is not an issue, vacation time is plentiful, and a getaway to paradise is possible. Time to be pampered, time to relax in luxury, time to be surrounded by beauty. Let's take a trip to the St. Regis Resort in Bali.
First, let's grab a bite to eat, and enjoy the view.
Now time for some swimming at the beautiful resort pool.
Nightfall is here before you know it, so follow the glowing lights back to your room.
Aah, awake to this pretty view. Such a comfortable bed, it's so hard to get up. But time for some coffee and breakfast on the patio. Let's listen to the surf crashing and enjoy a bit of a good book.
Time for a bath before starting the day.
Let's spend part of the day on the beach. Just follow the little walkway.
Had your fill of the sun and sand? Time for a nap at your private hut and pool area.
Head back into the house to grab some cocktails and lounge by the pool the rest of the evening. Maybe an evening stroll on the beach before bed.
Well, I've decided to get my act together and really get serious about finding another job (in addition to Sylvan). In the past few days I've applied to 8 jobs. 2 research tech jobs at Wash U, 4 retail sales positions (The Limited, Target, Sports Authority, and working on Bed, Bath, & Beyond), Financial Aid Clerk position at SIUE, and a long term sub position for middle school science. Would love that one! I'm also working on applying to any more area sub positions that I can. My goal is to be actively searching/applying daily. I'm also trying to think positive about the job hunt, too many times before I let the whole thing depress me. I cooled down on the hunting after I got the job at Sylvan (largely because I needed a break!), but now I realize that just one part time job isn't cutting it. I'm hoping that getting motivated with the job search will also motivate me to work out more. I've still really been lacking any drive there.
This week I'm getting a lot of hours at work-worked today, work Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Besides working and applying for jobs, I also got to visit with Jiyoung this morning! Good lunch and some quick shopping/browsing. Fun times. Come home more often Jiyoung.
Saturday my mom, Carl, and I headed out to the Grafton area. Due to all the rain we've had recently, the river levels are really high and Carl had to secure some stuff at the cabin. No worries for the cabin itself or stuff inside since the cabin is up so high, but since the road is flooded he had to secure the dock and pick up the boat. While he was out doing that he dropped my mom and I off at Pere Marquette Lodge. We had a lunch at the restaurant, and well, that was not a pleasant experience.
The food was terrible, the service was poor. But, the room was really pretty and the chairs were comfortable. I will probably not eat there again though.
After that we chilled in the lodge a bit and read the local newspaper.
Then we decided to walk around the grounds a bit.
I really wanted to hike the trails, but my mom didn't have good shoes on, so we stayed close.
I got to walk on a bunch of crunchy leaves and enjoyed the last bit of pretty fall colors.
We also had a nice view of the river. You can tell how high the water is by checking out those two trees with their trunks almost completely under water.
We were at the lodge for quite awhile and by the time we got home I just felt like curling up in bed and watching movies Halloween night. All in all, a pretty good weekend.
Thanks Mom for helping me fight my packrat tendencies. 
