Carol Rutz’s Annexe

Between the merchandising work and posting snarky “trololo” pics on Facebook, it is a rare thing to maintain the blog. But I am so glad to find time now.

The Christmas spirit is strong throughout the 15+ stores I visit in Indiana and Ohio. Everyday, I get to listen to holiday songs. Right now, I do not mind the piped-in music as I tolerate that better than the usual soft-rock/easy listening crap I hear the other 10.5 months of the year. The gifts for sale are proudly displayed on the shelves, waiting for some guy seeking something practical.

Me? I seek also the impractical and the impossible. I have already purchased work clothes that conforms to the dress code I must follow. I’ve braved the Black Friday queue at Best Buy so I can replace my aging netbook. And the Prediger is going to buy me the Urban Decay 15th Anniversary eyeshadow set. But those impossible dreams remain. And they involve people I won’t be able to see again.

I want to let them know that I am doing okay with my life. I enjoy my job, I’ve figured out how to manage my manifestions of Asperger’s Syndrome, and most of all, I found the love of my life.

An example: The presidential races and church/state issues reminded me of my history professor, a Confessional and a pro-life Democrat. He was happy that I do not subscribe to the Evangelical/Calvinist Religious Right, but was chagrined when I became Libertarian. If he was alive today, I want to ask about his stance on same-sex marriage. How would he, a devout virtuous guy, come to his conclusions? I do know that he would want me to review past Supreme Court cases and urge me to consult the Bill of Rights. He would also advise me to read Scripture.

Another person: My sixth grade teacher, a devout Catholic. She would be thrilled to see me again doing decently. That would bolster my faith greatly! I doubt my elementary school (now a charter school) still has the means to contact her.

I do believe in the Creeds, about the communion of the saints and all that. They might have some clue about how I am faring and probably are praying for me. But I really want to see them in the flesh and be sure that they got the message. I know, impossible. And no amount of tangible gifts can change that.

I finally figured out how to get rid of that European spam for cheapo V|@gr@; however it meant that you cannot comment on older posts anymore. After 14 days of posting, comments will close.

Now, for the rest:

With the help of with my employment specialist from the regional Easter Seals, I’m working for one of the largest merchandising firms in North America. She’d call me once a month to check up on my work and this week she will see me work in nearby Auburn. Do you know how liberating for me to be honest with myself, not worrying about “pretending to be normal?” My bosses are aware…they simply care that I do my job right, which I’ve been doing since I was hired. I’m looking forward to telling her that I’ve been receiving bonuses for 95%+ completion, plus a bonus for pulling off one memorable sale involving using Google Translate on my Droid.

From the “You Nostalgia, You Lose” department: I came across an Avon catalog and they have scratch n sniff pages. I found one for Odyssey perfume and it was exactly like I remembered. I looked at the products and wondered whether it would be better to try out their products. The impetus was when I looked at MAC’s Big Bounce Eyeshadows and tested one at the counter. After two hours, it creased on me. I thought it was sub-par for the price listed. I thought: maybe I should try products from a company that has been there for years and do not have to pay for the overhead. So I signed up and I’m now the Avon Lady. If you live in the Fort Wayne/New Haven area, I’m more than happy to help you look good!

I’ve been more at Twitter and Facebook than this blog. For some reason, I’m more comfortable with being a twit and posting up FB updates than anything else. I’m going to ask Necessary Roughness which plug-in could post up a digest of my Twitter updates.

Census work? I’m done, unless the LCO informs me otherwise. Did not want to get in deep doo-doo and have the Bureau give me the banhammer. I did have a great time, with occasional hiccups IRT some one-celled beings. Best person I’ve met was actually an older lady at this trailer park. Will have to bring her some farm fresh veggies, as she grows green peppers.

Just think… I’ve been through three phases (GQE, NRFU, and NRFU-VDC). It helped pay for my car repairs, bills, and best of all, my trip to OSCON. I learned about the resources available for people in need in Fort Wayne. I saw the increase of foreclosures as I walked around New Haven. I’ve listened to the stories of a few neighbors whose children were grown-up and wished they can pay a visit. I saw, for better or for worse, the anti-government sentiment. I have to tell them that we’ve been doing this since 1790, with far worse intrusive questions than today.

Been reading two strictly unofficial blogs, My Two Census and LooseFemme, who has finished her NRFU gig and is now an union organiser in Oakland.

I was giddy when Matt Harrison got the nod for Synodical President. I hooked up my lappy to the telly so Preggie can watch the convention. He was excited that he can enjoy it without travelling to Houston. If we were to attend the convention, we’d be sitting in the back of the hall, watching it from a screen because GK and MH would be specks from our vantage point.

Here I am, back into the jobless limbo. I have a few new O’Reilly books from OSCON. It means between now and “you’re hired” I will have to earn a few bux doing odd jobs. I am thinking of getting a 30 watt soldering iron and practice using it. On the bright side, I succeeded in fixing my Ubuntu part of the laptop. The battery level would warn me that I have FOUR MINUTES until hibernation, despite having a full charge. Glad the updates are there.