So I went to a Disciple concert on Friday. It was beyond insane. I was sick, of course, because I have neglected to go to the doctor. But I managed to get up and go crazy during Disciple, while feeling horrible for the first two bands. And I was right up front. Kevin literally sang in my face. And I slapped the lead singer from Project 86 in the face (on accident, of course). That's how close I was. And then afterwards I got to meet Kevin and give him a hug and he is just the sweetest. And then he sang some eighties songs for people on an acoustic guitar and Eric Timm (the painter present) filmed the audience. He got me filming him, haha. Awkward.

And then on Sunday, my friend Chantell and I dropped into my church that I haven't been to in a good ten years. The pastors have changed. The location has changed. But it's still church. But the sermon was something I could relate to right now so it helped keep me from falling asleep. And my friend Tim from work goes there. As soon as I walked in there he was and I was like, "Wahey!"

Then I had work. I took another girl's shift so this week I work 39 hours with only one day off. It was pretty boring all day, but then I got sent to one by this kid named Dylan and you could tell he was bored. He was looking at the gift cards and came back and went, "Would you buy a gift card if you knew the envelope was free?"

"No."

"Me neither. But I think I'm going to take one."

So he took an envelope and put his driver's license in it. He said it didn't make him feel special.

Then he left (the lucky got out at 9:30 cause he's just a kid) and another lady came. We ended up playing with the gift cards where you can record your voice after the Christmas music on it. So two people will get "HELLLOOOOO!" and "HO HO HO, Merry Christmas!" from me and Jenny.

The truth about what cashiers do when they're bored. We don't clean. We don't stock shelves. We don't zone. We play with the merchandise, because our managers are nowhere to be found. And by 9 the managers could care less if we're actually working.

But I've been at Wal Mart two months now and it's just one of those things that takes up time. Kinda boring. Kinda makes me angry sometimes. But I like the people I work with. Mainly the guys my age (Andy, Tim, Tanner, Dylan, Joey, Justin) but then there's a few girls and older ladies that I get along with enough to have a conversation with while redlining. Caurel and myself even examined the giant cupcake things that you bake cakes in. We got all excited about it and decided that they are a must have since they're so cute.

But working at Wal Mart has made me realize that I miss school so much that I am ready to go back. So I'm hoping to start at Dakota Wesleyan this spring and be able to cut my hours back. Tim said he only works 20 hours a week and I am pretty much ready to get my 32 cut back. Working in the afternoon will be better anyway since that's when the people my age come in and before that it's just old ladies and me. And, you know, Gerald. But he's a greeter so... haha.

Later. <3

--Amanda

A few more days till the Disciple concert. Can't wait for that. Other than that, nothing. Haha, what a boring life I lead.

I have actually finished my Graduation story, which is what I've been working on since May. Draft one is done and I have set it aside like Stephen King recommended in his On Writing book. I've actually started on a new story right away and it's a spooky one, sparked by something my brother said one night. It's just too bad that I couldn't get that one done in time for Halloween, but that would have been manic writing.

And I have once again found myself falling ill. But I only get sick at work and I'm starting to get really bad headaches when I'm there. Which is obviously strange, but my friend and I have decided I must be stressed out about work. But it's weird, because I never feel stressed at work. But I keep getting sick there so there must be a reason.

On the bright side I've made a new friend and his name is Tim. We have bonded over mutual friends, spilled 7-Up, and the fact that he just doesn't shush. But not shushing is sometimes needed at work, especially at night when no one's there. And him talking kept me from focusing on my upset stomach so I didn't have to run to the bathroom every ten seconds. And tomorrow we work together so I am quite content. ^-^

I hope everybody else is just fine and dandy and had a good Halloween. I worked so nothing exciting, but I hope everyone had more fun than I did.

Later. <3

--Amanda

So my friend Whitney had her baby on October 15 at 8:59 PM. He was 7 lbs 10 oz and 20.5 inches. His name is Vanderlae Lewis and is just adorable as kisses. I'm already in love with the little boy.

My other friend Andrea had her baby on October 16 and his name is Baylyn Amassey. Also a cutie.

And my cousin is due sometime within the next week and it should also be a boy. His first name is Owen, not sure what they ended up deciding on for the middle name.

But it's just babies galore around here! Everyone is either pregnant or trying or just had a baby. While when I see Vanderlae and my friend Amber's baby Garrett I feel like I want one, I know I'm not ready and this little trend is too much emotionally and physically for me right now. Baby time shall wait until I'm a wee bit older and quit depending on my father so much for support.

_{And, ya know, I kinda want to be married and know the guy's gonna stick around before I start having children.}

Later. <3

--Amanda

I kid you not, the title of this journal was actually said to me by an elderly woman tonight at work. The stuff you hear at work.

The kids got kicked out and they were genuinely rude about the whole ordeal, but us staff members got a kick out of it and the old woman thanked me for calling my manager to handle it.

Kids can be so dumb. Actually, they were only a year younger than myself, but wow. I thought my friends and I were stupid when we went in there. That takes a whole new piece of cake.


Anywho, I am recovering from the flu and a seriously mean cold right now so my head is permanently fuzzed up with cold medicine. I look like I need to sleep for about two years and I probably shouldn't be helping customers. I sneezed last night and some lady glared at me. It must be serious. But I look like a drug addict so I can't really blame her. I just hope she comes through my line when I'm good and well and don't sound like a man.

And I'm going to admit that I misjudged this boy at work. I assumed he'd be lazy and a little dumb, but he's in college and extremely well-mannered. He actually helped me load this ladies' groceries and then helped another lady carry her things out to her car. And it's snowing out. And raining. And generally freezing. He's very well spoken, as well. Seriously impressive kid. The only thing that knocked me off about him was that he looks a bit like my old friend Austin and I still have misgivings about people that remind me of him. They can be tricksy.

Ok, I must sleep now. But I hope you're all well and not sick and misjudging people. And I hope to get something written in the two upcoming days off that I have. Or be well enough to get up tomorrow morning at six, because this morning I slept till 7:30 and, yes, I was late for work because of it. Dern this cold!

Later. <3

--Amanda

Oh, right, and my best friend just got back into the state from Missouri after spending six months at Ft. Leonardwood for his Basic and AIT training for the military police. I am so excited that he's back. I haven't seen him yet and I'm trying to tell myself to wait until he settles into college before I text him, but it's so hard. And I'm so paranoid that he'll have changed and not be the same Jacob that I still feel like I'm friends with. I suppose that's the product of being a guy's best friend, though, and being a girl. But, yay, he's back!

What's today? The second? Where have I been? Work. Work. Work. It takes up pretty much every single waking moment of my life right now. Except now, because I have three days off. Which is pretty dang remarkable. I am spending the weekend with my Newton friends, Morgan, and Brittany. We are heading to the football game tonight, which is actually the first MV football game I have ever been to and I've lived here for eleven years. Strange, right? Then I presume we're going to cause some chaos in Mitchell and then head to bed. Tomorrow it's a field trip to Wal Mart, because Amanda and Chantell want to see this boy I work with.

Let me tell you the story, ok?

It's about 9 PM, so Wal Mart is dead. There are three cashiers on the western side, Cassie, Dylan, and myself. We're all underage (meaning we can't sell alcohol) so nobody comes to our lines. We're just sitting there. Dylan is limping around like Quasimodo, because he's making fun of Cassie, who's complaining she has to work until midnight. This guy comes up to Cassie and me and asks a question.

"What's the population of Mitchell?" says Guy.

Cassie responds, "Um 14, 000..."

I say at the same time, "14, 558."

Guy and Cassie burst out laughing at the top of their lungs and Cassie points at Dylan, who is located at the register behind me.

"You should have seen his face when you said that! His jaw hit the floor!"

You see, I go past the population sign every morning on my way to work, so I obviously knew what it said. I just reported what I knew. Cassie and Dylan found this hilarious. I was bent down getting some spray to clean grape off my register when Dylan walked over all innocent, messing with some magazines and looking in the other direction.

"So... um... what's the population of Sioux Falls?"

Hardy har har.

So we then had an awkward conversation and he left. 9:30 was his quittin' time, the lucky. But his sense of humor caught me and I have developed the tiniest of tiny crushes on him. The story I have just told is now a fixed story with my friends and every now and then they like to bring it up to make me feel silly, because who knows the exact population of Mitchell? Me. Oh, silly me.

Anywho... I have to go to my dad's and then I think I may call my Brie and see if she wants to go to Wal Mart with me, then I have to pick Morgan up. Morgan is a new fixture in our group. He started coming around at the beginning of September and then he asked Amanda Bean out and now they are dating again. He has become a pretty good friend and I think even post-break up he will be stuck around. He's a pretty neat guy.

Later. <3

--Amanda

_{By the way, in case this post made you think I have gotten no writing in, think again. I get up at 6 when I have work so I can work a little in my Graduation story. It's coming along nicely. By next May, I'm hoping it'll be done. Har har. No time for short stories or anything, though, but I'm hoping I get some time to work on something short soon so y'all know I'm not over here being a lazy bum on my days off, haha.}