Take Your Daughter to Work Day

Apparently that was Thursday.

I think I was the only one who participated 'cause, there were no other offspring at the Eggo plant other than me. 

Yeah I know, weird right?  I was really confused too. Especially as I stood around a table checking waffles for holes and other defects, and I realized that my dad was the only one willing to lug around his 19-year-old... 

huh...weird....

Ok, sorry it's not funny anymore.

It wasn't take your "daughter to work day" it was "force Jillana to sit in your office because you think she's turning into a lazy moocher day."

I know I need a job. I get it. And  I've been out of school for a few weeks now, and I've pretty much slept off the stresses of finals, so I know it's time to start lookin'. But still, I think the intervention is a bit premature. 

I know A LOT of college kids still sittin' around on their butts, "sleeping off the stresses of finals."

My day started at six--after I subconsciously turned off my alarm--to the sound of some obnoxious bird chirping a very repetitious song outside my window, serving as my snooze alarm.

Then after being told what to wear and how to do my hair so that I looked "presentable" and after two or three reminders to my dad that I don't actually work for him, I was on my way to the Eggo plant. 

I was recruited by my father to help assist in the production of a video presentation for some visitors that they are having soon. He suggested it because of my minor in film and sweet imovie skills. And even though I've only taken one film class, he insisted I use technical terminology when speaking to him about the video.

Yeah...that would have worked if I retained anything after May 1st and if he had any idea what I was talking about. So that didn't last...

Oh and ever since finals week I've become some what of a night owl. My sleeping schedule is totally backwards and my lack of responsibilities has opened up the day for napping. I've tried to get back to normal...to wake up early one day so that I could "re-set my clock" my sleeping clock, not my biological clock...obviously that one's still good.

So yeah anyway, the night before I carried out my sentence I decided to stay up all night. I wasn't really tired cause I'd slept until like two that day, so that part wasn't hard at all. 

I figured since I would be forced to wake up early the next day, and I wouldn't be able to take any naps, that when I got home I would sleep at night when everyone else did!

But that was actually probably the worst decision I ever made. I was like a zombie the whole day. Too tired to answer questions and meet my honorary co-workers, but I did anyway cause it wasn't their fault I was completely sleep deprived. 

Because of this, during Food Review(I think that's what it was called) I stared at a box of Eggos genuinely confused as I tried to open it neatly so I could start my part of the inspection. I couldn't figure it out and after about a minute I was gettin' frustrated so I ended up just like ripping it open only to be faced with the stupid plastic wrapping. 

Once my waffles were out I started sorting them according to their impurities. Instead of Food Review I think it's pretty fitting to call that portion of my day the Waffle Holocaust. Once they were classified and recorded they were dumped into a big circle in the middle of the table with a trash can underneath to be given to the hogs.--it was kinda sad.

 Oh and the plastic was recycled, I checked. But there were so many specific classifications and categories of defects that I ended up just sliding my piles down to my dad because clearly, I was in no shape to try and figure that out.

So after all of the holy waffles were disposed of, I worked and worked and worked on that video. I sifted through an hour worth of footage of waffles on "the line" the like conveyer belt things that you see on shows like "How it's Made."  Basically...except for the breaks I took to watch Gilmore Girls on DVD I pretty much sat behind my laptop all day. 

So I had a pretty thorough "job field" experience, I'd say.

Oh, back to being really really tired, I put my head down for like two seconds...the same two seconds that my dad was making his way back to his office. 

I got a mini scolding from my boss because it looks bad I guess if I'm sleeping when no one else is allowed to. 

"But I don't really work for you," I said for like the 9th time.

I mean, I didn't get mad when my 9th grade choir teacher brought her sick child with her because she couldn't leave school, and we all had to stare at her all comfy in a sleeping bag on the floor while we stood on some uncomfortable metal risers for like and hour. Nope, not mad at all. 

So because he was aware of my idiotic decision to stay up all night, he told me to close the door if I needed to sleep. So I did. 

I wouldn't have passed out sitting up if I had gotten to leave at lunch time like I was promised. But in the midst of me texting my mom to tell her to come rescue me, my boss/dad was calling her telling her that I needed to stay until he was ready to come home at 5. 

He called me a baby for not having the work ethic to stick it out the whole day, but I really just didn't have the stamina. And, anyway, if I was doing a job that I actually liked it would have been a different story. 

By the time I woke up, I only had like two hours left, so I watched a few more episodes of Gilmore Girls on my laptop and then it was over. --Sigh--that was a good feeling.

But I really did learn a lot about my dad that day and I'm glad that I went. He's extremely ambitious and an excellent leader. He's figured out how to get people to do what he wants them to do because they want to do it. When I was a cheerleading captain that was the one thing I couldn't really quite grasp I don't think. I and a few girls on the team were always really passionate and I think my teammates saw that and wanted to do well for the ones that really cared about it, but the one thing I regret is that I don't think I got everyone to want it for themselves.  

Maybe I should have given them more stuff. I don't know if it is the stuff, the celebration parties, Tony the Tiger t-shirts etc....but I know that, I think that--I hope that, those people love him up there. 

That's what it seemed like. I don't think they would put on a nice face just for me. He gets stuff done, and they still like him afterward. And they respect him. It was pretty cool. 

I think he makes a good boss because he understands everyone's jobs. We've moved enough times, that he's done everyone's jobs once before and that makes for a level of compassion and empathy in his leadership, but also since he's been in most of those positions before he knows how to give good advice and he inspires greatness out of people. 

It's cool to have grown up and get to see my dad grow in his career also, he's gone so far from where we were when I was four. I'm a little proud...just a little. 

(edit: that first sentence that is a link to the waffle picture is a total accident, and I can't make it go away..sorry.)

Letters from the Lost Journal

So, after yesterday's post, I started to rummage through the rest of the newly discovered journal and I discovered this little entry that I wrote while on a family road trip...

Radio

We decided to try to utilize the Atlanta radio stations for as long as we had them, no after an hour and a half we're finally starting to get a little static. We heard Love Song by Sara Bareilles twice, No Air by Jordin Sparks and Chirs Brown three times. So...time to put a movie in. 

Spiderwick Chronicles--funny and terrifying at the same time. I know I'm not the targeted audience but I'm not ashamed to say it scared the crap out of me at some points. 

Ok...moving car...getting dizzy...can't write. 

Elbows

I just got done with sitting in the car for 14 hours, for the second time in like 48 hours. I swear it does something to my health, psychie, whatever it was pretty traumatic. Usually I enjoy car rides and road trips...for the most part. 

Most people think it's crazy, but I like making the memories, eating the crappy food...it's fun. 

But this time, it was the farthest from fun. I had my thirteen year old brother pressed to my right side and every time he moved, his elbow went into my right side. So for 14 hours every time I started to doze off, his elbow would come at me like clock work. I tried not to be whiny I knew "he's touching me!" wouldn't fly coming from a 19 year old. But the boy could not sit still, so the bumping was constant. I'm surprised I didn't end up with a bruise on my side from the repeated elbowing. Alright, enough complaining, I'll just leave the story here in all its awfulness.

J

lol

Something to Blog About

Ever since I was younger I have had a love for notebooks. like journals. I can't pin point it, but I think it either came from Harriet the Spy, or my mother. 

But still, I never just write in one. Most people have one journal that they fill up and then they move on to the next one.--I write in whatever is closest to me. 

So I have a bunch of half empty--or half full...whatever it's still only half--journals hidden in different places in my room.

So today, while I was trying to get my dog out from under my bed, I discovered a journal that I started last year, I think. I was writing down my thoughts so that I could later post a really cool, well thought out, thought provoking blog post. Considering I never remembered to follow through with that, I'm probably better off just blogging off the top of my head. (better for whom, I'm not so sure) But I did find this funny little blurb that I probably should have posted lol.

Something to Blog About

I really need something to blog about, so I'm just going to start writing...

now I'm watching Grey's Anatomy contemplating how I'm going to attack this health kick thing again. I need another angle...

I need some posters for my new room. 

20 days until school starts up.

 20 days until I'm the new kid...again. 

2 days until Breaking Dawn comes out...

things are lookin' up. 

yes. my brain really is this random. 

3 Willows

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a pretty big fan of  The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series. 

So, of course when the author, Ann Brashares started a new series the first book titled, 3 Willows, I was immediately interested. 

But so far, all this book buying experience has taught me is to do my research before I buy. 

I spent 8 of my own dollars, so I'm not too worried about wasting the money--there's always selling it on Amazon as a back up plan if I don't like it. 

But now, because I did buy it, I feel obligated to read a book about three 8th graders.

I'm about to be a junior in college. (which gets weirder everytime I say it) 

So, I think I'm a little out of the demographic. 

But who knows, I might love it. This has actually happened to me once before. 

I picked up the first Clique novel in Target knowing nothing about it only to find out it was about 7th graders. 

I was in 11th grade then...but I ended up really liking it, and then three or four years later ended up cracking up at the movie. So, I am going to give 3 Willows a chance. 

Because, at the very least it will make me remember what it was like to be entering high school; make me all nostalgic and stuff. 

Or it could backfire and make me really depressed that I'm almost 20, I'm halfway done with college, and have no earthly idea what the heck I'm going to do with the rest of my life. 

happy reading.

jillana

Daddy Warbucks and Anti-Prom

What do the two have to do with each other?---not much. Nothing at all, really...I just didn't feel like doing two separate posts.

Ok so, us kids--there are five in my family-- are not exactly...self motivated.
I'll admit, it's like pulling teeth getting anybody to do anything around here.

While, my parents refuse to pay us to do regular chores--rightfully so... they have agreed to come up with a system to encourage us to do extra things--because a clean home makes for a happy daddy.

So, I came up with the point system. 1 pt = 5 dollars, and only the extra extra chores are worth any points; like washing the car (worth 1/2 of a point), mowing the lawn (4 points--we're still debating on why...I don't see what is so hard about pushing a lawn mower--it's practically like vacuuming.)

So yeah, we'll see how that goes. I'm making a chart for us to hang in the kitchen because I'm motivated by gold stars alone.

My dad wants to call them "Dad bucks" because every new operation needs a cutesy name. It's the plant director in him. --so, in return, I'm going to call him 'Daddy Warbucks' like in Annie. :)

Now for the anti-prom portion of our program...

My younger sister decided not to go to prom this year, not a big deal, I never went to any of mine, so she threw a party for her and a friend and they called it the "Anti-Prom." Of course, I documented the occasion by putting together a little piece for Youtube.

--ugh. i can't get it to embed. lo siento. do you mind clicking the link? It's worth it, I promise.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBXZfW5kGaA

"If I Stay"

I was planning on doing this Twilightguy style and blog as I read this book. I wanted to share the experience with the world. As I went along.

 But I finished it in one day.

 Which is a good thing, cause my review is pretty much done. If you knew me, you would automatically know my opinion of the book by that one fact.

 Reading a book in one day is saying a lot about the book for me.  Because when it comes to leisure reading, a book has to really be interesting to hold my attention for a long period of time. Like neglecting responsibility kind of hold on my attention.

 If I stay is a kind of book that you can’t write a review for without giving EVERYTHING away. Yet another reason why books are different from movies. Movie trailers can tell you a lot about what the movie is about because they can still dazzle you with special effects. With books you have to be careful with what you reveal because it could ruin the experience for someone.

 So I can’t say anymore about If I Stay. Besides that you should read it. 

One Year Later

I wrote a blog last year about pretty people. I asked a question about why they have so much power for something they cannot control.

You can read it here if you want....come back though....

 

This blog post has nothing to do with that one except to illustrate how much I have changed in one year.

 Back then I tried to use big words like “adhere” and “wield”. (ok, so the words aren’t that big…but it takes effort to write like that off the cuff.)

 Maybe I was a better writer back then.

Maybe I just care less now…

Maybe “Twilight” really did melt my brain.

 Those are the only things I can think of to explain why I don’t write like that anymore.

 I guess it’s not a bad thing, maybe I’m more real now.

 Now that I’m not trying to impress people as much.

 But maybe I can get a little of the old Jillana back.

The one who wanted to sound smart sometimes.

The one who put effort into the things that she did just for the sake of accomplishment. 

Lame and After-the-fact

Ever since I’ve been at college I’ve promised myself that I wouldn’t step foot in a club. Now, this was a personal decision.  I never implied that people who go to clubs are also on the express train to hell, I just know that, that’s not where God wants me to be on a Friday night.

 I never liked being in that kind of setting, even in high school.  I avoided school dances like they were the plague. I don’t know what it was…I just knew it wasn’t my scene.

 I even made sure by going to one dance because obviously as soon as I told people I didn’t like dances I got a million, “well, how do you know if you’ve never been to ones?” So I did. I went to Homecoming my senior year, just to make sure all of my hunches I had about dances were justifiable.  They were. Totally were. I was miserable.

So, I got that one excruciating experience out of my system and now I can be 100% sure that it’s not my scene.

 But anyway, my high school friends knew this about me so they eventually stopped asking.—No, that’s a lie, a billion people bugged me about prom too…but that’s another story for another time.

 My new college friends obviously didn’t know this about me, or at least I didn’t think they did. I didn’t tell them…

 But somehow they knew because they would never include me in their plans until like after the fact. I didn’t mind or anything, I don’t have a problem with being “that girl” the girl who you can tell is a “good girl” just by lookin at her.

 It’s better than being labeled as the opposite at first sight.

 The only thing I don’t like about it is that people assume that just because I might be ‘the good girl’—their words, not mine—that I’m not fun, or that I’m super judgmental.

 So that bothers me.

But being Lame and after the fact is kind of cool, I think I’ll start a club. 

FINALS ARE DONE

Hey Peoples...

So lately, I've been feeling pretty guilty..well, I don't think guilty is the word...

Idk, I just felt kind of weird for having a blog...but not doing anything with it I guess.

So my summer vacation resolution is to blog more. 

I have all of these half way finished blogs saved onto my computer. I was so close to greatness so many times and yet...I didn't take the extra step to posting.

Lo siento. (that's I'm sorry in Spanish)

So yeah, I'll be updating more. But I've already said that....so. 

So, to make this post different. I'll post a video. :)

This is a video I made of my brother...heh. that's all the intro I wanna give this one.