I'm subbing in three districts, hostessing at a hotel's dining room on Saturday nights, and working at the homeless shelter. I wish the shelter could be my full time job, but the shifts are super short. After subbing today, I drive into Portland for a rocking hour and fifteen minute shift. I was going to hang out with a friend after, but between the perpetual exhaustion and the downpouring rain, I think I'd be better off just getting home before dark.
At least there's an end in site for this lifestyle. I've decided to attend the University of Southern Maine for graduate school this fall. I know it's not the glamorous place I was hoping to attend, but Portland has grown on me, and I have faith that we end up exactly where we need to be in life. The decision wasn't made by a desire to be with someone, or a fear of moving to a big city. It was, just like undergrad, all about money. I had calculated the total cost of Simmons horribly wrongly, and there's just no way I can afford to go there. If they won't give me financial aid, there's no way BC and BU will, so I decided to just decide fast and commit to USM. I'm looking forward to it. I know it's what I need.
What I need is also not to be working two jobs a day, THIRTEEN days in a row. Jesus. Granted, Saturday's work day was a whole hour and a half, and that was after I had an absolutely amazing time hanging out with Colin, so it wasn't like it was a horribly trying day. It's just weird not having a day off. Ever. I know if an opportunity to work at the shelter comes up for Sunday (my current light at the end of the tunnel, potential day off), I'm still gonna take it. I like the money, I like the experience, and I can sleep when I'm dead. Which, at this rate, will be pretty soon.
I'm a horrible teacher who is totally typing this up while "supervising" a student's free choice time. Yes, any of those three districts is lucky to have me. I mean, if there was any actual work to do, I'd be doing it, but if my duty is basically to sit and stare, I might as well pass the time.
Since I've been working so much, and also reading more during my downtime subbing, I haven't gotten as much knitting done. I did finish my alpaca/wool St. James sweater, and I made an orange Wollmeise triangle scarf, but I haven't been as prolific as usual. I keep attempting to pick up something, and then oops, I did nothing for an hour. I'm just having a hard time focusing right now. Which might have something to do with never knowing what day it is or how many jobs I'm supposed to be at that day.
I'm pretty sure my in-town knitting group is going out to lunch on Saturday. I never made it there last week since some people were out of town and I had man plans. But I'm pretty sure that's what we decided to do. This will result in me inhaling an entire Pat's pizza. The chicken alfredo one, probably. Success.
I'm having an amazing time with my Portland knitters, as always. I continue to meet new people that are fantastic, practice my social skills and small talk by chatting with other patrons, and expanding my horizons by trying new beers. Sometimes we go out to dinner, usually when I organize it, and that's always great too. I really adore these people, and I love that thanks to my car, I've had the opportunity to go out and meet them. I look forward to it all week.
Better head down to my lunch duty. Then, my lunch! That leftover pizza better sustain me all day.
