I’m Baaaack!
December 15, 2009 by nina
Filed under Blog It Out, Bitch
I am back amongst the living. Well, the blogging anyway.
You may have been wondering what’s going on and why I’ve forsaken you so. Here’s the scoop:
School
I am officially a college graduate. Well, maybe not an official graduate seeing as how I didn’t (and don’t plan on) participating in any official ceremony and I won’t get the actual paper degree until May 2010 (more on that in a few secs.) But I have completed all the requirements (and then some) for an Associates degree in Journalism/Professional Writing.
Did you know you have to apply to graduate? Yeah, neither did I. And because I’m a master procrastinator, I didn’t apply for graduation until the last day of class (last Tuesday) of my last semester. That’s how I roll. So, I obviously missed the deadline for Fall 2009 graduation, and I’ll have to settle for Spring 2010. No biggie. I won’t be heading to UGA for my Bachelors till Fall 2010.
Family
My kids are super. They’re still cuter, smarter, and more awesome than your kids.
More on the kids in the Mommy Monday/Blog It Out, Baby blogs this week. There’s been haircuts (yes, plural), new words, and a boy/girl dance.
Work
Yes, you read that correctly: it says WORK.
So, these mystery shops/merchandising jobs have been taking up the majority of my time. They don’t pay a whole lot, but like almost everything else in life, it’s a hustle. I’m signed up with over a dozen different companies. On days when I had school, I’d schedule myself for 3-5 assignments in that area of town. Since I was spending gas anyway to go to class, I might as well pick up a few jobs that pay anywhere from $5-$20 a piece. I’ve made $80 just by doing simple jobs on my way home from school. Sometimes it’s doing a secret shop of a fast food place or gas station, other times I’m going to Targets or Walmarts and making sure that a certain company’s toy display is set up correctly.
My favorite assignments have been the revealed secret shops. I’ve gone to some fast food places near my house and ordered a burger only to test if the person will try and upsell me fries and a beverage. If they do, I go inside and present everyone on duty with $10 VISA gift cards. If they don’t, they get a “better luck next time” letter. Another time I had to go to a chain bookstore and see if a sales associate and coffee barista greeted me within five minutes. When they did, I presented them each with $20 gift cards. Not a bad way to earn money for my daughter’s laptop, no?
Diet
I am down yet another jean size. Don’t ask me how. I’ve been half-assing it this semester, and really hoping to get back into the swing of things after the holidays. I guess maybe it’s all this leaving the house I’ve been doing.
Writing
A return to blogging also means a return to querying Sharing Space and working on my next novel, “Tales From the Biosphere.” I have the next eight months to write (and read) for leisure and it feels great!
I have a lot of good blogs and stories coming up so I hope you’ll stick around. So, that’s what’s up with me. What about you?
Nina is a 34-year-old mother, wife and writer who spends her days blogging, studying, changing diapers and watching ridiculous amounts of TV. She currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband, two children and three TiVos.
master procrastinator<——that kinda sounds diiiiiiirty
Everything is pretty much the same around here….working and trying NOT to float away with all the rain!
Of course you have to apply silly..and you might have enough credits for another degree..you never know unless you ass them up.
So how many Visa cards do you give out?
I really thought someone else was keeping track and they’d be like, “Hey, you’re done. Here’s your degree. Thanks for playing.”
The first fast food one I did, they passed. There were so many sistahs working in the back I thought it was a beauty salon. They were very happy to get their gift cards. They knew the mystery shop was coming up so they were prepared. The next one I did, they failed. I felt awful going in and telling the manager they were unsuccessful. Then, the bookstore passed easily. As soon as I walked in the door someone was offering to help. It was a little old white lady so I was happy that she won. She was super friendly and helpful.
Welcome Back.
I have signed up with the places you sent me to.
The revealed shops are so much fun.
I have been doing the movie ones for the most part (I LOVE free movies on the big screen) and of course the fast food ones are fun also.
Thanks so much for the referrals.
The revealed shops are a lot of fun. And I love doing trailer checks on Friday mornings. If you find the company that does shops for Starbucks, hook a sistah up.
I am doing ticket checks on Saturday. I get to watch Invictus (which I have been DYING to see) and just count the people. I do have to count all showings (4) but no biggy and it is like $75
If I find the Starbucks one I will send it to you… AFTER I jump up and down and squeal like a school girl
I’m glad you’re back
Me too. Diving back into SG1 tonight. I think I like SGU more than you do.
Are you still thinking about reviewing it? Say yes!
Yay!! Glad you’re back … now if you could e-mail me a couple of those places so I can try and replenish some of my children’s college savings, that would be fantastic. pretty pretty please
After realizing that I needed to redo the bathroom (for their safety) and finish the basement (for my sanity) at the exact same time I had to give up my second (better paying, but no-insurance-having) job in preparation for having baby number two … I decided I was just going to have to wait another year or so to re-start saving for their futures. Sigh. I don’t care if it’s sports, arts, or books but I really hope my kids get scholarships
Send me an email on FB to remind me to send them and I’ll link you in my response.
And scholarships would be awesome.
You’re wonderful – will do!
Not much new going on around here. I got a 10% raise yesterday so that was cool. Other than that, I missed you! What did you think of the Dexter finale??? I was shaking. I couldn’t believe it!
Congrats on the raise. That finale really messed me up. I have to watch it again to wrap my brain around it. It was just too damn sad.
LOL! I work at a university and processing graduation is what I do. I have students show up the DAY before Commencement wanting to walk. I’m a sucker, I usually let them go ahead because they give me a sob story about how their whole family is coming, yadda, yadda, yadda…
Glad you’re back to give me a work day break. Shh don’t tell! Matt and I are renovating his house….our house now….I still haven’t killed any co-workers! Now, I want pictures of the haircuts-plural. And pics of Bella, you need to prove you still have a dog!
Cheers & Love
H
Oh, Heather. We no longer have a dog!
WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What do you think Nina served for Thanksgiving dinner?
Glazed Bella with Donny’s famous honey red pepper flaked corn on the cob.
I figured school and life were taking a lot of your time, but I’m glad you’re back. Congratulations on your degree Nina, and I would love to hear more about the secret shopping. It sounds like a fun job.
I think you should hook me up with the secret shopping gig. After all, I have a wedding to pay for in August. And no, it’s not going to be on your birthday.
I’ll email you the info as well.
And why not on my birthday?! You’re dead to me.
I refuse to comment until you start speaking to me again!
This from the girl who never responds to my IMs!
Congratulations!! You have alot to be proud of, you worked really hard for it and managed to continue to do the hardest job in the world, being a mom, at the same time. I finished my associates this semester too, it took me ten years, two marriages and three kids, but it’s done!
If you don’t mind, I’ll send you an e-mail on facebook too about those mystery shops. I have looked into them before but never knew which companies were good. Thanks!
Email me on FB your personal email address and I’ll write you there.
I want to know the full story of Bella…in fact, perhaps Donny should guest blog it. I’ll still like you….maybe.
Your TIVO called. It’s leaving you on grounds of “alienation of affection”. Rudy, the TIVO, and I are going to have one of those plural marriages.
My TiVos are bursting at the seams! I need to clear some stuff off of them before Lost and Caprica start.
Fought H1N1, a sinus infection, a severe Graves attack that put me in the hospital for 24 hours and bronchitis.
Then told my boss to take his job, fold it into six sides, and shove it six ways to Sunday with no lube.
That’s it in my life.
You win.
Hon congrats!!! Im almost done with my BA, and I know how great it feels for the semester to end. Im surprised at the haircuts. (yeah, plural, LOL) Have fun with the blogging and writing and “working!”