I am in high school and am going with my best friend, Wallace from Veronica Mars, to take the GRE. We did not sign up ahead of time, but the person in charge of admitting people to the test (an assistant principal?) hands us each one of those three-part sheets for making copies, with the white, yellow, and pink pages, and ushers us into the testing room.
The lady teacher administering the test makes some comment about me indicating that I am trashy. She apparently reached this conclusion because I am Latina. I yell at her about it, and then she offers as further evidence my outfit, which is actually sort of fancy-conservative and which I only wore because I had nothing else clean. I ask the other kids to raise their hands if they agree with the teacher, and nobody who actually knows me thinks that I am trashy at all. We keep shouting at each other for so long that a lot of kids leave because they no longer have time to take the test and make it to their last class. There are one or two more kids than computers left in the room, so I say that I will not take the test since I had taken the GRE before and done pretty well on it and had just wanted to prove that I could do better.
As I am walking through the commons area on my way to class, my brother calls me. I take out the cell phone I had borrowed from him and am having all my calls forwarded to, but it is broken and I can't answer. I push all the buttons on the phone and nothing happens.
I get to my class and can tell from what is written on the board that it is remedial math. I say I don't belong here and ask if I can go to my counselor to change my schedule. The teacher, who has had me before and knows I should be in a higher level class, denies me permission and tells me instead to study a poster on the wall full of equations from calculus. At this point, I realize that because I didn't turn in a form telling which courses I want, I have been put in all remedial classes.
I get out the calculator I have borrowed from my brother to work on the equations on the wall, but most of the buttons are missing.
Then I start working on some project that my teacher, who has turned into Orson Scott Card, is planning to write about in his upcoming column. I am making something that involves mixing several components, including cornmeal and urea. I don't quite finish in class so pack up the project in a cardboard box to finish at home.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Comedy Routine and Jobs
I am supposed to take part in some program put on by a company recruiting for summer sales positions. My job is to come up with a 10-minute comedy routine, which I will be doing with Tom. There will be two other routines during the program and I want to have the best one. But Tom is not helping me at all.
Now I'm at the banquet and it's almost time to perform. But my routine isn't completely developed, and what I do have written I don't have memorized. Somehow I get the message to the sponsors and the comedy competition thing is canceled. So now I'm just one of the recruits, sitting at a long table. The people I am close enough to talk with are Tom, Weevil from Veronica Mars, and a couple Hispanic girls who are vaguely familiar. We get to talking about race and skin color.
After dinner, we all go to another room for an informational session and to officially commit to working with them. They are also giving out company merchandise- I specifically remember t-shirts and socks. The t-shirts all have years on the back. I take one of everything, and choose a light gray shirt with the year 1986 for my graduation year. I think about taking several pairs of socks, but decide against it because it feels like stealing. A bunch of other people load up on t-shirts to take to Lagoon and sell, but that is perfectly okay because there is way more merchandise than is needed and the company is trying to get rid of it all. Anyway, during the informational meeting I decide that this summer sales position is not one I would like at all and try to talk my way into something else- maybe involving inventory. Dad keeps telling me that I gave my word and need to take this job, not go find something else.
Then I go to Grandma's family room, where there is a mess of toys and games laying out that we need to clean up. Among all this I find a box with some old novelty chocolate, the very waxy kind, which I break up and give to a couple cousins and a sister, who are all 10 years younger than they are now.
After handing out the candy, I discover a goblin in the room that used to be Grandpa's office, painting novelty chocolates with some other chocolate. He is very unhappy with the quality of the chocolate and feels that his skills are being wasted with this job. I go to the heads of the company and negotiate for the goblin to get a new job that better utilizes his skills and a raise and for me to take over the chocolate painting.
Now I'm at the banquet and it's almost time to perform. But my routine isn't completely developed, and what I do have written I don't have memorized. Somehow I get the message to the sponsors and the comedy competition thing is canceled. So now I'm just one of the recruits, sitting at a long table. The people I am close enough to talk with are Tom, Weevil from Veronica Mars, and a couple Hispanic girls who are vaguely familiar. We get to talking about race and skin color.
After dinner, we all go to another room for an informational session and to officially commit to working with them. They are also giving out company merchandise- I specifically remember t-shirts and socks. The t-shirts all have years on the back. I take one of everything, and choose a light gray shirt with the year 1986 for my graduation year. I think about taking several pairs of socks, but decide against it because it feels like stealing. A bunch of other people load up on t-shirts to take to Lagoon and sell, but that is perfectly okay because there is way more merchandise than is needed and the company is trying to get rid of it all. Anyway, during the informational meeting I decide that this summer sales position is not one I would like at all and try to talk my way into something else- maybe involving inventory. Dad keeps telling me that I gave my word and need to take this job, not go find something else.
Then I go to Grandma's family room, where there is a mess of toys and games laying out that we need to clean up. Among all this I find a box with some old novelty chocolate, the very waxy kind, which I break up and give to a couple cousins and a sister, who are all 10 years younger than they are now.
After handing out the candy, I discover a goblin in the room that used to be Grandpa's office, painting novelty chocolates with some other chocolate. He is very unhappy with the quality of the chocolate and feels that his skills are being wasted with this job. I go to the heads of the company and negotiate for the goblin to get a new job that better utilizes his skills and a raise and for me to take over the chocolate painting.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Terrible Theater Etiquette
June 27, 2010
I go to a high school play with my parents and sisters. When we walk into the theater, the curtains are open and we can see the crew setting things up. The set is pretty poor quality, as if it were put together with no plans by people with no experience with building or woodworking.
Mom sees a metal folding chair looking very out of place at the side of the stage, so she sends me up to move it off. Which I do, carrying it across the stage and down the stairs on the other side before setting it down. The band teacher, who is in the audience, scolds me for interrupting the play and ruining the illusion. I go back to where my family is sitting and complain to Mom about how she told me to do something I shouldn't have done, because the chair was an important part of the play and I ruined the play magic by going onstage, and she got me in trouble. Then, the play having started, my parents start yelling out at the people onstage. I go sit on the floor, facing the wall, knees pulled up and arms around my head, embarrassed to be associated with my family, who other members of the audience, possibly including the choir teacher, are yelling at. Nobody appears to be watching the play.
A stage crew member working with lighting occasionally comes out on some balcony up above us to shout rude comments to and about the actors.
I go to a high school play with my parents and sisters. When we walk into the theater, the curtains are open and we can see the crew setting things up. The set is pretty poor quality, as if it were put together with no plans by people with no experience with building or woodworking.
Mom sees a metal folding chair looking very out of place at the side of the stage, so she sends me up to move it off. Which I do, carrying it across the stage and down the stairs on the other side before setting it down. The band teacher, who is in the audience, scolds me for interrupting the play and ruining the illusion. I go back to where my family is sitting and complain to Mom about how she told me to do something I shouldn't have done, because the chair was an important part of the play and I ruined the play magic by going onstage, and she got me in trouble. Then, the play having started, my parents start yelling out at the people onstage. I go sit on the floor, facing the wall, knees pulled up and arms around my head, embarrassed to be associated with my family, who other members of the audience, possibly including the choir teacher, are yelling at. Nobody appears to be watching the play.
A stage crew member working with lighting occasionally comes out on some balcony up above us to shout rude comments to and about the actors.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Train Station and School
It is evening. I have wasted the day going around on buses and trains, not really accomplishing what I set out to do- which I believe was finding a job. I get off a train at the Murray North Trax station.
There is a group of people there I went to elementary school with years ago. I recently moved back and started school there again. They are gossiping about the other kids, and I mostly sit and listen for a while.
I feel that I am in love with someone who I haven't seen for a while and miss, and I try to think of who that might be. I think maybe it is Darren, who also went to our elementary school but has not returned like the rest of us, and whisper his name, but that doesn't seem quite right.
Then one of the girls asks me what I do, meaning as a job. I don't want to admit that I don't have a regular job, so I answer as though I didn't understand her question by saying, "I wake up, and I brush my teeth, and I eat breakfast- actually, not usually in that order." She responds by saying sarcastically, "Thanks for telling us about your grooming." Or maybe it was hygiene. By this point we are at the elementary school.
Then I realize that something is a little off and say, "We are high schoolers. Why do we go to school at an elementary school?" Jake mentions a theory, but it doesn't really make any sense.
There is a group of people there I went to elementary school with years ago. I recently moved back and started school there again. They are gossiping about the other kids, and I mostly sit and listen for a while.
I feel that I am in love with someone who I haven't seen for a while and miss, and I try to think of who that might be. I think maybe it is Darren, who also went to our elementary school but has not returned like the rest of us, and whisper his name, but that doesn't seem quite right.
Then one of the girls asks me what I do, meaning as a job. I don't want to admit that I don't have a regular job, so I answer as though I didn't understand her question by saying, "I wake up, and I brush my teeth, and I eat breakfast- actually, not usually in that order." She responds by saying sarcastically, "Thanks for telling us about your grooming." Or maybe it was hygiene. By this point we are at the elementary school.
Then I realize that something is a little off and say, "We are high schoolers. Why do we go to school at an elementary school?" Jake mentions a theory, but it doesn't really make any sense.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Sleeping Arrangements and Work
I am on a ship and we need to make room for everybody to sleep, including one cat and 50 or so white mice. In my bedroom on this ship are two sets of bunk beds. We decide to have two people sleep in each bed, the cat sleep on the bed with me, and the mice sleep in groups on the floor. The mice get settled first, and it is my job to get the cat to her place and make sure she doesn't eat any of the mice. Oh, and all the animals can talk.
On another level of the ship is the planetarium gift shop. I go there to work my shift, and worry for a while because I didn't tuck in my shirt. Then I remember we don't have to tuck in our shirts anymore. And then I realize I've wasted a large part of my shift wandering around not doing anything, and I hurry to go count in my register and hope the manager doesn't notice I was gone earlier.
I look at my cash drawer and see that all I have in it is pennies- maybe $4.00 worth- and nickels, about $2.00 worth. The other register has a similar amount of money in it. I try to let the supervisors know, but I am having trouble thinking and communicating clearly because my blood sugar has dropped. Probably to the high 40s, judging from the level of muddledness of my thinking (normal is 70-120).
I am back upstairs, trying to keep the cat from eating the mice. And it is time to leave the ship, and families get mixed up and separated, and I can't remember anything else clearly.
On another level of the ship is the planetarium gift shop. I go there to work my shift, and worry for a while because I didn't tuck in my shirt. Then I remember we don't have to tuck in our shirts anymore. And then I realize I've wasted a large part of my shift wandering around not doing anything, and I hurry to go count in my register and hope the manager doesn't notice I was gone earlier.
I look at my cash drawer and see that all I have in it is pennies- maybe $4.00 worth- and nickels, about $2.00 worth. The other register has a similar amount of money in it. I try to let the supervisors know, but I am having trouble thinking and communicating clearly because my blood sugar has dropped. Probably to the high 40s, judging from the level of muddledness of my thinking (normal is 70-120).
I am back upstairs, trying to keep the cat from eating the mice. And it is time to leave the ship, and families get mixed up and separated, and I can't remember anything else clearly.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Facebook and the Underworld of Dentistry
Afternoon nap
I am Buffy Summers.
I go to visit a new, very nice lady dentist, who gives me a new toothbrush and a dentistry textbook. After I go home, I discover that she wrote this textbook. I log onto facebook to read the comments on something I wrote- there are around ten or twelve comments. Two of them are by John Davis. Then my subconscious realizes that John probably wouldn't have commented, so switches his picture for former-coworker John. I can't remember his last name, so he gets the last name of yet another John.
While I'm reading on facebook, I discover that this lady dentist's father is also a dentist and the head of her practice, and is controlling her and keeping her from advancing in her field. So she and a friend of hers are planning to overthrow her father.
There is a whole army of vampire slayers, and one of them, a little black girl, comes to rescue me from the lady dentist, who has apparently taken me captive as part of her plot. There is also a team of hyperintelligent white mice. I send one of them back for reinforcements.
The lady dentist is invited by the city's criminal overlord to dinner. I am unsure whether this overlord is Angel (who is evil again) or a lady who I briefly saw.
I am Buffy Summers.
I go to visit a new, very nice lady dentist, who gives me a new toothbrush and a dentistry textbook. After I go home, I discover that she wrote this textbook. I log onto facebook to read the comments on something I wrote- there are around ten or twelve comments. Two of them are by John Davis. Then my subconscious realizes that John probably wouldn't have commented, so switches his picture for former-coworker John. I can't remember his last name, so he gets the last name of yet another John.
While I'm reading on facebook, I discover that this lady dentist's father is also a dentist and the head of her practice, and is controlling her and keeping her from advancing in her field. So she and a friend of hers are planning to overthrow her father.
There is a whole army of vampire slayers, and one of them, a little black girl, comes to rescue me from the lady dentist, who has apparently taken me captive as part of her plot. There is also a team of hyperintelligent white mice. I send one of them back for reinforcements.
The lady dentist is invited by the city's criminal overlord to dinner. I am unsure whether this overlord is Angel (who is evil again) or a lady who I briefly saw.
Flight
March 30, 2010
Alex and I are at a church service project in Taylorsville. After it ends, we decide to go home. Alex can fly and offers to fly me home. So he wraps his arms around me and we fly- standing, then floating up and over- to my parents' home. I ask him in for a drink.
Alex and I are at a church service project in Taylorsville. After it ends, we decide to go home. Alex can fly and offers to fly me home. So he wraps his arms around me and we fly- standing, then floating up and over- to my parents' home. I ask him in for a drink.
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