Bad News Puts Me in Bad Moods

Yesterday I received my email of rejection from Ohio State University. While reading it, I felt like my lungs were collapsing and at one point. I thought I would have to call a paramedic to remove the enormous elephant sitting on my chest. Instead, I sucked back the puddles of tears that were forming, logged off my computer, left the building and walked to my car. While I driving home, I sat in silence, listing off all the consequences of that dreaded email. As I pulled into the driveway, my shower of tears began. Let's just say, there is no longer a drought in My Neck of the Woods, Georgia.

What could anybody say to me to make me feel better? It's not as if I am being left in a horrible situation. Nothing is changing. I just have to stay here longer. Big deal, right?

That's the point, though. Nothing is changing. My life is going to continue while the distance between me and everyone that I love stays the same. I hate distance. I hate waiting. And, even though I am not in a horrible situation, I hate it.

I told Loverboy last night that we were going to have to wait longer to move in together. All he could say was, "This sucks." I don't know what I wanted him to say, but hearing "This sucks" over and over again wasn't very reassuring. I can't help but think that it is my fault that we are not physically together. But then again, I did everything that I could to get myself there. What did he do?

I feel like him and I are in a little rut. My news definitely did not help dig us out. I am going to visit him in less than 2 weeks. We will be with each other for an entire 2 weeks. I am hoping we can get back to normal by the end of our visit. But then again, what is normal with us? We continuously compare our current relationship to our old relationship when we lived within 10 minutes of each other. We have to move on from that and come to terms with the fact that our relationship is long distance and it will be for longer than our old, close relationship.

On the bright side, at least I found out that I am not moving just in time to renew my lease. Plus, I decided that once the semester is over and I have time to breathe, I am going to adopt a pet. With Loverboy and everyone else so far away, I need something of my own to cuddle besides my pillows.

Remember When Playing Tag Kept You In Shape?

In accordance with Pokey's game of tag, I have listed below five weird/random things about myself and five places I would like to see for the first time or just visit again.

Five Weird/Randoms About Me:

1. When I listen to certain songs on my Ipod, I imagine that I am in a movie and the song is playing in the background as if on the soundtrack.
   
2. Unless I am really focused I usually have at least three thoughts running through my head while the rest of my brain repeats lyrics to some random song.
3. Almost all of my moles are in pairs. I have two on the side of my belly button that make it look like a smiley face. [Sidenote: if Loverboy is upset I can usually get him to crack a smile by flashing him my smiling belly.]
4. I think the holiday Reese's [i.e. Easter Egg Reese's or Christmas Tree Reese's] are sooo much better than the normal peanut butter cups.
5. The smell of licorice gives me nausea.

Five Places I would like to visit:

1. My parents house
2. Loverboy's apartment
   
3. Both of my grandparents' houses
4. The Caribbean, but only if my sister goes with me so we can take on Tortuga again
5. Alaska, but not until I am a little older so I can really appreciate it.

I can't think of anybody that hasn't been tagged on this yet so Megaso and Grandma B tag you're it! Click on my Hits to Happiness/Comments section and leave yours there please.

In other news:

I took cousin Chris's advice and e-mailed Travelocity about my unsatisfaction. About an hour ago, I received an apologetic email from Travelociy, Passport to Fun and Shopping Essentials along with a refund of all of my money. Thanks Chris!

Travelocity Sounds Like a Happy Word, Right?

I feel naive/silly/stupid/duped. Here's why:

I started booking semi-regular flights in August to visit Loverboy and my family. I like checking out different airlines at one time so I can compare/contrast so I have been using Travelocity.com. Well, if you have used the site recently you probably noticed that after paying for a flight, in the same window as your flight confirmation, there is a yellow box screaming for you to click on it that says "Click here to receive $20 back" (ok that's probably not verbatim, but that's what my memory remembers reading). Naturally, I clicked the box. After clicking, a new window popped up that asked me to verify my email address and the credit card info that I used to pay for my flight. I proceeded until a new window popped up with a list of businesses/services...that wanted me to check out their "great deals yada yada yada." I became disinterested at that point and closed all of the windows and walked away.

That happened sometime in September. A few days ago, while checking my bank statement I noticed a $14.95 charge at something called Passport to Fun. I thought, hmm that's odd, I have never heard of this place, it sounds kind of dirty, what could I have bought there? I decided to google the place to see if it would jog my memory and what did I find? Blogs like mine discussing the fraudulant "business" that sucked hundreds of dollars out of their bank accounts. Instantly, I called the number for Passport to Fun that was on my bank statement and cancelled my so called "membership" that I had unknowingly signed up for by clicking the yellow box. While on the phone I waited on hold for over 10 minutes to talk to a representative of the company, and naturally after those 10 minutes I still did not talk to a representative. I was naive again in thinking that I would be able to get through to somebody.

Later that day, I received an email from Membershipservices [of Passport to Fun] informing me that my "membership" was in fact cancelled. At the bottom it was written that if I had any questions or comments, I should feel free to respond to the email....and respond I did. I was livid! I'm still waiting to hear back...

It took the rest of the day for me to get over my anger. I finally came to terms with the fact that maybe it was my fault for not checking my statement earlier in October when the first charge came. I checked my bank account again yesterday morning to make sure my paycheck was received. What did I see?!?!? Another $14.95 charge from a place called Shopping Essentials! What the hell?!?! I called right away and it was the same automated message...to cancel your membership press 1...to speak to a representative press 2...I pressed 2. Somehow, I got through right away.

While on the phone I had Alex, the representative, explain to me how I "enrolled" into their program (through Travelocity she said); if her company was affiliated with Passport to Fun (yes, they are sister "companies"); how many other sister "companies" have my credit card info (none, she claimed); and if I could talk to her supervisor. When she asked what I wanted with her supervisor, I responded, "TO GET MY MONEY BACK!" She said, "Oh I can issue the refund." We'll see about that. She also said she can refund the money that Passport to Fun stole from me. I'd like to believe that. Only time will tell. I don't know how I could get a refund after cancelling my debit card and getting a new one.

I am shocked that a site as popular as Travelocity.com would have a link to a fraudulent site like that. I am also shocked/confused as to how my credit information was transferred to the other "companies". It makes me sick even thinking about it. If I don't get my refund then there's not much I can do except warn everyone I know by telling them my story. If you know anyone that uses Travelocity please pass this on*.


*And if youwork for one of the "companies" mentioned above, you're probably going to hell.

There is a (Hot) Guy Staring at Me at the Moment

Loverboy (finally) got a web cam for Christmas. Thinking ahead, I made sure my laptop had one before buying it. These past few weeks have been exponentially better than all of last semester all because of our web cams. We have dates every once in a while in which we will both watch the same movie at the same time while our computers "sit" next to us. We started playing each other in checkers on yahoo.com. In one window he'll be trying to distract me while in the other I am getting kinged. Sometimes when I am really lonely, I'll put my computer in bed next to me so it's as if we are laying next to each other. Although it sounds sad, it makes me feel better after seeing his face.

Naturally, as with everything, hanging out via web cam has its pros and cons:

Pros* and Cons

• Um, duh we get to see each other
• No kissing
• Shaving is not required of us
• We don't get to touch each other
• Bad breath? Not a problem.
• He can still see my acne
• He can see me smile
• Our Internet connection has more control over our dates than we do
• I can see him smile
• NO KISSING
• We are both smiling more
• Kisses can't be transmitted via web cam
• We are laughing more
• The more I see him knowing that I can't kiss him, the more I yearn to kiss him
• People we encounter on a daily basis are happier because our happiness makes us nicer

To sum up, his web cam is making the world a better place.

*I had issues with the coloring. I'm not really obsessed with Christmas. Although, I have been talking about it a lot lately...?

Hey Doc, Does This Look Normal to You?

It's that time of year again. Time for a check-up, that is. I finally found a gynecologist that I like a couple of years ago, but unfortunately I cannot afford to fly her here to give me a physical. Before I make an appointment with a new doctor, I want to get some recommendations from my friends. I feel more comfortable going in knowing that the doctor does not come off as creepy.

A few nights ago I asked one of my roomies if she has a gynecologist in the area.

Her response: an appalled look on her face followed by a sharp, "Um, noooo."

My response: "Alright then, um thanks."

What I really wanted to say was, "Hellllllooo! You're 25 years old and you don't have a gynecologist?!?!? You need to get yourself checked out!!!"

It turns out that she has never been to a gyno. Why? Apparently it is because she has never had sex. The gyno is not a sex doctor! That is definitely not the only reason to have check-ups! I wanted to smack her in the face and shake her back into reality!

I have been going to the gyno regularly since I was 16. Not one of my appointments were for sexual reasons. If anything, I have gone just to get the added reassurance that my body is normal. I keep having this reoccurring thought that when she finally does have her first experience at the gyno, she's going to be traumatized.

Is anyone else bothered by this? Isn't it the rule of thumb for women to have regular check-ups after the age of 18 if not earlier? Could it be a religous thing?

Step 1

to having a good day:

• Get a 97/100 on your homework

Yay!

I'd like to Introduce you to My New Friend

If you have spent more than say 5 hours with me, you might know that I am addicted to Red Bull. It's a habit I picked up while in undergrad. Several of my friends at the time were older than me and when we hung out at bars (ie restaurant bars that I could get into) while they drank beer and other fun drinks, I drank Red Bull on the rocks. At times I was so bad that I would drink up to 4 cans in one sitting. Now the company makes it much easier to become an addict with their 12 and 16 oz cans. I knew I had hit rock bottom when, as a graduation present, Loverboy's mother bought a 24-pack of Red Bull.

When I moved here, I had a fresh start. I slowly weened myself off RB by drinking something else caffeinated (ie Diet Coke). Having the word Diet in its name can be a little misleading. Just because it's a diet drink does not mean I should drink more of them, right? Tell my cravings that. I am now just as bad with the Diet Coke than I was with the RB. I never drank dark pop (yes, pop people, I'm from the Midwest, that's what it's called) before moving here, but now...I'm addicted.

I realized how bad I was after expressing my anger over my roomies taking the last of my cans. I am starting to think that it's not the drinks that I'm addicted to (although they are sooo tasty). I think it's the caffeine. If that's the case, I might as well drink coffee like most people. Today I made my first pot and it's actually pretty good*! This may the start of a new relationship. Coffee, I have to warn you, you have some pretty big shoes to fill.


*I apologize if my breath offends you. I have yet to figure out how to get the bad breath taste out of my mouth after a drink.