i got a masters degree for this?

So I went on my very first Inventory Observation for work.  It's a classic assignment for a first year.  They're the reason I'm not allowed to be out of town for both Christmas and New Year's.  (Yes, I am in fact scheduled for an IO at 6am on January 1st while the rest of the firm is given a pad day off.)

My first IO assignment was for a cement plant in Vancouver, WA.  Before going, I got an e-mail telling me that I needed steel-toed shoes for safety requirements.  Umm, what?  How do I even process that information?  Where do you

 buy steel-toed shoes?  After some googling and phones calls (slow afternoon at work) I found the cheapest available option at Fred Meyer.  $35 for a men's size 8 1/2 that I definitely charged through to the firm.

I show up in Vancouver, expecting an hour and a half of counting rocks before I'm done.  4 1/2 hours, many piles of rocks, 2 silos, and 17 cement trucks later, I was all done.  And ready to spend several more hours documenting the experience of course.  It was freezing cold and raining and I was stuck wearing too-big ugly shoes, a hard hat, safety goggles, and a bright orange vest.  Hott.

My favorite part of the day was climbing to the top of the silo to drop a tape measure down and figure out how far up the cement 

(or flysash) goes.  There was this super narrow metal ladder (enclosed in a cage to prevent falling all the way off) that I had to climb up in three sections.  They gave me special grip gloves so I didn't slip and fall due to the rain and large shoes.  And I still have a muddy pair of steel toed shoes in the trunk of my car because I have no idea what to do with them.  Amazing.

coupons, coupons, coupons

OK so I went to FHE tonight. I usually never go (because I hate it) but I also have very few friends in my new ward so I need to make an effort to be social. And, we'd been informed that a coupon guru was coming to teach us how to use coupons. I had to go to hear this crazy coupon lady speak.

I show up, and there are two coupon people there, both from my home ward. One is Stephanie, my young women's president growing up, and the other is a man whom I don't know. He calls himself Captain Coupon. Amazing.

I hate using coupons, with a few exceptions I'll get to in a minute. I assumed you'd spend hours cutting coupons and getting newspaper ink all over your hands to save about four bucks a month. And, quite frankly, I think it's embarrassing to use coupons. Little did I know the extent to which coupon clipping can save you money grocery shopping. This man and woman claim to save 80-90% of their grocery costs in coupons. Captain Coupon's all-time record is getting a $400+ grocery bill down to less than $20. There are apparently three types of coupons you can use in conjunction with one another: manufacturer coupons, competitor coupons, and doubling coupons (they merely double the savings up to 50 cents from the other coupons you're using). The right combination can bring your food items to a negative balance and help offset the cost of other food items in your cart. Grocery stores will not actually give you the money if you're left with a negative balance (as Captain Coupon once was) but will insist you buy more groceries. Basically these coupon gurus are feeding their families on little to no money and I find that quite impressive.

Now to the coupons I already know I like:

• Costco, in general, has some great coupons every month or quarter or however often they send them


• Banana Republic will give you 20% off one item if you fill out a customer survey online attached to your receipt


• Bed, Bath & Beyond has those 20% off coupons every now and then


• JoAnn Fabrics (and other craft stores) usually have coupons sitting by the door as you come in

Maybe, after FHE tonight, more coupon clipping will make its way into my grocery shopping. Does anyone know if Trader Joe's and Whole Foods accept competitor coupons? In any case, this was hands down the best FHE I've ever been to. So entertaining. And thanks heavens I was sitting next to Diana for continuous under-our-breath dialogue, because I simply could not text Kirst and Linds fast enough about Stephanie's appearance as the coupon Guru.

more of the same thing

I had to do the apartment tour in two posts because I was having strugs getting the photos to upload in the correct order. But as I'm typing this I'm realizing that this post (with photos which I want last) will appear above the other post. For heaven's sake.
Here is my desk, curtains, and BEAUTIFUL birthday flowers from RZ. I hope you notice the large pile of computer bags to the right of the desk. I now own three laptops, which is too many.
Bigger closet than I had at college, although still not a walk in.
I've clearly run out of room to buy new clothes but somehow I think I'll find a way. :)
And my oh so cute green and brown bathroom. You can see both walls because of the mirror. There's also a green fuzzy floor mat which I like very much.

hello, i live here

Here is a photo tour of my new apartment, as promised. This post only covers my bedroom and bathroom because the rest of the apartment is not yet in a state for showing off. Hopefully someday. Enjoy.

Come on in...
You know you're dying to come visit and sleep in my bed with me. I'm still missing one paper lantern as IKEA was out of the largest size both times I've been to pick up other items. And please note the frames I spray-painted and hung on the wall in lieu of a headboard.
I found this bedside table at TJ Maxx and I love love love it. I did from the very beginning but was worried it's actually hideous and I only think it's amazing so I brought my mom and sister in for a second opinion. They agreed that it's fabulous. I've been tempted to carry the mermaid theme throughout the rest of the room but have not. And I realize they are probably lesbian mermaids on the front, but I'm not threatened by that because I'm secure in my sexuality.
I love this dresser from IKEA. Kirst got the same one. Thank you Dad for putting it together. After finishing my bedroom I am so over furniture you have to assemble yourself.
My full-length mirror which is much prettier than the one I'd always have in my college apartments but does not have the same slimming illusion because it's bigger. I guess better information leads to better decisions.