Feeling good...

Turns out I'm getting over $900 back from my Federal and State tax returns. Last year I got a pathetic $230 from Federal, and owed $50 to state. The year before that, I got $1 back from Federal, and owed $80 to state, so apparently I'm doing something right with my tax management.

I may finally be leaving JC Penneys. I've been trying to get a job at a friends work for months, and it looks like a position has finally opened up. He's been talking to his boss about trying to hire me for a while, and although it's not the position I originally wanted, it may actually end up being better, since it pays more, and it sounds easy as hell. The position is a "Typesetter", and basically I sit on my ass and type stuff all day, which if you've known me for more than 6 months...that's pretty much all I do anyways. The position starts at $13.27 an hour, but goes up 10% if I do the 2nd shift (afternoon) and another 10% if I go to 3rd shift (late night). I'm definitely going for the 3rd shift, because that tends to be the least wanted shift in all jobs, and that's pretty much what my shift is now, and I'm a night person. If I get the job at that shift, I'll be making roughly $16.06 an hour, which is way more than the $9.65 I'm making now, plus it's a guaranteed 40 hours I think. Only problem is that it's a bit far away, but with all that extra cash, plus my $900 tax return, I could get a car in no time.

Can't sleep...

Grr...I accidentally fell asleep to early, around 1am, then woke up around 4am, and haven't been able to get back to sleep since...it's now 7:30am =/. I have to work tonight and I'm not going to be able to go to sleep the rest of the day, so now I'm going to feel like shit all day to.

Went to dinner last night with Stefanie. I still haven't bought her a birthday present...her 21st birthday was on the 18th =/ . I like hanging out with her because she loves to talk, so I never have to say much to keep the conversation going =P. She works at The Olive Garden, which is an Italian restaurant. She needed to put in a request for time off, and she asked me if I wanted to go with her and eat dinner with her while she was there, so I ditched my friend Dennis, who I was hanging out with at the time she called me =P. He wasn't too mad, since I'd been hanging out over there all afternoon, and I rarely hang out with Stefanie since I have a problem with calling my friends. I wonder why... I rarely seem to call anyone. It seems I always wait for them to call me. Same with saying "Hi" to people, I never say it first. I've never been good at that kind of stuff.... I can't write letters either. I've been thinking of writing my Grandma a letter since Christmas, and have never even got around to it. I never really know what to say to people if I call them. It seems pointless just to say "Hey, how are things?"... and then 10 minutes later hang up the phone.

I need to do my taxes soon. I'd like to get them back before I go on vacation in February. I paid more than $4200 in taxes this year, which is over twice what I paid last year, so I'm going to be pissed if I don't get a good refund. Last year I only got $230 back from Federal, the year before I only got $1.00 (seriously...). I suppose it's better than owing, but then I hear about people who make roughly the same amount of money as me getting back refunds of like $900.

Had an army recruiter call me yesterday, doing a background check on a "Matthew Lucas", who had listed me as an employer. It was weird when I got the call. Almost made me feel profesional =P. The recruiter just needed my address, and was a bit confused when he found out I lived in Arizona (Matt lives in California). Matt is apparently looking into the Army as a possible future. I wouldn't mind joining the military as well, but my heart condition prevents me from doing so... stupid heart.

Recently started listening to more Nine Inch Nails. I didn't realize a lot of Trent Reznors songs were so Atheistic; not that it affects my opinion of his music, just that I realized I'd been listening to NIN since I was a kid, around my parents, who are pretty devout Christians =P.

Today

Bought all my snowboarding gear the other day. My brother still hasn't got his vacation approved, so I can't buy the plane ticket just in case he can't get the time off. If he doesn't get it approved soon, the ticket price is going to go from $220 to probably well over $250.

Managed to make another manager at my work mad at me. Apparently she told my friend/boss Dennis that I'm "stuck up" and that I walk around like I'm "God's gift to women". Isn't that some BS....how the hell do I act like I'm God's gift to women if I never speak to any of them.... Apparently all this came about because I won't say hello to her unless she says hello first; but if I'm the one always saying hello to her first, rather than vice versa...does that make her stuck up instead of me? That's some pretty retarded logic she has... I'm just going to continue acting as I always do though. I'm not going to force myself to say hello just to make her feel comfortable. Besides, even if I did say hello, she'd complain that I didn't say it with a smile on my face. I hate when people act fake, as if they're in a good mood, or as if they don't dislike you, when you can tell it's all bullshit. Managers do this all the time because they have to look professional. I hate it.

Ok, time to catch up...

My friend Dennis and his wife Nicole just had their 3rd kid a few days ago...the 8th I think. It's hard keeping track of days when you work nights. Here is a picture of her. They named her Marissa Shanel Varela.

Last weekend was pretty busy. Went to lunch with Stacy, dinner with Stefanie. After dinner Stefanie, her sister, her sister's fiance, and myself went to a place called Jillian's, which is sort of an arcade/bar/club. Played some air hockey and a few other games. After that we went and saw the movie "White Noise", which wasn't too bad. Had a pretty crappy ending though. If your looking for a movie that will make your date jump and hold on to you, it does do that two or three times.

My friend Mike and his girlfriend both got new cars. He traded in his 2003 Honda Civic LX for a 2002 Ford Focus SVT 3-door. I'm not real fond of the Focus myself, as I think it's pretty ugly on the outside. The inside isn't too bad though, although he got the one with all the options like heated seats, 6-disc changer, upgraded sound system, etc. Even came with a "stock" sub-woofer. It won't make your chest cave in obviously, but it's definitely better than most stock stereo's. His girlfriend got a much better car IMO. It's a 2005 Mazda 3 4-door. I like Mazda's much better than the Focus, particularly the Mazda 6 and the RX-7. The Mazda 3 is pretty much the Protege with a bigger engine and a new body. It's sort of the economy version of the Mazda 6. The interior is even better than the Focus, especially because it has a built in GPS System. I didn't even realize how much GPS systems could do until I saw her and Mike messing with the one in the car. They can really be helpful though. Looks damn cool to, and folds away into the dash so car thieves can't see it =D.

Planning to go to Los Vegas at the end of February. A friend of mine is graduating from the school I originally moved down here to go to, so she's going up there for the weekend with a bunch of friends to celebrate. It'll be my first time there. I don't plan on gambling any though, because I suck at it. Should be a good time though.

Was planning on going up to Washington for a week in February, but plans have been changed to March. I won't be spending probably any time with my parents unfortunately, because I'll be going with my brother and a bunch of friends to Big White, in Canada, to go snowboarding. it'll be my first time "actually" snowboarding. I've ridden on my brother's snowboard down some very short, but not very steep hills, but that's hardly snowboarding. Unfortunately it's going to cost me quite a bit of money because I have to buy pretty much everything but the snowboard (which I'll rent when I get there). Luckily I found some quality gear for pretty cheap prices thanks to Google and Ebay. I plan on spending ~$450-$550 on equipment and lift tickets, plus another $150-200 for the plane ticket, so this will easily be the most expensive trip yet, but hopefully it'll all be worth it. I just wish my brother could get me some solid dates so I don't have to worry about spending $700, and the trip ends up getting canceled. I'll be putting most of the equipment costs on credit cards, so if the trip "does" get canceled, it won't hurt my wallet much....at least initially. Out of curiosity, anyone know of any good places online to get gear? Not looking for top of the line, nor am I looking for cheap stuff. Just looking for something in-between, or if you can get quality stuff at really good prices. I already bought my goggles, but I'm still looking for a Jacket, pants, and gloves. I have a hat somewhere around here... Unfortunately I wear a size 14-15 snowboard boot, so that's going to be a pain in the ass to find. Here's the gear I'm currently looking at, and will probably purchase...

K2 Cyclone Tech Jacket - Grey/Blue - XL - $71 after S/H
Liquid Avalanche Pant - Iron - $140 after S/H
Drop Horizon Gore-Tex Gloves - Navy - XL - $40 after S/H
OR Drop Team Gore-Tex Gloves - Black - $35 after S/H
Spy: Scoop - Black w/ Persimmon Lens $31 after S/H (already purchased)

Traded in my HP 435 digital camera that I got last month for Christmas. Returned it to Wal-Mart, and got a Kodak 7350 instead. It's a thousand times better, and only cost $30 more.