hello, my name is ma'am

Every time Cade would come up to Pennsylvania to visit my family he sir-ed and ma'am-ed my parents to death! My parents found it hilarious every time he called them by those titles and they acted jokingly pompous at being extended these 'regal' titles. Cade told me that it was considered a great disrespect down in the south if you didn't address everyone as sir or ma'am, and as a child you would be smacked if you didn't remember to do so. I'm not sure if it's just me, but up north I don't think anyone ever calls anyone by these titles unless they are at least 20 years your senior. I actually often got scolded by female customers at my work if I called them ma'am because they consider anyone that can go by that title to be "old".

Tuesday night was my first night at my new job, and the pharmacist (Tasha) and the two girls (Summer and Chanoa) I worked with were really nice! I was sooo shocked to see that their definition of busy was laughable compared to what I used to deal with in my old store. Unfortunately, however, the laws in Louisiana are so much stricter than Pennsylvania. In addition to being nationally certified as a pharmacy technician, you must also be state licensed. I need to apply for a license and I need to work for 600 hours under a pharmacist before I can so much as refill a prescription or count a single pill! So for now I am just a cashier, which really stinks because I used to do all the duties at my old store (I worked there for almost 2 years!) and now I'm like a peon :( I'm still going to be paid the same amount, so that is okay. I just wish I was more... useful?

Almost every customer I rung up called me ma'am and it was extremely strange to me. I'm 20 years old, I'm not a ma'am! Even women who were in their 60s were calling me ma'am. That would never happen back at home. I was practicing trying to call everyone ma'am and sir, but it felt so awkward to me. Not to mention the fact that every customer had some kind of crazy-hard-to-pronounce French last name. I did take French for 4 years in high school, but the 2 years and the addition of Spanish vocabulary have pretty much shoved all recollection of French out of my head. Redoirpoix... Voidrideux... Goudret... AAAAAAHHHH!!

Last night I attempted to make my first big-girl dinner since I've been here. I made chicken parmesan for Cade, and eggplant parmesan for me (Cade doesn't eat anything that rhymes with vegetable). It actually turned out really really delicious, if I do say so myself. I was really surprised because I usually can't cook to save my life! I always follow recipes to the 'T' and they always turn out horribly wrong. This time I didn't really follow a recipe, I just kind of winged it, and it came out alright! Yeah!! :)

Sorry for the boring post and the lack of pictures! I promise I will charge my camera and make a point to take pictures around here this week!

Oh, and I almost forgot... here is the little video tour of the apartment I made:

Tour of the Apartment from Emilie Briggs on Vimeo.

I'm not wearing any make-up and I sound really nasally... ugh. Just pretend it's better! ;)

My mom helped me get a new lil iPod since my old one got stolen.
And yes, I am listening to Michael Jackson. What of it?

catching up...

Hey everyone! Thank you so much for all the sweet comments on my last post! It makes me really glad to know that all of you are just as excited as I am :)

I started driving on Friday morning at around 6am. I usually like driving far, so I thought it was going to be sooo fun driving to Louisiana. It wasn't!! I drove from Pennsylvania to Maryland, to Virginia, to West Virginia to Tennesse. I didn't get to Tennessee until around 6:30pm and I was exhausted. I checked into my room at the hotel in Chattanooga and I sat in bed watching crappy tv until I fell asleep.

I got up early at 5am and I was out on the road by 5:30. I hit the time change to Central Time about an hour later, so it was about 4 something in the morning. I crossed into Alabama, then through Mississippi, until I finally reached Louisiana. By this time I had already listened to every song on my ipod 15 times and I was bored witless. I decided to put on Trueblood season 1. I listened to the episodes since I couldn't really watch them (I was driving, duh).

I arrived in Lake Charles around 2pm and Cade was on his way home from work to meet me at the apartment. He brought my favorite Louisiana delicacy for me for lunch-- boudin balls! I have no idea what is in those things, but they are sooo good!

We unpacked a little bit and then we called Cade's best friend Aaron to come over and hang out. We were going to go to Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner (my favorite!) but there was a line from the door all the way to Philadelphia, so we went to Sonic instead. Most people don't understand my love for Sonic, but that is because the closest Sonic to my old home was about 2 hours away. I love their cherry limeades... and their tater tots... and mozzarella sticks. I should stop, I am making myself hungry.

After we ate, we went to the movies and saw Avatar. I didn't really want to see Avatar because it looked like an action movie (not my thing), but it was actually really really interesting and quite good! I wouldn't mind seeing it again. The movie reminded me of a mix between Pocahontas and Michael Jackson's music video for Earth Song. I swear I kept hearing that in my head throughout the whole movie! Haha.

Yesterday we slept in until noon and then got ready to go to the store for groceries and a few other little odds and ends. When we got back home we cleaned up and Cade made breakfast for dinner! After dinner we watched Forrest Gump on AMC and then some awful MTV shows. We went to sleep because he had to be up for class this morning.

Now, I'm just hanging out here until Cade comes home from class for lunch.


I still feel like I'm in a hotel or something, on a vacation. It's going to take a while for it to sink in that I actually live here! I am enjoying it so much so far, but I really miss my family. I wish that I didn't have to move so far away, but I know that I will see them again soon, and I won't be so far away from them forever. It was really hard to leave, but I know it would have been hard no matter if I left now or 5 years from now.

Sorry for the long, boring post! I just wanted to write down everything!
I hope everyone is having a great Monday :) I have my first night at my new job tonight and I am really nervous! Aaaah!



PS - I am trying to upload a video tour of the apartment, so I will post that later! :)

i'm here!!!!

I'll write a proper post later, but I wanted to let you all know I made it alive.











... I am so happy! :)

YESSSSSSSSSS!

I PASSED MY PHARMACY TECHNICIAN EXAM!!!!!!!!!!

I was so excited I almost peed my pants. When I stood up from my computer, after it said PASS on the screen, I almost fainted. I am so happy :)

I got a package in the mail from Cade today! He made a heart shaped box and filled it with little paper "chocolates" that all say sweet things on them. I love it when he makes me cute little things... it's so much more special to me than a store-bought card, to know that he really spent time to create something unique that I can cherish forever.

I also wanted to thank everyone who sent me a Happy Mail birthday card! I received the package the other day, and I was so happy!!! It really made my day!

Oh, and in crappy news: Someone from my class stole my ipod yesterday. I was really upset, and I actually cried... several times. I never knew I was so attached to a material object, which makes me feel kind of stupid. It's not even the fact that it was expensive... I could easily buy another ipod, but I had music on that ipod dating back to 9th grade. There is hardly any music on my computer now, since I reformatted it. I'll never remember which 8,000 songs I had on there :( The security at my school is going to try to see if they can figure out who was going through my purse, but I am not getting my hopes up about it. My mom says I should offer a reward to anyone that can return it to me, but I'm not sure how much to offer. I'd pay pretty much anything, I think, as long as all my music was still on it. I can't believe someone would do this to me, especially since everyone in my class is really nice to me, and I trusted all of them. Now I don't know who to trust... Sigh.

I just hope that I can get it back!

happy anniversary, cade!!

Today is me and Cade's 4 year anniversary :)

Cade,
In just one week I will be on my way to Louisiana. I can't wait to see you again... I haven't had one of your amazing hugs since August, and I'm long overdue. I can't believe that these 6 months have already passed by, when I thought that they would never end. You are everything to me and I can't wait to start our life together. I know that things are going to be difficult, but I am more than ready to take on this challenge with you by my side. You never give up on anything and you are the most encouraging person I know. Thank you for being the most wonderful person I've met in my life. I love you!

duckface

Stop Making That Duck Face!

I spent a long while cracking up at this website, and I hope that you enjoy it as well!

And for your viewing pleasure, I found a picture of yours truly making my very own duckface:


Oh, the shame.

cardigans?

I am on the hunt for a nice, 3/4 length sleeve cardigan to wear over shirts and dresses, but I am having problems finding the perfect one. I really like this cardigan shown above, from J. Crew, but I am having problems convincing myself that $62 is worth it for a little sweater. Does anyone know where I can find a cardigan like this one, preferably for a little bit cheaper? I am hoping to get it in a couple of colors so I can wear them with many outfits... too bad I'm not a kabillionaire...

no more snow!!!

I was snowed out of class today, so I was sitting here... and then I got a phone call saying my pharmacy exam for tonight is canceled as well. Gee, thanks. It's rescheduled for Saturday morning now. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE keep your little fingers and toes crossed that I can actually go and TAKE THIS TEST.... ughhhhhh... okay, enough grumbling.


Alexz had the idea to post a picture that was tagged of you on Facebook that you didn't know was being taken... Here's a funny one of me:

I tag everyone! Leave me a comment if you post a picture, I wanna see :)

sooner than later, i need a savior...

So, guess what I just bought?

Tickets to see Owl City and Lights together in Houston on April 16th!!!!
I am totally excited! I love their music so much :)

I got tickets for me and Cade. It's not really his taste in music, but he's kind enough to go with me anyway!!


Also, it snowed for a million hours today... we have approximately 10 feet of snow (give or take) outside. Needless to say, my Pharmacy Technician Exam was cancelled. I rescheduled it for Wednesday night, but I heard it it supposed to snow again... sigh. So I guess we'll see what is going to happen. I guess it's good that I have a few more days to study... but I am soooo anxious to get this over with and have the worry off my shoulders. So, whoever controls the weather... please be nice to me!!!

Oh, and I also made a formspring. Ask me something?

Create a playlist at MixPod.com

love songs

Create a playlist at MixPod.com

In honor of Valentine's Day coming up, I made a little playlist of my very favorite lovey songs :) Leave a comment and tell me which song you like the best!