I accepted the job, officially, about half an hour ago. Figure with the camping trip next week, I might as well get the ball rolling.

The good news said, now I can breathe a little bit and say something. It's probably something that doesn't NEED to be said, but I want to say it anyway...

First of all, I want to say thank you to all of you. Each and every one of you. Since February, when I got laid off, it's been tough for me. In a lot of ways. It's been especially tough trying to limit myself in many facets of my life. I've had to struggle with not being able to do things I used to do all the time, eat things I used to eat all the time, etc., etc.

It hasn't been easy. It hasn't been the hardest thing in the world either. But I made it through it. I hope that I've become a better, more disciplined person for it. I think I have, but we'll soon find out.

Unemployment broke me of some "bad" habits I had. That's why I suppose it was good for me. No longer do I go out all the time. I don't go to the bars that frequently anymore, nor do I go out for lunch or dinner all the time either. I don't splurge like a kid in a candy store when I go grocery shopping. I actually consider whether or not I'd eat or use whatever I'm buying and go from there.

Before unemployment, I always thought that fun had a price. But since being unemployed, I've realized that, hey, fun doesn't have to have a price. It just depends how you go about it or look at it.

I've also learned that I am capable of making a budget for myself and coming close to sticking to it. Did I have to borrow some money from my parents during this time? Sure. But now, the challenge is to stick to the budget I've set for myself during unemployment and start saving money for my future. It's the one stupid thing I never did in Bolingbrook. But that was then...I don't regret it, because I "was young" and had a lot of fun. But, I should have had SOME forward-looking sense. Oh well. That was then, and this is now.

Now is my chance to change that and fix things. To start preparing for the future while paying off the past. I'll be able to do that, without having to worry toooooo much about day-to-day life, so long as I don't accrue more bills. I'll still have my fun. If I stay focused and disciplined, it shouldn't be a problem. The time is now.

Well, officially, starting July 19.

Check that. I just got the official job offer. I will accept it tomorrow. Hells yeah... :)

I haven't gotten the offer from the one potential employer yet, but that's because they're apparently waiting for my transcript. That's OK...I have talked to them and they still seem to want me. Probably just corporate schmucks holding up the deal. I'm hoping that they make me and offer by the end of the week, since next week I'll be gone all week (camping!) and unreachable. They know this, and they're cool with it, but it would be nice to have it all figured out BEFORE I leave.

The last few days have been pretty busy...On Sunday, for the Fourth, I did work, but we got out around 7pm, as predicted. Then, me and Gina went to see the fireworks show in Evanston, because I read that it was by the same company that did the Taste fireworks on July 3rd. The show was really good, and pretty long (45 minutes!)...and for once, Evanston acted as a pretty decent host of events.

We parked at the Century Cinemas parking garage, because everything else closer was full or closed. I was hoping to go out on the lakefill to watch the fireworks (they were going off out in the water off South Beach), but when we walked past the main parking garage and saw the lakefill, it was jam-packed. So instead, we sat on a little patch of grass at the north end of the parking lot, just south of Pick-Staiger. It was a perfect vantage point, and no one else was there when we got there. By the time the fireworks started though, busloads of high schoolers had arrived, although they were pretty well-behaved. I think they were cherubs...I don't know though.

After the fireworks, we walked back to the car, and we should have just stopped at the Chili's across the street, because it took half an hour to get out of the garage, since everyone was leaving at the same time.

By the time we got back to Gina's house, it was almost midnight (and I was STILL in my work clothes).

On Monday we went to my parents' house to relax and eat dinner (chicken alfredo from scratch by Eddie's girlfriend). We also stopped at her uncle's house to chat.

Yesterday, I had PFW softball...it was a good game, and we won 7-6. Great pitchers' duel, for softball. Before that, Gina bought a new swimsuit, in preparation for the camping trip. It was a great purchase, and I'll leave it at that. :)

Now, I have to buy some sandals and/or flip-flops, and we have to get some other things too. And then the planning, planning, planning. :) But we'll get it figured out. I'm sitting here now, actually, hoping work gets rained out tonight. That would be nice, because then I can relax.

Although I'm bright red on my arms and legs, I have to say that I'm surprised that I'm not in much pain. Probably because I already burned in those places earlier this year...that's typical when that happens.

Today, the 3rd of July, Gina and I slept in until noon after spending all day Friday out in the sun at Wrigley and then the evening playing softball. This after Thursday's move, so we were still quite drained. Thankfully, this recharged our batteries, in order to do basically nothing today.

I went to her house for dinner and to figure out what to do next. We decided to watch "Lost in Translation," which her parents had rented. I had badly wanted to see it when it was in theaters, and I must say, it was really good. I liked it. Pure hilarity at times, even.

Tomorrow, I have to work, for the love of God, from 1pm into the evening. i think the last game ends at 7pm or so, so thankfully I won't have to sit there...but who knows, because today's games were rained out. So, they could reschedule for tomorrow...we'll see.