Hello!

You are all well, I hope?

So I've been working for the Duck Store for a bit over three weeks.  I can't begin to tell you how it feels to have regular work again for the first time in over two years.  I've noticed I'm definitely more productive as far as errands go (probably because I now have less time to get them done, so I'm not blowing them off as often).  I'm working in the Shipping Department of the Duck Store.  This is where they handle online orders, packing them up to be shipped out.  My job is to take merchandise that's been paid for and box them up to be mailed.  So far, I'm liking my job.  The people are cool, the job is pretty easy, and the company will work around my school/theater schedule if I'm kept on (more on that later).  My only problem right now is my sciatic nerve is starting to hurt again (I tweeked it a year ago, but thought nothing of it when it stopped hurting a few weeks later).  I think it's mainly from standing on the concrete floor of the warehouse.  In light of this, I'm making an effort to lose some weight (gained a bit during the holiday season, admittedly) and to stretch before, during, and after I work.  If that doesn't work out, I have a friend who's a licensed massage therapist whom I might call for a half hour session or so.  Another big kicker right now is I don't know how long the job is going to last.  When I first took on the job, I was explicitly told to look at this like a temporary job to contain the rush of orders from the holiday season and the Rose Bowl game (which the Ducks won, by the way).  However, the vibe I'm getting from my bosses right now is that I might be able to stay on part time when school begins.    Eighty hours a month at the Duck Store and the Oregon Daily Emerald job (which I've already been hired on for the Winter Term) will definitely help in my financial matters.  However...we'll see what happens when it happens.  The Duck Store did mention that they also wanted to train me on a cash register to work in their main store.  Either way, I'm pretty optimistic.  Thinking about setting up a local bank account specifically for rent money, depending if I get the regular part time gig.

School starts on Monday.  I've already bought my books for my classes.  This term, I'm taking:

-Geologic Hazards (last Geology class to finish my minor)
-Views of the Environment
-Geography of Globalization

I'm really excited to be going back to school.    I've got this term, the Spring term, and then my Summer Internship, then I graduate from U of O in August.  This is the home stretch.  

The year 2012 is starting out a good one.  Hoping to keep this momentum up.

Hope all is well.

-Thomas