How “Hoarders” Has Changed My Life

I will admit it, I have always been known to be a messy person. Let me rephrase, I am a cluttery bargain hunter. I used to only buy things on sale, and did not have the space to house all of my bargains. It was never like I couldn’t manuever in my room, but I just always had clothes on my floor or a project half finished on my bed. I was often traveling, so I would blame my clutter on constant shift.

And then, something changed.

I began to watch a lot of A&E tv. It all started with “Intervention” an emotionally draining mini-documentary on the lives of addicts. It was easy to see these people and their struggle, and think “God, I will never huff 17 bottles of computer duster a day.” Quick decision, life fixed.

Then, there was a new program on, called “hoarders.” For those of you not in the know, hoarding is a form of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder that is categorized by the need to compulsively collect and save items, with the inability to throw things away. The people classified as hoarders are these twisted self-proclaimed “collectors.” Often times their houses are filled to the brim with stuff such as household appliances, books, boxes, trash, food and often, cats. Many people recognize the problem, but are unsure how to go about fixing it. Others are in complete denial.

There is a general outline for a hoarder. A person, male or female, living in a rural area, probably on the lower end of the socioeconomic scale, who suffered some traumatic event that triggered the onset of major hoarding, and usually owns at least 10 cats. The show brings in pschologists and professional organizers to help the hoarder to well….de-hoard, often finding some of the most disgusting, flattened cats under the debris.

So how did this change my life? Well, now that I have been watching hoarders I have been insanely afraid that at any moment I could suffer from a traumatic depression, or loss, and BOOM- I am a hoarder. What if, in 10 years, I had 20 snakes that crawled around and pooped in the house (I am not much of a cat person) and couldn’t even sleep in my own bed? I have no desire to not be able to walk to my bathroom or cook in my kitchen.

So, I have purged my room, thrown away half of my belongings, and now I only focus on purchasing wise “investments” for the future (ok ok, I bought a flat screen tv….hey its like a graduation gift… to myself).

So, while I have a ways to go before I am a neat freak….for those of you like me, who have had clutter issues in the past…watch “Hoarders,” put your cats up for adoption, and start tossing stuff away!

Love peace and elbow grease

Annie G

Jackass 3D…and the side effects of depression

So last weekend I went to see Jackass 3D (it was Gil’s birthday and I let him pick the movie).

We paid our tickets, received our stylish 3D ray bans, and proceeded down the stairs of the Showcase cinemas in Randolph to catch the 3rd installment of the notoriously hilarious shenanigans of the Jackass crew.

And then, about an hour and a half later, I was nauseous.

Not only was I sick because of the excess amounts of vomit, fecal matter and male genitalia that was on display in this cinematic adventure, but also, I was disturbed on a deeper level.

Now, jackass hit its prime when I was just entering high school. In those days, my friends and I would watch that show, and laugh for hours, then ignore any disclaimer and attempt some wacky stunts ourselves. I remember having a giant crush on johnny Knoxville, thinking Bam Margera could be my best guy friend, and desperately wanting to have lighthearted friends just like the Jackass crew.

And now, I am 22, on a quest to become a real person, and looking at Jackass with a whole new perspective.

Now, don’t get me wrong, the movie was quite hilarious, I found myself laughing between dry heaves, but then I thought that these men must be approaching their forties, and they are still reveling in their slapstick ways.

I know I know, they get paid millions of dollars for this crap, I understand. But unfortunately, these guys represent a portion of the population who never quite grow up. And to be honest, it’s a sad thing to face.

When it comes down to it, I still do want to be like these guys (minus the sweat chugging, public defecation and porta-potty obsessions). I want to still have carefree times, where I get together with my friends and do stupid stuff. I don’t want to have to worry about loans, dreams an goals. I want to be able to go to a job where all I do is make people laugh.

I guess watching Jackass didn’t have the kick that it used to….maybe I should buy a video camera.

I’m Annie G. , and this is my blog post!

Open mouth, insert foot

So, after that huge post the other day...

I got a job.

Thus my life as a real person has taken another step....very exciting indeed...

but what is more exciting is that my dear friend Steph moved away from me to the Big Apple, and she has some snappy stories to tell!

check out her blog at http://gripelist2009.blogspot.com/

outtie 3000

Annie G.

Finding a job....the battle for entry level

For those of you who are young, perhaps in high school, and considering enrolling in a prestigious university, I offer you this advice...

Don't.

As a recent cum laude college grad from the 69th best university in the nation, with experience working on capitol hill, a university in another country, security at a top venue, one of the top-earning tourist attractions in the city of Boston, and a whole list of other random jobs I have held over the year, one would think I would be a shoe-in for a juicy-salaried career...

But you would be wrong.

Now I know this all sounds very egotistical, and while my stunning resume and well-written cover letters are something to brag about, it is nothing without a response. Since I have returned home (about 2 months ago) I have sent out AT LEAST a resume a day, most times more. With all of this emailing, calling and confirming, I have maybe heard back from 4 people.

In fact, because I was so desperate for some cash, I even applied to Best Buy, Petco, Borders, and all the restaurants at Patriot Place...

...none of which have called me back.

For a while I thought it was me, perhaps I wasn't as smart as I thought I was. Perhaps my intellectual capacity holds no more than what is necessary of a basic clerical worker. Perhaps all of my hopes, dreams and goals are really nothing more than a bunch of crap.

But then I turned to my peers and saw I wasn't alone. In the state of this economy, it is insanely difficult to not only get a job, but one that pays well.

If I had graduated 5 years ago, with the amount of experience I have, I would have easily been able to play my cards right and walk into a 50,000 dollar a year job, perhaps even more. I would not have needed to move home, would not have needed to apply for weekend retail, would not have needed to wake up each day and look at my 97 rusting and heatless grand marquis, and definitely would not have needed to live paycheck to paycheck.

Luckily, I did play my cards somewhat right. I have been freelance writing and working for a textile company (it helps when you are dating the boss and they need a temp) but then I think to myself....I have a degree...and couldn't even get a job at Petco.

The problem is not only that jobs are scarce, but so is experience. Whenever I look at a posting I immediately scroll down to qualifications. Even entry level positions require 2-5 years experience! And not only are we up against all the millions of recent college grads, but also all the other people who were laid off during the economic recession...and usually those people....have experience.

So while it was all well and good back in the day, going to college and graduating with a nice salary that is, I am now stuck battling for 25-30,000 a year positions, while watching thousands of dollars of student loans pile up behind me.

So again, if you are living in 2010, and thinking about college...

Learn how to be a mechanic instead...













...I still need my car's heater fixed.....




Peace,

Annie G

A new view on my blog

Well, as most of you know, my travel days are over (hopefully not for good) I am now focused solely on finding a career, a permanent residency, a new car, and other such things that would qualify me to be a real person. A daunting task it is indeed, but now, my blog will chronicle the ups and downs of real life, as well as those little things that get under my skin....