My computer died Friday night.  I should be back tomorrow afternoon.

I love spring and summer.  Not only is there no school, but...just the feeling it brings is grand.  Everything seems happier.  Also, a couple of friends in school an hour or so away are back.  Better odds of doing fun stuff on week nights, playing guitar with friends included.

I've got a new job this summer.  I'm working in molecular biology professor's lab.  I can work 20 hours a week (actually 40 hours per two weeks, however I want to split it up), anytime I want, no strings attached.  I'm not making quite as much as I would make at CVS.  What I'm researching (under his direction...it's his research) is different RNA expression in brain and muscle of specimens with and without muscular dystrophy.  It's mostly setting up reactions or other processes and waiting for them to finish.  But I get paid for waiting.  Not waiting on people - that sucks.  Just waiting, doing whatever I want while I do it.  My professor/boss is a nice guy, and pretty cool too.  He was impressed when I spotted a King Crimson CD in his office only by the cover, sitting in a corner; I have "strange, but good taste beyond my years."

I'm still working at CVS for now, like 12 hours a week; Monday or Tuesday, and always Saturday.  I said I could work Monday and Tuesday, but for some reason the lady that makes the schedule doesn't put me on for the day shift.  Employees at CVS have an "annual review" on the date of their original hiring.  The employee is evaluated by the management and a raise is decided on; the raise is supposed to go in effect within a month.  I was hired July 2003; I'm still waiting for my raise that was sent in July 2004, and it's almost July 2005.  I'm being forced to rotate in on Sundays again, starting this Sunday.  That pretty much settled it.  I'm putting in my two week notice. 

There are two men at my church that run pharmacies.  One runs his own three miles down the road - I graduated with his son, he's been my Sunday school teacher, etc.  His pharmacy closes at 7 on weekdays, 2 on Saturday, and is closed on Sundays. 

The other is in charge of a Wal-Mart's pharmacy about thirty minutes away.  Not as good as the one down the road, but I'll do what I have to do.  They give raises up to four times a year, are only open 9-9 on weekdays (instead of 8-10 like CVS), 9-4 on Saturday (instead of 8-6), and 11-4 on Sunday (instead of 10-6).  I'm not sure if I'd have to work Sundays with him or not.  His son is in our youth group (that I help with, and play for), and he (the father) is involved in the devotions on Wednesday night, so it seems like he'd be lenient.  Even if I did have to work a Sunday here and there, 11-4 is much better because I'd still make it in time for the Sunday night service.

If those two don't work out, I'll just settle for the lab work at school.  Once I start school, I won't be able to work at the Wal-Mart job except for Saturdays, but not even those until after soccer season.

I just cannot work on Sundays.  I can't bear it.  If I could bear it...if I did think it was okay, I still couldn't because I have obligations.  I'm the trumpet player on Sunday mornings; I sing and play the piano on Sunday night.  These are jobs that I am committed to, no less than school and work (and actually more so, in my heart, obviously).  They never schedule me to work over my classes or my lab job...why do they schedule me to work over my church job?

Currently Playing:  Bob Marley & the Wailers - Heathen (live)

Anyway, about the last two posts.  I just had one of the better years of college so far concerning the establishment of...I don't know...a social group?  Now I'm out of the 100+ biology and chemistry classes and in the ~60 member pharmaceutical science classes.  The professors for the most part are great, and our classes are more or less consecutive each day.  Each class has almost the same people in it; just makes it easier.  Finally this past semester, about a month in, I found some friends.  As it often happens, I was just getting the feel of enjoying going to class, seeing these friends, and balancing my work load.  Hopefully this fall's semester will be a continuation of that.

I can't help but notice that this has also been the best semester I've had, morale-wise and grade-wise, since I've started my job at CVS.  This semester I only worked a few days in January, and two Saturdays in March/April.  It made it so much easier.  I never had to worry about rushing to work after class, or not having a Saturday.  I was free to be at church everytime I wished, free to be with family as I wished, free to do whatever I wanted after class was over.