December 7, 2005 1:22 pm

Miserable Evening

:note: nothing

Daniel got ahold of the apartment people today, and all is well. They apparently never got around to entering our credit into the database, the first late fee was a fluke, and they’re not going to charge us a late fee for this month either, and the lady that was involved in the key incident doesn’t even work there anymore. It was apparently all a gigantic misunderstanding. That still doesn’t leave me with much faith in them, but fortunately we only owe them this month’s $325, not that entire $800 crap. *big sigh of relief*

Yesterday was kind of all-around sucky. It didn’t start out that way – I had fun in class, I went out to happy hour with some friends (and had Ginger Ale, and nobody carded me because we sat in the restaurant part) and talked about movies and dorky Internet-y things.

Then I got home and we had that stupid letter in the mail.

The plan that night was for us to go bowling with Daniel’s co-workers (not sure if I mentioned it before, but they do this every Tuesday) and I agreed to come along this time, after missing last week for homework. I bowled a fantastic first game, getting 116 right off the bat. The second game didn’t start out nearly as well – I think I got two gutter balls on my first turn.

Then some girl started talking to me. The conversation went something like this:
M = me
H = her

H: So, where do you work?
M: Err, well, I don’t… I work… Um, I work at my school. I go to school.
H: Oh! Where at?
M: The Art Institute of Portland.
H: Oh. Soooo, what are you majoring in?
M: Web design.
H: So do you actually feel that it’s worth your money?
M: *caught off guard* Um, well, it’s expensive, but I think–
H: Because you know you could get a degree at an art school, like PNCA.
Daniel: Oh, our friend T did that! She transferred from Ai to PNCA! And sometimes your major is kind of… funny… I mean, you’ve had all those department directors…
H: I’m in the industry, and honestly? The industry laughs at people from Ai.
M: *speechless*
H: *ignores my look of horror* I studied Graphic Design and I’ve got a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts. And I went for FOUR years. You know you could do that, and you’d get an actual degree.
M: Well it’s a three year program and I’m getting a BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE out of it.
H: Oh, it’s– You’re not– *changes tactics* But, I mean, you WANT a fine arts degree. Really.
M: But I DON’T want a fine arts degree–
H: In your portfolio and everything, they want to see your artistic stuff, your sketches and everything. You can’t have a design portfolio without that.
M: You– yes– Design is–
H: *says something else inflammatory, then sort of turns around and ends the conversation*

I almost burst into tears right there, except it was my turn to bowl (I got a 9). She had basically just told me my school was crap, my degree was crap, I will graduate but never get a job because everyone just laughs at Ai graduates and I should just give up and transfer to a REAL college like PNCA where I can get a REAL degree in Fine Arts. And then Daniel, unbeknownst to him, made it far worse by seeming like he AGREED with her when he was really just trying to be part of the conversation. UGH. I was miserable the rest of the night. Why would you DO that to somebody? Just start up a conversation with them and then tell them what they’re doing is worthless and laughable? I’m still infuriated. And she works at Nike. I would HATE to work at Nike.

I came home and curled up on the Poof chair. I didn’t even bother putting on my pajamas or getting ready for bed. I fell asleep and ended up dreaming that I could speak to a ghost. The ghost was a little blond girl whose name was Annie, and I was the only one that could communicate with her. I woke up totally freaked out at 7-something and came to bed for another hour.

I’m still sort of freaked out about it, and still feeling like crap because I go to an expensive school where I’m getting a Bachelor of Science degree in three years. I feel like it was what some people call a “mommy-drive-by” except instead of being about my parenting skills, it was about my school choices. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO DEFEND MY LIFE CHOICES TO SOMEBODY I DON’T EVEN KNOW?

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5 Comments

  • Heidi says:

    First thing, I’m so happy you got the rent crap figured out. That kind of stuff sucks. Didn’t you say that you already payed Decembers rent?
    Just a little about your friend Annie:
    In general, ghosts symbolizes aspects of yourself that you fear. This may involve a painful memory, guilt, or some repressed thoughts. You may be afraid of death and dying. Alternatively, ghosts are representative of something that is no longer obtainable or within reach. It indicates a feeling of disconnection from life and society. This dream may be a calling for you to move on and abandon your outdated modes of thinking and behavior.
    To dream that you reach out to touch a ghost, but it disappears, indicates that you are taking steps to acknowledging some painful or repressed thoughts even though you are not ready to fully confront them.
    To see the ghost of a living relative or friend in your dream, signifies that you are in danger of malice acts by that person.
    To see the ghost of a dead friend/relative in your dream, suggests guilt and regrets concerning the past relationships with that particular person.
    I just got that from the dream moods dictionary.
    So…………..
    You can decide what your dream meant. Oh by the way the girl at the bowling alley is a dumb bitch. I think she was just projecting her unhappiness about her major and her shit ass job at nike on you. I think your school is great and the fact that you can get a bachelors in three years is amazing. So fuck her. And I don’t think Daniel was trying to agree with her. So on that note everyone in the world sucks ass except for our friends and family. Love you!!!!

  • nicole says:

    honestly it wont matter what degree title we will gt out of this school. I have heard time and time again that if your portfolio is good, that is all that matters. Also, A bachelors is a bachelors, so it isnt like we are walking out of a trade school with a certificate saying “well done”.

  • Daniel says:

    I’m really sorry about that. I wasn’t trying to be a dick, I was just stating that our friend did exactly what that girl was talking about. That girl was a huge twat though. I really didn’t mean to agree with her because I think that you’ve been getting a lot out of your school, and it seems like people get some pretty good gigs coming AI. I love you, and I hope you feel better.

  • Trinity says:

    Bäh. That’s a load of shit. If you’re good at what you do, it will pay off regardless of where you attend. A degree is a degree. I don’t attend the best school for chemistry (I go to a liberal arts one), but I really don’t think I’m at a disadvantage because of that. I’ll come out of here with my BS and everything I know and I’m sure someone will pick me up along the way.

    And who even starts a conversation like that? I think that girl needs to focus more on her social skills than on advertising for PNCA…

  • OK, first – gotta agree with Daniel. That girl IS a twat. And not in any inviting way.

    Now: Fuck that. She prattles with no clue. How is getting a BS in 3 years a bad thing? I just love how the bitch changed direction just as fast as she could when you told her about the REAL degree you are earning.
    And as someone who closely observes the hiring of web designers (I’ve helped go through stacks of resumes for that) where I work, I think your degree would be more valued than a FA degree. You’re not goin’ into the watercolor painting profession, you’re goin’ into web design, and employers would prefer you to understand the underlying technology of what you’re creating.

    I have no idea why this bitchlips felt the need to piss on your parade, but I’m here to tell ya: her head is as empty as her bed after the dozen rodeo clowns are done with her skanky ass.