Path of the Vampire forum

Today's Reading:

• 1. Nine of Pentacles
  
  2. Six of Swords
  
  3. The Hierophant

The nine of pentacles has to represent one of my professors, crotchety Ms. Emerson. She’s an arrogant woman with a wild collection of calico cats. I’m not entirely sure about the calico bit, but I’m positive she has a ton of cats. Who else would put up with someone like her? She’s failed us all for misinterpreting photographs on an exam. I argued on behalf of my fellow students that artwork was all about interpretation. She assigned me a ten-page report on the pyramids. I’ve never liked Ms. Emerson. She qualifies as the independent woman though. She’s the nine of pentacles.

I read the six of swords as a retreating card. It’s a man pushing a boat away from the strong current and into calmer waters. Spring term is over and I’ve passed all my courses. I won’t have to repeat any of them, which is new. My parents are proud of me. Gran took my report and hung it on her fridge, like I’m nine years old again. I guess going into my third year is an achievement! I started late and I’ve always kicked myself for being an older student in the class. The six of swords represents moving into a school-free summer.

I’m not sure about the Hierophant. It’s not that I don’t know how to read cards. I can read tarot cards just fine! I’ve already had a teacher and a guide in the three-card spread: Ms. Emerson. My past, my present, and my future. The Hierophant is the future. Maybe I’ll be getting a new instructor? I’ve always had the same ones though, just different subjects. Apparently, someone’s going to be teaching me something new. I’ll be getting new information. Is it really about my studies or could it be about my job search?

Lucky Numbers:

11, 23, 15, 9, 17

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With my finals over and grades in, I’ve got the whole summer to myself. I’m broke, so I’ve started job hunting. I had a work-study job in the library at UWO, but that ended when school ended. I might apply at the library in Honeymead. I’ve got job experience, even if it’s been broken up into month increments. I’ll take a peek at the application and see if I can add in job experience and references. Gran counts as a reference, doesn’t she?

I’ve looked at a tea shop in Riverwood Market. I think it’s in Riverwood Market. I’ve lived in this city on-and-off for almost twenty-four years and I still get all the places confused. Does it really matter where the place is until I work there? That could be a fun test. If I find the place on my first day, I’ll keep working there. If not, I’ll have been fired for not showing up, so I won’t try finding it again. I like that idea. Who said there’s something wrong with being whimsical? ^.^

So that makes the library, the tea shop, a candle place, a hospital. I’ve got a list on a post-it note. I need to write it all down where I can remember it better, so why not here?

• The Honeymead Library in Honeymead.
• Arbor Vitae in Gullsborough.
• The Pentacle Teahouse in Honeymead.
• The Book Nook in Stag Heath.
• Peppermint in Stag Heath.
• Archer Artistics in River Rock.
• Aromatic in Stag Heath.
• Enchanted Wedding in Stag Heath.
• The High Noon Saloon in Coastside.

There are plenty of places to choose from, but I like these few the best. I like reading. I like drinking wine on occasion. I love tea and tea houses. I love books. I love herbs and plants and oils. I’m majoring in art history. I love the idea of weddings. As for the saloon, I’ve no real rational reason for working in a saloon other than the fact that I’d get to tell people I worked in a saloon. To summarize, I’d love to tell people I worked in a saloon.

I have paper applications and online applications for places all over the city. Everything I had lined up for employment around UWO fell through. My first interviews never went that well. Apparently dressing like you’re already employed by the places sends a weird message. To me, it says I’m ready to work and I can start right now. I’ll never understand big business. I don’t mind being back home though and trying to make some summer roots. I’ll get a temp job, look into summer courses or night courses, get a cat (this probably isn’t realistic right now since my gran’s allergic), look for a roommate (which would make the cat search possible again!). I don’t have to be back at uni until September, so I have plenty of time.

• 75 g butter
  
  1 small onion, thinly sliced
  
  340 g button mushrooms
  
  900 ml light chicken stock or broth
  
  1 sprig flat parsley (flat?)
  
  Salt and pepper
  
  56 ml high-quality sherry

• 1 medium saucepan
  
  1 wooden spoon
  
  1 blender

Don’t forget to give a copy of this to Gran, Stella! If she asks, there’s no picture, but it got 4/4 spoons on the reviews. 90% of the people said they would make it again. The other two mushroom soup recipes she asked about got horrible reviews and the pictures looked awful. Ask why she can’t make cold cuts or bake cookies like the rest of the world. And remind her that she promised you a car for your acceptance to UWO. It’s been years and still no car. AND ASK FOR MONEY FOR A NEW XBOX! - Your favorite brother, Marko!!

ASK FOR A NEW PLAYSTATION! - Your REAL favorite brother, Luka!

ASK FOR THE XBOX OR I’M TELLING EVERYONE ABOUT YOUR DIARY!

Stop leaving your diary laying around. I’m not fighting those two idiots off just to save you from embarrassing yourself any more than you already have.

P.S., I’m borrowing your red shirt

Mirella

Today's Reading:

• 1. Past - Knight of Swords
  
  2. Present - Knight of Pentacles
  
  3. Future - Judgement

The Knight of Swords is dressed in armor atop his horse and he’s riding into battle. He’s bravery and determination and strength. He’s coming to the rescue. He’s the hero. I’m not sure exactly where that fits in my past, unless I consider it my brother, Luka. Gran’s been having a lot of trouble lately and I can’t handle everything on my own. Mom’s busy. Dad’s busy. I had offered to stay with her before my term at UWO even ended and now I’ve got to find a job. Luka’s a lifesaver. If I squint, I can make out the face on the card and it kinda does look like Luka. It looks like my twin brothers are triplets.

The Knight of Pentacles is the complete opposite of the Knight of Swords. This knight is dressed in darker armor and he’s rigid atop his steed. He’s steadfast and completely dedicated to the object, but at the same time, he’s forgotten the real purpose. He’s like me. Sometimes I get so caught up with what’s to come that I forget I have to do something to get to that point! He represents me and where I am right now. I couldn’t tell you what it is I’ve neglected though. If I remember, I’ll add it in.

Judgement is a card I don’t like to see in my spreads. The archangel Gabriel floats atop the clouds, blowing his horn from the heavens. People rise from their graves, arms spread in worship and awe. To me it represents a transformation and a change. It’s about answering for what we’ve done in the past and being reborn. I don’t know how I’d be reborn if I haven’t died. Gran told me to look beyond the obvious reasons when it comes to this card. I can’t figure it out. I might transform into an employed college student, if I hear back about any of the jobs.

Lucky Numbers:

3, 9, 12, 23, 28

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Today, I found Gran at the bottom of the stairs. She told me that she had a little accident and then she just decided to stay on the floor, but I think she really hurt herself. This isn’t the first accident she’s had. She didn’t want me to “make a fuss” about it. I wasn’t going to call Mom. Gran just couldn’t stand up on her own without crying out in pain! Mom had to come over and take Gran to HR General.

When we got to the hospital, we had to sit in the waiting room for a long time. My dad showed up with my brothers and sisters and we took up most of the chairs in the room. The nurses came out with a wheelchair to help Gran back into one of the rooms and Mom went along with her. I’d never seen Gran in so much pain. While we waited, Dad went to the vending machine and bought everyone chocolate bars and chips. Then one of the cooks came out and refilled the hot water canisters in the lobby so we could all have hot chocolate to go with our snacks. I don’t remember how long we were sitting there, but it felt like we were sitting there for hours! For as long as we sat there, playing watered-down car games and charades, I expected Gran to come out good as new. She didn’t.

Gran came out with a boot on her left foot and an ice pack on her lower back. The doctor said that she’d be perfectly fine, but she needed to rest and keep icing her back for a little while. She needed to wear the boot because she did something to her foot. I think he mentioned that she’d broken a bone. I can’t believe something happened to her. Everyone was so relieved that she was okay and that nothing more serious had happened! She filled her script at the pharmacy and then we all went back to her place and Mom and Dad made dinner for everyone. For the first time in a long time, we all sat at the old dinner table.

I was staying with Gran already, but I agreed to Gran Duty. Between applying for jobs and looking into summer classes at HRWU, I have to make sure Gran takes things easy. Luka’s on Gran Duty too. I don’t know how he feels about it, but I can’t do it all on my own. He’s staying here, at least until things quiet down. If things quiet down. I’ve already caught Gran trying to sneak out once tonight. She’s obsessed with going to bingo and beating a woman named Betty Hanson. I don’t know who Betty Hanson is. The doctors told us that Gran might be a little spaced out because of the pain medicine; I can’t decide if Betty Hanson actually exists or if Gran’s just high on pain pills.

I got a few rejections from some of the smaller businesses I applied to. I applied to a few restaurants for a waitress or hostess position. One place said I was overqualified, one place said I needed more job references, and one place said I was underqualified. I’m not sure how I can be underqualified to be a waitress when I’d be trained by other people. All I’d need to do would be to take orders, take the orders back to the kitchen, deliver food and beverages, and make sure my people were happy. It’s a shame I wasn’t hired. I’d already picked up a uniform.

I emailed a few of the places my resume! When I was trying to construct it, I couldn’t come up with much for accomplishments. I didn’t think putting down that I passed my courses at all would count as a major accomplishment. It counts as an accomplishment to me though. Post-secondary isn’t at all what I thought it would be. I put down that I was a member of clubs and I’d been accepted into the art history program. I should have lied, but I’ve never been much of a liar. My lies are terrible. I once told a professor that I couldn’t turn in my essay because my little brother, Stefan, ate it.

Any of the jobs I’ve applied for would work around my school schedule, if I get a school schedule. I have pamphlets from Harper Rock West. I looked into financial aid. I’ve got a bus route memorized. I just have to look at the courses and see if I need any of them and if they’d transfer. I’d like to take German. I don’t know why. I don’t need German. I don’t even know about Germany. It seems like German would be a good choice though. What if I need it for my new job? It might look good on an application.

I’ll write down some courses tomorrow morning. I’m a little sleepy right now. Everything that’s happened really took a lot out of me.

P.S., I did decide that no matter what, I’ll just keep applying for a job at Peppermint until I get one. Determination is a good quality.

P.P.S., I’m not sure if I should include that on my application or not. Can I amend it and try again? I’ll put in the bottom notes that if they don’t hire me, I’ll just keep applying until they do.

P.P.P.S., I don’t think that’s a good idea now. It makes me sound like a crazy person. I’ll just leave things as they are and hope for the best.

P.P.P.P.S., I’ll just include that I’ll keep trying to improve myself and apply at a later date! Perfect.

P.P.P.P.P.S., I'll just leave things as they are.