Nice day to get my credit on!

So I've been freaking out about my near-future details, like credit and school. I ignorantly applied for a few credit cards online with sites like PayPal, since I use those sites occasionally. I was never approved, so I found my credit score. I realize I probably should've reversed those steps, but I have a bad habit of leaping before looking. "Let's give this a try! If they reject me then I know what my credit is..." Yea... silly I know. Anyway, my sister suggested the obvious and told me to try at their bank, Navy Federal Credit Union. The idea made me nervous. I'm okay with being rejected by an online credit algorithm, but being rejected in person seems embarrassing.

Turns out I don't have horrible credit (thanks to Quizzle. Really easy, thorough, and actually free.) But I do have some demerits thanks to some past mixups. Still, I was a bit nervous.

When I went in, I had to fib a little about my living situation, income, and employment... Not the best idea, but I know I can pay off my purchases. It paid off! I was approved about an hour later and I should see my card in the mail soon. My first purchase will be a new laptop! A touchscreen windows 8, probably. I've gone to a few places and messed around with Windows 8 and the touchscreen and was pleasantly surprised. It was really responsive and easy to learn. I realize there is a ton of negative review against Windows 8, but what I read always seems like more nitpick complains rather than legitimate detriments. "I've been doing it this way for so long, change is r bad." ALSO! Their releasing an update that fixes a ton of the complaints. Lets me know the company is willing to admit they have room to improve. The price isn't bad either.

Convoy Street Festival

So Via brought me to a festival on convoy street, a street primarily known for it's Asian cuisine and goods. I wasn't sure what to expect because in her email she said there would be "lion dancing". I wondered if she meant "line" so I brought comfortable shoes just in case.

This was the atmosphere. And by atmosphere I mean lines for the food. They weren't serving anything special from what I could tell, but the prices were waaay cheaper than what you'd normally find. Via and I shared Lua Mee Lao Noodles, 2 lobster roll sticks, 1 fish stick, a veggie roll, and two bottled waters for 13$. For Cali, that is CHEAP! And it didn't taste that bad.

There was hawaiian themed dancing! Really fun to watch. Via was wanting to see the "Dancing Lions", a dance group, but their show was too late for us to stay. When she brought it up first, she didn't clarify and I though we were going to see Lion Dancing. I didn't know what expect. This was fun either way.

They had a projector and old-school Dragon Ball-Z game tournaments! That was pretty sweet. I didn't play but it was still neat to see an old favorite anime game in a crowd. Plus I think they'd have kicked my ass.

The night was really fun. It was great to get out of the house with someone other than Megan and Andrew. Their fun, but I need to make my own friends and my own way around.

Being productive I hope?

I haven't kept up with this lately but things are still happening.

The main thing on my mind right now is my credit. I need to improve it if only for the sake of it being improved. It isn't shit, but it isn't great either. I'm going to talk to the bank out here, Navy Fed (just joined through my sister) and ask them if I can take out a loan for a computer for school, while explaining my primary goal is improving my credit. I don't know if being so up-front will work but it's the best I have. That's my short term goal at the moment - getting dat credit up.

Next goal is getting into UNCA. My GPA is high enough, I think, and with some classes in the spring to help, I think I can get in. That means I'll be moving back to Asheville fall of next year! Which I like the idea of. I don't miss it too much, but the familiarity will be nice. And maybe some of my friends will still be around. Anyway, I need a degree. I think I'm just going to shoot for a Bachelors in English that I can carry into teaching.... out of the country. That'll take some work, but I want it. I want to travel, and for me that's probably my closest bet.

My nephew, Levi, is being so good! We tried out his sling the other day... it's a tad too small for him. He seemed comfy but I think he was cramped. If we did get another one it'll be bigger. We'll see. He's the cutest babeh I've ever seen! And I don't care for babies.