owenchang

[owenchang]

Owen: okay, to be fair, i swear you've never mentioned your crippling fear of furbies in conversation before! it didn't come up! Owen: uhhh, been a while since my last count, but i'd say about thirty or so. i really loved them when i was little! Owen: oof, yeah, some of them do blink independently so be ready for that, too. Owen: also, yes, i'm absolutely just screwing with you. 😁

Jackson: you what? Jackson: i need you to look me in the eye (through the phone) and tell me you're joking Jackson: you’ve been sleeping beside me for HOW long with that knowledge?! Jackson: how many are we talking?? because i need to emotionally prepare myself Jackson: also are any of them the ones that like. blink independently. i need to know what kind of evil we’re dealing with here Jackson: i swear if i wake up at 3am to one of them saying “i see you”... i’m moving out and taking the dogs. you can have the cursed furby army.

[owenchang]

Owen: ohhhhhh, okay, that makes more sense. i thought you were saying our new place was cursed already or something. lol Owen: ...though, on the subject of that, is this a bad time to tell you i actually have a furby collection that i just haven't unpacked yet?

Jackson: that was supposed to have this creepy ass thing attached Jackson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKg6Sy0enOk Jackson: still can't believe they brought these things back

[owenchang]

Hey, in your case, it's pretty reasonable though. It can't be easy to find time to fully settle down when you're frequently moving back and forth between NYC and here for your music, right? Thankfully, I think we're past the point where I'd need moral support take-out, but I can't lie, now I'm almost wishing we weren't so I could take you up on that.

TELL me about it, I feel your pain. I bought my place months ago and still haven't entirely settled into it, but that's mostly my own fault for being so sidetracked with other things. Here's hoping I can finally focus on wrapping everything up now that I'm sticking close to town for a bit though. And if you need moral support take-out delivered to your door in solidarity, I'm totally good for it.

[owenchang]

Thanks, Chris. Much appreciated! And it's bigger than my old apartment, actually. Probably Jackson's, too. Picking out a studio was actually his idea and we lucked out with the one we ended up settling on. Enough room for us and all of our children - and by children, I mean our animals - which is what was most important to us.

Feeling your pain, man. Sending you all the best of luck with the rest of your move. Since you mention moving from an apartment to a studio, am I correct to assume you're downsizing?

[owenchang]

Owen: not gonna lie, i feel like i just did the absolute bare minimum to help you out, but you're welcome. 😂 Owen: besides, at the risk of now undoing said help, i think you're right it's definitely not the MOST unhealthy thing.

Zac: I mean you're not wrong it's probably not the healthiest Zac: but it's also not the unhealthiest Zac: it's so good man but nope I will resist - otherwise I gotta go buy a whole new jar Zac: thanks man, I needed that reasoning to keep up my willpower

[owenchang]

Well, don't put that idea out in the universe! I'm sure Gabe won't ditch you. If you're so worried about being a team player, though, is there any kind of method you can think of in advance to mellow yourself out a bit when the time comes so no snapping occurs? Find your inner calm or whatever they say. Definitely a bit of a struggle at first, but I think we're finally past the unboxing phase and now just onto making the place feel a bit more like home. Speaking of help, though, I'd offer the same to you if you think you and Gabe might need any extra hands on deck.

Oh tell me about it, though I think you and Jackson work better together at getting things situated than me and Gabe will be. I'll be lucky if we get through it all without one of us backing out on the deal and leaving the other to cover the mortgage on their own. At least once we're through, we'll each have our own rooms to hide away from each other in, because I can see it now - I'm gonna end up snapping about him moving too fast or too slow while we carry stuff in. Sad, even with my best friend, I'm not always the greatest at being a team player. Anyway, 'nough about me, how are you guys making out? You need any help with anything you have left?

[owenchang]

Owen: because it’s… bad for you? sorry, that’s the best i got and i’m not even sure how bad for you that’d actually be. lol

text 📱 owen

Zac: I need a good reason NOT to eat this entire jar of nutella right now

[owenchang]

Owen: cursed?!

text 📲 @owenchang

Jackson: cursed

[owenchang]

I have recently been reminded of what a pain moving into a new space is. Especially when you're going from an apartment to a studio. I'm excited, don't get me wrong, and I know it's not like hating to move isn't a universal thing among everyone, but I've lived in the same space for so long, I quite literally completely forgot how painful the whole process is. Luckily, I'd say we're over halfway done now, but I will still take any and all good luck for the bit we have left, thank you very much.

[owenchang]

TEXT || OPEN

Owen: please remind me to breathe over this next week even if it's just a quick text. it will be much appreciated since i will be drowning in founder's day prep for the shelter's usual booth. Owen: honestly, i don't consider myself an overachiever at all, but founder's day every year never fails to bring it out of me, i swear. so though you'd THINK i, as a functioning adult, can remind myself to breathe, those who know me best will back me up that i actually cannot. 😅

[owenchang]

Speaking of things we want to do, any plans for the quickly approaching summer, Miss Berry? Other than working, of course. Hm, well, we'll figure it out! Honestly, I have enough confidence in you to do a good job that you could probably even switch between those two jobs if you'd rather not do the same thing every shift. Just your information is good! I can take care of the rest.

Right?! Why does time have to fly by when we're adults and have adult money, now and more things we want to do?? Hmm, well since I've worked with fostering before as a volunteer that might be a good fit, or adoption counselor... I think either of those two would be workable for me. Wherever you need me, and that sounds good to me for the pay! Thank you, do I need to stop in and fill out any application to make it more formal? Or do you just need my information to get me on the payroll?

[owenchang]

Exactly. Which is a shame because now that I'm getting older, I'd actually like to enjoy my time a little more and not have it be a blur. Of course, that's totally reasonable. As for positions, there's animal care technician, adoption counselor, foster coordinator... maybe even a receptionist? Honestly, I feel like there's very few positions I'd say we're completely full of at the moment. And then the pay, how does about fifteen dollars an hour sound?

Exactly! It's like, when you're a kid, the holidays and summer vacation are two things you're always looking forward to. But then, as an adult, for the most part you still have to work and have more responsibility that it just causes it all to be a blur! And especially once I start working through summer, not just having it off. Not to be a nuisance about it, but what all positions do you have at the shelter and what would the pay be? Not that I wouldn't love to work there as a summer job, of course, you know I'm practically there most of the summer volunteering as it is! Just have to get those specifics to know for summer budgeting as well, since it'll be going towards those pesky bills and mortgage.

[owenchang]

No kidding! I always thought my parents were exaggerating talking about how fast time starts moving when you get older, but no, they were completely correct. I wish time would slow down just a little now though since I kind of feel like I might be in the happiest time of my life. Anyway, as far as your job struggle, I'm sure it goes without saying that the shelter will always be ready and willing to accept you. Besides, you know me! With Founder's Day coming up, I tend to go as all out as I can so we're set up to hopefully have a busy and fruitful summer, so we could especially use your help.

I know everyone always says this, but I can't believe how fast this year is going! There's a long weekend coming up because of Easter break, then before we know it, it'll be Memorial Day weekend. Right after that it'll be summer vacation again! Well, for those of us who are teachers... and even then most of us have second jobs to hold us over during the break. But you know what I mean! It's just zoom, zoom, zoom! Speaking of second jobs, I'm still trying to figure out what to do during the summer. Anyone know of a place that's hiring seasonally?

[owenchang]

@owenchang @ambersrose @djdomberry @finnhdson @alejandrolpez @laurynhayward

💐Spring & Easter Activities Meme🐣

Send 🥚 for our muses to have an egg hunt

Send 🎨 for our muses to paint/decorate eggs together

Send 🐰 for our muses to get our picture taken with the Easter bunny

Send 🧑🏼‍🌾 for our muses to go to a farmers market

Send 🍅 for our muses to plant a vegetable/fruit garden

Send 🌱 for our muses to plant a flower garden

Send 🌷 for our muses to visit a tulip field

Send 🌳 for our muses to plant a tree for Earth Day

Send 🎟️ for our muses to go to a drive-in movie

Send 🧹 for our muses to do some spring cleaning

Send 🏡 for our muses to host or go to a yard sale/garage sale

Send 🪁 for our muses to fly kites together

Send 🛝 for our muses to go to the park together

Send 🚴🏼 for our muses to ride bikes together

Send 🚗 for our muses to go on a spring break roadtrip

Send ❓ and make up your own activity!

as we all know that f2f/para interactions can be a bit more time consuming, remember not to overwhelm yourself when sending these memes. just be sure to reach out if you're not up to doing one sent to you or feel free to discuss the memes before sending!

[owenchang]

Owen: now THAT is a crazy good idea. i actually talked about something similar with matt and though it was too late to implement it this time around, i realized that i'd absolutely love to travel and visit some animal sanctuaries and other similar places during my next vacation. Owen: oh, perfect! we'll definitely get in touch with her then. thanks for being such a huge help, lady!

Hadley: true, true lol i mean it's really been a long time coming Hadley: well you could always look into maybe some type of vacation that also includes working at like maybe a wildlife rehab center! that way you're away on vacation but still in a way tending to animals and idk that just sounds like a fun vacation to me. Hadley: alright! i actually went through rutherford realty, you know daria's mom! she was great.

[owenchang]

Owen: i mean, to be fair, you and everyone else were already pushing me to take time off even before this. but i definitely have a much weaker defense not to now. 😂 Owen: i really did miss the shelter at the same time though! i love what i do, so i'm glad to be back at it, too. Owen: for sure! i'll check with jackson, but given i don't think either of us are particularly knowledgeable with this stuff, i'm sure he'll be on board with you getting us in touch with her.

Hadley: yes, baby steps at least! and hey now we all know that you CAN do it so if anyone at the shelter or even I see you looking like you need a break we can use this vacation as proof that it's OKAY lol Hadley: it still sounds like a great time, especially just getting to relax and spend quality time together! Hadley: oh my gosh that's awesome though!! congrats!! I can definitely set you up with my realtor she helped me a lot, plus my dads and all so anything you need at all let me know!

[owenchang]

Owen: now, i don't know about that just yet. it still feels strange to me that i even set aside that time for myself. but baby steps, right? 😂 Owen: honestly i don't think the trip itself was anything too exciting or unique. we just kind of got in the car and drove and ended up wherever we ended up. but lots of enjoying nature and spending time with my boyfriend and our doggos, so i can't complain! Owen: oh and i guessss we did agree to find a place together, too. speaking of which, if you have any advice as a recent new homeowner yourself, i'm all ears!

Hadley: yay! I love that for you, owen! and nowww you will have the confidence and faith to go on MORE vacations in the future because YOU DESERVE IT! Hadley: I'm now your hype girl no take backs. and you're super welcome!! Hadley: I saw the photos but tell me what all did you do and what fun was had??