Girls gone wild!

This poster my brother got me for Christmass, and I love it. He told me to just think of him chasing snow-bunnies when ever I saw it. :) However, I feel motivated to start running again whenever I look at it!

Good luck with the snow-bunnies Jon! Love you!

Love them, or hate them, but you got to take them

"I can not eat this, there are too many bones in it"(its fish) , "I can not eat this there is more fat than meat"(they're ribs), "I do not like this, it is not what I was thinking it would be", "I ordered a large pizza last night at your restaurant and there were 4 pieces when we had the server put it in the box, but when we took it out for dinner tonight, there were only 2", "My day was fine until I got here. ... No. I am not going to tell you why I had a good day, or make any sort of small talk with you, just give me my check.", "We had a good night until we got here; first, the hostess was off doing something so we had to stand in the lobby for 3 minutes (probably bussing tables) than we had to wait 15 minutes to get our food ordered (this includes the time the server took their drink and got it), than we wanted our appetizer first but it came with the meal (new server didn't check with table to see how they wanted their food ordered when they placed app order with dinner order), and we didn't get our salads. No. we don't want anything. Yes, find out what went wrong so that it won't happen to another table." -talk to server and she starts to cry. Talk with kitchen because tables are pissed about food taking too long (one guy walked out) and I get told that it is the servers fault. Tell servers/bar to make sure to order food as soon as they get the order, go back to kitchen because one of the cooks is new and somewhat edgy. He snaps at me when I tell him to please make me steamed broc instead of cold broc. I tell him, "When broc is substituted for a side on any wrap, sandwich, burger, or entree it needs to be steamed. Only spin dip gets raw broc." He glares at me. I walk away while he gets a voice over from the long-term guy. Later, verbal fight almost breaks out between a dispatch/delivery person and this guy because both have hard time holding their tongue. She bites a remark and glares, I tell her to just walk away. She gets a pat on the back later for doing so. Things die down, I comp many meals; expensive night for GM. GM can not afford this, and I am certain some of those unhappy tables reported their news to others. Oh, and another customer talked about how much they disliked the service, the food, the drinks, etc. and barmaid says, "Than why do you keep coming back every week." Woman glares at her and asks for check. Barmaid says, "Just go. I've got your drinks."-in a stern voice. In that case, I give her a high-five!

Do not read, if you don't want to hear about it

Too much, too little...plainly said.

Guy who fixed the jeep called this morning on my way out the door, guess what? It needs a new transfer case, etc. In the end, it is going to have cost more to fix than the damn thing was still owed for. Needless to say, I had a crying fit and didn't make it to school. What caused all this differential, transfer case, bearings worn out problem? Because it is lifted too high! Now, M didn't do that, but he bought the thing because he liked it that way. Sometimes, in the long run looks just make things worse. Yeh, I like the Jeep too, but not for its aethestic appeal so much. And when we bought it I thought, "yeh, think of all those fun logging roads I can explore now!" Than we moved to ND, and while I went to the beach a couple of times...after I scratched the car I almost got forbad to do it again. The best part of the Jeep was the awesome safari rack that came with it, and that helped out when we left for ND. :)



I need a vacation, and so does M. and so does the kids (from mom and dad).

Hannah wanted me to post her pic with her fancy, dancy backpack. And the other is a pic that M took one day of Nat when she had fallen asleep. ("Nice mouth Nat!")

I had my interview yesterday, and now the torturous week. The week where you do not know if they want you, or if they don't. The week from hell!

I am supposed to be doing my Espanol homework right now, but I lack the motivation. I swear, this semester is going to be a drawn out one. I have no pep to do my work. I've got to find some motivator to keep me going...god, I'm pathetic if I always need a motivator. Don't you think?

So, the Jeep is in the doctors right now getting an estimated 1,100/dollars medical treatment. (Cough, cough...oh, what is that? God! It's my "get-out-of-debt money"and visit my friend in CO money!) Okay, the Jeep wouldn't do that by itself, BUT the van is in desperate need of maintenance too. I am getting fearful of that thing, afraid the CV boot is going to just say, "No more work for you white woman!" and I'll be stuck. Or that the delicate balance with the radiator we have going on will just sway too far towards the favor of itself and if so,...Yeh, it's sad. But not as sad as my tone indicates. :)

Yesterday in my interview they ask, "How do you handle stress?" I say, "I believe that everyone has a public side and a private side to their life. In my public side, you will not see me exhibit a lot of stress. If I am under too many deadlines, or projects, I will communicate with my supervisor my stress and discuss how we might be able to temporarily re-prioritize my responsibilities. In my private life, I become introverted and stick to my core. My core being; work, family and school. I hope that my friends will understand my situation and allow me to do what I need too to handle my stress, and when things are calmer, if they are my true friends they will still be there." And than to throw a lighter note I added, "Oh, and of course after the kids go to bed I like to lie on the couch and watch a couple of TV shows, or read a book. (said with laughter)" They laughingly acknowledged that. :) When I told M. this he said, "You should have said that you work-out or something."

Well, I've procrastinated too long. I'm so glad they asked nothing about whether or not I had a problem with procrastination! Adios.

PS My friends that have been kindly waiting to hear from me, thank you! Thank you for your patience and quiet support! You mean alot to me, and I do think of you often, even if I do not pick up the phone or write you an email. That goes for family too.

Sorry no pics, just talk...

I know that I need to get some photos posted, and soon, but ratherly honestly...my lack of pics admits my lack of availability. Sad, is it not?

I have three assignments to finish tonight, by midnight, and I have zero energy. This working full-time and taking four classes is tough. I imagine that if I lived by myself, or with just M., it might be managable, but when I am distracted constantly with the television noise and requests to get a drink, a snack, etc.; it is tough. I thought seriously about withdrawing from this semester, but now the time has come and gone for me to be able to withdraw w/ full reimbursement. I paid it, I got to play it.

Got an interview set-up for the college job on Tues. I think that the school would be easier if I was not working in 40 hrs (sometimes more sometimes less) in 6 days. Granted that does break down to less per day than most people do, but figure that some days I'll work 5 and others I'll work 10+.

This is such a "pity post", sorry. It is just that I am soo tired, mentally, and I am draggin my ass on getting to my work. I love social sciences, but gosh, you have to think about your homework. It's interpertative, while science (i.e math and biology) is more like memorizing.

Okay, no more posts until I can give you pics!

Yes, i know...

I really NEED to post some pics of my kids; it is imperative that I keep you, my family, properly up-to-date on how the kids are doing. I have no recent pics to post, but let's see about a written commentary...
Noah - he is doing good. He had an all-nighter last weekend with his cub scouts'at his school, and stayed up til 3 am. I was asleep on the stage at 1:30. Bad parent, (since all the others managed to stay awake). He is still doing well academically, and I am thinking that I might remove him from his current school next year. Why? Because the floor plan (no walls, it was built in the social experimental era of the 50s/60s)causes mass distraction. I am not the only parent who has realized this. And, for social reasons. I'd love to get him into a private school, but is that reality?

Hannah - she is as talkative and imaginative as ever. Constantly creating scenarios for her and Natalie to act out. Of course with the proper dolls, horses, stuffed animals, and occassionally Noah's toys. It is funny, she can be quite bossy! ("I'm not playing with you!"-she tells Nat when Nat says 'no') Hmm, where does she get that from?? :) And, she of course, is absolutely beautiful and since her hair is growing, it has gotten really thick. But I still can not braid it or put anything in her hair, "No mom! It'll hurt!".

Natalie - she tags along with Hannah. She is also adored, literally, by her dad. He spoils her. But that will be his issue when she gets older. :) She has attitude (don't tell her 'no') and then she will just hug you till you think you're choking. Very loving.

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What do you say to a customer who finds part of a brown paper bag (what the flour came in) in their slice of baked bread? How do you apologize to that? I had to laughingly ask, "So, who found the "golden ticket"?" They did not crack even a minute smile; I was screwed. The moment would be broadcast across the town, and since it was not something re: their ordered meal, I couldn't discount, offer desert or buy their meal. Yep, the 'straight-mouths' would talk about this to their friends, and it would not be with humor.

What do you say to an unhappy customer who has just told you that they do not want to buy their dinner? Well, of course you buy it, and I was going to do that anyway, but then they ask, "Is the rumor that GM is going to close true?" I look at the gentleman in his beautiful tailored shirt, with beautiful professional hair coloring and cut, and think: "What should I say?" I decide, give him my personal opinion. I tell him that for the two years I have worked there I have heard this rumor over and over again. And then I ask him, "If you, as a corporation, have signed a lease contract for a certain amount of years and to void the contractual deed must either buy it out, or find another business to buy it out, and see that your business is one of the only large pasta restaurants in town, would you stick it out or buy out?" He said, "I'd make it work." "If, you can hire managers who believe 100% in customer satisfaction, and are willing to do what it takes to bring the staff to that same mentality, what would you do? Saying that there is not a lot of competition." He said, "Keep the store." So, there you go sir. Tell all your friends that point-of-view and let the word spread; GM will do EVERYTHING that it can to keep its' doors open.
Later though, when I shared this conversation with the store manager, he told me that the store has actually been LOSING a large amount of revenue for the last 3-6 months (I can't remember exactly the time-frame). I balked! If I was an owner, and I was losing as much as GM has been, I'd seriously consider buying out the contract, or finding a buyer. Especially if business doesn't appear to pick up, or labor, inventory, etc. costs don't go down. But this, I'll keep to myself. (You don't count :) )

The decision to leave GM is a difficult one. I feel guilt on two scales; one, I feel a loyalty to my employers that is somewhat typical to my personality (would it be called that?) and loyalty to those who come in to the restaurant to see me. Yes, a few do. It is also, in truth, a selfish one. I learned last night while training a new employee that people in the community actually value me as a server. How do I figure this? When I introduced myself to her she states that she knows me because I have served her before, and than she says, "Alot of people at the college know you, we think you're the best." (Trying to keep a grasp of reality) Than two-three nights ago I was in Wal-Mart and one of the employees told me that he thought I was the best server that he had ever had, and that whenever they come in they ask for me. What I like about this is...everyone likes being told that they are doing something/anything well. It feels good to receive positive feed-back from others on a job that you do. I want to stay because I like being able to treat others in a good manner, and then receive nice feedback. It makes me feel like my efforts are being returned in a positive way. I am humbled by thinking that at any time I can be a rotten server, and that this job and my performance at any given time can be influenced by outside circumstances.

Someday i'll see this with my school and with my kids...I hope.

nothing to say

Not much to fill you in on; school (with lots to read), working a lot, and trying to not drop the ball with the kids. So far, mediocore success.

Family and knowing-friends (which is not many of you), I hit my wall; the foundation cracked. I said my piece, and... it went okay. I've been asked to not give up, but give it more when I am working a "regular" day job (IF I get hired at the few that I have applied for) and see what happens when there is more time for family and marriage. Oops, I mean marriage and family. (this is NOT venting)

Working as a floor supervisor has been EASY so far. I just walk around visiting with guests if they look approachable, help the servers, and chat with my co-workers. Later in the shift I close their server reports, do some database administration, and wait for the guests to leave to complete the daily stuff. Somewhat boring, BUT I have not had the nights where all hell breaks lose and I am expected to fix everything *RIGHT NOW*. As of yet. I thought about this some the other night and I figured that I am making less when I manage then when I am serving. Why? Because though I am making more per hour, I do not have the ability to make tips. While my pay per hour is consistent and that is nice and reliable, on a good day I can make WAY more than my pay per hour. Someone once asked me (after learning what my pay was) if I had any "Numz It" for my ass.

I better get to my school work. Adios!

Gracias for the comments on my previous post. I thought long and hard about the one my mom wrote, and she had a few good points, but I was sold on the whole social environment thing. Do you mean I could actually work with people who also think that hard work is the norm? Well, in truth, work at an office is a laid back sort of hard work. If you meet a priority deadline and accomplish the task beyond your boss' vision, than you are doing good. Right?

I have applied, but I am not hired. They will start interviews on the 19th. I have people hoping and pulling ropes for me at BSC, but I understand the reality that someone better skilled and with better personality can apply and get the job. Despite everyone's hope.

Guess what I get to do today?










Yep, loads of laundry. I have color separated them, and put the linens and towels in their own pile; now it is time to wash. Days like this I long for proper water pressure, where it doesn't take 10 minutes to fill a large load. Frustrating, and to add to that I can not do anything else with the water at the same time. Ugh! So this will take about two-three days...

I got my school books for the Spring semester...$350 later. And I only bought 4 books. This is highway robbery! Used books still cost almost $100!

Last night I rented some movies; kid ones' (Fairytopia, Saddle Club, March of the Penguins) and others (War of the Worlds *good to see the tripods actually looked like the original depiction*, Brothers' Grimm, and Phantom of the Opera). After the kids went to bed I watched Brother's Grimm, and while it started slow the end was pretty good. I enjoyed seeing all the symbolisms of the stories I grew up with. Can you believe...when I told my husband that the movie was about stories written by Hans Christian Anderson (I thought), he said, "I do not know who that is. Who is he?"?!! I balked! I thought everyone knew who H.C.A was! I can not express the personal shock and...OMG. Anyway, I had dreams about the movie all night...you know the kind where you dream that you are part of the movie...and than anything that happens in the real world becomes just a part of your dream; like alarm clocks. :) There were moving trees, witches, werewolves, crypts, etc.

Now, about Phantom of the Opera. I saw a part of the movie on HBO last week and I cried. Like a baby. No, not because of the story, but because of the music! I miss my friends who were so into the play and sang the songs over and over. It was like almost a cult thing, along with Monty Python's 'Search for the Holy Grail' and Mr. Bean. Andrew Lloyd Webber was like the musical god. His songs were picked over and over for personal solos...I remember this one song that everytime I heard it my heart skipped a beat.

"I have never felt like this, For once I'm lost for words, Your smiles has really thrown me. This is not like me at all, I never thought I'd know, The kind of love you've shown me. Now, no matter where I am, No matter what I do, I see your face appearing, Like an unexpected song An unexpected song, That only we are hearing "(Unexpected Song)

Ahhh, whenever I heard this song sung in choir I thought of a handsome gentleman sitting in the row behind me and to the right. I thought to myself..."this is for you!" and then there was...

"Think of me think of me fondly, when we've said goodbye remember me once in a while, please promise me you'll try When you find, that once again you long to take your heart back, and be free if you ever find a moment, spare a thought for me...Think of me think of me waking, silent and resigned... imagine me, trying too hard to put you from my mind... Recall those days, look back on all those times, think of the things we'll never do... there will never be a day when I won't think of you" (Think of Me)

I imagined that it was sung for him. Are you laughing, "You're the Mama"? Because I know you know exactly who I am referring to! :) I also sang, 'Pie Jesu' one Christmass concert (against that gentleman's advice) with a girl in the choir who thought she could hit that HIGH note, but she couldn't...I hate that memory. I am certain the crowd thought, "God! Get these girls OFF the microphone!". Anyway, back to the point of my discussion, I cried when I watched the movie because I miss those moments when someone sang music to make a hearted attempt at someone's heart. I heard on the movie, 'All I ask of you' and my tears streamed so profusely I could not see the screen. I want someone to "ask that of me".

"No more talk of darkness, forget these wide-eyed fears; I'm here, nothing can harm you, my words will warm and calm you.

Let me be your freedom, let daylight dry your tears; I'm here, with you, beside you, to guard you and to guide you.

Let me be your shelter, let me be your light; you're safe, no one will find you, your fears are far behind you." (AllI ask of You)

(I can hear some of you singing! :) )

I am not a dried-up adult. I still have childish fanasties of romance, and music, and flowers. I still want that spontaneous love that a presuades a person to do what makes no sense. To sing, to take dance lessons, to buy flowers for no reason, and to be in the presence of the other because you can not imagine being any where else. Granted, I am stressed and so busy most of the time to be available for any romance, but gosh, wouldn't it be nice to know that I had that in my life anyway? Case in point...(for some this may either bother you or make you laugh, but for those that bother you...this IS my blog) last night M. wanted something, and I was asked to make the seduction. He wanted it, BUT I had to deliver it. I didn't mind giving the oil massage, it was actually fun, but as I mentioned to him, "Why am I seducing you when it is you who wants it?" He just mumbled as my fingers played with his hair. No, not that hair. :)

Okay, that is as "adult" as I'll get on this blog. Have a good day, I have a LOT of laundry to get too.