WELL.
I double-booked last-big-hang-out plans with both Aurelie and the rest of Apt 131 for tomorrow. I had forgotten that the apartment had planned a Lord of the Rings marathon (BJ has never seen, we finally own all three, we love them, etc etc) and told Aurelie we could go to Lake Michigan. Figured out my big mistake at the beginning of the week and began the mad scramble to fix it.
Tuesday, That One said that even better than trading his Thursday for my Saturday, he would just takemy Saturday, since he needed the hours. He just needed to talk to his friend who he'd made kinda-sorta-plans with, but he'd call the store that night to let me know!
...yeah, he never called back. Texting him on Wednesday got no response. Fortunately, Diana agreed to trade, so I still got Saturday off! Yay! All I had to do was work her 7:30 shift today!
...UGH.
[o] I closed last night. Left about quarter to 11 (not the best close, whole different ball of WTH).
[o] My sleep was craptastic. I don't think I got a whole hour the entire night. Just awful.
[o] Got up at 6:30, worked 7:30 to 1:30, was a moron the entire time due to sleep deprivation and unhappy stomach not allowing me much caffeine intake.
[o] Get home, get in the shower, have just enough time to get lunch at 933...and not really do anything else.
[o] On the way to Goshen to meet Aurelie, get a text from That One's girlfriend (who I'm friends with) relaying a message from him: he can totally take my Saturday shift! ...yeah, about that. Gave up on that after zero response. Go ask Diana if she wants the shift that is now hers, thanks for letting me know I worked today for nothing, JERKFACE. (I was nicer than that to his girlfriend, obviously).
[o] Hang out with Aurelie at the Goshen Starbucks, good times, good times...hey, why are these ladies setting up candles? Oh, they're hosting a Party Lites event, okay...some of their friends are here, okay...some more friends...now kids....now we're surrounded by a large crowd of loud and excited women getting way too happy about candles and completely ruining our attempts to study/write. FUN.
[o] Get home, open the door to get hit in the face with the smell of cat urine. Horace went in today to get fixed, Ryan picked him up, he pissed in the box on the way home. While he's cleaned himself off (mostly) (he's also adorably drugged), both he and the carrier still reek, making the living area completely inhospitable. So much for watching TV.
Honestly, the only person I'm annoyed with is That One, for obvious reasons. My co-workers today were nice, it was awesome to spend some more time with Aurelie, and I'm hella looking forward to tomorrow's Lord of the Rings-a-thon.
...but MAN. TODAY. BE DONE NOW.
The next week (and then some):
[o] Friday: Lord of the Rings-a-thon, hanging out/baking/drinking with Aurelie and friends in Goshen in the evening, sleeping over to make Saturday an easier start
[o] Saturday: Lake Michigan! WOO! Plus packing in the evening.
[o] Sunday: Last day at Ireland, off at 5:30, may try for another night out with co-workers, but definitely lots of packing after work.
[o] Monday: All-day-come-over-any-time-mostly-933-people party as we continue packing & cleaning.
[o] Tuesday: Scramble to finish shoving everything into the trailer and call to have it picked up that night so we don't have to wait around for it on Wednesday. Bed will be completely packed, so we're spending the night at the hotel next to 933.
[o] Wednesday: Grab breakfast at 933, say good-bye, start driving. End night in Pennsylvania.
[o] Thursday: Continue driving, arrive in Connecticut.
[o] Friday-Sunday: Say hi to everyone, visit my new store, figure out flooring and possibly new furniture, get as settled as we can without 99% of our stuff.
[o] Monday: Trailer arrives, start unpacking.
Meanwhile, my Etsy store is on vacation since (a) we're moving, (b) the listings expired yesterday, and (c) I haven't decided what to list (or re-list) and plan on polling my fanbase (ha) for ideas.
Finally, on a ridiculously sappy note, today is what only I am calling our pre-anniversary. One year from today is Ryan's and my wedding date. :)
Now, back to trying to unkink the stress from my back...
Showing posts with label South Bend. Show all posts
Showing posts with label South Bend. Show all posts
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Thoughts on Driving In Indiana.
Recently I've noticed that, since moving to Indiana, I pay less attention to traffic lights.
Don't worry: I slow when it's yellow, stop when it's red, go when it's green. But, unless I am the first in line (a rarity), I don't watch the light as much as I used to. I pay attention to cars more than before--I follow the lead of the one in front of me in lieu of watching the light, I keep an awareness on the ones to either side, I keep half an eye on those ahead turning from side streets or parking lots.
I am surrounded with more cars on a daily basis than ever before in my life--and this is taking into considering that I was on the highway 100% more often in Connecticut than here. Last week I gave a friend a ride to the South Bend airport after following her to her home in Goshen, meaning two long trips on the bypass. It was one of only two times I've been on anything resembling a highway since we got off 80/90 last May and first drove down our street. It took me way too long to realize--oh, right, I have to go 60 now! AAA THIS IS SO FAST AAAA.
Anyway--more cars. Which means more people. Which means more opportunity for miscommunication and accidents. And did I mention this is a college town? The number of times I glance over and see a cell phone in the driver's hand, either next to their head or in front of their face, is terrifying. So I watch cars.
As I said, I pay less attention to traffic lights. I also pay less attention to, well, anything that isn't a car. I don't watch the sides of the road in case a squirrel or deer decides to try and play chicken with my car. I've only seen one deer since arriving--it launched itself out of the woods on Ironwood one rainy night last summer, glancing off my front right bumper as I slammed on the brakes and disappearing into the bushes on the other side--and almost no squirrels, chipmunks, groundhogs, etc. Beside the deer, I've only ever had to brake for other cars and a single dog, a tiny Shitzu lost on a residential street.
The roads are straight and level, so there's no blind corners to watch carefully in case of surprises on the far side. I no longer drive down the one "wooded" section (also dead-straight), and when I did I only had that one incident with the deer. The biggest danger here is other cars.
I think about Connecticut roads--89, 74, 44--and heave deep sighs of longing. There is one--one--mildly swooping piece of road here. It's on Cleveland just past 933, less than a quarter mile long, and gave me an honest-to-God Connecticut flashback the first time I went down it. I will grudgingly admit that, only 90% of the roads are completely straight, but that other 10% is not curvy so much as...jagged and indecisive. As if the two stubborn city planners met up along an intersection and neither one wanted to budge the rest of their maps over a few yards.
Changing subjects slightly, from road differences to weather differences: winter was, as warned, much harsher here. I saw more snow from October to February than I ever saw in five Connecticut winters. However, as much snow as there was, it was almost entirely light and fluffy, almost inconsequential. Shoveling it took a tiny fraction of the time it would in Connecticut, even when the car was out of sight when you started.
The summer was surprisingly hot and humid, the temperature hitting the 90's regularly. I was told about "solar days," when citizens are warned to stay out of direct sunlight as much as possible to avoid the intense UV rays. Fall was a blink, a week or two of mild weather between scorching and freezing.
Sunny days are gorgeous, barely a cloud in the bright blue sky. It never breezes but it blows, never rains but it floods. To sum up: weather in Indiana means it.
Some things never change, however. I am pleased to discover that, despite the intensity of Midwest weather, despite being 800 miles away from the place I spent all my Marches and Aprils and Mays for the past 25 years...spring still feels the same.
Don't worry: I slow when it's yellow, stop when it's red, go when it's green. But, unless I am the first in line (a rarity), I don't watch the light as much as I used to. I pay attention to cars more than before--I follow the lead of the one in front of me in lieu of watching the light, I keep an awareness on the ones to either side, I keep half an eye on those ahead turning from side streets or parking lots.
I am surrounded with more cars on a daily basis than ever before in my life--and this is taking into considering that I was on the highway 100% more often in Connecticut than here. Last week I gave a friend a ride to the South Bend airport after following her to her home in Goshen, meaning two long trips on the bypass. It was one of only two times I've been on anything resembling a highway since we got off 80/90 last May and first drove down our street. It took me way too long to realize--oh, right, I have to go 60 now! AAA THIS IS SO FAST AAAA.
Anyway--more cars. Which means more people. Which means more opportunity for miscommunication and accidents. And did I mention this is a college town? The number of times I glance over and see a cell phone in the driver's hand, either next to their head or in front of their face, is terrifying. So I watch cars.
As I said, I pay less attention to traffic lights. I also pay less attention to, well, anything that isn't a car. I don't watch the sides of the road in case a squirrel or deer decides to try and play chicken with my car. I've only seen one deer since arriving--it launched itself out of the woods on Ironwood one rainy night last summer, glancing off my front right bumper as I slammed on the brakes and disappearing into the bushes on the other side--and almost no squirrels, chipmunks, groundhogs, etc. Beside the deer, I've only ever had to brake for other cars and a single dog, a tiny Shitzu lost on a residential street.
The roads are straight and level, so there's no blind corners to watch carefully in case of surprises on the far side. I no longer drive down the one "wooded" section (also dead-straight), and when I did I only had that one incident with the deer. The biggest danger here is other cars.
I think about Connecticut roads--89, 74, 44--and heave deep sighs of longing. There is one--one--mildly swooping piece of road here. It's on Cleveland just past 933, less than a quarter mile long, and gave me an honest-to-God Connecticut flashback the first time I went down it. I will grudgingly admit that, only 90% of the roads are completely straight, but that other 10% is not curvy so much as...jagged and indecisive. As if the two stubborn city planners met up along an intersection and neither one wanted to budge the rest of their maps over a few yards.
Changing subjects slightly, from road differences to weather differences: winter was, as warned, much harsher here. I saw more snow from October to February than I ever saw in five Connecticut winters. However, as much snow as there was, it was almost entirely light and fluffy, almost inconsequential. Shoveling it took a tiny fraction of the time it would in Connecticut, even when the car was out of sight when you started.
The summer was surprisingly hot and humid, the temperature hitting the 90's regularly. I was told about "solar days," when citizens are warned to stay out of direct sunlight as much as possible to avoid the intense UV rays. Fall was a blink, a week or two of mild weather between scorching and freezing.
Sunny days are gorgeous, barely a cloud in the bright blue sky. It never breezes but it blows, never rains but it floods. To sum up: weather in Indiana means it.
Some things never change, however. I am pleased to discover that, despite the intensity of Midwest weather, despite being 800 miles away from the place I spent all my Marches and Aprils and Mays for the past 25 years...spring still feels the same.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Why Did I Do It? WHY?!
Here's the list again:
[x] put check in the mail
[x] pick up packages from post office (hopefully avoid surly lady who was rude to me last time >.<)
[o] buy printer paper and ink
[o] print off at least one copy of Found and see if I'm up for editing it
[/] balance all the money records, which includes moving the messy pile of receipts and things from the right side of my desk to the folders they belong in
[o] discuss the last few presents with Ryan once he arrives home
[o] call Dad while rest of house is raiding, because it has been TOO DAMNED LONG since we had a successful phone call
[o] attempt to wrap some of the presents we already have...may need Ryan's help for this >.<
The first one was easy, of course--open mail box, place envelope inside, move "Outgoing" post-it from inside to outside of box, close and lock it. The second was...harder. The third didn't happen for much the same reason the second was difficult.
I'm a dumb today. I thought I could just run out to the Post Office and Best Buy on the first day of the last weekend before Christmas.
The Post Office. And Best Buy.
WHERE WAS MY BRAIN.
I hit the PO right around noon-thirty, and left without even parking...because there was nowhere to park. The tiny station nearest my house, where our packages live if we miss them being delivered, has maybe fifteen spots. And every single one was taken, with a line of cars waiting for the next available one. I missed my chance for one, circled around to maybe get back in line, and realized there was no way anyone was going to let me in.
So I left to go to Best Buy. I figured it might not be so bad, I wasn't shopping for fancy items like phones or iPods or games or even movies, I just wanted some paper and ink.
The place was packed, and the line...just thinking about it now makes me shudder. I walked in, looked at the line, turned and walked out. Just...it wasn't going to happen.
By this time it was past one, so I tried the Post Office again and was elated to see that it was back to normal...well, more or less, it is still the holiday season. But there was a spot--more than one, even!--and the line wasn't out the door, so I'm glad for that. I'm also glad that, although Madame Postal Worker was indeed working, I was lucky enough to not have to go to her line to pick up my packages. I can't promise that I would have been able to not remind her of our last interaction and point out that I in no way deserved the attitude she gave me and rant rant rant okay I'm done.
Two packages! From mothers! Woo!
I opened the one from mine since I knew Mom had also stuck in a book I had asked her to send along. Three prettily wrapped presents now sit on a side table, waiting patiently. I can't wait! Eee!
Anyway...because the paper and printer ink were not procured today, I won't be printing or pondering my...novel. If the traffic remains as bad as it was today (I didn't even mention the driving, did I? That's because the entire entry would be nothing but cuss words and all-caps and there might be a broken keyboard at the end of it), the whole thing may have to wait until after the holidays. And, if that's the case, I may just have to start on the next story, because it is ITCHING to get out of my fingers at this point.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I still have to put my papers in order, and then I may spend the rest of the afternoon until Ryan gets home either starting on the new story or playing WoW or reading or...oh, I'll find something.
[x] put check in the mail
[x] pick up packages from post office (hopefully avoid surly lady who was rude to me last time >.<)
[o] buy printer paper and ink
[o] print off at least one copy of Found and see if I'm up for editing it
[/] balance all the money records, which includes moving the messy pile of receipts and things from the right side of my desk to the folders they belong in
[o] discuss the last few presents with Ryan once he arrives home
[o] call Dad while rest of house is raiding, because it has been TOO DAMNED LONG since we had a successful phone call
[o] attempt to wrap some of the presents we already have...may need Ryan's help for this >.<
The first one was easy, of course--open mail box, place envelope inside, move "Outgoing" post-it from inside to outside of box, close and lock it. The second was...harder. The third didn't happen for much the same reason the second was difficult.
I'm a dumb today. I thought I could just run out to the Post Office and Best Buy on the first day of the last weekend before Christmas.
The Post Office. And Best Buy.
WHERE WAS MY BRAIN.
I hit the PO right around noon-thirty, and left without even parking...because there was nowhere to park. The tiny station nearest my house, where our packages live if we miss them being delivered, has maybe fifteen spots. And every single one was taken, with a line of cars waiting for the next available one. I missed my chance for one, circled around to maybe get back in line, and realized there was no way anyone was going to let me in.
So I left to go to Best Buy. I figured it might not be so bad, I wasn't shopping for fancy items like phones or iPods or games or even movies, I just wanted some paper and ink.
The place was packed, and the line...just thinking about it now makes me shudder. I walked in, looked at the line, turned and walked out. Just...it wasn't going to happen.
By this time it was past one, so I tried the Post Office again and was elated to see that it was back to normal...well, more or less, it is still the holiday season. But there was a spot--more than one, even!--and the line wasn't out the door, so I'm glad for that. I'm also glad that, although Madame Postal Worker was indeed working, I was lucky enough to not have to go to her line to pick up my packages. I can't promise that I would have been able to not remind her of our last interaction and point out that I in no way deserved the attitude she gave me and rant rant rant okay I'm done.
Two packages! From mothers! Woo!
I opened the one from mine since I knew Mom had also stuck in a book I had asked her to send along. Three prettily wrapped presents now sit on a side table, waiting patiently. I can't wait! Eee!
Anyway...because the paper and printer ink were not procured today, I won't be printing or pondering my...novel. If the traffic remains as bad as it was today (I didn't even mention the driving, did I? That's because the entire entry would be nothing but cuss words and all-caps and there might be a broken keyboard at the end of it), the whole thing may have to wait until after the holidays. And, if that's the case, I may just have to start on the next story, because it is ITCHING to get out of my fingers at this point.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I still have to put my papers in order, and then I may spend the rest of the afternoon until Ryan gets home either starting on the new story or playing WoW or reading or...oh, I'll find something.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Still Walking Those Coals.
First and foremost, a birthday shout out to my stepmother, Dorita. HI DORITA! *waves frantically and sillilililily*
I gave her a call tonight on the way home from work, and...it made me realize how much I miss them. I mean, I always miss them, and my parents and my friends in Connecticut and other parts of the world. Still, there are times when it smacks me on the nose, how long it's been since I've seen these people that I love so much.
Talking with her also reminded me of the firewalk I did back in April, and how much that's still with me. Though time has faded it a little--as time is wont to do--I can still think back to the moment before I walked, standing before the hot coals and knowing that I was too scared and couldn't do it. Knowing it with complete certainty...and doing it anyway.
That was also around the same time that Ryan and I decided to move to Indiana with only the promise of jobs and an apartment with people we had never met in person.
Anyway, the phone call, combined with a morning text revealing that someone thought I was coming back to visit for Christmas, has me feeling a little guilty for the length of time since I've seen...everyone.
To family and friends in Connecticut, New York, Maryland, California, etc etc...do know that we miss and love you very much. It kills us to miss the Christmas parties and weekly get-togethers, the dinners and breakfasts and weekends and...everything.
Okay. Time to go eat dinner and watch something silly on Netflix and get my mind back to positive things.
I gave her a call tonight on the way home from work, and...it made me realize how much I miss them. I mean, I always miss them, and my parents and my friends in Connecticut and other parts of the world. Still, there are times when it smacks me on the nose, how long it's been since I've seen these people that I love so much.
Talking with her also reminded me of the firewalk I did back in April, and how much that's still with me. Though time has faded it a little--as time is wont to do--I can still think back to the moment before I walked, standing before the hot coals and knowing that I was too scared and couldn't do it. Knowing it with complete certainty...and doing it anyway.
That was also around the same time that Ryan and I decided to move to Indiana with only the promise of jobs and an apartment with people we had never met in person.
Anyway, the phone call, combined with a morning text revealing that someone thought I was coming back to visit for Christmas, has me feeling a little guilty for the length of time since I've seen...everyone.
To family and friends in Connecticut, New York, Maryland, California, etc etc...do know that we miss and love you very much. It kills us to miss the Christmas parties and weekly get-togethers, the dinners and breakfasts and weekends and...everything.
Okay. Time to go eat dinner and watch something silly on Netflix and get my mind back to positive things.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Turkey Day 2010
I would have loved to update yesterday with a great Thanksgiving post, but Google went all wonky on my computer, and I was unable. Oh well.
Worked from a little before 11 (I arrived to a crazy rush) to 4, barring and doing lots of dishes as I basically couldn't serve customers directly with my voice. We joked that I could answer the drive-thru with "Hi, welcome to Starbucks, would you like some plague?" I did have to answer twice, and the second time it was a girl who sounded just like me ordering a cider. We had a commiserating smile at the window as I croaked her total and "Happy Thanksgiving" and she croaked "Happy Thanksgiving" in return.
Food-wise...this was a fantastic Thanksgiving.
Ryan made apple and pumpkin pies in advance on Wednesday, and BJ made a cranberry salad and deviled eggs. The day of, Ryan roasted the turkey and made mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, two small chocolate pudding pies (just for me!), and gravy. BJ and Sameh made corn pudding and noodles. I helped here and there and did the cooking dishes and took pictures of delicious food and cleared the fridge for leftovers.
It. Was. SO GOOD.
If I had to pick a favorite...I don't know if I can, actually. And considering there was a HUGE put of mashed potatoes, and this is me we're talking about, understand just how good everything was for me to not immediately name the spuds as the winner. The corn pudding was fantastic, the gravy was amazing (Sameh and I are conspiring to keep Ryan in a constant flow of roastable birds just so he can keep us in good gravy), the bird was juicy and flavorful, etc etc. I even had a small amount of BJ's cranberry salad, even though I don't like most of the ingredients (cherries, pineapple, almonds), and it was very sweet and tasty. NOM!
And if you don't want to read about it...
Clockwise from the upper left: Turkey, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, deviled eggs, cranberry salad, corn pudding, apple pie, pumpkin pie, two miniature chocolate pudding pies, seasoning that no one touched.
*drool*
I'm currently waiting for Ryan to arrive home, as it is currently a quarter past noon, the exact time he gets off work. I hope he's survived his 8-hour Black Friday shift intact. I also hope that he found those mixers he's been eying at a good price and bought himself one! :D
And now, off to spend my day off writing and WoWing and eating leftovers and comforting the tired Ryan...
Worked from a little before 11 (I arrived to a crazy rush) to 4, barring and doing lots of dishes as I basically couldn't serve customers directly with my voice. We joked that I could answer the drive-thru with "Hi, welcome to Starbucks, would you like some plague?" I did have to answer twice, and the second time it was a girl who sounded just like me ordering a cider. We had a commiserating smile at the window as I croaked her total and "Happy Thanksgiving" and she croaked "Happy Thanksgiving" in return.
Food-wise...this was a fantastic Thanksgiving.
Ryan made apple and pumpkin pies in advance on Wednesday, and BJ made a cranberry salad and deviled eggs. The day of, Ryan roasted the turkey and made mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, two small chocolate pudding pies (just for me!), and gravy. BJ and Sameh made corn pudding and noodles. I helped here and there and did the cooking dishes and took pictures of delicious food and cleared the fridge for leftovers.
It. Was. SO GOOD.
If I had to pick a favorite...I don't know if I can, actually. And considering there was a HUGE put of mashed potatoes, and this is me we're talking about, understand just how good everything was for me to not immediately name the spuds as the winner. The corn pudding was fantastic, the gravy was amazing (Sameh and I are conspiring to keep Ryan in a constant flow of roastable birds just so he can keep us in good gravy), the bird was juicy and flavorful, etc etc. I even had a small amount of BJ's cranberry salad, even though I don't like most of the ingredients (cherries, pineapple, almonds), and it was very sweet and tasty. NOM!
And if you don't want to read about it...
Clockwise from the upper left: Turkey, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, deviled eggs, cranberry salad, corn pudding, apple pie, pumpkin pie, two miniature chocolate pudding pies, seasoning that no one touched.
*drool*
I'm currently waiting for Ryan to arrive home, as it is currently a quarter past noon, the exact time he gets off work. I hope he's survived his 8-hour Black Friday shift intact. I also hope that he found those mixers he's been eying at a good price and bought himself one! :D
And now, off to spend my day off writing and WoWing and eating leftovers and comforting the tired Ryan...
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
17,896!
Day off! Woo!
I planned today to be a Writing Day, a Catching Up Day, a Stop Being Freaking Lazy Day. Instead, I got half an hour of writing done at home before Ryan and I headed out to do errands.
We fetched my schedule and tips, got groceries, replaced Ryan's dead headlight, and--the highlight of the day--renewed Ryan's license.
Ryan is now an official Indiana resident. He has the awful picture to prove it.
We then returned home, had dinner, watched some Good Eats...and then I wrote several thousand words, catching up and then some.
Woo!
I am now at 17,896 words. Ryan gave me the goal of 18,000 today, and I was fine with that...and then I finished a scene with 104 words left. At midnight. My choices were: stop writing and go to bed, or keep writing and be up for however long that scene took.
And seeing as there's a Holiday Meeting tomorrow at 11 in the morning, I chose the option that lets me get more sleep.
While the day didn't go as planned in terms of dedicated writing time, I'm still very pleased with both the day and the word count. So. Yay. :)
I planned today to be a Writing Day, a Catching Up Day, a Stop Being Freaking Lazy Day. Instead, I got half an hour of writing done at home before Ryan and I headed out to do errands.
We fetched my schedule and tips, got groceries, replaced Ryan's dead headlight, and--the highlight of the day--renewed Ryan's license.
Ryan is now an official Indiana resident. He has the awful picture to prove it.
We then returned home, had dinner, watched some Good Eats...and then I wrote several thousand words, catching up and then some.
Woo!
I am now at 17,896 words. Ryan gave me the goal of 18,000 today, and I was fine with that...and then I finished a scene with 104 words left. At midnight. My choices were: stop writing and go to bed, or keep writing and be up for however long that scene took.
And seeing as there's a Holiday Meeting tomorrow at 11 in the morning, I chose the option that lets me get more sleep.
While the day didn't go as planned in terms of dedicated writing time, I'm still very pleased with both the day and the word count. So. Yay. :)
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Just Sayin'.
When a partner works on a day that the corporation deems a holiday (which is most of the appropriate ones: Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc), he or she gets paid time and a half. I assume that it's a compensation for having to work on a day one would typically spend with family.
I believe compensation is also appropriate for anyone working on a day where the crowds are larger than a store is used to, and a partner has to work harder, faster, and possibly longer than they usually would.
To make a long story short: Game days should get time and a half pay. Just sayin'.
Today was actually pretty good--it was never HOLYSHITWE'REGONNADIE busy, just Fairly Bustling at times. At other times, it was dead enough to get a lot of prep and cleaning done, which will no doubt make closing way easier for M and JC.
The highlight of the day was Ryan's visit after he got off work. I had mentioned yesterday that I seemed to be the only one at work without a black hoodie ready to throw on when it got cold. It wasn't a complaint, just a statement. Well, after get clocked out, he went and bought me one, and came by to drop it off for me.
Yes, he really is the best ever. And he's all mine, no matter what the cat says.
*I totally spelled that "Asterix" the first time and immediately searched for the internet and will be watching this as soon as I finish writing this entry. Eeee!
I believe compensation is also appropriate for anyone working on a day where the crowds are larger than a store is used to, and a partner has to work harder, faster, and possibly longer than they usually would.
To make a long story short: Game days should get time and a half pay. Just sayin'.
Today was actually pretty good--it was never HOLYSHITWE'REGONNADIE busy, just Fairly Bustling at times. At other times, it was dead enough to get a lot of prep and cleaning done, which will no doubt make closing way easier for M and JC.
The highlight of the day was Ryan's visit after he got off work. I had mentioned yesterday that I seemed to be the only one at work without a black hoodie ready to throw on when it got cold. It wasn't a complaint, just a statement. Well, after get clocked out, he went and bought me one, and came by to drop it off for me.
Yes, he really is the best ever. And he's all mine, no matter what the cat says.
*I totally spelled that "Asterix" the first time and immediately searched for the internet and will be watching this as soon as I finish writing this entry. Eeee!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Wish Me Luck?
Today was a pretty good day off. I got up fairly early (well, early for me, 9ish), and spent the morning cleaning up our bedroom and the living room, and getting the laundry done. It's great to feel accomplished, especially over something that has built up over two weeks...sick people aren't the greatest cleaners >.<
Speaking of which, I seem to be 99% better, with that 1% representing a continuously dripping nose and continuously tickling throat. Both are quite annoying, and add up to gross behavior that I have to keep in track while at work. Argh.
Tomorrow is not only the first home game for Notre Dame (against Purdue, if you care about that kind of thing), it's my first football game at Starbucks. My co-workers of course scared the daylights out of me about it, but I will make sure to follow their advice and stay where I'm put. I have a tendency to try and help out wherever it's needed, whether that means making a drink for drive-thru while I'm front, or warming a sandwich for front when I'm drive-thru, or what-have-you. They said that really, the best thing to do in a rush is to just stay put and do your given task, whether it's barring, register, or just brewing endless urns of coffee. I'm hoping that I'm put on front register, as I can see myself getting overwhelmed both quickly and easily if it really is a scary rush of people.
I might try a Wii Fit workout tomorrow morning...household schedules seem to be more or less set, finally, so I can be sure that I'm not going to accidentally force my sweaty, workout-clothes-clad self on anyone's eyes. If I can get back into the habit, that'd be great--convenient, free, customizable, etc etc. If not, I will be giving Curves a stern try.
For now, to bed, to attempt to arise early again tomorrow!
Speaking of which, I seem to be 99% better, with that 1% representing a continuously dripping nose and continuously tickling throat. Both are quite annoying, and add up to gross behavior that I have to keep in track while at work. Argh.
Tomorrow is not only the first home game for Notre Dame (against Purdue, if you care about that kind of thing), it's my first football game at Starbucks. My co-workers of course scared the daylights out of me about it, but I will make sure to follow their advice and stay where I'm put. I have a tendency to try and help out wherever it's needed, whether that means making a drink for drive-thru while I'm front, or warming a sandwich for front when I'm drive-thru, or what-have-you. They said that really, the best thing to do in a rush is to just stay put and do your given task, whether it's barring, register, or just brewing endless urns of coffee. I'm hoping that I'm put on front register, as I can see myself getting overwhelmed both quickly and easily if it really is a scary rush of people.
I might try a Wii Fit workout tomorrow morning...household schedules seem to be more or less set, finally, so I can be sure that I'm not going to accidentally force my sweaty, workout-clothes-clad self on anyone's eyes. If I can get back into the habit, that'd be great--convenient, free, customizable, etc etc. If not, I will be giving Curves a stern try.
For now, to bed, to attempt to arise early again tomorrow!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
A Park Is A Park Is A Park.
My day isn't even halfway done yet, but it is a glorious day nonetheless.
Not because I finally got Chris's packaged mailed off, although that's nice to have checked off my To Do list.
I spent around an hour at Kamm Island Park, on the St. Joseph River. I wandered around, dodged a wedding party taking pictures, and took some pictures of my own--not of the wedding part, of course, but of the park, the river, the pools, the flowers, the bridges.
I haven't plugged in my camera yet, so I haven't actually seen how well the pictures came out. That almost doesn't matter. I'm just blissed out on the fresh air and sunshine, and exercise that wasn't rushing from the register to the espresso machine and back.
I'm all sweaty from the sun and humidity, and the beauty there doesn't even hold a candle to the parks in Connecticut, but I will still be going back. Soon, and often.
Pictures up later today, or...well, I'd say "or tomorrow evening," but the truth is that it's either today or Monday. We'll see how I choose to spend the rest of my day before work at 6:30.
Not because I finally got Chris's packaged mailed off, although that's nice to have checked off my To Do list.
I spent around an hour at Kamm Island Park, on the St. Joseph River. I wandered around, dodged a wedding party taking pictures, and took some pictures of my own--not of the wedding part, of course, but of the park, the river, the pools, the flowers, the bridges.
I haven't plugged in my camera yet, so I haven't actually seen how well the pictures came out. That almost doesn't matter. I'm just blissed out on the fresh air and sunshine, and exercise that wasn't rushing from the register to the espresso machine and back.
I'm all sweaty from the sun and humidity, and the beauty there doesn't even hold a candle to the parks in Connecticut, but I will still be going back. Soon, and often.
Pictures up later today, or...well, I'd say "or tomorrow evening," but the truth is that it's either today or Monday. We'll see how I choose to spend the rest of my day before work at 6:30.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Call Me Lover. Change-Lover.
The following is this week's horoscope from Free Will Astrology, the site the features Pronoia (the belief that the world is conspiring to shower you with blessings) and eerily accurate horoscopes:
Congrats, Gemini! You have not only weathered your recent phase of relentless novelty; you've thrived on the adjustments it demanded of you. I am hereby awarding you with the rare and prestigious title of Change-Lover, which I only bestow upon one of the signs of the zodiac every four years or so. So what's next on the schedule? The shock of the new will soon subside, giving you a chance to more fully integrate the fresh approaches you've been adopting. I suggest you relax your hyper-vigilance and slip into a slower, smoother, more reflective groove.
Well, this certainly feels true! It was one month yesterday that we arrived in Indiana, with only two cars and a trailer full of stuff. Relentless novelty is a perfect phrase for the past month--so perfect I feel the need to bold it. Everywhere I've looked, there's been a new store, a new restaurant, a new bird, a new habit, a new phrase, a new way of saying or doing things. And I have thrived on it, especially with the new environment of Starbucks.
I know I've been obsessively updating with every little thing about my new job, but I can't help it. I feel more competent and useful than I have in a long time. I wasn't bad at my job at Curves, this is evident from the card the members all signed for me, the presents they gave me before I left, the love and support they gave me. But I could have done more, and I will always regret the way I worked there--hiding in a corner, not striving to shine. I was always afraid of not being able to keep up a conversation, or relate enough with a member, or be motivating enough.
At Starbucks, all my tasks are concrete--pouring, pushing, pulling, mixing, washing, sweeping, mopping, moving. The only abstract element of the job is the attitude, and it's easy enough for me to be upbeat and bubbly, even if I don't feel it 100%. It is immediately evident if I'm doing something wrong, or if I need some improvement. That, along with the fantastic feedback from my superiors and co-workers, leads to feeling like I'm learning and improving, and not just getting by. Thriving, even.
My point is, if this horoscope speaks the truth, then I need to work at slipping into a "slower, smoother, more reflective groove." And not only do I feel that it speaks the truth, I feel like it screams it. Getting into that groove should be easier now than two weeks ago, as I'm getting a paycheck next week that will take off a lot of the stress I've been holding, and I'm feeling more comfortable and confident at my job.
For today, I have done the grocery shopping, and now I plan on grabbing my camera and going back out, to search for picture opportunities. I'll try to be slower, smoother, and reflective as I click away.
Congrats, Gemini! You have not only weathered your recent phase of relentless novelty; you've thrived on the adjustments it demanded of you. I am hereby awarding you with the rare and prestigious title of Change-Lover, which I only bestow upon one of the signs of the zodiac every four years or so. So what's next on the schedule? The shock of the new will soon subside, giving you a chance to more fully integrate the fresh approaches you've been adopting. I suggest you relax your hyper-vigilance and slip into a slower, smoother, more reflective groove.
Well, this certainly feels true! It was one month yesterday that we arrived in Indiana, with only two cars and a trailer full of stuff. Relentless novelty is a perfect phrase for the past month--so perfect I feel the need to bold it. Everywhere I've looked, there's been a new store, a new restaurant, a new bird, a new habit, a new phrase, a new way of saying or doing things. And I have thrived on it, especially with the new environment of Starbucks.
I know I've been obsessively updating with every little thing about my new job, but I can't help it. I feel more competent and useful than I have in a long time. I wasn't bad at my job at Curves, this is evident from the card the members all signed for me, the presents they gave me before I left, the love and support they gave me. But I could have done more, and I will always regret the way I worked there--hiding in a corner, not striving to shine. I was always afraid of not being able to keep up a conversation, or relate enough with a member, or be motivating enough.
At Starbucks, all my tasks are concrete--pouring, pushing, pulling, mixing, washing, sweeping, mopping, moving. The only abstract element of the job is the attitude, and it's easy enough for me to be upbeat and bubbly, even if I don't feel it 100%. It is immediately evident if I'm doing something wrong, or if I need some improvement. That, along with the fantastic feedback from my superiors and co-workers, leads to feeling like I'm learning and improving, and not just getting by. Thriving, even.
My point is, if this horoscope speaks the truth, then I need to work at slipping into a "slower, smoother, more reflective groove." And not only do I feel that it speaks the truth, I feel like it screams it. Getting into that groove should be easier now than two weeks ago, as I'm getting a paycheck next week that will take off a lot of the stress I've been holding, and I'm feeling more comfortable and confident at my job.
For today, I have done the grocery shopping, and now I plan on grabbing my camera and going back out, to search for picture opportunities. I'll try to be slower, smoother, and reflective as I click away.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Boring But Productive Day, Blogged For Your Entertainment!
Not much to talk about today. I had my first attempt at hair styling, which, while not a failure, wasn't a blazing success, either. Ryan and I attempted to shop at the second of the two Meijer's in town, got lost in doing so, but figured out where we were! We got ourselves unlost in our new home town! Woo!
The best thing I have to show for today are two more pictures that I've edited and uploaded:
Headstone Face with Lichen
Albertine L Kimball Flower
Tomorrow is the last full day off before I start work at Starbucks. I got my schedule today, and I have over 33 hours this week, including 4:40 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday. That...will be fun.
Tomorrow night is premiere night! True Blood at 9, Design Star at 10, and Color Splash at 11. Eee! Vampire drama, reality TV, and interior design all in the same night...Squee!
The final thing to report for the day: I did a full work out this morning, and then some. A total of 41 minutes and 171 calories. \^.^/ I hope to keep it up tomorrow, and the next day, and the next, and the next...although maybe not Friday. Friday may be a day off for exercise. Or anything beyond surviving a 3:30 a.m. alarm. Oy.
The best thing I have to show for today are two more pictures that I've edited and uploaded:
Headstone Face with Lichen
Albertine L Kimball Flower
Tomorrow is the last full day off before I start work at Starbucks. I got my schedule today, and I have over 33 hours this week, including 4:40 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday. That...will be fun.
Tomorrow night is premiere night! True Blood at 9, Design Star at 10, and Color Splash at 11. Eee! Vampire drama, reality TV, and interior design all in the same night...Squee!
The final thing to report for the day: I did a full work out this morning, and then some. A total of 41 minutes and 171 calories. \^.^/ I hope to keep it up tomorrow, and the next day, and the next, and the next...although maybe not Friday. Friday may be a day off for exercise. Or anything beyond surviving a 3:30 a.m. alarm. Oy.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Slightly Belated
Didn't update yesterday due to rampant busyness. Started off the day with exercise and a shower, followed by laundry (which included jamming one of the two washers with a quarter, >.<), followed by a long shopping trip with BJ and Ryan.
I already knew these two would be tight. They were pretty tight when they just talked online on a regular basis. Then they were able to go clothes shopping together, sharing the same size, relatively same taste, and a VERY heavy slant toward the "metrosexual" side of the scale.
After about 15 hours in the Big & Tall section of JCPenney's, we hit Best Buy, then made a stab at finding a "local" liquor store that sells my beloved framboise. What we thought would be a simple trip turned into a mini-adventure, finding ourselves in a much more rural section of the town (if we were still in South Bend at all, I'm not entirely sure).
We eventually gave up on it for the day and headed home, but I must say, if I have to make a semi-weekly trip all by myself, with the windows down and stereo blasting, down roads with more trees than houses on either side of the road...I'll manage somehow. :D
Ryan and I had decided to make this a stay-in day, with game playing and relaxing and not spending money, but I remembered just this morning that the Beloved Smoothies came in yesterday, and the store will be closed tomorrow. SO! One tiny outing, then a day of relaxing. And laundry. And dish washing.
I'll find something to update about later, I'm sure. Early warning: there's a chance it'll be WoWtastic.
Edit: 11:11 am. Changed up the template and colors! I thought the previous one felt too closed in, and too dark despite it being fairly bright greens. This one, to me, feels more open and bright. Let me know what you think: good, bad, like this color, hate that color, etc etc. I'll go make sure anonymous commenting is allowed so my parents can join in...
I already knew these two would be tight. They were pretty tight when they just talked online on a regular basis. Then they were able to go clothes shopping together, sharing the same size, relatively same taste, and a VERY heavy slant toward the "metrosexual" side of the scale.
After about 15 hours in the Big & Tall section of JCPenney's, we hit Best Buy, then made a stab at finding a "local" liquor store that sells my beloved framboise. What we thought would be a simple trip turned into a mini-adventure, finding ourselves in a much more rural section of the town (if we were still in South Bend at all, I'm not entirely sure).
We eventually gave up on it for the day and headed home, but I must say, if I have to make a semi-weekly trip all by myself, with the windows down and stereo blasting, down roads with more trees than houses on either side of the road...I'll manage somehow. :D
Ryan and I had decided to make this a stay-in day, with game playing and relaxing and not spending money, but I remembered just this morning that the Beloved Smoothies came in yesterday, and the store will be closed tomorrow. SO! One tiny outing, then a day of relaxing. And laundry. And dish washing.
I'll find something to update about later, I'm sure. Early warning: there's a chance it'll be WoWtastic.
Edit: 11:11 am. Changed up the template and colors! I thought the previous one felt too closed in, and too dark despite it being fairly bright greens. This one, to me, feels more open and bright. Let me know what you think: good, bad, like this color, hate that color, etc etc. I'll go make sure anonymous commenting is allowed so my parents can join in...
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