No longer in my hands.

It has been handed in. No longer can I think, rethink and re-do my assignment. It's out of my hands. In some ways I think I over-did it. In others I wonder if there was something more I could have done. When I looked at one of my other classmates assignment I noticed that she had labelled which each color of high lighter meant what. I didn't do that. I asked the teacher if it was necessary...she said,"no". Whew! I was gonna shoot myself..it would have been a simple print out. I even thought of it at one point but decided against it. Others looked at my project...it got passed around and I got comments like, "You have too much time on your hands" in which I replied, no I'm in lack of sleep and mental awareness! I noticed today while driving that I didn't know how I gotten to my destination. Yikes! Also in class this evening my eyes were heavy and we watched a very dry video. I ended up doing something I never thought I would do. I sent a couple of text messages to my boyfriend while in class! I'm not a teenager and yet I act like one. If you find that I'm rambling it's because I'm tired. I get a thought, I write it down. It may not relate to the previous sentence. But that's my thought pattern.
I know that in the last picture (the one labeled..."hockey" the net doesn't look like a net. But that's because I am not all that artistic and it looks more like the view of someone bending over from the backside angle. It kind of makes me laugh, but hopefully I won't be graded on my un-artistic ability. There is also the written work, the observations themselves and the summaries...I didn't include these in the pictures because they are confidential. Plus it's like looking at a typed report...nothing too exciting there! So I only included the pages I thought were more fun. Although all my summaries are in colored ink with the parts that were to be mentioned in different ink so it leaps off the page...yeah can we say "nerd alert"?
I have one classmate which I find challenging to deal with. B calls her "negative lady". Inside it's what I call her too. She never has anything nice to say. She critics the teachers with no mercy. And I am finding it difficult to remain friendly. I want to ask why she's in the course if she doesn't like what is being taught. One of our teachers was in a bad car accident before the start of school. She complained about back pains, and a sore arm for the first 6 weeks of school. (which was only 3 times that I saw her because we have class with her every second Saturday. Anyways, a couple of classes with her ago she came in with a cast. She had found out that all along she had a broken wrist. There were a couple of times within those classes that she had asked one of us to give her a little extra help opening a container or lifting something heavy because it hurt her arm. (Not a big deal right? Who wouldn't in that situation) Well negative lady always has a comment when our teacher asks for help, such as...one time I heard her say, "Why would you teach a class if you're not physically able to". Um she's teaching art. It's not like she can't teach us she just needs a hand. In tonight's class she made comments about our teacher in class and I just simply toned her out. I know this is rude but instead of listening to negative lady I thought it was more important to not only listen to what our teacher was talking about, but make notes...seeing as though this is about the career I want to get into and it's kind of important! I noticed moments after negative lady noticed I wasn't paying any attention to her and actually writing something down she started copying my notes off my paper! These are just notes that i make up from LISTENING! They're not off an overhead or anything. I was like, um, ok. Annoying! I am just finding myself down by the end of class in attitude when I end up sitting by her. I try not to, she just kind of follows me. I should try sitting in the very front row. Anyways, negative lady left half way through the class because she was tired and didn't want to pay attention any more. I didn't know that was an option. Someone else is going to take my notes for me so I can go home and relax?! That must be nice. I wonder who took her notes? Enough on that rant. I just had to get it off my chest. Today at Staples I had a great day. The time goes by really fast. Especially when it's busy. I was put on the till by myself and then they said, actually you're going to be on till 1 so you can get comfortable doing returns. By the end of the day I could do returns just as fast as a regular sale! Woot! It was really exciting in my little world. I really like the people I'm working with. They're really friendly and fun. The one lady I am with the most is funny. She said to me, I don't know what it is, but I think the people gather together at the back of the store and then charge for the check out at the same time. Then it's dead until we get the next herd. haha. I agree with her! Cause it totally comes in swarms. It's fun though. Today is my Dad's birthday! Happy Birthday dad!!!! You're 25! Woop! I told everyone that asked me why I was happy that it was my dad's birthday. It was funny to get their responses to that. "It's your dad's birthday so you're happy?". My response, "Yep". Their next statement..."you're going to do something to celebrate?", "Well, he's not in town, he's in Calgary". They usually left a little confused but I was still smiling at them and waving with enthusiasm. ok, I wasn't waving..but I was smiling. haha. Good times! They'll be back! For some reason people enjoy the confusion that I bestow upon them! They usually leave laughing or at least smiling. And I'm having a blast! Maybe I'm the only one having a blast and everyone else just thinks I'm crazy. Whatever, I'm having fun, the day's going by fast and I'm getting paid for it. Win, win, win!

New pens = Exciting day!

Hello. How is everyone in blog land doing today? I'm surprisingly happy today! (That was B's reaction to me today any ways). Today I bought some new pens and I'm excited about my purchase. See many people give me this weird look when I say that because I'm being genuine in my excitement and they don't seem to understand the excitement that comes with buying new pens. I'm a server people(actually most of the people I was expressing my excitement to were servers and they still didn't get it.) And they think I'm weird! ha As soon as I brought out these said pens they understood my excitement and thought that I was ridiculous for buying them. "Those aren't going to fit in your apron". (Oh, all of one did!). And that's silly...but really when I brought them out with kids at the table it was a hit. So who's retarded now? Kids happy/entertained = happy parents = bigger tip! Hello!? Here are a couple of pictures of the new pens and you'll now understand what the excitement is about. Oh and the price 99cents with a 15% discount! Yeah! Can't really beat that now can you peeps!


















I love the one new busser at work. She and I speak the same language and have a blast with each other. I just found out that she's in university and all along I thought she was still in high school. (oops). She's a sweetheart although when you hear us talk to each other it's usually in threats. Again, we understand each other and know it's all just joking around. Yesterday in computer class we learned how to put a powerpoint presentation together. Let me tell you it's a fun thing to do. I would have been done earlier but I got lost in my own world and all the features I could use to express my world. When I demonstrated my presentation I received laughs in all the appropriate spots which tells me that I did it right! Woo hoo! My world made sense to others...Can someone please mark that on the calender? Crazy Cat Lady Moment: (I haven't done one of these for a very long time) Today Puss N Boots came over to me and I picked her up. Usually she can only tolerate me holding her for a few minutes in the baby cradle hold. Well this morning she allowed me to hold her in that position, she fell asleep and when she woke up allowed me to keep on holding her. I think it's safe to say someone missed their momma! When I put her down I got a really long sad meow. Between my shifts this afternoon I decided to come home and talk to B and little PB (short for Puss N boots...and now that I wrote that the whole point of putting it in short hand is gone) came over and wanted to repeat the cuddle session from this morning. She can have her cute moments too! Crazy Cat Lady moment is over. So yeah, that's pretty much my day.






Over all : good day....oh except I looked over my project, didn't like it any more and decided to do the presentation of the written work over again...now I like it! So yay my project is done....AGAIN!

Blah

I think my project exploded! If you look around there's a little piece here and piece there...it's everywhere! I'm finally done the writing part. Now it's just a matter of putting it together! I just finished my orientation at Staples (I'm going to be a cashier there for the Christmas season). It went by rather quickly because he didn't have much spare time for us. We had a quick tour and then went over the schedule. I start tomorrow morning at 10am! I have 3 shifts this week and two next. They're very flexible with the hours that they give. I had given them my availability before and then told them I would have to change it and they didn't even bat an eye. It was, ok, when are you available? haha. So freakin' awesome! My availability to them is Monday to Friday open to 4:30. Then my availability to the restaurant is Monday/Wed/Fri/Sat nights from 5-10. And school is Tues/Thurs nights and Saturday during the day until 4. Whew! Don't forget there is a Sunday in the week too...and don't worry I have nothing planned on that day except to catch up on homework and relax.

Update: my project is done...I never want to see it again!

T's engagement party

I need to really crunch down and finish my homework. I have 10 summaries to write on my 10 observations that I did over a six week period. It's not hard work, just time consuming and I really want it to just miraculously do itself so I can do the fun part of putting it together.

It also doesn't help that I haven't seen my B (my boyfriend...his nickname is B and in order to protect his privacy that's how I will refer to him) in a week. Not only that we haven't had a conversation that has lasted more than 10 minutes in that week. So I will post a picture of us that will cheer me up. :) I hope you have some enjoyment from it as well.

Today I woke up a little late (9 am) and started in on my homework. The first part of my project was already done (the observations) and I was determined to have the second part of my project done before leaving the house. The second part was the highlighting part. I had to go through all 10 observations and highlight the different types of development that I could see. It is divided into 4 parts....physical/social-emotional/moral and cognitive. Anyways, who knew that highlighting could take 2 hours to complete? As soon as I was done I got ready to go out to B's aunts house. His brother has just gotten engaged and the girls were holding an engagement party for T (the soon to be bride).

When I arrived it started out real casual. Hangin' around eatin veggies and crackers with spread. We talked about their wedding plans and girlie things. Then the homemade turtle cheesecake that B's aunt made made its debut. And let me tell you it was delicious. Had I been thinking I would have take a picture of it. I thought I was eating it too fast, not savoring it long enough until someone mentioned that I was the slowest eater..haha. At least it wasn't like my friend Pam's 10th birthday party when the activities continued with me still eating at the table. As soon as the plates were put away B's mom announced that it was time for initiation. Both T and I looked at each other (seeing as both of us had never been to one of these events with B's family before we both didn't know what was coming). B's mom ran downstairs and returned with not one but two packages of stick on tattoos. We proceeded to put not just a couple, but all of the tattoos on T. There was a lot of laughter and fun to be heard in the room. It even drew B's male cousin to come and check out the action...in which he was sent back downstairs.
After all the fun we realized that the time was now 4:30 and was time to dismantle the party. On our way out to the car T told me she scared now to think what's to come in the future if that was just the engagement party. She was/is such a great sport. Work your new look T (until you have a shower). Congratulations A & T!

Why would you complain when you got it for free?

Good evening. I hope I find you in good tidings. Tonight I went to work at the restaurant. First time since last Saturday. That's right nearly an entire week since the last time I worked. Well all I can say was that I was refreshed and ready to take on the hungry people. Except to my dismay it was a quiet Friday night! Geez! I was making jokes and the people were looking at me as though I had plopped into their presence from a UFO or some other planet. I checked my microphone to make sure it was on and I just got a lot of feedback. People, do your server a favor and try to find them entertaining when it's obvious they're trying to make the effort. You may not find their "lame over used" jokes funny, but for the sake that they do this job 8 hours (sometimes less, sometimes more) a day just give them a slight smile, maybe even a lift and lower of your shoulders....maybe even a quiet chuckle...something to show that you've noticed them.

Don't get me wrong..I had great people in my section tonight. Only one table that stands out that I wanted to punch. Oh yes, servers want to punch people. There is one guy I work with in particular when ever he has small children in his section who scream, cry, talk, blink, breath he gets very violent thinking. Commonly he can be heard saying, "If I had sharpened my toothbrush today I would stab someone with it." Or "I'm going to punch that baby." Remember, this isn't me...this is me quoting someone I work with. I'm quite the opposite. When a baby comes into my section you can't get me away from their table. I have been know (in my Humpty days) to take the child for a walk with me around the restaurant to help calm them down. Babies are a happy time for me. Not like my co-worker where he would be happy to have a child-free zone for the entire shift.

My one table tonight that stood out as being the one I would like to punch happened like this. First they weren't even in my section. They were in section 1, but found out that they had another person joining them and the table they were at was only a 2 seater table. First mistake, calling over a busy server(me) to fix the problem when the hostess is only 2 feet away. Second mistake, asking to move tables AFTER you've not only ordered your drinks but your entire meal including starters and entrees. This does not make your new server(me) happy when now in the midst of my already 5 tables on the go, I have to figure out what you're having to drink, what are your starters, what you have as an entree so I make sure you have the proper set ups and don't forget to let the "expo" know that you're no longer at table # 1 you're now at table #3 so if I'm not around when the food is ready they know where to run it. Oh and also that I'm their server now and not server #1. Honestly I think we should be able to just say, tough luck you're stuck at this table now...but "customer gets what they want" gets in the way of that thinking. But I don't think they should move people out of that "servers" area. This particular restaurant when the one particular manager is on has done this to me 3 times. The first and third time was not a big deal with a party of 2 or 3 but the second time this happened it was with a table of 16. That was hectic and completely stressful. Anyways, we won't get into that now. Let me finish about why I wanted to punch this particular table. Where did I leave off....oh yes...they have now moved into my section...I've gotten the information from server #1 and everything is ready to go. No biggy. I go down to their table with their drinks and they inform me that they have the order for the person coming and can it come out with their meals. Yeah, no problem. I go and tell the kitchen and it's all set. Their person arrives at the same time their meals are being delivered. Perfect timing. I ask if she would like something to drink, yes a diet pepsi....(seriously people when you've ordered fries and chicken fingers you may as well splurge and get the regular pepsi). As we are having this discussion I can hear the one guy telling the girl who put the pizza down that there was something wrong with it. (This is where it gets hairy because I wasn't the original server and I wasn't the one to take the food out so I wasn't able to inspect the "special instructions" before it left the kitchen.) So his cheese wasn't melted like he had asked. Ok, no prob I will get the kitchen to put it back in the oven to melt the cheese. I take it back and discuss it with the cooks...."but that's how it's suppose to be" they protest, "I know, but they've requested it to be melted"...."You're going to have to upcharge them for extra cheese"...."No, cause you're just melting what on there already for them...no extra cheese is to be added"..."Fine"..."Thank you". (Don't forget when you give your server a hard time, they're getting it on the other end (from the kitchen) as well. ) I head out to the table to take them their pizza when the busser comes up to me and says "you're table #3 wants more sauce." Instead of asking her my question, before I ring it in I go to the table..."I hear you want more sauce, it's an extra $1, is that ok?" "NO, that's not ok. Can I just have some for the inconvience of waiting for our pizza?" I was like, um no...I'm sorry but the servers don't make up the rules...we just follow them. I don't know why it's an extra dollar...but the only way to get more sauce is through the kitchen. If they don't have a bill for it, they don't make it. It's that simple. (This is where my punching reaction comes into play).
1. People always want something for free.
2. When people use a rude tone it really turns my care factor off. - Normally I'm very caring and want to help...it really is up to the server if they "get anything" for their troubles.
Let's just say I felt bad because of the confusion of switching sections and the pizza not coming out right I threw in the extra sauce. However, had I known they were still going to complain about the "normal upcharge for extra sauce" to the manager I would have charged them. That's right...they still complained about the charge when they DIDN'T get charged for it! That is punch them entitlement! My manager came up to me and said, "Michelle, what was wrong with this table?" And I told her, "Oh, their pizza came out without the cheese being melted so I got them to re-bake it". "No," she continued, "about the extra charge for more sauce". So I told her what happened and she rolled her eyes and said, "some people".

Now lets recap a happy friendly table I experienced tonight so you don't think I only have negative things to say about serving. If it was all negative I don't think I would have continued in this field for the last 13 years. I had quite a few really nice tables. My first table of the night in fact was the most friendly, happy table. They were from out of town doing a shopping day. Not only were they shopping for themselves but picking up orders of things for other people in their town. They were so happy to do their friends a favor and expressed to me the joy they got out of doing it. I find people are people and most just want to tell their story. I hear many life stories and journeys and learn from them. I've gained many friends and "regulars" over the years that I have grown to appreciate and love. You build a lot of relationships as a server (as long as you're open to it). However, within the next year or so I plan to hang up my apron and take on a new journey.

So the moral of the story....

Don't mess with the people who handle your food. (haha...just kidding)....but seriously! (In some cases....never mind you don't want to know!) The real moral, if you get something for free don't complain about it!

Homework vs. blogging.

I have to admit right now I'm suppose to be engrossed within my homework. Instead I found my blog to be a bit more fun to write about. My homework is a project that's due next Thursday. I didn't realize that it was due so soon until last night in class when our teacher reminded us we only have one week to complete it and have it handed in. YIKES! I'm only half way done. The assignment is to observe a child 10 times 15 minutes each time and write down EVERYTHING they do. I mean in detail. Example: "he lifts up his right arm to face level, and with right index finger scratches the the right side of his nose". Let's just say after 15 minutes you have a cramp in your hand from trying to keep up with the writing. It's a really fun project. Now I have to highlight the different areas in development (Physical (fine/gross motor skills) / Social/Emotional / Moral / and Cognitive) within my notes. Then I have to write a summary on each one and then do a final summary. So I'm done the observations themselves...now it's just a matter of doing the sit down grueling work. haha.

As well as doing my homework I'm suppose to be doing my laundry. I really should do that....I'll be right back. Alright laundry is officially on the go. And I am still actively avoiding my homework. It's hard to motivate ones self when there kitty is so cuddly and you just want to snuggle.

My boyfriend is gone for 2 weeks and I find myself indulging into my cats world more often. I believe this drives Puss N Boots (my cat) crazy. She tends to be running from me quite a lot. I'll see her, she sees me...we have a few minutes of cuddles and then it ends in a hiss from one of us and she is usually the one to break up the hissing match. I'm only kidding...except for the hissing coming from her side. If you believe this or not she has turned to my brother (her nemesis) and has started giving him kisses and cuddling up to him. So weird!

With my boyfriend gone it is hard. When he left we weren't on the best of ships to be sailed. It had a few holes in the bottom of the boat that we hoped wouldn't cause a big deal along the journey but instead those holes have gotten a little larger and need to be dealt with. Don't fret fellow readers they are holes that can be fixed, it just may take a little time and elbow grease, sweat and tears but it will be a fixed boat by the end of the journey. It's a good boat to be on. But him being away for 2 weeks doesn't help the matter because I'm needy and have an incredibly hard time dealing with things over the computer or phone.

Well I think it's that time that I stop avoiding my homework...apparently Puss N boots doesn't want to suck it up and do my homework for me. So I guess I'm going to have to do it myself. Until next time. Michelle.

Once upon a time a blog existed

Ok, so it's been a long time since my last entry. Why you ask? Well I've been so run off my feet but that just means there is a lot to blog about. Together lets see how often I am able to blog now that I find myself with a little more time on my hands.

For the last two months I have found myself on the go 24/6. That was not a typo. I always had Sunday's off from work and school so I would have at least one day a week to "relax". Now we all know that that doesn't happen even when we "plan" it. I am finding myself using the """ marks a lot lately...but I've dealt with it and now you will too!

My Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays tend to be the busiest days. I would typically wake up at 4am(sometimes earlier, rarely later...if I saw a 5 on my clock I would consider it sleeping in). I would get on the road often greeted by deer or some kind of potential road kill. I have had to swerve to miss some in order to save their lives. I would promptly arrive at the school of the day earlier than the secretary and take those 5 minutes to catch a quick cat nap. I became really good at taking quick naps here and there to keep myself from passing out mid-shoot. Once in the school I would start my set up (at least an hour set up) and answer many questions while doing so from the school personal and parents. My day would end with the tear down and loading up of my vehicle. I loved it. Almost every minute. (There were some days I would get frustrated with the questions because it would be 5 people coming up to me with the same question, it would become old very fast.)

After my day would end as a photographer I would go into my magical phone booth and transform into either a server or a student. Monday's and Saturdays I would transform into a server at 5pm until 10pm. And on Tuesdays and Thursday nights I would turn into a student. Oh and also a student every second saturday for 7 hours. Woot. Needless to say I needed that Sunday to revamp and rejuvenate. But as anyone with a hectic schedule knows on your "day off" you try and fit everything you need to get done into one day. It becomes one of your busiest days of the week.


But now that it's "quiet time" in the school photo area I've somewhat been laid off until spring time. So I find myself with a lot of open time. I told the restaurant that I work at that I'm available more often and have been faced with "we don't have enough hours to go around" so I found myself out looking for a new job. So crazy after such a crazy 3 months. I find myself with the time off not knowing what to do. I could do my homework, clean the house *cough* right like I do that....I really need to though. I find myself bored and can't wait until this new job I got just today starts.


Hopefully I'll be able to keep this thing updated now that I find myself with all this freakin' free time.