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.

Newest news

It has been a very eventful summer indeed! I've been finding myself to be really busy and I'm loving it. All summer long I've taken a few visits out to Calgary or my special someone has come out here to visit me. We've seen each other every two weeks which is great...but in my selfish desire not enough! However! Good news report ss(special someone) is going to be moving away from Calgary and into the BC Province. Where?! That hasn't yet been decided. But hey, one step at a time.

Starting as of last week I have started my busy schedule. I now work at life touch(school photography) and at Boston Pizza. And starting in a week and a half I will also be in school. How will I not go insane you ask? Well it's too late for that. Instead I answer you with this, I have every Sunday off. This will help me to stay sane throughout the next ten months of my life.

I find myself really enjoying life touch. I successfully set up a photo studio by myself on Friday. In only a few short weeks it will become second nature and I won't even have to think of the steps I have to take to set it all up. First I must measure the mat 6 feet 4 inches from the wall. Then I tape it down. The next step I take is to measure 64inches from the mat to the back of the background. Then set up the background. Then I choose to either set up the accent light(background light) or the main light. After that comes the fill light. The fill light is my nemesis because it takes bending power to make it go together. After this I set up my camera and computer. Then I plug everything in and calibrate my camera. There are a few other steps in there before we get to that part but I'm not going to bore you with all the details. Let's just say it's a lot of fun. Now just to learn all the poses and where the camera goes. Eek! It will be a learning experience for sure!

Then there is the faithful Boston pizza. It is usually the same thing day in day out...but the people change and there are new memories that are created. Just to think that you are a fraction of a person's life is amazing to know. You are a part of that person's life, their experience and what they bring away from that is how they will remember you. I had these twins I served yesterday that made my day. They taught me some mind tricks and fun 2 - 3 minute games to play with people to get them to think. It was a lot of fun. And then the 3 grumpy girls I served at the end of my 9 hour shift. I some how got them to turn their frown upside down and helped them change their attitude towards the evening. That feels like an accomplishment to me.

And school starting. I'm so excited. I'm more excited about the Saturdays. They will be the workshops of the class. I don't know what that means exactly...but I'm excited about it. So that's what is new with me up to date. Exciting new developments and always an exciting day! Until next time...stay fit and have fun!

The boring story.

Wow, people are crazy. This is the conclusion that I've come to know as my reality. Yesterday I was called into work because a couple of girls had called in sick. Hmmm...Saturday morning and suddenly feelin' under the weather...this usually only means one thing..but who am I to judge. haha. Anyways, I answered the phone and said I would go in...well....my actual words were "Fo shizzle ma nizzle". The manager didn't quite know how to take that...and then I quickly backtracked and said, I mean, for sure.

I learned soon after that I may have been wise to not go in. The people I served were miserable and grumpy and super hungry. I've never encountered such misery in a long time. And misery seems to really enjoy company but I wouldn't let them get me down. Plus it wasn't my fault for their mood swings so I didn't take it personally. Anyways, once that shift was over I was happy I survived with all my limbs:)

Then this morning I woke up and looked outside to be greeted by a budget moving truck. My dad had gone down to Abbotsford to help get the furniture and such out of my grandma's condo. I called my brother to get his team together to come help unload. Once he arrived we started taking things off the truck. It didn't take very long..it took us longer to figure out where to put the stuff than anything. Right now it is just a bunch of furniture in the middle of the living room. It reminds me of an antique store...or a furniture shop...you know how everything is kind of piled in the middle of the room?!

This is pretty much all that's been going on as of late. Kind of a lame update...but an update nonetheless. Keep it real homes.

Michelle.