Memorial Day... honoring those who give us freedom

What is there to say tonight? I had a great day at work. It was pretty quiet, since it's memorial day. My mind is full of disconnected thoughts tonight.

I'm watching Nightline's airing of all the names of the 900 or so soldiers who have given their lives defending freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan in the past year. They are 900 of the most noble people who have lived or will live in this century. 900 truly amazing men and women, who believed so strongly in the gift of Freedom that we, as Americans, can now give to our Middle Eastern sisters and brothers. Many of us are relatively unaware of the war - we pay no taxes, we purchase no victory bonds, we have no victory gardens. Yet we would be truly selfish and entirely foolish to ignore the sacrifice that these men and women are making on our behalf.

I was thinking tonight about martial arts. Maybe I will try that someday - you know... like, after I lose 20 lbs, and after I earn enough money at Fazolis to get my master's degree, and after I actually earn that master's degree, and oh yea, did I mention I should probably graduate and get a job somewhere in there? I'll just add that to my to do list! Gee whiz... I have SO got to slow down someday. Except, that's just not my style! I don't think I'm gonna stop until I've got a doctorate and a pension plan! (and a husband wouldn't hurt, either!)

I'm really enjoying getting to know the people at work. There's a really sweet Latino girl, and another sweet (white) girl, both of whom have worked there for a long time, are both really helpful, and a lot of fun to work with! They mostly work mostly front cash, or sometimes the dining room. Really awesome people. And others, too - an Italian guy (at least his name's italian!) who can work just about anywhere in the restaurant, and a really nice middle aged gentleman who works in the dining room, a couple of friendly dishwashers, and probably some others who I'm forgetting! I never imagined a food service job could be so good! And I have yet to meet a manager I entirely dislike. I think some of the managers are better in certain areas than in others, but overall, I'd say that none of them is really "bad". Honestly, I think they're all pretty good at what they do! It's such a great restaurant, and a great place to work!

lots of hours... i love my job!

No time to blog yesterday because I wound up working for a long, long time! I was scheduled to work from 5-10 pm, but when I got to work, one of my favorite managers asked me if i would close. I figured, why not, so I agreed. But boy-oh-boy, that was a lot of work! We (myself, the 2 managers, and the 2 other closers) closed at 11:00 and didn't get out of there until 2 am. There was a lot of stuff to clean. But let me tell you, that restaurant really sparkled when we were done!

And let this serve as a message to everyone out there in cyberspace who may stumble upon it: As a new employee of the Fazoli's in Lee's Summit, Missouri, I cannot speak highly enough of the restaurant, its general manager (Dana Likely), or the overall cleanliness of the kitchen. Dana has the most incredibly positive attitude, and you can see it in the entire restaurant. All of the associate/restaurant/kitchen managers are really positive, and most of the employees are also really positive. Closing every evening involves about two to three hours of cleaning, and every morning, we spend two to three hours doing cleaning and prep. That place absolutely sparkles. As much as I may groan sometimes about the amount of cleaning and the time spent on my feet, you, our guests, deserve nothing less.

Today and yesterday, though, work has really been great. I love this job. I never imagined how much I would love working at Fazoli's. Even though it's a fast food restaurant - none of that really matters to me. I get to interact with people, and I have the world's GREATEST management team. This job is really a blessing from God.

pets in my future?

I haven't made it back to Starbucks. Two busy days and the closest I've gotten is their website. They've got a couple of drinks that look good, though. Vanilla Creme and Strawberries'n'Creme Frappuchino. The Frappuchino has a lot of calories, though. Hopefully I'll get a chance to go back there soon.

I'm getting tired of sleeping. Period. Seems like it causes me more trouble than it's worth. I have had sleep problems for several years now, and apparently my doctor put me on Ambien for way too long. Well, I'm not taking Ambien anymore because I started sleepwalking an awful lot. In fact, thanks to that sleepwalking scare, I'm afraid to take any kind of sleeping medicine. Not even a tylenol p.m. Well, lately it's taken me, like, 2 or 3 hours to fall asleep every night, and every morning, I sleep through my alarm and don't wake up until I've slept for, like, 12 hours.

I spent some time today shopping for a cage for my future hamster. I'm getting pretty excited about that. After I get my room cleaned up a bit, and after I get a paycheck, and after I pay for the tire I just had to put on my car, I will buy a cage and the other stuff I need, and then if I have any money left, I will buy a hamster. I'm thinking I will go with a 10-gallon aquarium - hopefully that will be a bit cleaner. And I also think I'm gonna use CareFresh bedding. It's more expensive but a lot nicer. I just hope I can get my hamster (or maybe even two hamsters) sooner rather than later.

Starbucks

I had my first taste of Starbucks coffee tonight - a vanilla latte. S invited me out to dinner, and after we ate at On The Border (great food), we went to Bed Bath and Beyond and Starbucks. The latte was not bad. I've never been a fan of hot or warm drinks, so I didn't really like that part. My sister told me that I should try one of their iced mochas or another iced drink next time. I looked on their website, and I thought the vanilla creme sounded really good (albeit lacking in caffeine).

It's been a great evening, though. Tomorrow my mom will be staying home, and we will be unpacking together, so (hopefully) I will be able to get a couple of hamsters or gerbils soon.

Free Time and Flat Tires

Well, BunnyServant is right. Today I went to visit her, we went out to lunch (she drove), then we hung out in her apartment for awhile with her bunnies. I left and got out to my car, where I discovered my front-right tire was very very VERY flat. I wasn't going anywhere.

So, I breathed a prayer of thanks that I had my cell phone with me, and then I called my USAA roadside assist plan. I was very pleased with the service. Twenty minutes later, a roadside assist specialist pulled up in a big Ford F-150. He changed my flat tire for my spare, and I was back on the road in ten more minutes.

The old tire is very, very, VERY flat. I have never seen a tire become as flat as this one. That's why Bunnyservant says I should frame it. I just might do that...

i love my job!

I seriously had a good night tonight. Okay, so maybe part of it was that I only worked, like, 4 hours (as opposed to the past two days, 10-11 hours each). But tonight I got to work front cash, which means I ran the cash register and greeted the guests, which was a lot of fun. I saw a lot of people that I knew, and it was just a lot of fun.

Bunnyservant, part of our problem (especially on the drive thru) is that we have just changed our menus. We took off some of the old pastas and now we have "build your own pasta", where you choose your pasta noodles, then you choose your sauce, then you can add meats or veggies for $1 each. When someone wants lots of add ons (i.e. pasta with broccoli, chicken, peppers and onions, shrimp, italian sausage, etc.), for $1 each, a $3 dish of pasta can turn into a $7 or $8 pasta dish really easily, and the guests don't like that.

Anyway, tonight was a really good night. I didn't have to work in the kitchen with the cooks who can get annoying, and I got to work with a couple of guys who were really helpful. I also got to work with a couple of managers who I love.

What am I talking about? I love all the managers at Fazoli's!

I am, I am! (totally nuts!)

So I was supposed to work from 11 to 4 today. I got there a little early (about 10:30), and wound up clocking in right away. I was supposed to be in the dining room, but I wound up with a drive thru headset on me. So I was working drive thru all day, and it was CRAZY!!!! Today was the last day of school for the local school district, so we had a ton of rude high school customers today. A TON!!! To top that off, we had a pretty good number of rude grown up customers, too!!! Anyway, they asked me to stay, so I wound up not getting off until 9:30. That's a long time on the feet.

News flash to everyone out there who reads this: (okay... so it's just BunnyServant and my sister)... Working in a fast food restaurant is hard work, and working on one of those drive thru radios is tough. You know what a hard time you have hearing us? Well, we have an even harder time hearing you, because of all the background noise in the kitchen. All you people out there talk REALLY FAST and MUMBLE, none of which help me. I need you to talk slowly, loud and clear. But please don't yell - I have had customers become irate and scream at me, and I can't hear that either. Just talk loud and clear, and it helps me SO MUCH!!!

Seriously, though, the job is going pretty well. I get annoyed sometimes by some customers and some of my coworkers, but I really feel good about this job. I hope it continues to go this well.

Working woman

Yep... that's what I am. As I sit here with aching feet, though, I can only ask... am I totally nuts?

Seriously though... I like my job. The managers are, overall, really good, and really fun to work with. Most of my co-workers are a lot of fun to work with. It's pretty brutal work - the worst part being, trying to stay on my feet for several hours at a stretch. But overall I think it could be a whole lot worse.

Some of my co-workers drive me crazy with their bad attitudes. I mean, I guess I'm kind of atypical - I'm working in a fast food restaurant to save money for my master's degree. But the rest of these people - mostly, people who are either in high school, dropped out of high school and are supporting themselves, or graduated high school and are supporting themselves - and, almost all of whom are living with their parents. They complain, use a lot of foul language, talk about how they hate this job, etc., and it's all I can do to keep from telling them to shove it. If they don't like this job so much, then go to college, get a GED, go to technical school - at the very least, get back into the job market and find a different job. I get so tired of listening to them whine and complain.

Anyway, it's late, and I have to go to work at 11:00 tomorrow. Blessings to you all!

Radio Shack?

Bunnyservant, the only reason why I want to work two jobs is to earn
two incomes. :) I have to earn enough dollars this summer to pay for
school in the fall. Easy enough, but since I don't have a degree yet,
not many people seem to be willing to hire. I'd also like to set
aside a bit for my master's degree, too, while I'm at it.

This morning I interviewed at Radio Shack. They really seem
interested in hiring me, or at least pursuing a second interview. I
am really hoping and praying that this works out, because they pay
well and the people seem nice.

It would be nice to earn enough to be able to move out of my parents'
house in a year, too. Or at least buy myself a treat when I graduate!
I can't wait for that to get here...

Sermon on the Mound

Last night I got to see the 1-3 at my favorite school do their spring program, and it was GREAT! They were so cute, it was unreal! The teachers were all relieved to have the program over, but they pulled it off SO WELL! My friend S was the only grownup in the play, and he played Oscar Meyers, the hot dog vendor, and sang a song about right field. He did fantastic. One of our other friends will probably find this blog and make me regret saying this, but I was very impressed. It was totally worth running lines with him.

S's hamster was kind of crazy last night, and it took us a long time to figure out why. He bit one third-grade girl, and he bit me HARD, which is totally out of character for him. Then when S and I fed him, his passionate dash for the food bowl led us to infer that the kids have not been feeding him. So hopefully after he's had a few days to settle down he will be back to his sweet little self.

Last night, though, after the program, S and I went to Buffalo Wild Wings. First time I've been there. Interesting restaurant. Though personally I'm not a big fan of chicken wings, I still had a lot of fun. Nothing like late night partying with your friends.

Yesterday I went to work (I can say that now!) for the first time. Turned out they just wanted me to sign some papers. The schedule comes out tomorrow, Thursday, so I will probably start work tomorrow.

Now you can all pray that I will be able to find a second job. I do not want to be greedy but I really need the income from a full time job or two jobs or something, and Fazoli's will only be part time.

I GOT A JOB!!!!!!

i got a job i got a job i got a job i got a job... It just feels so good to say that!

I was out applying for jobs AGAIN today, frustrated as usual, when I went to one of my favorite restaurants - Fazoli's in Lee's Summit - to eat lunch. I was there, and I finally thought - what the hey - I'll apply here. I know I've said I didn't want to work in food service again, but the people at this restaurant are sooooo nice, and so much fun to be around. Plus, I thought, it's spaghetti and stuff - not all greasy fried food like the last places I worked at. Hehehe... I bet I'll get an employee discount! I'm really excited about this job. Fun people and a fun atmosphere.... it makes all the difference in the world, and I just know I'm gonna love it. That's turned the whole day into just a really good day. I'm so thrilled beyond belief, you can't even imagine.

I'm gonna try to get up early tomorrow and get on the stationary bike in the morning. I'm going to the library tomorrow, too, so I will pick up some good reading material for the next few weeks. Summer is really here, and I am so excited and ready to welcome it with open arms!

jobs jobs jobs

The past few days have been... frustrating, at best. I've been trying to find a job, and honestly, it is starting to feel like no one is hiring for the summer!

I had an interview today, and it felt like that went well. I am praying very hard about that job. I really hope that it works out.

I got my grades back today. Five As and one B! Hooray!

I got to go to Guacamole Grill with my friend S tonight. It was all the way in Olathe, and kinda expensive, but oooooohhhhhh it was good. Plus we got tons of great conversation. Totally worth it!

I'm kinda frustrated right now because I really have a lot of stuff on my heart and mind. God has just put so much there... I am praying and praying and not really feeling a whole lot answers. A lightening bolt from heaven would be helpful right now. :)

Surviving

I guess today didn't turn out too awful. I'm getting along okay. I really would like to get a job, though, and preferably one that I enjoy, or where I'm learning something, or whatever. I know my mom would probably think I am crazy but I think having a job keeps me healthy, whether it is school, work, or whatever. Ever since my car accident, since I've been healing from that, I've had to keep my brain working and active. When I don't stay active, when I don't keep my brain working, everything about me gets a little more sluggish. My left arm and leg kind of drag, my coordination slows down, and I even think my immune system slows down. So I really hope I get a job, soon.

Seems like my mom and I are dragging along. I feel like I never have enough grace or patience or whatever I need to live with her.

Now all I want is to curl up for bed with one hand on Hope, my teddy bear, and the other hand on my Bible. Halfway'll have to do it for tonight.

How in the world am I gonna live with my parents?

Yesterday was mother's day, right? So remind me why I did all those nice things for my mom? Oh yea... because I love her.

Only problem is, I'm not sure if I can stand her. i don't know how we are going to live together and not drive each other completely mad. Tonight, I am starving and I wanted to go out to eat. Just me and my Bible, unless one of my friends calls me. But my mom doesn't want me to go out to eat. She wants me to eat at home (and she's not even making a dinner that is all that great). So I'm calling my friend, BunnyServant (http://bunnyservant.blogspot.com/), to see if she is free tonight. I do not want to let my mother control me! But she's not answering her phone, so she's probably busy, which is too bad.

I applied today at two Price Choppers and a Target. Tomorrow I will apply at Hyvee and some places out in Lee's Summit. One of the Price Choppers was hiring cashiers for $6.50 per hour. I wonder what the possibilities for advancement look like.

Let me tell you what I would really like. I would really love it if I could get a job that paid $7 per hour or more. Then I could earn my money for tuition quickly, and THEN it wouldn't take long to earn enough to buy a laptop. It would be nice to hang out in quiet places around town with my laptop and Bible and just connect with God.

Happy Mother's Day!

I decided today that I think I fractured a bone in my hand. It's been hurting, just a little bit, for two weeks now. That was when I banged it against the refrigerator. I talked to my mom about it today, though, and she said it wasn't worth going to the doctor. I disagree, but since I'm still on their health insurance, I can't really do anything about it. It makes me really mad, though, because I would really feel better if I could get an x-ray and a clean bill of health from a doctor.

I got a call this evening about one of the job applications I turned in this week. It was from a drugstore. They don't have any pharmacy tech positions available, but they do have a cashier position available. Starting pay is $7 per hour. That is pretty good. If I can just get full-time hours - like maybe, 40 hours per week, or better! I don't mind working nights. I will stay up all night, every night, if that's what it takes. And oh, if I can get some opportunities for advancement! I really hope everything goes well with this store.

Hope I can get a haircut tomorrow. I'm starting to get shaggy.

it's been awhile!

Getting into this habit of posting everyday is tough! And wow, so much has happened in the past couple of days!

May 5 was my birthday, so I got to go out to eat with my parents and a friend that evening. We went to Cactus Grille, which is just about my favorite restaurant. It's Mexican food, which I love! My parents also got me the best cake - chocolate with a delicious layer of whipped frosting. One of my favorites.

I have spent all day on May 5 and 6 applying for jobs. I really think I would like to get a job as a pharmacy tech. It would pay more, and I would get some certification that would carry over into another job. I hate to sound greedy, but I could really use that money. It would be nice to not have to be stressed out about money anymore. I dream of making $11 or $15 per hour - I mean, surely my 4 years of college are worth something - but with the jobs I've had so far, I feel like I will be lucky to make $6 per hour.

Today I went to a wedding shower, which was nice. The bride is a friend who I don't know terribly well, but we've had lots of classes together and she's been wonderfully kind to me.

so what's proper? and would the world stop getting married?

I just got the mail, and there was one envelope that looked suspiciously like a card. Since my birthday is tomorrow, I hoped greatly that it was a birthday card, though the return address looked unfamiliar.

So I open it up, and wouldn't you know, it's a WEDDING INVITATION!!!! Okay, so I can't afford to buy wedding gifts for the world. But what's worse, it's a wedding invite for this girl who I haven't talked to in a year and a half. So I hardly know her.

AND what's more the wedding is at First Baptist Church, Warrensburg, which for those of you who know me, I don't exactly have good memories of that church. Don't really want to go back to that church.

I will check emilypost.com for the proper ettiquette and do what I have to do. Don't know if I will actually go to that wedding... there is another wedding in late May that I am going to. I might ask a good friend of mine to accommpany me to the wedding. We'll see.

IT'S OVER!!!!

Celebrate good times, come on! celebrate!

Okay, so I'm just really excited that my final is over and done with
and no more school at all for this semester! Hallelujah! I'll
hopefully write more about that tonight.

The one not so good thing that happened to me today is that I got a
$50 parking ticket for parking without a student permit. I'm really
mad about that but not sure if there is anything I can do about it.
Be assured I will keep you updated.

Here goes nothing...

Hello world, here I go. I'm going to take my test, and then I will be DONE, FREE, NO MORE CLASS HOORAY!!!! Five hours from now it will all be over, and I am looking forward to it!

PRAY4ME! :)

Hey, all you cyberamigos who stumble across this page, it would mean a lot if you would sent a few words up to the Big Guy upstairs on my behalf. I have a test tomorrow in Revolutionary Europe that I'm pretty nervous about - I really want to do well on it, and I desperately need God's help. Thanks, guys!

Home Sweet Home

Yea, it feels good to be home. I moved my desk and my computer into my bedroom, so now my room is crowded, but in a cozy way. I also moved my TV and DVD player up here, so it's like my little hangout. I really enjoy sitting on my computer and just chillin'. Now the only thing this room needs to be more perfect is a recliner that I can sit in while I crochet or knit!

Unfortunately my bedroom is the smallest room in the house, with the smallest closet in the house. When my parents moved into this house, they never planned to stay here for 20-plus years. My dad's job had been moving him every two or three years, so they got a 3 bedroom house and put their only daughter (at that time - it was my older sister, and she was five or six years old) in the largest bedroom (besides the master). When I was born a year or two later, I got the third bedroom. After 22 years, I guess I've outgrown it!

Starting on Thursday, I will begin the serious unpacking, along with a giant "garage sale" box. Whatever I can't sell at the garage sell, I will put on Ebay. I have really got to get rid of some stuff. I just feel like I have too much!

I say "thursday" because tonight and Tuesday I will be absorbed in studying for the final that I have on Wednesday. I would appreciate all your prayers for this test. It's in a class called Revolutionary Europe, and I am praying for a good grade in this class. It would really mean a lot to me.

Also on thursday I will begin job hunting. I need to earn money to pay for school; therefore I really need to earn at least $7 or $8 per hour for the summer, instead of minimum wage ($5.15). I think I would really like to get employment as a pharmacy technician. I've always loved the health care industry, and if I could get work as a pharmacy tech, I think I would continue that job on the weekends next fall.

Anyone out there who has student taught before, I would appreciate any input from you. I really don't know what to expect in the fall. How much work will this be for me?

Moving, moving, I'm done moving!

Hooray! Yesterday was a busy, difficult, backbreaking day of packing and carrying boxes down the stairs and into cars, but it has all paid off. Now I have moved all my things out of my Warrensburg apartment and into my parents' house. I am soooooooo relieved! Now I have just one more final next week. I can't believe my days as a student are almost completely over.

Next semester I will be a "student teacher" and after that, a full-fledged teacher. It's hard to believe that I've come so far in just two years. They've flown by - it doesn't seem like two whole years have passed. It is amazing what God will do if you just give him a little time and the willingness to be molded into whatever He wants you to be.

What will this summer bring? What will next year bring? I don't know, but I have a feeling I will be surprised. Somehow, I am excited to see what lies ahead.