Frustrations

I know my situation isn't a unique one so if I come off as bitching like I'm the only one who has to go through this, forgive me, skip the post, whatever.

This morning I got a call from someone at E's neurosurgeon's office because they couldn't get a hold of him.  No biggie, he generally doesn't answer the phone unless he has to so I figured he didn't recognize the number and ignored it.  So I call to relay the message and *I* can't get a fucking hold of him.  Argh!  So frustrating. 

That is the story of my life these days.  I work all day, come home to a housework, dinner, homework with the kids and quite frankly?  I don't do as good a job of it with ANY of it.  Fuck, I feel like a failure. I'm sitting here bored at work and right now it just has me in tears.  I SHOULD be at home.

 My home is a house - a messy house that I'm too freaking tired to clean properly.  After school, I should be there - I want to be there to have a snack with my kids, to be there for homework time - to suggest an article for the Elfling to do her weekly current events paper on - to nudge the Diva into writing about a book she read to turn into her class.  Dinner shouldn't be some frantically thought up thing based on something that E hopefully took out to thaw.  Yeah, in light of a time when we hear of so many people who's dinners come from fast food day in and day out - thank god I'm cooking...but I just wish it weren't so frenetic and depressing all rolled into one. 

I know, I know...baby steps and setting up routines is the way to go but what do you do when you're too bloody tired for even that?

And You Smell Like One Too!

So yesterday was the Elfling's birthday and it seems today's title was our battle cry of the day. No longer is the traditional birthday song good enough for this family - we sing birthday ala Futurama!  It wouldn't be complete with that line, as added by Fry.  Ironically, my sister was subjected to the same raucousness exactly a month ago.  lol

Despite all the singing, the day was a pretty quiet one - we try to stay with the tradition of the birthday girl (or guy, I suppose) of having the dinner or restaurant of their choice.  The Elfling, of course, made a choice that E nixed right off the back because of his back.  Well, that and he doesn't particularly care for the place, but mostly, they have horrible chairs that are hell on his back.  I searched in vain for an acceptable substitution (for Chinese) and failed.  It really is sad how lacking we are in really, really good Chinese; though after the awesomeness of what was our favourite place in Sindelfigen, I'm not sure ANY place will ever reach such heights of amazing.  *sighs*

Plan B turned to Plan C when the (apparently) still brand new Cheddars was jam packed at the very beginning of dinner (we're talking, like, 5pm) so we wound up at the same place we did last year.  This is not a bad thing, given we all like steak and birthdays were made for streak.  Or Chinese.  I couldn't help but smile with the joy of the secret of the Elf's gift as she lamented about our house rule of "no zombie games".  But I also couldn't help but fondly contemplate her first birthday.

Her first birthday was also on a Saturday Never mind...her birthday was NOT on a Saturday but we celebrated on a Saturday...Or maybe it was Friday...or Halloween.  Regardless, at that point E was in the Navy - we'd been living in the Chicago area for less than a month and so our idea of a party for a one year old?  A pile of underage drinkers!  I made her cake that year, decorated with hand piped gel frosting frogs...maybe a smiling sun.  But definitely frogs.  I don't remember what toy(s) she got but I'll never forget the outfit.  It was 3 piece set of warm red and blue plaid pants, a white long sleeved shirt with a red and blue flower and a red and blue jacket.  Seriously cute!  Soon after cake and the crash that followed her sugar high, she was tucked into bed and the remaining party goers got drunk.  Good times...good times.

Thirteen years later, we're a bit beyond that.  It was a nice dinner out where everybody was too full on that addictive brown bread and appetizers to finish dinner and yet surprisingly not when it came time to drag out the cake.  Remember that house rule on no zombie games?  This year I mentioned it to E that just cause they scare the crap out of us, we don't have to play the game so why not get her one that she wants? 

My ears are still ringing from that excited scream she gave when she unwrapped Left for Dead.

tEpiphany

Last week I was scrubbing down my kitchen counters when I came to the section of counter space devoted to my tea collection.  Have I mentioned how much I love tea?  Omg - what a jumble!  There was green tea, chamomile, sleepytime tea, apple spice, my favourite English...likely a few others.  While swiping along, I realized that my coffee maker was just a dusty mess...blech.  Goes to show how much I use it, eh?  As I was putting it back in it's place it dawned on me - why the hell was I putting it there??  I mean, I RARELY make coffee and last time I did was probably last year when my sister was visiting.  It was only a moment of contemplation before I chucked to a shelf under my counter - after all, I don't *need* it out everyday.

Oh the bliss of that action!  with my newly freed counter space, I've been able to set up a much more used tea area with my tea boxes neatly stacked, sugar pot and honey jar all close by.  Even better?  My tea kettle is near where it gets used more.  It's not the nearest  spot to the sink but it works so well for me.  Because of my kitchen changes, I was happy to move my really pretty Portuguese pottery bowl to a spot where I can see it and smile...though I should perhaps tackle the crap that's accumulated in it.  You know how it goes, it's a strange sundry of garlic papers, kitty treats and coffee filters.

Wait...coffee filters!?! No, not the ones I used in my coffee pot.  The ones I use for wiping down mirrors - they don't fit my coffee pot nor the one at work.  Who can explain that - it comes with the coffee delivery and we just wind up using them on windows - very nice, lint free wipe. 

Anyhow....nicely set up tea area was a real epiphany for me.  tEpiphany in this case cause I'm cheesy like that.

Colour me Domino's

Despite no longer working breakfast at the hotel, I've been kept abreast of changes that have happened there.  Maybe it's cause I'm buddy-buddy with the (no longer not so) new breakfast lady - most likely cause I do go in there once and a while.  *laughs*  Soon after I moved, they got a new waffle dispenser complete with flavoured waffles - which is kinda neat. S has changed how things look on the service counters and I know she doesn't do things just like i do.  I guess we all wind up putting our own style on things in the end.  What surprised me is how all summer, it seemed like the breakfast room was darker somehow...almost gloomier.  What a show of ego, as if I think I put a real light to the room when, in truth, it's prolly some burnt out bulbs or something.

Anyhow, yesterday, BL (as we'll call our neighbourhood friendly Breakfast Lady) came to me all in a tizzy.  They're changing things around and just making her life all kinds of chaos.  It reminded me of when we decided to start serving more of a hot breakfast.  I worried I'd never get it all out in time, that it'd be a lot of extra work.  Being all new, I got to be the one to figure out how everything was supposed to come together and to be honest, after the dust settled, everything was fine.  That was going to be the case here, if you ask me.  We'll see.

Regardless, both my manager and the owner were afoot mid morning to mid afternoon to set things up in the breakfast room.  I snuck a peek yesterday and again toady and I think the changes look pretty nice - items have been upgraded and there's a new small fridge that will keep the joghurts and some fruits cold all through breakfast. They did a really good job, in my opinion and here's where we get to why I'm talking about Domino's... about time, eh?

After working steadily through all this time, the owner decided he was starving hungry and had me order pizza for everybody on duty - quite generous of him!  While deciding what we needed, where (of course) came up and he decided on Domino's.  I haven't had Domino's since my time in Belgium where I figured Domino's was so awesome because just about anything's better than the typical European pizza.  Thus, since coming back to the states, I've never ordered from there.

I was responsible for ordering, so I did it online and while I knew about the pizza tracking thing they do, I'd never seen it in action.  Very, very neat!  You can follow you order from creation, to cook, to QA check to delivery and rate them along the way.  There is the option to send encouragement - kinda cheesy but cute and I wonder if it really meant anything to them when I did....I couldn't resist it!  lol

The pizzas arrived in good time, looked really good.  The all important taste?  Very good!  I still don't care for their pepperoni - but all in all, I don't like it from anywhere so that's no surprise. That being said, the crust was light and chewy, the sauce wasn't too sweet and the cheese was...well...cheesy! I like it enough to subject my family to it next time I'm lazy enough to order pizza online.  ( :

Dark Side of the Moon

This was one summer movie that I decided wasn't worth seeing in the theater and man am I glad I stuck to my guns on that one. 

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Transformers - at the age of eight, I was convinced I was going to marry Optimus Prime and dear gods, did I cry when he died in the cartoon movie.  Hell, I'd probably cry watching it again today.  When the first movie came out in 2007, I eventually made it to the theater to see it, rather inconveniently forgetting how it ends which would have saved me tons of tears. Pretty awesome movie, if you ask me but then we were seeing a live action version of what had been one of my favourite cartoons.  The second movie was...okay.  I think I'd be fine not owning it.

And then we had this third installment.  *sighs*  The huge red flag for me was the oh so mediocre Shia LeDoufus assuring us the human element would be the stand out once again.  I'm sure that's not quite how he put it....the big thing was that apparently that was missing from the second installment.  Quite frankly, I thought it was almost oppressive.  Or maybe it was just his and Megan Fox's dreadful acting. 

You know...now that I've looked back at that last paragraph, I think that's the big thing that turned me off from seeing the movie.  Anyhow, it's finally come out now part of my Itunes collection, watched and two things come to mind: 1. I'm so glad I didn't waste money on movie tickets for this thing.  B. The Transformers are still freaking awesome cool. Trapezoid: It's too long for a relatively crappy movie. and 2. I really hate the main "actors". 

Consequently, I'm beginning to think I really don't care for the theater experience mainly because I don't like being a captive audience, trapped in semi-darkness and unable to do something else when I find a movie just isn't enough to keep me comfortably amused. Give me my couch to sprawl on, no need to wear shoes, the ability to tool around on my lapper and a hot cup of tea.  Oh, not to mention the ability to pause for potty/refill breaks.  Shame about the lack of theater poppycorn.  That's totally the best thing about going to the theater. 

Attack of the Zhu-Zhu Pet

Quite early this morning, I could hear it and for some odd reason, it was in my room.  Actually, do any of my readers know what a Zhu-Zhu pet is?  For the blissfully unaware, they're toy hampers that have the audacity to squawk about and make noise when you play with them.  They also move, I suppose you could say, on their own accord when properly provoked. 

Why was one in my room? I have no idea, though I'm willing to bet Odin set it off.  After groping about in the dark, I figured I'd be getting up soon enough and that it'd go quiet after a while.  This wasn't good enough for E who did a little hunting about, found and pitched it down the stairs. 

When I went downstairs, said toy was nowhere to be found, perhaps a bit of a surprise since he was thrown down there but it was quiet so I didn't really care.  I want to say that my morning meditation took place, but to be honest, I was mining Obsidian and it's not very meditative for me.  Yes, yes, that does mean I find other forms of mining a form of meditation...it's perhaps a quirk of mine.

Anyhow - quiet ensued, save for bounces from the frolicking cat..and then I jumped out of my skin.  The hamster started his squawk, bringing about a laugh from me as his garbling made way for the complaint "Hey, put me down!"  It was fitting since Odin was walking around with it in his mouth. 

I couldn't help but join him at the entryway and upright the hamster which was frantically trying to roll around so i set up upright.  Perhaps if it weren't 5am, Odin would have made chase...as it was, he merely watched a moment, eyes wide before stalking back upstairs.

It's Lunchtime, Lunchtime!

Ha!  Total lie, it's only 930ish here.  However, yesterday, I was looking at my own lunch and realized it's fit for the average preschooler.  *sighs*  PB sandwich (cut into tiny squares, god, not even quarters...like 8ths) and carrot sticks, in case you're wondering.  Oddly enough, this was the first time I've done a sandwich...ever.  No, you sillies - I mean while working here.  Of course I've had sandwiches for lunch before! 

Since I don't get a proper lunch break and very quickly caught on that if I don't eat during the day I wind up with a nagging headache and desire to eat my way into dinner, it's best I bring something.  I started off with just carrot sticks which quell the headache but not the starvation that follows coming home from work but since adding pb crackers, I've found I'm good till dinner.  Yesterday I went to make said crackers only to find my sleeve of them was all sad and crumbly, so improvisation came in handy.  I've done it again today but packing my tiny squares (with some ribbing from E who asked if I was three years old) has made me realize that I should start using one the containers I have for the girls lunches.

Oh, you know, I totally missed the point.  I like tiny bite sizes cause it's inevitable that just as soon as I get a nibble in, the phone bloody rings and I'm sitting there either furiously chewing before answering or...let's not got there. Anyhow...

Speaking of the girls lunches, the Elfling's been taking hers to save on waiting in line.  PE is also right after lunch so I think maybe she feels her lunch is lighter offerings than the cafeteria which does her good - after all, who wants to go running around after a big meal?  The Diva does a bit of both, I wish I could or would pack more of her lunches since I'm willing to bet I do a healthier meal.  Did I mention the super cute containers I have? I saw them last year...or maybe it was two years ago at Borders (RIP *sniffle*) and just had to have them.  They're two sets (round and square) that nest into another - round into round and square into square, of course and just adorable and are perfect for tucking cut up sandwiches, fruit and veg or salad into.  I don't think they're water tight though so I use my lil Glad...whatevers for those things.  I think they just make lunch a lil funner.

While this wasn't really the point of my post, I think it's a nice diversion.  I think I've done better this year with making lunches for the girls  than I did last year.  It's a real treat to make them fun - to have colourful things looking up when you open your lunch bag, find a funny note or word of encouragement and perhaps have a piece of fruit to chuck at that jerk who's called you a name.  Ok...maybe not that last bit, even if they do deserve it.

Tomorrow I'll be planning out my weekly dinner menu and grocery list so don't be surprised if I continue on this bent and mull over my latest adventures in baking. 

September 11, 2001

Not even noon here and already today's been a hard one.  It's not just cause I'm at work and have to deal with the crap of the day.  Set to the news, all that's really going on today is the 10th anniversary of 9/11.  Still today, watching the images from back then is very difficult for me.  Even now, as I type this out, there are tears in my eyes - there have been throughout the morning.  This day, ten years ago, is a day I don't think I'll ever forget, that will ever stop being seen so crystal clear in my mind.

Ten years ago, there was no Diva in my life.  The Elfling was 3 years old.  E was in the Navy.  We lived in military housing, on a weapons station.  I'd worked till 5am on the day of the 11th, come home and eventually made my way to bed so get a lil sleep before the Elfling got up.  For some reason, I just woke up and as was my habit at the time, i sat at my computer to take a look at the day's news.  It was really weird, the website I used totally crashed but not before I saw a glimpse of the headline.  Something to do with an airplane hitting one of the Twin Towers.  I shrugged it off and went on to email and found that everything seemed to be down.  Giving up on getting anything done on my computer, I wandered over to the living room.  That headline really bothered me, so I put on the news and joined the countless other people who were at home, work...wherever - to see the events unfold before us. 

While watching, this morning, as they replayed the events of ten years ago, the editing on screen didn't quell the unedited memories in my head.  Of course....maybe I'm wrong, maybe they weren't edited images and I missed the sight of people plummeting to their deaths - the abject horror in the voices of the newscasters as the second plane crashed into one of the towers....the screaming that later followed when they collapsed.  While we should never forget, I hope some of those things were edited out because the fact I can still see them in my mind is upsetting enough without having to actually see it on tv.  You know...again.

I don't know. There's more I'd like to say but I don't know where I'm taking this today.  The people who died are perhaps watching us from above.  The people who did this - in a special place in hell.  Families and friends left mourning?  They're in my prayers and thoughts, but then, even ten years later, that's a frequent thing for me. 

School Days, School Days!

Yesterday I was contemplating talking about the first day of school - how it went for the girls, the chaos and agony of school supply lists and the odd calm that's come over me when I do lunch making prep.  However, as you can see by yesterday's abruptly ending post, I had other things in mind that I wanted to talk about before bringing on the school post.

First off....It's so hard to believe that god, was it three years ago(?) that I posted this lil post about the Diva's first day of kindergarten!  She started the third grade on Monday with a male teacher!  Perhaps it's the schools I went to, but I never had one till high school. Mr. Banks, 9th grade US Govt.  Ugh...why do I even remember that? Anyhow - we met him on meet the teacher night and he seems like a nice enough sort of bloke - last last year's teacher, I think he's an older one in regards to years on the job.  It's going to prove interesting how the school year turns out.

If a 3rd grader wasn't crazy enough, the Elfling is in Jr. High!  Omg, I feel so old just typing that....but then on Monday, I was talking to an old friend and bloody hell - she has a junior in high school! Regardless - the move from an intermediate school to junior high is a big thing...a bit like going from the county jail to Leavenworth.  You don't even have to ask the Elfling if that's her opinion, it's a bit of mine! I would think the point of 7th and 8th grade is to prepare them for increasing Independence as they get into high school and beyond.  Surprisingly, the dress code is MORE strict than in elementary and intermediate grades.  They're not allowed use backpacks during the school day, once you sit somewhere at lunch, you're stuck there till released to go to class and no going to your locker right when you get to school.  You have to wait around doing...who knows what, where (ok, this bad on my part, as I haven't gotten exact details, beyond outside).  I don't know if this really drives home how...I don't know...reined in these kids are but some of these thins just sound really asinine.  Are all kids this age seen as monsters? 

The Elfling's first few days have been spent struggling over getting into her locker - it's got a lock built in and I'm beginning to wonder if this is a lefty issue she's having.  Yesterday went better as she was able to get it open twice.  I hope it's just stress of a new place, new people all around and nerves getting the better of her.  She's been stuck near cretins at lunch and yakkity assed girls in class. Despite her overwhelming negativity to the situation, I've heard glimmers of hope from her - interesting people in her class and perhaps even interest in her classes, so we'll see.

Part of going to Leavenworth, of course, was getting her supplied for the stay.  What a bloody pain in the arse.  We're talking seven teachers with seven ideas that they need full supply lists for one class each...i mean one teacher alone wanted something like 72 pencils!  Mein gott!!  I think they're going to build a wing to the school or something with them.  I get the need for school supplies but why does one teacher want my daughter to have three bags of red pens?  What really pissed me off was all these things I bought?  How much came home with the declaration - "I didn't even need this crap,ugh!"  Poor kid...no backpack and she was lugging said crap all damn day. 

This year the girls seem pretty keen on bringing their lunches.  For the first days of school, I think it's a smart move as with all the chaos these days can have, at least they know they've got lunch.  The first day report on the matter proved me right - the Elfling said the lines were long so she was happy to have something yummy from home.  The Diva sounds like she's got the last lunch of the day - who knows what's left by then!  I'm kind of jealous, actually.  Today they're feasting on leftover pasta and sauce packed (with grumpy love from a tired daddy) in their thermoses...what do I have?  My standard carrot sticks and pb crackers.  *laughs*  Ah well - they're calling to me, so I'm going to nibble while the phone is quiet.

Busy...

I'm so busy, my head is spinning.  The irony of that is the fact that it's so bloody quiet here at work today.  *laughs*  Labour Day probably marks the end of summer for most of us but since school starts before then, it definitely looks over here at the hotel.  (For those of you who are Frisky Dingo enthusiasts, feel free to end a dramatic pause before "the hotel".  I certainly did.) But before we came to that point, things were getting kinda crazy rt with getting the girls ready for school and the car accident.

Car accident!  Yeah...It actually happened what will be two weeks ago on Wednesday.  All in all we were very lucky that nobody was seriously hurt - the girls were scared witless and E walked away with a bruised hand.  Getting insurance resolved seemed to move at a glacial pace but now that we know what's going on with the rental and who's taking care of the truck, it's a lot calmer around the house. In regards to the rental?  After nearly three years of having a truck, the switch over to a car is insane. I feel almost claustrophobic around other cars, near trucks and vans taller than me.  Good thing I'll never be rich and have my sweet lil BMW Z4...or whatever delightful sports car they come up with in the future cause it'd be to tiny for my tastes!

ahem...I'm sure that's just a moment of sanity.

...That the Joke was on Me....

How many of you guys get that line - that it's a song lyric?  I don't know that it's actually a reflection of things so much is that it's a song that sounds depressing to me and that, my friends, is now I'm feeling right now.  It's been super busy at work these days.  We had someone quit and that kinda bungled up the schedule and then last week, i got one day off (Friday) and was back to work the next day.  So we have me here today, just dying for some more time, which I will get in the form of a four day weekend. A MUCH needed one, I might add.

I really do like my job, even when people are a pain.  Gods, the stories I could tell you - particularly about a certain sports team that stayed with us.  But to be honest?  I just don't have the heart for it right now cause the last couple of days have been rough and I think it's my own doing.  I've been having issues with a particular process - I guess you could say that I've struggled with it from the start though it never got this out of hand.  I'm no longer so new that these mistakes are acceptable and it's become very frustrating.  For my boss. Trust me, I don't blame him in the least - Im' frustrated too and more than just a little disappointed in myself. 

I've doubled down on my notes, taking new ones and adding to my old ones as needed.  With my long weekend, I'm going to use the online training features to shore up my shakiness as well because I definitely need it. One of my biggest problems is that I simultaneously get ahead of myself and freak out, so my notes include this:

Take the time to look at things. 

To be certain of what you are doing and where your actions will take you.

I should have perhaps added stuff about staying calm and to remember to breathe. 

Ugh..maybe the joke IS on me.

The Crazy Week

That really sums up last week rather nicely.  Sunday snowballed into a real mess by Wednesday in regards to rooms to clean vs housekeepers on staff on any given day.  Wednesday was definitely the worst of it.  By the time my shift was over at 3pm, I saw a total of three rooms ready for the more than three guests we had scheduled to show up.  Maybe it shouldn't be in my place to worry over such a thing - I know some people would say that at least.  But this how I see it:  I am the front line of the hotel and the provider of rooms.  If I don't have the rooms or have people waiting, it looks bad and puts people in a bad mood.  Luckily, by Thursday, things looked like they were better in regards to our room issue.

I was talking with the night auditor yesterday and it turned out he had a bit of a wild weekend....well...our guests did at least... that included two naked women streaking through our lobby in some sort of drunken state.  By the sounds of it, there was a lot of that going on - drunken states, I mean.  Considering some of the characters I have to deal with, I'm really quite glad I don't have to deal with what goes on around here at night *laughs*

Speaking of characters, I have three to share with you guys this morning.  To be honest, I think this must have have all happened on Wednesday.  It was as if the powers that be looked down upon me having this sweet moment with a puppy and smote me by tainting the rest of the day.  Btw, it really was a cute moment! 

So victim number one called to confirm rooms that she'd apparently cancelled (in a drunken haze, perhaps?) back in the beginning of the month.  She had no recollection of it despite the tracking back to her calling the 800 number and confirmation numbers to the effect that she had, indeed, cancelled these rooms.  I don't know why, but over the course of the conversation, she admitted to calling them half a dozen times about these rooms so it sounds quite plausible, that she lost her mind and cancelled.  Unfortunately, so close to the reservation dates, I couldn't reinstate the reservations - we were booked!  I really felt for her....even if she did start crying about how I ruined her life and weekend.

Wow, now that I look up at that first caller, victim seems to be wrong....tormentor, perhaps?  Goof?  Even better!  Subject number two has a reservation- great! They are part of a group checking on on Xday and rather casually mentioned they were going to check in on Yday.  Uh...hello - your reservation is for Xday, if you want to show up on Yday, you need to make a reservation for that day - and you know...pay the price for that night.  *eyeroll* 

And finally, we have the person who checked in knowing he could have his room for four days but wanted it for five.  Everyday he came in checking to see if there was a cancellation that would let him keep his room for the extra day - a smart move!  However aggressively suggesting I "bump" someone so he could keep his room was a bit selfish, if you ask me.  Regardless, I wasn't authorized to make that sort of move and in the end, it looks like he got what he wanted.  Saving grace, I suppose, is the drunken women who were so belligerent at 6am about losing their room (and being given a different type of room), were downright chirpy hours later when they checked out.  Eh, go figure.

As you can all maybe see, it was another full week for me, which makes me grateful that I'm back to my regular schedule this week and gods know I need that with E actually having his CT scan this week.  Though you know what I didn't touch on?  My anniversary.  It was also on Thursday.  *laughs*

Friday, Interrupted

All I wanted last night was a moment of dark quiet to help abate my headache before drifting off to sleep.  While sometimes the best laid plans go awry, really badly made ones are a miracle if they go right.  So I was out of luck but thank goodness I generally am fast to fall asleep. And up 6 hours later forcing myself to get more sleep cause I went to bed too early, it seems.  Silly me...

Routines are a big thing for me, more than I care to admit cause I think it makes me look more a rigid person when I like to think that I'm really a go with the flow personality.  But let's break down yesterday because while I was simmered under light and noise, the final thought before drifting off to dream was a pondering of what my day looks like on paper.  A terrifying undertaking in the blistering light of day because my not so secret fear is that I'm going to show myself to be things people insist I'm not.

5am marks the start of my day and already it's good since I managed to get out of bed without stepping on Freya who tends to sleep by my side.  With work at 7, I get plenty of time to get ready for it and have my quiet time.  Can a person meditate over skinning?  I think so.  My mind clears as I hack and slash my way through creatures, part of the mantra of peeling and walking off to the next kill.  It's not as methodical as mining or flower picking but the peace is there, setting the pace for a calm start.

6:15 am and were off and running - with the girls out of town, I'm responsible for feeding the pets.  Scooping kitty kibble into Odin's bowl reminds me to snag a granola bar to tuck in my purse with my carrots. With E up and ready, I get a ride into  work so that he can run an errand this morning. 

7am is the official start of my shift and it always starts with counting out my drawer and matching up the in house list to the registration list.  Between checking out guests and taking calls, I look over the incoming list of housekeeping staff vs how many rooms.

I've been doing really well with my habit of taking sips of water every time I get up.  I'm always jumping up to do something so I'm always taking sips.  A serving of nuts marks my breakfast taken till about 10am.

By noon everybody who's checking out is gone, FedEx has paid me a visit and I've gone through a round of marking dirty rooms as cleaned.  It's been a steady stream of reservations being made, changed and cancelled coupled with a check in or two.

Afternoon's passing with relative peace as I read between nibbles on my carrots.  I lament over a piece of poetry I've started a bit before tidying up the desk.  I like to hit up frequently touched areas with disinfectant once a week and have to run the vacuum every day.  Nicely tidied up, I tuck into more reading for the last hour of my shift.

2pm and a frantic call comes in from my relief.  In the end my shift extends for an additional hour to hour and a half.  Between the phone going crazy and people checking in, I think towards the end I think cracks were beginning to show in my smile.

430pm found me on the way home to my ecstatic puppy.  Too ecstatic as she barely let me get changed out of my work clothes before giving me hugs and kisses.  She finally let me collapse on the couch after I played with her.

6ish?  Ish!?!  Heh...we'll see who amoung you figures that one out.  I dealt with dishes, started laundry and did some picking up while fixing dinner.

740pm and my Friday's interrupted before it even gets to start.  *sighs*

It's the Fourth....Tra-la-la

What's a real shame is what today really means to people.  Before I left for Germany back in 2004, I was listening to a program where someone was going around asking people about the significance of today and the answers were shocking.  It's not about the weekend long sales, the fireworks display, the picnics and bbqs.  It's about celebrating the birth of this nation!

Of course...I'm sure I had some sort of speech that would have had me standing up before my keyboard, heart filled with pride and awe for the nation's history and all that jazz but dear gods...I'm just too tired to try to recreate the feeling I had hours ago. 

"Krieger-San, my cherry blossoms are wilting!"  Yeah...I just had to softball a lil Archer in here...Wilting indeed, only I'm the blossoms. Bloody hell, it's just barely past noon and already I cannot WAIT to get my ass home, nearly naked and just...dead on the couch. 

How is it today was harder than yesterday - there were more checks outs then than today and yet...ugh...people today have just left me downright knackered.  Let's see if we can count the ways...

People who come in at peek checkout hour wanting to see a room.  They're part of a group that's going to be staying with us and yet was not entirely clear (to themselves) what name(s) the group was under.  Bless their hearts, I was running my arse off and they remained quite patient about it. 

I'm still not sure partially eaten tin of Danish butter cookies is peace offering enough after yelling at me cause prices aren't what you expected.  Or that infernal tapping while I frantically tried to sort the problem out while dealing with the phone. 

When checking out of multiple rooms...seriously...you should make sure that EVERYBODY in those rooms is AWAKE and LEAVING!  Saves the maid having a heart attack when she goes to clean a checked out room only to find bodies still on the floor. 

I don't get how someone can call here, speak really good English and want to talk to someone who's Spanish speaking.  Dude, if you know enough to understand ask, perfectly about rooms, it's not much more than that to make a bloody reservation.  However, since you do want assistance, accept that you're going to be on hold with our reservation line - they will help you!  Stop hanging up on them and calling me in hopes that I've magically learned enough Spanish to be fluent enough to help you!!

Oh and the worst of the bunch....my boss was being a regular Dante Hicks. I think I would have burst out laughing when he told me he wasn't supposed to be here today but since he was growling all pissed off about it, I instead was on edge and just waiting for him to sprout a second head and bite mein off.  Wait, I mean him biting my only head, not that I have a second one for him to bite off.  Ironically enough, he was damn chipper after leaving when he called to ask me to check on something....bugger.

ugh...so this post has just turned into one great big bitchfest...I feel a bit better though...getting all that crap off my chest.  What do you guys thing....am i being a bitchy fae, a bad worker fae or just...a fae who managed to smile sweetly, greet enthusiastically and be overall cheerful despite the stressful morning.  Ugh...prolly a combo of all three....

Habitual Habits

This is something that has been bothering me for quite some time - of how hard it is to get into a good habit, how easy it is to break and how VERY easy it is to start back up with bad habits. 

This time last year I'd managed to to start a very good habit of writing just a little bit everyday.  Well, by everyday, I mean four or so times a week.  Sometimes I'd eke out the time during quiet moments at work and sometimes, I'd get that 15 minutes of quiet that would manage to stretch to 30 or 40 minutes.  It was just blissful for me - such an accomplishment.  Until we realize that when I write, I do so on pen and paper instead of at my computer which has left me with partial notebooks filled with script that goes from relatively neat to downright illegible and littered with lil doodles.  Gods bless my friends for their encouragement - to get me back into the writing bug but it's really been slow going. I think the fact that I'm sitting here right now, doing just that, writing here is a start but I really think the habit I also need to form is getting the typing down. 

Looking over things, I think I have to admit, I can be a bit OCD about some things and not just about how i load and unload my grocery cart (thus being a bit picky about how i put the bags back in and load them into the truck for the ride home) -I like to have some aspects of my day scheduled out.  That's why I'm up at 5am nearly every morning.  I don't like a bit rush to work so getting up early allows me to indulge in the quiet of  taking care of Meister Penguin! or farming.  Much like how I like to do a load of laundry a day (hard to do with no kids around lol) or my lists of things to do that i make out nearly every day. It's a bit of rigidity in my free flowing way. 

My irritation at getting some actual typing done has lately increased because I've found myself really working on proper hydration.  Specifically at work, I've found that every time I get up, I stop to sip my water.  I was doing that this morning and couldn't help but berate myself.  Why this and not that? 

I think I need to stop beating myself up about it.  I work, in what some circles consider, a full time job.  I do most the housekeeping, all the laundry, nearly all the cooking and take care of my family.  If I'm a lil tired after all that, then maybe I shouldn't stress over yet another thing.

And of course, try to get some of that damn typing up tomorrow....my day off.  lol

Outrage and Opportunity

A while ago E's neurosurgeon made an appointment for a CT scan with a contrast to better determine how they're going to fix the loose lead to his implant and of course time passed and then boom!  Green Lantern came out and we bought our tickets....for the same bloody day...yargh!  Fandango is great but you really need to keep an eye out because just when you think there's not going to be any offerings for a non 3D movie - they come out with the listing of them about five minutes after you've grudgingly purchased for a 3D showing.  Another issue is apparently when you make your own huge scheduling conflict and need to exchange the tickets (that you haven't picked up yet) for a different showing.  Now, I would be going on about how this process worked but alas, this is where we get to the opportunity part of my outrage.

The Fandango situation isn't actually the source of my outrage, though they really should be able to work something out when you order tickets and need to make changes before you even go to the theater. My source of ire comes most from the imaging clinic.

 Let's count the ways - two doctors who know E's current drug regimen missed this and I'm more willing to give them a pass because they might not be completely versed on the intricacies of the procedure.  The nurse who called to explain the procedure was told about medications and made to to tell E no less than five times that he could not have anything in his mouth so many hours before the procedure.  Arriving at the clinic, the nurse there, was told again what medications he's on and then while preparing for the scan, the attendant once again got a drug history.  It wasn't until the doctor came in to do the procedure that he looked over the E's history and found out that, yes, of course he's been taking his meds as directed by his physician.  Two of which have possible interactions with the dye that could cause severe seizures. 

You could insert screaming here...they had to cancel the appointment and we can't reschedule until his doctor figures out substitutions for something like three days prior and one day post procedure to keep him from scaring us to death.  Is it wrong of me to expect people to actually pay attention to the answers they get to the questions they ask?  I happen to think not cause this experience has really left a bad taste in my mouth.  My confidence in this group is a bit flagging now.

Despite the above, there was a bright side! The bright side being that because he didn't have the procedure, we got to go see Green Lantern!

Now the reviews I read were absolutely dreadful - this movie has been called something like the Battlefield Earth of 2011, that being said, I thought i was pretty good.  The story didn't drag as I expected it to, there were even some funny parts (though I did seem to laugh at inappropriate moments). I was amazed at how nice they made Blake Lively look...it really didn't look like her at all to me.  Which, I suppose, could be a bad thing.  I don't know, don't really care.  I think if the reviews are stopping you from seeing the movie, maybe discount them some cause I found the ones I read, were very harsh.

My apologies if this posting is a bit disjointed....I'm here at work and mein gott...it's been a busy one.

I'm a lil cupcake....

Short and stout?  Ok, not really but it seemed fitting since I am going to be talking about them. My day off was Thursday and rather than run off doing errands, E and I had a lazy day home till he got craving for his favourite cheesesteak so off we went, hitting the "back way" route to our favourite Philly place.  Going through out town...ahem...sorry, city, I couldn't help but spy on a what must be newish bakery - oh goodie!  A lil sweet talking and ride home later, we stopped in so I could see what there was to see. 

On the plus sides, the owners seemed really nice.  There was quite a selection of pastries and even things claiming to be bagels.  I would say that the selection is heavy on Mexican delights but in all honesty, I would need to research that...maybe after I post this.  *lol!* From what I can gugue, prices weren't too bad - I bought three palmier, a strange coconut covered cake thingie and slab o' bread pud for 5 bucks.

The downsides to this place? Nothing's labeled or priced!  That drives me freaking insane!  Don't get me wrong, the gentleman behind the counter was super friendly and nice about answering my questions but I would have rather look and know for myself than feel like a bit of a nuisance.  I also know it's on me, not asking about prices but...ehh....call it an oddity of mine. 

And then...there were cupcakes.  Mini-cupcakes, actually.  The presentation was absolutely adorable, three to a cellophane bag, pretty ribbon and a cute label that could be filled out.  The flowers were hand formed from fondant and the frosting was a white chocolate. I was really excited about this...till I found out this was setting me back another FIVE BUCKS!  Holyshit...they better be the best cupcakes I've EVER eaten. 

Needless to say...and I really hate to admit this, they were not heaven to taste.  The cake was likely Pillsbury's Funfetti cake mix and kinda dry.  The frosting and fondant wasn't too bad though...but seriously, the cake was a real let down.  All in all, it was a good trip to a new bakery and it left me inspired.  Perhaps not to make my own palmier (which I've done before) but I totally want to make mini cupcakes, decorate them and give them as gifts.  The Elfling and I were texting about it the other day and thought they'd be great for party favours or even on her birthday to share with friends. When she's back home, we're planning on playing.  So see, the good outweighs the bad! 

I'm So Lonely

Sunday marked a week that the girls have been gone and part of me is really lonely.  Not to say that E isn't good company cause he is and that my darling pets aren't like small children in need of attention cause...wait... Ok, Freya is.  But still...I miss cuddling with one or both of my kids, hearing what they have to say, seeing what havoc they've brought upon my computer while I'm away. Despite the distance, technology keeps us close as she very easily texts me at all hours of the day.  Here's a sampling of topics:

Gypsies.  This turned into a discussion of UK gypsies and their extravagant weddings.  The Elfling declared the caravans and big, trashy, poofy dresses as not a part of culture...*sighs* I know - not ours.

Oompa Loompas.  She's apparently turned into a tall one.  After seeing a picture, she has gotten a lot of sun...too much on her cheeks.  They're slightly sun burnt but she does not look like a wrestler.

Kosher Cakes.  Ok, so I only guessed that this means the cake doesn't have dairy in it.  And of course no gelatin.  Everybody should know about the infamous Sandra Lee Hanuka cake she made...with marshmallows....ugh...

Anyhow...she may be a texting maven, but I can appreciate it cause i'm on her "must text" list...or some shit like that.  Blogging here from work means I stop to actually get things done...and unfortunately, sometimes loose my train of thought.  Based on how today's going, I think it's more that I've just lost my mind so I'm going to end it here while I'm still keeping all cursing to myself, in my mind. 

ok, so a quick postscript...she bloody sent me a picture of how much fat she kept the family from eating while cooking last night...ewww!  Mind you...I totally drain grease too when i cook ground beef so I know where she got it.

Turn the Page

My Gods it's been forever and a day since I've posted here!  To be honest, the end of 2010 was a bit of a hinky one for me.  I had things going on, happen that left me feeling rather unhappy and despite this being a bit of a sounding board, I didn't want to make use of it to pour out the unpleasant things that happened.  I'm back now...and who knows, maybe I've learned my lesson...slowly at least. 

Sam and I were talking a couple months go when I mentioned how I'd been depressed and in truth, he suggested that I go back to writing.  Yes, go back...I haven't written anything proper since last year and really, that on top of everything else? Depresses me too.  I'm trying to change that and it just boggles me, how so carefully set habits or so difficult to start and yet so easy to beak...yargh!

Let me tell you a little something about Sam.  He never fails to astound me - I've known him since he was 17 and experienced through him, his pursuit of a college degree which has taken him from a start on a path of journalism to where he is now, studying Psychology.  I suppose that's one reason why I'll take his advice to heart, when he tells me to write.  I'm so envious too - he's studying abroad in England this summer! 

Anyhow....so here  I am today...I actually meant to be back here blogging once again last week when this happened but I suppose its better later than never.  As my readers know, I took a job last summer at a hotel and guess what?  I got a promotion.  This is my first full week working the front desk which, quite frankly, still terrifies me a bit.  I think it's getting better and hopefully my manager and co workers would agree that I'm doing better.  It's not been bad so far...just a lot of new things to learn and quite an experience. 

Ahem....so....I suppose this is a bit of a welcome back to...all of us and an update on a big thing in my life.  I'm looking forward to going back to sharing snippets of my insane lil life.  Till then....

All hail the Emperor!  He is my One and All.

Yeah...there's a story behind that one....