Hallelujah

I got the day off tomorrow.  A whole day!

Yay!

I'm tired and it's late.  I should have already gone to bed.  So, goodnight!

What Now...

You don't want to hear again about how I'm tired.  You may or may not want to hear about the new puppy.

So, we took him to the park nearby yesterday and today.

Can I tell you how much he loves interacting with people and dogs?  Well, I'm going to tell you.  He LOVES interacting with people and dogs.  I mean he had a love fest today with the family - a mom and dad, a boy and a girl, and 2 dogs.  They were all petting and sniffing and rubbing and giving him so much puppy love and he was loving it all.  The one beagle dog got a little rough with him and scared him a bit, but he still wanted to play.

What a fucking cute little dog

I mean isn't he one of the cutest puppies ever? Well, a lot of puppies are adorable... but this is our own adorable puppy.  I need to make sure I take more pictures and videos of him, because I know he won't be this little and cute and puppy-like forever.

Vampire Puppy!

This puppy is sucking the life outta me!  I'm so tired all the time!  I can't imagine having a baby... which I most likely never will.

I just want to get to the point where he doesn't freak out being put in his crate in the middle of the night, or in the middle of the day, or anytime.  I just want him to be okay with that... and I realize that this is a lot to ask for.  But, it's gotta get a point where most of what he doesn't isn't getting into puppy trouble, right?

That being said, I still love him and I'm very happy with him, but I need some sleep already!  I do so badly without it!

On The Bus

So, I had to take the bus home today.  For some reason, I had been feeling nauseous at work.  I was tired.  The whole day of being with little Rudy, and having to get up in the middle of the night and take him out to pee pee poo poo really wore me out.  I

t's about a ten minute walk to the bus stop.  When I'm tired and it starts raining as I'm walking to the unsheltered stop, it seems like a long walk.  So, I waited.  I didn't time it, but I would say I waited 15 minutes for it.

Finally, there it was.  I got on, and then I staggered to find a seat.  There were a few seats with the open aisle seat.  I was about to grab one, when I saw a section in the back that was free.

As soon as I sat down, I knew why.  There were four very shady looking people sitting in the back.  The rule that the bad kids sit in the back of the bus also applies to public transportation, I guess.

And apparently, I just got there in time to listen to a deal go down.  It sounded like it was crystal meth or crack to me?  The woman who purchased said she hoped it was enough to help her with her back pain.  She also asked the guy if he knew how to get... some prescription drug.  The name doesn't come to mind.  Some kind of anti anxiety or pain killer or something.  Which he did.  They ended up knowing mutual acquaintances in the same neighborhood.

I was a little concerned.  But, I was very ill.  Sitting in the back of a clunky bus gives me motion sickness.  Which added to my general nausea that I already had.   Well, listening to the shady people talk didn't help.

Oh, and my chest hurt.  I don't think that standing in the rain helped my cold or flu any.  I can feel the moisture in my chest.  I know that I am a hypochondriac.  But, at that moment, I definitely started to wonder if I've developed pneumonia.  I've thought that before though.

Anyway, I wanted to get up and move to the front of the bus.  Partially because I wanted to get away from the shady characters.  Partially because I felt sick and it would help me if I moved up front.  There weren't really any seats up there though.

I ended up getting off the bus a stop or two too early.  When one is walking, a stop or two make a big difference.  Like a five to ten minute difference in the walk home.  That sucked.  I was pissed at myself.

But I was free of the bus.  The drug deal.  The motion sickness.

I had to hurry home, though, because the puppy had been in the crate for 2 and a half hours.  Luckily, when I got home, he was quiet!  And I took him out, and he went wee wee!

And I took him out a couple other times.  He went poo poo once - well one time I took him out he went , stopped, then moved to another spot and finished.  I've been trying to keep him close to me so that when he looks like he's going to go, I take him outside.  But then he doesn't always go.  And he gets freaked out by all the noises.  He also seems to be scared of kids.  The kids next door came home, and when he saw them and heard their voices, he started whining and seemed to be hiding.  Not a bad thing....

Boy am I tired!

I didn't blog yesterday!

It was a long day, and I forgot!

We were preparing for today, here is why:

We got a puppy.  He's... a puppy.  A lot of attention.  Tired....

Everyday Sunday

What did we do?

The FP woke up around 7ish.  He went to Home Depot at 8 am, when they opened.  He got some gardening stuff and worked in the yard.

I woke up around 9ish.  I got up, had some Chai, got on the internets.  We took showers, then we went south.  We went to the Pet Supermarket, to see our puppy!

We didn't get to take him home, though.  :(

But, we did get to go buy some stuff for him, and we picked out some toys and treats that he liked.  And then we had to say goodbye...

So, we went to a restaurant in Coral Gables where we had a wonderful brunch.

Then we went to the Petsmart by our house to buy a few more things for the puppy that we thought of.  Then we went to Home Depot - second time for the FP.

Then we went home and did stuff around the house.

Then the FP went to the grocery store to get stuff for dinner.

Then I had to go back to Petsmart for some stuff I needed for the cats.  Yes, third trip to the pet store.  For real.  Then I went to Big Lots.  Always a bad idea, but not really, because I get household cleaners and tp for cheap.  then I went to .... Home Depot, again, for more stuff that I should have gotten my first time.

And then I went home and did more household projects.

And now we're eating dinner.

Typical Sunday that you envision for the FP and the FH, right?

LOL!

Sigh

So, we got good news.  Our references checked out.  We were going to be able to get our puppy tomorrow.  That's what the woman who we were communicating with told us.  But then she said that she was wrong.  He still needs to be microchipped and checked by the vet one more time, and then we can take him Tuesday.  But until then, we can go to see him on Sunday and fill out our paperwork, but not take him home.

So, I get to meet Leonardo tomorrow, but not spend the whole day with him....

Bittersweet.

That sounded like a 200 pound man

That's what my coworker said when I coughed today.  I have the gross scratchy phlegm cough.  It's nasty.  I'll admit.  But it means I'm getting better, right?

My illness is old news though.  What I'm really interested in, is hoping that our references check out for our puppy adoption!

The FP went to see the puppy today, and he got to go in and see the puppy with his three siblings.  They all went straight up to him and were inquisitive and playful and affectionate.  But, our puppy was the bestest of them all of course.

So, now, we wait.  Because the shelter is so far away, no one will be available to do a house check, so I emailed some pictures of the house.  Then they will call our personal references and our vet.  If everything checks out okay, then we will be able to pick him up on Sunday at the Petco that they go to!!!

Here's to hoping everything goes well and we're cleared for Sunday!  Cheers! *takes 2 Nyquil capsules*

Still Unwell

Took Nyquil about half an hour ago.  My nasal passages are still completely congested.  I can't breath through my nose.  My eyes feel like I burst blood vessels in them from blowing my nose.  My throat feel raw.  My chest feels tight and heavy.  I feel tired and worn out, yet full of too much energy to just sleep on my own.  I want to put my laundry away, clean the floors and the whole house, rid the house of bad germs, unclog the one bathroom shower, clean the pool, finish mowing the backyard, but, I need to try to get as much rest and sleep as I can when I'm home, so I will be as close to 100% as possible for 8 hours a day when I'm at work!

So, goodnight!

Reader's Digest Condensed Version

The FP got me sick.  He, of course, is about 92% (I believe that was the number he used) back to normal.  So, his energy level is up, and mine is down.

See Saw

I took Nyquil last night. I went to bed at 10 pm.  I woke up around 12 with night sweats.  I went back to sleep.  I woke up at 6 am and got ready for work, had some chai, and took some Dayquil.  The FP drove me to work.  We stopped on the way and bought more Dayquil.  I went to work and attempted to do my job.  The FP picked me up from work.  We went to the grocery store.  Then we came home.  I had Cinnamon Toast Crunch and chai.  Then I had some of the curried veggies and cous cous that the FP cooked.  Now I'm laying on the couch and blogging.  I will probably take a Nyquil in an hour.

I know some of you think my life is so enthralling that you've always wanted a concise, yet indepth look into the life of the Food Ho behind the blog.  Well today your wish came true.  You're welcome.

(No, I'm not too sick yet to omit the sarcasm)

And They Call it Puppy Love

So, if you know us, we've been wanting a dog for ages.  As far back as I can remember.  When we lived in New Orleans, there was one puppy that I really liked.  She was at a pet store, sadly, but she was this grey and black splotchy lanky puppy.  I was going to name her Splotches.  I called the landlady to ask if we could have a dog.  She never returned my call.  Someone snatched up Splotches on the day she became available to adopt.

After Katrina, one day I was driving down Jefferson Highway.  I saw an SUV pull over on the side of the road.  Then the SUV pulled away.  I thought I saw little black puppy paws.  So, I pulled over.  It seemed that this little puppy probably had been near the road and the SUV pulled over to investigate, but left him there.  I found him in this run down garage or shed full of all kinds of loose dangerous stuff.  He came out straight to me.  He was a little black terrier mix puppy.

So, I did the only thing I could think of.  I picked him up and put him in the back seat of the car.  I got in the driver's seat, and he came up to the front.  He situated himself so his head was in my lap, and that's the way we road back to the house.

So, I brought him home.  The cats were so pissed.  He liked to chase them through the house to the bed, where they would run under to hide.  He seemed to be kind of housebroken, but he had no problem just waking up in the middle of night to piss or shit in the dining room.

I think when the FP saw him, he thought this was going to be our dog.  But, we were about to move across the country.  How the hell were we going to find an apartment in San Diego with two cats and a puppy.  So, I posted a listing for him on petfinder or some site like that.  No answer.  I saw a picture of a puppy that almost looked like him, but more jowly.  I emailed the guy with a picture of the puppy, but he said it could not be his.

So, I posted on craigslist.  A lot of people responded.  All from out of state.  People wanted a Katrina dog.  One nice woman asked me why I didn't keep him.  I told her how we were moving and we couldn't afford it at the time. She offered to pay for vet bills whether or not we kept him.

So, the FP took him into the vet.  He felt like this was his puppy.  But, someone local responded.  Her beloved dog had passed away a while ago, and she wanted another.  So, we took him to see her.  She had a big black lab who he wanted to play with.  He also tried to hump her.  She said she would talk to her husband about it.  We urged her to take him already for a trial, and so the husband could meet him.  So, she reluctantly took him.  And that was the last we saw of Oliver.

So, a year or so ago, I realized what kind of dog I wanted.  A shiba inu.

 

They are so sweet looking, they stay relatively small, they don't bark much, they are loyal and catlike.  They have a curly tail kind of like a chow.

The only problem, is that we want a puppy.  If he or she is socialized with cats from a young age, no problem.  If we get in a full grown dog in with the cats, who knows what will happen?

Shiba Inu puppies are rare in a rescue situation.  Usually they already dogs who are given up by owners who can no longer take care of them.  You don't see too many breeder raids with a bunch of puppies or anything.  So, it could take forever for us to find the right shiba inu.

Or we could just not be so stringent with our requirements and rescue a puppy now who needs rescuing.  So, I looked on petfinder.  There were some nice pups.  But this one was the winner:
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/22415289

So, I emailed the shelter and I filled out an application.

Now, all we can do is wait!

Web Browser Window Shopping

I hate Pinterest.
And Fab.com.
And Etsy.com.
And Sharperimage.com.

Stupid websites make me want to buy things (and go places) that I can't afford and don't need!

Of course, now that I'm writing a blog about it, I can't find anything worth sharing with you!

Well, this is really nice:
http://fab.com/sale/4179/product/90099
Like maybe a bejeweled ram head is something you always dreamed of having on your living room wall over your flat screen TV?  Or in your bedroom, maybe?  And I think the price is fairly reasonable.

But seriously, this one is cute.  This might be something I would buy my BFF for her birthday or something if I had the mula:
http://fab.com/sale/4114/product/55578

This is a really cool piece of furniture... but, wow, it's a coffee table:
http://fab.com/sale/4234/product/91456
  I am perfectly happy with our IKEA clearance coffee table that I let the FP put his feet on without saying a word to him about.

I don't know how I feel about this fab.com shop.  I mean, it's so simple, that it's effective.  Maybe I'm jealous that they thought of these shirts first?
http://fab.com/sale/3009/product/60965

And while this is really cute, it's still really pricey...
http://www.etsy.com/listing/94705051/happy-bear-brooch-handpainted-bau-bau?ref=fp_treasury_1

Is this one serious?  If it is, it's beyond me...
http://www.etsy.com/listing/76321122/modern-architecture-set-of-little-clay?ref=fp_treasury_4

This must be something that some lady was making for her grandkids, and then someone told her she could sell these on Etsy.  So, now she charges her kids when she brings them over for the babies:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/69764916/pink-and-green-shamrock-appliqued-tshirt?ref=sr_gallery_14&sref=&ga_ref=auto&ga_search_query=applique+tshirts&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade

This one is interesting, because it's a one time use item:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/94383344/personalized-phineas-and-ferb-birthday-t?
ref=sr_gallery_2&sref=&ga_ref=auto&ga_search_query=birthday+tshirts&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade

Okay, this one is really cool.  I might have to get it for my sister:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/82589304/wee-garden-necklace?ref=mh_link&mh_hub=home&mh_eid=1017981835&mh_section=clusters&mh_cid=spring-gardens

And I think the cats totally want this:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/61950638/modern-pet-bed-chaise-lounge-chair-cat?ref=v1_other_1

And I think they would like this as much as this cat is enjoying it:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/57033285/pet-hat-flower-bear-beaniecat-hat-pink?ref=sc_1&sref=

Anyway... I think you get my point...
Happy browser shopping!

I Need A Vacation!

Damn.  One day off.  I am not ready to go back to work tomorrow!  I still haven't gotten everything done today that I needed/hoped to do.

Okay, so I am off again on Tuesday, if all goes well.  But still, I've been off seven days a week until two weeks ago.  Working 6 - 12 hours a day five days is quite different than working no hours....

Don't get me wrong.  I like my job so far.  How many times have you heard me say, "I like my job"?  A few times?  Once?  Never?!?  But it's the truth.  I like my job.  I get paid well for what I'm doing.  They seem to like me.  Hopefully we'll be busy though.  At some point, if we don't, the hours will start to be slashed.  Let's hope it doesn't happen....

I definitely need to figure out how I can start exercising again, though.  I am PMSing, but I also feel like I have lots of wound up energy from working again, and from the stress of family stuff going on.  If you've ever worked a service industry type job, then you know what I mean from the wound up energy.  After standing on my feet all day, I can't just go home and go to sleep.  Even though I'm exhausted, the working makes me more riled up.  That's part of why service industry people tend to party a lot.  They have all that extra energy they need to expend by drinking, smoking, doing blow, staying up all night and then going into work the next day in the same clothes they wore at work the night before.

Okay, not all service industry people are like that...
But a lot are.

I don't think I can go exercise after work, though.  Even though I have lots of energy after work, it's not useful energy for productive stuff really....  Anyway, depending on when I get off of work, I can't go for a walk or jog by myself at night.  I really don't see myself joining a gym and going to workout a few hours before bed and being able to sleep.  So, I guess I'll have to start drinking after work again!

Downgrade Your Technology

You don't have to necessarily go camping in the woods, go back to nature to get back to your roots.  You can just take your current cell phone and take the sim card out and put it in one of your old kind of working not really working cell phones.

So, of course, I always have to be different.  When I realized at a young age that I would never be able to fit into the crowd, to be like everyone else, I started striving to be different.  Unique.  One of a kind.  Off the beaten path.

So, when I got my cell phone one and a half years ago, I didn't get a smartphone.  Well, for one they were too expensive, the plans were too expensive, and they were kinda big.  What I really needed was a phone with a pullout keyboard.  Being OCD, I went online and looked at the phones.  Then I went to an AT&T store to look at the phones in person.  The guy that tried to help me was not very helpful, as all I wanted to do was to look at phones and touch them and see how I liked them.  So, I went back online again and again, and finally I made a decision.

I picked a blue tween phone - a Pantech Pursuit.  It's cute, it's little, it's got a great little keyboard with convex buttons.  If I really need to get on the internet, I kind of can for only $10 more a month.  I don't know if it attracts cats too, but, my cat Stinksy loved to knock the phone off the ledge when it was charging.  I probably knocked it off the ledge too.  So, finally, the charger stopped working the other night.

So, I went to the AT&T store this morning to get a replacement charger.  Of course, they don't sell them anymore at the store.  I went to a couple more stores.  There are tons of chargers for iphones, several for Samsung, and also for LG.  None for Pantech.  Who the hell has a Pantech?

Me.

I had to be different.  Couldn't get a phone for the masses.  Had to get a lesser known, more unique phone, didn't I?

And now what?  I found some cell phone website that sell the charger for like $8 including shipping.  Because they just want to get rid of them.  So, I ordered one, but I got it shipped regular mail delivery. So it will probably take a week or two.  I just couldn't justify paying $25 for shipping for a charger that cost $3.

So, I broke out the our cellphone casket.  There was the FP's teeny Blue Sony phone.  The flip part had broken off.  There was the FP's Nokia phone.  So, it was like those original old Nokia phones, but an updated one with a color screen.  No camera of course.  Then there was the Mexican version of the Nokia phone that I had to buy from a cell phone store.  That one had an orange LED screen.  The last one was a Cingular LG little flip phone.  I remembered it not being an awful phone.  The charger was there and it charged, so that was the one I picked to use.

It sucks of course.  It's old.  It takes forever to charge.  When I call someone, the battery bars go down to one, and it beeps like it's going to discharge during the call.  After I hang up, a bar or two reappear.  And the texting.

Oh the texting.  It has a number keypad of course.  So, three letters and a number for each button.  So, say I'm trying to type a C.  I can't push the 1 button enough times for a C to register.  So, I pretty much can't text at all with this thing.

So, I'm reverted back to the dark ages of having to "talk" to people.  No texting.

NO TEXTING?

I don't know how to have a phone conversation with anyone besides the FP, my sisters, my mom's friend... and strangers that I need to make appointments with to get car work done, etc.

And with the phone beeping at me while I'm trying to conversate.

Maybe I should have paid the extra $20 for rush shipping of that charger....
I used to think my rinky dink blue tweenphone was a little embarrassing.  But the phone I have to use now is like a throw away drug dealer cell phone.  People are going to see me using it and definitely think I'm arranging a deal!

Electronic Dependency

My phone charger no longer charges my cell phone.  So, I noticed yesterday, when I was sitting around the house without a car.  I still didn't have a car this morning when I left for work, so I just let it ride.  The FP walked to the shop to pick up the car this evening.  He picked me up at work when I was done.  We stopped by CVS to pick up a universal charger.  The only one they had did not have a "Pantech" charger, but I couldn't remember if my charger was similar to the LG one, so I bought it.  It didn't fit.  It's 11:20pm.  My best bet is to go to an AT&T store tomorrow.  What I would like to do is sleep in and leisurely wake up and get ready for work.  What I will have to do is go to AT&T and hope they have a charger, if not, I will have to go around looking for one before work.  This sucks.

Work gets in the way of life.  Did anyone else ever notice that?

Unrelaxing "Day Off"

So, on Monday evening, I got my schedule for the week.  I was given today off, "so I could get some rest".  Last night, however, we sold a good amount of the desserts that I had made, so, they asked me to come in for a few hours to prep.  Which would have been fine.

Except I had scheduled an appointment to get the car serviced.  And I had a feeling it would be an all day affair.  The car was due for an oil change, and the check engine light was on.

I know, sometimes the check engine light doesn't really mean anything, right?  Well, there was definitely something wrong with the car.  When it would idle at a stoplight, it would sputter and vibrate and get worse like it was going to stall out.

So, we both knew there was something wrong with the car, but we didn't say much to each other about it, because that sputtering noise sounded like $$$ to us.  But, when the check engine light came on, and when the sound was getting worse, we really didn't have a choice.

So, I took the car in to the place down the street this morning.  As soon as I got in the car and started down the street, it started sprinkling.  I was wearing shorts and a tank top.  I thought it might be wise to grab an umbrella.  So, I turned around and grabbed my raincoat.  Then I also changed into my black capri pants too.  I thought the rain boots might be overkill, so I didn't put them on.

When I got to the shop, it was a little heavy, but when I went to walk home, it lightened up.  The walk home is not very pedestrian friendly, so I had to dodge puddles and walk in waterlogged grass and wait to walk into the road so I wouldn't get splashed.  I guess it would have been convenient to have a bike!  When I was around the corner from the house, the sky unleashed all over me.  I mean heavy downpour.

At least the rainstorm waited until I was almost home, right?

So, it rained and rained.  It thundered and lightninged really close to the house.  The cats did not like it.  The Fuzz slunk/ran away to hide under the bed.  Stinky came out to voice his quiet concern to the FP.

The FP coughed and coughed.  I felt suffocated in the house with the humid weather, closed up in the house, with the FP coughing.  I felt worried about getting sick, being around the coughing, everything in the house covered in sick germs.  I wouldn't want to see the house under a microscope!

I was waiting for a call from the shop.  The first call a few hours later was to tell me that they were trying to figure out what was wrong with the car.  The second was to say that they figured it had something to do with the fuel regulator.  The third was to tell me about how the car would not be ready until tomorrow afternoon.

I really didn't want to slosh the 20 minutes to the bus stop and go to work during service hours and try to prep a couple desserts, and then get back on the bus and then slosh home.  It would take just as long to get to and from work as it would to do the work.  Maybe even longer.  So, I called my boss.  Luckily, he agreed that it was ok to go in early tomorrow instead.

And of course, we really didn't have much food in the house.  We ate the rest of some potato chips.  Luckily, the FP is still pretty sick, so he hasn't been too hungry.  I haven't really been eating much the past two weeks because I have been working intensely all day long every day, so I wasn't too hungry.  Even if it wasn't raining, and after it stopped, I didn't feel like walking anywhere to get food.  There isn't too many choices nearby.  I didn't have the energy to slosh to the yucky Sav A Lot or anywhere else.  So, I started looking up delivery nearby.  I was thinking Italian because there are a lot of those around here - not that they are all good.

Then the FP said how he wanted wasabi to clear his congestion.  So I started looking up sushi.  Of course, the only places that deliver are those Thai - Japanese places.  So, I placed an online order with one place.  It took a while because I was distracted.  So, the website said to wait 10 minutes for them to call.  They called and told me that we were out of the delivery area.  So, then I went online and ordered from another place.  They called about 10 minutes later to tell me that the delivery driver had already left and no one would be there until 5.  So, I just said, place my order for after 5 then.  So, here we are, waiting to eat our one meal of the day, delivery sushi from a thai restaurant.  I hope it's good and fresh.  I have to get up early tomorrow to trek to the bus stop and get to work on time!

Stereotypes at work

So, we all know about stereotypes.  They are offensive because they point out negative or mocking personality traits or habits of a segment of the population as perceived by other segments of the population.  Or let's just say, it's what people think about others.

Like...

Black people like fried chicken and Kool Aid.

Asians are bad drivers.

Jews are bad tippers.

And white rich people control the country.



Here's an interesting dichotomy.  At home, women do the cooking.  In restaurants, men do the cooking.  That's a stereotype.

When I had my first interview for my new job, the chef asked me how I handle being in the kitchen with males, when the kitchen is a male dominated place.  I didn't know how to answer that.

How do I handle it?  I just am myself.  I'm quiet at first while I figure things out.  And then I slowly spread out and change things, even if these things go unnoticed by others.  This applies to any job I start, whether there are men, women, kids, goats, puppies (aww, I would love to work with puppies!  I should have been a vet or a zoologist).  Just because generally men are more aggressive and move faster in the kitchen, it doesn't always mean they are more effective or efficient.

Anyway, I am the only female in the kitchen at work.  You know the last time that has happened to me?

About 9 years ago.  And that was the only other time.

I repeat, JUST ONE OTHER TIME HAVE I BEEN THE ONLY FEMALE WORKING IN THE KITCHEN OF A RESTAURANT. Am I yelling?  SORRY!

The last time I was the only female in the kitchen was at a bar where I was the only kitchen staff five days a week.  The other two days, one of the male owners worked in the kitchen.

Anyway, is it weird to be the only female on a kitchen staff of like ten people?  Sure.  Does it bother me?  Hell no.  I could care less what the gender makeup in the kitchen is.

Unless I employ a stereotype here: Men are more careless and messy and don't clean up carefully after themselves.  So, when you've got say, seven men running around a kitchen prepping, grabbing things from the walk in cooler and putting things away in the walk in cooler, how many items get put back in the proper place or get wrapped up properly?

Some.  If the kitchen were mostly women, the answer might be more likely to be 90% of things would be put in the right place and wrapped properly.  But, in the heat of scrambling to get prep done or during service, am I one of the culprits?

.....yes....

Stereotypes.

I'm female.  So, currently I work pantry.  And I make the desserts.  Girl stuff.  I don't mind.  Tonight was our first official night open.  I was training people on pantry.  And I got to watch the hot food go out.  I'll learn the hot food eventually.  I'm not worried.  They want me to be the pantry bitch, I'll be the pantry bitch.  After all, I haven't worked in ten months.  I gotta get back up to speed.  Starting at pantry is always an okay way to do that.

Is my ego bruised because I'm working the "entry level" station?  Maybe at first.  But hey, I've worked every station in other restaurants.  I don't need to prove to myself or to others that I have the ability.  Do I want to work the line with three or four other people on the line that really accomodates three cooks space-wise?  Hell no.  I want to wait until they got all the kinks ironed out, and three cooks can work comfortably and efficiently.  Then I'll learn every station.

Sometimes I get the feeling that others might think I have no experience.  LOL! Let's just say that I've gotten around in my day!

So, for now I'll work pantry.  That's were the females are best suited in a restaurant kitchen.  It's funny, because pantry is probably my weakest station.  Well, I don't know.  With this menu, it's pretty easy.

Just Read the Pork Porn Pages Post

Really.  I think that blog post says enough about what is on my mind tonight.  So, just read it.

http://thefoodho.blogspot.com/2012/03/dont-ever-think-your-job-is-100-secure.html

Maybe it's lazy of me... but, I'm kind of tired.

On The Brink

The FP is sick.  Coughing and hacking.  Clammy and sweaty.  He said he felt it starting on Thursday, and by Saturday he definitely started to feel it.  On Sunday it was full blown illness.  Like bronchitis.

I am feeling more and more rundown today.  My throat feels a little sore.

I can't get sick.  I'm working now.  We are going to open for business on Wednesday.  I can't miss work.  I need the money too.

I got these homeopathic pills for lung function that are probably placebos.  So, I gave the FP 2 to take, and then later on I decided that I would take 2 as well.

I hate being sick.  Especially when I'm working.  It's bullshit.  Hopefully I won't get sick.  But here's the question.  I haven't been exercising - first we had visitors so we didn't go exercise as much, then we went to Pittsburgh, then I started my job.  So, should I try to wake up early and go for a walk tomorrow morning, or should I sleep in and rest?  Which would benefit me more?  I guess I just have to see how I feel tomorrow morning and go on that....

Here's another question.  Should I take Nyquil tonight, or should I just go au naturale?  Hm... I'm not sure.  But I have to decide soon, as it's already 10 pm.....

Jackson Galaxy Come Help Me!

Stinksy is bugging the shit out of me.

I know you aren't supposed to hate on your kids, but geez.  This cat.

I woke up to him throwing up on the rug.  He was sleeping in the bedroom, probably on the suitcase that I haven't finished unpacking.  So he woke up to throw up, and he went to the rug.  Why do cats feel the need to go onto a rug to throw up?  He actually threw up on the blue rug, and then he moved to the purply pink rug and spit up a little more on that one too.  So, I cleaned it up.

So, then we went to dim sum far far south.  There was a cuban bakery in the shopping center by the chinese restaurant, so we stopped in there on the way home.  We got a tres leches and two dulce de leche cookies and I got a cafe con leche.

When we got home I put the pastries on the dining room table.  A minute later, there was Stinky, nosing in the bag.  So I put it the cake away and put the cookies on the counter where he might not bother them.  A little bit later, I got a cookie and went to the couch.  And who was up on the coffee table nosily watching me eat that delicious cookie?  Stinksy.

 He saw my coffee, and he started licking it.  So, I had to move it.

He jumped on the couch and tried to sniff the cookie.  So, I pushed him off.  He jumped on the coffee table and watched.

After that, he followed me around the house meowing.

I went outside to water the plants and look at how dirty the pool was.

He followed me out onto the lanai and watched from the screen door.  And he meowed at me.  I would go inside to get something, and he follow me inside.  Then I would go back out and he would go onto the lanai.

I know he was just feeling neglected.  I had stuff to do.  I was being an inattentive mother.  I played elastic string with him for a couple minutes, but it wasn't really fun.  He would just grab the string and hold it until it snapped and hit me.  So, I stopped playing with him.

I mean, I know that he is understimulated.  I know that Jackson Galaxy, host of the show, My Cat From Hell, would tell me to put more cat furniture up, regularly play with him, and maybe even to put him on a leash and practice walking him.  But, I'm kind of busy right now and I don't have a regular schedule, and I don't have the $$$ right now to buy more cat furniture, and I don't have the time to make it right now either.

Maybe when we adopt a puppy, the puppy will be able to keep Stinksy company and keep him properly stimulated and exercised?  Or he will just beat up the puppy and make it hide and whimper in the corner....

Tonight is my Friday

Tomorrow is my Sunday.  Oh wait, tomorrow is Sunday!

So, after not working for ten, count them, 10 months, I worked a five day week with these hours:

Tuesday 10 - 8
Wednesday 2 - 9
Thursday 9 - 5:30
Friday 9 - 3:15
Saturday 9 - 9

43.75 hours

0 - 43.75 in one week

My knee hurts.  I'm tired, but not necessarily sleepy.

I want to do everything I can tomorrow.  I want to clean the house, catch up on blogging, go to the beach and exercise, chill out on the couch and watch TV, hang out on the lanai and by the pool, go in the pool.

How many of those things will I actually do tomorrow?

Well, I have to at least do one?  Which one will I do?  We'll see.....

Goodnight and happy Friday night everyone.  Remember about the time change thing!

Poor Kitties!

I have to say, my kitties seem to miss me terribly.  When I get home, they follow me around and they meow at me a lot.  Oh wait, they do that all the time anyway.

Hm... should I change the blog title, or should I just roll with it?

Too lazy to change the title and I can't think of another topic.

I do know that The Fuzz is laying here on the couch right next to me.

You know, work is overrated.  If I had the choice of being in the house all day and not leaving, or going to work, regardless of finances, I might pick staying in the house.  There's a lot I could do.  There's a lot I could plan on doing and eventually accomplish.  Like stuff similar to the projects on this website:

http://vintagerevivals.blogspot.com/

There are such cool ideas on the blog.  Take cheap old furniture and paint it a cool color, and it's all good!  I love that.

I could also make toys and furniture for the cats.  Like this:

http://www.moderncat.net/2008/06/10/another-great-diy-project-from-ikea-hacker/

or this:

http://www.moderncat.net/2008/01/29/diy-ikea-stairway-to-kitty-heaven/

or even better, this:

http://www.moderncat.net/2009/01/18/ikea-hack-from-stockholm/



If I were really ambitious, I could make cool lights like this:

http://shannoneileenblog.typepad.com/happiness-is/2010/03/cloud-lights.html/

or if I were really ambitious, like this:

http://hutchstudio.blogspot.com/2011/01/more-on-light-post.html


But, I suppose, until I win the lottery, I'll just go to work 5 - 7 days a week....

Another First

I think, that a full life probably is full of lots of firsts.

1st solid food
1st steps
1st word
1st grade
1st communion
1st kiss
1st look at the opposite sex's pee pee
1st crush
1st boyfriend/girlfriend
1st time masturbating
1st time seeing naked parent
1st time getting to 2nd base
1st time getting to 3rd base
1st time hitting a homer
1st taste of alcohol
1st cigarette
1st joint
1st time mainlining
1st murder....

You get the picture.  I could go on and on with this list, but, let's just get back to the subject of me.

I rode the Broward County transit for the FIRST (1st) time today.  I'm a big girl now.  As my former coworker, Harley Mama would say, I got my big girl britches on!

So, I googled which route to take this morning, before going to work.  The FP drove me to work, though.  Of course, the first time he had to take me, it was rainy and trafficky.  Every time I've driven myself there has been minimal traffic and no rain.

So, I got out of work at around 5:30.  Luckily it wasn't raining/  I walked down Broward Blvd, past Hwy1, to 3rd Avenue.  I turned down 3rd, and I thought to myself, I think this is the right street...  I didn't see a bus stop sign, but I kept walking.  I almost witnessed at least two car accidents on my walk.  People really do drive shittily down here.  I mean, they really do.

I couldn't remember what the cross street was for the bus stop, so I just kept walking.  Finally, after a ten minute walk, I saw the bus stop.  It was on some corner by a tall building, no bench, no shelter, not even a trash can.  There was only one guy there.  The bus is supposed to run every 30 minutes, so the bus had probably just recently passed by.

I tried to get on the Broward County Transit website to see what it said for the schedule, but it was difficult to read on my teeny screen, and it just confused me, because it didn't list the stop I was at.

So, I just kept waiting.  And waiting.  There was some water on the side of the road, and some asshole driver drove fairly fast and sprayed us.  Fucking car drivers, they're all so rude and they don't respect us pedestrians and bus riders.  Fuck them!

Finally the bus came, about  half an hour after I arrived at the bus stop.  So, there was only a seat at the back of the bus, which kind of sucked for my motion sickness - since I couldn't see the horizon to prevent nausea.  It also sucked because I couldn't really see too well out the window to see street signs.

This bus goes by the airport, and as it went speeding onto the on ramp and off ramp, I thought I was going to slide into the aisle.  So, anyway, it's good to know that if I ever need to catch the bus from work to the airport, it's just a mere ten minute walk and ten minute bus ride.

So, then, I knew we were getting close to my stop.  I saw the bar, Shenanigan's, so I thought the next stop was mine.  I think I might have gotten off the bus too soon.  I should have waited until we crossed Sheridan, but I didn't.  At any rate, I was on the bus for about 30 minutes.

One thing that sucks about my kitchen shoes, is that while they are great for standing on your feet all day, they are shitty for walking a long distance.  So, my feet started aching.  Anyway, the sun was setting, and there I was walking up Sheridan toward home.  I said hi to almost everyone I passed on the sidewalk.  It's funny because when I was walking in silence, I would pass someone and say hi, usually too quiet.  Sometimes too loud.  It's like I had no sense of volume from underuse of my voice.

Anyhoo, I got home after a 20 minute walk.  So, here's the breakdown of my odyssey:

5:40pm, leave work

5:50pm, arrive at bus stop.

6:20pm, get on bus.

6:50pm, get off bus.

7:10pm, arrive at home!

So, an hour and a half from work to home.  Really, it wouldn't have been as bad if I had brought a change of shoes.  Next time I know.

So, my firsts were:

1st time riding the bus in South Florida.
1st time riding the bus from work.
1st time riding the bus home.
1st time walking home from US 1.
1st time walking in the neighborhood at night.
1st time being sprayed with water on the sidewalk in Fort Lauderdale.
1st time coming home from work to no FP.  That was weird.

Whelp, back to work tomorrow, 9 am!

When it rains, it pours brown waterfall

So, of course, I started a new job, and shit is happening.  There's family stuff going on with my dad and now with my aunt.  I had to chat with one of my cousins about it all tonight.  The car needs an oil change and probably brakes too.  The FP needs a lot of dental work.  (I would need dental work too, if I went to the dentist.) I probably need to go to the optometrist because I am running out of contacts, and I'm not sure when my prescription is up.  Oh, and we need money too.

And boy was it windy today.  Really windy.  What's it gonna be like when a tropical storm or hurricane hits?  Our screen enclosure in the lanai is going to rattle like crazy if it makes noise when there's just a breeze.

Also, I'm working.  Standing all day, prepping, taking orders from people, with no break.  I didn't piss today until right before I went home.

The owners already seem disillusioned, and we haven't even opened!  Hopefully they will get their shit together before we open!  I'm a little nervous, but all I can do is watch! Oh, and do what I am told to do, and give input when asked.

So, I'm gonna jet.  Gotta catch some winks before work in the AM!

Day One

This is the first day I've worked for money since April 24, 2011.

Yes, that is a long time.

I did work a couple times with the FP, but those don't count really, because it was just like to help him and I didn't get a paycheck or anything, maybe a tip.

This goes without saying (that's another one of those stupid sayings, don't you think?), I'm tired.

I worked 10 hours.  Not really any break.  About an hour or two before I left, I went to piss.  I usually drink a gallon of water every day and piss 6 times a day.  This piss was orange.  I guess that's fitting because the restaurant is orange.

Yay orange!  One of my least favorite colors!  Orange, and brown.  Brown, another one of my least favorite colors!

Oh well.  Let's not start in with a negative attitude.  Let's not pick apart any of the things I saw today that were weird or not right.

So what if they only have one or two tiny mixing bowls and one or two huge mixing bowls and no medium ones?

So, what if they had two dishwashers come in and stand around for several hours when I'm sure there must have been things they could have done.

So what if they don't make their own hot sauce?

So what if they aren't currently making their own fries?

So what if the burners have to be lit with a stick lighter every time you turn them on?

So what if the brand new oven door fell off the hinge?



You know what though?  I am a cook.  I'm making the same money that I made at my last job under the misnomer of chef.  So, that is a good thing.

Also they are nice.  The name of their company is "be nice".  Isn't that nice?

I'm not going to be a dick.  I'm going to focus on the good stuff.  A new job.  Nice new people to work with.  A chance to help grow a new business.  A sense of purpose again.  Oh, and steady income too.

The Fuzz was pissed at me today when I came home.  She came out of the room to stand kind of in the hallway and look at me.  When I addressed her, she meowed in that annoyed voice.  Then when I moved to pet her, she did a 180 and hurried into the bedroom.  Later on, of course, I was in the kitchen making dinner for myself, and I turned around, and there she was 5 feet behind me standing there watching.  I mean, I think she just wanted fresh kibbles, but it was nice to see her there regardless of her motives.

Anyhoo, I'm tired.  I need to watch some DVR'ed shows and then go to bed.

Goodnight!

Wasting Water

So, I didn't expect to be here on the couch, writing the blog at 2:38 today.

I expected to be working.  But, it was a big tease!

So, last night, our flight home was delayed.  We got home around 1:45 am.  I was pretty tired and ready to hit the hay and get my six hours of sleep.  I set the alarm, but of course, I really woke up at 7:05, and 7:25, and 7:35, and 7:55 before the alarm went off.  I made coffee, went out back to take a look at the plants and the pool.  The plants were okay, besides the tomato plants being knocked over.  Of course, I need to dig out the old wheatgrass and plant new stuff.  And the avocado tree still isn't happy.

The pool was a different story.  The water line was really low.  And the skimmer was completely full of leaves and oak pollen, and there was a whole raft of leaves and oak pollen right outside the skimmer too.  And a bunch on the floor of the pool.  So I emptied out the skimmer, and the raft of leaves and pollen that was near the skimmer broke up and sunk to the bottom...yay.  I got the hose and started refilling the pool, hoping I wouldn't forget to turn it off.

I went inside and took a shower and got ready.  I did remember to turn off the hose before I left.  And then I drove to work!  Except, I was getting to the interstate when I realized that I left my Brita water bottle at home!  Oh well, I figured, it's not like there's water there.  So, there was not much traffic, so I stopped at Walgreens and got some water.

Then I went to the restaurant.  And my new boss told me that today I would be filling out paperwork for the front of the house manager.  And then before I left, he asked me to see him before leaving.  The opening had been pushed back a couple days.  So, I guess I wasn't needed today.

But I had my knives, and my water, my pen, pad of paper, and my sharpie!  And my chef pants and cook's shirt!  I TOOK A SHOWER FOR THIS!  Man, I could have just got out of bed, thrown on some clothes, went to the restaurant, signed some papers and then come home and crawled back into bed!

Oh well, I am not the negative bad attitude girl I used to be.  I just trained myself not to make any inconvenient or unfavorable situation a huge tragedy anymore.  After all, it's one last free day before joining the workforce again!  A day of celebration!

So, I filled out the paperwork, and that was it.  I talked to my new boss, and he told me to come in tomorrow, same time, 10 am.  And that was it.  I went back home.

But, I'm not going to worry.  Not going to speculate.  I'm just going to enjoy my last day unemployed.

I was able to go out and buy myself a chef's knife, that I had been needing.  Boy that was fun.  I went to the Village at Gulfstream Park.  Gulfstream Park is a horse racing track over by our "old" apartment.    So, the Village is the shopping center with shops and bars and restaurants next to the Gulfstream.  When we first moved to Hallandale, the FP had said that we should never set foot in that complex.  Just because it seemed so... icky I guess is the word.  But I went there.  Because there was a Sonoma Williams.

I parked.  I walked to a directory.  and I tried to dechiper it.  I swear, it seemed like it was printed backwards.  So, I figured I had to go the opposite of what would be the logical direction.  Then the mall cop guy on his segway came by.  He slowed down and asked me if I needed help.  I asked him how to get to the Williams Sonoma.  And he told me to go in the direction that seemed opposite of the map.  And he assured me that the map was confusing.

So, I got to Williams Sonoma.  They had the standard Henckels and Wustof knives, which I am so over.  They are clunky and not shaped the most ergonomically and difficult to keep sharp.  They also had these crazy fancy expensive Japanese knives.  If I had just won the lottery I might buy them.  But I didn't.  I just checked 6 old tickets that I had stashed in my purse from various drawings.  Not one winner.

So, I went to Bed, Bath and Beyond in Aventura.  It was kind of busy.  And there were way more people needing help than there were people to help everyone.  So I waited.  And I was on the lookout for an employee who wasn't busy.  And finally one walked by, but of course he wasn't as knowledgeable in the knife department.  He was unlocking the case and looking around for the knife, when he finally found it.  He handed it to me, and then told me he needed to walk it up to the counter for me.  But I had one more question.  And I figured he might not know the answer.  But I asked anyway.

I needed a diamond steel.  He didn't know what that was.  And now I realize that I was using the wrong terminology.  I wanted the flat surface diamond steel.  I always called the regular steel the "rod steel".  And I called the flat surface steel the "diamond steel" because the end is kind of diamond shaped.  But they are both diamond steels technically.  Anyway, the guy had to go and get someone else to answer my question.  So, he brought back two guys, one was kind of quiet, and the other was Mr. Knife Guru.  So he came up and started telling me about diamond cut knives.  He said if I used the knife a lot, I should get the Global knife.  So, I told him how I was looking for a "diamond steel" not a diamond knife.  So, then he says if I don't know how to sharpen a knife, no offense, I should probably use one of those machines down there at the end.  I said I was looking for the diamond steel, and he said the one I had in my hand, the rod steel, was it.  So, I said I was looking for a flat edged one.  He said, if I wanted a good stone one, he showed me the flat stone that was the best.  It was a stone, and it was more expensive than the knife, so I didn't want that.  But, I didn't bother to explain it to him.  So, that was that, I would just get the Henckels steel because that was about all they had.  About 35 minutes after walking into the store, I finally left with all my purchases.

And now I'm home.  Although, I'm all clean and nowhere to go.

Snow

I'll be honest.  I'm a pussy when it comes to temperature and weather.  If I live to be a cranky old lady, I feel sorry for anyone who will have to deal with me.

So, I've been bitching all weekend about the cold windy weather outside.  Inside, I've been bitching about the heat.  In the hotel room, it was wreaking havoc with my sinuses.  Lots of sneeze attacks.

Today, I woke up to some snow flurries.  Little flakes for a few minutes.  So exciting.

I know.  A lot of you are rolling your eyes.  Fucking snow, right?  You're over it, as spring is supposed to be approaching, even if it was a milder winter for some?

Well, I'm a California/Florida/Louisiana girl.  Not used to the cold windy weather.

Sure, I lived in Boston.  For a total of 3 1/2 years.  I'm 38.  That was 9.2% of my life.

Anyway, when we were being driven to the airport, it started snowing again.  Big flakes.  A little squall.  I loved it.  I didn't have my video camera in the front with me, so I couldn't take any video.

When we got dropped off at the airport, I got out my video camera from the depths of my Hello Kitty purse which was buried in the backpack (only one personal item and one carry on) and I recorded a few seconds of snow.  An airport employee laughed at me.  He said, "I hope you're going someplace that doesn't have snow."  And I laughed and said, "Florida."

It's funny, because about half of the year at most, people are envious of the Florida climate.  The other half, they think it's dreadful.  All I know is that we were the darkest people of non African descent in Pittsburgh this weekend.  When we posed in pictures with others, it looked kind of ridiculous.

Well, back to the heat - unless, of course, our flights are delayed!

Here's the snow!

The Quest For Water

So, I have a thing for water.  Even since before Katrina.  I always am thirsty, and I am always concerned about my water intake and having enough potable water available.  When the airport security rules banned bringing water through the security check, I was devastated!  Before, I used to bring a huge bottle, and that would usually last me through all my flights.  Now, I have to buy a bottle of $4 water at the terminal.

So, I actually thought about bringing my brita water bottle that the FP got me for Christmas.  But, I didn't want to lose it, which I knew I would.  Plus, since it really filters more for taste and chlorine, I don't trust it for a lot of tap water.  I am actually used to filling it with water from the brita pitcher, so it's kind of like it's double filtered.  So, that way, if it's cold, it tastes really clean.

When we arrived at the Pittsburgh airport on Friday, I went into the Walgreens that was in the airport, specifically to get water.  I got two large bottles, and I was thinking they would last us at least 24 hours.  I was glad to get that hurdle out of the way, easily enough.

Usually, we get to the hotel, and if we don't have a car, we have to try to find the nearest place within walking distance, which ends up being a hike.  Or, if there is nowhere nearby, we end up spending a mountain of money on smaller bottles from the hotel.

But we were set for the first day.  I felt secure.  Water is like a security blanket to me.

So, we got to the hotel, and we put our stuff in the room.  Then we hung out in the sister-in-law's room.  We ate cheese and crackers, and we drank red wine.  We were in there for several hours.  I got thirsty.  I went back to our room to drink some water.  And I drank more wine.

When we went out for dinner, I drank one beer, and a lot of water.  But, I was forever thirsty, as usual.  When we were in the cab coming back to the hotel, I was just thinking about drinking water.  But we went to the sister-in-law's room again, and drank some more alcohol.  The sister-in-law's friends were going to bed, so they asked for some water.  The sister-in-law looked around in her bags, and she figured that they only had two bottles left.  So, she gave them one.  The mother-in-law was thirsty, so she wanted some water.  So, she got the last bottle.  I meekly offered to bring one of our bottles of water over, but the sister-in-law didn't seem too worried.

So, we drank more alcohol.  I finally got thirsty enough to walk down the hall to get water from our room.  So I brought one bottle to sister-in-law's room.  So, I alternated between drinking water and sips from the FP's glass of red wine, and then vodka tonic when the red wine was gone.

When we went back to our room, I drank even more water from our last remaining bottle, and there was less than half the bottle left.  In the morning, I woke up and finished the bottle.  Then we were out of water.

But, there was no convenience store nearby.

So, we bought a bottle of 20oz water out of the vending machine.

Then we went to brunch for Mother-in-law's birthday party.  I drank as much water as I could, in between alcohol drinks.

But, I never can get enough water in my system.  I'm Tantalus.  And yes, I did have to google that name.  And I will not apologize for not remembering my greek mythology better.

After brunch, a whole herd of us came back to the hotel and hung out in the breakfast dining area.  For hours.  I think I bought one or two bottled waters from the vending.  But, all I could think about while drinking, was where I was going to get my next bottle of water.  Which made it difficult to enjoy the bottle of water in my hand.

I'm an H2O addict.  I admit it.  I know I have a problem.  But my solution is to plan ahead.  Which I had thought I had done.

Sure, there were several people around me with cars.  How could I ask someone to take me to a store just to buy water?  It seems weird.  It seems neurotic, because, for me it is neurotic.  So, I just sat there.

Finally, hours later, The FP and the brother-in-law decided to go to the liquor store to buy more wine.  The FP drove the mother-in-law's car.  So, I tagged along to get my precious water.

The store only had wine and liquor.

No water.  No non-alcoholic beverages.

NO WATER AT ALL!!!

So, we were making our way back to the hotel, but we kind of got a tad bit lost.  And then we started passing convenience stores and pharmacies.  But, the FP didn't seem to want to stop, because he was kind of lost driving his mom's car, and there were no parking spaces in front of the stores.  So, I watched the CVS, the Rite Aid, the corner store pass before my eyes.

No water.  Wasted trip for my part.

So, later on, we went to dinner.  I drank my first glass as slowly as possible, but it was empty within half an hour.  And of course, it took a while for the waiter to come back and refill it.  Later on though, the manager or owner, or someone, came to check on us.  She asked if we wanted a pitcher of water on the table.

Yes we did.

I finished my water.  And then I went to ask for the pitcher.  It was gone from the spot I last saw it, to the right of me.  And then I saw it just to the left of me.  It was almost empty, but enough for 2/3 of a glass.  So, I asked the FP to grab the water.  He filled my glass about 2/3 of the way, and left just a little in the pitcher.  I guess it's kind of like not taking the last deviled egg on the platter.  It seems rude, and you don't want anyone to see you take the last one.

That was ok though.  I drank all my water.  I figured I could just drink the FP's water if I needed a back up.  But, then it was time to go.

So, we got a ride back to the hotel.  I went up to the room and dumped out all my change.  I had enough money for two waters.  So, I went down the hall and purchased my two waters.  I immediately opened mine and had a sip.  Then, I had to waste some of the water to take my vitamins with.  When I got into bed, I brought the waters.  I slightly grudgingly handed the FP the unopened water.

I'll be honest.  I wanted to give him the opened used water.  He wouldn't care.

But I didn't.  It was the right thing to do.  Plus, if I finish my water sometime during the night, I can wake up and reach around and drink the FP's water.

You always gotta have a backup plan.  After all the world may end from lack of water.

Even Stranger Still

This is the first time I have been on a trip with the FP, his mom and his sister and her husband, without the FP's dad.
usually
It's been nice.

Tomorrow is the FP's mom's birthday.  So, it's going to be a big weekend birthday celebration with good friends and family in Pittsburgh.

The FP grew up a couple hours from Pittsburgh, in the famed home of the most popular meteorologist, Punxsutawney Phil.  So,, my experience in Pittsburgh is flying in and then getting in a car for a one and a half to two and a half hour car ride, depending on who is driving and the weather conditions.

I've never spent one night in Pittsburgh.  So, this is the first of two.  Hopefully it will be a good weekend with minimal drama.  In the history of the FP's family vacations, most of the drama stems from the FP's dad.  So, take him out of the equation, and there should be less drama, right?  Well, we shall see.

In the meantime, I really need to get some damn sleep!!!

Nitey nite!

Strange Days still

Oh life.  It's interesting even when it's boring.  Because when it's boring, if you look at it from a third person perspective, it becomes interesting.  Have you ever met someone and thought, "what the hell does that guy do all day?"  And you just want to be a fly on the wall.  No, you just want to video tape a few days in his (or her) life and then watch it with the luxury of being able to fast forward through it.  I believe I have had countless days in my life where you would want to fast forward through watching.  No, not just fast forward, but stop and fast forward.  Hasn't everyone had days like that?

Sometimes you meet someone, and it seems like they could never have a fast forward day, right?  It's like, they are so exciting, and their life is so full of stuff going on.  And you find out, these are sometimes the people who are miserable, and they try to fill their lives with interesting shit.  Sometimes I feel like that.  I think that's what depression feels like.  Even if you are having a great time with people you love, you still feel disconnected and empty.  If you've never had that feeling, I wouldn't recommend it.  Depression isn't nearly as romantic as it looks or sounds.

Anyway, this blog is not supposed to be about depression.  The other serious blog is more about that kind of stuff.

This blog is about... getting our pretty pretty dining room chairs delivered today!

If you follow me on pinterest, then you have already seen this.  So, these chairs are actually labeled as drafting chairs, as they have the adjustable lift to work with different height tables.  We got a blue one, a black one, a pink one (my least favorite, but it adds a color accent) and a purple one.  I'm sitting in the purple one right now.  The only problem is, the shelf under the table is a little too low, so I can't fit my knees under.  This should be an easy fix, but the screws are in pretty tight, and I don't feel like unscrewing them and then not screwing them back in tight enough.

So, that's the highlight of the day.  The other highlight is that I got a job today.  So, I went with the restaurant that is opening in Fort Lauderdale.  They offered me what I made at my last job to start, so I'm not regressing in pay.  The only thing that kind of sucks, is that we are going to Pittsburgh this weekend and we won't get back until late Sunday.  And I start work on Monday morning.  Oh well, I think I've had quite a long enough break, and even though I would love to have a couple more days to just hang around the house and explore South Florida, it's time.  It's way past time.  And my unemployment has just about run out!  So, while I worked hard over the years to "earn" my unemployment, I thank all of you workers of California who helped me receive this unemployment, no matter that it was kind of not enough.  But, I'm not complaining.  Other people would like to make that amount while working 40 hours a week.

I would like to think, though, that I didn't squander too much of my time off.  I've done a lot.  I've seen a lot, I've made discoveries about myself, I've made changes, I've grown as a person.  I like to think I have.

And I did paint the Last Kitties Flippin The Bird Supper.... (I think that's the title)

I want to thank you all for your support through this tumultuous time, and I'm sure there will be more to come for your reading pleasure.  I would like to make the pledge here and now to not flake on this blog the way I have flaked on the food blog from the inception of the food blog.  My thing is, I never know when I'm going to die, so I'm going to cram as much fun and rewarding activity into my life as I can stand.  Boy, I imagine though, that it's going to be super difficult getting used to the physicality of working in a kitchen again.  Hopefully, this girl has still got it in her!