Oh, my. Seems life picked up a bit since I last wrote! Sadly for you, my dear readers, many things that happened are more "Dear Diary" moments than "Hey, let's put this in my blog" moments! Such is life!
Last weekend was indeed fantastic. Although I woke up on Saturday with a scratchy throat and the beginnings of a cold, I took some Advil and bravely proceeded with my day. My sister and I stopped for the first pumpkin spice lattes of the year--yum! We got to Gettysburg around 1, got to the Eisenhower farm just before 2 and proceeded to turn the next 3 hours into approximately 19 minutes. How can time possibly go by that quickly?!
Anyway, then we rushed back to the hotel, got all ready for the evening, had dinner, and got to the dance with a little over an hour left to dance. Now, I've been to a handful of swing dances before--but always as a member of the band, and not as a participant! It was quite nice to be a participant this time. One of these days, perhaps I'll actually learn how to do the fast stuff.
Sunday morning, I let my sister sleep and headed out to breakfast. Yet another 3 hours that went by in about 12 minutes. Seriously. Unfortunately, my week only went downhill from there--where else could it go, really--and here I am on my 6th straight day of working, with another 5 days ahead of me! My cold did indeed hit me hard about the time I got home on Sunday, and I am just now recovering from the last of the cough.
Otherwise, my week was pretty uneventful. Nothing much happening at the funeral home on Tuesday, so I spent the morning driving all over the county to run death certificates. I really enjoy doing that--it gives me time to just hang out in the car, listening to music, and I get to hang out in waiting rooms and read magazines, all while getting paid! I fear that tomorrow's shift at the funeral home will not be so easy, however. An early morning Ethiopian funeral and burial, combined with their afternoon reception and another afternoon visitation, cannot bring anything but crazy trouble! I can only hope that the madness makes the day go by quickly!
I really would like to reiterate a question that I seem to ask most every weekend--how can you apply to and get into graduate school without a basic knowledge of how to use a computer? I realize that my job description is "helping people," and everything, but give me a break. If you don't know how to center your text or open your e-mail, that's not even kind of my responsibility. Why are you asking ME how to sign into YOUR personal e-mail? *Insert crazy face here*
I believe my grandma comes back from Oklahoma today. She's been down there for over a month. It will definitely be quite a change for her to come back and be living with my parents. I hope my mother calms herself down a bit around her (wishful thinking, I know), because grandma does not need any stress! And it certainly will be bizarre to go home for Thanksgiving and not be at grandma's house for it. I have vague memories of ONE Thanksgiving at our house when I was little--I think Grandma & Papa were in Oklahoma that year--but Thanksgiving is meant to be spent at their house. After all, as soon as the dishes are cleaned up from lunch, it's time to decorate! Maybe this year I can just convince the family that Friday's a good day to go chop down the Christmas tree.
Ah, well. At any rate, that's enough from me for the moment. I seem to have this hope every month, but I hope that October brings less stress and more happy moments my way! It might be hard to top Gettysburg, but a girl can hope! Right?
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
A laundry list of updates!
Ooops! I haven't updated in a while. I will not let this blog die, so I promise to do better!
Let's see... things going on in my life and in my world (sometimes entirely separate things, believe it or not):
* I'm back to working one 14-hour day a week, with mornings at the funeral home and afternoon/evenings at the library. So far, it hasn't been too bad--my funeral mornings have been spent running death certificates, which is infinitely more relaxing than, say, moving billions of flower arrangements, standing in the parking lot yelling at people who don't (or won't) understand where I'm trying to direct them, then hauling all of the previously-mentioned flower arrangements out of the chapel, into the van, up to the cemetery, around the gravesite and then getting MYSELF out of sight before the procession arrives. God, I'm exhausted just typing that sentence. The point is, I haven't had any Tuesday morning funerals... YET. They're coming, though. I just know it. BIG ones.
* I've only had one death call since my last update. The 2am variety. At least it was quick and easy and I went from ringing phone back to bed in under 90 minutes. Seriously, that's like getting paid a dollar a MINUTE. Holy hell.
* I've made the executive decision to keep my hair long-ish and straight, like it was around college graduation time. It's just prettier that way.
* My sister is here, and we've been having Sunday night dates for the last few weeks! We're just awesome like that. This week's date will be on Saturday, because
* We're headed up to Gettysburg for some WWII activities this weekend! Yay. I'd say that I'm actually going up there solely as a visitor and not to WORK, but that is not entirely true. I'm supposed to be recruiting for next year's Sully event... but I'll try to do as little work as possible! Anyway, part of this adventure requires (well, not requires, but encouraged) us to figure out how to do some 40's hair and makeup and stuff. I know my outfit isn't entirely accurate (and my historical OCD is yelling at me already), but it will be fun anyhow. I KNEW I should have taken those swing dance lessons a couple years ago!
* I'd really like to take Palin's hair bun and stuff it down her hypocritical throat. I'd also like to say some other things, but I feel like I'm debating political stuff more than I should have to these days. I mean, really, for the 100th time--NOBODY running for ANY office has presidential experience. If we want to vote for someone with presidential experience, we are going to have to dig up and reanimate George Washington... and I'm not real big on the whole ZOMBIE thing, though a zombie would possibly make a better president than McSame. UGH.
* I am still holding off on my pumpkin spice lattes. It's just not cold enough! I can't even get a pumpkin spice frappucino yet... something about that delicious, wonderful, autumn pumpkin flavor is just completely lost if it's over 60 degrees.
* I'm rambling on. It's the end of a 14-hour day for me, and it is so very near closing time. I will leave you all with this quote that I discovered today (it is from For Your Consideration). I dissolve into giggles every time I re-read it.
"You can't throw the baby out with the bathwater because then all you have is a wet, critically injured baby."
Let's see... things going on in my life and in my world (sometimes entirely separate things, believe it or not):
* I'm back to working one 14-hour day a week, with mornings at the funeral home and afternoon/evenings at the library. So far, it hasn't been too bad--my funeral mornings have been spent running death certificates, which is infinitely more relaxing than, say, moving billions of flower arrangements, standing in the parking lot yelling at people who don't (or won't) understand where I'm trying to direct them, then hauling all of the previously-mentioned flower arrangements out of the chapel, into the van, up to the cemetery, around the gravesite and then getting MYSELF out of sight before the procession arrives. God, I'm exhausted just typing that sentence. The point is, I haven't had any Tuesday morning funerals... YET. They're coming, though. I just know it. BIG ones.
* I've only had one death call since my last update. The 2am variety. At least it was quick and easy and I went from ringing phone back to bed in under 90 minutes. Seriously, that's like getting paid a dollar a MINUTE. Holy hell.
* I've made the executive decision to keep my hair long-ish and straight, like it was around college graduation time. It's just prettier that way.
* My sister is here, and we've been having Sunday night dates for the last few weeks! We're just awesome like that. This week's date will be on Saturday, because
* We're headed up to Gettysburg for some WWII activities this weekend! Yay. I'd say that I'm actually going up there solely as a visitor and not to WORK, but that is not entirely true. I'm supposed to be recruiting for next year's Sully event... but I'll try to do as little work as possible! Anyway, part of this adventure requires (well, not requires, but encouraged) us to figure out how to do some 40's hair and makeup and stuff. I know my outfit isn't entirely accurate (and my historical OCD is yelling at me already), but it will be fun anyhow. I KNEW I should have taken those swing dance lessons a couple years ago!
* I'd really like to take Palin's hair bun and stuff it down her hypocritical throat. I'd also like to say some other things, but I feel like I'm debating political stuff more than I should have to these days. I mean, really, for the 100th time--NOBODY running for ANY office has presidential experience. If we want to vote for someone with presidential experience, we are going to have to dig up and reanimate George Washington... and I'm not real big on the whole ZOMBIE thing, though a zombie would possibly make a better president than McSame. UGH.
* I am still holding off on my pumpkin spice lattes. It's just not cold enough! I can't even get a pumpkin spice frappucino yet... something about that delicious, wonderful, autumn pumpkin flavor is just completely lost if it's over 60 degrees.
* I'm rambling on. It's the end of a 14-hour day for me, and it is so very near closing time. I will leave you all with this quote that I discovered today (it is from For Your Consideration). I dissolve into giggles every time I re-read it.
"You can't throw the baby out with the bathwater because then all you have is a wet, critically injured baby."
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Getting something for nothing.
Why is it that everyone in the world these days expects to get something for nothing?
It's the beginning of the semester, and we have an endless stream of students coming in to the library, asking if we carry a certain book that they need for their class. I know books can be expensive--especially at the graduate level--but that's part of going to school. Hell, I certainly checked out a few books here and there throughout my grad school days that were needed only for a week or two.
BUT.
There's a difference between asking just to see if we have it, and getting visibly upset that we don't have it. "Well, I don't want to pay for the book." Okay, then don't go to school. Tonight, I had a girl come in and ask why all of the electronic books available to students were not the most recent version of the books. Her class is apparently using some book that is available as an online book (there's a database that scans books and makes them available to students online). However, the most recent version of this book is not available online. She wanted to know how to MAKE the database put the most recent version of the book online. I told her that I could take down the info and put in an inquiry to one of the librarians, but that my guess was that the publisher wasn't about to give up the most recent version of a book for free use. After all, why publish a book if you don't want to make any money from it? I imagine the older version is free simply because there is a newer version.
She was getting more and more upset as the conversation went on. "Well, why doesn't the school demand it? They're paying for the database!" Yes. Good job. But it's completely out of the school's control what the database has available to put online. "Well, request it." Request WHAT? That the publisher change their mind, decide to distribute a new book for free and lose all sales? She said, "Well, then everyone in the class wouldn't have to go out and buy it." Yes, good job. Gold star for you. Unfortunately, she didn't realize that she answered her own question.
But come on, people. It doesn't hurt to see if you can get something for a lower price or for free, but to expect things for free is an entirely different story. It's like the people who go into stores looking for damaged merchandise, then demanding a discount. In my retail days, I would always smile sweetly, go to the merchandise section, choose a shiny new item, and say, "Oh HERE you go! It's in PERFECT condition! YAY! Full price, plz."
I could probably turn this into a "deep thought," but I'd really rather not. I just wonder where this sense of entitlement comes from and when it became okay to express this entitlement angrily at the people who won't bestow it.
It's the beginning of the semester, and we have an endless stream of students coming in to the library, asking if we carry a certain book that they need for their class. I know books can be expensive--especially at the graduate level--but that's part of going to school. Hell, I certainly checked out a few books here and there throughout my grad school days that were needed only for a week or two.
BUT.
There's a difference between asking just to see if we have it, and getting visibly upset that we don't have it. "Well, I don't want to pay for the book." Okay, then don't go to school. Tonight, I had a girl come in and ask why all of the electronic books available to students were not the most recent version of the books. Her class is apparently using some book that is available as an online book (there's a database that scans books and makes them available to students online). However, the most recent version of this book is not available online. She wanted to know how to MAKE the database put the most recent version of the book online. I told her that I could take down the info and put in an inquiry to one of the librarians, but that my guess was that the publisher wasn't about to give up the most recent version of a book for free use. After all, why publish a book if you don't want to make any money from it? I imagine the older version is free simply because there is a newer version.
She was getting more and more upset as the conversation went on. "Well, why doesn't the school demand it? They're paying for the database!" Yes. Good job. But it's completely out of the school's control what the database has available to put online. "Well, request it." Request WHAT? That the publisher change their mind, decide to distribute a new book for free and lose all sales? She said, "Well, then everyone in the class wouldn't have to go out and buy it." Yes, good job. Gold star for you. Unfortunately, she didn't realize that she answered her own question.
But come on, people. It doesn't hurt to see if you can get something for a lower price or for free, but to expect things for free is an entirely different story. It's like the people who go into stores looking for damaged merchandise, then demanding a discount. In my retail days, I would always smile sweetly, go to the merchandise section, choose a shiny new item, and say, "Oh HERE you go! It's in PERFECT condition! YAY! Full price, plz."
I could probably turn this into a "deep thought," but I'd really rather not. I just wonder where this sense of entitlement comes from and when it became okay to express this entitlement angrily at the people who won't bestow it.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
From nothing to something!
Whew, it's been a crazy week since I last updated! I guess all it took was to complain that there was nothing to blog about and I got stuff! Ha!
Anyway, last Saturday... I did the library thing, then enjoyed a night out with someone I never get to see. Fantastic evening all around! Sunday, I played the part of my old Sully job and worked the Civil War event. It was kind of fun being there--even if it's not often, it keeps my toe in the history door. The rest of the week was spent getting my apartment in order. My parents and sister got here on Wednesday night. They moved her into Mason on Thursday morning, then dad came over with the furniture and we (by "we" I mean pretty much dad and Alex) got the furniture into my apartment. There was a period of about 5 minutes in which we were almost 100% certain that the couch wasn't going to fit through the door. It wouldn't fit right side up, but (for whatever reason) it fit upside down. Who knows. But now grandma's couch is in front of my TV until I figure out how to arrange the living room. I'd kind of like to keep both couches, but I'm not totally sure how that will work. I think I'd feel better if I got a slipcover for my old couch.
Anyway! I had yesterday off and really just bummed around with mom and dad. Went to breakfast, took them out to Manassas Battlefield so they could see all of the deforestation I caused (it's kind of cool to know that I'm responsible for a whole field of downed trees), and then went for lunch. I took the afternoon to hang out at home, put some clothes away, and read a book, then I went back out with mom and dad for dinner and coffee, watched some Olympics, and went to bed.
I'm librarying from 9-5 today, then going to dinner and shopping with the family. I won't see mom and dad again before they leave to go back to Ohio, since I'm funeraling from 9-5 tomorrow. I'm glad for that in a way, because then I don't have to see dad get all teary over leaving Hayley here! And THEN life kind of gets back to normal next week.
Unfortunately, next week means "normal" library hours in which my schedule turns to 11-7 or 2-10 during the week. Boo. It looks like I have Fridays off, at least for a couple weeks. That may switch to Mondays, but who knows? And, of course, I will be overworking myself by doing one day a week in which I funeral from 8-1 and library from 2-10. But that means more money, so I can't complain toooooo much (even though I will).
Ahhh, anyway. That's enough for now. I hopefully have an exciting month coming up with lots of "Dear Diary" moments. ;)
Anyway, last Saturday... I did the library thing, then enjoyed a night out with someone I never get to see. Fantastic evening all around! Sunday, I played the part of my old Sully job and worked the Civil War event. It was kind of fun being there--even if it's not often, it keeps my toe in the history door. The rest of the week was spent getting my apartment in order. My parents and sister got here on Wednesday night. They moved her into Mason on Thursday morning, then dad came over with the furniture and we (by "we" I mean pretty much dad and Alex) got the furniture into my apartment. There was a period of about 5 minutes in which we were almost 100% certain that the couch wasn't going to fit through the door. It wouldn't fit right side up, but (for whatever reason) it fit upside down. Who knows. But now grandma's couch is in front of my TV until I figure out how to arrange the living room. I'd kind of like to keep both couches, but I'm not totally sure how that will work. I think I'd feel better if I got a slipcover for my old couch.
Anyway! I had yesterday off and really just bummed around with mom and dad. Went to breakfast, took them out to Manassas Battlefield so they could see all of the deforestation I caused (it's kind of cool to know that I'm responsible for a whole field of downed trees), and then went for lunch. I took the afternoon to hang out at home, put some clothes away, and read a book, then I went back out with mom and dad for dinner and coffee, watched some Olympics, and went to bed.
I'm librarying from 9-5 today, then going to dinner and shopping with the family. I won't see mom and dad again before they leave to go back to Ohio, since I'm funeraling from 9-5 tomorrow. I'm glad for that in a way, because then I don't have to see dad get all teary over leaving Hayley here! And THEN life kind of gets back to normal next week.
Unfortunately, next week means "normal" library hours in which my schedule turns to 11-7 or 2-10 during the week. Boo. It looks like I have Fridays off, at least for a couple weeks. That may switch to Mondays, but who knows? And, of course, I will be overworking myself by doing one day a week in which I funeral from 8-1 and library from 2-10. But that means more money, so I can't complain toooooo much (even though I will).
Ahhh, anyway. That's enough for now. I hopefully have an exciting month coming up with lots of "Dear Diary" moments. ;)
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
How do you blog about nothing?
If I knew the answer to this question, I would have been blogging every day for the last week! It's really been a fairly uneventful stretch of time. Last week, one of my co-workers was off and the library was REALLY quiet, so work was near coma-inducing every day. Not much went on after work, so there wasn't anything to write about then, either!
I was on call 2 nights, but didn't get a call (just lost sleep, as usual). Sunday at the funeral home did bring some interesting stories. I think 5 people died in the 7 hours I was manning the phone--that would have been $400 for me if they'd all gone 12 hours earlier! Ha! Then these two completely insane women came into the funeral home crying and wanting to look at urns and questioning the craftsmanship of the marble and wanting to know where they could get one that "hadn't been touched by all these, you know, people," and it was obnoxious to the point of amusement.
Other than that, I suppose no news is good news. I've got some SERIOUS work to do around my apartment, trying to get things in order for new ("new") furniture. Mid-August is suddenly here and I am wondering where JULY went. I'll be volunteering my time out at Sully on Sunday for Civil War weekend... seems my replacement decided it would be a good weekend to take a vacation, so I offered to give a helping hand out of the goodness of my heart. This should be considerably less stressful than WWII weekend--more visitors, but even fewer things are even remotely my responsibility, and it's just for one day. We'll see! Right now, I think I'm just looking forward to September. :)
I was on call 2 nights, but didn't get a call (just lost sleep, as usual). Sunday at the funeral home did bring some interesting stories. I think 5 people died in the 7 hours I was manning the phone--that would have been $400 for me if they'd all gone 12 hours earlier! Ha! Then these two completely insane women came into the funeral home crying and wanting to look at urns and questioning the craftsmanship of the marble and wanting to know where they could get one that "hadn't been touched by all these, you know, people," and it was obnoxious to the point of amusement.
Other than that, I suppose no news is good news. I've got some SERIOUS work to do around my apartment, trying to get things in order for new ("new") furniture. Mid-August is suddenly here and I am wondering where JULY went. I'll be volunteering my time out at Sully on Sunday for Civil War weekend... seems my replacement decided it would be a good weekend to take a vacation, so I offered to give a helping hand out of the goodness of my heart. This should be considerably less stressful than WWII weekend--more visitors, but even fewer things are even remotely my responsibility, and it's just for one day. We'll see! Right now, I think I'm just looking forward to September. :)
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Dreams and politics.
Dreams are so weird. Besides the fact that they very rarely make sense, they give you a unique experience that (no matter how many times you tell anyone about it), only YOU have ever experienced. Occasionally, they also provide insight into the future, but those are few and far between and generally not worth stressing out about too much. (That's a whole other blog anyway!)
Back to my point. I will occasionally have a dream about someone that I don't see very often (or haven't seen in a long time). While they can be fun, they usually drive me crazy! I feel like I spent a fun day (or two) with someone, I have all the memories of the experiences and conversations that we had... except that they didn't happen! So, the next time I see or talk to the person that was in my dream, it's almost awkward because I have these amazing memories... but they have no recollection of any of it! How sad for me.
So that was the first thing I dealt with this morning. After I finished writing an e-mail about that experience, I opened up the next e-mail. It's a WHOLE OTHER KIND OF WEIRD.
Ahh, but I didn't. No, instead I crafted a very calm (for me) response and said:
Seriously, people. I know we all have our political views and preferences, but what if I slapped up a McCain Youtube link and said, "OH MY GOD, McCain is going to put all women into concentration camps and make them drill for oil during hurricanes in Texas!!!!" That might come close to the ridiculous untruths being circulated in that Obama e-mail.
After that, my day got moderately better... so I'm hoping this evening is great! I've been 11-8 at the library today, allll by myself. This is nice in a way, but it's pretty lonely. Add to that the fact that it's the end of summer session and nobody's really in class anymore, and we have a very. quiet. day. It's too bad I'm not writing a (real) novel; I could get some serious work done on it on a day like today! :)
Back to my point. I will occasionally have a dream about someone that I don't see very often (or haven't seen in a long time). While they can be fun, they usually drive me crazy! I feel like I spent a fun day (or two) with someone, I have all the memories of the experiences and conversations that we had... except that they didn't happen! So, the next time I see or talk to the person that was in my dream, it's almost awkward because I have these amazing memories... but they have no recollection of any of it! How sad for me.
So that was the first thing I dealt with this morning. After I finished writing an e-mail about that experience, I opened up the next e-mail. It's a WHOLE OTHER KIND OF WEIRD.
Um, yeah. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? The person who sent this to me quite clearly does not know me, even the tiniest little bit. It was all I could do NOT to write back and say, "Listen here, you right-wing, psychotic bitch, the fact that you clearly have no real knowledge about the history of our country or what the founding fathers were hoping for is enough to make me lose all respect for you, but the fact that you twist a speech that is supposed to bring our country together and give it your super special Conservative Christian Sunshine makes me want to never have contact with you again!"This should give us something to ponder.Dear Friends,As I was listening to a news program last night, I watched in horror as Barack Obama made the statement with pride. . .'we are no longer a Christian nation; we are now a nation of Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, . . . As with so many other statements I've heard him (and his wife) make, I never thought I'd see the day that I'd hear something like that from a presidential candidate in this nation. To think our forefathers fought and died for the right for our nation to be a Christian nation--and to have this man say with pride that we are no longer that. How far this nation has come from what our founding fathers intended it to be.I hope that each of you will do what I'm doing now--send your concerns, written simply and sincerely, to the Christians on your email list. With God's help, and He is still in control of this nation and all else, we can show this man and the world in November that we are, indeed, still a Christian nation!Please pray for our nation!
Ahh, but I didn't. No, instead I crafted a very calm (for me) response and said:
If I could kindly ask you to take me off the mailing list when you send out this kind of thing, that would be great. Otherwise, you'll start getting responses listing all of the blatant historical inaccuracies in the e-mail, as well as my own political views, which are drastically different than this e-mail! :) Thanks!Ugh. The person who sent it to me is one of my aunts on my dad's side that I haven't seen in, oh... 22 years? That whole side of the family will occasionally send out "YAY FOR PRAYING" e-mails or "PRAY FOR OUR BRAVE SOLDIERS SRSLY" e-mails, but those are easy enough to ignore.
Seriously, people. I know we all have our political views and preferences, but what if I slapped up a McCain Youtube link and said, "OH MY GOD, McCain is going to put all women into concentration camps and make them drill for oil during hurricanes in Texas!!!!" That might come close to the ridiculous untruths being circulated in that Obama e-mail.
After that, my day got moderately better... so I'm hoping this evening is great! I've been 11-8 at the library today, allll by myself. This is nice in a way, but it's pretty lonely. Add to that the fact that it's the end of summer session and nobody's really in class anymore, and we have a very. quiet. day. It's too bad I'm not writing a (real) novel; I could get some serious work done on it on a day like today! :)
Monday, August 4, 2008
Okay, seriously.
Perhaps this is simply an extension of my inefficiency rant, but I honestly do not understand people.
(1) If you are going to place a phone call, be ready to listen to what the other person says. Do not call me, let me say, "Resource Center, this is Kelly, how can I help you," and then pause and say, "Hello? What is this? Is this the library? Who is this?" For the love of GOD. SERIOUSLY. Having to repeat myself is obnoxious.
(2) If you are going to call someone to ask a question, do the groundwork. Don't call someone and expect them to both do the groundwork AND find the answer for you. If you have a question about a book, please know the title of the book. THX. SRSLY.
(3) If you are going to own a laptop computer and use it for something even remotely resembling work or academic purposes, please familiarize yourself with how your computer works. Do not bring me your laptop and say, "How do I use a flash drive?" Um, hi. Welcome to grad school. SERIOUSLY.
(4) If you have waited until the last possible day to complete your research, do not get snippy with the people trying to help you complete the research. It is not their fault that you have procrastinated. These people are procrastinators themselves, but they know better than to blame other people for their lack of ability to get something done early. So be nice to them if they are trying to help you. THX. SRSLY.
Ugh. It's just been one of those days. Usually I have these days on Saturdays (which seems like the day of the week that all of the crazies come to the library), but I guess it's Monday this week.
Speaking of UGH, I really wish my mother would learn that she can either try to run things AND HELP them try to run, or if she doesn't want any part in doing any of the work, she therefore gives up the right to try to run it. KTHXBAI. Wow, will I be glad when September is here. Anyone want to help move an antique bedroom set and a couch in a couple weeks? Yeah, didn't think so.
All that aside, I've really gotten into the show Mad Men on AMC. It doesn't seem like something that would normally appeal to me, but I just love it. I've gone through 9 episodes in 2 days and need to finish the next 6 episodes before Saturday (when they disappear from On Demand). I don't necessarily think it's the storyline that appeals to me (a bunch of people who work in advertising), but just the early 1960's setting. No, it's not just their mentions of the Kennedy campaign (though that's certainly a perk), but they really did a pretty good job at capturing that whole era. At any rate, I'm now completely absorbed and would like to go home and watch more, please.
So, that about sums up my weekend. The funeral home was slowwwwww on Sunday. I was so bored that I started cleaning chair railing. Funny story there, though--I was cleaning part of a visitation room, and I left the door open and light on while I went to the back to get more paper towels. When I got back to the visitation room, the door was closed and the lights were out. I opened the door, turned on the light, and there was a man in his casket. This man was not there when I left the room 5 minutes earlier. This was startling, but funny, and I said hello to him and continued cleaning. Unfortunately, he was blocking a section of railing that had yet to be cleaned, but I suppose he can be forgiven. It wasn't his fault--I'm sure if he'd had a say in it, he'd have let me clean that wall before taking up the space.
Ahh, my life.
(1) If you are going to place a phone call, be ready to listen to what the other person says. Do not call me, let me say, "Resource Center, this is Kelly, how can I help you," and then pause and say, "Hello? What is this? Is this the library? Who is this?" For the love of GOD. SERIOUSLY. Having to repeat myself is obnoxious.
(2) If you are going to call someone to ask a question, do the groundwork. Don't call someone and expect them to both do the groundwork AND find the answer for you. If you have a question about a book, please know the title of the book. THX. SRSLY.
(3) If you are going to own a laptop computer and use it for something even remotely resembling work or academic purposes, please familiarize yourself with how your computer works. Do not bring me your laptop and say, "How do I use a flash drive?" Um, hi. Welcome to grad school. SERIOUSLY.
(4) If you have waited until the last possible day to complete your research, do not get snippy with the people trying to help you complete the research. It is not their fault that you have procrastinated. These people are procrastinators themselves, but they know better than to blame other people for their lack of ability to get something done early. So be nice to them if they are trying to help you. THX. SRSLY.
Ugh. It's just been one of those days. Usually I have these days on Saturdays (which seems like the day of the week that all of the crazies come to the library), but I guess it's Monday this week.
Speaking of UGH, I really wish my mother would learn that she can either try to run things AND HELP them try to run, or if she doesn't want any part in doing any of the work, she therefore gives up the right to try to run it. KTHXBAI. Wow, will I be glad when September is here. Anyone want to help move an antique bedroom set and a couch in a couple weeks? Yeah, didn't think so.
All that aside, I've really gotten into the show Mad Men on AMC. It doesn't seem like something that would normally appeal to me, but I just love it. I've gone through 9 episodes in 2 days and need to finish the next 6 episodes before Saturday (when they disappear from On Demand). I don't necessarily think it's the storyline that appeals to me (a bunch of people who work in advertising), but just the early 1960's setting. No, it's not just their mentions of the Kennedy campaign (though that's certainly a perk), but they really did a pretty good job at capturing that whole era. At any rate, I'm now completely absorbed and would like to go home and watch more, please.
So, that about sums up my weekend. The funeral home was slowwwwww on Sunday. I was so bored that I started cleaning chair railing. Funny story there, though--I was cleaning part of a visitation room, and I left the door open and light on while I went to the back to get more paper towels. When I got back to the visitation room, the door was closed and the lights were out. I opened the door, turned on the light, and there was a man in his casket. This man was not there when I left the room 5 minutes earlier. This was startling, but funny, and I said hello to him and continued cleaning. Unfortunately, he was blocking a section of railing that had yet to be cleaned, but I suppose he can be forgiven. It wasn't his fault--I'm sure if he'd had a say in it, he'd have let me clean that wall before taking up the space.
Ahh, my life.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Off-call, on-center?
Ahhh, so I must admit that as much as I do love the money that comes with getting those 3am calls, I also LOVE the knowledge that I won't get one of those 3am calls! I was on call Thursday night--I didn't get a call, but I also couldn't fall asleep. I finally fell asleep around 1:30, only to be woken up at 7 by the power (half) going out. It's very bizarre--many times, when the power goes out at my apartment, half of my apartment (the bathroom side) has power, while the other half has half-power (super dim lights, etc.). That's what happened Friday morning. So I got up, turned off/unplugged all of the stuff on that side of the apartment, set my cell phone alarm, got back into bed, and then got up at 8 for work. Ack. The good news is that I actually went to bed around 10 last night, so I got tons of sleep for today.
I get to go home tonight and... I don't know. Not do anything, but that can be good, I guess. I have a stack of video games calling my name, as well as some movies, books, and Target gift cards. I suppose I should take advantage of the tax free weekend and see what I can find at Target! We'll see how I feel when I get to that side of town in an hour. What I really want is Red Robin, but I think everyone's busy. Boo.
I was able to score some floor seats for the So You Think You Can Dance tour this fall! YAY! This is a good thing. The other good thing is that I had a Ticketmaster gift card that covered the whole thing. Even better! But the bad thing is that it's in BALTIMORE. Ugh. I hate that city. Seriously. I wanted to go to the Norfolk show (not that I love Norfolk, but I love Newport News and VA Beach), but that was the ONLY show not available on Ticketmaster. Sux0rz. Oh, well. I'll deal! The only sadness is that Chris isn't in the top 10, but I'll survive somehow. It's a miracle that I got good seats to this--my first shot was floor about 40 rows back, then it moved into the stands, then the upper level. I about panicked, until I searched ONE more time, and floor seats had opened back up. Whew! I still think we're about 30 rows back, but they're better seats than 10 rows up in the 2nd level. It's also a miracle that I got these tickets because I didn't get tickets to see the Idol tour (Ohhhhhhhhh David Cook, how can we get MARRIED IF I CAN'T GO TO YOUR CONCERT) and didn't get NKOTB tickets, either. My marriage dreams are crumbling by the minute, seriously. *Sigh* Maybe I'll get lucky and win Idol tickets before my husb... before Cookie gets into town on the 14th.
Ah, well. Such is my life. It's getting time to start closing up the library and stuff. Maybe I'll make a Target run and veg out for the evening. I do have to go funeraling tomorrow, although I don't think there are any services--so it will really just be answering phones, cleaning, and waiting for it to be 5pm. But hey, work is work, and I'd rather be a little bored than really stressed--at least at the funeral home, anyhow!
I get to go home tonight and... I don't know. Not do anything, but that can be good, I guess. I have a stack of video games calling my name, as well as some movies, books, and Target gift cards. I suppose I should take advantage of the tax free weekend and see what I can find at Target! We'll see how I feel when I get to that side of town in an hour. What I really want is Red Robin, but I think everyone's busy. Boo.
I was able to score some floor seats for the So You Think You Can Dance tour this fall! YAY! This is a good thing. The other good thing is that I had a Ticketmaster gift card that covered the whole thing. Even better! But the bad thing is that it's in BALTIMORE. Ugh. I hate that city. Seriously. I wanted to go to the Norfolk show (not that I love Norfolk, but I love Newport News and VA Beach), but that was the ONLY show not available on Ticketmaster. Sux0rz. Oh, well. I'll deal! The only sadness is that Chris isn't in the top 10, but I'll survive somehow. It's a miracle that I got good seats to this--my first shot was floor about 40 rows back, then it moved into the stands, then the upper level. I about panicked, until I searched ONE more time, and floor seats had opened back up. Whew! I still think we're about 30 rows back, but they're better seats than 10 rows up in the 2nd level. It's also a miracle that I got these tickets because I didn't get tickets to see the Idol tour (Ohhhhhhhhh David Cook, how can we get MARRIED IF I CAN'T GO TO YOUR CONCERT) and didn't get NKOTB tickets, either. My marriage dreams are crumbling by the minute, seriously. *Sigh* Maybe I'll get lucky and win Idol tickets before my husb... before Cookie gets into town on the 14th.
Ah, well. Such is my life. It's getting time to start closing up the library and stuff. Maybe I'll make a Target run and veg out for the evening. I do have to go funeraling tomorrow, although I don't think there are any services--so it will really just be answering phones, cleaning, and waiting for it to be 5pm. But hey, work is work, and I'd rather be a little bored than really stressed--at least at the funeral home, anyhow!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Adventures in death.
So, my fears weren't completely unfounded on Saturday night--I got called out twice. It was a night of firsts: First call at bedtime, first home-on-the-2nd-floor call, first time pushing a stretcher up a dark hill of grass at midnight. Ahh, yes. That last part was more funny than anything, although you'd think that a NURSING HOME would install elevators large enough for a STRETCHER. Seriously. SERIOUSLY. That was the first call; the second call had me wondering what the polite/professional/non-violent method would have been to stop a cat from chewing on the removal equipment. I'd have thrown my own cat across the room, but I didn't think that would have gone over too well with the grieving family. So I smiled at the cat, non-chalantly scratched my leg so it would look up at me and distracted it until its owner realized it should be in the other room. Ahh, just another night on the job.
Anyway. So I got maybe 4 hours of sleep on Saturday night, then had to go act all professional at the funeral home on Sunday. But I got to sleep in this morning, I'm having a fantastic hair day, my makeup even looks good, and tomorrow's my day off. So I'm in much better spirits today! Except that I am reeeeally craving something cherry-flavored and the bookstore doesn't have anything remotely close, unless I picked all the red bears out of a bag of gummi bears. So I'm drinking grapefruit juice. Close enough, right?
So, anyway. I can't say I really have any deep thoughts going on with me today. I'm looking ahead at my August schedule and it seems moderately less hectic than my July schedule--although I have no doubt that things will come up to make it just as busy as the rest of my summer has been! My sister gets to Mason in a few weeks, and that should be fun. We'll get to take day trips and hang out and actually be sisters for the first time. Weird!
If I come up with something interesting to talk about, I'll add on later this evening. Otherwise, I plan on enjoying some adult beverages this evening (since I've been desiring one all weekend) and watching some movies and playing some video games. And, unless I find something more exciting to do tomorrow, I'll just be lazy for a day!
Anyway. So I got maybe 4 hours of sleep on Saturday night, then had to go act all professional at the funeral home on Sunday. But I got to sleep in this morning, I'm having a fantastic hair day, my makeup even looks good, and tomorrow's my day off. So I'm in much better spirits today! Except that I am reeeeally craving something cherry-flavored and the bookstore doesn't have anything remotely close, unless I picked all the red bears out of a bag of gummi bears. So I'm drinking grapefruit juice. Close enough, right?
So, anyway. I can't say I really have any deep thoughts going on with me today. I'm looking ahead at my August schedule and it seems moderately less hectic than my July schedule--although I have no doubt that things will come up to make it just as busy as the rest of my summer has been! My sister gets to Mason in a few weeks, and that should be fun. We'll get to take day trips and hang out and actually be sisters for the first time. Weird!
If I come up with something interesting to talk about, I'll add on later this evening. Otherwise, I plan on enjoying some adult beverages this evening (since I've been desiring one all weekend) and watching some movies and playing some video games. And, unless I find something more exciting to do tomorrow, I'll just be lazy for a day!
Saturday, July 26, 2008
On call, off-center
So here I sit, on call for another evening. I have such mixed feelings about being on call. When I submit my schedule for the next month, I feel generous and excited to say, "Sure, I'll be on call these 6 nights! I love that $40/hour work!" But then, when the on call night comes around, I'm stuck at home and annoyed. Not annoyed that I'm stuck at home--I don't have much else to do on weekends--but annoyed that I can't put it to the back of my mind and just relax!
I'm just on edge, waiting for the phone to ring. Once it rings and I put on my suit and head out, I'm somewhat more relaxed--it's just the waiting and not knowing. I suppose it's part of my personality in that I like knowing what to expect, and being on call defies all of that. I could get called 3 times or none; I could get called at 6 pm or 4 am. It could be someone who's died in a nursing home; it could be someone who's died at home. And the more I think about it, the more it drives me nuts!
So, anyway. I'm all in a tizzy because of that, and being in a tizzy makes me desire an adult beverage, which is totally off-limits when one is on call! Ack. I think I just need to learn to NOT be on call more than one night in a row, because the second night is what really drives me nuts. Either that, or I need to be a little more comfortable with uncertainty. I think that (ultimately), the latter is what I need to strive for, but lord knows that's been a goal for as long as I remember!
But I started this job at the funeral home with the very clear intent of getting out of my comfort zone, trying new things, and sometimes coming to terms with the fact that I have to do things I may not feel like doing! I don't always want to answer the phone at the funeral home or answer a family's tough question, but it's part of the job. I like to think that it's made me a little more confident and a little better equipped to handle unfamiliar territory.
That said, I'm going to dish up some ice cream (Rocky Road) and watch some mindless TV, then lay down in bed with a book and try to sleep! I'll have that drink tomorrow...
I'm just on edge, waiting for the phone to ring. Once it rings and I put on my suit and head out, I'm somewhat more relaxed--it's just the waiting and not knowing. I suppose it's part of my personality in that I like knowing what to expect, and being on call defies all of that. I could get called 3 times or none; I could get called at 6 pm or 4 am. It could be someone who's died in a nursing home; it could be someone who's died at home. And the more I think about it, the more it drives me nuts!
So, anyway. I'm all in a tizzy because of that, and being in a tizzy makes me desire an adult beverage, which is totally off-limits when one is on call! Ack. I think I just need to learn to NOT be on call more than one night in a row, because the second night is what really drives me nuts. Either that, or I need to be a little more comfortable with uncertainty. I think that (ultimately), the latter is what I need to strive for, but lord knows that's been a goal for as long as I remember!
But I started this job at the funeral home with the very clear intent of getting out of my comfort zone, trying new things, and sometimes coming to terms with the fact that I have to do things I may not feel like doing! I don't always want to answer the phone at the funeral home or answer a family's tough question, but it's part of the job. I like to think that it's made me a little more confident and a little better equipped to handle unfamiliar territory.
That said, I'm going to dish up some ice cream (Rocky Road) and watch some mindless TV, then lay down in bed with a book and try to sleep! I'll have that drink tomorrow...
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Inefficiency.
I think it's time to address my absolute biggest complaint about anyone and anything in the entire world: inefficiency.
If you ask me what my pet peeves are, I may narrow them down to things like "bad drivers" or "people who can't speak proper English," but what I am really trying to say is INEFFICIENCY.
I just cannot deal with it. If you are driving and need to make a left turn, and you are 4 lanes to the right, you are being inefficient. If you block an intersection because you are too selfish to wait for it to clear, that creates inefficiency. If you walk into a store and block an entire aisle because you don't know what you need or your children are running amok, that creates inefficiency. If you walk into a business and need something, but don't know what it's called or what it looks like, that is inefficiency.
Really and truly, I think much of my residual anger can be attributed to this. People who say, "Hey, I'll [call/come over/do something] at 5:00," who then do so at 6:30 are inefficient. I am not a stickler for punctuality--lord knows I am perpetually 5-10 minutes behind--but I always feel bad, because I know there is wasted time somewhere.
When I am given an assignment (at work or anywhere else), I will check and double check that what I am about to do is what I am supposed to do. This is not because I am incapable of following directions, but because I know that what people say and what they want are not always perfectly in sync. I know that *I* do not want to have to do something over again, so I want to make sure it gets done correctly the first time I do it. This is to prevent inefficiency.
As a result, it drives me absolutely insane when I see people who just don't have a clue. I understand that we all encounter new situations in our lives and that everyone is pretty constantly doing something new. I try to avoid being inefficient (or being perceived as inefficient), so I like to make sure I have an idea of what I'm doing before I jump into doing anything. If I am at Chipotle and someone comes in, gets in line in front of me, dilly-dallies around for a few minutes trying to figure out what they want, gets their burrito put together, then CHANGES THEIR MIND, it makes my hair hurt. Maybe you're new to this place, that's cool... but when there are 14 people behind you who know what they want, wasting our time (and their food) is not cool.
When people come into my library ("my" library) and say, "Well, I need this book... but I don't have the title or author. It's about education," I want to cry. Seriously. I cannot help, and you have just wasted your time AND mine asking me to pull a title out of thin air. The efficient thing to do would be to come to the library with at LEAST a title or author. At LEAST. Preferably both, but at least have one tangible piece of information.
If you pass the 6th grade, you should have a basic knowledge of the English language. Things like YOUR and YOU'RE should be radically different in your mind, and you should know when to use each one. You should stop saying things like, "I seen them things over there," and realize that your lack of grammar skills makes you look amazingly ignorant. Yes, I DO judge you based on your use of the English language. And if you consistently use poor grammar/spelling, I will assume you are inefficient and therefore a waste of my time! :o)
I don't know. Maybe I'm alone in feeling the way that I do. I'm generally a pretty laid-back person. For the most part, people can go about their lives any way they would like. But I just cannot stand inefficiency. I cannot even begin to imagine how much more smoothly the world would run if people could just get a grasp on what needs to be done (and the best way to do it) before they open their mouths or get in their cars.
And that's my thought of the day. :)
If you ask me what my pet peeves are, I may narrow them down to things like "bad drivers" or "people who can't speak proper English," but what I am really trying to say is INEFFICIENCY.
I just cannot deal with it. If you are driving and need to make a left turn, and you are 4 lanes to the right, you are being inefficient. If you block an intersection because you are too selfish to wait for it to clear, that creates inefficiency. If you walk into a store and block an entire aisle because you don't know what you need or your children are running amok, that creates inefficiency. If you walk into a business and need something, but don't know what it's called or what it looks like, that is inefficiency.
Really and truly, I think much of my residual anger can be attributed to this. People who say, "Hey, I'll [call/come over/do something] at 5:00," who then do so at 6:30 are inefficient. I am not a stickler for punctuality--lord knows I am perpetually 5-10 minutes behind--but I always feel bad, because I know there is wasted time somewhere.
When I am given an assignment (at work or anywhere else), I will check and double check that what I am about to do is what I am supposed to do. This is not because I am incapable of following directions, but because I know that what people say and what they want are not always perfectly in sync. I know that *I* do not want to have to do something over again, so I want to make sure it gets done correctly the first time I do it. This is to prevent inefficiency.
As a result, it drives me absolutely insane when I see people who just don't have a clue. I understand that we all encounter new situations in our lives and that everyone is pretty constantly doing something new. I try to avoid being inefficient (or being perceived as inefficient), so I like to make sure I have an idea of what I'm doing before I jump into doing anything. If I am at Chipotle and someone comes in, gets in line in front of me, dilly-dallies around for a few minutes trying to figure out what they want, gets their burrito put together, then CHANGES THEIR MIND, it makes my hair hurt. Maybe you're new to this place, that's cool... but when there are 14 people behind you who know what they want, wasting our time (and their food) is not cool.
When people come into my library ("my" library) and say, "Well, I need this book... but I don't have the title or author. It's about education," I want to cry. Seriously. I cannot help, and you have just wasted your time AND mine asking me to pull a title out of thin air. The efficient thing to do would be to come to the library with at LEAST a title or author. At LEAST. Preferably both, but at least have one tangible piece of information.
If you pass the 6th grade, you should have a basic knowledge of the English language. Things like YOUR and YOU'RE should be radically different in your mind, and you should know when to use each one. You should stop saying things like, "I seen them things over there," and realize that your lack of grammar skills makes you look amazingly ignorant. Yes, I DO judge you based on your use of the English language. And if you consistently use poor grammar/spelling, I will assume you are inefficient and therefore a waste of my time! :o)
I don't know. Maybe I'm alone in feeling the way that I do. I'm generally a pretty laid-back person. For the most part, people can go about their lives any way they would like. But I just cannot stand inefficiency. I cannot even begin to imagine how much more smoothly the world would run if people could just get a grasp on what needs to be done (and the best way to do it) before they open their mouths or get in their cars.
And that's my thought of the day. :)
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Hamburgers and yard sales
So I'm sitting here in front of the computer, trying desperately to come up with a specific topic of discussion for this entry. But, to be honest, I have a million things to talk about and nothing important to talk about all at the same time. So I'll just write until I get a more interesting interruption!
This weekend was the hamburger festival up in Ohio. It was pretty neat--although you really can only eat so many burgers before you start to get queasy at the sight of them, so it wasn't as much of an all-day event as I'd thought! Perhaps if the band had been better, it would have been more fun to just sit and enjoy. But it was HOT. The burgers were fantastic, though! Even the Elvis burger was worth the experience... a burger with bacon, banana jam, and peanut butter. The flavor experience was bizarre, but at least I can say I tried it!
I had the somewhat sad task of going through my grandma's house, trying to find anything and everything that I wanted to take with me so that it wouldn't get sold. How in the world do you do that? For 29+ years, that's been the place I go every time there's a holiday, special occasion, or a free Sunday. (Granted, the visits have been fewer and far between since going away to college, but the idea remains the same.) Everything I looked at is just so ingrained in my mind that I can't imagine it not existing in the place where it is now for the rest of my life. I don't know a Christmas not spent in the living room there. I have NO idea what to expect from Thanksgiving and Christmas this year! It will certainly take some adjusting. Anyway.
As I wandered through the rooms, I pulled out toys I used to play with, wall hangings I associate with my grandparents, anything I thought I could take with me that would have some meaning or use to me. If I could, I'd take everything... but I already have WAY too much stuff! It appears that I'm getting a whole bedroom set, plus a couch, some bookshelves, a record player, and some tables, so it's not like it's all going away. But it will be reallllly weird to have in my apartment the furniture from the bedroom that I slept in as a young girl visiting my grandparents. It will be neat--don't get me wrong--but it will still be pretty weird.
I also tried to take a handful of things that were very distinctly Papa's. I took one of his hats, a few of his flannel shirts, some pajamas, a tie, and a couple things from his desk that I remember being there when the computer was a Commodore 64 and I was 6 years old. It's not like there's any danger of me ever forgetting him, but it felt sad and weird to have to take things of his just so that some stranger wouldn't get them. Then it makes me wonder about all the stuff *I* buy at yard sales or flea markets and what the story is behind THOSE owners and... ack. Damn historical curiosity (or historical OCD, however you want to see it).
Anyhow! So that was my weekend. I also saw Dark Knight. It was nice to see my husband (Mr. Bale) again. He's so handsome. Yes, that's it. Handsome. That's the proper way to say it! :)
Annnnd now it's back to work. I have no real time off in the forseeable future. I really need to start finding things to do with my weekend evenings so I don't go crazy! It's bad enough that I work most every Saturday and Sunday, but then I don't even get to go do anything fun afterwards! Maybe I should stop being on call AND working from 5pm Friday to 5pm Sunday. That might help...
This weekend was the hamburger festival up in Ohio. It was pretty neat--although you really can only eat so many burgers before you start to get queasy at the sight of them, so it wasn't as much of an all-day event as I'd thought! Perhaps if the band had been better, it would have been more fun to just sit and enjoy. But it was HOT. The burgers were fantastic, though! Even the Elvis burger was worth the experience... a burger with bacon, banana jam, and peanut butter. The flavor experience was bizarre, but at least I can say I tried it!
I had the somewhat sad task of going through my grandma's house, trying to find anything and everything that I wanted to take with me so that it wouldn't get sold. How in the world do you do that? For 29+ years, that's been the place I go every time there's a holiday, special occasion, or a free Sunday. (Granted, the visits have been fewer and far between since going away to college, but the idea remains the same.) Everything I looked at is just so ingrained in my mind that I can't imagine it not existing in the place where it is now for the rest of my life. I don't know a Christmas not spent in the living room there. I have NO idea what to expect from Thanksgiving and Christmas this year! It will certainly take some adjusting. Anyway.
As I wandered through the rooms, I pulled out toys I used to play with, wall hangings I associate with my grandparents, anything I thought I could take with me that would have some meaning or use to me. If I could, I'd take everything... but I already have WAY too much stuff! It appears that I'm getting a whole bedroom set, plus a couch, some bookshelves, a record player, and some tables, so it's not like it's all going away. But it will be reallllly weird to have in my apartment the furniture from the bedroom that I slept in as a young girl visiting my grandparents. It will be neat--don't get me wrong--but it will still be pretty weird.
I also tried to take a handful of things that were very distinctly Papa's. I took one of his hats, a few of his flannel shirts, some pajamas, a tie, and a couple things from his desk that I remember being there when the computer was a Commodore 64 and I was 6 years old. It's not like there's any danger of me ever forgetting him, but it felt sad and weird to have to take things of his just so that some stranger wouldn't get them. Then it makes me wonder about all the stuff *I* buy at yard sales or flea markets and what the story is behind THOSE owners and... ack. Damn historical curiosity (or historical OCD, however you want to see it).
Anyhow! So that was my weekend. I also saw Dark Knight. It was nice to see my husband (Mr. Bale) again. He's so handsome. Yes, that's it. Handsome. That's the proper way to say it! :)
Annnnd now it's back to work. I have no real time off in the forseeable future. I really need to start finding things to do with my weekend evenings so I don't go crazy! It's bad enough that I work most every Saturday and Sunday, but then I don't even get to go do anything fun afterwards! Maybe I should stop being on call AND working from 5pm Friday to 5pm Sunday. That might help...
Friday, July 18, 2008
The ghost of (Christmas?) present...
Ghosts are an interesting topic of conversation. Some people do not believe for one moment that they actually exist, and assume that all people who DO believe in them are psychotic or demonic. Some people believe that they can see ghosts, talk with ghosts, photograph ghosts, and bottle ghosties up and sell them on e-bay.
I'm somewhere in between. I have seen evidence of their existence, but I have yet to actually see one. I've sensed them (mainly at battlefields or other historic sites), but I haven't really been scared of them. And then there's this theory floating around that I have a personal ghost.
According to Alex, my personal ghost is friendly but quiet and looks sort of like Mr. Clean. I have no knowledge of either his looks or his personality, but I do know one thing about him: He turns off orange lights. Seriously. If I am walking through a parking lot or driving down a freeway and there is an orange street light, it will turn off. I used to think this was weird; now I am just used to it. I cannot begin to count how many times I've been responsible for a parking lot light going out. It's very bizarre. And fitting, if you know anything about me and my love of the color orange. I'm not sure WHY he does this. I don't know if it's a warning or a greeting or a pat on the back. But I invite any of you to come take a walk with me sometime and keep an eye out for those disappearing orange lights!
I'm somewhere in between. I have seen evidence of their existence, but I have yet to actually see one. I've sensed them (mainly at battlefields or other historic sites), but I haven't really been scared of them. And then there's this theory floating around that I have a personal ghost.
According to Alex, my personal ghost is friendly but quiet and looks sort of like Mr. Clean. I have no knowledge of either his looks or his personality, but I do know one thing about him: He turns off orange lights. Seriously. If I am walking through a parking lot or driving down a freeway and there is an orange street light, it will turn off. I used to think this was weird; now I am just used to it. I cannot begin to count how many times I've been responsible for a parking lot light going out. It's very bizarre. And fitting, if you know anything about me and my love of the color orange. I'm not sure WHY he does this. I don't know if it's a warning or a greeting or a pat on the back. But I invite any of you to come take a walk with me sometime and keep an eye out for those disappearing orange lights!
Monday, July 14, 2008
Say what you mean, and mean what you say.
I spent a good part of this weekend thinking about communication. It was World War II weekend at my old job, and I was working as the (volunteer) military coordinator. I'd spent a few months communicating with participants through e-mail, and Friday began the test of just how WELL I'd communicated with them.
Really and truly, for the most part, all of the participants and I seemed to have been on the same page. But the communication between me and my (former) co-workers was a little off. I don't know if it was just that the dynamic had changed in the 7 months since I'd worked there or what, but I found myself amazed that I was ever able to get anything done at all in my 3 years there.
First of all, I'd ask someone to do something, and it had to get passed to 2 or 3 other people before it got done. It was like a game of telephone sometimes--I'd ask for a cooler of ice and someone would come up to me with a box of pens or something. Other times I would ask and just get radio silence. By the end of Saturday, I thought my legs were going to fall off from all of the back-and-forth I had to do when nobody else would answer a call.
But then there are more personal levels of communication. I actually felt infinitely more comfortable this weekend since I was there as a volunteer. I didn't have to worry about putting on a super professional front for everyone--certainly I maintained some professional tones, but it almost put me on the same level as everyone else there (as far as reenactors went, anyway). My conversations with my old supervisor were more relaxed, as well, since I didn't have to screen every single thing that came out of my mouth.
I also had the pleasure of sitting down with one of the guys and just talking with him for... I don't even know how long it was. At least 3 hours, I think (though it felt more like 20 minutes when it was all over). I haven't just been able to sit and just talk with someone like that for a really long time. Everyone's always too busy to just relax. I think we'd all be a little calmer and more grounded if we had conversations like that as often as possible.
Lastly, as I was at work today, I was noticing how some people talk to the non-native English speakers. I usually try to consciously use more common words to explain a (somewhat) complicated process. I don't just give them instructions as quickly and as detailed as I would some other people. Not because I think less of them, but because (as many of you know), my biggest pet peeve is INEFFICIENCY. I absolutely hate when anyone has to do anything more than once when the repeat could have been avoided somehow. So I figure that if I tell someone something in a more straightforward manner the first time through, then I will avoid having to go over it again and again shortly thereafter. So, yes... there are times in which I may sound a little repetitive or questioning, but I want to make sure people get the information they need exactly how they need it so that everyone involved has to spend less time getting things done.
(Someone please tell me that I'm not the only one who thinks this way!)
Anyway, those were the more serious thoughts running through my head this weekend. I had more fun than I've had in a long time--despite my near-stroke after the (intensely) illegal fireworks display and police visit from overhead. But we're trying not to think about that, just as we try not to think of the zombies too often. Right? Right.
:o)
Really and truly, for the most part, all of the participants and I seemed to have been on the same page. But the communication between me and my (former) co-workers was a little off. I don't know if it was just that the dynamic had changed in the 7 months since I'd worked there or what, but I found myself amazed that I was ever able to get anything done at all in my 3 years there.
First of all, I'd ask someone to do something, and it had to get passed to 2 or 3 other people before it got done. It was like a game of telephone sometimes--I'd ask for a cooler of ice and someone would come up to me with a box of pens or something. Other times I would ask and just get radio silence. By the end of Saturday, I thought my legs were going to fall off from all of the back-and-forth I had to do when nobody else would answer a call.
But then there are more personal levels of communication. I actually felt infinitely more comfortable this weekend since I was there as a volunteer. I didn't have to worry about putting on a super professional front for everyone--certainly I maintained some professional tones, but it almost put me on the same level as everyone else there (as far as reenactors went, anyway). My conversations with my old supervisor were more relaxed, as well, since I didn't have to screen every single thing that came out of my mouth.
I also had the pleasure of sitting down with one of the guys and just talking with him for... I don't even know how long it was. At least 3 hours, I think (though it felt more like 20 minutes when it was all over). I haven't just been able to sit and just talk with someone like that for a really long time. Everyone's always too busy to just relax. I think we'd all be a little calmer and more grounded if we had conversations like that as often as possible.
Lastly, as I was at work today, I was noticing how some people talk to the non-native English speakers. I usually try to consciously use more common words to explain a (somewhat) complicated process. I don't just give them instructions as quickly and as detailed as I would some other people. Not because I think less of them, but because (as many of you know), my biggest pet peeve is INEFFICIENCY. I absolutely hate when anyone has to do anything more than once when the repeat could have been avoided somehow. So I figure that if I tell someone something in a more straightforward manner the first time through, then I will avoid having to go over it again and again shortly thereafter. So, yes... there are times in which I may sound a little repetitive or questioning, but I want to make sure people get the information they need exactly how they need it so that everyone involved has to spend less time getting things done.
(Someone please tell me that I'm not the only one who thinks this way!)
Anyway, those were the more serious thoughts running through my head this weekend. I had more fun than I've had in a long time--despite my near-stroke after the (intensely) illegal fireworks display and police visit from overhead. But we're trying not to think about that, just as we try not to think of the zombies too often. Right? Right.
:o)
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
The approach of World War II...
So, I've got quite a weekend coming up. After working 9-5 on Thursday, I'm on call at the funeral home on Thursday night. I get to sleep in Friday, then it's back out to Sully to check in reenactors for WWII weekend. Then... it's WWII weekend! Yes, even though I no longer work for Sully, I have stayed on as the volunteer military coordinator for my WWII weekend. It was my creation, and not only was I not ready to let it go yet, I didn't trust anyone else with my program! Ha!
Seriously, it should be a fun weekend. I'll have fewer responsibilities, leaving me more room for fun. And just as I have to say, "teapots and candles," about work stresses, I will have to say, "This is not my job and I'm not getting paid for this," if the event starts to stress me out. I'm pretty excited. I get to go during the day and come home at night and not have to sleep in the scary basement. That alone is enough for me! Not to mention (and this is the best part), I get paid by my library job to be at Sully! Yes, indeed. I get 2 full days of community service every year, meaning that I can take 16 hours off of work to do community service, and I get paid as if I'd been at work. This is awesome.
In other "things to do," I've got to get my apartment cleaned up and cleared out. I have TOO MUCH STUFF! I don't mind giving away some of it, but there are many things that I'd like to get some money for. The problem is--as you may remember--I work 6 days a week. When I'm actually AT home, I'm not really in the mood to organize and clean. I guess I should do a little at a time, but the motivation just isn't always there.
That said, I think I'm off for the night. Time to cook a late dinner, watch a little TV, and head to bed!
Seriously, it should be a fun weekend. I'll have fewer responsibilities, leaving me more room for fun. And just as I have to say, "teapots and candles," about work stresses, I will have to say, "This is not my job and I'm not getting paid for this," if the event starts to stress me out. I'm pretty excited. I get to go during the day and come home at night and not have to sleep in the scary basement. That alone is enough for me! Not to mention (and this is the best part), I get paid by my library job to be at Sully! Yes, indeed. I get 2 full days of community service every year, meaning that I can take 16 hours off of work to do community service, and I get paid as if I'd been at work. This is awesome.
In other "things to do," I've got to get my apartment cleaned up and cleared out. I have TOO MUCH STUFF! I don't mind giving away some of it, but there are many things that I'd like to get some money for. The problem is--as you may remember--I work 6 days a week. When I'm actually AT home, I'm not really in the mood to organize and clean. I guess I should do a little at a time, but the motivation just isn't always there.
That said, I think I'm off for the night. Time to cook a late dinner, watch a little TV, and head to bed!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Well, excuuuuuuse me.
Someone on a message board that I frequent started a thread asking, "What is the rudest thing anyone has ever said to you?" Reading the responses got me thinking, because everyone's definition of "rude" seems to be different. Some people listed comments that were clearly more mean/spiteful than simply lacking in decorum. Others listed things that were said in honesty, but were taken the wrong way or were said in a less-than-tactful manner.
Having encountered my fair share of rude and obnoxious people at jobs and even online, I gave it some thought. I think rudeness is more than just a lack of judgment, but slightly less than intentional meanness. I think rudeness comes primarily from a sense of entitlement; it comes from the idea that you don't care (and may not even be aware) that what you're doing or saying affects anyone else adversely; you just need to do or say it because you feel like it.
The problem is that we all have different levels of being insulted. Some people think it's rude to say one thing that others think it's rude not to say that thing at all. We all have to walk a fine line between honesty and tact, and I'm sure we all fall off that line one way or another.
I remember a situation from my World Market days. I was working the register, and a lady came in and handed me a list of wines (and other things) that she wanted to buy. I looked at her and said, "Can I help you?" She said, "Yes, I need these things, please." I said, "Our wine manager is back in the wine section right now, and she can help you find each one of these items better than anyone else in the store." The lady sighed, rolled her eyes, stared at me and said, "That is why you are on THAT side of the counter and I am on THIS side of the counter. Go do your job and bring those items to me. Now."
You know, I could understand the attitude if this was a fancy, high-end store with personal shoppers and stuff, but this was World Market. We had carts and baskets. Those indicate, "Go get it yourself." Not to say you cannot ask for help, but asking for help is entirely different from demanding that someone else do your work for you. Not only did she demand that I do those things for her, but she clearly looked down her nose at me (literally and figuratively) by indicating that my presence behind the counter made me a lower human being than she was. Needless to say, I did not help her. I don't remember if she walked out or finally got the things herself, but I do remember that rude and snotty attitude she had.
Anyway, that's just a thought of the day. I'm remembering a friendship that ended last year as a result of the other person's rudeness and overinflated sense of being right all the time. The friendship ended when I received an absolutely scathing e-mail, listing all of my (apparently fatal) flaws as a friend. Interestingly enough, the proper response to that e-mail would have gone something like this:
"Hello, pot. This is kettle. You called?"
I haven't decided if I regret NOT sending that one-liner or not. I didn't want to stoop to that level; at the same time, it would have been nice to send that message. I find myself often trying to combat rudeness with rudeness. I find comfort in the fact, however, that it is generally sarcasm and intentional rudeness that I dish out as a response to someone else being rude to me. Maybe that makes me no better than that person, but I'm a believer that people ought to be able to take what they dish. Or get out of the kitchen. And stop mixing your metaphors, for goodness sake.
Having encountered my fair share of rude and obnoxious people at jobs and even online, I gave it some thought. I think rudeness is more than just a lack of judgment, but slightly less than intentional meanness. I think rudeness comes primarily from a sense of entitlement; it comes from the idea that you don't care (and may not even be aware) that what you're doing or saying affects anyone else adversely; you just need to do or say it because you feel like it.
The problem is that we all have different levels of being insulted. Some people think it's rude to say one thing that others think it's rude not to say that thing at all. We all have to walk a fine line between honesty and tact, and I'm sure we all fall off that line one way or another.
I remember a situation from my World Market days. I was working the register, and a lady came in and handed me a list of wines (and other things) that she wanted to buy. I looked at her and said, "Can I help you?" She said, "Yes, I need these things, please." I said, "Our wine manager is back in the wine section right now, and she can help you find each one of these items better than anyone else in the store." The lady sighed, rolled her eyes, stared at me and said, "That is why you are on THAT side of the counter and I am on THIS side of the counter. Go do your job and bring those items to me. Now."
You know, I could understand the attitude if this was a fancy, high-end store with personal shoppers and stuff, but this was World Market. We had carts and baskets. Those indicate, "Go get it yourself." Not to say you cannot ask for help, but asking for help is entirely different from demanding that someone else do your work for you. Not only did she demand that I do those things for her, but she clearly looked down her nose at me (literally and figuratively) by indicating that my presence behind the counter made me a lower human being than she was. Needless to say, I did not help her. I don't remember if she walked out or finally got the things herself, but I do remember that rude and snotty attitude she had.
Anyway, that's just a thought of the day. I'm remembering a friendship that ended last year as a result of the other person's rudeness and overinflated sense of being right all the time. The friendship ended when I received an absolutely scathing e-mail, listing all of my (apparently fatal) flaws as a friend. Interestingly enough, the proper response to that e-mail would have gone something like this:
"Hello, pot. This is kettle. You called?"
I haven't decided if I regret NOT sending that one-liner or not. I didn't want to stoop to that level; at the same time, it would have been nice to send that message. I find myself often trying to combat rudeness with rudeness. I find comfort in the fact, however, that it is generally sarcasm and intentional rudeness that I dish out as a response to someone else being rude to me. Maybe that makes me no better than that person, but I'm a believer that people ought to be able to take what they dish. Or get out of the kitchen. And stop mixing your metaphors, for goodness sake.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Back to blogging... I think.
I kind of gave up the whole blogging thing once the 6-day workweek took over and I no longer had time to do new stuff every single day. I was thinking about it today, and I thought that perhaps I should just keep a regular blog anyway. I have this thought once every few months. Then I make blog posts for a week and stop again.
I don't know why it seems like such a chore! I LOVE going back to my old blogs and reading about the things that I thought and did on any given day. And I love reading other people's blogs. But I'm apparently kind of sucky at keeping with it.
I gave it some thought and was trying to figure out how to blog. Do I put it on Myspace? No, because not everyone who would read this has Myspace. Do I add to my xanga (that I haven't touched in 3 years)? Maybe. But a 3-year gap seems like a huge space of time to just pick things back up. Plus, all of that one was written at my old apartment, and the last entry in my old apartment cutoff just seems appropriate. But my blog about doing new things also seems a little weird to add onto, since it was started for one purpose that I am no longer upholding. At the same time, I'd hate to take up valuable space on teh interwebz just to start yet ANOTHER blog that I may or may not keep up with. But blogging without a set purpose is so different that I just HAD to create a new blog. So here we are. My apologies to cyberspace for taking up more... space.
That said, life is just a crazy mess these days. I'm working 6 days a week (5 at the library, 1 at the funeral home), not to mention the few nights a month I'm on call at the funeral home. In a way, the on-calls are nice--good money, they don't happen that often, and it's an interesting part of the experience. The bad parts are when I can't sleep for fear that the phone will ring. The even worse parts are when the phone DOES ring at 3 am and I have to put on a suit and look and act professional. It can be exhausting. But the pay is good. Did I mention that already? I already made a car payment's worth of calls this month. In a way, I also feel a little more accepted by everyone who works there. It's like they take me more seriously or something. I know that sounds weird, but I think they all think of me as the quiet girl who comes in now and then and doesn't know anything. But, somehow, going out and picking these people up makes me more funeral-y... or something. I don't know!
Beyond that, life at the library is alright. The summer schedule feels awkward. Last month, it was 4 days a week working 8.5 hours and one day working 6 hours. This month, we're back to all 8-hour days, but some of them are 9-5. That's good because I LIKE getting home early, but bad because I have to be up when the clock says 7. Boo. The job itself isn't anything to complain about. No, it's not history, but it's academic (which is infinitely more than I can say for retail), and it's very flexible. I get more sleep, which puts me in a better mood, and that does wonders for my overall attitude!
This isn't to say I don't scour the internet once a week for a good history job. But I haven't found one yet that's worth applying for. I'm not going to be a Visitor Services Assistant at the American Indian museum. Even if it is a Smithsonian museum, I don't want to fight my way downtown 5 days a week just to get to a job I know I wouldn't be happy doing. However, if a job opened at the American History Museum that had something to do with artifacts, presidents, or presidential artifacts? I wouldn't care what kind of trouble I had to go through to get downtown for that!
Ah, well. For now, I'll enjoy my mornings to sleep in. Even if it means dealing with people getting graduate degrees who do not yet know how to use a computer or who do not know how to do research. Oh, and dealing with crazy people who come into the library and manage to pick up one of the monthly schedules EVERY TIME they come in. Or people who get stressed and angry over having to pay to print. Or whatever. As I used to say in my World Market days, "Teapots and candles, teapots and candles." That was my mantra--no matter how awful a customer made me feel, I could NOT let it get to me. I was selling teapots and candles, which (as you may or may not know) are not the be-all, end-all of life. This is not to say that I never got stressed out, but there is no way that I can let the crazy people get to me, or I'll never know what to do when I encounter a REAL stressful situation.
Anyway, I've babbled on enough. If I keep going, I'll have nothing to write about for the rest of... well, for whenever I write in the future. I cannot promise every day. There may be weeks that I cannot promise a weekly entry! But I shall do my best, for anyone who cares to read (even if it's just me).
:o)
I don't know why it seems like such a chore! I LOVE going back to my old blogs and reading about the things that I thought and did on any given day. And I love reading other people's blogs. But I'm apparently kind of sucky at keeping with it.
I gave it some thought and was trying to figure out how to blog. Do I put it on Myspace? No, because not everyone who would read this has Myspace. Do I add to my xanga (that I haven't touched in 3 years)? Maybe. But a 3-year gap seems like a huge space of time to just pick things back up. Plus, all of that one was written at my old apartment, and the last entry in my old apartment cutoff just seems appropriate. But my blog about doing new things also seems a little weird to add onto, since it was started for one purpose that I am no longer upholding. At the same time, I'd hate to take up valuable space on teh interwebz just to start yet ANOTHER blog that I may or may not keep up with. But blogging without a set purpose is so different that I just HAD to create a new blog. So here we are. My apologies to cyberspace for taking up more... space.
That said, life is just a crazy mess these days. I'm working 6 days a week (5 at the library, 1 at the funeral home), not to mention the few nights a month I'm on call at the funeral home. In a way, the on-calls are nice--good money, they don't happen that often, and it's an interesting part of the experience. The bad parts are when I can't sleep for fear that the phone will ring. The even worse parts are when the phone DOES ring at 3 am and I have to put on a suit and look and act professional. It can be exhausting. But the pay is good. Did I mention that already? I already made a car payment's worth of calls this month. In a way, I also feel a little more accepted by everyone who works there. It's like they take me more seriously or something. I know that sounds weird, but I think they all think of me as the quiet girl who comes in now and then and doesn't know anything. But, somehow, going out and picking these people up makes me more funeral-y... or something. I don't know!
Beyond that, life at the library is alright. The summer schedule feels awkward. Last month, it was 4 days a week working 8.5 hours and one day working 6 hours. This month, we're back to all 8-hour days, but some of them are 9-5. That's good because I LIKE getting home early, but bad because I have to be up when the clock says 7. Boo. The job itself isn't anything to complain about. No, it's not history, but it's academic (which is infinitely more than I can say for retail), and it's very flexible. I get more sleep, which puts me in a better mood, and that does wonders for my overall attitude!
This isn't to say I don't scour the internet once a week for a good history job. But I haven't found one yet that's worth applying for. I'm not going to be a Visitor Services Assistant at the American Indian museum. Even if it is a Smithsonian museum, I don't want to fight my way downtown 5 days a week just to get to a job I know I wouldn't be happy doing. However, if a job opened at the American History Museum that had something to do with artifacts, presidents, or presidential artifacts? I wouldn't care what kind of trouble I had to go through to get downtown for that!
Ah, well. For now, I'll enjoy my mornings to sleep in. Even if it means dealing with people getting graduate degrees who do not yet know how to use a computer or who do not know how to do research. Oh, and dealing with crazy people who come into the library and manage to pick up one of the monthly schedules EVERY TIME they come in. Or people who get stressed and angry over having to pay to print. Or whatever. As I used to say in my World Market days, "Teapots and candles, teapots and candles." That was my mantra--no matter how awful a customer made me feel, I could NOT let it get to me. I was selling teapots and candles, which (as you may or may not know) are not the be-all, end-all of life. This is not to say that I never got stressed out, but there is no way that I can let the crazy people get to me, or I'll never know what to do when I encounter a REAL stressful situation.
Anyway, I've babbled on enough. If I keep going, I'll have nothing to write about for the rest of... well, for whenever I write in the future. I cannot promise every day. There may be weeks that I cannot promise a weekly entry! But I shall do my best, for anyone who cares to read (even if it's just me).
:o)
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