Plans to Take Over

A bit back I joined myspace.com, although I'm not entirely sure what to do with the thing. However, they had been advertising a new calendar feature so I went in a few weeks ago and scheduled something for tomorrow (Thursday). Although I am off work, I'm not quite sure if I will get around to "Taking Over the World" from 2-3 p.m. in the afternoon. Therefore, I'd like to request that for that hour each of you do something that I would approve of if I were indeed taking over the world. Have fun =-)!

Monday Ramblings...

Today was a good day =-). I am actually closing out the evening with very pleasant feelings about my today. It started out with mail! Yay mail! Although I was rather nervous to see a thin envelope from typo-job =-(. I called out to the job gods for it please not to be over yet, and then I opened it. It was a lovely form letter, which is never good....but in this case they were just letting me know I met "the minimum requirements" and was therefore being forwarded on to the hiring department. Yay minimum requirements! I'm not used to getting a letter telling me something like that.....but maybe that's because I usually don't pass that hurdle =-(.

My other piece of mail was ridiculously fabulous =-). My cousin sent me some terrific mail that really made my day. Her letter was a Dr. Seuss-like poem written just for me and I loved it =-)! It also had a pin that says "Party Ghoul" and some other things - including a collage with her trademark Monster and some booster words! Yay! Plus she gave me some money and told me I had to spend it on something fun - not anything like bills. Okay - if you insist! So I bought myself a "Bite Me" shirt, some Sesame Street undies (I really wanted Superman ones, but they didn't have the color I wanted), and then I used the rest to go see a movie at the cheap movie theater =-). Yay!

Before that fun little festival of goodness, I met my Pal for a round of Samples at Costco followed by a famed Costco Hotdog and Soda (his treat- woohoo!!). I followed that up by traipsing into Dollar Tree and buying myself two hats for little kid heads (I have hopes that they can be adjusted to fit my Shabbler-sized noggin), but....upon going to the craft store - I found a lovely purple pimp hat that was 70% off and totally goes with a Pimp Coat I got a few years back. Big Pimping!! After the movie (a romantic comedy that did not appeal to either of my male friends ;-p), I met up with my other friend for yummy goodness in the form of a Chocolate Malt and Nachos.

So all in all I had quite a lovely day - but maybe that was because I didn't work ;-p! They tried to call me in, but I told them I had plans....which, even if the plans were to go to a movie by myself, they were still plans =-). And - considering two of my three shifts as a server so far have had me getting off work 4 hours after I was scheduled to leave.....I knew I wouldn't make it to my movie. So I'm ending today quite happy =-).

No Need to Worry!

This is in reference to my last post "Torn" in case you didn't read that one and are wondering what the heck this one is about.

It boils down to this - I SOOOOOOOOOOOO DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THAT POSSIBLE JOB CONFLICT!!!!!!! Oh my LORD!!!! I did HORRIBLE on the phone interview! SO HORRIBLE!!! It was one of those situations where I was observing myself, so to speak, as the interview was in progress, and I was baffled at how I could be so thoroughly unimpressive! Seriously. My answers were so mediocre and I just didn't have ANY pizazz at all. AT ALL!!! My goodness it was pathetic. And short. They were just doing brief phone interviews to see who would dazzle them enough for in-person encounters, but I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that the job-train stops here for me on that one. DAMN I SUCKED!!!! I mean, I REALLY sucked! I didn't think I could suck that much. And I don't think it's some subconscious sabotage thing - because I didn't want to give a bad interview. They said something in the beginning that threw me a little bit, but not enough to inject me with the mediocrity-serum that was coursing through my veins as I tried not to totally flounder with their not-so-complicated questions. My goodness....I don't know what the problem was. That was probably my least impressive interview EVER!! And it makes me a bit nervous too....what if I actually get a phone interview for typo-job? Is today's pathetic showing an example of the newly tarnished, mediocre Shababbler? My goodness, I hope not!

Torn

Have you ever found yourself wishing and hoping that something that had the potential to be extremely positive wouldn't work out? I'm sure some of you have. For me it's job related this time out. I have scheduled an interview for a position I didn't apply for with an organization that had my resume on file from a previous submittal. They wanted to do an interview with me a.s.a.p. for a position they need to fill. When I read the position description I was surprised they would deem me qualified to interview for this one since I felt I was more qualified for the previous one and I didn't score an interview that time. I'm not sure how many folks they are interviewing, and I really think someone else will end up fitting the bill moreso than I, but I'm still nervous that they might want me. This is an organization that would, undoubtedly, be really rewarding to work for, which is what I want in a work situation. They have a very positive purpose and if I didn't have something else on my plate of possibilities I would be begging for this job. But isn't that always the way it works? Of course this is all extremely hypothetical at this stage, but it's one of those situations where you have been waiting for or wanting something for ages, and then when the time finally comes you have (possibly) two paths you have to choose from. And, as Murphy would have it, you never have a clean and simple (or in this case timely) choice...it always has to be complicated.
The other possibility on my plate is exactly what I have wanted to do (or I have convinced myself it is at least) for a very long time. And it would also involve a relocation that I would like to make. That organization is hiring for several positions, so my chances are greatly boosted, and I have a couple of other things that have the potential to boost my chances further. The problem? The deadline just passed for that one so it will still be 2-4 weeks before I learn if I even get an interview =-(. Before I thought my chances were extremely good at landing an interview until I realized I submitted my application with a cursed, overlooked typo =-(. AAAAAHHHHHH damn typo!!!!! However, even w/that stupid, stupid error, I still think I have a good shot at an interview.

So I find I am horribly torn. In all likelihood, if the job gods are to continue along the Shababbler job-path selected thus far, neither one will wind up happening, but what if, in some twist of luck(?), both are offered....only, by the time I knew the one I really wanted was or wasn't offered, it would be long past the time I would have had to make a decision about the first one. Timing. It's such a significant factor in so many areas of our lives and it can have such a huge impact on the directions our lives take, be it in relationships, opportunities, leaving the house 5 minutes later and unknowingly missing what would have been an accident, and on and on. I need to stop worrying about this because I sincerely doubt it's even going to be an issue since job one is a bit over my head (but who knows, someone besides my parents could suddenly decide they think I'm amazing =-p)...I just find the whole situation somewhat frustrating =-(.

Work Upgrade

I've been at my "secondary" restaurant job for a while now - but I've been a hostess-type for the longest time (which definitely gets old). I started training to be a server a long-ass time ago, but then they forgot to schedule me to finish the training, and after that I had to leave unexpectedly for a couple of weeks. And of course, upon my return they forgot to schedule it. So FINALLY I have completed the training.

Today was my first solo day as a server and I was very nervous going into it. I still don't know all of the questions I'm supposed to ask about everything. For most of the shift it was very chaotic. Another person had me switch (to a shift 2 hours longer), but I stayed an additional 2 hours after that because it was so busy and we were short a few people (which means I totally missed the programs I wanted to watch because I couldn't figure out how to program my VCR before I left =-( sniff...sniff...sniff).

The main manager stopped by in the midst of all of the chaos and told me I needed to "work cleaner." He was complaining about how many menus I had sticking out, but I wasn't the only one putting them there. Eye roll, eye roll, whatever. Anyways - it was sheer madness for so much of it! You know how you get so annoyed when the waiter or waitress forgets to bring something out? Well, me too. But now I totally get how someone can get so busy with a trillion other things that they totally forget about you and it is completely unintentional =-(. I feel bad about it, but I see how it happens now. Don't get me wrong - when it's slow they don't have an excuse =-p.

So anyways - I survived and the people working with me told me I did a pretty good job considering how busy it was. There's one girl who I didn't like before because she seemed to be annoying, but she was super helpful and I realize I misread her previously. And it's not like I didn't mess up.....unfortunately I flubbed a bit on my VERY first order, which I wanted to go smashingly well to start off on the proverbial right foot. It seems I didn't bring the soup out earlier enough so everything else wasn't hot by the time they got around to it =-(. I was really bummed about messing up my first ever order =-(. I know I'll make more mistakes, but hopefully they won't be huge ones, and I know things will get better as I get more experience. The main bummer is you can never count on getting off when you're supposed to. But I survived day 1 and will hopfeully progress like a fine wine and improve each day.

Semi-Eventful Park Stroll

There's a great park very close to where I live that has a nice little lake (or is it a large pond/goose toilet?) that is very nice to go to and stroll about. To mildy compensate for my carb-addiction, I will go there sometimes and just walk around. I know myself well enough to know - that even though it is pretty and pleasant - I don't have the motivation to walk around it more than a couple times even if I have the time and it's a gorgeous day.....so I've figured out how to trick myself into walking for longer by utilizing the time to talk to friends or family on the phone as I walk. Sure, some of the park people may find it annoying, but I have to deal with their squealing children running about, or with the man who decided it was a perfectly decent idea to yank a cool looking turtle out of the water and place it on the sidewalk or the older man who was bicycling about and decided that instead of using the park facilities that he would go and tinkle in the woodsy area (I wonder if he knew that I knew what he was doing)....so anyways - walking and talking isn't a huge crime in my opinion.

On my latest venture I had been strolling around the park for around an hour and a half (having spoken to a couple of different people and also just walking phoneless for part of it), and I was finally completing my last lap before heading back to my car. On the last straightaway I was mainly looking across the lake and at the sky, but I noticed in my peripheral vision that a man down the way seemed to be staring at me. I briefly straightened my glance and he looked away. I continued to mostly look across the lake as I approached - I like to smile and say hello to people (Shush! I am capable of being nice every once in a while ;-p), but if you smile and say hello too soon you have that awkward "Do I keep smiling or do I look away again?" thing going on, which I prefer to avoid. So anyways - as I neared I smiled and he said hello or something and I think I did too. I kept walking and he made some comment about how I had been walking for a while or something - which was true, but, had he been watching me for long or did he just notice my red cheeks? He then asked if I had time to talk or something, and I lied and said I was meeting a friend. I'm sure he was a perfectly decent person, but he was at least 15 years older than me and he was a smoker (bleck)....now if he was more my age, not smoking, and whatnot, maybe I would have been more inclined to talk (although that's still always a bit strange) - but most people wouldn't have wanted to randomly talk to my windblown self anyways.

So as I kept walking he asked if he could at least introduce himself or some such thing. Meanwhile a man and his teenage son were walking by in the opposite direction and I noticed the Dad turn around to see, presumably, if this guy was bothering me. I let him introduce himself, and after he asked my name I went ahead and told him. Evidently his ex-girlfriend had the same name (his eyes went wide and he seemed to shake slightly in fear with her memory - who knew there was another "Shababbler" out there ;-p). I then said it was nice to meet him, but I had to go. He asked me if I came and walked around often, to which I again sort-of lied and said only every once in a while. Anyways - the icing on the cake for me was this....as I was attempting to make my final departure he asked, "Can I at least offer you a drink?" I glanced at the bench upon which he had been sitting and noticed there was what must have been a smidgeon of beer or something in a cut-off plastic bottle. I politely thanked him as I declined the offer and continued walking toward my car. I was thankful that he didn't attempt to follow me, because I needed to attempt to scrape off some dog-poo from the bottom of my shoe before I got into my side-swiped soccer-mom car (yes, I lead a truly glamorous life ;-p).

It seems to me, although I acknowledge I must have that "cheap date" look (and hey - take me to Costco for a hotdog and soda and I'm a happy girl =-p), but it seems the offer of park-bench hooch is much more appropriate for a drunken teenager out past their curfew (and no Mom and Dad - I was never a drunk teenager out past my curfew....those times I snuck out I was barely a teenager ;-p), but maybe it's just me. So my park stroll was slightly more eventful than usual (including the shoe poo), and I just find it tremendously amusing that this man actually was trying to offer me a swig of his park-bench hooch =-p. My goodness.

COFFEE!!!

Having moved to the Pacific Northwest, I am surrounded by Starbuck's. Sure - you're virtually surrounded by Starbuck's anywhere around the globe - but this is THE place for it, right? I've technically lived here since the tail end of May/beginning of June. So It's actually quite crazy to think that I have yet to patronize a Starbuck's - the staple of life for Washingtonians =-p (well, coffee anyways). Some of you are probably quietly cheering that I am turning my back on this supplier of, and force behind the Mainstream Addiction of the masses....but it's not that. I like Starbuck's, I do (insert sheepish grin here for all of those who are disappointed in me).....but what it comes down to is that I am a broke-ass girl who can't afford to pay $3 for a Mocha =-(. So even though I live right near what is rumored to be the busiest Starbuck's in the USA, and even though I have now traipsed by the very first Starbuck's on the planet (right across from Pikes Place Market) a few times, I still have yet to buy anything. I would have when I had visitors - but the one time we forgot until we were too full, and the next time my guest didn't like coffee (or the other stuff), and there's really no need to go to Starbuck's for orange juice ;-p. So for now I remain Starbuck's free, but the only thing it is a statement for is my pocketbook being lighter than I would like =-p.

THIS SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!

Today is not a happy day for the Shababbler. To be quite honest, I'm rather unhappy. I woke up this morning at 9:30 to the doorbell ringing and then knocking blasting away. I thought it would be my roommate's parents because, even though she is never here, they often come over on Sundays to do her gardening. Instead it was my neighbor, greeting me in my pjs on this drizzly morning with the news that my soccer-mom car had just been side-swiped by a hit and run driver =-(. He heard the brakes, the crash and then the acceleration - but by the time he was able to look all he saw was the car behind. Brilliant. I went out and took in the damage. Ya - it could be worse - but for everyone who feels like that is an appropriate comment to make - GO BITE YOURSELF!!!!! Deep breath, deep breath.....I'm not taking it out on you, dear reader, but since similar comments have been made to me today, I'm finding it pretty damn annoying! Because they're really probably thinking "Could have been worse" - followed by the unspoken - thank goodness that didn't happen to me!

So there's about two feet in the back that is completely scraped up and some places where the paint is even down to the metal, and the side reflector light was busted and broken out. My tire was thrashed from the experience and I just had to spend about $80 at Costco to get their cheapest replacement for my wheel =-(. That may not seem like a lot of money to many of you, but to me it's a helluva lot and that $80 really could have gone toward something else....like oh, I don't know.....rent maybe. And - to make matters worse - even if I had the money for the deductible (which I don't) - I couldn't claim it anyways because they'd want to know why the hell I was up here and hadn't switched my coverage yet - I don't even think they'd be legally required to pay for it.

Had I expected something like this would happen (I was naive) - I certainly wouldn't have been parking on the main street in front (that I thought was safer because it was well-lit) when I could have been parking in the ominous back alley area. In the close to three years my roommate has lived here nothing like this has ever happened to her's or her family's cars, but when I started talking to the neighbor he started telling me about all of these houses whose cars had been hit =-(.

So I'm an extremely unhappy camper today, and even though it could have been worse, it still sucks that it happened at all. And when I spoke with one of my friends, the comment that was uttered from their lips was "It's only a car." Although this was over the phone, I could literally see the shoulders shrug with a lack of concern. This person went on to make another comment, which I didn't hear, and when I asked what they had said they responded with "never mind" - so I'm assuming it was another patronizing comment. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr.......so keep your "It's only a car" and "It could have been worse" comments to yourself because, quite frankly, I'm not in the mood for that!