Well, I've really enjoyed working at meadowlane for the last year.

I like delivering.  I like the people that I work with....most of the time.  ^_^  But it's time for a change.  It's time for a major life style change.

My aunt offered me a job at her daycare in Gretna, and I've decided to take it.  It will be from 8am - 5pm, Monday through Friday.....with an hour lunch.  It'll be my first 40 hour week, real-type job ever.  I'm looking forward to it.....but I'm scared also.

Right now I work with mostly guys.  I'm use to working with guys.  Most of the girls I've worked with in the past weren't girly girls.  I met the girls that I'll be working with, last week.  My first impression was that I did not want to work with them under any circumstance.  They all seemed liked the typical bitch cheerleaders from high school.  They seemed like the type of girls that have to have designer sunglasses, purses, and various other items.  The type of girls that judge you based on what you look like alone. 

After I talked to them a bit, I realized how stupid I was being.  I was judging them before I got to know them.  I had them pegged for silly little high school girls that would be click-y, exclude me, and think they were better than me, all because I was different than any of them.  They actually seem pretty nice, and not galaxies different from myself.

I realized that I'm going to have a difficult time for a while, learning to interact with girls.  I don't know what to say to girly girls.  I don't know what stories to tell.  I don't know what they talk about.  I don't know how to relate. 

I feel bad about leaving meadowlane.  I can't explain it. I'm telling Matt about it tomorrow.  My aunt will need me August 13th.  That is plenty of time for them to find a replacement....but I still feel like I'm leaving them hanging...or letting them down.  I don't know.  Just talking to Pat about it today I started to cry.  I don't want to leave them.  Those boys feel like family to me.  I'm going to miss them.  I now know how Joe must have felt when he said goodbye.  I don't know what it is about that store....it doesn't feel like work....it feels like home.

I want to do this.  I want this change to happen.  I love my aunt.  She's always been my favorite.  We want to move to Gretna.  We've talked about moving to Gretna someday for a while now.  I'm scared that I won't see my friends anymore.  I already don't see them as much as I would like.  I'm just scared.

I'll get to see more of my husband, which I'm so excited about.  My kids won't have to go to Lincoln public schools....which I am so excited about.  ^_~ 

For some reason, I feel like I don't have my friends support in this.  I don't know why.  It's probably just me.  After all, I haven't even told very many people about it yet.  I just feel like everyone is screaming at me, trying to tell me that I'm making a bad choice.

This is the right choice for our family.  I know it in my heart. 

I hope I can keep it together when I tell Matt tomorrow.  I hope he doesn't pick on me too much about it....because I'd probably break down and cry.  Wish me luck.

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So I haven't updated in a little while....as usual....I've been busy.  But what can you expect from a person who works five days a week, and has two children to take care of?

I had a bad day at work today.  That's right, I'm not going to ease you in, I'm just going to jump head first into the problem. 

The day started out pretty good.  I had taken a few deliveries, and I had gotten tipped on all of them.  I got a $10 tip on a $440 order, which was kind of low compared to deliveries that I've taken that were similar....but I didn't care, because at least I got tipped.  right?

So that was all good.  Matt opened.  Which was good, because he lets me leave at about 2 everyday.  I got back from a delivery at around 12:00, and Mike was there.  Oh, right.....Mike was midding today....I forgot.  I never use to have a problem with Mike.  He was fun to be around.  He let me leave at a decent time.  He was an all around nice guy.  Well since he blew up his Blazer on New Year's Day, he has been a dick.  He always would joke around with me and pick on me, just like Pat and Matt both do....but lately it's been different.  He switched to only working closing shifts.  (for the most part, anyway.)  I rarely even work with him anymore.  But I think that this mid on Wednesday thing is how it's going to be from now on.....and I do not like it.

Mike has been nothing but as asshole to me.  The first couple of times that I worked with him after he blew up his Blazer, he was an ass.  He made everyone around him miserable.  No one wanted to work with him.  Vince said that he gets that way every few months or so.  I hate it when people have to bring everyone around them down.  I really try not to.  I may do it sometimes, but it's not like I try to.

I think our labor has been high lately, and so Matt and Pat have been sending me home as soon as possible.  They don't really care if I have all the lunch dishes are done or not.  They tell me that they will do them.  I usually have all but the lexons done.  (which is anywhere from 4-8 lexons depending on the day.)  Anyway, last week sometime....(can't remember what day exactly...)  Matt opened, and Mike was the mid.  (I wanna say it was Tuesday, because Matt's vacation started Wednesday.)  So as soon as Matt left, Mike was like, "All the dishes are going to be done before you leave today."  I have no problem with that, so don't think that was my issue.  He kept harping on me all day, telling me that I needed to make sure the lexons were done before I left.  He was like, "Do you know how many times I've come in here, and Pat or Matt were washing your lexons?" 

So I let him know, "That is because they send me home.  It's not like I'm telling them that I won't do it...or that I'm sneaking out before they realize that I haven't done them.  I'll have them all done, don't worry."  Well that wasn't enough for him.  He kept at it the entire time I was there.  "Those lexons aren't going to wash themselves."  I had them all done before I left, but he checked to make sure.

That day really irritated me.  But it was nothing compared to today.

Matt opened, Mike was the mid.  I got back to the store at around 12, and Mike was there.  So you can imagine how thrilled I already was.  I grab my apron, and he walks up to me.  I haven't even been in the store for 5 minutes....I don't even have my apron back on yet....and he says, "You gonna wash those lexons?"  with a smirk on his face. 

I remain calm, and say, "Probably." 

He says, "If you do it now, you'll have it done in like 5 minutes."

So I'm getting irritated, "Can I put on my damn apron first?"

He says, "I'm just saying you could be doing it now, instead of taking your 5 minute break."

So I say, "Shut up."  and finish tying my apron before grabbing the lexons and heading back to the dish room.

When I got back to the dish room, there were dirty dishes up on the sink, and on the floor by the sink, so I put the lexons down, and began to wash the other dishes.  When I was done with the stuff that had been back there to begin with, I went and got all the pans that needed to be washed.  I washed all of them, plus the salad lexon, and the garlic roll lexon, then had a couple of deliveries to go on.  When I got back to the store, there was another delivery on the screen, and it had been taken 16 minutes ago....so I new that it would be out soon.  So I went up to the front, and leaned against the cut table.  Mike came up, and put a ticket up on the bored.  I didn't even look at it.  He says, "What are you doing?"

So I kind of snapped, "Waiting for the delivery."

and he said, "There is no delivery right now."  and that's when I realized that it must be for later.  So he continues, "Why don't you go wash the fucking lexons?  I saw that you washed two of them, so at this rate, I figure you'll be done with them by 6."

And that's when I was done.  I washed the lexons.  I washed the rest of the pans.  I washed all of the lunch stuff.  Then by that time there was a couple more pans.  I washed every dish I could find.  All while Mike molded.  I was pissed.  I usually have no problem helping the manager mold.  I don't know if it is actually one of my duties as morning driver or not....but I never have a problem helping.  I was avoiding helping him at all costs.  He had 10 lexons to mold today.  I ran out of dishes and eventually had to give in to helping.  So I helped with 2 or 3 of them I think.  Then I went home.

Let me tell you, I was damn close to walking out.  I know Mike jokes around...and I wouldn't doubt if all of that was just playing around.  But it pissed me off.  Don't tell me how to do my job.  I have no problem doing my job.  I have no problem with authority.  I have no problem being told to do my job.  I do have a problem with someone that tells me that I don't do my job, or that I don't do it well, or that I don't work my ass off.  I do work my ass off for Vals, because I believe that hard work pays off.  Either with respect, praise, gratitude, or something.  I don't like to be told that I'm a slacker, even if in jest....because I work damn hard.  That's a lot more than I can say for a lot of people out there.  I know a lot of people that do work hard, but I happen to know of way more that don't do shit, and get all the rewards.

Example:  Vince.  I can't even begin to tell you all how many times I've heard the managers complain about how his work and attitude has become complete shit.  How do they deal with that?  By making him a supervisor.  *head hit keyboard* 

I like Vince.  I think he's a good guy....but the managers were right....so why did this happen?  Why do things like this happen all the time?  (not just at my work place....this shit happens everywhere.)  It's really discouraging to someone like me.  It's like, why do I bust my butt?  Why do I give so much, when I don't get the rewards?

When I started over at meadowlane, Vince always helped the manager and myself with the molding.  Lately he rarely helps.  Now that he's a supervisor....(going on two, maybe three weeks.)  I have yet to see him mold.  Ugh.  I need a hug.

Amanda's Questions....

1. What is your second favorite color?
2. Assuming you don't want to work for Vals forever, what do you want to do for a living?
3. What is your current favorite pasttime?
4. If you could buy me one thing, (money's not an issue) what would it be and why?
5. Cookies, brownies, cake or candy? =D

My answers...

1. Dark blue.
2. I'm still not 100% on that....maybe a hair dresser, I've always thought it would be neat to be a travel agent....or flight attendant...I dunno.
3. I've been reading a lot lately...I also enjoy playing video games, or board games...I like to hang out with people...I don't get to do that very often.
4. The car of your dreams.
5. Candy me thinks. Lots more to choose from. ^_~

THE RULES

1 -- Leave a comment, saying you want to be interviewed.
2 -- I will respond; I'll ask you five questions.
3 -- You'll update your journal with my five questions, and your five answers.
4 -- You'll include this explanation.
5 -- You'll ask other people five questions when they want to be interviewed

Reply and I'll give you a letter. Find five songs that start with that letter and post them to your journal.

Manda gave me "V"....

1.  Vanilla--Gackt
2.  Vampire Girl--Groovie Ghoulies
3.  Vortex--Megadeath
4.  Vasoline--Stone Temple Piolets
5.  Ventura Highway--America

That one was too hard....it's a good thing Joe had those last three on his computer....or I would have been shit out of luck.

Nick gave me "R"

1.  Redemption--Gackt
2.  Ruby Tuesday--The Rolling Stones
3.  Renegade--Styx
4.  Roxanne--The Police
5.  Rock Me Amadeus--Falco

I was told by someone yesterday that I haven't "blogged" in a while....so I guess I'll try to come up with something...

Today was no fun at work.....well, not 'no' fun but....pretty close.  I had a ton of deliveries...that could have been good...but that's not the way it turned out.

It started off good.  I had the usual SCC delivery.  I got eight dollars...not too shabby.  I had to go to Lincoln East Hich School.  Two deliveries there at the same time to the exact same place.  Should have been really easy...The one lady was ready for me...but the other one wasn't.  The first lady, Judy, gave me the money, and then asked if I could leave the other lady's order in the hot bad. 

I said sure, if someone was going to bring it back.  She said, "oh.  Well, I guess you might as well take it."  So then she was like, "Is it paid for?"

And it was, it was a charge.  I told her all I needed was for it to be signed.  So she starts going off on the receptionist, "Where is 'so-and-so'?" (note...I don't remember the lady's name, so I have replaced it with 'so-and-so')  The receptionist doesn't know...and so Judy is like, "Well this girl needs this signed right now.  We need to find her."

So I was talking to Judy some more, and she's like, "Are you in a hurry?" 

I told her that I had another delivery at 11:30, that I had with me in my car.  (It was currently 11:15.)  So she's like, "Oh, I'll just sign it."  So she did....and I got no tip. 

Damn.

But my next delivery was for this guy 'Brian Kujath' who works under 'Lyndsey Schellpepper', and I knew Lyndsey would sign the credit card slip, and I knew that she would tip $10.  So no big deal right? 

Boy was I wrong.  Thanks to assholes that like to contest charges to Valentions on their credit cards, we've had to start getting a carbon copy of their credit card, to proove that they did order, and did pay with their credit card.  

So this was their first time ordering since our store has really gotten going with this thing....and I set out the food, Brian takes me to Lyndsey...and I ask if she has the card, so that I can get the copy of it....Well, it turns out that the card is her bosses...she is just allowed to sign for it.  So I have to go talk to him.  He turns out to be a total dick head. 

He was on his way out to his car, so he was upset to be stopped.  I explained the situation to him and he was like, *large sigh* "Where is the copy machine?"  So I explained that all I need to do was to place the card under the piece of paper and rube over the raised parts of the card.  I had forgotten to grab a pen, so I ask if I can borrow his....he doesn't really say anything.  He puts down his card, and I put the paper over it.  He then grabs his money clip, and tries to rub the image on that way.  He rips the paper.  I explain that the end of pen works really well, and tell him that I can do it if he would like me to.  He gets his fancy type pen out of his jacket pocket, and refuses to let me touch it....and he begins to color on the credit card paper.  

You know, like when you were a kid, and you would put a piece of paper over something with texture, and rub a crayon over it, so that the image transfers?  Well, really that is what we do with these credit card slips....but not with the part of the pen that writes.  It works just like the things that they use at places where they don't have electronic credit card machines....the only example I can think of, is at Comic World.  I'm pretty sure that's what they do there...or at least they did.  So he was completely pissed off about this whole thing...and I didn't get tipped.  The guy was an idiot....and an asshole...and he made me cry.

So I was in a bad mood for the rest of the day at work.  Pat tried to cheer me up.  He made a monkey and a snake out of dough while we molded.  Fred and Steve.  They shared a banana.  The closest he came to making me laugh was when he was dancing.  It's good to have friends to try to cheer you up when you've had a shitty day at work.

So I've been busy lately...but I've been busy doing what?

Well, back in December, someone backed into Lucille, (the cavalier) while I was delivering. Then Joe smashed up Roxy (the explorer) earlier this month.

The explorer went to Tracy's body shop to get fixed up. Then, last Sunday, Lucille wouldn't start. So we borrowed a battery charger from Josh and Tina...and also borrowed their extra car. After the battery had charged for two days...Lucille still wouldn't start.

Roxy was ready to be picked up on Wednesday. But....we wouldn't have any money until Friday, when we got paid. We wouldn't have the insurance money from Lucille until sometime this week. So we had to wait to pick up Roxy.

Saturday we took in our W-2's and got our taxes done. We got like $2600 back, and we took an automatic pay out. Also, Joe's dad came into town to look at Lucille. He bought a new battery for her, and da-taa...she works again.

Sunday we went shopping all day. We both got new glasses. We decided to get a new t.v. We got a 37 inch LCD HDTV it's pretty sweet. We also got a new entertainment stand, and a surround sound system that came with a dvd player. (our old dvd player died.)

Yesterday morning we went and got Roxy back. She's looking pretty damn sweet. Last night was our holiday party...we went bowling at champions. I totally kicked Pat's ass when we played their knock off of DDR. It was a lot of fun.

This morning we totally got our asses kicked at work. It was great. Pat said that we did more this morning, then we did all day yesterday.

I talked to Lyndsay about Saturday today, and she says that we'll go to dinner, then maybe her friend's band's show, and get me drunk as piss, then have an after party. So I'll keep you all updated. I hope to see you there.

And...here's a picture of my new entertainment stand. And yes, that is Saved By The Bell.