Wednesday, October 10, 2012

I Weep for the Future.

So. Here's a little backstory: I've worked two jobs pretty much my entire adult life (give and take a few spurts of quoting Chapelle's "I'm rich, biatch" whenever I got a new job, and then a few months later quoting Biggie's "Mo money, mo problems"). But, I don't have credit card (or any) debt, so....I try to tell myself it's worth it. *weeps uncontrollably*

Anyway, I just got a part time at a retail store that is pretty well known as a great place to work. We're going through our training, and we discussed phones the other night. Now, listen. I've worked in all areas - retail, restaurant, beauty shop reception, corporate world reception - and I think the max that really needs to be spent discussing the phone is 5 mintutes for a high volume place, 2 minutes anywhere else.  There were two girls in training with me, one of which works in marketing at a large well-known company, who dragged it out for like 15 minutes with no less than 20 questions that included, but were not limited to:

  • "Oh, so they can ring on any of those that say 'Lines'?"
  • "Wait, so you pressed the line before you picked it up? Or after?"

and the one that almost made me go postal:
  • "Wait, so you can put it on hold and hang up the receiver without it hanging up on the call?!"
Yall. Really!? I just busted out laughing and upon the sweet, completely blank stares uttered, "...I'm sorry.....I just....I must be a dinosaur."

More blank, sad stares. I could see them thinking, "Why are you laughing? Do you think we're dumb? I thought this was a nice, team-friendly place?"

"Maybe...yall are used to cell phones...and I remember this from back in the day..."

One girl finally chimed in with, "No, I've worked with phones, and they're all different! I had one that hung up when it was on hold."

Me: "Mmmhmmm." I was reaaaally trying to hold it in. "Sure. I mean, I haven't ever heard of that, but I'm sure anything's possible."

I MEAN.

I'M PRETTY SURE YOU DIDN'T PRESS THE HOLD BUTTON FIRST.


REALLY!?

Those were the thoughts going on in my head. These are sweet, seemingly "smart, successful" girls. They're around 25 with a degree and "good" day job. It was then I realized that I've been answering phones in a business for NINETEEN YEARS (my parents owned businesses and I started manning the phones in middle school.). And this is where my life is.... working a part time job with girls who didn't know phone lines before Monday. Not that we don't ALL ask stupid questions, but....don't most of us usually know when we're about to have to suck it up and ask something stupid?  

Sorry if that seemed more harsh than funny - it really did just amuse the crap out of me - but I'm having one of those, "I need to reevaluate my life" kind of days, and seeing people younger than me, making similar to me with snazzier titles than me showing their idiot side just.....reaaaally drives me to drink somedays, folks.


Monday, October 8, 2012

A visual of how Columbus Day makes me feel.

via Twicsy.com, as a result of a google image search
 
 
If you're ever feeling sad for no good reason, I highly suggest looking up pictures of Kim Kardashian crying. I mean....look at that. I'm instantly cheered up! 

Columbus Day agrivates me eeeevery year.

Seriously, why, in 2012 when we know better, does this man still have a holiday? He did not discover America, nor was he a good person. I don't get it.
 
(Side note: I was recently introduced as, "Someone who can talk American history and celebrity gossip with equal enthusiasm." It's pretty much the best compliment I've ever received.)
 
Anyway, one of my favorite books is Howard Zinn’s A People's History of the United States. I don't understand why it's not mandatory reading in schools, but below are some excerpts from the very beginning of the book that get me all weepy every times.

Of the Arawak people on Hispanola, of whom estimates say there were nearly 2 million upon his arrival, Columbus wrote in his log, “They do not bear arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out of ignorance . . . They would make fine servants . . . With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want” (Zinn p. 1).
The Indians “are so naive and so free with their possessions that no one who has not witnessed them would believe it. When you ask for something they have, they never say no. To the contrary, they offer to share with anyone” (Zinn p. 3). In exchange for ships and supplies for a second voyage, he offered the nobility of Spain “as much gold as they need . . . and as many slaves as they ask” (Zinn p. 4).
Columbus forced all Arawaks “fourteen years or older to collect a certain amount of gold every three months. When they brought it, they were given copper tokens to hang around their necks. Indians found without a copper token had their hands cut off and bled to death” (Zinn p. 4).
“In two years, through genocide, murder, mutilation, or suicide, half of the 250,000 Indians on Haiti were dead . . . By the year 1515, there were perhaps fifty thousand Indians left. By 1550, there were five hundred. A report of the year 1650 shows none of the original Arawaks or their descendants left on the island” (Zinn p. 5).
 
And he has a federal holiday.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Color Me Rad - Ft. Worth 2012

Ran the Color Me Rad race this past Saturday in Ft. Worth. Let me tell you, I am not a runner. In fact, unless you count doing some 1 minute sprints on the trail when I'm angry and need to release the fury, the only time I run is when I'm in a mob of people for a 5K. Also, like Michael Scott on The Office, it usually makes me want to vomit (motion sickness, maybe?). However, this was an awesome 5K (for me): there were no clocks or mile markers, so I didn't have that internal self talk of "crud, I still have 2 more miles," or "Why do walkers and people with 15 children insist on starting with the first leg? Slowing. down. my time." Okay, I might have still had that last thought going through my head.
 
My boyfriend and I then spent the weekend in Fort Worth and had a great time. I actually really love Ft. Worth (but I would never admit that to the locals, of course). It's more laid back, there's still stuff to do (but it's not too big), and, unlike Dallas, the downtown is very much alive and walkable.* Also, they don't have to deal with that "Douchebag Dallas"/shallowness stereotype [it's the truth]. The place is just more genuine (and more "Texas-y" for tourists).
 
Anyway, for dinner we went to one of my favorite restaurants, Grace. It has my favorite steak tartare, and we also tried foie gras to start (don't leave me vegetarian readers! Although, it might behoove you to stop reading now so you won't hate me.).  I'd heard that foie gras just got banned in California, so of course I had to have it. Not a do over. I'm an adventurous eater, and I'm sure this restaurant did it right, but....it's not for me. It was served 3 ways: pate,  seared (the salt really made it - this was the winner of the three), and a mousse (oh dear god, help me). Guys....I'm going to say it: it tasted like animal crisco. I think if they used it as a butter and gave us copious amounts of bread, it might have been more appetizing. That said, we finished it anyway like champs. Entrees were one of the most amazing steaks I've ever had and the boy had a bass dish with clams that was also very good.
 
Tartare = yum!
Foie Gras = Well, I can cross that off the bucket list.

 *Note to other cities who want to maintain a popular downtown and good reputation in the rest of the nation: Don't assassinate a beloved president when he's visiting town. Seriously, there are newer skyscrapers and some revitalization projects, but most of downtown Dallas appears to be stuck in the 60's/70's.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Just the Two of Us....


This is me and the ol' pup, Daphne Devereaux. Just thought I'd share. :)

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Uncle Sam has a way with words!

A girl I once worked with was also in the Army for few years. She just received this letter from the government, and it cracks me up:

Friday, March 9, 2012

Spring Showers (and a future vacation or two)

Umbrella via Target.com; Jacket and boots via Zappos.com

I'm suuuuch a grown-up, yall. I decided that it's time to finally buy rain boots and a rain jacket I'll actually wear. I feel like I deserve an award.

Don't get me wrong, I'm really a colorful person (although, I do get in the black and white rut sometimes, but...it's just so easy for the 8 - 5, you know), but if there's something I've learned from wearing so much color, it's that neutral accessories are my friends. You should know that I do consider olive green and dark purple neutrals, as well as hot pink. They work with so much! I still swoon over super colorful boots, though.

Here's a medley of other boots (beauts' too) from zappos.com:

One day I WILL have a yellow pair one day, although I'd really take any of these colors.


I'm normally opposed to wedge rainboots, but...these Hunters are hot.
And, a grown up pair to end it. I'd seriously wear these as real boots, even if it's not raining. They all classy and shi..tuff. ;)

Ah, that was fun. So, yeah, this shopping spree was brought on because 1) we got our first spring showers yesterday and 2) I'll be taking a trip to DC soon, and to England and Scotland later in the year, so I figured it might come in handy. Remember my dream couch? Well, it got sidelined for that overseas trip...which is during the time of the London Olympics. Make my checking account go owie.

Also, as I decided a few winters ago, I'm too damn old to be uncomfortable. I turn my heat or air up when I feel like it. I might as well invest in a rain jacket and rain boots I'll actually wear (I bought the bubble umbrella a few years ago, and it's been awesome). Here were the qualifications: For a jacket, it needed:
  • a hood (sometimes the umbrella doesn't cut it)
  • classic style that didn't make me look like a blob
  • not black
  • long enough just in case I sit down somewhere (I'm not very smart sometimes... and I've been to a few outdoor concerts in my day).
The boots were easier to figure out; I wanted something I wouldn't be embarrassed to wear to work oooor a hh.

I think I did okay, no? Also, what is it about crazy colorful rain boots that make us drool? Is it because we think that's one time we can get away with wearing pink paisley in public? Reliving our youth? Just want a pick me up from a gloomy day/time of year?

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

29.

Image from Google Images - This is the first picture that pops up when you search "29 years old" and that, my friends, makes me laugh hysterically.

Ah, leap year. I remember sitting with my friend watching the 2008 Olympics and saying, "Just think, the next time it's a leap year and the summer olympics are on, we'll be 30." I love the look on people's faces when I point out something horrible they've never thought of; I'm just a good friend, what can I say.

I actually really don't care about turning 30. I mean, no one likes change (I've really been relishing when I start my age with "twenty-..." lately), but it's not as scary as, say, 40 (that's always been my "scary" age; I mean that's when you either stay cool or you just turn into your mother).

Here's the problem with 29: it's felt like Sunday night for the last several months. You know what I'm talking about, when you've had a great weekend, and then it's Sunday night, and you're just sitting there dreading Monday so you can't even enjoy the rest of your weekend. Not that anything bad is going to happen Monday...maybe you even have a happy hour planned. The point is, 29 is Sunday night. For an entire year.

So, thank you leap year for giving me an extra day during my Sunday night.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Speaking of domestic skills...

This needs to go in my future suitor packet:
via Pintrest....sorry I don't know the original source!

I kill fake plants. :(

Really? This does not bode well for my domestic skills - I mean, it's bad enough that I have fake plants, but even they can't put up with me. Haha, oh well, it wouldn't have fit in with my future lottery sofa anyway.

Friday, January 27, 2012

When I win the lottery...


...this will be mine. I MUST win the lottery. Here's the thing, I've wanted this couch since I bought my place; in fact, I bought my place visualizing this couch in my living room. Unfortunately, all of my furniture COMBINED (including my current beeeeiiiige sectional) wasn't as much as this sofa. COMBINED, people. I couldn't justify it then, and I just recently started to justify it when....bam! my AC unit went out on the last 100+ day last September (there were at least 70 of them). Considering my AC unit is a year younger than me (and it made it through the hottest summer ever), I can't hate. But that'll be a solid $5K this year.

And let's not forget that I also have a penchant for eating delicious food, drinking, shopping, travelling....

I need to go find my big girl panties now....must have left them in my beeeeiiiige couch. *throws temper tantrum*

Getting a little sap in here...

While being mushy isn't my thing, this is such a wonderful story I read the other day that I had to share. (It's long, but worth it.)

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

This probably doesn't fit in well with most resolutions...

via MarthaStewart.com


I saw this and instantly got chills. 75 recipes?! Martha,  you're ooc!

Seriously though, I normally don't do new year's resolutions, however, I decided this year that I want to cook....I want to cook just one meal a month. Sounds pathetic, right? Well, I have to keep it obtainable, guys. Note, I did say a meal though; I'm not talking just your everyday spaghetti friends, oh no, I'm talking some sides too. Mmmmhmmm. This is not single girl territory. Anyway, that's what led me to that gangsta Martha's site. For the past, oh, say 3 or 4 years, I've really wanted to make what I call "fancy" macaroni, as in 4 cheese baked macaroni. With a panko crust (damn what the instructions say, I will have my panko!). 

Anyway, tonight's the night. Ideas on what to serve it with? Chicken? (I really dislike chicken, btw. Just saying the word makes my face do a solid : |. As much excitement as I feel about cheese, I feel the opposite towards chicken. I mean, really, how boring is chicken?)