A Little Random

So I realized today that none of my posts to date have had much in common.

Well - they've been me ranting about various things in life and society, so I suppose that is the commonality of them all.

This past week I've been thinking a lot about people who work more than one job. People who spend, quite literally, their entire days working. Bouncing from one job to the next to the next, only getting home for a few hours to sleep before heading out and doing it all over again.

Then there are those who are not only working more than one job, but who are going to school on top of it - so now there's studying and assignments and commuting time.

How do they do it?

I mean, I've done the 6 classes thing. I didn't have a job though (unless you count SMing our college's production of "Hamlet").

I've also done the full time work thing - only in the summer.

However, when I tried mixing the two I bombed it.

Alright when I had Intro to Web Business and was switching between jobs and states (yeah, I moved for the summer) I managed it quite nicely. I even scored a B+ out of the class! So I thought I could do it again. I signed up for an online Intro to WebDesign.

It killed my school average.

Twice!

Not only did I bombed it once, I went back to try again, even taking Intro to Programming. Not only did I realize Web Design and Development were no longer as fun and easy as I'd thought - I got a crash course in how much math goes into programming!

(I spent most of the assignment inputting the data verbatum to the book, and it still came out wrong! How does that even happen! I was following it word-for-word! Why!!!)

Okay, so aside from all that - how do people work multiple jobs at a whack and not just fall over at the end of the day?

Today is my second day of double shifts.

From 10-2(or 3, depends on the day), I work at a music store. It pays $8.75, which isn't bad. It's quite amazing, really. I'm a part-timer, which means I'm working between 8-18 hours a week though, so it became boring quite quickly.

So I picked up another job. One that I swore up and down I would never be caught dead at because the pay sucks and you're relying on others to help cover costs. I thought I was going to become a bartender - which I was okay with. I served drinks last summer. Apparently I wasn't listening correctly. I guess I muted out the title of the actual job -

Server.

Yup. Glorified waitress.

When that finally sunk in I felt the bottom of my stomach drop from under me.

The extra job I'd gotten to help offset what I was barely making at one store was now basically me working for free.

What the crap had I gotten into?

There is no shame in being a server. It's a position designed to help people get 'experience' in the work field. It's not meant to be a career job.

I was starting to be okay with it. Sure, I complain when I'm not there, but when I am there: I don't stop. It's a job where I'm on my feet, but I'm constantly moving around. I'm not just sitting in the back room reading (to which I will never complain about - cause Books. 'Nuff said).

Then last night, I felt like I was finally grasping the whole, take order, place order wait for food, engage the guests without spending too much time at the table, take food out, check in on them and all that jazz. And that's when I got my first big hit.

No tip.

I sorta stared at it. I was honestly confused.

I thought I'd done a great job at the table, I mean we didn't have orange slices that night for a particular drink, but everything came out as they'd asked.

So - what did I do wrong?

I had another realization when working last Friday.

I over-analyze everything I do.

"Did I say enough?"

"Did I make too much eye-contact?"

"Did I accidentally respond to something I shouldn't?"

"Did I get their drinks right?"

"Was that a joke?"

I know that - with more time - this job will become easier.

I also know that - being an introvert - this is going to be one of the hardest things I've done. I feel like I'm intruding on their dinner/lunch.

I suppose it's all in how you present yourself. The best you can do is the already the Best.

If I take it one day at a time, then I can breathe.

So - to all those who work double-triple jobs, add school on the side, or are balancing both:

YOU ARE DOING YOUR UTMOST BEST. DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU OTHERWISE.

Otherwise, let them do what you do for a day. I guarantee they won't be able to handle it.

Family - Easter - Mixing it and Enjoying it

This past week I’ve had time to think about all sorts of ideas, things, conversations, and how to become better at what I do. Somehow the topic of “family” seemed to stick. So in honor of family – and Easter this upcoming Sunday! – here are some family (and Easter) tid-bits and recipes.

I don’t know about all of you, but families fight. Everyone does it, it’s nothing new. Here I have a few hard-earned tips from a rather wonderful fighter.

1)      When fighting and you know you’re wrong and don’t want to admit it – ADMIT IT.

a.       Everyone can be wrong. Sometimes it’s you sister, your brother, you mom, your dad – and then 90% it’s you. You are wrong. Yes, it bites, but admitting it means you are closer to getting closure.

2)      Take a Break

a.       Take five mintues, or even ten. Gather your temper so that you can return to the situation with a level head.

3)      Know when to accept Truce.

a.       There can be arguments in which no one wins. That’s a given.

4)      Hug.

a.       This is something my dad always made us do. Whenever we argued he always made us hug when it was over. That way, no matter the argument, it always ended with a hug.

Some on to some fun Easter recipes I found on Pinterest – links via Pinterest. (I don’t get paid for any of these name drops.)

1)      Easter Marshmallow Bark http://www.butterwithasideofbread.com/2013/02/easter-marshmallow-bark.html

a.       I cannot wait to try this out! It looks super fun, delicious, and easy to make!

2)      Easter Oreo Bark http://lilluna.com/easter-oreo-bark/

a.       Similar to the first one, but with Oreos! Who doesn’t love oreos?

3)      Carrot Cake – an Easter favorite! http://www.cookingclassy.com/2012/01/best-ever-carrot-cake/

a.       This is one of the best things to have to an Easter dinner. Well, after dinner. J

4)      Easter Fruit Pizza http://www.delish.com/holiday-recipes/easter/a41803/easter-dessert-fruit-pizza/

a.       So, a rather simple, delectable easy make. Really delicious too.

A few, simple tips for a fixing a family feud, and finding food for them on Easter. Enjoy your Easter weekend folks!

The Ides of March

For those of you in the theatre industry, today is a day to be remembered.

Or vastly quoted to the chagrin of our coworkers and family members.

It’s a day that was foretold by a soothsayer to Julius about being cautious. In honor of the death of Julius Caesar, here are some fun little facts about the fabled Ides of March.

#1. The date of the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC

                It had to be done. Might as well be number one, right? We all only know of this day because of the infamous stabbing in the courts. Et tu Brute?

#2 Julius Caesar was stabbed 23 times, but only one of them was fatal.

                This was due to the conspirators being amateurs at murder. None of them were soldiers, so they didn’t know how to properly stab someone.

#3 He was stabbed in a golden chair

                Despite popular belief, and wonderful movies, Caesar was not standing up, or running while being stabbed. He was seated for the tribunal of the Senate at Teatro di Pompeo. One of the reasons the conspirators chose this setting was because some of them were already standing behind the chair, all set to stab Caesar in the back. (ouch)

#4 Thick togas

                The fabric used to make the popular toga of the day was often built in thick folds of wool. Because of this, the daggers took a bit longer to penetrate through the fabric and reach their mark, it also helped them to conceal the daggers until the time.

#5 Five Details

                There are five written accounts of Caesars death. Plutarch, Suetonius, Appian, Cassius Dio and Nicolaus of Damascus. How’s that for being popular. The only other person to have multiple accounts written about them was Christ. (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.)

#6 Smart Killers

                The men responsible for the assassination were all rational and highly educated men. Brutus and Cassius were praetors, and Casca was a tribune of the people.

#7 “Hail Caesar!”

                There have been counless Caesar’s in cinema history. Among those that can claim to have been stabbed are: Claude Rains, Rex Harrison, Kenneth Williams, Fritz Leiber, Timothy Dalton and the great John Gielgud.

So, in honor of the Ides of March we kindly ask you to refrain from large groups and knives.

Jobless

Well, it’s that time of the week again. Time to rethink my life. Figure out what to do.

“Why don’t you get a job?”

Why – what a novel idea! Go to work in this wonderful country, get things done. That’s a fanta –

Wait. I already applied for a few jobs. No one is calling me back. The news said there were plenty of new jobs now. There should be dozens of people calling me back. I’ve applied to all the local retail stores, the chain places. Heck, even the fast food joints.

Well – let me tell you a thing.

This is simply from my own experience.

I have been job hunting since 2007, the year I graduated from high school.

My first job out of the great HS was at a music store. It was a well enough, part time, minimum wage, position. It lasted about three months. Since then I’ve held many positions – all part time. I’ve even repeated a few.

Dry Cleaners, TJMaxx, Chiropractor, Finance assistant, Car headlights, Music & Arts, Game Stop, Nanny, Driver Guide for the Cruise lines, Game Stop, Professional Photographer, Guest Serve on whale watching tour boat.

The ironic thing is that I’ve come full circle. I’m back at Music & Arts. Again.

I still don’t fully understand why, when the economy is ‘on the rise’, that it’s so hard to keep a position. I get the two where I was working with the cruise lines, they were only summer positions. 

But the others – sure they were crappy jobs, but I was hoping they’d last a bit longer.

Perhaps it’s just my magnetic personality, but who knows?

Looking for any type of work that’s long lasting seems to only happen if you have a long degree list, or five years of experience (which is impossible to get without, you guessed it, a job!). Maybe things will get better.

I suppose this is all simply a rant for the week.

How many positions or jobs have any of you had?

I really should finish my project, "Jobless - a New Musical".

Adventures in Adorable OR A Tail of Two Kitties

My family has always been a cat family.

Growing up we always had at least one outdoor cat. Sure, we had a dog – a beautiful husky-smoy-black lab mix – who was fantastic, soft and named Tequila (by the lady we adopted her from, we called her Kia). Once she passed away, all we had were cats.

A few years back my outdoor tabby, with a tail that could rival a monkey, passed away. The only good thing about outdoor cats is that when they pass away they go off into the woods. It was rather traumatizing for me personally. Days before I had to take him in to get fixed – where they claimed he had kitty leukemia and cancer. More trauma.

After dear Tigger – a cat who would run up the drive way when I got home and walk me to the door – left we had no adorable bundle of fur to purr in our laps or help relieve the stress and tension.

I never truly appreciated the fact that cats are therapeutic – that they really aid in keeping stress levels down. There have been studies on that fact that cats are valuable to people with high stress levels or who are ill. (Reasons Cats Are Therapy - for Kids and Adults)

I felt it when we had no cat around. All the tension and stress and panic seemed to well up.

Last October my family got me an outdoor cat for my birthday. It made my life so much better!

He was all black, golden eyes, adorable little mews and a loud purr. I felt I’d hit the jack pot!

We live out in the country (close to the city, but far enough away to be considered ‘country’), so there was no threat of cars. I got him fixed, bought him a little bed, a collar, kitty dishes and food. My mom decided she would feed him wet food every night – feeling it her prerogative to spoil her ‘grand-kitty’.

Fortinbras was aptly named, and he loved it.

I should have known this was too good to last.

Our street has other outdoor cats that enjoy fighting, intimidating and being – in my opinion – jerks.

They ran off my sweet little fur baby; one day he was here, the next he was gone.

I posted on the forums online, telling those in my county that my fur baby was missing. No news. 

Nothing. No one had seen an adorable little black cat with a red collar.

He was with us for barely a month before he was taken away. I like to think someone took him in and he’s living high in a fancy house.

Last week we had a slight infestation of squeaky little grey fuzzies that I will never miss (mice). We called the exterminator, who set out about 10 sticky glue traps. We caught the one and were glad. 

Then the second one fell. The next morning there were three more.

That was when the decision was made.

Saturday afternoon we went down to the local PetSmart and started looking at black cats. We were going to take the next step and become indoor cat owners. We had one in mind, but by the time we reached the store, he’d already been adopted out. I was sad, but grateful that he got a fur-ever home. I couldn’t complain about that.

So, a few of us sat in the extra room and looked at five black cats, two Russian blues, and a Siamese mix.

It was a rough decision, there were black kittens (they lady offered them as buy one get one free), and then older ones.

In the end, we decided on a blue-eye, beautiful Siamese. She was three years old, had a loud purr a few seconds after you began petting her, and in need of a good home. A trip to the Dollar Store and one brief stop to Walmart and we were home.

Our Siamese/Calico mix was skittish once I let her out of out the cat carrier. While she hid beneath the drawer stand I made up her litter box and set out food and water.

We didn’t see eye or tail of her all day.

Sunday afternoon, I was able to coax her out from behind the couch. She was shaky, unsure of being out. I laid on the couch, setting her on my stomach. After a while she was fine. She relaxed so much she began nuzzling my face, purring loudly.

I am an advocate for adoption.

If you want a kitty – please adopt! There are so many out there in need of homes!

Adoption is fantastic because you can meet various types of cats/kittens; all of these cats are also up to date with shots, vaccines, and medical procedures.

Adopt older cats!!

I know – kittens are so adorable, so precious, so full of energy and fun!

But they don’t yet know how to use the litter box – they climb the furniture – they wreak havoc if left alone.

Older cats already know how to use the box – just show them where it is; they usually prefer to cuddle rather than run around.

Older cats are possibly the best option.

And black cats are a rare find and doubly cute. They have bigger personalities – are completely devoted and simply cute.

If you are a cat lover – keep up the good work.

If you are looking into getting a cat – adopt!

If you are not a cat person – well, two outta three ain’t bad.