"I'm not quite down with the way they roll/ they throw knives from their eyes at my parasol."

Si vales, valeo!

I bought an airline ticket! Moreover, it is not Air Canada, which causes me much joy. My, it is nice knowing that if my flight gets canceled due to flooding or bomb threats or freak snow storms of mechanical failure, I am covered. Not that getting stuck in airports isn't interesting, but it does also tend to mess up the schedule. 

And why, you ask, did I buy an airline ticket? Was it just for the wonderful experience of modern economy air travel? No, I answer, it was not. You see, on Monday I was startled to find out that I get paid vacation time at work, and I needed to figure out when I was taking it. Like, NOW I needed to figure out when I was taking time off. Cue me sitting on my bed staring at a schedule and panicking. One of the options I was leaning towards was popping over to Europe for a week and climbing around castles. However, traveling Europe alone, for my first Vacation, (read: I'm not an experienced traveler), didn't really seem safe. I need someone to watch my luggage while I'm on the train, and stuff. And I was unable to find someone to commit to European travel for a week in the summer on twenty minutes notice. *sigh* People are so unimaginative, all hung up about work terms, and internships, and money, and study terms.... Just jesting, you know I jest. Well, not about the not being able to find someone, but about the fact that I am vexed at people for not being available for two weeks in England. *cough* 

Moving on! The next option that came to mind was; Visit People! It was right about then that I remembered that my College, (Augustine College- you should go), has a graduation this year. Just like last year, in fact. However, this year I am an Alumnus- Alumna- Alumnas- I am a person who has successfully graduated, and the fact that I remember none of my Latin has absolutely no bearing on that fact. Moreover, it is an Augustinian tradition, of sorts, to attend later graduations in full stately robes and sarcasm, and pat the students fondly on their sleep-deprived heads. ALSO, (yes, there were more reasons,) Em is still at the college, Moon Unit is in town and will be attending, Moon Unit's friend Zaktrik is graduating, Lord willing, and some of the other alumni might be there as well! 

Then, I looked at air costs for the two days I was going to be traveling. Lo and behold, not only were the two flights the lowest fares within 28 days, what with airline costs and such the cost of the ticket was still just covered by my shiny new Visa card. At this point, I was clearly receiving divine signs. And who am I to tamper in the divine plan? I bought the tickets. :D

All joking aside, though, I am continually amazed at how obvious and easy things are when that's what God wants me to do/where God wants me to be. Problems just take one look at me and melt away. 

Anyway, that's my news. And I'm excited to travel and take my first ever professional vacation, and I'm trying not to count down the days from TOO far in advance. 

Why I'm going to be wearing turtlenecks for the next few days.

For work, I have a key I have to carry around. It goes to my cashbox, and to reduce the chance I loose it I wear it on a lanyard. All nice and logical, no? Well, logical if you're me. If you're not me you might carry the key with your car keys or something. Anyhow, being me, I choose to carry mine on a lanyard, around my neck. 

Then this evening, after five hours at work, one of the Brownies asked why I had green on my neck. Me: "Green?" *runs for the washroom* My first thought, given my prior history, was that I had poked at my sore neck with a green indelible marker. But no, the truth was much more subtle and devious than that. Instead, the lanyard had diabolically decided to leave a line of corroded metal around my neck. It's just about the colour of copper that's been left outside for five years, and shows up nicely on my pasty skin. For those who do not have quite my skin tone, that is also the colour that bruises make after they've started to heal. As one of the leaders said, "it looks like you had something around your neck and someone really yanked it off."

Which leads me to postulate that high collars are totally in this month. All the best people are (going to) be wearing them!

"Downtown Lewisporte, alive and well. Only, it's not exactly alive, or well. But it is Downtown Lewisporte..."

A quote from the McWork meeting on Tuesday, when we were asked if all the managers enforced the rules consistently. 

Kenneth: "Yeah, they do. They all always tell me to shave every time I come in."
Joan: "Don't feel bad, they tell me to shave too."

Work today was rather amusing, due to the fact that no one had had quite enough sleep. (Reasons ranged from early-riser children, to drunk'n'rowdy husbands, to vivid dreaming. I'll let you decide which one applied to me...) We were all giggly. Including the guys, which was rather disconcerting whenever you stopped to think about it. *smirks* 

There was one moment that could have gotten quite interesting- when Norman told me to shut up and go away cause I was taking all the fun out of everything- but our manager Pauline managed to keep the peace. 

The situation arose in this manner. 

As anyone who knows me knows, I tend to use archaic, unusual, large, and even subculture-specific words in general conversation. As anyone who knows me also knows, I have a difficult time letting other people's smart remarks pass without a returning smart remark of my own. If the person is quick, a delicious verbal battle usually commences. If the person is not quick (or unused to girls talking back) a confused expression is donned and the conversation dies. Norman does not seem to be one of the former group. He tries, but is severely hampered by not recognizing most of my vocabulary. At any rate, after I responded to one of his remarks, I don't remember what it was, he said that I sucked all the fun out of life because I turned everything into an educational moment. Hmmmm. I should point out here that no one else at work has yet made a negative comment about my vocabulary.  So. Norman seemed to find that observation hilarious, and he kept repeating it at intervals throughout the morning. All in a joking manner, and not mean-spirited- but still... Pauline, the manager, noticed that I wasn't grinning quite so broadly at the comments after a couple of hours. And after Norman told me to shut up and go away, she said- in his presence; "He's just intimidated by your intelligence, honey. You should get used to that." So I stopped reverting to my age ten memories of being told I talked weird, and perked right up. Norman, on the other hand, went quiet and stopped teasing me. So a crisis was averted. :P

Then after work, the family went up to the Penney's for a BBQ. The food was lovely, and the conversation was hilarious. My stomach hurt from laughing by the time dessert was brought out. Unfortunately I can't quite remember any of the quotes. They wouldn't be the same without the accent anyhow. *makes dismissive motion*

"There is nothing wrong with a life of peace and prosperity!"

I got onto the system today! And my brain exploded. 

Yeah, I've had a headache since about Noon. This is due to doing nine courses that are supposed to take an average of an hour each, in five and a half hours. Which is what happens when you read fast and have worked in customer service before. But I did learn some interesting things. Did you know, to be eligible for Private Wealth Management, you have to have over a million dollars under the care of CIBC? I was pretty impressed. (and here I had a minor rant about things, and then realized that I was probably contravening the privacy policy I just agreed to today. Hmmmm)

Although, the one guy who didn't look at me for the past two days? The Only Guy, (OG), in the office? I walked in today in a grey shirt, and was invisible. Then I changed to a pink shirt, as per branch policy for the day, and he suddenly perked up, said hello, and waved at me. Now, the first time I walked right past OG's line of vision, and everybody else said hi to me, and he said hi to everyone else, so it wasn't that I was sneaking in or that he was occupied. Maybe he doesn't acknowledge girls who don't wear pastels. 

A mystery...

Tomorrow is work at McWork. In fact, I'm working at either McWork or the Bank every day through Thursday. Then on Friday, I'm working at both. :P More power to me!

"Cause I'd probably let you in if we had a hostage situation cause I like company."

I've done two shifts at the bank so far. 

Impressions? I think I'm going to like it. 

The vault is awesome. 

"It's like in the movies, except there's no one drilling up through the floor..."

Really, it reminds me of a cross between a submarine and a storage closet. The door is about 9 inches thick, and incredibly heavy. Also, all the safes have double locks, of which any one person can only know the combination for one, and more locks inside. And they're on time combinations, which is mildly marvelous. 

There is also a whirring machine that counts bills, and a cart to push coins around since they're too heavy to carry. And I can see the inside of the ABMs and the Night Deposit, uh, thing. I don't think I'm high ranked enough to actually count the deposits, but that may come in time! *is hopeful*

The actual job looks quite interesting. *grins* Foreign Exchange... Of course, it will take a while until I'm actually out front. I have a lot of training to do. And the training is not hurried along by the whole IT vs. HR issue. First HR hadn't given me a employee number, so I couldn't be logged on to any computer. That was yesterday. Then today I received an employee number, logged on, and came up against IT. It seems that HR hadn't talked to IT, so IT didn't know I was allowed on the system. "Try again tomorrow..." FUN. But despite the fact that I've not been able to do any actual training so far, I have learned a couple of things. For one, due to a "possible or perceived" conflict of interest, I'm not allowed to serve anyone I'm related to, in a relationship with, or was formerly employed by. Also, I'm supposed to make the experience of banking at our branch "delightful" for customers. Not just pleasant, delightful. No use aiming low, eh?

Oh, and the break room looks like a church basement. The same out-of-date-but-still-hearty furniture. The same immortal fridge. The same cupboards full of mismatched cups. Even the same pale yellow paint and sunflower border. So there's a strange sense of deja vu involved in taking break time. 

The co-workers seem to be nice. I forgot to bring lunch the first day (too much time on Fast Food), and most of the staff pitched in to give me something. :D Since they are all on the thinner side of toothpick, I ended up having a larger dinner than most of the staff. :D There is one lady, the other recent hire, who doesn't like me because I got the part-time job and she was hired for call-in. This is probably exacerbated by the fact that most people seem to think I'm 17. But maybe if I ignore the office politics, they'll go away! Right? :D The one guy in the office has also yet to look me in the eye. He just slides on by whenever I"m present, talking loudly to everyone else within eyesight. Which is slightly disconcerting, but I'm used to being invisible if necessary. *grins*

It's a little overwhelming, but I think I'll like it. 

I'm proud to be a banker; because I get to play with other people's money!

I got the job. 

Of course, I have to get through the security check now, but that should be no problem, right? Don't answer that. :D

"I'm just telling it how I see it-" "You need to get your eyes checked."

After stepping into a puddle up to my ankles, I realized that what I had forgotten to bring was my new work shoes. 

True story. 

However, the day decided to disregard that omen, and be a good one. 

The reason I stepped in the puddle was that I had just had an epiphany- of sorts. I've been feeling rather out-of-sorts lately. Wound too tight, if that makes any sense. At any rate, I realized that a big reason I was in that state is that I've just come up for air after working all summer, and slowed down as everyone else sped up. Most of my friends are getting ready for school, or getting new jobs, or going off to camp, etc, etc, ad nauseam.  Meanwhile, I'm not really doing anything. "I got 13 hours of sleep last night. Does that count?" *cough* Once I know where an emotion's coming from I can usually get my head around dealing with it, or ignoring it, which ever works. I therefore apologize, (once again,) if I've been weird to anyone. I do that, but nothing is meant. Anyhow, I had one of those lovely moments when a whole host of thoughts just click into place, and didn't tread the edge of the puddle carefully enough. *tsk* 

(For those who might have been worried by my previous post, I have no actual plan to shave my head. "I was being facetious. There was no call for it." )

"Something's fishy here. Do you smell anthrax?"

I was just going to write "I am officially done with the library," but I realized that I still have to drop of my key and pick up the tea pots. So it still lingers in the queue of my responsibilities. But I'm almost done! I tell you, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! It's blinding, the light is! *nods*

The ending party went well, I think. Nine kids showed up, and given the fact that my family was missing, that was a good turnout. It's true! My family skews attendance numbers both ways! It's nice to have power... *cough* But we had a cake, and hot chocolate and juice served from teapots, and I read Alice. That was a stomach roiling moment, I will admit. When the oldest attendee is 6, the humor in the Mad Hatter's Tea Party tends to be missed. *cringes* But they were all good and sat quietly, and then we decorated tea cups, and it was agreed to be a good evening. Now that it's over, of course, I'm boiling over with ideas of how to improve the program next year, up to and including dragging children off the streets. Not that I would do that, no. *shakes head* I'm not fanatical at all.

After clean up, Ms. B, who was helping out, stared at me for a couple of minutes. I said, "yes?" She said, "Are you doing anything this evening?" I said, "I have some cleaning to do, and I'm taking the teapots home-" She said, "No, you're coming to a youth group movie night. You're going to take part in a social activity, if you like it or not."

So I went and watched a movie.

It was fun, and there was pizza, of which I ate much too much. The movie was Evan Almighty, which was chosen chiefly because it was clean. It lived up to that qualification, and furnished a few funny moments in addition to a lack of socially objectionable material. The theology, however, is probably best left untouched. Really, don't look to hard. I told you- oh well. 

When the guys went off to get the pizza the girls were left in the house to talk drama. And they did. I listened, of course. For a passel of 16 year olds, they sure manage to cram a lot of double-dealing and otherwise hazardous behavior into life. I mean, golly! I think I was the oldest person in the room, and those kids are way ahead of me. We'll leave that subject alone, yes. 

After the movie night finished up Ms B and I went for a walk to discuss theology, and the walking tragedies many of her friends have made of themselves. It is very sad how easily people can justify their actions, and then it just grows until they don't even need to justify themselves. They just do whatever they want. 

On another note, I have the house to myself this weekend, as the family is away at Camp Delight. The remaining non-campers have gone in for Family Day. Hmmm, the house to myself. Maybe I should shave my head?

"Canadians and your obsession with Britain..." "Well, Americans and your obsession with- YOURSELVES!"

As you might have noticed, I did some research into Post-Secondary Distance Education this morning. It was not a stellar success. But I shall draw a veil over that, and continue on. 

The drive on Sunday was fun. We went out to K and C's cabin, and threw rocks and such. :D Then Grammy left for her home in Colorado on Monday while I was at work. That was a rather interesting work day, since I was the most senior non-management person on shift for much of it. In two weeks, I'll be the most senior non-management person on staff, period. I started in MAY. Talk about a high staff turnover rate! 

Side note; I watched The Queen last night, which was good. Very quiet and fun, though there were some scenes obviously put in for American audiences. Just things which don't need saying in Britain, or even much of the Commonwealth, such as the fact that the Queen was a mechanic during the War. I think my favorite scene had to be when it was being explained to the Queen Mother that they were going to use the funeral-plan code named Tay Bridge for Diana's funeral. 

"But that's my funeral!"

"Yes ma'am. But it is the only one that has been, *pauses* rehearsed. It is the only one we could have ready in time." *awkward pause*

Hmmm, I thought I had a bunch of news to talk about, but I have forgotten it. No wait! It comes back to me now. 

Today I stopped by the bank, and I'm back on the list for a possible job. They'll call me on Friday or Monday. Fingers crossed, eh? I also this evening went over to Ms. B's house, and helped her to buy a school computer. Hers had died, and her dad wanted to buy a $400 toshiba. I said NOOOOOOOO!!!!! Only, I actually put on my professional demeanor and explained, "that will break in three months, and cause you to tear out your hair in pain and frustration when it's not broken." Then I waxed slightly poetic on the virtues of Macs, and the crisis was averted. This is where being able to keep a straight face wins the day! Augustine, you come in useful yet again... So, we bought, with her dad's money, a shiny new MacBook. 

*is gleeful*

Moreover, she wants to show me how to get around in Mac. This MEANS that I get to play around with a brand new computer in two weeks or so. No, I'm not looking forward to it at all. /lies :D Maybe I'll get to name it too.

And now my memory is shutting down, so I can truly no longer think of anything to write. Must go to bed now....

"That was just the highlight of my evening."

I"M DONE!

*maniacal laughter*

DONE WITH THE LIBRARY!

Well, except for next week's ending party, but that hardly counts, now does it?

Yes, I have clocked in my hours at the library. It look a lot of time reading blogs, and watching Youtube, and, oh yes, working, but I put in the hours in the end. YAY! I almost don't know what to do with myself! The same thing happened in April, after exam week was over. (No latin to study! What do I do with my time!) But I got over it pretty fast. :D

I finished up on Thursday night, and then on Friday after work I walked up to the house of a friend of the family, for a BBQ. I got there early, (a beautiful luxury) so I sat on a rock and watched the wind for a while. I had forgotten how lovely it can be to do that- to watch the world go by. At the BBQ its self there was an age difference of approximately ten years on either side of me, but I got to listen to some rather interesting conversations. And the food was also very good.

THEN, (Oh yes, I've had a busy life lately. :P) I went to a concert! Ms. B had organized a christian concert as part of the town's summer festival, the Mussel Bed Soiree. We missed the opening act, but I was just in time to see the tail end of the next set, which was a lone man on guitar, playing a sort of jazzy instrumental piece. My lack of musical knowledge becomes apparent in that description, but it was fun, and reminded me of what Daddy plays sometimes. (Daddy plays better though.)

Then Dan Bursey did a set. Regrettably, he was better than his band. I've heard the cd, and I could hear where the song was supposed to rock out, but the band wasn't quite keeping up. He's a youth pastor, and he recruited two guys from the youth group to play for him. They were good- but they were 16- and hadn't, perhaps, practiced enough with a professional outfit? And they were Pentecostal! Think that doesn't matter? Think again. Allright, I'm done making excuses for the band. :D But Dan was good. Create In Me was the best song. It's available on Itunes! :) And yes, the song is lovely because my Dad produced it, and gently eased Dan into making it rock. You should buy it. Here.

Next was the "headliner," The Silent. They were very good. By that time much of the crowd had left, and those that were left were, how shall I say, not enthusiastic. You need a certain critical mass of people for a rock concert, and a rock band they certainly were, but the crowd was cold, tired, and small. Despite this, it was a very fun set. I think Fraulein was rather surprised that I did anything approaching rocking out though. :D It doesn't go with my persona. And no, I wasn't head-banging or anything, just dancing a little, but the rest of the crowd was so static that I might as well have lit myself on fire in enthusiasm. They were the last act, so afterwards we headed for home, stopping to buy a cd on the way out. And The Silent recognized me! They had stopped at McWork that morning and asked directions. I gave, and then when I asked for a cd, three-quarters of the band chimed up "Hey, it's McDonalds!" *shy* I feel famous.

Then we went home, and I slept for 13 hours. It was lovely. And before you get all het up about it, let me inform you that I've been attempting to run on 6 or so for the past three weeks. And I function to full capacity on 9 hours. So it was just a leetle time grab to regrow some vital portions of my brain.

By the by, Mommy and Daddy's 25th anniversary happened when we were in Florida. Due to the hectic schedule, we didn't really do anything on the actual day. They went out for dessert, I mean, but us children did nothing to mark the day. Grammy and Fraulein aimed to remedy that. Therefore, they headed out to the grocery story on Friday morning. They bought an Oreo cake, and three rolls of tinfoil. Then on Friday after lunch, while the parents were safely down in the studio, with Grammy making sure that they didn't come upstairs too soon, Fraulein and I set the table and wrapped the small ones in tinfoil. It was the silver anniversary, see? *grins* Regrettably, by the time they got to me there wasn't a great deal of foil left, so I just fashioned a necklace. I know, spoil sport I am. 

Then it was off to work, which was unremarkable, except for two things. 

1. One, I had my first honest-to-goodness drunk customer. It was a passenger who was ordering, and he was OUT of it. However, the whole car was, *cough* not in their right minds. The other passengers were hard-core swearing at me for not double-cupping the cokes, and then for giving them extra cups. Whereas the guy who was ordering referred to me as "princess," tried to pay for a thirty dollar order with a twenty dollar bill, and demanded a kiss from the manager. Charming. However, I suppose he could have demanded a kiss from me, whereupon I would have been forced to brain him with the debit machine. Small mercies. :P 
   
2. Two in the list of mildly remarkable things; why on earth do passengers insist on ordering in the drive-thru? Then half of them have the audacity to complain that they couldn't hear me. They can't hear me. I'm so sorry for you. Do you think I can hear YOU perfectly, and I'm just whispering to annoy you? Do you think I enjoy tormenting you? Good grief, do you think I get any sort of pleasure out of talking to you? On the contrary, I get pleasure out of seeing your tail lights leaving the parking lot. I AM NOT TRYING TO MAKE YOUR LIFE HARDER. Next time, to keep everyone's stress to a minimum, why don't you just get your driver to relay your order? Yes, MEN, I'm talking to YOU. Just relay your gf/wife's order, and we can cut your wait time in half. It's been proven! And don't even get me started on men who have their wives order for them. Talk about spineless. *deep breath* :D I had to bottle up that rant last night. :P But I'm good now!
   

This morning four of my siblings left for Camp Delight, which is "a camp for children whose lives have been affected by pediatric cancer." With PT living in St. John's, and the Walrus at Cadet Camp, the house is very empty. Only four children! The remainder of the house is going on a drive this afternoon with Grammy, which should be fun.

It's like sitting next to a can of soda! *pop!*

[NOTE: This post was written with no plan of attack, and is rather stream-of-conciousness. I lie; it is comepletely stream-of-conciousness. Read at your own risk.]

A discovery! Two Tetley tea bags in an average mug, allowed to steep for 15+ minutes, produces a drink which is so strong it actually feels like it's etching the inside of your mouth. You can smell the caffeine.

Right.

...

I'm sure you're all delighted to know that piece of information. Immeasurably enriched, I know. Or perhaps, un-etched? *ducks*

Due to all the work, this summer has gone VERY fast. I think because I haven't had to plan out things to do, or look forward to them. I've only had to figure out at which place I was working, and at what hour I would transfer to the other job- every day. Does wonders for your time sense, that. :D But I see the light at the end of the tunnel! (No, I'm pretty sure that's not a train. Pretty sure.)

However, I'm on the home stretch of the library Grant. The last week! w00t! I've only got 15 hours left, and then I'll actually have free time! That is not to say that this job is not very self directed. I have had an incredible amount of leeway, and lack of official duties. This has led to a lot of time reading and on the computer. (It's a hard life, working for the government.) However, come next week, I'll be able to go on a walk for fun! And maybe even go into Gander for people watching, or shopping. *dances*

Interestingly, the substitute librarian seems to regard me as the first line IT person. Yesterday I fixed the Internet twice, and tried to fix someone's laptop which wasn't seeing the wi-fi. I was unable to heal it, though. However, he came back today in the hope that it had pulled its self together in the night, and I was able to ascertain that the antennae was not turned on. Makes a difference, that. The fact that it was a windows machine, however, drained off most of the fun of working with a computer. For one thing, I am NOT familiar with it. I have a basic understanding of Mac- enough that I can figure out when I need to call for help, and when it's something that can be puzzled out. Windows, I have no clue. If it was a food product, I would be wearing protective apron, mask and gloves before touching it, and that with a long sharp stick. "Did it move? I think it just moved! Grab the colander! Trap it!"
*goes off into reverie about chasing deformed Widows-food around the kitchen*

*cough*
Right. Also, I don't really like Windows. The only joy it brings is the vengeful triumph of having bested an obtuse and malicious foe.

This was not intended to be a rant about Windows, so I will cut it off there before I bring out more absurd analogies.

I just looked at the calender, and I will be twenty in exactly a month. TWO DECADES. I still will not be legal to drink in the states, which puts it in perspective a bit, but Twenty! The mind boggles. Particularly so since I'm reading All Quiet On The Western Front right now. It's about the Great War, from the view of a German Infantryman. (How much history does it say I've read that I can think of WWI as the Great War without trouble? :P) Anyhow, I was reminded again of the average age of the soldiers in that conflict; 19 year olds were veterans. It makes one feel rather old and ungainly in comparison. It also puts the frantic push to have a degree at age 23, "otherwise you're wasting your life," in a new light.

Life is so much more interesting when you think about what "everyone does" instead of just doing it! Compare, weigh the options, think about the causes, run the odds, ask questions... *sigh* Tis fun. :D

In other news, my Grandmother has come to stay with us for the week, which is lovely. :D Also, I have an appointment with Ms. B for a "computer buying party" next week, where in I coach her through the perils of the Apple Store Online. ;)

"Your brother is pretty cute." "Oh?" "Yeah. I'd marry him tomorrow."

After Seaworld we were doing a lot of traveling, and then I was back to work, so I wasn't writing daily journals. Hence, this post brings me up to the present. :D

The trip back was uneventful, barring a 45 minute taxi onto the runway in Toronto. No one was especially pleased about that, including the pilots. But we did get off the ground eventually, and arrived in St. John's after midnight. I watched The Bank Job in-flight, which was a stressful movie. Not scary in the gut reaction sense, but I definitely spent a good portion of the movie with my hand over my mouth- mentally shouting at the characters. "GET OUT NOW! IT"S A TRAP! GAH!!!!" *cough* I still enjoyed it, mind! However, due to the fact that it was based on real events, it was a little different than most bank-bust flicks. This includes the death toll. For example, most movies focus on the robbery. In this one they were into the vault a half hour into the movie, and the rest was dealing with the significant outfall of the job. Very enjoyable. And thankfully I was tired enough to fall asleep with absolutely no repercussions! :D

Next morning, we visited the Janeway, and got home in the afternoon. I picked up my schedule for McDonald's and keys to the library that evening, and since then I haven't been home much, unfortunately. I'm trying to cram 140 hours into 10 days, after which I will be done with my grant at the library! w00t!

And my title was an actual conversation between a co-worker and I. It was one of those moments which stretch the bonds of the surreal till they creak.
*thinks* "I really wish I had drunk that coffee this morning."
*says* Nothing, while smiling weakly.
AND switching trains of thought completely, The Arrival by Shaun Tan, is a lovely book. It's a graphic novel, so much so that there is no text- just incredibly detailed and incredibly beautiful drawings. Surreally thought provoking. For instance, I had never before thought about the challenge of a new alphabet on immigrating to a new place.

Oh, related to books, I had a how-is-your-job-going interview today at the library. Thankfully Lizzy woke me up a half hour before I was supposed to be at work; because I had turned off my alarm, tripped over a book, fallen into bed, and fallen back asleep an hour previous. Oops. But it was all good! And the interview seemed to go well! I even skated blithely past the dreaded "Career Goals" question. That's just a trick question, see, when you don't have normal Career Goals. "Travel, learn languages, and write" somehow doesn't have quite the same cachet as saying that you plan to be a social worker. Funny, that. :D But my verbal skating was so successful that the interviewer said I was very well spoken! *preens* Fancy that!

Also, another grant-related worry was killed off. I was slightly nervous that the voucher, (which makes up the majority of my pay for this job,) would be limited to this fall. "Use it or lose it" on the part of the government. But it arrived today, and it's good until May 2010! This leaves a little room for life to happen, which is always good.

And I just had a thought, yeah? (yesterday, really, but still.) It's beautifully easy to get a work Visa for the EU. You just need a return ticket to home, or enough money for one, and you're good to work. SO, next summer, maybe I can do summer work in the UK. Might even be able to convince some people to come with me, and we can split the rent on a flat. Eh?

"Everyone was just signing Pam's shirt, so I hauled up my shirt and was like, "sign me!""

Windows Photo Printing Wizard is the bane of my existence. I just want to print some clip art, for the library. Simple, no? Print, and it prints it in actual size.

NO!

Instead, I can only print images through PPW, and it insists on autocropping and sizing the images, so most of them are unusable. Please excuse me while I beat the computer into small shreds of cheap plastic and silicon.

Okay, just had to get that one out. I am taking a break from library work to write this, because I can't take any more of trying to format the blessed clip art so that it will print.

AHAHAHAHHA! I HAVE TRIUMPHED! I opened the pictures with Explorer, and printed from that screen. *dances madly*

I just, would prefer to not have to go into pitched battle with my computer every time I sit down to use it. You know? I'm probably having a harder time than needful since I'm on a public (read- crippled) computer, I'm tired, and I'm not used to Windows, so I don't know the tricks. Still...

Anyhow, this weekend was the Public High School Graduation. Three people from McDonald's graduated, and I've been reminded once again how different that lifestyle is. The title was Kayla's explanation as to why she has permanent marker all over her abdomen. Hmmmmm. Craig, (also a grad) who came to work despite being "sick," (headache, nauseous, pale, heavy drinking the night before) accused her of still being drunk, but she said she was just hung over. Jonathan, who is the other grad, hasn't checked in to work yet. Might I point out that all of these people are still underage? The quality of parties around here doesn't surprise me anymore, but it still seems rather strange. I guess getting drunk just doesn't hold that much appeal for me. :D

I mean, I have enough trouble keeping my temper under wraps normally, I don't want to forfeit what little control I have. I'm honestly a little scared of what I might do. Anyhow! Thankfully I haven't had to deal with any really nasty people at work yet. I've heard stories of nasty people just before I came on, or after I left, but I haven't had to deal with them personally, which is good. I think I'd get mad right back at them, or dig my fingernails into my arm in an attempt to not get mad at them, since telling the customers what you think of their intelligence, reading and counting skills is not a good idea. And I get either violent or really articulate when I'm mad, so, not a good idea to get mad.

Indeed, the closest I came to that reaction was when one of the popular highschool seniors came in with a complaint the other day. The kind of boy ,~sorry~, man, common around here, who has a carefully unshaven moustache and a trucker's hat permanently attached to the back of his head. They drive around in ford mustangs and cars of that ilk, which they did not pay for. They are too cool to study, think math is for chumps and English is a waste of time, (which is obvious in their communication skills) and they are going to go on to Fort Mac when they graduate. As a group, they've been partying hard since about age 14, and they, to a man, seem to think that they are God's gift to women. They seem to have a different girl in the front seat of their cars every time they come through the drive-thru. About five ten, dirty blond hair, and jeans. I mean, seriously, it's like a group of clones was introduced into the hospital 18 years ago, and no one noticed.

ANYHOW; one of this group came through the drive-thru, according to tradition adding most of his order once he was at the window. So we parked the order, and told him we'd bring it out once it was done. This I did, running out his order when it was up. So far, so good. I commence stuffing orders into bags for the window (we were busy). But then, I look around, and to my complete absence of joy, I see this guy standing there with his receipt and and his bag.
*thinks* darn you, what do you want.
*says* "Sorry, can I help you?"
The guy goes, "You charged me for 9 chicken sauce, but I only got 8."

I should point out that chicken sauce is 18 cents a packet. And I checked in his order three minutes ago, I know what I charged him for, and it was 8 packets. At this juncture, what I should do is apologize, and hand over the demanded chicken sauce, preferably bowing and scraping in abject regret.

Instead, what I do is pull myself up to my full height, which, since I was hunched over, means an increase of about four inches, look him directly in the eye, and in my best "I do not tolerate defiance" voice say, "I charged you for 8 packets." My body language, which stated rather clearly that I would dearly love to fling the basket of sweet-and-sour portions at his head most likely didn't hurt the effect either.

At this point, he pauses, actually looks at the receipt in his hand, turns red and slinks away. I continue my work, and then spend the next hour upbraiding myself in the back of my head for my knee-jerk temper.

*sigh*

Maybe you had to be there, but since I spend most of my time at work with my grin so firmly pasted on my face I'm practically leering at the customers, and I'm most often described as "quiet" and "sweet," I think the transformation to "I-will-eat-your-heart Medusa" was rather startling. But I don't think it hurt his loyalty to the double hamburger value pick meal, since he's been back many times since then. Of course, that PARTICULAR guy may not have returned. Like I said, I can't really tell that crowd apart. Ah well. :D

Work tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day, and the next day, and the next day, and the next day, and then I have two blissful days off. I intend to sleep for 48 hours. :P

Library Annals: Book 1

I'm spending the day at the library today, decorating and preparing Reading Club materials. This is fun, but I think I'll be here for the full day. Not because the work is hard, or even takes much time. No, I think I'll put in the full 10+ hours because of the people lurking outside the door.

It is raining today, and finals week. Therefore, most of the town's delinquents are hanging out in the library porch. They come and go, but there've been at least three lurkers out there since 10:30. So, any urge to leave work and go home early is easily quelled. :D

I wonder if I can get the coffee maker to work...

Wherein the author of this post talks to herself, and several voices answer back.

Today was a one of those days which just feels vaguely successful. I made bread, and yogurt, as well as going grocery shopping. Very exciting, I know. Two of the small ones were on bikes, and I latched the smallest of my charges into the ATTS (All Terrain Transport Stroller), and we set off down the tracks. Thankfully, due to my hard won foresight in bringing the ATTS, I didn't have to carry any small children in addition to the groceries, though I did find it somewhat amusing when the one child who was riding started complaining of being tired halfway there. This is while I'm muscling the ATTS through gravel and over mud ruts. Yes, dear, I'm sure you're tired. Now hush while I cough up a lung. :D No, it was fun, and I think I'm building much-needed arm muscles. 

Then, in the evening, K and C brought by a Pizza meal, and then kindly stayed after to talk. Seeing as there is an age gap of about 15 years, the conversation topics don't abound, but we had a nice evening. 

I've been quite physically tired these past two weeks, what with work at a fast food establishment, and trying to mind the home. Last week, this sent me into a bit of a depression, though I'm good now. This depression, when it was gnawing at the back of my chest, prompted me to say to myself,

"Self?"

My self said, "Yes?"

Me said, "I'm not feeling very chipper, self." 

Self said, "I noticed." 

Me said, "I don't really know why?"

Self sighed, and said, "It's because you're tired, Me." 

Me said, "But why? Why should physical tiredness make me feel unimportant, and invisible, and all that nonsense?" 

Self sighed again, rolling her eyes, and said, "Gee, I don't know. Why don't we ask I. What do you think, I?" 

I pushed her glasses up her nose and said, "I've been thinking about this. I think it's because when you were depressed for real, you weren't eating properly, and you were tired all the time. So your mind interprets tiredness as a sign that you're depressed, and so on." 

Me and Self nodded, then Me said, "But that's bad." 

Self rolled her eyes, hands on her hips. "Yes, Me, notice anything else earth-shattering lately." 

Me kept talking. "But, how am I gonna manage running a house when I have children? Not to mention this summer's revolting work schedule." 

I leaned forward eagerly. "But don't you see? That's the point!" 

Self stared levelly at I. "The point? Try again, I almost understood you there."

 I ignored Self. "The point of what you're doing this summer! Treat it as a challenge. See if you can make it through a gruelling schedule, and train your body again to not see tiredness as an emotional trigger!" 

Me and Self agreed that this sounded like a challenging challenge, and a fine summer activity.

So there you have my summer objective. Make it through, and train myself to not be depressed when tired. Speaking of which, I really should head for bed now. Fare thee well!

"No rest for the weary..." "Go on then, you're not weary!"

I worked an odd shift time yesterday, so I saw three other shifts turn over.  The thing that gets me is the fact that ALL my co-workers, with the exception of the supervisor, one of the managers, and one of the girls who are underage. were planning to go out drinking. It was May Two Four yesterday, which is the traditional time to go out camping, (and drinking). A lot of people went out last weekend as well, since is that when the parks open. 

And when I say "one of the girls who are underage," I mean; the other underage girls are still planning to go drink themselves out of their senses. My sister and I were doing the math, and the social girls start going to drinking parties at age FOURTEEN! Once again, it's just what you do.

I was invited up to the work party as well. The people at my work are friendly, and I'm overage. But thankfully, I'm just not interested. One of my friends, in a recent discussion of morals, mentioned how easy it seems to just hop in the car and drive over where you're invited. However, (also thankfully), I don't have a car, and I'm not permitted to drive the standard VW which is our current family vehicle. If I'm to go anywhere, I have to get my parents to drive me where I want to go. This tends to put an automatic damper on any interest I might conceivably have in parties. :D 

But also, I just have never been interested in drinking myself unconscious. If it was a video game party, now, I might try to hitch a ride... 

In other news, Mommy, Daddy, Gid and Sammy have set out for Toronto early this morning. They'll be there for a week for Gid's Stem Cell harvesting, and then back to St. John's for another week of Chemo, Lord willing. I did get the Library grant, (surprise! :) so I'm having a meeting to discuss hours and duties sometime this week. And then I'm training for Drive-thru on Monday, so I will be able to be scheduled for more and different shifts. It looks like the duties are piling up!

"maybe I overdosed on Caffeine..."

I haven't blogged in a while, but yes, I am still alive. *waves* 

I've now done two shifts at my new place of employment, which went well. The people there are really nice, which helps enormously, and the actual job is not that difficult: make coffee, push drink buttons,  fill fry containers, sweep floors, push cash register buttons, wipe trays, make sundaes, cones and flurries; and that's about it. And so far, I have set nothing on fire, thrown a total of zero items at anyone, and cut/burned/injured only myself. Looks like a success! :D

I should make one thing clear about the job though. I have had a remarkale number of persons say to me, "Oh, you must like dealing with people then!" The logic runs- I assume- since I am working counter, I like to talk to the dozens of people I log through an hour. Ahhhh.... No. I don't. That is not the highlight of my job. I don't mind talking to the people who are friendly, and I no longer feel sick inside on seeing someone I have not lived with come up to the cash, but I am not an extrovert, in any sense of the word.

In fact, (I was thinking about this last night,) this could be yet another way God is using to push the edges of my comfort zone. I would be very happy to spend my time in an office, or on a computer, or otherwise not "dealing with people". But that isn't good for me, I think, and the job forces me to get out and "deal with people" all the time. *sigh* I still really wish there was some other job I was qualified for, but right now drive-through seems to be my most valuable skill. 

It's all in God's hands, no? And if other people of my personality type, (I know you're out there,) can stick it out, so can I! *resolute*

But aside from the job, not much of note has been happening. I am slightly dubious about the Library grant/job coming through, because I am not currently accepted to any post-secondary institution, and I have no real career plans. Both of which criteria the government likes to see filled. However, if it does come through, I'll just work an estimated 77 hours a week for 8 weeks, and then get through just in time for Mommy and Daddy to head off to Toronto for Gid's stem cell treatment. I hadn't actually ran the dates till that moment, but it looks like that works out very well, if I do get the grant. Interesting.

It's all in God's hands. I have to keep reminding myself of this. Today has troubles enough for its self, don't worry about tomorrow. 

"So I'm going to apologize for that..."

Apparently, as they drove away from the hospital this morning, Gid sighed and said 

I'm glad that's over.

He's spent a ridiculous amount of time in the hospital, and it's getting just a little old. But he's back home now. Yay! That also means that Mommy and Daddy are home, and I am no longer in charge. YAY!!!!!!!!!!! :D

I still have a cold, however, so I am wearing a mask as not to infect Gid or the other small ones. It's surprisingly menacing. All I need is a pipe, and I'd be a proper gangster! *coughs* Right. MOVING on.

This morning I got a call from the people who run the grant program though which I hope to get a job at the Library. The questions they wanted answered were almost funny, they were so much what I had expected. "What are your career goals?" "Where are you going to university?" "Have you been accepted at a university?" I seem to remember predicting that those questions would be sticking points when I filled in the application. Salute me for a prophetess! :D However, I predicted that for the reason that I always seem to come up against these questions, and I am never able to give a standard answer. I am beginning to think I never will. Ah, who even wants to be normal? I certainly don't!

Then I got a call from McDonalds this afternoon. The manager was going to call me yesterday, but she's had "some good days," and she didn't get to it. She said the title, and booked me in for training on Thursday and Friday. I will admit that I am slightly nervous about that. The manager, Wavy, is rather formidable, and there is lots to learn. *bites nails* 

I reassure myself that a touch of nerves will help me stay sharp, and after all I am not brain dead, neither is it rocket science. I should be able to figure out how to keep my head above water soon enough. That's not going to stop me from doing a lot of praying though!

30 kilometres later, I have an interview!

I have walked 30 kilometres in the last 24 hours. That is 18.641136 miles. My legs have sent me notice that they are not moving, they don't plan to move, and any attempt to force them to move will be met with armed hostility. 

Why did I walk so far? Well, first of all, I found out on Monday that I owe my College $11,000.00. I had thought that was paid by a benefactor, but I was in error, apparently. A job abruptly looked like a REALLY good idea. I cobbled together my resume, and yesterday I headed out! All the way to the other end of town, (5km,) and back, (also 5km). I put resumes in everywhere that I could even remotely envision myself working. This included two hardware stores, and, seized with the sprit of much courage, McDonalds. Ah, funny-ish story about the second hardware store. The man who took resumes was on the phone when I walked in, so I was waiting by the office, when in walked a MASSIVE youth with a sheet of paper grasped in his ham-like fist. I am not short, but this guy was at least a foot taller than me. He was wearing a snowmobile jacket with padded shoulders, and a truckers cap. I felt about three feet tall, and as fragile as a toothpick. He just stalked in, dropped the paper on the desk of the manager, (Ha, genitive of possession there), and stalked out again. I was acutely aware, let us say, that I was wearing a white pants and my "stylish" coat in a hardware store. 

So, I made my way to the end of town, received two invitations to "come back tomorrow morning so you can give your resume to the Manager," and walked back. THEN, in the evening, I went out with my friend Ms. B, and as her car is in the shop we walked and chatted. We went, (you guessed it!) all the way to the end of town and back. By the end of that walk, I could no longer walk in a straight line. :D But it was nice to talk to Ms. B, and hear all the drama from St. John's and around home. 

Then today, I walked it again, to hand in those resumes to the managers. I now have 14 resumes and applications out at various locals in town. WHEW! Thankfully, most of them were positive about my resume, and the person in charge of hiring at McDonalds stopped me on the street this afternoon to book an interview on Monday morning. I'll have to see how it all pans out. 

And thankfully, while doing all that walking, the rest of my PENredux story arrived in my head, which is very jolly. I need ot go write now, and then make some supper. *nods*