I was WAY off on my game today at work. Yesterday, A promised me room 1, which means that I get the first table of the day and stay open til the end of the day. If you're in room 3 or 4 (like I was yesterday), you close early and "get" to go home early. Normally, this is welcome. This week, not so much. You see, in the last fourteen days, as of Friday, I will have had 6 of them off, and of those 8 days worked, I will have spent 2 days in room 3, one day in room 4, one day at the ice cream parlour, and one day on a TOUR (today).
Tours are crappy. We only had about nine customers each and they rarely tip well because they're saving their money for later or have already spent it all as they're on a bus tour of All-Over-Creation. Aside from tipping very little, you don't get to keep the tips laid down on your tables, you have to share them with not only the other waitress who may have served less or more or gotten less or more tips on their tables, but also the cook staff who helped you. I understand that it's nice for them to get tips, too, but this means my total take home in tips today was less than 8 dollars... and frankly, I can't afford to work like this.
I can't have an $8/hr job and not be making at least $12/day in tips... but K needed training and A wanted me to do it instead of J because I'm a better waitress, I guess. Yes, please punish me for being good at my job.
I also had to drive the truck to work which puts me in an automatic bad mood, and to make things worse, it was on EMPTY when I got in. I had no money to put gas in so I prayed and stressed all the way to work hoping I would get there without running out. I did, and was relieved that, working in room 1, I would make enough to pay my gas home... then I found out I had to do a tour... I was quite upset. In the end, I still had to borrow $7 from the other waitress to make sure I could get home gaswise. Like, $7 doesn't even pay my gas, grr! Also, laundry sidetracked me and yelled at me immediately when I came in the door for turning my daycap in every time I turn in my dress (which I did not know I wasn't supposed to do), then cookstaff yelled at me for something stupid, and then J got all huffy with me for some stupid reason... then the same cookstaff who yelled at me earlier snapped him in the face with a wet dishtowel. We're allowed to hate each other, but if someone else gets in on the fray, they're in trouble.
Yesterday, I was yelled at at least twice. In general, it doesn't bother me but when I'm already having a crappy day, I felt like crying most of the day. Then I found out that one of my favorite cooks quit... boo.
So I came home all grumpy like and decided to ride Bronwyn and proceeded to have the MOST AMAZING RIDE EVER on her. She is such a doll. She is finally starting to "get it" about riding, moving forward, leg and voice cues. After trotting her for quite a bit, deciding I definitely need better support for the... erm.. girls.. working her up to a good sweat and getting a lot accomplished, Shay came up to the ring to talk to me and I had her open the gate for me and I took Bronwyn out the pasture. She has never been ridden outside of her little ring or in the yard and she was quite forward but handled everything SO well. I rode her up the hill (when I rode Angel up the hill the first time, she backed down sideways, not a very pleasant experience) which she took well and took her time coming back down, really working her hind end to hold her back instead of glomming on her front end... then I rode her into the pond and let me tell you I have NEVER had a horse that enjoys water like she does. I didn't go in too far because I was afraid she would roll... then I took her back to the barn. What a moof. I love her and wouldn't trade her for the world.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Boo!
I had to work at the ice cream parlour today... definitely not what I was hired for, but it works. The only good part, however, about working at the ice cream parlour was that I could wear whatever I wanted. It was SO boring, even though I had J for company. I ate more stuff than I should have, too - spent too much money, because I was SO friggin' bored.
One thing that definitely made it worthwhile was seeing 4 adult Canadian Geese on our back lot along with about a dozen goslings in furry feather. They waddled down our green and into the river, and it definitely made my day. I am not cut out to be an ice cream scooper, but the sighting made things worthwhile.
While I was waiting for someone to come and unlock the parlour for me, I meandered over to chat with one of the teamsters. I inquired about the big Canadian mare that the security guard was telling me has some "personality" issues, then went over to visit her. She was not outwardly aggressive, but I found her very defensive when I reached across the fence to pet her. The smaller of the two mares was just soaking up the attention, loving on me and letting me love on her, and the bigger mare stood there, but was not interested in interaction. The teamster told me she was no good - she is okay to handle when you get your hands on her but not worth her weight in dogfood in the harness - she kicks and jigs and charges about when she's in gear. He said she was used for wagon rides before, and the site even went so far as to buy her wagon she was used with previously but she's no better.
I personally think she may have been used for pulling, based on what he describes. I think, just from the two interactions (limited as they were), that she is disrespectful and no one has taught her to be respectful, and have only used brute force to get their way, thus making her scared. She sure is defensive - I've never met a horse that I could truly say that about, but that's how I was reading her behaviour. I would sure love to get my hands on her. The teamster said he wanted to hook her with one of the big percherons that could hold her and then tire her out because he thinks she's just "too full of energy" - not the problem I suspect, but I think hooking her to someone that can hold her might be a good idea. Beyond that, I think she needs some trust.
Anyways, I kind of put my feelers out there, telling him if they got rid of her, I would like to know... I just love problematic horses. :P It's a hobby, anyways, and I just love succeeding.
Speaking of succeeding, I put Bronwyn in the pond yesterday and over a tarp and she never hesitated or blinked an eye, just blindly trusted that I was not putting her in any danger. She's so smart and levelheaded!
One thing that definitely made it worthwhile was seeing 4 adult Canadian Geese on our back lot along with about a dozen goslings in furry feather. They waddled down our green and into the river, and it definitely made my day. I am not cut out to be an ice cream scooper, but the sighting made things worthwhile.
While I was waiting for someone to come and unlock the parlour for me, I meandered over to chat with one of the teamsters. I inquired about the big Canadian mare that the security guard was telling me has some "personality" issues, then went over to visit her. She was not outwardly aggressive, but I found her very defensive when I reached across the fence to pet her. The smaller of the two mares was just soaking up the attention, loving on me and letting me love on her, and the bigger mare stood there, but was not interested in interaction. The teamster told me she was no good - she is okay to handle when you get your hands on her but not worth her weight in dogfood in the harness - she kicks and jigs and charges about when she's in gear. He said she was used for wagon rides before, and the site even went so far as to buy her wagon she was used with previously but she's no better.
I personally think she may have been used for pulling, based on what he describes. I think, just from the two interactions (limited as they were), that she is disrespectful and no one has taught her to be respectful, and have only used brute force to get their way, thus making her scared. She sure is defensive - I've never met a horse that I could truly say that about, but that's how I was reading her behaviour. I would sure love to get my hands on her. The teamster said he wanted to hook her with one of the big percherons that could hold her and then tire her out because he thinks she's just "too full of energy" - not the problem I suspect, but I think hooking her to someone that can hold her might be a good idea. Beyond that, I think she needs some trust.
Anyways, I kind of put my feelers out there, telling him if they got rid of her, I would like to know... I just love problematic horses. :P It's a hobby, anyways, and I just love succeeding.
Speaking of succeeding, I put Bronwyn in the pond yesterday and over a tarp and she never hesitated or blinked an eye, just blindly trusted that I was not putting her in any danger. She's so smart and levelheaded!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Back when I knew it all...
I'm not very happy with work right now. I had Tuesday and Wednesday off, and then I went in for work Thursday... they told me I had Friday and Saturday off and they didn't know if I had to come in for work on Sunday or not. That means I will have had 3 days on in this week (from Saturday to Saturday), which is... really not cool. I am pretty sure this was advertised as a "full time" job. That said, some days when it is slow, two servers shut down their rooms and go home early, giving us about 4 hours instead of 6 (which is all we get per day anyways)... so this next paycheque is not going to be pretty, I don't reckon. They cut a couple of shifts off of me because there is a girl that they hired for the summer but that can't come to work because she has to do Co Op for school but they want to give her a few shifts so she can come back to work for the Christmas dinners. So kind of ticked off, but I have been told that things will change after the Canada Day weekend and be back up to snuff hourswise plus we'll be making something like 40-50$ per day in tips.
Other than that, as a followup to my not so gracious last post about being envious of others, I should say that yes, I do actually have a very blessed life - just blessed differently - I have a great, supportive family, a steady roof over my head, a novel with some professional interest in it, horses that make me happy from day to day... do I really have room for a family in there? Maybe not?
Other than that, as a followup to my not so gracious last post about being envious of others, I should say that yes, I do actually have a very blessed life - just blessed differently - I have a great, supportive family, a steady roof over my head, a novel with some professional interest in it, horses that make me happy from day to day... do I really have room for a family in there? Maybe not?
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Envy...
The night before last, I really hoped my Australian boy would come back to my dreams, but alas, he stayed away and I dreamt about work, instead. Specifically about being laid off at the Inn and going back to the Nackawic call center for a few months, which therefore made that dream a nightmare. I even laid in bed before I fell asleep thinking about the envisionment of said blonde Australian... alas, no.
Peter called Ann at work yesterday to tell her that they had found Joe, one of the correspondants from Orlando, dead in his condo over the weekend. He was only 34, but I suspect he lived an exceptionally extravagant lifestyle and that may have been his undoing. I really enjoyed Joe and especially loved his visits - he was friendly and sweet... and once, Peter told him that donair meat was horsemeat and I was present to see his face melt into the most disgusted expression I have ever seen. He then waltzed over to me, knowing that I have horses, and asked "Is donair meat really made of horse?", and then I told him no, and he was relieved, but it took some convincing for him to settle down.
I hate the mood that I am in as a result of that stupid dream about the Australian. It makes me moody. It's no secret that my maternal instinct has been going really haywire for the last year and all I want to do is get married and make babies and be a wifey who makes boxes of cookies for the neighbors and dinner parties in her home... alas, for three years, I have been completely void of the potential man to make that instinct realize itself.
It just gets worse when I see people that I don't like getting all those things - married, having babies, etc. I have serious family envy. Don't get me wrong - someone like Tiffany, I am over the moon thrilled for - I'm not envious of her at all, but when I see people that I dislike or who treated me wrong in school getting married, having babies, getting on with their lives, I think to myself - I am a much nicer/more honest/better person than them, I deserve that way more than they do!
I am still holding out hope to meet someone at work, maybe? LOL There were a couple of cute young Irish boys in yesterday, but with their grandparents and father, and maybe a little too young, not MAN enough... Then there is a cute boy in the theatre department that I gave gingerbread to - he is cute but I've heard he's a manwhore. I just can't win!
Peter called Ann at work yesterday to tell her that they had found Joe, one of the correspondants from Orlando, dead in his condo over the weekend. He was only 34, but I suspect he lived an exceptionally extravagant lifestyle and that may have been his undoing. I really enjoyed Joe and especially loved his visits - he was friendly and sweet... and once, Peter told him that donair meat was horsemeat and I was present to see his face melt into the most disgusted expression I have ever seen. He then waltzed over to me, knowing that I have horses, and asked "Is donair meat really made of horse?", and then I told him no, and he was relieved, but it took some convincing for him to settle down.
I hate the mood that I am in as a result of that stupid dream about the Australian. It makes me moody. It's no secret that my maternal instinct has been going really haywire for the last year and all I want to do is get married and make babies and be a wifey who makes boxes of cookies for the neighbors and dinner parties in her home... alas, for three years, I have been completely void of the potential man to make that instinct realize itself.
It just gets worse when I see people that I don't like getting all those things - married, having babies, etc. I have serious family envy. Don't get me wrong - someone like Tiffany, I am over the moon thrilled for - I'm not envious of her at all, but when I see people that I dislike or who treated me wrong in school getting married, having babies, getting on with their lives, I think to myself - I am a much nicer/more honest/better person than them, I deserve that way more than they do!
I am still holding out hope to meet someone at work, maybe? LOL There were a couple of cute young Irish boys in yesterday, but with their grandparents and father, and maybe a little too young, not MAN enough... Then there is a cute boy in the theatre department that I gave gingerbread to - he is cute but I've heard he's a manwhore. I just can't win!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
I'm weak in the knees for you...
I wiped out outside of the reception hall yesterday and at first I thought I hurt my ankle and turned it over (same ankle that I sprained back in November), but when I got up this morning, the muscle on the inside of my leg right above my knee felt genuinely "tweaked". Oi!
I had a strange dream last night about a blonde Australian guy. Apparently, in the dream, if I recall correctly, he was just in this boarding house we lived in that was old (like King's Landing old). Then a tornado came along and tore off part of the roof so we had to decide to move out, and decided to move to somewhere near the water. When I have dreams about a beach, it's always the same beach - there are about 40ft sheer rock cliffs framing a little bay, about twenty feet of sand and then a kind of bay area that always has killer whales in it, sometimes dolphins also - it is fed (or feeds into) a narrow river where the orcas sometimes go as well. Anyways, we decided to move into these little tents and hovels on the beach and he decided to move in with me, and the most poignant scene of the dream, where it is usually the beach and seeing the whales, was us standing and embracing for quite some time...
Which made me realize that it's been some time since someone besides my family hugged or touched me and I think that is what I feel the worst about about being single -- I don't even know if I want a relationship, but I do want that physical touch. Bah, it must just be the weddings and stuff going on lately that's got me feeling weird.
I had a strange dream last night about a blonde Australian guy. Apparently, in the dream, if I recall correctly, he was just in this boarding house we lived in that was old (like King's Landing old). Then a tornado came along and tore off part of the roof so we had to decide to move out, and decided to move to somewhere near the water. When I have dreams about a beach, it's always the same beach - there are about 40ft sheer rock cliffs framing a little bay, about twenty feet of sand and then a kind of bay area that always has killer whales in it, sometimes dolphins also - it is fed (or feeds into) a narrow river where the orcas sometimes go as well. Anyways, we decided to move into these little tents and hovels on the beach and he decided to move in with me, and the most poignant scene of the dream, where it is usually the beach and seeing the whales, was us standing and embracing for quite some time...
Which made me realize that it's been some time since someone besides my family hugged or touched me and I think that is what I feel the worst about about being single -- I don't even know if I want a relationship, but I do want that physical touch. Bah, it must just be the weddings and stuff going on lately that's got me feeling weird.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
You got me begging you for mercy...
I am not letting myself get too excited over the request for five pages of manuscript - I think my novel has to be read in it's entirety to be appreciated, but this is at least a start. The fact that this agent has requested more after my query letter means they think it's worth a read, and they're not going to be the only ones that do!
I was starting to get a little bit discouraged. It's just disheartening to send out so many and get so many flat out no's without requests for more material. It's all good, though - this email has given me the encouragement I need to push on and continue. SOMEONE out there wants this book, SOMEONE out there will think it's worth publishing, and hopefully, lots of SOMEONES will buy it. I don't expect to get rich and famous but once you've been published, it's easier to sell other books to agents.
Work is going alright - we had a tour group where I handled 21 who all sat at the same time. I worked myself into a tizzy because I wrote down the orders in the wrong order and then was having trouble reading them but things worked out fine in the end - I did the best I could and no one was upset or angry and that is what counts best. I only got $11 in tips, though, and that was all I did all day, so kind of a write off and a piss off, but I'll get over it.
Today I get a room with tables (yay) instead of the tour, so hopefully I will garner some more there. The girls were asking me yesterday if I was making more here than at my first call center job and I had to think about it - if you calculate the benefits in, no.. then they said I hadn't seen the July/August tips you garner, so I wasn't convinced yet, but I would be. (Yay!)
Anyways, off to work today and tomorrow and then I have Saturday off for Nicole's wedding where I'm taking pictures. Hopefully I don't mess that up majorly.
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