One month...

Tomorrow will mark one month...
I never thought I would make it this far. Never.
It was just a dream that I thought would never become a reality.
Now it has and I am forced to look back and reflect on what I have gone through...
Tonight is a very difficult night for me.
It is probably a night I will never forget.
Am I happy?
No
But am I glad that I made it?
Absolutely
Sometimes I feel like my whole world is spinning and I can only ask the question...How did I get here?...How did I reach this point in my life?
I thought that if I succeeded with my goal everything would be right again...everything would be normal...but now I find that is not the case at all.
How can you come so far yet feel like you really haven't moved that far at all?
Part of me wants to say that everything will be alright.
But the rest me knows the truth.
I still have a long way to go.
I pray to God to give me the strength for the difficult road ahead.
I refuse to let myself go back because I know I am weak.
I am not strong enough.
I can't fall back down into the pit.
I have struggled and fought my way to where I am now and even though it may only be a few feet off the ground of a seemingly endless climb, every now and then I am able to catch a glimpse of a light at the end of my deep and dark tunnel.
Even though it is just for a brief moment, I treasure it.
I have to keep my eyes on the prize.
I refuse to go back.
I refuse.

Creepy Santa, Wal-Mart bags, Bacon, a Laptop, and oh yea...Freezing COLD Weather!!!!!!

So I know I haven't blogged for awhile....but I have been really busy plus I haven't had a lot to write about...well...I finally do. Black Friday.

Every year my mom and I go to Springfield to go shopping on Black Friday and I normally love it. It is usually the highlight of my whole Thanksgiving vacation. Well this year, I would have to say it was the most miserable Black Friday of my life. This year we decided to do something new....go up the night before and camp out at Best Buy. In past years it was always small stuff we were after like mp3 players or satellite radios but nothing over $200. This year however, since I am a senior, my grandma had given me the money to buy a laptop which would be my graduation gift. Well, I found the perfect one in the ad from Best Buy. It was a Sony VAIO worth $839.99 and it came with a laptop bag, a printer and anti-spyware software all for $499. I was stoked! But there was a slight problem...the ad said that the store would only be guaranteed to have 3 packages because it was such a good deal. So...mom and I decided to go up on Thursday night. Originally we said we would get there at about 10pm, but then we changed our minds as the time drew near. We ended up leaving at about 4 oclock. We stopped in Mountain Grove to get gas and some the hand warmers from the camping department that probably ended up saving our fingers from frostbite. I was really excited on our way to Springfield, afterall I was getting a laptop! But what I did not anticipate was just how cold it was going to be. I still don't know how I made it through the night. I mean sure...before I left I put on two pairs of pants, three pairs of socks, three shirts, and a hoodie...plus I brought several more layers and blankets but it still wasn't enough. There is a point at which addition layers or blankets will not make you any warmer. I am convinced that hell is not a place of fire and brimstone...no....hell is a place where it is as cold as it can be....because I am sure it is far more torturous to be out in extreme cold than extreme heat. Anyway....so when we got to Springfield I was pumped. When we got to Best Buy however, I was speechless. There were already a ton of people in line!!! I had been hoping we could stay in the truck for a couple of hours before we had to get out and get in line...but no....we had to get in line immediately. So we got our chairs and set them up along the wall right passed Chuckie Cheese's and right behind a couple with a tent even though it clearly said on posters on the wall that tents were not allowed. Within minutes I was already shaking! I was so cold....I honestly thought we would have to give up and get a hotel room before the night was over! After a brief few moments I left mom to guard our spot and went to the truck to get all of my additional layers. I put on coveralls, gloves, a hat, snowboots, and a huge fluffy winter coat....believe me it still wasn't enough. After we had been sitting out there about 30 minutes or so the line had continued to grow and we introduced ourselves to the people around us. There were two girls beside us who when they first introduced themselves the asked if we were from West Plains...and my mom said that she worked there and they said they were the Quiznos girls and they had seen my mom there before. After a little while it dawned on me who one of the girls was. Her name was Kayla and I had gone to school with her at Richards for years in West Plains. She was a year older than me and we had played softball together in the sixth and seventh grades. We weren't close friends by any means, but I still remembered her and I even remembered that she was our catcher! It was neat that even though we were in Springfield among thousands of people Black Friday shopping we ended up sitting next to someone we knew. At about 7 oclock a Best Buy worker came down the line and wrote down what items everyone was after. He also told us that we were 81st in line. The rest of the night passed very slowly. It just continued to grow colder and colder. Mom and I would take turns going to the truck every hour or so for about ten minutes to warm up but it really didn't help that much. As soon as I came back from the truck I would start shaking and my teeth would start chattering...then after about thrity minutes I would get so cold and numb that I couldn't feel anything and I would stop shaking. The night continued on and with the later hours came brief bursts of activity among the crowd and society. For example, at one point the creepiest Santa I have ever seen came down the line asking people if they had a light for his cigarette. The Hooter's girls also came by and gave out free hot chocolate. Then randomly people would drive by and shout about how crazy we all were for staying out in the cold. Luckily the police were there to keep order, but one car got away with something outrageous....it was a station wagon that looked like the owner had tried to pimp it out with tinted windows and a loud exhaust. As it came buy there rolled down the window and through what I am sure was a stink bomb because immediately the intense odor of rotten eggs was present. So to add to the worst night of my life it now smelled. But luckily it went away after a few minutes. I was very thankful that Lindsey texted me throughout the night too...it kept me from getting too bored. But everytime I would go to text it was painful because I had to take my fingers out of my gloves which had the hand warmers in them. At about midnight I had to go to the bathroom...BAD!!!! and since we had taken my mom's truck which is a standard I couldn't drive it anywhere to go to the bathroom....so I was forced to do the one thing that I loathed more than anything else...I had to use the porta-potty!!!!! UGH!!!! And to make matters worse I had so many layers on that I had to take half of my clothes off before I could even use it!!! I was disgusted by it...but I was literally in pain I had to go to the bathroom so bad. So I worked up the courage and went. It was nasty, but relieving. There is no telling how many diseases I could have gotten from that one experience. Anyway...at about 1am the boys two groups down from us who were probably high school seniors and one of which was pretty cute....started making bacon and eggs with the propane tank they had brought! I was starving!!!! It smelled sooooo good....but I couldn't have any. :( At 2am everyone started packing up their stuff and taking it out to their vehicles, because at 3am they were going to start giving out the vouchers for the big ticket items like my laptop. So the line, which by the way was way passed Petsmart by then, moved forward as people squished together and moved towards the door. My feet were killing me...they had gotten so cold I am pretty sure they were in the beginning stages of frostbite. At 3am it was chaos as they came out with the vouchers..."who needs a tv?" Hands flew into the air and people crowded around the employee with the tv vouchers. Others asked when the laptop vouchers were coming. Finally we heard "Who needs a Sony laptop?" I jumped into action and raised my hand. By the time the employee was down to me I asked her if it was the package or the laptop they had for $399 which was almost the exact same without the printer, bag, or spyare blocker. She said they had ran out of the package but she had one more for the $399 laptop. So I snatched it. I was overjoyed! That piece of paper guaranteed that I would be getting a laptop and even though it wasn't the package it was almost the exact same computer and it was cheap! After all the vouchers were handed out, the personal shopping assistants came out for the first 100 people in line....each assistant was assigned to three people. Our assistant's name was Sarah. She asked us what all we wanted and we told her that we wanted the laptop and a wireless router and a printer which after the purchase of the laptop was only $30! So Sarah went inside and gathered all the stuff so at 5am when we went it would be ready to go...at 4:30am they handed out Krispy Kreme doughnuts which I was so thankful for because I was starving! At 5 a sigh of relieve came as the doors were opened. Ky3 was there to interview people and do a report, but I was more concerned about my laptop and more importantly the warmth of the store. We were in and out! I bought my laptop and I was so happy! Afterwards we went to IHOP where we saw Miss Landsdown and enjoyed a delicious warm breakfast before continuing shopping for the rest of the day. The rest of the day was successful a and I ended up going back to Best Buy and getting a laptop bag and wireless mouse. I fell asleep on the way home and I was ready to take a shower and sleep when I came home. But I ended up playing with my laptop until 7 oclock when I finally went to sleep after being up for 37.5 hours! Was ir worth it? Now that I am warm and have my laptop I will say it was all worth it, but if you had asked me the same question anytime during the 11 hours I would outside I would have said no.

I am not camping out next year, but I am glad I did this year because now I have an awesome new toy! :)

There once was a volleyball coach.....

There once was a volleyball coach,
Who decided it was time to stop teaching girls how to pass and approach.

But she couldn't stay away from the sport,
so she traveled to the volleyball court.

She found the team practicing there,
spot hitting at a chair.

All she could do was scowl,
and every word that came out of her mouth was foul. : )

After five minutes of standing to the side,
many mistakes she spied.

"Speed up your arm swing," she screamed,
with this advice, into the floor the ball was creamed.

After a few more minutes of watching them hit had passed,
she decided it was time to go get an oreo blast.

So with a good bye wave,
we knew she would back another day to rant and rave.

Help! I am drowning....

Usually I am a very happy person and I am always optimistic, but these past three days I have really felt like I am being held underwater and I can't breathe. It seems like everytime I just about reach the surface something gets in my way and pushes me farther under. I feel like I can't win. No matter what I do, I will not come out on top. It all started Friday with a series of bad things happening that caused me to have a bad day. For starters, the Mac that I edit news on for KWSB crashed which really frustrated me because I lost all of the work I had been doing. So I started over again capturing all of the video again and then five minutes later, the camera's battery died and I couldn't capture anymore. So this put me in a not so good mood. Then later on that night I witnessed one of my co-workers give over one hundred dollars worth of groceries away and there was nothing I could do about it except wait to tell my boss on Sunday. Finally, later on that night when I came home my mom and I got into it about work and how I don't get to go to church. Saturday morning though, I woke up feeling optimistic about my volleyball tournament that day. Well, we lost and Coach Lee was not happy. This saddened me, but what really upset me was the conversation I had with Coach Lee after the tournament was over. I had to explain to her why I couldn't go to the Eminence game tonight but she already knew the situation so I thought it wouldn't be a big deal. Well, she basically made me defend myself and justify why I couldn't go. I felt like she didn't believe me. I wouldn't just skip a game. I mean I am missing my game right now and I wish I was there playing but I couldn't go to that game because mentally I would not be there. I would be in a state of fear and worry. I walked out of the building after talking to her and I broke down into tears. I was so angry and upset. I am still really upset, to the point of I don't want to see her again and I just want to quit volleyball. Anyway....after that I figured that Sunday had to be a better day because the previous two had sucked, but sure enough it proved to suck too. I had to tell my boss about my co-worker and friend who had given away groceries. Then I had to take apart a soda machine and put it back together again. Finally, my replacement was late and when we counted the drawer, it was 300 dollars over! Well, I thought surely today will be better. Nope, guess again. I have never been asked so many times in all my life "Are you pumped for the game tonight?" It stung everytime because I knew that I wasn't going but I would just say yes because I didn't want to have to explain the situation over and over again. I mean these past few days I have thought countless times about the part of my past that I have tried so hard to erase from my mind. It depresses me too. I mean, I know I have come a long way from that time in my life but it is always haunting me. In the Bible it says you have to forgive to be forgiven, but it is so hard for me to forgive someone who hurt my family so much. Does this mean I am going to hell? I don't know. It's a question that plagues me. It sounds so easy in writing: Just forgive him. But talking the talk and walking the walk are two seperate things. I can say that I forgive him but do I truly in my heart? Honestly I can't say yes yet. Anyway to make my day even better, I came home from school because I was not going to the game and there was a letter from the Missouri Higher Education Department. I opened it up and skimming it I saw the words "Bright Flight." I was excited because I thought this would be a letter informing me that I would receive it since I had gotten a 30 on the ACT. Nope....instead it was to inform me that they raised the standards. To get bright flight you have to score in the top 3 percent of all missouri students taking the test and now that is a 31 not a 30. So now I have to retake the test and hopefully get a 31. This did not add to my already pleasant mood.

So now I am sitting here writing this blog with a huge headache that I got three days ago from all of the stress and which no amount of ibprofen will take away, thinking about the volleyball game I am missing, and wondering when my life will take a turn for the better. I hope soon. : )

Warm Up Writing....

Almost everyday at the start of class in College Comp. Coach Daugherty has us sit and write about basically whatever we want for five minutes or so...I absolutely love it.... most of my writings end up being extremely random. Coach Daugherty suggested that I put them on my blog so decided it was time I did that!

August 16, 2007
Blue Powerade and Toy Story 2

*I am looking forward to my internship next block with Mrs. Pitts.
I know that I am a slacker.
I enjoy this fact.
Sometimes.
I woke up at two fifty this morning and was craving powerade, so I got up and went to the kitchen and I got a glass with some ice in it. Then I poured myself a delicious glass of blue powerade.
On my way back to my room I decided that I wanted a doughnut.
I chose a very tasty cake doughnut from Krispy Kreme.
I went back to my room but I was not tired.
*I decided to watch Toy Story 2.
I fell asleep half way through it.
My half eaten doughnut was still on my pillow.
I woke up at four and decided to finish my doughnut.
It was amazing.
Then I fell asleep.

August 22, 2007
Moldy Planner

This morning I woke up and my mom made me waffles.
I like waffles.
I like bacon too!
I don’t like the fact that my planner is molding.
That does not make me happy.
It is soaked in red vault.
I like red vault, but not when it is all over my planner.
I guess I should buy a new one, or I guess I could steal some freshman’s planner.
Yes, that is what I will do.
They will never know what hit them.
Hahahahahahahaha
Then I will trashcan them just to show them who rules the school.
Okay maybe not.
But I will take their planner.
I love vanilla dr. pepper!
My back hurts from volleyball.
I am getting way too old for it.
I need a chiropractor.
Class officer elections are today.
I hope I win.
I think I will vote for myself.
I need to go by work and buy a powerball ticket!245 million would be sweet!!!!!
Although I can’t legally win it, I would just let my mom claim it.
I would buy a new car.
Speaking of new cars, I am going this Saturday to look for one in Springfield.
This excites me.
So does the fact that I don’t have to work on Saturday.
I don’t know how I am going to make a car payment though.
I only work two days a week because of volleyball.
I only have ten bucks in my bank account.
Where did all my money go?
I worked my butt off this summer but it is all gone.
I can’t tell my mom I am poor though.
She will be angry.
I will not be allowed to go out and see my friends if she is angry.
So I will keep the fact I am poor my dirty little secret.
I need to blog.
I like blogging.
Hmmmmmm…
I want to pop bubble wrap
And drink a chocolate milkshake.

August 24, 2007

Ham and cheddar…hot sauce makes it better!
I need to find a new car tomorrow.
Hopefully I will be able to.
I wanted to sell it before the odometer hit 100,000 miles but it will surely hit that before I make it to Springfield tomorrow.
I don’t want to go to work tonight, although we got a new lottery machine! SWEET!!!!
I am very sore from volleyball.
My back hurts.
I need a chiropractor.
Our first game is Monday night against Plato.
We better win!
Hopefully this will be a good season.
I want to take a nap!
I had to be at practice at six this morning.
Ugh…..
I want a vault. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm……vault!
I need to deposit my paycheck before it gets lost in the depths of my car.
My car isn’t that dirty.
But I guess I should clean it before tomorrow.
Both Lindsey and Amber told me they were surprised I didn’t have mice in my car.
I don’t think it is that bad.
Although, there is the crunchy part of crab Rangoon on the floor.
Mmmmmmmmm…..crab Rangoon!
I need to do my summer journals.
That is a fact.

September 4, 2007

All I want for Christmas is knee replacement surgery.
My knee hurts.
I believe I injured it in volleyball.
It swelled up and had a bunch of fluid in it over the weekend.
It’s a dull throbbing pain.
I worked too much over the three day weekend.
I didn’t really get to enjoy it.
I worked 27 hours.
4 on Friday, 7 on Saturday, 8 on Sunday, and 8 on Monday
It sucked.
I was exhausted Saturday night.
I partied hard that night!!!
Not really…
I fell asleep at 8:30.
I had to be at work at 7am on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday!
Ugh…..
That’s all I have to say about that!I almost have my summer journals done! WOOT!
I have moved up to Crew boss on mobsters! This excites me! Watch out coach Daugherty!
I need to write my essay for Bev.
What is up with this?
I never have homework in Bev’s class!!!I need to clean my room.
There is no time to clean my room, so it will stay a mess.
Everything that was in my old car is now on the floor of my room.
If you know me, you understand what that means.
I can barely walk through my room!lol
Mike at work told me I should take a year off before I go to college and become deli manager at Town and Country.
No thanks Mike, I have plans for my future and that doesn’t include working at Town and Country til I die.
I didn’t play the lottery at all yesterday!
But I did on Saturday and Sunday…
I lost.
I cried.
Not really.
I want to go to the river.
I like swimming.
This weekend I was the queen of saying things that didn’t come out right and they sounded bad.
Lindsey came over and we were watching the Simpsons in my room and I heard the shower start and I said “Oh it must be family shower time!”
That sounded wrong.
What I meant was that my brother was taking his shower then my step brother would take his and then my step sister after that.
Lindsey didn’t help the situation.
She said “Do you need to go?”I died laughing
Major ROTFL
I love acronyms! Lol

The Search is Over!

Yesterday I was able to get off work so my mom and I could go to Springfield and look at cars. I was really excited, although I didn't think we would buy one. My car just hit 100,000 miles so if I was going to get rid of it I had to do something about it soon. So we spent our day scouring the city of Springfield for a new vehicle. We stopped in Rogersville on our way to Springfield and found out that they would buy my car for somewhere between 3000 and 3500 dollars no matter if I was trading in for another car or not. I was pumped because my car blue books at $3400. So that would mean I would get what it was worth. Well mom told them we would get back to them if that's what we decided to do and we continued on our journey.
When we got to Springfield we went to the Reliable Toyota lot and they acted like they didn't even care or want to help us. So we went to another car lot. After a couple of car lots I was starting to get a little discouraged because I hadn't seen anything that I really liked. But then we pulled into the Metro Motors lot and I saw it. It was a beautiful 2003 Honda Civic. I told mom I was in love before I even got to inspect it up close. We looked at it closely and it was just as good on the inside as it was on the outside. But I knew it was going to be expensive being an '03 and it only had 38,000 miles on it. So we asked Ray the salesman the price, who acted kind of nervous. He acted as if we were his first customer ever, but he was nice nonetheless. He said $13,595 and my hopes were crushed. I had been looking in the $5000 to $7000 range not $13,000!!!! But then mom says we don't have to write it off entirely. This salvaged some of my hope. We then left without test driving the car to go eat and look at other lots. After about another two hours of searching, the Civic was all I could think about. I loved that car. So mom said that we should go test drive it. We went back and told Ray we were ready to take it for a spin and off we went. It drove perfectly. I loved it even more. So when we got back mom said that we should see what they will give me for my car and see what the payments would look like. I was so thrilled. She was actually considering this car! After looking at the car, the business manager told us he would give us $2700 for my car. My mom was looked at me and the told the guy that we were offered in the $3000s for it. Then the guy went outside and looked at my car again and came back in and said the standard "we really want your business so here's what I will do" line and then he offered to give the $3595 for my car and make the difference an even $10,000. I was excited! That was an awesome deal. Mom said okay but what will the payments look like? After some figuring the Ray told us that they would likely be around $214 a month. That would be a huge stretch for me. Right now I only earn $80 a week because of volleyball. I was hoping for somewhere in the $160-$180 range. Then mom told Ray that we needed to think about it. We left and went to the Target parking lot where mom called my stepdad and he said it was up to me...the car blue booked at $14,200 so it was a good deal. I told mom it was the hardest decision of my life because that would mean for the next five years I would struggle every month to meet the $214 mark plus pay for insurance and gas! I said I really want that car but I just don't know. Then mom, being the exceptional lady that she is says "Student loans are cheaper than car loans...how about I take $3000 that I have saved and put it down on the car. That would make the payment where you want it." I could have shouted I was so happy! I was going to get my car!!! So we went back and told Ray the news and he completely agreed that my payment will be way better. Although I didnt get to drive my new car home because mom has to bring the title to my car and exchange with them and give them the $3000, I am so excited! She is going back up to Springfield tomorrow and getting my car. It will be here when I get back from my volleyball game in Plato. I fully believe God led me to the right car, because everything worked out so perfectly. Even though I do have an emotional attachment to the car I have now, I am excited that I don't have to worry if my car will die on me! I will definitely take good care of this car!

No pain, no gain....

On Monday of this week, we began our first official practice for volleyball. This year I am a senior so it is exciting to finally be at the top. Well, before I get my chance to shine and show what I can do on the court, I first have to make it through the wonderful mile run. Every year I dread the mile. We are required to run it in under eight minutes in order to be done running it for the season. Well, I know for a fact I will never be able to make it. But every year up until this year I have tried to prepare for the mile and about a month or so beforehand I will run three or four times a week at my house. Granted this did help, but I never even got close to making it under eight minutes. So this year I decided, why bother? I thought I won't prepare and just get out there and do my best when the time comes. Well, the time came on Monday and I won't lie....I practically died! lol I was huffing and puffing but I finally made it across the finish line. So after a tough practice and a short night of sleep, I woke up early Tuesday morning to do the same exact thing. I had to go run another mile. As I got out of bed, I was sore and could barely move. The same thoughts I have had every year about this time crept into my mind, "Why do I do this? I hate the mile. I hate running. I hate conditioning. Why do I do this?" And in previous years I had even considered quitting volleyball. But this year it is different. I no longer want to quit volleyball, because I finally know the answer to my question. I love volleyball. I love the sport. I love the sound of a ball hitting the floor on the other side of the net and the cheer of the crowd when we get the point. I love making the perfect set so the spiker will crush it and the ace chant being yelled as I watch the ball drop to the ground between the other team's passers. I love it all. Sure I don't love running, but I love volleyball. And if running makes me a better player, then I will do it. This is my last year playing volleyball and everything is a last for me. I ran my last, first mile on Monday. I have learned that I need to cherish everything and enjoy it while it is still there, because next year I will be busy with college and the sport that has been a part of my life for the past 7 years won't be anymore. I want to make this season count and try my hardest to be the best player I can be....even if that means running a mile everyday.

The Search Continues...

For awhile now my car has been burning a lot of oil in between oil changes....and when I say a lot I mean three to four quarts. So about a week ago I took it to the mechanic to see how much it would cost to fix the problem. Well, unfortunately he told me that my car had a rare problem. With some Toyota Corollas made in 1998, the cylinders are egg shaped and it causes them to burn oil. He told me my only options were to either get a new car or buy a new engine and risking that the same problem might occur again. He said if it were me I would take it to a dealer and trade it in, not saying anything about the oil problem because right now my car engine looks perfect. He said unless you drove it for an extended amount of time, you would never know that it burnt oil. So in other words, my car looks like it is worth a lot more than it really is.
Armed with this new information, I have begun my search for a new car. It is exciting, but also very sad. I have a lot of memories with my car. I went skateboarding behind it, I spilled countless drinks in it, at one point I had over 96 cans of soda in it, I ate many loaves of bread in it.....the list goes on. I am sure though that the next car I get will have just as many memories attached to it too. Mom wants to get rid of my car before it hits 100,000 miles and it currently has 98,700 so we have to find one soon. We went to Springfield and looked around but never saw anything that was perfect...well besides a 2003 eclipse that was NICE! lol...but anyway I drove to West Plains too and looked. Well, while I was in West Plains I was just driving across town and I saw this little car lot with only about twenty cars and I decided to cruise the lot. I saw there a 2002 Dodge Intrepid that was really nice and the good news is that it is affordable! :) So now I am looking at it and will test drive it soon! Hopefully it will work out but if it doesn't I know God will lead me to the right car and I will get one that works this time! lol

Oh how I love Town and Country...

Okay so maybe I don't love Town and Country...but I am forced to spend over thirty hours a week there so I have to try and find the positives and be optimistic. lol Even though the work becomes highly monotonous and boring there are always interesting things and people that come my way. I have learned a lot working at Town and Country...some bad things but mostly good. lol

Good Things About Town and Country

-Working in the office you can play on the computer all day and it looks like you are doing work.

-I can cash my own scratcher tickets in the office so I dont have to worry about the small detail that I am technically not old enough to play the lottery.

-For the most part people are honest.

-The Coke guy is hott.

-I get to work with at least one of my friends.

-I can get away with anything since I have been there the longest! :) lol

-I can make cool laser shows in the office with the hand held scanner.

-Singing to the music that is playing is fun.

-Sonic runs for food on Sunday mornings.

-Playing with matches in the office can be a fun activity.

-My attractive smock is amazing! lol jk

-Mike's son Wade is the cutest child ever! I love him. The only question I have is how did a cute child like him come from MIKE PLANK?! lol

-I have a manager's tag of my own that says my name on it! Believe me...this is a big deal! lol

-Drunk people are always fun.

-Bread! I have acccess to my favorite food the whole time I am there! :)

-I get to read all the magazines for free...when my boss isn't watching! lol

-Frozen, microwave french fries...I enjoy these a lot! lol

-Dancing in the aisles can be a joy!

-"Damaged goods"=FREE!!!! lol

-I earn $6.50 an hour now instead of what I started at....$5.15! Thank you Missouri voters! lol

-Power outages can be fun!

Bad Things At Town and Country

-Missing church on Sundays.

-Scratcher tickets can be highly addictive

-The hott Coke guy was married. Then he got assigned to a new route.:(

-Some people think they know how to do my job better than me.

-I get yelled at by customers for stuff I have nothing to do with.

-One word.... jello! lol Stacking that can be horrible! They ALWAYS fall down.

-I have to text in secret.

-Mike Plank

-People telling me that Jordan is a boy name. Hello...I am a GIRL!

-You only get one 10 minute break.

-People who come in late to take over for you and you can't leave until they get there! Ugh...this drives me insane!

-STINKY PEOPLE!!!!

-It is sad that I know more about cigarettes than most smokers and I have never smoked a cigarette in my life...nor do I ever want to!

-Gross, juicy, leaky chicken!

-The missuse of Food Stamps!

What I learned in Michigan....

While most of my friends and family stayed home to celebrate the 4th of July, I had the awesome opportunity to go with Lindsey and the Pomona Chrisian Church youth group to Holland, Michigan for CIY (Christians in Youth) Summer Conference. It was an amazing week where I got to meet new people, try new things, and grow closer to some of my friends! I also learned a lot while I was there about various things and some of them are as follows...
1. Michigan McDonalds do not sell sweet tea! : (
2. Sand does not taste as good as it looks!
3. It doesn't matter if you are at a Christian conference...not everyone is honest. I put change on the railroad tracks everyday hoping to get the trains to flatten my coins so I would have them as a souvenier...but everyday some skanks stole my money! I put over a dollar in change on the tracks in total!
4. People from Illinois are called "Illinoisians"
5. People from Indiana are called "Indianians"
6. People from Michigan are called "Michiganites"
7. The silent "s" in Illinois is optional. You may pronounce it like Ill-i-noy or Ill-i-noise. Either way is acceptable.
8. And since the "s" in Illinois is optional so are all "s"s....otherwise that would just be an absurd rule...and we all know the English language is consistent 100% of the time....so for example you may pronounce horse as Horse or Whore.
9. "T" and "H" are also optional. For example....If I were trying to say "look at that"...you can say look at that or the short version look a ha! or....the EVEN shorter, more condensed version....look a a! :)
10. Even the most pointless story must be started with "Oh and come to find out...." lol
11. It really is scary how alike Lindsey and I are except for a few minor details! (see number 12)
12. Lindsey can't stand my organized chaos as I like to call it. lol You should have seen our room! On her half everything and I mean everything had to be in a certain place and neatly arranged...on my side of the room I was proud of myself when I picked up a banana peel from a banana I had ate the previous night! lol I don't see why everything has to be neat! I mean as long as I know where everything is I am happy! :)
13. Lindsey drinks as much water as there is in Lake Michigan in one day!
14. Pick on Jordan week will never end. It has become pick on Jordan decade.
15. NEVER take air conditioning for granted!
16. Lindsey has the ability to read my mind which scares me! lol

(I will add more as I think of them! :) )

The will power or lack thereof of Jordan...

Ok...so I usually don't listen to teachers...lol just kidding...but this time I decided that one of mine had a pretty brilliant idea...Good ole Casey Daugherty! God bless her soul! lol...so anyway...she has been keeping track of the days that she goes without drinking a sweet tea from McDonalds...and I have decided that it is a marvelous idea...it forces you to be accountable for your actions! ....So I have decided to apply the same concept in my life!....Except not with McDonalds sweet tea....I'm keeping track of the days I go without an energy drink!!!!

Here's the count so far.....

8 days!!!! : )

Lindsey... I told you I couldn't think of what to write about in my blog and that's why I hadn't posted in awhile...well I decided to write about one thing thats been on my mind a lot lately...my... uhhm...bad habits! lol You're the only one who understands how hard this is for me! But I am trying to be a better person! ; )

What do I want to be when I grow up? Let me tell you....

As a child growing up I had all my friends who wanted to be firefighters and astronauts and anything else you could imagine and they changed their careers constantly...but not me! I had always wanted to be an English teacher. I loved to read and I also I loved creative writing. So since about the fourth grade I had my mind made up. I was going to be an English teacher. When I entered 8th grade we did a career search and interest survey to see what we would be good at. Sure enough...a teacher was one of my top results. It was exciting to know that while all my other friends were still uncertain about what they wanted to do, I had my career path set in stone. I knew what I wanted to do and how I was going to get there.
Well, for the next two or three years I still stood firm in the belief that I would become a teacher. It was a safe job without a lot of risk. The world would always need teachers. But then in April of 2006 I got a job at Town and Country in Willow Springs and I got my first taste of the work world. I liked my job well enough but the more I was there, the more I saw flaws in the system. I found myself saying, "Well if I ran this store, it would be a lot better." Don't get me wrong, I love my boss and he is great at what he does. When I was talking about the way things are run, I mean how the daily sales reports are recorded, how schedules are made, etc....I find a lot at Town and Country could be run much more efficiently and could be a lot more organized. Anyway....so as the summer of 2006 progressed, I found myself hating the idea of working for someone for the rest of my life. I wanted to be in charge of things and I wanted to run things the way I saw fit. I also realized that if I became a teacher, I would never be my own boss...but that wasn't enough to change my mind. Afterall, I had wanted to be an English teacher since fourth grade!
As I entered my Junior year and God bless her soul, I had good old Amaryllis Dyer as an English teacher and she loved grammar. Well, it didn't take me long to realize I hate grammar. lol We hardly did any creative writing at all. Was this what being an English teacher was all about? Endless grammar worksheets, spelling tests, and DGP....it all became so boring for me until one day I woke up and realized that I didn't want to be an English teacher anymore...and at first I will admit it....it scared the freaking hell out of me! lol I had no clue what I wanted to be anymore!.....but I couldn't see myself teaching the same things every year and even though the creative writing was fun....a big part of English is grammar! And combine that with the fact that I didn't want to work for anyone....I honestly could no longer see myself in the teaching field. I have a lot of respect for teachers....afterall they have got me to this point in my education so far where my possibilities are endless...but I no longer want to be one! lol
So with no clue what I wanted to be anymore I began to consider different options and what I loved to do. Well tattoos have always interested me...so why not a tattoo artist?...NO.....I hate needles and I couldn't stand inflicting pain on people....What about writing for the National Enquirer of World Weekly News....talk about creative writing! lol But no...this still wasn't it.
After a couple months of just looking at my options, one thing always kept coming to mind....I have always had a passion for food. I love to cook and I love to experiment with new ideas. But could this really be a career for me?...After a couple of months and a wonderful job shadowing experience at The Tower Club in Springfield...the answer was an overwhelming YES! I want to become a chef and own my own restaurant! So now I see that writing was just a hobby and so was reading but cooking is my passion! I love it! And getting to see what it was really like to be a chef during my job shadow only confirmed this. I worked my butt off that day and I was exhausted when I went home, but I loved every minute of it. Chef Lyons told me that becoming a chef means forfeiting a lot of your time but if you love something you won't care how long you have to do it each day. If you love it, it isn't a chore....it's fun! Chef Lyons also told me that he could tell from the minute I walked in that I had what it takes to become a chef...he knew that food was my passion. And I completely agree with him....I will do whatever it takes to become a successful chef and in ten years you can all come to my restaurant and enjoy a wonderful meal that I had fun cooking! :)

The Irony of Life

Life can be very ironic and sometimes it is hilarious, but other times as I have experienced this past week the irony can seem very cruel. My cat Bob was only a little over a year old when she died Friday night. She was my cat and I loved her. She was adorable with the bob tail she had been born with and she also had ADHD which made her really fun to play with. Well...at the beginning of this week she would not eat and she just layed around. As the week progressed she looked worse and worse. Her eyes looked sick. It was as if she had the flu. So my mom called the vet and scheduled her an appointment for Friday at one thirty in the afternoon. Well...Friday mom had to go to work so I was left in charge of taking Bob to the vet which was no big deal. I just wanted her to be better. After waking up at 8 o'clock I went outside to check on Bob and saw that she was way worse than she had been before...she was so weak that she couldn't even turn her head to look at me. I knew I had to get her to the vet and fast if she was going to make it. So right as I was running in the house to call the vet my mom pulls up and said she had just taken my brother to basketball and was on her way to work but she wanted to stop and make sure that Bob was ok...well after looking at Bob mom called the vet and they said that they could get her in at 10. By the time mom left it was 9 so I ran and got in the shower and got dressed then I went outside and tried to get Bob to eat but she wouldn't...and she wouldn't drink milk either...she would only drink water. After this failed attempt, I got a towel and picked her up in it and set her in the passenger seat of my car...well by this time I was bawling....her eyes looked so sick and she just collapsed from weakness when I set her in the seat....and she kept meowing a sick meow that screamed "Help me please." So I took off for the vet and just prayed the entire way that she would be ok and begged God to save her. When I got to the vet, I walked in holding my sick kitty and just gave the secretary a look that communicated the same thought Bob had..."Help me please." As I walked into the room where the vet would see her and held my weak kitty I was overcome with emotion...but I tried so hard not to cry because I had to be the adult...I had to answer the questions the vet had and I had to hear what the diagnosis was. After taking some blood samples and looking my cat over...the vet said the seven words that I dreaded all along..."I'm sorry there's nothing I can do..." I was crushed. I was going to lose my cat...He told me that she had a disease known as "Bobcat disease"...ironic huh? My bobtailed kitty named Bob had bobcat disease. He told me that it had to be it but the disease couldn't even be properly diagnosed until after the cat died. So I just whispered through my tears..."Are you sure there is no treatment?"...and he said that scientists have done some research on the disease and that through expensive blood transfusions they have managed to save a few cats...but the books will tell u there is no treatment. So knowing that there was no hope I paid the vet bill and walked out of the vet's office carrying my cat whose condition had worsened in the short time I was there. By then she was panting and having trouble breathing and the meowing didn't stop. I tried to comfort her but I knew she was in such pain...and after setting her down in the seat once again and after I sat down next to her I lost it....I let loose of all the pent up tears I had managed to hold back while in the vet's office and I bawled my eyes out. It hurt to know that she would die...but I couldn't take watching her suffer. And as I drove home I had to pull over a couple times because I was crying so hard. The saddest thing was that as I watched my weak kitty she was shaking the whole time but she managed to crawl enough so that her head was laying in my lap. I honestly couldn't take it...I couldn't stop crying and I was about to throw up. After I made it home I layed Bob in her favorite spot and got her water and just sat there petting her. I was all alone and still hysterical so I called Lindsey who I knew was at the pool and left her a voicemail telling her all that had happened. I didn't care that she couldn't answer my call...I just needed to talk to someone even if it was just a voicemail...Well not ten minutes later Lindsey calls me and tells me she is on her way to my house and all I could say was "for real?" and a few minutes later she showed up with a Rumba, lottery ticket and ring pops to cheer me up...she truly is an amazing friend...I am sooooo glad that I have her! And she also managed to get my mind off of it for awhile. About one thirty Lindsey had to leave to go to work at the YMCA and all I could say was thank you. I had to leave soon after and I went out to Bob and told her that I loved her and petted her for the last time. That night at work mom called and left me a voicemail that Bob had died...and I cried again when I heard that but I was also thankful to God that she was not suffering anymore and that I wasn't there to see her die. I still wonder why it had to be my cat that had to die and why life can be so cruel...but I know that God has a purpose for everything and his plan may not always be the same as mine but I know that he does what is best for everyone...So now I am trying to move on with the knowledge that someday I will see Bob again in heaven, along with my fish Fred and we will be one happy family again!

Skateboarding!....

Yesterday afternoon my ADD got the best of me once again...you see I was so bored just sitting at home that I had to call up my friends Amber and Tari and see if they wanted to hang out...(I would have called Lindsey but she was working...imagine that! lol)...anyway so they agreed and we all met at Amber's house about an hour later but we werent' quite sure what we were going to do. ...well...after about five minutes of sitting outside I said "Why don't we look in the trunk of my car, I am sure there is something fun to play with in there!" If you know me, you know the trunk of my car. lol When we looked there were five 12 packs of soda, boxing gloves, tons of clothes, and of course my trusty skateboard! Now I am not that good at skateboarding, but seeing it in the back of my car gave me an idea...so I turned to Amber and asked her if she had any rope. After a ten minute search for rope it was time to initiate my plan. While Tari and Amber were asking what I was doing, I carefully tied the two ends of the rope to the inside of the trunk on the pieces of metal that held the trunk "lid" and then with a smile I grabbed my skateboard and shut the trunk with the rope hanging out of it. Then I looked at my friends and said "watch this!" and I pulled the rope as far as it would go and set my skateboard on the ground and after standing on it still holding the rope I turned to my friends and just simply smiled. They knew the plan! lol So after deciding that the Trinity Baptist parking lot was the best place to go we loaded up in my car and headed off. When we got there I got out the rope and Amber took a seat behind the wheel while I got on the skateboard. After giving her the thumbs up she started to take off and my skateboard started to roll. But then the wheel of the board got stuck and I flew off the skateboard because I was still holding onto the rope that was attached to the moving vehicle. But it wasn't going that fast so i didn't fall. After about an hour of just messing around, each one of us taking a turn on the board and trying different techniques such as sitting on the skateboard, I figured out that it worked best when I was sitting on the board and when I was being pulled uphill without any turns. When we went downhill my skateboard actually went faster than car and flew past it! lol So I suggested that we go to the New Gym parking lot and they try to pull me up the hill while I was sitting on the board! It worked perfectly! It was a blast!...By then it was 8 o'clock and I was walking down the hill so I could once again be pulled up it and who drives up but my DT (Lindsey)!!! And she just looked at the rope and the skateboard in my hand and sighed and said what are you doing? Then I proceeded to tell her I was having a blast and she should watch and she said "Oh my word...I can't watch...you are going to kill yourself!" That's why she's my DT! lol She was thinking of all the things that could happen to me and I was thinking of all the fun I was having! lol So after showing her just how much fun it was, she still thought I was crazy and I was exhausted so I put my skateboard away for the night and we parted ways....and even though I will probably go skateboarding again it's good to know that I always have my DT who is there for me and is looking out for my best interest...and even though I don't like it when she makes me stop and think about how I could get hurt...it means maybe next time I will wear a helmet and I will be less likely to hurt myself! lol

The Meaning of Life....

Gazing out across the rolling green hills, I am awe struck by the most spectacular sight in the world. The morning sky is filled with majestic purples and pinks flowing carelessly around the marvelous rising yellow sun. During that brief moment I am able to just stand there and take in the splendor that is God's creation, and time seems as if it stands still. How I wish I could live in that moment for ever. For during those few brief moments before I have to enter reality once again and travel work, everything is so calm and serene and it is then that I am able to find the true meaning of life. During that time, I am able to stand back and look at my life with a new perspective and I see how caught up I get in the little things. Life isn't about good grades, making money, or having a nice car...all of those things could be taken away in an instant....one failed test, one poor investment, or one careless driver could ruin years of hard work to achieve these minor successes....life is about what money can't buy...family, friends, and most importantly God...it takes some people a lifetime before they realize this and sometimes a life time is not enough...my grandpa went his whole life working hard and never spending any money frivolously...he wouldn't even take my mom and uncles on vacation because it was a waste of money....and he never showed affection towards anyone...he was a good man...but I can only recall one time he told me he loved me...one time...that's it...and then when I was thirteen years old cancer got the best of him and he passed away. The last thing I said to him was "I love you grandpa" and he was too weak to say anything in return...but I know deep down he heard me and I know he loved me too....he was always teaching me lessons...lessons in self discipline and work ethic...but one lesson he taught me without meaning to. I loved him dearly, but he taught me how not to be...through him I learned that everything you can work years for can become meaningless in the blink of an eye...when my grandpa was diagnosed with cancer he refused to get chemotherapy or radiation and instead try to find his own cure through herbal remedies and other various methods....he had too much pride to trust his life in someone else's hands....and slowly he grew weaker until he had to be hospitalized and he eventually died....He taught me that life is short and you never know when something will happen so you have to live like there isn't going to be a tomorrow...you can't take anything for granted...whether it's going outside and dancing in the rain or singing at the top of your lungs even though you aren't so great...you have to live life to the fullest...focusing on the positive, not the negative...and I am very thankful that I am able to see this at 17...I have my whole life ahead of me still and I can't wait to see what God has planned for me...but for now I am content with my five minutes of peace every Saturday and Sunday morning before I go to work. :)

Sharks and Crocodiles...oh yea and biscuit cans too!

This morning I had to be up at six so that I could get ready in time to be at work at seven...well let's just say I was very tired still. I know this is going to sound very five year oldish but I had a bad dream and when I have bad dreams even though I am asleep I don't awake feeling very rested! lol Anyway...I dreamt that I was at my house and there was a giant pool...when I say giant I mean at least 50 feet deep! So I was swimming in the giant pool and my brother was too and we were having a blast...the top of the water was crystal clear and it seemed like the perfect day...well something very strange...even though the top of the water was crystal clear for some reason I could not see below the surface...but when I went under I could see all the way across the pool and all the way to the bottom which like I said was at least 50 feet down! So anyway...I was having fun and then I decided to dive down and see how deep I could go...well when I went under water I saw the scariest sight in my life!...There were at least a hundred sharks swimming around! I was so scared!!! I came to the top as fast as I could and yelled at Joseph and told him that we had to get out as soon as possible! At first he didn't believe me but then I told him to go under the water and when he did he came up and started freaking out....I knew I had to go over and save him! So after I made it out of the pool I found a raft and paddled as quickly as I could over to him and everything seemed like it was going to be alright but as soon as I tried to get him out of the water I noticed crocodiles coming our way! Soon after I noticed them they were trying to pull down my raft and all I could think to do was to get my brother out of the water and try and get him to safety (see I am a good sister after all! lol) Anyway...we somehow managed to get out of the pool...but that was not the end of all my troubles! We ran to go tell mom about the sharks and crocodiles but she wouldn't listen! She said look at the water there is nothing in there! I tried to tell her that it was just a reflection and you couldn't actually see what was in the water til you went under! But she still wouldn't believe and neither would Cora or Quinn! So long story short I spent the remainder of my night in my dream world trying to keep people from getting in the deadly water! It was horrible!!!! Needless to say I was very happy when I woke up and I was still in the comfort of my room under my Spongebob Squarepants sheets away from any pools! lol
Although a dream may appear horrible at the time or even very enjoyable for that matter of fact, in retrospect I find dreams to be very interesting! I guess with my five year old mind the idea of a world without any constraints is very appealing! lol But I also love how your dreams combine everything in your life...no matter if it's what you did the previous day or a random thought you had two weeks ago...the dreams you have are yours and that's what makes them unique! Whether it's a fear of crocodiles or sharks or even biscuit cans (Yes I find refrigerated biscuit cans to be one of the most frightening things in the world...you never know when they will open and explode!)... dreams are all your own and they are a way to escape from reality and the stress of life! :)

How I got my five dollars back....(The continuing saga of how I got ripped off at Wal-Mart)

Well...as I said in a previous post I used to like Wal-Mart but ever since they ripped me off I have a new opinion about the store. Anyway...It seemed like my five dollars was gone forever and I would just have to live with that fact...well little did I know that the next day before my mom went to work she stopped by Wal-Mart to have a chat with Trent the store manager. Well unfortunately Trent was off for the day so my mom called the store and asked to speak to a manager. The manager she talked to was not the brightest crayon in the box if you know what I mean lol...I mean she first asked my mom.."Okay, was it the self checkout machines on the food or the general merchandise side of the store?"...and mom was like "Have you looked at your store lately...there are only self checkouts on the general merchandise side!" ...and the lady said "Oh yea..I guess you are right!" lol Well after my mom explained the story to the manager, she said "Let me transfer you to accounting"....which was fine with my mom because she was tired of talking to the lady...well....the next thing my mom hears when she thought she was being transfered to accounting was "Meat department...how may I help you?" ...The lady transfered her to the MEAT DEPARTMENT! lol Well my mom hangs up and calls the store back and asks for accounting and after a brief talk, the lady in accounting tells my mom to come by and pick up my five dollars! So now I am happy once again and very thankful to my mom for going to all the trouble to get my five dollars back! She proved that persistence pays off! :)

An ADDictive personality

In the past few weeks I have started to notice just how crazy I really am. Lol In the time when I am not working, I find myself with a lot of time on my hands now that school is over for the summer. And when I have a lot of time, that means I have a lot of time for thinking. In these past couple of weeks, I have started to notice how "unique" I am, but at the same time I realize how much I love my personality because I guarantee you there is no one exactly like me. I believe I have ADD and I do tend to have an addictive personality, but that's all part of who I am it makes me that much more interesting! Lol
First the ADD....I read one time that ADD is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity...Well...my first thought when I saw this was "Crap...that's me!" lol....But now I don't think it is such a bad thing...If you know me, you know that I tend to switch from subject to subject without any warning when I am talking, even though the new subject has nothing to do with what we were talking about. But something strange....if I start a story I HAVE to finish it...no matter what. It doesn't matter if it is thirty minutes later and we are talking about something entirely different I will just start where I left off with my story....Believe me...I have tried to just let a story go...It doesn't work...at all...It only manages to drive me more insane. ...Oddly enough people I have known my entire life are still surprised when I do this, but thankfully I have found one friend who has figured it out and learned that switching subjects randomly and having to finish stories is just part of who I am and sometimes she uses it to her advantage but I am thankful at least one person understands me and my thought process....Anyway...looking back at the symptoms of ADD...hyperactivity...this may be one characteristic I don't show...ok maybe that was a lie...I tend to have the mind of a five year old...which means not only do I have the same attention span...I also have to be doing something at all times...I get bored very easily and I can't stand doing the same thing for extended periods of time...that's why I almost go insane at work every night...it's not that I hate what I do at my job...I just get so bored! Lol I also enjoy doing things with a slight risk factor involved....knowing I could get in trouble or blow my hand off only makes it more exciting for me...for example...I am a pyromaniac! lol...And nothing excites me more than playing the lottery at work while trying not to get caught by a customer or my boss for that matter of fact! lol Finally...impulsivity...well I don't think I am that impulsive...ok that was another lie Lol....I don't always think things through before I do them...if it sounds fun...I am going for it! Whether it's as dangerous as trying to climb to the very top of a tree or as harmless as running outside to catch lightning bugs...like I said if it's fun...I am going to go for it! (Don't worry I don't mean drugs or anything that bad! lol)....thankfully though the same friend who understands my thought process is also the person who thinks things through for me! She's my DT (designated thinker) Lol! Now on to the addictive aspect of my personality....
I guess part of why I have an addictive personality is because of my ADD...For example....I drank nothing but energy drinks for like two months...then one day I was bored with them and then all I drank for the next month was Sprite...then the next month it was sweet tea from McDonalds...now it is Mountain Dew! lol I become bored with things and I have to try something new! If I find something and I like it...well....then it is all I want for the next couple of months until I find something else worthy of my devotion and that goes for almost all aspects of my life...I mean one month I was into skateboarding and the next boxing! lol
Well...now that I managed to make myself look like I am an insane freak...and even though I love everything about me....I should probably say something in defense of myself so I don't look so crazy...I do get good grades in school...I am never in trouble...and if it is something I really care about or means a lot to me I become just the opposite of the inattentive, hyperactive, and impulsive....instead I become very focused and passionate about what I am doing!...For example it is my goal to become a chef...and I will do whatever it takes to succeed in the culinary field...but I guess that's a story for another post some other day! lol

I used to like Wal-Mart...

I used to like Wal-Mart but as of about ten thirty this morning I definitely do not anymore! So I went to the self check out to buy a couple items I needed....you know the usual...razors to shave my legs, air fresheners for my car, and off course a fire starter that I found while I was in the camping aisle looking at the machetes! :)...Anyway...So I put in a five dollar bill and then a bunch of ones to pay for the amount...and when I looked over to see how much change I was getting to know if I could buy a fifty cent soda it showed that i still owed four something! It hadn't read my five dollar bill at all! I was mad...so I told the lady standing there that the machine had ripped my off and she said that it says I didn't give it a five so there was nothing she could do about it! This made me so angry! I said "Are you freaking kidding me?" I couldn't believe that she believed the machine over me...I mean I work in a grocery store and I know that the machines sometimes make mistakes! And to make things worse...she was management!...So it wasn't like she couldn't have fixed it! So I ended up just paying five more dollars and storming out of there before I punched someone or kicked the machine! lol

"Insert cheque to be franked"

Yesterday at four in the afternoon I headed to work at Town and Country like I would any other day of the week. When I arrived, I headed to the back to sign in, and I began my five hour shift from 4 to 9. As I grabbed a drawer out of the office, I happened to glance at the computer screen of the register and notice that it was completely different. They had installed the new system that had been talked about for months. After seeing that, I knew I was in for a wonderful night. I had always secretly hoped that the new system would not be installed until after I quit Town and Country in a year or so. But I am not that lucky.
We experienced problems with the new system right from the start. The day checker whose place I was taking said that they had been struggling with it all day. And I could tell that the night shift wouldn't be any different when the day checker tried to sign off and it wouldn't let her. So I stood there for at least ten minutes waiting for my manager to figure out how to get the computer to work so I could sign on and help take care of the growing line that was forming in the next check out lane.
Finally, the manager just gave up and told the checker to sign off without running any reports for food stamps, debit, or credit slips. All I could think was that it was going to be a huge pain in the morning when they tried to do the books and balance everything! But I didn't have time to just stand there and ponder future problems, I had to sign on and check out the ten people in my line standing there with frowns on their faces.
So as my night continued we experienced problem after problem, but luckily we didn't break any computers permanently and everyone was able to get their groceries that they came for. Although the system was very frustrating, there was one funny aspect to it. I decided that the system was German. Everytime I went to run a check it spelled it "cheque" and whenever I had a WIC check it said "Insert document to be franked." Ok, so I'm thinking who is Frank and why does he have to endorse our WIC checks or cheques as I should be calling them?! lol
Anyway...Although by the end of the night I was starting to get used to the system, I had a new set of problems. Apparently the day shift didn't put away any of the cigs, chew, or candy that came in on the truck on Wednesdays! Putting away that stuff is their only job besides checking! I know the new system is tough to get used to, but I had to deal with it too! So I didn't appreciate it when I walked in to start my shift and the day checker tells me "Oh yea, by the way you need to put away those crates of stuff that came in on the truck today." Well, there were like twenty crates, I had other stuff I had to do that was part of the night routine, and it was insanely busy that night. So I ended up staying after until ten thirty to try and get everything done! I was not a happy camper! But I guess there is a bright side. After all I did earn another hour and half worth of pay!
So tomorrow when I go back into work at four hopefully everything will run smoothly, but for now I am just happy it is my day off! :)

Oh the joys of having a younger brother....

This morning I woke up hoping to enjoy the peacefulness of the beautiful June morning but as soon as I came out of my room after getting ready I was greeted by my brother Joseph who at thirteen years old is a typical annoying sibling. As I came out of my room after I had taken a shower and gotten dressed, I heard "Wow Jordan...u look like crap today!" That's my brother! lol Over the years I have learned to ignore his comments, but I always tell him, "Why do you always try to be annoying? You do realize that it is possible for us to get along if you would just be nicer." And he always replies with a big smile and says "Yea I know it's possible, but I am your thirteen year old brother...it's my job to annoy you!" So I just sigh and go on with whatever I am doing at the moment. But the truth is no matter how much he annoys me...I mean yesterday we went to Wal-Mart and he locked me out of my car and just sat inside and acted like he didn't see me there trying to get him to let me back in, making me look like an idiot...but I will always love him and be there for him. And I know that deep down he cares for me too. As we have gotten older we have grown closer and as I get ready to enter my senior year of high school I realize how much I will miss him when I go off to college. Although we may have our fights and arguments, he will always be my little brother and I wouldn't trade him for anyone else in the world!

Why Machetes?

Before I actually start documenting my life, I feel that it is necessary that I first explain why I chose the title "So I was in the camping aisle looking at the machetes..." After all I wouldn't want people to think I am a pyscho killer, because I most definitely am not! lol Actually the reason I chose it is because it describes me perfectly! Well besides the fact that I actually said it one day when I was explaining where I found these cool things that change the color of fire, it describes me because it is completely random! I love being random and spontaneous! I wouldn't trade my five year old mind and ADD for anything! Lol I love life and I intend to live it to the fullest! : )