I hope all of you enjoy your holiday weekend. While you're grilling and swimming and fishing and whatnot, please take a moment to remember why we get this 3 day weekend to kick off the summer. Remember all of the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure both our freedom and our way of life. Remember that we have an all-volunteer armed services, and those who chose to serve deserve our respect and our gratitude. They keep our borders safe, they preserve our way of life, they are the eyes in the night, making sure that we can sleep in peace. Take some time this weekend to say a prayer, raise a flag, thank a soldier, and honor those who have fallen in battle.
Have a great weekend, and happy birthday to my brother and my sister!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
I'm kind of sad
Just found out that one of favorite blogs is done, finito, going the way of the dinosaur, not going to be out there on the interwebs anymore. So today, instead of reading what I have to say, go see what he had to say.
www.welldonefillet.blogspot.com
Funny, funny guy, great writing, truly a bright spot in my day.
Aw, Manuel, you will be missed!
www.welldonefillet.blogspot.com
Funny, funny guy, great writing, truly a bright spot in my day.
Aw, Manuel, you will be missed!
Friday, May 15, 2009
Now I've heard it all...
http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=73684&catid=2
Just click, and then read, and then come back to me.
Read it? Okay, then! Really?!?!?!? I mean, I've had my fair share of customers who I thought about shooting, or maybe stabbing, but I've never actually DONE IT!! This article made me laugh out loud. I can see how the situation progressed, in my mind. I think that this is a result of the erroneous notion that the customer is always right. In reality, the customer is rarely right, sometimes they're not even in the ballpark. Too many people have an over-inflated sense of entitlement, and they persist in flaunting it in public. I feel like it's my duty to deflate their sense of self-importance, even if it's just a little bit.
So here are my rules for proper customer behavior whilst dining in public:
1: Having money does not make you better than your server. If anything, it makes you dependent on your server to feed you, since you aren't at home cooking for yourself.
2: If you have particular needs, please make them known to your waitstaff prior to ordering. This will allow us to tailor your order to those needs.
3: DO NOT snap you fingers, shake an empty glass, yell "Hey you!", or in any other way summon your server as if she was your lap dog. She is not, and her bite is WAY worse than her bark.
4: Think before you speak or act. If you wouldn't do it/say it in front of your grandmother, you probably shouldn't do it in front of your server. Remember, this is your only chance to make a good impression; you don't want to be "that guy."
5: Please and thank you are not endangered species. Use them often.
6: Eye contact is one way to let someone know that you are listening to them. Staring at her breasts is NOT a way to let someone know you're listening.
7: Servers have LONG memories. We will remember every slight, every bit of attitude, every nasty thing that you do or say. We will share those stories with our waitstaff friends. We know everyone in the business. Your hatefullness will spread faster than the swine flu. Don't be "that guy."
8: We don't care who you think you are. In the dining room, the waitstaff are the most important people. We are the emissaries that tread the DMZ that is the kitchen, and we are doing it for you. Unless you would like to risk your life walking back into the kitchen to get your food, realize that every trip we make is into hostile territory, and should be rewarded with combat pay.
9: Ifyou do not believe in tipping, which is your right, do not frequent full-service restaurants, unless you are picking up a carry-out order. You are not proving a point, you are not bucking the system, you are not speaking out for under-paid servers; you are being a cheap-skate tightwad, and the only person that you are hurting is your poor server. You think that servers should be paid a higher hourly wage? Take your fight to Congress, not your favorite dining establishment.
10: And last, but not least, if you truly do have a miserable experience when you go out, and it happens all the time, no matter where you go, then perhaps you should consider the possibility that it's not them, it's you. You might be the kind of person that no one on God's green Earth can make happy. And if that's true, perhaps you should stop inflicting your misery on the hapless staff of whichever establishment you choose to frequent. I'm just saying. Maybe it's YOU.
That's my philosophy. I think that dining out would be much more enjoyable if we all followed the rules.
Just click, and then read, and then come back to me.
Read it? Okay, then! Really?!?!?!? I mean, I've had my fair share of customers who I thought about shooting, or maybe stabbing, but I've never actually DONE IT!! This article made me laugh out loud. I can see how the situation progressed, in my mind. I think that this is a result of the erroneous notion that the customer is always right. In reality, the customer is rarely right, sometimes they're not even in the ballpark. Too many people have an over-inflated sense of entitlement, and they persist in flaunting it in public. I feel like it's my duty to deflate their sense of self-importance, even if it's just a little bit.
So here are my rules for proper customer behavior whilst dining in public:
1: Having money does not make you better than your server. If anything, it makes you dependent on your server to feed you, since you aren't at home cooking for yourself.
2: If you have particular needs, please make them known to your waitstaff prior to ordering. This will allow us to tailor your order to those needs.
3: DO NOT snap you fingers, shake an empty glass, yell "Hey you!", or in any other way summon your server as if she was your lap dog. She is not, and her bite is WAY worse than her bark.
4: Think before you speak or act. If you wouldn't do it/say it in front of your grandmother, you probably shouldn't do it in front of your server. Remember, this is your only chance to make a good impression; you don't want to be "that guy."
5: Please and thank you are not endangered species. Use them often.
6: Eye contact is one way to let someone know that you are listening to them. Staring at her breasts is NOT a way to let someone know you're listening.
7: Servers have LONG memories. We will remember every slight, every bit of attitude, every nasty thing that you do or say. We will share those stories with our waitstaff friends. We know everyone in the business. Your hatefullness will spread faster than the swine flu. Don't be "that guy."
8: We don't care who you think you are. In the dining room, the waitstaff are the most important people. We are the emissaries that tread the DMZ that is the kitchen, and we are doing it for you. Unless you would like to risk your life walking back into the kitchen to get your food, realize that every trip we make is into hostile territory, and should be rewarded with combat pay.
9: Ifyou do not believe in tipping, which is your right, do not frequent full-service restaurants, unless you are picking up a carry-out order. You are not proving a point, you are not bucking the system, you are not speaking out for under-paid servers; you are being a cheap-skate tightwad, and the only person that you are hurting is your poor server. You think that servers should be paid a higher hourly wage? Take your fight to Congress, not your favorite dining establishment.
10: And last, but not least, if you truly do have a miserable experience when you go out, and it happens all the time, no matter where you go, then perhaps you should consider the possibility that it's not them, it's you. You might be the kind of person that no one on God's green Earth can make happy. And if that's true, perhaps you should stop inflicting your misery on the hapless staff of whichever establishment you choose to frequent. I'm just saying. Maybe it's YOU.
That's my philosophy. I think that dining out would be much more enjoyable if we all followed the rules.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Getting my knit on...
This is the finished Oriel Lace Scarf. I didn't want to post a picture of it any sooner, because it was a gift for my mom on Mother's Day. Click the pic to make it bigger. It came out gorgeous after washing and blocking, and it grew a bit too. It really came out quite nice, and I can't wait to get another one on the needles.
Currently, I'm working on the February Lady sweater. It's coming along swimmingly, so I'm a little stunned. It's actually quite easy, once you get past the counting, and the dizzyness that 282 stitches on the needles can create. I'm kind of concerned, because I keep thinking that it shouldn't be this easy, and what am I screwing up, but I'm following the pattern, to the letter. I'm checking my stitch count, to make sure that I'm not losing, or adding, stitches. I'm working on the body right now, and apart from the enormous amount of stitches on the needles, it's really kind of boring. The lace pattern is a 4 row repeat, and it's pretty easy. I know, I know, I keep saying how easy it is, and in the end I'm going to get bitten in the ass by the Knitting Fates for mocking them. Oh well, if it doesn't fit me, it will fit someone I know!
It looks like a real sweater, doesn't it? I mean, it's missing sleeves right at the moment, but according to the pattern, you do those last. Click on the pics to make them bigger, and admire my handiwork!
That's what's new for today. I'm going to do some laundry, and knit some sweater! If I had known it was this easy, I would have done this a long time ago!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
In an effort to be more scintillating...
Not really. I mean, I could post stories about my hell-raising past, but seeing as how I don't quite remember every sequence of events, I don't think that it would be any fun for any of us! I thought that today would be a good day to thank my mom.
My mom and I haven't had the easiest of relationships. Mostly this was due to my stubborness and hard-headedness, I will admit. I wasn't the easiest person to get along with in my twenties. It is with benefit of age that I can admit this now. Hindsight being 20/20 and all. That being said, I don't know what I would do if I hadn't created a closer relationship with my mom. She is always there for me, to answer questions, to listen to me babble when I'm lonely, to encourage me in all of my endeavors. I think that I owe a lot of who I am today to her. (Apart from the obvious genetic contribution)
I was always, and will always be, a daddy's girl. Me and my dad are so much alike that you would be hard-pressed to think that anyone else could be my father. It took years for me to get that close to my mom. Now that I have, I wouldn't trade our relationship for anything.
Today, on the day that we celebrate mothers, I want to take the opportunity to thank my mom. Thank you for not giving up on me (I would have, a long time ago), thanks for always listening to me, especially when I'm rambling on, thanks for encouraging me when I thought that I would never figure out this knitting thing, and thanks most of all for being you. For teaching me how to love unconditionally, how to cherish your spouse, how to discipline and nurture at the same time, how to be the best woman that I can possibly be. I couldn't have done without you. I wouldn't have wanted to do it without you. You are the best, and if I don't tell you often enough, I love you!
Happy Mother's Day, to all the moms out there, especially the ones with headstrong daughters who don't listen. Trust me, one day, they will, and they will appreciate everything that you have taught them. It might just take some time for them to admit it.
My mom and I haven't had the easiest of relationships. Mostly this was due to my stubborness and hard-headedness, I will admit. I wasn't the easiest person to get along with in my twenties. It is with benefit of age that I can admit this now. Hindsight being 20/20 and all. That being said, I don't know what I would do if I hadn't created a closer relationship with my mom. She is always there for me, to answer questions, to listen to me babble when I'm lonely, to encourage me in all of my endeavors. I think that I owe a lot of who I am today to her. (Apart from the obvious genetic contribution)
I was always, and will always be, a daddy's girl. Me and my dad are so much alike that you would be hard-pressed to think that anyone else could be my father. It took years for me to get that close to my mom. Now that I have, I wouldn't trade our relationship for anything.
Today, on the day that we celebrate mothers, I want to take the opportunity to thank my mom. Thank you for not giving up on me (I would have, a long time ago), thanks for always listening to me, especially when I'm rambling on, thanks for encouraging me when I thought that I would never figure out this knitting thing, and thanks most of all for being you. For teaching me how to love unconditionally, how to cherish your spouse, how to discipline and nurture at the same time, how to be the best woman that I can possibly be. I couldn't have done without you. I wouldn't have wanted to do it without you. You are the best, and if I don't tell you often enough, I love you!
Happy Mother's Day, to all the moms out there, especially the ones with headstrong daughters who don't listen. Trust me, one day, they will, and they will appreciate everything that you have taught them. It might just take some time for them to admit it.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Did you miss me?
The interwebs have been acting up at my house, and were consequently put in time out, which is why I haven't posted in a while.
Here's a brief recap of what's been going on: the spring meet at Keeneland wrapped up and we worked on Derby Day (quite busy and made good money), finished the lace scarf and got it blocked (will post pics as soon as I take some), cast on the sweater and am past the collar and yoke and working on the body (I love it and it's going pretty fast and relatively easy).
Yesterday my dad had a heart cath done. It was a scheduled, non-emergency procedure, and he made it through relatively unscathed. The cardiologist found one blockage (80%), inserted a stint, at which point it opened right up and had good blood flow. He spent the night at the hospital, came home this afternoon, and is feeling pretty good.
Unfortunately, my best friend's husband woke up this morning with chest pains, and is also having a heart cath done this very afternoon. We suspect that this whole incident is a ploy to to get out of Mother's Day obligations! Seriously, I am hoping and praying that he will make it through with flying colors.
Last night I went to Friends & Co. for a Rock-A-Billy Cafe employee reunion. It was fantastic, seeing everyone again. Most of those folks I haven't seen in 10-12 years. It was awesome catching up with everyone, seeing pictures of kids and meeting spouses. It was such a wonderful time and I can't wait to get together again with everyone.
As a result of seeing everyone last night, I have a job prospect. The guy I used to work for is now a branch manager for a bank, and he is looking to hire someone to help him run his branch. So, I will be sending him my resume and hopefully I will get an interview! Keep your fingers crossed!
I will post pictures of the finished projects and works-in-progress as soon as I take some. As long as the weather holds out, I might be able to get some nice shots outside.
I hope that y'all missed me as much as I missed you! (hee hee hee) I promise to post much more regularly!
Here's a brief recap of what's been going on: the spring meet at Keeneland wrapped up and we worked on Derby Day (quite busy and made good money), finished the lace scarf and got it blocked (will post pics as soon as I take some), cast on the sweater and am past the collar and yoke and working on the body (I love it and it's going pretty fast and relatively easy).
Yesterday my dad had a heart cath done. It was a scheduled, non-emergency procedure, and he made it through relatively unscathed. The cardiologist found one blockage (80%), inserted a stint, at which point it opened right up and had good blood flow. He spent the night at the hospital, came home this afternoon, and is feeling pretty good.
Unfortunately, my best friend's husband woke up this morning with chest pains, and is also having a heart cath done this very afternoon. We suspect that this whole incident is a ploy to to get out of Mother's Day obligations! Seriously, I am hoping and praying that he will make it through with flying colors.
Last night I went to Friends & Co. for a Rock-A-Billy Cafe employee reunion. It was fantastic, seeing everyone again. Most of those folks I haven't seen in 10-12 years. It was awesome catching up with everyone, seeing pictures of kids and meeting spouses. It was such a wonderful time and I can't wait to get together again with everyone.
As a result of seeing everyone last night, I have a job prospect. The guy I used to work for is now a branch manager for a bank, and he is looking to hire someone to help him run his branch. So, I will be sending him my resume and hopefully I will get an interview! Keep your fingers crossed!
I will post pictures of the finished projects and works-in-progress as soon as I take some. As long as the weather holds out, I might be able to get some nice shots outside.
I hope that y'all missed me as much as I missed you! (hee hee hee) I promise to post much more regularly!
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