Pick your jaws up off the ground, will you? I just don't have much to update.
Been feeling very sickly lately in addition to the usual string of bad luck. Want to die type sickly. Or gut myself. Sickly and icky and becoming an insomniac vampire. The rats wake me up, the beetles wake me up (do you realize how gross it is to have a beetle under your shirt?), the dog wakes me up... I only like fish now. The worst they do is Ruby pops air on the surface of the water. The guppies multiplied too quickly... don't save the babies and put them outside, they do great and grow like weeds. Feed them to the cichlids.
I spent the weekend in bed watching anime. Well, until a giant wolfspider crawled across my keyboard. Then I cussed and jumped up. When the second spider crawled across my leg, I screamed and threw it. I guess they knew the temperature was going to drop from summer to fall and wanted inside where it was toasty. Finished up Kuroshitsuji and Reborn and caught up on two months worth of Bleach. Pretty good for me.
Other than that, I've been doing my volunteer gig twice a week. It's a lot of fun and I'm picking up lots of tricks dealing with lots of kids. Very helpful. Plus the kids are just so funny. Where do babies come from? GASP! And the little girl that was spreading it around was sooooooooooo cute and innocent looking. Katie's nice to talk to as well and doesn't mind me observing her dealing with the brats.
And what is so special about next weekend that everything happens at the same time? The mule jump, the fish auction, the anime convention... oh, and those unimportant things for Ken and Cara... SATs and work stuff. I still want to go to the mule jump. I need to plan the day out well if I want to go to the auction and the mule jump and the fish club meeting.
Still no job or interview or offer. Kinda discouraging. Going to fill out a few more applications and refill out some of the old ones. Bump them up to the top. I'm still convinced the phone is sabotage me.
And module 4 is just painful. Why do I want to go back to school in the future? Why?
That's it. Nothing interesting or funny.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
A Random Rant
I was originally going to make this a hub, but I think is a tad bit inflammatory. So I didn't. But y'all might get a kick outta it!
I was picking up trash and water bottles at my sister’s track meet today, and thinking: why are people so rude? Can’t they pick up their own trash? With every bottle I picked up, the more annoyed I got. Eventually I had a full plastic bag (which had also been abandoned on the ground) and could not pick up anymore. The trash went into the trashcan and all the bottles are now awaiting the recycle center.
But it got me thinking about a similar topic: why are people so rude in retail establishments?
This is the way I look at it. You are a GUEST in any retail establishment. A paying guest, true, but a guest none-the-less. People who stay at spas or hotels are paying guests, yet you rarely see the kinds of behavior you see in retail stores.
I was raised to be courteous and respectful of my host. This means no breaking property, screaming, or stealing. Remember the old adage: you break it, you buy it? There was a reason for it.
So why should you behave yourself in a retail stores?
Rude people raise prices
I know you think I’m kidding, but I’ve worked retail for years, and it’s true. Rude, messy people raise the price of goods for all people. Maybe not as much as skyrocketing gas prices and raising minimum wage, but it’s still an increase.
#1: Picking a product up and abandoning it later
It’s okay to decide you don’t want a product! And I completely understand not wanting to truck back across the store and put it where you found it (or attempt to do so in some cases). However, throwing it down behind the toilet paper or kicking it under the shelves is not a good way to deal with it.
When you misplace an item, the employees have to discover said item. This is especially tricky if it’s hidden. If it stays hidden long enough, the item may expire or may not be counted as in-stock (even if it is in the store). This means the company loses money on that item. Guess how they’re planning to make up that money from all the “lost” items? Your wallet.
The solution to this problem is easy. Take the item up front and give it to the cashier. Just say you don’t want to purchase it. The cashier will ensure that it returns to where it belongs with no extra effort on your part. You have to go up front to check out and leave anyway!
#2: Destroying displays or mixing up items
There is no need to go rooting around a shelf like a pig in mud. Shelves are designed to make it easy for customers to find what they need because they are organized and correctly priced. When you scramble them up, you make it difficult for the next customer to find what they need, so you’re being rude to your fellow customers. But that’s not what’s going to raise prices.
When you create chaos, someone has to come back and clean up your mess. Depending on how many messes there are, the manager may have to keep employees on the clock into overtime. This means the company has to pay the employees more money. Also, fellow customers may be under the impression that an item you misplaced is X price instead of Y price. What does this mean? Your fellow customer will be unhappy and ask for a price change. If the manager gives them a price change, then the company loses money. Store prices go up to adjust for the loss of money.
Be careful about what you do. If you knock something off the shelf, replace it. If you’re not sure where something is, ask an employee! They’re paid to help you. It’ll save you time and energy and ensure you leave with the correct product anyway, so it’s in your favor to do this.
#3 Opening Products
Designers are paid thousands of dollars to make a product visible from inside packaging. That’s why there are so many pretty pictures and text capsules on the outside of the box. I’m sure if you look hard enough, the dimensions, color, and amount are in fact on the box. There may even be instructions.
Let me let you in on a secret: cardboard is not sturdy. It tears very easily and does not tape back together well. Let me let you in on another secret: those slave labor children in South East Asia are practiced. They may be able to assemble the product into the box in five seconds, but chances are, you will not be able to do the same in five minutes. What does this mean? Companies have to throw “damaged” products away and cannot sell them.
You don’t want a product you think has been opened or tampered with, do you? Then why would you think someone else would? If you are unsure about a product, ask an employee to help you. They may answer your concern or they may carefully open the packaging for you, so you may look inside without inadvertently causing damage to the packaging.
#4 Returns made in bad faith
Everyone buys something they don’t need every once in a while, but it’s one thing to buy the wrong sized vacuum bag or salted peanuts, but it’s another to purposely buy a product with the intention to return it after use.
I don’t think I need to explain this one, but returns=damaged goods=trash. Companies lose money and raise prices.
If you are tempted to do a return in bad faith, considering finding another way to get what you need, such as renting or reselling the item afterwards.
#5 Screaming Fits
There is absolutely no reason to pitch a screaming fit in the middle of a retail store, unless someone just whacked off your toe with an axe or something. Aside from being completely disrespectful towards the person you’re screaming at (who is most likely a stranger! And not deserving of your ire), it is disrespectful to the people around you trying to shop.
How does pitching a fit raise prices? You’re tying the hands of at least one employee (more likely 2-3 once you work your way up the chain of command). The more time they spend listening to you rage, the less time they have to complete tasks like stocking, inventory, and other vital functions that keep the store clean and functioning.
Ranting may get you what you want the first time, but don’t expect any help the next time you enter the store. You’ve been marked by the store employees and the gossip mill as a customer to avoid like the plague. Eventually you’ll stop coming because you get poor service because the employees are afraid to be screamed at. You’ll get better results if you are calm and rational, providing facts instead of outbursts.
#6 Wild Kids
Is it too much to keep an eye on your children? You should be doing it anyway. How many amber alerts could be prevented a year by closer supervision of children? How many hospital visits and accidents could be prevented? Your child is a representative of YOU when in public.
Children do not understand all the rules of polite behavior. One little girl loved to hide the fish food in fish tank stands while her parents were five aisles down. It was cute, I admit, but what if every child had done it? It wouldn’t be cute, it’d be time consuming, especially if I didn’t know she was hiding them there. Imagine finding five cans of icky, expired fish food when selling a stand!
Easy solution: watch your children. Ask them not to pick up or open items. If they do open or break something, inform an employee instead of leaving it all over the floor. If they need to put something back, supervise them and tell them what a good job they are doing being responsible.
I suppose what I’m trying to say is, by behaving in a retail store like you would as a guest to someone you love and respect house, everyone will be better off. Retail associates have a tough job. Say please and thank you, leave the store the way you found it, and keep prices low. Really, it’s in your favor and everyone else’s’ too.
I was picking up trash and water bottles at my sister’s track meet today, and thinking: why are people so rude? Can’t they pick up their own trash? With every bottle I picked up, the more annoyed I got. Eventually I had a full plastic bag (which had also been abandoned on the ground) and could not pick up anymore. The trash went into the trashcan and all the bottles are now awaiting the recycle center.
But it got me thinking about a similar topic: why are people so rude in retail establishments?
This is the way I look at it. You are a GUEST in any retail establishment. A paying guest, true, but a guest none-the-less. People who stay at spas or hotels are paying guests, yet you rarely see the kinds of behavior you see in retail stores.
I was raised to be courteous and respectful of my host. This means no breaking property, screaming, or stealing. Remember the old adage: you break it, you buy it? There was a reason for it.
So why should you behave yourself in a retail stores?
Rude people raise prices
I know you think I’m kidding, but I’ve worked retail for years, and it’s true. Rude, messy people raise the price of goods for all people. Maybe not as much as skyrocketing gas prices and raising minimum wage, but it’s still an increase.
#1: Picking a product up and abandoning it later
It’s okay to decide you don’t want a product! And I completely understand not wanting to truck back across the store and put it where you found it (or attempt to do so in some cases). However, throwing it down behind the toilet paper or kicking it under the shelves is not a good way to deal with it.
When you misplace an item, the employees have to discover said item. This is especially tricky if it’s hidden. If it stays hidden long enough, the item may expire or may not be counted as in-stock (even if it is in the store). This means the company loses money on that item. Guess how they’re planning to make up that money from all the “lost” items? Your wallet.
The solution to this problem is easy. Take the item up front and give it to the cashier. Just say you don’t want to purchase it. The cashier will ensure that it returns to where it belongs with no extra effort on your part. You have to go up front to check out and leave anyway!
#2: Destroying displays or mixing up items
There is no need to go rooting around a shelf like a pig in mud. Shelves are designed to make it easy for customers to find what they need because they are organized and correctly priced. When you scramble them up, you make it difficult for the next customer to find what they need, so you’re being rude to your fellow customers. But that’s not what’s going to raise prices.
When you create chaos, someone has to come back and clean up your mess. Depending on how many messes there are, the manager may have to keep employees on the clock into overtime. This means the company has to pay the employees more money. Also, fellow customers may be under the impression that an item you misplaced is X price instead of Y price. What does this mean? Your fellow customer will be unhappy and ask for a price change. If the manager gives them a price change, then the company loses money. Store prices go up to adjust for the loss of money.
Be careful about what you do. If you knock something off the shelf, replace it. If you’re not sure where something is, ask an employee! They’re paid to help you. It’ll save you time and energy and ensure you leave with the correct product anyway, so it’s in your favor to do this.
#3 Opening Products
Designers are paid thousands of dollars to make a product visible from inside packaging. That’s why there are so many pretty pictures and text capsules on the outside of the box. I’m sure if you look hard enough, the dimensions, color, and amount are in fact on the box. There may even be instructions.
Let me let you in on a secret: cardboard is not sturdy. It tears very easily and does not tape back together well. Let me let you in on another secret: those slave labor children in South East Asia are practiced. They may be able to assemble the product into the box in five seconds, but chances are, you will not be able to do the same in five minutes. What does this mean? Companies have to throw “damaged” products away and cannot sell them.
You don’t want a product you think has been opened or tampered with, do you? Then why would you think someone else would? If you are unsure about a product, ask an employee to help you. They may answer your concern or they may carefully open the packaging for you, so you may look inside without inadvertently causing damage to the packaging.
#4 Returns made in bad faith
Everyone buys something they don’t need every once in a while, but it’s one thing to buy the wrong sized vacuum bag or salted peanuts, but it’s another to purposely buy a product with the intention to return it after use.
I don’t think I need to explain this one, but returns=damaged goods=trash. Companies lose money and raise prices.
If you are tempted to do a return in bad faith, considering finding another way to get what you need, such as renting or reselling the item afterwards.
#5 Screaming Fits
There is absolutely no reason to pitch a screaming fit in the middle of a retail store, unless someone just whacked off your toe with an axe or something. Aside from being completely disrespectful towards the person you’re screaming at (who is most likely a stranger! And not deserving of your ire), it is disrespectful to the people around you trying to shop.
How does pitching a fit raise prices? You’re tying the hands of at least one employee (more likely 2-3 once you work your way up the chain of command). The more time they spend listening to you rage, the less time they have to complete tasks like stocking, inventory, and other vital functions that keep the store clean and functioning.
Ranting may get you what you want the first time, but don’t expect any help the next time you enter the store. You’ve been marked by the store employees and the gossip mill as a customer to avoid like the plague. Eventually you’ll stop coming because you get poor service because the employees are afraid to be screamed at. You’ll get better results if you are calm and rational, providing facts instead of outbursts.
#6 Wild Kids
Is it too much to keep an eye on your children? You should be doing it anyway. How many amber alerts could be prevented a year by closer supervision of children? How many hospital visits and accidents could be prevented? Your child is a representative of YOU when in public.
Children do not understand all the rules of polite behavior. One little girl loved to hide the fish food in fish tank stands while her parents were five aisles down. It was cute, I admit, but what if every child had done it? It wouldn’t be cute, it’d be time consuming, especially if I didn’t know she was hiding them there. Imagine finding five cans of icky, expired fish food when selling a stand!
Easy solution: watch your children. Ask them not to pick up or open items. If they do open or break something, inform an employee instead of leaving it all over the floor. If they need to put something back, supervise them and tell them what a good job they are doing being responsible.
I suppose what I’m trying to say is, by behaving in a retail store like you would as a guest to someone you love and respect house, everyone will be better off. Retail associates have a tough job. Say please and thank you, leave the store the way you found it, and keep prices low. Really, it’s in your favor and everyone else’s’ too.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Becoming a Breatharian
I've decided I need to stop eating. No, seriously, it's too expensive. I'm going to start living on air and sunlight and pixie dust. I'd saying 80% of my non-existent income goes towards putting food in my body.
Well, since my adventures in kiddie land, I'd like to say I was super productive, busy, and got a job. Unfortunately, I was busy, somewhat productive, and have very little to show for it.
I wrote two more hubs, updated my stories, wrote another story, watched Lord of the Rings, watched more of One Piece and that French D'eon thingy, and created horrible little people drawing things. Oh, and I filled out more applications and took care of some essential errands.
I did make extremely tasty barley and bean soup, although I think Ken and I were the only ones who ate it. It was too healthy for the other residents of the household. I will definitely be making it again though. With either garlic bread or grilled cheese sandwiches. Did I mention it was really tasty?
I would have to say the highlight of my week was going to the fish meeting. This meeting was more of what I expected-- male-dominant, average age of retired, and fun auction items. The speaker was very interesting, and now I know how to plot my own fish room with automatic water changes. Unfortunately, the only livebearers I'm really interested in are halfbeaks, which eat other livebears for dinner ^_^ and stingrays.
Buuuuuuuuuuuut... it was extremely amusing to watch a bidding war erupt over FEEDER GUPPIES. Someone paid $5 for feeder guppies. They're like .10 each at Petstop! Apparently AR doesn't have feeder guppies.
And I bought fish... that I didn't need. It was my hand; it was possessed. And in cahoots with my bargain-senses. Bargain sense seem to occur in only a fraction of the population and are a seventh sense human beings use to survive. $8 for 4 apistos? Can't pass it up. The bad thing is that once they mature and are gorgeous I'm going to have to sell them (hopefully for a profit) when I leave for Korea. Oh, and I bought a plant-- why not, that dollar wanted to go with his friends. It's a frill and looks a lot better than the crap that comes into Petsmart.
Other than that, someone in the area called me. Of course, with the wonderful reception we receive in Pea Ridge, the phone probably didn't actually ring. I've suspected this was the case (I mean, I'm SITTING on it; how can I not hear/feel it?) before. Of course, when I tried to call this Paula person back (thanks reverse phone number lookup) it was a fax line and I got screechy feedback. I might try to call back on Monday, but this Paula person didn't leave a message, so I have NO idea who she was represented (I've filled out a dozen+ applications). If I'm lucky it was the school district and she'll grant me an interview.
I don't get it. I have tons of retail experience, a good record, positive references, and still no job offers. I'm wondering if I'm "too qualified" with the college degree and all. I hope not because that's stupid. If I say I want to work part-time for $8/hr, then that's what I'll work for. I just can't believe none of these retail establishments aren't hiring; that's just NOT POSSIBLE.
It's frustrating. And I still eat too much.
Art:
Fear my Hetalia chibis of doom! They will eventually be colored and probably turned into shrinky dinks:
And I finally finished my Eevee shrinky charms-- I just need to put them on a bracelet:
And my new fish:
Mr. Dominant male:
Well, since my adventures in kiddie land, I'd like to say I was super productive, busy, and got a job. Unfortunately, I was busy, somewhat productive, and have very little to show for it.
I wrote two more hubs, updated my stories, wrote another story, watched Lord of the Rings, watched more of One Piece and that French D'eon thingy, and created horrible little people drawing things. Oh, and I filled out more applications and took care of some essential errands.
I did make extremely tasty barley and bean soup, although I think Ken and I were the only ones who ate it. It was too healthy for the other residents of the household. I will definitely be making it again though. With either garlic bread or grilled cheese sandwiches. Did I mention it was really tasty?
I would have to say the highlight of my week was going to the fish meeting. This meeting was more of what I expected-- male-dominant, average age of retired, and fun auction items. The speaker was very interesting, and now I know how to plot my own fish room with automatic water changes. Unfortunately, the only livebearers I'm really interested in are halfbeaks, which eat other livebears for dinner ^_^ and stingrays.
Buuuuuuuuuuuut... it was extremely amusing to watch a bidding war erupt over FEEDER GUPPIES. Someone paid $5 for feeder guppies. They're like .10 each at Petstop! Apparently AR doesn't have feeder guppies.
And I bought fish... that I didn't need. It was my hand; it was possessed. And in cahoots with my bargain-senses. Bargain sense seem to occur in only a fraction of the population and are a seventh sense human beings use to survive. $8 for 4 apistos? Can't pass it up. The bad thing is that once they mature and are gorgeous I'm going to have to sell them (hopefully for a profit) when I leave for Korea. Oh, and I bought a plant-- why not, that dollar wanted to go with his friends. It's a frill and looks a lot better than the crap that comes into Petsmart.
Other than that, someone in the area called me. Of course, with the wonderful reception we receive in Pea Ridge, the phone probably didn't actually ring. I've suspected this was the case (I mean, I'm SITTING on it; how can I not hear/feel it?) before. Of course, when I tried to call this Paula person back (thanks reverse phone number lookup) it was a fax line and I got screechy feedback. I might try to call back on Monday, but this Paula person didn't leave a message, so I have NO idea who she was represented (I've filled out a dozen+ applications). If I'm lucky it was the school district and she'll grant me an interview.
I don't get it. I have tons of retail experience, a good record, positive references, and still no job offers. I'm wondering if I'm "too qualified" with the college degree and all. I hope not because that's stupid. If I say I want to work part-time for $8/hr, then that's what I'll work for. I just can't believe none of these retail establishments aren't hiring; that's just NOT POSSIBLE.
It's frustrating. And I still eat too much.
Art:
Fear my Hetalia chibis of doom! They will eventually be colored and probably turned into shrinky dinks:
And I finally finished my Eevee shrinky charms-- I just need to put them on a bracelet:
And my new fish:
Mr. Dominant male:
Thursday, September 9, 2010
My New Asylum Of Choice
Well, I started my volunteer gig with The Boys and Girls Club on Bentonville. I found the black people! They do exist in Arkansas. Just not in Pea Ridge I guess. Joking aside, I was given something to sign, a tour, and was dumped in a room with 1 staff member and 70+ children. Yay!
Children are shysters. Really! I was alternately solicited, conned, and lied to.
I was helping this cute little girl with her worksheets. The sad thing was that she was probably in 3rd grade and could not READ! Her spoken English was very good and she could write what I told her, but could not read. She recognized maybe a handful of words. Anyway, I was told by the staff that I was supposed to ask if they needed help with spelling words. I asked and she goes, "I'll do that at home." Right, and I'm sure your parents can't speak English, let alone read it.
Another child asked me if I was a mom. After putting my eyeballs back in my head, I told her I wasn't and what a cute dog she was drawing! LOL. Everyone commented on my nails, which means its time to cut them. I guess without the fish water they're growing strong and healthy. Why do 6 year olds know the word manicure?
Another child came up and goes, "Can you help me?" I asked her with what and she holds up this magazine for some fundraiser! She wanted me to buy something so she could ride in a limo. I really hate that schools run fundraisers like that. It's really unfair to the kids. They must be successful though, if they are still doing them.
Then the 6th grade math whooped me. r-125=19. I taught the kid how to make it r=125+19 and I'm not sure if her teacher will appreciate that too much.
Overall it was pretty fun. Everyone was like "you want to be locked in the homework room-- but-- but-- dodgeball!" It gives me something to do other than obsess over my online writing with the backlinks and SEO and hubs and adsense.
I'd still like a paying job though.
...Soon...
I need to go fill out some more apps.
Children are shysters. Really! I was alternately solicited, conned, and lied to.
I was helping this cute little girl with her worksheets. The sad thing was that she was probably in 3rd grade and could not READ! Her spoken English was very good and she could write what I told her, but could not read. She recognized maybe a handful of words. Anyway, I was told by the staff that I was supposed to ask if they needed help with spelling words. I asked and she goes, "I'll do that at home." Right, and I'm sure your parents can't speak English, let alone read it.
Another child asked me if I was a mom. After putting my eyeballs back in my head, I told her I wasn't and what a cute dog she was drawing! LOL. Everyone commented on my nails, which means its time to cut them. I guess without the fish water they're growing strong and healthy. Why do 6 year olds know the word manicure?
Another child came up and goes, "Can you help me?" I asked her with what and she holds up this magazine for some fundraiser! She wanted me to buy something so she could ride in a limo. I really hate that schools run fundraisers like that. It's really unfair to the kids. They must be successful though, if they are still doing them.
Then the 6th grade math whooped me. r-125=19. I taught the kid how to make it r=125+19 and I'm not sure if her teacher will appreciate that too much.
Overall it was pretty fun. Everyone was like "you want to be locked in the homework room-- but-- but-- dodgeball!" It gives me something to do other than obsess over my online writing with the backlinks and SEO and hubs and adsense.
I'd still like a paying job though.
...Soon...
I need to go fill out some more apps.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Labor Day Weekend
So, I had a fun weekend. I drove myself back to KC for the weekend, and surprisingly, only ran into minimal construction… until I hit Overland Park. Why are they still working on 69 four months later? It’s going to start snowing guys, and you haven’t even made the second lane yet! Go Kansas! Arkansas, which has a longer construction season, does not have any construction on the main roads, so how does this figure? Less traffic? Maybe, but more trucks and trailers down here…
Anyway, I had a wonderful time Friday night… after the brush of DMV DEATH! I had to get a replacement registration, since mine ran away (was probably thrown away in a purge), and I walked into about 100+ people waiting in line. I’m sure my face looked like this O___O, but I bravely got in line and asked the lady if I was in the correct place. She just looked at me, asked for my name and license, and printed it out for me. In and out of the DMV Friday afternoon… I just used up my luck for the month, truly, I did!
Other than that, I did the IHOP date with the usual (and some unusual) suspects. I think IHOP servers must fight each other not to serve us. Tim and I were first (for once, I’m NEVER first, thanks Labor Day weekend traffic) and the host wanted to seat us. I informed him I had no idea how many people were coming otherwise I’d give him dire warning to prepare for invasion; he gave me a funny look for some reason. We ended up with a nice number of 10. I sat next to the two that returned from overseas and behaved myself nicely, thank you very much. It was the “adults” at the other end of the table who were playing with straws and napkins! I want to be an adult like that! Very mature guys. Afterwards we did a few games of bowling, which I royally sucked at, but it was the painkillers’ fault for not working like they were supposed to. (By the way, gall bladder, if you actually do have stones, then you should have killed me in the bowling alley after IHOP; I ate so much unsaturated, saturated, transfat, salt, and sugar you should have gone into a coma. And stop poking my right lung; it’s annoying.) Anyhow, I bowled a 76 and a 87 respectively and declined the first game so Tim and I could visit the Evil Electronic Empire aka Best Buy. I’m not so great at video games, I rediscovered. I should’ve asked for cords to hook my laptop to the tv so I can watch anime on a decent sized screen.
Saturday I hung around, ate a wonderful breakfast, and read Readers Digest. Don’t laugh, I did! And I read The Week and Nutrition Action too. And some magazine about conspiracy theorists and wackjobs. Which lead me to Russia Today. I am vastly amused. And I visited Whole Foods. On a Saturday. I think I lost my mind! By the samples were sooooooooo good, mmm, cheese and bread and veggie stix and biscuit stuff with almonds. I was pretty stingy with the purchase: rat food, flax seed, barley, walnuts, and toothpaste. Bulk bins are awesomely cheap.
Sunday, after realizing that no one I asked could go to Ren Fest with me, I went for a drive. Somehow I ended up on a 6 mile hike. Can’t figure out how that happens? Neither can I! I went to look at the creek, for fish, and the butterflies lured me in with their devilish ways of looking pretty and staying just out of reach. Next thing I know I’m 3 miles away from my car, being run over by cyclists (the little girl did ring her bell to warn me of impeding carnage), and being attack by a butterfly. It stabbed me with its tongue. Repeatedly. Apparently it’s a “charismatic” and “friendly” Hackberry Emperor that likes to eat carrion and rotting fruit. How flattering he deemed me as good as dead meat. Actually, it just wanted the salt from my sweat. I was so mad I didn’t have my camera with me. I saw 19 species of butterfly, 4 of which were swallow tails, and I could have gotten some fantastic photos of them on the thistles. Then I read some more magazines in the sun until dinner. It was a beautiful day of ME time without the dog or people.
I am getting somewhat tan. I do believe that its global warming’s fault. Somehow the sun is screwed up and not burning me anymore. Actually, I’ve spent more time outside this summer than the last three combined; thanks PetSmart, deprive me of my Vitamin D!
Monday, my friend Carla and I went to the Kansas City Renaissance Festival… aka an anime convention with the Middle Ages. It was eerily similar in any case, with the funny words and colorful costumes and shameless exhibitionists. There were in fangirls/boys. I don’t remember camels or elephants being at anime conventions… but I don’t know why they were in the Middle Ages either (the llamas were obviously imported by Spain and zapped back to the past…). We spent a lot of time walking around and browsing in shops and watched the jousting. The horses and outfits were pretty. Paid for some arrows and a bow. They didn’t have the deer target up, which was a bummer, but out of seven arrows I managed to hit the target once. I’m so coordinated, and oh-so-blind. Also bought a very good but very messy crepe (stupid Word, why didn’t you put an accent in automatically?). Went to visit Mr. C in his pottery shop (which seems to get more eccentric every year) and learned how to embarrass Carla. Oh, and watched some performers do some dances and music from Georgia, which was fun. I was watching to see if one of them accidentally threw the knife through their foot. Overall, it was pretty fun, but we left when it got hot and crowded during the second jousting tournament. I wish I had stayed after looking at Shelia’s picture of the birds! I love raptors :(
Dinner was great too. Except SOMEONE stole my last piece of chicken. When you have to reach OVER the centerpiece to steal the piece of chicken on my plate’s 3 o’ clock position, that’s theft. It was not an invitation to eat my chicken for me while I am eating bread. We had “oriental inspired” rice, which I didn’t care food because I don’t like oranges in my rice, and pineapple carrots, which I would have preferred without the pineapples. The chocolate pie was awesome, just awesome.
Speaking of, I went into Hen House while I was in KC and Barbara asked me why she hadn’t seen me and did I realize I was missing my pie?! I thought it was cool I the people at Hen House still recognize me. Other than that, I swung into PetSmart. I kind of like the remodel but I’m not fond of what they did to Specialty. The new bird habitat looks equally improved and annoying as all get out to clean. The green cheek conure was cute. But the wretched plant tank was gone. Sure, I complain about it for SIX years, and they get rid of it AFTER I leave. Thanks.
I drove back on Tuesday with the dog and the other passengers. I stopped in Jasper, Missouri (voluntarily this time—no tire problems). I really enjoyed all the sunflowers driving up and the cool weather. And the animals weren’t complaining about my singing. Shadow probably couldn’t hear it, sacked out on the front seat.
Still no job offers. Tomorrow I shall have to submit more applications. Joy. And other joyfully fun things I shoved to the side in favor of going to KC for the weekend. Like my class. And my writing. And laundry. Blech.
And look at the awesome things I brought back my KC:
My grandmother bag of bright colors and tropical fish and pockets:
My 'so, i herd u liek mudkipz' mudkip from Japan (and you, yes YOU, Tim told on you... you know why I have a mudkip, which is totally out of place in my EEVEE shrine):
And best of all:
This (Twister, the kissy, cuddly brat)
This (Molly, who was originally my rescue from over two years ago, and who I keep calling Jitterbug, my dead rat >.>)
And This (Omnee, with a massive wheelie tail)
I adore the last three things I picked up. They are quite cute and Shitty Kitty is terrified of them. It is very hard to photograph a rat while the other two are making a jailbreak.
And some Ren Fest photos:
Kids and a May Pole-- I was laughing at the disaster:
Very uncomfortable:
LLAMAS! (Tina, eat your dinner!)
The courtly parade ala fairy section:
The Georgian Dancer sans knives (I loved his outfit! I wanted it):
Shooting stuff:
Anyway, I had a wonderful time Friday night… after the brush of DMV DEATH! I had to get a replacement registration, since mine ran away (was probably thrown away in a purge), and I walked into about 100+ people waiting in line. I’m sure my face looked like this O___O, but I bravely got in line and asked the lady if I was in the correct place. She just looked at me, asked for my name and license, and printed it out for me. In and out of the DMV Friday afternoon… I just used up my luck for the month, truly, I did!
Other than that, I did the IHOP date with the usual (and some unusual) suspects. I think IHOP servers must fight each other not to serve us. Tim and I were first (for once, I’m NEVER first, thanks Labor Day weekend traffic) and the host wanted to seat us. I informed him I had no idea how many people were coming otherwise I’d give him dire warning to prepare for invasion; he gave me a funny look for some reason. We ended up with a nice number of 10. I sat next to the two that returned from overseas and behaved myself nicely, thank you very much. It was the “adults” at the other end of the table who were playing with straws and napkins! I want to be an adult like that! Very mature guys. Afterwards we did a few games of bowling, which I royally sucked at, but it was the painkillers’ fault for not working like they were supposed to. (By the way, gall bladder, if you actually do have stones, then you should have killed me in the bowling alley after IHOP; I ate so much unsaturated, saturated, transfat, salt, and sugar you should have gone into a coma. And stop poking my right lung; it’s annoying.) Anyhow, I bowled a 76 and a 87 respectively and declined the first game so Tim and I could visit the Evil Electronic Empire aka Best Buy. I’m not so great at video games, I rediscovered. I should’ve asked for cords to hook my laptop to the tv so I can watch anime on a decent sized screen.
Saturday I hung around, ate a wonderful breakfast, and read Readers Digest. Don’t laugh, I did! And I read The Week and Nutrition Action too. And some magazine about conspiracy theorists and wackjobs. Which lead me to Russia Today. I am vastly amused. And I visited Whole Foods. On a Saturday. I think I lost my mind! By the samples were sooooooooo good, mmm, cheese and bread and veggie stix and biscuit stuff with almonds. I was pretty stingy with the purchase: rat food, flax seed, barley, walnuts, and toothpaste. Bulk bins are awesomely cheap.
Sunday, after realizing that no one I asked could go to Ren Fest with me, I went for a drive. Somehow I ended up on a 6 mile hike. Can’t figure out how that happens? Neither can I! I went to look at the creek, for fish, and the butterflies lured me in with their devilish ways of looking pretty and staying just out of reach. Next thing I know I’m 3 miles away from my car, being run over by cyclists (the little girl did ring her bell to warn me of impeding carnage), and being attack by a butterfly. It stabbed me with its tongue. Repeatedly. Apparently it’s a “charismatic” and “friendly” Hackberry Emperor that likes to eat carrion and rotting fruit. How flattering he deemed me as good as dead meat. Actually, it just wanted the salt from my sweat. I was so mad I didn’t have my camera with me. I saw 19 species of butterfly, 4 of which were swallow tails, and I could have gotten some fantastic photos of them on the thistles. Then I read some more magazines in the sun until dinner. It was a beautiful day of ME time without the dog or people.
I am getting somewhat tan. I do believe that its global warming’s fault. Somehow the sun is screwed up and not burning me anymore. Actually, I’ve spent more time outside this summer than the last three combined; thanks PetSmart, deprive me of my Vitamin D!
Monday, my friend Carla and I went to the Kansas City Renaissance Festival… aka an anime convention with the Middle Ages. It was eerily similar in any case, with the funny words and colorful costumes and shameless exhibitionists. There were in fangirls/boys. I don’t remember camels or elephants being at anime conventions… but I don’t know why they were in the Middle Ages either (the llamas were obviously imported by Spain and zapped back to the past…). We spent a lot of time walking around and browsing in shops and watched the jousting. The horses and outfits were pretty. Paid for some arrows and a bow. They didn’t have the deer target up, which was a bummer, but out of seven arrows I managed to hit the target once. I’m so coordinated, and oh-so-blind. Also bought a very good but very messy crepe (stupid Word, why didn’t you put an accent in automatically?). Went to visit Mr. C in his pottery shop (which seems to get more eccentric every year) and learned how to embarrass Carla. Oh, and watched some performers do some dances and music from Georgia, which was fun. I was watching to see if one of them accidentally threw the knife through their foot. Overall, it was pretty fun, but we left when it got hot and crowded during the second jousting tournament. I wish I had stayed after looking at Shelia’s picture of the birds! I love raptors :(
Dinner was great too. Except SOMEONE stole my last piece of chicken. When you have to reach OVER the centerpiece to steal the piece of chicken on my plate’s 3 o’ clock position, that’s theft. It was not an invitation to eat my chicken for me while I am eating bread. We had “oriental inspired” rice, which I didn’t care food because I don’t like oranges in my rice, and pineapple carrots, which I would have preferred without the pineapples. The chocolate pie was awesome, just awesome.
Speaking of, I went into Hen House while I was in KC and Barbara asked me why she hadn’t seen me and did I realize I was missing my pie?! I thought it was cool I the people at Hen House still recognize me. Other than that, I swung into PetSmart. I kind of like the remodel but I’m not fond of what they did to Specialty. The new bird habitat looks equally improved and annoying as all get out to clean. The green cheek conure was cute. But the wretched plant tank was gone. Sure, I complain about it for SIX years, and they get rid of it AFTER I leave. Thanks.
I drove back on Tuesday with the dog and the other passengers. I stopped in Jasper, Missouri (voluntarily this time—no tire problems). I really enjoyed all the sunflowers driving up and the cool weather. And the animals weren’t complaining about my singing. Shadow probably couldn’t hear it, sacked out on the front seat.
Still no job offers. Tomorrow I shall have to submit more applications. Joy. And other joyfully fun things I shoved to the side in favor of going to KC for the weekend. Like my class. And my writing. And laundry. Blech.
And look at the awesome things I brought back my KC:
My grandmother bag of bright colors and tropical fish and pockets:
My 'so, i herd u liek mudkipz' mudkip from Japan (and you, yes YOU, Tim told on you... you know why I have a mudkip, which is totally out of place in my EEVEE shrine):
And best of all:
This (Twister, the kissy, cuddly brat)
This (Molly, who was originally my rescue from over two years ago, and who I keep calling Jitterbug, my dead rat >.>)
And This (Omnee, with a massive wheelie tail)
I adore the last three things I picked up. They are quite cute and Shitty Kitty is terrified of them. It is very hard to photograph a rat while the other two are making a jailbreak.
And some Ren Fest photos:
Kids and a May Pole-- I was laughing at the disaster:
Very uncomfortable:
LLAMAS! (Tina, eat your dinner!)
The courtly parade ala fairy section:
The Georgian Dancer sans knives (I loved his outfit! I wanted it):
Shooting stuff:
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