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| Be kind please rewind |
| 03.31.05 (11:56 am) [edit] |
Here is a scene from my shift at the video store..Kate (cute video store clerk): It looks like you have some late fees. $20, for 2 movies that were 3 days late. Beligerant Customer: What? K: Late fees. You had 2 movies due back on Feb 28th and they weren't returned until March 3rd. BC: Are you sure? K: It is right here on the compture. BC: Tell me again. Are you sure? K: (Repeats) We check the store everyday to make sure we didn't accidentally put the movies back without checking them in. BC: That much for late fees? That's fucked up. K: Sir, I don't pick the late fees and they are listed at the bottom of the sheet you signed when you rented them. BC: It is still fucked up. K: (Thinking don't rent the damn things) I need you to at least pay for one before I can let you rent tonight. BC: Fine. (Throws $20 on the counter) (Mumbles under breath and leaves) Okay, I know late fees aren't anyone's idea of a good way to spend your money. But don't take it out on the poor clerk waiting on you. I don't get paid enough to put up with your shit. I thought I was being nice by not making him pay the whole thing. Which of course means I put a note on his account that he has too. Thank you and have a nice day. k |
| Why bother? |
| 03.31.05 (9:08 am) [edit] |
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Just a thought on bathroom etiquette... If you aren't going to use soap and are only going to put your hands under the water for 2 seconds why bother? k |
| Secrets |
| 03.31.05 (7:14 am) [edit] |
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I heard part of this on NPR last night, but only caught the first minute or so. It is about a Lyndsey mentioned it on her blog and it reminded me that I need to finish listening to the story. I am glad she did because there are some beautiful postcards on his site. (which remind me that I need to do more collage work soon) It made me wonder about people who would send a stranger their secret. It also made me think of a story I heard on This American LIfe about a confession line where people could call up and confess anything. Some of the things made me cringe and others made me laugh. I guess that is life... k |
| Couple of random photos |
| 03.30.05 (2:35 pm) [edit] |
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[image]chicalookate_26208 8669.jpg[/image] [image]chicalookate_10665 6032.jpg[/image] |
| Best years of your life? |
| 03.30.05 (7:42 am) [edit] |
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I received an alumni update newsletter from my high school this week. It has the usual "Bill is working in the jungle with the natives to make their lives better" and "June is selling real estate. She and her husband have 4 beautiful boys." And I found myself asking does anyone really care? I noticed that the class of 1990 is having their 15th anniversary this year... mine will be next year. I didn't go to my 10 and probably won't go to my 15 either. I am not sure what the obsession with holding on to those years is. I didn't hate high school, but it wasn't my favorite time either. I don't keep in contact with anyone from my class. I think it is sad when people talk about those years being the best of their lives. It is like they just stopped growing and experienceing. My life has been so much satisfying since I gratuted. In fact the time since I turned 30 has been the best of my life. I don't have problems with going to reuinions, but it just seems like people put themselves under a lot of pressure. Like they have to lose 15 lbs., get botox, a new husband. Like they can't just enjoy themselves. And if any of those people really meant anything to you you wouldn't wait 10-15 years to see them. Just my opinion Rambling on... k |
| Jamie |
| 03.29.05 (2:02 pm) [edit] |
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I was going through some boxes the other day and came across some postcards sent to me by an old friend. All hand made and special just to the two of us. I thought of the road trips to Nashville and the hours spent on the phone. How she made Brian tell me he was gay and how that was the start of our friendship. I helped her through her relationship with Philip (aka MoleMan). And laughed with her about her misadventures with Lint Boy. She read every single one of my bad poems and told me she loved them. She defened me to coworkers who had spread lies about me. She let me cry and made me laugh. And then one day she was gone. We had made plans to go to a concert with my brother. A week before she asked if I wanted to go out and I said I had plans with coworkers. It wasn't something that I could have invited her along on. I called several times durning the week trying to plan things for the concert and didn't hear from her. I figured she was mad about me not changing plans for her. She was supposed to be our ride and she hadn't paid for the ticket and I was tired of waiting so I told Andy he could have the other ticket. She finally called the night before the concert and asked what the plans were. I told her I had given her ticket to my brother. That was the last time I ever heard from her. I tried calling and writing, but got nothing back. After that last conversation I spent a lot of time thinking about her, both the good and the bad. I realized then how often I played buffer between her and the rest of the world. I realized how angry she was and how quickly she could explode and how tired it was dealing with that. I still have the tapes she made me and the letters she sent while I was home in Michgian. I wonder how she is doing and if she found some sort of peace with herself. And if we could be friends again. It is amazing how one little event can change things so dramatically. k |
| Random stuff |
| 03.29.05 (11:34 am) [edit] |
k |
| I am such a geek |
| 03.28.05 (1:56 pm) [edit] |
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Am I the only one who wants a whole set of GIANTmicrobes especially the "Flesh Eating", "Ebola" and "Ulcer" ones. The "Bookworm" isn't bad either. Please help me... k |
| LSV |
| 03.28.05 (11:28 am) [edit] |
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Lynne was kind enough to send me this photo from a scavanger hunt Gary hosted. Now you can picture me behind the counter telling people they can't rent until they pay their late fees. k [image]chicalookate_32456 988.jpg[/image] |
| Sesame seeds, music and late fees |
| 03.28.05 (8:18 am) [edit] |
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Friday night made the trip to Trade Joe's with C to pick up snacks for the Easter weekend. Sesame covered cashews, sesame crepes, and some Nutty Crunchy peanut brittle type snack with, you guessed it, sesame seeds. I wish it has been a payday when I went I would have stocked up on some things for myself. C when a bit nuts... but we used her husband as an excuse and it worked for us. Saturday was my first shift at LSV on my own. As I was parking the car my step mom called to cancel our family holiday. Dad and Julia were sick with the flu. (By 6 so did Nancy... Emily was hiding in the basement or her bedroom avoiding the family at all costs.) I was at the store until 3 by myself. L helped me open and told me some of the things she is going to want me to work on. I get to fix porn! Rock on. :D Not a slow moment the whole time I was there. L told me I could close up the store for a moment to go to the bathroom or grab some food. At the time I wanted to do both there was a guy in the store who wouldn't leave. He was there for TWO hours. I was ready to scream. Lots of people trying to get out of late fees. Something I have to get used to. Pissed off one of my coworkers. At LSV we get to pick the music we listen to which isn't always a good thing. As most of you know I have pretty broad musical tastes. Not everything should be played in a retail setting. My music and my coworker D put in some of his music. LSV has 2 floors, long and thin, and the music tends to be much louder downstairs due to the layout and the fact that their isn't outside noise to contend with like there is upstairs. D was waiting on a customer and I turned the music down. It wasn't so quiet you couldn't hear it, but it was low. He asked if I could turn it up so he could at least hear it. He was kind of snotty so I was snotty back and told him that I couldn't listen to it and when I was gone in 20 minutes he could turn it up. Again with the snotty attitude he asked what was wrong with it. I told him it was too discordant and that I felt like my ears were going to bleed. He didn't like that. But that is too bad. I know I have walked out of the store because of the music that was playing. As a small locally owned store you can alienate customers. I would say something about the music, but not everyone else would. I think everyone who works there could find work appropriate music in their collection... and I am not talking Muzak. Some music is meant for listending to at home. Back to the periodicals... k |
| Around the world |
| 03.25.05 (1:40 pm) [edit] |
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Looking around my cubicle I realize that I need to some cleaning. I have piles of work I need to deal with. And if I can't get them off my desk I should at least put them in piles according to what needs to be done with them. I am lucky I haven't had any of the teetering stacks fall on me. I am so frustrated with my lack of motivation when it comes to work right now. (To be fair this also includes housework.) Maybe if I took a vacation it would get better. I have 50 hours of vacation saved up... now I just need to save up the money to go somewhere. If you could go anywhere without worrying about the cost where would you go? I think I would like to be in Italy traipsing around the country side, admiring the architecture. k |
| Idiots and drool |
| 03.24.05 (8:24 am) [edit] |
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Trying not to spend the whole morning yawning. First night back at LSV went well. There was just one idiot who owed $50 in late fees and wanted not pay until next time... he kept saying "It isn't like I am going to run off and never pay." My response was that the computer won't let me rent to you with that big of a late fee. I asked my coworker to deal since I wasn't willing to do that yet. I hate that people want to get away with not paying.. you signed the paper that tells you when everything is do and what the late fees are. I also feel that this guy wasn't taking what I was telling him well because I am a female. He was kind of an ass. It is all starting to come back to me. The good and the bad. I was searching online for different photo sites and stumbed across Photo Friday which has weekly photo challenges. Some of the past challenges have been Tranquility, Perfection, Speed and Emptiness. This weeks challenge is Glow. It makes me want to prink out the list of pass challenges and see what I can come up with... my own little photo class. I have been searching ebay for cameras... I think I ruined my keyboard with the drool.
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| Nerves |
| 03.23.05 (12:50 pm) [edit] |
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Tonight is my first shift back at LSV and I am a bit nervous. No real reason, just the way my mind works. I will be fine once I am actually working. I even picked up a shift on Saturday so I could have 2 for the week. As usual I was up late reading and will be lucky to get home by 1 am so tomorrow I am going to be useless. I swear one of these days I am going to be able to put the book down. Really. I mean it this time. What is the worst is when I stay up reading a book that isn't any good. I need someone who will tell me to put the damn light out. k |
| Flickr |
| 03.23.05 (7:09 am) [edit] |
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I just set up a photo page on Flickr They have a cool feature that lets you put a badge on your blog. Uploading the photos made me realize how much I need to get out and take some new ones. It has been too cold and I have been too lazy. Just roaming around the Flickr site inspired me... there is some great stuff out there. Now I just need to arrange a photo date with Lynne and all will be good. k |
| Half formed thought |
| 03.22.05 (11:25 am) [edit] |
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Not a lot of time to write today, but I was reading about the school shooting in Minnesota and wondered why the fact that the shooter "wore a lot of black" had to do with anything. Most of my clothes are black, that doesn't mean I am going to go into work and start shooting people. Now, if he wore a shirt that said "I am a pychopath" maybe it would be worth mentioning. I heard and interesting point this morning on the radio .... that we haven't heard nearly as much about this incident as we have similar incidents in the past. Is is because we have become immune to the violence? Or are we not hearing much about it because it happened on a reservation and it wasn't white kids who died? I think it might be a combination of the two. That and the country seems to be focused on the Schiavo case. 1 life versus 9? Doesn't seem quite right. k |
| 27?!? |
| 03.21.05 (7:13 am) [edit] |
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Last night was a night of food related dreams The first one was that I offered to buy a friend 27 White Castle burgers. She has Crohn's and said that once she felt better she would take me up on my offer. She was really excited about getting them I also dreamed that I was sorting through a friend's friend's books and finding chicken fingers in the pages. I tried to recycle them. k |
| Quality of life |
| 03.21.05 (7:04 am) [edit] |
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I just read that Bush signed a bill into law that would transfer the Terri Schiavo case to federal courts. This whole thing frustrates me. You have people shouting that allowing her to die would be the doctor's playing God. Aren't we playing God by keeping her alive on machines? It is funny how it works one way but not the other in the pro life mind. Her parents don't want to let her go, and I could see where that would be hard, but I think they are being selfish. What if she could wake up... could you imagine losing the last 15 years. Think of how much has changed. Would you be able to make the transition? I think at some point you just have to say goodbye. I think one of hte most disturbing things about this case is that I don't think any of the politicians who have involved themselves really care about Terri... I think they just want to get their names in the paper and side themselves with the "moral" majority. Remove the tube. Reinstate the tube. Remove the tube. Reinstate the tube. What do they think this is doing to Terri? If it were me I would say let me go. I have told my parents I don't want to be kept alive this way. But I need to look into getting a living will. k |
| St Patty's Madness |
| 03.17.05 (2:04 pm) [edit] |
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Walked around a bit on my lunch hour, trying to avoid the large number of drunks stumbling across campus. I saw one guy wearing nothing but basketball shorts, the big baggy kind, and a green mad hatter hat. Oh and he was painted green, like completely green. Giggling girls shouting "I like your shamrocks". Bars here opened at 7. If I started drinking at 7 I would be done by 9 am, maybe 10 at the latest. It just makes me shake my head. Just for fun here is a link my friend BJ sent me. Pretty amazing. k |
| More Random thoughts |
| 03.16.05 (9:25 am) [edit] |
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Just some more random things I have been thinking about. I am so tired that I can't write anything bigger than a list.
Okay...back to work. Really. Honestly. k
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| Fate |
| 03.14.05 (11:34 am) [edit] |
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I worked at After Words on Friday night. I went to get a Diet Coke at the video store and my former boss was working. I told her about my quest for another part time job. She looked at me and said "What is wrong with here?" So, starting next week I will be on the schedule. Not sure what I will be making, but I get one weekday evening shift and one weekend shift. And now I don't have to go put out applications. Plus I will probably have some great porn stories to share. I had fun working at LSV and it is nice not to have to learn a whole new system. This is going to help me on my quest to pay off some bills. Made a few new necklaces, the first jewelry I have made since before Christmas. I am pretty happy with the new stuff, but my supplies need to be replenished. I have a lot of beads, but few of them seem to want to work together. Another perk about my new part time job is money to buy beads. Also I might be able to sell some pieces. A younger crowd comes in. We will see how it goes. Saw 2 girls on campus in sandles and flip flops. I want spring too, but that is crazy. It is about 30 degrees here. k |
| Got a response |
| 03.11.05 (1:12 pm) [edit] |
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It was vague, but their might be hope. Here is what Target's Guest Relations representative Katie has to say.... "I understand you're disappointed with the selection of clothing in our women's department, and I'm sorry for your frustration. We're excited about our partnerships with several designers in this area, and we look forward to offering a more diverse selection in the future. Week to week, month to month, our product selection is always changing. So be sure to check back with your local store or visit us on Target.com. Great products. Great value. And a great shopping experience -- every time you visit our stores. That's what Target is all about. Your feedback is really helpful to us, and I'll make sure to share your comments with our buying team. Thanks for shopping with us. I hope we'll see you again soon at Target." Little does she know I am Always at Target. At least 2-3 times a week. I mean it is only a hop skip and a jump from my house. Probably not even a quarter of a mile! We will see if anything happens. k |
| Randsom Thoughs |
| 03.10.05 (1:31 pm) [edit] |
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Here are just some random things I am thinking about lately.
Anything you are think about these days? k |
| Letter to Target |
| 03.09.05 (7:09 am) [edit] |
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I wrote a letter to Target this morning. about their plus sized section. I decided I can't complain about it unless I have tried to change it. This means that I am going to be writing a lot more letters. I figure if enough people write that maybe they might change things. And I might have to do the same for other issues I feel strongly about. Here is the letter... k First off let me say that I love Target and do the majority of my shopping at your stores. That being said there is one area where I feel that Target fall short, the women’s plus sized clothing section. First off it is sandwiched between clearance and the dressing rooms and it makes me feel like you don’t really even want to carry a larger clothes line. I realize this isn’t the case, but that is the way many of us feel. The average woman is a size 12-14 which means that there are a lot of us that are in larger sizes. I look at the other clothing lines and see the names Liz Lange and Isaac Mizrahi and wonder why you can’t find a designer to make clothes for plus sized women. What selection you have tends to be shapeless and boring. I think you are doing a big disservice to a large number of you customers by ignoring this issue. I understand that space is at a premium in retail stores such as Target, but remember large women have money to spend on clothes and are more than happy to hand it over for clothes that make us feel pretty and sexy. Thank you |
| Grumble |
| 03.08.05 (9:31 am) [edit] |
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Left work early... C had a doctor's appointment and since she is my ride I had to go to. Not that it was much of a hardship. I wasn't feeling too good myself so I was happy to go home. Took a 3 hour nap, which I wasn't really planning on. I haven't slept well since the surgery. I am normally a stomach sleeper and I have to sleep on my stomach for awhile. I wake up 3 times a night which means I am grouchy and tired when my alarm goes off. And being this tired, which I know is a result of the surgery, has me feeling frustrated. Just like when I had mono. I want to choose to be lazy and inactive, not have it chosen for me. Okay, I am done gumbling now... go on about your day. k |
| Weekend Roundup |
| 03.07.05 (9:07 am) [edit] |
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Pretty busy weekend here. I went to dinner with a friend and her husband. C and I were laughing so hard that her husband kept giving us strange looks. Which now that I think of it is pretty normal. After I parted ways with the happy couple I went to a bar in Jackson to meet some other bloggers from another blog site. It was fun, but not really my scene. It was amusing to see young skinny cleavege flashing girls dancing together and the line of guys surround them. The girls were lucky not to slip on the drool. The other amusing part was that earlier in the evening some guys yelled out that the reason they didn't like Jeff Gordon was he is a homo. But the idea of 2 girls together is okay... probably because they have hopes that they could join in. Made this girl roll her eyes. The smoke finally got to me and I made my way home. Saturday I came in to Ann Arbor to see Rick and in the evening Lynne Good conversation all around there. Lynne is a great person to have a conversation with because she challenges me to think things through and be more percise. Later that evening I met C, hubby and a friend of his for dinner. I saw the most amazing mullet. Seriously I started humming "Blinded by the mullet". It was way down to waist... and he had the handle bar mustache to go with it. I was just stunned. I have some more film to have developed. I just need to find the second roll. I know it is in my house somewhere. I am waiting for warmer weather so I can get out and take more photos. Of course they are saying snow tonight. k |
| New photos |
| 03.04.05 (12:44 pm) [edit] |
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Not my best, but it had been awhile since I posted any photos. I have more film to turn in and hopefully there will be some better shots in there. I really want to get out and take more photos. k Random photos |
| Another recipie for IslandArtist |
| 03.03.05 (9:40 am) [edit] |
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Sausage Strata Buter 9x13 pan Cover with white bread, crusts removed (about 7 slices) 1) 1 package of Sausage cooked and drained, arranged over bread Add 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese Beat 6 eggs add 2 cups milk and a little salt. Pour over bread/sausage/cheese. Refridgerate overnight Bake uncovered at 350 for 45 minutes |
| Annoyances |
| 03.03.05 (6:51 am) [edit] |
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I have a whole in my sock which is really starting to bother me. I didn't see it when I put them on this morning, but as soon as I walked out the door it made itself known. I am so tired that I am lucky I found a mmatching pair. Maybe I am pushing myself too hard after my surgery. I did the same thing when I had mono. I don't do well when I do nothing... at least not for very long. I get antsy. In other news, my student loan is rehabilitated! I am getting my financial situation in order, it has been a long time coming. The bad news about the loan is that it is now with a different creditor who wants my payments to go from $80 to $130. It may not seem like much, but that is $50 I don't have. My budget is pretty tight as it is, especially since I no longer work at the bookstore. If it weren't for my mom helping me with my car payment as an early "wedding" gift I wouldn't be able to have it. I was working on a budget last night and if I paid the $130 that would leave me with $100 for the month for food, gas, perscriptions and any minor emergancies I might have. It is just frustrating because I want to pay them, but it isn't possible to pay what they want. They all think they are my only creditor. I have to call them to see if they can lower my payments closer to the $80. If not I need to get another job. I want to go home and go back to sleep. Maybe for a week. k |
| Recipie for IslandArtist |
| 03.02.05 (9:14 am) [edit] |
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Here is the recipie for the french toast that I mentioned in your blog not too long ago. Hope you enjoy. And really 2 slices is more than enough for anyone. I will put the strata recipie up later. Oven Bake Praline French Toast 8 slices French bread cut about 3/4 inch thick 6 eggs 1 cup half and half or 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 cup whipping cream 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 2 tablespoons Grand Marnier or orange juice 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup + one tablespoon butter 1/2 cup chopped pecans 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar Place bread in single layer oven proof glass baking dish. Blend together eggs, half and half, sugar, Grand Marnier, vanilla, nutmeg and salt. Pour over bread turning bread once to coat evenly. Refridgerate soaking bread covered for several hours or overnight Place 1/3 cup butter in a baking pan (13x9x2 inch) Put pan in the oven to melt pubber. Remove from ovan and tilt pan to distribute butter evenly Remove soaking break from the refridgerator and arange in a single layer in buuter coated pan. Bake uncovered at 400 degrees for about 25 minutes or until firm and golden brown. Meanwhile melt remaining butter and mix with pecans and brown sugar. Sprinkle sugared pecans over baked French toast. Return to oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes or until sugar stargs to bubble. |
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