Shakes and The Big Bang Theory

So lately I have been saying that I was in a funky mood, well guess what? I found the perfect cure for that. Before going to bed, I watched some of "The Big Bang Theory"'s older episodes

and found myself in a great mood when I fell asleep. I don't think anybody can resist laughing at that show, it's hilarious! I love how Rahj can't speak to pretty ladies unless he is drinking, Sheldon with his routines, Howard's obsession with sex, Lenard always trying to keep the peace, and how Penny deals with all of them. I mean all of the characters are just perfect and the way they all react towards each other is just so funny that it could turn anyone's day into a better one in my opinion.

Today is my day off, and with that I decided that I would try to be productive. Try being the operative word. I helped my mom move the dvd player and the Wii to the living room from the basement so that is kind of productive, right? Then my sister asked me to go into town to buy her a shake from this fusion place that is supposed to be very healthy.

Anyways, I went into this place, called her to figure out the shake she would like and told the man behind the counter what she wanted. Then he starts asking me about what kind of tea she would like and if it was a okay to put this weird named shot in it. He stops somewhat quickly with twenty questions probably because he sees that I look like a deer caught in headlights and asks "have you been here before?" No sir, no I have not and you just scared the crap out of me by asking all those questions.

He told me about what comes with the shakes and what is the best way to have them and so on. I never knew that there was this shot of healthy stuff that you could take that did wonders on your digestive track. The shake and tea weren't bad either for being so healthy. I mean I thought they were going to taste disgusting, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that they were very good.

Moods and Homesickness

In the past couple days I have been in a really funky mood. So funky that I haven't really been able to describe it. Here goes, I have been feeling restless, somewhat lonely at times, stir-crazy, weak, inadequate, and bored, but that isn't all of it. I also feel so happy, sure of myself and silly at other times. As I wrote this, I looked back and wondered if I am bipolar (however, I am not). Then I realized that it has only been a couple of weeks since I moved back home from college, and that I must be homesick. Not crazy, just homesick (I am not saying people with bipolar are crazy, I am saying that I am feeling crazy).

To top that off, I haven't been able to get that much sleep and everybody knows how grouchy I get. I mean I become a huge b*tch and really mean. This also happens when I am really hungry too, so when I am really hungry and sleep deprived. everyone should watch out. I am a scary lady to deal with then; I guess I am so scary that my own sisters are afraid of me when I am in that mood. Good thing I try to say away from that, but with both of my jobs and working so much sometimes its hard to get enough sleep and eat enough.  

Friendship, Work, and the Rules of Being a D.D.

Tuesday was my day off. I didn’t do anything productive at all. I needed to be productive that day but then I also just didn’t want to do anything at all.  So the needing and wanting sides were conflicting and the want part of me won. Just like in Bruno Mars “The Lazy Song”, I just didn’t want to get out of bed and stop reading my book. However, there was a point were I did finally get up. But it wasn’t to be productive. Oh no, it was to go visit my friend and keep her company on her birthday.


This was the same friend that I had previously gone to Applebee’s with some guy friends. And it so happens that those same guy friends joined us. Well, I picked one of them up from his apartment and the other met us there. It was a great time since I embarrassed my unfortunate birthday friend by telling the server it was her birthday. I must say that she knew it was coming because I told her before we had gone to Applebee’s that I was going to do that.


What else are friends for? I think it is written in the friendship handbook that one must embarrass each other. Well, obviously I know that there isn’t a friendship handbook, but if there was one, it would be on page number eight and under the “never tell someone your friends secrets”. You get the idea.


Talking about friendship and best friends, I was able to hang out with one of my besties the other day (before my work schedule became so busy that it was on crack). It was so nice to hang out and talk; I truly believe that we both needed it. We started out the day by not knowing what we were going to do other than the fact that I was meeting her at her parents place in the morning. I was right in time because her mother made delicious blueberry pancakes that I was able to enjoy.When she was ready, even though it looked like it was going to rain soon, we took a walk down to the park. On our way there, we made a tiny detour to a coffee shop and got white chocolate mochas. When we finally got to the park to go swinging, it was sprinkling on and off.


After we had stomachaches from swinging so much, we walked to a bench with a roof on top of it to talk some more about school and what we have been up to. For a while we were stranded on the bench because the sprinkle turned into a downright pour, but it was all right since we had no place that we needed to be at.Later on, we decided to have a movie night. We went to the grocery store and bought some well-needed snacks, a.k.a. oatmeal cream pies, cosmic crunch bars, and kettle cooked cheddar cheese chips. We went from “Love and Other Drugs” to the “The King’s Speech” and then to our favorite “She’s the Man”. 


 All very solid movies I must say, but “She’s the Man” will always be the favorite probably because of Eunice and how ridiculous the movie plot line is (in a good way of course).Or it could be because the hot guys tend to take off their shirts in the movie a lot and the fact that we used to be in love with Channing Tatum. Well, I still really like Channing Tatum but the fact that he has a wife kind of crushed my dream of him and I marrying, oh well. Now that I think about it, I think I was in love with the character he played more than anything. Needless to say there is a bunch of history with the movie, my gal pal and I.


So what have I been up to since then? Basically working. I have been working nonstop to become a better server before the memorial weekend arrived, but as one can tell it's already here. I will be a busy, busy bee for quite a while since Memorial Day means that it’s basically summer for the tourist season where I live. This means much more working. Already I feel like I need a vacation. I guess you can say that going to school is my cold vacation, and I already miss it. And I hate the cold.


Last night after working at the swanky restaurant, I joined my family in the legion to listen to the karaoke and to be the D.D. It didn’t make me a happy camper when I had to wake up very early in the morning the next day, but oh well. 


There are many rules to being a D.D. that I have found to have fun (however this is not my first time). First, have fun and and don't be anti-social; you can't go home yet and you can't go do something else so it's best to get to know the people around you. The people around you are usually drinking and feel free to be themselves. They also tend to tell more stories that are embarrassing and quite hilarious. Second, make sure you know what a drunk person looks like and the different types, then learn how to deal with those types just in case (a.k.a. a drunk man who won't leave you be). Third, if you're able to dance with a good friend or family member, do it. It passes the time and keeps you from being bored. And finally, learn how to round up your group of people you need to get home. 

Swingsets, New Jobs, and Old Teachers

The day after my haircut, I seemed to look into the mirror a thousand times more than usual. I kept forgetting that my hair wasn’t just in a ponytail, up and out of the way. So whenever people would exclaim about how cute it looked, I was reminded that I now have really short hair and instantly a smile would appear on my face. It didn’t hurt that I was also getting complimented. Goodness that makes me sound vain.

But, really who doesn’t like getting complimented? I mean what’s the harm from it? … A very cocky or bigheaded person, but it’s not like I go fishing for compliments. Well, I admit sometimes I do, but not all of the time.

After work two nights ago the girls and I went to the city park, and we swung on the swing set for quite some time. I have always loved swinging and I don’t think that I will ever stop loving it. After so long, some of the girls had to go home and the only one left with me had a side ache from swinging so long. We decided to then lie down in the grass and just look at the stars. We ended up lying right underneath the Big Dipper. It was so peaceful while we talked about the stars underneath the stars.

Yesterday was my first day at the swanky restaurant, and the first thing that happens? Since both of my sisters work in the same place, they share a locker, so naturally they were letting me share it too. I went to the locker and put the combination in multiple times, and no luck. I could not open the darn lock. I had to have someone else open it for me. But in my defense, I must say that at school I have a P.O Box that turns left instead of right to open. It’s not my fault that I am all mixed up. I ended up being able to open that darn lock by the day.

Then I get quizzed on the spot about what I learned during orientation and all I could say was I don’t know. Until the manager hinted at what he wanted me to talk about. I mean give me a break; I don’t do well with quizzes and being on the spot around people, please. As if. Then one must take into account that I am super nervous. I really didn’t want anything to go wrong, and I wanted to show that I am a very smart hard worker.  But obviously, lady luck was not on my side today.

The rest of the day ended up being better. One of the servers let me follow her and showed me most of the side work that needed to be done and let me do it. I am very glad about that because I can’t ever seem to learn on a job by just watching, I also have to do it. Somehow people always think that by showing me once that I will remember it exactly the way it was which is so dumb.

I mean I don’t have a photographic memory, but it would be really nice if I did. It would be so much easier in school and at work if I did. I am a very forgetful person, but somehow I can do everything that a person with a photographic memory can do. I just need a lot of post it notes.

Last night I was having a girl’s night in with two friends. One was meeting us at my house after work and the other I picked up after work. We went to the grocery store to red box a movie and to find what we wanted to eat. This is what we found, two high school teachers, French silk pie, chicken kiev, mozzarella sticks and a group of a ladies that I helped wait on earlier in the day. This made for an interesting experience.

Talking to your old teachers of the subject that you most hated (math) in high school tends to be very awkward especially when your friend is still in high school and openly admits that she skipped his class. His reply? “I know,” in a very serious tone. Mind you, it was an excused skipping, but still.  Then to top it off, she took a creeper picture of him and sent it to one of her other friends.

The movie we ended up red boxing was ‘How Do You Know’ with Reece Witherspoon. And it got me thinking about love and dating. Well actually the title got me thinking more about it than the movie, but you get the picture.

The thoughts that it made me think were completely typical. How do you know that the person you’re dating is the one? Is it the way they act towards you? Is it because they accept you for who you are? And if so, is love ever enough? I mean can love be so complicated that even if you wanted it something fierce, you couldn’t have it because of all the complexity in the situation? 

New Jobs and New Haircuts

Last night I started my new job at a swanky high-end restaurant, and guess what I did? I had to live through five hours of classroom learning to become one of their servers. It wasn’t even a week out of school and I already have homework. Is there anyway that I could ever get out of homework? I mean I feel like I will forever have it. Maybe it just follows me wherever I go? Either way I don’t like it.

Yesterday morning, I was doing paperwork to be able to start, and with all of the papers I had to sign, I felt like I was signing my soul to them. But, I figured that since both of my sisters worked there, it couldn’t be that bad. Who knows, right? I guess I will figure it out in two days when I start my official training on the job.

After the training, I realized that I had a horrible headache. When I took my stupid hair out of the ponytail holder, it felt much better. I decided then and there that since I still have time before I went back to full-time at both of the places I work for, I would get my haircut. I don’t mean a little trim because that would be silly and pointless.

I wanted to go for a cut that I have always wanted to do, but I have been so afraid to do just in case I didn’t like it. I went for a pixie cut and I mean a full-blown pixie cut. I was not going to do this halfway or try to get as close to one as possible without having to take the risk. I am so glad that I made this decision. First of all, my thick hair was not going to weigh me down anymore and second I needed a change really bad. I mean my hair wasn’t that long to begin with, but if you have ever had to deal with really thick hair you understand what I went through. 

The amount of hair that was on the ground was enormous for how short my hair was before.

So with each cut my hairdresser did, my smile grew even more. I did something. I did it. Now all I have to do is check it off my bucket list. It isn’t much of an adventure if you think adventures are only rock climbing or traveling to a new place, but it is a huge change nonetheless.  

Dairy Queen, Applebee's and Burger King

       Yesterday I was working at Dairy Queen with two of my coworkers during the day. I am helping this woman at the walk-up window while the others were at the drive. The lady had just finished ordering and I was telling her the total. When right after I said "thank you please drive ahead". I didn't even realize I said this until the lady was laughing and told me "I could drive over there," while pointing to her car. I was so embarrassed when I said, "I am so sorry, I meant, you could pick it up at the next window." But the lady was good natured, and was chuckling to the point that I couldn't help but laugh myself. Then one of my coworkers heard me laughing and asked what was going on. When I told her, she just started laughing and said "Taylor, you do that all the time."Apparently I do that frequently. So, if you ever want a good laugh, you should stop by Dairy Queen.

     A funny thing happened at work yesterday too. And I am not talking about the drive ahead thing. This time I was at the drive through window giving food and collecting money, when one of my dear friends came through. It was such a coincidence because we have been texting back and forth about wanting to hang out. It was like playing tag, that is how bad it got. Anyways, I was telling her about how I had to go to Bemidji last night to buy some new pants for work, and I was wondering if she wanted to join me. Turns out she wasn't busy and we got to hang out and go out to eat at Applebee's.

     We decided to go to Applebee's and at the time that the host asked how many, so naturally we say only two. He looked at us with a curious look and said "just two?" So we were seated at a two top and then my friend got a text saying that one our other friends was going to join us. So when the server, who was very cute, came out to get our order, we talked to him about moving to a booth nearby. And I am pretty certain that every time I go to Applebee's, he ends up being my server. Then after, we were able to get our drinks. Apparently two young women talking at the same time and very fast is not a good mixture.
 
    So then our other friend came, and not long after he got a text about picking someone else up at Burger King which is right across from Applebee's. So when the server came to get our order we told him that another person was coming and that we were not ready to order, again. After all of that, we were talking so much and trying to figure out what to eat that by the time we ordered it was probably a good half hour before we told the server what we wanted. When this happened, there was so many many people talking at once to him. And so many questions about the buffalo wing special that I feel so bad that the server had to deal with us. Somehow he was taking everything in stride, and I'm pretty sure he was flirting with me most of the time. However, we all talked about it at the table and decided that he was probably gay. Which was kind of disappointing, since it seems like more and more of the nice and clean cut guys are playing for the same team. He even had pretty eyes, but what can you do?

   My friend was telling about a story and his ex-girlfriend which he called tay (this is NOT me just so you know), and how she was a psychotic b*tch. He even used the term b*tches be crazy. Which I have realized that I love that term. I guess when he started dating her she seemed like a nice enough girl, something happened, and he broke it off with her. That's where the craziness comes in, she started texting him non-stop about how much she hated him and never wanted to talk to him again. He never replied to any of her messages, and apparently she sent him hundreds of those within a week. Crazy? I think so. So then she tells him, that she has something of his, and at that time he was missing his ipod, so he thought it was his ipod. But, it wasn't. He finally replied and said "give it to a friend for me" so that he wouldn't have to deal with her. She would not let it go, and said to meet her in the Burger King parking lot, and when he did, guess what she had? Cupcakes. Freaking cupcakes. She never even had his ipod. So what have I learned from this story? Don't be a psychotic b*tch and make your ex think that you have his ipod when really all you have is cupcakes because that is just cruel.

Packing, Rollerblading and Attacking Dogs

Packing. Who even likes packing? I know I don’t, but the prospect of why I am packing is the best part, whether it being a very much needed vacation (and I mean needed) or moving back home from college. It’s the getting back part that sucks. So, now I am home and I am unpacking everything. With all the junk I have in my room, I find that unpacking the actual stuff that I use ten times harder.

 So what have I been doing this week? Throwing away the junk I horded and giving away the clothes I haven’t worn in so long that I couldn’t even tell a person when I last wore them. I found all kinds of nick nacks! Sadly, most of them were broken or completely useless. One of the toys that I found was a toy car that could be taken apart. My first thought was sweet! I started playing with it for a couple of minutes and tried to remember how to take it apart. It reminded me of that time when I got it out of a McDonald’s kid’s meal a couple years ago. It went into the useless pile. I know, I am a dork for playing with my old toys, but to be honest I like it that way. I mean really, is it any fun to be perfect? I didn’t think so.

How long does something like this take? I mean calculating all the time that I’ve spent figuring out if I could fix, playing with, or just not even knowing what to do with the objects I have found … I have not a clue. All I know is that I have been doing this since last Thursday night. Yes, I have taken breaks and stopped working at it for a while, but this endless rearranging and trying to fit everything in my room feels like it is taking eternity.

So did I keep at it today, and try to be done with all this shenanigans? Nope. I woke up thinking that I would, but plans change and this time it did. This morning my mom was making popovers, and while she was, my sister, and I were sitting at the table talking about our plans today. My sister started talking about how she wanted to go rollerblading since it was her day off, and it got me thinking about my day.

I was going to be holed up in my tiny room moving things around and figuring out where I could put them. I wasn’t even going to enjoy the beautiful weather. I am not a crazy person, even though sometimes I do question my sanity, I just really wanted to have two feet in my room where I could actually see the carpet. So after eating my popover, which was amazingly delicious, I went back up to my room and started my task again.

When my sister asked me if I was going to go with her or not long after, I realized that I was going to say no. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I figured that I should finish unpacking. And with that, I grasped the fact that I was going to go against what I said I would do, and on the first day as well. And that was not going to happen.

So instead of unpacking, I went rollerblading. Turns out I am completely out of shape, and I truly mean completely. It didn’t help that during our excursion, there were two big dogs that started chasing us. Well, I mean not completely chasing us because then it sounds like I was rolling for my life when really I wasn’t. It was all taken care of when my sister came to save the day and yelled no to them.

Reminder to self, no means no even to dogs, and that big sisters always know how save younger sisters. It’s basically a fact. I decided afterward that since I am not working very much this week, I would have enough time to unpack. So I didn’t unpack at all today, and I enjoyed every bit of it, even the part where I was chased by dogs on rollerblades.

Life, Cowards, and Adventures

    What is it about life that is so spectacular? Is it the fact that every person only has one? (Well, unless you believe in reincarnation.) It could be the fact that you get to choose what you do with it. You could choose to throw it away like a pile of unwanted garbage or experience the adventures that come along with it. Either way it's your choice. So, why am I talking about this? Why would I want to have such deep thoughts about life and broadcast them to the world? Well, why does anyone do anything?
   
   It all started yesterday morning when I was eating breakfast with my sister. While we were eating, I was telling her about all my plans for my next year at the University of Minnesota Morris. She was oohing and ahhing about them as she was looking at a travel magazine. She looked up from the magazine and, she said "you should go here," while pointing at a picture of something in Vancouver. "You should go on a road trip with your friends and go here." It sounded like a great idea, but something that I would never do. Taking risky chances are just not my thing. I admit that I like control a little too much, and that the plan that my sister proposed to me just seemed to have too many opportunities for bad things to happen. When I protested the idea, she put down her magazine and looked me in the eye. It was then that I knew that she was going to tell me a bit of wisdom about life, and something that I would need to take seriously. "Taylor," she said, "you need to do things in life. Travel while you can". It was that somber tone that made me realize that I was a coward.
 
   I was a coward because I wasn't taking chances or just doing something without analyzing the consequences first. That was something that I didn't want. I didn't want to think back on my life later and wish that I could have done more, experienced more, or even loved more.
   
    Maybe it's time to take some very good advice and throw caution to the wind. So here it is, I challenge myself to do things and experience life when I would have been afraid to. How is this going to work? I decided that I would start small. I will try to make little decisions that I usually wouldn't do that would make me happy. Then once a week, I will do something bigger like volunteering somewhere or going to a movie by myself. Anything that I haven't done yet but wanted to do. Then once a month I will do something even bigger, such as getting a tattoo, going on a blind date, skydiving or even holding a snake. All things I have wanted to do, but have been too afraid to do in the past.

I have no idea where this will lead me, but I am positive that it will be an adventure to remember.