That one time I went to the doctor in Spain.

I should start off this story with saying that while yes, Ebola has made its way to Spain, and yes this discovery hit the news the same day I went to the doctor in Spain, no I am not infected with Ebola. 

That being said, I begin. For about the last week or so the late nights and vacation-like schedule have been taking their toll on my immune system to the point where on Monday my throat was so sore and swollen I couldn't even turn my head without pain and discomfort. After suffering through the school day I decided it was high time I try out the spanish healthcare system.  Our CIEE orientation prepared me for how and where to make an appointment, so I called "Hospiquality" and headed to my appointment later that evening.

The hospital had a wonderful and very kind international team who helped me fill out paperwork, and lead me to the waiting room where I was assured I would be taken care of promptly.  CIEE participants are taken care of very well at this facility, I had been informed at orientation.

However, as I sat in the waiting room for the first half hour I began to have déjà vu to every single time I go to the doctor at home, and even though I've made an appointment well in advance, I always seem to wait at least an hour once I get there. I tried to be patient as patient after patient entered the waiting room after me, and saw the doctor before me but after another young american girl was in and out in 10 minutes I lost it. I politely told the doctor that I had been waiting for over an hour, and if he knew why I hadn't been seen yet.  Then things got weird.

He told me I wasn't on his list, then proceeded to call the international correspondent upstairs where he actually yelled at her for 5 minutes about a mistake she had made with registering me for my appointment. I was then ushered back downstairs where the "nurse" told me I would have to be helped in the emergency room because at this point the doctors offices were about to close. And cue tears.

I wasn't sad as much as I was just frustrated and in a lot of pain. Plus, I know how the ER works in the United States and sore throat definitely comes in at the bottom of the totem pole of emergency conditions. Crying was probably the best thing I could have done though, because I totally freaked the nurse out and she got me into the ER doctor right away. I explained my symptoms and he prescribed me some antibiotics and a cortisone shot, for the swelling in my throat.  At first I thought this sounded a little extreme and I was leery, but I would have tried witchcraft at that point so I went with it, assuming it would be a small stick in the shoulder no harm no foul. 

So imagine my confusion when the male ER nurse pulls the privacy curtain and instructs me to put my hands on the bed, slide my pants down, and bend over. Surely I was being punked, right?  Sure enough he took that SOB and stuck it right in my left buttock. I have 2 theories as to why they gave me this shot of cortisone: the first, to put me in more pain than I was already in to serve as some sort of sick distraction, the second to actually alleviate the swelling. Either way I was confused and slightly mortified, but I was treated and I could finally pay my bill and head to the pharmacy on my way home. They made me a follow up appointment for tonight with an ear nose and throat specialist, so even though I'm feeling a million times better hopefully I'll be good to go in a few more days.  And so help me if they tell me to drop my drawers again I'm going to tell them they can stick it up theirs cause that sucker hurt!!

Everything's gonna be alright

I've decided that since I set up an account to send mass e-mail updates about my time in Spain, that I'm going to try to keep my blog entries as they usually are-- just snippets of thoughts on life and how I'm living it.  Spain may or may not make appearances, but if you're looking for the play-by-play, turn to the e-mail updates!

On that note, it feels good to be writing again!  I've had a hard time sleeping the past couple nights because my mind has just been racing... especially given everything that's happened recently and just the fact that, hello I picked up and moved across the world.  So feeling kind of disoriented should be normal, right?  But then why does it feel like I'm the only one who feels this way?

When I first arrived, the first few people I met in the airport were the orientation guides who were in my shoes last year and then decided to extend their contract with CIEE for another round.  I've always known this was an option, and people always joke that I'll never come back, but I've always felt like this was just an opportunity and adventure that I needed and wanted to take, but there has never been any question that I would come home.

Anyway, a few of the directors and staff who actually work in Madrid for CIEE have been here for years and have no plans of returning back to the States.  I commend them for their bravery, and I understand everyone has their own reasons for staying, but I feel like I'm almost not letting myself fully get comfortable here because I don't want to get THAT comfortable.  I don't want to come to a point where I would consider not going back to my family and friends.  Is that bad?

And I'm so frustrated, you know?  I just want to have it all figured out.  I want God's plan to be revealed, like now.  I'm horrible at being patient, and I often wonder if I'm being taught a lesson in patience with the way things seem to never work out or at least not how I intended.  I applied for this job on a whim, along with a slew of other jobs I wasn't qualified for and this was the one I got.  And I'm overjoyed and grateful and ecstatic to be here-- obviously I didn't have to accept the position or pay the money or any of that, so don't take this to mean that I don't want to be here.  I do.

It's just that, I really thought everything was really getting started.  I was going to go on this adventure, get the experience I needed to apply for jobs back home, come back in a year and start my adult life and I was excited and I was ready and then I was reminded- God's timing isn't my timing, and timing is everything.  It's really a horrible feeling being frustrated with God, feeling so disconnected, so far away, and knowing that part of that is because I'm harboring anger towards Him because I really thought the plan was finally starting.

But then I put the pity party on hold for 5 seconds, and I realize the plan's been happening all along.

FAQ's on Spain

Here is where I wave my white flag to the "List of ___ things for ___ days left.." which, in my defense was fabulous in theory, however horrifying in execution.  It was fun while it lasted, but unfortunately trying to fit a year's worth of stuff into a 100 lb. weight restriction takes precedence over hours of blogging.  

Why, you ask, am I spending time blogging now?  Just hours before I depart for the journey of a lifetime, would you believe my 2 checked luggage backs are sealed and weighed, ready to go!  Hell yeah! 

So now, as I watch Jimmy Fallon's thank you's, I would like to take this opportunity to answer some hot hot hot FAQ's for all the curious cats who will be following my journey!  If you have any other questions that I don't answer here, feel free to e-mail/text/snail mail me and I'd love to send you a personal message!

FAQ 1:  How long will you be in Spain?

Answer: 10 months

FAQ 2:  What will you be doing in Spain?

Answer:  Teaching English to the impressionable Spanish youth

FAQ 3:  Where are you going to live while you're there?

Answer:  Somewhere in and/or around Madrid, the exact location is to be determined, however thank you to Facebook and good ol' Delta Gee, I have found a fabulous girl to apartment hunt with and we have made a pact to not be homeless!   

FAQ 4:  Why are you going to teach English in Spain?  Why not teach English or Spanish here in the States?

Answer:  Spain is more fun.  But really, I'm not qualified to teach here in the States and quite honestly I'm not going to Spain because I necessarily want to be a teacher.  I'm going to Spain because it's an incredible experience and in order to apply for any job here I must have acquired some sort of unidentified experiences... so here's to hoping moving to Spain counts as experience.

FAQ 5:  How do you pack for an entire year?

Answer:  That is a great question!  You bring 2 suitcases, you pay extra for this, and you take out everything you think is cute but realistically haven't worn in the past 4 seasons.

FAQ 6:  Will you be getting paid?

Answer:  Yes.  I'll earn 1,000 euros/month.  From this stipend I will budget for my rent/living expenses and travel/fun expenses, so to answer your next question...

FAQ 7:  Will you come home with any money saved up?

Answer:  Absolutely not.

FAQ 8:  Are you going to come home at all during the next 10 months?

Answer:  Are you going to buy my plane ticket?

FAQ 9:  Is anyone going to come visit you in Spain?

Answer:  I hope so!  I have quite a few friends who are seriously considering making the journey, and after my previous stint across the pond I have a few foreign friends I'll be hooking up with too!  Christmas in Germany sounds just lovely!

FAQ 10:  Are you nervous/anxious/excited/scared?

Answer:  Yes.  All of the above.  I'm anxious because I don't know what to expect, however I'm at ease for the same reason because less expectations means less opportunity to be disappointed or caught off guard.

I hope this makes up for the lack of lists over the past few days!  I cannot believe the time is finally here for me to leave and do this thing!  It seems like just yesterday I was applying for this opportunity thinking "What a longshot!"  Now here I am about to drop it all and blaze my own trail.  But please, don't take this as overconfidence or think that I'm up on my high horse leading the parade, because I'm FREAKING OUT.  

As always I'm so grateful and appreciative for your thoughts and prayers, thank you in advance for following my adventures and I look forward to catching everyone up sometime next week!

¡Adios!

la semana ultima

Well, clearly I couldn't keep up with the blogging every day for 10 days thing... so here is my list of 8 things...I'll come up with something creative for 7 and 6 tomorrow when it's not 12:15 and I've had a cup or 5 of coffee!

I tried to feel around for ideas of what these lists could be, the suggestions were foods I'm going to miss and foods I'm going to eat so suffice it all to say I am obviously a foodie.  And I chose neither of these options for either of today's lists.  My apologies.

For my 8 days left list I want to share 8 important things I learned this summer.  About life, about God, and about myself.  This summer was epic, as you know, and I want to articulate (probably more for my own benefit down the road than anyone else's) how grateful and blessed I am for every experience I've had in the past 4 months.  So, here we go with...

8 important lessons I learned this summer 

In no particular order

How much I value my experiences and education from Butler- 

even though I'm terrified of the extensive amount of student-loan-debt I acquired, the tears I shed as I left my senior house and my dear friends and roommates after graduation were truly the first time I can remember just crying because I was so filled with love and sadness at the same time.  This summer was a summer of lots of these types of cries.

The importance of working in the food industry- 

whether you're flipping patties, brewing java, or serving 10 pound trays of $20 steaks, everyone should work in the food/customer service world at some point in life.  It is hard.  I loved it probably just because I love talking to people.. including strangers.. but this summer I worked harder than I ever have, sweated more than anyone ever should in public, and most importantly I know how to serve a customer and be a great customer.  Both of which are super important.

Go on adventures-- even if you think you don't want to-

 funny enough, Spain isn't going to be the first time I was apprehensive about taking an adventure this summer.  When I signed up to be a counselor at Camp Adventure back in March I was pumped to get to spend a week in the "wilderness".  But, as the week drew closer I honestly was dreading it.  I knew 1 person going into the week, and all of a sudden realized I had sacrificed my only week of vacation from my job, to barely shower and hang out with 100 junior high kids.  

It was one of the best weeks of my life.  I was able to totally and completely be myself, let my guard down, and just love Jesus in one of my favorite places on earth; not only this, but I know that the hand of God had placed me in that system of support for our family's tragedy that would happen at the end of the week.

How good it feels to laugh until you cry- 

I am truly blessed to have such beautiful, talented, and hilarious friends.  It's so important to surround yourself not only with people that lift you up and support you, but who also bring out that raw, tear-streaming smile that only comes from a good gut laugh.  Watching The Heat will also accomplish this goal if no friends are around.

Tell people how much they mean to you- 

after graduating college and now getting ready to leave home for a year I have had to say some hard goodbyes.  I have always felt that I express myself better in writing than spoken word, but before I leave I am making a point to reach out in some way to those who have influenced my life, so that they know they are loved.  For me, nothing is more precious than an unexpected note or shout-out from a friend, so I love having the chance to do that for others.

Spend time reading- 

I know actually finding time to read for pleasure is difficult, but I have tried hard this summer to budget time for reading, and crossing books off my "to-read" list is such a great feeling!!  I recommend: Gone Girl, Blue Like Jazz, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (obviously).

Don't let your happiness depend on other people-

easier said than done, and probably one you think is a no-brainer, but time and time again I learn this lesson the hard way.  As a people pleaser, I take rejection very personally an am ultra-sensitive to other people's happiness or unhappiness.  I think I've gotten better at being in charge of my happiness, but it never hurts to be reminded that YOU are the one who chooses to be happy.  Don't let others make that decision for you.

Let your worship be between just you and God-

this might seem to come out of nowhere, but in lieu of my awesome camp experience this summer... 

I have always kind of been uncomfortable in situations where people would close their eyes and raise their hands during a worship service.  Then, one morning before the campers arrived, one of the worship leaders stressed how worship should be an intimate moment between you and God, and how closing your eyes can help to close out the world and not worry about what others around you are doing or seeing.  Taking his advice, I have been able to truly be present in worshiping WITH God. Because when I close my eyes it's just He and I and in those moments no one else matters.

There you have it!  Come back tomorrow for something fun!  We're in the home-stretch y'all!

For lack of a better title...

While brainstorming how I would present this post, I had planned on using the title "The Final Countdown" only to realize that I used that title for my last blog post... so that's awkward.

So we're down to the single digits!  I leave for Spain in 9 days and about 2 hours!  Leading up to this point I've been trying to pack in as many visits, favorites, and special moments as possible.  And I had intended to do some kind of correspondence each day for the final 10 days before I left.  Obviously all the other things got in the way of starting this correspondence yesterday, so today I'm taking a break from half-assed packing and making up for the loss! 

I'm going to compile 10 lists, each list comprised of the same number of items as the number of days I have before I leave.  Kinda dorky.. but whatever!  I want to show and share my appreciation and apprehension in a creative way.

10 things I will miss about my life in the USA. 

1. My family and friends- thankfully some of whom will be making the trek across the pond to visit, and a few of whom are already there waiting for me!
2. Driving- I'm beginning to remember the anxiety that can come from relying on and planning around public transportation
3. Peanut butter- but don't worry, I've already got a jar packed.  That's no lie.
4. Craft beer- fall seasonal craft beers are my absolute favorite, I've got to chug as many pumpkin/cinnamon/apple pie beers as I can in the next week and a half.
5. Ice- I know it sounds weird, but if you've been to Europe you know that they are very stingy with their ice.  It doesn't help that I prefer a more-ice-than-drink ratio.  Thank goodness for the Ice Bucket Challenge.
6. This is actually harder than I thought it'd be.. maybe moving to Spain won't be so difficult after all.....
7. My bed time- the night lifestyle in Spain is infamous for lasting until the wee hours of the morning, and if you know me at all you know how much I value sleep.. all hail the siesta!
8. My sewing machine- I'm trying to come up with as many travel-friendly crafts as I can, but sadly I just don't thing I'm going to be able to justify stuffing my Singer into my suitcase.
9. The Branches- even though I plan to find a church to go to in Madrid, it is going to be so hard to be away from my church family in Hendricks County.  I can't wait to see the growth in our church when I return!
10. My cat- while living at home all summer hasn't exactly been my dream come true, I am going to miss having my Stripey cat to snuggle every now and then.  Do they have cats in Spain?

9 things I promise to do while in Spain.

1. Go back to Amsterdam- in the spring, to see the tulips, for Emily's birthday and Easter.
2. Spend time exploring Spain- when I was living in the Netherlands I didn't do much traveling around the actual Netherlands.. not that there would have been a whole lot else to see besides windmills and Amsterdam, but I want to take time to really delve into the culture of Spain.
3. Blog- people keep asking if I'm going to blog about my journey.. you betcha!  
4. Go to the mountains- I'm not bringing a backpacking backpack for nothing!  Outdoors here I come!
5. Focus on myself- not in a selfish way, but this experience is one for me to really figure myself out and what I want to do with the rest of my life and career.  This trip is about me being me and I won't forget that.
6. Not cut my hair- not that you may care... but mark my words I will have long luscious locks when I return in July.
7. Learn how to make paella- and sangria!  Tapas at my place!
8. Not count down the days til I come home- even though it will be hard, I've got to look forward to each day I GET to spend in Madrid, not each day I have to.  This is one of my only regrets from my time in Amsterdam, I blame it on the rain.
9. Get in shape- there will be no pants ripping incidents this time.  Period.

So what do you think?  Lame?  You know with all the world rocking that's been going on lately I just wanted to do something different for a change.  I haven't quite come up with what my next 8 lists will be, so if you have any suggestions I will welcome them!  Can't wait to see what tomorrow's list will be!  Adios!

The Final Countdown

I can hardly believe that in exactly one month, 30 days, I will be jet-setting across the Atlantic to my new home in Madrid, Spain.  This doesn't seem real!  Given everything that's been going on in my life with Joseph's accident, quitting my job, and finishing up my TEFL Certification I have barely had time to breathe, let alone try to get ready for this adventure.  There are so many unknowns in my life right now, but what I do know is that I am officially (literally bought my ticket 10 minutes ago) going to Spain.  By myself.  For 10 months.  Woof.

Three weeks ago my world got turned upside down.  And while part of me feels selfish saying that because I know so many dear friends who have gone through excruciatingly traumatic experiences worse than ours, this is the first tragedy I have faced that I was old enough to understand and endure.

I was taking a week off work, enjoying my time fueling my faith at camp and meeting some pretty incredible people when I learned that we're all one phone call from our knees.  Every day since then has been a stopwatch on steroids.  Time just flies by.  Five seconds ago I was confident that I would be here to help Joseph be back to school and on his way to normal just in time to leave for my trip.  I had 6 weeks, still no visa, and plenty of time to pick a flight and still make the budget.

But then life happened.  Again.

I can honestly say that everything that has happened in the past three weeks is something to which I could retort with, "That happens sometimes but it's not going to happen to us.."  But it did.  We thought we were going home.. infection.  We had everything ready for tomorrow.. inpatient physical therapy.

And it's so so hard because as an adult, I can foresee that there IS an INCREDIBLE future ahead for this little boy.  But as a 9-year-old, Joseph thinks he's dying.  He's never felt this kind of pain.  He's never gone 3 weeks without a bath.  He's never been confined to 4 walls of a 12 foot by 12 foot room in a motorized bed fit with bedpan.  It's so hard for me to see him so upset and discouraged and fearful of the future he doesn't even think he has.

So many people have shared awe-inspiring stories of incredible feats accomplished by people using prosthetic limbs.  Things you or I could never even dream of doing.  But how do you explain to a kid that these things are possible?  I have this dark corner in my mind where I wonder, what if Joe becomes so depressed and so discouraged that he DOES let this debilitate his future, his potential?  How do you keep pushing someone who: A) doesn't want to do what you're trying to make them do, and B) as Joseph would tell you, "just had their foot cut off by a lawn mower"

You literally cannot argue with that.

And then here I am, part of me trying to help, hanging out with Johnny, making trips to Riley, making sure the pets are alive.  But then part of me is planning to spend 10 months, nearly a year, 4,000 miles away from my family, who is just entering the eye of this storm.  So many things running through my thoughts, my dreams, my nightmares.  I tell the same stories to the same people over and over again because I honestly can't even remember most of the thoughts I have when I have them.  I'm trying to squeeze so much into this brief blip of time, and on top of that I can't help but feel a bit guilty for leaving.

If you know me, you know that I believe that everything happens for a reason.  I think one of the positives to come from this accident is that I have had an opportunity I would have never had to grow closer to my brother, John.  With the age difference and other differences here and there I know that we wouldn't have had this chance under "normal" circumstances.  Now I also don't want you to misconstrue this to mean that I think what happened had to happen so I could deepen my relationships with my family.  Because that's just not true.  I simply mean that, as I've said before, the only way to move on and adapt to what's happened is to think of the positives.

So here are some more positives to leave you with:

1. I truly have the most supportive, caring family and friends ever.  Thank you.
2. I have become an expert on making Johnny do things around the house so I don't have to.
3. I have successfully made Joseph laugh on numerous occasions in the past week.
4. I have the opportunity of a lifetime to embark on in 4 short weeks, and I'm confident that this is what God has planned for me to do.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers, cards and meals, and especially hugs.  We need 'em now more than ever!

The "new normal"

As many of you probably know, my family experienced a serious emergency last Thursday.  I wanted to write this post to provide an explanation for anyone who wants to know what happened but didn't want to ask, but mostly for the hundreds of loving souls who have been praying for my family endlessly these past few days, so that they would know their prayers have been and are being answered.

While I was away volunteering as a counselor at Camp Adventure, my 9-year-old brother Joseph was in a lawn mower accident where his right foot was damaged beyond repair.  After being air-lifted to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, he underwent a surgery where the majority of his right foot was removed.

I decided it was best for me to stay my final night at camp instead of returning home right away because honestly I don't think it would have been safe for me to drive for 4+ hours in the emotional state I was in.  We'll come back to this part later...

On Saturday afternoon, a family who went through pretty much the exact same situation with their son, Jace, came to visit Joseph.  Jace's accident had happened 2 years ago when he was 5-years-old, and he too had been treated at Riley.

I truly believe Jace and his parents are angels.  

They explained what they had gone through, and just hearing them share our pain, shock, and fear helped to relieve these same feelings.  Jace showed us his prosthetic leg, decorated with the Duck Commander logo, and showed us how fast he could run.. yes RUN.. around our room.  We asked them question after question and they graciously  answered us with honesty and compassion.  I could physically feel stress being lifted off my shoulders when Jace told us that all the kids at school loved him just the same if not more with his "robo-leg".  Even though there will be rough times ahead, they assured us that we are more scared than Joe is and that he will be back at it in no time.

Yesterday morning Joseph underwent surgery for a partial amputation, where the surgeon removed about the bottom third of his leg.  We learned this was necessary because in order to fit a prosthetic, they need a certain amount of bone, and the size of the bones at his ankle just weren't enough to fit a prosthetic. Johnny was excited to get to spend the night at the hospital last night with his brother, and even though he feels terrible about Joe's leg, he knows the accident was not his fault.

At this point the doctors are working toward being able to manage Joseph's pain orally so we can take him home in the next few days!  He has made improvements every hour of every day, today he was even walking in a walker.  God has been present through this entire trauma, and he's not leaving any time soon.  Johnny even said the other day, the profoundly wise 11-year-old that he is, that God knew this was going to happen before Joe was even born so He knows were going to get through this and that Joe will be O.K.

Isn't it troubling that sometimes it takes a tragedy to get us to believe in the power of prayer?  You hear it all the time, please pray for... but how often do we truly, honestly stop and cry out for the pain or needs of others who ask for prayer?

I can't fathom the amount of prayer Joseph and my family have received these past few days-- but I have felt it.

The strength and calm I felt over the weekend was not my own, it was from my protector, and it was a result of prayer.  When I fell to my knees on the phone with my mom Thursday afternoon, I was instantly covered in prayer by fellow counselors and directors at camp.  The kindness and grace shown by these people that I hardly knew was unlike any love I've ever felt before.  Unconditional.  And it came from God.

My entire family received messages, calls, and just encouragement from people we hadn't heard from in years.  The outpouring of support and love was and still is unbelievable, my only hope now is that it will continue.  Life didn't stop when Joe's accident happened, but it did change.  Now more than ever we need your prayers, love and support as we learn how to live our "new normal".  A lot of things are going to be different, but Joseph is going to be the best he ever was when he's back on his feet.  Positive attitudes are the only option for us at this point, and we won't accept defeat.

I am confident that Joseph is going to be able to do everything he ever could do and more, and to anyone who believes anything different...

Well, let's just say bless your heart.

If you ever plan on eating at a restaurant again in your life...

What I'm here to say in this post is important, and needs to be learned by nearly every single person ever.

That is, unless they have ever been a waitress.

I have worked as a waitress for just over a year now in three different restaurants, and even though I don't have major experience, I have learned a thing or two about the restaurant industry.  But maybe more importantly about the customer service industry, and how we the people are epically failing those who work to serve us.  So whether you agree with what I'm saying or not, whether you've ever been a waitress, or ever worked in a customer service position, it's my hope that you will pass this message (or one like it) along to those in your life who you would hate to have their food spit in, not that that ever actually happens....

Ok so first let's think of the reasons why you go out to eat:

It's the weekend, you want to let loose and have some fun!

You're out to celebrate.

You just love the food and atmosphere of your favorite restaurant.

Family get togethers.

Random date night.

Whatever the case may be, you make the choice to go out to eat wherever you want for a reason, right?

Now, you get there and there's a wait.. well that shouldn't really come as a surprise because this is the best restaurant in town.  I mean, why else would YOU come here to eat?  The food is delicious, the atmosphere is enjoyable, it shouldn't come as a shock that other people think so too!

But here is where the dining experience often takes a plummeting pitfall.  You don't want to wait.  You shouldn't have to wait.  You're hungry.  You've got other things to do.  How much longer is this going to take.

You FINALLY get seated and your server seems a bit flustered.  The place is packed and they're setting up the band for the live music show.  All you want is a soda, beer, salad.  Where is my waitress?!

Let's hop outside your brain for a minute and consider the other people involved here.   First, the kitchen staff.  Those guys are working their tails off, in a likely sweltering kitchen, with hot, sharp equipment and orders coming in like crazy.  They have been at it for 6 hours now, the dinner rush just coming on.  Move outside the kitchen and there are the serving staff.  Pacing quickly to table after table, smiling, filling drinks, taking orders, answering to every beck and call.  Doing the best job they can given the kitchen back-up and hindered mobility around the restaurant due to the large crowd.

Okay back into your brain, it makes sense that you would be slightly antsy when you finally get seated and naturally you're thinking that your waiter has been waiting for you just as long as you've been waiting for them.  Ah, but patience grasshopper.  You're not the first table they've served tonight, and you won't be the last.  They have to provide excellent service to tens maybe hundreds of customers tonight.  So how do you think you would feel when in the middle of all this running around and people pleasing and trying to keep orders and salads and drinks straight, a customer begins to complain about how slow things seem to be moving?

Hold on because this right here is the important point I was talking about earlier!  It is NOT, I repeat NOT your waitress's fault that the restaurant is full.  Not her fault that there are only so many pop machines in the place to fill your glasses.  Not her fault that she isn't allowed behind the bar to pour your beer.  So do us all a favor and CALM THE HECK DOWN.  Yes, I do understand that some people just aren't cut out to be waitresses and they might elicit negative feedback and treatment, however this is usually not the case.

Check yourself people.  There are so many things going on behind the scenes of a busy restaurant that have absolutely nothing to do with you, your waitress, or the service you personally are receiving.  So calm down, please.  Be patient.  Be nice.  Treat your waitress how you want them to treat you.  They are after all responsible for your food and if they can tell from the beginning that your sour-puss attitude is probably not going to tip them well, they're going to immediately write you off and focus on the tables that have adequate social skills.  They're not going to waste precious time on a no-money table.

What I'm saying may not be the case for a super high scale, fancy shmancy, fine dining establishment.. but if you're reading my blog I doubt you eat at those anyway.  All I'm saying is if you take anything at all away from this message, be nice to restaurant staff when you go out to eat.  Your food's messed up? Your waitress is not the one who cooked it.  You had to wait 45 minutes for a table in the corner?  Well there was a reason you came to the place, looks like other people had the same idea tonight.  And last but not least...

TIP 20% Y'ALL!  

If that's too much you're cheap then at least double the tax as your tip (about 14%).  But never ever ever in the history of the 21st century has it been appropriate to tip 10% or less.  That's just rude.  And keep in mind that all of the waitresses are going to remember the one's who don't tip.  And they're gonna tell all their little waitress friends too.

Pet Peeves

Tonight at work I was faced with some unfortunately sub-par customers, and it really got me thinking about little thinks that grind my gears.  Everyone has pet peeves, I didn't realize I had so many...  Some of this list are stretching it, but I had to make it an even 10 (see peeve #1).

What are your pet peeves?  Do we share any ticks?  Hopefully if nothing else you'll get a giggle out of mine... I'll warn you, writing out all your least favorite things gets the heart rate going, so make sure you're prepared to unleash them all at one time... here goes:

My Top 10 Pet Peeves:

1. when people leave a ridiculously random change tip so their bill can be even.  I'm not your mom, I'm not impressed by your elementary math skills.  do me a favor and round up.

2. with that being said, bad tippers in general.  if you're leaving less than 15% tips (and you received what you would consider average service) I have this newsflash for you... IT'S 2014!  Tipping 10% or less is just rude, and it's SO frustrating.

3. bikers in the middle of the road.  it's spring, the bikers are out with their spandex suits and their flashy helmets and they literally take up the entire road.  unnecessary.  I can't pass you because what if you tip over and then I hit you?  I can't stay behind you because I can't make my car go without my foot on the gas.  

4. when people don't understand "reply" vs. "reply all" when responding to an email.  not as much of an issue since I'm not in student organizations or classes anymore.. but still annoying.

5. threading bobbins.  I just hate it.  can't figure it out.

6. kathie lee & hoda.  just stop.  it is never appropriate to drink like that in the morning unless it's homecoming, or you're tailgating.  neither of which are kathie lee & hoda doing.

7. talking on the phone in a group of people and expecting me to be quiet.  dude, are you seriously answering the phone right now?  don't shush me.  don't ask me to turn the tv down.  leave!  go somewhere else!  you're the one who decided to answer the phone!

8. when twist off beer caps don't twist off and I skin my fingers trying to open them.  that is false advertising and all I wanted was to enjoy an adult beverage while keeping all 10 fingers in tact.  is that too much to ask?

9. all those wedding shows where the bride is picking out her wedding dress and has an outrageous budget of like 8 grand.  honey, if you have $8,000 to blow on a dress you're literally going to wear one time and then probably trash for one of those "rock the frock" wedding photo shoots, I've got $22,000 in debt you can help pay off that'll go to a more worthy cause.

10. when people tell me my hair is so adorable but they could never go short.  why does it have to be that big of a deal?  do you think before anyone chops 12 inches off their hair they're thinking "like omg my hair is going to look super feminine and gorgeous when it's half an inch long!" also I'm not 13, I'm not going for "adorable" anymore.

TGIF y'all!!  Have a splendid weekend filled with your favorite things!  Peace 'n blessings :)

Life without religion?

I'm very familiar now with the commute from my rental home in Indianapolis to my home church in Plainfield.  It takes about 30 minutes depending on traffic, and I try to bring friends along whenever I can so I'm not belting show tunes by myself.

On this route there is a particular billboard that stands out to me, right before I get on the highway.  It's a picture of a woman's face, and next to it are the words:

"Millions of people are living happily without religion."

Maybe you've seen one like it?

Sponsored by the Center for Inquiry, the billboard is advertising secularism for people who don't have present beliefs or haven't committed to a belief system.

(I had to look up the definition of secularism.. )

This billboard at first made me angry.  The way it ironically bore it's smiling face at me each time I headed to my place of worship.  I just wanted to yell at the lady on the poster and be like, "Yeah well millions of people are living happily WITH religion too, lady!"

And living eternally I might add!

However, now when I pass the propaganda, it makes me giggle because what they are advertising, while it's not "religion", is a place or a group or a system of beliefs for people who don't have one, or who don't want to be "religious."

But isn't that part of the definition of religion?  I mean take out the god or gods you believe in and the rituals and traditions and what have you, and a religion, a church is a group of people who share a set of beliefs who come together for support and for company and for peace of mind.

So, are they advertising:

"living happily without religion" 

or 

"living happily because we don't have to call ourselves religious even though for all intents and purposes we essentially are"

The last thing I want to do is debate secularism vs. christianity or any other religion, but if you think about it this seems like a case of the pot calling the kettle black, doesn't it?