Germany?

Let's pretend that someone offered you the opportunity to go to Europe for a month. Expenses paid. Would you do it?

Of course you would!

You wouldn't hesitate for an instant!

I'm a hesitator. (is that even how you would spell that? I don't know...anyway...) I am one of those pro/con people, except that I don't generally write my pros and cons down. I don't dive into things without thinking. Weighing all the options. Another problem, is the fact that I do not plan things out very far in advance. Give me a week, maybe two, and you might be pushing it.

I am the eternal student, I work full-time, I strive for some semblance of normalcy in my day to day actions.

I sound like the ultimate "party pooper" right about now don't I?

Well, I will have you know that I am seriously considering it. So much so, that I have looked into getting my passport, I've discussed my taking time off of work with my boss, I'm not completely sold yet, but I'd say that I'm probably 90/10 right now. That's a lot of progress!

Yay for babysitting abroad! :)

Musically Speaking

I love music.

That's really about it!

It can make you happy, make you sad, make you dance, make you mad (I'm sounding a bit like Dr. Seuss...sorry). It can fill your soul, open your eyes, make your heart leap, make you think, give you butterflies, remind you of important moments-or the not-so-important moments that you love all the same, it creates bonds with complete strangers, it brings you closer to those you already love, it expresses your innermost thoughts, feelings and desires.

I love music.

Just another day

There is a man who used to work at my restaurant, we'll call him Sam, mostly because that's his name. Sam was a hospitable man towards customers, and really needed this job. Sam also was kinda scary. He had quite the temper and could be just plain terrifying. To top it all off for me, he loathed me to the very core. I'm not exaggerating here. I have a feeling that if he had had the means to do it, he'd probably have me killed.

Anyway, why this long rant about a former employee? Well, I'll tell you. Apparently, this lovely individual came into my place of business last night through the kitchen, clutching something white and powdery in his hand, drunk and delirious, he asked for a drink of water, which he was given, he then proceeded to offer his white powder to my co-workers, it's not powdered sugar people, it was dope. DOPE! In my kitchen at work! Seriously? Deadly.

After being rebuffed, he proceeded into the main dining room of the restaurant where he verbally and sexually harrassed my waitstaff. What really puts the cherry on this one, is the fact that my co-manager who was there at the time did not kick the man out! No, she sat there trying to talk to him while he harrassed her as well! Honestly, call the police and have him taken away!

He came in again this afternoon while I was there, asking to see Kim (the aforementioned manager) so he could ask her for money for cigarettes. We instead told him she wasn't there (which she was) and Steve (one of my protective chefs) calmly explained to him that he is not welcome in our establishment and that we will contact the authorities if necessary.

I wish I could say that things like this are completely out of the ordinary for me, but that would be a lie.

Cookies

My life has been a little crazy as of late, I feel like every minute of every day is planned out lately and I don't have time to breathe. I know that some of that is just my perception, but really, I have more going on in my life right now than I have in quite a while. Between my 9 hour work days, and school afterwards for 3 hours a day, 3 days a week (I'm so glad I dropped that other class right about now). Add a feeble attempt at a social life, church callings, homework, cleaning and all the other random things that I keep trying to shove into my free moments, and the result is one very tired cookie. Me being the cookie.

Golly Gee!

Summer is great. The weather is warm (okay, sometimes unbearably hot), you get lemonade, water parks, picnics, vacations, warm summer nights, bonfires, and all sorts of other good things.

But...

I love fall. It is my absolute favorite!
I can't get enough of the crunching leaves, the crispness in the air, the spices, sitting by a fire, curling up with a book (or a boy), baking, sweaters and scarves, the fantastic change of colors, the beginning of the Holidays, cocoa, that warm, cozy feeling, everything is just so wonderful during autumn.

Dating Do's and Don'ts

After recently experiencing an...........interestingly awkward first date, and hearing stories from close friends of similar dating disaters, I have kindly decided to post some dating do's and don'ts. This is applicable to both male and female, as I'm sure that some of these things go both ways.

Do's

Be attentive to your date. This means actually paying attention to them (not checking out the waitstaff or the cute guy/girl at the next table). Actively listen to what they're saying, and pay attention to body language, if you're not paying attention to what we're saying, we know it.

Maintain eye contact. But don't stare. That makes us uncomfortable and awkward.

Plan your date out ahead of time. Try to avoid the whole, "What do you want to do?" thing. Decide on what to do, and do it. If things fall through, then you can ask for suggestions.

Meet in a public place for your first date. It is not only safer for a first date, it also offers distractions should conversation lag. Leave romantic settings for further down the road.

Act chivalrous. Men: This means opening the door for your date, pull out her chair, make sure she gets home safely. Ladies: This is only effective if you let him be chivalrous. Do not fight with his attempts at chivalry, allow him to see you home, let him open your door, it doesn't matter that you can open the door for yourself, it doesn't demean you in any way, it's merely gentlemanly.

Follow up with your date. Call or e-mail them to let them know you had a good time. This doesn't have to be a plea to see them again right away. It is a courtesy. If your date had a good time too, that's a bonus!

Crack jokes. Not only will this put them at ease, but it will let them know you have a sense of humor. This does not mean you should bust out the dirty joke your co-worker told you that day. Keep it clean.

Don'ts

Don't act distracted during a date. Turn off your cell phone, keep your eyes from wandering. Bad impressions are quickly formed when you take calls and answer texts while on a date.

Don't turn your date into a therapy session. Leave your stories about your past relationships, family skeletons, or whatever at home.

Don't act pretentious. Nobody is perfect, and nothing is more annoying than someone who acts like they are.

Don't make unwelcome physical advances. Read body language, if you can't read people's body language, learn. We will be sending signals all night long, so pay attention to them. If there is chemistry, aspects of a relationship should fall in to place naturally, do not force them.

Do not be afraid to end the date early. If things aren't working out, or you aren't feeling comfortable, feel free to end the date at any time.

Friends = Family

I went through the Temple for the first time on Saturday, it was such an incredible experience, and I am so glad that I was able to share it with my family and friends that were close enough to attend. Thank you all so much for your support!

I am so blessed to have such amazing people in my life. I love watching them in their triumphs, their joys, overcoming challenges, sharing in their laughter, listening to their testimonies of the Gospel, and being considered family.