Lets See....

Yes, I think it took all of 20 minutes outside to give me a good, nice and even base burn.
Greeeeatttt

Why can't I just be one of those people who naturally tan?
Oh well. My immunities will build up soon enough and you won't be able to tell if I'm white or Mexican!

Who am I kidding, that will never be the case.

Speaking of being white, I found this great blog:
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/
Its all about stuff white people like, hilarious!!
Some of my personal favorites include:
- Dinner Parties (so true, so true)
- Outdoor Performance clothing (Northface? hahahaha)
- Coffee
- Rugby
- Living by water
- Having Gay friends
and
- Having Black friends

Oh, and here's another entertaining website....celebrities as normal people:
http://www.wintrest.com/if-celebs-moved-to-oklahoma/

Alrighty, I need to go back outside and burn some more.

Word.

EARTHQUAKE!!!!!

Oh Snap!!!

I just lived through my very first earthquake!!!!

So I woke up around 4:30am and felt this slight shaking. At first I was thinking what the fuck are those drunk kids doing above me now???

But then it started shaking more and more and I got super freaked out. I immediately sat up, felt the side of the bed to see if it too was moving (it was) then frantically started looking around my room. My ceiling light was shaking, my dresser was shaking, the water on my nightstand was actually moving, and when I reached to touch the wall behind my bed I could tell the whole flimsy ass apartment building was moving inches or something back and forth! It lasted for around a minute I think.

I was so scared! My first two thoughts were earthquake or tornado so as soon as it stopped I shakily got on the Internet and went to the weather channel. No tornado. Still I was uncertain this was an earthquake.

Then things started to run through my head....what if someone broke into the apartment? Why would it make that much noise? Even three minutes later my bookshelf was still moving. So I got my pocket knife out and explored the apartment. Nothing. I settled on a quick bathroom break and going back to bed confused.

Cut to this morning. Kyle calls before 7am and I explain to him the scary shaking. He explains I just felt my very first earthquake!
Oh My God!!

This is insane. Champaign is so close to the 5.4 epicenter!
Anyway, what a bizarre sensation to feel an entire building actually move and your entire room being completely shaken up.

¡Ay, caramba!

Same Topic

I think the take-over of "Min" by R. the Rat is going to become my new favorite blogging subject.

Actually, I'm hoping it doesn't and I hope things improve. Monday wasn't horrible. The usual touching, pet names, and uncomfortable closeness occurred. But other than that not to much.

-Wait, he did kiss N up front when no one was looking.

-He did get really jealous when he saw her give a regular customer a kiss on the cheek. He gave her a really "pissed off" look.

-He's already planning to go out with everyone again this Saturday. (Not I!)

-And he jumped my ass because I like Sex and The City. He claims that the show has destructed the morals of women. When I admitted they may be slutty but it's still a VERY good show he commented "Of course, I knew you would like sluts". Seriously, what is with the slut thing?

I really don't know if I'm being too hard on the guy or what. I'm trying to cool off my anger and give him some time to settle in and learn how to act professional. But seriously, if he doesn't improve in the next month or so I may have to implement Operation Take-Down Rat. Take that for what you will.

In other news, I taught a lesson at Monticello High School today!! How fun! It's so exciting to teach high school students and know that they're actually taking in what you're saying. It's super cool to know what an impact you can have. Even if all that happened was a student telling a friend that Hitler admired and had a personal relationship with Henry Ford, then hey...I did my job today.

I'm teaching again tomorrow and am just now realizing how excited I am to be a student teacher! At the same time, I'm absolutely terrified. I want to be good! Now those will be some good blogs in a year from now. All about the trials of a student teacher rather than the harassment from R. the Rat.

But for now, I'll make due with what I have. Hopefully this situation will improve because I swear I can't deal with this for the next 9 months!

Last Post Continued....But Sober

So I'm sorry but it's true. I do not think I like my new boss. The guy taking Pete's place (J.) is ok, he's quiet, respectful, and a hard worker. But his 24 year old cousin, R. (taking the place of Joe and who I have to deal with 99% of the time) is a major ass wipe.

Here are the reasons I don't like him:

At work-
- He only calls me "Hun" "Sweetie" "Sweetheart" or "Adorable"
Ummmm, NO.

- He constantly has to touch whatever waitress is around him...whether it be arm over shoulders, hand on the back, or in the case of last night, both hands around my waist.
Ummmm, NO.

- He tries to be super smooth, flirting with all of the waitresses, customers, or whoever else is around.
Ummmm, NO.

Last night-
- Me: "I can't believe they didn't card me! I'm only 21!"
R.: "It's because you look like you're 30."
Ummmm, NO.

- R. to Me after I made a reaction to something someone said: "I knew you would be dramatic about it."
Ummmm, NO.

- R. to Me: "I bet you made out with 21 guys on your 21st birthday. You slut."
Ummmm, NO.

- R. to Me and some others: "....Or you could have your tits hanging out all night like Whitney"
Ummmm, NO. I can't help I have big boobs, you ass!

And to finish the night off-
- R. told one of the waitresses N., (who has a kid, anger problems, and a crazy-ass abusive boyfriend) that he was "drawn to her" wanted her to stop being so hot and flirtatious and coming to work looking so sexy because it was getting "hard for him".
Ummmm, NO.

A. There seems to be nothing professional about this guy.
B. I can't believe I have to work for him until next December.
C. I simply DO. NOT. LIKE. HIM.

He's cocky, creepy, and thinks he's being funny when he just comes off like an ass.

Am I overreacting? Or is this shit weird?

I may be drunk but....

I still know a bad characther when i see one...

I just went out drinking with some of my coworkers and new boss.

And I've officisally decided I don't like him.

He's a major deutch bag.

On the real.

Creepy, ass-fucking, creep-fuck.

Ugh!!!!I can't belive he's going to be my boss!!!!!!!!

More on this when I'm sober!!

1st Notice

Dear Pigeons on my Balcony,

My roommates and I gave you permission to build your nest on our balcony this Spring. It was very generous of us.

We decided we could tolerate your endless squabbles starting at 5am because watching nature is that much fun!

But our deal was based upon the agreement that your nest (and most of your activities) would be centered on Kelli's end of the balcony next to her bedroom, not mine.

But then you decide to lay one of your eggs, not in the nest you started to build, but just flat out on the balcony, closer to my side.

This is unacceptable.
First of all: what kind of stupid ass pigeons build a nest and then don't lay their egg on that nest.
Second of all: Father pigeon, you keep prancing and circling around that egg as if you can't decide how it got there. Tell your wife to improve her aim!
Third of all: This is my mother fucking balcony. If I want to open my door up to the screen I should be allowed to and not have you flutter in a fricking frenzy.

Now, you've clearly violated our terms of agreement. We can hopefully solve this in a nice, amicable way.

You can either:
A. Leave things how they are, but shut the fuck up and eat some glue to stick your beaks together.
B. Allow the wind to knock your egg off the balcony, and focus on raising eggs in the nest on Kelli's side.
C. Get shot with a BB gun

Make your decision. But please, don't be angry. I really do want to watch your family grow...just without all the fucking squabbles every morning.

Love,
Your Landlord

You Would Think....

If you just ate granola....

...And it looks like granola.....

...And it feels like granola.....

...Wouldn't you think it would taste like granola?

Nope.

I just ate a piece of leafy dirt off of my floor.

I'm officially disgusting.

And ah yes, I've been blogging for over one year now! And this would be the event to celebrate it....

Not an April Fool's Joke (Unfortunately)

Last night was an absolutely horrible night. In fact, it may have cracked into my top 15 (or at least top 20) worst life moments.

The owners where I work announced they sold the restaurant.

An employee meeting was organized for 9pm yesterday evening. Once I (who was actually working there last night) found out all employees, cooks, and dishwashers were asked to be there, grew really nervous. Me and the other two waitresses working had a hunch and one that made me sick to my stomach.

At 9pm everyone was arriving and going into the back room. Up front, two gentleman in suits walked in. I looked at the other two waitresses, my heart dropped, and their eyes were filling with tears.

Cut to the meeting: The two gentleman stayed up front and Joe, Pete, Mary (Joe's wife), and Maria (Pete's wife) stood in front of us. Joe announced they had found someone to buy "Min".

He announced that starting next week, these two young men will begin shadowing him. They will shadow him until April 30th when "Min" is legally and financially signed over to them. Joe will remain (in-and-out) throughout May but at the end of that month he's outta there. With the promise he'll come back to visit. He wants to get a non-stressful job, work for a few years, then happily retire.

Pete (Joe's brother and head cook) will remain for at least a year or two. Mary (who is the head cook at lunch) will remain for a year or two as well. Maria is finished.

They've been looking to sell the restaurant for some time. They are all in their 50's and 60's and the stress of the restaurant buisness and finances were really bearing down on them. For that reason, I am so happy for the family

But it's a hard pill to swallow. Extremely hard. "Min" just won't be the same without the family. And just as many Champaign-Urbana residents come to "Min" to see Joe's antics as to eat the yummy food.

The two suit guys are cousins who actually have a long family history with the owners. The main cousin's father actually built "Min". They are both 25, handsome, well-dressed, and it is weird. Can I inform them they better not be wearing a tie everyday to "Min"? It just doesn't fit...

The cousins stressed to us they bought "Min" (and all the debt and little money they will make in the next year) because they don't want to see it turn into some commercial building or apartment complex. They want to keep the family atmosphere which has been so successful for 25 year +. They promised for this first year, absolutely nothing will change. The wait staff will stay the same, menu will stay the same, and hours will stay the same. There just won't be Joe. In one year they will begin making changes to areas which they think will help bring in more revenue. Thankfully, I will be gone by then. I can't stand to see "Min" change, although I am thankful it's passed into hands who don't want to alter anything that much.

The meeting was incredibly hard to sit through. To be honest, it was like a funeral. All of the girls were crying. The boys were incredibly somber. Even I, who doesn't like to cry in front of others, could not stop. I was so so devastated.

The owners have meant more to me the past three years than I can even explain. When I've been homesick for my family or Kyle, I've always been so lucky to have another family here. They have kept me strong throughout college and have helped to shape the person I am today.

Joe has turned into a father-grandfather figure and I can't imagine life without him. I can't imagine work without him. I love going to work and it will just not be the same. I can't imagine what it will be like beginning in June. I always thought I would be the one to leave "Min" not the owners leaving me. It really does feel like a death and even I am surprised by the amount of emotion I feel about this. It is devastating.

After almost everyone had left I was alone up front with Joe. He hadn't really grown emotional but looked at me crying and told me everything would be alright. And that I should be happy because it's really what he needs. I told him I was so happy for them but I just couldn't imagine this place without him. And then I started to cry some more. He hugged me and told me I've been one of his rocks throughout the past few years. And his eyes filled with tears and I just felt SO. SAD.

I hugged Mary and Maria goodbye, told them I was so happy for them, hugged Pete goodbye, told him I was so happy he's going to still be around for us, and shook the suit-wearing cousins hands.

This is all so insane. It feels like a dream. For all of those who know me they know how much I hate change. And this is just one massive change I do not want to have to deal with.

"Min" Ristorante. AKA, my home away from my apartment away from home.

Head Cooks like Pete can eat your food if they want to.

A picture of Joe at Halloween this year. It is truly terrifying.

Two other waitresses, Joe (a Medieval Monk), and me at Halloween. We have so much fun!

Pete just being Pete.

Cool Dude Joe. Man I'm going to miss this!!!! :(

It was fun while it lasted though. And I'm so happy I got to have a job I loved so much.