Life and the People in it

Writing Again

2012-08-01T17:50:00.001-07:00

I know, I know. There have been plenty of these blog posts that start that way. It seems like I can only commit to writing so much for so long …. then it goes by the wayside again. I think one of the best things for my writing is the fact that I’m writing for Examiner.com. That makes me write. I have to write at least so much per month in order to keep all of the criteria to stay at the different levels that I am currently at. I think that’s a big thing. Yes, it is nonfiction, and its easy right now because I write about fishing, and I fish at least three times a week right now. So, that does make it a bit easier.

I do know, though, that I need to kick myself in the butt once in a while to actually get myself to write anything. This month starts the second round of CampNaNoWriMo for the year. I have entered, got into a cabin, and I’m ready to get going. So, I thought I’d stretch my fingers and say a few things here. It certainly can’t hurt, can it?

I think part of my problem last year was that I was full-blown convinced that I would write Steampunk or I would write nothing. Several silent months later…. well, I’m sure you can guess what I am thinking now. Maybe I’m not going to write Steampunk for this novel. Maybe I’m not going to write it for my next novel. It’s out there and it’s obviously an awesome genre and I enjoy it a lot. But, if it’s murder mysteries or paranormal that I am to write this time around, then that is what I will write. I think that is where Never the Light of Day stagnated. Yes, it could be Steampunk, and it could be a really good steampunk story…. but, depending on what I do with it and what the characters decide, it could be a regular drama, it could be a mystery, or it could be paranormal. I think that I stunted my creativity so much by trying to push my characters into a steampunk setting that I could never actually write it… or even attempt to write it. I think I have once scene, and even that one is not complete. I am not even sure, now, if that scene will make it into the end work or not. Nonetheless, I think I will still keep that idea until NaNo this year.

The story that I have for CampNaNoWriMo this year revolves around a couple who buys an abandoned resort in “God’s country”, and soon realizes that the Devil himself may also be lurking in the deep woods. oooohhhhh. Sounds creepy, right? I hope so. I’m ready for a good summer thriller, I think. We’ll see how it goes. I only 500+ words starting today, but it is a start, and I do plan on working much harder on this novel than on my June attempt!

Here’s my “deal” that I will make myself….. no checking the bass fishing forums, facebook, or anything else that may be construed as fun, until I have written at least 2,000 words for the day. Of course, I can’t start that today, because I’ve already been on all of those, but, from here on out, that is the rule!

Tight lines and Happy Muses, All!

So now it's time for playwriting

2011-04-28T17:58:00.001-07:00

I've taken this winter to venture into new genres of writing. I took a poetry class. I don't "do" poetry. I don't know why. I knew, even before taking the class, that so much goes into every word and every syllable. I knew that it would be one of the more difficult classes that I have taken. I was incredibly right! Wow. It was an amazing adventure and I probably learned more than I can even say... but it was tough.

Now I'm on to other unchartet territory - playwriting. The academy located at writing.com, one of my favorite Websites has a class this term where each student creates a 1 Act play! I'm excited to take this one. I'm not as scared as I was with the poetry. I have exposure, at least, to small theatre and I have always loved going to plays. I was very lucky as a kid and my mom worked at a local college. I got to go and watch them set up the plays and once I even sat in the lighting room while the play was going on. That was a huge treat for me as a kid!

So, this adventure, while it still might be a bit stressful, will also be fun-filled. Don't get me wrong. I had a good time in the poetry class, and I definitely leared a lot. But this one will just be a lot of fun overall, I think.

I'm still assistant teacher for another writing class, and I've got a bit more of a role in the class this term, so that will keep me busy, too. I think this year looks pretty good for writing.

I hope to get a novel revision finished and send that off in the next month or two, also. There's part of me that thinks that I haven't finished the revisions yet and sent it off because I'm afraid of what will happen if, by some weird stroke of luck, someone actually wants to publish it! LOL. I know, that sounds crazy, but I feel that way more and more. What if someone does want to publish it? What then? I guess that's not something I should really be worried about. What are the odds of it actually happening? But then, you just never know. It's just good to have a lot going on all at once, I think. It makes me more productive.

And now, I must away. I must find some sort of storyline for this play. Class starts soon!
laterz, taterz!
beck

Quitting smoking

2011-03-05T22:12:00.001-08:00

Well, quitting smoking sucks. There’s no doubt about it – and anyone that has tried and failed… or even tried and succeeded, knows this. I’m a cold-turkey kind of girl myself, so that makes it even worse, I guess. Maybe not. Maybe it just makes it about the same as it is for everyone else. I don’t know. I just know the Suck-o-Meter is in the red zone most of the time.

Sadly, as I write this, I am smoking one of the last two cigarettes I have…. but it’s from a pack I bought over 2 days ago, so that has to say something, doesn’t it? It’s much better than the 2 packs a day I was smoking. Ugh. That’s terrible.

About 6 years ago I started smoking again –which is even dumber than smoking to begin with. I hadn’t smoked for over 4 years. I don’t remember it really sucking (the quitting part, that is) before. I suppose it probably did. I don’t know. Maybe it’s like childbirth. I’ve heard people say that you don’t remember the pain after a while …. I don’t know. Having never had a child, I couldn’t tell you – but I think that, if someone ever drove a Buick through my abdomen (which was the graphic image one person used to help those of us who haven’t had children really understand it) – I would probably still remember that, no matter how cute and wonderful and smart and talented my child was.

At any rate, this is the end of my life as a smoker. I think I’m ready. I hope I’m ready. I hope everyone else is ready. LOL. They tell me that because of my size and weight and whatnot that most nicotine products on the market are not suitable for me – they would be too strong. I don’t understand that, but I’ll take their word for it. Ugh. This is going to suck for a while.

I have armed myself with an extensive list of things to do besides smoke. So that should help. I hear that Chantix is a viable alternative for people who cannot use the stop-smoking aides that contain nicotine. Then again, when you are strapped for cash and wondering every day if you will make the bills (welcome to the life of a restaurant server), it’s hard to think that putting out money for something that may or may not make the whole process suck less is a good idea.

Well, on to a new day – one with better lungs and cardiovascular health!

A Poetry Class

2011-01-06T19:03:00.001-08:00

So, I guess I’ve decided that 2011 is the year to step outside of my comfort zone. It’s time. I’m 40. Time to be a big girl and do new things. For anyone reading this that remembers the wild and crazy days of my youth, you may wonder what the heck I mean by that. Suffice it to say that I’ve spent many more years safe within my comfort zone than I spent doing… whatever it was that was thought “cool” at the time.

I’m taking a poetry class that starts next week. Yes, poetry. Doesn’t really seem like me, I guess. I’m a fiction and non-fiction writer. I’ve never done much poetry – aside from the drivel many of us seem to write in high school and, thankfully, outgrow at some point down the road.

Or is it thankfully? Is it a good thing that we take all of those feelings and thoughts and bottle them up rather than express them on paper for the world to see? In some ways it does help keep us from getting hurt – a protection mechanism. If no one sees or hears what it was that hurt us or scared us or what have you, then they can’t use it against us, can they?

That’s not to say that all poetry is introspective. Of course it’s not. But it seems that most of what I wrote in my high school days was about, you know, the center of my universe – ME! I think it’s largely the same for many teens out there.

That being said, I’m interested to revisit the realm of poetry and see what my “adult” mind can come up with. Aside from my own interest in what will come out of my brain while attempting various forms of poetry, I’d really like to learn more about it. I know what a stanza is. I know that meter and rhyme exist. I know not much else about the genre. I’m hoping this class will expand my horizons and get some of those preconceived notions about poetry out of my head once and for all.

So, here’s to 2011! Here’s to finally hitting the big 4-0! Everything from here on out is a bonus! Why not embrace life as if we only have it for a day?

Merry Christmas–and fishing

2010-12-25T18:46:00.001-08:00

First of all I wanted to say Merry Christmas. Ours was quite enjoyable. Lots of good food and plenty of laughs.

Second of all, I want to just chat – mostly too myself, so feel free to ignore me. I’ve now signed up to be a World Fishing Network Ambassador. So, now I have that on top of being the Northern Wisconsin Fishing Examiner. It’s been a while since I’ve put up any articles, but I know I have to get back into it. Two completely different formats, of course. But sometimes I wonder if people will actually read what I write. Do I know enough about it? Will it be interesting and informative? I don’t know. I can talk about bass fishing through the eyes of someone new to the sport, but that’s really all I have going. I guess the best thing to do it sit down and write a firm list for each: things I want to write an article about and things I can blog about. Blogging is much different from article writing, for sure. So, two different set-ups, two different audiences. Maybe I should use One Note to organize my ideas? I don’t know. I know there’s already a lot of information out there – maybe that’s why it seems such a daunting task. Maybe articles about how I learned the things I know how and how I plan to learn the things I don’t already know are in order.

Really I just wanted to add something to my blog. That’s the reason I’m here today. I guess I needed to stretch my fingers and write something – anything! Other than NaNo, I haven’t written much of anything lately. I’ve done a couple flash fiction entries for contests, and some revisions on my novel. So, I guess saying that I haven’t written anything would be false. A 50,000 word novel in a month is something, at least.

But now I have to get into the nonfiction realm. I don’t know why I think it would be easier to break into that. Outdoorsmen everywhere write about their passions. It’s not any easier to break into paid writing in nonfiction, I don’t think. Maybe it’s even more difficult. But I’m going to try. Blogs, pics, and videos go to WFN. Localized articles about fishing in Northern Wisconsin go to Examiner. Articles about fishing in general go to Suite 101. That’s my set up going into the new year.

Good luck and tight lines in 2011, All!

Christmas Muse, where are you?

2010-12-03T13:12:00.001-08:00

It’s already December 3rd, and I have yet to find my Christmas muse. Not sure where she went off to this year, but I haven’t been able to find her. Maybe it’s because we don’t have our Christmas tree up yet. I usually have it up earlier, and the warm glow of the lights gets me in the mood to write Christmas tales. I guess I should get it up tonight and see if it helps. I’ve thought of a few tales to tell, but they all seem trite to me in some way or another.

Maybe I’ll start with a good Christmas comedy. That always gets me in the holiday spirit. Think about it – people who don’t normally spend every day together are often forced into a house not meant for such a crowd, and sometimes for days! Yes, I’m talking about family gatherings! It’s usually a comedy of errors when that happens. Food disasters, lighting faux paux, Gramma Gracie having one too many hot totties and tipping over the Christmas tree, Billy having to share a room with Grandpa, who is a sleep walker. The poor kid is too scared to sleep because of last year’s catastrophe. Uncle Bob, the world’s worst re-gifter. Ah yes, Christmas.

I think I’m starting to get into the spirit now. I guess this year I’m just not willing to give up summer yet. That’s the biggest part of the problem, I think. I want to still be fishing in the warm sunshine and driving around with my sunroof open. But alas, winter is setting in and a light blanket of snow is already covering the ground. At least we have the beauty and feeling of the holidays to help us make that transition into the depths of winter. Light a candle, string some lights, grab a cup of hot chocolate or pumpkin spice cappuccino, and remember the real reason for the season.

Things are starting to look better already. Hey, Christmas muse! There you are!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Free-writing and Writing Prompts

2010-12-01T19:14:00.001-08:00

So, today I decided to get my other blog going again. It’s at Writing.com, and I just use a random prompt that I find anywhere on the Internet, and I write about it for 10 minutes. Whatever comes out, I post it. Those are the rules – no editing, no caring what I’ve written – just write for 10 minutes and post.

I decided to look around on the Internet and get some new prompts. The group where I’ve gotten my prompts for a long time re-uses the same prompts each year. Now, that’s not all that bad. You can see where your mindset was from one year to the next – you will definitely write something completely different. But, I wanted to see what was out there.

I realized that writing prompts sometimes make me feel a bit dumb. I see a prompt and suddenly all of these ideas come to me. Then I wonder – why couldn’t I just write that to begin with? Why didn’t I think of that? It’s weird. I know that this is why writing prompts exist… to spur your imagination, your muse, whatever you’d like to call it…. but it does make you feel a bit daft at times. It was right there all the time, and I couldn’t see it. A great story was ready to be written and I didn’t acknowledge it. Weird. When you write a lot, you think you are fairly creative – at least that’s what I think. But then you realize there was a story begging to be told, and you didn’t even see it.

Don’t get my wrong. I love writing prompts. They are the best thing to spark my muse – but they do make me feel as though I should have already been writing a story once one comes about from any given prompt.

Again, the reason prompts exist is for those of us writers, like myself, who cannot see the forest for the trees (how terribly cliché, I know). All I can say is that the person who “invented” writing prompts is to be commended highly… and if that person is not already a millionaire, he/she should be!

That’s all for tonight, my friends.

Write more, and write more often!

Another NaNo in the Books… so to speak!

2010-11-30T18:03:00.001-08:00

Well, another NaNoWriMo has come and gone. I’m excited that I achieved over the 50,000 word mark. Now I can get down to the real business of revising and rewriting. That’s always the hardest part for me. Sometimes I’d prefer to just start over – but that’s kind of pointless. I’ve already got the words and ideas down. Now it’s just a matter of fine tuning them.

I want to get one of my last two novels ready for the ABNA contest on Amazon.com. The only question now is which one. I like them both – or the ideas behind them at least. I think I might have a better shot at being objective with last year’s novel, but I think this years’ would have more public interest. Maybe there’s a wider market for this year’s novel? I mean, who doesn’t like a good old thriller set in an abandoned insane asylum?

Maybe I’ll give it another day or two. But, really, I’ve only got two months to get this revised and ready for the “real world” to see, so I better get on it! All three of my novels need revisions, but I’ve only got time for one. Hmmmmm…….

Windows Live Writer test

2010-10-24T20:24:00.001-07:00

So, the new update came to my computer that said I could have an icon that would let me post directly to my blog. So I thought I’d check it out. That’s what this post is all about. I was a blogger user a long time ago. I’ve hidden a couple blogs that no longer pertained to my life. But now I feel pretty cool that something I’ve done is still relevant. LOL.

You know, I went through the whole Yahoo! 360, MySpace, then Facebook thing. Every time I finally got used to something, everyone I knew switched social media networks. I think it’s all a bit crazy. I mean, if you actually wanted to talk to these people… aren’t you texting them anyway. I know. You probably expected me to ask if you weren’t just calling them… perhaps snail-mailing them. No. I’m old, but I’m not that old. Not just yet. I do my best to embrace new technology. Maybe that’s where I’ve gone wrong a time or two. I should just do what I like, and stick to that. If anyone really wants to know what I think, they will probably look for me where I am. That makes sense. At any rate, that was the only purpose of this blog entry…. just to check and make sure my old mine could still wrap itself around something new. Hope everyone I know and love it doing well!

Laterzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Taterzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Saying Goodbye to an Old Friend

2010-10-07T19:10:00.001-07:00

A long-time friend of mine was burried today. His new wife of 7-months is also a close friend. I can't begin to imagine what she's going through. She waited so long for love to find her again... only for it to be taken from her so quickly. I don't know how his kids are dealing with it, either, after losing their mother.... I believe it was 2 or 3 years ago. I wasn't in town when she died, but I know he was devastated.

I am happy for him that he found love one more time before he died. I am happy for my other friend that she found love with him again. At over 40 years old she seemed a school girl again when they got together. Life is so precious. Sometimes we need to put aside out differences and realize this. It's not always easy, but eventually someone needs to be the bigger, better person and extend the olive branch. Unfortunately, most times, people only realize this all too late. I know that I am fortunate to have all of my loved ones in my life. As life goes on, I know I will lose many of them. All I can do at that point is thank God for each and every day that I had with them - each smile, each tear. It's a sad day, but filled with so many happy memories.

Do me a favor - give someone a hug today, please.
Thanks!

The Things Kids Don't Know Amaze Me!

2010-10-03T18:17:00.000-07:00

This weekend I had the opportunity to spend the day with a bunch of local kids. It was an event set up by our DNR where they could learn about hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities. A few things surprised me about the day.

The first one was the turnout, given the cold and rainy weather. It was great to see so many kids interested enough in all of these activities that they would still come out, despite the weather. And, I have to say, most of them were dressed well for the weather.

One of the things that bothered me, though, were the amount of parents that simply dropped their kids off and left. There used to be a time that, when your kids were interested in something... a good wholesome activity that tends to keep kids from drinking, doing drugs, and getting in trouble... that parents would go to any lengths to show at least some interest and support of their kids.

Another thing that really bothered me was the amount of 7, 8, 9, and 10 year olds who didn't even know their own address! When I went to school, you needed to know your parents' names, your address, and your phone number before you even went to kindergarten. If one of these kids were to ever, God forbid, get lost somewhere. How would they be able to tell anyone where they belonged?

One young lad even turned to his brother while filling out the simple paperwork (name, address, phone, parents' name) and asked, "What's Mom's first name?" Really?!? Kids don't know these things? I admit, as a kid, not knowing my grandmother's first name. I called my grandparents Gramma and Grammpa (insert last name here). It was a matter of respect. We never called our grandparents by their first names. But I'm fairly sure that I have always known my parents' first names!

You know, this leads me to a bit of a different rant, but I think it fits here. All over the country you hear proposals about linking students' grades to teachers' pay. In a way, I understand that. But what about the parents? Where are they? Why are they no longer responsible for what a child learns?

Again I must say, when I was a kid, my parents made sure my homework was done. They made sure they looked it over and that I was grasping the concepts. I don't think this responsibility lies solely with the teachers. Before you argue that things were different "back then", let me say that both of my parents worked. They both held full-time jobs the entire time I was in school. I guess maybe priorities were different back then. Maybe kids were more important back then? A sense of responsibility demanded that children, and their welfare, be the center of the family.

Before anyone gets too irate with me, I'm not speaking of all parents here. I know quite a few people who are awesome parents and would do anything to help their kids succeed. Sadly, though, they don't seem to be the majority anymore. Many seem to think that how a child performs in school is a direct reflection on no one other than the child. Really? It doesn't reflect parenting skills in any way, shape, or form? Really? That's all I can say.....

Another NaNo will begin soon!

2010-09-22T19:09:00.001-07:00

Once again, I've decided to get involved in the yearly noveling craziness at www.nanowrimo.org I will, once again, write a novel of 50,000 words or more in the month of November. I'm feverishly preparing for this journey as we speak. I'm fleshing out characters, setting scenes in my mind, and figuring out where I will go with all of the information my characters are already feeding me.

There is one difference this year. This year I will be a Municipal Liaison for my area! I'm so excited to head a group of Northern Wisconsin novelists! Its an added responsibility, to be sure, but I think it's going to be great. It will really help me make NaNo my focus for the month and beyond. Last year I slacked a bit after the month of November and I didn't get into the ABNA contest on Amazon.com, but this year I'm going to do it! I did it once and got farther along in the competition than I originally thought I would. This time I hope for even better results. Of course, the ultimate would be to win the publishing contract with Penguin Press. Dare I dream that high? Of course! If you want to be one of those people who thinks maybe you might try something and then just see what happens, life's not going to go your way. You have to believe in yourself and that you can accomplish what you want to accomplish in life!

So, off I head, into the great, wide world of NaNo, with the hope and desire to refine my menagerie of 50K plus words until I have an actual novel and a pitch that can get my where I want to be!

I also wish the best of luck to all of my friends and accomplices in this venture! Write like you were born to!
Laterzzzzzzzz, Taterzzzzzzzzzzzz!
Beckie

The new job!

2010-09-18T19:28:00.000-07:00

I haven't written in a while, but I have to say that my new job is very refreshing! I'm not the boss. I'm not anything special. I'm just a server. I go to work, serve the public, and go home and have a life. I've been in management so long... it's nice to just have a regular 40-hour week job. I'm not saying that I'll never go back into management. I'm just saying that it's nice to have a break.

It's nice to interact with customers without having to worry about what 10 other people are doing ever second. It's great! I truly thought I'd be in management forever... but that last job really took its toll on me. Maybe I'm just at the age where I realize there's more to life than work. I've had a great time - both at work and in life - since I quit my last job. I have time to fish, I have time to write. I have time to just be lazy if the mood strikes. I try not to do that too often, but I have to say that the occasional nap does creep up on me.

So, I know this is a pretty lame post, but I'm ready to write more.... and I still work with the public, so there's always plenty of fodder there! Take care all and read well and often!

Karma - You Make Me Smile

2010-07-27T18:35:00.000-07:00

As the saying goes, Karma is a b&%$. Since I took over my latest restaurant two months ago, my junior managers, one of whom was running the place until I took over as GM, have been trying everything they can think of to work against me and make thing difficult. They've even tried to get me fired. They have about 75% of the staff thinking I'm a terrible manager and incredibly mean and just ... well, an asshole. So, a couple people have gotten other jobs and, rather than give notice, they have just walked out in the middle of their shift. Today we had one more as a no-call, no-show. I heard she had an interview for another job, so I'm assuming she got it... and this is her way of telling me she gave me a two week notice two weeks ago.

The funniest thing about this whole thing, is that if it keeps up this way, the two women who were looking to get rid of me so they could run the place (into the ground) just as they have for the last few years, will be there alone with a very, very small crew. I've already given my notice. I'm done in a week. They can have the place. I've had more than enough. And since they've run off all the staff under the guise of me being a terrible manager, they can feel free to try to rebuild a crew in a town of 1500 people were any applicants at all are hard to come by. Have fun, ladies!

I know how ugly these kinds of battles can get. I've been there before. The main difference is that when I was in this situation before, I had the unwaivering support of my boss. That's not the case here. In one breath he tells me I have his complete support and in the next breath makes it evident that he's scared to get rid of the people who are causing the problems - simply because they've always been there through all of the GMs who have come and gone. Well, there is a reason that GMs don't last in this particular location. It's these two women! I guess I can't make him see that, so it's time to move on.

When you hear from crew members that someone said this or that or whatever about you, you take it with a grain of salt. But, when I walked out into the dining room during lunch today only to hear one of my junior "managers" telling a customer that the manager is worthless and doesn't know what she's doing, etc... well, then I tend to believe everything I've been told about what is said behind my back.

Funny thing is, I know that I'm damn good at what I do. I've been doing it for a long time, and I've had great results. When you mix going to work for a company who cares absolutely nothing about you as a person, with undermining behavior of the people who are supposed to work for you, then it's just not worth it. I could go on and on, but I won't. Suffice it to say that I am closing this chapter of my life and starting a new one. This one, as short as it was, was still pretty ugly. At some point, though, I'm sure I'll find that it has helped me in some way, shape, or form, to become a better person. Right now, though, I am too close to it and it does nothing but tick me off and make me irritable. LOL. So, out with the old and on to brighter days!

Time for a Change

2010-07-19T10:30:00.000-07:00

I guess there comes a time in everyone's life where they realize there are things in the world that are more important than money. Well, don't get me wrong. I've always known that. It's just that this job has made it crystal clear to me. 60 and 70-hour work weeks coupled with two hours of driving a day has made me seriously reconsider my career choice. I'll be changing jobs in a couple of weeks - I'm going to be in an hourly position as a server and bartender. It'll be less money, of course, but definitely more peace of mind.

For the last five months I've been able to do nothing but work. Oh yes, I've gotten in a little fishing here and there. Don't get me wrong. But as far as quality of life goes, I'd put it in the "nonexistent" category. Some weeks I sleep and work and sleep and work - and that's it.

So, on to better things, I say. It's going to be tough for a while, money-wise. There are still bills to pay and whatnot... but we'll figure out a way. We always do. Making ends meet shouldn't take away your entire life. I've always said that. Looking back, I'd rather deal with Country Kitchen and all of the crap we went through there, than deal with what I'm dealing with at work now.

So, here's to: back to blogging; back to writing; back to fishing; back to life!!

Ready to go back to Work

2010-02-27T18:35:00.000-08:00

Only a couple more days left before I'm back to work. Yesterday I went and checked out the restaurant I'll be running. Of course, I didn't tell anyone who I was or anything. I just sat and observed. If I were to grade the place, I'd give it at least an 85% if not higher. It was very clean and very nice looking - at least the dining room and everything I could see from it. The server was really nice - personable and attentive. She did a good job. There were a couple minor service issues that I saw in general, but nothing that can't be easily fixed. And the food was good. So, overall, I think I'm farther ahead in this place than I've been in a lot of them that I've taken over.

Of course, sales are down quite a bit right now. It's a tourist town - it's not summer, and winter is on its way out. So, it's really in between seasons. Of course, there is the question of the economy and how that affects how often people dine out.... but people do still eat out. They just want to make sure that they are having a great experience when they are dining out.

That might seem like a no-brainer. People always want to go to the places with the best food and the best service. But, when every dollar earned needs to stretch even farther, people make different choices based on past experiences. They might really want Greek food, for instance. But, the Greek food place in town usually has slow service. In good times, they are more apt to give in to their desire for that kind of food even though they know the experience might not be the best (I chose a Greek restaurant only because there are none around here and I didn't want anyone to think I was picking on them). But, in a tough economy, people may forgo a desire for Greek food because they know there's a little diner where the service is always great, the portions are big, and there is consistency in the food.

Overall, I really think I'll like this store - and the company I am going to work for. After the last fiasco I went through.... I would say anything could be better, but then again - I don't want to temp fate. At least this company pays their bills and I don't have to go to the local credit union and pay the power bill in all ones every month. Those of you who know what I'm talking about will wish you would have thought of it.

So, it's on to a new adventure.....

New Job

2010-02-17T19:23:00.000-08:00

So, it looks like I will be starting my new job soon. Yes, still as a restaurant manager. It's what I do and what I'm good it. new company, though, which is great. LOL. New company. The old one is pretty much done, sadly. Well, not sadly for the company, but sadly for the hundreds of people that worked for them and trusted (blindly, I might add) that they would always have a job as long as they did what was asked of them.

But that's old news. It was a dysfunctional company for a long time. It was kind of like a slow-motion train wreck that you just can't turn away from. But now it's over.

On to bigger and better things - hopefully. So far, this seems like it's going to be a "real" job! I know that sounds weird to people who've never been in the restaurant industry.... but, believe me, there are a lot of jobs in this industry that the normal person would not do - at all levels. It is sometimes shocking to people in other industries when they see the time requirements, the weird hours, the amount of dedication, that is involved in this industry. Yes, I'm one of those people who thinks that everyone should have to work in this industry for at least 6 months when they are a kid. If it's not your first job, it should at least be your second. There's so much to learn here if you really pay attention.

Starting in March, I'll be training into a segment of the area that I've worked in a bit before, but that I've never really gotten into. I've worked in restaurants that sell pizza, but never in one where it is the "bread and butter", if you will. It will be interesting, and I'm sure it will be fun. You'll learn all about it here, either way!

Laterzzzzzzzzzzzz, Taterzzzzzzzzzzzz!

Signs of Spring!

2010-02-12T19:39:00.000-08:00

I know, there's still snow outside. It was below zero last night. But the signs of a spring that's sure to come are here... if only on TV. Of course, this weekend, we have the Daytona 500 and all of the excitement of another NASCAR season. The Bassmasters Classic is only a week away. NHRA starts again this weekend, too! So, these are all signs that spring will be here soon.

Then again, the winter Olympics are just starting, too... so I guess we're in transition. I'm excited to watch the Olympics, of course, but after a long winter, it's good to see signs of spring. I think we all have our sights, smells, and sounds that tell us that warmer weather is on its way.

Sometimes it's funny that way. I remember a restaurant where I cooked for years. We always listened to all of the Brewer's games on the radio. We knew it was summer when we heard Bob Ueker. It didn't matter what the weather was outside - we didn't have a window to even look out of for hours at a time. We might have been just standing in front of hot grills and fryers, but when we heard Bob, we knew it was summer time and the stainless steel wall in front of us turned into a large field full of grass and sun.

It's those things, the things that bring us to warmer, happier times, that many of us in the cold north live for. I am one of those people who think snow-covered pines are absolutley gorgeous... until I have to take the dogs out, or get the driveway plowed, or shovel the car off to go to work in the morning. Once the Christmas tree comes down, I'm ready for spring!

So, bring on the Easter Bunny, the race cars and the bass fishermen! I'm ready.

Starting Again

2010-01-27T18:18:00.000-08:00

To be honest, I just remembered I had this blog. I forgot all about it when I switched computers. Of course, it's been a year since I've been on here, so that's probably why. I've got a lot going on and also nothing at all - if that makes sense.

The restaurant where I went to work when we moved back home closed a couple months ago. I wound up as GM somehow before that happened. The whole corporation is going down the crapper, which I knew when I worked for them before we left nothern Wisconsin in 2007. But, now they are closing corporate stores left and right. When I first went to work for them in 2004 I think they had around 30 stores. Now they are down to 3.

So, I'm unemployed, which is weird for me. I've been unemployed for over two months. That usually doesn't happen to me, but there are not many jobs around here where I can make more money working full time than I am on unemployment... and I'm not even making the state maximum. Oh well. I take work when I can get it and have worked a weekend here and there for a friend who is a manager at a little place here in town.

But, I've also started writing for Examiner.com as the Northern Wisconsin Fishing Examiner. It's been pretty fun. There's not a lot of money in it at this point or anything, but it could turn into something. You just never know. I've only published 7 articles so far, but it keeps me busy and keeps me out talking to people in the community and whatnot. It's also a lot of fun, and I'm learning more about ice fishing at this point. I haven't ice fished in years. I was never very serious, or very good, at it, and the cold kind of makes my body hurt. But, I'm learning more about it from the people I talk to for my articles.

I'm also working on revisions of the novel I created for NaNoWriMo last November. The first draft of this one is much, much rougher than the first draft of my last one, so it needs a lot of help.

I will try to get into blogging more. God knows there's a lot to talk about out there these days. I don't promise anything, but you just might see more of me as the days and weeks go on.
Laterzzzzzzzzzz, taterzzzzzzzzz!

Unmatched Tupperware is my life

2009-01-18T18:27:00.000-08:00

It seems everyone I know has Tupperware. Yes, it is the most expensive of the plastic containers. Tupperware is more than that now, but, back in the day, if you wanted to save leftovers for anything, you had Tupperware, and the name was synonymous with any plastic container that you put anything in - leftovers, those bagged cereals that Mom tried to convince you were really the box kind but she didn't have room in the pantry for the box, cookies to bring to school, buttons, loose change... you name it, it went into a Tupperware container.

It also seems that everyone I know has Tupperware that does not have a lid. Or, they have lids for Tupperware that has strangely disappeared. Yet, we all keep these things. The containers are more useful without the lids than the lids are without the containers themselves, yet we keep them both. Plastic wrap serves as a suitable substitute for the lost lid. Yet, I think there's more to it than that.

Tupperware has a significance in Americana. Tupperware brings us back to a time when bruises were kissed all better, monsters were chased out from under our beds, and scraped knees were fixed with a popsicle. The imperfections of missing pieces are okay to us. They remind us of our lives.

Life is not perfect. The past is not perfect. Neither is my Tupperware collection. I refuse to throw away old memories because they are imperfect. The same can be said for my Tupperware. I don't throw away the time my dog died and I cried for days. I don't throw away the butter container that now has no bottom (it sits on a plate just fine). I don't throw away the day that I missed the word "spirit" in the spelling bee (spirit, do you believe it?!?!) any more than I throw away the round, rose-colored bowl whose lid is long, long gone.

Of course, along the way, I've bought Tupperware that simply didn't exist back in the day. You may wonder if a $25 ice cream scoop is really worth it... I answer a resounding "Yes!" New Tupperware and new memories. Tupperware has many new products. I liken those to new friendships and new experiences. The old "tried and true" Tupperware can still be purchased too, though. "Tried and true" are family connections, childhood memories and long-standing friendships.

While advertising executives may attempt to tell you that "Cotton is the fabric of our lives," I would like to add that Tupperware is truly our life. Tupperware is our memories. We keep it no matter if Dad microwaved spaghetti in it back in the 80s and it is stained red, or if the lid no longer fits, or burps, or is gone all together. We keep it. We keep our memories the same way. We make new memories every day. Twenty years from now, I hope the Tupperware of today has the same effect. I hope the ice cream scoop (even though it may be scratched and dinged from years in the kitchen drawer) still holds the same value as it does now. I hope the three-course-dinner microwaver ensemble means the same thing (we kept it even though we used one part as a dog dish and Ralphie ate it, so it's really not useful anymore) as the popsicle-maker that we have now (without the sticks... who knows where those went) means now.

Life's not perfect. The world's not perfect. If you're over 30, your Tupperware is not perfect anymore, either. But we love it all. We have to. It's who we are.

Thanks for reading... and thank Tupperware!
Laterzzzzzzzzzzzzz, Taterzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I'm not avoiding you, really

2008-12-31T00:04:00.000-08:00

I know, I know. I used to blog so much more! I've been so busy on Writing.Com, though.... not a good excuse, is it?

The 31-Day Journal Writing Challenge has been very good for me, though. It's got me writing to random prompts again, and that will definitely mean more to blog about. I must say that, as it is with any community, it was an interesting mix of personalities for the month. You have the overbearing chick who tries to take over each and every time a person is not "Johnny on the Spot", but who also tells the entire community that she is a "good writer - very good, and I don't care what anyone thinks, because I know I'm that good!" Wow. Okay. Good for you, then! LOL. What do you say to that? She may be incredibly evil and have absolutely no social skills.... but, DANG! She knows she's a good writer, so that's all that matters to her. Go, Fight, Win!, lady. That's about all I can say to that.

Wow! This is refreshing! I can say what I want. If anyone happens to "click on me" that doesn't know me, they can just click away if they don't like what they see. :-) On the site I am talking about, I am a member of the "Simply Positive Review" group... and don't get me wrong, I think that is awesome. To me, there is something good in every piece of writing, and it keeps my temper in check when people are just... well, dumb. The point is, that I feel that I have a standing in that community that does not truly let my personality shine as it should....LOL. I keep things positive and, if I have nothing nice to say, I say nothing at all. To say the least... her and I don't talk much! In fact, about halfway into this challenge, she had made it (day after day after day) apparent that she wished to disclose nothing at all... nothing, did I say that?.... about her personal life or thoughts (and yet it was a Journal Writer's Challenge....hmmmm) to anyone.

Well, it was almost Christmas time and also her turn to provide a prompt for the group. Her words were, "Well, it's time to get serious", as she told us all, in no uncertain terms, that our prompt was to write a piece about global warming, cite two sources, and that the word "I" or any plural of that word would not be allowed for that day (like... umm... who is SHE?).. anywway, the prompt was to have to do with the North Pole and the effect of Global Warming on said place. After writing my piece, from the perspective of Santa Claus, and citing the North Star Journal and the Reindeer Review, I was pleased to see that so many others had taken the same train as I. There is too much doom and gloom and, while we may have to deal with that on a regular basis, to her, all I could say was, "Cite THIS!"

Ummm... that's mean. hehehehe. My thought about why we should stop global warming, at least for that prompt, was... No one wants to see Santa in a Speedo!

To me, Christmas is not a time that lends itself to the doom and gloom of the world. Let us have our magical moments. What's more, let us see the magical moments in every day. The rest of the world will always be there to "tell us" how bad off we are. Take the magic while we can and live it to its fullest!

That is my diatribe for the evening. Thanks for tuning in!
Laterzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, Taterzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

Writing

2008-12-20T19:15:00.000-08:00

I know. I've been gone for a minute or two. I have been writing, though... just not here. I got involved in a writing community at writing.com, and I've been having such a great time there. I've been entering contests, "meeting" other writers, and getting involved all over the site. I've been able to review a lot of other writers' works, and now I even have the pleasure of mentoring a "newbie" (our name for someone who is new to the site and looking for direction or help with their writing or just getting around the site).

I am involved, right now, in the 31-Day Journal Writing Challenge, and that has been great, too. We get a prompt every day and each competitor writes about that prompt in their blog on the site. It's been so interesting to me to see the different takes on all of the prompts. It really helps to expand the possibilities on anything!

I would recommend Writing.com to anyone who is a writer and may be looking for a little feedback, a little inspiration, a place to call home, a place where people understand... whatever it is that a writer is looking for, I think Writing.com has it! The site is huge and there is so much to do and see there. To me, it just makes me feel good to know that others are reading what I am writing and offering feedback. It helps me out a great deal. I know I can count on my family and friends to do the same... but then I may think: do they have the time for this? Are they being honest or just stroking my ego?... things like that. I love them all dearly, but I think they are somewhat prejudiced. :-)

At any rate, if anyone would like to check out my portfolio on writing.com, here's the link:
http://Writing.Com/authors/write2b

Next month is pretty busy, too. I am into the rewriting of my NaNo novel in hopes to get it into a contest on Amazon.com in February. I also am taking part in a couple of classes on Writing.Com... one is a story telling class (myths and whatnot) and the other is the Writer's Workshop, to which I was invited by the instructor. It made me feel so good to have someone invite me into this workshop... it's not open to anyone who wants to take it, I guess. It's a "by invitation only" sort of affair, which I think is pretty cool. Hopefully I don't disappoint her!

But, this is what's going on with me right now. I think one of the reasons I was meant to come back home was so that I could focus more on my writing. It's the one thing I've always had through all of life's ups and downs, and it's something I know will always be with me.

I wish you all a safe, blessed and Merry Christmas!
Laterzzzzzzzzzz, Taterzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

Here's what I was talking about...

2008-11-28T23:05:00.000-08:00

I had a story I had to share with you tonight, because it speaks to my post from yesterday. There was a younger couple, early twenties, sitting and talking over coffee tonight in my restaurant. They come in quite often, and are very nice people.

An "older" couple comes in, probably in their fifties. They tell the waiter that there are just there for coffee. He says, "Go ahead and sit wherever you'd like, except there or there (pointing to two tables that were recently vacated and not yet cleaned)... or with those guys (he pointed to the young couple)." Of course, that part was meant to be a joke.

The older man kidded, "Too bad. We wanted to sit with them."

The younger couple instantly moved farther into the booth and invited them to sit down and talk. I watched as they all shook hands and introduced themselves to each other. The two couples sat down together and chatted for almost an hour. They were laughing and having a great time each time I happened to go into the dining room.

This is the kind of thing that I'm talking about in a small town. It just doesn't happen in bigger cities. It was a heart-warming interaction between two sets of people who may have had very little in common, but who were willing to sit with someone they did not know, and to share stories and a small piece of their lives. As a restaurant manager, that is part of what I do. I share the lives of my regular customers. But, to see customers welcome each other so readily and so unselfishly... it just makes me feel good. I don't know the names of the older couple, and I may never. I don't think I've seen them before, but those four people made my night. They gave a different meaning to Thanksgiving... even if a day late.

Hope in the Holiday Season!

2008-11-27T23:12:00.001-08:00

I worked tonight... Thanksgiving night. At the restaurant where I work, we have a Thanksgiving buffet. We had barely anyone in the restaurant all night. Now, being a manager, I should say that I was unhappy about that. However, let me tell the story from the beginning...

A couple years ago, I was the GM at another location of this restaurant. Our corporation mandated, for the first time, that we be open on Christmas Day. I went with a very skeleton crew, thinking that Christmas was "family time" and it would be ridiculous to even be open. Honestly, we were busier on Christmas Day than we were in the midst of summer... and this restaurant is in a very high volume tourist town. To me, that was very sad. We actually had families (Mom and Dad would come in with the kids and meet Gran and Gramp) come to our restaurant to exchange gifts! They may have just as well told Gran and Gramp... you know, I want whatever you're going to buy me, but I just don't want the bother of having you at my house or cooking or cleaning up. To me, it was very sad. Fast forward to this year....

Times are tighter, of that there is no doubt. Within the last couple of weeks, gas prices have fallen to a somewhat acceptable level, but that doesn't ease the burden for a lot of people who are barely making it anyway. What I am most happy about is the fact that my restaurant was not busy tonight. People were spending quality time with their families at home once again! I'm very happy that we were open to welcome those who have no family or no one to spend the Holiday with... that is what hospitality is all about. What I don't like is commercializing holidays, which are meant to be time for family to be together (for better or worse), and are meant to be close to home, not in some restaurant somewhere. I think that when people are forced to tighten their belts and rein in their spending, they are forced to take a good look around and see what is really important! Suddenly, it is not all about "he who dies with the most toys," it's about being a person and about being with people who have always been there for you, and who you would help out in any difficult situation. I'm happy we were slow tonight! I'm happy people were home with their families, enjoying that time that they will never get back. Each minute that passes is one that you should spend the best way you can. I agree that it's nice to go out to eat. Someone else will wait on you and you won't even have to clean up the mess... but certain occasions are made for being home, for cleaning up the mess, and for being with people to whom you are closest.

I have to say I'm glad we moved back home for this very reason. I don't think I'd want to be in the city for the Holidays this year... It just means more being from a small town and being able to be in that same small town during Thanksgiving and Christmas. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that "city people" are any less caring or any less feeling. I just feel it more here, and I see it more here. Here people don't make some random donation to a "good cause." Here, people go to a neighbor's house who they know has had a hard time of late, and bring a casserole and stay to chat away an hour or two on a cold winter night. That neighbor may not have anything but a hot pot of coffee to share in return, but that's just fine. It's about the time you spend, and the people you touch... not the money you spend or the things you buy. I've felt so stiffled in this town for so long... but now that I've been gone, I see all of the good points and the things I never want to live without again. I've got a lot to be thankful for.....and so do you!

I drive a car.. and own a business

2008-11-20T19:59:00.000-08:00

This is one that I've agonized over for quite some time, but I finally decided that I have to say it. I have to get it off my chest. Being a new small business owner, I am incredibly... well, ticked off.. that my tax payer dollars are now going to go to bail out the major car manufacturers.. or at least that is what the government wants, if they can ever get on the same page.

Here's the deal. We're starting out own business right now. If we fail because we fail to keep pace with the industry, who will bail us out? I don't think we'll be getting any money from the government. Although, I guess the government would understand the clunky bureaucracy that is the American auto maker better than anyone else. I also understand that the industry does employ millions of people. I get that. Don't think I don't. My problem is that, why are we bailing out people who have simply made bad business decisions, not once, but repeatedly, and for years and years? Why are we doing it? Who is going to bail us out?

Okay, I realize that there are people out there now making $30,000 a year who bought $700,000 homes who are happy they are getting bailed out of a "bad mortgage", or that there is hope for that in their future. To those people, I say the same thing... "What were you THINKING?!?!!??!?!"

Our society took a terrible turn when adults became no longer responsible for their own decisions. If I put a hot cup of coffee in my lap, I take that assumption of risk that I may get burned. But no, it's McDonald's fault for selling me hot coffee. Of course, if it wasn't hot, I would drive back through the drive thru and tell them I would not pay for it.... you get my idea.

So, Big Auto has decided to still make cars that are not as efficient as they should be, and keep unproductive overhead, and... I could go on and on, but it makes me sick. They saw this coming! They were not blind-sided by the fact that an economic downturn of any size could render them bankrupt. Have we not been through this before? I think we've been close.

All I'm saying is that we are bailing out the wrong people. We truly are. Those of us who are paying our bills and barely scraping by are the people who are bailing out the wrong people, by the way. I just thought I'd mention that, so maybe some other people will get as ticked off about it as I am. I won't get political here, because that only serves to heat a discussion along party lines, and that is not the purpose of this rant. The purpose is... no one guaranteed me that my business would succeed. No one said that if it didn't, they'd give me money until it did. At no time did anyone say, "You know what, you've made a butt pile of money in the past, but you didn't change with the times while others did, so, guess what? You get a Mulligan! Conrgatulations for being an ineffective, bureaucratic piece of crap with more middle management than the population of some small countries! Way to streamline, Folks!"

I thought I had calmed down enough about this to write about it, but now, thinking about it brings it all back up and I think I should quit for now. :-) Just some food for thought. Crap.. I can't end this without saying... now that the Dems have run both houses for the last two years... and now that we have a Dem President... well, that should all change, right? Ah well. What do I know? I'm just some dumb kid from nowhere who likes to sit around and be cynical about the world. Gravity affects me, Economics does not... I'm still broke, so no big deal!