leaving it all at work

To earn a living I work as a waitress and the best part of my job is that I walk away at the end of the day leaving it all behind. There are times at work where I get irritated by the craziness or stupidity of a guest.
I am sure it works both ways as I know I have been out to eat & been put off by a server, but after being in the business for 20 years I know there are lots of quirks to deal with in my profession and it falls on the server to be the professional and ignore any and all strange things people may say or do!
I have to say that after all these years I am still amazed by some of people's actions, but for me it stays at work. I may recall a funny story or two, but I no longer hold unto the irritating acts of my customers...once they walk out that door it is done. My viewpoint is it all balances, some people tip well, others not so great. Some are sweet & polite while others don't seem to think of servers as people, but rather a servant or non person. I am blessed to work in a fabulous little restaurant which has some amazing regular customers who make going to work a pleasure. In addition I like all of my co-workers, my hours and how close my job is to my home. I read a article the other day about what a bad job being in the service industry is, you can't count upon set wages (due to tips etc) and there are no benefits. While those points are true, in many ways it is the perfect job as I get to talk to people while I work & it is actually encouraged. I am never short on cash as I make money each and every day I am there, plus twice a month paychecks. So, in short I am grateful for my job and all the people it has brought into my life! 

It is funny how sometimes you talk about something with one friend and it comes up with another.

My sweet girl DK and I were just talking in a phone convo about making ourselves more of a priority & taking time for ourselves. I especially tend to take on the stress of those in my lives, I celebrate the good and cry with them over the bad...sometimes to my own detriment.

My sweet girl D wrote a fab blog on the same subject and I thought I would share it with you

http://dragonflywarrior.com/2012/06/02/importance-of-self/

She is going through a transition from a "traditional" job to being self-employed while juggling a house, husband, young child and pets. I like what she expressed about being a better person to those in her life when she takes the time for herself, in her case it is a daily yoga routine.

I also feel more calm and centered as a person when I take time to do my yoga routine. It makes me feel healthier, more relaxed and the only time of day I don't feel pressure to be "on" or "perfect" as it is only about me. I find many excuses to not do the things that make me healthier, we all know getting to the gym is the hardest part of working out after all! Yoga can be done anywhere, no special clothing or materials are needed per se which is one of my fave things about it.

Most of all though I love how I feel when I conquer a new pose...for the longest time I had a hard time with the dancer's pose. I lack balance, I tend to be like a weeble wobble in my life...slightly of balance. I could do the pose, but needed to be holding unto a chair or wall. The first time I did it in the middle of a room and held it was a huge deal for me. I am working on doing more challenging routines, but for now my focus is to merely do a form of yoga each day for my own sanity.

It makes me relax, have better balance & flexibility and in general is just good for me.

What is one thing you should do for yourself on a regular basis that you allow to slip away?

Can you make a point to allow yourself the time for that activity?

We deserve our time...carve it out and take it!

friends make life a better place...

Had an almost 2 hour phone convo with one of my oldest friends last eve.

Love you Barbiegirl!

I love chats like that where we talk about everything and nothing, laugh and just enjoy.

It reminded me that I am truly blessed with the people who surround me.

There are friends who have come and gone over the years, but a core group has been there through it all. We may fight now and again, or not talk for a bit due to busy lives, but when push comes to shove we are there for one another!

It made me think about why some relationships work and some don't.

For me it is that I have stopped being the one who always gives. I want relationships (of ALL kinds)

where it is a back and forth, 50/50 is ideal of course, but I'll take 40/60...LOL.

In my past I was always the friend who called or initiated outings and talks, and was hurt with friends who didn't give back what I put into our relationships.

After many years I just learned that not everyone has the same views or needs in relationships and you have to accept the limitations others put on said relationships.

There have been friends who say how close we are, yet if one of us were to move the amount of contact is drastically reduced. Others whom have taken advantage of innate kindness and seemed genuinely confused when this could or would upset me?

Having experienced these less than perfect friendships illustrate what I truly want in all my future ones.

Including, but not limited to trust, love, kindness, laughter, humor and shared adventures.

Cheers to the girls who make my life better every single day.

AKS, DK, D &Barbiegirl you are my core which gives me strength every day.

SBell, A, C and R thanks for the smiles and times shared over wine & walks!

xoxox



Happy Towel Day

Those of you that are fans of the late writer Douglas Adams might be aware that May 25th has been declared "Towel Day". While I won't be carrying a towel around with me today I am planning on doing a wild release of one of his books in honor of it.
Though in other parts of the US it will be celebrated in these manners:
•In Denver, CO, Mo is having happy hour with other Douglas Adams loving ape descendents.
•Blackout.com will celebrate Towel Day on air!
•Impatient froods from New Londen, CT (USA) celebrated Towel Day a day early but apropriately. They watched the Original BBC version of the Hitchhikers Guide on a big screen, talked about what this series of books meant to them, their favorite scenes from the books and answered questions from newcomers.
•Also a day early, partygoers danced the night away in New Hope, PA.
•Richard S. Crawford (USA) has written a short story called "Heart of Gold". It's very fitting for the occasion. You may know Mr Crawford from Daikaijuzine.
•Travis Avery (USA) has created nice wallpapers, icons and banners that are available for free from his website.
•Joseph. E. Green (USA) wrote a great article on Douglas Adams and Towel Day. The accompanying video shows Adams as the great raconteur he was.
•Legal blog CyberLawCentral will be hosting a carnival with a Towel Day theme and asks fellow law bloggers and tweeters to provide Towel Day pictures.
•About.com personality Lorain Blanken (USA) describes how a towel saved her father's life.
•Facerot (US) has drawn Douglas Adams and put the video on YouTube.

http://www.towelday.org/ for more details on what this worldwide event is about & how people all over the world are celebrating!

haven't been on here in quite a while, life just got busy of late.
Moved into a new apartment which I adore...though I am far from settled into it. It is a block away from my work, cheaper & bigger than my last place. Got to love all of those factors! No on site laundry so I am getting to explore the joy of going to the Laundromat for the first time in decades...not much else is new.
Time to go fold & put away all that laundry now!
Hello again my friends

uuuggghhh

just having a not so fab day and a little stresses.
this too shall pass...right?

guess it is good news?

So, my doctors visit yesterday seemed to go well. I am to go back for yet another ultrasound in May and then come see the doc again. He thinks it has gotten slightly smaller in size which is good. Basically they think it is fine, but seeing as I have had problems in the past we are being cautious. It is not a simple cyst, but rather a complex one...which can be cancerous...thus the concern.

All I know is the whole experience has been stressful & costly.

On the other hand I was down a few pounds from my last office visit which is always happy news!