I am TOTALLY pooped today! I closed the last two nights at work and then opened this morning. Today was abnormally busy for a Sunday. I got stuck there until 5:15 when I was only scheduled until 4:00. Money wise, it was worth it but I still had some frustrating moments. Basically just a few people who obviously didn't understand that I was the only waitress on, and I could only move so fast. There was the younger couple who came in when almost much every table I had was taken and they only left me $1, even though I was there with them several times. They literally had 4 samples each, and every time they decided they wanted another one I had to go back behind the bar to get it and then go back out to them. Not easy when there's only one of me! Clearly they are two people who have never been a server before, and people who haven't done it before don't always understand. Nevertheless, I had a really good three days of tips and made nearly $600, which I really needed!
Tomorrow and Tuesday are the last two days of my semester. I still have a few assignments to get handed in for Creative Activism, and one final salon with my classmates on Tuesday. I'm also meeting with my advisor on Tuesday morning to talk about practicum possibilities as I still am not completely sure what I'm going to do for that. It'll be a busy couple of days but I sure am relieved that Research Methods is finished at least. Then I get a couple weeks to relax, work, enjoy the holidays and anticipate the beginning of thesis in January!
We have our work Christmas party tomorrow night at Drekker Brewing. I'm pretty excited for that! I don't think I've ever had a work Christmas party. Our managers rented our their whole back area for us so we'll all just hang out and chat, play some games, eat food and drink beer. Sounds like a good time to me!
I read your blog post last night after work. I'm glad you had enjoyed your time in the cities with Kim and her cousin. Little boys are so cute to watch at that age when they're playing hockey! That's one reason why I look forward to having a little boy in the very distant future! He is going to be the cutest little studly hockey play ever. Especially if he has Jesse's curls! I miss watching Jesse play. I loved going to his games and cheering him on. Remember when I was the manager? I was an awesome manager. I filled those water bottles real good! The smell of hockey, however, I can do without! Ish.
I remember you screaming "ATTITUDE!!" at me during my volleyball games all too well. Funny that you never realized that actually made my attitude far worse. Hmmm?!? My advice to mothers out there who watch their child play a sport where they can actually hear you, zip it. Nah I'm kidding, just don't yell "ATTITUDE" unless you want your daughter to be real crabby after the game. And yes Mom, I will remember these words the day I'm watching my child play volleyball. Donde was always there watching the games and when she could tell I was getting frustrated, she would holler my name and motion for me to "shake it off" . . . perhaps I will try that method with my daughter. It seemed to work just fine.
Anywho, I must go now. I have to edit Jordan and Sam's pictures that we took yesterday. We only had a few minutes to do them but they turned out really good! Hope you have a great day!
Love you!
Rah
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Dear Rah,
Today I spent much of the day driving back to Thief River Falls, not in the funky, cool Toyota FJ Cruiser, but rather in a sporty white mini van a.k.a the “Mindy Van!” I was back to being myself in the grocery hauler of functionality. Not gonna lie, I much prefer when at least I FEEL cool, even if I am only cool in my own mind!
You know, I have never really minded driving much, and that is a good thing since I drive about 12 hours a week too and from work. Today was actually kind of nice as I got to listen to Christmas music much of the way. One of the channels shared stories about where the musical traditions of a particular song came from. I got a little history lesson while I listened which was really kind of fun. I also heard some really pretty songs that I had not heard before. One was called I Need a Silent Night by Amy Grant and the other was Jesus is Alive by Josh Wilson. In true Sheila fashion, I wrote them down in the notes on my phone. Not gonna lie Rah, if I ever die, and you and Bunky are weeding through my things, you will find quotes almost everywhere, you will find images that have touched me at some point or another, you will find things that have made me laugh, and things that have made me cry. My Bible is FILLED with little notes, letters, cards, post its marking pages, and a variety of other things that, again, have struck some chord in my life. I am not attached to many things, but I am attached to WORDS and images.
Today alone I added these things to my little note page. First, a quote: “The most important thing you can do is mend a fence”—Lucy Silvas (Good advice and PREACHABLE). Then I typed in my debit card number just in case I needed that at some point. I wrote in 2 Christmas items to search for as they were TOO expensive at Fleet Farms. The two song titles were just a guess, but thanks to GOOGLE (Ahhhhhhhh I love GOOGLE . . . self-proclaimed research JUNKIE), and then a quote that made me giggle. I had just passed a gas station in Pequot Lakes and the sign said, “Whoops you yust passed gas!” HILARIOUS!!! Yes, child I am a total WORD freak!!!
Once I got home, I had work to do as Final grades need to be submitted. This was a very tough semester, and unfortunately, that is reflected in some of the grades. I got my correcting done and put them in. Our system crashed just after I finished so I know that there will be major issues in the morning as faculty attempts to submit their grades. I will have to email them all first thing in the morning if the monkey wrenches do not get worked out. Gotta love technology!
Rah, have I mentioned that it is really tough to be a mama sometimes. Tonight my friend Karin called. As you know, her son Boe is in the Marines. I remember vividly the day that Boe decided to enlist in the military. Karin was so torn between total fear for her baby and utter pride in his commitment to our country. It is hard to believe that over a year has passed since he took his first steps into unfamiliar territory. This young country boy took a plane, tackled some pretty amazing things as he went through basic, discovered that he could swim and handle most any challenge, and when he came back after his initial training for a home visit, gone was her little boy, and in his place stood a man.
Boe will not be home for Christmas. In fact, in all likelihood Boe will not be home for quite some time. Boe has been called to duty and will be deployed in April. I would love to tell you that all I felt for Boe and his mama was an incredible sense of pride; however, I actually started to cry when I found out. Please do not get me wrong, I am totally honored that I know this soldier, and as a community we are all incredibly proud of him and his sacrifice for each of us. BUT today he is Karin’s little boy and our country is a total mess. My friend needs to see her baby boy before he goes away. I can almost feel the panic as she was speaking to me. She cried . . . I cried . . . I wish I had words . . . I didn't . . . I don't. For someone who loves words as much as I do, why is it that so often I just cannot pull any out of anywhere. All I could do is listen . . . that is the only thing I had to offer to my friend. A pair of ears, some big shoulders, a load of prayers, love and support, and that’s it. Rah, being a mama is really hard . . .we have to let you fly free, but we want to keep you in the nest where we know you are protected by the one who loves you most. However, we have to have faith in the one that entrusted you to us, as He is the one who loved you first, and chose us for one another.
I saw a shirt in my journey this weekend and I thought about my friend Karin . . . Land of the Free Because of the Brave . . . AMEN! So tonight please join me in wrapping Karin and all of the moms who are worrying about their babies in a blanket of prayers. For those mamas that have lost a baby, let's wrap them up too as I cannot imagine the incredible emptiness that follows such a loss. Mamas may be the ones that helped to give life to their babies, but ultimately Rah, babies are the one that give mamas life. You actually are the air we breath . . . sigh . . .
I love you,
Mom
P.S. The Holiday Train was AMAZING and I have more to share about that tomorrow . . .
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