Well folks, we are less than one week away from knowing which plane Brandon will be training for. Next Thursday we'll know! Yep, he was pushed through 15 flights in a little over a week. He's recovering from working so much lately, but he's so excited to be done with primary! I am too, no more waking up at 4 in the morning for his 5:13 am briefs.
As for me, my birthday was yesterday. I realize that as an adult you have to work on your birthday, but it's kind of frustrating when you're being yelled at to do 2093402937 things at one time and then hear "oh and by the way, happy birthday!" Yeah...happy birthday to me, I'm going to be at work for 10 hours because you have to have everything done right this very second. Wee. I am being overly dramatic though, it was a pretty good day. Hectic, but good. Upon hearing it was my birthday I got the following. So what you're 21? Oh are you turning 18? You're so young! Oh you're still a baby. Um..yeah I know I'm young, and just when are you not a baby anymore? When you're in your 50s talking to a girl in her twenties? I am almost halfway eligible for AARP thank you very much! I'm just kidding. I'm not offended. I had a pretty good day actually, once I got off of work. We went out for dinner (by we I mean my husband and brother in law and I) and I got some pretty nice things. Brandon got me a light weight scarf because Stacy and Clinton say to accessorize with colored things like scarfs. (yes that was his reasoning :)) He also got me the super awesome towel/oven mitts that Rachael Ray uses and sells. I've been jonesing for one of those for a long time! The boy does listen to me :) A friend of mine sent these silicone individual cupcake cups that you just place on a cookie sheet and bake your desired muffin/cupcake in. No spray, muffin tin, nothing. They're dishwasher safe too :D She also sent a book on cupcakes, which is pretty much thrilling for me! I've become such a baking nerd...I can't wait for The Julie/Julia Project to come out next week!
7.31.2009
7.24.2009
Are my eyes spinning?
Don't be scared, I'm not about to complain a whole bunch! However, quite a bit has been going on, and since it's been a while since I've posted, it may get a little long winded. Or not...sometimes I think I have more to say than I actually do. We'll see. OK here we go. Brandon has suddenly become a high priority student, which means that they're finally giving him a lot of scheduled flights. In the past, he'd been moving along flight school at snails pace because his flights would be canceled due to weather, or he would just not be scheduled at all. Now, he's been double and triple pumped (which means two or three flights a day) and is just about finished with primary. If the weather cooperates, by this coming Tuesday, Brandon will be finished and by the following Thursday (not two days later but 9 days) we should know what plane he'll be training for. We're praying for the P-3 Orion. Its a large propeller plane used for surveillance, tracking and finding illegal goings on, and hauling stuff around. What's great about it, and a big reason why Brandon wants it, is because it's too big to land on a carrier, meaning that it's always land based so he won't be away from home for long periods of time as often! What's also great about it, is that we'll get to move back to Texas!! I have two weddings in which I get to support two wonderful people as bridesmaid that both take place in Houston, and it'll be so nice if I can be a 4 hour drive away from them, instead of a 14 hour drive. We'll also be closer to family, which will be nice too. Another positive for this plane, is that they fly out of, wait for it, Hawaii. So, yeah, we may get to live in Hawaii!
As far as work is going, I love what I'm doing, I really do. I don't like where I'm doing it, but it's giving me a great foundation on which to build on. I am learning to ice cakes better and quicker, and so that means I can get to the cool part sooner! I made the mistake of telling my manager I was tired the other day after she asked how I was. All I meant was that I had been working for 7 hours straight without as much as sitting down for a second. So, yeah, I was a little dehydrated, and my blood sugar was low. I didn't mean that the job was too hard and I couldn't handle it. Unfortunately, I think that's the impression that my manager got. I know they've been gossiping about me, and now everyone thinks I'm about to have some sort of mental episode. It's a little funny, but not at the same time. I don't want my manager to think I can't handle my job, I hate when people thing I can't handle things. I've been working 40+ hours for the past 4 weeks, and I've usually exceeded 40 hours by 11 am on the fifth day I work. (oh yeah, I was hired to be part-time...) It's tiring, but I can handle the work. I did just get two consecutive days off for the first time in a month, so I was thrilled about that! I actually got to see Brandon for a little while, which had been frustrating me some lately. We live in the same house, but hardly saw each-other. I got to go to the outlet store and I bought myself a Fossil bag for 70% less that sticker price! Maybe spending a little more on a bag will mean that it'll last longer, than buying a few cheap bags.
This coming Monday, Brandon's brother will be here to visit for a full week. I'm glad Brandon will have some time with him before he may move to Japan. However, I can hardly cook for one once I'm off work, having to cook for three will be a challenge. Maybe I can get most of it done Sunday, and just reheat stuff. Especially since Brandon will have three flights that day, I'll need something to keep me busy ;) So, life is good, but moving swiftly as of right now. I'll keep you guys posted about Brandon's flight training! Please just pray that God puts us where we need to be, not just where we want to be.
As far as work is going, I love what I'm doing, I really do. I don't like where I'm doing it, but it's giving me a great foundation on which to build on. I am learning to ice cakes better and quicker, and so that means I can get to the cool part sooner! I made the mistake of telling my manager I was tired the other day after she asked how I was. All I meant was that I had been working for 7 hours straight without as much as sitting down for a second. So, yeah, I was a little dehydrated, and my blood sugar was low. I didn't mean that the job was too hard and I couldn't handle it. Unfortunately, I think that's the impression that my manager got. I know they've been gossiping about me, and now everyone thinks I'm about to have some sort of mental episode. It's a little funny, but not at the same time. I don't want my manager to think I can't handle my job, I hate when people thing I can't handle things. I've been working 40+ hours for the past 4 weeks, and I've usually exceeded 40 hours by 11 am on the fifth day I work. (oh yeah, I was hired to be part-time...) It's tiring, but I can handle the work. I did just get two consecutive days off for the first time in a month, so I was thrilled about that! I actually got to see Brandon for a little while, which had been frustrating me some lately. We live in the same house, but hardly saw each-other. I got to go to the outlet store and I bought myself a Fossil bag for 70% less that sticker price! Maybe spending a little more on a bag will mean that it'll last longer, than buying a few cheap bags.
This coming Monday, Brandon's brother will be here to visit for a full week. I'm glad Brandon will have some time with him before he may move to Japan. However, I can hardly cook for one once I'm off work, having to cook for three will be a challenge. Maybe I can get most of it done Sunday, and just reheat stuff. Especially since Brandon will have three flights that day, I'll need something to keep me busy ;) So, life is good, but moving swiftly as of right now. I'll keep you guys posted about Brandon's flight training! Please just pray that God puts us where we need to be, not just where we want to be.
7.20.2009
Lessons learned
Ok folks, here are some shopping tips I'd like to share with you, if you decide to buy a cake from a grocery store.
1) Please don't ask for the chocolate cake "right there" when there are 4 varieties of chocolate cakes on the same shelf. I don't know what you want, I'm not in your head
2) I also don't know what "one of these things right there" is. I am behind the counter and can't see where your finger is pointing.
3) If you're calling in a cake order, know what you want. Don't expect me to pick a cake for you from the giant binder of designs. Again, I don't know you, and I'm still not in your head.
4) No, I don't know if everything in the bakery tastes good
5) If I'm sweeping or moping, that means I'm trying to go home after a 9 or 10 hour shift. Leave me alone. I don't care if you want cake...even though it pays my paycheck
6) If you say that you're just looking, then don't get all offended if I go back to work and don't have the 6th sense to realize you've changed your mind and now actually want something
7) In fact...just don't ever "just look" by stopping in front of the counter, bending down point around, talking amongst yourselves and then say that you don't want anything. If you're "just looking" keep walking while looking.
8) don't yak on your cell phone for every decision that you need to make. I've got things to do, and if you're not capable of picking out a cake by yourself because you have never met your family and don't know what they like, then just don't get a cake.
9) don't ask for a cake and then leave while I'm boxing it up without letting me know. I am not your personal slave, I won't wait around for you.
10) when I ask "how may I help you" don't answer with "well I need a cake." duh, you're standing in front a cake counter, I've figured that one out. Thanks and gig 'em. Oh you don't know what gig 'em is....
11) don't talk down to me, or treat me like I'm an idiot because I work at a grocery store. I have a degree, and am actually probably smarter than you, because I'm doing what I love and learning more about it so that I can get better at it. You work in a closed off office in a lonely cubicle, hating your life and trying to make it better by eating cake. That, and you're floridian, and I am not. boo ya.
1) Please don't ask for the chocolate cake "right there" when there are 4 varieties of chocolate cakes on the same shelf. I don't know what you want, I'm not in your head
2) I also don't know what "one of these things right there" is. I am behind the counter and can't see where your finger is pointing.
3) If you're calling in a cake order, know what you want. Don't expect me to pick a cake for you from the giant binder of designs. Again, I don't know you, and I'm still not in your head.
4) No, I don't know if everything in the bakery tastes good
5) If I'm sweeping or moping, that means I'm trying to go home after a 9 or 10 hour shift. Leave me alone. I don't care if you want cake...even though it pays my paycheck
6) If you say that you're just looking, then don't get all offended if I go back to work and don't have the 6th sense to realize you've changed your mind and now actually want something
7) In fact...just don't ever "just look" by stopping in front of the counter, bending down point around, talking amongst yourselves and then say that you don't want anything. If you're "just looking" keep walking while looking.
8) don't yak on your cell phone for every decision that you need to make. I've got things to do, and if you're not capable of picking out a cake by yourself because you have never met your family and don't know what they like, then just don't get a cake.
9) don't ask for a cake and then leave while I'm boxing it up without letting me know. I am not your personal slave, I won't wait around for you.
10) when I ask "how may I help you" don't answer with "well I need a cake." duh, you're standing in front a cake counter, I've figured that one out. Thanks and gig 'em. Oh you don't know what gig 'em is....
11) don't talk down to me, or treat me like I'm an idiot because I work at a grocery store. I have a degree, and am actually probably smarter than you, because I'm doing what I love and learning more about it so that I can get better at it. You work in a closed off office in a lonely cubicle, hating your life and trying to make it better by eating cake. That, and you're floridian, and I am not. boo ya.
7.12.2009
among the living
So, when I got the opportunity to work, I was super excited! I mean, if you've been reading you know how frustrated I was. I got a part time opportunity to work on decorating cakes! How perfect! Um yeah, that's when I thought part time meant 25-35 hours a week. Not so much. Now, I am still very glad to have a job, and I'm not complaining about it so much. I just wish I had known I'd be pulling near 50 hour weeks as a part time associate. Call me crazy, that sounds like workaholic full time. Granted, we lost two decorators for a week. One went to help another opening store and the other was promoted and sent to manage another store. So then there were two. One and a half if you will, since I'm still learning the ropes. I'm lucky that people there are very patient and understanding, but gracious, when you've been standing at work for 12 hours, you just can't help but get grumpy. However, that is my sob story for why I've neglected this blog. I don't really forsee getting the opportunity to update "confections" for a while. When I do get a minute though, I'll check in. I am still among the living, but just barely :)
7.05.2009
A Cake Wreck
I witnessed a real live Cake Wreck...except I'm not allowed to take pictures at work, so it's not documented photographically. I apologize, I do. So, let me paint the picture for you. We have a freezer at work that houses decorated sheetcakes ready to be taken home. There is space on these cake for your desired sentiment to be written, if you so choose. Most of these cakes have roses, or balloons, or other not descript simple designs. I guess we were out of a certain flavor, so a sweet old lady ordered one to be decorated with balloons and express happy birthday to some dear friend. Upon receiving her cake she looked at it and exclaimed "the balloons look like testicles!" (no, I did not decorate it, and I actually wasn't there when this happened, but saw the lady afterwards, after the cake was um...neutered) So the head decorator had to "fix" the cake, and ended up just putting plastic balloons on it in order to avoid futher issues. When the sweet lady came back, and was much happier!
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