Family :)

I am so very family oriented! I love love love my Mother, my daddy-o and my two sisters. We are very close and can talk to eachother about anything. I am lucky to have a new bother in law and one more by next year. I guess i am the best for last to marry.

A few days ago i was extremely stressed with a headache and sick to my stomache. I went to my mom to unload and have a nervous breakdown. I cried and i cried about work, school, homework, money and the boyfriend. When i was finally finished and calmed down, i was surprised how much better i felt. Sometimes putting up a guard and not talking about it makes things worse. So my advice when stressed out is to find someone to let it out with. You will feel much better.

I have always looked up to my Dad because he's so hard-working, helpful, and loving. We three girls are truly greatful for all we put him through. Can you imagine growing up and sharing a bathroom with 4 women? LOL. He is the best Dad ever and always willing to help with car problems, house maitenance, or pretty much anything.

We all have crazy work schedules and find it hard to make family time. But when we do it is always a good time. I can't wait to see what the future holds for us, and i definately can't wait til we have babies. My parents keep saying they get asked at work about Grandchildren all the time. But only time will tell. So cheers to the future!!

Poker Night

When i was younger my dad taught my sisters and i some card games. We played Gin, Rummy, Poker, Blackjack and 7 No Peek. He wished he would of taught us Sheeps Head because it is his favorite and he plays it everyday at work with his change. But we never got around to it and we hear it's a little more complicated. I have always enjoyed any card games and even remember playing drinking games like Ride the Bus, Mushroom, Asshole and Bullshit. I would have to say Texas Hold'em is my favorite.

Last night my boyfriend rounded up some buddies for a game. He allowed me to partake since my girlfriends don't know how to play. Oh how i wish they could play. We could have our own game like the Desperate Housewives, but i will have to teach them someday. We usually play with 5-8 players. Last night we had 6ppl.

We play cash games, not tounament style because it's too long. This allows us to play with $10-$25 or whatever we prefer. one of his buddies hates playing with me because he said i get lucky. I would have to say that i take chances and get lucky on the river card. Sometimes i bluff on a large pot and scare them away. But i usually don't lose unless i drink too much and get bored or tired.

One time my dad and i entered a tournament at Emil maze Hall. I was surprised to see over 200 people there. We were way out of our element. I was hoping luck would be on my side but it wasn't. We were both out half way through the crowd and did not buy back in. It was a fun experience to share with dad but these people were smart, attentive betters and more experienced. I quickly realized the difference from our small group to the large crowd. But it was all luck and depended on the cards. Luck was not on my side that day:)

Stress on Synthesis paper topic

When i recieved the last assignment i had a few ideas on what i thought i wanted to write on. The first things that popped in my head was the car culture of my dad's GTO. But i am not really a car person, and my father wouldnt of made for a good interview. Second i thought the history of my boyfriends Grandma name Tracey. But i think i would of been overwhelmed and had a hard time with all of her artifacts, letters and information because their is so much. Then on class thursday i was thinking Skydiving, Planned Parenthood or the John Michael Kohler Art Center. Today i am thinking Small Business Entrepreneurs. I have no idea what i am excited about researching.

As more days go by, I tend to stress at night with my mind wondering with questions. All weekend at work i ask friends about ideas on subcultures to research but dont catch anything of much interest. I posted a question on facebook and someone told me to research stress and the ways people handle or deal with it. Again i don't know. You would think something great would of popped in my head and grabbed my attention.
Maybe i need to pick one of the ideas i had originally come up with.

My problem always seems to be picking a topic and getting started. I constantly stress each day that i dont have a topic. I'm starting to feel like i'm not a good researcher or writer. Why is it so difficult to get in the right mind set? Why do i feel so overwhelmed and stressed?

I know eventually i will get on track. I just hope it's sooner than later. I wish i could contol my anxiety/ stress and Chill Out!! Good thing i have plenty of time to get organized, focus, and concentrate on the task at hand.

Summer Sports

I have never been involved in sports, even back in highschool. But last year i took up volleyball through Odyssey and enjoyed every minute of it. This year i decided to add and take on softball. I partly only wanted to play sports to get active and get a work-out without actually going to a gym. However i don't know if these sports will interfere with my work schedule.

Volleyball was particularily fun because i got to play with all my girlfriends from work. We drank beers and had a good time. We did have a few things to work on like communication. We needed to call our balls. Also we didnt have the Bump, Set, Spike down like other teams. But all in all it was a good time and i look forward to playing next month.

Softball has been a little more of a challenge for me. I have only made it to one practice because work has been crazy, but let me tell you it's alot harder than i thought. First of all it's coed and many of the girls on my volleyball team are playing which is pretty exciting. But i have never played before so my stance for hitting was way off. I need to go to a batting cage to get it down. the positions i played so far are second and third base. I can catch but i cant throw as hard and far as i thought i could. But all in all it was a good time. But my body hurt everywhere after that first practice yesterday. Seriously.

I guess i am incouraging any slightly older adults out there to get back out there and play some sports. Especially if you have never played before like me. The cost is very little and affordable. Its a great time if you know some friends who want to get together. But all in all it is beneficial for your body and healthy to get some excercise.

America's Test Kitchen

This weekend i had the pleasure of working at the Demonstration Kitchen in kohler with America's test Kitchen. The show is aired out of boston and the go to guy or celebrity is Christopher Kimball. I am not too familar with the show but was extermely impressed with their demonstration on Saturday. The chefs and people involved work like busy little bees in that small kitchen but prepared some fabulous dishes.

I was tempted to buy 1 of the 5 books for sale but realized i would not use it quite yet and held out for next year when they return. The crowd was quite large and the book sighning had a great turn out. The first show had a breakfast topic of best blueberry muffins and banana bread. Second tigas or shredded pork tostadas and tres leche cake. Third show was beef stew and Apple slab pie. All the dishes were so delicious.

The thing with ATK is that they test ingredients to find the best ending product. For instance with the bluberry muffins for the 1 cup of milk they substitued sour cream, yogurt and buttermilk. The best outcome was the buttermilk. The same with the apple slab pie they used several different kinds of apples and prepared them all seperate ways to find the best outcome. They strive to find the best recipes.

Lastly they test different products and appliances to see which works the best. Anything from juicers to grinders, wine openers and timers, etc. Kitchen aid blenders happened to work for many purposes and had some great power. I learned alot about America's test Kitchen and am a huge fan now. I look forward to catching a show on t.v or seeing them next year.

What Career to go for???

The reason i decided to return to school was because work started to slow down and i didnt see myself moving up. I love social careers because i am a social person who likes to work with people. It involves informing, enlightening, helping, training, and developing. I've always thought of an artist career in Education also because i absolutely love working with children and watching them learn and grow.

So Apparently according to LTC's Career Focus the top careers for the new decade include Medical Assistants, Pharmacy Technicians, Real Estate Agents and Brokers, Customer Services Reps, Dental Assistants, Registered Nurses, Food Service Managers, Preschool teachers, Sales Reps and Welders, Cutters, Solderers.

What i struggle with when looking for a career is..... One the pay, I dont even have very high expectations. I actually want to earn between 25,& 30,000 a year. Is that too much to ask for? Second the schooling because i find it very difficult to go back to school after a 5 year gap and work like crazy and maintain a lifestyle on your own. Not to mention homework. Definately my weakness. Lastly the career has to be something i would enjoy doing the rest of my life. I dont want to be one of the half of Americans dissatisfied with my job.

I almost wish i could go back into time and do highschool all over. I would of taken the college planning alot more serious. Then maybe i would have found a career i was extremely passionate about and would stop at nothing til i accomplished it. Until then i am going to continue my college journey with an open mind for learning and hope a career comes my way!

Shop Talk

I cant begin to explain how my job has taken a turn for the worse. 10 years ago Hospitality had a high demand for employment. There was plenty of jobs, hours, benefits and money to be made. Now the economy and recession has affected business.
Companies aren't spending money at The 5-diamond resort called The American Club.

I work in banquets and we handle anything from weddings, christmas parties, Events like Beerfest or Food & Wine, Easter, Mother's day, and Thanksgiving buffets and any other banquet booked functions. I can honestly say business is not steady. We use to have 20-30 staff members on our team, and now we have 12. People are losing benefits and hours are hard to come by. Several of us resort to Unemployment which isn't always enough.

When business is busy we tend to struggle with long 12-13 hour days because the shortage of staff. But yet we are not allowed to hire more staff because we are not in high season. So, we can have a busy week with lots of hours and then the next week with less than 20. Which makes everyone a little stressed and overwhelmed at times, apprehensive about 2nd jobs, and a little unimportant or mistreated.

I know i am lucky to have a good job, but when i lost my benefits last November i was frustrated and pissed. That is how i came to the conclusion to return to school. However i find school and work a hard lifestyle to balance. And i struggle to find a major, But I am going to continue what i started and hope for the best.