While I was at work today (over 8 hours and I hated every minute of it), I compiled a list of things that I absolutely hate. Some of these things have come from today’s experiences as well as some that have always bugged the crap out of me. I will try to explain each thing as much as possible. But first a little background information. I work at a restaurant. I’m not talking an Applebee’s or even a Steak N’ Shake. It’s independently owned and hardly anyone knows its there. It’s a great place dont get me wrong, but I’m not busting my back trying to serve the MILLIONS of customers we encounter everyday… thank God. I’m the assistant manager at this place and I do it all. I deal with customers, ordering stuff, setting up caterings, and dealing with the food. If you haven’t already guessed, most of this list will probably come from my current work experiences. So without anymore delays… Jess’ List of Things I Hate:

• Chatting during a movie. This is a big pet peeve of mine. I LOVE movies. I would be content for the rest of my life if I owned every movie ever made and a DVD player that would keep on trucking. Watching movies with friends and family is even more enjoyable because after you’re done, you have people to discuss it with. But I hate, hate, HATE it when people try to talk to me when I’m watching a movie. Don’t ask me questions about the movie, don’t ask me questions about the actors, don’t tell me what is happening in the movie, and I don’t want commentary!!! It’s simple, just watch it.
• Debit/credit cards are awesome. They are easy and fuss free. I have one compliant about them. When people think it is necessary for them to throw their debit or credit card at me when I give them their total after they’ve made their order. Nothing says trashy than throwing your credit card at someone who is simply trying to make your day a little easier by providing you food that you don’t have to slave over. Be a little more appreciative people and HAND me your card, I promise that I’ll be a hell of a lot nicer because of it.
• I think it’s awesome when we have people come in and want to eat in. The atmosphere is nice and it’s a quiet place to chat with your companion. But I hate the people who think it’s ok to come in, tell me they are eating in and then proceed to ask when we close because you’ll be sitting with your companion until that very moment. I had a couple of women come in and do this. I have stuff to do in the dining room when we are between the lunch and dinner rushes and I can’t do them because it’ll be rude to ruin the atmosphere that these women were seeking. They were there for over 5 hours talking!! And I swear they kept looking at us whenever we had to talk on the phone or at one another as if WE were interrupting their conversation!
• I hate it when people come in and automatically think I know what they are wanting to order. Here’s a clue… I don’t! They look at you expecting an answer and when you can only stare back, they give you a look that says “You’re an idiot.” We have menus for a reason, please use them.
• And then you have the people who expect stuff for free. They walk into your business and expect to pay for very little but walk out with half the restaurant. I know what I’m allowed to give customers free of charge, and it doesnt include half the menu. Most of the people who expect this work in doctor’s offices… I don’t come to their offices and expect free service.
• People who calling wanting an order to be picked up at a certain time and then are hours late. Then they complain about their food not being all that great. There is a reason we ask you want time you would like to pick up your food, so that we can ensure that it is of the best quality. So don’t blame us when you’re late.
• People who call the day before they are having a huge party for 60 people and want double the food to feed that many! I’m sorry but I find it kind of hard to believe that you haven’t known about a huge party you’re having that you can’t call a week in advance to arrange to feed those people.
• I hate it when people don’t stock before they leave for the day. I make sure my station is stocked before the next shift because I would want them to do the same for me… but do they? NO!
• People who want to exchange coins for bills but don’t give me a dollar in change. They give me like 85 cents and then look at me like I’m an idiot when I tell them I can’t give them a dollar for 85 cents.
• Older people who want a kid’s meal when it clearly states on the menu that you have to be 10 and under to order the kid’s meals. If we didn’t enforce it why in the world would we put it up there!
• People who brag constantly. I could care less where you’ve gone or where you’re going or what your husband/boyfriend is buying you.
• I hate it when you’re trying to pass someone driving really slow, how they speed up so you can’t pass them. Isn’t that illegal?
• Working a very long day and all you want to do is go home and chill, but you get stopped at every stinkin stop light on the way home.
• People who make absolute messes and walk away. CLEAN IT UP!
• People who do their laundry halfway. I hate going to use the washer and dryer only to find that someone has a load in the washer AND dryer and that they’ve been there for days. If you don’t have enough time to do your laundry wait until you do!
• People who run red lights… one day you won’t be so lucky.
• People who double park in really small parking lots.
• People who scout around parking lots hunting down people who are getting into their cars to leave. And then waiting for them to pull out just so they can park 3 spaces closer then the next available spot!
• People who park in handicap parking but don’t have a handicap sticker or license plate!

Whew! Ok, now I feel kind of better getting that all off my chest. My next entry will be all the pictures of accumulated over the summer!

I’ll always remember that day. No matter how many years will pass. I woke up with a list of stuff I needed to do already forming in my head. I was proud of the way I had my life organized. 2 years as a music major in college was teaching me a lot about time management. I had to finish painting the downstairs wall red before I could go practice my audition pieces that needed to be ready the next morning. It was about 5:00 in the evening when I ran out of paint. I was eager to finish since school was starting back up the next day. I made a quick trip to Wal-Mart that turned into more of a hassle than I had wanted.  Bought the damn paint and started back home when it happened. I was a block away from my house when I was hit on the driver’s side by a Yukon going about 55 miles a hour. He ran a stop light at the exact time I was going through the intersection. The impact sent me spinning until I struck a fire hydrate. He seemed to barrel through me without even a second thought. The red paint had hit the windshield and exploded all over the inside of the car and myself. I remember my chest was on fire and I couldn’t move my legs. It was several minutes before help arrived. I was stuck in the car until firemen arrived to cut me out. They took me to the ER where I spent the next several hours undergoing x-rays and tests to make sure nothing was damaged. I could relay so many details about that night. How the ER smelled, the noises, what I experienced. It is the most horrific thing I have ever had to experience. Even after two years the nightmare of it all still seems to effect me.

So much has changed since that night. I missed my audition along with the first week of classes. It was decided after several weeks of trying to make it work that my music was to be shoved onto the back burner. That decision alone was enough to break my spirit. I had never had to admit defeat… on anything in my life. My pride was wounded. I felt like a failure. I tried so hard to carry on with my course load and my practicing. But I wasn’t getting enough sleep or eating healthy due to the stresses of trying to catch up to the rest of my studio. I was forced to drop down to 2 classes and I spent all my time in an empty apartment with nothing to do but watch tv and sleep. I fell into a deep depression. I could sit and stare at the wall for hours and never really notice. My family realized something had to be done when I was home for christmas break and all I wanted to do was cry. They forced me to go see a therapist when I returned to school for the spring semester. I tried to resume my course load but found it too overwhelming. My weekly sessions with my therapist were helping a great deal. She was helping me to cope with my feelings of grief and sorrow over my misfortune. I wish I could say I was cured. But so many things remind me of what has happened to me. Because of my wasted year I was forced to move back home. I’m going to school for psychology instead because too much time has passed with me not studying music. It would take far too long to work back up to the level I was at before my accident. I resent each bad thing that happens here because it just reminds me that I am here because of the accident. Every argument I have with my mother. Every bad day at work. Every obstacle I am faced with. My legs still hurt from my injuries and I know I will have these pains for the rest of my life. I think about the friends I havent seen or spoken too since I’ve left and I get so much more angrier. I think about where I would be now if I hadn’t been at that intersection, and the answer just makes me even more sad.

Not a night goes by that my mind doesnt drift to that day, and I’m thinking about my accident all over again. It makes me cry even harder because it makes me feel weak. I should be moving on with my life. But everything just reminds me of what I’ve lost and what I’ve been through. Nothing is black and white anymore. It all leads back to that day and I hate myself for it. My parents think I’m strong and all I feel is weakness. Things that make me cry, make me want to cry even harder because I just feel like none of it would have ever happened if the accident hadn’t happened. How is anyone supposed to overcome that? This feeling of grief and resentment. I have this heavy feeling that nothing will ever be like I thought it would be. I feel that every bad mood or feeling I have burdens me twice as much.

And what makes this all even worse is the fact that no one knows about any of this. Because if they knew, all I would hear is how I can’t let this accident run the rest of my life. I have to let it go and move on.

My mother and I got into a fight today. She is the manager at the restaurant I work at… and I am her assistant manager. I discussed something with her today at the store and she got mad about it when we were home. She said I attacked her and that I don’t know what I’m talking about because I’m not there all the time. My problem was that she was bringing it up… again… while we were at home. She’s my mother at home, not my manager. Of course it turned into this huge thing where it made the rest of my family mad. My grandparents are visiting from Pittsburg and I hated for them to witness us fighting so I ran upstairs real fast before they could see that I was crying. But once I got into my room all I could think was that this wouldn’t be happening if I were in Louisville where I belonged. If that accident wouldnt have happened I would be at school and there would be no fighting. I feel so alone all the time in my house. When my sister is upset and crying, my mother is always in her room to comfort her. When it’s me in my room crying, they all forget that I’m upset or they don’t care.

I’m just so confused with all that I’m feeling. I just wish someone could help me feel less confused.

The boyfriend, Chaz, Mel, and myself took a much needed trip to Cedar Point for a 3 day weekend. We left on Friday afternoon, got lost, and made it to our resort hotel 7 hours later. Castaway Bay was awesome! It was right on the bay and even had its own indoor waterpark. We picked a good weekend to go because not too many people were there. Our first night we dined at the TGI Friday’s they had connected to the hotel. The only bad thing I can say about our first dining experience is that it was insanely hot in that place! I don’t know if it was because it was on the bay so part of the restaurant was open or they didn’t think air conditioning was nessecary. Our day spent in the park was better than I expected. It was overcast and the temperature was perfect for spending the day outside. We rode as many rides as we could and ate a lot of different food. (Come on, you can’t go to an amusement park and NOT sample the food!) Yeah the food was overpriced but we were on a mini vacation!! We were livin it up! After our long day riding awesome roller coasters (some weren’t so awesome) we decided to soak our aching feet in the 50 person grotto located in their indoor waterpark. Admission was included with the room fees so we definitely took advantage of that awesomeness. And awesome it was. Trust me, if you ever decide to stay at this resort, you HAVE to check out the indoor waterpark. Twas awesome. (How many times can I say awesome in one paragrapth?) The next day we were sad to pack it up and leave but, we were also very exhausted and not looking forward to a full work week ahead of us. So our mini vacation wasn’t exactly relaxing and refreshing because I know it took me a good 3 days after I was home to really recover. But we had fun and we got pictures!

Another summer past time of mine has been reading. I don’t know what it is about sunshine and hot temperatures that makes me want to plunge back into the library. I don’t normally read this heavily during the winter. So far I’ve read the Twilight series. I’ll have to save that for another entry. I’m currently in the middle of The Time Traveler’s Wife. If anyone has any book recommendations I would love for you to throw them my way!!

Along with reading I eat lunch with Mel once a week at her office! We take turns making lunch for each other and we’re not allowed to make the same thing twice. So far we’ve enjoyed chicken ceasar pasta salad, stir fry, PB&J sammies, salami wraps, and even BBQ hamburgers! (They were guuuuud!) I have some pictures of our lunches I can post up as well as some Cedar Point pictures.

And for the perfect ending to my summer past times post, I want to throw out CONGRATULATIONS to my friends Mel and Chaz! They are officially engaged as of last night and I am so utterly excited for them! I knew they would always be together but this just seals the deal! I am so very happy for both of them and I can’t wait to witness the next milestone of their lives together! Congrats again guys! I’m happy for you!

1. I always notice the movie score first when watching a movie for the first time. After coming out of the theater I always comment about the music and a lot of people answer with “I didn’t even notice it.”
2. I have to, have to, HAVE to wash my hair everyday! I don’t care if all the magazines say washing your hair everyday is over kill. I just feel gross if I skip it for a day.
3. People who talk about themselves excessively… I can’t handle them. I know we all like to put ourselves out there but to be interesting you must seem interesting. Talking about yourself nonstop makes it seem like you’re only interested in yourself.
4. I LOVE my car. A little too much I can admit. Once I accidentally scrapped the side on a pole and I cried for a night.
5. I don’t have a favorite movie. It is impossible for me to choose just one since I love so many.
6. I don’t have a favorite musician or a band. But I do have a favorite music composer… Hans Zimmer! Everyone would know his work…. Pirates of the Carribean, Gladiator, King Arthur, Batman Begins, and The Da Vinci Code… just to name a few. Heh.
7. I can’t stand cheap underwear. All mine come from Victoria Secrets or the Gap. (Weird I know.)

Music. Music has been a part of my existence for as long as I can remember! It started with a piano and trips to Grandma’s house. I was amazed at the sounds that would come from it when you hit the keys. For awhile my cousin Becky tried to teach me Mary Had A Little Lamb, but I was only 5 and had the smallest attention span ever! Cousin Becky was my idol. She could play the piano and the flute! Wowza! So spending time with her was always a highlight of my childhood.

The first official thing I learned to play was the C Major scale. To anyone who is familiar with music that would be the most basic fundamental scale out there. I was so proud of myself when I first walked my fingers up the keyboard without making a mistake. “Mommy what’s next?!” I always asked. She said she would teach me something new next week and of course the next day the same question popped out.

When we moved to Kentucky my grandmother gave us that piano as a housewarming gift and Mom started looking for piano teachers. I started lessons when I was 8 and I even got to leave school early every Tuesday to take them. Oh yeah I was special. When I hit middle school I started playing the trumpet in Band. My twin sister and I were flower girls in my Aunt and Uncle’s wedding and they hired a trumpet player for the ceremony. I was enthralled from the moment the rehearsal started.

Shortly after my trumpet career, my piano lessons ended. I remember being so upset. My twin sister was taking them too and she never enjoyed it like I did. So she told my mother she wanted to quit so mom told our teacher we were both quitting. I remember a lot of yelling and a lot of crying that day.

My trumpet career only lasted 2 years. 2 great years I might add! I was the best trumpet player in 6th grade AND 7th grade. Before my 8th grade year started my band director wanted me to switch to the French horn. At first I thought that was the worst idea ever. I loved my trumpet and I loved always being at the top. (Who doesn’t?) But I gave it a shot and it turned out I liked it a lot better than my trumpet.

I played my French horn through the rest of middle school and all through high school. I had pretty much decided I was going to college for music when I was a sophomore. And I already had my university picked out. My parents bought me a brand new French horn when I graduated. The one I had been playing was on loan to me from the school. French horns are uber expensive and they didn’t expect my parents to pay for something they demanded I switch to. But I finally had a horn of my own. It sparkled. It shined. It made a wonderful sound. I was on cloud 9!

My time spent as a music student wasn’t all bad, but it wasn’t all good either. For one music majors have a lot more on their plate than an average college student. On top of the general education requirements we have to fulfill we have a ton of music requirements to fulfill as well. While some students my age were taking math, english, biology, history, and maybe a religions class… I was taking english, history, music theory (1out of 4), intro to music, private lesson, marching band rehearsal, symphonic band, French horn ensemble, piano class (1 of 4), recital attendence, brass class, and some other stuff I can’t even remember now! I would get up at 7 and have classes and rehearsals till at least 6 or 7. And then I would have to start on the mountains of homework I had AND not to mention the 3 hours of private practicing time I was required to do everyday. The only thing positive I can say about the whole experience is that I learned to manage my time AND the semester went by fairly fast.

So if I was doing wonderful with my music load, why don’t I have a degree in music by now? Well the answer is one of sadness and understanding. I was in a car accident the night before my junior year started. I wish it were as simple as a fender bender. A guy ran a red light and T-boned my little toyota corolla. I’ll spare the details, thats for another entry. But it ended my music career. I can play now no problem since its been almost 2 years since the accident. But I’ve been forced out of the music loop for so long, it would take me awhile to get back to where I was when I was practicing 3 hours a day. It’s sad since music was always a part of my life for a long time. But it’s ok because during this time I’ve learned that I have other interests that define me. A degree in music would be nice but it is not necessary. In fact, there is very little I can do with that degree and one thing I have always wanted is a degree that works for me. I don’t want to look back on my school years and regret the choices I made because I’m struggling to find a solid career so I can provide for my family.

Everyday I think about where I would be now if that accident hadn’t happened. What kind of music I would be playing and what level of difficulty I would be at. But no regrets. The past is the past and the only thing I can do is look to the future. I’m pursuing a degree in psychology and I’m hoping to return to my university in about a year. (I moved back home and am attending the local community college). I’m happy, healthy, and excited for what the years will bring. But as for music… I still have my piano and my French horn that isn’t so shiny anymore. Nor does it sparkle. But it still makes that beautiful sound.

“ Music is what feelings sound like. ” - unknown

Today I venture out into the unknown in search for my next perfect pair of shoes! I have a love for new balance!

When I was 16 I bought my first pair. They were a classic navy blue mesh sneaker with the silver N on the sides. I wore those shoes for 6 years and it’s finally time to say goodbye. They are falling apart and the rubber on the bottoms of them are starting to peel off. I have other New Balances, but they aren’t as comfortable as my old ones. I own a purple suede pair and a yellow suede pair. I thought the suede would work the same as the mesh, but after 3 years they are still stiff and make my feet sore after only a couple of hours of wear. I am by no means a shoe girl. My twin sister inherited that girl fetish. I only buy shoes when I HAVE to have them. I may not be a big shoe person but I am excited about going shoe shopping today. I don’t shop for them often so when I have to, it is kind of fun. I have no idea if I will continue my New Balance tradition or venture into a different brand. I guess it depends on the money tag and my bank account.

I am so excited that spring is finally on its way! There are flowers outside…. FLOWERS! I’m really tempted to take my camera outside and snap some pictures. And the weather is actually bearable without a coat or a jacket. I love having the windows open in my sunny yellow room! It uplifts my mood even when I’m on the verge of a rampage. (And here lately that has been the case.) The ducks and the bunnies that roam our neighborhood are so cute! I should get pictures of those as well and post them up! We have our own little zoo in our backyard!

But it’s now time for my shoe shopping trip! I’m on the hunt for my next shoe companions!

“Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush.” - Doug Larson

It’s about a girl who commits murder when her friends drag her into a heist gone wrong. She shoots a cop in the head and is sentenced to death by lethal injection. The government decides she would be a good candidate for a training program to become a top assassin. She shows much resistance because that’s just who she is, but eventually decides she needs a change if she’s ever going to get a normal life. She gets a new look and becomes refined and is sent out into the world with the intentions of starting a new life but keeps getting interrupted by getting called in to “take care of a target”.

I recommend it to anyone who likes women who kick butt and stand up for what they believe in.  I’m currently watching it right now because I haven’t seen it in about a year. I should try to find it on DVD to add to my growing collection.

It’s Sunday, currently my favorite day of the week. Mainly because it’s my only day off. I try to stay in my pajamas all day and do nothing but what I enjoy. Normally I play World Of Warcraft, but today I went out with Greg, my boyfriend of almost 15 months. We had brunch at IHop and then went shopping for hamster supplies. It was a relaxing day and I hate how fast it has gone by.

Bob: “How are you?”

Maggie: “I just blew up a hotel. How in the hell do you think I am?” - “Point of No Return”

So today’s topic of discussion is going to be about my bedroom. It is in fact the smallest bedroom in the house but I find it the most coziest. And I’m not saying that just because it’s mine. I’m saying it because it is in fact the coolest room in the house. It started out a shade of pink with some blues. It was a surprise from my parents after I came home from spending 2 weeks on my aunt and uncle’s farm. I asked for a blue room so you can imagine my surprise when I come home to find bright pink walls. It could have been worse, my twin sister’s room got painted brown.

When I turned 16 my parents surprised my sister and I with bedroom make-overs! And this time we got to design what colors we wanted. My sister chose purple and I chose…. YELLOW! I’m talking SUNSHINE YELLOW! It is awesome. The only downside to having a bright sunny room is that when you want to sleep in it’s kind of hard since as soon as the sun hits the window the entire room lights up. But you definitely wake up in an awesome mood.

My room has a lot of furniture in it for such a small space. I have a desk, 2 dressers, an entertainment center, a shelf that all my games, cds, and movies sit on, and of course my bed (with those awesome sheets).  It may be cramped but it is by far the room I spend most of my time in. I have a tv, stereo, computer (and a laptop), and a ps2 so there is always something to do.

I also have a roommate! She doesn’t invite pesky friends over or make insane messes that leave me disgruntled all the time!

This is Wicket! My peek-a-poo that we’ve had for like 15 to 16 years. She is my roommate! She sleeps under my bed and snores up a storm! She’s cuddly, cute, and loves to give kisses! Her favorite food is cheese (which gets snuck to her only on rare special occasions!) Her favorite holiday is Christmas because she too gets her own special stocking full of goodies and treats. Her birthday is around Thanksgiving and she loves to play with anything fuzzy and yellow!

I love my roomie!

The clouds are big, white, and puffy today. I love to drive when the sky looks like this. The horizons are so pretty against the contrasts of the greens of the grass and trees. And right now the sun is in just the right position that makes the sky seem like it’s glowing. It’s decided… I’m going to jump in the car and just drive off. Sounds like an awesome plan. Who’s coming?

“I’m recording our history now on the bedroom wall, and when we leave the landlord will come and paint over it all.” - Ani Difranco

My favorite thing about sheets is the way they feel the first night you sleep on them after you wash them. It’s crazy how excited I get over a clean set of sheets. I love the possibilities with sheets. They come in a variety of patterns and colors. I myself own several shades of blue and a set of yellow.

I can even remember my first set of sheets. They were Little Bo Peep and I preferred them to my flowery sheets… they were scratchy and kind of faded. Changing sheets is a hassle but does it pay off when you pull the covers back and slide into bed. It’s almost like sleeping on a new set of sheets each time!

I wish pillows were that way. I can remember every night that I slept on a brand new, just out of the package, pillow. It was like sleeping on a cloud or a big puff of cotton candy. But after that first night they sleep just like any old pillow you’ve had for years. My parents actually bought me a very nice pillow for Christmas this past year. It’s a pillow that keeps its shape and stays nice and fluffy no matter what! If only someone could invent a set of sheets in the same way! I would be in sheet heaven!

“Last night I dreamt I ate a ten pound marshmellow. When I woke up the pillow was gone.” - Tommy Cooper