Check out the license plate frame. This car was purchased at Wayzata Mitsubishi, which is right across the highway from my house. Isn't that a little random?
September 28, 2006
September 23, 2006
my job
Before I started working at the bookstore, I was a customer there. A month after I graduated, while looking for jobs, I brought a couple bags of books to sell to supplement my slowly dwindling bank account. After that I went there every month or so. While I could linger at Barnes and Noble, sipping coffee, tuning out the easy listening, and browsing for hours in a very organized and yet vaguely stale atmosphere, I went to HPB for specific purchases, when I knew there was something I wanted to buy but couldn't bring myself to pay full price at a larger chain store. I always appreciated the slightly indie feel of the store - the barely restrained chaos of the bookshelves, the unexpected music choices, the narrow aisles and the employees hiding around every corner, shelving books and looking alternately surly or thoughtful.
Then one Sunday in April I was there and was thinking what a great place to work it would be. I even said it out loud to Chelsea: "It would be really cool to work here. I wish they were hiring." The next day I bought the Star Tribune and was flipping through the Jobs classifieds, and guess what the first ad I saw was? Clearly it was a sign that I was supposed to apply (clearly), so I printed off an application and took it to the store the next day. The interview was the following Monday and I was offered the job that same evening. I debated about taking it, for many reasons, namely the fact that I have a bachelor's and the whole feeling of throwing that education away. But, so far, I have not had any reason to regret taking this job. In fact, almost every day there are new things that make me love it. Here are some of the reasons:
1) Did you know that I really like to read? Reading has been a lifelong passion, but not only do I love to read, I love books. I do. No, I don’t think you understand. I LOVE them. The feel, the heft, the shape, the smell. And I am surrounded by them. All day long. It’s quite wonderful.
2) Remember Pee-Wee’s Playhouse and how he had the word of the day and everyone would scream any time someone said the word of the day? Well, we do word of the day. We dance though, instead of screaming. We don’t want to scare the customers too much. Yesterday’s word of the day - fortuitous.
3) I get to listen to music I may never have heard and read books I may never have read, all thanks to my co-workers and their eclectic tastes.
4) Random basement dance parties. Need I say more?
5) Playing games on break. Battleship, Hungry Hungry Hippos, ancient Jeopardy games.
6) The independence that comes with being responsible for certain sections of the store and the organization required to maintain them.
7) Really good benefits. I get a wellness package that, among other things, pays for massages throughout the year and provides for therapy should I ever need it. Not to mention 12 paid vacation days, 12 paid holidays, and 12 paid sick days. Oh yeah.
8) My co-workers in general. Some of my co-workers are good friends already, but all of my co-workers are pretty awesome. They’re smart and fun and silly sometimes. Well, a lot of the times. Usually if I’m having an okay day before I get to work, it brightens up as soon as I get there, just because they’re great people to work with.
9) The customers. I never thought I’d work in retail again, partly because of the whole customers thing. And yeah, there are some customers who grate on my nerves occasionally, but on the whole, the customers are really nice people. Most of them like books too. Need I remind you what I love? See #1.
10) Free food. All the rice I could ever want to eat, crazy Asian condiments, my favorite tea right there just for me!, peanut butter, Bruegger’s Bagels, really good coffee, pizza once a month or so, fresh fruit every now and then… and that’s just the stuff that the store pays for. Then there’s the Colonel, who brings us donuts at least once a week. Not to mention when someone is in a baking mood, and ginormous cookies or blueberry coffee cake magically appear. This job is going to make me fat.
Though working in a bookstore was not exactly what I had in mind for my post-college job, I have wanted to work in a bookstore since I was really young, and I find myself incredibly fortunate to be working with people I really like, doing something that I truly enjoy.
Then one Sunday in April I was there and was thinking what a great place to work it would be. I even said it out loud to Chelsea: "It would be really cool to work here. I wish they were hiring." The next day I bought the Star Tribune and was flipping through the Jobs classifieds, and guess what the first ad I saw was? Clearly it was a sign that I was supposed to apply (clearly), so I printed off an application and took it to the store the next day. The interview was the following Monday and I was offered the job that same evening. I debated about taking it, for many reasons, namely the fact that I have a bachelor's and the whole feeling of throwing that education away. But, so far, I have not had any reason to regret taking this job. In fact, almost every day there are new things that make me love it. Here are some of the reasons:
1) Did you know that I really like to read? Reading has been a lifelong passion, but not only do I love to read, I love books. I do. No, I don’t think you understand. I LOVE them. The feel, the heft, the shape, the smell. And I am surrounded by them. All day long. It’s quite wonderful.
2) Remember Pee-Wee’s Playhouse and how he had the word of the day and everyone would scream any time someone said the word of the day? Well, we do word of the day. We dance though, instead of screaming. We don’t want to scare the customers too much. Yesterday’s word of the day - fortuitous.
3) I get to listen to music I may never have heard and read books I may never have read, all thanks to my co-workers and their eclectic tastes.
4) Random basement dance parties. Need I say more?
5) Playing games on break. Battleship, Hungry Hungry Hippos, ancient Jeopardy games.
6) The independence that comes with being responsible for certain sections of the store and the organization required to maintain them.
7) Really good benefits. I get a wellness package that, among other things, pays for massages throughout the year and provides for therapy should I ever need it. Not to mention 12 paid vacation days, 12 paid holidays, and 12 paid sick days. Oh yeah.
8) My co-workers in general. Some of my co-workers are good friends already, but all of my co-workers are pretty awesome. They’re smart and fun and silly sometimes. Well, a lot of the times. Usually if I’m having an okay day before I get to work, it brightens up as soon as I get there, just because they’re great people to work with.
9) The customers. I never thought I’d work in retail again, partly because of the whole customers thing. And yeah, there are some customers who grate on my nerves occasionally, but on the whole, the customers are really nice people. Most of them like books too. Need I remind you what I love? See #1.
10) Free food. All the rice I could ever want to eat, crazy Asian condiments, my favorite tea right there just for me!, peanut butter, Bruegger’s Bagels, really good coffee, pizza once a month or so, fresh fruit every now and then… and that’s just the stuff that the store pays for. Then there’s the Colonel, who brings us donuts at least once a week. Not to mention when someone is in a baking mood, and ginormous cookies or blueberry coffee cake magically appear. This job is going to make me fat.
Though working in a bookstore was not exactly what I had in mind for my post-college job, I have wanted to work in a bookstore since I was really young, and I find myself incredibly fortunate to be working with people I really like, doing something that I truly enjoy.
July 08, 2006
What happens in Vegas
Pretty much every day I find a couple of new bruises somewhere on my personage... and most of the time, I have no idea how they got there. I'm starting to think that working in a new/used/chaotic bookstore is not the best idea for an insanely klutzy person. Books are falling and sliding and toppling everywhere, even on the best of days, but then I get into the mix and it's like books are falling on my arms and feet and hitting me in the face and knocking over other books and falling on other people's heads... really. I dropped a book on someone's head. She was okay, though! It wasn't a big book. And I'm tripping over the foot stools that are all over the store, or I'm tripping going up the stairs, or I'm tripping over nothing. Currently I have two small bruises on the inside of my left wrist (I have no idea what happened) and one large bruise on the top of my foot, from where a stack of five or six coffee-table sized books on interior decorating fell on it. It hurt. A lot. But I managed to keep my demonstration of pain to a minimum, only hopping up and down slightly, wheezing "Owowowww, ohmygod" whimper whimper.
But now I have four days off work to escape from the kind of beatings only the truly ungraceful can manage, and I'm going to Vegas, baby! Woooo! Vegas is both a scary and fascinating place for me... great people watching, a lot of fun stuff to do all in one location, etc. and that's great and all... but it's also a completely manmade and totally artificial place in the middle of nowhere, and the only real purpose it serves is for the indulgence of vice. Mmmm, vice. Anyway, I'll be there with my family including my two nephews, so who knows how much of the casino side of Vegas I really see. Rumor has it we may be heading to the Grand Canyon or Joshua Tree, so I'm looking forward to that.
But now I have four days off work to escape from the kind of beatings only the truly ungraceful can manage, and I'm going to Vegas, baby! Woooo! Vegas is both a scary and fascinating place for me... great people watching, a lot of fun stuff to do all in one location, etc. and that's great and all... but it's also a completely manmade and totally artificial place in the middle of nowhere, and the only real purpose it serves is for the indulgence of vice. Mmmm, vice. Anyway, I'll be there with my family including my two nephews, so who knows how much of the casino side of Vegas I really see. Rumor has it we may be heading to the Grand Canyon or Joshua Tree, so I'm looking forward to that.
July 02, 2006
Hi there. I know I haven't been very good at this whole blogging thing for a while. Part of it is I have a JOB(!!!) now, which keeps me pretty busy as one might expect a full-time job to do. Actually, I have one full-time job and one very part-time job so my days are pretty busy, not to mention some volunteering here and there, and having a social life, etc. Seeing those people I like so much you know, friends and stuff. I'm really trying to get back to writing more but it's been a struggle. I guess I'll just see what happens. Okay!
June 12, 2006
Mm, baby slobber
The finger I just put inside my mouth to fish out a piece of hair was the very same finger that was recently gummed to death by a baby. I think I'll wash my hands.
April 08, 2006
Hi. I am back from Argentina... actually, I came back on the 23rd. Ha ha. I just haven't had much of chance to blog, plus, I was so incredibly sick about half of the trip so it seems like there's not much to tell. Then this past week I've been dogsitting for a woman who lives across the street from one of the families for whom I babysit. I've been staying at her house because she has an especially needy and dependent, yet completely adorable and sweet little dog. She has dial-up internet so I've only checked my email and paid some bills... and maybe read some blogs - you know, only the bare necessities. Anyway, I'll be back at home tomorrow and then there will be blogging. Oh yes, there will be blogging.
March 18, 2006
¡Uy!
Or "Ay!" or "Oy!" or "Uff da!"
Happy (belated) St. Patrick's Day, a todos! Hope everybody had a good time. Buenos Aires actually has a pretty big group of people with Irish heritage, and in the Irish section of downtown (it should be "Little Dublin" or something, like Little Italy) there are a whole bunch of Irish pubs and they have a big street celebration on St. Patty's. Also, there are communities in Argentina that are mostly or all Welsh, and some of them speak only Welsh. As I've found out, people in Argentina and/or Buenos Aires are pretty mixed, culturally/ethnically speaking. I've seen a lot of blue and green-eyed people, people with skin pastier than mine, a bunch of blondes and even one redhead - like Red red!
I did not enjoy the St. Patrick's Day fest here because I'm sick. What is the deal with that? I had a low-grade fever most of the day yesterday and a terrible cough. It was raining all day Thursday and yesterday, so that may have had something to do with it, but yeah. My dad and I managed to make it outside when it cleared up yesterday to see an amazing sunset.
Today I felt better (though I'm still coughing like a 73-year old with emphysema) and the weather was perfect, so we went to this huge park near my dad's place and had a picnic with a bunch of his friends. It was right on the Rio de la Plata, which reminded me vaguely of Lake Superior, despite its obvious rivery-ness. The city is right along the banks of the river, but just before the point where the river meets up with the Atlantic, so it's really wide and you can't see to the other side, which is Uruguay. We had a good time playing frisbee and eating and flying my dad's kite, and two of my dad's friends have a 7 week old baby who is so sweet. I like babies.
Man, this city is crazy big, like 16 million people big, and that's half the country's population here in one gigantical metro area. Which means there are vast tracts of empty land lying around, because this is like the seventh biggest country in the world. It's a cool city, too, with tons of stuff going on all the time. It's hard to compare to my time in Venezuela because there I wasn't in a big city and I was on my own in a lot of ways, but as that was my other Latin American experience, it's hard not to. I've been trying not to think of all the ways they're different everywhere I go, like, "Oh, in Venezuela they did this..." There's good stuff and bad stuff about both places, and I'm sure if I spent more time here I'd come to find more negative aspects, but so far I like Buenos Aires a whole lot.
Well, I just checked my temp. and it's back up again. I should get some rest. More later.
Happy (belated) St. Patrick's Day, a todos! Hope everybody had a good time. Buenos Aires actually has a pretty big group of people with Irish heritage, and in the Irish section of downtown (it should be "Little Dublin" or something, like Little Italy) there are a whole bunch of Irish pubs and they have a big street celebration on St. Patty's. Also, there are communities in Argentina that are mostly or all Welsh, and some of them speak only Welsh. As I've found out, people in Argentina and/or Buenos Aires are pretty mixed, culturally/ethnically speaking. I've seen a lot of blue and green-eyed people, people with skin pastier than mine, a bunch of blondes and even one redhead - like Red red!
I did not enjoy the St. Patrick's Day fest here because I'm sick. What is the deal with that? I had a low-grade fever most of the day yesterday and a terrible cough. It was raining all day Thursday and yesterday, so that may have had something to do with it, but yeah. My dad and I managed to make it outside when it cleared up yesterday to see an amazing sunset.
Today I felt better (though I'm still coughing like a 73-year old with emphysema) and the weather was perfect, so we went to this huge park near my dad's place and had a picnic with a bunch of his friends. It was right on the Rio de la Plata, which reminded me vaguely of Lake Superior, despite its obvious rivery-ness. The city is right along the banks of the river, but just before the point where the river meets up with the Atlantic, so it's really wide and you can't see to the other side, which is Uruguay. We had a good time playing frisbee and eating and flying my dad's kite, and two of my dad's friends have a 7 week old baby who is so sweet. I like babies.
Man, this city is crazy big, like 16 million people big, and that's half the country's population here in one gigantical metro area. Which means there are vast tracts of empty land lying around, because this is like the seventh biggest country in the world. It's a cool city, too, with tons of stuff going on all the time. It's hard to compare to my time in Venezuela because there I wasn't in a big city and I was on my own in a lot of ways, but as that was my other Latin American experience, it's hard not to. I've been trying not to think of all the ways they're different everywhere I go, like, "Oh, in Venezuela they did this..." There's good stuff and bad stuff about both places, and I'm sure if I spent more time here I'd come to find more negative aspects, but so far I like Buenos Aires a whole lot.
Well, I just checked my temp. and it's back up again. I should get some rest. More later.
March 16, 2006
I really like Buenos Aires! It's been a busy couple of days since I arrived (after recovering from my adventure)... unfortunately it's late here and there's a lot for me to talk about. But I've been on my dad's radio program here and if you're feeling especially bored or just want to hear my voice, you can listen tomorrow at 8 am or 9 pm CST at BA Today Radio. Chau!
March 15, 2006
I may have thought I was leaving for Buenos Aires on Sunday night, but it didn't really work out that way... it turned out to be an ordeal just getting to Chicago! I was supposed to be on a 6:50 pm flight out of Minneapolis to Chicago to catch a 9:27 flight to Buenos Aires. Well, Sunday night was when the crazy snowstorm started, so take-off was delayed by about three hours. They kept having to de-ice the plane and the runways weren't clear, etc. etc. During this period, my dad called to tell me first that the plane going to Buenos Aires was delayed coming from L.A., then was diverted to Des Moines because of bad weather in Chicago. Then, after I got back on the plane to Chicago for the last time, he called to tell me that the Buenos Aires flight had left, so have fun staying in Chicago. Greeaaat. But the flight to Chicago finally left around 10, flew almost all the way there, and then, because of the bad weather in Chicago, we were diverted to Indianapolis. Where we sat on the ramp for another two hours, before getting to a gate to refuel, where we sat for another hour, before taking off for Chicago. Again.
I FINALLY arrived in Chicago around 4 am and called the airline's customer service to see about getting on the day's flight to Buenos Aires. Turns out, my dad was wrong and the flight I was supposed to be on never even left Chicago! So, I was rebooked for Monday's flight and I got to hang out around the Chicago airport alllllll day loooong, til 10:45 pm, when my plane left. And then I got to sit on a plane for another 11 hours! Yay!
Despite all the delays, it was totally worth it to walk out of the airport yesterday and see my dad standing there, waiting for me with a big smile on his face. I don't see the man nearly enough. We didn't really do much yesterday (I was really tired and dirty and hungry.) I took a shower which was pretty much the most wonderful thing ever, and then we went for a walk, had dinner, watched some tv with some of my dad's friends who absolutely had to come over and meet me, and then I fell asleep sitting upright with a bowl in my hand around 9:30... which is 6:30 in Minnesota. What a hellraiser.
I FINALLY arrived in Chicago around 4 am and called the airline's customer service to see about getting on the day's flight to Buenos Aires. Turns out, my dad was wrong and the flight I was supposed to be on never even left Chicago! So, I was rebooked for Monday's flight and I got to hang out around the Chicago airport alllllll day loooong, til 10:45 pm, when my plane left. And then I got to sit on a plane for another 11 hours! Yay!
Despite all the delays, it was totally worth it to walk out of the airport yesterday and see my dad standing there, waiting for me with a big smile on his face. I don't see the man nearly enough. We didn't really do much yesterday (I was really tired and dirty and hungry.) I took a shower which was pretty much the most wonderful thing ever, and then we went for a walk, had dinner, watched some tv with some of my dad's friends who absolutely had to come over and meet me, and then I fell asleep sitting upright with a bowl in my hand around 9:30... which is 6:30 in Minnesota. What a hellraiser.
March 12, 2006
Hey there
Yeah, posting once every three months or so really isn't a very good track record, nor is it a good use of my blog. I've never been an especially prolific blogger, but wow, this is terrible. I've meant to write, really I have, but it's just, well... my life has been so boring lately. Not that I haven't been enjoying myself or doing things that I like to do, but there really hasn't been much to tell: blah blah job hunt, yadda babysitting yadda, um... doing laundry... uh... oh, turning 23... being sick... an interview or two... hm... more babysitting... sick again... yeah, see? There's not a whole lot going on.
I used to have no problem writing about the mundane little stuff of my everyday life but lately it's been the same thing every day, pretty much. Who wants to hear endless stories about the kids I take care of - since I spend a lot of time with the little people. Or endless griping about the whole job search process, that's no fun. I could write about the books I've been reading. Which reminds me - Annie, I read Moby Dick! And I enjoyed it, too.
Anyway, after not blogging for a while, it's kind of hard to get back into it all of a sudden. But I'm a-gonna try! Now is as good a time as any, as I'm leaving for Buenos Aires, Argentina tonight for 10 days. I'll try to post while I'm there. Until then...
I used to have no problem writing about the mundane little stuff of my everyday life but lately it's been the same thing every day, pretty much. Who wants to hear endless stories about the kids I take care of - since I spend a lot of time with the little people. Or endless griping about the whole job search process, that's no fun. I could write about the books I've been reading. Which reminds me - Annie, I read Moby Dick! And I enjoyed it, too.
Anyway, after not blogging for a while, it's kind of hard to get back into it all of a sudden. But I'm a-gonna try! Now is as good a time as any, as I'm leaving for Buenos Aires, Argentina tonight for 10 days. I'll try to post while I'm there. Until then...
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