Don't Even Wanna Know

Me, sometimes at work when I walk into the produce back room. My co-workers are awesome, but for some conversations, I'm like, "Nope."

Being Human

So the other day at work I assisted a handicapped woman out to her truck with her groceries. Not only was it my job but I was happy to do so. My grandfather and father were disabled at the end of their lives, and I just have respect for people in general (until you do something to make me lose it for you as a person, not a group). As I was loading her stuff inside, she told me she appreciated my patience with her. While that made me feel good, I was also a bit sad. Had she faced people before who were jerks about her situation? If so, was it often? And the idea that this one woman, who I didn't know and wasn't sure was a "regular" customer (not that it matters, but they emphasize treating regs well) had faced such jerks made me angry.

People are people. I wish we could stop judging on appearances and brief observances and just be nice to each other. Yes, some people are asshats and douchebags, but aside from them, most folks are cool and sometimes legit need our help. I wish I could see the older lady using a walking chair thing to get home and offer to help her, not fearing some weirdo might appear or be her.

I did help a woman back in 2006 like this. I was going to my car in the next parking lot over from my store when I ran into this woman who had locked her keys in her car. She asked if I could drive her to her house, which was just up the street and near my grandma. Me, being 20 and naive and nice, helped her out and was rewarded with $5 for gas and time, which was not needed but appreciated. I had class coming up but helped anyway because she needed it.

But sadly the world is not so nice and simple and rewarding. I wish to help as many people as I can in my time in what ever way is available to me. I just hope that folks don't have to feel bad or be exposed to more jerks. Usually people who are sick and/or disabled are treated like shit anyway. There is no reason to make it worse.

Just live by the golden rule and don't suck and fail at being a decent human being.

Bad Night Turned Okay

So I was having a crappy night. My brother used most of my gas (again), and I had to go to work in the evening for only three hours (when I have to drive 20 miles to get there and 20 more to get home). I was not happy, even after listening to my "happy" playlist loud for about ten minutes after hearing the news on NPR, which I like a lot.

But AHA! One man asked if we still carried disposable cameras, which sadly we do not. The push for digital has destroyed that medium so well in so many places, even though plenty of people can still benefit, like kids going on a field trip where the parents either don't have or don't want them to use a digital camera. At first I just thought it was odd, but then later, another lady asked for a flashlight, bug repellant, and....a disposable camera. For her daughter who was going to a science camp for three days. I asked my regular customer as I was helping her choose a flashlight what grade her child was in, and it turns out she was in sixth. Then it it hit me. The sixth graders of the Etiwanda School District still go on that three-day trip me and my friends went on back in 1998, the fabled trip that we had heard about for so long and that cost the parents of those lucky enough to afford it $150.

Awesome.

I remember the cabins (same gender, of course). I remember the amazing dining hall where my tablemates drank shakes 'til we all got headaches. I remember the night hike and eating mints, which sparked in the dark as we all learned how to work together while we walked with our hands on each others' shoulders and our eyes closed. I remember the time we all made creatures and had to come up with their biology and habitat. I remember Dana Point and dissecting squids to find out which sex they were.

I remember taking showers and sharing with the nearby cabin. I remember having to hide the fact that I still wet the bed, even with medicine. I remember the lie my dad told me to tell anyone who asked about my medicine (some sinus problem). I remember feeling bad that I almost admitted to some girls that I washed my hair every day (a trait passed on to me by my dad, something I later questioned whether or not contributed to my questioned OCD personality).

But mostly I just remember how much fun it all was, even fifteen years later. So I hope all of the kids leaving early tomorrow enjoy the heck out of themselves. I came home with a sunburn and so many memories and so much knowledge. I wish more kids could have a a similar experience. It really started me on my way to liking science. If trips like this can inspire more kids to find their passion, that would be great. Life is too great to not experience and enjoy, even that young.

Year in Review: 2012

Timeline 2012

January: brother is committed to a mental health facility for almost a week

February: start watching Attack of the Show

March: get into rear end car accident on way home during rain; pass CSET General Science I & II subtests; get into The Hunger Games series

April: see The Hunger Games movie with Grandmom (2x) and Uncle Rob

May: take and pass CSET Science subtest Biology/Life Science; see Wyatt at work on Memorial Day

June: turn 26; Mom wins tickets to Sea World from KOLA; celebrate Uncle Rob graduating Cal Poly Pomona; brother wrecks car in accident not his fault; Grandmom buys me new tires and gets free tickets to stuff

July: lay offs finish at work; Summer Olympics begin; start rewriting A Hero's Sojourn

August: my brother and I install our pool; The Hunger Games on DVD; fight with Eric

September: start applying to graduate school; attend Military Appreciation Picnic 2012 with fellow store employees; eight year Albertsons anniversary; make up with Eric

October: mad scientist for Halloween complete with eye patch; work at closing store

November: Thanksgiving with Mom, Andrew, and Uncle Rob; finish Statement of Purpose, only to realize I wrote it wrong because I didn't read; movie with Uncle Rob (Silver Linings Playbook); get new store director at work; receive my Certificate of Clearance from the CTC

December: decorate for Christmas for the first time in four years; lots of rain; Mom dogsits Summer at Grandmom's house; start reworking my SOP and Personal History; finish SOP; have New Year's Eve off

Lonely Ambitions

The idle hum of the refrigerator
The tick-tocking of the clock
The faint beep of a faraway scanner
These are the sounds of loneliness
Faint voices, laughing, talking
The sunshine they soon will see
The breeze, the fresh air after the rain
While the rest of us work idly away
A job pays the bills, and these people are like family
But sometimes I think about when I will join the other side
And not be chained to baskets or a checkstand
My ambitions go further
So why don't I chase them away from here?

CGS

15 July 2012.
on lunch break between 3 and 4 pm.
breakroom.

Last Blog of My Least Favorite Year So Far

Tonight, according to a lot of the world and the Gregorian calendar, is New Year's Eve. We transition tomorrow into 2011 CE and begin anew or at least promise to anyway. So far this year has pretty much sucked. 2009 was better, but these last 365 days had their good spots. I made two new friends and spent some time with my manager/friend outside of work. I started UCR. I still have my job and health, and my family is mostly well, too. But there is plenty of room for things to be better. As I am sometimes a sucker for the cliche, I have some things I want to start doing differently. They mostly involve seriously getting ready for grad school and getting back in the shape I was in five years ago. You could say those are my New Year's resolutions. I also want to work on finishing my stories and actually get some of that done this time. I need to become more disciplined. That right there is the root of most of my issues and the reason for the changes I want to make.

So here's to another year or being safe, sane, and successful. There is so much more to come, and I want to get there more than anything. I know I can do it. I just need to stick to my plan. This year I know things will finally work out in my favor. And you know what? Having to work in the bakery for a while will be kind of fun.

So yeah

Two things about yesterday:

1. I was stocking the pots and pans display on the front of aisles 5/6 when a customer approached me. I thought she needed help, but all she wanted was to tell me that she thinks I was the hardest working person there. IMMD

2. A guy I knew two years ago at Chaffey and the internship at UCR walked by the counter with a friend and looked surprised to see me. When they left, I think he said see you or something like that. He moved up north right after UCR. It was a surprise to see him and that he remembered me.

Interesting Day

Reasons

1. The roof at work started leaking. They covered up three checkstands and stopped using them.

2. The power went out at 5pm when we close at 11. We stayed open and used up all of the dry ice we had.

3. My car was flooded in so I got a ride. There was a river four feet wide in front of our house as it was the rest of our side of the street.

4. A drunk guy trying to buy Red Bull and vodka was detained and then kicked out.

5. My department closed at 6:30 so I could help try and save merchandise. Not that I minded in the least.

World's most gullible supermarket chain falls victim to online scam

The # 1 Most Half-Assed Scam That Was Shockingly Successful from here.

Sadly, the company I work for was bought out just under a year after this happened.

Sigh. People are dumb.

I know...

What a night

So yeah.

I was going to go to my friend's party tonight, but I ended up just going home straight from work. I usually never stay long at their parties anyway as I've never been much of a social person (read: I hate most people). Especially tonight after I got yelled at by this jackass of a scam artist and cussed at while no one did anything to help me. Yeah, we were crazy busy but still. Some back-up would have been nice. Plus I was running around all day like crazy (darned checkstand candy). At least they look nice again. *Proud*

I ate cold chili cheese fries for dinner, had some mango Absolut with Kerns mango juice, and went on YouTube. Now it's music time with my iPod and blogging since ff.net is still not letting me log in.

Peace.

Weird

Coming home last night from work was strange. It's only a thirteen mile drive down the freeway, but there were six cars broken down on the side of the road. I've never seen so many all in one night. It isn't a very important fact, but I thought it odd. I saw one tonight almost right away and thought, "Here we go again." Luckily it was the only one.

It feels good to be back to work after vacation. Again, weird. Who wants to come back to work? Me, I guess. It was nice to be off for almost two weeks and to only worry about going to class for four days and not rushing to and from work. It was relaxing, but I was getting bored, too. At least I started writing in my story again, and I found the rest of my video games, which were packed away when we moved. Of course, now that I found them, I don't feel like playing anymore. Always the way, huh? I'd rather be writing in my story. I started it and finished the hand written version around Christmas 2001. I was a sophomore so the quality compared to how I write now was less than stellar. That's why I'm glad I waited to type it up and revise it. It's way more adult and better written than when I was a kid. The original had too many stupid jokes and exclamation points, and the characterization wasn't real. I made the main character really annoying and less likable than a supporting character, which was not my intent.

Well, that's all for now.

3.5 Years Ago

2/14/05

11:40 am

So here I am, selling flowers on the curbside of the store. Whodda thought that I could get paid for sitting for the next two hours? Heh. This is pretty cool, though, actually. I just made a sale to a nice older man. It's kinda funny 'cause earlier Jared wasn't sure what to get and asked my opinion. So did this guy "because I'm a girl." You know we woman all think alike. Today does make me a little sad, though. Not too much but enough. The only Valentines I ever got were from classmates, and we were all forced (which I think is lame BS). If everyone [mad another sale] gives cards to everyone elss, then it takes away from the real meaning. Ya, ya, I know. That way no one feels bad. Soft, fruity America (in the words of George Carlin). Then again, what is the real meaning? Who knows anymore with the cards and the candy and the flowers and blah blah blah. Hallmark, I blame you. You're running a smart operation and making a profit. Then Junior year Jon and Wyatt went on a double date with me and Amanda. They gave us each a faux flower and a sucker. That was probably the sweetest thing he's ever done for me (and it will probably always be that way). [12:00=Sale #3] But then I lost the flower a month or so ago. It's in my room somewhere, I hope. Maybe behind my TV and video games. How funny. We became friends over video games. Anyway, there was nothing else from him that really meant anything like that. Well...except that Ryoko figure. He loved that thing, but he gave it to me for my fifteenth birthday. Memories... Plus, one time back in 9th, he compared me to Cassi in his life: Cassi was Pakistan (he doesn't even know where that is...okay, neither do I), and I was the world. Even in a firendship way that meant a lot to me. But that bum...


(journal entry I wrote as I sold flowers on the curb at work a few years ago, I text messaged Jon, and he said "Ha ha, you were a beaner for Valentine's." He's half Mexican so it was okay he said that.)