A Note to My Future Self

Dear Jess,

I don't know when you're reading this, but I'm gonna say it's probably at a time when you're feeling like things are crashing down.  Why else would you start going back and rereading blog posts? Come on, you've done it before and I know your sort of predictable.

Let me let you in on a little secret.  I'm writing this letter to you, future me, when things are crashing down.  Just this week I found out a family friend has a mass in his lung.  My body is being weird and I've been sleeping a shit ton even since I've been faithfully taking my medicine.  This week, my poor memory has been frustrating me a lot more than normal and I have no idea how to strengthen it.  Today, I first found out I passed my classes this semester with flying colors but then found out that I'm academic probation because of my choice to leave my other school mid semester to spare failing out.

It's been a rough week.

You're probably having a rough week.

Here's the thing though. I can mope around and do nothing or I could wipe away the tears of frustration and anger, and kick some ass.  Not literally, of course, unless there's someone who does actually need their ass kicked, then I will do it.  If we let every bad day or bad week run our lives, what would be doing with ourselves? What would we accomplish?

I'm not saying that we need to become a hard and heartless person who doesn't let anything phase us, because that's not who we are.  We're the ones that keep pushing, even when we want to give up.  Remember the first time you walked up the stairs at home after having your hip replaced? Yeah, you'll never forget will you?  You pushed against the want to sit on the ground in the front of the house for the rest of eternity.  Sure you were hopped up on pain meds but you pushed through the pain to do it.  It's so cliche say to you, but I'm doing it anyway because really this is just me talking to myself: if you can get through that year of your life and accomplish so much, you can keep going.

Now, I know this is just a bunch of words building encouragement up to go on and do whatever has you down, because really in a way that's what this ending up as...but on a final note, you don't give yourself nearly as much credit as you deserve.

Just take a step back from it all and breathe.  It'll all be okay.

_________________________________________________________________

Online Classes, Not For Me

What's that you hear?  Oh, that's just me celebrating passing my classes, officially.  That's right, today I found out what I already knew, that I passed the two summer classes I took! What am I doing? Throwing invisible confetti in the air, that's what.

source

I wanted to make this post a few weeks ago, but I didn't.  I didn't because what if I had a change in heart and I suddenly liked online classes? Unlikely, yes, but I thought I needed to wait until my semester was over before I started proclaiming why online classes aren't are for me.  But really, it's something that anyone who knows me would already have figured out by now.

First off, let's just briefly discuss my technology issues.  Beside our internet connection being oh so unreliable, I have a hard time operating my laptop on most days.  But seriously, the main problem with my technology issues is the fact that the only thing reliable about our internet connect is that it's gonna be terrible.  Whenever I have a deadline for anything, I can always count on my internet to suddenly disappear!

I've found after taking my first online class through my school this past spring that there were some glitches and random site shutdowns.  I gave the whole thing the benefit of the doubt, because come on, I was a newb and I didn't know any better.  After this eight week semester of site issues I'm calling it, it's not just me, it's also the site.  Believe me, I'm already frustrated with at least one assignment, don't add onto the load by giving me a glitch prone site to deal with too.  A lot of times that I was stressed out and pushing to meet deadlines was because I had put off doing the assignments because I didn't want to deal with the site that would probably glitch five times in one setting.  It makes for a very unhappy student.

The biggest thing: I forget.  I have a poor memory thanks to my Hashimoto's medicine, but when I'm not forced to get dressed, drive at least twenty five minutes and sit in class, in person I will undoubtedly forget that I was supposed to discussion posts on Thursdays. Or that I have ten assignments for one class on top of that exam due on Monday.  I've tried various tactics.  Agenda, writing all that shit down. It worked, for a while. Sticky noting all that shit all over my room, the refrigerator, the bathroom mirror, even my car.  Again, it only worked for a little bit.  There for a while, the only thing keeping me on top of assignments was my friend Maycie nonchalantly reminding me about school.

In the end, I just didn't like taking these classes online.  Maybe it's because I like being able to talk to people in face when we're having a discussion.  Or maybe it's because if I stay in my pajamas too long I inevitably end up back in bed.  For me, online classes are a thing of the past.  I'm going to avoid them if I can.

What about you? Have you taken online classes? Do you like them compared to normal in person classes?

Word Vomit

I can finally breathe easy. Or at least a bit easier than I have been the last couple of weeks.  Friday I spent most of the day fighting technology at home with pending assignments due and then spending my short shift at work worrying over if I was going to get all of my homework done before the deadline at 11 that night.

Friday was hell.  But you know what, I stayed positive despite rude guests, a terrible headache and news that one of my favorite managers is leaving next month, among other things.  In the end I got all of my coursework finished, and I didn't completely lose my crap at work in front of guests.

I feel like the last three weeks my head has been filling up with all these things that I either suddenly realized I need to do or have remembered a long list of things to do that I should already be doing (I lost my planner and all of my dates for events and such).  I think a lot of it has to do with pressuring myself to get my act together so I can really do well this next school year. The other part of me thinks it might just have to be with trying to please everyone from school, work and the Legion all at once.  But in all honesty, I think it's both of things and a smidgen of CRAZY added.

For the last week all I wanted to do was blog or at least write something short to share with whoever comes across this space.  I've neglected myself that because I wanted to stay on track and stay focused instead of spending hours writing a few posts when I got into the writing groove.  It worked for the most part, except for when I spent some time doing homework thinking about writing instead.

Word vomit. That's what this is, but after the crazy week I've had I feel like I need to get it out of my system. So here it is.

I have the next three weeks free before my next semester of school starts.  Well, I shouldn't say free because I'm still grabbing a couple of short shifts a week and volunteering more.  I'm also focusing on putting together what I'm calling "the career book" to help keep everything from my resume to cover letters and recommendation letters down to notes about job prospects.  I thought this little break between semesters would be a fantastic time to sit down and start putting it all together so when I start interviewing this semester (I'll discuss this more this week) I can have some to lean on!

Also, on this little break, I'm going to be focusing on getting into a workout routine of some sort so I can rely on it when school starts.  Other little odds and ends are finishing out my Summer Bucket List and figuring out how to plan meals for when classes start since I'm going to be working a mid shift and taking mostly night classes (against my will).

I realized this morning as I was waiting for my safety staff meeting to start that I'm trying to cram a lot into these three weeks.  Maybe I should just relax?  I could, but I don't think I would manage anything productive.  I'd probably end up falling into some sort of funk where all I do is lay in bed and watch Netflix.  Don't get me wrong, that sounds wonderful, but I have things to accomplish!

So there's my crazy for the last week or so.  Nothing too important.  Only that I survived my summer classes, which is an accomplishment.

There's your dose of Jess' Crazyy Thoughts, Jess signing out!

Fearing Change

Change is something that can't be fought.  Sure you can fight against it, but you'll still lose.  Every time.  It's going to happen whether or not we're ready for it or if we fully accept it.

Fighting against change is a good thing though.  I think that in the process, no matter how it's done, fighting any form of change allows you to be you.

For me I've learned that when I fight change it's usually out of fear.  Sometimes this fear is rational and other times it's completely irrational and makes me think "what the hell" at some point down the road.

Fighting change, no matter what is or how we do it is a way of what's in our heart making it's way to the surface -- I'm talking about both irrational and rational reactions.

I think that some people, or at least I know this is true for me, irrational reactions to change means that whatever is going on in the heart hasn't been given a chance to show.

This past semester was my first semester as a hospitality student. I loved it; it was new and exciting and I was thriving in this new environment.  About a month and a half into the semester one of my instructors forwarded me an email.  This email was about a summer internship at a national park.

I thought about it for a few days and then decided to just forget it.  Why do the internship?  I would miss family reunions and vacations.  I would be going alone. I wasn't sure I'd get into the program to begin with.  What if I couldn't handle working full time?

I was scared.  I knew that then but now,looking back I realized I was actually fearing all the worst:  failing.  I tricked myself into believing all these excuses I made for myself.

I missed a great chance.  I realize that, now.

There's a quote I always remember when I feel a little scared with what's going on in my life.

 I believed it to be true.  I still do, to a point.

I think I need to take more risks.  That everyone should take more risks.  How else are we going to learn what we're good at, what we're absolutely terrible at, or how to make ourselves into a better person?

Live and learn!

 

Online Window Shopping

Notes from Jess: The five logos I used all came from their respective store websites.  No copyright infringement was intended.  

Honestly, I haven't window shopped online or in person in a really long time. I just don't have much time to do it!  Today though I'm reminded of my favorite places to go drool at because the challenge prompt is to share five websites we go window shopping at.

_______________________________________ 

The most often visited one on this list is by far Gander Mountain.  True fact, if I get lost in Wichita (assuming I don't have my GPS with me) I can usually always find my way to Gander Mountain.  I'll go inside, go to the bathroom, browse on the way from the bathroom to the customer service desk and then ask for directions.  They're used to my face but that's mostly because I have a) spent so much money at this store over the years b)have gotten lost often c)I go shooting here (it's the only indoor range in Wichita I shoot at now) d)I bring my friends to browse at night after we go to dinner and may have tore apart a display or two before e)have argued about ammunition prices and the limits to how many boxes can be bought per person per visit per day.

I window shop here because I like to be able to see what's on sale before I get to the store.  I'm all about making sure I don't overspend so if I know exactly what I'm going after I can get in and out in under 10 minutes.  That's how well I know this store.  Plus, I window shop at Gander because I miss doing outdoorsy stuff all the time like I used to.

I just found this website and love it for all things home and kitchen.  I absolutely love window shopping for kitchen items.  For some reason it's the number one thing I love to shop for, just ask the lady at the one kitchen store in the mall.  I guess you could say that Wayfair is my weakness. I love kitchen and home stuff.

It's probably a really good thing that I'm currently not living on my own because I'd probably use most of my paycheck ordering online everything under the moon that I would think I could possibly use in my kitchen.

Window shopping on Overstock is fun for me.  I start looking at things I thought of when I pulled up Overstock in my browser and then from there I go to another item.  From there I go to another.  Oooh, that's pretty! Click, click, click. Two hours later and I've hypothetically bought a new wardrobe and shoes in every color of the rainbow.

I can seriously spend forever on Overstock.  

This one is one that I don't often window shop at but I love to when I do.  The clothes are just really pretty and lovely to look at.  I've never ordered anything from here but I have friends who have and just adore everything that they've purchased.

I once came super duper close to ordering a pair of lilac oxfords from ModCloth but chickened out because shoes hardly ever actually fit my big feet and I didn't want to let myself down having to send them back.

I regularly window shop here similar to the reason I do at Gander.  I like to see what's new and what's on sale so when I go to the mall I don't have to go through the whole store.  Going to the mall kind of freaks me out because of all the people, so the sooner I can get out and home the better.

With that being said, I just really love how well the clothes from Lane Bryant fits.  I do most of my "I need to look professional" shopping here because of how broad my shoulders are I can't ever find blouses or blazes that fit properly.  Good quality clothing for a decent price.  I love this place, in person and online.

_______________________________________ 

What are your favorite places to window shop, in person and/or online?

Banana Nut Oatmeal Muffins

Yesterday I tried a new recipe.  Well, I took a recipe I found from Debbie and tweaked it a bit because I didn't have all the ingredients and I didn't want to put a bunch of honey in because remember, sugar?  So my version probably isn't any where near as good as the original one is that Debbie made, but that's all right. Live and learn! Besides, I didn't have much else to do besides dishes and laundry.

Banana Nut Oatmeal Muffins

Ingredients:

2.5 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup plain low fat greek yogurt (I used plain regular yogurt, because we don't keep greek yogurt in the house because I can't stand the texture)
2 eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup chopped unsalted cashews (I used cashews because that's all I had!)
2 tsp vanilla
2 ripe bananas

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 12 muffin tins with silicone or foil liners.

2. Place the oats in the food processor and pulse for about 10 seconds.  Add remaining ingredients to the food processor except for the nuts. 

3. Process everything until everything is mixed together and oats have become smooth.

4. Pour batter into a mixing and fold in the nuts.  I chopped my cashews by using a mini processor that we use specifically for smaller things like nuts for recipes.  You could decide not to chop the nuts, but I did because there was huge pieces in the bag.

5. Divide evenly among muffin liners.  I generally use a 1/4 measuring cup to make sure that each one is pretty even.

6. Put in over and bake for 18-20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

7. Cool on a wire rack for a few minutes and enjoy!

--------------------

The ones that I made tasted a bit bland, but I think that's just because I didn't add any sugary or sweet items to the mix.  I like the banana flavor though, it comes through really nice without the sweetness getting in the way.  I think the next time I make these I'm going to mix in some of my protein powder so I can eat these at breakfast and not have to drink the protein shake that I'm starting to get really annoyed with drinking daily.

This recipe was pretty easy and quick. I'm definitely going to try it again but tweak my own recipe a little bit more so I can include my protein powder.

Overall, 4 out of 5 stars on this recipe.

P.S. Sorry for the lack of photos, still no camera.

I Believe In...

One of the assignments I completed this week for my Quality Management and Customer Service class was to form a personal vision statement.  This was a fantastic exercise as was coming up with a mission statement last week.  Although they can be intertwined together, my mission and vision statements are quite a bit different.  Today I wanted to share my vision statement because it's short, sweet, and for me personally it's pretty encouraging and inspiring.

Photo Cred: Click Here

To me, the goal of creating a vision statement is to think about where you want to be in the future.  After I looked around the internet a bit before starting to create mine I found that most that I looked at seemed to be very specific and set to one specific career goal in mind.

For me, as I've mentioned on this blog before, I don't know exactly what I want to do in the hospitality industry.  There are ideas still flying around in my head, and that's completely fine because I still have at least a year and a half of school left.  I tried to make a vision statement for a hypothetical situation but my gut was telling me I needed to scrap it and just go with my heart.  Which is exactly what I did.  I focused on my values, something that I hadn't really focused on before.

I aim to keep my values of passion, excellence, empowerment, innovation and responsible citizenship at the forefront of my mind in daily work and life as well as in making decisions for my future.

• Passion - …to be passionate about the things I do from school to work,  down to the things I do in my spare time.

• Excellence -…to not only want to do well but to make choices to help me succeed in the future.

• Empowerment -…to do what is right instead of easy and to encourage others around me to do the same.

• Innovation -…acknowledging when change is needed to continue being productive but to keep a hold of the things I believe in.

• Responsible Citizenship -…to adhere to laws and uphold strong ethics that I believe in both my personal life as well as my professional life.

I'm not going to lie, this was a hard assignment especially when I decided that I wanted to take it very seriously.  On the flip side, when I crossed the finish line and submitted my homework I felt empowered and very happy.

Originally I decided to pick five words to use as my values and then sort of describe them to help hold myself accountable and to remind myself in weeks to come what I was thinking when I chose them.  Each of these five I believe strongly in, though before this assignment I had never said "I believe in this and this".  But these values are still things that I need to work on and to make stronger.  I did a lot of thinking about this last night.

I thought a lot about how I need to learn how to keep myself accountable, that I can't always rely on someone else to be there and be the nagging voice in my head that I need.  I thought about the potential I have to do so well in school but yet I find myself still slacking off even though I'm no where near where I was a year ago.  I thought about how I take the easy way out instead of sticking to what needs to be done and doing it right the first time.

I thought about a lot last night.

The great thing about creating your own personal mission and/or vision statements is that you are free to change and adapt them as you grow.  Maybe in a few months I'll add a new word to this list that I find myself believing strongly in.  Or maybe I'll take one of these away for some reason.  Each person is different.

Non-profit Organizations, My Dream Job

A few days ago I was talking with a friend of mine who just recently graduated high school in May.  Our conversation lead us to talk about our dream jobs.  The job or jobs we feel in our heart that we're made and/or destined to fulfill at some point in our lives.  The timing of this conversation was pretty perfect since today's prompt is just about that, dream jobs.

I used to think that my dream job would be ideal. "Ideal" meaning that it makes sense with everything that I'm currently doing to prepare for my future career.  I've come to realize in the past couple of months that there are jobs that I want to have at some point because I think it would be fun and would give me experience that I really yearn to experience for myself instead of just reading about it.  Then there are jobs, like the ones I'm going to mention today, that I feel in my heart and soul that I am meant to do at some point in my life before I die.

I'm having troubles writing this post because I find it difficult to articulate sometimes the feelings and thoughts that I have towards this subject.  It does put me at ease knowing it's difficult to find the right words because I know that means that this is something that I'm truly feeling I must do from the heart and not something that I've forcefully thought about and put into my head.

My dream job, you ask? To work within a non-profit organization that specializes in working with veterans and/or their families.  Why?  Besides the already mentioned obvious answer that I just feel it in my heart, but because I feel there is something that I need to do repay all those who have served for my country and those that stood behind them when duty called.  Granted, I don't know if I'll ever feel like I've repaid all those who have served but it's a good start, I think.

I do admit that this may sound like a broad concept for a dream job but for me, I somehow know that  when it's my time to be in this 'dream job' I'll know exactly where I'm supposed to be.  I think it'll be like a metal detector, my heart leading to me to the metal or in this case to the place where I should be.

I say that I don't know where this dream job will lead me right now, and that's completely true.  But I have a couple of organizations that I've been keeping my eye on mostly just because I am proud of the work that they do and if the opportunity arose, I wouldn't turn down being apart of the wonderful work that they do.  Above all, these two organizations are ones that I often spread the word about whether it be on Twitter, Facebook or in a conversation with someone.  Both of which I can also see a possibility to use the skills that I have been, and probably will be still, perfecting in the hospitality industry to help further the cause of the organizations, like event planning for instance but I'm not too focused on that aspect to be honest.

Got Your 6

I found Got Your 6 a few months ago when I was roaming around the internet looking for a little bit of everything related to an ALA project I was working on for District Convention.  Some how or another I stumbled across their website and I was immediately captured by their mission and their call to respond.

"The goal of the campaign is to bridge the civilian-military divide by creating a new conversation in America, so that veterans and military families are perceived as leaders and civic assets."

For more information about Got Your 6 visit their website here or follow them on Twitter.

Wounded Warrior Project

Chances are if you live in the US you've heard of this non-profit.  This non-profit has been one of my favorites for years because I believe so strongly in the work that they do to help better veterans' lives and in a lot of cases their families too.  Above all, the WWP makes sure that no vet is forgotten.

"The greatest casualty is being forgotten."

WWP's mission is very simple and straight forward: to honor and empower Wounded Warriors.  They follow this mission by helping in a variety of areas including the reintegration process for vets returning home to helping vets get jobs or to go to school.

For more information about the Wounded Warrior Project visit their website here or follow them on Twitter.

__________

What is your dream job if you could do absolutely anything you wanted?

A Very Harry Potter Blog Post

If you weren't already aware that this weekend on ABC Family was Harry Potter weekend, you've now been informed.  I bring this up today because of a few reasons: 1) I totes forgot until I started going through Pinterest and saw some Potter related pins that reminded me that I was going to watch this weekend. 2) Today's prompt for #BlogEveryDayInJuly challenge is to share my day in pictures, but I don't actually have an operational camera currently 2.1) My day has been really boring thus far and it's not going to get much better because of the mound of homework I have to do. 3) Pinterest is fun. 4) Because of said amount of homework I'm not going to be able to watch the marathon on ABC because I can't watch Potter and do anything productive at the same time.

So, here are some of my favorite Harry Potter themed pins from Pinterest! You can see the pins on Pinterest if you click on the photo that should take you to my Pinterest boards.

Life Is Rough

This past week has been rough.  Maybe it was the whole week I was gone from reality of working part time, doing online classes part time, working on my little side projects with the ALA that made this past week so rough as I got back into the swing of things.  Regardless of what it was, it was a very rough week and I don't feel guilty at all for not being able to blog like I wish I could have.

Today's prompt: write a letter to your readers.  I think I can manage that, tonight earlier today I wouldn't have even bothered thinking I could handle such a simple task.

Dear Readers,

There probably isn't many of you, but that's all right.  I want you to know that life is rough, but you've probably already figured that much out.

Weaknesses

We made it home last night after fighting some crazy holiday drivers from Denver to Wichita.  I'm working on homework right now.  Yes, it is homework that's due today. But at least I don't have a whole week's worth of assignments to do today, see, there's the positive side on that...or maybe it's just me trying to deflect the thoughts you're thinking.  That yes, I did procrastinate on my homework, again. Surprise? Not hardly.

The assignment I'm working on right now is about listing my strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats when it comes to my professional life in the hospitality industry.  The hardest part of the whole things, you guessed it, finding the words to explain my weaknesses.

Let's be real for a moment.  I don't think anyone likes to look at themselves and then share their weaknesses.  Hell, if anyone is like me, they'll try their best to ignore the weaknesses...which is bad guys, because then you never really acknowledge them and work on making them into strengths.

5 Things That Make Me Happy

Notes from Jess: This post was written ahead of time and scheduled to post today due to traveling back to Kansas and the unknown whereabouts of stable wifi.  This post is a part of the #BlogEveryDayInJuly challenge.  

I don't know what it is with the number five recently but I just really like the number.  Today's prompt: five things that make me happy.  Now, remember, these are in no specific order.

Medicine Bow - Routt National Forest

Yesterday afternoon after we visited the Wyoming Territorial Penitentiary we stopped at a local tackle shop and my brother bought me a two day fishing license.  We then started the long drive up to Medicine Bow so we could go fishing at the Rob Roy Reservoir.  Not knowing exactly what we were going to do in Laramie after the Penitentiary we packed a cooler with lots of water, hamburgers, hot dogs, brats, and all the fixings.  My brother had brought his tailgate grill from the job site so we could grill our lunch wherever we wanted to!

It seemed like a long drive from Laramie up to Albany but in all honestly it was probably a lot shorter of a drive than from Laramie back to Elk Mountain where we are staying.  I forgot to get a photo of the city sign when we got to Albany but I'll never forget this tiny town perched on the side of the mountain.  Albany, population 55 people.  Did you read that Emmy?  55 people!

Lovejoy's Bar and Grill

Notes from Jess: Apparently I've summoned the mountain fairies, some way or another! This post was originally written Thursday but the mountain fairies have been having fun stealing my posts!

I'm currently sitting in the McDonald's off of the interstate in Rawlins, Wyoming waiting on my online school websites to load.  I decided now would be the perfect opportunity to use the wifi while I have it and talk about a wonderful experience dining out last night in Laramie, Wyoming.

My brother has been working in this area since around the beginning of February and he and his crew has found their favorite places in Laramie and Rawlins.  Last night for dinner we headed into Laramie and my brother took us to their favorite place, Lovejoy's Bar and Grill.

Lovejoy's is downtown Laramie and parking is a bit difficult to come by in the evening.  We ate a early dinner and had arrived downtown around 5 o'clock.  We got super lucky because of the largeness of my brother's truck we had to go around the block to get parking big enough...and then my dad decided he couldn't walk all that way because of his bad knee. We ended up back in front of the bar and just our luck, someone was leaving and left us plenty of room for the truck right across the street! Score!

5 Things I Miss From High School

Notes from Jess: This post has been written and scheduled ahead of today due to traveling and the unknown whereabouts of stable internet connection. This post is a part of the #BlogEveryDayInJuly challenge.  For more information about this challenge and how I'm going to complete it this month, you can check it out here.  Also, lovely credit to Jeane and Jem for the for the challenge button and for hosting/starting/inviting everyone to the challenge this month!

 Today's prompt is "things you miss" so I decided to do something a bit themed today and since I was scrolling through photos the other day.

Every Life Has a Story

Notes from Jess: This post has been written and scheduled ahead of today due to traveling and the unknown whereabouts of stable internet connection..  This post is a part of the #BlogEveryDayInJuly challenge.  For more information about this challenge and how I'm going to complete it this month, you can check it out here.  Also, lovely credit to Jeane and Jem for the for the challenge button and for hosting/starting/inviting everyone to the challenge this month!

When I looked at the prompt for today, I knew exactly what I wanted to share.  The prompt is to share a video; it took just a search on Google and a link to the YouTube video to get it sorted.  I have so much love for this video.

The first time I saw this video was in my Intro to Hospitality and Tourism class.  We were discussing how a genuine smile to a guest can totally brighten and make their day.  This then lead to the conversation that each person is different and that we have no idea how they're day has been.  I thought about the time I talked with one of my guests just about something that was going on around town.  We weren't very busy at the time and before she left with her ice cream she thanked me for being so kind and conversing with her when I had work to do; she told me that she had been having a really bad day and that a simple conversation (and some icecream) helped brighten her mood.

How the Blog Got It's Name

Notes from Jess: This post has been written and scheduled ahead of today due to traveling and the unknown whereabouts of stable internet connection..  This post is a part of the #BlogEveryDayInJuly challenge.  For more information about this challenge and how I'm going to complete it this month, you can check it out here.  Also, lovely credit to Jeane and Jem for the for the challenge button and for hosting/starting/inviting everyone to the challenge this month!

Back again for day three of the #BlogEveryDayInJuly challenge!  Today's prompt is to explain/talk about how our blogs got their names.

As I mentioned in the About Pro.Ramblings page, originally this blog was named My Dirt Road Diary.  I changed it because it didn't feel like it fit; I felt like I was putting my self in a specific category to blog in with stuff about country music and the country living life and the like.  I have nothing against making content related to that stuff but I didn't want to feel like if I posted something related to academics or something completely random that I wouldn't feel discouraged against hitting the publish button.  In short, I wanted to feel like I could publish whatever I feel good about writing, with no restrictions.

That brings us to Procrastination Ramblings.

Basically, I just didn't know what to rename this blog so I went with the first thing that popped into my head.  Since this blog started from me procrastinating (probably mowing the yard) and I figured I'm pretty good at rambling. So there it is, broke down and explained.  It's, in my opinion at least, not a very interesting tale but I'll let you decide on that.

What a Mess!

Hello ya'll!  I'm currently in a tiny town off the interstate a few miles between Laramie and Rawlins, Wyoming.  This town is so tiny that my senior graduating class makes up the most of this town.  It's that tiny.  Around 191 people to be exact!  Don't ask how I'm doing with wifi because I don't want to jinx it yet on the first full day I've been here; I still have lots of homework to do!

This is the first big trip I've taken since I started studying in the hospitality industry and it's opened my eyes quite a bit.  One thing I couldn't wait to storm onto the blogging field with was our lunch stop yesterday in Goodland, Kansas.  We stopped firstly for gas since the truck was hitting about a quarter of a tank (which was really great considering that we fought a lot of wind on the way west to Colorado) but it was also lunch time and we were all hungry.

Normally we try our hardest to go to local restaurants because it helps the local economy, we get to meet the locals and depending on where we're at they have specialties that we're not used to in South Central Kansas.  Sometimes though when you're just off the interstate you don't want to stray too far.  This was the case yesterday and we ended up in a Dairy Queen since the restaurant we decided to try was boarded up and closed.  Well, that and none of us decided it was worth trying a sketch looking taco shop that had one car in front.

Our experience at this DQ was not a good one and we left as soon as we finished eating.  My responses in purple are what I would have done if I was a manager in the situation or the employee.  Or just my comments and notes.

First thing: the high school kid who eventually ended up taking our order was chewing gum.  No, no. NO.  I wanted to smack the gum out of his mouth and I was tempted to by the time we left.  I just hope he wasn't near the food because I can just see saliva dripping out of his mouth and onto the food. Do you know how many types of food borne illnesses there are that can come from just that? Don't even make me break out my books.  

Next, we waited. For a while.  A long while.  I don't mind this, normally, it was during lunch and I totally get that.  The high school kid and the other employee, I'm assuming the manager looked at us several times but never took the moment to say "we'll be right with you" or anything like that.  It was like they were ignoring us. I find myself super busy at work when I have to cover the front register and get food out the drive thru window.  I've found a balance though and when I can't get to the register I always make eye contact with my guest and tell them that I'll be with them shortly.

The kid never tried up-selling.  This was pointed out by my Ma who would have taken a large drink instead but since he never asked she wasn't going to bother. Taking orders is a conversation.  The guest says they want this and then you ask questions to help complete their order.  In some cases, this would involve asking if my Ma would like a large drink instead of the small.

Ma also pointed out after we sat down that the manager had a drink cup in the back by the window near where some of the food and drink prep was going on.  So yeah, I feel super strongly about this as I do with the gum.  Just don't do it.  I know it's hard to keep your mouth from drying out if you're taking drive through orders but you just can't have drink glasses near the food prep.

My Ma drinks iced tea and sometimes it's hard to hunt down the tea container because it's normally not in the soda machine.  I looked by the soda machine and it wasn't there.  Ma then asked at the counter and she was directed to the soda machine.  She went back and had to tell them that no there was not tea out there.  Ma reported that they were rude to her when she asked for tea.  Employees should have been aware of where their tea and other asked for items are.  They also should get impatient or rude when a guest asks questions. Simple as that.

The kid dropped a bunch of cups on the floor and then proceeded to say "oh well".  Wasting product is bad.  The attitude is an even bigger problem.  Thankfully the manager did throw all the cups dropped away.

Our food is finally ready, I got to pick it up at the counter.  It's in a to go sack.  We never said that it was to go and the kid never asked.  It was the "I don't care" attitude of the kid that makes me so upset with this.  We didn't mind eating out of to go containers, but we would have like it if we hadn't needed to.  Once again, it's a conversation when taking orders.  Ask the guest if it's dine in or dine out.

A kid dropped her DQ Blizzard and it went all over the lobby floor.  I watched out of the corner of my eye what happened.  The grandma helped clean up some of it and then I heard her go tell the employees that there was a spill that needed cleaned up.  The high school kid came out with a mop and bucket and proceeded to clean it up.  The mop was dry and all it did was smear it around the floor.  And then, he never placed a "wet floor" sign.  HELLO LIABILITY! What if the old woman in the corner didn't see the floor was wet, slipped, fell, broke her hip and decided to sue?  It could have been prevented with a single yellow sign that someone was too lazy or not educated to be told to put it up.  Also, who taught this kid how to mop? Draw the soapy water in the bucket, it makes cleaning up ice cream and other spills way easier!

Then, to make things even grander, I noticed that the floor was dirty too.  At this point I wasn't surprised about the dirty floor, not with the careless attitude of the staff I interacted with.

*takes a deep breath*

The whole experience was super frustrating.  But it was a good learning moment.  I got to do one of those case studies in person instead of watching TV.

I definitely plan on making a phone call or writing a letter to DQ about this.  I think, from what we saw and experienced, that it wasn't just at the lower level but it was also a lot of management problems.

Now that my rant is over, I hope you are enjoying your lovely Wednesday!

Selfie Time!

Notes from Jess: This post has been written and scheduled ahead of today due to traveling and the unknown whereabouts of stable internet connection..  This post is a part of the #BlogEveryDayInJuly challenge.  For more information about this challenge and how I'm going to complete it this month, you can check it out here.  Also, lovely credit to Jeane and Jem for the for the challenge button and for hosting/starting/inviting everyone to the challenge this month!

Today's prompt is to share a selfie.  Pretty simple and easy, I'd say.  I've added in a couple extras just for funsies.

This was taken a bit over a year ago in a locally owned coffee shop.  I don't remember why I was dressed up that day but I just love this photo.

Now that I think about it, I don't even know where that shirt is.  I know where the blue one is but not that green one....

 Throwback to January 2013 on my 19th birthday! My family and I went out to eat at a Japanese steak house and I brought along my life long (now of 15 years) with us.  After dinner me and A hit the town for a little bit of fun.  We ended up at Gander Mountain and me, being the crazy one I am, just had to try on some waders I had been eyeing.

This is a throwback to the fall of 2012 when I went to visit some high school friends at their college.  We ended up at WalMart and of course, I wanted to try on a onesie.  I miss my long hair.

Well, now you have seen some of crazy Jess!  I'll see you, same spot tomorrow for another day of the  #BlogEveryDayInJuly challenge.

Goals!

Notes from Jess: This post has been written and scheduled ahead of today due to being consumed by preparation for long distance traveling.  This post is a part of the #BlogEveryDayInJuly challenge.  For more information about this challenge and how I'm going to complete it this month, you can check it out here.  Also, lovely credit to Jeane and Jem for the for the challenge button and for hosting/starting/inviting everyone to the challenge this month!

Today's blog prompt for the #BlogEveryDayInJuly challenge is goals! No, not those goals. I don't watch soccer/football so if that's what you think this post is going to about then you're gonna be greatly disappointed.  But seriously, I don't know anything about soccer except what the ball looks like. Instead, this post is about goals in life.  That's right those goals.

So yeah, I guess I'll start with goals for today.

• Finish my reading my book for class. 

If all has gone well, I should be somewhere near Laramie, Wyoming right now.  We've come to visit my brother for a week and as much as I wish I could just throw everything out the window school wise, I can't skip an entire week of both classes.  Besides, those books are expensive and I need my laptop.  I'm reading The Spirit to Serve by Marriott's Way by J.W. Marriott and Kathi Ann Brown.  I still have a few weeks left to finish reading it but I've been reading for thirty minutes every day that I work.  I sit in a booth in the back and read before I clock in.  I just want to finish the reading and start the paper!

Normally I don't set goals just because I get too obsessed with making sure I hit them.  It's gotten to the point in the past that I will literally forget about every other priority in my life for goals that I set.  At some points, it's been an unhealthy thing to do so I don't set goals often.

One major goal I do have though and I've been focusing on but not on the overly obsessive level is graduating with my associates in hotel management and a certification for restaurant management by 2016 (I'm shooting for a graduation date in December 2015).  That's cramming three years into two years and I'm pretty set in wanting to do it this way because I feel like I wasted a lot of time last year when I left mid semester from my old school and then had all of the summer and fall off from school.  Making up for lost time I suppose, and I'm just really excited for my education in the hospitality field so I want to jump start things so I can get into a bachelors program soon!

Another goal, obviously, I want to improve on making healthy lifestyle changes.  I mentioned last month that I was diagnosed with prediabetes and with that means a diet change and moving way more than I used to.  This goal doesn't have a time limit because it's one of those ongoing things.

What are your goals for today? Do you have any long term goals you're working towards currently?

Tomorrow's challenge post will be short and simple, see you then!