Before, During and After May 13, 2008

 

 

 

Before

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After

Webkinz Vs. Real Life May 13, 2008

My daughters each have to webkinz.  They each have a pink and white kitty Emilie also has a White Persian cat, and Erynne has a Panda bear.  Emilie has registered her 2 pets and the Erynne hasn’t… although she does enjoy playing with Emilies Cats.

If you have never ventured into the world of Webkinz count your blessings.  The pets play games, go to work, and hunt for gems in an effort to earn money to by things like beds, rooms, cloths, food, and other stuff.

Well when ever my daughter wants to go on I have to help her.  She doesn’t quite get the games and how to work the mouse correctly.  What starts off as about 5 mins of fun quickly turns into me doing the jobs playing the games, and earning money so she can spend it. 

on Sunday she wanted to plant a garden for her pets which means that I spent about an Hour playing Cash Cow 2 getting her all the money should would need.  Which she spent in 3 minutes… she then placed her new garden stuff in the yard for about 3 minutes before putting her pets to bed and announcing “I am done, I’m getting bored with this.”

Thank you to the Ganz corporation for my new virtual job.

 

Later,

Billy

Also I wrote about my daughters webkinz one other time here

Why tipping is an art form May 9, 2008

This may anger some people. Especially those that work, or have worked, in the food service industry.  But Please let me say that I have worked for the world famous El Morocco and Dunkin’ Donuts and a HUGE portion of my pay from both of those places was from tips.

I always got good tips… A. Because I never felt like I deserved one, and B. because I worked hard to earn one.

Somehow we have gotten to the point that a tip is expected, and not earned.   I reject that notion… Please note I do tip at every sit down meal.  But if your service sucks your tip sucks.  If it takes you 15 minutes to refill my drink, and when you do you are carrying the glass with your finger inside… (like what happened at this nameless restaurant) then your tip is really going to suck.

We need to reclaim the power of the tip.  bad service = a bad tip (oops try this one),  good service = Good tip.  Back when I waited tables a customer gave me a $45 because I went next door and bought them a $2 bag of pretzels when my restaurant had run out of “bar snacks.”  That tip was just for the pretzels never mind all the drinks and food I brought them during the 3 hours they occupied my booth.  They left happy and I bought a PlayStation with thier tips.

I know, I know, what about problems in the kitchen, or being short staffed, or having to many tables in different sections… I get it.  You can’t control everything.  But Let me know that problems exist.  DO NOT WHINE OR COMPLAIN, just say something like “I am going to put your order in now but the kitchen is a little backed up would you like some rolls or salad?”  or “someone called out tonight so I have a few more tables then normal, I will keep checking in but do not hesitate to grab me or any other waiter.”  Then you do need to work harder to make sure everyone is a least comfortable, drinks are always full, bread or salad to make sure the people aren’t starving, and just simply don’t ignore them… Especially when they look upset.  That is when you turn on the charm and earn your tip.

Some people will just be unpleaseable.  and some will be cheap.  You can’t help that.  Just keep smiling (a lost art in itself) and perhaps the happy customer behind you will be a little more gracious.

 

Billy

Why I will be Smiling all day on Thursday. May 7, 2008

Tomorrow is May 8th.  It is also Erynnes 3rd birthday.

This post will be significantly shorter than this one, only because the back ground story is already out there.

Erynne is simply unique.  She has a fantastic sense of humor, her comedic timing is exceptional for a 3 year old (her favorite line is that’s what she said… I can’t take all the blame for it.  but it is hilarious to hear from a 3 year old little girl).  She never ceases to make me laugh.  Her laugh is infectious, it is a blend of mischievousness, joy, and just pure fun.  Slowly she has com around to loving the Red sox.  Before she used to taunt me and say “I hate the Red sox I love the Yankees.”  Her Favorite player is Hideki Okajima, just ask her to say it next time your together and be ready for a laugh.  She loves playing Mommy almost as much as her big sister.  She Loves her Nana and refuses to eat lunch with me at home when it’s “Nana day.”  I am amazed at how much she is capable of manipulation… It truly is an art.  She is Jedi like with her ability to manipulate people. 

She is still waiting for her hair to “grow up” since Collin cut it last summer.

Erynne is a tough kid.  One of her favorite things to do is pin Emilie down until she cries.  notice the size difference.

Erynne and Emilie have blessed me so much, and in such different ways.  They are like a romantic comedy.  Emilie is a cuddly little love bug and Erynne is a great dose of comic relief.  I love my girls more than they could ever know. 

Happy Birthday Erynne.

Billy

 

I love my wife May 6, 2008

yep it’s true… I love my wife. 

I am not going to pull out some bible verses and tell you all the ways they apply to my wife.  Also I will not be telling you a sappy wove stowy that could onwy be wead by wepwacing aww the R’s and L’s with W’s.  Nor will I be writing a poem about how her beauty is like a million candles on a hill filled with wildflowers, butterflies, and rainbows.

(please note: she is not hold a loli-pop or anything for that matter)

I will tell you that she is one of the single hardest workers I know.  Not only does she work 40 hours a week or more and is the primary bread winner (what an odd term… think about it), but she leads the teachers of the 3-5 year old for our church, as well as all the other motherly responsibilities (kissing scrapped knees, cleaning, not so much cooking but you get the Idea).

(eating a wildebeest at the zoo)

She hates these pictures… And you may say that I am cruel for posting them but I love them.  This is what I see  that others don’t get too.  Everyone has a side that only a few really get to see.  It’s human nature to guard yourself.  That is why I am incredibly lucky that Colleen drops her guard around me, she doesn’t have to pretend, she doesn’t have to put on a show, she is who she is. 

That is what I love about her.

Billy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

(one more why not?)

As Promised May 5, 2008

So as I promised earlier this is the first of a flurry of posts.  I decided to start off with one I had teased in my previous post about a dilemma I am having at work.

The dilemma is this,  Lately I have been given all of the closing shifts (4-8, 1-9, etc).  This of course stinks because my wife gets home around 4:30-5:00pm.  So we don’t get to eat dinner together, I miss out on tucking in my kids, and in general spending quality time as a complete family.  I do get time in the mornings with my girls but not with Colleen.  I have also been given the pleasure of working every Saturday…

I really do love what I do, and the people I work with.  But I love my Family more.  And when I am at work (especially on Saturdays) I am thinking about them and really resenting the fact that I am working.  That isn’t fair to the customers or to my employers.

I don’t want to leave but I can’t keep cheating my family.

So, what do I do?

Billy

Coming tomorrow… I Love my wife (with Pictures).

2 weeks May 5, 2008

So I haven’t written a post in nearly 2 weeks.  Things have been slightly busy but I hope to go on a posting frenzy this week.  Stay tuned and buckle up.

Some possible post topics… (I believe they call this a tease)

Erynne’s Birthday

Horrible service in restaurants

Work dilemma

I Love my wife (with pictures)

hmmm which will be first…