childhood fascinations

I was reminded the other night of just how long childhood fascinations can stay with us. I will not include names or where I know this person from. But I had someone show me enthusiasm can linger after many years. Unfortunately I couldn't share the enthusiasm with the said product. The item: glowsticks. "And we... and we.... glowsticks yea!!" I started to think about my own childhood, and realized that anything pertaining potential chemicals and anything that was flammable was pretty much not allowed or confiscated from me. So, needless to say, I was very experimental with mixing chemicals and breaking things. And after my brother and I started a small bonfire on our cement patio as kids we were monitored with flammable items. So as I think about what makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. I guess I would have to say anamaniacs, pound puppies, kites... hmm... I keep thinking shuffleboard but that is a new fascination. I am sure that I have forgotten something, but you know I can always add it later :)

And then there was a huge sigh of relief

Well, one more stressful thing is checked off the list for the big move. It seems that my roommate (another intern at the sea life park) has secured us a place to live. I was going crazy with this tedious task with phone calls and emails and going to sublet sites to find us a reasonable priced place to live. From the sounds of it; it is good size house that is being purchased and is being rented out to interns for the sea life park. There are going to be a few interns staying there who have cars and it is also the closest city to SLP. Again another huge sigh of relief. To get to live in a house I was expecting the very high end of the price range that we had decided to look for a place, but no I am pleasantly surprised to hear that it will be under 400 dollars. I am a bit hesitant about it, and will have to stay in a hotel for the first few days until all the paperwork and everything is completed, but all in all I am one more step closer and one more major pain crossed off the list.

grrrrr....people annoy me

Working retail can be a tough job, especially when most people in this world annoy me. That is okay b/c I am sure that I annoy a fair share of people myself, and I have come to accept that. But what really gets to me are those few problem customers or people who just won't stop talking. I am reminded of this b/c last night when closing I had such a customer. He generally comes in at LEAST once a week and has to talk for 10 minutes to every employee he runs into. Also, he tries to return the most obscure things. Like a bag of chips (entirely eaten) and claims that they are stale. Last night it was 1/2 a bag of bird seed "that the birds just don't like". I have had it with him and refused the return and he said "I understand, I had to try". WHAT!! NO YOU DIDN'T!! And even though I had another person in line behind me he has to babble on some crap that I just nodded and tried to get back to work. It didn't help b/c the lady behind him tried to return a box of Glad trashbags (1/2 used and receipt over 90 days). She said she had never had anyone so strict on policies and asked if I was training to become a manager. Well, "I am a manager already", but of course she didn't believe me on that. I just don't get people and really don't want to anyway.

And the winner is...

Much like the past 6 years Lance had again shown us that he has rebuilt himself into a super human. He was able to rebuild exactly the muscles he needed to be the best damn bike rider EVER!! I will refrain from using any and I mean any of the corny Sheryl Crow puns that the sports stations and persons believe is just so funny to use. I have a hard time believing that this is his last year. Some where deep in my heart I keep telling myself, yes he will be taking the next year off, BUT he will be back. He does it so well and I don't know if he can actually retire from it. All in all I want to think that he will continue on doing the great things that he does and wish him the best in all the ventures that are yet to come.

2nd day in open water

Well, I did it. Second day in open water went a lot smoother than the previous day. It was a great experience and relief to get through all the required skills to be certified. And now I am truly ready for my adventure to Hawaii. I was told at then end of our first dive today that the instructor believed that all of us that were "touring" with him were ready for the next class. And it was reconfirmed by the other instructor at our debriefing. Which is a good relief since I already paid for it yesterday when I got my tanks refilled. So I am going to take the advanced class to get more practice and a better understanding of my own abilities before heading off to Oahu, again where I would love to explore the wreck YO-267. This is where I get cheesy and thank the staff at Underwater Sports (in Bellevue), my instructors Jeremy R. and Hiedi K., and all the classmates I had that helped each other out if something seemed off. Great job guys-- happy diving in the future.

1st day in open water

Well this blog is brought to you by blistered fingers, a sunburned face, and one tired icy. BUT among all those seemingly negative the days experience was phenomenal!! Let me clarify that the blistered fingers were not from today, but from trying on multiple wetsuits yesterday (Bless the heart of the shop employee obviously thought I was smaller than I am). Neglect on my part lead to a slightly burnt face. I saw some amazing things today, a harbor seal playing in the water (something great to see underwater), a pisaster (purple seastar for you non scientific folk), a pycnapodia (sunstar), a "fried egg jelly", and a crab. I also was mentally naming the seaweeds that I saw underwater or on the beach as we were walking up to the staging area. Only minor problems seemed to plague me in the water like not being weighted enough, having hair caught in my masking making me need to clear it often, and sometimes not thinking through my clearing process fully (aww duh).

SCUBA

Well the acronym finally came back to me, even though it isn't in any of my coursework.. Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus... But in away for all the mumbo jumbo I have had a blast learning the concepts and then doing the skills in the pool. It really does help with you have a couple of really cool teachers who tell you stories. I am sure some of them shouldn't be shared, but what the hell. I have been paying close attention and am trying my hardest with everything. It isn't that I am scared to be embarrassed (because I have made some bone head mistakes and I fully admit to them) , but it is that I want to succeed to my maximum potential. I do not want this education to go down the drain and know that I will use it in Hawaii for my career and also for fun. I really want to hit up the YO- wreck and see all the pretty things that grow there now as well as see how good I am at underwater photography. Since I seem to do pretty well at the surface. Time will tell...

The perils of camping

So I spent the last weekend camping with friends up just on the other side of the mountains (maybe even considered in the mountains) of Washington. It was a blast. There were downsides... wind and it being too chilly to take the jet skies out for a good romp on the lake. Of course the day we were packing up was absolutely perfect for that kind of adventure. It was great to get back in touch with nature. Bringing in food, water, firewood, alcohol, and of course iPod to have something to listen to while there. And the funny thing is, we were not the only one. One of the campers down on the beach definitely had one b/c you can tell by the misc assortment of music being played as well as the song skipping after about 30 seconds in a song. It was pretty tight. Tell you want though, I do not miss smelling like a campfire, especially my hair; which I couldn't break that smell until I had my scuba lesson in the pool last night. But the excitement of sleeping in a tent, playing poker, getting snockered around a campfire, making s'mores, and just chillin in the sun was grand. All in all I would have to say the trip was pretty good, with only minor set backs. I know jimmy was pumped to find some gravel roads that were potholed as all get out.

Thought of the day: Some people are like Slinkies ...Not really good for anything,
But they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.

Girls=dumb

Okay, so I may be one, but that DOES NOT change my opinion. I am sick of hearing women (more like girls) acting like such babies! There would be a reason that I choose to have mostly male friends. I want to avoid the drama that females carry along with them. I am on a soap box and bitching just like most females, but some females (and you all are thinking of at least one or two at this moment) that just takes bitching about everything just a little to far. Seriously, what is with the drama. And like I said being how most, actually all, of my closest friends are male this has seemed to provoke even more drama from their girlfriends. Uggghhhh... I just cannot win. All I want to do is hang out with my friends, drink, play Texas hold 'em, shuffleboard, and what not. It doesn't mean that I am trying to take anyone's man away from them. Hell, I have probably had more physical contact with said females that I have with their male counterparts. So.. as I step down from my soap box, I do want to make this statement. Girls you need to loosen up and quit being such party poopers you only have to deal with me for less than a month. AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR MEN, THEY ARE SAFE. I AM ONLY GOOD ENOUGH TO BE ANY MANS BEST FRIEND ANYWAY, IF I AM NOT WORRIED YOU NEED NOT BE WORRIED EITHER! So there.

Some fun information

Through the email mass communication system I had one of the all telling emails with a site link. But I this one I actually enjoyed b/c I love to learn what the cosmos has to say about the person I am. There are two different informational segments that I thought I would share. I really don't know what to think/believe about my name and birthday dictating who I am but there are definite traits that seem to pop up frequently and I hear from people I know that they think I am definitely these things. So if you wish check it out for yourself and you decided if the cosmos knows who you are.

http://www.paulsadowski.com/birthday.asp

http://www.paulsadowski.com/numbers.asp

Uniforms

I never thought I would be so pumped about a uniform especially one that involves a swimsuit. But I actually am. My uniform for the Sea Life park will consist of a swimsuit, black shorts (preferably board shorts), sandals (something else I am really pumped about I hate shoes!!), a tee-shirt, and a hat. I am definitely getting more excited every day about this new adventure that I am going to start, yet the anxieties are still there and have their moments in the frontal lobe. But overall I am so excited!!! I wish I could bring all my friends with me, but I do know that isn't possible. You better all miss me, and I know that I will be keeping you updated with pics and all. :)

People and the pets who love them

I am writing this in response to some issues I have had to deal with lately. 1- being people who think they can take their pets everywhere with them. This includes into discount stores (oh.. I am not talking about PetSmart or Petco where they encourage it!), but a regular run of the mill every day discount store. I have seen this many times in the store in which I work as well as ones I shop in. Do people not understand issues with bringing in their pets. Allergies of other people, the fact that some of these store sell and serve food, and just that animals have a tendency to do what they want when the want, ESPECIALLY PUPPIES. This brings me to the store that actually made me write this. A woman brought her puppy into work and decided to place it on the conveyor belt; well, the belt started to move. Guess what?? The puppy got scared and piddled right there on the belt and items on the belt. The cashier had the unfortunate experience to have picked up one of said items. The customer just laughed and dabbed at the mess with a paper towel. She was quite inconsiderate about the fact that we didn't want to pick up this mess. I wanted and still want to shot her, the owner, in the head with some soft pellet gun. JUST LEAVE THE PUPPY AT HOME, or is she afraid it will piddle on her carpet.

This brings me to my second point. Even though I do not want to see you bring your gd pet into the store, I do NOT, I repeat DO NOT, want to see you leave them in the car. I don't care what the temperature is, it is unfair to the creature to leave it locked up. ESPECIALLY this time of year, we, as a store, cannot overhead page people b/c we are in a shopping complex and the owner (who should be looked in a hot room with a fur coat on) may not even be in our store. So, once again I just want to say leave your pet at home. Or else I will shot you in the head with a soft pellet gun. BECAUSE YOU DESERVE IT.