Here I am again! I know that I am terrible at this. I want to be great, I'm just not...YET! Regardless, I am vowing at least one entry/week for the rest of  May. I can do it, baby steps. LOL!

Pinterest.com is my new-favorite-waste-all-kinds-of-time place to be! I love it there. It is like an extra special glimpse into the dream homes and lives, of just about everyone I know or want to know (or, at least the cool ones)! I am changing up my Pinterest usage though. From now on, I have to actually do or put to use the great ideas I find, so for every ten "pins" I must complete one idea. That's fair right? Again baby steps! I will keep you posted on how I do, complete of course, with pictures!


I had seen (on Pinterest) some pretty cool DIY camera bags that looked like purses. I think that is an ingenious idea. So while on my search for the perfect bag and for the perfect cushiony-velcro separators to create my own...I ACCIDENTALLY poured  Scentsy candle wax down the front of my old camera bag and my search was shifted into high gear! It just so happened to be right before Mother's Day and I was being asked what I wanted and started searching the evil Amazon.com, where I found the perfect purse-like camera bag!  Here it is: http://www.amazon.com/Cosmos-Vintage-Shoulder-Leather-Panasonic/dp/B005C74QBK/ref=sr_1_48?ie=UTF8&qid=1336768340&sr=8-48  This is an amazing bag. It's more tan colored and not as orangy as the photos show on my monitor, and will be perfect for our 2 week, 4 states, Class Reunion, Las Vegas, Disneyland, Pacific Coast Highway, San Francisco Trip in June!
I mean, just look at all that extra space! I can take my phone, wallet, lip gloss, some props,  all of my camera equipment and...I even have enough room for another lens (I don't own the lens yet, but just sayin')!

So even though I didn't DIY it. I still feel that I did accomplish one of my Pinterest.com "Dream Pins"! Now, I'm off to "Pin" ten more!  Here's hoping you hear from me again soon!                                                                                                           

XOXO ~Anjie 

Tiki

It's been awhile, I know! I forgot about setting this account up until I decided I really want to try to have one place where I keep my thoughts. I reread my first post and have decided that I am going to try my darndest to update this more frequently. Shouldn't be hard since it's been over 8 months since my first and only post thus far.

Another day at home. Out beloved Beagle Tiki was put to rest today after a night full of twitches and shakes. I couldn't sleep all night. Matthew slept down on the floor by her side the whole night.

Matthew has had Tiki for many, many years (she was 17 years old). She was there while he went through some of the hardest years of his life, along with Zna a Black Lab (pictured left) and Czar a Lab/Pittbull mix). Last year, about this time, we had to put Czar down due to a paralization in his hips. I have known from that experience how hard it would be when we lost Tiki. For some reason though, you never seem prepared. These dogs are like children to Matthew. They have been there for him in his most trying and lonely moments and as hard as it is for me, I can't imagine how hard it is for Matthew.

I love him so much and loved Tiki too. She was adored by our children. She will be greatly missed.

NABB not DRAB

Just a waitress?

I am many things, have done so many things and want to do and be so many more things. Going to work 5 days a week complaining about the Half Price Happy Hour tips also being "half price", griping that there needs to be a better "system" and answering the same questions over and over again have me thinking...am I destined to always be "just" a waitress?

I've done this for the past 15 years. Why is it that I always go back? Why do I take these jobs so seriously. Why do I care if there is actually a "better system?"

So here is what I have figured out about why I do what I do. Quite simply, people interst me. I enjoy getting to know people in a flash. I like to be liked, enjoy doing a good job and then being rewarded. Being a waitress/bartender is one of the quickest ways to monitor your -its only human nature- rating system.

It works like this:
I work the table (much like an actor works the stage, or a comedian works the room), I assess moods and needs and do my best to make their moods above average and to take care of their needs (not like that) in a proficient, enthusiastic yet sill profesional manner. I put on a performance while giving them what they need and in the end they basically write me a review on a little line that says Tip: _______. If I had an amazing performance that line should be be 30% of the total bill. A mediocre performance and I'll see about 20% and if I had a poor performance I'll see less than 15%.

Unlike an actor, I get to use my rating system to determine where I need to do a better job before the next scene (oops! I mean table ) in order to redeem my self worth and cushion the bank account.

So no, I'm not destined to always be "just" a waitress. I'm that very interested, very energetic girl who just wants to have a consistently amazing performance and if creating a better system and answering the same questions over and over again is going to help me validate each scene...then so be it.
Until next time remember how great the world really is because it is Not a Bit Boring!