Busy Busy

I have been slacking on the blog front.

Right after Brad and Shelby left for Oregon, I got two jobs. The first is at the Montgomery Inn Boathouse, which is a four star restaurant that has a beautiful view of the Ohio River that separates Ohio and Kentucky. Honestly, the river doesn't look that great, but Ohioans LOVE it. I wouldn't say that the Willamette River is anything special to look at because I've always thought it was dirty, but compared to the Ohio River, it's seems pretty nice! I suppose a river is a river, and people are going to enjoy the view, no matter how many diseases you might acquire from coming in contact with it.

I am a hostess at the Boathouse. They had an advertisement on Craigslist for open interviews! You send them a resume, they send you an interview time. I was a half an hour late to my interview because even with help from Google Maps, I got lost in Downtown Cincinnati. Yikes. I ended up driving about 15 minutes out of my way. I had to call the Boathouse and ask for directions, and I ended up talking Dean who turned out to be the owner. He graciously directed me to the right place, but I was convinced that I would have to look elsewhere for employment. I was surprised to find the hiring manager extremely laid back and happy to interview me. Her name is Alexis and she is Dean's daughter. Alexis and I have similar personalities, so our interview was perfect. When I snagged the job, I was extremely excited. Income is an important part of surviving, since it is necessary for all food and coffee purchases. I also thought it would be excellent way to gain experience. It's a nice restaurant that will teach me some of the skills required for work in a restaurant.

As it turns out, hostess work is quite dull.

My shifts are between four and six hours, usually, and this is what that shift looks like:

1. Stand by the menus. Do not lean or look unprofessional (understandable-it's a fancy place)
2. Stand by the menus. Wait for guests to arrive.
3. Stand by the menus. Greet guests as they walk towards you and ask how many are in their party.
4. "Whenever you're ready it will be right this way, watch your step here" Point towards the steps and make eye contact so the guest does not trip down the stairs.
5. Take guests to the table that is most comfortable with the best view. "Enjoy your meal!"
6. Collect any menus or wine lists that the waiters have deposited in the appropriate slots near the busser's station.
7. Straighten menus and make sure all are facing the same direction.
8. Stand by the menus. Wait for more guests to arrive.

I have to find ways to entertain myself because, as you may have noticed, my job does not require much attention or effort. We are quite popular at the Boathouse, which seats up to 700 people, so I can sometimes stay busy seating guests, but it is way less exciting than I expected.

I have found that the following activities will often help pass the time:

-Make faces (usually goofy ones that do not scream "I'm a professional") and smile EXTRA big at my favorite bussers and servers.
-Sing whatever song happens to be stuck in my head.
-Play "Guess what time it is" with Mike. He is a host that I work with frequently.
-Ask the managers about their lives, and often include the question "What are you learning about life today?"

What a stimulating environment.

I honestly enjoy the people I work with, which gives me something to do. I like getting to know all the employees, most of which have worked for the Boathouse for many years. There are at least 250 people employed, so I don't run out of names to learn. It's fun to talk to them, but I can basically talk to anyone in Cincinnati, without playing "Guess what time it is."

The good news is, I have a second job, so my time at the Boathouse may come to a close a few weeks prior to my departure from Cincinnati. And by a few weeks, I mean I will be quitting as soon as possible.

My second job is at Dunkin' Donuts. I get paid at least $0.75 less than I get paid at the Boathouse, but it's WAY MORE FUN.

Dunkin' is fast paced and hilarious. I work with the best people you could ever hope for. Rosell, Ralph, Niesha, Andre, and my manager-Adam. I LOVE IT. I work at 6AM about four mornings a week. It is a blast. Even after two weeks at Dunkin', I was starting to memorize all the regular orders in the morning. Small coffee, with cream and a french cruller-no bag. Large coffee, cream only. One coffee roll. Extra Large black coffee. Large coffee, seven sugars and heavy cream. The list goes on and on. I'm always doing something at Dunkin'. If there are no customers, there is something to clean, something to fill, or someone to stand next to in the back and make inappropriate jokes with. People who work early morning coffee shifts are important. The customers have just begun their day, and a frowny, sleepy face is not what they want from their Dunkin' Donuts Crew Member. I make it my first priority to greet and smile at every guest who walks through the door, and they appreciate it. I've only been there for about a month and I cannot count how many comments I've gotten about my positive attitude. I'm not trying to toot my own horn or anything, but it just goes to show that good customer service does not go unnoticed, and having a personality at 6 o'clock in the morning is attainable ;]

I am leaving Cincinnati on May 23, 2010 at 7:25AM. I believe that a small piece of my full-sized aortic pump (for those who do not know, this is a FRIENDS reference. Friends the TV show!!) will be left behind in Cincinnati. I can't believe I only have four weeks left. It's going to go by way too fast, but I'm so excited about the next piece of my adventure. I'll be home for about three weeks, and then I'll be off to Priest Lake, Idaho to work at The Hill's Resort!! My favorite place in the world!! I am thrilled at the opportunity to work at Priest Lake. I have no doubt in my mind that the summer will be a blast. I'll stay there until October, and then hopefully I'll be out of the country by sometime in November. I don't know where I'll go, yet, but I'm sure I'll figure that out in the next few months.

Life is going well. I'm expanding my horizons.

Mike, who I work with at the Boathouse, is very similar to my brother, Jonathan. Jonathan is funnier, more interesting, and a better person to be around in general, but ALL their mannerisms are the same. Well, most of them. It trips me out everyday. It's so weird.

Today, Niesha, who I work with at Dunkin', told me that I was her light skinned sister. It was the best day ever.

Mission Failed

I said I would be posting every two days. Obviously, this has not come to pass. It's been five days since I declared my goal for the week. None the less, I have many things to write about and I will be updating quite soon.

Stay tuned :]

Surviving Boredom

A few guys gather on the couch, watching YouTube videos on a shiny, silver macbook. They laugh and shout sporadically, gesturing with enthusiasm at the screen of anonymous entertainment. I sit in my chair, observing the result of two or more boys, in a room, with a laptop. I avoid these moments to little or no avail, always feeling guilty refusing their attempt to entertain me. I've begun to consciously exercise, what I call, my impromptu communication lobe, which is the part of my brain that controls my creative conversation. It causes me to constantly be thinking of something to discuss before the boys resort to YouTube. I almost never win. I've absorbed the fact that when boys feel like they need to capture your attention, they grab a computer to show you a hilarious video. I'm prone to laughing in everyday conversation, which makes it easy for me to produce a giggle or two while they catch my eye with a wide grin, calculating whether or not they've fulfilled some nonexistent quota. The laughing only spurs them on. If you find, or even appear to find the video funny, it is a guaranteed fact that the next one is going to be even funnier.

For now, I sit too far away to be a part of the video fun. I find ways of entertaining myself: texting, facebook, and trying to find a psychological reason for boys to think it's hilarious to watch other boys jerk off. I drift in and out of the conversation, only half listening. I happen to overhear a lesson on the diversity and culture in Cincinnati and around the Globe:

Boy 1: "Oh, does he run on nigger time?"
Boy 2: "Nah, he runs on white nigger time."
Boy 1: "Ah, okay."

I am not sure if either boy knew the precise differences between these two definitions, but it seemed to make perfect sense to them. I hear more racist comments over here because the area is so diverse. The guys describe people in a degrading manner, but seems as if they do it with little malicious intent. It does not excuse how offensive it is, but they speak with such matter-of-fact tones, as if they're describing any everyday, normal activity.

I sat quietly, shaking my head at the exchange of events and rolling my eyes with exasperation. I turned to Trevor who had expressed interest in my travel plans and was very supportive of my adventuring. He and I sat across the coffee table from the couch in separate chairs. Those on the couch were busy watching the latest YouTube videos, and Trevor and I sat, twiddling our thumbs, and making feeble attempts at conversation. I looked over at him and said with mock desperation, "We should be doing something that is cooler than what they're doing, since we're so left out." He chuckled softly and pointed at a discarded sheet of tin foil and said, "You know what we should do? We should take that tin foil and smoke meth out of it." I scoffed at the lack of creativity in his sarcasm. I could come up with many other suggestions before I resort to hard drugs. "Oh, great news," I said dryly. "I've got some right here in my purse." Trevor sat up a little straighter. "Wait do you have meth with you? Like, right now?" I unleashed a twisted smile. "You mean, do I have meth. In my purse. Right now?" My voice is taunting as I try to gauge how serious he's being. "Yeah, do you have it with you right now?" His face is only muddled with a hint of anticipation. "Yes," I smile. "I brought it with me from Oregon, we've got loads of it over there. They pass it out like candy." He looks at me with mingled question and surprise. I resist the urge to roll my eyes again, "No, of course I don't have meth." I felt a little offended as I realized how genuine his question was. He seemed unabashed, shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders, and said simply, "You never know, man."

Getting to know people here makes me compare my new acquaintances to my good friends, back home, who are accustomed to my many personality quirks as well as the entire story of my life. It lends a certain amount of freedom that is included (at no extra cost to you) in your adventure package. You are able to control what people know about you, if you wish to do so. I find myself telling countless of stories about home. I have an abundance of happy memories from Oregon, and it is fun to discuss them with my Ohio friends. Exchanging experiences is one of my favorite parts about conversation. It opens up similarities and differences between two people and attempts to connect them.

On Saturday, Brad and Shelby are leaving Ohio to visit my native land: Oregon. I will not be accompanying them, therefore Bradley is leaving me his keys and I will be loose in the city of Cincinnati. I plan to have a new destination and goal every day. It could be anywhere from the Public Library, local shops and restaurants, to surrounding cities and places in Ohio. My goals will be focused on the people I meet. I will observe and document according to the conversations I find myself in. I will treat this exercise like a learning experience for me in my adventure, as well as a way to develop myself as a writer. I will be updating my blog about every two days. It could be short, long, or extra boring. There are no real perimeters, I will simply be writing down my experiences. Hopefully, I'll be like Mia in the book series, The Princess Diaries. She is always writing and people get irritated at her. I want to annoy everyone in a similar way.

Cincinnati

It's taken me a while to blog about Cincinnati. I'm not really sure why.

I've been here for three weeks now. I've just been getting myself adjusted to the new environment. It's a lot different from Oregon, but not in a bad way.

I know a grand total of two people: Brad and Shelby. Brad moved to Corvallis last January and lived there for 6 months, and Shelby is his girlfriend. She came to visit him a few times last year and I got to spend some time with her then. They are the best. Shelby and I get along famously. She has millions of arts and crafts, so whenever I need a fix, I can pull out fabrics, ribbons, paint or beads to play with. I've met some of their friends, but since I'm new and don't really know anyone, I do a lot of listening rather than talking. I don't mind too much. It's kind of like detailed people watching, which is one of my favorite pastimes.


I fidget in my chair. It's shaped like a bowl and I can't decide how to sit in it without exposing these new people to my secret, second chin that hides under the first one. I'm going for a casual and mildly interested look, but with a welcoming presence that says "hey, introduce yourself to me because I want to know who you are." I pull my feet up to cross them so I can sit up straight. First impressions are important and I wouldn't want to be that boring, weird chick no one knows the name of--"Yeah, the one with the brown hair and double chin? Brad met her in Oregon, I guess."

The first two people who come in are Ty Butler and Austin Day; I've met them before. "Hey guys," I smile and my hand flies up for a quick, childish wave. Why the wave? Nobody needs you to wave at them from five feet away. Ty reciprocates my greeting and Austin says, "What's up?" I just nod and smile as other people start filling in. Austin gave me a slightly confused look that I don't quite understand. He lifts his eyebrows questioningly and I realize he's waiting for me to answer him. 'What's up' is not a question. Putting a question mark at the end of 'what's up' does not make it a question. I struggle to put a sentence together, "Oh, er-uh, nothing really. Just sitting here." He nods his approval and makes his way to one of the chairs around the coffee table.

I gave up answering to "what's up" a long time ago. Most of the time, people use it the same way they say 'hello', but before I caught on, I would reel off whatever I happen to be doing. "Oh, just shopping for groceries," and of course, I have to throw in some sarcastic comment as my voice trails off, "grocery store, right?" It usually goes one of two ways: It can make them look stupid for asking what I'm doing at the grocery store, or it can make me look like I am uncomfortable speaking to people in public. I don't enjoy making anyone feel like an idiot, so obviously I have some obscure, sub-conscious goal to make people believe that I am socially inept.

Another guy filed in and did not acknowledge my presence in the slightest. Though it's clear, from the rapt attention he gave to the window sill, two feet to my left, that he saw me from a little farther away. There is no sign that he will be looking my way anytime soon, so I consider my options with a two second, internal struggle. Do I attempt to catch his eye for a formal introduction? How much do I care about knowing this persons name? Why would you walk into a room and not introduce yourself to the people you don't know?. With a small sigh, I turn to tell him my name. He continued to look, resolutely, the other way, laughing and pretending to be a part of another conversation. I thrust my hand out towards him and fixed a convincing smile onto my face, "Hi, I'm Emily." He briefly grasps my hand, shifting his eyes uncomfortably as he tells me his name is Jamie. He seems uninteresting in making my acquaintance. I want to find out if it's because he's not very social or if he's scared of women. I made to turn to the rest of the room when I saw a girl sit down next to him. Her face is impassive. She is not excited about being here. I say hi and introduce myself. I'm not close enough to shake her hand, so I substitute with another wave. I sit on my hand, attempting to restrain it. She tells me her name is Alexis. I can tell, simply by the way they sit and interact with each other, that their relationship has a blurry definition. As everyone sits down, someone supplied the question on the tip of my tongue. "So, how do you know each other?" It's the polite way of asking two people if they are dating, just friends, siblings, etc. Jamie looked at Alexis, with a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, as he explained, "Well, we dated for two years, and then broke up. But now we're just kind of," he trailed off, considering how he wants to define their relationship. Alexis offered her assistance with no trace of apprehension, "We were off and on for a while, but now we're just friends." Translation: We hook up. I turn to Shelby and raise my eyebrows, trying not to laugh. It's a bitchy girl thing to do, but I find it hard resist when I have to bite back my comments. Friends, eh? - So, you're just, buddies? - Wow, that's really more of a one-on-one, third or fourth meeting sort of response and somehow I feel like we just met.

The room disperses into individual conversation. Ty looks like he's had too much caffeine, but then again, he always looks that way. He stands up and starts talking, to no one in particular, about something he's excited for. I can hardly focus on the topic of discussion because Ty is so animated. He bounces on the spot, channeling his excitement through his hands, which are clasped together and shaking with anticipation. A wide, mischievous grin stretches across his face. "It's going to be so GOOD!" He exclaims. "I'll get the pitchers to fill with snow." He hurries out of the room. I sigh, a little defeated, at the plan that is about to unfold.

We're going to throw snowballs at cars. Again. For the third night in a row.

Since we're on the second floor and we have a big window towards the street, why wouldn't we spend all our time throwing snowballs? Now, don't get me wrong, the first night I threw a couple, and it was fun. I hit a windshield on the first try! But there were only like five people that night, and our numbers have been increasing since then. I glance at Austin, smiling with mock enthusiasm, "It's nice that this game can be fun three nights in a row." He chuckles at my sarcasm and I start to wonder if I should tone down my hostility, because let's face it, half the time I don't even say it loud enough for anyone to understand anyway.


I was on my computer the other day and I had been working on my blog entry, but I decided to take a short break. I wasn't on facebook or some computer game website. Austin Cline (different Austin than previously mentioned) was sitting in a nearby chair and somehow we began discussing what I was doing. I tried to think quickly of a believable site, but I'm a terrible lier. A small, slightly embarrassed smile played around the corners of my mouth. "I'm reading comma rules and then taking a quiz to see if I know how to use commas correctly."

Yes. I frequently google comma usage.
Yes. I should keep that sort of information to myself.

A Bittersweet Moment

Today was my last day at Philomath Shell. Ever.

It came out of no where. My last day wasn't suppose to be until next week, but Dalal and I had been discussing how I was going to get my last paycheck because I'll be in Cincinnati. She said that if I don't work next week, I can get the whole thing before February 7th. I think I went into shock. I planned to prepare for my last day and I feel unreasonably connected to that place. So, when she told me that I would be done today, I didn't really know what to do with myself. Not only was it the slowest, most boring day in history, but I felt like all my regulars needed to come in all at the same time, so that I could tell them how much I enjoy seeing them.

The guy who orders two 12" Clubs on Zesty Parmesan:
He is probably in his 60's and would come in maybe once a week and order two sandwiches. He really didn't like me at first because I have such a disorganized personality. He has a British accent and I swear he said "please" after every word that came out of his mouth. He was extremely polite, but I could tell I irritated him a little. I have this problem where I load sandwiches with lettuce. It just seems like the right thing to do, but who in their right mind wants to eat a mouthful of tasteless lettuce when their trying to enjoy their sandwich? So, of course, he asks for light lettuce and I give him my idea of what "light lettuce" is. I looked at his face and could see his patience faltering as I turned his sandwich into a salad. I smiled, trying to recover, and asked what kind of sauce he wanted. "Mayonnaise and Honey Mustard, please". As our "Blimpie sandwich making" relationship continued, I would try to make everything perfectly because he is such an orderly man. He started to come around when I could remember what kind of bread he prefers. Soon, we were discussing random things (like how many times he's lost his keys in his whole life--which is twice, and how often I lose mine--which is at least once a day) and I could usually coax a few smiles out of him. My favorite moment was a few weeks ago when he asked me for lettuce. He leaned close to the glass with worried but firm look on his face and said, "and very, very light lettuce, please". I, of course, blush and giggle nervously, "Gosh, I can never get the lettuce right! I try every time!" He laughed and smiled at me, somehow accepting my ongoing struggle with the most popular vegetable on the line.

I will miss the random, but wonderful, interactions I had at Shell. I met so many different types of people in a perfectly ridiculous setting. I got to know my co-workers, my boss, and my customers in a place that is only meant to serve awkward small talk. I loved pushing conversation boundaries and the many personalities I unearthed during my evening shift.

I will not miss working with fast food, smelling like a bleach taco, or cleaning the meat slicer.

Guilty Pleasure

I smoked a cigarette yesterday.

I've actually smoked a few in the last couple of days. Technically, they are clove cigars, but it's the same concept (only probably worse for you).

I can understand how people get addicted to nicotine. I spent a lot of time last night thinking of why that is. First, and most obviously, it's designed to be addictive so you will continue to buy it. Second, it's a quick and easy way to relax. When I smoke, I can physically feel myself loosening. It's kind of an interesting rush. The nicotine nudges the pleasure receptors in my brain and it's a nice feeling. I know that I have felt a similar stimulation in other areas of my life. While there is nothing quite as instant as smoking, it's important to be aware of other aspects that tickle my receptors. For example, I get passionate about the human developmental process, learning how to live sustainably, starting a new sewing project, etc. I enjoy discussing (usually in some kind of outrage) the way society can ruin people. I could go on forever about the ridiculous ideas children receive from the media, and how most people do not understand how vulnerable their brains are.

This is why I love Grace. She is one of my best friends and she understands exactly where I'm coming from. She has studied child development for a few years now and we can sit and discuss behaviors that children learn at young ages and how it affects them for the rest of their lives. While Grace studies and spends time with infant-toddler age, I enjoy talking with middle or high school students. It wasn't long ago that I was in high school, but I work with a lot of people in that are between 15 and 17. They kind of fascinate me. Everyone has some kind of struggle that affects them. I like to talk to them about their lives, what's going on, things they enjoy doing, and how they function and cope.

I get more of a rush, than I feel when I smoke a cigarette, and I feel like my brain has been better stimulated when Grace and I discuss child development.

I find this to be a positive stimulation. We discuss different methods to help children grow and develop into full, well rounded, and self-aware adults who are able to take responsibility for their actions and continue to grow throughout their entire lives. These discussions will hopefully help Grace and I to explore our own career paths. We will choose futures that will satisfy our individual and specific passions.

Smoking cigarettes gives me a temporary buzz that is detrimental to my health, the health of others, and the environment. This is unfortunate because sometimes it takes a little more work to stimulate my brain in a beneficial way. It'd be easier to light a cigarette.

THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT. That is exactly why you should fight and resist the things that are easy, but bad for you. It's so much easier to swing by Wendy's and pick up a Junior Cheeseburger, for a dollar, on my way home instead of making brown rice, grilling chicken and steaming some broccoli. The cheeseburger is going to satisfy me for just a few moments, mostly because it tastes good. Unfortunately, about halfway through my burger, I start feeling queasy and uncomfortable. The feeling becomes worse with each bite. Then, for the next hour, I will be silently regretting my impulsive and lazy decision to eat fast food. But, if I had gone home to make myself dinner, I would have been doing my body a favor, while enjoying my meal. Rice, chicken, and broccoli is a delicious combination of nutritious foods. It gives my body strength, keeps me full longer, and makes me feel better. The fast food will give me a temporary "buzz" but leave me feeling unsatisfied with the knowledge that my body hates me for a few hours.

Cigarettes can fill holes in your life, but just at first. They tickle your pleasure receptors and you feel better. Eventually (some people faster than others), you'll be addicted to the nicotine and you wont feel the initial rush and pleasure you once received from a cigarette. You will continue to smoke because you are physically addicted and nothing else can fill that void you've created for yourself. Of course, you can receive happiness or pleasure in other areas of your life, but it's almost like you've created a whole new receptor that only the nicotine can satisfy.

No, I have not personally reached this point. I do not plan to.

Plane ticket

I'm flying to Cincinnati.

No, it's not a connecting flight.

And no, it's not a vacation. I'm moving to Cincinnati.

I was under the impression that when you buy a plane ticket to go somewhere, your mind has been made up. Generally there is a specific date and time of departure. I, personally, wouldn't buy a ticket if I didn't want to go. Regardless of this fact, many people have tried to convince me not to move to Cincinnati.

Best Reactions (in no particular order)
1. What the hell is wrong with you?
2. You know Cincinnati is in Ohio, right?
3. Cincinnati is the shit hole of the United States.
4. Where are you at in your menstrual cycle? (my mother, of course)

This is why I bought my plane ticket BEFORE I told anyone. I'm not going to Cincinnati for the temperature (which is extremely cold), school, or any particular reason. I'm going to go, get a job, maybe go to school, and just live there for a while. I'm going to experience a new place in a different setting without the comforts of home to hang onto. I'm going to learn more about myself and stretch my brain.

"But Emily, it's Cincinnati. You could go anywhere and you're going to CINCINNATI."

An excellent point is brought up in all speculation regarding my move to Cincinnati. I could go anywhere. I could go anywhere in the WORLD as long as I have enough cash to get there. So, I chose Cincinnati.

"Why though? Why there?"

Better question: Why do I need a reason? Essentially, "Why not?", but I think it's annoying when people say that, so I've been trying to refrain. I am quite stubborn and if I don't have a solid reason for my choices, I will definitely make one up. I'm working on coming up with tangible explanations because I get asked so frequently. It is a understandable question to have, and probably something I should know the answer to. Why am I going to Cincinnati? My favorite reason so far is saying I'm on an adventure. I love to think of it that way. I'm in "adventure mode" right now, so my life is just a bundle of experiences. Cincinnati will be one of them.

"So wait, why are you going?"