Matt and Suzanne's Blog O' Fun

2011-01-31T14:35:00.000-08:00

I'm going to quit this blog. I'm bored. And, I feel like I could just post it on FB. And, I get 2 views a week, usually. So, I don't really see the point because I don't want to do it for myself either.

Thanks.

It's been a year...

2009-12-16T06:49:00.000-08:00

since I found out that I was getting laid off. I have worked some crappy jobs since then. Camp NRH was the highlight of my year! After that I started working at CF, but it was a dark period of my year. :) Not as bad as the preschool where I got slapped in the face by a 2 year old. That was the worst job I've ever had, but CF probably comes in second.

I started at Flash 3 days a week on Dec 5th and I LOVE IT! (Imagine Brent singing that like he sings "jelly"). It is so low stress and reminds me of the good days at Royal Pizza. Every customer is so nice because they are so excited about TCU... it's like having only our favorite RP customers. Pleasant, polite (mostly). Ah, it's great!

I'm still working CF 3 days a week to help them, but it's a lot easier knowing I don't have to go everyday.

We sold our house and now rent a little place across from Katie, Krista and Brandon. I love it. I love being so close to people that I love. I love that my rent is 1/3 of our house payment.

So, here is to 2009. I had to go through some crap, but it's shaping up nicely. Looking ahead to 2010 with positivity. Leaving the crap in 2009.

Catch up...

2009-08-25T08:06:00.000-07:00

It's been forever.

I worked Camp NRH this summer. It was so so great. I miss it. I have a countdown to next summer (about 197 working days). It was the best job I've ever had. Yes, I think it surpasses Royal Pizza, but just barely. My last day there was Aug 14. I have been kinda depressed about it being over for the past week or so, but it helps that I still talk to some of the friends I made from there. I really miss the kids too. Especially after starting my new job...

at Camp Fire USA. I'm site-director for an after-school program in Aledo. Yesterday was my first day. I won't talk about that experience since I'm a little jaded, given that: 1)the kids where probably hyper from their first day back to school and 2) I'm still sad camp is over and the new kids make me miss my Camp NRH kids.

I really miss my Camp NRH kids. They are awesome.

There is a lot more going on, but I don't want to get into all of that. It would take too long.

Unemployed for 2 weeks and it feels so good....

2009-05-12T05:36:00.000-07:00

I quit my job yesterday. It wasn't as exciting as you would think. In fact, I was pretty terrified the whole time. But now I am free of that wretched place. My last day was going to be the 22nd of May, but it just got to be so bad that I wanted to walk out everyday. Honestly, if I had stayed there another day with those kids kicking and slapping me, I might have just swatted one right one the rear. I've never dealt with kids so not-afraid of getting in trouble. One little girl would just smirk at me when I would put her in time out. It would infuriate me. It was like having almost the whole class made up of the worst kid at Naylor Children's Center. Getting kicked in the shins, slapped in the face, getting spit at, told to "shut up" on an almost daily basis by TWO YEAR OLDS... no thank you.

It's Alive!

2009-04-05T20:08:00.001-07:00

My bread machine, that is. I purchased it the first year that Matt and I were married. I found it at the flea market/antique shop that is now a mile from our house, for $10. I figured that $10 was a good price for an appliance that 1)might not work for long and 2) I might not use often. Joy had told me about hers that she got as a wedding present that she has just used a couple of times. However, I have used it enough times to make up for the $10 investment.

The last time I tried to make bread it didn't mix. The time before that it didn't heat. I thought it was dead for sure, but I kept it anyway because I hate to throw things away in hopes that I can fix it. I decided to try tonight. I plugged it in and it lit up and beeped at me. Good sign. I didn't put in the insert and just pushed start to see the inner workings. Yes, it moved! I put my finger in and touched the heating coil. Ouch, Yes, it heats! Looking at it again I realized that it has a delay timer! Awesome! I contemplated making bread for dinner tomorrow, but then had a better idea! Fresh baked cranberry bread for breakfast! I am very excited about waking up to the smell of baking sweet bread. That is something to make you excited about waking up!

Interesting, thrifty and productive day.

2009-04-04T11:36:00.000-07:00

Sorry this is so long. I think this means that I should do a blog about being thrifty. Does anyone know how to make that a business? I should ask Joy.

OK, well it doesn't really get interesting until later, but here is how it starts:

Woke up this morning around 7:10am. Matt was getting ready to go do landscaping at the church and I was getting ready to make my dish for tomorrow's potluck lunch. I finally decided what I was going to make (meatballs) and headed off to Brookshire's to buy the only thing I needed - ground beef. I didn't realize until I got there that it opens at 6am, which might be normal for grocery stores, but I didn't know that and thought that was exciting. I'm easily entertained. So, I do my usual path through the store even though I know I only need one thing. I find that ground beef is on sale for $1.59/lb!! Awesome. I was planning on buying the 5lb chub (that is actually what the tube of beef is called), but the sale beef was about 50 cents/lb cheaper than the chub. I was pretty stoked about that. So I got that, some eggs and sour cream for later in the week.

I get home and mix the meat and spice mixture. I was afraid that I would be grossed out by all the beef, but I wasn't. I even mixed it with my hands, as Paula Dean would say, "The best kitchen tool the Lord gave you!" However, I took off my rings, unlike Paula. That always baffles me because there has got to be so much meat built up in all those diamond crevices. I figured out that it took me about 15-20 mins to mix and roll out all 100 meatballs. Then I baked them for 15 mins. I didn't try them because all that meat grosses me out, but it smelled amazing. I think I will forever do bulk and freeze meatballs instead of browning beef for spaghetti. It is so much easier!

Ok, after that I cleaned up the kitchen a little and started organizing the recycling - not meaning for it to be a big project. I ended up sorting 3 big rubbermaid totes and another box of paper. One tote each of paper, plastic bottles/containers, and metal/glass. If you didn't know, we don't have a recycling service at our house, so we have A LOT of stuff that we need to take. Most of it is cardboard. So I found a place online where I can take it and decided it was as good a time as any. It was about 10am at this point. So I loaded up the car and started driving. I drove all the way out to I-35 and Everman Pkwy (about 30 mins). The place was closed! I talked to someone this morning from there, but oh well. I was right by the Mrs. Baird's Bakery Outlet so I went in and got some nice treats for very cheap. Whole grain bread, 2 packs of english muffins, 8 ct hamburger buns, and a 20oz Diet Coke (just cuz I wanted it) for $5. I also got another stamp card (I gave up on mine since they closed the outlet in Benbrook). When I spend $30 I get a free choice of bread and a free snack cake. Mmmm.

Next I went to a thrift store. This is where I might lose you. A thrift store?!? Ok, so I have always enjoyed the vintage charm that can be found in a second hand store, but I had never bought "serious" clothing at one until recently. It started when I got my current job and needed to buy scrubs to wear. Even Walmart was $30 for one set! Crazy. Especially for a crappy paying job. I went to a Goodwill and found what is now my fav set of scrubs. For $8. While I was there, next to the checkout was a rack and on it the cutest, never worn Windsor shirt for $3.99. It was love from then on. To date I have bought a coat, 3 sweaters (one 100% cashmere), 3 dressy shirts, a tank top, a pair of Gap dress pants, and an amazing 100% linen dress. For about $50. All brands are brands that I would normally buy. To buy in store would have been over $200, and they all look new and current.

So, all this time to find out that there is a recycling bin at an elementary school 5 mins from our house. However, I didn't realize that I could be fined $500 until after I put all my stuff in the bin. Oh well.

The interesting part, you ask? I get home and realize that Duchess has eaten half a small coffee can of old, congealed bacon grease. Immediately when I walk in the door she looks the most guilty I have seen her, which is saying a lot. I find the can lid and know what has happened. The can itself is sitting in the living room, upright. This makes me giggle a little through my scolding. At least she is neat about it. I decided to take her for a walk so she would get sick outside rather than in the house. We walk for about 15 mins when... vomit. all. over. the street! She looked embarrased and ashamed. It was kinda cute. Her stomach is still making noises and I can hear it churning from 5 feet away. Poor Duch.

5k

2009-03-16T05:21:00.000-07:00

So, I finally registered for the Zoo Run this morning. Now I really have to get serious!

On another note, a year ago today was Brandon and Krista's wedding. Congrats! It reminds me that Matt and I will have our 5 year anniversary in May. I barely remember life without him in it. We have been "together" for almost 8 years! He really and truly is my best friend and my favorite person in the world. I never get tired of being around him. (I guess that is a good thing since we were always with each other at Royal Pizza!)

One of my favorite things about Matt: He is absolutely hilarious, and has picked up some of my weird sense of humor. Like our songs to Duchess. ex: "Apple bottom Duch, paws wit' da fur"

New Day, New Job

2009-02-12T05:57:00.000-08:00

I got a new job. I start today, and I am feeling much more optimistic about life right now. I am hoping that this new job will renew the feeling that I had when we quit RP and had weekends and nights together again. I am a little sad that I have to wake up before 930 again :). However, I remember from our newspaper days that being nocturnal is only fun for a little while.

I did tell the restaurant that I could work weekends, but I don't really expect them to want me anymore and that is fine with me.

I'm so irritated with work right now.

2009-02-08T22:00:00.000-08:00

I found out that I am being punished for something that was not my fault. As of right now, I am not scheduled for this entire next week. I also will only be given the opportunity to pick up shifts the following week. Here is what happened:

When I missed the week of work because of illness, I had been calling everyday. Last Sunday I called in sick and let my boss know that I was getting a doctor's appointment for Monday. He told me to get better and "call when you are ready to come back to work." Well, now they are saying that I was a "no show" for Thursday - I wasn't scheduled for Thursday. I was scheduled for Wednesday, which I shouldn't have been b/c I don't work Wednesdays. So, as I see it, the only real day that I could have missed calling for was Tuesday! This doesn't matter, however, because I was told to call when I was well again! I called my boss tonight, on his night off. I pointed out how I didn't think it was fair to be punished for doing what he, himself had instructed me to do. He at first said that I should have called to "update" and then quickly backed off and said that someone will be getting in touch with me tomorrow about fixing things due to the "miscommunication."

I still feel like the girl in charge of scheduling is trying to run people off. I just want to say to the GM, "Look, I go to church. I don't smoke, so I don't take smoke breaks. I'm not going to steal from the restaurant or cuss out a customer. I've never been a second late, in fact, I'm usually early and waiting in the parking lot. I've owned my own restaurant and I am in good standing with my former employees... still! Really, you want to hang on to me! Trustworthy employees are hard to find, I know!"

No new job.

2009-01-22T10:34:00.000-08:00

The choice to take the preschool job or not has been made easier. I interviewed today and they said that they wanted me to work there, but only part time for a couple weeks. From 2-6. This would prevent me from working at the restaurant. I wouldn't be earning what I need for an undetermined length of time. No thanks. I told her I'd think about it, but more and more it just doesn't make sense for me to do it. I also have been feeling like I have sort of a ministry opportunity at the restaurant that I don't really feel like I am supposed to quit yet. Even though Tuesday was very trying for me, and I wanted to quit.

ALSO, I loved church this week. I haven't felt so good about church and worship in a really long time. It's nobody's fault at church. I have just been kinda numb to it all. To anyone who was there: what was the music set list? It was really good, but I don't remember the actual songs.

Turned down the Aledo job.

2009-01-20T08:38:00.000-08:00

I called and turned down the Aledo job yesterday. I wasn't thinking that it was a holiday and that they weren't there, so I left a message. I knew they would get the message before I would call them today. I felt bad, but I really don't want that job. And tips have picked up enough at the restaurant that I don't need another job.

I have an interview at the church daycare job tomorrow. I'm torn about what I should do, and it will all be decided tomorrow. I would hate to have to not take the daycare job, but if it prevents me from working at the restaurant I will have to.

Blog'O'Fun isn't having much fun.

2009-01-15T12:15:00.000-08:00

I made this blog so that I could post about the fun things that Matt and I get to do since quitting Royal Pizza, however it seems that I will be back to working long days again. Not much fun.

I turned in my application at a church daycare today. She said that she will probably get in touch with me Friday or Monday. If I don't get that job I will start training for the job I got in Aledo on Tuesday. I am really anxious about the preschool job. If I get the preschool job then I have to call Aledo and tell them that I don't want their job anymore. I will feel like a huge jerk, but I really do need more hours that Aledo can't give me.

Also, I will still be working at the restaurant at night during the week and on weekends. Whichever job I get will help make up for the money I'm not making at the restaurant, but the preschool job might be all the money I need.

They don't have me scheduled again until Saturday, which is really annoying. Matt has class tonight, so I am going to be home alone, like I have been all day and everyday this week. I just want Naylor to open back up... now.

I really need something amazing to happen, but I don't know what that is.

Possible 2nd job.

2009-01-13T08:08:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I got a call to come in for an interview for a part-time job that I applied to before I got my current job. It's a long-term sub position in Aledo isd. The good news is that it will pay for half of what I need to make. Yesterday we had our opening night at the restaurant and I made half of what I need to make (per day). This possible 2nd job will really help out until I can start making good money at the restaurant.

Here is my agenda for today:

10am- call my boss at the restaurant to see if I am on the schedule... YES! I am, hopefully I will make more money tonight than yesterday. The girl who assigned sections (who everyone is starting to hate) only gave me 2 tables. One of the tables only seats 2 people. Not fair. I think she thinks I'm retarded, even though I take care of my tables and help out other people who can't handle their own.

11ish- eat and shower

1:30- interview in Aledo. I'll probably leave way too early and get there way too early. This is always what I do. I never want to be late, so I'm always early.

3:30- go to work at the restaurant

9:00- probably get off work

If I get this other job, I will be working 60 hours a week. If I don't get better tables at the restaurant, I will be working 60 hours to make as much as I was making in 40 at the center (not including the scholarship). This is pretty disappointing, but I am going to talk to the girl assigning the sections, and make sure I get a fair deal. If she doesn't help me, I'll talk to my boss. I shouldn't have 6 seats (only 3-4 filled) while another girl (who can't handle it, btw) has 12.

I really hope I get this second job! It will really help things for right now.

After the "dress rehearsal"

2009-01-12T11:05:00.000-08:00

I worked the private party Friday night, and I did ok. The power went out in my section and the computer system went down for a little bit, but besides that it was fine. I had one woman (it would be a woman, geez) get a little sassy with me, but I kept her glass filled and explained to her that I was trying to get her appetizer order put in when the computers went out, and that was why I hadn't taken their dinner order yet. The world would be a lot more pleasant if women would not run their emotional mouths all the time, myself included. Anyway, so I took their orders and brought their appetizer out right after. She was ok after that, and the rest of her table was really nice. I think they were embarrassed of her. They ended up leaving me a better tip than the table before them that didn't have any issues.

I work tonight and I hope that all goes well. I actually have to charge people for their food tonight, so I hope nothing goes wrong.

Dress rehearsal

2009-01-08T14:05:00.000-08:00

Today in our training at my new job we had a "dress rehearsal". I put it in "" because we still have not been given our shirts. They split us into 2 groups. My group got to play "customers" first. I was easy on my server, like any other decent person would be (however not everyone was that way). I ate my meal: bbq stuffed baked potato, side of beans and corn. It was good, but then it was my turn. Luckily, I waited on the same person who was my server because she was pretty easy as well. However, what wasn't easy was putting in an order while 14 other people were putting in their order at the same time. Mind you, they gave us a 30 second training on the computer system a couple minutes before we started taking orders. It was really stressful and it was only one plate! The good news is that everyone is really stressed out about it. That is also the bad news.

Tomorrow night we have a private party that everyone is working. There are 300 invited guests and only seating for 200. So, hopefully not everyone will come and those who do come will eat quickly. And, get this... there is no charge for the food (because it is all investors and guests of the owner) but there is a cash bar, however, nobody knows any info on what we sell at the bar (like what kinds of beer on tap/what we have in bottle) or how much it costs. Not to mention that I am fairly clueless when it comes to mixed drinks. I am so stressed out. Pray that I don't mess up, and that I don't have to wait on the owner.

I found a normal person that works with me, though! Her first day was today and she and I totally don't belong there. It's like in Lady and the Tramp when Lady gets put in the pound. We are like two little sweet puppies shaking in the corner. Which, for me to compare myself to a helpless puppy, you can only imagine what the other ladies are like.

I got a Job!

2008-12-18T13:50:00.000-08:00

*For internet stalker purposes that I sometimes deal with, I will not be putting the restaurant name in this entry.

Today I got a new job! I was moping about my house, depressed because I couldn't get the job I was hoping for because I lacked 9 college credit hours, when I decided to head to Granbury. I had forgotten to think of job opportunities in Granbury. Anyway, while driving I noticed this almost finished building and remembered that a new restaurant was opening. So, I pulled into the partially done parking lot and went in for an application. I was hired before I had finished the front side of the application! It is like 5-10 mins from my house too! I was just saying yesterday how when I applied at Naylor it was so easy. I applied, interviewed, and got a job in the same trip. I was just saying yesterday how I wished this time could be that easy! AND IT WAS!

"My God is so BIG, so STRONG, and so MIGHTY! There is nothing my God cannot do!"

Update to applying for jobs.

2008-12-17T13:25:00.000-08:00

Pottery Barn not hiring.
Barnes and Noble not hiring
William Sonoma - applied, not sure if they are hiring, though
Apple - not yet applied, went to store, told to apply online
Babies 'R' Us - applied
Southcliff Baptist - going to apply, have to call before I bring back application so that I can do interview too. It's only a 3 day a week program and they don't need teachers right now but I can be on the sub list.
Hulen Street Baptist - going to turn in application tomorrow for sub list.
Still need to finish my tutoring application.

Good news: I have another photo job working this Sat at TCU!

Applying for jobs

2008-12-14T20:19:00.000-08:00

Places I've applied, various types of positions:

Harris Methodist and Harris Southwest
Fort Worth ISD
Aledo ISD
Crowley ISD
Costco
A+ tutoring (half done with that application)

Places I am thinking about applying as well:

Joann Fabrics
Container Store
Apple Store
Central Market (but I don't want to be a checker!)
Barnes and Noble or other places like that
Pottery Barn!!!
William Sonoma!!!

Pretty sure that I am going to the Apple Store, Pottery Barn, and William Sonoma tomorrow. I'm just going to apply to pretty much everywhere I think I might like in the least bit.

I'm really glad that I got to work this Saturday for a photographer. I hope that I can do more jobs like that too, even if I get a regular job somewhere else.

Where have all my clothes gone??

2008-11-25T19:59:00.000-08:00

Seriously, I am missing clothes and I have no idea where they have gone to. Actually, things that are missing are not limited to clothes because Matt and I have been missing our biggest cutting board since we moved in, but I am not concerned with that at this moment.

I don't know why anyone would know where these are, but if you for some reason have any information leading to the finding of these items, please get in contact with me:

Brown Old Navy t-shirt with bird on it and splatter paint design. (missing for 1 year+)
Navy Express-brand zip up fleece jacket (noticed missing in the past couple months)
Black dress pants, Old Navy (almost wore them a month or two ago and now missing)
Grey and Black dress pants, like a herringbone pattern (I might have given these away to charity)

I think there was another, but I can't remember right now. I'm going to go tear apart my closet now.

Walking around our neighborhood

2008-11-08T15:57:00.000-08:00

We have been trying to go walking more since it isn't a million degrees anymore. A month or more ago I noticed some deer poop in our backyard. Then, last week I took Duchess on a walk and two huge deer ran across the street in front of me! I was so excited, maybe even more than Duchess.

So, tonight Matt, Duch, and I went walking. As we were leaving our street, Matt and I were talking about the weather and time being prime deer conditions. We were really hoping to see some deer tonight, and joking about Duchess wanting to play with the "big puppies" (we like to think that is what she would call them). We were headed toward the back of our neighborhood when we saw cars stopped in the middle of the road. The cars start moving again and this man pulls up next to us and warns us that there are "about 20 deer standing in the field back there." YES! I was giddy. We kept walking in that direction and got to see them! It was awesome! I am even more happy with where we live! Here are some pics that I got with Matt's phone. However, these deer were not as close as the ones a week ago, and they are kinda hard to see b/c I was shooting facing the sun. You might have to click on the pics and look for their silhouettes. The first one they are crossing the street and the second one you can see them in the grass.

Largest flea market in the USA.

2008-11-04T17:02:00.000-08:00

Canton. We went this past Saturday. I found a lot of things that I would have bought if I wasn't trying to focus on Christmas presents. However, I bought nothing.... except an Orange Squeeze drink (like Orange Julius). Matt and I also ate a ton of samples of jams and such. I got to do something with Matt all day, so it was a good day. Oh, and Katie, Natalie, Krista and I went to see High School Musical 3 that evening. It was awesome. Great day. Here are 2 pictures of things that I saw at Canton and had to take a picture of because one was funny and the other was really creepy. Which is which? Mmm... that makes me think of "Which 'wich?" So good, best sandwich ever!

Tax return in October!!

2008-10-15T18:05:00.000-07:00

We had to file an extension back in April on our taxes because we just didn't have time to get all the books in order. So, now, for the first time in the 4 years that Matt and I have been married... we are going to get money back!!!! Yes!

If Martha Stewart had a baby with a hippie....

2008-10-02T17:26:00.000-07:00

it might be someone a little like me. Tonight, after a couple weeks/months of being without my sewing machine I became determined to fix it. This was mostly because my favorite favorite favorite pair of jeans got a hole in them (I could be a Kardashian). I wanted these jeans fixed... I needed these jeans fixed. They don't sell these jeans anymore even though they aren't more than a year old. So, I took apart my sewing machine and found that a piece had come out of gear. Ta-da! I reassembled my machine and fixed my jeans... and my older favorite jeans that I had worn a hole in a different spot... and then I decided to be a little crafty. I used an idea that I got from Kristin St. Clair (one of Martha's many idea people who actually come up with the stuff). I made a "green" grocery bag from an old t-shirt. I know that I could buy one of those bags at any grocery store for a dollar, but mine is recycled! How more green can you get? And now I have one less t-shirt that I never wear! And it was completely free! I love free!

Oh, and only because I am not usually so productive, I must brag that I also did a load of laundry and baked a cherry pie. The one I made Tuesday for Matt's b-day was so good that I needed more.

It's Poop!

2008-09-29T17:08:00.001-07:00

Tonight, after Matt and I took Duchess on a walk, we cut across our backyard and there is a ton of deer poop back there! I actually googled deer poop to make sure. So, that is kinda cool. I'm just sad that I didn't get to see the deer.

Day in the District

2008-09-27T19:51:00.000-07:00

We finally went to the Log Cabin Village, and it was awesome! Well, kinda awesome.

If you think peeing in your pants is cool... consider me Miles Davis.

Ah, the musicians... eating Panera Bread, just like the old days.

Matt enjoyed it.

Were they supposed to be slaves? I don't know, but if so, they took the job. Then we went to the Botanical Gardens for a daylily sale, but we didn't buy anything. Meh.