Farewell Wal-Mart, fare thee well!

Well, Thursday marked my final shift in the world of Wally, so as a tribute to my experience, I'd like to give a shout out to all holiday shoppers from all the retail cashiers out there...

*We love the extra challenge of uncrumpling your wadded up money when you throw it at us once we've run through your purchase

*We consider it a bonus workout when we have to pick up your 100lb bag of dog food you've thrown up on the belt and try and pass it over the scanner to put it on your bill

*Yes, it is our fault that the debit machine isn't working nation-wide at the moment and if we were doing our job better you probably wouldn't have to put this purchase on your credit card instead

*Don't be fooled by the blue smock we wear, we are all-knowing and all-powerful. At any time we can calculate, from the millions of items the store stocks, whether we are "out" of a particular thing, and where in the store it is located exactly

*We also know why you have "insufficient funds" in your bank account that is causing your debit card not to work, are able to contact your local bank branch and straighten the whole matter out before your wife comes back from the bathroom and discovers her Christmas present sitting on the counter. We also can straighten out the whole "the-credit-card-I-just-swiped-was-denied" embarrassment as well.

*When we close our line at 4:30 and try to nicely tell you that we're closed when you run up to us noticing that we have no line even though everyone around you is waiting in a line of 15+, it's because we're just now going on a lunch break, and the orange we ate on our 15 minutes break at 11:00 is long gone. Before cussing us out ask yourself, have I already eaten my lunch today?

*Having a spazz-attack while we wait for someone to call back with a price check doesn't speed up the process. You're the one who didn't look for a price tag on your Eeyore slippers before you picked them up! Duh?

So adios retail-world! I appreciate the opportunity to make some money, but I'm ready to move on now!!

Dreaming of a White Christmas

Literally. There's grass outside my window, where a thin blanket of snow lay just last week. Can we say global warming?

At any rate, I LOVE this song, it's one of my favourites. Check out the link I blog-stole from Laura... :)

White Christmas

Christmas Spirit

Christmas stresses me out. Because I don't know quite how to fit it into my life, my faith, and my priorities. Over the years, Christmas has definitely become a time Brett and I spent with family. Often this is the only time of year we spend with them. And at the same time we are running from house, to house, to house, never really spending time with any of them. And people say "what do you want for Christmas" and I think I don't really need anything, but here's some ideas of things I'd like to have... and I can't help but feel guilty when my mind wanders back to faces and families of those who have nothing but their faith and the clothes on their backs. And I feel blessed, and loved, and spoiled, and unworthy when I think of all I've received each Christmas.
On the other hand, I absolutely love Christmas. I love the music and how the songs are sung by each generation. I love the decorations. I love the smell of pine. I love the baking. I love the movies. I love the energy that seems to surround everyone at this time of year. I love the thrill of finding the perfect gift for someone you love. I love that even people who don't normally think about God, still pause and know that Jesus is the beginnings of what we are celebrating.
So, I came across this quote on another site that resonated with this Christmas struggle of mine, and thought I would share it with you...

“The Christmas spirit is the spirit of those who, like their Master, live their whole lives on the principle of making themselves poor—spending and being spent to enrich their fellow humans, giving time, trouble, care and concern, to do good to others—and not just their own friends—in whatever way there seems to be a need….If we desire spiritual quickening for ourselves individually, one step we should take is to seek to cultivate this spirit. -JI Packer "God Incarnate" (emphasis mine)

‘You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich’ (2 Cor 8:9).”

May you find the spirit of Christmas...

Go Leafs Go!!

After an embarrassing seven game losing streak, which, unfortunately, Brett and I witnessed first hand in Atlanta, my boys in blue came out with a 5-4 win last night against Tampa Bay. They had to come back from a 3-1 score, but they tied it up before the end of the second and secured their first victory in three weeks. Finally, a third period that didn't sink us!!
Let's do the same thing Friday night in Carolina boys!! :)

I try, I really do...

but my father knows just what buttons to push, and what exact moments in time I am least prepared to deal with it... Like five minutes ago, or about three weeks ago, or minutes before my Hooding ceremony...
I try to have more patience with him, but trying for a ten day holiday is nothing compared to living with him for 8+ weeks. All it takes is one word, one look, a specific tone of voice and all reason is thrown to the wind and I want to scream........... and sometimes do.
Anyone else have a family member whose neck you occasionally want to strangle??

Where are you??

I am beginning to realize that there are a few of you out there wondering about my current status, such as which country am I in, am I working yet, and the like. (wow, you like me, you really do!)
The short answers are: Canada, and yes & no. Yes, I am working right now, but no, not as a PT.
"Let me explain... NO! There is too much! Let me sum up..."
Since I'm in Canada and can work in THIS country, and not in the States, I went and applied at Walmart since they were advertising for holiday help.
Enter prestigious cashier job. Yesssssssss!!!!!!!!!! I always dreamed of making $9/hr after grad school!!
And as far as the visascreen is concerned, after making a whirlwind trip to AL, I now have it in my hot little hands! So this week I plan on making some trips to the Niagara border to apply for my work visa, and then my SSN. Once all of that gets straightened out, I can begin working as a PT. Please Lord, let it be sooner rather than later!!
Until then... "I can help someone at register #10!" :)