there's something in the air...

I wish that I could say that that something is love, camaraderie, happiness, mystery, wonder....love...

It's not. There is literally something in the air. Something that my body hates. Something that causes my eyes to itch, nose to run, and makes me sneeze a good 25 times every five minutes.

Mmmm.

So I guess I'll just say goodbye to breathing for the next week and a half. 

Goodbye breathing. I'll see you when my body decides to cooperate and compromise. 

The things we do for money...

I like money. I like the things that I can do with money; like buy food, pay for rent, buy books, travel, make dollar bill rings...you know, all that good stuff.That's why I have a job, and a pretty good job at that. I've already posted about employment as a secretary in the Teacher Education Department at BYU, so I won't go into that. (See what I did there? I told you about it without really telling you about it. Sneaky, huh?)

Sometimes it's hard for me to remember that that's why I have a job. This is usually when I'm in the thick of an awesome project. As I was sitting at work the other day, completing the redundant job of folding 125 invitations and putting them in corresponding envelopes, I hearkened back on the things I, my family, and my friends have done, all for an extra penny.

• As a secretary my sister Rebecca cleaned throw-up off of a professor's binder. The throw up was the professors 
• I have wrapped 60 packets of licorice. Curled ribbon and all
• My past roommate woke up and 3:30am to go clean buildings on campus
• Rebecca has set up an entire Playmobil set for her 65 year old boss
• My brother Spencer spent hours of his college life surrounded by and inhaling paint fumes 
• The next door neighbor and friend sacrifices her Saturday mornings, being to work by 7
• A different past roommate sat in the HFAC from 8 until 6 on a Saturday letting students into a try-out room every 15 minutes
• Yet another roommate stood at a sink and scrubbed dishes for 2 hours after serving food for BYU Catering
• I try to deal with emotionally distraught students who can't get in contact with their professor
• At her newer job Rebecca has to scan in thousands of documents in an effort to get an old doctor to use 21st century technology
• I did about 350 hours of transcriptions this summer
• My parents moved away from family in Utah to go to Las Vegas for my dad's work
• I have bruised my wrists from scooping frozen ice cream for 4 hours at a time
• My friend from high school would stand on sugar drenched and super sticky mats, in a shack, for 6 hours selling frozen ice.
• Friends now go to work at all hours. I know of one shift that goes from midnight to 6am
• Rebecca, Spencer and myself have all experienced tomato sauce under the fingernails, onion juice in the eye, the touch of garlic artichoke hearts, and the ever pervasive odor of pizza that clings to your body for hours
• Another friend watches hours of PBS Kids in order to edit and prep them to be aired. (Ok, that isn't too bad. I love me some PBS Kids)
• With help I made 110 crepes...yeah...I'm going to have to wait another year and a half before I can make another crepe
• We all spend oodles of time with people that we probably would never choose to spend time with outside of work
• We wear certain clothes and say certain things
• We willing put ourselves under the orders of someone else and subject ourselves to their every wish and demand

Why do we do these things? For that extra buck, that next raise so that we can go and make our lives better through the things that can only be purchased monetarily. Woot-Woot for capitalism and the American Dream. Are we living it or what? 

What insanity have you experienced for that piece of paper named "paycheck?"

Now, if you'll excuse me, it's time for me to transport these heavy boxes of books across campus.

*This blog post is written in a tone meant to convey sarcasm. Please take note that I do enjoy my life and the things that happen in it. I have a good job with good work and a good boss. Only on occasion am I required to do outrageous things for it.*

Spencer and Annie

This is my brother Spencer. He likes to climb rocks.

 This is Spencer's wife, Annie. She also likes to climb rocks.

 They went on a trip to Colorado. This is one of the steep rocks they climbed there.

Because they like to.

They like standing on very small ledges, hundreds of feet in the air...

 ...clinging onto nothing, hundreds of feet in the air...

...and doing the splits for an hour, hundreds of feet in the air. 

Why are they so cool?

estoy lista

estoy lista: I am ready

What am I ready for?

People. I'm ready for people to come back into my life. Fortunately, what with school starting in a week, many people will be returning to me. Others still have more than a year before I see them so I'm going to focus on those people that are coming back now. For example...

2312
BYU 55th
Running buddies
Skyline High School graduates
"What the Crepe" (see last post)

So on and so forth. So people, come to me. I'll be waiting. Have been all summer...

Breakfast at Teacher Ed

Yesterday it was my turn to supply the weekly Friday breakfast for the 5 secretaries at work. My roommate had recently participated in a similar endeavor, and since I think she's pretty cool, I decided maybe I'd try it out as well. The batter was mixed with love, the toppings handpicked, and each edible wonder skillfully flipped. Brittany, Tracie and I might be the best crepe flippers I'm aware of.

That's right, I provided crepes for the work breakfast club.

So because I don't usually prepare food for other people to eat, I was somewhat apprehensive about the reaction and thoughts of those participating in the partaking. One coworker pointed out that the last time he had eaten crepes he had gotten sick and since then had an aversion to the pancake. (He continued to take three) My other coworkers were complimentary in their comments but they're just nice people and wouldn't say anything mean anyway. I was grateful but passed it off as a surface salute and continued to work on my LAST TRANSCRIPTION (but that's another story...)

As I was walking down the hall, past the office where all of my bosses reside, one of them called me in. Somewhat confused I entered the office to see the head of my department holding an empty plate. She had been given a crepe without my knowledge and was thanking me for it, also being very kind in her comments. I thanked her and was about to leave when she stopped me and asked if, instead of having the nearby Kneaders Bakery provide breakfast for the Teacher Education Department open house, I would be willing to make crepes for ALL the attendees.

...Excuse me, what?

Another one of my bosses joined in saying how that would be perfect and so much better than the heavy food Kneaders would provide. Yet another boss also stepped in and gave her support and encouragement.

I was taken aback and extremely flattered. I accepted the responsibility, wondering in amazement at the turn breakfast group had taken that morning.

While I am flattered and proud I feel that recognition should be given to those who truly deserve it. Brittany and Tracie, you made this dream come true. Thank you. Now you can begin preparing yourself for the crepe marathon, happening August 24th-25th. Love you guys.

 ***

 If you would like a crepe creation at your next big event, please let What the Crepe? be apart of it. Contact one of the three owners via blog comment, facebook, or just come visit us at the nearest location! Our apartment doors are always open for business.

Brittany

Tracie

***

Not too shabby

Having a worker at Anthropologie compliment your outfit puts a certain spring in your step.




Some day I'll have money to actually buy something there.

Stuck

Dear Camera Cord,

Where art thou? I can't post about things I've taken pictures of if you are missing from my life. Please, return to me. I'll treat you better than I have in the past.

With love,
Stuck in a Predicament