In My Memory

The last few days have been about memories. Trying to forget old ones, from a long time ago, those that make you think twice before going to bed, and trying to hold on to more recent ones, for those are the best you've ever had. I always used to say that the past holds no value for me, as it is only been something that has shaped me up to what I am today, and what I can do tomorrow. However, recently I found that things that might soon be in the past, in certain ways, might be the best thing that I've ever stumbled upon, and it would be too less honor to just say it shaped me, and forget about it. It's still more interesting to see if the future can be different from what I think my recent past will start to look like. Enough poetry already.
Let me share Tiesto's "In My Memory" before I move on to describing my days. After the video there's another thing I need to share though. It's about something back in Holland that also kept running through my head and I've been meaning to share that with you for a long time as well.



About the Dutch thing. Before I left for Florida, I saw these banners on the streets, linked to the annual campaign for safe driving as "the schools have started again". This year they had the somewhat remarkable slogan which said "The schools have started again. Drive with your heart." I'm not quite sure, but I think there were red accents in the banner to link your thoughts to a heart and such. Ever since I saw that first banner I had been thinking if anything like that would actually provide people with a reason to be careful in traffic around residential (and educational) areas. Think about it; when would you be a better drive. When using your passionate heart, or rational mind? There you go.
Change the campaign, because you're not making much sense. Speaking of campaigns (and here I go back to the States again, as it is election time as you know), I'd like to point out a little thing about the Obama campaign. Or one of the adverts I heard on the radio. It was a commercial with different people stating reasons to vote for Obama (or NOT vote for McCain). Most of these reasons were about financial issues, and actually, multiple were about the gas prices. Now I wonder if anyone is actually paying any attention in here. People are complaining about the gas prices in the States. We recently filled up Georgi's Audi, which holds just over 60 liters, for the ridiculously low price of 53 dollars. Try filling up a tank that size, anywhere in France, Holland or Germany, and see how hard that kicks your pennies out of a wallet.
We don't have cable in here, and at my work, the televisions are muted, so I can never hear actual speeches or TV comments, and I just have to do with some commercials and the nutshelled internet articles mostly, but if that's what they're all about, I wonder what makes people move here. Can't remember hearing much about education or healthcare. All I remember is gas prices, paying your bills, stop working at a reasonable age and have a proper retirement fund.
I'm currently reading another Baldacci, about lobbyists in Washington, and Baldacci scetched the thoughts of one of the lobbyists, asking a somewhat naive opposer if he really thought that any congressman from Detroit would vote against any proposal that would harm the car industry, or if people from the Southern states would go against certain Tobacco laws. People vote with their wallets here, it seems. More than anything else.

My region, South Florida, is known for its democratic influences, or so I've come to understand, and I guess that's why I see more Obama merchandise around (last week, there was a little boy, I guess 5 years old, wearing an Obama shirt. I'll bet you ten dollars he couldn't tell a thing about the man without looking at his father lip-syncing something). I still support Barack as well, but honestly, his campaining sucks, unless it's on the offensive, trying to diminish what McCain said to him in the media. That's one of the things I think he and his team have mastered.
There you have my out of line part for the moment. I could probably keep on ranting if I wanted, but I'll leave it here!

Last day I discussed with you was monday, so let's see what I did on tuesday;
I worked from 7 to 3:30, together with Steven only. For some reason, that day had 4 people scheduled to work, and wednesday, my day off, had 7. Don't ask. Steven and I would be replaced by two people coming in at 3PM. We'd had to take breaks in the back, since during small rushes, it would be quite impossible to manage everything on your own, trying to make coffees, get orders in, get the needed pastries and coordinate other things. Decided to have a quick break after 12 anyway, as busy times usually run up to 11:30 for some reason.
Had a great day managing things just with the two of us, without Pierre. Learned a lot about all the sales, coffees and retail products I didn't know before, or perfected those areas.
One more colleague, however, would have made it better for me to also concentrate on getting some storage issues done, and observe a few things, but I guess working like this isn't bad at all either.
During another easy time, I made more pizza bottoms with Dana and I talked with Tina again, who was there on her day off, trying to finish the Questionnaire Pierre gave us to complete, with standard knowledge, general food and beverage knowledge, and Le Marche product knowledge. I'm getting there in general, with my questions and will try to complete it tomorrow. Which is payday again. Yay!

Wednesday was my day off, during which I woke up at 12:30 in the afternoon. Didn't set any alarms, slept through everything and rested up completely, and then did some useful things! Went to get a bike lock for my newly acquired mountainbike, which I bought through craigslist.com, a really useful website, maybe much like eBay if you please, but it's got literally everything on there for the States. Bought it from a man named Cody, who is working as an F&B recruiter for some resorts in the vicinity of Vail, Colorado. Also one of the places I would have went if I never would've gone to Florida. What are the odds huh? Was a really cool guy and I might just call him soon if we decide to head that way later. See if we can meet up for some snow fun. He also threw in a new sleeping bag he was carrying with him but didn't want to move to Colorado, and a flashlight. So all was good.
Went to AT&T for a new internet appointment to get my telephone line working. They're supposed to come on monday now. If noone shows up I'm cancelling everything and move to Comcast instead. When I was on hold, waiting for some representative, I heard a voice say that AT&T had an awarded customer service program. If these guys get a freaking award, I'm seriously scared to do business with other companies, I tell you. I'll let you know what happens on monday.
That night we ate some pizzas (yes, mom, me too. Pepperoni pizzas) and watched National Treasure 2 and The Ruins (the latter sucked) with Bart and Yatha. It was Yatha's day off and he did most things with me (such as AT&T and groceries, and getting those movies), and Bart was off at 3:30.
Also, when being in the waiting line at Publix I was accompanied by a girl, or woman, who somehow intrigued me. She looked a bit too cheap, in a way, but I don't know, there's still something about that. She drove off in a white Mercedes though, so yeah. After the movies, spent some time on Fruity Loops again, messing with the piano sounds, and went to bed after reading some Baldacci.
Oh, wait! Earlier that day I went for a swim with Yatha in our pool, with our 2 dollar goggles so we could do some underwater exploring there, and then we cleaned the jacuzzi which we both used later! Was a really nice day.

This thursday I woke up around 11, and spent the entire day at home, being around my laptop, enjoying time off with Bart. Read some more Baldacci again, and we rented two movies again (three, actually, but I've seen Pirates of the Caribbean more times than I can count). Watched "Meet The Spartans", a one hour parody on 300, which has Carmen Electra in there, and Juncture, a movie about a woman killing people who have gotten out of jail after they've been convicted for hurting or killing children. Was more drama involved in that along the way, and I quite liked it. The lead role player intrigued me a lot, I guess I can recommend this one.

So that's it for now. I guess you'll be hearing from me sooner or later again. Certainly on wednesday again, the day after the Dredg concert. I'll try to pop one in between, but I've got evening shifts the coming days, and might not be willing to write when I get back at midnight.