(no subject)
So I moved about 2 months ago, and I haven't posted or written anything yet. Quite frankly, I've been so busy/lazy--both words would work well there--that when I do have time to write, I just don't know where to begin. People keep asking me the same questions over and over again. So rather than give a detailed account of my life here, I'll give you the best/worst moments version.
Do you have a job?
Yes. I have two. I work as a waitress at an Italian restaurant in Germantown. I started waitressing on September 9th. I'm also a copywriter for a non-profit in Gaithersburg, MD. I started that job on September 25th.
Do you like your job? (This usually refers to my full-time job.)
I've only been there for a month. So, I suppose I do. It's hard to tell. I make good money, and the benefits are excellent.
What do you mean you came here without a job and don't know anybody?
I've been asked this question 96 times. (Yes, I've counted.) I tell people I just didn't worry about it, and left it at that. Yes, some of you know I do have family here. They live 40 miles away. And, it is quite interesting that people respond with "Oh, that is a relief." when I tell them this. I find it quite amusing. People don't seem to realize that my cousin is married with a 2-year-old. I knew they couldn't help me out much, and I don't want to be dependent on them.
Do you like waitressing?
Does anyone like serving food? I liken it to getting an enema. You do it because its necessary for your well-being, not because you want too. I kept the waitressing job to pay off some bills. It is an excellent look into human behavior. I served one couple who complained about everything. The coffee was bitter, the shrimp past prime, meat overcooked, etc. They ended up leaving me a 25% tip. Another couple wrote on a comment card, "Great meal. Slow kitchen. Michelle was attentive and nice." My restaurant boss is also head chef. He took one look at this comment card, flicked his lighter and burned it.
Has anyone ever left you a $100 tip?
My largest tip was $30 on a $120 bill. This was given to me by 4 very drunken men. Obviously, their intoxication didn't hurt their ability to calculate 20% of a bill.
How long does it take you to get to work?
My waitressing job is about 5 minutes from my house. My copywriting job is a little trickier. In theory it should take me 15 minutes. Usually, it takes me 30. If there is an accident on I-270, it could take me 45 minutes to an hour. If there are 2 accidents on I-270, all is lost.
Have you seen the President?
No. I really don't want to see him either. I did get invited on Andrews AFB. Closest I'll probably ever get to our petrosexual president.
(Side note: I guess working for Samaritanos didn't get anything on my record since they did end up letting on the base.)
Any good vegetarian restaurants?
People around here are omnivores. They'll eat anything that gets in their way. No good vegetarian stores in Germantown. I have to travel 10 miles to get good soymillk and non-Chiquita bananas, but the frozen food selection at my grocery store makes it worth it.
Best things about Maryland:
The Young Democrat group is strong. The pay here is better (even with cost of living factored in). More to do. in general
Most interesting thing about Maryland:
To get on the ballot, you simply have to go down to Annapolis and pay a fee. I guess I'm too use to getting petition signatures. Of course, gathering petition signatures never stopped certain idiots getting on the AZ ballot.
Things I dislike about Maryland:
There are no ballot propositions here. I guess its one of my quirks, but learning about these propositions was pure fun.
I also having to go through a lot of red tape to get a driver's license. One of the 9/11 hijackers got a Virginia license with ease, so I guess now they have to make things difficult for me.
Best day here.
When I got the copywriting job....
Worst day...
Saturday....I crashed on my bike then later found out I failed my vision test. (The latter I was expecting. The first I wasn't. Someone got to close to me and caused me to lose my balance. Hitting the (cold) pavement before 9am in to the direction of traffic is NOT how I like to start my Saturday. I was all right and so was my bike. I didn't get out of my clips easily and got a quite a few laughs. I'm sure I'll find it funny in a few years days.
On cycling....things I miss...
Where do I begin?! I was quite spoiled with the Foxes. I do miss the camaraderie. People here are very competitive and will drop you w/o a flinch. I do understand the need to be competitive, but the competitiveness here can get annoying. Very few people here will stop if you are changing a flat...or even ask if they can help. I'm still trying to find a cycling group I mesh with.
I have decided to push myself and ride once a week with a faster group. They have a ride here similar to to Shoot Out called "Going There and Back Again." It is a very fast 50 mile ride, where I hold on for dear life. (Usually this is 10-15 miles. I know I'm going to get dropped, but I try to push myself and hold on for at least a 1/10 of mile longer than I did the week before. The ride is not without its weekly crashes and speed traps set up my the friendly Montgomery and Howard County Police.
How Maryland is a lot like Arizona:
Undocumented workers. I'd have to say that the immigration problem is just as big here, but hidden. When I applied for my waitressing job, I was not required to show a social security card nor a photo ID. The restaurant cooks and dishwashers are Hispanic and probably undocumented. It is amazing to me that my customers will complain about immigration. However, their food is prepared by undocumented workers. They're supporting a cause they don't like by eating at this place and they don't even realize it.
How Maryland isn't like Arizona
People here don't run red lights. I suppose they rather die speeding on the Beltway. When I first got here, I would look both ways when I got a green light. I guess I wanted to make sure no one was coming. People also here drive with intent. People here expect you to change lanes when you signal, fight for an open space, etc. It's more refreshing driving here than in Arizona. I'm even learning to swear just like a Washingtonian. :)
Anyway, that's it for now.
Miss you guys!
.
Do you have a job?
Yes. I have two. I work as a waitress at an Italian restaurant in Germantown. I started waitressing on September 9th. I'm also a copywriter for a non-profit in Gaithersburg, MD. I started that job on September 25th.
Do you like your job? (This usually refers to my full-time job.)
I've only been there for a month. So, I suppose I do. It's hard to tell. I make good money, and the benefits are excellent.
What do you mean you came here without a job and don't know anybody?
I've been asked this question 96 times. (Yes, I've counted.) I tell people I just didn't worry about it, and left it at that. Yes, some of you know I do have family here. They live 40 miles away. And, it is quite interesting that people respond with "Oh, that is a relief." when I tell them this. I find it quite amusing. People don't seem to realize that my cousin is married with a 2-year-old. I knew they couldn't help me out much, and I don't want to be dependent on them.
Do you like waitressing?
Does anyone like serving food? I liken it to getting an enema. You do it because its necessary for your well-being, not because you want too. I kept the waitressing job to pay off some bills. It is an excellent look into human behavior. I served one couple who complained about everything. The coffee was bitter, the shrimp past prime, meat overcooked, etc. They ended up leaving me a 25% tip. Another couple wrote on a comment card, "Great meal. Slow kitchen. Michelle was attentive and nice." My restaurant boss is also head chef. He took one look at this comment card, flicked his lighter and burned it.
Has anyone ever left you a $100 tip?
My largest tip was $30 on a $120 bill. This was given to me by 4 very drunken men. Obviously, their intoxication didn't hurt their ability to calculate 20% of a bill.
How long does it take you to get to work?
My waitressing job is about 5 minutes from my house. My copywriting job is a little trickier. In theory it should take me 15 minutes. Usually, it takes me 30. If there is an accident on I-270, it could take me 45 minutes to an hour. If there are 2 accidents on I-270, all is lost.
Have you seen the President?
No. I really don't want to see him either. I did get invited on Andrews AFB. Closest I'll probably ever get to our petrosexual president.
(Side note: I guess working for Samaritanos didn't get anything on my record since they did end up letting on the base.)
Any good vegetarian restaurants?
People around here are omnivores. They'll eat anything that gets in their way. No good vegetarian stores in Germantown. I have to travel 10 miles to get good soymillk and non-Chiquita bananas, but the frozen food selection at my grocery store makes it worth it.
Best things about Maryland:
The Young Democrat group is strong. The pay here is better (even with cost of living factored in). More to do. in general
Most interesting thing about Maryland:
To get on the ballot, you simply have to go down to Annapolis and pay a fee. I guess I'm too use to getting petition signatures. Of course, gathering petition signatures never stopped certain idiots getting on the AZ ballot.
Things I dislike about Maryland:
There are no ballot propositions here. I guess its one of my quirks, but learning about these propositions was pure fun.
I also having to go through a lot of red tape to get a driver's license. One of the 9/11 hijackers got a Virginia license with ease, so I guess now they have to make things difficult for me.
Best day here.
When I got the copywriting job....
Worst day...
Saturday....I crashed on my bike then later found out I failed my vision test. (The latter I was expecting. The first I wasn't. Someone got to close to me and caused me to lose my balance. Hitting the (cold) pavement before 9am in to the direction of traffic is NOT how I like to start my Saturday. I was all right and so was my bike. I didn't get out of my clips easily and got a quite a few laughs. I'm sure I'll find it funny in a few years days.
On cycling....things I miss...
Where do I begin?! I was quite spoiled with the Foxes. I do miss the camaraderie. People here are very competitive and will drop you w/o a flinch. I do understand the need to be competitive, but the competitiveness here can get annoying. Very few people here will stop if you are changing a flat...or even ask if they can help. I'm still trying to find a cycling group I mesh with.
I have decided to push myself and ride once a week with a faster group. They have a ride here similar to to Shoot Out called "Going There and Back Again." It is a very fast 50 mile ride, where I hold on for dear life. (Usually this is 10-15 miles. I know I'm going to get dropped, but I try to push myself and hold on for at least a 1/10 of mile longer than I did the week before. The ride is not without its weekly crashes and speed traps set up my the friendly Montgomery and Howard County Police.
How Maryland is a lot like Arizona:
Undocumented workers. I'd have to say that the immigration problem is just as big here, but hidden. When I applied for my waitressing job, I was not required to show a social security card nor a photo ID. The restaurant cooks and dishwashers are Hispanic and probably undocumented. It is amazing to me that my customers will complain about immigration. However, their food is prepared by undocumented workers. They're supporting a cause they don't like by eating at this place and they don't even realize it.
How Maryland isn't like Arizona
People here don't run red lights. I suppose they rather die speeding on the Beltway. When I first got here, I would look both ways when I got a green light. I guess I wanted to make sure no one was coming. People also here drive with intent. People here expect you to change lanes when you signal, fight for an open space, etc. It's more refreshing driving here than in Arizona. I'm even learning to swear just like a Washingtonian. :)
Anyway, that's it for now.
Miss you guys!
.