I thought gardening was supposed to be relaxing
Sunday's hat:
In just a few more shifts I'll have 30 hat pictures! I'll post them all on socials at that time I guess.
The shift was fine, it was crazy-busy at Disney Springs for some unknown reason so for the first time all week we were able to meet and exceed our sales goal. That felt good, though not much comes of it at the bottom-feeder level really. I surprised myself by selling one of the "My Fair Lady" hats, the one with the gigantic brim.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Monday I was up at 8, breakfast and goofing off until 9:30 or so, then transcription practice. As I get closer to finishing I feel more and more nervous about actually starting the work. It'll be fine, it's just that the unknown is always intimidating.
After an hour of transcription Jameson was awake so I cleaned our bathrooms, then popped to the grocery for a pork tenderloin. Got it marinating at home, ate lunch, and practiced. I'd meant to have a sort of Repotting Party for my indoor plants but time got away from me.
Instead I ended up unexpectedly harvesting my pineapple. It had turned golden yellow and smelled fantastic, so I knew it MUST be ready....but it hasn't gotten any bigger in the months I've had it, and is about the size of a softball....
...and yet the crown is GIGANTIC. It looks absolutely ridiculous! I couldn't stop sniggering at it.
It's like, I don't know....a little pineapple comet with a giant tail haha.
Why didn't the fruit get bigger? Why is the crown so huge? I've never grown pineapples before and have no idea. But it's hilarious, and judging from the mouth-watering smell coming off the fruit it'll still taste wonderful. I'll probably try and plant the crown too.
For dinner I made a pork tenderloin rubbed in brown sugar, rosemary, coarse mustard, sherry, salt, and pepper.
I used a new meat thermometer, the kind that goes in the oven while the meat cooks, and as a result the tenderloin was cooked PERFECTLY. The only thing I messed up was the crust, but I think starting that process earlier will give better results next time.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday 8am, same as yesterday, breakfast and transcription.
Ordered misc things from Amazon: a container for shipping the firefly cutting to my aunt; a measuring tape because mine broke; two small toiletry containers for tour; fermented red bean curd because Jameson expressed interest in air fryer crab Rangoon and I want to make char siu chicken to go with it, which involves the curd, which I can't get anywhere but the Asian grocery stores an hour away.
I finished all of my training modules, and must now take the tests. YEEK.
Did a load of laundry; went to Lowes for an outdoor light timer (for the petunia while I'm on tour) and perlite; Publix for a PubSub; home to eat lunch, process the pineapple, dry and fold the laundry. Planted the pineapple crown and we'll see if it roots.
Checked on the banana. The new flower has opened, and the bananas are looking more plump. Waiting is hard.
Did some air tromboning over some difficult sections of my music.
Went to work a closing shift at the hat shop.
Today's hat:
My boss was there for the closing shift, which I don't mind because he's cool...but I disliked having to endure the social construct of "Everyone be on your best behavior, the BOSS is here!" Like.....how I work every day, IS my best behavior for that day. I'm not going to change how I act or work just because of "the boss." If I have to do that, something's wrong. And if I'm not performing to company standard, I'd rather someone tell me than "fake it" when he's around and continue to do a bad job. Eh, maybe this is what happens when you get old, you don't give two f*cks :P But it IS a construct, and a rather ridiculous social expectation, and any time I get to either ignore or stomp on a construct it pleases me greatly. Perhaps it's not an age thing after all, but an INTJ thing.
Anyway I worked like I normally do, and no one complained :p
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday Jameson and I both woke up nervous. Him because of his interview with Carnival Cruises; me because I was taking my transcription tests. His interview took about an hour and seemed to go really well. They gave him more info about the job, but didn't specify pay or set up a secondary interview. To me that says the next time they reach out it would be to make an offer. We will see.
I completed my quizzes and did an OK job, only getting one answer wrong (I should have gotten NO answers wrong because I could reference my notes, sigh.) I was then offered my first transcription job, due a week from today. I am terrified and excited! My QA guy took the time to make me a video on how to get started with my case, so I am encouraged by his help and support. I wanted to start right away, but know that this is the kind of thing that requires undivided attention. Instead I focused on side-chores.
I went to both Sprouts and Whole Paycheck for ingredients for dinner for the next two nights, that took two hours (40-minute drive both ways.) Lunch, then putting chicken thighs in a char siu marinade and finally having that Potting Party.
It doesn't look like much but it did take a while. My philodendrons are pitiful and scraggly, and needed to be untangled and trimmed, then painstakingly dipped in rooting hormone and potted in new soil. Then I took one more cutting from the firefly petunia, potted that, watered everyone, and cleaned up. I couldn't have been outside for more than an hour but the petunia was already wilting when I brought it back in. Thanks Florida.
For dinner I made simple caprese sandwiches, toasting ciabatta rolls and brushing them with pesto, adding fresh basil and tomato and fluffy mozz, topped with cracked black pepper and balsamic glaze. They were so good and refreshing, a last taste of summer :)
After dinner Jameson had a lot to deal with (in addition to the interview he got slammed with more work and also has a friend's show, Jollywood, and Candlelight to practice for) so I took the trash out, showered, cleaned the shower, and typed up this post. This week has felt very hectic but some weeks are like that.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday: Starting my first transcription job, going to the tailor again (he messed up one pair of pants), doing misc chores, making air fryer crab rangoon and char siu chicken for dinner.
Friday: More transcription (finishing the job would be ideal here) and night shift at the hat shop.
Saturday: A day off. Probably going to start gathering things for the thrift store and/or online selling.
In just a few more shifts I'll have 30 hat pictures! I'll post them all on socials at that time I guess.
The shift was fine, it was crazy-busy at Disney Springs for some unknown reason so for the first time all week we were able to meet and exceed our sales goal. That felt good, though not much comes of it at the bottom-feeder level really. I surprised myself by selling one of the "My Fair Lady" hats, the one with the gigantic brim.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Monday I was up at 8, breakfast and goofing off until 9:30 or so, then transcription practice. As I get closer to finishing I feel more and more nervous about actually starting the work. It'll be fine, it's just that the unknown is always intimidating.
After an hour of transcription Jameson was awake so I cleaned our bathrooms, then popped to the grocery for a pork tenderloin. Got it marinating at home, ate lunch, and practiced. I'd meant to have a sort of Repotting Party for my indoor plants but time got away from me.
Instead I ended up unexpectedly harvesting my pineapple. It had turned golden yellow and smelled fantastic, so I knew it MUST be ready....but it hasn't gotten any bigger in the months I've had it, and is about the size of a softball....
...and yet the crown is GIGANTIC. It looks absolutely ridiculous! I couldn't stop sniggering at it.
It's like, I don't know....a little pineapple comet with a giant tail haha.
Why didn't the fruit get bigger? Why is the crown so huge? I've never grown pineapples before and have no idea. But it's hilarious, and judging from the mouth-watering smell coming off the fruit it'll still taste wonderful. I'll probably try and plant the crown too.
For dinner I made a pork tenderloin rubbed in brown sugar, rosemary, coarse mustard, sherry, salt, and pepper.
I used a new meat thermometer, the kind that goes in the oven while the meat cooks, and as a result the tenderloin was cooked PERFECTLY. The only thing I messed up was the crust, but I think starting that process earlier will give better results next time.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday 8am, same as yesterday, breakfast and transcription.
Ordered misc things from Amazon: a container for shipping the firefly cutting to my aunt; a measuring tape because mine broke; two small toiletry containers for tour; fermented red bean curd because Jameson expressed interest in air fryer crab Rangoon and I want to make char siu chicken to go with it, which involves the curd, which I can't get anywhere but the Asian grocery stores an hour away.
I finished all of my training modules, and must now take the tests. YEEK.
Did a load of laundry; went to Lowes for an outdoor light timer (for the petunia while I'm on tour) and perlite; Publix for a PubSub; home to eat lunch, process the pineapple, dry and fold the laundry. Planted the pineapple crown and we'll see if it roots.
Checked on the banana. The new flower has opened, and the bananas are looking more plump. Waiting is hard.
Did some air tromboning over some difficult sections of my music.
Went to work a closing shift at the hat shop.
Today's hat:
My boss was there for the closing shift, which I don't mind because he's cool...but I disliked having to endure the social construct of "Everyone be on your best behavior, the BOSS is here!" Like.....how I work every day, IS my best behavior for that day. I'm not going to change how I act or work just because of "the boss." If I have to do that, something's wrong. And if I'm not performing to company standard, I'd rather someone tell me than "fake it" when he's around and continue to do a bad job. Eh, maybe this is what happens when you get old, you don't give two f*cks :P But it IS a construct, and a rather ridiculous social expectation, and any time I get to either ignore or stomp on a construct it pleases me greatly. Perhaps it's not an age thing after all, but an INTJ thing.
Anyway I worked like I normally do, and no one complained :p
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday Jameson and I both woke up nervous. Him because of his interview with Carnival Cruises; me because I was taking my transcription tests. His interview took about an hour and seemed to go really well. They gave him more info about the job, but didn't specify pay or set up a secondary interview. To me that says the next time they reach out it would be to make an offer. We will see.
I completed my quizzes and did an OK job, only getting one answer wrong (I should have gotten NO answers wrong because I could reference my notes, sigh.) I was then offered my first transcription job, due a week from today. I am terrified and excited! My QA guy took the time to make me a video on how to get started with my case, so I am encouraged by his help and support. I wanted to start right away, but know that this is the kind of thing that requires undivided attention. Instead I focused on side-chores.
I went to both Sprouts and Whole Paycheck for ingredients for dinner for the next two nights, that took two hours (40-minute drive both ways.) Lunch, then putting chicken thighs in a char siu marinade and finally having that Potting Party.
It doesn't look like much but it did take a while. My philodendrons are pitiful and scraggly, and needed to be untangled and trimmed, then painstakingly dipped in rooting hormone and potted in new soil. Then I took one more cutting from the firefly petunia, potted that, watered everyone, and cleaned up. I couldn't have been outside for more than an hour but the petunia was already wilting when I brought it back in. Thanks Florida.
For dinner I made simple caprese sandwiches, toasting ciabatta rolls and brushing them with pesto, adding fresh basil and tomato and fluffy mozz, topped with cracked black pepper and balsamic glaze. They were so good and refreshing, a last taste of summer :)
After dinner Jameson had a lot to deal with (in addition to the interview he got slammed with more work and also has a friend's show, Jollywood, and Candlelight to practice for) so I took the trash out, showered, cleaned the shower, and typed up this post. This week has felt very hectic but some weeks are like that.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday: Starting my first transcription job, going to the tailor again (he messed up one pair of pants), doing misc chores, making air fryer crab rangoon and char siu chicken for dinner.
Friday: More transcription (finishing the job would be ideal here) and night shift at the hat shop.
Saturday: A day off. Probably going to start gathering things for the thrift store and/or online selling.