Proper Drive-Through Etiquette:

1. TURN OFF YOUR BLASTED, NOISY TRUCK!!! *ahem!*

2. Speak clearly (includes not mumbling)

3. Get off your bloody cell phone (the speaker can’t see that you’re on the phone–not to mention the purpose of drive-through is to hurry up!)

4. If you happen not to know what you what you want, please so say (don’t say "um" twenty million times; don’t play deaf–the speaker, who can’t see you, doesn’t know whether he/she has been heard).

5. Please, be patient. The person operating the speaker is often dealing with two people at once: taking one’s order, taking another’s money. Do you hear me?? MONEY! Which means that that person takes priority. So, don’t scream at me if I take a second to ring up your [bloody complicated] order!!! It isn’t easy counting someone’s money when someone else is telling me their order.

Seriously, I’m one of the perkiest, most cheerful people I know. Don’t ruin the good ones of us out there by being crabby. My greatest fear is that my cheerfulness will fade after being yelled at enough. I’m not really cut out for a job like this though–where the employees have to apologize for everything and just accept abuse by customers. Both nature and nurture have crafted me to fight back. So, I just growl or mutter British curses under my breath. LOL! The nice customers really make my day. Really.

Today was better and worse than yesterday. I was in a better mood today (believe it or not)–but my customers were snippier. I think I got more "Hello? Are you there?" [in rude tones] today than ever before. Geez. Did people over-party for Christmas or something? What a bunch of crabs. I don’t think I’ve growled so many times at work before. The *ahem* best of it comes from the customer thinking I have nothing better to do than wait on them all day. Sometimes I don’t mind…but when my three other jobs start piling up on me, I do get a little stressed.

I love pleasant customers…and my co-workers.  OK! Rant done!

Friday’s Feast: 

Appetizer
How do you usually celebrate on New Year’s Eve? Stay up late and party.

Soup
Name one thing unexpected that happened to you in 2006. I got a job in fast food–after I had long ago (in more prideful times) sworn I never would.

Salad
Where was your favorite place that you visited in 2006? A park in Puyallup where some friends and I danced.

Main Course
What resolution is your top priority for 2007? A better job (no offense to my employers and co-workers).

Dessert
Using just three words, describe 2006. Outrageous, stressful drama. (Oy, the crazy things in the young adult life!)

With that, I say…Farewell! And Shabbat Shalom! 

Chronicled by: Her Grace, Duchess of the Digital Quill

Imah bought us a vacuum cleaner a couple of weeks ago. It sucked–or rather, it didn’t suck. What I mean is, it didn’t work. So, today, we took it back to the store. Imah shocked me by suggesting before we left home to check the store’s website for the pricing of DVD players. I was speechless. You really don’t know the time and effort I’ve put into persuading her to get one. But, nooo. However, I kept the faith. After all, she was once adamantly opposed to getting a CD player…we now have three. And now, we have a DVD player! Muahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, so now I want a sound system for the TV–eh, a new TV–some DVDs of my favorite shows, a laptop for myself, a digital camera, a webcam…eh-heh. Just kidding…kind of.

So, yeah, I’m excited. I could totally be a techie/geek.

Chronicled by: Her Grace, Duchess of the Digital Quill

I have nothing to say…other than the Chanukkah party I attended last night. The party was great; food was delicious (mmm…latkes); my friends (and "pets") were crazy as usual (wahoo!); and the dancing was bomb!! (I love dancing in fluttery skirts and high heels!) Of course, I haven’t danced in a while, so I would naturally be excited about the dancing. Soon, I shall have a CD with my favorite dances. Muahahahaha! Ok, I’m done.

For today’s Unconscious Mutterings:

1. Terrify :: Wraith (on Stargate Atlantis; they really creep me out.)
2. Month :: billing schedule
3. Throat :: musical instrument
4. Invasion :: __ Zim
5. Nail :: __ care
6. 12 :: __ hour clock
7. Bicker :: family (LOL!)
8. Thomas :: (reminds me of a cat)
9. Sibling :: __ rivalry
10. Delude :: deceive

Chronicled by: Her Grace, Duchess of the Digital Quill

Here are great avatars when you’re feeling crabby:

Anyway, I’ve been complaining lately–about not getting sick. It’s complicated, but I knew I was going to get sick soon and I figured Hey, I’ve got the weekend off. Why not get sick then? Heh heh. Yeah. That’s what I get. I’m so nauseous, I keep heading for the bathroom in order to save the livingroom carpet. And what do I get for my trouble? Dry heaves! (On a lighter note, I get these spinning-room thrills whenever I stand up…Oh, that’s right. I hate those rides!!!!)

So, I’ve been on the couch all day–having the laptop on my lap whenever I wasn’t heaving–having nothing really to do and no one to talk to. Yeah, yeah, I know; quit the pity party. At last I realized: Blast! I forgot to do Unconscious Mutterings! So, without further ado:

1. Hardball :: isn’t/wasn’t that a tv show?
2. Sleepless :: …in Seattle (seen it–don’t remember [liking] it)
3. Graduation :: evolution
4. Presents :: as in…gifts? I knew I liked you.
5. Toe :: tic-tack…
6. Lotion :: what I use often (me love!)
7. Snicker :: what I do upon successfully pulling off a scheme (or planning another scheme)
8. Eve :: Adam (and that blasted apple!!)
9. Investment :: looking ahead
10. Pain :: a constant life companion

And now for a random survey… The Four

4 jobs that I have had:
1. summer tutor
2. camp counselor
3. office assistant
4. cashier

4 movies that I could watch over and over:
1. Midnight
2. The Longest Day
3. Pirates of the Caribbean
4. The Italian Job

4 places I have lived:
1. Lots of places across Washington state

4 TV Shows I love:
1. Numb3rs
2. NCIS
3. Criminal Minds
4. CSI

4 places I have been on vacation:
1. Disneyland
2. Nevada/Arizona
3. Goldendale Observatory
4. the beaches and mountains of Washington

4 websites that I visit the most:
1. yahoo
2. myspace
3. DragonFable
4. del.icio.us

4 favorite foods:
1. ice cream (glidah…mmm)
2. pizza (or anything with cheese)
3. grilled cheese sandwiches (especially with soup)
4. apple pie

4 places I would rather be:
1. Heaven…
2. Israel
3. Arizona/Texas
4. Somewhere warm!

Chronicled by: Her Grace, Duchess of the Digital Quill

In case I’ve never admitted it before, I cannot live without power. Sure I could live without a microwave–but I must have a gas stove. A fireplace would be nice, too. I hate living in an apartment. Grr.

Obviously (or I wouldn’t be typing this), the power has returned. I’m not even sure the "hurricane winds" predicted for last night even happened. Well, I’m grateful for the return of power–and for not having any wayward trees invading my bedroom. Yikes. (I have had that happen before. Freaky, let me tell you.)

I’m going to make this short because I’ve been in a subdued/cranky mood since Wednesday–and the lack of power hasn’t helped. My employer is cutting back hours–right when I’m trying to save up for a car–and some of my favorite co-workers are leaving. It looks like I’ll have to find another job (oh joy); with some of my friends already leaving, though, I’m not quite as upset about it now.

Ariel’s car is breaking down, so I won’t be going to Puyallup much (if at all). And I’m going to stop this topic because it’s making me cranky (-er).

In fact, I’m just going to stop. I’m listless and I have a headache. I should probably eat something…more.

Later! Shabbat Shalom! Farewell! 

Chronicled by: Her Grace, Duchess of the Digital Quill

Too much hot cocoa with too many marshallows plus a reduction of vitamin C equals…one bad morning–which so happens to be this one. I woke up late, got up to Imah out of bed, and just *whoosh* sank onto her bed where I then curled up half-asleep (oblivious to her protests as she tried to get out of the covers I was lying on). When I did get up (10 minutes later, I’d say), I had to grab onto the dresser–and keep holding on for another minute–to keep from falling. That’s what I get for not eating any bananas for the past few days. Oh well, it wasn’t a strong fainting spell. I’ll eat a bunch of bananas today to make up for the loss. The too much sugar/not enough vitamin C presented me with a touch of sore throat this morning as well. This on top of not being a morning person!! Grrr.

Ok. Done kvetching. On to today’s Unconscious Mutterings!

1. Hello :: Kitty (I admit it. I loved that cat. I still think it’s cute. Childish, but cute.)
2. Flinstone :: Fred! Haha! Wabadabadoo!
3. Corn :: husk (I know–boring, but it was the first thing that came to mind!)
4. Interview :: with a Vampire (Don’t ask. I have not seen the movie. I just remember that Kirstin Dunst played in it. The back cover of "The Devil’s Arithmetic" said so.)
5. Deviant :: Art
6. Concept :: idea
7. Bridge :: London __
8. Karen :: D. (a friend of mine)
9. Encounter :: of the Third Kind (No, haven’t seen it. I don’t find alien stories interesting.)
10. Biological :: threat

Well, I’m off. Farewell! 

Chronicled by: Her Grace, Duchess of the Digital Quill

I just wanted to post an important blurb (a teaser, actually) of my current chapter-in-progress (The Field of Forty Scourges):

‘Weep, O Souls!
The bloodiest parts,
Of the Land will cry,
For the judgment of hearts.

One taken,
And deceived;
She who will,
Her freedom achieve.

But first death,
She must meet;
Before her likeness,
Suffer defeat.

Weep, O Souls!
The bloodiest parts,
Of the Land will cry,
For the judgment of hearts.’

"Rather violent" as Ayin remarks after reading the scroll. Just a reminder, I try to keep this series (LR) under PG-13 (though some parts may be violent/gory–it can’t be as bad as most of the stuff out there. I mean, come on–I still let my mother/friends tell me when to close my eyes when the "scary part" comes. ).

Hopefully, I’ll have this chapter up at SKS before the new year! 

Chronicled by: Her Grace, Duchess of the Digital Quill