Confused...

I am so confused about so many things lately... School has only been going on for 1 week, and I feel I'm already behind. The "politics" of graduate school are starting to get to me too. I have to select a committee, and file a degree plan, and I have two classes where I have to write research papers... and I chose to do a non-thesis masters so I wouldn't have to do crap like that. And it's not like I'm the only one. Most of the people in our little group of grad students are doing non-thesis with the intent of trying to get into vet school. A couple of people are doing med school. Ugh... And I haven't started my vet school app, even though parents and hubby expect that I'm going to apply again. And I guess I will, they can only tell me no again, right? I kinda feel like I shouldn't be going to school at all right now - like I should have taken a break. But what would I do? I haven't had a whole lot of work experience... And my latest work experience may be over soon....

So, here's the story on that: I could not go to work on Tuesday because of my classes. I had been scheduled because when the request form was up, I had no idea on days and times for two of my classes. So, the Saturday before, I asked pretty much everyone there if they could work for me. Since it was the first week of school, pretty much everyone said no. I did find two people willing to switch, but we weren't allowed to because they were too high up in the food chain and I was too low. They would be able to take my shift, but I couldn't take theirs, so the switch wasn't made. On Monday, I finally have my class schedule figured out, and I go up there to give it to them and to tell them that there was no way that I would be able to work the next day. Johnny was the manger I talked to that day, and he gave me some names and numbers to call of people that might be able to pick up my shift. I called, one guy said no, the other two never answered their phones. So, Tuesday, I go to class, and it's my busy day, so I don't get home until about 5:00, and of course I want to eat, etc. So, it's almost 6:00 when I look at my phone, which I had left on the charger all day. I have two messages from Richard (one of the mangers). I call him back. He told me I was scheduled to work that day, and asks why I never showed or called. I explained the situation to him: saturday, Johnny, class, all that. He rattles on for quite a while, because that it what he does, basically saying that since it's my shift, it's my duty to get someone to pick it up for me, and that I should have called. I DID try to get my shift switched, in 2 cases management wouldn't let us. And no, I did not call that day to say I couldn't work, I told them the day BEFORE that I couldn't work. So, he says he knows nothing of me coming in the previous day and all that ( like its my fault that the managers don't talk to each other). And one of the biggest things he was worried about was that someone from high up in management (because Cheddars is a chain) was going to be checking on the restaurant in the next week, and it would make HIM look bad that I didn't show up because then the restaurant would not be fully staffed. (How is that my fault? I'm thinking the managers need to work on their managing). Finally, he tells me to come in the next day and talk to Elena (yet another manager), and bring my revised schedule). So, the next day, I come in at the time he said to talk to her. Guess what? She knows absolutely nothing about this!!! She doesn't even know that I missed a shift, let alone that I was coming in to talk to her about it. So, I sit up front for a minute while she figures out what's going on. Once she's got it figured out, she calls me back, says a bunch of the same shit that Richard said, and then asks me to sign a write up saying I missed work, blah, blah, blah, and that I will come in the next Tuesday evening after my class (after the managers have had their weekly meeting or whatever) to talk about it some more. AND... all my shifts are picked up that were scheduled before that time, so that's three shifts that I wasn't allowed to work, which is at least $200 out of my pocket. So, I guess they're gonna talk about it and see if they want to continue to let me work there. If they don't that's fine, because I don't know how much longer I was going to be able to work there anyways because of my class load. I just think that's a crappy reason to fire someone. If they were gonna fire me because I was a crappy waitress, ok, whatever. But I'm not a crappy waitress. I'm not the top waitress, for sure, but I'm pretty decent.

It's just another one of those things (like the grad school stuff) where I'm totally out of my element, because I just don't understand most people's thought processes. I don't understand the weird social rules and regulations that people seem to live by; I was never given this rulebook and I don't understand it. Half the time they might as well be speaking a foreign language (well, at Cheddars they are, lol). Ugh.. so annoying.


And, being a procrastinator doesn't help either. Especially with stuff like vet school applications...

Well, I've had class for 3 days now, and I think I'll do pretty decent, although I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to continue to work. I'm sure that once the rest of my classes start, it will be impossible for me to work lunches during the week...

Anyways, in other news, I went to Austin last week, visited my cuz and jodie, and I finally got the yarn to finish my tank top (join Ravelry and check it out!). Also, I think the cat and dog are actually getting along and perhaps even liking each other. When we came back from our trip (we took Jody with us, but left Susie), Jody started licking Susie and she let her! And, she has started meowing whenever we take Jody outside to go potty. Its very odd, because she will also hiss and scratch at the dog when she starts getting too playful.

Silly Kitty

So, when I got my cat Susie, I got a bunch of toys for her off of freecycle. Her favorite thing to play with? A piece of tissue paper out of a shopping bag....

Visit from mama

My mom came up for a couple of days. She brought us a bunch of frozen meats and fruit from the ranch, plus she brought M's b-day presents (a drill and electric stapler, which I will probably use more than he will) and some various things that I had forgotten in the move. We went out to eat at Texas Roadhouse, and she did all the normal stuff that she does when she visits: helps me with projects (cat tree this time), cooks food (sour cream pound cake - yum!), and bought stuff for me (jeans, shirt, cleaning supplies, etc) just so we can save some money. Unfortunately, I had to work the lunch shift for the full day she was here, but I was off on the day she came and the day she left.

M is still on the hunt for a job, and has a possible prospect with Palm Harbor Homes, but he won't know for a week because the guy is going on vacation or something. I gave him an ultimatum last night: if he doesn't have a job by the time I'm in school, he is not allowed to ask me to do anything for him, and I better not catch him playing WoW, plus he better help around the house and learn to actually cook real food. Which reminds me of how close it is to school starting. Orientation is on the 15th, and classes start on the 18th (for my one class that is a vet class), and then regular orientation is on the 22nd, and the rest my classes start on the 25th.

Oh, and another thing my mom did while she was here was to help me dye my hair. It's been awhile since I had it highlighted, and it's starting to grow out, and I'm tired of it. It is now back to its former dark brown color. :)