...And Today was a Bad Day.

The day started out so well. The parakeet that I had found that I thought was sure going to die within the hour came back from the vet today, 3 days later, and is doing great! He's hopping around his cage and while he's probably not the friendliest of birds right now, he is not shy at all. Yay! I love seeing that I helped a bird and my fast actions with my other co-worker probably helped save him (most of the credit goes to the vet, though, of course). It was also slow today, so I kind of got to relax and work with customers and get stuff done

And then she came in.

I was busy, taking care of crickets and cleaning out their bins and whatnot. This black lady comes up to the fish wall and starts looking. I'm usually supposed to greet everyone, and I probably should have, BUT I was in the middle of something and us being a brand new store right now, most of my customers are usually just looking. So I continued with my task. Never did she come near me, look at me, or try and get my attention. Ever. I know this because I would glance up at her every so often. Anyways, then another lady (white this time) came up to the fish. I was still in the cricket bin, but the second time I looked up she was staring at me and acting like she needed something, so I asked her what she needed and I went about getting her fish bagged.

The first lady then proceeded to walk back to my manager, who was working about ten feet from me. I overheard my manager say something like "all you need to do is let one of us know" and then my other associate David started getting her fish, and I helped once I was done with the other lady.

It wasn't until after she left that my manager pulled me aside and she said "That lady just totally accused you of being racist."

My jaw absolutely dropped. What? How? I didn't even interact with her? How can someone accuse me of being racist when I never talked to them? I guess she told my manager that after I acknowledged her (which never happened) and she indicated she needed something (which also never happened), I then ignored her (which never happened) and immediately went to help the white lady. Thank goodness my manager happened to have been there the whole time and knows that 1. she never tried to get my attention and 2. that I never blatantly ignored her and then helped the white lady.

Apparently this is a Southern thing, my manager told me to not worry about it and that it happens ALL the time. My question is: WHAT THE HELL WHY? In the words of Stephanie Tanner, "How rude." I don't understand the culture down here. The way that my parents raised me, I find racism disgusting and a horrible thing. NO ONE should EVER be discriminated against and to be accused of something that I absolutely do not tolerate PISSES ME OFF.

It sucks that that lady has the power to completely ruin my day. I know I shouldn't let this bother me, but that's one of my faults: I wear my feelings on my sleeve and when someone isn't fair or nice to me, it greatly upsets me. It's not that hard to be a happy person. Even if terrible things happen to you- and believe me, I've been there- there is no excuse for rudeness or assumptions of that nature. I wish I could educate this entire culture, but I can't. So I guess I'll just have to deal with it until I can move the heck out of here.

That can't happen soon enough.

I just have to write about this experience I had this morning. It made my day! I would post this on facebook, but I think it's too sensitive of a topic and I don't want to irk everyone off. Just saying.

Before I go on, everyone needs to understand that the culture down here is TOTALLY different. Unless you've been here before, I cannot possibly explain it well enough. There is a total difference between whites and blacks. I know this sounds extremely racist, but it's true. In just a glance you can tell the difference between a black person who is educated and works for their money, and the poor black people who live in the slums. Most of them are on Welfare because they're lazy, but there are a few that do work hard, they just don't have high paying jobs. Anyway, this same thing goes for white people. While more of the white people are educated vs. poor, there is still your fair share of white trash. I just wanted to mention this to let you all know it goes for both groups of people.

Anyways. I found myself unfortunately at WalMart (I try to avoid this place at all costs, but the two grocery stores I tried before today didn't have frozen peas. What the hell). I only had ONE item. Just one. So I went to the Express Lane, which is clearly labeled "20 Items or Less." I found myself behind two black women around my age with an entire cart (full of processed foods, I might add, nothing natural anywhere, but that's another topic) of food. This WalMart having serious cashier staffing problems, I decided to not change lanes because I was probably going to wait in another line anyway. Regardless, this was super annoying, hello, this is the Express Lanes. How rude.

After about 30 seconds, a white guy came up behind me. We glanced at each other for a brief second, but that was all. Then, anyway. After about 5 more minutes when I still hadn't moved, I glanced back the man. He and I both shared "a look." You know, that look where you want to roll your eyes, but you don't because politeness tells you not too, but you still want to make your annoyance known without being rude. One of those looks.

And the best part. Right after our non eye roll, he whispers very softly to me "The education system here at work."

OMG!!!!!!!!! That made my DAY! I SO wanted to burst out laughing, but I just gave a quick nod and answered quietly, "Seriously." He was clearly not Southern, he had no accent. I'm guessing retired military, but that's not all that important.

I was literally through the line after that in 20 seconds. 20 SECONDS. He only had one item and he was also through in 20 SECONDS.

This guy doesn't know it, but he's my new best friend.

This whole situation might be really rude, but I don't care. It's not that hard to read. Or maybe it is.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

So I hope everyone likes the new look of the blog. I don't know why I didn't have the picture of coffee as my background in the first place, or pick this font, since it looks so much like my own cursive. If it's hard to read let me know and I can change it, but I really like it! But now every time I get on here I get thirsty for coffee...

It's a Good Day.

Well, I can't really complain to badly about today. In fact, it was pretty darn good!

1. I found out today that I do indeed get two weeks off at Christmas. Nice! SO EXCITED!

2. My faux fur vest from Nordstrom came in today! Whoot! Now I have something new to wear. Now I just need the correct footwear and jeans and long sleeve tees to go with it.

3. My puppy is always excited to see me. That makes my day.

4. I saw a customer in the store today with a Seahawks sweatshirt on. 12TH MAN!

5. Today is my Friday.

6. My Food Network Magazine also came in the mail. And I've already read it. Sad day. But it had a section titled "50 Pies." Mmmmmmmm....... pie.

7. The pasta bolognese I made tonight had bacon in it. Bacon makes everything better. Don't believe me? Then you suck :)

8. I have to plan my menu and go grocery shopping tomorrow. I love grocery shopping! (No, seriously, I do.)

9. I either saved a parakeet's life, or I didn't save it in time. I guess I will find out when I go back to work on Thursday.

and, finally,

10. did I mention I GET TO GO HOME???????? YES!

Why Mississippi Sucks

You are probably coming here so you can read my top 10 list of "Why I Dislike Working With Mississippi Locals." I have had the pleasure of working at 3 PetSmarts now and this one by far has the worse customers. Here's why.

*Note* I have been informed by some people that Columbus, MS does not represent the majority of Mississippi. For Mississippi's sake, I sure hope that's true. This place is seriously the ghetto and there are places you just don't go- ever. That being said, the majority of my customers suck. This does not go for everyone, though, keep that in mind.

Now begins the list "Why I Dislike Working With Mississippi Locals."

1. There are 3 types of white people in this town: white trash, rich b*tches, and military personnel. A few people don't fall under any of these categories, but they are a select few. I'm sure my friend Cari will back this list up. I'll give you one guess as to which category I don't mind working with in general. But you can tell in 5 seconds what category someone will fall under. It's really sad, and sounds really rude, but it's so true.

2. A pet peeve of mine is buying something as important as an animal and not doing any research on it all. I know it's my job to make sure you have everything you need, but you should NOT come in the store, know absolutely nothing about ANY of the animals here and expect me to spend an hour with you trying to figure out what you want. It's technically my job, but it shouldn't be.

3. Birds bite. Why didn't you know that???? It has a mouth. It will bite. And most parakeets, once trained, can actually be great pets.

4. Just because you're pregnant doesn't mean you can jump ahead in line for fish. You also must wait. You are not the only woman out there who has been pregnant.

5. Also, I know you're a rich b*tch, but that doesn't give you the right to cuss out my manager because she replied "Ma'am, I'm bagging fish right now and there are a few people after her, so you are going to have to wait a little bit." That is not something that deserves a formal complain. Especially when you can see that there are twenty people all along the fish wall.

6. No, ma'am, you cannot keep a cichlid in a gallon fish bowl. Do your research.

7. Customer, pointing at fish tag (which has a picture, basic tank requirements, the THE PRICE): Ma'am, how much are these fish?" Really? You're pointing RIGHT AT IT. I seriously think some of the people here can't read. Seriously.

8. Don't flirt with me. Just don't. I don't mind a cute little smile or whatever, but don't take 20 minutes of my time asking me stupid questions like "Can I release this (captive bred) corn snake into the wild when I don't want it anymore?" to keep me talking. Just go away and let me concentrate on the customers that have legitimate questions.

9. Parents. Please tell your kids that to get my attention, grabbing my belt- from the front- is ABSOLUTELY NOT an acceptable way to get my attention. Especially if I'm bagging fish for someone else. NOBODY SHOULD EVER GRAB MY BELT. ESPECIALLY FROM THE FRONT. You are invading my personal space.

10. DO NOT ASK FOR A SPECIFIC FISH. I don't mind not catching a sick one, or getting a white and gold small comet, but if you are getting, say, a yellow guppy, I AM NOT going to get "that one" when there are 20 in there. I can't do it. Oh I can, but it's going to take me WAY longer. And you know what? IT DOESN'T MATTER.

11. The people here are lazy. Like I said before, I have worked at 3 stores. But this store is BY FAR the worse one when it comes to customers putting product back that they don't want. I have never seen so many items in the wrong spot, stuffed behind other product. If you're not going to put it back where it goes, why do you need to waste time hiding it? It took you just as long to do that as it would to take it back. Again, my job is to technically clean up after you, but it shouldn't be. We can't even get the store looking nice because after we close, we're spending most of our time putting stuff away. Grrrrrrrrrrrrr.

12. Please do not get mad at me when a lizard set up costs more than you thought it would. Yup, terrariums are expensive. So are lights. So are UVB/UVA bulbs. And yup, you still have to spend money to feed it. It's expensive. That's not my fault. Get a betta instead.

13. No ma'am, I'm not making this up, you can't put that tetra in with your cichlid. They will eat it. Don't get mad at me when I tell you this. It's not my fault the cichlid will do that. I'm trying to SAVE you money. So you should be thanking me instead.

14. Do not come to the back of the store, stand right in front of the fish wall, which is also right next to the hamsters, reptiles, and birds, and then ask me "Do you sell animals here?" Nope. These are all just fake fish. And these people that are asking questions like these aren't joking. That's the sad part.

15. WE ARE NOT A PETTING ZOO. I'm not going to take out all the hamsters so you can pet them. Unless you are seriously interested in getting one, don't waste my time.

I'm sure there will be more to come. It takes a lot to push me over the edge. The people of Columbus have already figured out how to do it. And we've been open for only two weeks.

I Heart Jonny Lee Miller

I don't know how, but I found time to start my endeavor of watching all the Jane Austen book-into-movie adaptions. I started with Mansfield Park, since that's one of my favorite books of hers and there's only two adaptions (at least on youtube, anyway).

The first version is from 1999 after this and stars Jonny Lee Miller (um, hot much? Yes.) as Edmund and Frances O'Conner as Fanny. The more recent version, 2007, stars Billie Piper as Fanny and Blake Ritson as Edmund. I must admit I don't know much about any of these actors, so I guess that's a good thing because I'm not bias towards one or the other. All I know is that Jonny Lee Miller was once married to Angelina Jolie and that he's extremely hot. But Blake's not all that bad either.

Well glad that's out of the way. Moving on.

The first one I saw was the 1999 version. I've seen it multiple times, and if I remember correctly, I saw the movie before I actually read the book. Bad idea, because I tend to remember details from the movie more than the book. I do, however, know that 1999 strays rather far from the book. I won't get into huge details since I know most of you haven't read this book, but they change Fanny- the main heroine- up almost too much. In the book she is really shy and they treat her as a servant. In 1999 she is treated more as an equal, but they don't let her forget that she's not, and she's more outspoken. While this makes for a more interesting movie (her character would be rather dull if exactly like the movie), it kind of strays away from the whole idea of what Fanny is supposed to be. The other huge problem I have with this movie is the portrayal of the dad, Mr. Bertram. In the book he always treats Fanny as a far inferior, but I think he actual secretly admires her character and in the end he is actually very warm to her when he realizes she is way better than half of his children. But in 1999, they portray him as this angry guy who rapes all his slaves and I didn't appreciate that at all, especially since I don't think he does that in the book. All the other characters I think are portrayed similar.

Now to the 2007 version. This one is by far more accurate and follows the book closely. It's been awhile since I read the book, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't stray far. Fanny is more like she is in the book, as well as Mr. Bertram, and a secondary character named Miss Crawford gets under your skin much more than in 1999. They developed her character more in this version, which I think was a great success. This version might be a little duller than the 1999, but I can't fault it for staying right with the book. That, after all, was the real masterpiece.

If I had to pick a favorite, I think I would pick 2007. While the characters aren't nearly as good looking (sorry, Blake, but Jonny SO has you beat), I think it sticks more with the book. Frances is WAY prettier than Billie, but Fanny is supposed to be plain looking and rather boring, but a strong character nonetheless. Of course, I haven't talked about everything, but I think this covers the general thoughts that I had while watching it.

And did I mention that even though Fanny and Edmund are the heroine and hero and they live happily ever after (oh come on, I didn't spoil anything, all of Austen's books end like that), that they're cousins? Try to keep that thought out of your head while you watch the movie/read the book.

Any suggestions on which movies I should tackle next?

Why am I not British?

So I was discussing British authors the other day via Facebook with my cousin, Hayley. This conversation- about our love for Jane Austen and the hotness of the actors cast in the movies- has inspired me that once I'm done with the Harry Potter books (which should be fairly soon), I'm going to try and watch all the movie adaptations that I can. I have already watched a lot of them, but there are some I'm missing. Thank goodness that youtube has most, if not all, of them!

I already some favorite versions, but I'll keep those to myself until I finish all of the same book. I'm currently watching the 1999 version of Mansfield Park, then will continue with the 2007 version and compare them. I have seen the 1999 version before, I'm just refreshing myself before I watch the next one.

If you have never read Jane Austen, everyone should at least read Pride and Prejudice. It's a perennial favorite! It's also the easiest to read, in my opinion, Miss Austen's Old English can be hard to comprehend occasionally.

Happy reading!