Life lesson #2

A few tips that I've learned this week. 1) No matter how expensive and fancy do NOT serve grilled cheese sandwiches at your wedding as a first course. Even with tomato soup. Or black truffle oil. Nothing can disguise the fact you are serving 400 people something they can make themselves. At home in their pajamas. 2) No one really wants to listen to Frank Sinatra for 90 minutes at top volume while eating dinner. (Or Barry Manilow, or techno pop, or 80's dance tunes or big band) Turn down the music for dinner. Let people talk for crying out loud. 3) Proofread. If you aren't sure about the spelling or grammar ask someone to look at it for you. Microsoft Word isn't the best guide for grammar advice. 4) Thank you notes are a good thing. 5) Patience and good manners will get you into the first class lounge if you didn't pay for it. I know. But that's another story.

Leadership is practised...

There's a quote I like about leadership. It's on a poster I saw once."Leadership is practised not so much in words, but in actions and in attitude." If only more people followed it.I recently got a part time job. Although calling it part time is a stretch since I put in 40 hours in 3 days last weekend.But the more I see of the managers at this place the more I am convinced that they need to follow this little piece of advice.Take this evening. Everyone is setting up tables for tomorrow. Everyone except the four managers.They are standing around talking amongst themselves and lecturing us on how to do things correctly.And once in a while one of them calls out the time. "It's 12:30. Hurry up you should be finished with this by now."Well, maybe we could all go home a little sooner, if you actually helped.If this keeps up I might offer a little 'constructive criticism'But for now I keep my head down, my mouth shut, and add up my paycheck in my head.

Baking

There's something comforting about baking. At least that's how I feel. And it's not really about the end result. Hey I won't turn down a well baked muffin, or cookie.And I have been known to eat a whole batch of chocolate chip cookies on my own over a week or two.But baking is fun and creative. If more people baked and shared(Important that!) life would be better. Baking teaches precision and patience as well.Ask anyone who missed an ingredient in a cake if precision isn't important. And patience. Have you ever waited for bread dough to rise? Baking bread is an all day affair. Maybe more than a day if you are going for fancy breads or croissants.Gives you a different perspective on people who do it all day. Not to mention I bet if you bake your own croissants you will never again complain about the bakery prices! But really there's nothing like homemade. No matter how long it takes. Okay it's made with love expression is cheesy and trite, but there's something to it.

Pampering

Three of my favorite Friday things. There is little to compete with the joy of having a good baseball game on the tube, a medium double cheese with mushrooms and beef and the current favorite ice cream du jour. Talk about bliss. Now, I don't do this every Friday. Maybe once a month. It depends on the game, what my ice cream mood is, when was payday. The usual variables. If you are ever looking for pampering and relaxation try it. It doesn't have to be baseball, pizza and ice cream. It could be Football, fondue and cheesecake. Or how about soccer, French onion soup and creme brulee? Combine your favorite sport, comfort food and dessert. Hang out in your most comfortable clothes in front of the tube. Invite some friends. Or not. It's up to you. Trust me. It's great.

International Tiara Day

Wednesday was International Tiara Day. We celebrated at the library by wearing our very own fashionable paper tiaras. By that internationally known designer Crayola.I have learned today that if you wear a paper crown and act like it's no big deal people will accept it as normal.Well, okay not 'Normal', but they don't laugh and point and think it's strange. At least not in front of you. Well, to be fair I have gotten some strange looks.Most people have gotten a kick out of it so far. And it's a great conversation starter. Which just goes to show that if you have confidence you can do anything.Even wear a hand colored paper tiara at work. Not that I'd call it everyday wear, but for once in a while it's fun.The only downside is I forgot my camera.

Life lessons #1

It was an interesting week. I learned a lot actually. I wasn't even trying. Isn't that always the way? Anyway, what I learned. First and most important. Periodically check your credit card bills and figure out how much interest they are charging you. I was refiguring my budget and did this. I was appalled. American Express is getting away with highway robbery. I've adopted a new rule. If they are charging you more than 10% interest dump 'em and try something better. In this case brand loyalty is not a good thing. The second thing was being flexible in your travel destinations can net some awesome deals. Which was actually why I was checking the budget. A friend caught the travel bug and a cool deal came up going to Brussels. Yeah, first thought is Huh? But after I thought about it for a bit(and did some searching) it wasn't such an odd deal. It's one of the capitals of the European Union, so it's very cosmopolitan with some great night life. They are famous for waffles, beer and chocolate, you can go shopping for some lace, and maybe hit the Royal art museum or the Science museum. Not bad for a weekend package under $800.00. It's amazing what you learn on the internet. So it was a productive week. Vacation and saving money. Who can ask for better than that at the beginning of summer?