Today Buddha left us. Yesterday Buddha was arrested. This OTHER guy, Charley, stole a bunch of money from a bunch of people. Somehow Buddha got tied into it in the polices’ minds. The ONLY thing Buddha is guilty of is sending out two checks of a large amount (between the two of them being over 1000) and didn’t have the money to back them. But that was taken care of, he got the money through for it. One story is that the checks were TO Charley and one story is that Charley knew about the checks and so pointed his finger at Buddha hoping to get himself off the hook. Either way Buddha spent the night in jail and, apparently 3 years banned from the park and a certain amount of unsupervised ion. 3 YEARS BANNED from the park! That screws his apprenticeship over, that tears up all his plans and shakes his life completely. He dropped by today to say goodbye, and cried. I almost cried (granted I’m also hormonal but still). It’s complete bull! He did nothing to deserve this, nothing. And the romantic side of me says the entire world should have stopped for today, like in the movies when something happens and everything stops. I hated that everything had to go on. I said goodbye, gave him a hug, then went back to work. Everyone went back to work, nothing stopped, life has to go on. Drove me nuts.


But, as life does go on, we got to picking on Cheryl. One of my Sous Chefs… I think my favorite. A few of us were saying she needs to start her own restaurant. To which we would say “screw this” to Yellowstone and the Inn and work for her. Even I, with all my dreams, would stop to work for her. Talk about valuable experience! She’s good enough to do so, we all that were discussing it work WONDERFULY together and we all love Cheryl. It would be AMAZING. She’s worked front and back of house - decided she was born to wear the whites, but she KNOWS both sides. It could work. It would ROCK. And apparently they’ve been telling her that since school. When she said that - all exasperated - I replied that if so many people are saying the same thing maybe we’re ONTO something! She just gave me one of her Cheryl looks and walked away. But still! So I kind of hope one day she will. When I leave I’m going to exchange numbers and emails or something and tell her that if she EVER decides to open CALL ME! TELL ME! And all of the returners agree that since it’s change of hands Xanterra has gone downhill SEVERELY, most of them don’t want to return.. It would be perfect timing and everything. I hope she buckles and goes for it. ^_^

Anyway, that's what's new. Good, bad, and the ugly. And the hopeful. FIVE WEEKS AS OF TODAY!

SIX MORE WEEKS!

I'm excited, can you tell? Most people here can't. Too tired and such to be outwardly excited. But only six more weeks until the contract is up!

I don't know what kind of person it makes me, I'm sitting here... Tired, legs, knees, and feet still aching, and ate at the Fountain because the EDR was THAT bad... yet I'm probably going to come back next year. I was thinking completely crazy today, or so I've been told. I told Maddie my thoughts and she asked if I had a fever. My thoughts were perhaps to come back next year and be front of house. Either server or hostess. I could, either one. I know I can put up with the people because I put up with the FOH staff, and I know I can carry what they need me to, and we've all seen me to the "waitress" bit with the holding it like wait staff do... I know the hints and the secrets... I know that they actually get breaks.... I know they have long hours... I know Xanterra and how they work... I know this area - Heck, it's almost a second home!... And with Xanterra it would be a seasonal job, I wouldn't be commiting to being FOH for this place for years, just five or so months...And as much as I complain, Xanterra isn't completely horrid.

I know, this makes the third or so idea I've thrown up here. Keep in mind, I'm commiting myself to almost nothing right now. They're JUST ideas. I don't know if I'm going to do it. I don't know if I'm going to take classes, or when. I don't know much of anything right now. I'm ok with that, I'm just thinking on ideas.

I'm so happy it's only six more weeks I want to celebrate. But I'm so tired, celebration will be eating one of Mom's amazing cookies, while I relax like I always do before falling asleep just to do it all again.

Anyway, I'm spacing out, so I'm off to my cookie celebration. ^_^ Later!

presidential day at the OFI...

Ok, so today was big President Day… Ugh. It was really rather interesting, though. First off, when I get to work at seven, usually there are maybe two people in the pantry area - our breakfast buffet person and our sous chef if s/he happens to be there. VERY empty and quiet. Today I came in, there was our normal breakfast buffet person…plus. Greg, Buddha, Chef Chapman, Chef Dave, Cheryl, Chris, Joe, Celeste… I think that was it. ALL in the pantry area. Our area barely fit them all. So they do all the cooking, plating, etc. They’ve all been here since around six. Poor people. There were two people with that party in the kitchen. One was secret service, and -I think- the other was a White House chef. Celeste told me she spoke to a White House head chef, so I’m guessing that was the one not in a black suite. I wanted to talk to one or the other, but didn’t get the chance. The other was a Navy guy, going on seventeen years (almost up for pension)… Anyway, so yeah, extra people galore, on top of the kitchen people and the White House people, there were a few other people supervising the exchange…
Then, the President was supposed to picnic but the weather was bad (it was cold and overcast… wooo) so he instead was at the Snow Lodge, upstairs somewhere. So everything was packed into a van or whatever and everyone trouped over to the Snow Lodge - but only Chef Dave and Chef Chapman got to go upstairs where the President was. It turns out that at the time he was out on a bike ride, so he didn’t meet the president after all. (Mind you I’m still in the kitchen doing my normal stuff) So it was quite interesting morning, nothing completely serious (partly because Cheryl, Chris, Buddha, Joe, and myself are almost incapable of being completely serious)…
Then lunch comes. And it occurs to me… They SHUT DOWN the Inn, the parking lot, the Snow Lodge - EVERYTHING for the President. No one goes in or out. Meaning, all those people, standing out there waiting to see the President go by, aren’t getting back in the Inn until Security allow it. So lunch was REALLY slow. Which was nice for a Friday, if boring. The only big deal was that the press was here, and they were VIPs meaning their food gets up on the window ASAP… and they all ate in the bar which means tons of sandwiches, but that only took maybe fifteen minutes. So the doors were closed from about 8 am and let open again at about 2:15ish pm. Doors for lunch close at 2:35, so not many people go in, though there was a rush forming. It was so quiet and calm, I sanitized EVERYTHING on my line, made sure everything was stocked, and talked to a girl - Gwen - who is usually hot line and showed her how to make EVERYTHING I do pretty much. It was fun, but she got sent home early cuz there was nothing for her to do. I was like “Chris, there is nothing for ME to do” but he said “yeah, but you’re essential” because I work the line, I am necessary if any tickets whatsoever come through. Which is nice, I rather like being essential… But for the last fifteen minutes of work both Greg and I just essentially wondered the kitchen waiting for time to pass by… Then, now, onto my weekend. So yeah that was our presidential day. Chef Chapman eventually got to meet him but there was really very little to do with him, mostly just the food.
Really not much to report, but I said I would so there you go.
It was Celeste's last day which was sad, I'm gonna miss her. I miss Casey too... Sigh. Well, life goes on. I have a month and a half, roughly.
Yep, nothin' else to say really... I'm going to the pub tonight cuz dinner sucked. Jeff was prep, so Mark cooked, and he usually kinda sucks. He puts zero effort into anything. Baked fried chicken just doesn't look good. WAY salty gravy with mashed-tatoes... Nope, pizza is good.
So yeah, g'night all, Talk atcha later.

Uhm...

So I don't know if I told you all about the president of Xanterra coming to the Inn. It was a while ago - last week I think... And anyway, there was our normal two sous chefs on duty then, plus Chef Freida (our normal chef), plus Chef Mike who trained us, the step above Chef Frieda, PLUS Chef Chapman, the overall chef for Yellowstone, PLUS almost every front of house manager... UGH! I made him a BLT. You have a billion dollars, you come all this way, and he got a BLT (along with whatever else he got)... Said it was nice, or whatever, I can't remember. Chef Frieda came up to me (I had the BLT up already) and told me to use it for a different order and remake the BLT cuz the rest of the order wont be up for a few minutes. Was kinda funny.

Anyway, I obviously don't really care that much. The main point of this is that A) I fed the president of Xanterra a BLT, and B) I don't want to work Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. The President is scheduled to come Friday. Not Xanterra, THE PRESIDENT. Obama. For those who are fans, good for you. For those who aren't, good for you. It's not about that. It's that President Obama is coming to the OFI, and inevitably going to eat lunch or dinner in the dining room. Now, I just listed all the EXTRA people who were there for the President of Xanterra. Imagine all the extra people in the kitchen if the President is going to be there?! All of the normal, plus extra staff "in case", plus the extra Chefs, PLUS - and here's the best - Secret Service?! I mean, inevitably they will be there to make sure no one kills, poisons, etc our President. I don't want these people swarming the kitchen. I don't want to deal with that. I hope he comes to the dining room for dinner - not lunch, so I don't deal with much of it.

I mean, I guess it'd be cool - a new experience, something to add to my list of stories and perhaps even sneak into an interview or something. But all those people.... People being EXTRA stupid because "oh my God, the President!"... ugh. I'll end up working Friday and Saturday, but I have Sunday off (unless they don't give it to me "just in case")... We'll see. I'll tell you how it turns out.

Meanwhile, it's my FRIDAY! Dinner sucked, but I went to the deli with Ken and we walked and talked and such. It was fun. I like talking to intelligent people. Unfortunately, he is going to Asia next summer so I can't visit him on my roadtrip. After that he's thinking about going to Grand Canyon to work, so maybe I'll see him there. He's nice, and smart. Yay.

Anyway, I'm done. I'm gonna read and relax. I still want to wake up tomorrow for breakfast to have my eggs (and not scarf them in five minutes) and such, so sleep tonight. Talk at y'all later.

AAAAAAH

I just had a frightening thought, and completely skipped dinner due to it...
I want to visit Michael before I come home. Which doesn't necessarily mean I'll spend a lot, but just enough for a flight to Biloxi, a hotel room for three days, and a flight from there to Portland...
They pay us with peanuts, anyone who hasn't noticed, there you go. My paycheck for this two weeks was roughly $450... I have spent a good amount of my paychecks so far because going places or buying things is the ONLY kind of release you have. Otherwise, I live thirty seconds away from work, eat with only one wall between me and work, spend my weekends here on location... It gets to you. Truly everyone does. Most people drink and smoke, I don't. I buy snacks and food and a few touristy things. But nonetheless I spend more than truly I need to. But TRULY it's hard to live off EDR stuff and LIVE so close to work. So it is what it is.
A few rough calculations show that if I don't spend a DIME until I leave, I'll have roughly $2500... I want to have SOMETHING to go home with, something to show for the five months I've spent busting my butt day after day.
Now, according to the Alaska Airlines page, which is the airline I used to get out here, it'd be approximately $200 to get straight home from here (of course they're thinking if I book now - it will I'm sure get more expensive as time goes on). But still it's not bad. I wouldn't mind coming home with a little over two thousand dollars, though I'd prefer more for all my work. My concern is that I want to fly from here to Biloxi and then from Biloxi to home - with three days of hotel in between. I haven't been able to look into that part quite yet, the internet here is not complying all the time.
I was talking with one of the servers today, and he pointed out that his paycheck is usually around $1200 EVERY TWO WEEKS. So perhaps I try to move to server? I doubt our F&B queen will let me, she won't let Heather move, won't let any over her BOH go anywhere because of how short staffed we will soon be. So even if I wanted to, I'm pretty much stuck where I am. I told Heather perhaps she could bargain for a raise, if she's so invaluable. But the realisitic/pessimistic side of me says that won't work because Jessica, for all that she IS our F&B manager for the entire Inn, doesn't have QUITE that much power.
So all in all, I suppose, I'm afraid of coming home with nothing to show for six months of working here in the park. I truly don't care about money, and I couldn't care less except that in the world it does mean something and to get where I want to go I do need it... I am thinking how am I going to take my roadtrip I want to take? How am I going to take some business classes? I've been thinking about taking the resturant management courses at Chemeketa... How am I going to start my bloody diner?!
But maybe I'm just looking at this wrong. My job back home has better pay. I can come back if I want - or go to a new location within Xanterra - and apply for a manager position to get more on my checks. I can probably work at CFP for a few winters yet to come seeing as how renewals won't exactly magically go away. I can live at home for a while while I do all this so I don't have to pay room and board (though I might anyway).

I think a lot of what freaks me out is insecurity about the future. As I type I'm also looking into more Xanterra jobs, because even though most of our employees use the term "it's another beautiful day in Hell" and it does suck working here, it's pretty much guaranteed, especially once you've worked for Xanterra once and are in the system. And truly, I am able to get past all that and still enjoy my job and the people I work with. And we all know I don't mind working my butt off. I can't believe, truly, that I'm looking at more Xanterra jobs.

Anyway, I guess it'll all work out somehow, I just don't know quite how yet. Thanks for listening to my ramble!! Money doesn't concern me often, but right now it seems to be a huge concern - for everyone.

My ear doesn't even hurt anymore, until I hit/touch it on accident. Sometimes at night I even sleep on it, and it doesn't bother me at all. I woke up this morning having slept on it, and it didn't hurt at all. I am starting to get scabs around it, but that's just healing... People told me it would hurt pretty much two or three weeks constantly, like a constant throb... Nope, about 24 hours. Like, it hurts sometimes at work cuz of the fans blowing wind, the hat, and the temp changes. I can't wait until I can change it out into different things. :D Right now it's just a silver hoop with a silver ball... Kinda boring.
Today and yesterday were my days off, and I was sitting in the EDR eating breakfast and reading and Joe and Shelby walk out. Joe is a prep cook, and Shelby moved to storekeeping (though he's thinking about moving back to pantry!!). Anyway, they come out to take a smoke break and Joe says "Cat, you're in the wrong uniform! You can't come to work in that" and I tell him I'm on my days off, no work for me. And he says "No Cat, haven't you heard? Those like you and me and Shelby, those who actually bust our ass day after day, we don't get days off..." TRUE! But, I'm stealing this one.
Elsa and Wes left this morning early. Vivian and Suzy left yesterday early. Lindsay leaves in about four days. Casey leaves in about fifteen, and Chad in about eighteen. So on one hand it'll be interesting, when most of the tourists leave and it's just a skeleton crew (cuz that's all that's needed) and everything is chill. I've heard good things, and I'm excited for it. Christmas and Halloween in August should be interesting, just to see what they do.
But on the other hand, it's sad, cuz I'll be largely without people to hang out with. Our RCs are going to be here to the end, and I hang with them, but nothing'll be the same, without Wes and Elsa. But I know, life goes on. And truly, there aren't many people that I will probably ever see once we leave. Elsa, Wes, and Vivian are three of those I'm going to try to see, so it could be worse. I'll see them again.
Anyway, this is my blog. I'm alive, if tired and kind of bored. So yes, that's that. I've been trying to get pictures up but our internet is too sucky. So in October, you'll be FLOODED with pics when I can finally get them all up.