missing ireland

Mike's training for this week was canceled! Yay! So the month from hell was cut short. It's good to get back to our normal routine. We went to Walmart on Saturday and Mike ran into someone he knew. After the person left, we got to talking about how weird it is to run into people again. We went a good 5 months of not really knowing anyone in town. One of my co workers saw me earlier this week at the grocery and called for me. Well, I still had my cold so I couldn't hear anything and I just am not used to listening for my name in a public place so I didn't know he was there. I felt bad when he told be a couple days later that he did see me, but it is good to know that we are meeting people.

Tomorrow is Saint Patrick's Day! I'm really excited. I'm going to make corned beef and cabbage for dinner and drink some Jameson. It makes me miss being in Ireland. I can't believe it's almost been 6 months since we've been there. The Today show is in Ireland this week and I'm so jealous. There's been some shows on the Travel channel on Ireland and specifically Dublin, and it's crazy to see places on there that I've been to. We have some pictures that look just like some of the screen shots, and I talk to the televison saying, "ooo, I've been there!" Here is a picture of Mike and I at the Jameson Distillery.



So I'll leave you with a Pub from the Temple Bar area of Dublin.

flood gates are closed

We had some rain earlier this week, it really wasn't that much. But apparently it was enough to back up this little stream off the Mississippi. This stream is pretty close to our house, it is where the new bridge was being built (for those of you who have been here). The water did come up on some of the streets, but you're still able to go over the new bridge. They're pretty sure it's not going to flood anymore, so we really aren't concerned about the water.



But the city was concerned about the downtown area, so they closed the flood gates. Yes, this city has flood gates. I really thought I would never see these in action, and they would only be used when the flooding could actually come into the city. This flooding is not that bad and would never truly go into the downtown area. I feel like they over reacted. In closing the floodgates, they put everyone here on edge and have them thinking it's worse than it really is.

sickness

I ended up getting Mike's cold. UGH! I totally thought I was in the clear, but no, it decided to visit me. Yesterday was the worst, so I'm hoping it's going to get better for here on out. I just want to get over this fast so I don't have to take any days off work. I rarely call in, but I really don't want to after only being there for 3 weeks.

I'm an official bridal consultant, I did my first registry on Saturday! I was kind of nervous, but it went pretty well. They just wanted to get on the floor and start scanning, so they didn't really want to hear my little speech. I wish they would of interacted with me more, I could only ask so many questions. My supervisor was "shadowing" the whole thing, and when we were talking about it after the couple left, she said I did everything I could and she was proud.

We had such a nice weather this weekend. It did end up raining a bit, but the windows were open again! In Indiana, we would be able to have the windows open once or twice and then the heat wave would kick in and we would have to turn the air conditioner on because it was so hot. I've already had the windows open here at least 10 days this year. It's a nice change. :)

Mike's aunt and uncle were in town this weekend, so we went out to their cabin for dinner on Saturday. We haven't seen both of them since before Christmas, it was nice to catch up. I will have to say, it was nice to come home from work, and not have to cook dinner. Don't get me wrong, I love to cook, but I cook literally every night. It was good break.

foods mike doesn't like

So I was able to pick up even more hours this week. Yay! I guess the scheduler didn't know about some bridal training the trainers were planning for. Lets just add this to the list of things I don't like about the behind the scenes. It's unorganized and no communication between the trainers and supervisors. Anyway,I was only there for a couple hours this mornings, but it worked in my favor. I got more hours and I got to start my day early. The bridal training was fun, I'm really excited to actually be able to be a full on bridal consultant.

I went shopping after work, I needed to get a couple new shirts. Then I went to the grocery, and made myself a salad. It was a southwest chicken salad. I'll try and put the recipe up on the cooking blog sometime this week. It was really good! I was trying to copy a salad I had at The Cheesecake Factory. I tend to branch out and buy things Mike doesn't like to eat but I do when he's gone. There aren't very many things he doesn't like, but all of them I really like; avocado, sweet potatoes, olives and asparagus to name a few. Now, as you can tell, most of these things don't go together, so I normally just but one of these items each time he's gone.

So I had a pretty productive morning and early afternoon.

it was kind of like christmas...again

Well, the store is a HUGE success. Some people are even driving from an hour away. Yesterday we were so busy I felt like I was working the Saturday before Christmas. I feel the karma behind this, since I didn't work retail this past holiday season. I am kind of torn about the work environment though. I like the freedom I have to just walk around the store, not having any tasks to complete and just help the customers. But I don't like the behind the scenes stuff. For example, they posted next weeks schedule and I only had 18 hours (with full availability) while others had 33-35 hours. UGH! So I just asked the general manager, because I was confused about it, and he said he didn't make the schedule. Well, he obviously talked to the supervisor who made it, because yesterday he came up to me and asked if I wanted more hours (I said yes) and what my availability was. So now I at least have 24 hours next week.

On Friday, they asked me if I wanted to be a bridal consultant. I was so excited because that's what I really wanted to do! So I basically have to be an expert on all the products,which won't be hard for me :). And then I get to sit down with engaged couple and help them out with the whole registry process. I can't wait for my training to start!

OK, enough about work...sorry if it was too boring.