are you hiring?

Setting: Friday night, 8:30pm, at the restaurant. The dining room is almost full, the lounge if full of people watching game 2 of Vancouver/Anaheim, there are people waiting to get in to eat.
A hostess walks up, and tells me there is a phone call for the manager. She has no name, as the caller didn't want to give it, he "just wants to speak with the manager".

This usually means that I have a bit of smooth talking to do, to try and fix a situation that has gone wrong.

me: Thanks for holding, Russell speaking.
phone: Hi, I was wondering if you are hiring servers or bartenders right now?
me: ...(stunned silence)...

me: so we are always looking for good people. But I don't really have time to talk about that right now, because IT'S FRIDAY NIGHT AND WE ARE BUSY. You need to come in some time LIKE MONDAY AFTERNOON when it isn't busy.
phone: oh.
me: ok, bye now.

Seriously? Even if this guy shows up Monday afternoon, he will have some rather large mountains to climb for me to even talk about an interview.

A tip for anyone wanting to apply to a restaurant: Learn a bit about the place you want to work (like if they are busy Friday nights) before you call the manager off the floor.

snack time?

I was in the bedroom putting away yet another load of laundry, and this was overheard coming from the other room with Eleanor & Thomas.

E: Do you like slugs?
T: Oh yes, I love slugs. I love their blood, it tastes so good.
E: Really?
T: Yes, my mom and dad cook them for me
E: Ahh, you like them deep fried then, nice and crispy?
T: Yes, I LOVE the crispy parts.


That's my kids. You know, the crispy parts really are the best. Oh, and the blood.
Up next - worms.

save the copper

I have the song "3:42am" by MercyMe stuck in my head right now. Maybe it is because it's 2:45am and I am sitting at my computer instead of tucked into my warm and cozy bed, snugly sleeping beside Vanessa who is definitely not having any trouble visiting dreamland.
I have recently come to the conclusion (around 2:30 or so) that laying down in bed, at 8:30pm after the kids go to bed, and falling asleep is not the best course of action for a good nights sleep. I'm thinking I should have waited an hour or two, to prevent the awkwardness of being ready for my day by 3 in the morning. I can't blame Vanessa, because even if she had tried to stop it, it would have failed. I was sleepy, and lets just say that I can be persistent about sleeping when I am tired.

Being awake in a silent house in the middle of the night gives one a chance to think though, and I have had an idea which may, in fact, help save the world.
It has to do with pennies, and the uselessness of them. Why are they still in circulation? Why do we bother counting them out? Can you buy anything with a penny anymore?
I know that pennies once were useful, I will not contest that fact. It has been a long time however since they have really been important in our monetary system.
Good point, I know, but how is that going to save the world? Well, besides saving the materials, time and energy that go into producing these now obsolete and uncared for coins, here is the plan.
When you buy something, I propose that the price just gets bumped up to the nearest nickel. For example, if the total after tax is $11.18, round up to $11.20. It is only two of the unwanted pennies that you are paying extra, and I am sure that there are very few people out there that would complain about losing the extra two pennies.
"Oh, but Russell" you say, "those pennies add up". Yes, they do, and that is how someone with far greater computer literacy than me would have to step in, and develop the software for business that would track all of the sales that have been rounded up. At the end of the month, businesses would have a total amount overpaid by rounding up, and would then be responsible for giving that sum to an organization like the food bank, habitat for humanity, etc.
Imagine how much money would be available to help people in need. You or I would not notice any change in our quality of life as a result of paying an extra penny or two for what we buy. Those pennies usually end up floating around, often getting lost or being given to the kids to play with. This is such a greater way to use that money, and think of the impact it would have on the people in our society that really need the help.

Let me know what you think, if there is enough interest in this then maybe I will just quit my day job and go full force lobbying for change. Pun intended.

moving on up

I have decided to add an element on the right side of the page to attach any links to, under the title "surfing" instead of the copy and paste thing. I will add any interesting things I find while cruising the web, so be sure to check them out.

And if you haven't watched the Muppet Movie for a while, have a look. It's chalk full of good times and good laughs.

eww

Ok. One word.

EWWW.

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/
hotdoll-the-sex-doll-for-dogs-253334.php

(copy and paste cause I'm daft)

series tied 3-3?

Seriously? I'm not really sure how it happened, but the Canucks/Stars series is now tied 3-3 (like you didn't know that).
What I don't really get, it how you expect to win hockey games without scoring any goals. I am positive that no team has one an NHL game without scoring a goal.
Ever.
That leaves a game 7 tomorrow night for all to look forward to. That is, if they can score. I will be cheering them on either way, and I will admit that it will be extremely more exciting and rewarding if we can score some goals.

As much as I don't want to admit it, I am also looking forward to "The Real Wedding Crashers", a new series starting tomorrow night. It really does look like it is going to be funny, but a lot will have to do with the format and delivery of the show.
Of course, if the hockey game goes into overtime again, I may miss the whole opening episode.

being in charge

Yesterday was the start of my temporary reign as acting GM of the restaurant. This is very cool for me, as I expect to do well, and am hopeful that will translate into me running said restaurant as the official GM.
I think there was about 13 minutes out of 10 hours yesterday that weren't filled with the Neverending List of Stuff to do. Being off for a week, naturally there were a few things waiting for me to do. Add to that certain members of the team that decided it would be easier to wait for me to do things for them when I returned from holidays instead of taking care of them right away and I didn't have more than one moments time to breathe. I did manage to catch up on the things waiting for me, with the help of "Scary Chris" and a plea for help.
Then, after coming home for dinner, and tucking the kids into bed, it was time for basketball. Every Wednesday night a bunch of guys get together at our church gym and run the court for a few hours. I haven't made it out for a couple weeks, and today I am feeling it. It started with a sore ankle, and has slowly progressed throughout the day to a sore back too.
Oh, the joys of getting old.

the end of a vacation

Tonight marks the end of my week off of work. I guess it really can't be called a vacation, because we didn't go anywhere, but my time off was enjoyed none the less.
My week was filled with shopping, eating, playing soccer at the park, and hockey. Lots of hockey, all 3 Canucks games so far in fact. What a great week for the playoffs to start.
So, after a week of just hanging out, tomorrow marks the start of a very busy time at work for me. Besides teaching a class tomorrow, the next couple weeks will be filled with planning for the Single Greatest Restaurant Event of the Year.
Mothers Day...(Q foreboding music).
I have recently found out that my boss will in fact be traveling to Disney World in Florida, leaving the morning of the Single Greatest Restaurant Event of the Year.
Which means that I am in charge.
I have a strong feeling that how the planning and execution of the Single Greatest Restaurant Event of the Year works out will have a large amount to do with what happens with my career. There really is no pressure though, and I'm sure that the next 3 weeks are not going to fly by at all.
Especially while the Canucks are in the playoffs. Go Canucks Go!

candy land

I have been thinking lately about how well Eleanor and Thomas play together (even though they do fight sometimes), and realized that they don't often have play dates, or many chances to play with friends their own age without each other there. They tend to play with each other, or on their own unless they are at school.
We recently got Eleanor's report card, and it points out the fact that some play dates with some kids from her class would help her deal with the inevitable meltdown that occurs almost daily when we drop her off for school.
Thomas has a friend from preschool that he likes to play with, and to help make sure that he isn't going to have the same issues, today we brought Marcus home with us for Thomas to have some time with someone other than Eleanor, somewhere other than school. I was a bit worried that the boys were going to start doing a bunch of destructive boy things, but earlier as I made lunch everything was under control. Then came time to clean up after lunch, and do the dishes. Dishes happens to be one of my least favorite chores, and this was the time that I was most concerned about the house being destroyed so I did them very quickly.
All was pretty quiet while I washed, and as quick as I was, when I was done, I went down the hall to see what all the quiet was about. If you have kids, you understand that very quiet quite often leads to big trouble.
I peeked around the corner, and there were the two boys, playing a game of Candyland. Without any prompting from me, without any fighting, or complaining. I have to say I was impressed.
I don't know that the game actually got finished, or if they lost interest before the end, but there never was a fight over it, and there was no issue with the boys cleaning up all the toys before I put a movie on for them.
Now I am scared, because the movie of choice- Star Wars Return of the Jedi. Now I know that there is going to be destruction, from the moment they were deciding who was going to be Skywalker. I think it is time for me to go and monitor the situation before someone loses an eye, I don't want to spend the evening in the hospital.
Mostly because the Canucks are playing game 2 at 6p.m., and there is no way we would be home by then.

8 years old

After a gestation period of 14 months, on this day 8 years ago we gave birth to the beautiful and loving union of marriage that we now share. At the time, I don't know that either of us really had any idea what the next 8 years would bring, we just knew that we wanted to spend it together. Sure we fought, and I guess we still do, but the good outweighs the bad by so much it breaks the scale.

And so, a list of the 5 things I most love about my wife:

5) If I am feeling down, she doesn't stop trying to pick me up.
4) She lets me bitch and moan when I am sick.
3) Her eyes. They are captivating.
2) She doesn't ever throw it in my face that she is much smarter than me.
1) She loves me, even when I screw up. Which is a lot.

Thank you Vanessa, for being all I have ever wanted.

scary

I just read this article about Global warming. Is it true, or is it something made up by scientists?
How can you ignore the facts? Changing the temperature of the planet cannot be a good thing. Of course, it's hard to change your ways when it will cost you millions of dollars.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2007/04/06/climate-un.html
(copy and paste)

Good Friday

It's Good Friday today, also known as the start to Easter weekend. For lots of people, this just means that they have a few extra days off of school, or maybe an extra day off of work. And of course chocolate.
Lets all just take a moment to remember why we celebrate Easter. It has nothing to do with any bunny, and I'm pretty sure that chocolate didn't have anything to do with it either.
Easter is the celebration of our Saviour Jesus Christ sacrificing for our sins, and being resurrected by Our Father.
I know it's a pretty simple explanation, but we had Mackenzie and Hunter sleepover last night, and after playing outside for hours this morning, I am saving up my energy for a Friday night closing shift while Vanessa and the kids are at Easter service.

Take a moment now, and thank Jesus for his ultimate sacrifice. Without it, none of us would qualify for the bliss of Heaven.

link to Hunter

You have to see this picture. I can't even tell you how awesome it is.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21752695@N00/444240642/in/photostream/

Copy and paste, cause I haven't figured out how to put a link here yet. One day...

definately decaf

There I was, in the car, my GM driving us to a class that we were teaching today. My phone rings, and it's Vanessa on the other end.

V: what has more caffeine in it, hot chocolate or decaf coffee?
me: hmm. I'm not sure...probably the hot chocolate.
V: so you won't have an issue if I get Thomas a coffee then?
me: I guess not

Previously to the phone call, Vanessa and Thomas on the way into Vancouver to visit Ryder:

V: Thomas, do you want something to drink before we get on the highway?
T: Yes, I would like a coffee with two sugars please.
V: ...
{Vanessa makes the phone call to me, drives through Tim Horton's. Thomas gets his decaf}
T: mmm...2 sugars really IS delicious.

Not that I ever get coffee when he is around. That must be someone else that is mildly addicted to the large "double double" setting the example. For $1.49. Please.

trials

It has been a very busy week for us here. I mentioned before about my brother Gary and his wife Angela going in to labour. It was a long day of waiting for things to get started, but when they did Ryder came out much like a cannon ball shot out of a cannon. 30 minutes of contractions and there he was. I have been debating a lot about whether to post about it or not, because little Ryder is having some troubles right now.
He was born last Saturday, and looks very much like his mom. Beyond that, I don't want to get into too many details, but they are getting know some of the same doctors that Eleanor had. Also know that he needs us to pray for him.
We have been busy helping with Mackenzie and Hunter, who by the way, both slept over last week. There weren't as many giggles at bedtime as last time, but the two and a half days they spent here were mostly fun. Except when Hunter woke up yelling at 1am. That part was a bit short of fun.
I am glad that we are able to help though, because as someone who has been through a similar experience, I know that you can never have enough help, love or prayers. And that eating out every meal of every day quickly loses its appeal.