It's not picking up dog poo, but it ain't no circus either!

I was actually serious when I referenced the dog poo job last year when trying to leave "the circus". As a matter of fact, when looking into franchises, I found a few for dog poo pickup services that looked pretty lucrative. Really, who enjoys picking up after their dog? It's easier to have someone else do it. Had it not been for the large inital investment I didn't have, I was going to do it just for the irony.

I have found myself so enthusiastic about everything lately, and I am wondering if it is starting to rub off on people. Why do I say this, you ask? Yours truly, a former accounting/IT exec, recieved a phone call today with a job offer as kitchen staff at her favorite restaurant! Even with my lack of restaurant experience, I apparently made some type of impression on the owners when I went in yesterday. Ok, ok, I will admit, my cousin works there too. :)

Part time, 2 nights a week, I will be washing dishes, prepping, and expediting! I couldn't be more excited to be involved in a "kitchen of action"! It's a small, but BUSY restaurant that strives for customer satisfaction and perfection in it's dishes. What more could I possibly ask for? I have a feeling my OCD inspired personality will fit right in at the garnish line....

Any-who, (is that even a word?) I found something of humor the other day and wanted to share. In one of my prior posts, I had briefly referenced a "cooking show" and someone actually thought I meant on television, lol. No, I am not quite to the Next Food Network Star status, geez, I haven't even started school yet!! However, I will be making a living by demonstrating fabulous kitchenware in front of small crowds in homes.... ;)

What I am finding so truly amazing is that I never would have expected myself in this position, right here, right now. I decided to step outside of my comfort zone and ventured out to discover many things, meet incredible people, and travel more than any jobless person I know. I am truly grateful for every moment that passes me by, and look forward to each one that is coming my way, with genuine esperance.

More waves of excitement!

Just when you think you've tapped all the exciting news, more of it comes rolling in! As I was coming back from my vacation, I got a message that a Captain in our area needed some help on his yacht for a few days before putting into storage for the winter. Hm, you don't say! I immediately said, "YES!", and there is my next adventure...by way of water!

I spent 2 days with the Captain, assisting him with the trip from Bay Harbor to Northport, MI. I am not sure how much help I was....drinking all those rum and cokes and all. But, we made it to port and settled in with a nice steak dinner with mashed potatoes and asparagus. We also had sliced tomatoes with fresh mozzarella and black olives, and drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette. Then we proceeded to the local watering hole and filled up on a few more tasty beverages. Tough day, huh?

The next day we got up and ate breakfast at this cute place called The Treasure Chest. They sell antiques and also have a little restaurant. Donna treated us like family and it was an excellent meal! After breakfast we got to work: vaccuming, cleaning floors, defrosting refridgerators, covering up furniture and the like. Then we took a "break" and had a few Bloody Marys....yum!! Chatted about my upcoming culinary classes, and his extensive background as a Captain. Too much fun! Then we had to finish up some red wine, so we did that as we waited for my bf to show up so he could get a tour of the 70' vessel.

And the adventure does not stop there! Captain wants me to send my resume' to him, as he is interested in hiring me for other gigs in the future, including some chef work! He told me that he would be a reference ANYTIME and said he can tell I am going to be a great chef because I am so thorough. How cool is that?!!

THEN, yesterday I got a lead from my cousin that the restaurant where she works may be looking to hire kitchen help. Uh, yea, it's my FAVORITE restaurant up here!! So, she talked with one of the owners and I am going to meet with her next week!!! Everything seems to be coming together on my travels through the culinary seas! I haven't even started culinary school and already have 2 solid leads!! Amazing!

I could not have done all this without my AWESOME supportive friends who have not doubted me for a second! You rock!

What a whirlwind!

It's official! Yes, I received my acceptance letter and will be heading to culinary school in January! I love school. I love learning new things. But this, my friends, is completely different. I am used to taking BORING business and accounting classes, and now I am going to learn about something I LOVE to do! Somehow, this is all somewhat surreal to me, but also VERY exciting!

More fun news for this little foodie....

I am going on yet another vacation! In November, my bf and I are heading for Tunisia! We are going for a conference and making a vacation of it! The weather will be cool, but who cares! It's a beautiful Mediterranean country that I am excited to learn more about it's culture. AND on the way back, we stay one night in Paris!! How perfect!!

Ok, going to get back to my vacation, but just had to share!!

Working Vacation

Yea, there is such a thing and I am doing it. But, I am LOVING it too! Thanks to my BF for letting me borrow his laptop, what a guy!

I am getting excited for culinary school and just itching to cook for people these days. Of course, cooking takes food, food takes money, so..... I have found a great way to enjoy what I do and get paid for it. I am keeping myself in check on this vaca by prepping for a few cooking shows I have coming up.

Speaking of culinary school, I am actually still waiting for my "official acceptance letter". I thought that because I am applying at a 2 year college I wouldn't have a problem getting in, BUT I did get an email saying they were "reviewing my application". Hm, well I guess I will have to sit tight until I get the final word, but in the mean time they sent me a huge packet on Financial Aid. We all know I need to take advantage of THAT!

Have you ever just known you are making the right choices? Well, a funny thing happened on the way to Raleigh....

I was reading the Southwest Airlines magazine, Spirit and ran across several articles that pretty much assured me I am on the right path:

• Senior Corporate Executives have the #3 toughest job, and this actually outranked police officers!! Not that I don't want to work hard, but I don't want to go home feeling like I tried to save the world and got "nothin but this t-shirt".
• Played some game to see if wealth is in your future, and I actually am not that far from being financially fit - even with my horrid credit. It's more about attitude and beliefs.
• Read an article on Meyers-Briggs personality traits and jobs. THIS was interesting. Basically I gathered I was in the WRONG JOB for my personality type!! Not surprising!!
• Took an entrepreneur quiz and the result said: Steve Jobs should be calling you for advice. Ok, this is a major exaggeration...but fun to think about anyway.
• Last, but very not least, read about Leanna Archer . You can do anything you set your mind to, if you just do the research. This girl has some spirit!!

I didn't really need the reassurance, but it was right in front of me anyway.

Ok, back to vaca, folks!

How is it........

that an unemployed person gets to go on vacation? Well, you see, there are frugal ways to travel. One being a insanely low price on airline (thank you very much!) that DOES NOT charge the $15 bag fee, the second being to go visit someone who can appreciate the frugality of your being, um, I mean unemployment. Aka, your sister, or any kind relative for that matter.

I am excited to report I will be traveling for a whole week to NC! This will be a chance to get refreshed, renewed, and excited for the next chapter in my life.

Short and sweet today, folks!! Make it a great day!

Happy Quit-a-versary to Me!!!

Today marks the one year anniversary since I left my career and began my new life venture! I am jobless, broke, and homeless, yet I am happier now than I ever had been while I was working for that lunatic, not to mention tweedle-dee and dumb from the previous job.

I had decided that I had another calling and that I needed to figure out what that was. After I left Omaha, threw my stuff in storage, visited with my sister for 6 weeks in NC, and my interim job ran out, I found myself jobless back in Michigan. Not the ideal situation, but fortunately I am one of those people who have been blessed with family and friends with hearts of gold. Yea, I'm getting a little sappy and sentimental thinking about this whole year. Bear with me, please.

I didn't really think that it would take me a whole year to figure out what it is I wanted to do with the rest of my life, but here it is. One year later. D-day. The final countdown.....

Do I have it all figured out?

Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. I have a "master plan". The best thing about the MP is that it can be altered or changed, as it was meant to be. There will be no more working for d-bags (my new favorite word), no more reports in excel spreadsheets, no more useless meetings, no more requests for false financial statements.

I am replacing those useless tools with some new ones: spatulas, graters, cutting boards, and saute pans. Yes, folks, my new industry is my first love......FOOD!!

I will be making my way to culinary school as early as January, so I can learn every aspect of the kitchen and the food business. I am SO very excited about this culinary adventure! With a dash of business degree, a smidgen of culinary arts degree, and a sliver of entrepreneur...I will have a recipe for a fun, foodie-filled future!

Off to celebrate my one year anniversary and the beginning of a new adventure with a glass of wine.......

Oh! And before I forget...THANK YOU to all of you who have been a HUGE support to me this past year, you know who you are, and I couldn't have done this without you. :)

Henry and Ricardo, Pilots of Customer Service

I finally recieved an email back from the Ranting for Miles letter I sent off to the NWA Rewards Network Dining for Miles program. To my displeasure, the response from "Ricardo" was less than stellar and clearly he did not read my email. Or maybe he did read it and like every other customer service rep, he had to show it to his "supervisor" for direction. Some supervisor they are, they poorly advised him to respond from a series of canned click-box replies:

*********************

Dear [Crazy, Hungry and Broke],

Thank you for writing Rewards Network Dining for Miles!

We appreciate you taking the time to share your comments.

We appreciate your continued patience. Should you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely, Ricardo [if that is even his real name]

Rewards Network Dining for Miles Internet Services

*********************

Dear Ricardo,

Your welcome. Now where's that $50 so I can go grab something to eat? Like the Dining for Miles email said, "I must be starving!"

Cordially,

The Famished Female

*********************

I really don't understand how "Ricardo" has a job and I don't. Maybe the Rewards Network Dining for Miles Program is hiring and I can work right next to him. I am pretty sure I can handle clicking the canned response boxes, heck, I might even be able to draft a real letter!

Another fine example of true airline customer service, is one I found from Delta Airlines on the blog YourUnemployedDaughter. YUD, as she calls herself, had a little email conversation going with "Henry" regarding a mixup with the beloved $15 bag fee. I seriously don't think Henry gets it either.

There is a recession here, people, if you didn't notice. Dining out and $15 per bag fee, EACH WAY, is luxury these days. Us unemployed folk track our expenses like a dog tracks bear! Even automotive companies will "take your car back" if you lose your job, what about the airlines? They choose to do nothing but poke fun at our expense by coming up with "snappy" email marketing techniques or rip us off with the ridiculous bag fee. I bet Henry won't be to thrilled once they take that $15 out of his paycheck for being such a prick about it.

I promptly sent YUD my letter to NWA Rewards for Dining Network so she could see that she is not alone in this world of ignoramous airline customer service. Well, she got a kick out of it, and I am elated I could make someone's day a little brighter. I know I felt 100% better after writing it.

Fast forward to this afternoon, in a completely unrelated web-surfing session, I came across a job opening for a Marketing Communications Specialist. Fancy that! I figured if Henry and Ricardo can handle that kind of job, why can't I? Thank you for giving me the confidence to apply for a job I am underqualified for! Yet, after witnessing what kind of writers NWA and Delta hire, I've decided I am a shoe-in.

Thanks to the NWA Rewards Dining for Miles Network and their poor marketing ideas, I now have a primo sample of my work to share.