Calgary Part 1(Or is it 6?) volume 2

So. Back in Calgary. Been here since Friday, started working Saturday. 2-12am shifts, everyday. On Monday coming up I will find out if I am taking/getting a day off or a few days to go home or what. Hopefully that will also be the day that I find out how long my stint here will be.
I am here as a relief manager this time. I was worried before hand, first because I have never officially been a manager before(I say officially because I was essentially managing last time I was here, just without the title.) Second because I was worried about how the staff would react to my return. Well, it seems that between my last visit here and my style of serving, managing generally feels like a baby step. There are aspects of it that are very different, I've worked 5 shifts and it feels as though I have been here for a month or longer. Dealt with alot of crap in those 5 shifts and I really hope that I can use my experience as a Flying J server to help things run a little smoother here. As for the second thing, no need to worry there either. The staff that knew me from before was happy to see me again, and the new staff hasn't taken long to win over. I listen to them. And try to help in all areas. Thats two of the big things I expect from my managers and it seems to please the staff here as well.
Otherwise keeping pretty busy as well. Still tanning(getting my base tan so that I wont burn in Haiti). Went to the zoo before work yesterday(It was AWESOME! Pics to follow after I return home). Went to the Calgary Tower(from Cool Runnings... you know, "Jamica we have a bobsled team") with the intention of going up it, but it was like 13 bucks! So I glanced at the shop on the bottom, took a pic from a block away, got back on the train and returned to my car. Going to meet my aunt for breakfast tomorrow... Going well, no complaints.
On that note, its 130 and my laundry should be done. Between that and the fact the space bar sticks and this is taking way more effort than I imagined, I am taking off.
Have a great night!

If you whine about it, it will change...

So I post a whine about not going to Calgary, and what do you know. A couple hours later I finally get the phone call saying, so are you halfway there yet? I start tomorrow, mostly 2nd shift it sounds, but that is better than graveyards... So, just thought I would mention the change in plan.

Grr

I would leave town by noon on Friday. That was the plan. I would get to Calgary with enough time to work a short(6-8 hour) shift, go to the hotel and on Saturday I would being my 10 hour days. Well. Friday at noon has come and gone. I am still sitting at home, waiting. I haven't heard from work yet and to be honest I don't even know if I am still going down to Calgary! Ya, they are short staffed pretty much all over, but in the last week, our store has lost 3 servers(2 were new so that really isn't to bad, just means we need to train someone else), a manager, and a kitchen staff member has essentially disappeared. No one has heard from her, no one can get a hold of her, or her family, and we literally have no idea where she is. So all of a sudden, the Edmonton store has gaping spots that need to be filled and my leaving for a month would just increase the difficulties. Therefore, my boss, Winnie, is 'working on' trying to figure out if it works and how it works. I've called twice already today, I called twice and stopped in yesterday(on my day off), I called and stopped in on Wesnesday(a day off), and while I worked the double shift on Tuesday, I reminder her a few times. Yet somehow I still have no idea what is going on! So frustrating!

On a brighter note, mom and dads surprise anniversary thing went amazingly well. They were super surprised, we had like20-30 people here, everyone seemed to have a good time. It was pretty awesome.

Here is a picture of my sister Shelly and I rubbing our Sister-in-law's tummy. She is due early July and is really starting to pop out. We are thrilled because that means we will be aunties for the first time.

Debit Card= GONE!

Lucky me, I have once again managed to lose a lifeline. The last time was in Calgary, when my phone went on the fritz, stopped working, and left me without any phone numbers or way to get a hold of anyone for over a week. This time? My Debit card was eaten by an ATM today! So much for convienence and all of that stuff! And because it is a credit union card and I was at an ATB, they wouldn't replace it! No such a big deal except now I have to go all the way out to St. Albert, to my home bank, just to get a new card. TERRIBLE!
Just thought I would rant about that for a bit... I'll have a new card by this time tomorrow, but it still bites that I had to cut my errands short.
Have a great night! Enjoy the rain and thinking about eating some ice cream! I plan to!

From the desk of Smilely (which is me, Laura...)

Off to Calgary again. I leave Friday morning for a month long stint at their location. Going down as a manager officially this time. A relief manager to be exact. Pretty psyched really because it is 10 hour days, possibly longer, up to 7 days a week. OT is anything over 8 hours/day or over 44 hours/week, so it could be an amazing oppertunity to put away some money. Pretty pumped about that. They are putting me up in the hotel again, which is cool to, I really don't mind living in a hotel. I plan on talking to my Aunt Pearl and maybe getting a key to her place about 15 mins from the hotel that way if I get really sick of the life, there is a house right there, ready and open for me to pop in. But we'll see how that goes.
Haiti is fast approaching. Very fast. I leave in less than 10 weeks. Or in other numbers, 67 days. I still can't believe that I am actually going to be doing this and am very excited, but quite nervous as well. But I heard an amazing little 'proverb' in church on sunday that I am really trying to focus on, "God does not call the equipped, he equips the called". Rather than worry that I can't handle it, I am trying to focus on not working on handling it. On simply letting go and letting things happen as they are meant to do.
Had a minor car incident the other day. Nothing serious, just cost me a little bit of money is all. Watched a near brawl break out at the bar, something that my friends and I sort of inadvertently started. A couple of my girl friends are regulars at Cook, so I've gone along a couple times in the last few weeks. When we are there we meet up with some cowboys and two step the night away. Have you ever two stepped? Like really two stepped? I haven't before this but now... its awesome. Its to the point that when I was at Oil City with some other friends the other night, I found the couple guys who could two step and asked them to dance. Sure makes a difference to the night when your partner knows what to do! I really recommend it.
Beyond that there isn't alot interesting. Since I leave in just a few days for Cow Town I have a ton of things to get ready and keep pushing them aside. Gonna make for a long couple days right before I go but thats all apart of life too right? Hope life is going well for everyone, take care.