She's Right, You Know

Boxing Day

Christmas is over. I haven't decided yet if I will go to the store today. They are probably crazy with  sales, and I hate shopping. Unfortunately, my phone is on the fritz, and it's time for a new one (you were right all along Mela). 

The holidays have been good so far. We celebrate Pakjesavond on the 24th with games and finger food. Living on my own and in poverty, I received many practical gifts that I am very thankful for--socks, underwear, winter boots! Christmas day was spent going to church, visiting grandparents, and having a nice meal. I also took some photos: 

One more month and I'll have a little niece or nephew. The first one, and everyone is getting excited. 

That's all for now. No work til after New Years, and I've got big plans, BIG PLANS, I tell ya.

A Long Time Ago, In A Galaxy Far, Far Away

I am currently baking Espresso Double-Chocolate Chunk Cookies. This is the recipe I'm using. I've never tried the recipe before, but based on how good the dough is, I think they'll be a hit. I didn't have any instant espresso powder, but I did have this:  

We'll see how it works.

I got this instant coffee from Phoeving, a man at work. He loves to share his food, bring treats, and give me different things to try. It's sad that he's retiring this year. He wasn't at work today because he's getting a colonoscopy. Maybe that's a little private, but whatever, you don't know him...unless your name is Carmela. At work, it's usually general knowledge when someone is getting a colonoscopy, and it always brings up everyone's butt-camera and laxative stories. We had a good laugh. I kept thinking of this scenario, but didn't say it out loud--people sometimes don't get my humour:

I wonder if there has ever been a proctologist out there who dreams of being an artist, or just wants to add some flair to his job after watching so many colonoscopy videos. You know, pops them into iMovie, dubs the Star Wars theme over them, adds a vignette, maybe some clip-art....

I think that's a good place to stop.

Come Wind Come Rain

I work at a nursery, as I'm sure many of you know. Most of the time, I find it to be very enriching. I learn new things, and I am challenged in different ways. I didn't used to think this way. Back in the day, when I spent my summers between high school years in fields, I hated it. My dad would force me to get up way earlier than I wanted, I couldn't just hang out and be lazy like so many other friends. But hey, I was 14 years old. All I wanted to do was shop and talk to boys. I used to wonder how any of my co-workers could work here their whole lives.

I don't know when my thoughts changed, but I realized it upon chatting with a former employee of the nursery. Out of a job, I casually mentioned that she should come back to nursery til she found something in her field. Her response was one of incredulity. She stated how she never wanted to come back, and her nursery days were over. I couldn't understand it! I knew that she had spent some time flipping burgers at McDonalds, and done some other really shitty jobs. Was this place at the bottom of her list?

I also have been told time after time by some of the men who have been here for years- "You don't want to get stuck here for life", "Get out while you still can", etc. I don't know what caused these men to be so bitter, but I choose to believe that it is probably their own fault. Maybe due to a poor outlook, a fear of manual labour, a lack of ambition, or they just won't be happy, no matter what their lot. Who knows!

One pitfall of a large operation such as the nursery, is that there tends to be what some may call "monotony". Propagating millions of plants every year doesn't just involve watching them grow; thousands of grafts must be made, each plant must be trimmed, sprayed, and tended, they all have to be dug up or potted and shipped away. As you can imagine, there are days, sometimes weeks, of doing the same job. These can often be mindless tasks, especially once you get into a rhythm. The benefit of performing mindless tasks, is that it frees up your mind to think of other things, EVERYTHING, really. I have begun to listen to audiobooks, allowing me to work on my reading list WHILE I work. I have selected various podcasts that are enriching to listen to. Not to mention, I get lots of opportunity to delve into new music, and listen to old favourites. All of this leads to me putting on my thinking face and walking around like this:

People ask me if I'm angry. I'll let them believe it. But really, I am quite content. I love working outside,  and with my hands, and seeing the fruits of my labour, then when it comes to getting through something that is not so good, I have the tools to get through it.