Crackers and babies...Not a good idea

So tonight I worked my first shift as a server at Niffer's, and surprisingly, I didn't completely screw up the entire night. On the other hand, neither was I a super server. I was just glad to make it through unscathed and with a little extra cash in my pocket. I was slightly dreading this shift tonight due to the fact that Wednesday nights happen to be "Kid's Night" aka "Bring all 8,000 children that you know so they can eat for FREE!" Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore kids, and I don't really mind when I am sitting next to them at a restaurant. I'm pretty easy going about that. Here's what gets me--the parents that came in tonight all seem to feed their children the exact same thing-CRACKERS. That's fine with me...when the kids are being fed in their own homes. Disaster tends to strike when kids and crackers are combined in a restaurant setting. No sooner than I had brought several packets of crackers, but I turned around for about 2.5 seconds and where do you think all the crackers are?? You are correct...on the floor in 10 million little pieces, with not ONE crumb in or around their mouths. Not so bad...but add onto that the fries, mac n cheese, pizza, etc. that are dropped on top of them and then stepped on, grinding everything into the carpet making it a nightmare to clean up. I felt like I should have brought my own personal dropcloth to put under the highchairs. Would have made my life a little simpler tonight.
Along with "Kid's night" comes a little thing that our restaurant does to entertain all the kids there. The pinata. So, not only are kids smashing crackers and other substances into the carpet, but there are about 90 kids in there hyped up on candy from the pinata. It's absolutely a zoo in there. Toys are being thrown throughout the restaurant, children are fighing over a tootsie roll, and the parents are all sitting back and laughing...watching the servers try to maintain the peace. Now I know it sounds like I am complaining slightly, which is true, but actually it is one of the craziest and funniest things to witness. For those of you that like to people watch, drive yourself on up to Auburn, come to Niffer's and you will be entertained. Trust me.

Pain...lots of pain

After a full day of playing around at the lake with my family, I am so sore it's unbelieveable. Not only did I attempt...mind you, ATTEMPT kneeboarding, Paige and I were slung all over the lake on an innertube. Both times that we did it at the same time, she knocked her jaw out of place on my arm...not very fun for either of us. I'm sure she is as bruised and battered as I am. Although I can barely move, we had a lot of fun with my parents and my aunt & uncle. It was good to hang out with my fam...I feel like I never get to see them much even though I live 30 minutes away.
It was also good just to get out into the sun. From going to school, teaching and working at the restaurant, I never get a chance to go outside. Also on a side note, I finally was able to go see my Papaw in the hospital this weekend. Some of you know about his condition, but I'm sure there are a few that don't. Basically he had surgery on his aorta a couple of weeks ago, and as a result, he cannot keep anything down and his blood pressure is out of control. There was a very scary incident this past week where we could have lost him. Please keep him in your prayers. If you are among the blessed that have gotten to know him, you know how much he means to not only my family and I, but to the family at Vaughn Park and many people all around Montgomery. He is in Baptist South indefinitely until they can figure out what is wrong. This has been a very trying time for him...he hates being stuck indoors. Anyway, I'll stop talking about that now. Just keep him in your prayers.

phobias

So after talking to one of my friends tonight, I realized that I leave for Guatemala in a little over a month. Needless to say, I am super excited about seeing another part of the world. On the other hand, I am scared out of my mind. Some of you are aware of my extreme phobia of lizards, snakes and basically any amphibian, so you can imagine my anxiety about going to this place that is sure to be crawling with any and/or all of the above. My dad, Aynsley and I are going down there a few days early before we get started on the mission trips, and we will be visiting the jungles of Guatemala....and will be staying in a "jungle lodge." I'm not really sure what that means. Is that the name of the hotel we will be at, or is that a description, where "bed" means "cot covered with mosquito nets", etc.? I realize that this phobia is completely ridiculous, and I know that most of these little creatures are actually terrified of me, yet my mind doesn't seem to accept this fact. I will be facing a major fear of mine, and have no idea how to make it through this unscathed. Yes, I am a wimp and over the years, I have come to accept that fact. I realized the severity of this phobia the other day when, in the process of leaving for work, I walked out of my door only to come upon a snake similar to the one above. Paralyzation struck me immediately and I felt completely helpless. Any of you that have suggestions and manners of coping with this fear before I leave for Guatemala...please, help me.

Congrats to my little sis!

So yesterday was long, and I was exhausted from sitting outside screaming at softball games all day, but in the end, it was all worth it to watch Aynsley win the state softball championship, especially with it bein gher last year. They did really awesome and Ayns was named to the all-tournament team. You can catch all the info on WSFA tonight at 10. Also, if you want a real laugh, be sure to watch the news for the next couple of days....the whole Entrekin sister clan was interviewed about playing softball and winning state through these past 13 years. Let's just say that impromptu interviews are not our thing. I think I stumbled over nearly every word that I was trying to say, and probably came across looking like a total imbecil. Anyway, if you see Ayns, congratulate her...she did awesome and I'm so proud of her.

Teaching

So Thursday of this week, I will start teaching my first class here at AU. Crazy, huh? I can't believe that I'm going to be doing this all over again...although in a slightly different scenario. I've got a lot of planning to do this week, along with working at the restaurant. Looks like it's back to the grind after about a week of somewhat relaxing. Keep me in your prayers that everything goes well and that I make it through without going completely insane, or collapsing from exhaustion. Other than that, I will be taking one class, which shouldn't be too stressful. After this summer, I will only have 3 classes left to take in the graduate program...I can't believe it's this close. One year, and I am outta here...granted I pass all of my comprehensive exams next spring. Anyway, nothing too exciting this week. I will coming down to Montgomery on Friday to watch Aynsley play softball in the state tournament and then again on Sunday to go to church with my family. Oh yeah, and while I'm thinking about it on Mother's Day (or actually just after) , just wanted to say how incredible my mom is and that I have been so blessed to have had her looking out for me and being there for me these past 25+ years. I'm sure all of you feel the same about your own. Hope everyone has a good week and I will see some of you at church Sunday!

Sickness

I absolutely HATE being sick. I woke up on Sunday morning feeling exhausted, understandably from being up for days studying for exams. Then I came home from work and took a little nap and woke up with no voice. And I do mean NO voice. So here I am, a day later still with no voice and feeling crappy. How do you lose your voice in about an hour, unless you are screaming at a concert or something? It makes no sense to me. Am looking forward to this week with no school and only having to work at Niffer's occasionally. Anyway, need to go to bed. I have to get up somewhat early tomorrow and drive to Montgomery to watch Aynsley play softball. Hope everyone is having a better week so far than I! :)

One down, two more to go...

Just wanted to express my elatedness (is this a word?) about taking my first final, and kicking butt on it! I seriously did awesome. I'm pretty sure I didn't miss one single question, which makes my day. Oh, if only the other two would go as well...but I'm pretty sure that's not gonna happen. Anyway, the exhaustion is starting to set in. I know I probably won't be going to bed at all tomorrow night, and I am not looking forward to that. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel....so close, yet so far away.

Craziest woman I've seen

So today I received a bulletin on myspace that had a video of one of the craziest women I have ever seen talking to the hosts of the Fox News show "Hannity and Colmes" (don't know if I got the spelling right). She claims to be a Christian, yet attends funeral and memorial services of soldiers that were killed over in Iraq yelling at the family members that their sons deserved this because God is unleasing his wrath on our country. It is absolutely stunning to watch this woman try to defend what she is doing in the name of God. I am posting a link to the video and hopefully it will work. Watch it...it will honestly astound you. Honestly, the best part is listening to the comments that the two hosts make. I think you have to have Windows Media Player on your computer to watch it.

http://media.spikedhumor.com/24864/insane_woman_on_fox_news.wmv