La Joie de Vivre

Sigh.  That's how this post will start, and probably how it will end too.  Having worked in customer service/retail jobs my entire working career, I know how it can affect someone's day/week/career when someone complains about bad service they received.  However, after reading this post, I hope you will see my side and agree that I've given said retailer enough times to get their act together, without much avail. Said retailer is PetSmart.  More specifically, their grooming department.  My parents have always taken their dogs, Raven and Rusty to the vet at Banfield inside PetSmart and they have occasionally used the groomers inside as well.  So, naturally, when I got Riley in March 2009 I decided to start taking her there to get groomed as well.  Not to mention it was incredibly convenient to my parent's house (where I was living at the time)...only 5 mins away.  Without knowing anything about any of the groomers when I first made an appointment...

I must confess...I don't cook.  Like, ever.  However much I would like to be able to cook, I just don't ever feel like it.  Also, I hate doing the dishes. Back in the day (college) I was slightly obsessed with Rachael Ray.  I used to watch an hour of 30-Minute Meals every day.  Now she annoys the crap out of me, but I still think she's a good cook.  So, during the obsessed-with-Rachael-Ray-phase I began collecting her cookbooks.  All in all, I've tried maybe three of her recipes.  Of those three, I've made one in particular about twenty million times: black bean stoup.  Stoup?  Yes, stoup.  It's Rachael's word for a dish that's thicker than a soup but thinner than a stew.  Stoup. It's my all time favorite meal and I love making a whole pot just for myself and eating on the leftovers for about a week.  I also like to make it for my grandparents and Moms.  Of course, they love it too! :) I fully intended to...

Oh, life.  You're too funny sometimes. I feel like I'm at a crossroads in my life right now and I'm not quite sure how to proceed.  I'm finishing up my Master's thesis and if all goes according to plan, I will be finished in August!  This is exciting by itself but I find myself being plagued with thoughts about, "What's next?!" I know I want to work in the fashion industry.  Of that I'm sure.  Other than that...my thoughts have wavered  about a thousand times in recent months.  Six months ago, I was certain that I would just move up with the company I currently work for by paying my dues at each level until I reached my dream job (something in visual at the corporate level).  Well.  Apparently others have different ideas of what my next move should be.  I  am now second guessing myself and my abilities in the job I perform on a daily basis. Also, thanks to a few books I've read recently ( Retail Hell ...