I have been tagged by Sarah, possibly because she thinks I blog about boring things, and she is now trying to infiltrate my blog. No, no, of course, we all know Sarah is lovely. And that she is totally infiltrating my blog in a totally non-mean way. She’s infiltrating it with love!

As such things go, here are the instructions, carefully pasted for your viewing enjoyment. Also, added with my comments.

The Rules:

• Link to your tagger and post these rules. (I already did! Duh.)
• Share 7 facts about yourself: some random, some weird. (I actually have an entire page dedicated to random facts about me. And I’ve done this meme before. Therefore, this entry is just pointless, and proof, really, of how much I love Sarah!)
• Tag 7 people at the end of your post and list their names and link to them. (But… but… I’m LAZY!)
• Let them know they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment at their blog. (NO! I WILL NOT! That is where I draw the line! They can just come FIND ME, if they want to see their tag!)

Alright, alright, here we go! Umm…

1. I’ve been performing since age 3. I started ballet then, and did it competitively until I was about 10. I always went to schools with good drama, music and art programs. Even though I don’t perform (for an audience other than my family, friends and pets) now, I still find engaging in some sort of performance art to be calming. When I am stressed, it is not uncommon to find me in an all-out song and dance number.
2. I eat around things. I dislike crust and such, so I eat the outsides of things like sandwiches, and then the middle. I also eat pizza crust first (when Spice isn’t around to take it), and then the rest of the pizza. It’s probably a sign of OCD, but I think it’s just saving the best for last! Who wants to be stuck with icky crust?
3. I watch the soap General Hospital every day with my mom.
4. I like baking. I can bake bread, cake, and all sorts of other stuff from scratch. It’s relaxing and you reap excellent benefits! I just really dislike the accompanying dishes. You can actually find some of my favourite recipes on my site!
5. In Jr High we had this cool thing called “Wednesday Options,” where for 2 hours each Wednesday for a month (4 days = 8 hours total), we could take a special option each month (excluding a few odd months, but, essentially, 8 options a year). I took awesome options, such as American Sign Language, stained glass, Japanese, stage make-up, dance and Ukrainian Easter egg decorating. It was really a great way to expose everyone to different activities, and I would love it if all schools could do something similar!
6. Hilary Duff is my secret love. Ha ha. No, really. I love all of her films, I have her CDs, her songs are way overplayed on my iPod, and… yeah, my Hil love is great. I’ve been a fan of hers since Lizzie McGuire. The Lizzie McGuire Movie was my favourite in grade 9. I also used to be blond and cute like her.
7. I kill plants. With a glance. Plants can not live near me. I killed my cactus because I didn’t water it enough!

Screw you guys, I’m not tagging anyone. I’m too lazy!! But, I hope you had fun reading this.

Like most people my age, I work. I don’t work much, and I don’t work hard. I’m lazy and uninspired, and I’m the first one to admit it. I suppose one day I will find my focus, but until then, I am perfectly contented to sort through organic products for 6 hours a day, before retreating home to play with my computer. Okay, in all fairness, I learn a lot on my computer. Things that will come in handy when I am in school, provided I stick with my current goal involving media. And, in between, I get to yell things like ITMAN (I DON’T!)!!! And be immature with random amigas. It’s a nice existence.

However, just because I am a little bit careless these days, does not mean I don’t know how to behave, or that I shirk my responsibility. I’ve been raised to face the consequences of my actions. I started working when I was 16. I’m sure I drove my supervisors crazy with my silliness (I’m friends with some of them on Facebook! I should ask them! And apologize once they confirm my suspicions!). But one thing that can be said was that I was not irresponsible. Okay, I spent my money frivolously, but that has little to do with my job. As far as work is concerned, I’ve only been significantly late once. By 10 minutes. Because I had to walk at the last minute. I’ve never missed a day without calling in. My breaks are always carefully timed. I’ve always been careful to complete the tasks assigned to me.

That is why I am completely flabbergasted by the attitude of my newest work colleague. I won’t mention her name, partially because I’m not sure what it is, I’ve never set my eyes on the girl! Apparently, she takes uber long breaks, and then lies about it, even after someone has seen her, and called her out on it. And doesn’t complete very simple assignments. (And I mean, really simple. This is retail, it’s not rocket science!)

I have had two run-ins with her (kind of. One wasn’t really with her.). Yesterday, I was working from 8am until noon, and she was scheduled from 11 until… whenever. Four? Who cares? The point was, she was supposed to come, and take over for me. I know how to run the department quite well, having worked there since the beginning, so I had completed the majority of the day’s work without problems. But, I’d left a few easy things, like facing and tidying up the department, for the new girl. She was due at 11. By 11.30, I realized she probably wasn’t going to show– at least not by the time I finished. So, I ran around like a wild woman completing the task I was already attending to, as well as tidying up as best I could. Finally, my dad came up to me, and told me he’d be around, and I should find him. I agreed, and finished my mad dash.

Shortly after noon, I swiped out, and followed my dad around, shopping. Around 12.15, I hear a page for my department. And, I figure it’s her, so I run back, and she tells me she won’t be in. Fine, fine, I say sweetly. But really, I’m kind of angry. I mean, company policy is to phone in 2 hours before your shift if you are not going to make it. It was an hour and 15 minutes after her shift was due to start! What? Where’s the responsibility in that? Anyway, she told me she would be in for her shift today, at 2, and I suppose I believed her.

I shouldn’t have. Around 11.30, I get a call, not from her, but from her sister. She says that the girl (the one I work with) won’t be in today, because she is severely behind in schoolwork. But, she will come in the next day.

Right. Like I’m going to believe that. Ha. Cue laughter.

In any case, I suppose things have changed since I was 16 and started working. Permission to work was granted by my parents and based on the condition that my grades stay satisfactory. And I would never have dared to call in two days in a row, for no apparent good reason!

I don’t get it. I suppose she doesn’t get it either.

Ah, to be 16 again!

Sometimes, you’re just minding your own business, and all of a sudden you find yourself in the middle of a new cultural experience.

I love it when that happens!

Essentially, I was minding my own business, yesterday afternoon. I was waiting for the bus when a truck pulled up. Don’t worry, it wasn’t someone creepy– it was just my parents. My mom told me that they were going to my dad’s friend’s house for Ethiopian food, and that I must go with them. I’ll admit, I was a little angry. I was sleepy, it was hot out, I had worked since 7am, which meant I had been up since 5am (I’m really trying to bring home the “I was sleepy,” point, here!). But my dad’s friend, Desi, is really nice. (I used to work with him when I worked for my dad as a construction worker, and while I disliked the job, there’s no denying that some of the guys are really nice.)

So, we went. It was a housewarming party. My dad recently helped Desi to find a house. They found a really pretty one in Mackenzie Towne, with a wrap around porch, and a gorgeous south-facing deck. Desi is from Ethiopia. He is extremely grateful for EVERYTHING. Especially to my dad for helping him with the house search, getting everything set up, etc. I learned straight away that having a party like this, where you can give food to others, is a BIG deal in Ethiopia, because food is such a luxury! There were two other ladies there, who were also from Ethiopia, and they had started cooking a week ago, and had stayed up all night finishing everything! And such a feast! There was all sorts of spicy chicken and beef, and salads, and an absolutely GORGEOUS fruit-kebab tree!

Then, we settled in the living room for coffee. But, coffee in Ethiopia isn’t instant mix in a cup. It’s not even roasted beans in a machine. It is a ceremony.

First, one of the girls sat down at this big set-up on the floor. And she started ROASTING coffee beans. And they were GREEN. I had no clue that coffee beans weren’t brown! Anyway, she roasted them, and while doing so, they burned a certain kind of Ethiopian incense, which not only smelled great, it was also what was used to FLAVOUR the coffee!

After the beans were roasted, they were ground, then stewed in a pot for quite a bit. It smelled so good.

Meanwhile, because this took quite a bit, we watched Ethiopian music videos! They were essentially your typical music videos, about love and cheating and all that, but in Africa, with all the traditional clothing and dancing.

Except for this one– it was of a guy, and he was wearing a hockey jersey, and singing. He sang something about how he burned some bread, and he was dancing around looking at his bread, and he was sad. Then, he went to meet a girl. But before he could get to her, another guy went up to her. And he was like WHOA. And then ANOTHER guy came up and started fighting with the other guy. So, the singer man RAN AWAY. He ran fast! He ran all the way to the doctor! So he could get an HIV test, because his girl was a hoochie! Luckily, he didn’t have HIV, and then he decided he didn’t need girls, because his mom would feed him and give him money and stuff. So, there you have it– I’ve just solved all of your relationship problems right here! Don’t even try! It’s not worth it! You could get HIV!

By now, the coffee was done. First everyone got bread or popcorn. The older people got it first, then everyone else in descending age. It was great, because it’s so respectful! And finally, after about an hour, the coffee was ready! It was thick and strong. And served in tiny cups, because it was strong. But very good. And it smelled delicious.

It was just such a cool event! And reading more about it today just makes it so much more special! You can read about it yourself here.

Have you ever had any really cool cultural experiences, like this? I love them! I hope I have more soon!