A Barrel of Laughs (or how I find a minimum wage job fulfilling)

Yes, I know there have been a significant increase in posting in the...last 24 hours, but I was inspired at work today...

Today I rang up a woman's purchases, took her credit card, swiped it, and then accidentally tried to hand it to my co-worker, Tim instead of of handing it back to her. I made some joke about how we were teaming up to steal it, something she and Tim found hilarious. After she left, Tim turned to me and said, "It's always a barrel of laughs working with you, Emily." Ah, what an interesting phrase.

He also remarked earlier in the day that I was always happy when he saw me.
"What's your secret?"
"Ah, 8 hours of sleep. And sunshine."

But as I pondered on this, I realized something. I hold a minimum wage job that involves restocking shelves, mopping floors, and cleaning bathrooms. And I am happy. I leave work satisfied. I would even go so far as to say that I love it there. This is one of the more fulfilling and pleasurable jobs I've had. No, it doesn't beat the thrill of watching a student really GET a concept you've been attempting to teach them. But I love how much I learn from people every day. I love the little 7 year old girl who came up to the counter to tell me that she lost a tooth today. I love the enthusiasm of my coworkers. And for these reasons, this minimum wage job makes me feel more happy and fulfilled.

Here's to you, Maple City Market.

Top Nine

1. Nick Hornby: I read High Fidelity last week, making this week's obsession About a Boy. The clever dialogue and smarmy male characters have been making me grin all week long. I'm sure next week will be spent watching both films.

2. Pumpkin bread pudding: Rather, pumpkin desserts of all kinds, but I made this ridiculously easy and scrumptious recipe last night. Magically, people seemed to know about it, coming from far and wide and arriving just as the bread pudding left the oven. Delicious.

3. The Wailin' Jennys/Wilco: I can be found listening to one of these two bands basically every day. Every day has been a Wilco day for about 2 weeks now, and I constantly cycle between Kamera, Heavy Metal Drummer, and I'm the Man Who Loves You--a perfect trio for mopping floors at the co-op.

4. Chocolate covered crystallized ginger: Both a delightful treat and a digestive aid, this packs a huge punch of ginger flavor surrounded by dark chocolate. Can't go wrong, eh? The best is when someone drops a few on the bulk counter/shelf and leaves them there for yours truly to clean up as she knows best.

5. S. 8th St.: The cathedral of leaves has arrived (along with the frost). Teaming up with partners Blue Sky and Sunshine, the leaves of 8th St. are looking pretty amazing these days.

6. Moroccan Pomegranate Red Tea: Celestial Seasonings has done it again. I drink a cup of this almost every day, since I love all red tea and all things pomegranate.

7. Cinnamon toast: I mourn the days when I had a toaster oven, making this treat a lot simpler (put the butter and cinnamon sugar on untoasted bread, then toast for a delicious gooey treat). However, it can still be done in a regular toaster once the bread has come out. Pair with a cup of hot chocolate and Wendell Berry's Life is a Miracle, and you've got a right pleasant chilly evening.

8. Reading aloud: My parents read to me before bed until 8th grade, I think, and I still do it occasionally today. Currently James and I are reading The Phantom Tollbooth, a classic from my youth. The book is one long play on words that makes for great read aloud pleasure, along with characters just begging for strange accents. Try it out, eh?

9. Gilmore Girls: Having recently come upon the entire second season on DVD, I've been averaging about an episode a day. Luckily I have housemates that also enjoy this guilty pleasure, so I don't have to feel too bad about it. Hey, everyone needs a vice, right?

i am not yet dead!

So I just realized that it's been nearly a month since I last posted. It's been one of those months where I concoct witty blog entries in my head while I'm at work, then come home and promptly forget what I wanted to talk about. So you'll just have to settle for a brief list of interesting things that have happened since you last heard from Emmalinda:

• attended two weddings in as many weekends.
  
• road-tripped to PA and back
• accidentally woke up at 6 am, drove to a school...and then checked my voice mail to find that my substitute services were no longer required
• subbed for the one and only noltinator at GHS
  
• baked a pumpkin pie with fresh pumpkin and soy milk in the filling, which was pronounced delicious by my crust connoisseur of a boyfriend
• heard Chanticleer in Sauder Concert Hall
• became completely addicted to the office
• watched the movie everything is illuminated. finally.
• sent James off to Guatemala for about 10 days
• finished the book high fidelity
• heard peter and the wolf at the maple city chamber orchestra concert
• ate a delectable san marcos chicken burrito
• learned a new pancake making trick
• made pesto
• mopped the kitchen floor
• drank approximately 32 cups of tea (and began the tea total tally system)
  

...ok, so the list got a bit desperate. but this is my life, sometimes a bit desperate. but it has been a good month. i eagerly await the total transformation of 8th street to a cathedral of fall leaves, but also lament the colder weather that is rolling in. such is fall, such is life.