A Visit

Bad dog! My pants had to be washed.

Then since Yoshi liked licking my feet so much (?!) I took a shower after.

But thanks for having me over for supper. :)

It's Give-Someone-A-Break Time!

I think that the world needs a bit more heart. Y'know, less cynicism. I think it's been rubbing off too much on me lately. For instance, earlier today while I was waiting in brem's car at the gas station while he was busy checking out the cashier, I watched the young attendant emptying out a garbage can. He was probably a high schooler, judging by the fashionable mop of hair on his head and the way his uniform shirt was semi-tucked into his pants. My knee-jerk reaction was that of wanting to chide the boy on having such a sloppy appearance at work. My senior coworkers (and especially the bosses) at the buffet would have thrown a fit, especially since a restaurant wants to provide the image of a clean and sanitary environment. Even for a gas station, one would want to show some level of professionalism, if it would only mean at least a tucked in shirt.

But I am one to reserve judgement. I watched the boy a while longer, as he tied the beer-can (and beer) filled bag up, and carried it away. As he walked, he spotted many pieces of garbage on the ground and also picked them up dutifully.

Likewise, in my buffet job, I also had to do very menial and disgusting, thankless tasks. Though they were part of my duties, I never expected anyone to compliment me for succeeding in cleaning out the buffet table at the end of the evening, nor to have stacked sufficient supplies of plates. But if I could give myself credit for something, it was that I did my job without ever exhibiting a bad attitude (unlike some of the younger coworkers I had the displeasure of working with), and it made all the difference to me. I felt that besides doing something completely mindless, it was sufficient to believe that my tasks were vital to the success of the whole organization. So it gave me some degree of self-confidence. (On the other hand, it did nothing for my career advancement but I don't really regret working there.)

So if a menial job well done could give someone some self-confidence, then this boy might benefit from some completely random words of support. I felt bad that I didn't get to do so, but I think I would have if I had thought of it sooner.

Give someone a meaningful compliment. Anyone. A random stranger. Your friend. A family member. Over the take-out intercom. To the cashier. To a busdriver. Telephone. Over the internet, even. ;)