Being the Older Sister

Being the older sister may seem like fun and a huge joy, which it can be but it can also be a daily struggle. As sisters we are obliged to love each other no matter what and that can be a pretty difficult challenge to succeed. From experience I can sat being the older sister of two girls is not always as fun as some people make it out to be. Especially this weekend my parents decided they were going to take a trip to Canada for the weekend and left my in charge of watching my two younger sisters. I was excited that they were going away but being left in charge was not the cherry on top. It means that I have to make sure they are all set and cook them dinner and also keep the house clean. They are a handful. I know people tell you that your sister is going to be your best friend in the whole entire world but I know we have a close but not to the point where we are painting each others nails and playing dress up. Though we are there to support each other through decisions we have to make and help each other. Also as a warning sisters are there to steal your clothes and everything you own and take it when you're not looking. I learned this all the hard way. Just remember for all of you people out there who have not had the privilege of being an older sister it is way harder than it seems to be. It is a full time job that is not easy but has its perks at times.

Updates of some serious CRISES

Well, welcome back to The Daily Struggle. It's been a few weeks since I've posted a blog and I have to say there are a few things I need to rant about. Over the Christmas Break I had some spare time during the week and had to figure out a way how I would spend my time. Most people would pick something productive to do with their time, but I decided to start watching Grey's Anatomy. Can I just say this is a daily struggle. As soon as I finished watching the first episode I fell in love with the show. I could't stop watching it even if I wanted. The problem with this show is that it has 10 seasons!!! Why couldn't it be a little shorter so I could finish it faster, but I decided to stick with it and that was both the right and wrong decision. Sometimes I even have dreams I am performing a surgery. All my friends make fun of me saying that I am obsessed with this show and I guess you could say that I am and am not afraid to admit it. If anyone out there is looking for a good show to dive into this is your show. 

Another daily struggle crisis I am facing is one of my co-workers. At my job I am pretty lovable according to everyone. I love everyone I work with and always have so much fun. Though there is one girl who I work with who is always complaining about me because I get more hours than her. I don't control the amount of hours I get and am just happy with what I do get. I never have a problem with anyone, but I guess now I do and it is getting annoying. So far I have just ignored the looks she gives me at times and the comments she makes, but I am just hoping it all fades away. 

Lastly, I just want to say how many Taken movies are there possibly going to be. This weekend I went to go see Taken 3 with my friend still could not believe they were able to make a third movie. I remember after watching the first movie I didn't think there was any way there were going to be able to make a second one, but they did and then I thought the same thing after the second movie. Though it was clear that I was wrong again and there was a third movie and at the end of the third movie there was a slight indication that Liam Neeson was going to come back and get revenge on someone, Seriously how many movies are there going to be. Lets face it there might even be  Taken 50. Who knows. 

Christmas is almost here!

Christmas break ... something everyone looks forward to. The only problem with break is that the week before break seems to drag on forever. I know this week has felt like an eternity. Two times this week I thought both days were Friday when I woke up and of course I was wrong. It was only Wednesday and Thursday. Now we can finally saw today is the last day before break and we are gone for a whole two weeks, but then somehow those two weeks seem like only a few days. Once you know it vacation is over and you're already going back to school. I can never believe how fast it flies by. One day you're sitting on your couch watching some t.v. and sipping your coffee or cocoa and next your're in history or math. For all of you out there who don't think they're going to be able to survive through today I am here to tell you it is possible. I have been doing it for the past three years and this is my last one. Even though the day may seem like an endless black hole I try and find a way to survive. I think about the next day and how I get to sleep in and sleep in for the next two weeks. Just a few perks to look forward to. I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and to be safe over vacation. I'll catch up with everyone after break and I just may have a few interesting stories to tell.

Annoying Customers

 Most jobs entail annoying customers. Sadly there is not a handbook that comes with the job to tell you how to deal with them, but I can give you a few tips that might come in handy. Some of the annoying customers I meet are the ones who pull out there coupons after they finished paying and you have to go back, return the entire transaction and then ring it all up again. Then you have the people who ask you to go all the way upstairs to get an item that isn't in the front. Sometimes it takes me a few minutes to find what they are looking for and then when I finally get it and give it to them they change their minds and say never mind. Also you have the old ladies who seem nice, but really are out to get you. If I end up not having what they want they get mad at me and say well you really should have it. If we don't have it there isn't anything I can do about it. All I can do is say I'm sorry and keep nodding my head to whatever they are saying. Occasionally you might get those really creepy customers who may try to be nice but sometimes are just plain old creepy. One day when my friend and I were working this guy came up to check out and we both helped him. After we gave him all of his stuff he said thanks Celine and Christina hope to see you guys soon. We both jut gave each other this look and were like okay that was weird. There a bunch more customers that I could go on and on about, but the most important thing to keep in mind is that the customer is always right. Even if the customer may be completely wrong you still have to appease them as much as you can because that is what you are there to do. I just put up with it and once they're gone I go on a rant about them to another co worker. It is hard to do, but something to learn in life.

Black Friday

Black Friday is sometimes called a holiday, but in my opinion it is a day in hell. Before last Friday I had only been out on Black Friday last year and then I went early in the morning to avoid all of the crowds and crazy people that were soon to come out later in the day. The only problem with my plan of going out earlier in the day wouldn't work this year because this Black Friday I had to work. At first I didn't think it would be too bad in the afternoon because I went shopping around 4 that morning. There weren't too many people and I was fine with that. I didn't want to experience all the terrible stories I've heard about. It was my mistake thinking the afternoon would be the exact same at when I went in the morning. Just to be safe I left for work an hour early just in case there would be trouble to find a parking spot. Lets say I definitely needed that extra time. When entering into the mall I saw a long line of cars waiting to get into the parking lots. I was a little frustrated knowing I needed to get to work and of course it was jammed. There was even a police officer directing traffic, allowing people to cross the street and telling cars to go. Finally, I was making my way over to the Target parking lot of where I always park for work and when entering in I couldn't believe what I saw. People were going crazy, there were cars everywhere and cars following people out of the parking lot. I thought that I might have a better chance trying to park on the upper level of Target. When I got up there some people were leaving the store and walking to their cars. There was this little old lady walking to her car so I decided that I would follow her to her car and take her spot. As soon as I started following her people were giving me nasty looks as they drove by. Then this other old lady pulls into the same place as I am and looks at me. She sees that I already have my blinker on to get the spot and she looks at me and then points to the spot. I tell her it is mine and she nods her head and says that is fine. As soon as the lady backs out I can't pull in because I am in front of her the old lady who said I could have the spot went right into it. I couldn't believe she took the spot that I said was mine. I brushed that off my shoulders and kept looking. Then I saw this couple come out and tried to get a spot again. I put my blinker on and waited. As I was waiting there was this woman staring at me. My window was a little cracked and she said that she already had the spot. I told her she didn't and that I followed them out. She did not look happy and then she came out of her car and I was stuck I couldn't get out because cars were blocking me. She started swearing and screaming at me saying that it was her spot and I couldn't take it. All I could do was roll up my window and slink down into my chair. The woman finally went back into her car and I couldn't be more grateful. I went into work and told my manager about what happened and how I never wanted to work on Black Friday again. To all of you out there who think shopping on Black Friday is fun, it isn't. It is a day of people being violent and scary. Just make sure next year if you do go to be safe and watch out for all those crazy people.

Blast from the Past

So today I am going to be writing about something a little bit different. I know I usually blog about all of the unfortunate events that go on in my life, but I thought it would be nice to just talk about music from the 80's and 90's. I know most kids my age do not really know most of the bands from the 80's or if they do their knowledge is pretty limited. In my opinion I think that music was far better when my parents were teenagers. My parents tell me all the time how today's music is awful and how every other word is a swear and all the songs are terrible. On some level I do agree with the songs not being the best we have ever heard, but the music from the 80's I wish we could bring it all back. I joke around all the time saying how I should have been born in the 70's so I could have been around for the time Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Nirvana, Bon Jovi, Guns N' Roses, Journey, Motley Crue, Led Zeppelin, and a bunch of other bands that are too much to list. All of these bands are only a few bands of the long list I have of my love for the 80's music. When listening to all of these bands I always think to myself it is nice to actually be able to listen to a song and a try and figure out the story behind it. For Led Zeppelin each album is like a stroy and the songs are the pieces to the story that the person has to try and figure out for themselves. One of my all time favorite songs by Led Zeppelin is Gallows Pole. This song is amazing in so many ways, It tells the story of a brother who is about to be hung by he tells the hangman to hold on just a minute because he sees his brother coming. The person about to die asks his brother is he has any money and his brother tells him no. The victim has another chance when his friend comes by, but then again is out of luck. Finally, he tells the hangman he sees his sister coming and when the sister comes she agrees to take her brothers place and die instead, Here the song shows the strong bond between the sibling and how she is willing to die for her brother because she loves him so much.

Now I suggest you guys go home and ask your parents what their favorite band was or who their favorite singer was. I can bet they have some amazing suggestions for you and you should go listen to a few of the songs from that time period. Once you hear how amazing it was back then you're going to want more and see the difference of today's music and the music back then. You might actually find a band you really like. It is music that can put you at ease when you need it and can instantly put you into a good mood. Another suggestion I have for you to get into this type of music is to watch the movie Rock of Ages. They have all different artists songs featured in the movie and I loved it. I thought it was great and was able to sing along to every song ( not in a weird way). Thanks again for listening to my little tidbit opinion of the day and I hoped you enjoyed the change of theme this week. 

Budgeting your money

Warning: If you are allergic to the word budget or anything related to saving money, I suggest you do not read this weeks post.

Budget:
N. A plan of operations based on such an estimate.
Adj. Reasonably or cheaply priced

Okay so I know most kids don't like to think about budgeting their money. Budgeting is usually what adults think about or kids in college, but high school is still a time to enjoy your money and not to stress too much. Well for me I can't go one day without hearing the word budget come out of my mom's mouth. Every day my mom will make sure to tell me how much money I need to put aside this week for anything in the future. I am not saying I have a problem with saving my money but after my mom is done "helping" me put aside money, I am left with nothing. Some people take budgeting to an extreme and one of those people are my mother. Even my dad tells her he will go insane if she tries to talk about the budget with him. For teens it is a little more difficult for them to put aside money because they usually tend to want to spend it on clothes or something else they saw in a store and want to buy. I do admit I am someone who will want to spend my money on everything, but thanks to my mom I have learned to save a little and spend a little. At first I was upset at my mom for not letting me spend the money I earned, but hopefully someday I will look back and see that she was right. Also I don't go a day without hear telling me, "See Celine I was right and what do you have to say to me now? Thank you mom?". These are only a few of my moms famous lines. So for anybody out there if you do have a side job look into creating a budget plan for yourself It will seem like a lot of work at first but as you continue it will get easier and you'll be doing yourself a favor in the future. Save up for a car or that new computer you wanted. Trust me I am not telling you this to become one of those crazy people who don't spend any of their money and secretly take home salt and pepper packets home from the restaurants, but to just be aware of what you are spending. Become friends with your budget and don't let it overrule your life.