Life of a Lunch Lady

New School Year

2010-09-16T22:00:00.002-04:00

Hi All,

Wow! Time flies. Its a new school year term. 2010-2011. So far, we have had a great opening. Our counts are down, way down. But we are hoping business will pick up. We opened the school with no problems. No equipment problem and no lunch money problems.

In the past we have had the students order their lunches on a lunch count form in the morning. This year I decided we would not use the forms. The students can come in and take whatever one of the five lunches we offer. They seem to like it. The teachers love it. I never realized how big a deal it was for the students to fill out the lunch count form in the classroom in the morning, but it surely must have been. I told one teacher that I would not be using the form and soon enough everybody knew.

I have been asked many times "How do you know how much food to make now?" All I have to do is look back on my production records from last year and make that amount. I had a lot of food leftover the first week but so far this week, its going well. Not much waste. Now that we have worked a full week, I just look at what we served last week and make about the same amount.

One thing I am not happy about is that we are not allowed to sell ice tea to the teachers and staff this year. I begged and pleaded to no avail. The teachers would come in to buy the ice tea, then pick up another item like a cookie or fruit, soup, chips or whatever. Since I don't have the ice tea, they aren't coming in. I am losing business.

My boss says we can not sell it because of the wellness initiatives. All I know is it sucks that an adult can't have something like an ice tea if they want it.

Other than the ice tea, everything so far is great.

I worked all summer on my book and am very happy with the progress made. It has been edited and I am working on those changes. Once the changes are completed (I think I have six more pages to do), I will write the chapter headings. Last week I got a wonderful story to add to my book from a lunch lady in Delaware. Very exciting.

I am still seeking some stories. I am mainly looking for "good" teacher stories for my Chapter about Lunch Ladies and Teachers. If you have a story about your interactions with a teacher that was good, please send it to me.

I better sign off. I am exhausted. This whole work thing is over-rated!

All is well.

"Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution" TV Show

2010-03-27T13:19:00.004-04:00

I just watched the two episodes of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. I will admit that I was dreading it. Almost to the point of making myself sick. As you all know, I want to improve the reputation of the lunch lady and I was feeling that this show was going to put us in a bad light. Which it did in some part, but I do think that it wasn't all bad. And, I am glad I watched it.

Some of the things I loved about the show:
The lunch ladies, especially Alice, the no-nonsense lunch lady who gave Jamie the hardest time. Everybody knows a lunch lady like Alice. I bet she has been in the business for 20 some years and is working hard and doing the best she can with what she has to serve. Even though it sounded like she wasn't the acutal boss at this school, certainly she is the "real boss". I loved how she told him how she felt, yes she could have used less sarcasm, but realistically, everything she said was truth!

I was glad it showed the kids reactions to the food Jamie served. I was afraid it would show the kids as loving everything he was trying to do because in reality, it wouldn't go that way.

I loved that it showed Jamie's emotions when he was given a hard time. YES, I know it is TV and he is a chef but he is also an actor. Was it real emotion? Seemed so to me, but I did like that it showed the emotions of the lunch ladies and Jamie. It was obvious that the lunch ladies were not actors, you could feel and read everything they were thinking on their faces. It would be the same thing I would have been thinking and saying.

That's just a few things I loved.

One of the things I didn't like was the look on Alice's face when Jamie said "how long have you been a lunch lady". She didn't like that term at all. HELLO! That is what the kids call us. I urge all lunch ladies everywhere to embrace, yes embrace the term "lunch lady". Why fight something that has been going on since the first school lunch was served. I bet even cave men called some woman "lunch ladies". If we can embrace the term and make it a term of endearment, instead of term that when we hear we feel belittled, the reputation will change. I simply must get a hold of Alice and try and help her with this. (I can't wait to send her a copy of my book when its published). A "lunch lady" is a woman who serves lunch. A "cook" is somebody who cooks. A "welder" is somebody who welds. WHY O WHY do some dislike the term? WHY O WHY the stigmatised? One thing for sure is that each and every one of those ladies love those kids. It was obvious that they want the kids to eat what they serve so they serve them what they want. Don't we all do that? Yes, I guess we need some tough love in school food service. The trick is to gradually start introducing them to the healthier foods and options. Not come in and drastically change everything they know about there lunches in three days. But that wouldn't have made a good TV show.

Most of us have had the experience of having somebody come in at our job and are told that we are "doing it wrong" or "could be doing it better" or "wants to change everything". How many of you like that? Its happened to me many times. You shake your head and say "go for it, if you think you can do better, go ahead". Which is what the school district and the lunch ladies did. I think Jamie could have done a much better job of speaking with the lunch ladies and the school district about what he wanted and why he wanted to accomplish what he had hoped to. Maybe there was some of that which wasn't in the show. Who knows? But nobody wants somebody to say "I can do better than you", especially when you have been doing your job for many, many years. It makes you feel angry, sad, sarcastic, and can break you heart. It was no wonder the lunch ladies felt the way they felt. And most of us feel, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". However, in reality, it was broke as Jamie said since the statistics proved it.

It showed Jamie coming in at 7:40 AM. HA!!! Those lunch ladies had probably already been there for an hour or almost an hour by then. Jamie said "oh, the kids are already eating breakfast". Yes of course they are already eating. He had almost missed the whole process. Come on Jamie, get your butt up earlier if you want to see the kids eating breakfast. The lunch ladies would have respected Jamie much more if he would have been there when they opened the doors.

One thing you love about kids is they don't usually edit what they say. I liked the experiment Jamie did with the chicken, cutting all the mostly usu able pieces of chicken then pureeing the carcass, making it look like a chicken nuggets, and the kids wanting to eat it. That is truly reality! How many of you really want to know what is in the food you eat. Generally, I don't. I love my beef and never watch shows about how beef comes to my dinner table.

I think the show accurately portrayed Rhonda the Food Service Director and I was glad they showed how much red tape/paperwork is involved in a school lunch. Rhonda was sincere, and respectful of what Jamie wanted to accomplish. But, she was also realistic. It was going to be tough to cook fresh products with the budget they had and in the time allowed with their labor costs. Cooking fresh products is time-consuming. You all know that! That is why there is so much processed food in the market place. Nobody has time for it. Not us the lunch ladies or you the parent. Peel potatoes?? I was like, "no freaking way". We use Potato Pearls in our school district and I admit, I buy them at the store myself. The labor costs associated with preparing fresh foods would increase the budget and would ultimately affect the schools district budget in whole. Let's say he could make the fresh raw foods for cheaper, but labor would still increase. He mentioned olive oil many times. I don't think there are many school districts out there who use expensive olive oil. We don't have it in our schools. Should we, maybe, but can we afford it? I don't know.

Obviously this district is not a wealthy one. It did not show they selling snacks or giving the kids a choice of what's to eat. In our school district we give them FIVE choices and I agree with Jamie wholeheartedly, it is too many choices for elementary school kids. Three choices would be all that I think would be appropriate this age group. I loved when Alice said "ask them which choice they want and go faster?". She laughed when he said "yes". From experience I will tell you that when you ask a kid what they want, especially elementary kids, they don't say quickly I will take chicken or pizza. They look at you and say "what" and/or" I don't know, or give no answer at all. They are just too young to absorb the questions in an environment of loud noise, surrounded by their peers, and be able to quickly say "chicken" or "pizza". They love to tell you "well, I had chicken yesterday" or "my mom said I can't have pizza today because....... " on and on they will go. It would rarely ever be a simple answer. Sorry Jamie, the lunch ladies were right about that.

It showed many breakfast kids which probably means they have a high free and reduced population of kids. Selling snacks to make money for fresh products and extra labor costs wouldn't fly there. I didn't see packers at the school. I would have liked to know if they have a lot of packers. When you have a high free and reduced population, the majority of the kids do eat breakfast and lunch through the school served lunches. I would have liked more details about the school district in general. I know that most wouldn't need that information. Maybe I can goggle that and find out.

The lunch lady said that they cook within the guidelines of the USDA (Jamie didn't even know that term, YIKES). If you get government reimbursement for the lunches you sell, you must serve within the government guidelines. Jamie's needs to take his cute little butt to the government if he wants to change things. There is already a "revolution" going on in school nutrition. Lunch ladies have been rallying Capitol Hill for years, way before Jamie Oliver and Ryan Secrust, (its produced by Ryan Secrust) ever thought of this new reality show. School districts need more reimbursement to cover the costs of fresh products. Congress doesn't want to hear that! If Jamie hopes to improve things, and I hope he can, then he needs to do more than have a show on TV. When Jamie was sitting with Rhonda, the Food Service Director, and said "I just want to put food in the kids mouths" I laughed. He thought it was that easy to say, "oh lets cook fresh and cook whatever I want". It doesn't work that way in the good old USA. Red tape my friends! Paperwork is a big part of our lunch lady job.

I agree with Jamie about why would you serve rice and need a roll too. I think we serve way too many starches on our menus. I remember way back when, the Weight Watchers diet used to go by categories instead of a point system. You were allowed 3 breads a day, 5 fruits, 5 veggies, 3 proteins, or something like that (my memory isn't as good as it used to be). In the bread category was potato, peas, corn and any starchy vegetable. Some days on our menu we have mashed potato (yes the infamous potato pearls) peas, and a roll. Way too many starches. We all know those products turn into fat in our bodies. I learned that at Weight Watchers probably 30 years ago and it still stays with me to this day.

Jamie obviously doesn't know our health and safety rules in our country. Pouring broth or whatever it was he drained into the hand sink is a "no no". Using his hands in our County, is a "no no", even though I agree with him. Gloves are only as clean as where the gloves have been. I hate using gloves unless I am actually mixing some kind of food.

The part where it showed Jamie's showing the parents the fat and food that the school district was serving said volumes. There were NOT many parents there. They said they serve 450 kids a day, there was nowhere near even 1/2 those parents there. This says the parents are not all on board with the changes to be made. The ones that were there said "YES we want to change" but truthfully there was not that many parents there. It all starts at home. Jamie was right though. If he can get the parents on his side (such a sin that there is "sides" on this issue)things will change. In our district all it takes is one parent to call and complain about something and we will get a note that says "no more" of that product. It just happened in our school district. Twice a year we serve funnel cake. (Jamie would have a fit I know). It is usually one of the biggest selling items we have. NOTE I said twice a year! Well, one parent called and said that their child received a bad BMI for their kids because/and/or we have the nerve to serve funnel cake (again twice a year). Now, no more funnel cake. So for sure, Jamie is right! Get the parents on board and things will change.

One things lunch ladies everywhere hate is "waste". No lunch lady enjoys seeing the kids throw out their food or throwing away food that the kids don't take. It showed all that chicken Jamie made that the kids didn't take. I know that hurt those lunch ladies even though I am sure secretly they wanted to prove that the kids would take their offering instead of his.

We are so lucky in the school district that I work. We have been gradually introducing fresh products for years now. We have Wellness Committees that oversees what we are serving. Do I think they go a little to far at times? Yes indeed! Do I think kids are obese because of the meal(s) they eat at school? No, at least not in our school district!

So, that's what I thought of the show "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution". Yes school food services needs some help. If Jamie can get it for us, GREAT! I warn him "don't talk the talk unless he can walk the walk". He said he has to change the school lunches in six hours. He can't stop there! Have I changed my opinion about my job since watching the show. Probably. I hate to admit that. But why fight something that's going to happen and is probably true. Yeah, I have been fighting all the wellness stuff, but maybe, no more. One thing I know for sure, its a great time to get my book out there! With school lunches in the media, now is the time. So, I guess I better stop here and finish up my book. Get my Query letter to the publishers out there, take advantage of the press. What's that saying, there is no such thing as bad publicity?

School lunches rock! Ahhh, all is well.

Video Blog

2010-01-05T17:03:00.002-05:00

Hi, I am trying out a video blog. Check it out!

Update and Holiday Party

2009-12-06T11:34:00.004-05:00

Wow, way too long since I blogged!

Just an update, still working on my book. I actually have most of it done as far as the writing goes. I am reading and editing at this point. Not going to make my end of the year deadline but you can't rush a thing like this.

On another subject, last night we had our Food Service Holiday Party. I, along with another fellow lunch lady plan and co-ordinate the event. When we first started this about 7 years ago, we had about 60 people attend the first one. Food service at that time had about 50 people employed. People can bring their spouses and some do, but most don't. (Myself included). Now we have at least approx. 70 people on our payroll. (we opened a new high school and they have 17 people working there on any given day), and we had 18 people at our Holiday party last night.

The employee must pay for the party. Food Service doesn't have it in our budget to pay for it so we set an amount that covers food, expenses for door prizes and our costs to run the party. This year we set the price at $22 but it is a "cash bar". We think this is reasonable. We rent a room, provide games and entertainment, music, dancing, collect canned goods to be donated and EVERYBODY goes home with at least one door prize.

Over the past 7 years our counts to attend the party have been dropping, drastically. The past few years we had close to 40 people. This year we had 24 people sign up, and a few of those don't even work for food service.

My question is: what's up with that? Are we, as lunch ladies too tired to even want to attend a holiday party. Are we, as lunch ladies, not able to afford a party you have to pay for? Are we, as lunch ladies, not the party type ladies? I don't think that lunch ladies are "not the party type". I have attended several conferences where lunch ladies gather and they sure as heck like to party. Or, is it just our district that has less than half of the employees that want to gather together and let off some steam? Do we not like each other enough to spend 4 - 5 hours together outside of work? Are we all so busy we can't take one day out of the year to attend? Are we paid such a small wage that we can't spend $22 on ourselves? We always give plenty of notice about the date. I know the economy is bad but I just don't believe that is the reason for our attendance numbers.

Now I know stuff happens, people get sick, spouses party is that day, other events are the same day but come on.....

Am I whining here? Probably. It is a lot of work to get all the party together and try and provide entertainment that all would enjoy. I know our group isn't a dancing crowd (except for a few of us (meaning me), but we always have other stuff planned. Now I know nobody says we have to do this, we volunteered to do it, and those that attend are always very appreciative. But what does it take to get more involved. If they were getting paid for the hours there, more would attend. Maybe if we had "big ticket giveaways" more would attend (Where would we get the money for that?). Any ideas?????

This year we didn't even have enough money to cover the cost of the bill. Isn't that ugly! The hall told us we had to have a minimum of 40 people to book their banquet room. In the past as I said above, its always been close, so we thought that as usual, at the last minute, we would get another 10 or so people. But that never happened this year. Plus we had bad weather last night so we had an additional 7 people that couldn't make it, understandably. Luckily for us they had paid their money already so we had it to for the hall costs, but we still were short. The other person who runs our party paid for the bill and the money we were short out of her own pocket. We always have a 50/50 drawing which we donate the other "half" to a local charity. This year, our party costs had to be the "charity." For our meager 18 people that showed up, we got $80 that was split, people were very generous. $40 toward our costs. I never expected it to be that much and am grateful for every one's generosity.

I feel bad for those that paid but couldn't make it due to the weather. It was money wasted for them. We don't have the money to refund to them. Not to mention the food wasted! Tsk Tsk! We did call the hall (VFW TELFORD, PA) and they would not let us cancel about 4 days before the party since they already had the food, and we tried to change the date (just by a day or so) due to the weather, but they said NO again. So, we had no choice to have the party, come hell or bad weather!

The people that were there, had a good enough time I think. But in a big room like that, it looked pitiful our 4 tables of six with empty chairs.

We decided no Holiday party next year (or at least not in December). I prefer to take a year or so off and see what happens.

So that's my thoughts on the subject of lunch lady Holiday parties.

I hope you all have a great holiday. Take some time for yourselves and enjoy. Invigorate yourselves. Do something good for somebody else! Enjoy your family, friends and, yes, your co-workers!

All is well.

JoAnn

Its Almost Over

2009-06-12T21:49:00.005-04:00

One more week done for the 2008-2009 school year. Thank you Jesus! Two more serving days left. Two more days to get up early. You see, I am not a morning person. I don't sleep all day or anything like that but I like to get up about 9:00, relax, have my coffee, and watch the birds at the bird feeder. That is my idea of a perfect morning.

I gave my speech "The Lunch Ladies Very Bad Day" at the Toastmasters Club meeting on Tuesday. I did win the Blue "Best Speaker Ribbon". I was very nervous but I kept on going. I think I remembered every part of it. Now I must say that out of the four speeches that night (mine included), two of the speeches were disqualified because they went over the time limit. The timing of a speech is very important. I took a 10-12 minutes speech and had to cut it down to 5-7 minutes. But back to my winning the ribbon, I kind of feel like the winner of a beauty contest where the other contestant didn't show up. I wanted all to qualify. I wanted to see if I could win it when all qualified. Now I will never know. But... to be honest, I think I would have won. Mine was a humorous speech and people remember those speeches more than others. At a conference I went to they said "People learn best when enjoying themselves". As far as the speech being "edgy or having some blue humor", the club seemed to be ok with it. Our Club District Governor said it was fine and it was not too edgy for a Toastmaster Club. Or specifically our club. She said she knows of a Toastmaster that is a stand-up comic, and she wants to give her my email so we can "talk". Wouldn't that be awesome. I am sure I will be very intimidated but the opportunity would be huge. I hope I get to speak with her.

I am wondering if I could give the speech at a Chapter Dinner Meeting. I know all my lunch lady friends will enjoy it. I am taking an acting class and am going to work on the speech there. I am hoping they can help me with some of the delivery of the comical moments. In this acting class we are to work on a monologue. I chose a section of my speech. I gave my monologue at the class and the instructor said she was so engrossed in the story that she didn't even see anything she could tell me to work on. One of the other classmates said that she was glad I went next to last since if I would have went first, everybody would have been intimidated. Ahhh, such high praise! I admit that I love it. They were all surprised that I wrote it myself.

One thing I am learning from this experience is that maybe I can "write". I have never considered myself a writer even though I am writing a book. I have always thought of my book as wanting to tell my story. I am getting very excited about getting back to writing for my book this summer

Some of the Toastmaster Club members would like for me to enter the speech in the Humorous Speech Contest in the fall. I have to check out the requirements to see if I qualify to give a speech at that level. If I do, I might just go for it.

I didn't get to go to the SNA National Conference this year. It is in Vegas and I was sooooo sure that I was going. But... things don't always work out the way you want it to. My boss said she couldn't pay for the cost. Maybe just the registration. I even had cheap rooms since I work at a hotel part-time and I got a great deal on a room at $69 per night. The airfare was high and it would have been too costly for me to go. I couldn't see putting all that money out for me to go. Plus nobody else I knew was going. I thought I would be too uncomfortable being by myself in the city that never sleeps. A friend of mine said she would have come with me. But, it is too late to change things now. So......maybe next year. I intend for my book to be done and then maybe I can be doing a book signing there. That would be really cool.

Ahh..... two serving days to go......all is well......

2009-06-07T21:33:00.003-04:00

Ahhh, the end of the year is near. We have 7 more serving days left (to serve lunch to the students). I didn't think the end of this year would ever come. What a year! First we had the teachers strike and we didn't go back to work until almost three weeks later in Sept. Because of the teachers strike we had only a few (like the actual day of the holiday) off. No Act 80 days (which is a day when the kids go for a few hours but we don't serve lunch), no extra days around the holidays and no teacher in-service days off. It sucked!!!!

I don't think there is a single food service employee in our district that isn't glad this year is over.
We had many challenges this year in our district. We added a "Vegetarian" choice to our menu. This means we serve five meals per day. My personal opinion is that is too many choices for elementary students. The "Vegetarian" meals don't get ordered by the students except by mistake. We go to the trouble of making them, then when the students comes through the lunch line, they don't want it. Its very frustrating.

In my kitchen we had quite a lot going on. Both of my staff members lost their mothers this year. It is such a tough thing to go through. Both also has to help care for their elderly parent(s) like I do. It is nice that we all understand each other when it comes to such matters. So, we had more days than usual where one of us was out. Luckily since we are all cross-trained in each persons job, we can step up and fill in where needed most. The substitutes in our district love to come to our school. I think we treat them with respect and they appreciate it. Plus we have a nice working environment.

On Tuesday I am giving a speech at the Toastmasters (Public Speaking)club that I belong to.
I am giving a speech titled "The Lunch Lady's Very Bad Day". I wrote the script/speech when I went to a script writing class. It is a compilation of some of the lunch lady stories that I have collected from people. I think it is entertaining and funny. I hope to bring home the "Blue Ribbon" which would mean I won for best speech out of four speeches given that night. I would say it is a little "edgy" or maybe a little bit of "blue humor" but I am going for it. One thing I learned at a conference I went to was: Never be afraid to make a fool out of yourself. I also might like to give the speech at our end of the year breakfast next Wednesday.

I hope to get my book to editing by the end of the summer and published by the end of the year. I have about 1/2 of it on the computer. I just need to get it organized and put the stories I have collected, where they belong. Wish me luck!

So, goodbye 2008-2009 school year. It was a challenge, but we got through it. Next year will be closer to a normal school year.

I hope you have a great summer! Enjoy the time off, rejuvenate yourself. I booked a trip to Cancun, Mexico for my family. Ahhhhh, all is well.

Coincidence or Not?????

2009-03-18T17:45:00.005-04:00

Yes I know it has been a long, long time since I have blogged here. Been busy with "stuff". But today was a day to blog about. Here's the latest about what is going on for me. A few weeks ago I decided I wanted a new picture on my computer at work as my background. So I went on the Internet looking for "beaches wallpaper". I picked one of the fist sites that popped up and clicked. Well, it was taking f-o-r-e-v-e-r to load so I just keep clicking away and tried to get out of the site (yes I am very inpatient when it comes to a site loading). Then I get this black screen with all this "stuff". Looked like adware or something like that. I "X'd" out of it and it kept giving me that "program not responding" crap...... I knew that I had a problem. Turns out I loaded a virus or a worm of some kind onto my work computer. Double CRAP! It was an accident but I feel horrible about it. I can't get onto the Internet at all (I use it for my orders), or onto our in-house stuff where I get all my information for work. Triple CRAP! I can no longer get any emails either (I get emails from parents when their kids with allergies will be buying lunch so we can be sure they will be safe when they eat lunch, plus I communicate with the teachers by email if there are any changes to the menu). Quadruple......well you know.....

Anyway, the school district tech says it is a really bad worm of some kind and is in all my files. So I will have to use a laptop for the things I can't get in to. Have you used a labtop????? I am a total PC person and love my keyboard and mouse. First the tech (a very sweet wonderful person by the way) sets up the laptop for me (I wasn't there since I had to leave). She leaves me very specific instructions on how to use it, how to lock it up, etc. However, I can't get a wireless signal in my office so I have to carry it around to find the signal and get a connection. So I wander around with the laptop trying to get a signal. Ok, so far, not a big deal. Then I try and use the little pad you use to move the mouse. OMG! I must be heavy handed or a total idiot! I am moving around the icons, tapping it, hitting it with my whole hand trying to figure out how to use it. Plus, I am scared to death I am going to break it! So...finally three days later, I am kinda getting the hang of it. I do want to master it. I have always wanted a laptop so I am determined to figure it all out.

That is not even the part that made me whan to blog today.

So, today I start up the Point of Sale (POS) system (our computer system that reads the kids cards and has their lunch account information in it) and the register reads the cards and the information I see looks like a foreign language. I could do a few cards at a time, but it would get unreadable. I kept having to shut it down, turn it off and unplug and replug in anything I could find. What a mess! I called our main office and told her I think that my virus got into the POS system and she was like "Oh NO, that is not good". I said "I know". She said she would call the tech person and see if they could come over. Meantime I went back and kept trucking along, barely being able to read the information such as what I had entered in, the names of the kids, dollar amount, whether they did or did not have any money in their account. What a nightmare. But I got through it. I was so happy when that last kid came through and I could turn the darn thing off. (By the way I could have stop selling snacks and had the kids only get a lunch but I was determined to not lose those sales)

During all this process I realized that this was probably not because of the virus, it was a register problem. I remember another manager had the same thing happen to her once. The tech called me and I told her that at first I thought it was the virus screwing up the system but now I think it was a register issue. She told me she agreed and had checked the system and there were no "viruses" in the system that she could see. What a coincidence! I have a virus on my computer but my register goes down around the same time. Hmmmm. I am a person who doesn't believe in coincidences. So I now am wondering what I am supposed to be learning here.

Back to my story. So my boss brings over a new "top" or new "guts" to the register, installs it herself and it seems to be up and running. Whewwww!!! Thank you Jesus! Will it work tomorrow? I have no idea! But whether it does or doesn't, I will get through it, because.... a challenge is good. Keeps the brain running at optimal speed. A challenge makes you realize just what you can do when you have to. A challenge makes you soooo tired you know you will sleep like a baby that night. And I intend to do just that.....

Ahhhh..... All is well.

2008-12-29T19:14:00.004-05:00

Wow, it has been f-o-r-e-v-e-r since I have blogged. Work was very busy, or I should say "life" has been very busy. How do we do it all?

I could not wait to get out of work last week (the Tuesday before Christmas). Lunch money issues was really getting me down. Money must be tight this year since we are having issues with getting money on the lunch accounts for the kids at school. I try not to take it personal but I just can't help it, I do. Plus, my staff each had a family member loss this year so it has been hard on them too. I lost my father around the holidays so I totally understand how they are feeling, losing someone so close to the holidays. It really does SUCK.

I have been missing my dad, as always, and I was asking him for some signs to let me know he is still with me. After he passed away, we had many issues with the lights going off or on when nobody was around or touching them, and we also had some candles that I knew had been blown out that came back on. I would go to bed, wake up and notice candles or lights on. I have always felt it is my father, letting me know that he is still with me. So, I asked him for a sign around the holidays to let me know he is still "with me". Sure enough, within a day or two, I was in bed and woke up and noticed a light in our living room. I woke up my husband and asked him if he went and turned it on and he said no. So, I laughed and said, "thank you dad". I love feeling his presence and knowing he is still watching over us.

Along with all the money issues of the kids at school, we are starting a new menu item at our school. A "vegetarian" meal. This means the kids get a choice of FIVE items to order as their main item. Holy Crap! I don't even know where we are going to put it. Get this..... one of the items is a salad with beans. Three kinds of beans I believe are supposed to get put into a salad. Now, let me tell you, the kids rarely even take a regular salad much less one that has beans in it. Another one of the items is "Hummus". I have never even had hummus until the other day. Somebody had it at a dinner I went to, so I tried it. Now I will tell you, I have never liked chick peas so when I heard that is what hummus is, I thought no way. But I thought I would give it a try anyway. It was a hummus dip with roasted peppers. Now I love roasted peppers. How bad could it be. Well.. for me, very bad. I don't like the texture of chick peas and I really don't like the texture of hummus. Do you really think the kids are going to like it? Order it? Other items are sunbutter (like a peanut butter but without the peanuts) platter. We already have a "sunbutter sandwich" on the menu. The kids order about 5 of them on Mondays and take Zero of them. They always say they meant to order the bagel which is lunch "C". I don't usually force the issue. When you try to force them to take it they get that "look" like NO WAY and sometime they start to get all welled up with tears. Oh, give me a break. I usually say "take your bagel, but next time you have to take it". But they don't. We don't even check anymore. I don't even make the sandwiches anymore. I put some sunbutter and jelly in cups, bag two pieces of bread, and wait and see if it is left over at the end of the day, which of course, it is. So, hopefully these newly added menu items will be a non-issue. I sent out a note to the teachers before I left on Tuesday telling them about the newly added item. I told them "I am sure the students will be chomping at the bit to get their hummus platter and salad with beans". I also said in the note that "I thought it was a practical joke being played by my boss, but much to my surprise it wasn't and we really have to make these items". I got replies from some teachers that said "you are so funny!". The nurse emailed me and said she was "falling off her seat since she was laughing so hard", she also said "I crack her up". That was my intention, to inform and let them know about the items, but also let them know I am not taking the items very seriously. Who knows, maybe the children will L-O-V-E the new items and I will be totally wrong. Wouldn't be the first time.

Now on my plate (life's plate) is a community issue I am working on. There have been two bridges closed on my road within 1/2 mile of my house. I was upset about the first one, which has been closed now for two years, then last week, Penndot closed another one. What a mess. I emailed our local newspaper and asked them to do a story about it, which they did. I have also emailed a State Legislator and a Senator asking for some help. We will see what comes of all this. I am not saying that I am "fighting anybody" to get something done about these bridge closures since I don't believe "fighting" against anything helps. I am saying that I am being an advocate for the residents of our road. Sounds better than fighting against something, right?

I am now working on my third speech for my Toastmasters Club. I did a speech at our Holiday Club meeting and it went very well. I did "Mrs. Clauses Rant" and I told everybody how, "it is not Santa that keep the spirit of Christmas alive, it is I, Mrs. Claus, that does all the baking, cooking, cleaning, decorating, and wrapping of the presents.". I had some pretty good jokes in there (I hope you don't mind if I do say so myself), about how Santa knows what every child in the whole world wants for Christmas but has no clue what to give me. I listed items he has given me over the years like a car wash kit, two tickets to the Circuit City home theater installation seminar, and a two-year membership to Weight Watchers. I told the men to listen up and never give the female in their life something that implies that they need to lose weight, not unless they have a death wish. I also said that Santa did give me a gift I did like once. It was a mood ring, it turned a beautiful shade of green when I was in a good mood, but when I was in a bad mood, it left a red mark, right in the middle of his forehead. I had "googled" Santa and marriage to get some of those jokes so they weren't mine. But nevertheless, they were funny and I got some laughs. I have a third speech to do at our next meeting. It is about the many lessons I learned at the Fall Toastmasters Conference" I went to. I don't think I can make it very funny, but a speech is a speech so I am hoping for it to go well.

Last but not least, is my book. I am typing up more of it since I have a few extra days off. I am doing the Chapter on Allergies. I had it titled "Allergies Everywhere", however, today I thought of a new title "Allergies in a Nutshell". I think that is a better title, what ca' think?

Well, I wish all of you a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year 2009. I am looking forward to completing my book, going on a great vacation and getting back to how I looked in the "1970's, 80's, 90, 2000's. Yes, I have lost the same 50 times at least two times per decade. Here I go again, just like Oprah!

All is well.....

Here a story, there a story

2008-10-29T16:36:00.003-04:00

Where O Where have the stories gone? Where O Where could they be?

I was just soaking in the tub after a long day at work. As I am relaxing, I am thinking why can't I get any more stories for my book? Things happen at my school all the time that can go in my book. Do things only happen to me? I don't think so. I am wondering if I am doing everything I can to collect more stories. Here are some of the things I have been doing:

Blogging (of course)
Emailing everybody who have participated in the past by sending me a story, and asking
them to ask around and pass on my email or address to others who may have stories
Joining "website" groups. www.cafemom.com is a website that has a Lunch ladies Rock group.
I was on there yesterday and came across a woman who said that someone she knows
is writing a book and collecting stories. My heart dropped! OH NO! Then I realized that the
someone they were talking about was me. Thank goodness! (small world) I have a myspace,
youtube, and a facebook page where I advertise what I am doing.
Attending School Nutrition Chapter Dinner meetings. I was supposed to attend one last night
but it was cancelled due to the weather at the last minute.
Attending School Nutrition Annual Conference and passing out my "business card" that
asks for stories. I passed out at least 50 cards. I did not get a single story. I also
talked to many, many ladies there asking for their help. There was a lady I talked to at
one of the night get-together's and she had a million stories. I had no paper with me
to quickly write them down. DARN! I was so sure I would here from her. She had
30 years in the business. What a plethora of stories she must have.

So what is a lunch lady to do? What more can I do? I need more stories to make my book complete.

Whenever I talk to lunch ladies at dinner meetings, conferences or anywhere, the ladies always have a story they tell me verbatim. They will say "Oh, like the time the kid said", or "like the time I did........) I ask "please send me your story". I realize that I have to get those stories right there, at that moment. I have a small pocket recorder that I am planning on taking to the next Chapter dinner meeting. I will ask permission to turn it on. I am also planning on buying extra door prize tickets or a 50/50 drawing to give out to anybody who can write out a quick story or let me record a story". I know people love to win something. I would be happy to do that.

I got this idea when I was on the School Nutrition website ( www.schoolnutrition.org). They are having a PostCard Sweepstakes drawing for a free registration to the next ANC '09 Conference. Send them a story about a fond memory or story about a memorable ANC. They have a PostCard photo gallery that has postcards sent in with stories on them. Yes, stories! I can read some of them and they are exactly what I am looking for to include in my book. Heartfelt moments. Everybody loves to win something! What a great way to collect stories. I don't know if my 50 cent tickets will inspire anyone to jot a quick story down, but I will give it a try. Maybe I need to offer something bigger and better.

I have offered things before for stories. At our Annual Food Service Christmas Party, I sent a flyer and asked our food service staff to give me a story. I offered $20 for the best story and $5 for the 2nd best story. I got a total of three stories. I guess I need to up the ante! How much is a registration fee for the '09 conference? I have to check that out. Problem is we will have to pay our own airfare. That will hinder people from being able to attend.

School Nutrition Magazine was so kind to put in my blog address. How many 100 or 1000's of people read that magazine. I did get a few great stories from that publicity. But, just a few from one person. I need more!

On the cafemom website, someone posted a response that read "that lady writing the book is a genius". Well, certainly I am no genius or I would be generating more stories. I know there really is a need for my book. I know it will be popular. That comment proves that people love the idea.

I wonder if I can access and print in my book, the stories that are being collected by the School Nutrition website? I am going to email and ask them. Can't hurt to ask. No harm ever comes from asking. Maybe I could get the address of the people who sent in the postcards. I would be happy and willing to call, write or email the people who responded with a story and ask if I could use it in my book. Maybe I need to advertise my card in their magazine. I will check on prices for that.

I think part of the problem is that many lunch ladies do not email. My home address is on my card. I thought that might help. Do lunch ladies think their stories are not valuable, funny or heartfelt enough for a book. If they think that, they are wrong. Each one of us has a story that could resonate with someone. Each one of us has a story that could touch another's soul.

Anybody out there with any ideas? And, if you have already given me stories, please know that I am ever so grateful to you. Without you, there would be no book.

By the way, I bought a bunch of postcards to send in MY story to try and win a free registration to the ANC '09 conference. I am definitely planning on going. I hope to be selling my book by then. Signed autograph copy anyone?

Finally, Back to Work

2008-09-24T17:59:00.004-04:00

Finally, we are back to work. The teachers agreed to come back to work while there is "non-binding arbitration". I don't know much about what that means, but it is good to be back. We went back on Friday, September 19. Now, THAT was the weirdest thing. Going back to work after being off all summer , ON A FRIDAY! We were glad to go, its one less day to make up, but most of us had plans already for our last Friday off. We knew we would be going back either Tuesday or Wednesday the following week, so the 19th was our last Friday "of the summer" for us. But the call came Thursday morning, "be ready, it looks like we will have school tomorrow, we will let you know for sure later today". I was at my part-time job doing some office work when I got my call. I thought "ok, I will wait till I hear for sure". But as the minutes ticked away, my "school lunch lady brain" kicked in. Did I have everything I need. Did I have produce, milk, bread, what was I serving? My brain was in overdrive. I quick made some phone calls, luckily I was in a private office using the computer typing up labels. I called my staff, both of which I couldn't talk to personally since they were out. But they called me back quickly and were available to come in. Whew! Thank you Jesus!

I tried to concentrate on my typing and managed to get a few things done. My school boss had asked if I could stop in work to be sure everything was up and running. I had planned to leave work at 2:00 since I had a dentist appointment at 3:00. I told my "school" boss I would stop in my school at 4:00. By 1:00 the office staff was at lunch and I had run out of things to do. I figured I might as well leave. I went to tell the only staff not at lunch and she said "Oh, can you stay, we are having a going away party for you". How nice of the sales department at the hotel where I worked in banquets, to want to do this for me. I had to stay. They were bringing chocolate fondue and fruit! So, I waited. At 1:45 the fondue and fruit arrived. I had a few bites and had to go. They gave me a very nice "Thank You" card.

I stopped at work after my dentist appointment (by the way, I had a root canal on a back tooth that cost a whopping $1,250, can you believe it cost that much), and found everything in order. I did some things to help us be ready in the morning, then I went home and went to bed early.

Our first day back ended up with some problems. We turned on our cold table and it didn't get cold. Then about half hour later, the lights all flashed and went out on the cold table, and we smelled an electrical smell. That can't be good! Five work days later, it is still not fixed. The poor repairman had one problem after another. Finally, after three days, all day, working on it, and two electricians called in to assist, they figured out the problem was in the large cord. Since everything was "fried" we have to wait for new ballast's to be delivered since they needed to be special ordered. We still don't have lights, but we have refrigeration. We expect the Board of Health to be in very soon, They always come in the first month we go back to work. The good news is the cold table will be cold for them, however, I may get written up for the lights being
out. If that is the worst they find, NO PROBLEM.

My school was just opened 5 years ago. It is amazing how much equipment repair I have had to have, again and again with 5 year old equipment. They just don't make 'em like they used too.
I believe this cold table (which has been worked on many times) was a lemon. Do they have a lemon law on cold tables? Anybody know?

Our lunch counts were very low the first day. I was very worried. But, they rebounded this week. I don't think the parents were prepared, just like us, to go back on a Friday. Lunch money on students accounts is trickling in this year at my school. In the past, I would have stacks of prepayments of checks and cash, this year, it just isn't happening. I guess things are tough for everybody. Personally, I am not participating in the "recession". I don't listen for any news about it, I don't talk about it, I don't think about it. We are doing ok, and I don't think that listening to gloom and doom does any good at all.

I hope everybody has had a great opening of their schools all across the country. We did, even with our equipment issues and other things. The great thing about school food service is kind of like what Forest Gump said", "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what your gonna get". Everyday you may meet a new challenge. You roll up your sleeves, and jump in, handling one thing after another, and before you know it, the day is over and it is time to go home. The months pass by quickly, then, its summer again and a few months of much needed recuperation.

So, welcome back to all. Life is good, All is well.

My Blog Gets National Exposure

2008-09-15T20:17:00.009-04:00

I was anxiously awaiting my new copy of School Nutrition Magazine. I was at a friends house last week and I saw her copy had come in her mail. That was Wednesday. On Saturday, my copy came in the mail. I sat down to look it over, page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and page 8. Page 8 has a section called NEWS BITES. I was reading along and there was in gold (see the insert on the right) three pieces. I read the first, then read over to the second middle piece and I see Life of a Lunch Lady and my www.lifeoflunchlady.blogspot.com website. At first I was like OMG, somebody else has a Life of a Lunch Lady thing going on, then I saw the website address and I thought somebody else has a blog address like me, then HOLY CRAP!! THAT'S ME! (Yes, I know, not the brightest bulb in the house) Well, let me tell you, it took a few seconds for my brain to adsorb the fact that this article was about me. I screamed! AHHAHHHH. I jumped up and started crying. I ran outside with the article in hand to show my husband, who by the way, was running to come see why the heck I had screamed. He's is yelling, "what's the matter" as he runs over to me. And I, in tears, say, "My blog information is in the School Nutrition Magazine, they did a piece about my book and my blog". I was so excited. It was one of the most exciting things that has every happened to me. I hadn't even read the article yet, but I was running around wanting to share the great news.

Let me tell you how grateful I am to School Nutrition Magazine for mentioning my blog and my book. I am soooooo grateful! Truly! Is it a coincidence that I heard from a lunch lady from Missouri who so graciously sent me some stories? I think not.

I had sent School Nutrition Magazine an email telling them about my blog and about the book I am working on. I never heard anything so I thought that they were probably not interested. I had also sent our local School Nutrition of PA newsletter an article about a promotion I had come up with and our school district did. I never heard from them, however they too had put my article in the Action Update Newsletter. I admit that since I had that piece in the Action Update, I was hoping that School Nutrition Magazine might have something in the magazine but, I couldn't have dreamed it better.

I sent an email out to all I know who follow my blog and my book adventures. National Exposure! I am hoping that as lunch ladies all over the country read their magazine, (By the way, it is the September 2008 issue) they will see my name, blog web address, and read about my book and want to share a story or two with me. Please, Please, if your reading this, I would love your story. How about telling me what you like most about being a lunch lady, how about what you dislike? We all have a story to tell, let me put it in print for you!

I had been feeling a little pessimistic about my book as of late. All the details about putting a book together is daunting. Book proposals, editing, agents, publishers, stories, stories, stories. Until this good luck! (I believe you make your own luck though). All the articles, writing journals, and books about publishing a book have been sitting on my cedar chest all summer. I didn't do much of anything with them. But now, I have a renewed passion to start working on it again. This book is truly going to happen. The Universe is aligning all the stars for me. All I need now is a publisher willing to take a chance on me and my book. And, if not, I will self-publish it.

Like I said in my email to all, Vegas here I come. Las Vegas is where the National ANC 2009 Convention will be held. June 29-July 2nd. (School Nutrition Conference) I hope to be on my book tour. Look for me! I'll be the one signing my books.

Life is good, all is well.

S-T-R-I-K-E (Teachers)

2008-09-11T19:52:00.006-04:00

A whole summer has passed. How quickly they go. But...... we are not yet back to serving lunches. Our teachers are on strike! And, it doesn't look like we will be back to work anytime soon. What a "pickle" for food service. We didn't know until the day before school was to start, whether there would be school or not. Produce, refrigerator items, and everything necessary for the first two weeks, had to be bought in, just in case school was a go. Now, the task of throwing out what wouldn't last has to be done.

I totally support the teachers and believe in the right to strike. But what a year it will be. Hardly any days off for 180 days, plus working into late June or worse. This will really mess us up for those of us that have summer jobs. Plus many of us make plans for vacations as soon as school is done. Don't be surprised if you see many new faces in your cafeteria. When we get the school calendar for the following school year, we use the days off(Act 80, teacher in-service days, and extra days off for holidays)for doctors appointments, mini-vacations, family things and whatever. Now we will have to have subs in for those days.

We always joke and whine during the school year about how "hard it is to have two or three full weeks of school with no weekdays off". We will really be whining this year.

Believe me, it is lovely being off this time of the year. The air is a little cooler
places are less crowded, and I am loving every moment of it. I have picked up some hours at my other job, which I am very grateful for. I can work any hours I want, and I get to sit at a desk all day. However, I am finding out that as nice as it is, I am not really a "sit at a desk person" anymore. Being off has made me appreciate my job ever more than I have already. I realize that I love the fast pace at school and the interaction with the kids. I do really miss the kids.

Its funny that all summer long, I hardly talked to anybody (managers from school)but now I am talking to them a few times a week via phone. Today we had 10 people, managers and staff, get together for a nice lunch and shopping. We are planning another shopping trip to Lancaster next week, as long as we are still not working. Many of us realized that since we were in the mode to get back to work, we have found ourselves working on projects, extra cleaning and getting more done than we did all summer.

Who knows what this year will hold. Hopefully a healthy year for me and my staff.
I hope the teachers get what they want. I admit that my benefits are what the teachers benefits are so I hope that the cost and quality of our benefits are not compromised.

I hope to be back at work soon even though I am making great money at my other job. But for all the others who have no other job to go to, I hope it ends soon.

All is well.

Philly Conference - Lunch Ladies just want to have fun.

2008-07-27T16:08:00.004-04:00

Wow! What an event. The 2008 School Nutrition Association Conference was really something. It was fun and informative. The conference was Sun 7/20 through Wed
7/23. It actually started earlier however I didn't get there until Sun. It's all about the who's who of SNA, products, education and fun. It was attended by more than 1,000 lunch ladies, vendors, directors and more. We heard great speakers, tasted new products, attended educational workshops and partied. I got some great ideas about handling food allergies at my school which I will pass along to the other schools in our district. The partying was fun too. Sunday night Tyson Foods took us to the Camden Aquarium which they had rented out for us. It was very nice. I actually ate dinner (prime rib I might add)sitting next to the shark tank. Yes, shark's were just alongside the other side of the glass. Such beautiful creatures. We were able to meander around the aquarium at our leisure which was lit by votive candles. A great band played, lots of dancing, and the Tyson Chicken was there too. I have pictures! We really enjoyed it.

The exhibit floor was massive and the vendors out did themselves with tasty samples and give-a-ways. Everybody loves a giveaway. I do admit that the walking was more than my "new" foot could handle.

The second night (yes, we did "work" things in the day, but I remember more the night fun) we went to a Lowes Hotel for a wine and cheese party which for some reason, I was uncomfortable at. We were assured the dress code was casual however, this particular party was a dress up event. Luckily we got a call to see if we were interested in attending another party at a Phila night club called "Finegan's Wake". I have been there before for a bachelorette party so I was very excited to be going. We went out and had to hail our first cab (which later turned out to be the first of many). I asked "what do you do to get a cab, open the door and ask?". I was told that is how it is done, and that is what I did. I opened the door and asked if they could take us to the address, the driver smiled and nodded, and away we went. Holding on! All the taxi drivers we took would be great for the Amazing Race contestants. We rolled around in the back, laughing all the way. We ended up staying there for quite a while, dancing (yes, dancing, after 4 glasses of wine, my foot didn't hurt at all. Funny thing about alcohol, I have been wasting my time with Motrin and Aleve). When I came off the dance floor my friend asked how my foot was feeling, I said "What foot"? And I am sure you know, I paid the price later with a swollen foot that even the ice packs couldn't help. But.... it was worth it.

You would think after that we would be heading back to the hotel but no way Hosa! We were off to another party at another hotel. That party also fun but by then we were mere observers. No dancing there for me. Another cab ride later and we were back at the hotel and slept well.

The next few days were fun and educational. We saw Robin Roberts of Good Morning American who spoke at the conference. She seems really nice and told her story and gave us encouragement. She has breast cancer and is doing well. She didn't make that the focus of her speaking though. She was a great speaking and very down to earth. She seems like one of the girls. She would make a great friend.

The conference closed with a concert by Patti LaBelle. She's a trip (old '80's language I know, but describes her well). She is 63 or 64 and still going strong. She kept changing shoes which I found odd. 4" and 5 ' heels. (You go girl!) I loved hearing her say "I LOVE YOU LUNCH LADIES". For some reason that struck me as being so cool! Somebody, besides our family, co-workers, and friends, loving us for being lunch ladies. It was a great time that I will remember forever.

So, you might ask, did I make any connections for or about my book? Yes, I did.
About a week and a half before the conference at my Toastmasters meeting, somebody asked me what I wanted on my "business card". I didn't even know I was getting a business card and frankly, I have never had one. I gave them my phone number for my JoAnn Wismer, Secretary of the Blue Bell Toastmasters Club, business card. Then a few days later my boss asked me if I had a business card to hand out at the conference to give information about my book. Well, "no I don't I said", then I thought "why don't I"? So about 2 hours later I had ordered online 100 business type cards with information about my book and how to contact me. I believe that sometimes you have to go for the gentle nudges the Universe provides you with to get you to do something. Two mentions of business cards in a few days was surely a sign. I have a story request letter but a card is something small that people could put in their purse or wallet. I ordered them on Sunday night and had them on Thursday. How cool is that?

I passed out my cards and spoke to wonderful ladies all of whom thinks that my book is a great idea. One person told me that I should go around and speak to people about the things we were talking about. Wow! Speaking in public about something has been a goal of mine for awhile. Reaffirms my beliefs as to what I need to be doing.

I met one woman names Francis who has worked in Food Service for I think it was 38 years. What a wealth of stories she has. I hope, pray and ask that she send me a few stories for my book. Many people when I tell them about my books will say "here's one", and start talking, however I don't always have my pen and paper ready to go. Maybe they will email or mail those stories to me. Keep your fingers crossed.

Well, now the conference is over. What do I move on to next? My book proposal for a publisher is first on my list. My boss said she remembers something about somebody else writing a book like mine. I guess I better get a move on, however, I know there are plenty of stories for us all to write a book.

Summer is moving on quickly, too quickly. I have to practice my first speech I am doing at our next Toastmasters meeting. Yikes! Another thing I got from the conference is that the best speakers are the ones that use humor. Everybody seems to enjoy that most. I hope to do that in my speeches.

Thirty-seven days until school/work starts again. I wonder why the month of March seems to go by slower than the 2 1/2 months of summer break. Hmmm......

All is well.

Goodbye 2007-2008 school year

2008-07-06T11:53:00.005-04:00

Wow, I can't believe so much time has passed since I last blogged. May 7th? So much as passed since then. To name a few I had foot surgery and was out of work for 2 weeks and 2 days. I went back and had the mad rush of getting the school "closed" for the summer. I also went to Florida with my mom, sister, and niece.

My foot surgery.... Well, I decided that I really needed the surgery since I was living daily with foot pain. The doctor said that surgery was the next option and he had done all he could except for that. I was at a grocery store one day, after working at school all day, and the pain was so bad that I was in tears. I thought enough of this, get the surgery done. Heck.. I had 60 days worth of sick time accumulated. So I took 2 weeks off. I had asked the doctor if I could go back to work after two weeks and he said "probably". Well, I took that as a yes! When I called to make the appointment for the surgery, the nurse said "you will need to be off your foot for at least 4 weeks". I said but the doctor said I could go back in two. She said "well, we recommend 4 weeks off. At this point I had made up my mind and I was doing it. I told my boss, who took it quite well I would like to add, and on May 21 (yes, about 4 weeks before school ended) I was scheduled. The surgery went well, but the darn nurse was right. I really needed four week off. I went back after two weeks and two additional days off, but I really couldn't around well. I had a stool there so I could sit and do some stuff but I will tell you, it was so hard to be there when you can't get around.

I have the best staff ever I will say. They managed the kitchen while I was out and they came through with flying colors. I am indebted to them for their kindness and dedication. I know sure-a-shooting that they were glad this year was done. They deserved the much needed summer vacation. I hope they know how much they are appreciated.

Closing a school for summer is always bittersweet. First, by the middle of May, you have to start warning, poking, prodding the kids and parents to send in lunch money that will get them through the end of the year. Not an easy task! Sports start up and parents and the kids are so busy, which means lunch money is the last thing on their minds. I send out note after note after note, and while some are wonderful and make sure their kids accounts are in good shape, many do not. We are pressured from above to make sure that the lunch "charges" do not get out of hand. We even have to call the homes of students (hey, am I in the collections department?) which is something all of us hate to do.

Lunch money is only the beginning of "school closing". There is all the cleaning. We are supposed to clean every nook and cranny of the school kitchen. (Not a strong suit of mine) but regardless, you get it done. There is also all the orders for food, equipment, and miscellaneous things for September that must be accomplished before you leave for the summer. I don't know you but it is hard to think about what you want for dinner tonight much less trying to order everything you need for three months away. But, we get it done.

Also you have to think about not having that paycheck coming in. We do not collect unemployment in the summer. We checked this out this year and we were told it is because the school districts have some kind of agreement with the government. Hmm.... that agreement sucks1 It is hard to find a job that you will have for the summer only. We are not age 16 you know. Summer jobs aren't so easy when your in your 40's, 50,'s or so. I have a 2nd job all the time so I try and pick up some hours there but the pickings are slim at that job too. Even though it is summer, bills still have to be paid and life goes on. Plus, I want to do some things this summer too!

I remember an earlier blog I wrote which I mentioned gas being $3.00 a gallon,...several times. It's up to $4.00 a gallon now but I am not even going there!

But you know, you do the best you can. It is nice to be able to sleep in, rest up, have my foot recovering from surgery, and of course, work on my book.

Speaking of my book, I am going to a conference in Philadelphia in a few weeks. I hope to drum up some stories. I have begun the process of a book proposal which is needed to see if someone might want to publish it. It is a lot of work, but heck, I have 8 more weeks to work on it.

Gotta love this lunchlady job! (most of the time anyway)....

All is well....

Practicing what I preach

2008-05-07T19:58:00.005-04:00

Some days its all good, and some days, well... its not. Today was one of those days where I just had to think about all the things I have been learning and studying in my cd's and books. All the things that I have been blogging about and preaching. Just let what happens, be ok. Watch with curiosity. Practice what I preach.

Well, I certainly had a chance to do that today. First order of business today was to make sure I called and ordered something that I forgot on my order form. I remembered that I didn't order some bagged apples in the middle of the night. Yes, I woke up about 2:30 and the thought came to me that I didn't order the darn things and I had to remember to call up our warehouseman and ask him to please add to my order as soon as I could. You see, lunch ladies never really sleep.

I got that done first thing then went about my day counting up our lunch count forms (these forms tell us what the students want for lunch, they get 4 choices daily). Our main lunch today was a turkey, bacon and cheese on a roll. There was a choice of chicken patty and a few other choices. Now, turkey, bacon and cheese is not a very popular item so I was surprised when I came across one room that had ordered 18 of them. Hmm.. that didn't sound right to me. Especially when chicken patties are a favorite. I looked at the names of the students and decided that I would not call up the room and bother the teacher to recheck the count. I had recently done that with the same class a few weeks ago, but this time I choose to let it go. (Yeah, I know, dumb mistake) (or was it?).

I counted up all the menu items and went about making the food. Before you know it, its serving time and the students are coming in. We have two grades that come in with no break. After those two grades were through, one of my staff says "Jo, we don't have enough turkey sandwiches. I probably gave a look like, yeah right, recount them... and I went to count them myself. I first looked at my book and new instantly that I had miscounted! DARN! I needed another 20 sandwiches at least. So during our 5 minute break I went about getting everything out (no easy task since I didn't have enough turkey thawed) getting rolls, meat, bacon etc. out and making the sandwiches. Somebody covered me on the register so I could finish up my mistake. It makes me feel so stupid when I do something like that. I had mistakenly added up a 2 instead of a 23 on the calculator. I usually add them up twice so I must have added it up incorrectly twice.

I come back to the register and one of my staff says "Jo, the dishwasher is leaking water all over the floor". Ohhh.... I go and check it and sure enough water is spewing all over from the bottom or the floor, (or so I thought). We drained the machine and checked the drains to be sure they would close properly. Sometimes food or plastic ware gets stuck in a drain and it doesn't close and water can leak out that way. It wasn't that, the drains were fine. We had to refill the machine and see it it still leaked, which of course, it did. Now, this is ALL during serving time. I got kids coming in from all directions, dish machine spewing, the turkey sandwich crisis coming up, what else was going to happen?

Ahh. it was finally time for the class to come in that I knew (yes, I did know that count was wrong)to come in for their 18 turkey sandwiches they ordered. They were the first class to come in of that grade. I heard all the commotion from the kids as they were yelling that they did not order the turkey sandwiches. I went down and we showed them the lunch count form which clearly showed that they did order them. The person who did the lunch counts form said she wrote down what the teacher told her to write. Oh.. the confusion... oh the tears...oh the day I was having. I ended up yelling down the line. "Let's go, you can take your sandwich or a bagel, that's it, move along". So, down the line they went. Muttering under their breath, some not so under their breath, the dispraise, the utter dissatisfaction. Woe is me.....

So if you were paying attention, you realize I never needed those extra 20 turkey sandwiches I had to run back to make. Most of the kids took bagels. Some took just milk and juice out of protest. I had 16 turkey sandwiches left over. CRAP!

Could I have avoided the whole turkey sandwich nightmare? Absolutely, I knew that count was wrong. But, should I have to call to see if it is correct. NO, should I have called anyway, probably. But sometimes, you just have to sit back, watch what happens, with curiosity.

Tomorrow? Who knows. Hopefully a visit from the repair man for the dishwasher. What else, only the Universe knows.

By the way, I wrote a note to the teacher to let her know that the students said she made the mistake and that they were very upset, she says she didn't make the mistake.

I will be re adding all my addition tomorrow, three times.

Ahhh..... all is well.

Did I mention........

2008-04-30T20:30:00.004-04:00

I got an email today from a lunchlady in Michigan. She saw my youtube and has some stories for me. How cool is that? It just made my day.

I have so much going on these days. Work is going well and time is passing by so quickly. We have 31 more serving days left. Can you believe that. I have decided to have foot surgery this month (May) and I will be out for two weeks. I plan to work on my book during that time.

I am also going to rehab for my shoulder. It has been hurting for a while so I finally decided to have it looked at. I was hoping for a quick fix like a good old shot of cortisone, right the shoulder where the pain is. I have had cortisone shots in my knee and foot before. They are extremely painful. But that is what I was hoping for. Instead I heard the dreaded words.... rehab...... Who the heck has time for that? Twice a week. Driving to the outpatient place when gas is $3.60 a gal, did I say twice a week? Oh, I did. Then when you get there, all they want to do is show you exercises for you to do at home. If my insurance company is paying for the visit, I think I should only have to do the exercises when I am there, right? Naa, it doesn't work that way. Such a pain in ass, or should I say, pain in the shoulder.

Not much to say about work. It's going well. Things are happening in my and my staff's personal life, but work keeps you too busy to think about it much. You have parents to care for, children to worry about, friends falling off of a ladder and being in critical condition in the hospital. You just have to take it all in stride and keep making the lunches. Did I mention a Dermatologist giving you two needles and scrapping something off your chest and saying they will send it off to make sure it is benign? (It was, so no worries).

I think the children at school are doing pretty good. Not much problems except this is a tough time of the year for "lunch money". By May, the lunch accounts don't have much money left. Plus with the economy and did I mention gas at $3.60 a gal? Oh yeah, I did. Lunch money isn't at the top of the list for the parents. I have always wanted my district to do a promotion this time of the year to get money coming in. In the beginning of the year we do a promotion where you get an extra $1 on your account for every $10 you put in. It does help to bulk up the accounts. Management doesn't want to do it this time of the year. Boo hoo for me.

We have our annual "Luau" coming up at school I always have one at the end of the year. Just so happens the student council wanted to sponsor a Hawaiian day in May so I figured I would have my luau that day. I decorate and we have Hawaiian music playing and grass skirts (over top our khaki's of course). I serve ham and pineapple pizza. It is a fun day for the kids.

We also have our dreaded sundae bar coming up. Ohh. The good news is that it is the last one for the year. The bad news is that they want to continue it next year.

Still so much to do in our 31 serving days. (14 of which I will miss with my surgery). Cleaning, emptying the freezers, refrigerators, storerooms. Makes my head spin. On top of that I still have Toastmasters, contract negotiations, my son coming home from college for the summer, planning my trip to Florida as soon school is done. Wow, how exciting. It helps make the time go fast.

Did I mention gas is $3.60 a gallon?

I guess that is it for now.

Ahhhh. All is well.

Family Ties

2008-04-14T20:36:00.005-04:00

My brother-in-law, sister-in-law and their children were in for a visit from Colorado. We were having dinner with them and my neice (not their daughter) is going to college studying to be a teacher. She asked me if I thought my school district would hire her. I replied, "I would think so". She got very excited and asked me "would you give me a free lunch?". I told her "well, I don't know about that but I sell a lot of lunches to the teachers, and I am sure you would enjoy eating lunch with us". My sister in-law replied to my neice "would you really want to eat a school lunch?". Now, she said it with disgust in her voice. Like eating a school lunch would be like eating dirt, or worse than dirt. HELLO???? did she not know that would hurt my feelings???? I looked at her and picked up some bugles (yes, those crunchy little cracker type snacks) and threw them at her. HER daughter in the meantime had made a face that said "YUCK! you would eat a school lunch?" Her mom (my sister-in-law) tried to back-pedal and say "oh, in our district all they get is burritos and mexican food". But she had made her point.

Sometimes I get very weary and tired of defending school lunches. Every where you go somebody is usually making a negative comment about it. My husband has made comments, my brother-in-law also has made comments. These people are family. Shouldn't they be supporting you no matter what you do for a living. How are we supposed to hold our head up high and be proud of what we do when their is such negativity about it. Hmmm. Just makes the point of my book more valid.

Do other jobs like trashmen, janitors, waitresses, meter maids, and other professions of these kinds have to defend what they do all the time. I bet they do.

I do take pride in what I do. I wouldn't serve any child anything that I wouldn't eat or would serve to my own child. Why do I let these comments bother me... Hmm..
I will have to think about that.

In the book I am reading which is "A New Earth" by Eckert Tolle (Oprahs book she has the online course for) says that "the ego gets in the way". So true, when I hear a comment like that, my ego certainly gets in the way. The book wants you to take the ego out of your reactions. Very hard to do. One of my tapes says about life "watch with curiosity". That is what I am practicing. Not to judge, not to react, just "watch with curiosity" all that happens around me. Watch with no attachment to it. Very hard to do.

Anyway, I guess that is all I want to say about that. (Didn't Forest Gump say that?)

We have a day off on Wednesday this week. Just in time, just what the doctor ordered. Yeah!

All is well.....

Chapter Dinner Meeting

2008-04-09T22:26:00.003-04:00

Boy oh boy, I haven't "blogged" in awhile. I have been so busy with, doctors appointments, aerobics, Toastmasters, hair appointments (thank goodness), working two jobs, story hunting, visiting my mom, visiting with family in from Colorado (more about that on another blog) that I haven't spent time blogging.

I went to a Chapter dinner meeting tonight. There was supposed to be three of us going and maybe my boss from my school but it ended up being just me. I really wanted to go, so I did go all by my lonesome. I got there in plenty of time but the tables were getting full. I went to a table where nobody was and got out my "Story Request Letter" (which reminds me I should figure out how to put that here on my blog somewhere)and walked around handing out my letter. When I got back to the table there was two woman sitting at the table at the other end. I asked if they had seats saved and since they didn't I moved up next to them. They were so nice. They loved my book idea and started telling me some stories mostly of which had happened to a co-worker of theirs. The co-worker has been in food service a long time so she has lots of stories. They introduced me to her since she was attending and she said she would call me to set up a time for me to meet with her to get some stories. How awesome is that? I am very excited to have some one who wants to sit with me and discuss stories for my book. She too was very nice and seems to have a great sense of humor so I know I will be in for a treat when I talk with her.

I had a great time at the meeting and I hope to have done some networking for my book. Lunch ladies are always a fun, nice, and a warm group of people. All wanting to do their job to the best of their ability. I am so glad to be a part of them. It also helps that I won the 50/50 drawing. Yep, won $35 that will come in handy in the pursuit of my book. How cool is that?

Work is moving along smoothly. There is actually some room in my freezer. That doesn't happen very often. I think even my storeroom is looking better. We are winding down now in school food service. I think we are somewhere around 45 days left. Can you believe it? Then summer break. Ahh..... can't wait.

My son will be home in just about a month from college. We can't wait for that either.

I have some other things to discuss but I think I will blog about that another day. One blog will be about my "closing thought for Toastmasters" and the other will be about a comment my visiting sister-in-law made about school food. I bet'ca can't wait for that one. ha ha

Till next time.. All is well....

What have I gotten myself into?

2008-03-25T22:09:00.006-04:00

Tonight I went to Toastmasters. I had taken a life-coaching class late last year and somebody suggested to me that Toastmasters would be a good way for me to improve my confidence with speaking. You see, I sometimes get tongue-tied when I talk to people, (mostly people that I feel are... more educated than I or people that have authority over me).

I have no problems speaking, hosting and bantering at our holiday Christmas party at work which I help to plan (a few drinks always helps), however, I would like to be able to have confidence and speak with clarity and purpose to others (not just my co-workers).

So, I joined Toastmasters in the hope of achieving my goals and dreams of "public speaking". The Toastmasters I joined is a very warm and inviting group of people. Looks like them come from all walks of life and I am hoping I can blend in. Tonight they had three speeches. They were very good. They had a speech that was done as an interview with two people. One person was the interviewer and asked questions of the others. Long story short, they ended with a town meeting type venue where they were asking who would like to be "board members" in July. They needed a President, VP, VP Education, VP Education, Secretary, Treasurer, and a Sgt of Arms (that person was continuing in that position).

I sat there thinking "oh... this is my third meeting....do I want to get this involved?" I listened to them explain the duties of various positions and I had my eye on one but I didn't speak up in time so somebody took that one. Then I saw the secretary position and thought "hmmm, I could do that". Before my lunch lady days, I was a secretary for 14 years so I am sure I could take some minutes of the meeting. But did I really want to make this kind of commitment to something fairly new to me?

Well, once I raised my hand, I knew it was all over. Of course, now I will be the proud new "Secretary" of the Toastmaster's club in July. Good Lord! What have I done.

One of the people who was involved in the Interview speech said something about "Giving", Giving back. Getting involved in something that is worthwhile. That is what helped me raised my hand. I believe that you have to give to get back. And what a great way to do it. Volunteer my time at a club that is meaningful, has a great purpose, a great track record, and will help (hopefully) me immensely in my goal of being a confident speaker. It also helps with the commitment part. If your secretary, you have to be there. You can't just sit there every meeting not participate. So I figure being the secretary will speed along my process of getting involved.

So, I am looking forward to my new adventures at Toastmasters. I am sure you will get to read about some of them. Next week, I am the "WORD MASTER". I have to choose a word, explain the meaning and keep track of who all uses it. (the goal is for people to use the word in their speeches or whenever they address the toastmasters.)
My mind is already buzzing about what word I would like to use. Nothing like jumping right in, head first into the unknown. Should be fun.

I got an invitation to another Chapter meeting next week. I am going! I'll pass along my request for story letter. Hopefully it will generate some more stories.

All is well.....

What Inspires Me?

2008-03-20T10:42:00.003-04:00

I haven't posted a blog for a while. Everyday I think "I should blog today" but then I am thinking "what would I blog about". Things at work are moving along "uneventfully", which is always a good thing! My son is back at College doing his thing. (He made it safe and sound and without any car problems).

So, what inspires me to blog? Hmmm...Well, I saw a article today that inspired me. I subscribe to a website called CAFEMOM. It is a site for women (I think it is mostly women, but who knows) and I got an email about some postings lately so I checked it out. There was an article with comments about a student that was suspended for buying Skittles (yes, that is Skittles, the little candy pieces) at school. Of course I have many questions that the article didn't answer for me. But the article from CNN says the an 8th grader bought a bag of Skittles from a classmate at school, which violates School Wellness Policy which bans candy sales. The student was suspended, stripped of his title of Class VP, barred from his honors dinner. OMG!

The article says that the student didn't know that his candy purchase was against the rules but he did notice that the student selling the Skittles was being "secretive". Is that what it has come to in our school. Doing back-alley or back-hallway deals to get a sugar rush? Are kids meeting out by the dumpsters to make a deal in an attempt to get a bite of something they enjoy such as a little piece of candy? Is a little bag of candy being considered a drug like crack or heroin, or marijuana (I had to look those words up since I don't even know how to spell them, would the spell check know? hmm...) anyway, what the heck is going on.

So, as I like to ask questions, here are some of mine. What happened to the little entrepreneur that was selling the candy? Did he get suspended too? Are they doing hard time in the school library? Do they have to eat an approved wellness committee school lunch from now on? (sorry, just kidding about that one). How enforced is that school districts "zero-tolerance for candy policy" enforced? (Can you believe they have that?) What is available at the schools district office or at their school board dinners or meetings? How much was the Skittles selling for? What was the mark-up and his profit margin? Was the entrepreneur trying to raise his college tuition money? (and if so, "you go boy"). Who bought the Skittles? Was it the kids Mom? Dad? Did the kid selling the Skittles but them "on the streets"? Was the buyer assured the Skittles were the same quality as what the buyer could buy at the grocery store in the checkout line? What was the size of the bag of Skittles? A small one you buy for .50 (I am guessing, I don't actually like Skittles) or a big gigantic bag that you can get at a Wholesale Warehouse like BJ's or Costco's?

Did the buyer get all "jacked up on the sugar rush" from his bag of Skittles, did he hurt someone, fail a test, talk back to the teacher or all of the above? Could he pass a urine test? Ok, I am joking about the urine test but.... will it come to that? Schools having such a hard line about wellness they randomly test the urine of our kids for sugar (Skittles, Reese Pieces, Kit Kat's, Nerds, etc)

I don't know.....

Here is what I know for sure. I am sure that the bag of Skittles didn't make that one child who bought them "fat, obese, overweight". I also know that I too enjoy a piece of candy now and then, ok... you got me (those of you that know me), more often than now and then and while I feel guilty every time I eat something like that, I know I am not going to Hell because of it. I know that no longer being allowed to be VP of your class and being barred from an honors dinner (hey that reminds me, at the honor's dinner, what is being served for dessert?)is harsh. Yes, he broke a rule and probably needs to be made aware of that (and I am sure he is very aware now) but I am sure there are much more creative ways for the student to pay his penance. How about writing an essay on wellness or entrepreneurship or something of that nature. (Writing an essay for my son would be the worse punishment in the world).

Anyway.. A great story for my book, which is moving along. I have a Chapter dinner meeting in April coming up and I am thrilled to be handing out my story request letter.

Thank goodness for an article that inspired me to blog. Also helps to have the extra days off for Easter break. Love this job!

All is well.......

Come Hell or Highwater!

2008-03-09T21:34:00.004-04:00

My son came home for spring break. We are always so happy to have him back. He was coming home with two riders (two very nice young ladies who's parents come to our house to take them home). We always ask him to call us when he leaves Ithaca, NY. The weather was concerning since it was very, very rainy and in Ithaca it was saying afternoon ice. He called us around 10:00 am on Saturday and said he was leaving. Around 11:00 he calls and I can hear in his voice something is wrong. He asks for his father. I gave the phone to my husband, feeling that sinking feeling you get when you know something is wrong. I didn't even ask my son what was wrong, I just handed the phone to my husband, scared to death, the pit in your stomach aching, making you want to throw up.

Turns out he is fine, but his Pathfinder died. Died right there on Route 81 about 2 3/4 to 3 hours away from us. It's hard to think straight when your mind is racing about how to help your child. I immediately knew we were going to get him so while they were on the phone I am yelling instructions to my husband and asking information like where is he, while mile sign, what town. My son knew that he had just came off Rt 17 and just got on Rt 82 and Bingington was where they thought they were.

We get as much information as we can and I pack some water, fruit, sodas, our GPS, and off we go. We have Triple A, but how much help would they be? Should we call them first and wait to see what happens? We decided to head out first since we didn't want to waste time in case they couldn't get it started. My husband figured that my son had gone through puddles of water that might have stalled out the SUV. He thought that after it dried out some, it might start, but we had no way of knowing if that would happen.

Now I am talking really rainy, foggy, miserable weather for anyone to drive much less me when I am worried. I had my day already planned. I thought I would make something for my son to eat when he got home and then I had a party to go to around 6:00. I was just going to hang around and do some cleaning until my son got home.

On the way to get our son we called Triple A and had them go get my son and his two riders and get them off the highway and to a safe place. The three of them seemed in good spirits so we were glad they were doing ok. Thank goodness for cell phones and how the heck did we get along without them? When we got to the end of the turnpike we pulled over and called our son and he gave us the name of the place where they were. Also thank goodness for the GPS. I honestly don't know how we would have found them without it.

They had taken the SUV to a Firestone Store. They were just checking it out when we got there. Turns out the Alternator died which in turn, killed the battery. They said they could fix it and it would take about 2-3 hours to get the parts and get it running. We had to make a decision as to whether I should get going and take the girls to our house or whether we should all wait for it to be fixed just in case there were problems of another nature on the way home. We decided to wait so we could all go home together. I was very worried about the girls. I was also worried about their parents. I knew they were in constant touch with their parents and I was wondering how upset they were. We felt really responsible for them and I knew it would be late when we got home, plus I was probably going to miss the 50th birthday party that I was looking forward to.

We went to get something to eat and got back around 5:00. Turns out they were just finishing up and the SUV was ready to go. I am very grateful for that Firestone Store, they were very nice and got us on our way in record time. So, off we went. The girls with me and husband and son in the newly fixed SUV. It was fun being with the "girls". I don't get to spend much time with 18-19 year old girls. I learned a lot. We got home around 7:00. The parents were so nice about everything. Even paid my son for gas (which we tried to refuse but they wouldn't hear of it) AND bought us some of the yummiest pastries I have every seen. Such nice people.

AND, I WAS AT MY PARTY AT 9:20. Come hell or high water (and we had lots of high water, it was flooded here and many of the roads were blocked off)I was going to my party. A quick shower, change of clothes and out the door I went. I think I am quite a trooper! One of the last things one of the girls said as they left was "are you going to your party". And I wasn't sure at that moment. But then I thought, I would be disappointed is I didn't even try to go. So, I went to my party. Good for me! And I had a good time.

I think I am actually glad the weekend if over. It was too busy. I need a vacation from my weekend.

And, guess what. I am off Wednesday. Teacher in-service day. Hooray! Gotta love this job.

Ahhh, All is well.

Contusion of the knee

2008-03-07T21:26:00.002-05:00

On Tuesday this week, the staff member that had been out with the broken wrist, came back to work. She and we, we very excited. Our full team, back together again. It was a busy day but we were breathing a sigh of relief that things could get back to normal. However, it wouldn't be a normal week. We had our "dreaded sundae bar". Sundae bar is when you buy a lunch, you get a free sundae bar. Sundae bar consists of ice cream and various toppings. You have to make sure you have everything in stock, set it all up, and be ready for a crazy day. The kids love sundae bar. It comes free with your lunch purchase. Remember I said lunch purchase. This is a hard concept for the kids. Everybody wants a sundae but not everybody has money for one. It is another opportunity to set up the lunch lady to be the bad guy. If a child doesn't have money on their card and they don't buy lunch, I can't give them a sundae bar. You have kids coming at you from everywhere on sundae bar day. Some have the extra $1.25 it cost if you don't buy lunch, and some just have their cards, with or without money on the card.

Sundae bar days are the craziest days of the year. We have four of them a year. This time it was every crazier since the day our staff member came back from being off with her wrist, I fell and hurt my knee. YUP, I DID. I thought I would stay late and slice some ham that I would be needing. After I was done slicing, I cleaned the slicer and started cleaning up. I took the parts of the slicer that I had taken off that needed to be run through the dishwasher, and started my way back to the dishwasher with parts in my arms. I walked off of our slip resistant mat and lost my footing. I did that awkward couple of large bumbling steps that happens when you are headed into a free fall. It is amazing how quick the brain can think. Immediately I was thinking that I was going to fall right on top of the equipment I was carrying. Now these are slicer parts. Hard, blunt type parts. I didn't want my face to end up laying on top of the parts so I kind of tossed the parts into the air with outstretched arms so I wouldn't land on them. And, it worked I didn't land on the parts. I did though, land as if I was sliding into homeplate in the bottom of the ninth inning of a tied game in the world series.

Oh the pain! As I laid there all kind of thoughts run through your head. First, did anybody see me? God I hope not. Was I alive? Sure I was, was I hurt, hmmmmm, let's see. My wrist seemed ok except for a small nick with a brush burn. My face seemed ok, thank you Jesus! My knee, oh boy... it hurt. I rolled over and looked for blood, there was none. That had to be a good sign, right? I gingerly got up, everything hurt now. The brush burns were beginning to burn, my chest hurt from the thump onto the concrete floor, my arms hurt. The only thing that didn't hurt was my feet, that always hurt.

I gingerly got up and took a few steps. Ok, I can still walk. I picked up the pieces of the slicer that I had tossed and put them in the dishroom. I knew my knee was injured. So, I figured if the school nurse was still there, I better go see her and report the accident just in case I can't walk in the morning.

The nurse had me sit and looked at my knee which was already swelling up. She gave me ice and bandaged it up and sent me straight to the doctor. The doctor checked me out and told me I had "very loose kneecaps, has anybody ever told you that before?", Hmmm, why the heck would somebody tell me that? I didn't know there was any such thing as loose kneecaps. Whatever they are, I got 'em.

The doctor wanted an X-Ray before I could go back to work to be sure it wasn't fractured. So, the next morning I made an appointment for 8:30 and hoped to be back at work in plenty of time for sundae bar. The hospital that took the X-ray assured me they would be read the X-ray and call the doctor asap with the results. "Go home and wait they said". So, I waited, and waited, and waited. Sundae bar came and gone while I was waiting at home. I was very upset about having someone else (especially a just returning injured staff) do the register on one of the the hardest register day's of the year. But, I had no choice. I was at the mercy of the hospital and their timetable. They don't run on a lunch lady timetable.

The results showed I had a Contusion of the Knee with osteoarthritis. Or, a bad bruise. I could go back to work if I had to but I should be off till Monday. No way. Lunch ladies do not take days off for a "contusion of the knee". Hell NO! So back to work I went the next day. Just in time for Dominos Day, another busy register day.

So, quite a week it was. Glad its over. We are saying we are going to wrap our other staff member in bubble wrap so she doesn't get hurt. Sounds like a good idea.

We have Wednesday off next week. Yeah! And my son is coming home this week for Spring Break. We can't wait to see him. Should be a great week coming up. Barring no "accidents".

Ahhhhh.... All is well.

Pennies from Heaven?

2008-03-02T17:44:00.004-05:00

Been a while since I have posted. I have been trying to catch up with so many things. I am involved with contract negotiations between our school food service staff and the school district. We have a 'Good faith" type contract. We are not involved in a union. Most of all the other groups in the school district employees are unionized at this point. I certainly don't want to pay union dues but contract negotiations are hard when you don't know much about the whole process. We have been trying to get some other schools contracts but since most are now union, they don't want to give up the information as to wages, etc. In the past our process has been to get a committee together, talk about what changes we would like in our contract, what type of salary increases we would like, etc. Then we give our list to the school board's committee, then they come back and tell us what we are getting. That is pretty much how it goes. Not much negotiating going on. We put a lot of time and energy into meeting and discussing. Maybe this time it will be worthwhile for us. Wish us luck!!

One of my staff is still out with her broken wrist. She is so anxious to come back and we are so anxious to have her back. I have had many substitutes at this point. Twice, even the substitute covering for the staff was sick. So, we had a sub for the sub. Good Lord! All the subs have been great and we have been very lucky to have them. However, get well soon staff! We will take you one armed and all.

Did you see the story on the news about the school in NJ (a middle school)the students started paying for their lunches in pennies? It was on the news today so I went online to the TV station website and checked out the article. The article says it started out as a prank, but then everyone started saying they were protesting against how short their lunch time was. You can read the article at: http://cbs3.com/watercooler/pennies.readington.township.2.666461.html The news report on TV said that the students never raised concerns about the shortened lunch before. Why did they think the lunch ladies had any control of how much time they get for lunch? I guarantee they don't. The article also said that the "lunch ladies are not authorized to put in their TWO CENTS (ha ha for the pun)but they said they felt disrespected. HELLO?? I guess so! I don't even like when I get 5 pennies much less 200 per student. Counting all those pennies in line must have slowed the line tremendously. And, I would have counted every single penny! I mean every one.
S--l--o--w--l--y.

One of the parents interviewed said the detention their kid got was unfair. 29 students got two day detentions. 29 x 200 pennies = 5,800 pennies (the article did the math, not me). Beleive me, it was more than fair!
One of the parents actually did say that her son who bought in pennies would have to face the consequences and that "the detention will send a message to him that what you're going to do effects other people". GOOD FOR HER! The news report showed the lunch ladies with their aprons leaving the school. They were probably told not to comment. That would have killed me. I would have loved to give MY TWO CENTS (sorry for the pun again) on camera!

I am wondering if this will start some kind of chain reaction. I can just see us lunch ladies now, getting all those pennies. I hope not!

Just goes to show what we put up with, daily. We seem to get the brunt of everybody's unresolved issues about somthing. Yeah, I know I am whining now, sorry. But it feels justified.

I know it is a great story for my book. I plan on contacting those lunch ladies at the Readington Middle School. I hope they will talk to me.

I have been sending out my "Story Request Letter" to a few schools in some school districts around PA. I am trying to do 25 per weekend. I am sending them to NJ schools today. I got one story so far. I am so thankful for that and for that nice person who took the time to contact me with her wonderful story. Thank YOU!

I also joined Toastmasters. I think it will be a great experience for me. I can't wait to get started. I think the public speaking with help me immensly with my book marketing.

Just a few more weeks to spring break for us. My son is coming home next weekend. We can't wait to see him. He'll be home for a week. We are really looking forward to it. I better start stocking up food and juice now!

Till next time. All is well........

An Unexpected Story on a day off

2008-02-18T10:53:00.013-05:00

Our school district had a teacher in-service day on Friday and Monday is President's day so we have a 4-day weekend. It was my mother's birthday on Saturday so I had her come stay the night with us. We were having a birthday dinner for her on Sunday. My mother had four children so we about 15-21 for a birthday dinner depending on who's working or who can't come. My son is at college in NY so he couldn't make it and my niece worked too. My nephew was away at the mountains with his grandparents, so he was not here either. It was a good time and the food came out pretty well. Now, back to the unexpected story.

My brother and sister-in-law came (there son was at the mountains) and she said she wanted to ask me something. She said my nephew got a ISS (in-school suspension). I said "oh no, what happened", however since she wanted to tell me, I knew it had to have something to do with lunch time or lunch ladies. They do not live in my school district.

She tells me that my nephew was going through the lunch line and he "flicked a french fry at his friend, but it missed and hit the lunch lady". Hmmm. Of course I had been celebrating my mom's birthday with a margarita (or two) so I wasn't thinking as clearly or as quickly as I wish I would have been. (Hey, I am the oldest of us four kids so I deserve to celebrate (being the oldest and having all the "first of four children - birth order issues.") Anyway, my sister-in-law said it was an accident, which I truly believe. She said that the lunch lady was very, very upset. However, my being a lunch lady puts me in an ackward position. I said "in-school suspension does seem a bit harsh, I too would have been upset since he was fooling around in line, which he shouldn't be doing". I am not sure if I would have sent him to the principal or not. It probably would have depended on the kid, and his attitude at the time it happened. I certainly would have wanted a written apology which my sister-in-law said he did. I am pretty sure that I would have been upset if the child got an in-school suspension.

I told her that their lunch ladies are probably serving hundreds of kids in just a few minutes so there should be no fooling around. I admit I still think of my cute, blond haired, youngest of the grandkids as being the "littlest one". Later I remember he is in Jr. High. The stakes are much higher in Junior High. Once when I was working in our Jr. High there was a "food fight" and it was an experience I will never forget(got to remember that story for my book). The food fight erupted in the cafeteria (not in a lunch line) and food was flying everywhere. The teachers were running for cover, my boss at the time shut all our doors so no one could get in. Every wall had to be wiped down and cleaned. It was unbelievable. All the extra work! And it was scarey! Kids screaming and running around. So I imagine that there is probably a "No Tolerance" policy for such things that could possibly escalate in their school. And with my experience, I have to agree. Sorry my wonderful nephew. I love ya lots, but....... be good in the lunch line and cafeteria.

Thinking about the situation today, I wish I had asked more questions (this is where the margaritas came in). Where was he and how far did the french fry sail in order to hit the lunch lady? Did it maime her? How fast was the french fry going? What rate of speed? What was his immediate reaction to what happened? Has he had other issues in the lunch line? Does the lunch lady have any say in the punishment? How mad was she, I mean, spittin' nails mad or red in the face embarrased mad? I bet she was very embarrased. I think that the times when I got the maddest or had the most reaction when my son did something or when I got mad at work is when it embarrased me, or reflected badly on my parenting skills or lunch lady skills. I would recommend when things simmer down, my nephew should do something nice like, say he is sorry again to the lunch lady, and I mean look her in the eye and mean it. Let her see the impact it had on him. Tell her to have a nice day or smile at her. I have a few students that tell me that every day or always have a smile. They say please and thank you. It makes a big difference when you deal with them as opposed to another child that never looks at you and doesn't seem to care about you. And I am not saying my nephew is like that. He has always treated me with respect, but any child can take a lessen from this experience. Don't you sometimes go to the clerk's line in the grocery store where you know the clerk is efficent and nice? Don't you respect when you get an apology or someone owns up to a mistake for something they did or said that was either unapporpriate or uncalled for? And yes, when I see my nephew at Easter (we are celebrating his birthday) I will try and get some details (and thank him for a story for my book).

My story request letter is out at many of the schools since I have been passing it around at the Chapter meetings. Wouldn't it be the funniest thing if I get a story from a lunch lady with a story about "being hit by a sailing french fry?" That would really make my day (and my book)!

Back to work tomorrow, then two weeks with no day off. Bummer!!

Ahhhhhh, All is well.

Two Hour Delay

2008-02-13T17:27:00.004-05:00

The week has been going pretty well.

Last night the roads were snow covered so I didn't go out. I was going to attend another Chapter Dinner Meeting but it was cancelled due to the impending bad weather. I was really looking forward to handing out my Request for Stories Letter. Luckily the meeting is rescheduled for a date in two weeks.

Today however was a two hour delay. Do you know what that means for lunch ladies. It means absolutely "nothing". We still have to get in to get the food ready for the day. The kids still come in at the same time to eat lunch. So next time you climb back into bed after you either get the call for the delay or get the information on the school website or do it the old fashioned way of watching for your school on the TV, think of your lunch ladies who are already up and getting ready and leaving for work.

What else it means is that unless it is a menu item that we have had on that day before, you have no idea how much food to make. The kids came in to school today at 10:30-10:45. The lunch counts (these tell us what the students want and how much to make)came down to us between 10:45 and 11:15. The first kids come in to eat at
11:15.

We were having "Breakfast for Lunch" today so I knew we would have a big lunch count day. However, we haven't had the Cinnamon French Toast Slice this year on a Wednesday opposite Chicken Patty and Bagel. I approximated what I would need (really it was just a guess)and got busy.

By 10:45 I was waiting for the counts and eagerly counting what they ordered. I was off on the chicken pattys and ran back to put another 30 in the oven. I think I did a pretty good job of estimating everything else.

Then the kids come in. Holy Smokes!!! You figure they got in school and had to run around getting all the morning stuff done in about the 1/2 hour they were there before it was lunch time. They came in all wound up. It reminded me of the horse races. The gates were opened and they took off into our line. Yippin and Yapping away. Pushing and shoving and all. Now I know my son will say "you knew it was going to happen so why do you let it get to you". But, you can't teach an old dog new tricks. But I will say, I don't think it bothered me as much as it used too. I understand why they were so excited. A short day at school. Remember when you were a kid? Everybody loved a shortened day. So, I tried to put myself in their shoes. However, they still were a bit tight. (Old dog and all).

They are saying it might freeze up tonight and may have another 2 hour delay tomorrow. Hmmmmm. Two deeps breaths...

The good news is that tomorrow is the last day of the week for us. We are off Friday and Monday. And, it is Valentine's Day you know. And pay day. You got to love this job!

Yes.. All is well....

Another Day, Another Two Dollars

2008-02-06T19:33:00.000-05:00

This morning I drove to work as usual. The weather was unbelievable for Feb. 6th. 56 degrees when I left for work. I parked my truck, get out and slam/push the door shut. Bang was the sound I heard. The seat belt was stuck in the door opening. It happens all the time, so I pushed the seat belt back and shut the door again. Bang! it wouldn't shut, I checked the seat belt again and it was not in the way, slammed it shut, bang again! Somehow the little wheel or the track that allows the door to shut was not working. Crap! It was supposed to rain hard today with possible thunderstorms, not to mention how the heck can I drive it with the door open. It's 7:10 now and I was afraid my husband had already left for work. I called and he was still at home so he could come over to check it out. Lucky me, he can fix just about anything. I knew he had tools in his truck so I was hopeful he could fix it. I ran in to the school and put the breakfast things for the kids who eat breakfast at school into the warmer and hurried back out to wait for my husband. I wasn't even sure he remembered where the school was. A few minutes passed (which seems like an eternity when you are anxiously waiting) and I thought I better go back in and get my cell phone in case he called me back for directions. So, I ran back in, grabbed my cell phone and saw that I had missed his call.

I figured that if he didn't know where the school was, he would have left me a message or called back again. Within a few minutes, he did get there and checked out the lock. He fixed it in about 2 minutes flat. I kinda knew what needed to be done but didn't have the tools or the strength to turn the wheel. He "reset" the lock and it was fixed. Thank goodness! I am very grateful he was able to come and fix it so fast.

So that is how my day started.

Luckily, the rest of the day went well. Uneventful. I love that word, (with reference to work). Uneventful. Nothing bad happens, no surprises, just a good day. Uneventful.

A quick one line story for my book happened today. One of the students came in to buy an ice cream. It was between grades so I had went around the corner for something. I hear a little voice saying "Somebody NEEDS to be down here". Meaning I needed to be at the register. I replied, "Excuse me, somebody needs to wait a minute and have some patience." Hmmm. I wonder why that bothered me. Maybe because a child is telling me where I need to be. I guess I don't like that much.

After work I stopped at a new place to play the lottery. I play some numbers most days. If I get a real sense that a number is coming out, I go with it play it pretty regularly. I also like instant tickets. I have been buying the $2 Win for Life Instant Game. If you win one of the games on the card and you get three "LIFE" symbols you win $1,000 a week for life. Wouldn't that be really COOL. The man was there that owns the store and he told me (before I asked him for w Win for Life Ticket) that he had just received a check from the state for $10,000. He has two stores and at his other store somebody won the grand $1,000 a week. He actually took out the check and showed it to me. The retailer who sells the winning tickets get money too. I was very happy for him, but I wonder what the odds are that I could still win by buying one of those tickets. Hmmm. Is it a coincidence that I happen to go in a store where the owner just sold one of those tickets? I don't know. I wonder what the Universe is telling me. By the way, I won $2 on the ticket.

All in all, a good day. All is well.......

The Icy Winds of Change

2008-02-03T21:28:00.000-05:00

On Friday 2/1/08 it was a bit icy on the sidewalks and roads around here. I gingerly stepped outside onto our pavers and saw that it was all ice. I managed to get to my truck which is only maybe 10 ft from my door and saw that the windshield was all ice too. I started up my truck and went on my way, hoping for the best. I had seen the salt truck go by our house several times so I knew that the roads would be at least salted, ice melted I didn't know, but regardless I had to get to work. You see, lunch ladies always get to work. There are no "wusses" in school food service. Luckily, the roads were heavily salted and I had no problem getting to work.

Time goes by quickly at work. I had a manager trainee in, to work with me/us for the day so I was busy with her, and busy responding to a parent email. I didn't notice that it was 9:20 and one of my staff was not yet in. I thought that there was probably traffic since I knew that the buses had been late arriving at school. Plus, this staff member has a child and I figured she probably was waiting for her bus to arrive before she came in. I knew that it was unusual for her not to have called if there was a problem, but I guess I was in denial that maybe something had prevented her from coming. (She had called my cell phone but of course, my battery was dead as usual)

Around 9:20 I did call her home and found out that she had fallen on the ice at her house and was at the emergency room with most likely a broken wrist. Holy Crap! I already had an extra person so I didn't need to get a substitute but our concern for how she was weighed heavily in the air.

We quickly got busy and were ready for the students on time. After serving time, she called us and told us that she did indeed break her wrist and has to have surgery to aid in the repair. I think she said they have to put a plate of some kind in her wrist. She will be out of work for quite awhile, she is thinking three weeks, but I feel with an injury that severe, it will probably be longer. We talked for a bit and we will check back with her on Monday night after her surgery.

I hung up the phone and repeated her plight to the other staff. We stood there for a moment letting it all sink in, then we wondered, "what does that mean for us". Well, I had no idea. So I got busy finding out. The person who handles these things is the same person who helped me with my "Breakfast session fiasco". I thought that she might hang up on me if I call her with another problem. But of course she didn't, (being one of the nicest persons I know.) She managed to get us a substitute that can work just about every day except for Wednesdays. This is good news. The sub is a very good worker and I am sure we will be just fine. And we only need another person for those Wednesdays.

But, things will certainly be different. When you work so closely with three people day in and day out you get into a routine. When someone is out, you kinda feel off balance. We will truly miss her and we can't wait for her return.

Other things going on are that we have decided to get busy with contract stuff. Our contract with the school district is up for renewal this year. We have to decide what we would like to ask for and we must ask "how much change are we ready for". Time will tell.

I am sure we will get through the following weeks, and I am thankful we have some extra days off coming up. I am thankful for a lot of things.

Thankful my staff member that hurt herself is ok and her injury is something that can be fixed.

I am thankful she will be back at some point.

I am thankful she has a loving husband and caring children that will help her through.

I am thankful for my other staff member that will pitch in and do her best to help things continue to move along smoothly.

I am thankful I spent a nice day with my mother today.

I am thankful I met a friend Friday night and we had a great time, laughing and talking. Mostly laughing.

I am thankful my son called and checked in with us Saturday night.

And, I am thankful to be, yes, just be. Thankful to be me and be happy with that. I don't know if I was ever thankful for that before.

Yes, change is good.

ahhhhhh... all is well.

(Sorry if there is spelling errors, the spell check won't work tonight).

Taking Responsibility

2008-01-29T16:24:00.000-05:00

Our POS (Point of Sale) system we use for our lunch account system records each transaction that you make on the computer. This is good and this is bad. The good news is that when you have a problem on the register, you can go back and check out the detailed transaction report to see what the problem might have been. That is also the bad news.

Last week, when I went in to start a "session", which would be either a lunch or breakfast, I mistakenly put in "Breakfast" instead of lunch. So, all the lunches I put in, came through the system as a breakfast instead of a lunch. Now you might be thinking "well, no big deal" but it is a big deal. You see, the school district gets a "government reimbursement for meals served". When you serve breakfast, you get a certain percent reimbursement, and when you serve lunch you get more of a percent reimbursement. So, if the meals stay in the system as a breakfast, we lose money on our reimbursements. That means we have to back out and void every transaction and re input them in a lunch session. DAMM.... Of course it was a Dominos Day, when I made probably a 1,000 transactions or more.

Our administrative assistant who helps with these problems is probably one of the nicest persons I have ever met. She has offered to void out all the entries made and I will be re-entering them back in. I did offer to do that. I don't feel that she should have to do that when it was my mistake. She shouldn't even have to void them out, however I am so grateful to her for offering to do that.

Now I knew that day that I had made the mistake. Something "weird" came up on the register as the kids were coming through and I went back to look at the computer monitor and I saw what I had done. I quickly changed the session from breakfast to lunch but it was way too late. I thought that since I had hit the lunch key, that they would register as a lunch. But it doesn't work that way.

What a mess I have made. If I was the administrative assistant, I would be furious at me for causing all the extra work. But she was so nice. I think I should send her some flowers or something. I, on the other hand, am so pissed off at myself for doing something so stupid. Once I heard it all had to be redone and the extra work for the administrative assistant and me, my mood changed dramatically. I really beat myself up about it.

Part of the problem is that my hands (I have carpal tunnel) have been hurting and cramping so bad these days that the thoughts of re inputting all the information in, is overwhelming. However, it doesn't have to all be done at one time. I am thankful for that. I am very, very quick on the register so it really won't take long to do it. (I used to do data entry) The most work will be reading what to input, not the actual putting it in.

So I guess I have to think about what I should be thankful for. Here they are:
I am thankful for the administrative assistant who was so nice and understanding.
I am thankful that my staff has offered to help with the inputting.
I am thankful it doesn't all have to be done right away or all at the same time.
I am thankful that on Friday we are supposed to have an extra person which will give me the extra time to input the transactions.
I am thankful I finally made a doctors appointment to check on my hands.

That is about all I can think of at this moment. Sometimes its hard to be thankful when your miserable. I need a nap....

And one more thing about doing extra or double work. Karma is really something. About two weeks ago at my other job, I was told to do something, then found out after 45 minutes of working on it, I was told that we didn't need all that work I had done. I was angry and complained to anybody that would listen to me. I wasn't nice and understanding like the administrative assistant at my school job who has all this extra work to do because of something I did. I guess I need to remember that next time. Mistakes happen. I need to ask myself "what is the opportunity in this lesson for me to learn."

On a happier note:

It was Chinese Day in the cafeteria today. Yumm! I made Wonton soup, General Tso's chicken (which you might not believe it, but it was pretty good for school Chinese), egg rolls, and vegetable fried rice (not really fried, it was steamed). And you got a fortune cookie. The kids love getting the fortune cookies. The lunch mom's hated it. They said the little wrappers were hard to get open and the wrappers were all over the place. Hmmm, can't please everybody.

Well, another day done. We have two whole weeks without an extra day off. Bummer!!!
All is well.

Chapter Dinner Meeting

2008-01-26T12:20:00.000-05:00

On Thursday I went to a Chapter Dinner Meeting. This is a meeting were lunch ladies gather for, of course, dinner, and someone usually speaks about a topic relating to what we do, and some entertainment.

I wanted to go because I do enjoy going to these meetings, plus I wanted to pass out some of my "story request letters". I made up a letter with my web addresses which are my blog and my youtube which I have a video on.

We got there early and filled out the paperwork since we decided to join the Chapter which gives you some benefits like discounts on conferences and things like that. I asked the woman in charge if I may pass out my letter and she said "yes, would you like to speak about it to everyone"? Wow, how nice was that. She didn't know me and I appreciated her trust. However, I didn't think I was comfortable speaking in public like that.... yet.... I went around to each table and handed out some letters and spoke to the wonderful women attending. Everyone was very receptive and thought it was a great idea. I already got a story emailed to me. I am very grateful for that and for the opportunity to spread the word.

The dinner theme was Middle Eastern. I don't know how many people were there but it was well attended. One school district had (I think they said) 34 people. That is awesome. They said their school district pays for their dinner to attend which makes a big difference. They had someone speak to us about child nutrition and then had a belly dancer give us some instruction. She had some hip scarves which we used and they showed us some moves. If you can imagine 50 0r so lunch ladies shaking their groove thing. It was great fun! My friend got some pictures that I will use on my power-point for our end of the year breakfast.

I am glad I went. We have another one to go to in Feb. I am looking forward to that one too.

It was a good week at work too. All is well.

Sundae Bar Day

2008-01-23T20:13:00.001-05:00

Ohh, it was sundae bar day today. We call it the dreaded sundae bar. In our district at the elementary schools, you get a free sundae bar WITH the purchase of a lunch. Now I know I have talked about "giveaway" days in an earlier post but here I go again. You only get the FREE sundae bar if you buy a lunch. Its like "if you go into a WaWa store and they give you a free bag of chips when you get a hoagie, can you go in and just get the chips for FREE?" I don't think so. Now I know elementary kids don't understand this concept but the adults do or should. The purpose of the giveaways, as I said before, is to drum up business, increase our lunch count sales. And it does work. I sold an extra 30-40 lunches today. But it sets us lunch ladies up to look like the bad guy, again.

I figure our school has about 500 students, give or take 50. About 1/2 that amount buy lunch most days. So you have over 250 give or take that aren't buying lunch. Now most of those kids have a lunch account with money or they bring in the extra money ($1.25 ala carte). You take out the students with milk allergies who can't have ice cream, take of the students not in that day and the kids who don't like ice cream and I am left with about 10-20 students that don't have money for the sundae bar. When an elementary students looks at you and asks you if they can have one, and they don't have money, it is really hard to tell them "no". I tell them, "I'm sorry, but you don't have money for sundae bar". I hate saying that, but... I have to. It is my job. You also have students whose accounts are marked with "no snacks". For most parents, they don't mind if they get sundae bar, but, how the heck am I supposed to determine that. Last sundae bar day I let 2 students buy one since they had money but were marked as "no snacks" and the parent called me and was very upset.

It is almost a no win situation and I don't like being in that position. I know its my job, but it sucks and I accept that it is my responsibility to tell them "no". Before the day even gets going, I am dreading it. That is why we call it the "dreaded sundae bar". My son asked me "if you know its going to happen, then why do you let it upset you". The answer is I hate to tell somebody they can't have something. Especially since it is something like a ice cream sundae for $1.25. It makes me feel petty, little and mean. I can't help that is the way I feel. Enough already, at least it is over! Won't have another one till Spring. Thank you Jesus!

Thank God Its Friday

2008-01-18T20:23:00.000-05:00

Ahhh.. Friday. And we are off again on Monday. We had a good week. I was busy and I only posted one blog on Monday. One of my staff was out for a few days but we had a good substitute so it went well. But it was tiring. On Thursday night, I crashed. It had snowed so I didn't go to my aerobics class at night. Instead I slept. I "napped" for about two hours, then I got up and watched Celebrity Apprentice, then went to bed. I am applying to be a contestant on Deal or No Deal so I was busy working on that this week. The application is quite a lot of work. It asked some odd questions so I have been thinking about those questions. One is "what is the most daring and dangerous thing you have ever done.?" Hmmm. I admit I don't do a whole lot of things that are dangerous. I think going to places where you don't know anybody is "daring", but not usually dangerous. I have to think about that question. You also have to do a "rap or a poem". Fun stuff.

I tried to go to a Toastmaster's meeting this week on Monday. I worked myself up to go since I would not know anybody. I dressed nice and drove about 4o minutes. It was snowing so I was concerned about coming out of the meeting and have an icy ride home but I really wanted to go and see what it was all about. I would like to learn about public speaking and people are telling me you can learn a lot by going to the Toastmaster meetings. So I get there, go to the room and there is nobody there. I wait for 1/2 hour and nobody (except for one "new person like me) shows up. I had investigated the meeting though the website. The website looked like somebody had put some work into it so I thought it would be well-run. I had the printout from the website so I called the phone number and someone answered, it sounded like a teenager, and I asked if anybody there knows whether the Toastmaster's meeting that was supposed to be tonight, was happening. The kid said, I don't know, and that was the end of the call. The other person that was new had said that she had emailed the president of the Chapter before the holidays but had never heard back. Hmmmm. Not a good way to run a program. (Just my opinion). I was pissed. I drove all the way 40 minutes, in the snow flurries, and nobody shows up. I think that if they change something, they should update the website. Gas is $3.09 a gallon. I used about 1/4 tank to get there. Now I have to find another way to get some "public speaking" in.

I got another wonderful story from somebody today. I was so grateful and thankful for her story. It is a perfect example of what I am looking for, for my book. Next week I am going to a Chapter Meeting for school food service employees. I hope to network there and pass out my "request for stories" letter. I am really looking forward to it. I also had someone post me a note on my Youtube site. She said she would tell her co-workers about my book too. So, things are moving along.

All in all, a good week. All is well.

Monday, Monday

2008-01-14T20:12:00.000-05:00

Today was very exciting at work. The Board of Health came in. The Board of Health comes in twice a school year. Sometime between September and October and again between January and February. Usually they arrive at the first school and all the other schools alert every other school that they are "in the area". If it quite comical. We instant message when she is at your school, then you announce they left, then the next school will instant message they are there, and so on and so on. This can go on for days and days depending on how many schools you have. We had a great inspection. We had no violations. We take the Board of Health visits very seriously. No one wants violations. Even when they seem like something so "picky or menial". Sometimes I get written up for the plastic silverware not being all in the same direction. Now I swear they always get put in the right direction when we place them in the pans, however it takes only one child to get a spoon or fork for them to be all which way. However, today, even in-between classes, we were fixing plastic wear. They also came at the end of the day so that is great timing. Most of the food is gone and all the temperatures on the food is high since they have been in the warmer for ahwile. Most schools are always careful to follow all the rules and regulations however once in a while there is a rag half out of a bucket (they must be in the sanitizing solution) or a water bottle where it shouldn't be or a light bulb out or some icing in the freezer (duh... it is a freezer you know). These are usually the things schools get written up for.
So, today was a great day at our school.

Hey, we are off on Wednesday. And next week we are off on Monday. Doesn't get any better than that. You gotta love this job!

All is well...

What do I want to accomplish

2008-01-09T18:56:00.000-05:00

Hmmm. I have some questions for myself. I guess I am wondering what I want to accomplish with my blog. Why am I really doing this, what makes me think this is a good idea, questions like that.

Let's see. I really wanted to network and find other lunch ladies who might be interested in sharing their stories with me for my book. However, when it really comes down to it, will other lunch ladies really "read a blog"? Is this the place where I will get stories? In all likelihood, "no" would be the answer. Most of the lunch ladies I know don't spend time reading blogs or looking for people to network with. So, I wonder why I am writing a blog, and why am I wanting to write a book. What makes me want to do something others don't want or need to do? As of right now, I don't know. And, I hate the old "I don't know" answer.
I am interested in something called "Life Coaching". Life coaches help a "healthy individual get to the next level in their life". Life coaches ask questions to help YOU get to the answers you are looking for. So I guess what I need to do is ask myself some questions. I am going to think about that and figure that out.

I know one thing. If I want lunch lady stories, I have to go where the lunch ladies are. There are conventions and dinner meetings that I plan to attend. But I am one of those people who want what I want now. I want stories NOW. I want to get my book going NOW. Hmmm, if I was life coaching somebody and they said this to me, I would ask them "what's the hurry? Can you enjoy the ride? Enjoy being where you are in the developmental stage of the book. Books don't happen overnight! " Why do I have the need to have it NOW. I wonder what would happen if..... I just enjoy now, planning.. gathering....meeting new people.. spreading the word. Well, sounds like a plan. I feel better.

As far as my blog goes, I am going to continue. Because I feel better after I write it. I feel better when I get to say what I want to say and "post it". Even if nobody views it and I don't get a single story from it, it makes me feel better. Like I am doing something for the "cause". Like I am doing something for ME. And ultimately, that is what it is all about. Bringing myself to the next level in my life.

Ahhhhh......All is well.

A whole five days with no days off

2008-01-07T18:23:00.000-05:00

We joke at work about having to work a whole 5 days straight. Seems like we get quite a few days off in the year. We only had three days last week and next week we have Wednesday off (the students go home early and do not eat lunch at school). So, we joke around complaining we have to work all week. We know we are very lucky to have such a great schedule (unless of course, you need the hours in your paycheck, then its not such a great thing).

One of my staff members is cooking this week. I like for everyone to be cross-trained so that when somebody is out, its not such a disruption. I also believe that your have to walk in some body's shoes to really understand their job. Once you see what somebody has to do and what makes it easiest for you when your doing their job, I believe you are more likely to appreciate them and what they do. For instance, today since I was doing the other job of the person who is doing my job, I had to do the bagging. It is very time-consuming. The "cook" had to help me out with all the jobs she usually does since it was taking me forever to get it all done. When your not used to something, it just takes you longer. I was bagging thinking, Geez, I am glad I don't have to do this all the time. I do really enjoy cooking. I know its mostly heat and serve but I still enjoy it. I also make tuna, chicken and turkey salad every week for teacher salads we sell. I get great feedback from the staff about how they enjoy the nice salads we make.

So, today was different, but a good day. I got another story (from a first grader today) for my book. Reminds me I better go write it down. Every day I get another story is a great day. 9 more for the month. (My New Year's Resolution is 10 stories per month). Hey, maybe I will be able to up the amount per month. Now that would be really, really great.

All is well. (4 more days to go till the weekend)

Give-Away Day

2008-01-04T17:09:00.000-05:00

Give-away days are tough. The kids get very excited about getting something. You can only get something if you buy lunch. That is the purpose of give-away days. To bring in more students to buy lunch which ups how many you serve. Today was "animal give-away" day. I had about 200 little, plastic/rubber dogs. Different kinds of dogs. I served 239 today so I didn't have enough. I added some other little items hoping to make it to the end of the day with enough "dogs". I did have enough. I even had a few left. It is very hard for the students to choose "a" dog when there are different ones. And, all the students want to come in and get one, even when they don't buy lunch. It makes me feel like the bad guy when I have to say "no, you can't have one since you didn't buy lunch". However, that is why we have give-aways. I am glad its over. I hope there are no more Giveaway days.

My son came to work today to do some video for me for my book and some other projects I am working on. I was hoping to get some video of the students "play acting" something out for me but I mentioned to one of the teachers about taking some video and she said she had students that may not have their pictures taken. So, I had to change my plan and I nixed the whole segment that included the kids. I didn't want any close-ups but I was afraid that it might cause problems. I do some fun PowerPoint's and I hope to do a video for our next Food Service Christmas Party, or for our end of the year Breakfast. I always have so many ideas about fun things to do but it is hard to follow through and get them done when you have to consider all the details.

I have to thank my staff today since I was distracted with all that going on. They are so wonderful. They just pick up any slack that might come up when I am involved in "one of my projects". Whenever I have something like that going on, I get all consumed in it. I guess they are used to it by now. I am involved in the planning and organizing of the Food Service Christmas Party, and sometimes other projects (retirements, etc) that come up. I also like to do the Lip sync that the school has once a year. The Lip sync's are really fun. You pick a song and sing along to it, without being heard (which is really good for me since I can't carry a tune). I love doing choreography and stuff. Such an adrenaline rush when you get on that stage in front of hundreds of people, the kids screaming, the loud music. How great is that!!

Well, another weekend is here! We have had a great three days in the new year in the life of a lunch lady.
All is well.

Dominos Day

2008-01-03T16:05:00.000-05:00

It was Dominos Day today however we didn't serve 300. I don't know why we didn't serve over 300. Usually we do. Especially after a break. I think the students are tired. They were fairly quiet for a Dominos day. I got some things done. I sent out my blog address to all the managers. I received an email from someone I met who will pass on my "story request letter" to someone she knows. That is exciting. I hope to hear from them. My resolution for the New Year is to work on my book 4 hours a week. It doesn't sound like much, but it is. I have two jobs. My other job is on the weekend at a hotel in the banquet department. It wipes me out. It can be very physical. All that lifting of the heavy trays and dinners. But.. I think it helps keep me young.

I think I will try and write up a few pages tonight for my book. Next week I start back to Aerobics and I am joining Toastmasters. That is on the 1st and 4th Monday of the month. I hope I can remember to go. I am pretty booked up next week so it would be best to do what I can tonight and Friday.

All in all, a good day. All is well.....

Back to Work, Back to School

2008-01-02T17:12:00.001-05:00

Its weird, after a break I usually say I going back to school, really meaning back to work. I don't "go to school" for the purpose of learning, I go to school for the purpose of working. I wonder if others do that, think about it as going back to school when they work in a school.

Anyway, what I thought would be an "easy" day, turned out to be frantic. On the last day of work/school before break, I kept telling myself, "don't forget to order the rolls, don't forget to order the rolls". But, looks like I had a menopausal moment. I forgot to order the rolls. So I spent the first hour of work, instant messaging and calling around for rolls. Then, I had to go pick them up. I get so mad at myself for making a mistake like that. I can really beat myself up about it. Also, as soon as I came in, the light was blinking on the phone so that means I had a message. I called to see who it was and it was the milk company, asking where my order was for Wed, January 2nd. Now, they called on Friday, Dec 21st. I KNEW that I did fax that order in, for sure, since I wrote the time and day that I faxed it in on my order but it sure was possible that the fax didn't go through. And, mind you, I didn't have a single milk carton in the school that didn't have an expired date). But... about 15 minutes later (while I was busy checking around for rolls first, then I would worry about milk)the milkman, thankfully, was at my back door. I could'a kissed him. I didn't of course, but I was so happy to see him. They must have found the order after they had left the message. Whew...... I dodged that bullet.

I managed to get enough rolls for the day so a disaster was avoided. But I had to smile, there were other managers looking for rolls and stuff so I wasn't the only one that had a menopausal moment. Sometimes it makes you feel better when you find out your not alone. That is the great thing about my job and one of the things I like best. You make a mistake, but nine times out of ten, it can be fixed without the customer ever knowing a thing.

I had off for 11 days, you would think that by the time I went back, I would have everything organized. NOT!!! Also in the first half hour (worrying about rolls and milk) I also had to put the lunch count forms into the teachers mailboxes. I had taken them home to work on and update. (The students at our school have a form that has their name on it and they mark which lunch they want) The teachers need to have these first thing in the morning so they can have the students mark it, then they send it down to me). Well.. I had forgot to get some new plastic sleeves for them. I remembered I had some at school/work so I figured I would quickly put the new ones on the lunch count forms. But, I only had a few new plastic sleeves so I ended up having to use some old ones along with the new ones. Then I had to walk around the school to the rooms to distribute them to the teachers who had already picked up the mail in their mailboxes. What a start to the day and the NEW YEAR.

But, all in all, we had a great day. The students were quiet in line (they seemed tired) and they moved along well. And its already Wednesday. Two more days till the weekend. Hurray!
All is well.

Looking for Stories

2008-01-01T20:11:00.000-05:00

I have created this blog in hopes of connecting with other lunch ladies who have a funny, sad, heart-warming story to share with me for my book. Your story does not have to be long. I have some stories that are only a line or two about something a student said in the lunch line that made them laugh, cry, scream or say hmmmm. I also want to share my blog with students, teachers, parents and peers. I am interested in the opinions of all as to how you view what we do, how we do it, and how we can improve.

Example story:

One day I was making soup and I wanted to use chicken base. I had a gallon jug in the refrigerator already made up. I poured the contents of the jug into the soup and quickly put it in the steamer. I took the soup out at serving time and realized it had a very distinctive smell. Pickles.... I had used a gallon jug of pickle juice (all the pickles were gone) instead of the chicken base. It was too close to serving time to do anything about it so we had Pickle Soup. Of course, it seemed like every teacher wanted to buy soup that day. I ended up giving the soup away for free.

This is just an example of things that happen to us everyday. At our school we have lots of fun along with hard work.

My goal is to get lunch ladies respect. We work hard and greatly affect the students. The students love lunch time. Most people of all ages remember lunch time as being their favorite time while they were in school. Not all lunch ladies are like Adam Sandler's song "Lunch Lady Land". We don't just sling sloppy jo's and pizza.

Let me know your thoughts, encounters and your experiences with lunch ladies. I will be happy to publish your name in my book if you submit a story to me. You can also submit stories to me at my email address which is: jomarie026@aol.com. I look forward to hearing from all of you.