Tuesday, June 20, 2006

A ticket from house to home

If everything goes as planned (though I have a sinking feeling that it won't), I'll be departing from Dallas at 2:45 for Conroe, TX via bus to visit my family. It's been a year since I've travelled alone on a Greyhound to see them. I've done it before, and after this one, I'll probably do it again, but the thing is, it's always so cramped on the weekend busses out of Dallas. I'm hoping to catch a break, get lucky with a Friday departure.

The only thing is that I had to ask to get out of work early on Friday. One of my office counterparts will be out, so it's adding some unnecessary pressure on another person, being the lone cubicle inhabitant in our private oak-paneled hell. She's been doing this a while, so she'll be fine, but man, I had a hard time just asking my boss if I could take off early. I always have a hard time asking for exceptions or favors. I never think of myself as deserving -- I either do things right, and all the way through, or not at all. To me, there is no worse travesty than a job half done, which is an ethic ingrained by my father, who would threaten punishment that mortals dare not speak of if he found said job half done, or as he would put it, half-assed.

So, T-minus three days and counting until I hop a 'hound to Houston!

8 comments:

MattJ said...

Hey Jo, dont leave the job half done but don't let them take the piss. Many years ago I used to work my ass off in several jobs while at college, made myself really ill in the process and at the end of it no one thanks you for it.

I work overtime in my job - I don't clain that overtime because it helps with the project finances. But if I want a friday afternoon off without losing Holidays, I take it. I only ask if it's convenient - if I am absolutely required I will absolutely stay. But never feel bad about asking for somehting you are entitled too - you strike me as someone who does more than she is paid to do so lie down and wait for that guilty feeling to go away. Soon you'll be awash with a feeling of 'I have worked for this kind of thing, they get more out of me than they pay for so I am not just entitled to an early Friday, it;'s my duty to take it!'. It's a warm fuzzy feeling that comes over you when you realise that your superiors are just people and the shittier someone treats you the hollower you know that persons life to be. They are to be pitied.

Anyway enough philosophy, get me my cookies! I posted my curry recipe! hehe. Soon as the Burninator arrives I am gonna try makin a proper yank chilli instead of my one. You'll have to nick your dad's recipe for me. And don't let him tell you he doesn't have one. From what I've read, every single texan on Earth has a secret family recipe somewhere, Even if he wasn't taught it it's probably some kind of race memeory. Get it! :P

Miss Dallas said...

Well, we do have a family recipe for chili, and it's really easy but I'm afraid you don't have the really odd stuff it takes to make it. But, If you can scratch it up, here it is:

Dump Chili

1 lb. ground beef or turkey
2 cans chopped tomatoes with green chiles
1 can minestrone soup
1 onion, coarsely chopped
1 can Ranch Style Beans
1 can black or kidney beans
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

In a dutch oven, brown ground beef or turkey, add onion and sautee until softened. Add cayenne pepper and then dump cans of soup, tomatoes and beans. Reduce heat and cover. Simmer until heated through and well combined. Add the juice of one lime if you prefer.

Olivia said...

Yeah the Ranch style beans might be difficult.
I've actually forgotten what they are...

Heinz baked beans might do? With a dash of BBQ?

So missie! You're off to Cornrow!
Didn't you once say you're from The Woodlands? Are you really? Which part?

Miss Dallas said...

The bus stop is in "CornRow," but my family is splashed about north Houston, with my parents living in Lakewood in The Woodlands. I guess baked beans will do. They have to have some kick and the sweet aftertaste, though.

Olivia said...

Ah well, I can't place Lakewood anymore...all it does is make me think of that big church.

We used to live in Cochran's Crossing. Still own the house, just renting it out now.

How about that Waterway that's now opened? It's changed so much since I left in 2002 and I haven't been back since 2003. Oh do tell me about it, take pics if you are so inclined, etc.

Incidentally, my consultant at Artemis (see blog) who really likes me, is originally from Kingwood.

At uni (St Thomas) one of my friends was from there.

It's so weird talking about a familiar place with someone.

Anonymous said...

Why go by bus when you can go by train?

Olivia said...

There isn't a train between Dallas and Houston. I've done the drive so many times, I would have heard something...

There should be, though.

Miss Dallas said...

Oh, there's Amtrak, but it's expensive and slow, i.e. It sucks.

You have to stop by San Antonio "on the way" to Houston. Since when is San Antonio on the way to Houston???