I'm Alive!!!!!!

SO....Yeah I know, it's been awhile...I get it...A lot has happen, I'll give you the bullet points.

So  January,  not a whole lot happened, most of February too, can't really recall all that happened, so long ago.  But at the end of February I  did go down to San Diego to open the Old Spaghetti Factory down there.

We used to have one down there back in the day, about four years ago.  For like 30 years...it was a great store did great business but we closed it, because the Hard Rock Hotel bought part of the building...at that time we (the Dussin Group) didn't think that a small OSF would work in downtown San Diego, and at that time the Gaslamp district(where OSF is located) was asking for higher end business, more fine dinning. The Dussin Group...or shall I say Chris Dussin, decided a new concept would be good.  Dussini, Mediterranean bistro.  The new restaurant did well, really good in fact, however, with the new economy it did not continue to do well.  During this time we looked for a building in San Diego for an OSF, had a few line up, all of which fell through.  So...We decided to reopen where we started.  It's by far one of the smallest OSF store, but with everything going on we thought we'd give it a try...AND WOW did it work out well(details to follow).  So I was chosen by the vice president of operations(not to toot my own horn...toot toot!) to go down and help open the store.

so I went down for two weeks, They put me up at the Shearton suites...so awesome...fantastic.  Had a blast.  Lots and lots of work, but A lot and Lot of fun...super fun in fact.

Some of the other trainers and I hanging out after work.

We were playing this game called Curse...so much fun...Thanks dad!

With the game, there are these curse cards...one of them was call like a bird whenever you talk...so every time Cody talked he had to say BacaBaca...so funny...It stayed with him all two weeks

And The View from my hotel room.

It was a great trip...the hotel was awesome, but by then end of it I was ready to go home to my own bed...

Then about 4 days later I get a phone call, The acting DM calls me and says "Kirk(the VP of operations) asked me to call you and see if you would be willing to come back down to San Diego for another week"

I say sure! I have no reason to say no, I make money by going down there, plus it's fun, plus it looks good on me...so ummm yeah I'll go back down.

Again they put me up at the Shearton suites, this time, I get my own room.

SO awesome AGAIN.

Then I go home...Then I get another Phone call...

This happens up in till June...I'm going back and forth from San Diego to Fullerton. I'm living in a hotel from late February  to late May, going  home for a couple days to refuel and that's it...Still enjoy myself but missing my bed.  Then In Late May, when I'm in San Diego my DM, Ron, sits down with me and asked me if I would like to move down to San Diego and be a part time manager.  I wanted to, but I wasn't sure. yada yada yada, more talking more, discussing terms, yada yada yada, I moved down the first week of June.

I went online...ya ya ya, I know, But I didn't really have any other options...and yes I looked...So I went online and found some places.  I went and looked at all of them...The room I would like in would be awesome, they were all large, private baths...there was this one were i had my private bath, with a jacuzzi bath tub, and hardwood floors, and pool, and my own living room...but i didn't pick it.  I know me, yes, I'm moody and grumpy and like to left alone, but I also like the option of having having people around and talking socializing to people.  All the places I saw were very...hmmm...ani-socalize.  And although the places were great, didn't really seem like it would be home to me.  So, I went with the tiniest of rooms, with no window...yes, no window...But it's a house, with dogs, with really cool roommates.  And my top three things i was looking for was...

1. safety...nice neighborhood

2. rent

3. roommates

Yeah thinking back on those other places I'm like why??? but then the roommates come home or text me, and I'm like...yes I made the right choice.

I can't hang out with the hourly staff from OSF, which only leaves the managers, and we all have different schedules...So it was important to me that I have people to hang out with.  So I'm very very happy with my choice.

So...I was working as a part time manager for a few weeks, then last week my Dm, Ron, talk to me and offered me a position as a Manager again.  And I took it.  I'm still not sure if this is what I want to do with my life, but I'll be 25 this year, and you all know me, not knowing and not doing anything as been driving me crazy.  I need to work, and I need to have a purpose at work. And I would be an idiot to turn down this offer.  

The DM offers me a spot, at the highest ranking store, it is the highest store in sales, and it's the store everyone is watching, and everyone wants to be at. So I took it. So I am now, again, a manager for the Old Spaghetti Factory...YAY!

And that's pretty much the jist. I'm Happy, I'm alive, and having a good time.  I have great people around me, my friends from Fullerton, and riverside have come to visit me.  I have friends out here in San Diego. A roof over my head, and a job to pay for it.  

However...Ron told me I can not paint my nails...the way I do anymore :( i' m very upset about this...but I'm going to try to get around it...shhhh!

To come soon

i know i haven't written in awhile, been super busy, but i'll catch you all up soon

I have a nephew!

I 'll let Katrina fill you in on all the details but I wanted to post a few pictures for you all.

Not too much

So not too much is going on.  Mostly just work. It is the Old Spaghetti Factory's 40th anniversary this year.  And to celebrate...and in hopes of getting our name back out there.  Every Tuesday and Wednesday of January are classic entrees are 40% off.  So we have been really busy on those days.  So for this month I'm working 6 days a week...but it's not that bad, since Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday the shift are only like 4 hours.  Other than work...My friends and I went to the bar on Monday to sing karaoke...but the guy who runs karaoke was sick, so we just chatted, and did karaoke using the jukebox.  Last night the girls and I went to cheesecake factory, and nice little treat for me for working hard:) but sorry to say I have no funny anecdotes to tell.  Just wanted to drop a note and let everyone know I'm still alive and well. I did my nails again though! It's the pre-valentines design.  Not quite early enough for valentines, but a little pink to have it covered just in case.

My Nails

Christmas was over, new years had past, and valentines day is not quite near enough.  Hmmm. What design do I paint my nails? During the holidays it's easy to decide, at least the theme of my nails, but during the in between holiday time i'm at a lost. It took awhile, lots of brainstorming, and testing, but I came up with this.

Camping

My parents, Isabel and I went camping this week. It was fun :) I was able to get through one book, and part of another, but it's difficult to read with a two year running around. She is exhausting, she never stops. I really don't know how Kat and Moe do it. Isabel loves the beach once she was down there she did want to leave. She loved running up the hill (it was easier for her than all of us) and she loved throwing rocks in the ocean, and having me pick her up when the water came close to her. So you've all seen the video of Isabel doing animal sounds, and the robot, well this week we taught her "What does grandpa do?" "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH" it's really funny, hopefully Kat can get a video for you all. Isabel and I also took at walk to the the theatre at the camping site, she got right up on the stage and asked for music, and started dancing, it was very cute.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

As tradition goes the Clifford clan starts their christmas morning with christmas music, hot tea, and STOCKINGS!!! We always start with the dogs. Lots of treats for all of them, and a new collar.  Idk knew what was going on, she was actually down stairs for the festivities, and was a good girl while I put her collar on.  Seann put sandy's on, she wanted the treats, but knew she had to get her collar first.  Isabel and Katrina were in charge of putting on Wyck's collar.  Wyck was not so easy.  It was his first christmas, and was just so excited to be in the front living room, and with everyone around.  But eventually they were able to put his collar on...Seann had to adjust it later though.

Then it was our turn.  I always love the stockings, because they are filled with toys, and random goodness. After the stockings came the ABC gifts, and then all the other gifts.  Isabel was in charge of passing all the gifts out.  Occansionally she would try to unwrap a gift that was not hers.  And as always try to help carry a box that was a little to heavy for her.  

After all the gifts were open it was time for cinnomon rolls...yum yum yum! Grandma and Grandpa Clifford showed up soon after that.  They help us set up the table for all the other guest.  Once everyone arrived we ate.  This year we had, Ham, tameles, potatoe salad, coleslaw, mash potatoes and gravy.  Yum.  We've always put syrup on our ham...don't ask why...we just do. However, Katrina and I ran into a little problem.  See when you put syrup on your plate, it tends to spread out a little.  And well, mash potaoes, do not taste good with syrup.  Other than that the food was delicious!

After lunch we opened more presents, and again Isabel was in charge of passing out gifts, she got so into it that even when she had gifts of her own to open she just place them down, and kept passing out the other gifts.  Then we had dessert, a full table of desserts. After a little while people started to leave...sandy and wyck didn't mind because that meant they could run free again.

All day they we kept to the upstairs.  Idk stayed in my parents room, just chillin as usual.  Sandy and wyck stayed sitting on the stairs just watching everyone, and hoping to be let out. When they were finally able to ran around they went straight to the kitchen looking for leftovers.

It was a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!f6f2">