For the Love of the French (bulldog that is)

The moment I met my boy

So I have had M. Remus Lupin [or just Lupin] for about a year and a half now. And while I have always suspected that something was off with him from your typical Frenchie, I have just come to terms with it this past week. My French boy.... is really from Boston - that is he is a French bulldog X Boston terrier aka Frostons, Frenchtons, Faux Frenchbo (My brother will be thrilled since he's a huge Boston Redsocks fan). The evidence to prove it?

- size: 23 lbs - on the low end of the range for 

Frenchies, high end of Bostons

itty bitty little Lupin

- stature: tall and lean, but broad across the chest - 

height from the Bostons, chest from Frenchie

Long and lean playful machine

- ears: curled back when he was a puppy - a la Boston

There are those little flippy-back ears!

- face: undoubtedly wrinkly and adorable - Frenchie

Look at all those wrinkles! Who couldn't love those?

- teeth: itty bitty gremlin teeth - Boston smiles

not typical Frenchie monster fangs

- bark: unimaginable "talking" and whining - VERY Frenchie

BUT alert & protective bark - hello Boston

- energy: oh. so. hyper. jumps and bounces when he 

walks, and jumps about 4.5 feet high- Boston. No doubt

He can jump on barstools... part cat maybe?

- personality: stubborn, mum suck, playful clown - 

Frenchie & Boston from what I have heard

 

Doesn't that look just say "I didn't do it... I don't know what you're talking about"

- separation anxiety: howling and whining. for 6 hours.

Oh and pushing the bathroom door open, but only when

 I'm in there - I don't care which one this is, it sucks sometimes

He is my #1 man, and goes everywhere with me

- brains: I know everyone says their dog is smart, but

Lupin knows sit, down, stay, shake paw, lay, give me 10,

"bang bang"-this-is-a-stick-up or sit pretty, treat on nose

and he is manipulative - ummm... human? 

Likes to sleep on the granite when it's hot because he knows its cold

Well, regardless of what my little guy is, I absolutely love him and wouldn't change any of his mannerisms (except maybe the separation anxiety - 6 hours of crying on the first night. Come on!) As a matter of fact, he is such a unique and fun dog, I just might get a sister for him!

Reducing my Ergonomic Footprint

So it is no secret that I am a lover of all things old and vintage, but that I adore modern and new things as well. Mix that with my quest to get fit without the use of a gym (ick - so not my thing), and my eco-conscientiousness, and viola, I am purchasing a bike.

But not just any bike. A cruiser bike - and not just any cruiser. An Electra cruiser. We are talking works of art meets old school cruiser styles meets top of the line flat foot technology (ie. comfortable and good for my back to ride all the way to work and back).

Electra Cruiser Coaster 3i in Electric Turquoise

And here is the kicker. I never knew how many accessories and customizations you can do with a bike. We are talking seats, grips, rims, spokes, baskets, bottle holders, bells, racks... hello birthday ideas, christmas ideas, and anything inbetween ideas. (and hello accessorization!)

Bonus: Lupin has learned how to go for runs along side a bike, so I have finally found a way to drain his puppy energy. And when he gets tired, we can do the adorable puppy in basket thing. Frenchie in a bike basket = automatic "Aweee!" from pretty much anyone.

Come on, now you want a Frenchie and a bike

Why You Should Tip Your Server...

So, here's the thing. Yes, I serve (unfortunately), and due to this misfortune, I see the best of society's members, and the very very worst of them. The single thing that baffles me to this day, is that children are not taught at a young age how to tip their servers. This should really be integrated into public school's curriculum.

Contrary to popular belief, the money I make in tips does NOT go straight into my pocket. In fact, I usually walk away with significantly less than you would expect. So here is the break down of how my tips are divvied up, just to make some simple sense of it all.....

SCENARIO #1:
Your bill is $100 (just to make things simple to see)
You tip 10%, so $10

I pay:
1% of SALES (not tip) to hostess = $1
1% of SALES (not tip) to bartender= $1
3% of SALES (not tip) to kitchen = $3

This leaves me with $5 of the original tip, or about 5% of sales.
So if I sell $1000 worth of food, which is A LOT (like a busy busy friday night where I burn 1016 calories from literally running around the restaurant), and everyone tips 10%, I would only walk away with about $50 in tips.

Then consider that I have worked for 5 hours, in 2-inch heels (remember those 1016 calories?), refilling your pop 6 times, cleaning up after your 2 year old who is eating food off of the bare table, cleaning your half eaten/smeared/chewed food off the plate, and attempting to cater to your 3 food allergies and diet restrictions (which the kitchen yells at me for)... for that I only get paid $45.25 in wage.

So on a really good night, I make $95 . 25. For work that causes nerve damage to my feet, makes me eat at absurd hours of the day (hello 11:00PM dinners or no meals at all - hello weight gain and diabetes!), and where I have to buy a new pair of $100 shoes each month because the heels literally fall off.


BUT Here's the kicker...
On a bad day (like today):
Your bill = $45
You tip = $0

I pay:
$0 . 50 to the hostess
$0 . 50 to the bartender
$1 . 35 to the kitchen
$1 for dine and dash fund each shift

Clean up your disgusting table that your kids smeared alfredo sauce all over, listen to you complain about how your favorite item has been removed from the menu (because I have total control over things like that), you drink 8 cups of coffee in the hour you are there, and manage to spill cream and splenda packets all over the alfredo-painted table...

I PAY $3 . 35 to serve you, out of my pocket. I actually pay money to serve you. Me, a starving student who cannot afford to buy meat some months, have to PAY MONEY to SERVE you your food that you can afford to pay $45 for.

And the #1 reason you should tip your server:



Guess who could be your nurse nurse one day
Remember we get to pick the gauge of your catheters & your needles  ; )

Who I Am & What I'm About

I am Morgan - a 22 year old RN student at a prominent nursing school up in Canada. I absolutely adore my career path and live, eat, sleep, & breathe nursing, true to my extensive track record as a nerd. I work as a server at a well known restaurant in my not-so-spare time (it pays the bills and my online shopping habits). I also live with my boyfriend of 2 years, and his boxerXbulldog, Tonks. The love of my life would be my french bulldog, Lupin, but more on him later. I watch Grey's Anatomy and True Blood religiously. I am classic with a definite eclectic edge in all aspects of life. I have travelled to Chicago, Orlando, and New York - and i plan to do so so much more traveling. I believe in an open mind, and a non-discriminating heart. I am also a firm believer that what is meant to be will find its way.

 

Mr. Lupin himself... who couldn't love that face?

In short, this blog will revolve around obstacles & triumphs of a nursing student. Puppy cuddles & training woes. DIY projects. The adversities of growing up & living away from home. Ups & downs of keeping a relationship alive. Realizing dreams & making them a reality.