Happy Thanksgiving!

I've always wondered why we eat until we pop on Thanksgiving. I guess it is supposed to signify the feast that the pilgrims had when the American Indians taught us how to properly feed ourselves using resources that were already here. But isn't it a typically American holiday? Eat food covered in gravy, cranberry sauce and plenty of calories to go around. It's basically a day where we celebrate overeating.

I'm excited though. After eating cafeteria food for the past 5 months, I am ready to eat a completely home made meal.

The food at the cafeteria is unrecognizable most of the time.... they have to put signs and information at the stations that the food is served it is so bad. I asked one of the server ladies what was in the "baked chicken" and she leaned over and said "I don't know, but I wouldn't eat it." Needless to say, I did not eat chicken surprise.

So today, I am going to gorge myself with fatty American foods and spend time with my family and participate in a completely AMERICAN tradition.

So Convenient

I've only every had two jobs. I worked at a gas station on the outskirts of downtown Hickory and Longview NC and I currently work at a series of two gas stations in Sylva, NC that are aptly named Mountain Breeze Marts 1 and 2. I've learned that working at any gas station is going to be about the same. It's fast paced, deals with all walks of people, all around challenging and can be very very dangerous.

I've noticed that each store has its own routine
6am
Old woman in a white pickup truck would buy lottery tickets while you are trying to write them down to turn in with your shift paperwork and you have only so much time to do this
7am
"Can I buy beer right now?" buys 4 40s of Cobra and a suitcase of Budweiser
8am
Annoying foreign guy can't work pump number 8.... yet he always parks at pump 8
11am
Make coffee
11:30am
Clean up coffee because for some reason the pot overflowed
2pm
ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE
4pm
First chance to pee
9pm
"Oh My God?! Did I just witness a drug deal?"
10pm
Call the police on the black guy with the crooked hat in the parking lot who is asking for money AGAIN

Once I was working at my store in Hickory and a car comes through the parking lot  pretty fast... but instead of slowing down to park, the car sped up! The car hit a woman and bounced her off the hood and then hit the side of our store... How many times have you seen this at your McDonald's job?

All the craziness gets old quickly. This job I have in Sylva is the same. It's safer and more laid back but I STILL have those old men that want to take me home... just now they are white. And when you are the cashier at the local gas station, you are the local icon. People will come in and tell you their life story and will learn your name and some times, they figure out your schedule.

At a gas station, you can star to classify people based on their purchases. Newports are a number one seller to people who would typically drive Lincoln's and listen to Lil Wayne. American Spirits are for hippies and old snooty women. Men who work for construction and cable companies will buy multiple cups of coffee multiple times throughout the day. Old men with southern accents tend to buy Marlboro's in the soft pack but EVERYONE kills the 3 for $3 deal on Pepsi products.

I love my job(s). My mother explained to me that when it comes to convenience stores, you either love it or you hate it. I used to hate it but now I can't see myself doing anything else.


Save More #305 1665 1st Ave SW Hickory NC 28602
That red jeep is actually my mother's... But I just found this picture on google images? COOOL

First Post!

I am going to use this post as my introduction. My name is Deanna Mullins. I am a Forensic Anthropology undergraduate student at Western Carolina University. I graduated high school from an early college called Challenger located in the realms of CVCC's underbelly. By the time most people read this, there will be no Challenger High School.

Some people's talents are singing or painting. If I were to name my talent... it would be observing and using what I've observed to manipulate the situation. I used to be that high school kid who everyone knew. I was loud/intimidating/favored.... basically, everyone had their opinion of me. That's how I liked it. I wanted everyone to know who I was.

I've learned a few key things as I've aged a little bit. 1. Not everyone wants to hear what I have to say... especially when it is the truth. 2. If I want something bad enough, I will have it despite what anyone else thinks. and 3 the person that stays out of the spot light has more time to get to know people. Actually get to know them.