I Must Have Been a Housewife in a Former Life

So we had another blast of winter here in the deep south. Both storms just happened to fall on the two days I was off from work so I didn't feel guilty about missing work and got to stay in PJ's for two days. I slept when I wanted to and got up when I wanted to. I got closets cleaned out, bathrooms scrubbed and rooms vacuumed. I cooked two meals every day  and caught up all the laundry. I ate a half gallon of chocolate ice cream...the list could go on and on.

This last storm was a bit scarier, more ice than snow. Ice is not Nice. We never lost power but many of my friends and family did. We would have been super screwed. We didn't have one stick of fire wood and just two taper candles. I had one flashlight with old batteries and our house is cold and drafty even when the heat is on.

God looked out for us and kept our power on and I am extremely grateful.

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day or as we call it in the service industry, Amateur Night. Peeps who normally never go out to eat are forced to and the ones who suffer are servers. They HAVE to pay their tab but aren't obligated to leave a tip. I'm working from open til close and just pray I get lucky. I'm just hoping for quantity vs. quality, or maybe a nice mix of both.

These past few days here at home have been wonderful except for the worry about losing power. I think I was born to be a house wife or maybe a house wife who works two or three days a week. I got so many things done that I normally ignore when working full time. When you work full time you're at home a lot less and tend to overlook things like dusting, vacuuming or putting up clean laundry.

 The laundry will get washed but the first person who washes a load  rarely gets it out of the washer immediately so when the next person comes along to wash their load will either pull the wash out and throw it wet in a basket (the men) especially if there are still clothes in the dryer. If they feel generous or need their clothes immediately they will pull the dry clothes out into a basket and stick their stuff in. Then the clean dry clothes sit wadded up in a basket until someone comes looking for them or get mistaken for dirty clothes and have more dirty clothes piled on top of them, hence starting the cycle over again. Everyone here is old enough to do their own laundry but it's a nightmare. Do they check the water level? Do they clean the dryer vent out? Not always...and sometimes. I know when they clean the dryer vent out because they leave the lint ball on top of the dryer. That waste basket four feet away is just too far to aim for.


Yes they load the dishwasher but do they start it when it's full as a sardine can?  That would be a NO. They also load it with plates facing backwards and plastic cups on the bottom rack which melt. I guess they figure that's less to unload when it's their turn. I will give them kudos on unloading. This is most probably because I always say "If you'll unload the dishwasher I can get dinner started." Works every time!

As long as I'm picking on them, do they brush their teeth with their eyes closed or really not notice that huge glob of toothpaste left in the sink when they spit to rinse? Don't even get me started on the way they squeeze the tube. Is it supposed to be a show of strength?

When you work five or six days a week these things really get under your skin. When you have two days off in a row you feel relaxed enough to nicely ask for help instead of barking out orders as you dash out the door for work with zero minutes to spare. Granted I'm pretty good at giving orders but you catch a lot more flies with honey than vinegar.

Today I cleaned the entire master bedroom, closet and all. Sheets and comforter washed, furniture and bookcases cleaned with Murphy's Oil  Soap and cleaned my makeup table. I even matched the entire (huge) sock basket and threw away ones who have been missing mates for as long as I can remember. I cleaned all the pictures on the walls and cleaned the master bath.

My sweet sister is coming to paint my kitchen on Saturday and I'm pretty pumped. She's already painted the baseboards, window sills and ceiling. Walls are going to be really cozy looking shade of blue called "Poolhouse". I'm going to take before and after pics just to let you all see what amazing work she does.

One more snow storm and I'll have this house kinda sorta in almost halfway tip top shape!

 Here's the thing about housework, the more you get done the more you WANT to do, especially when you have time to sit and enjoy the results.

Guess all my enjoyment is done til next week or next storm. Working all weekend. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful to have my job but was sure nice to have a two day staycation at home.

 Bonus points... bet I gained five pounds too!

Happy Amateur Day to you all.

Til next time CUPID COTTON

Well that was just NUTS

What a day at work, from beginning to end. It started out normal enough but quickly became almost laughable. I had a few things to do right off the bat, emails and returning customer calls. Like an idiot I didn't eat breakfast and was starving by eleven. I had brought two small frozen pizzas with me on ice in a cooler to nuke for dinner and didn't want to eat them for lunch, knowing I would be ravenous by the time I got off at eight PM. I found a coupon in  drawer for Chinese food and wondered whether to use it. What the hey, I was hungry and could take the leftovers home for Tim to eat tonight so I ordered. With tax and delivery it was only twelve bucks and we'd get two meals out of it so called in my order.

Number one I work in a restaurant so this ain't my first rodeo. When ordering  specifically told Hop Sing I was at work with no utensils so be sure to send me some and please don't forget lots of soy sauce.  "No problem!" was his cheery reply. The guy seemed really nice but after he told me my total I went ahead and reminded him one more time that I needed a fork,  AND a spoon for my soup AND don't forget  that yummy soy sauce!

I was all excited...with my coupon I was getting a salad, soup, chicken and shrimp with vegetables and steamed rice. Thirty minutes later a young girl came in the store wearing a server uniform, name tag and apron, toting a huge paper sack containing my treats! Guess if your section isn't full in that restaurant you  get to deliver take out. They had already tagged on a delivery charge but I gave her a couple of extra bucks. She was young (everyone is compared to me) and friendly, told me it was all there and hoped I enjoyed  it. The bag was stapled shut so I sat it on the counter and ripped the bag open ready to devour some food. First styrofoam container had my salad in it. I was a little disappointed, it was nothing but lettuce but at least they gave me two small cups of  that yummy ginger dressing. I sat it to the side and got out my soup. I know it's just broth with spring onions and paper thin sliced mushrooms but I like it! My chicken and shrimp with rice was still in the bag but wanted to eat my soup and salad first. I couldn't find the utensils or soy sauce so figured they must have gone into  the bag first and took out the plastic dish with my entree.  All that  was under it was a piece of cardboard. I was ROYALLY ticked...and starving. Naturally the young girl who delivered it  was long gone. They could have at least sent me chop sticks.

I called the restaurant back and Hop Sing answered. It  told him they had delivered my food with no napkins, utensils or my yummy soy sauce. He asked if I was sure? I said yes, unless there was some secret compartment underneath the card board bottom and quickly checked just to make sure.

There was no secret compartment.

He apologized and said as soon as she got back he would send me some. She got back twenty minutes later while I stared at  the food wondering if I should just eat it with my hands, I was starving. I almost asked for my two bucks back but since I'm a server, bit my tongue. She handed me a small packet and apologized saying they had told her everything was in  the bag.

So now I had to nuke my soup but by  this point could have eaten it cold. My lots of yummy soy sauce turned out to be one tiny pack but at least I had something to eat with.

Note to self: Never order from this place again. I ate the lettuce and the soup and a portion of the chicken and shrimp doused with my 1/2 ounce of yummy soy sauce. I thought about chewing on the card board in the bottom of the bag but didn't have any soy sauce left to dip it in.

The day got worse as the day went on. They dock me thirty minutes for lunch so I always climb on my favorite thirteen hundred dollar mattress and read for thirty minutes when no one is in the store.

Enter crazy lady.

She walked in with her bag from the Dollar Tree next door in her hand and climbed on the mattress beside me as I went to get up.  She said "I like this one, how much is it?" I told her with box springs it was $1299. She said "I'll take it."

I got kinda pumped but thought it was kinda weird. She said she needed pillows too and wanted to know how much our foam pillows were? I told her and she said she wanted two. I went to work her up a quote while she wandered to the back of the store. She hollered at me to add on the chest of drawers and dresser  she was standing by, and to throw in a mattress protector.

You  shouldn't prejudge people so I didn't, thinking  maybe I just got lucky and some eccentric woman with money to burn hated shopping around and wanted what she wanted.

When I asked her how she wanted to pay she pointed to the "No credit check" financing sign.

That's okay too, I'm down with that.

She pulled out her drivers license and asked what else I needed? I told her she needed her latest pay  stub  and a thirty day detailed bank statement.

(Crazy Lady): "Well I clean houses for a living." That didn't bother me, plenty of people do that, it's good money and actually wish  they would come clean mine. I told her if she was self employed she would need three months worth of bank statements.

Then she said without batting an eye, I just opened an account two weeks ago at that bank they have in Wal Mart. I  asked if she had a previous account somewhere to which she replied, No.

This wasn't going well at all.

Then she said out of the blue, "Well I'll go by  there and see if they can give me a sixty day statement." She had said two minutes earlier the account was opened two weeks ago and my head started to throb. I didn't even bother to remind her I'd said she needed a ninety day bank statement.

Then  she said "Guess how old I am?" I almost said "Old  enough to know better?"

In my defense, there HAVE had people just walk in and point out something and pay for it off the bat so you  always need to  take customers seriously but by this point knew I was just letting a woman window shop and dream.

I did the right thing though, worked her up a quote and told her to bring back all the required documents.

Maybe I'll see her again and maybe I won't.

Then I had a couple of people come in who were serious about buying, worked  them up quotes too, gave them my card and told them to come back to see me. I didn't tell them tomorrow was my last day. I'm a team player and still want to help the company.

Enter crazy man.

Yes he was nice. No he wasn't ready to purchase, and yes will probably come back to purchase but the guy could talk the ears off an African Elephant.  I can now tell you all about his parents, his lineage and how his dad wanted to marry  a Korean gal when he fought in the war but never did.  His dad died but his mom still has the letters he wrote his Korean girlfriend. He used  to work out but he just let himself go about ten years ago. His son is super smart and will probably get a scholarship, at least  they are hoping so. He went on and on and on. He told me about how he wanted to travel one day, maybe to explore his roots, his family was originally from Ireland. After one hour I moved from behind my desk and started to walk to the back to get another cup of ice out of my little ice chest to add  to my now Luke warm water...he followed me back.

Finally my son, Zach walked into  the store as the man's cell phone rang and God smiled on me when he said he needed to take the call but would come back to see me.

So tomorrow is my last day. I've met a lot of people and made a few new friends. I may not be the best sales person but I am a good sales person. I am headed back to being a server full time but  told the boss if he opens another furniture store in Newnan I would love to give it another shot.

It was just a crazy day.

So tomorrow is my last day. I'm sad in a way. It's been nice taking a break from  the grueling life of  being a server day after day after day.

Hope I go in tomorrow and have my biggest day yet. That would be a good way to go out and a good way to hold my spot when they open another furniture store here.

Tim just got home and is heating up the Chinese leftovers. Hope he doesn't want any yummy soy sauce.


Til next  time...COTTON

Day One Done

Just got home from my first day at  the new job. I moved from the furniture store to the mattress store.  It's the first day they've been open seven days so I  knew it wouldn't be terribly busy. The main difference is  that at the furniture store a lot of people just came in to pass time. When you go to a mattress store, you pretty much are looking for something specific to purchase. I had a few people come in and all seemed interested in buying. Granted they didn't but I think at least  three of them were serious and may come back later on this week and buy.

It was much easier than when I started at  the furniture store. At least I am familiar with the computer system and they have a lot of the mattresses we had. They also have some bedroom furniture I've sold before and got in a new shipment of mattresses today that are really top of the line. I'm not banking on the young woman who came in wearing a tube top, booty shorts and bedroom slippers but all the other customers seemed genuinely interested.

I never met the guy who worked there before me but talked with him on the phone a couple of times when we didn't have a specific mattress at the furniture store a customer wanted. Just like him, I work alone. I got tickled today when by  the front door and noticed a sign he had made to hang on the glass door of the store.

 Well, at least it gets the point across, but don't think I'll be using it. Then I flipped it over and laughed out loud.

Underneath the post it note he had written thirty minutes, then scratched that out and added another message. Then I guess he needed to be gone longer and a whole new sign seemed unnecessary so he just edited with a post it note... only a man.

Not meaning to diss the guy but these look like "will work for food" signs guys stand on downtown street corners with.

On another note, talked to Massey a couple of  times today and she seems to be loving university life. It hasn't been as painful as I  thought it would be, thanks to cell phones and social media. She seems to be making friends and settling right in.

It's been a long day. Started another new job, broke two nails and my lower back is aching like crazy thanks to my much unwanted visitor, Aunt Flow.

Staying positive, hoping my peeps come back tomorrow to buy and packing a big lunch. Ten hours at work even make a skinny girl hungry. The other manager came by  this morning to help unload the truck and while he was there I walked next door to the Dollar Tree to buy a clipboard for my inventory list. They didn't have a clipboard but  bought a huge bag of Whoppers, some advil for my back and a bag of  FunYuns. I took yogurt, fruit, two sandwiches and chips to work with me but the whoppers and fake onion rings got me through. I have terrible eating habits, or do I really even need to say that?

Waking up early and taking ONLY good things to eat with me. If you live near me and need a mattress or bedroom furniture, stop by and see me,  they have some really good prices. Just be sure to come by on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday!

Til next  time...COTTON

Just Another Night

I cut grass for three hours today in balmy 97 degree weather. Didn't quite have time to finish all the weed eating but decided to quit early for a long cool shower before heading into work...a little bonus for my customers!

Got seated a party of seven, two on walkers and one with a cane. Their grown children were with them and a teen aged grandson with an AC/DC tee shirt on and a smart phone in his hand. He didn't take his eyes off the screen one time the entire dining experience. After it was all over, I almost agreed with his decision.

It took them five minutes to all shuffle back  to the room where their table was. Two minutes to to store the walkers and prop up the cane. Another five for the women to boss the men around and tell them where to sit and where not to. (one renegade at  the table tried to decide for his self where to sit but was quickly hen pecked to death)

The patriarch of the family had the chair at  the head of the table after he was clearly instructed to do just that.

He waved me over with one of those huge "Hey! Come over HERE!" arm signals and asked if we had Bud Light? He said he wanted a draft and I told him we only had bottled beer. He asked if we had Miller Lite then? I told him we did and he cranked his neck around to look up at me and said "I'll have a Miller Lite then, and I want one of them TALL drafts."

His wife almost screamed at him "She just TOLD YOU  they don't have draft beer!"

He said "Well I'll take the Fettuccine Alfredo." I didn't think his wife's voice could get any shriller but it went up a good ten decibels and she flat out hollered "WE'RE NOT ORDERING FOOD YET!!"

I patted the ole gent on  the shoulder to let him know it was okay. I'm a touchy feely kind of server. The customers I know very well almost always get a hug. I pat their arms, shake their hands and will even tuck in a tag on the back of a woman's dress or blouse for them. I'm a full service kind of server!

The daughter seated next to Pops said  to bring him a bottle of beer. I got him his beer and started to take their order.

 I got to  the third person, either a son or son in law and when I asked him what he would like to order and he said "I'd like a Bud draft" was the only time I saw the teen look up, or laugh.

They were really a nice family and enjoyed the meal.  I enjoyed peeking into their world for a hour. You could tell  they loved each other in their own eclectic (or maybe resigned) way.

They reminded me of a comedy bit my sister told me about.  A stand up was talking about the difference between elderly men and women in nursing homes. He said the women always dressed nicely and just seemed  to look mildly ticked off, like they had always thought they would have gone to  Europe but never did. The men always had a wild eyed crazy stare weaving their head about with  their mouth wide open seeming to look like they were expecting you  to tell them the answer to a big secret question "Where's the GOLD???"

I also got to wait on one of my Fave Former co workers from  The Western Sizzler. He put himself through college working for the evil giant and got out just in time. He has a great wife and great job now. That's what happens when you  are a great  guy! He came in with his mom and I had a great time chatting with them. "Great" tables are the best...I have so much fun I feel like I should tip them.

Massey is getting closer to home and her senior year in high school. She's in Missouri.

Zach starts his new job tomorrow with  a $1.50 raise right from  the jump.

Ziggy is down to peeing in the house once a day.

Haven't gotten a cut off notice from a utility company in almost a year.

YEP! I'd say  things are looking up.

Til next  time...COTTON

He'll Open Another Window...

Total bummer of a day.  Like the idiot I am I didn't take a day off last week ... came home from work last night after a ten hour shift and collapsed into a coma. I dragged out of bed around two this afternoon and felt much better. Heated up some left overs and picked Massey up from school.

Tim called as I was leaving to pick Massey up and asked if I had gotten his text.
 Number one: he has never, ever sent me a text.
 Number two: I didn't know he KNEW how to text.

Seems the offer in Charlotte has been pulled off the table. He was at work and couldn't really talk but said the big boss was coming into town next week to talk with him.

Jeez, it took me a while to get used to the idea of moving but I was beginning to get used to it.

Went into work tonight and had the absolute worst shift I have ever had. Waiting tables is a crap shoot anyway and tonight I totally CRAPPED OUT. Two ladies left me a three dollar tip on a $77 tab (and they weren't even European.) Another lady ate a side of pasta and had a glass of water...now I was up to four dollars. Had a few other small tables but all said and done it was a horrible night. I didn't understand...I even took a shower and washed my uniform! At one point I went in the kitchen and asked another server if I had a booger in my nose?

Len said at least it doesn't happen often. He's right, it doesn't. I just needed a good night desperately. Barb floated me a fifty to go buy groceries...Zach ate cereal with water today.

Our life is on the path back but we needed Tim to get this promotion. I'm hoping that they have even bigger things in store for him but we will just have to wait and see. I hate it for Tim. He is such a good man and was so pumped to be moving up. Poor Tim, being married to me is like being married to a skinny Rosanne Barr. I have a big mouth and never hesitate to use it.

We'll just have to wait and see what the meeting next week holds....hopefully it will be a royal flush!

Looks like I cleaned all that dog slobber off the walls for nothing.

Another window will open...

Til next time... Crossing my fingers COTTON

It Was a Good Day

 Got home from work Friday just before midnight and did laundry dishes and some light cleaning. Watched CNN til late thirty and fell asleep on the sofa.

Woke up at 8:30 and decided to roll over. Woke up again at 10:30 and by 11:30 left the house with Massey and her friend and headed to Lil' Five for the day. Massey and I have been there many times but it was her friend's first visit. It was a beautiful day to take the convertible and cruise beyond the small town atmosphere we live in and take a peek at the crazy eclectic world  called "Lil' Five."

Welcome to a different world!

Lil' 5 is like landing on another planet.  A planet where sexual orientation is a mere suggestion at best, a place where you feel odd if you don't have a TAT and a place where the homeless fit in more easily than we do. If I had to be homeless I would choose Lil' 5 too, which leads me to believe the homeless population in Lil' 5 is smarter than the homeless living under the bridge by Turner Field. Both lifestyles are harder than hard, but I'd choose Lil 5...it seems a lot friendlier.
Massey once made the comment when we were entering a certain store we frequent that we always saw the same couple sitting on the ground with their backs against the wall . I told Massey that was  their living room....and I meant it.

It's a world where everyone is equal and no ones judges. Maybe Lil' 5 has the answer to the big problems we have all been searching for.

No  finger pointing, no  accusations or condemnation...just acceptance and  willingness to  co exist and work towards a common goal...being positive, productive and moving on without bashing each other to death with narrow minded views of what life should  or should not be.

They make ME feel like the odd ball ! I told Massey's friend today when we were eating pizza in our favorite place "We're the ones that look like freaks here."

We were the  ones without tats , piercings or a box sitting out for donations between our legs while sitting by the curb.  No one looked away from us or  or accused me of  being a fifty one year old woman who has three kids and a house  but still  has a hair cut that screams Lesbian. (I like my hair short...so sue me) They don't judge me and I never judge them..I admire them . I didn't judge the six foot four transvestite in four inch heels with the shortest skirt I have ever seen but I did admire the amazing wax job.

We had a ball and thoroughly enjoyed our visit. Actually I had so much fun I am taking a friend of mine from work to lunch and  Lil' 5 on Monday. She moved here from Alabama a few years back and has never been to Lil' 5 or The Varsity...THAT my friends will be corrected with a trip to the planet Lil'5 and a lube job at The Varsity .
"WHADDA YA HAVE?" (Only peeps from the ATL will get that but I bet if you google the phrase it will tell you.)

Call me a sap but I love living on the outskirts of Atlanta.  It is an amazing place to live and an amazing place to explore.

All Roads Lead Out of Atlanta

Just got home from a party with my husband.

One of his customer's companies had a belated Christmas party ...trucking companies are extremely busy during the holiday rush and put off company parties til after New Years.

It was by the CNN center in downtown Atlanta.

It took 30 minutes to get from the exit off the downtown connector to the CNN center (a usual five minute drive).

When we finally got to the parking deck of the restaurant...we discovered the "Monster Truck" show was at the Georgia Dome. (Only in the south would it attract thousands and thousands of people on a rainy January night)!!

When left the party, to our delight we realized the "Monster Truck" show had just ended as well!!

We sat in traffic for another fifteen minutes before my husband (a former truck driver in downtown Atlanta for twenty years) wheedled us onto side streets and got us out of the throng of people...

Straight into the Ghetto...I can say this because I have lived here on the outskirt of Atlanta for forty eight years and have seen people, neighborhoods and conditions like this my entire life...so when I say we were "In the Hood"...I know of what I speak!

At first it was "Shoot, maybe we should turn left here to try to get on 29"?!!

It quickly became "Damn, look at those women kicking her out of the liquor store and beating her down"!!

When we finally started to come to an intersection, I leaned forward and was looking around for a street sign, when My husband said "Don't be all looking around and leaning forward like we are LOST".


The intersection we finally were able to see said "Hamilton Homes". My husband said "We don't need to be here if it was DAYTIME"! Turned right on red and headed another direction.

My husband felt relieved when it finally turned into a four lane and eventually turned into I-285.

We were miles out of the way, but on our way back to suburbia. PLUS you are less likely to get car jacked going 70 MPH.

The party was really nice, good food and a great eclectic crowd. I am really glad we went. It was nice to have a "Date night".

But the ride home... "Can my husband show a gal the sights or WHAT"???

We didn't dare even joke about it until we were half way around the perimeter, when my husband said "I feel like someone is STILL following me".

He is my knight in shining armour and he got me home safe and sound... when he said " I almost need a double deuce" as we pulled into the gas station of our nice and safe neighborhood, I thought he was talking about some type of lottery ticket ...then he told me that was slang for a 22 ounce bottle of beer. (He can be really funny when I let him...I just rarely quit talking).

My husband and I both know how lucky we are to not only have each other but to have our kids and extended family, good jobs and advantages that millions of people may never have ... we know how blessed we are.

I made light and fun of the ride home...it was a blog too good to pass up!!

But it WAS scary at the point that even my husband (who has been driving and delivering in this city for 25 years) knew it wasn't a good situation for us to be in.

It is sad there are so many millions living like that. Violence and poverty with crime thrown in for free.

I pray that America is on the verge of a hopefully tremendous recovery.

I pray that the newly elected President can SOLVE not just try to FIX some of our many problems and concerns.

I pray that my husband stays with me for the rest of my days... I really REALLY got lucky when he chose me to marry.

After 20 years...we can still go out for 4 hours and have fun, partying, tension, drama, danger and suspense...topped off with a happy ending!!!

AND A GREAT ADDITION TO MY BLOG!!

I live a very blessed life... as my wonderful husband (who is obviously the most patient man on earth if he is married to me) pointed out tonight, as we finally pulled into the driveway of our house he said "This house has never looked better".

OR MAYBE YA JUST HAD TO BE THERE.

ANYHOO... back at you soon

COTTON