Attended the funeral of one of my parent's closest friends today. It was held at my childhood church.
It was more like Homecoming at the church.
People that I haven't seen in over thirty years, friends of my parents, former Sunday School teachers, elders and deacons and people that I went to church camp with in the seventies were all there.
It was a menagerie of my youth, a sweet reminder of how lucky I was when I was a kid...and why I will always consider East Point Christian my home.
Some of the elders and deacons looked exactly the same, leaving me to wonder if they looked old when I was a kid and just never changed.
To sit in the pew of a church that I was in EVERY Sunday morning and Sunday night...to gaze around and see dozens of people who have known me since I was enrolled in the "Cradle Roll" department (I still have my certificate from my first Sunday in church).
Not many kids these days have the chance at a childhood like I experienced, and my heart aches for their loss. To grow up learning morals, values and the importance of living your life the right way, seems to take a backseat these days...one of the great disappointments of having to grow up in this "cyber" world we live in today. Instead of learning "The Lord's Prayer" they are learning how to get to the next level on a video game or how to use "word" on their cell phone.
Instead of heading off on a weekend youth retreat, they are heading off to the mall or the movies.
When I was a kid, teens that didn't attend our church...or ANY church...begged to be able to join us on a weekend youth retreat with our group at Woodland Christian Camp.
We slept in the mess hall before the cabins were built, played "Capture the Flag" in a huge open field at 10:00 at night, built huge fires and sat singing and bonding...with only an occasional "talk" thrown in..but a talk that was on our level and often touched you in a way that was actually a MOVING experience.
We were all from different high schools , but were all on the same team when we were together on a weekend retreat or even sitting in a Sunday School class.
Our former minister's wife was at the funeral today and mentioned that there was no other youth group like ours...we were an eclectic and varied bunch, but shared an experience that I have never had since.
We came together...we were rich , poor or middle class..we were popular in school or not really standouts...we were athletes or wanna be's...we were bullies or easy targets...
but when we were together all the "labels" fell away.
As corny as it may sound...the old song we sang around those campfires phrased it perfectly..."It only takes a spark, to get a fire going...then soon all those around will warm up in it's glowing".
It was bittersweet to say good bye to a dear friend. It was sad to look around that sanctuary and see that I have let myself drift away from some of the most influential and inspirational people that a person could ever have come into their life.
Even though over 30 years have passed...they all still love me...they all still hug me as if I was their own flesh and blood and they always fill my heart, as their arms wrap around me in a hug so tight that it makes 30 years drop away like it is nothing.
This wonderful man that has passed on to his reward, will be met at the Pearly Gates by not only both of my parents, but by half of the people that made my youth and my young adult life a tremendous thing not only to experience but to draw from , reflect on and be eternally grateful for.
I have suffered losses in my life, but the gains I have made from growing up in East Point Christian Church certainly make the losses more understandable and make me realize how lucky I am to have had such a great childhood, youth and send off to adulthood from what I consider "ICONS" and "HEROES" I was so fortunate to meet.
Heaven has one more "Angel" tonight...and I have one more reason to realize what it takes to become one.
Til next time...Cotton
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
OKAY... OKAY... OKAY !!
I gave up the fight today.
The fight of trying to get myself well all on my own.
I spent a week on Robitussin DM, another week on Mucinex DM, broke down the third week and spent $19 on Primatene Mist. Throw in a few 500mg. Advil's and I thought I might have it licked. No such luck.
Broke down and went to the doc today. My blood pressure was 165 over (something). I told the nurse that was just my three kids.
They diagnosed me with acute infectious bronchitis. Sounds fancy, don't it?
They alluded to the fact that I may have walking pneumonia. I asked if a chest ex ray was covered in the co pay...and decided that since it wasn't I would go with their first guess.
They heaped some whopper pills on me and an inhaler. 875 mg of penicillin twice a day and told me to come back in three days if I didn't feel better. (fat chance..look what it took to get me there the first time).
I just feel better having gone at all.
I told the nurse that I tried to get better on my own and actually did. I DID get better...I just didn't get "WELL".
My main relief was in the fact that I wasn't sent straight to the hospital or told that I had one week to live. The thought of my husband left to take care of the kids,dogs, house, yard, cooking and cleaning makes me weak in the knees on a good day.
I guess the one that gets the reprieve is him!
Taking these horse pills has really beaten me down. I guess that I have felt crummy for so long that now that they are fighting all the crap I have endured for almost a month, it is FINALLY wearing on me.
And then PRAISE the Lord..(JK) I start my monthly cycle too. Go ahead Good Lord...Keep piling crap on me...let's see JUST HOW MUCH MORE KELLY CAN TAKE!!
At least I am on the road to recovery. Even with the aches and pains, I feel better knowing that I have some drugs kicking butt in my body, and will hopefully be back on track in no time at all.
Frances, you can give yourself a thank you for kicking my butt into gear.
No wonder my blog has sucked lately...give me three days and if I am not having my chest ex rayed..I will be back at my keyboard... and if I am having "MY" chest ex rayed...trust me, that shouldn't take long at all!!
The fight of trying to get myself well all on my own.
I spent a week on Robitussin DM, another week on Mucinex DM, broke down the third week and spent $19 on Primatene Mist. Throw in a few 500mg. Advil's and I thought I might have it licked. No such luck.
Broke down and went to the doc today. My blood pressure was 165 over (something). I told the nurse that was just my three kids.
They diagnosed me with acute infectious bronchitis. Sounds fancy, don't it?
They alluded to the fact that I may have walking pneumonia. I asked if a chest ex ray was covered in the co pay...and decided that since it wasn't I would go with their first guess.
They heaped some whopper pills on me and an inhaler. 875 mg of penicillin twice a day and told me to come back in three days if I didn't feel better. (fat chance..look what it took to get me there the first time).
I just feel better having gone at all.
I told the nurse that I tried to get better on my own and actually did. I DID get better...I just didn't get "WELL".
My main relief was in the fact that I wasn't sent straight to the hospital or told that I had one week to live. The thought of my husband left to take care of the kids,dogs, house, yard, cooking and cleaning makes me weak in the knees on a good day.
I guess the one that gets the reprieve is him!
Taking these horse pills has really beaten me down. I guess that I have felt crummy for so long that now that they are fighting all the crap I have endured for almost a month, it is FINALLY wearing on me.
And then PRAISE the Lord..(JK) I start my monthly cycle too. Go ahead Good Lord...Keep piling crap on me...let's see JUST HOW MUCH MORE KELLY CAN TAKE!!
At least I am on the road to recovery. Even with the aches and pains, I feel better knowing that I have some drugs kicking butt in my body, and will hopefully be back on track in no time at all.
Frances, you can give yourself a thank you for kicking my butt into gear.
No wonder my blog has sucked lately...give me three days and if I am not having my chest ex rayed..I will be back at my keyboard... and if I am having "MY" chest ex rayed...trust me, that shouldn't take long at all!!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Time is Moving On...Again
I lost my mother when I was seventeen years old. I lost my father to West Nile Virus when I was 42. Both deaths were totally unexpected and horribly devastating.
I received a call from my dear friend Elizabeth today, telling me that one of my parents dearest friend's was terminally ill and had perhaps only a few days to live. This wonderful gentleman has known me my entire life and was one of the speakers at my own father's funeral. It was a heartwarming and hilarious eulogy...I am sure that my father and mother enjoyed it immensely from their seats in Heaven.
He was my dad's tennis partner for years and years...if it had rained too hard the night before they would squeegee off the courts and play anyway.
This dear man's wife is the one that taught my mother to drive a car. I remember them telling me about sitting stuck on a hill in Atlanta until my mother finally mastered how to use the clutch.
When I was little and my parents went out of town, I was shipped off to their house for the weekend...it was NEVER dull! They always had a house full of kids, and not only their own four. Every Sunday was football day in the field behind their house. Teenagers came over and parked in their front yard...literally. It was covered more by cars than grass in those days.
They lived not a half a block from a local Fire Station. If the sirens went off, Mrs. Kinnett would yell for everyone to pile in the staion wagon and off we would go to see some action!
I grew up with this entire family in the East Point Christian Church...a rocking place to be when I was a kid. At one time we had over 400 in just the youth program alone.
This family has the greatest sense of humor that you have ever seen (and I think that means a lot coming out of THIS mouth).
This wonderful couple were the last people that my own father recognized when he fell ill with West Nile Virus. They came into the room to find us three siblings in despair over my father being in such an altered state. He opened his eyes when they walked in and called them both by the nicknames that we knew them by.
They stayed and visited with us, telling us hilarious stories and bringing us often times to tears.
Mr Kinnett told us that his only daughter was getting remarried (let's just say not for the second time). He said she was upset because they couldn't make the rehearsal dinner in Florida. He said he explained to her he thought he knew his part by now and considered when the minister asked "Who gives this woman"? to respond "It's us again". I will never forget that story and it made us laugh so hard when we were all so sad inside...that is just the way with this family. They are all uplifting, funny and spiritual.
I hate that this family is going through this drawn out goodbye...it makes it so hard just WAITING for the moment to come.
My family is lucky in that respect...as my brother says "Our family takes the express checkout".
My parents have another dear friend on the way to join them.
I feel blessed to have this extended family in my life and hope that they fill their sadness with fond , funny stories and memories that will carry them through the rest of their lives.
This world is moving on and taking yet another loved one from our physical grasp, but sending him straight into the arms of salvation and an eternity with no pain, sadness or illness.
It is hard to realize that HE is the lucky one...I know I feel lucky just to have had this wonderful man in my life for almost 49 years and know that he has loved me like his own for my entire life. Time moves on, leaving us sad and sorry that another part of our life is gone.
My thoughts and prayers are with this extended family and I hope they know how very much they all have meant to me for the last 48 years. My life is much richer for having them as friends.
I received a call from my dear friend Elizabeth today, telling me that one of my parents dearest friend's was terminally ill and had perhaps only a few days to live. This wonderful gentleman has known me my entire life and was one of the speakers at my own father's funeral. It was a heartwarming and hilarious eulogy...I am sure that my father and mother enjoyed it immensely from their seats in Heaven.
He was my dad's tennis partner for years and years...if it had rained too hard the night before they would squeegee off the courts and play anyway.
This dear man's wife is the one that taught my mother to drive a car. I remember them telling me about sitting stuck on a hill in Atlanta until my mother finally mastered how to use the clutch.
When I was little and my parents went out of town, I was shipped off to their house for the weekend...it was NEVER dull! They always had a house full of kids, and not only their own four. Every Sunday was football day in the field behind their house. Teenagers came over and parked in their front yard...literally. It was covered more by cars than grass in those days.
They lived not a half a block from a local Fire Station. If the sirens went off, Mrs. Kinnett would yell for everyone to pile in the staion wagon and off we would go to see some action!
I grew up with this entire family in the East Point Christian Church...a rocking place to be when I was a kid. At one time we had over 400 in just the youth program alone.
This family has the greatest sense of humor that you have ever seen (and I think that means a lot coming out of THIS mouth).
This wonderful couple were the last people that my own father recognized when he fell ill with West Nile Virus. They came into the room to find us three siblings in despair over my father being in such an altered state. He opened his eyes when they walked in and called them both by the nicknames that we knew them by.
They stayed and visited with us, telling us hilarious stories and bringing us often times to tears.
Mr Kinnett told us that his only daughter was getting remarried (let's just say not for the second time). He said she was upset because they couldn't make the rehearsal dinner in Florida. He said he explained to her he thought he knew his part by now and considered when the minister asked "Who gives this woman"? to respond "It's us again". I will never forget that story and it made us laugh so hard when we were all so sad inside...that is just the way with this family. They are all uplifting, funny and spiritual.
I hate that this family is going through this drawn out goodbye...it makes it so hard just WAITING for the moment to come.
My family is lucky in that respect...as my brother says "Our family takes the express checkout".
My parents have another dear friend on the way to join them.
I feel blessed to have this extended family in my life and hope that they fill their sadness with fond , funny stories and memories that will carry them through the rest of their lives.
This world is moving on and taking yet another loved one from our physical grasp, but sending him straight into the arms of salvation and an eternity with no pain, sadness or illness.
It is hard to realize that HE is the lucky one...I know I feel lucky just to have had this wonderful man in my life for almost 49 years and know that he has loved me like his own for my entire life. Time moves on, leaving us sad and sorry that another part of our life is gone.
My thoughts and prayers are with this extended family and I hope they know how very much they all have meant to me for the last 48 years. My life is much richer for having them as friends.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
WHEWW!! Glad The Weekend's Over
Most people enjoy the weekend...I tend to dread it.
It is the busiest part of my work week, and my kids are wanting to enjoy it. They have a hard time talking me into anything because I stay so worn out. I took my son to Panera for lunch on Saturday and enjoyed spending time with him. It is like sitting with a rocket scientist who is scared to admit that he IS one. He knows things that I can only begin to wonder where he learns them, teaches me things that make me feel smarter and makes me constantly wonder if their was a baby switch at the hospital sixteen years ago.
His only problem is transferring that talent to his school work.
My daughter, who EXHAUSTS me...went to South Carolina with a friend Friday night and came home today to find me curled up in bed watching CNN until I had to go into work at 3:00. Sometimes I just have to do NOTHING. It is the only thing that keeps this tired old body working six days a week. I have been sick for over two weeks...and just like many other moms...refuse to go to the doctor.
I think I may have to break down tomorrow and go. I keep thinking that I am feeling better, but once I get to work and start my shift of constant movement and non stop running, I begin to wheeze and cough and feel like I could just lie down int the dish pit area and take a nap (if you knew how disgusting our dish pit was, you could grasp just how bad I feel).
On top of that I had to train a new server this weekend.
I got lucky on that one though.
Many of the people I train do not listen to me or my suggestions. They are just chomping at the bit to come on the floor and make the money they see me making while I train them. The young girl I was training this weekend (they are ALL young to me)...actually listened to me, asked the right questions, pitched in to help other servers when they needed it and made an effort to learn everything that I taught her.
I had a really good shift. I had maybe only ten tables, but seven out of the ten tables had requested me as a server and were my regulars that are kind enough to ask for my table every time they come into the restaurant. My trainee seemed impressed by this (another good sign that she is paying attention).
My regulars are the people that really make my shift. I know their wants..usually go up to greet their table with their drinks already in my hand and generally know what they want, how they want it and what special instructions may be required of the kitchen staff....maybe I HAVE been doing this too long!
This young girl will be a great asset to our company. She has studied the menu, learned the routine and genuinely wants to do the job the RIGHT way.
On another note...the lizard is finally out of my house(see previous post).
My son called up to me in my bedroom today to say the "Giant" lizard had reappeared in the living room. After moving every piece of furniture and opening the front door to let the little guy see the sunlight...it made it's frantic escape. I could hear my son saying "No...turn left, turn left....no the OTHER way..come on now".
At least our reptile adventure is over. Knowing my household as well as I do...it will be replaced by a new situation or drama tomorrow.
As long as they can hold off til I can get a prescription for an antibiotic...I think I will make it another week...that is the way I roll...WEEK BY WEEK! Right now I am "WEAK" BY WEEK.
I can't wait to feel better. Feeling "poorly" just isn't in my scheme of plans and I almost am looking forward to a doctor visit.
Hoping to be back to my old self tomorrow...COTTON
It is the busiest part of my work week, and my kids are wanting to enjoy it. They have a hard time talking me into anything because I stay so worn out. I took my son to Panera for lunch on Saturday and enjoyed spending time with him. It is like sitting with a rocket scientist who is scared to admit that he IS one. He knows things that I can only begin to wonder where he learns them, teaches me things that make me feel smarter and makes me constantly wonder if their was a baby switch at the hospital sixteen years ago.
His only problem is transferring that talent to his school work.
My daughter, who EXHAUSTS me...went to South Carolina with a friend Friday night and came home today to find me curled up in bed watching CNN until I had to go into work at 3:00. Sometimes I just have to do NOTHING. It is the only thing that keeps this tired old body working six days a week. I have been sick for over two weeks...and just like many other moms...refuse to go to the doctor.
I think I may have to break down tomorrow and go. I keep thinking that I am feeling better, but once I get to work and start my shift of constant movement and non stop running, I begin to wheeze and cough and feel like I could just lie down int the dish pit area and take a nap (if you knew how disgusting our dish pit was, you could grasp just how bad I feel).
On top of that I had to train a new server this weekend.
I got lucky on that one though.
Many of the people I train do not listen to me or my suggestions. They are just chomping at the bit to come on the floor and make the money they see me making while I train them. The young girl I was training this weekend (they are ALL young to me)...actually listened to me, asked the right questions, pitched in to help other servers when they needed it and made an effort to learn everything that I taught her.
I had a really good shift. I had maybe only ten tables, but seven out of the ten tables had requested me as a server and were my regulars that are kind enough to ask for my table every time they come into the restaurant. My trainee seemed impressed by this (another good sign that she is paying attention).
My regulars are the people that really make my shift. I know their wants..usually go up to greet their table with their drinks already in my hand and generally know what they want, how they want it and what special instructions may be required of the kitchen staff....maybe I HAVE been doing this too long!
This young girl will be a great asset to our company. She has studied the menu, learned the routine and genuinely wants to do the job the RIGHT way.
On another note...the lizard is finally out of my house(see previous post).
My son called up to me in my bedroom today to say the "Giant" lizard had reappeared in the living room. After moving every piece of furniture and opening the front door to let the little guy see the sunlight...it made it's frantic escape. I could hear my son saying "No...turn left, turn left....no the OTHER way..come on now".
At least our reptile adventure is over. Knowing my household as well as I do...it will be replaced by a new situation or drama tomorrow.
As long as they can hold off til I can get a prescription for an antibiotic...I think I will make it another week...that is the way I roll...WEEK BY WEEK! Right now I am "WEAK" BY WEEK.
I can't wait to feel better. Feeling "poorly" just isn't in my scheme of plans and I almost am looking forward to a doctor visit.
Hoping to be back to my old self tomorrow...COTTON
Friday, April 10, 2009
Ain't Purl
Boy have I had a rough couple of Internet months!
First , my classmates rival that I barely remembered gave me a thorough cyber lashing.
Then I had to master Facebook and Twitter...no easy feat for a 48 year old woman.
Then I got hooked up with "EX" classmates...a group from my Alma Mater that started their own Delphi forum.
I was feeling it! I was back in my groove...typing and writing my thoughts and memories.
Then the "Big BOOM "...POLITICS.
Since when does reminiscing with classmates constitute raving your political views?
If I wanted to do that I would join Politico or some other vent.
Instead the site was filled with people calling our President "Sambo" and other comments that quite simply offended me.
Our President has an undoubtedly daunting and realistically unreachable task in these current times...and was this all HIS fault?
But in the maelstrom, I have met a great friend...not face to face, but chat to chat.
I dare say she does not share ALL of my political views, but is a person that is sane in an insane time in our lives.
We have begun an internet friendship...if you asked me ten years ago what that meant, I would have been baffled.
But in today's times, it means that when I type my obviously LOUD opinions and views...you know what? She understands me, supports my opinions and expresses her own in a very gentile and supportive manner.
What a treat to have someone that accepts me...what a treat to find an online friend...what a treat to find someone waiting for our government to find the correct answer to our many, many problems in this country.
We have started our OWN joke..as my email is the clampetts...(I am a HUGE Beverly Hillbillies fan)...she has become Aunt Pearl and I have become Kelly Mae.
It is a series of ironies...serious issues, friendly chats, worries about overstepping in a high school forum...and gaining new friends.
I find myself checking in every day to see if my "Ain't Purl"...a joke between us..has written to me.
Why do people have to over involve the world's problems when it is just a site to remember the past...HELLO!!! We are depressed enough without you dragging it into a high school chat room!
I cannot wait until the day that I meet my Ain't Purl face to face... we are destined to be good friends...in my book we already are!
First , my classmates rival that I barely remembered gave me a thorough cyber lashing.
Then I had to master Facebook and Twitter...no easy feat for a 48 year old woman.
Then I got hooked up with "EX" classmates...a group from my Alma Mater that started their own Delphi forum.
I was feeling it! I was back in my groove...typing and writing my thoughts and memories.
Then the "Big BOOM "...POLITICS.
Since when does reminiscing with classmates constitute raving your political views?
If I wanted to do that I would join Politico or some other vent.
Instead the site was filled with people calling our President "Sambo" and other comments that quite simply offended me.
Our President has an undoubtedly daunting and realistically unreachable task in these current times...and was this all HIS fault?
But in the maelstrom, I have met a great friend...not face to face, but chat to chat.
I dare say she does not share ALL of my political views, but is a person that is sane in an insane time in our lives.
We have begun an internet friendship...if you asked me ten years ago what that meant, I would have been baffled.
But in today's times, it means that when I type my obviously LOUD opinions and views...you know what? She understands me, supports my opinions and expresses her own in a very gentile and supportive manner.
What a treat to have someone that accepts me...what a treat to find an online friend...what a treat to find someone waiting for our government to find the correct answer to our many, many problems in this country.
We have started our OWN joke..as my email is the clampetts...(I am a HUGE Beverly Hillbillies fan)...she has become Aunt Pearl and I have become Kelly Mae.
It is a series of ironies...serious issues, friendly chats, worries about overstepping in a high school forum...and gaining new friends.
I find myself checking in every day to see if my "Ain't Purl"...a joke between us..has written to me.
Why do people have to over involve the world's problems when it is just a site to remember the past...HELLO!!! We are depressed enough without you dragging it into a high school chat room!
I cannot wait until the day that I meet my Ain't Purl face to face... we are destined to be good friends...in my book we already are!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Speaking of Reese
Tonight was the last night for us babysitting the most marvelous kid I have ever had drift into our lives.
We started watching her at the age of nine months...a cooing baby not even crawling yet.
Over the time we have watched her; She has grown into the most amazing thing to happen in this house in a long, long time.
She has taken over our heart's and wedged herself into our soul's for a lifetime.
I am not sure who has grown up more, her or her mother. When faced with a newborn as a single mom, her mother struggled...valiantly. She has become the mother that I wish I had been to my kids when they were little ones. She has raised a kid that is not only beautiful, smart and fascinating...but a sheer joy to be around.
Everyone in my house and in my neighborhood knows our "Reese" and finds her an absolute delight. (As they should)
She is moving back to Texas with her mom to be with her grandparents(selfish G ma and G pa) !!
I had a diary written for Reese on my old computer, but lost it all when I had the big CRASH.
The essence of it is the same.
A toddler has never, EVER made such a profound impact on our family. The way her face lights up when she comes into our house is only half of the light we feel when SHE walks through our door.
My two big ole dogs love her...used to sleep right by her crib when she was tiny, and still treat her with kid gloves (paws) when she is around.
I have never been to Texas, but I guess that it will be on my list now.
Her mother is a wonderful and beautiful person that has sewn herself into my heart. These two women will be a part of me forever and an addition to my life that was needed. To see through the eyes of a young (no pun intended) child again is a wonderful thing. The things that are special and important to them are eye opening and quickly bring you back not only to the basics but to the zest for life and the fueling of hunger for knowledge and the quest for answers.
I started watching this toddler with great hesitation...and I have to let her leave me with enormous grief in my heart. To not see this child grow up on a daily or weekly basis is going to be as hard as letting one of my own children go.
I have complete and total faith in her mom, or I would have already snatched her away.
I have to let her go.
I feel lucky to have had her in my life for these past few years, lucky to be able to peer into that gorgeous and sincere face and know that I was blessed that SHE loved ME.
I hope that she remembers us...I hope that she remembers our love. I hope for her everything she ever wants or desires.
I hope that I see her again...and that her face will light up like it does when see sees us now. I guess that part will be up to me...but for this little girl, I CAN DO IT!
I love you , AVA REESE YOUNG
We started watching her at the age of nine months...a cooing baby not even crawling yet.
Over the time we have watched her; She has grown into the most amazing thing to happen in this house in a long, long time.
She has taken over our heart's and wedged herself into our soul's for a lifetime.
I am not sure who has grown up more, her or her mother. When faced with a newborn as a single mom, her mother struggled...valiantly. She has become the mother that I wish I had been to my kids when they were little ones. She has raised a kid that is not only beautiful, smart and fascinating...but a sheer joy to be around.
Everyone in my house and in my neighborhood knows our "Reese" and finds her an absolute delight. (As they should)
She is moving back to Texas with her mom to be with her grandparents(selfish G ma and G pa) !!
I had a diary written for Reese on my old computer, but lost it all when I had the big CRASH.
The essence of it is the same.
A toddler has never, EVER made such a profound impact on our family. The way her face lights up when she comes into our house is only half of the light we feel when SHE walks through our door.
My two big ole dogs love her...used to sleep right by her crib when she was tiny, and still treat her with kid gloves (paws) when she is around.
I have never been to Texas, but I guess that it will be on my list now.
Her mother is a wonderful and beautiful person that has sewn herself into my heart. These two women will be a part of me forever and an addition to my life that was needed. To see through the eyes of a young (no pun intended) child again is a wonderful thing. The things that are special and important to them are eye opening and quickly bring you back not only to the basics but to the zest for life and the fueling of hunger for knowledge and the quest for answers.
I started watching this toddler with great hesitation...and I have to let her leave me with enormous grief in my heart. To not see this child grow up on a daily or weekly basis is going to be as hard as letting one of my own children go.
I have complete and total faith in her mom, or I would have already snatched her away.
I have to let her go.
I feel lucky to have had her in my life for these past few years, lucky to be able to peer into that gorgeous and sincere face and know that I was blessed that SHE loved ME.
I hope that she remembers us...I hope that she remembers our love. I hope for her everything she ever wants or desires.
I hope that I see her again...and that her face will light up like it does when see sees us now. I guess that part will be up to me...but for this little girl, I CAN DO IT!
I love you , AVA REESE YOUNG
Please Hold...While Your Party is Reached...
Nothing is worse than when I try to call my thirteen year old daughter on her cell phone (that I pay for) and receive an automated message saying"Please enjoy the music while your party is reached".
Number one, I do not enjoy the same music she does.
Number two, I do not like having to wait while she decides to actually accept my call.
Number three, it is my fault for getting her a phone.
If you had asked me when she was born "Will you buy her a cell phone for her 12th birthday"? I would have looked at you like you were the idiot that I have become.
I have to admit I like being able to reach her at any given time, but deciphering her texts are like reading ancient hidden scrolls.
My sons are much more direct....answer or NO answer...PERIOD.
I worked in the yards today for three hours before I went to work, tromping in and out of the doors, backyard and garage. Somehow I let a small lizard in with me on one of my trips. My sixteen year old son discovered it scrambling across the living room floor and told me it was as big as a snake. Of course he couldn't CATCH the "snake size lizard" as it scampered under the sofa.
It appeared next in the kitchen, scooting under the refrigerator before my sissy boy could grab it. As I left for work, my daughter wailed to me, full of emotion "WHAT ABOUT THE LIZARD"?
I told her it would be okay, the lizard was more scared of us than anything.
By the time I got to work (a ten minute drive) I had 8 missed calls on my cell phone from my daughter. When I called her back, she demanded "What about this lizard, and how long does it take you to answer my calls"?
Boy will I remind her of those 8 missed calls when she is sixteen going to the prom and I call every half hour after the dance is over!
It is almost midnight now...I guess the lizard is asleep or has found a way back out of my house. Either way it will be taken care of when I let my two 100 lb. Boxers in the house for the night. For the lizard's sake I hope it has escaped my house...because it will NOT escape my Boxers.
I know how much they enjoy the tiny frogs that unsuspectingly find their way into my backyard (never to escape alive). Just think when they find a lizard...They will think It is Christmas morning! HO HO HO !!
Til next time... COTTON... and my little friend Reese.. this will be her typing..
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbnmmtttbvnbo nbvcvccccxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxcccdoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooopllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllk;[=====
Number one, I do not enjoy the same music she does.
Number two, I do not like having to wait while she decides to actually accept my call.
Number three, it is my fault for getting her a phone.
If you had asked me when she was born "Will you buy her a cell phone for her 12th birthday"? I would have looked at you like you were the idiot that I have become.
I have to admit I like being able to reach her at any given time, but deciphering her texts are like reading ancient hidden scrolls.
My sons are much more direct....answer or NO answer...PERIOD.
I worked in the yards today for three hours before I went to work, tromping in and out of the doors, backyard and garage. Somehow I let a small lizard in with me on one of my trips. My sixteen year old son discovered it scrambling across the living room floor and told me it was as big as a snake. Of course he couldn't CATCH the "snake size lizard" as it scampered under the sofa.
It appeared next in the kitchen, scooting under the refrigerator before my sissy boy could grab it. As I left for work, my daughter wailed to me, full of emotion "WHAT ABOUT THE LIZARD"?
I told her it would be okay, the lizard was more scared of us than anything.
By the time I got to work (a ten minute drive) I had 8 missed calls on my cell phone from my daughter. When I called her back, she demanded "What about this lizard, and how long does it take you to answer my calls"?
Boy will I remind her of those 8 missed calls when she is sixteen going to the prom and I call every half hour after the dance is over!
It is almost midnight now...I guess the lizard is asleep or has found a way back out of my house. Either way it will be taken care of when I let my two 100 lb. Boxers in the house for the night. For the lizard's sake I hope it has escaped my house...because it will NOT escape my Boxers.
I know how much they enjoy the tiny frogs that unsuspectingly find their way into my backyard (never to escape alive). Just think when they find a lizard...They will think It is Christmas morning! HO HO HO !!
Til next time... COTTON... and my little friend Reese.. this will be her typing..
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbnmmtttbvnbo nbvcvccccxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxcccdoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooopllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllk;[=====
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
I NOT TALKING CHINESE TO YOU !!
My sister was a flight attendant for thirty years. She flew with an Asian girl once who spoke English but my sister had a really hard time understanding her. After asking her to repeat what she had said three or four times, the flight attendant responded adamantly...."I not talking Chinese to you"!!
That is the way I felt at work tonight.
We started a completely new computer system. Last time we did this they had a class for all of us to take to learn all of the functions and intricacies of the system. I guess the higher ups at corporate all have on tee shirts that read "It's the economy STUPID". They threw us into this system to learn everything on our own...NOT A GOOD IDEA! Once the dinner rush starts, customers do not care that we are constantly hunting and pecking on a site that we barely know and are trying our best to avoid mistakes that will slow down the cooks (half of which are Latinos who only know the old system). It was like the system was "TALKING CHINESE TO ME".
Modify an item, sub salad, more options for steaks, create combo, split guest count, send and stay, more modifiers, cancel, edit, actually the system COULD have been 'talking Chinese' to me and I wouldn't have noticed the difference.
I am an OLD dog and teaching me new tricks is hazardous at best!
Not to mention that I went in at 10:30 this morning, floundered my way through a lunch shift...went to the bank, screamed by blockbuster for the game my son HAD to have and flew back to work to pick up an extra shift...once again hunting and pecking on a system that was 'talking Chinese' to me.
A few years ago when we switched systems, the regional manager came to our store with ten dummy computers and led us through the new system. There was a 9:00 class and a 10:00 class..I sat through them both.
In today's times..you get it own your own..sink or swim!
I THINK I swam...not too sure yet, I will wait to see how many complaints I get from the masses that had to wait on their check or wait on their salads because I didn't know how to type in TWO different salad dressings. I know that sounds stupid, but when thrown into a dinner rush with a system that is totally new and uncharted...I CAN'T TAKE THAT KIND OF PRESSURE!
I went home a weak and worn out puppy. I felt relieved to only be expected to run a washer and dryer and unload a dishwasher.
Maybe tomorrow will be better...maybe it will be worse.
For the love of Pete..I am still trying to figure out Facebook and Twitter. I still don't even know how to find the "EGGS" that people seem to be hiding on my FB page everyday..not to mention pillow fights, sending kisses and "What kind of cocktail are you"? I feel like when I go into work tomorrow and clock in the screen will say "you have 47 unread instructions".
Granted I am an OLE lady, but even the younger kids at work seem to be struggling. I know that I will eventually "GET" it in due time, but with the pressure of three kids and their constant wants and needs (they are worse than bill collectors) I feel under the gun to get it right the first time.
I feel like writing Bill Gates and Steve Jobs telling them what kind of tortured life they have led me into and did they ever think about us ole farts when they came up with all of this #@*$ !!!
"I am woman, hear me roar! In numbers too big to ignore"!
What ever happened to writing down some one's order and handing it back to the cook?
Hopefully I will make the transition, hopefully I will catch on, hopefully next time you read this blog I will still have a job!
Swipe your card, punch in your number, modify and send!
The computer still seems to be "Talking Chinese to Me".
Wish me luck...modify, send and post!
That is the way I felt at work tonight.
We started a completely new computer system. Last time we did this they had a class for all of us to take to learn all of the functions and intricacies of the system. I guess the higher ups at corporate all have on tee shirts that read "It's the economy STUPID". They threw us into this system to learn everything on our own...NOT A GOOD IDEA! Once the dinner rush starts, customers do not care that we are constantly hunting and pecking on a site that we barely know and are trying our best to avoid mistakes that will slow down the cooks (half of which are Latinos who only know the old system). It was like the system was "TALKING CHINESE TO ME".
Modify an item, sub salad, more options for steaks, create combo, split guest count, send and stay, more modifiers, cancel, edit, actually the system COULD have been 'talking Chinese' to me and I wouldn't have noticed the difference.
I am an OLD dog and teaching me new tricks is hazardous at best!
Not to mention that I went in at 10:30 this morning, floundered my way through a lunch shift...went to the bank, screamed by blockbuster for the game my son HAD to have and flew back to work to pick up an extra shift...once again hunting and pecking on a system that was 'talking Chinese' to me.
A few years ago when we switched systems, the regional manager came to our store with ten dummy computers and led us through the new system. There was a 9:00 class and a 10:00 class..I sat through them both.
In today's times..you get it own your own..sink or swim!
I THINK I swam...not too sure yet, I will wait to see how many complaints I get from the masses that had to wait on their check or wait on their salads because I didn't know how to type in TWO different salad dressings. I know that sounds stupid, but when thrown into a dinner rush with a system that is totally new and uncharted...I CAN'T TAKE THAT KIND OF PRESSURE!
I went home a weak and worn out puppy. I felt relieved to only be expected to run a washer and dryer and unload a dishwasher.
Maybe tomorrow will be better...maybe it will be worse.
For the love of Pete..I am still trying to figure out Facebook and Twitter. I still don't even know how to find the "EGGS" that people seem to be hiding on my FB page everyday..not to mention pillow fights, sending kisses and "What kind of cocktail are you"? I feel like when I go into work tomorrow and clock in the screen will say "you have 47 unread instructions".
Granted I am an OLE lady, but even the younger kids at work seem to be struggling. I know that I will eventually "GET" it in due time, but with the pressure of three kids and their constant wants and needs (they are worse than bill collectors) I feel under the gun to get it right the first time.
I feel like writing Bill Gates and Steve Jobs telling them what kind of tortured life they have led me into and did they ever think about us ole farts when they came up with all of this #@*$ !!!
"I am woman, hear me roar! In numbers too big to ignore"!
What ever happened to writing down some one's order and handing it back to the cook?
Hopefully I will make the transition, hopefully I will catch on, hopefully next time you read this blog I will still have a job!
Swipe your card, punch in your number, modify and send!
The computer still seems to be "Talking Chinese to Me".
Wish me luck...modify, send and post!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
It's My Friday!!
Thank the Lord this weekend is almost over!
Most people love the weekend...I DREAD it. Monday is my day off and it starts Tuesday morning with a day shift and escalates towards the weekend with Friday, Saturday and Sunday almost killing me.
Besides working all weekend, my daughter and I went to the cemetery where my parents are buried yesterday and worked for a couple of hours on the plot. We picked up limbs, raked up all the leaves and cut all the weeds with my trusty weed eater. Then we planted irises, lilies and morning glory all around the embankment beside the grave site.
At best...Massey is good company, at worst she is a part time worker. She did wipe off all the headstones when I got through weed eating and dug me a couple of shovel fulls of dirt for the flowers we planted. It really looked nice when we (I) got through and it just makes me feel good to remember my parents with this type of gesture. We have made plans to go back in one month to see what kind of progress our flowers have made...I am really excited about the morning glory seeds we put in. The graveside is right by a twenty foot hill leading down to the country road that runs next to the cemetery. How beautiful it will be when the entire hill is covered with blue morning glory! My neighbor who gave me the seeds assured me that they would take over the side and really spread.
After we finished our gardening, we drove down the old dirt road that leads to where my great great grandmother once had a small house.."Granny's" as we called it when we were kids. We found it by the only marker left...the chimney is still standing amongst the surrounding woods. We got out of the car because Massey wanted to take a picture of the free standing fireplace and chimney. As Massey looked all around us she spotted a house almost in ruins across the road. She said brightly "I wonder if that is where Great Great Grandma's BFF lived"? It made me smile, her sweet take on life and still childlike observations.
It made for a long day...back home to shower , change and go into work til Midnight. I came home and sat down on the sofa in the den and was out in under thirty minutes.
I felt more rested today but had to go in at 3PM...only 1/2 a day to catch my breath before heading back to the seemingly starving and demanding masses. Luckily I had almost all REALLY nice customers. It makes my night so much smoother when I don't get people that are ridiculously high maintenance.
After we were closed, two "official" looking guys came to the front door. They said they were with 'security'. It was the first I had heard so I went to get my manager. We recently got bought out by Darden...who own Olive Garden and Red Lobster. They are switching us over to their computer system from our old one. These two guys were there to install the new system which goes live tomorrow morning.
They seemed more interested in having the bartender show them how to change the channels on the three flat screens than anything and I remarked wittily "LOOK, you aren't being paid to watch TV and if you put it on Telemundo, we'll never get the kitchen help out of here". They both got a chuckle out of that (thank goodness).
When I walked out the door a few minutes later to leave, they were chatting on their cell phones (probably inviting a couple of chicks over to keep them company with the all night set up). I remarked on my way out..."The 'L' Word comes on at 11:30 on Showtime". They both laughed again...come to think of it, they MAY have been on their cell reporting my smart comments to corporate!!
I remember years ago we had a cleaning party at work. The managers had everyone that wanted to, come clean the restaurant after closing from top to bottom...free beer for all of us.
The next morning the manager came in to find two of the Latino cooks asleep under one of the booths (to avoid the motion detector). Come to think of it...that was the LAST cleaning party we had!
I love working with my immigrant friends. They work harder than most Americans I know (they do have a FEW slackers that make it through the fence or tunnel). I have learned more Spanish from the dishwasher and prep guys than I did from 8 years of Spanish class in the school system.
The only thing that bothers me sometimes is the music on their radio or CD's. Number one...isn't the accordian a little outdated for pop music...and why is everything in 3/4 time? ONE TWO THREE ONE TWO THREE ONE TWO THREE. The other night after we were closed and they cranked up their radio...I started hearing Rap music...in ESPANOL!! I asked one of them if this was called "El GANGSTA RAP"??
As usual they all grin sheepishly at me and call me their favorite nickname besides Algodon(spanish for cotton)... "Pelos Parados" Which loosely translated means "spiky hair".
I truly think the reason they like me is because I treat them with respect and treat them as friends. A lot of people I work with treat them like unkowns never even learning their names. I not only learn their names but learn about their families and their culture. I even give some of them nicknames and always ask them if they need something to drink or ask how they are doing. I try to be an amiga! At least I always get a quick response when I need something "on the fly"...that means I need something quickly, usually because I made a goof with an order or I have a Gringo that is too demanding or short of patience. When in Rome...
Most people love the weekend...I DREAD it. Monday is my day off and it starts Tuesday morning with a day shift and escalates towards the weekend with Friday, Saturday and Sunday almost killing me.
Besides working all weekend, my daughter and I went to the cemetery where my parents are buried yesterday and worked for a couple of hours on the plot. We picked up limbs, raked up all the leaves and cut all the weeds with my trusty weed eater. Then we planted irises, lilies and morning glory all around the embankment beside the grave site.
At best...Massey is good company, at worst she is a part time worker. She did wipe off all the headstones when I got through weed eating and dug me a couple of shovel fulls of dirt for the flowers we planted. It really looked nice when we (I) got through and it just makes me feel good to remember my parents with this type of gesture. We have made plans to go back in one month to see what kind of progress our flowers have made...I am really excited about the morning glory seeds we put in. The graveside is right by a twenty foot hill leading down to the country road that runs next to the cemetery. How beautiful it will be when the entire hill is covered with blue morning glory! My neighbor who gave me the seeds assured me that they would take over the side and really spread.
After we finished our gardening, we drove down the old dirt road that leads to where my great great grandmother once had a small house.."Granny's" as we called it when we were kids. We found it by the only marker left...the chimney is still standing amongst the surrounding woods. We got out of the car because Massey wanted to take a picture of the free standing fireplace and chimney. As Massey looked all around us she spotted a house almost in ruins across the road. She said brightly "I wonder if that is where Great Great Grandma's BFF lived"? It made me smile, her sweet take on life and still childlike observations.
It made for a long day...back home to shower , change and go into work til Midnight. I came home and sat down on the sofa in the den and was out in under thirty minutes.
I felt more rested today but had to go in at 3PM...only 1/2 a day to catch my breath before heading back to the seemingly starving and demanding masses. Luckily I had almost all REALLY nice customers. It makes my night so much smoother when I don't get people that are ridiculously high maintenance.
After we were closed, two "official" looking guys came to the front door. They said they were with 'security'. It was the first I had heard so I went to get my manager. We recently got bought out by Darden...who own Olive Garden and Red Lobster. They are switching us over to their computer system from our old one. These two guys were there to install the new system which goes live tomorrow morning.
They seemed more interested in having the bartender show them how to change the channels on the three flat screens than anything and I remarked wittily "LOOK, you aren't being paid to watch TV and if you put it on Telemundo, we'll never get the kitchen help out of here". They both got a chuckle out of that (thank goodness).
When I walked out the door a few minutes later to leave, they were chatting on their cell phones (probably inviting a couple of chicks over to keep them company with the all night set up). I remarked on my way out..."The 'L' Word comes on at 11:30 on Showtime". They both laughed again...come to think of it, they MAY have been on their cell reporting my smart comments to corporate!!
I remember years ago we had a cleaning party at work. The managers had everyone that wanted to, come clean the restaurant after closing from top to bottom...free beer for all of us.
The next morning the manager came in to find two of the Latino cooks asleep under one of the booths (to avoid the motion detector). Come to think of it...that was the LAST cleaning party we had!
I love working with my immigrant friends. They work harder than most Americans I know (they do have a FEW slackers that make it through the fence or tunnel). I have learned more Spanish from the dishwasher and prep guys than I did from 8 years of Spanish class in the school system.
The only thing that bothers me sometimes is the music on their radio or CD's. Number one...isn't the accordian a little outdated for pop music...and why is everything in 3/4 time? ONE TWO THREE ONE TWO THREE ONE TWO THREE. The other night after we were closed and they cranked up their radio...I started hearing Rap music...in ESPANOL!! I asked one of them if this was called "El GANGSTA RAP"??
As usual they all grin sheepishly at me and call me their favorite nickname besides Algodon(spanish for cotton)... "Pelos Parados" Which loosely translated means "spiky hair".
I truly think the reason they like me is because I treat them with respect and treat them as friends. A lot of people I work with treat them like unkowns never even learning their names. I not only learn their names but learn about their families and their culture. I even give some of them nicknames and always ask them if they need something to drink or ask how they are doing. I try to be an amiga! At least I always get a quick response when I need something "on the fly"...that means I need something quickly, usually because I made a goof with an order or I have a Gringo that is too demanding or short of patience. When in Rome...
Friday, April 3, 2009
My Busy Life...LOL !!
I am sitting at my computer... with my two boxers standing on a bench outside the window I am facing; Them staring at me intently, listening to them whine like it is 40 below outside (it is a balmy 60).
The dinner dishes are done , the laundry is spinning and the dryer tumbling. What a WILD Friday night!
Actually I surprised myself by using "LOL" in the title of this post. I am not one to make little faces with colons , semi colons or parenthesis. I know that is all the rage but I prefer to write something that will make someone smile on their own. My daughter does enough of that kind of typing to choke a horse...sometimes I don't know what she means by half of the stuff she texts me. She is 13 though and now that she is a GROWN WOMAN (LOL for sure)... I just let her be and often feel like emailing her texts to the pentagon to be decoded. Of course if she wants something from me or the store it is a straight forward message with nothing to decipher.
My son uses "word" a lot on his phone. He gets the words wrong nine times out of ten and at least makes me chuckle with most of his messages...(no little faces from him) :)
He sent me a text one time trying to tell me that he knew more about fixing my computer than the person I had asked to come over and take a look at it. His text read "Mom, I know more than HE dose". (I saved THAT one in my drafts).
My daughter used to occasionally text me from school...a totally forbidden act that could get her into trouble if they ever burst into the bathroom stall while she was texting. She has stopped after I threatened to take her phone away. The last time she did it, I ignored the text three times trying to get her to give up. I finally sent her a message back and said "Do NOT text me again". Not one minute went by and I received another text: OK :)
Granted she was sick...but for Pete's sake go to the nurse or the office.
I honestly do not know how my mother raised three kids without a cell phone or at least a pager. I couldn't imagine my kids NOT having a cell phone. My one rule is that if my husband and I are paying for it, they sure as heck had better answer it when WE call.
If you had told me when I was 12 years old in 1972 that one day I would have a daughter 13 years old with a laptop AND a cell phone...I would have looked at you like you were crazy.
Who's the crazy one now? "ME" !!
LOL BFF BTW JK JP OMG IDK... How long does it take to spell out a simple word, or is everyone in THAT big of a hurry?
Granted girls seem to use it a lot more, but the whole younger generation seems to be looking for a shortcut in life at any point they can.
Wait til they get my age ... they will be hunting for some way to turn the clock BACK! ;(
At least I am fortunate and work with young people on a daily basis. I have to put up with some of them being lazy, irresponsible and undependable...but for the most part they keep me in touch with what my kids are in touch with and end up keeping me a pretty cool mom.
Guess that I will close for now and switch back to my high school site (NOT CLASSMATES) and spew some of my verbal diarrhea their way!!
Til next time...COTTON
The dinner dishes are done , the laundry is spinning and the dryer tumbling. What a WILD Friday night!
Actually I surprised myself by using "LOL" in the title of this post. I am not one to make little faces with colons , semi colons or parenthesis. I know that is all the rage but I prefer to write something that will make someone smile on their own. My daughter does enough of that kind of typing to choke a horse...sometimes I don't know what she means by half of the stuff she texts me. She is 13 though and now that she is a GROWN WOMAN (LOL for sure)... I just let her be and often feel like emailing her texts to the pentagon to be decoded. Of course if she wants something from me or the store it is a straight forward message with nothing to decipher.
My son uses "word" a lot on his phone. He gets the words wrong nine times out of ten and at least makes me chuckle with most of his messages...(no little faces from him) :)
He sent me a text one time trying to tell me that he knew more about fixing my computer than the person I had asked to come over and take a look at it. His text read "Mom, I know more than HE dose". (I saved THAT one in my drafts).
My daughter used to occasionally text me from school...a totally forbidden act that could get her into trouble if they ever burst into the bathroom stall while she was texting. She has stopped after I threatened to take her phone away. The last time she did it, I ignored the text three times trying to get her to give up. I finally sent her a message back and said "Do NOT text me again". Not one minute went by and I received another text: OK :)
Granted she was sick...but for Pete's sake go to the nurse or the office.
I honestly do not know how my mother raised three kids without a cell phone or at least a pager. I couldn't imagine my kids NOT having a cell phone. My one rule is that if my husband and I are paying for it, they sure as heck had better answer it when WE call.
If you had told me when I was 12 years old in 1972 that one day I would have a daughter 13 years old with a laptop AND a cell phone...I would have looked at you like you were crazy.
Who's the crazy one now? "ME" !!
LOL BFF BTW JK JP OMG IDK... How long does it take to spell out a simple word, or is everyone in THAT big of a hurry?
Granted girls seem to use it a lot more, but the whole younger generation seems to be looking for a shortcut in life at any point they can.
Wait til they get my age ... they will be hunting for some way to turn the clock BACK! ;(
At least I am fortunate and work with young people on a daily basis. I have to put up with some of them being lazy, irresponsible and undependable...but for the most part they keep me in touch with what my kids are in touch with and end up keeping me a pretty cool mom.
Guess that I will close for now and switch back to my high school site (NOT CLASSMATES) and spew some of my verbal diarrhea their way!!
Til next time...COTTON
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Darn That Stripper!!
Just got home from work..threw in a load of clothes to dry, helped my son bake his "Toads in the Hole" for international day at school tomorrow and sat down to type.
I waited on the nicest family tonight. The economy has struck hard at our store, tips are WAY down and I have to struggle to make in 6 hours what I used to make in four. The night went okay...could have been better but certainly could have been worse.
My last table was a family of six...Mom, Dad and four teens. They were very nice and extremely easy to please.
When I offered dessert they said they had a birthday cake back at the house. I asked who's birthday it was and they all pointed at dad...who immediately pointed at the others. I ordered our little hot fudge sundae that we give to customers on their birthday and took it out to dad. I told him happy birthday and said "I am SOO sorry, the stripper is off on Wednesday night...prayer meeting at the church. You know we ARE in the Bible Belt".
They all cracked up (even the mom, thank goodness). The man asked me how long I had been serving and I told him for 31 years. He asked how I always kept a smile on my face and a good attitude. I told him I went to college, got my PHD in BS and put it right to use. His kids really liked THAT one!
In my line of work it is a game of averages...some days are downright terrible and other days people seem to be throwing money at me. I just persevere and hope it all averages out in the long run and you know what? It usually always does.
On another work note, I got my sister a paint job ...she is an excellent interior painter and has painted my entire house.
A bartender who works with me (putting her Emory degree to good use) is married with three small children. My sister is painting her front entrance hall.
Let's call this girl I work with "Rebekah".
She is one of the best and most patient moms I have ever met and the result is three terrific kids.
My sister smooths out rough spots as she goes and uses a putty knife to scrap off excess Spackle, keeping the putty knife in her back pocket.
My friend's little girl, probably around three...followed my sister as she painted constantly saying "Are you through yet"? My sister told her at one point "Now I am going to paint the wall RIGHT outside of YOUR bedroom"!!
My sister said this little girl looked up sweetly at her , eyes wide open and said enthusiastically "THANK YOU"!! While painting outside of ....let's call her "Trinity"'s room, she pulled her putty knife out of her back pocket and Trinity said "Why do you have that sword in your pocket"?
God, I miss those days of a young child's interpretation and reasoning.
I remember when my daughter was about the same age she got a doctor's kit from Santa. She wanted me to play doctor with her so I stretched out on the sofa and said "Doctor, I don't feel too good...will I live"? She gave me a serious look and replied "Yes...you will live with your family". I laughed so hard it made her mad.
It's like the time my middle son asked me when he was in fourth grade or so..."If I ask you a question, will you promise to tell me the truth"? I told him I would, then he proceeded to ask me if Santa was real. I asked him if he wanted the truth...he nodded and I told him that Santa wasn't real.
He looked at me for a couple of stunned seconds and then bluntly said "You mean it's all just a BIG FAT LIE"??
After composing myself, I told him it was for smaller children and that in fact the spirit of Santa is what matters most. After crushing him (although I found out later his older brother had already done that without my knowledge and THAT'S where the question came from) he forgave me and asked immediately if he could tell his little sister (the doctor).
Thankfully he let his little sister continue believing the "BIG FAT LIE" for a number of years.
Kids are such a blessing, such a learning experience and a tremendous joy. The stories I have of my kids could fill a book and would certainly be a best seller.
As two have turned into teens and one into a young adult, they still fill me with immense pleasure and pride...even when they screw up.
Til next time...COTTON
I waited on the nicest family tonight. The economy has struck hard at our store, tips are WAY down and I have to struggle to make in 6 hours what I used to make in four. The night went okay...could have been better but certainly could have been worse.
My last table was a family of six...Mom, Dad and four teens. They were very nice and extremely easy to please.
When I offered dessert they said they had a birthday cake back at the house. I asked who's birthday it was and they all pointed at dad...who immediately pointed at the others. I ordered our little hot fudge sundae that we give to customers on their birthday and took it out to dad. I told him happy birthday and said "I am SOO sorry, the stripper is off on Wednesday night...prayer meeting at the church. You know we ARE in the Bible Belt".
They all cracked up (even the mom, thank goodness). The man asked me how long I had been serving and I told him for 31 years. He asked how I always kept a smile on my face and a good attitude. I told him I went to college, got my PHD in BS and put it right to use. His kids really liked THAT one!
In my line of work it is a game of averages...some days are downright terrible and other days people seem to be throwing money at me. I just persevere and hope it all averages out in the long run and you know what? It usually always does.
On another work note, I got my sister a paint job ...she is an excellent interior painter and has painted my entire house.
A bartender who works with me (putting her Emory degree to good use) is married with three small children. My sister is painting her front entrance hall.
Let's call this girl I work with "Rebekah".
She is one of the best and most patient moms I have ever met and the result is three terrific kids.
My sister smooths out rough spots as she goes and uses a putty knife to scrap off excess Spackle, keeping the putty knife in her back pocket.
My friend's little girl, probably around three...followed my sister as she painted constantly saying "Are you through yet"? My sister told her at one point "Now I am going to paint the wall RIGHT outside of YOUR bedroom"!!
My sister said this little girl looked up sweetly at her , eyes wide open and said enthusiastically "THANK YOU"!! While painting outside of ....let's call her "Trinity"'s room, she pulled her putty knife out of her back pocket and Trinity said "Why do you have that sword in your pocket"?
God, I miss those days of a young child's interpretation and reasoning.
I remember when my daughter was about the same age she got a doctor's kit from Santa. She wanted me to play doctor with her so I stretched out on the sofa and said "Doctor, I don't feel too good...will I live"? She gave me a serious look and replied "Yes...you will live with your family". I laughed so hard it made her mad.
It's like the time my middle son asked me when he was in fourth grade or so..."If I ask you a question, will you promise to tell me the truth"? I told him I would, then he proceeded to ask me if Santa was real. I asked him if he wanted the truth...he nodded and I told him that Santa wasn't real.
He looked at me for a couple of stunned seconds and then bluntly said "You mean it's all just a BIG FAT LIE"??
After composing myself, I told him it was for smaller children and that in fact the spirit of Santa is what matters most. After crushing him (although I found out later his older brother had already done that without my knowledge and THAT'S where the question came from) he forgave me and asked immediately if he could tell his little sister (the doctor).
Thankfully he let his little sister continue believing the "BIG FAT LIE" for a number of years.
Kids are such a blessing, such a learning experience and a tremendous joy. The stories I have of my kids could fill a book and would certainly be a best seller.
As two have turned into teens and one into a young adult, they still fill me with immense pleasure and pride...even when they screw up.
Til next time...COTTON
Monday, March 30, 2009
Why Did I Sleep So Late?
It is 1:36 AM and here I am typing on my blog. WHY DID I SLEEP SO LATE TODAY? It felt soooo good at the time, but it is coming back to bite me as I type in the wee hours of the morning.
I'll just rant about a couple of items and maybe getting it off my chest(not that my chest has much to spare) will drain me enough to get a good four hours of shut eye.
Went to my first AA meeting tonight with my two younger kids. A dear friend of mine celebrated their 20th year of sobriety tonight and we went to show our love, support and admiration for this great accomplishment.
It was a moving and eye opening couple of hours.
Thank God it was an "Eatin Meetin". The food was great and I wanted to go back for seconds but didn't want them referring me to "Over Eaters Anonymous". I had my plate piled high on the first run through and settled on eating my kids leftovers.
The stories were heartbreaking, inspirational and extremely motivational. These people have a bond that is close and comfortable...something EVERY person can learn from. To have a support group that understands and wants to help you unconditionally.
HEY!! My kids even liked it...it may help them down the road one day, but I know that it made an impact THIS day and that is extremely important for teens especially...given the environment and peer pressure placed upon them every day.
Moving on...cause I promised myself to be in bed by 2:15 to get that 4 to 5 hour nap!
I am, as you know a "Chatty Cathy" on various websites, groups and venues. What is upsetting me is the almost racist, negative anti support of our "President".
Although I do tend to lean to the left as my husband leans towards the right...when a president is in the White House...he is supported by us both. This is a man the COUNTRY has elected...he didn't win American Idol or get the most "Text's". Millions and millions of people chose him to be our leader...and now he is JUST that! How can an American not be proud of a chosen leader of the greatest nation in the world?
If you wish him to fail, you are wishing the nation to fail. He has said he won't always be right and will have to try different strategies if ones implemented fail. In other words, he is saying he is human, he is not infallible...but I sincerely think he wants to make this country a better place for us all...and are WE better equipped to make the decisions that I am sure he struggles with every waking hour...or are we going to at least give him our support and give him a chance before crucifying or criticizing him?
For eight years I supported "W" as my president...he was the leader of my country and until the last few months had my total support as an American. But to bash, ridicule and make fun of a man not in office even 100 days is a bit extreme for my likes.
YES...he will make mistakes, but let us wait and see if he can admit and correct them before we begin throwing stones or calling names.
IS ANYONE PERFECT?
Do any of you truly think you could do a better job, given the immense and overwhelming problems that he has inheirited and been brave enough to take on for the next four years....talk about getting MY rest tonight...GOD BLESS THE PRESIDENT AND GUIDE HIM TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
It can be a DEM or it can be a REPUB...as long as they are in control of my nation, I will respect them for the immense task and job they have and be grateful that I live in the United States of America.
I'll just rant about a couple of items and maybe getting it off my chest(not that my chest has much to spare) will drain me enough to get a good four hours of shut eye.
Went to my first AA meeting tonight with my two younger kids. A dear friend of mine celebrated their 20th year of sobriety tonight and we went to show our love, support and admiration for this great accomplishment.
It was a moving and eye opening couple of hours.
Thank God it was an "Eatin Meetin". The food was great and I wanted to go back for seconds but didn't want them referring me to "Over Eaters Anonymous". I had my plate piled high on the first run through and settled on eating my kids leftovers.
The stories were heartbreaking, inspirational and extremely motivational. These people have a bond that is close and comfortable...something EVERY person can learn from. To have a support group that understands and wants to help you unconditionally.
HEY!! My kids even liked it...it may help them down the road one day, but I know that it made an impact THIS day and that is extremely important for teens especially...given the environment and peer pressure placed upon them every day.
Moving on...cause I promised myself to be in bed by 2:15 to get that 4 to 5 hour nap!
I am, as you know a "Chatty Cathy" on various websites, groups and venues. What is upsetting me is the almost racist, negative anti support of our "President".
Although I do tend to lean to the left as my husband leans towards the right...when a president is in the White House...he is supported by us both. This is a man the COUNTRY has elected...he didn't win American Idol or get the most "Text's". Millions and millions of people chose him to be our leader...and now he is JUST that! How can an American not be proud of a chosen leader of the greatest nation in the world?
If you wish him to fail, you are wishing the nation to fail. He has said he won't always be right and will have to try different strategies if ones implemented fail. In other words, he is saying he is human, he is not infallible...but I sincerely think he wants to make this country a better place for us all...and are WE better equipped to make the decisions that I am sure he struggles with every waking hour...or are we going to at least give him our support and give him a chance before crucifying or criticizing him?
For eight years I supported "W" as my president...he was the leader of my country and until the last few months had my total support as an American. But to bash, ridicule and make fun of a man not in office even 100 days is a bit extreme for my likes.
YES...he will make mistakes, but let us wait and see if he can admit and correct them before we begin throwing stones or calling names.
IS ANYONE PERFECT?
Do any of you truly think you could do a better job, given the immense and overwhelming problems that he has inheirited and been brave enough to take on for the next four years....talk about getting MY rest tonight...GOD BLESS THE PRESIDENT AND GUIDE HIM TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
It can be a DEM or it can be a REPUB...as long as they are in control of my nation, I will respect them for the immense task and job they have and be grateful that I live in the United States of America.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
SHE GOT THE GOLD!!
It is 12:56 Sunday morning.
I got home from work about thirty minutes ago after an exhausting but satisfying day.
Left the house before 7AM in a driving rain...maybe I should call it a torrential downpour.
My daughter had her tri state competition for Winter Guard (the big finale) in Macon. Unfortunately her group was to perform at 8:54 AM at the Macon Centreplex. (UGGH)
I have never, EVER driven as fast as I did this morning in such terrible conditions...I was just so scared that I would miss "The BIG Show".
I never went over the speed limit, but I felt like I should have been driving 40 MPH.
I screeched into the parking lot with four minutes to spare...ran through the parking lot while getting soaked to the bone...paid $15 for a ticket and ran into the arena to hear the announcement "And now the Junior Varsity Winter Guard from East Coweta may take the floor for competition".
I MADE IT!!
Still dripping wet, but yelling for my girl at the top of my lungs I got to see her awesome performance.
I called her when I left Newnan and told her the weather was horrific and if I happened to miss her performance I would meet her back at the high school they were staying at for the weekend.
After they left the stage I wound my way through restricted areas and found her having her picture taken with her team. The look on her face when she looked up and saw me, made paying $15 for a four minute ticket worth EVERY penny.
I followed the bus back to the high school in Warner Robbins where they stayed all weekend (nothing like living in a band room with 29 teenage girls).
The room was a total wreck with cell phones plugged into every available outlet and clothes , Doritos bags and empty powerade bottles everywhere...it was kind of like being in her room at the house!
I helped her fold her clothes, find her glasses that she had lost in the shuffle and spent three hours with her just wandering the school, talking with other girls, watching movies on one girl's lap top and just basking in the light of her love for me...I am so truly blessed.
The weather got nothing but worse while I was there. There were tornado warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings...but it was a SUNNY DAY for me and my girl.
I left in time to drive "safely" home to go to work. I saw at least four wrecks and at one point a SUV in front of me hydroplaned and flew about 200 yards up an embankment landing flipped. I called 911 for the occupant who seemed dazed but alright...they were lucky and hit nothing but the water.
My blood pressure was probably sky high by the time I got home, I spent $20 in gas , $15 for a ticket to watch a 4 minute performance, gave her $10 for a tee shirt that she "HAD" to have...and would do it all again.
Right before I sat down to make this post, I checked my cell phone that I had left at the house by mistake when I went into work ..there was a text from Massey that she had sent earlier...it read "Thank you SO much for coming! I LOVE YOU"!
What more does a Mom need than that?
I'll tell ya what more...
She just called while I was starting this post and told me that her JV team got the GOLD medal!! Not only that but she got to accept the award with the team captain.
The varsity got a Bronze, which ain't too shabby considering there were over 75 different teams there.
So I go to bed at 2 AM last night, get up at 6:30, drive to Macon, drive back for work, come home from work at midnight, type this and get to go pick her up at 3AM at East Coweta when they return home from their victory...I might be waking Tim up for this little trip.
Not a bad day all in all for the Mom of a "Crip".
Kids can wear you out emotionally, physically and financially...but when they "love" you...it makes it all worth the effort and something that I wouldn't miss out on for anything in the world.
I have to go set Tim's alarm clock for 2:50 AM. I think as the sperm donor he should have to pick her up.
He was supposed to drive me this morning but flaked out on me saying we would NEVER make it in time.
Never tell a woman...especially a mother that something isn't "do-able"...it'll bite you in the butt every time.
It was a rainy miserable day...But I feel SOOOO good!
Til next time...COTTON
I got home from work about thirty minutes ago after an exhausting but satisfying day.
Left the house before 7AM in a driving rain...maybe I should call it a torrential downpour.
My daughter had her tri state competition for Winter Guard (the big finale) in Macon. Unfortunately her group was to perform at 8:54 AM at the Macon Centreplex. (UGGH)
I have never, EVER driven as fast as I did this morning in such terrible conditions...I was just so scared that I would miss "The BIG Show".
I never went over the speed limit, but I felt like I should have been driving 40 MPH.
I screeched into the parking lot with four minutes to spare...ran through the parking lot while getting soaked to the bone...paid $15 for a ticket and ran into the arena to hear the announcement "And now the Junior Varsity Winter Guard from East Coweta may take the floor for competition".
I MADE IT!!
Still dripping wet, but yelling for my girl at the top of my lungs I got to see her awesome performance.
I called her when I left Newnan and told her the weather was horrific and if I happened to miss her performance I would meet her back at the high school they were staying at for the weekend.
After they left the stage I wound my way through restricted areas and found her having her picture taken with her team. The look on her face when she looked up and saw me, made paying $15 for a four minute ticket worth EVERY penny.
I followed the bus back to the high school in Warner Robbins where they stayed all weekend (nothing like living in a band room with 29 teenage girls).
The room was a total wreck with cell phones plugged into every available outlet and clothes , Doritos bags and empty powerade bottles everywhere...it was kind of like being in her room at the house!
I helped her fold her clothes, find her glasses that she had lost in the shuffle and spent three hours with her just wandering the school, talking with other girls, watching movies on one girl's lap top and just basking in the light of her love for me...I am so truly blessed.
The weather got nothing but worse while I was there. There were tornado warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings...but it was a SUNNY DAY for me and my girl.
I left in time to drive "safely" home to go to work. I saw at least four wrecks and at one point a SUV in front of me hydroplaned and flew about 200 yards up an embankment landing flipped. I called 911 for the occupant who seemed dazed but alright...they were lucky and hit nothing but the water.
My blood pressure was probably sky high by the time I got home, I spent $20 in gas , $15 for a ticket to watch a 4 minute performance, gave her $10 for a tee shirt that she "HAD" to have...and would do it all again.
Right before I sat down to make this post, I checked my cell phone that I had left at the house by mistake when I went into work ..there was a text from Massey that she had sent earlier...it read "Thank you SO much for coming! I LOVE YOU"!
What more does a Mom need than that?
I'll tell ya what more...
She just called while I was starting this post and told me that her JV team got the GOLD medal!! Not only that but she got to accept the award with the team captain.
The varsity got a Bronze, which ain't too shabby considering there were over 75 different teams there.
So I go to bed at 2 AM last night, get up at 6:30, drive to Macon, drive back for work, come home from work at midnight, type this and get to go pick her up at 3AM at East Coweta when they return home from their victory...I might be waking Tim up for this little trip.
Not a bad day all in all for the Mom of a "Crip".
Kids can wear you out emotionally, physically and financially...but when they "love" you...it makes it all worth the effort and something that I wouldn't miss out on for anything in the world.
I have to go set Tim's alarm clock for 2:50 AM. I think as the sperm donor he should have to pick her up.
He was supposed to drive me this morning but flaked out on me saying we would NEVER make it in time.
Never tell a woman...especially a mother that something isn't "do-able"...it'll bite you in the butt every time.
It was a rainy miserable day...But I feel SOOOO good!
Til next time...COTTON
Thursday, March 26, 2009
My Girl The "CRIP"...???
I was at work today when my kids got out of school.
My son went home on the bus and my daughter rode the bus to the high school for her Winter Guard practice.
I got a call from my daughter soon after I arrived at work.
She gets up before ANYONE in our house to get ready for school...it takes a long time when you are a 13 year old girl that actually CARES about her appearance.
She left the house in her usual three layers...she is VERY modest.
First comes the bra, then the camisole and the tank top over that , then the actual shirt that she is wearing.
She is big on accessories, scarves bracelets and hair bows.
She called me at work once she got to the high school for her winter guard practice. She was called to the office during school..to the Principal's office.
They informed her that her scarf was a gang related symbol...and that it insinuated that she was a gang member .
The scarf indeed looked like something that Yassir Arafat wore around his head, but my daughter had it stylishly draped around her neck and obviously caused enough of an uproar to take her out of her academic classes...have her sent to the Principal's office and then to a counselor's office to be told that she was wearing a gang sign and that if she wore the scarf again she would be in violation of school policy and would be subject to suspension.
At the VERY least , I am TICKED!!
I know the school system wants to keep all kids in line and keep a firm check on the possible trouble makers... but my daughter is NOT Massey Arafat or even Massey Tupac.
She is a little girl who wakes up early EVERY morning just to have time to design her "outfit" of the day and try to look fashionable..(although I don't often agree...I let her be HER).
This school is wasting my child's time in the classroom to pull her out and drill her on her supposed gang affiliations and intents with her stupid scarf.
I am livid to say the least and PISSED to say the most.
I understand completely that middle school kids are getting way out of line and need to not only be monitored but reigned in.
Choose your battles wisely...check your facts, and leave the good kids alone.
I will be headed to the school in the morning ...Have thought about wearing a nice black suit with the "Gang" scarf wound around my neck.
This, in my book is the problem..the worries and concerns are misplaced so often that our kids are missing out on the important things, the academics.
I dread going to the school because I have fought so many of my kid's battles (all totally worthy and just).
At least after this year my youngest will be out of their obviously crooked and corrupt system.
LOOK OUT HIGH SCHOOL ...HERE I COME!!
My son went home on the bus and my daughter rode the bus to the high school for her Winter Guard practice.
I got a call from my daughter soon after I arrived at work.
She gets up before ANYONE in our house to get ready for school...it takes a long time when you are a 13 year old girl that actually CARES about her appearance.
She left the house in her usual three layers...she is VERY modest.
First comes the bra, then the camisole and the tank top over that , then the actual shirt that she is wearing.
She is big on accessories, scarves bracelets and hair bows.
She called me at work once she got to the high school for her winter guard practice. She was called to the office during school..to the Principal's office.
They informed her that her scarf was a gang related symbol...and that it insinuated that she was a gang member .
The scarf indeed looked like something that Yassir Arafat wore around his head, but my daughter had it stylishly draped around her neck and obviously caused enough of an uproar to take her out of her academic classes...have her sent to the Principal's office and then to a counselor's office to be told that she was wearing a gang sign and that if she wore the scarf again she would be in violation of school policy and would be subject to suspension.
At the VERY least , I am TICKED!!
I know the school system wants to keep all kids in line and keep a firm check on the possible trouble makers... but my daughter is NOT Massey Arafat or even Massey Tupac.
She is a little girl who wakes up early EVERY morning just to have time to design her "outfit" of the day and try to look fashionable..(although I don't often agree...I let her be HER).
This school is wasting my child's time in the classroom to pull her out and drill her on her supposed gang affiliations and intents with her stupid scarf.
I am livid to say the least and PISSED to say the most.
I understand completely that middle school kids are getting way out of line and need to not only be monitored but reigned in.
Choose your battles wisely...check your facts, and leave the good kids alone.
I will be headed to the school in the morning ...Have thought about wearing a nice black suit with the "Gang" scarf wound around my neck.
This, in my book is the problem..the worries and concerns are misplaced so often that our kids are missing out on the important things, the academics.
I dread going to the school because I have fought so many of my kid's battles (all totally worthy and just).
At least after this year my youngest will be out of their obviously crooked and corrupt system.
LOOK OUT HIGH SCHOOL ...HERE I COME!!
I'm All a"twitter" Now
For Pete's sake...this is ABSOLUTELY the last website I am joining!
I have an entire index card filled out with log in names, usernames, passwords etc.
There is nothing worse than being a 49 year old HACK trying to keep up with the exploding world of "Chatting" on the internet. I spend most of my time trying not to look incredibly stupid, in case some of my kid's friends see me out here in cyberspace.
I think I might like this twitter deal...only time will tell. I thought that I had facebook down pat, then they changed the whole site (probablly just so they could laugh at all us Ole Farts scrambling to keep up)!
Then I get an email saying a dear friend of mine that has moved to Shreveport is "following" me on twitter.
After hitting the "help" button and The "FAQ" button several times, I was able to make a post (we won't go into how long it took me to crop and post a profile picture). I'm still not quite sure how to send him a note or contact him personally, and I have to be at work in seven hours so I suppose that will have to wait!!
I guess I'll get off the computer now and go do something I KNOW how to do...like laundry and vacuuming.
Til Next time......COTTON
I have an entire index card filled out with log in names, usernames, passwords etc.
There is nothing worse than being a 49 year old HACK trying to keep up with the exploding world of "Chatting" on the internet. I spend most of my time trying not to look incredibly stupid, in case some of my kid's friends see me out here in cyberspace.
I think I might like this twitter deal...only time will tell. I thought that I had facebook down pat, then they changed the whole site (probablly just so they could laugh at all us Ole Farts scrambling to keep up)!
Then I get an email saying a dear friend of mine that has moved to Shreveport is "following" me on twitter.
After hitting the "help" button and The "FAQ" button several times, I was able to make a post (we won't go into how long it took me to crop and post a profile picture). I'm still not quite sure how to send him a note or contact him personally, and I have to be at work in seven hours so I suppose that will have to wait!!
I guess I'll get off the computer now and go do something I KNOW how to do...like laundry and vacuuming.
Til Next time......COTTON
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Checked Out My Money Trail...
My daughter had a Winter Guard competition at our home school today.
It was my first chance to go to a competition since she has joined. I had to completely redo my schedule at work...been working the same shifts for years but since I am sinking WELL over 1/2 a grand into this...I decided to change MY schedule to fit HERS!
I was not disappointed. There were over 3000 people there from 41 different schools...pretty impressive.
This is the first time I have ever seen her perform with her group...I only have watched her practice in our driveway with one or two other girls.
She had one of the leading dance parts...knocked it out of the park and ALMOST, ALMOST made me glad I am throwing $800 to the school for her to be a part of this group.
This is serious business to these folks too. I never realized how dedicated these kids are, or how crazy the parents can be. I looked out of place without ten buttons and pins and banners on my shirt, pocket book and jacket...most Mom's were a walking display of their daughters.
One lady had a tee shirt on that read "GUARD MOMS GONE WILD"
I can pretty much guarantee that I won't be buying one of those!
All in all I was pretty satisfied with what I saw and the teamwork and camaraderie between all these girls.
And guess what?? My daughter's team won FIRST PLACE!!
I know it's MY own child, but they looked more professional and well rehearsed than any other JV team by far.
I left after she performed to go eat lunch and take the program by my work (they bought a $100 ad) so my boss could see it.
I went back to the school to sit with my daughter to watch the rest of the competition...it started at 1:00 and the last group performed at 8:30.
She was glued to my side. We had a wonderful time watching the other groups and I know that she was bursting with pride that she had her mother with her.(That doesn't happen often, so it was just as special to me).
Kids are a marvelous and fantastic thing...Just when you think they are killing you slowly, they bring you back to the realization that this person used to be in your belly and is an actual piece of you...physically, genetically and emotionally.
It was a wonderful and rewarding day...for her AND me!
I get to do it all over again tomorrow...and you know what? I am really looking forward to it.
It has brought us closer together by leaps and bounds...I can actually see it in her eyes and feel it in the way she doesn't mind me holding her hand while we sit side by side watching the other schools perform.
She is becoming quite a young lady. It makes me sad to see her grow up but proud to see what a fantastic young adult she is turning into.
Maybe I DID do some things right!! Ya just never know with kids...sometimes it's a crapshoot...and sometimes ya just get lucky!
It was my first chance to go to a competition since she has joined. I had to completely redo my schedule at work...been working the same shifts for years but since I am sinking WELL over 1/2 a grand into this...I decided to change MY schedule to fit HERS!
I was not disappointed. There were over 3000 people there from 41 different schools...pretty impressive.
This is the first time I have ever seen her perform with her group...I only have watched her practice in our driveway with one or two other girls.
She had one of the leading dance parts...knocked it out of the park and ALMOST, ALMOST made me glad I am throwing $800 to the school for her to be a part of this group.
This is serious business to these folks too. I never realized how dedicated these kids are, or how crazy the parents can be. I looked out of place without ten buttons and pins and banners on my shirt, pocket book and jacket...most Mom's were a walking display of their daughters.
One lady had a tee shirt on that read "GUARD MOMS GONE WILD"
I can pretty much guarantee that I won't be buying one of those!
All in all I was pretty satisfied with what I saw and the teamwork and camaraderie between all these girls.
And guess what?? My daughter's team won FIRST PLACE!!
I know it's MY own child, but they looked more professional and well rehearsed than any other JV team by far.
I left after she performed to go eat lunch and take the program by my work (they bought a $100 ad) so my boss could see it.
I went back to the school to sit with my daughter to watch the rest of the competition...it started at 1:00 and the last group performed at 8:30.
She was glued to my side. We had a wonderful time watching the other groups and I know that she was bursting with pride that she had her mother with her.(That doesn't happen often, so it was just as special to me).
Kids are a marvelous and fantastic thing...Just when you think they are killing you slowly, they bring you back to the realization that this person used to be in your belly and is an actual piece of you...physically, genetically and emotionally.
It was a wonderful and rewarding day...for her AND me!
I get to do it all over again tomorrow...and you know what? I am really looking forward to it.
It has brought us closer together by leaps and bounds...I can actually see it in her eyes and feel it in the way she doesn't mind me holding her hand while we sit side by side watching the other schools perform.
She is becoming quite a young lady. It makes me sad to see her grow up but proud to see what a fantastic young adult she is turning into.
Maybe I DID do some things right!! Ya just never know with kids...sometimes it's a crapshoot...and sometimes ya just get lucky!
Friday, March 20, 2009
I Have a NEW Home !!
Thank You Jesus! I found yet another site to accept my rambling writings.
After being banished (by my own accord) from my high school site on classmates...I was invited to join a site that has a moderator that can actually keep my cyber stalker in check.
I checked in after signing up and had two welcome messages!!
My high school had the best classmates site on the boards. Once I began to post and my cyber stalker took to the attack, it went downhill rapidly. She not only attacked me, but anyone who came to my defense.
It bordered on the line of insanity at times. I truly feel sorry that it was me and my happy typing fingers that caused the demise, but realize now...SHE IS A PSYCHO.
She called me a racist...for pete's sake...that in it's self is ludicrous.
This new site has the same ole folks....we all jumped ship about the same time and will pick up where we left off...remembering East Point for the great city it was to grow up in and Russell for the great school it was to attend.
I have pictures to post (Massey, help me ONE more time) and so many memories to share.
Hopefully I am leaving my cyber stalker in the dust....that is all she has left on classmates...except for the people that she has made up and posts under pseudonyms....If you think I am kidding I can assure you that I am NOT!
It is a great relief to me to be able to go back to what I do best...writing about my life, my past and my memories.
I swear if I do ONE thing in my life it will be having SOMETHING published.
It may end up to be in my obituary...but it WILL be published!
I responded time after time to her accusations only to go back and delete them before they got posted...I fear she may be more serious about her hate of me than I realize.
But I feel free now to post my trivial stories, spark recollections from others and hopefully entertain and enlighten.
A weight has been lifted from my shoulders. There is nothing I love more than pecking the keys and putting my thoughts out there....or have you noticed that?
Have to wind it up now because my girl has her BIG competition tomorrow at our home high school...have to have her there by 7AM to have her hair done...have to go buy a case of water bottles for the group...(Wouldn't you think that would be included in my $650.00 fee)??
I'll be back tomorrow night for another post and if Massey will help me I will upload the video I make at the competition....I'll try not to zoom in on her ALL the time!
Life is GOOD!
After being banished (by my own accord) from my high school site on classmates...I was invited to join a site that has a moderator that can actually keep my cyber stalker in check.
I checked in after signing up and had two welcome messages!!
My high school had the best classmates site on the boards. Once I began to post and my cyber stalker took to the attack, it went downhill rapidly. She not only attacked me, but anyone who came to my defense.
It bordered on the line of insanity at times. I truly feel sorry that it was me and my happy typing fingers that caused the demise, but realize now...SHE IS A PSYCHO.
She called me a racist...for pete's sake...that in it's self is ludicrous.
This new site has the same ole folks....we all jumped ship about the same time and will pick up where we left off...remembering East Point for the great city it was to grow up in and Russell for the great school it was to attend.
I have pictures to post (Massey, help me ONE more time) and so many memories to share.
Hopefully I am leaving my cyber stalker in the dust....that is all she has left on classmates...except for the people that she has made up and posts under pseudonyms....If you think I am kidding I can assure you that I am NOT!
It is a great relief to me to be able to go back to what I do best...writing about my life, my past and my memories.
I swear if I do ONE thing in my life it will be having SOMETHING published.
It may end up to be in my obituary...but it WILL be published!
I responded time after time to her accusations only to go back and delete them before they got posted...I fear she may be more serious about her hate of me than I realize.
But I feel free now to post my trivial stories, spark recollections from others and hopefully entertain and enlighten.
A weight has been lifted from my shoulders. There is nothing I love more than pecking the keys and putting my thoughts out there....or have you noticed that?
Have to wind it up now because my girl has her BIG competition tomorrow at our home high school...have to have her there by 7AM to have her hair done...have to go buy a case of water bottles for the group...(Wouldn't you think that would be included in my $650.00 fee)??
I'll be back tomorrow night for another post and if Massey will help me I will upload the video I make at the competition....I'll try not to zoom in on her ALL the time!
Life is GOOD!
Facebook..."MY" New Frontier
How do you make a 49 year old woman look stupid?
Invite her to join Facebook.
First of all I had to get my daughter to set up my account.
Then I found out you could upload pictures....requiring another consult with my daughter.
It took me a week just to learn to navigate around the site, took another week to figure out the difference between the homepage and the profile page.
After that, a friend sent me an email telling me I needed to set my site to PRIVATE. (I have a cyber stalker out there ya know)
That only took me an hour and three different tries.
Then they start throwing "hugs" and inviting you to "pillow fights" nominating you as "nicest person"..(yeah, RIGHT!) asking to fill out inane surveys, "sending chocolates"...the list goes on and on and on.
I finally found out that all of these things somehow raise money for children's charities. If I could figure out how to help I would, but just giving someone a "poke" was hard for me to understand....(Thanks again Massey).
On one hand I love the concept...have renewed many old friendships and made a few new ones.
On the other hand...after finally feeling pretty secure in logging onto the site...they change the entire setup.
It took me three days to find the groups that I had joined, still can't figure out how to copy a pic from my site and post it on one of my groups (Massey has pretty much dissed my desire for additional help) so I am left to flounder all around the site, hoping to hit the right button, app, key or status.
I guess that young people all around the globe are laughing at me responding to my own posts when I mean to be posting on other's posts, posting double copies of pics because I never know if the first one posted and are all wondering why I am refusing to help children charities.
Ya know, ten years ago...who had a cell phone except Donald Trump and drug dealers?
Now my KIDS have cell phones, ipods, laptops, PS3, WII, the list goes on and on.
My parents are most likely rolling over in their graves...wishing THEY had a cell phone to call me and say "STOP THE MADNESS".
It is just a sign of the times unfortunately...we are a wired nation.
Whereas a kid used to be glued to your hip...now they are wired to the entire world and reaching people, places and search engines that I couldn't have dreamed of... even watching "The Jetsons" as a kid.
The only thing I am missing is "ROSIE" the robot maid...maybe SHE could help me out with my technological attempts at keeping up.
What in the world will MY grandkids be doing one day??? Jetting over in their Hovercraft that they got for high school graduation to visit me in the ole folks home to help change my "Virtual Depends"??
I think that I am scared...really scared...is there an app on FB for that?
Invite her to join Facebook.
First of all I had to get my daughter to set up my account.
Then I found out you could upload pictures....requiring another consult with my daughter.
It took me a week just to learn to navigate around the site, took another week to figure out the difference between the homepage and the profile page.
After that, a friend sent me an email telling me I needed to set my site to PRIVATE. (I have a cyber stalker out there ya know)
That only took me an hour and three different tries.
Then they start throwing "hugs" and inviting you to "pillow fights" nominating you as "nicest person"..(yeah, RIGHT!) asking to fill out inane surveys, "sending chocolates"...the list goes on and on and on.
I finally found out that all of these things somehow raise money for children's charities. If I could figure out how to help I would, but just giving someone a "poke" was hard for me to understand....(Thanks again Massey).
On one hand I love the concept...have renewed many old friendships and made a few new ones.
On the other hand...after finally feeling pretty secure in logging onto the site...they change the entire setup.
It took me three days to find the groups that I had joined, still can't figure out how to copy a pic from my site and post it on one of my groups (Massey has pretty much dissed my desire for additional help) so I am left to flounder all around the site, hoping to hit the right button, app, key or status.
I guess that young people all around the globe are laughing at me responding to my own posts when I mean to be posting on other's posts, posting double copies of pics because I never know if the first one posted and are all wondering why I am refusing to help children charities.
Ya know, ten years ago...who had a cell phone except Donald Trump and drug dealers?
Now my KIDS have cell phones, ipods, laptops, PS3, WII, the list goes on and on.
My parents are most likely rolling over in their graves...wishing THEY had a cell phone to call me and say "STOP THE MADNESS".
It is just a sign of the times unfortunately...we are a wired nation.
Whereas a kid used to be glued to your hip...now they are wired to the entire world and reaching people, places and search engines that I couldn't have dreamed of... even watching "The Jetsons" as a kid.
The only thing I am missing is "ROSIE" the robot maid...maybe SHE could help me out with my technological attempts at keeping up.
What in the world will MY grandkids be doing one day??? Jetting over in their Hovercraft that they got for high school graduation to visit me in the ole folks home to help change my "Virtual Depends"??
I think that I am scared...really scared...is there an app on FB for that?
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
When Working Hard REALLY Pays Off
Followers of my blog will be up to speed.
My daughter has joined an obviously 14 karat club at school.
It is called the Winter Guard...they practice unbelievably hard and long to attend competitions all over the Metro Atlanta area.
I was totally devastated when I found out it was $650 for her to be happy and a part of this group.
It went down hill quickly.
$27 for a unitard, $20 for an undergarment, $40 for food when they go on their weekend competitions...$40 for an air mattress because they sleep on the floor of a classroom when they compete at other schools.
A $10 to $15 dollar present for her "secret sister" on the squad.
It never seems to stop and what is worse is that she came on as a replacement for another girl who quit the team almost halfway through the year (I guess her parents ran out of money).
She is so happy though and seems to be committed and it is the first really costly thing she has ever asked for...besides her lap top and her ipod and her digital camera.
Thank God she is actually an exceptional young woman with a heart as big as the national deficit.
So now comes the "big show" at our own high school. 3000 people expected to attend.
I pick her up from practice at 9:15 PM on Thursday. She hands me a note that says she has to sell $150 worth of ads for the program that will be handed out at the "HOME" event the following weekend before Monday morning.
I am supposed to take her to the high school the next day at 4PM to leave for a competition...not due back til Sunday at 7PM.
Somehow while she is gone for three days and I work the entire weekend...We are supposed to sell $150 in ads to an already broken and failing economy that could care less about her being thrilled at twirling and tossing her flag and feeling like she is finally PART of something.
I got REALLY lucky at work today.
My regional manager who is over all the restaurants in my area was in our store for a visit from the big wigs...Thank the Lord they were late.
I felt really apprehensive and embarrassed doing it...but I thought of my daughter, thought of my current economic position, thought of how good of an employee I have been for over ten years....and just WENT FOR IT!
You know what? There was only a slight hesitation, and a question of how much $$ I needed.
The event is being held not 3 miles from my restaurant and I will be attending and directing the masses to go eat at the best restaurant in a 20 mile radius...I am thinking about a sandwich board sign!
I told my regional and general manager how much it meant to me and my daughter , she gave them both a hug when we went to pick up the $$ for the ad.
I tend to give my hugs in the commitment, loyalty and devotion that I give to my job.
Sometimes I wonder why I am still waiting tables at the age of 49.
When days like this happen...I KNOW WHY.
I feel like I go beyond and above when I am at work...and you know what?
THEY KNOW IT.
WHAT GREATER JOB COULD I HAVE THAN ONE THAT APPRECIATES ME AS MUCH AS I APPRECIATE IT?
My daughter has joined an obviously 14 karat club at school.
It is called the Winter Guard...they practice unbelievably hard and long to attend competitions all over the Metro Atlanta area.
I was totally devastated when I found out it was $650 for her to be happy and a part of this group.
It went down hill quickly.
$27 for a unitard, $20 for an undergarment, $40 for food when they go on their weekend competitions...$40 for an air mattress because they sleep on the floor of a classroom when they compete at other schools.
A $10 to $15 dollar present for her "secret sister" on the squad.
It never seems to stop and what is worse is that she came on as a replacement for another girl who quit the team almost halfway through the year (I guess her parents ran out of money).
She is so happy though and seems to be committed and it is the first really costly thing she has ever asked for...besides her lap top and her ipod and her digital camera.
Thank God she is actually an exceptional young woman with a heart as big as the national deficit.
So now comes the "big show" at our own high school. 3000 people expected to attend.
I pick her up from practice at 9:15 PM on Thursday. She hands me a note that says she has to sell $150 worth of ads for the program that will be handed out at the "HOME" event the following weekend before Monday morning.
I am supposed to take her to the high school the next day at 4PM to leave for a competition...not due back til Sunday at 7PM.
Somehow while she is gone for three days and I work the entire weekend...We are supposed to sell $150 in ads to an already broken and failing economy that could care less about her being thrilled at twirling and tossing her flag and feeling like she is finally PART of something.
I got REALLY lucky at work today.
My regional manager who is over all the restaurants in my area was in our store for a visit from the big wigs...Thank the Lord they were late.
I felt really apprehensive and embarrassed doing it...but I thought of my daughter, thought of my current economic position, thought of how good of an employee I have been for over ten years....and just WENT FOR IT!
You know what? There was only a slight hesitation, and a question of how much $$ I needed.
The event is being held not 3 miles from my restaurant and I will be attending and directing the masses to go eat at the best restaurant in a 20 mile radius...I am thinking about a sandwich board sign!
I told my regional and general manager how much it meant to me and my daughter , she gave them both a hug when we went to pick up the $$ for the ad.
I tend to give my hugs in the commitment, loyalty and devotion that I give to my job.
Sometimes I wonder why I am still waiting tables at the age of 49.
When days like this happen...I KNOW WHY.
I feel like I go beyond and above when I am at work...and you know what?
THEY KNOW IT.
WHAT GREATER JOB COULD I HAVE THAN ONE THAT APPRECIATES ME AS MUCH AS I APPRECIATE IT?
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Slumdog Millionaire..."WOW"!!!
Just got home from the most intense two hours I've ever spent in a theatre.
My sixteen year old son and I went for a night out...just the two of us and were not disappointed in the least. It's been a while since we have seen eye to eye on anything, but after the movie my son said "That was pretty intense".
After the movie was over everyone just remained in their seats to watch even the credits roll.
My daughter's doctor grew up in Bombay and has told me the conditions were not the greatest for many, many people and now I see exactly what she means.
I have never been disgusted and disappointed by so many people in such a short time and learned how blessed I and my family are during that same span.
The obstacles and tragedy of his entire childhood...his perseverance and determination to do the right thing and his wonderful and unwavering good character made me realize the power of the human spirit.
For those who have not seen it...it is a MUST SEE!
I don't often spend $19 for two tickets to a movie, but feel this was pretty darn close to being well worth it.
From the opening scene to the dance scene at the end...it was an experience I will not forget.
It makes you realize that even with our crumbling economy and ridiculous health care system...we are still pretty darn lucky.
The last movie that touched me this much was "Crash"...another movie that will open your eyes to the world around you.
Say a prayer of thanks tonight that you are lucky enough to live here...even with all the problems, worries and crises...we are more blessed than many.
TIL NEXT TIME...COTTON
My sixteen year old son and I went for a night out...just the two of us and were not disappointed in the least. It's been a while since we have seen eye to eye on anything, but after the movie my son said "That was pretty intense".
After the movie was over everyone just remained in their seats to watch even the credits roll.
My daughter's doctor grew up in Bombay and has told me the conditions were not the greatest for many, many people and now I see exactly what she means.
I have never been disgusted and disappointed by so many people in such a short time and learned how blessed I and my family are during that same span.
The obstacles and tragedy of his entire childhood...his perseverance and determination to do the right thing and his wonderful and unwavering good character made me realize the power of the human spirit.
For those who have not seen it...it is a MUST SEE!
I don't often spend $19 for two tickets to a movie, but feel this was pretty darn close to being well worth it.
From the opening scene to the dance scene at the end...it was an experience I will not forget.
It makes you realize that even with our crumbling economy and ridiculous health care system...we are still pretty darn lucky.
The last movie that touched me this much was "Crash"...another movie that will open your eyes to the world around you.
Say a prayer of thanks tonight that you are lucky enough to live here...even with all the problems, worries and crises...we are more blessed than many.
TIL NEXT TIME...COTTON
Thursday, March 12, 2009
"THAT'S"... Nice !!
That was the favorite saying of one of my dearest friends that I worked with over ten years ago.
A yankee through and through (she grew up with Amy Fisher...Big Joey Butafucco's ex) on Long Island.
We struck an immediate bond...we were both smart ass and full of ourselves.
We virtually RAN the restaurant that we both worked for...everyone else was in awe of us and cowered to our every request or demand. Of course we were the only two with any kind of experience or know how when it came to serving the public.
I was old enough to be her mother, but young spirited enough to be her best friend.
She took care of my youngest two kids so often that I worried they would begin to call "Her" Mom.
They both still remember her because at the time her sister was battling cancer and they had never seen a bald headed woman before (they both still talk about it).
She always longed to be a mother.
When she became pregnant (OOPS) out of wedlock..she was tickled to death.
She didn't mind her circumstances..she embraced her good fortune of being blessed with a child.
She moved back to New York with her parents...grandkid in tow, and I missed her terribly, but was so glad she had accepting and loving parents to help her on her way into the marvelous and trying experience of raising a child on your own.
We kept in touch, although sporadically, but the bond has held throught the years...THAT is why it is called a friendship.
Webster decribes a friend as " A person with whom one is allied in a struggle or cause: a comrade."
That is exactly what we are..."One who supports, sympathizes with...To befriend".
We are hundreds and hundreds of miles apart...talk rarely on the phone...but when we do the years disappear, it all comes back in a simple "Hello..It's me".
She has gone on to marry, have more children and achieved the dream she always wanted.
It hasn't been easy...nothing worth having ever is.
But I am proud of my girl, proud of my friend and so lucky to have had her come into my life.
Recently she has come swooping to my defense on a stupid classmates site that a former ...HUH how should I phrase it...PSYCHO has belittled and outright lied about me , my sister (OOHHH...That's a BAD) and totally ruined a once great site for friends to re connect and relish the past.
TAG!!! She is it now...taking all the brunt and "viscous" attacks from my cyber stalker(my stalker is a terrible speller).
WHAT A FRIEND!!
To me...that is the meaning of a true friend.
Literally YEARS can pass...but it doesn't matter.
A FRIEND IS A FRIEND IS A FRIEND..FOREVER.
That is the great thing about having a friend, you can count on them, they will always love you. Miles or time do not matter, what matters is that you love that person and they will always love you right back.
Now that this whole facebook, twitter, email, myspace phenom has occurred...I feel closer to her today...being hundreds of miles away, than I did nine years ago when I actually had to pick up the phone.
I am not sure what that says about our society as a whole...but it keeps me in touch easily with a dear friend and seems to bring us closer with every click of the mouse.
I have many friends..I am lucky in that respect.
I just want to point out how important it is to keep the bond, and remember that Webster also calls "friendly" ..Warm and comforting.
Those are two words that describe my YANKEE friend completely.
She is amazing...I always knew she would be....and her being a staunch "DEM" doesn't hurt either.
Just a shout out to you, my "Friend"... Thank you for loving me as much as I love you!
A yankee through and through (she grew up with Amy Fisher...Big Joey Butafucco's ex) on Long Island.
We struck an immediate bond...we were both smart ass and full of ourselves.
We virtually RAN the restaurant that we both worked for...everyone else was in awe of us and cowered to our every request or demand. Of course we were the only two with any kind of experience or know how when it came to serving the public.
I was old enough to be her mother, but young spirited enough to be her best friend.
She took care of my youngest two kids so often that I worried they would begin to call "Her" Mom.
They both still remember her because at the time her sister was battling cancer and they had never seen a bald headed woman before (they both still talk about it).
She always longed to be a mother.
When she became pregnant (OOPS) out of wedlock..she was tickled to death.
She didn't mind her circumstances..she embraced her good fortune of being blessed with a child.
She moved back to New York with her parents...grandkid in tow, and I missed her terribly, but was so glad she had accepting and loving parents to help her on her way into the marvelous and trying experience of raising a child on your own.
We kept in touch, although sporadically, but the bond has held throught the years...THAT is why it is called a friendship.
Webster decribes a friend as " A person with whom one is allied in a struggle or cause: a comrade."
That is exactly what we are..."One who supports, sympathizes with...To befriend".
We are hundreds and hundreds of miles apart...talk rarely on the phone...but when we do the years disappear, it all comes back in a simple "Hello..It's me".
She has gone on to marry, have more children and achieved the dream she always wanted.
It hasn't been easy...nothing worth having ever is.
But I am proud of my girl, proud of my friend and so lucky to have had her come into my life.
Recently she has come swooping to my defense on a stupid classmates site that a former ...HUH how should I phrase it...PSYCHO has belittled and outright lied about me , my sister (OOHHH...That's a BAD) and totally ruined a once great site for friends to re connect and relish the past.
TAG!!! She is it now...taking all the brunt and "viscous" attacks from my cyber stalker(my stalker is a terrible speller).
WHAT A FRIEND!!
To me...that is the meaning of a true friend.
Literally YEARS can pass...but it doesn't matter.
A FRIEND IS A FRIEND IS A FRIEND..FOREVER.
That is the great thing about having a friend, you can count on them, they will always love you. Miles or time do not matter, what matters is that you love that person and they will always love you right back.
Now that this whole facebook, twitter, email, myspace phenom has occurred...I feel closer to her today...being hundreds of miles away, than I did nine years ago when I actually had to pick up the phone.
I am not sure what that says about our society as a whole...but it keeps me in touch easily with a dear friend and seems to bring us closer with every click of the mouse.
I have many friends..I am lucky in that respect.
I just want to point out how important it is to keep the bond, and remember that Webster also calls "friendly" ..Warm and comforting.
Those are two words that describe my YANKEE friend completely.
She is amazing...I always knew she would be....and her being a staunch "DEM" doesn't hurt either.
Just a shout out to you, my "Friend"... Thank you for loving me as much as I love you!
Friday, March 6, 2009
When The Son Doesn't Shine
I have three kids.
Love them all equally..all have qualities that I enjoy, some more than others.
My oldest son graduated high school with a 3.89 without ever cracking a book.
My daughter (who I have to SHOVE down the path of education) is more interested in her social activities and her baby sitting empire, yet she still manages to pull out the grades.
My middle son (GOD HELP US ALL) is bombing out of school at the rate of a sonic boom.
What amazes me is that HE is my really smart one!
He can tell you how to build an atom bomb, or tell you ANY historical fact that you never knew existed..and he would be right on the mark...Trust me..I have googled some of them.
He just doesn't like being "judged by numbers and letters". He is such a fantastic debater...even the principal of the school he attends has told me he needs to be an attorney.
He JUST falls through the cracks.
He hates school...(Not the social part) but says it is a waste of his time.
I emailed two of his teachers this past week...Zach is just dishonest about homework unless I email them.
The first response I got was ALMOST uplifting.
"Mrs.Cotton, your son is not disruptive or disrespectful, he just chooses to not complete or turn in assignments".
WHEW!!! I almost felt good!
No parent likes to hear that their kid is being a snot to the teacher or "sassing" them (old school term I know, but I am AM almost 50).
Then came the email from his Science teacher:
"Mrs. Cotton... Thanks for your email.
Zach is on the borderline of brilliant.
He is lazy in class and does not turn in assignments.
The other day I asked a question that involved intuitive thought. I only expected the high scoring kids in the class to answer, and as they were all scrambling through their books and notes, Zach woke up and gave me the exact answer I was looking for".
This teacher told me that on a daily basis he tells Zach to unleash the talent, use the wonderful brain he has and make it work FOR him.
My oldest son was so easy...I guess I should have seen Zach coming!
He seems to be easing up a bit and realizing MY take on it all.
He is wasting a potential that even "I" would kill to have.
Granted he is right...judging by numbers and letters is ridiculous...but it is school and that is the standard they use.
As my husband often says..."Let's just try to get him out of school and he will be the next Bill Gates".
I hate to have to keep my thumb on him on a daily basis...but I do.
If I email his teachers and check his grades online every day..he seems to at least do the work...but why, oh why does he have to make it SO hard on me?
KIDS...go figure!
At least he has the potential...maybe one day he will realize it.
Love them all equally..all have qualities that I enjoy, some more than others.
My oldest son graduated high school with a 3.89 without ever cracking a book.
My daughter (who I have to SHOVE down the path of education) is more interested in her social activities and her baby sitting empire, yet she still manages to pull out the grades.
My middle son (GOD HELP US ALL) is bombing out of school at the rate of a sonic boom.
What amazes me is that HE is my really smart one!
He can tell you how to build an atom bomb, or tell you ANY historical fact that you never knew existed..and he would be right on the mark...Trust me..I have googled some of them.
He just doesn't like being "judged by numbers and letters". He is such a fantastic debater...even the principal of the school he attends has told me he needs to be an attorney.
He JUST falls through the cracks.
He hates school...(Not the social part) but says it is a waste of his time.
I emailed two of his teachers this past week...Zach is just dishonest about homework unless I email them.
The first response I got was ALMOST uplifting.
"Mrs.Cotton, your son is not disruptive or disrespectful, he just chooses to not complete or turn in assignments".
WHEW!!! I almost felt good!
No parent likes to hear that their kid is being a snot to the teacher or "sassing" them (old school term I know, but I am AM almost 50).
Then came the email from his Science teacher:
"Mrs. Cotton... Thanks for your email.
Zach is on the borderline of brilliant.
He is lazy in class and does not turn in assignments.
The other day I asked a question that involved intuitive thought. I only expected the high scoring kids in the class to answer, and as they were all scrambling through their books and notes, Zach woke up and gave me the exact answer I was looking for".
This teacher told me that on a daily basis he tells Zach to unleash the talent, use the wonderful brain he has and make it work FOR him.
My oldest son was so easy...I guess I should have seen Zach coming!
He seems to be easing up a bit and realizing MY take on it all.
He is wasting a potential that even "I" would kill to have.
Granted he is right...judging by numbers and letters is ridiculous...but it is school and that is the standard they use.
As my husband often says..."Let's just try to get him out of school and he will be the next Bill Gates".
I hate to have to keep my thumb on him on a daily basis...but I do.
If I email his teachers and check his grades online every day..he seems to at least do the work...but why, oh why does he have to make it SO hard on me?
KIDS...go figure!
At least he has the potential...maybe one day he will realize it.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Sorry...I have been distracted
I have the biggest soap opera going on in my internet world!
My thirty year grudge has kept on and on and on.
On classmates...she chased me off with her "vinim" as she spells it.
Then after I left the site, she continued to rag on me for a couple of weeks...until one of my friends responded in one line..."All the hate seems to be coming from one person".
She wrote back a two page diatribe mentioning me every step of the way.
My friend responded "The hate seems to be coming from one person".
She blasted him back again with another manifesto..to which he responded (God I love him)...."As I said, all the hate seems to be coming from one person".
Baby, that didn't stop her!! It got so ridiculous that I printed off the entire thread to take to work and show my co workers...they had a field day reading it.
We have all abandoned the classmates site..she is basically left to argue with herself.
I didn't get really pissed til she started talking trash about my sister..WHOA!! Don't dis my sis!
She said that the posts I made were written by my sister..and that she could prove the isp numbers were the same and had been written on the same computer...Who in the hell has THAT kind of time?
Number one, cin only types on my family.com and I had to BEG her to post on classmates(guess that was a bad suggestion).
She actually went to the realm of sanity when she called me and Cindy "specious pontificators" and added "Look it up...see I can use big words too".
I don't consider myself a talented writer... but I feel like I do have some type of gift when putting my feelings and thoughts into words.
That may be what irritates her the most, but it is WHAT I DO.
I used to enjoy classmates so tremendously...and not to brag, one of my discussions has had over 1400 views...I think that may be what started it all.
That and the fact that I sat first chair in French horn and she was second....I am serious...that was her first battle against me on classmates..HELLO!!! That was 1977...do we see a possible mental issue here?
So I left classmates and joined facebook...I gotta have somewhere to write!
At least on the facebook high school site they have an administrator and when she starts her tirades they can bounce her off the site.
I promise to come back here more often.
I finally broke down and bought a new computer..it goes so fast and is so FANTASTIC that I can almost feel good about the $500 I spent.
At least my kids are loving it. I have to kick them off of it when I get home from work.
If you want an interesting read and a psychological moment..go to classmates.com and go to schools from East Point Georgia Russell High School. go to the message boards and read under the post: "Keeping the message board nice". It is a trip on the internet that you may find hard to believe...but better than "Dallas" or "All my Children".
Check it out if you have fifteen minutes to spare, or want to observe an obviously rare specimen of the human psyche.
I have just been riveted by it! Not to mention her spelling or cryouts as a victim.
Promise to be back tomorrow with a post about my sixteen year old son (that could go on forever) and a post about people I have waited on recently at work. Thanks Frances, Joannah and Elizabeth for being followers..I have tons to tell you all...but my clothes are done in the dryer and I have to toss another load in before I go to bed.
Thanks for waiting and thanks for reading!!
My thirty year grudge has kept on and on and on.
On classmates...she chased me off with her "vinim" as she spells it.
Then after I left the site, she continued to rag on me for a couple of weeks...until one of my friends responded in one line..."All the hate seems to be coming from one person".
She wrote back a two page diatribe mentioning me every step of the way.
My friend responded "The hate seems to be coming from one person".
She blasted him back again with another manifesto..to which he responded (God I love him)...."As I said, all the hate seems to be coming from one person".
Baby, that didn't stop her!! It got so ridiculous that I printed off the entire thread to take to work and show my co workers...they had a field day reading it.
We have all abandoned the classmates site..she is basically left to argue with herself.
I didn't get really pissed til she started talking trash about my sister..WHOA!! Don't dis my sis!
She said that the posts I made were written by my sister..and that she could prove the isp numbers were the same and had been written on the same computer...Who in the hell has THAT kind of time?
Number one, cin only types on my family.com and I had to BEG her to post on classmates(guess that was a bad suggestion).
She actually went to the realm of sanity when she called me and Cindy "specious pontificators" and added "Look it up...see I can use big words too".
I don't consider myself a talented writer... but I feel like I do have some type of gift when putting my feelings and thoughts into words.
That may be what irritates her the most, but it is WHAT I DO.
I used to enjoy classmates so tremendously...and not to brag, one of my discussions has had over 1400 views...I think that may be what started it all.
That and the fact that I sat first chair in French horn and she was second....I am serious...that was her first battle against me on classmates..HELLO!!! That was 1977...do we see a possible mental issue here?
So I left classmates and joined facebook...I gotta have somewhere to write!
At least on the facebook high school site they have an administrator and when she starts her tirades they can bounce her off the site.
I promise to come back here more often.
I finally broke down and bought a new computer..it goes so fast and is so FANTASTIC that I can almost feel good about the $500 I spent.
At least my kids are loving it. I have to kick them off of it when I get home from work.
If you want an interesting read and a psychological moment..go to classmates.com and go to schools from East Point Georgia Russell High School. go to the message boards and read under the post: "Keeping the message board nice". It is a trip on the internet that you may find hard to believe...but better than "Dallas" or "All my Children".
Check it out if you have fifteen minutes to spare, or want to observe an obviously rare specimen of the human psyche.
I have just been riveted by it! Not to mention her spelling or cryouts as a victim.
Promise to be back tomorrow with a post about my sixteen year old son (that could go on forever) and a post about people I have waited on recently at work. Thanks Frances, Joannah and Elizabeth for being followers..I have tons to tell you all...but my clothes are done in the dryer and I have to toss another load in before I go to bed.
Thanks for waiting and thanks for reading!!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
My Eye's Aren't Bad, But My Arms Are Too Short..
When I am at work...I card everybody. we had a bartender go to jail one night because the police sent in an underage person and she ordered a drink...It sounds more like entrapment to me...but who am I to argue? You "Can't fight City Hall"...
Now I find myself carding EVERYONE...just to cover my own butt.
The problem I am having is that I can't hold the driver's license far enough away from my face to read the date on the card.
Of course sometimes the person is a visiting associate with Hoshazaki( probably mis spelled) or Panasonic when I ask for ID it is in Japanese...so my usual comment is "ko-nee-chi-wa" which I horribly mis spelled..but know that it means hello in the Asian world.
I had a customer ask me if I needed to borrow his glasses..NO! What I need is longer arms.
DAMN...I am getting too old to be able to read a license..(Who had to make it in such tiny print anyway)? Like the government is TRYING to save us money....HELLO...I can give you a LOT more ways to save money than making me look old at work...(thank the Lord for the dim lighting).
Sometimes...no A LOT of times old people come in and comment about how dark it is in our restaurant.
I tell them that is the main reason I work there...the lighting takes ten years off of My life..If they change to florescent..I will walk out the door.
I just try to give good service...I always have a good time (I just make light of the worst case scenarios) and hope that it all evens up in the end.
Pretty much my job is a crap shoot these days...but I have been here thirty odd years and think that if ANYONE can survive...it is me...not to brag, but wooing the public has ALWAYS been a forte of mine. I have said it before and will say it again..I have my PHD in BS and put it to use to the fullest extent every day I walk into my store...and you know what...Hell , I have people I don't even remember saying "HEY. it's our good friend Kelly"...when I walk up to a table...but if they love me..I LOVE them.
I almost feel like saying "Thank you to my adoring fans...and thanks for remembering me".
My job is such a sales and marketing gig...but one that I feel I am good at.
I am one of the few people in America today that has SOME type of control over their income.
I do a crappy job and I either get fired or don't make money..I do a great job and my daughter gets a new lap top and I feel REALLY good about making other people feel better for coming out spending $50 on a meal for two in these struggling and worrisome times.
I am TRULY a BLESSED person....Cotton
Now I find myself carding EVERYONE...just to cover my own butt.
The problem I am having is that I can't hold the driver's license far enough away from my face to read the date on the card.
Of course sometimes the person is a visiting associate with Hoshazaki( probably mis spelled) or Panasonic when I ask for ID it is in Japanese...so my usual comment is "ko-nee-chi-wa" which I horribly mis spelled..but know that it means hello in the Asian world.
I had a customer ask me if I needed to borrow his glasses..NO! What I need is longer arms.
DAMN...I am getting too old to be able to read a license..(Who had to make it in such tiny print anyway)? Like the government is TRYING to save us money....HELLO...I can give you a LOT more ways to save money than making me look old at work...(thank the Lord for the dim lighting).
Sometimes...no A LOT of times old people come in and comment about how dark it is in our restaurant.
I tell them that is the main reason I work there...the lighting takes ten years off of My life..If they change to florescent..I will walk out the door.
I just try to give good service...I always have a good time (I just make light of the worst case scenarios) and hope that it all evens up in the end.
Pretty much my job is a crap shoot these days...but I have been here thirty odd years and think that if ANYONE can survive...it is me...not to brag, but wooing the public has ALWAYS been a forte of mine. I have said it before and will say it again..I have my PHD in BS and put it to use to the fullest extent every day I walk into my store...and you know what...Hell , I have people I don't even remember saying "HEY. it's our good friend Kelly"...when I walk up to a table...but if they love me..I LOVE them.
I almost feel like saying "Thank you to my adoring fans...and thanks for remembering me".
My job is such a sales and marketing gig...but one that I feel I am good at.
I am one of the few people in America today that has SOME type of control over their income.
I do a crappy job and I either get fired or don't make money..I do a great job and my daughter gets a new lap top and I feel REALLY good about making other people feel better for coming out spending $50 on a meal for two in these struggling and worrisome times.
I am TRULY a BLESSED person....Cotton
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Stormy, Stormy Nights...
Boy, we had a NIGHT here in my hometown.
Storms blew in from the west...when I went into work at 4PM, the tornado siren was going off.
I called home because my two younger kids were at home and my husband was still at work.
No answer...they BOTH have cell phones (that WE pay for) and they were not answering the house phone either.
I finally got in touch with them..they were in the driveway shooting hoops.."It is SO warm outside".
I told them there was a tornado on the ground in our county, headed in the direction of our house.
My son (who is sixteen) just handed the phone to his sister (who is thirteen and went directly into panic mode) ...Thank the LORD for girls!
She asked to go to a neighbor's house and I replied that would be a good idea.
My sixteen year old was picked up by his 23 year old brother who drove through the warnings to take my youngest son back to his "crib" in downtown Atlanta.
As they would say "A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do".
IDIOTS!!!
They DID beat the major storm, although the storms have lasted all night.
When I arrived home from work, my 13 year old daughter was sitting next to her daddy, watching the weather channel, clutching her bible, her pillow and a flashlight!
THAT'S MY GIRL!!
PREVENTION...PLANNING...THINKING... THAT'S a woman for ya!!
So far we have been lucky, although the neighboring county had windows broken out of their houses from the baseball size hail.
My daughter (obviously is sleeping with me tonight)... and we directed my husband to stay on the ground floor JUST IN CASE (not really, but it is nice to not hear his snoring).
I think most of the storms have passed...and even when they hit...what are the chances that your house will be hit by a tornado? If I am lucky...small..but at least I can relax in my king size bed with a girl that likes to watch the same shows I do...and daddy is downstairs with the dogs (they fart too much for me).
If I don't post again, I was wrong.
If I DO post again...I got a night off and my daughter and I had a wonderful, exclusive and quiet night just bonding...HEY! We need a LOT more of that!!
Living in a house full of men is like living in a frat house...unfortunately I am the only advisor and the only one that gives a "Crap".
I love them, but want them to know that THEY will be the one's to flip me over to prevent bedsores one day....and they had better not gripe! Can they not remember the stomach viruses and trips to football and basketball practice...not to mention the fact that they have given me more grief than the current economy? Thank the Lord I have ONE girl... of course she is only 13..I may have to get back to you on THAT one
Storms blew in from the west...when I went into work at 4PM, the tornado siren was going off.
I called home because my two younger kids were at home and my husband was still at work.
No answer...they BOTH have cell phones (that WE pay for) and they were not answering the house phone either.
I finally got in touch with them..they were in the driveway shooting hoops.."It is SO warm outside".
I told them there was a tornado on the ground in our county, headed in the direction of our house.
My son (who is sixteen) just handed the phone to his sister (who is thirteen and went directly into panic mode) ...Thank the LORD for girls!
She asked to go to a neighbor's house and I replied that would be a good idea.
My sixteen year old was picked up by his 23 year old brother who drove through the warnings to take my youngest son back to his "crib" in downtown Atlanta.
As they would say "A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do".
IDIOTS!!!
They DID beat the major storm, although the storms have lasted all night.
When I arrived home from work, my 13 year old daughter was sitting next to her daddy, watching the weather channel, clutching her bible, her pillow and a flashlight!
THAT'S MY GIRL!!
PREVENTION...PLANNING...THINKING... THAT'S a woman for ya!!
So far we have been lucky, although the neighboring county had windows broken out of their houses from the baseball size hail.
My daughter (obviously is sleeping with me tonight)... and we directed my husband to stay on the ground floor JUST IN CASE (not really, but it is nice to not hear his snoring).
I think most of the storms have passed...and even when they hit...what are the chances that your house will be hit by a tornado? If I am lucky...small..but at least I can relax in my king size bed with a girl that likes to watch the same shows I do...and daddy is downstairs with the dogs (they fart too much for me).
If I don't post again, I was wrong.
If I DO post again...I got a night off and my daughter and I had a wonderful, exclusive and quiet night just bonding...HEY! We need a LOT more of that!!
Living in a house full of men is like living in a frat house...unfortunately I am the only advisor and the only one that gives a "Crap".
I love them, but want them to know that THEY will be the one's to flip me over to prevent bedsores one day....and they had better not gripe! Can they not remember the stomach viruses and trips to football and basketball practice...not to mention the fact that they have given me more grief than the current economy? Thank the Lord I have ONE girl... of course she is only 13..I may have to get back to you on THAT one
Sunday, February 15, 2009
DANG...I'm OLD!!
Went into work at 10:30 this morning and got off at 9:00 tonight.
I love the people that I work for ..and love SOME of the people that I work WITH.
What amazes me is that at the ripe ole age of ALMOST fifty...I continue and constantly work circles around my co workers..most being 25 or younger.
Oh they complain, they gripe..they leave dirty dishes on the ledges (they are ten feet from the dish area where they are supposed to put them).
They leave computer printers out of tape when there is a roll sitting RIGHT next to the terminal.
It is almost like working with my kids...but you know what?
They aren't my kids , my back went out today and I got pretty sick and tired of cleaning up behind them, finishing jobs that they should have and in the same breath...doing my own job as well.
I started waging my own personal war.
I wouldn't pick up the dishes...but would write a note..."Take your dishes to the dish pit".
I would leave another note..."Don't leave dirty glasses on the ledges".
I would actually call people out by name when I saw them doing things that not only I knew ...but THEY knew were wrong.
By the end of my shift I had many enemies...but For Pete's Sake...Do your stinkin job!!
I told my husband last night that I was twice the age of most people that I work with..yet I work circles beyond circles around them.
He remarked that they do it because I LET them. They KNOW that I will do the job, just to keep things running.
He is EXACTLY right...I am an ENABLER...I make their job easier and help them make money because I am committed to my standards as a server.
But approaching fifty...the tide is about to turn.
Clean up your OWN mess...run your OWN food...do your OWN job.
HEY!! We are all making money here, let's all contribute equally.
If you don't..I'll be dead in a month and THEN who will do all your work?
Just had to vent...not that it will change anything...but a steaming hot bath and a heating pad will!
I love the people that I work for ..and love SOME of the people that I work WITH.
What amazes me is that at the ripe ole age of ALMOST fifty...I continue and constantly work circles around my co workers..most being 25 or younger.
Oh they complain, they gripe..they leave dirty dishes on the ledges (they are ten feet from the dish area where they are supposed to put them).
They leave computer printers out of tape when there is a roll sitting RIGHT next to the terminal.
It is almost like working with my kids...but you know what?
They aren't my kids , my back went out today and I got pretty sick and tired of cleaning up behind them, finishing jobs that they should have and in the same breath...doing my own job as well.
I started waging my own personal war.
I wouldn't pick up the dishes...but would write a note..."Take your dishes to the dish pit".
I would leave another note..."Don't leave dirty glasses on the ledges".
I would actually call people out by name when I saw them doing things that not only I knew ...but THEY knew were wrong.
By the end of my shift I had many enemies...but For Pete's Sake...Do your stinkin job!!
I told my husband last night that I was twice the age of most people that I work with..yet I work circles beyond circles around them.
He remarked that they do it because I LET them. They KNOW that I will do the job, just to keep things running.
He is EXACTLY right...I am an ENABLER...I make their job easier and help them make money because I am committed to my standards as a server.
But approaching fifty...the tide is about to turn.
Clean up your OWN mess...run your OWN food...do your OWN job.
HEY!! We are all making money here, let's all contribute equally.
If you don't..I'll be dead in a month and THEN who will do all your work?
Just had to vent...not that it will change anything...but a steaming hot bath and a heating pad will!
Friday, February 13, 2009
What Kind of Idiot Do I Look Like?...REALLY!!
So I am at work today...a pretty busy lunch (people wanting to avoid the horrendous VALENTINE DAY MASSACRE in the restaurant industry).
The hostess asked me to pick up an extra table...I'm ALWAYS up for that!
I greeted them and asked what they would like...cranberry tea, strawberry lemonade or maybe a glass of wine?
I was met with a brusque..."I want sweet tea with NO lemon, NO lemon, NO lemon".
I actually felt like putting three lemons in her glass and saying..."I AM SOOO sorry, I thought you said to bring you a sweet tea with a lemon, lemon, lemon....did you say NO lemon, No lemon, No lemon?
It gets worse.
She ordered a salad...I believe this is pretty much verbatim.
"I want a salad with iceberg lettuce only..and I mean no cucumber, no onion, no tomato, cheese or crouton...bring us a LOT of bread with extra, extra butter...just so you don't have to go back."
Her obviously beaten down husband said "bring me a cheeseburger".
I made sure the "princess's" salad was PERFECT...took them tons of (free) bread and refilled her sweet tea..with NO lemon, NO lemon, No lemon as often as it was emptied.
My point is...don't treat me like an imbecile until I act like one.
I really had to try hard to not give her my "Mama is ticked look". One that I frequently give not only my three kids, but my husband as well.
When their (perfect..thanks to me) lunch was over..she came back at me with "I would like one of your delicious sweet teas to go...with NO LEMON". Thank the Lord she only said the word "NO" once.
I told a co worker....If I could be truly sure she wasn't highly allergic to lemon...I would have sunk three lemons in the bottom of her to go cup!!
But needing my job as I do, and rising above her condescension... I gave them both a smile...took her a tea with NO lemon, No lemon,No lemon in a go cup and thanked them for coming in for lunch and told them that it was my pleasure to have waited on them.
Ya know...I have been doing this for thirty years...and granted I AM a goofball.
But wait until I really screw up before you treat me like I am Gomer on the Andy Griffith Show.
But what goes around comes around...they tipped me $5.00 on an $11.00 tab.
My psychological skills have been honed to perfection over my thirty years in this business.
It is almost a game to me...treat me like an idiot and I'll show you just how GOOD a server I am!
Just like I always say "I have my PHD in B.S".
The rest of the shift, my co workers and I made a game of repeating EVERYTHING three times.
When I walked out the door with the $90 in my pocket for a three hour shift...I said "Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye".
OH, I'll be back tomorrow....BRING IT ON!!!
The hostess asked me to pick up an extra table...I'm ALWAYS up for that!
I greeted them and asked what they would like...cranberry tea, strawberry lemonade or maybe a glass of wine?
I was met with a brusque..."I want sweet tea with NO lemon, NO lemon, NO lemon".
I actually felt like putting three lemons in her glass and saying..."I AM SOOO sorry, I thought you said to bring you a sweet tea with a lemon, lemon, lemon....did you say NO lemon, No lemon, No lemon?
It gets worse.
She ordered a salad...I believe this is pretty much verbatim.
"I want a salad with iceberg lettuce only..and I mean no cucumber, no onion, no tomato, cheese or crouton...bring us a LOT of bread with extra, extra butter...just so you don't have to go back."
Her obviously beaten down husband said "bring me a cheeseburger".
I made sure the "princess's" salad was PERFECT...took them tons of (free) bread and refilled her sweet tea..with NO lemon, NO lemon, No lemon as often as it was emptied.
My point is...don't treat me like an imbecile until I act like one.
I really had to try hard to not give her my "Mama is ticked look". One that I frequently give not only my three kids, but my husband as well.
When their (perfect..thanks to me) lunch was over..she came back at me with "I would like one of your delicious sweet teas to go...with NO LEMON". Thank the Lord she only said the word "NO" once.
I told a co worker....If I could be truly sure she wasn't highly allergic to lemon...I would have sunk three lemons in the bottom of her to go cup!!
But needing my job as I do, and rising above her condescension... I gave them both a smile...took her a tea with NO lemon, No lemon,No lemon in a go cup and thanked them for coming in for lunch and told them that it was my pleasure to have waited on them.
Ya know...I have been doing this for thirty years...and granted I AM a goofball.
But wait until I really screw up before you treat me like I am Gomer on the Andy Griffith Show.
But what goes around comes around...they tipped me $5.00 on an $11.00 tab.
My psychological skills have been honed to perfection over my thirty years in this business.
It is almost a game to me...treat me like an idiot and I'll show you just how GOOD a server I am!
Just like I always say "I have my PHD in B.S".
The rest of the shift, my co workers and I made a game of repeating EVERYTHING three times.
When I walked out the door with the $90 in my pocket for a three hour shift...I said "Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye".
OH, I'll be back tomorrow....BRING IT ON!!!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Paranoia, Will Destroy Ya...
Can't remember the band...I THINK it was AC/DC.
I just loggd off of my "new" facebook account and my computer was running so slow that I folded two loads of laundy while typing a ten word message.
Am I being paranoid about my cyber stalker...or could she actually "hack" into my computer and just 'mess things up'???
I know that this modem is older , but only when I try to get in touch with classmates...it seems to freeze up.
Now that I am on my blog...things are moving rapidly and I am amazed at the instant movement and speed of my post.
I just can't think of any other reason...and like I said, I hate to be paranoid..but if this little, bitter person has done ANYTHING ...and I mean ANYTHING...to my computer system, isn't that illegal?
I just don't get it...When I am in my email...all is fine...when I am on my blog...all is fine.
When I go to post on classmates...it takes fifteen minutes to type a ten word message. Same with my new facebook account that I started for high school connections.
Some computer geek that MAY be reading my blog, help me out...am I being paranoid or am I being a victim??
I am certain she doesn't know about my blog...YET...but the venom and acidity of her comments directed towards me on the high school site let me know that she is unstable and obviously holding a major grudge .
Everyone has dropped off the site...and that only seems to encourage her rath...and now it is MY fault that people have left her hanging without a person to talk to.
Some one that knows the inner workings of the internet HAS to read my blog.
Am I being crazy? Or could I possibly be right?!
I just loggd off of my "new" facebook account and my computer was running so slow that I folded two loads of laundy while typing a ten word message.
Am I being paranoid about my cyber stalker...or could she actually "hack" into my computer and just 'mess things up'???
I know that this modem is older , but only when I try to get in touch with classmates...it seems to freeze up.
Now that I am on my blog...things are moving rapidly and I am amazed at the instant movement and speed of my post.
I just can't think of any other reason...and like I said, I hate to be paranoid..but if this little, bitter person has done ANYTHING ...and I mean ANYTHING...to my computer system, isn't that illegal?
I just don't get it...When I am in my email...all is fine...when I am on my blog...all is fine.
When I go to post on classmates...it takes fifteen minutes to type a ten word message. Same with my new facebook account that I started for high school connections.
Some computer geek that MAY be reading my blog, help me out...am I being paranoid or am I being a victim??
I am certain she doesn't know about my blog...YET...but the venom and acidity of her comments directed towards me on the high school site let me know that she is unstable and obviously holding a major grudge .
Everyone has dropped off the site...and that only seems to encourage her rath...and now it is MY fault that people have left her hanging without a person to talk to.
Some one that knows the inner workings of the internet HAS to read my blog.
Am I being crazy? Or could I possibly be right?!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Lovin' Me Some Face Book!!
Since my fall from grace with my Classmates site...I have returned with a vengeance.
My sister first suggested facebook...and once I got my teenage son to sign me up (I didn't have clue how to do it)...I am off and rolling!
Not only have I acquired 37 friends in the first few days (I only had 20 friends on myspace after two years) I found a group from my high school that has a site that was NEEDIN my help!
I have been a typing fool (no pun intended).
Just to be able to write my memories of my high school without a scathing and bitter reply is an absolute joy.
Granted some of the icons are silly...ie throwing beads, chocolates etc.
But it is a really great site, one that you have to be INVITED to (good on my part) and a great place to re connect.
I also posted the website for my blog on my profile and it is amazing that my former class mates are ACTUALLY reading this site....and seeming to like it.
I just got home from working a ten hour shift...WHEW, I am too old to do this anymore.
I do have a funny story to share though.
One of the servers met her mom for lunch today in the restaurant...it was her mom's birthday and there were several of her mom's friends there as well (all women around my age).
YOU KNOW ME... I went up to the table and said to her mother..."So I hear it is your birthday...we have a male stripper named Vince that will be out here as soon as you get through with lunch".
All the women clapped their hands in mock glee and laughed.
Only the server , who's mom was celebrating her birthday, knew... that in fact OUR MANAGER was Vince.
Not two minutes after I left their table...my manager (Vince) came cruising through the dining room and stopped at their table to introduce himself.
The look on not only the server's face but the entire group was enough to get me through the whole shift.
I don't know if they were thinking..."Keep your pants on son" or "Will we be charged extra for the show"?
All I know is that it made me chuckle...made my fellow server know that I AM officially insane... and made a bright spot in a long and tedious day.
Everyone at work knows what an idiot I can be...HEY! It breaks up the monotony and I believe I am the favorite 'House' comic.
How great is it to have a job that you not only love, but a free platform to perform your routine ... whenever you can squeeze it into your shift?!
HEY...I Haven't gotten fired...YET!!
I cannot think of a better profession for me than the one I have....sales and marketing with a sideline comedy routine as a bonus.
My sister first suggested facebook...and once I got my teenage son to sign me up (I didn't have clue how to do it)...I am off and rolling!
Not only have I acquired 37 friends in the first few days (I only had 20 friends on myspace after two years) I found a group from my high school that has a site that was NEEDIN my help!
I have been a typing fool (no pun intended).
Just to be able to write my memories of my high school without a scathing and bitter reply is an absolute joy.
Granted some of the icons are silly...ie throwing beads, chocolates etc.
But it is a really great site, one that you have to be INVITED to (good on my part) and a great place to re connect.
I also posted the website for my blog on my profile and it is amazing that my former class mates are ACTUALLY reading this site....and seeming to like it.
I just got home from working a ten hour shift...WHEW, I am too old to do this anymore.
I do have a funny story to share though.
One of the servers met her mom for lunch today in the restaurant...it was her mom's birthday and there were several of her mom's friends there as well (all women around my age).
YOU KNOW ME... I went up to the table and said to her mother..."So I hear it is your birthday...we have a male stripper named Vince that will be out here as soon as you get through with lunch".
All the women clapped their hands in mock glee and laughed.
Only the server , who's mom was celebrating her birthday, knew... that in fact OUR MANAGER was Vince.
Not two minutes after I left their table...my manager (Vince) came cruising through the dining room and stopped at their table to introduce himself.
The look on not only the server's face but the entire group was enough to get me through the whole shift.
I don't know if they were thinking..."Keep your pants on son" or "Will we be charged extra for the show"?
All I know is that it made me chuckle...made my fellow server know that I AM officially insane... and made a bright spot in a long and tedious day.
Everyone at work knows what an idiot I can be...HEY! It breaks up the monotony and I believe I am the favorite 'House' comic.
How great is it to have a job that you not only love, but a free platform to perform your routine ... whenever you can squeeze it into your shift?!
HEY...I Haven't gotten fired...YET!!
I cannot think of a better profession for me than the one I have....sales and marketing with a sideline comedy routine as a bonus.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Home From My "Marketing" Job
Just blew in the door after a WONDERFUL night at work (Seriously).
With the economy, I have taken a big hit in the paycheck. People just don't eat out like they used to and even when they do, they tip a LOT less these days. I think some people don't realize that I make $2.13 and hour and I NEVER see one penny of that because they take taxes out on what I claim for tips. I claim EVERY penny I make mainly because when you go to buy a house or even a car...would you rather show that you make $20K or $40K ? Also we were audited a couple of years back. The IRS said I had two kids when I have three.
It took three months of faxing records and documents to the IRS to prove that I was right and they were wrong.
Did they reimburse me for all the faxing and overnight mailings? I don't think so!
It was more like an "OH YEAH...YOU DO HAVE THREE KIDS...OUR BAD".
ANY HOO... tonight was a banner night. I got my butt kicked from the time I walked in the door until I clocked out.
I had one table that stayed for almost four hours. A birthday dinner for a guy in his thirties. They ordered Jagermeister shooters, lots of beer and had a good ole "Throw down". They closed out one tab (tipped me GREAT) and thirty minutes later started another tab. When I brought their round of drinks (they had a designated driver) the birthday boy said "Gracias" to which I replied "Da Nada...mi amigo". He said "Habla Espanol"?? I quickly came back with "Hell yeah...who do you think is back there cooking your food"?? I told him I had learned more Spanish working in the restaurant industry than I did in all of my schooling (which included Spanish lessons from grade 4 through 12).
They LOVED me...and thankfully showed me their love on their charge slip!
Moving on to the next good table!
My wonderful sis came in with two of her good friends..sat and had delicious salmon salads with our awesome "house" dressing...lemon , oil, mustard with crushed green olives, diced tomatoes and a hint of garlic (just to brag a bit).
They were seated really near the kitchen (anyone else would have complained).
When they went to leave, my sister's friend...facing our dish pit as she gave me a hug said "Be careful over there, the floor looks really wet".
I told her not to worry, the floors were treated with a non slip coating. She said "REALLY"??
I shot back "Oh yeah, I could go do a cart wheel in the dish pit".
As another server walked by, I handed him the coffee pot I had in my hand and said "Hey Rob...hold this for me while I go do a cart wheel in the dish pit".
As all the young people that I work with do...he obligingly obeyed me and took the pot from my hand and carried on (although glancing over his shoulder to see if I would really do it).
The dish pit is the worst place in the house (for obvious reasons) but I have often told my co workers...if you DO fall in the dish pit, I don't care if you break a vertebrae...between the grime on the floor and the humiliation of falling, you are up in a flash stating "YEAH, I'm okay".
Tonight was a glorious night...everything ran smooth, the peeps loved me and showered me with their monetary praise.
Tomorrow could be a completely different story.
That is the only downfall of being a server...YOU CAN'T COUNT ON BANKING EVERY SINGLE SHIFT!!
I truly believe in my heart that I excel at my job and it will all even out in the end run if I give every shift my best effort...and I genuinely try to do just that.
It "IS" sales and marketing... and I enjoy it almost too much.
I make people enjoy having me as their server and in return...they come in and specifically ask for my table.
It's like I have my own comedy club that I don't have to pay overhead on!!
Of course I know WHO to joke with and WHO to kow tow to...and I can kiss butt when I have to...It is part of the job.
But the good ALWAYS outweighs the bad (so far) and I enjoy what I do for a living ALMOST too much.
It is just in my personality and persona...I think I was meant to be on stage SOMEWHERE...I am just not sure where........YET!!!!
With the economy, I have taken a big hit in the paycheck. People just don't eat out like they used to and even when they do, they tip a LOT less these days. I think some people don't realize that I make $2.13 and hour and I NEVER see one penny of that because they take taxes out on what I claim for tips. I claim EVERY penny I make mainly because when you go to buy a house or even a car...would you rather show that you make $20K or $40K ? Also we were audited a couple of years back. The IRS said I had two kids when I have three.
It took three months of faxing records and documents to the IRS to prove that I was right and they were wrong.
Did they reimburse me for all the faxing and overnight mailings? I don't think so!
It was more like an "OH YEAH...YOU DO HAVE THREE KIDS...OUR BAD".
ANY HOO... tonight was a banner night. I got my butt kicked from the time I walked in the door until I clocked out.
I had one table that stayed for almost four hours. A birthday dinner for a guy in his thirties. They ordered Jagermeister shooters, lots of beer and had a good ole "Throw down". They closed out one tab (tipped me GREAT) and thirty minutes later started another tab. When I brought their round of drinks (they had a designated driver) the birthday boy said "Gracias" to which I replied "Da Nada...mi amigo". He said "Habla Espanol"?? I quickly came back with "Hell yeah...who do you think is back there cooking your food"?? I told him I had learned more Spanish working in the restaurant industry than I did in all of my schooling (which included Spanish lessons from grade 4 through 12).
They LOVED me...and thankfully showed me their love on their charge slip!
Moving on to the next good table!
My wonderful sis came in with two of her good friends..sat and had delicious salmon salads with our awesome "house" dressing...lemon , oil, mustard with crushed green olives, diced tomatoes and a hint of garlic (just to brag a bit).
They were seated really near the kitchen (anyone else would have complained).
When they went to leave, my sister's friend...facing our dish pit as she gave me a hug said "Be careful over there, the floor looks really wet".
I told her not to worry, the floors were treated with a non slip coating. She said "REALLY"??
I shot back "Oh yeah, I could go do a cart wheel in the dish pit".
As another server walked by, I handed him the coffee pot I had in my hand and said "Hey Rob...hold this for me while I go do a cart wheel in the dish pit".
As all the young people that I work with do...he obligingly obeyed me and took the pot from my hand and carried on (although glancing over his shoulder to see if I would really do it).
The dish pit is the worst place in the house (for obvious reasons) but I have often told my co workers...if you DO fall in the dish pit, I don't care if you break a vertebrae...between the grime on the floor and the humiliation of falling, you are up in a flash stating "YEAH, I'm okay".
Tonight was a glorious night...everything ran smooth, the peeps loved me and showered me with their monetary praise.
Tomorrow could be a completely different story.
That is the only downfall of being a server...YOU CAN'T COUNT ON BANKING EVERY SINGLE SHIFT!!
I truly believe in my heart that I excel at my job and it will all even out in the end run if I give every shift my best effort...and I genuinely try to do just that.
It "IS" sales and marketing... and I enjoy it almost too much.
I make people enjoy having me as their server and in return...they come in and specifically ask for my table.
It's like I have my own comedy club that I don't have to pay overhead on!!
Of course I know WHO to joke with and WHO to kow tow to...and I can kiss butt when I have to...It is part of the job.
But the good ALWAYS outweighs the bad (so far) and I enjoy what I do for a living ALMOST too much.
It is just in my personality and persona...I think I was meant to be on stage SOMEWHERE...I am just not sure where........YET!!!!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
The High Cost of Self Esteem (but I'll pay it) !
My youngest is my only daughter.
A total gift in her self.
An average student, but a tremendous young person. I have never seen a girl that enjoyed a math tutoring class as much as she did (it was her very own social club) but it did greatly improve her grade.
Last year she decided to try out for the track team...went to practice every day for two weeks...gave it her all...and was cut on the last day to be replaced by three girls that came to the last two days of the tryouts.
My sore point was "Let her make the stinking team...she doesn't have to run in every meet, but if my girl wants to run...LET HER".
It totally crushed her, mainly because they took her picture with the track team for the yearbook one day and cut her the next.
This year...half way through the year she volunteered to try out as a sub for the Winter Guards (the fancy dancy flag twirlers).
She tried out for the sub position and HOT DOG was asked to finish out the year in their remaining competitions.
The director/choreographer/leader and obviously part time teacher told me when I went to pick her up that she had caught on very quickly and even helped out some of the girls that had been on the team all year.
He told me that I looked so familiar to him and when Massey told him where I worked...that was it! He said I had waited on him several times at the restaurant and that I was a fabulous (a word I think he uses a lot) server. I thanked him and gave my standard reply "I didn't go to college for nothing"!!
He gave the me forms to fill out and some information sheets. Then he hit me square between the deposit slips with "The cost is six fifty", I knew immediately that the decimal point wasn't after the SIX. I think that I threw up in my mouth a little bit.
He quickly came back with that since she was joining halfway through the year we could work out a payment plan with a discount.
Hopefully this means $325.00
As far as a payment plan, I felt like telling him to get in line...I am already on so many payment plans that I feel like the next twenty years have been mapped out for me.
I felt like adding...since I am such a fabulous server, you'll need to be uppin those tips when I wait on you too.
I told my husband that the joy in my daughter's face and the total elation of being good at something and being encouraged was enough for me...I'LL DO IT!!
I can pick up extra shifts and work seven days a week if need be...to have a child not only WANT to be a part of something but actually excel at it is reward enough for me.
The only downside is that if she is THAT good...next year I'll be shelling out the entire $650.00.
I look at it this way...I never had to buy HER braces...both the boys cost me $3500.00 a piece. They aren't in Winter Guard...but they both have an extremely winning smile (thanks to Mom).
All that matters in the end run is that she feels wonderful and a part of something that means the world to her.
I just wonder what precious metal this flag she is twirling is made of? $650.00...
PLEEZEE...talk about inflated pricing!!
I may end up in a bail out package before it is all over...but my little girl is happy, and to me that is all that truly matters.
A total gift in her self.
An average student, but a tremendous young person. I have never seen a girl that enjoyed a math tutoring class as much as she did (it was her very own social club) but it did greatly improve her grade.
Last year she decided to try out for the track team...went to practice every day for two weeks...gave it her all...and was cut on the last day to be replaced by three girls that came to the last two days of the tryouts.
My sore point was "Let her make the stinking team...she doesn't have to run in every meet, but if my girl wants to run...LET HER".
It totally crushed her, mainly because they took her picture with the track team for the yearbook one day and cut her the next.
This year...half way through the year she volunteered to try out as a sub for the Winter Guards (the fancy dancy flag twirlers).
She tried out for the sub position and HOT DOG was asked to finish out the year in their remaining competitions.
The director/choreographer/leader and obviously part time teacher told me when I went to pick her up that she had caught on very quickly and even helped out some of the girls that had been on the team all year.
He told me that I looked so familiar to him and when Massey told him where I worked...that was it! He said I had waited on him several times at the restaurant and that I was a fabulous (a word I think he uses a lot) server. I thanked him and gave my standard reply "I didn't go to college for nothing"!!
He gave the me forms to fill out and some information sheets. Then he hit me square between the deposit slips with "The cost is six fifty", I knew immediately that the decimal point wasn't after the SIX. I think that I threw up in my mouth a little bit.
He quickly came back with that since she was joining halfway through the year we could work out a payment plan with a discount.
Hopefully this means $325.00
As far as a payment plan, I felt like telling him to get in line...I am already on so many payment plans that I feel like the next twenty years have been mapped out for me.
I felt like adding...since I am such a fabulous server, you'll need to be uppin those tips when I wait on you too.
I told my husband that the joy in my daughter's face and the total elation of being good at something and being encouraged was enough for me...I'LL DO IT!!
I can pick up extra shifts and work seven days a week if need be...to have a child not only WANT to be a part of something but actually excel at it is reward enough for me.
The only downside is that if she is THAT good...next year I'll be shelling out the entire $650.00.
I look at it this way...I never had to buy HER braces...both the boys cost me $3500.00 a piece. They aren't in Winter Guard...but they both have an extremely winning smile (thanks to Mom).
All that matters in the end run is that she feels wonderful and a part of something that means the world to her.
I just wonder what precious metal this flag she is twirling is made of? $650.00...
PLEEZEE...talk about inflated pricing!!
I may end up in a bail out package before it is all over...but my little girl is happy, and to me that is all that truly matters.
Monday, February 2, 2009
You're My Only Outlet Now
Too much drama and totally childish mud slinging on my classmates site for me.
I do not mean from everyone. I mean from ONLY one.
I tried to back out gracefully and even THAT didn't work.
It was alright when she was just bashing me...but when she started in on my sister, she started to really piss me off!
We tried several attempts of offering the 'Olive Branch' only to have it slapped back at us like a whip.
I decided to just let her have the site, and return to my Peeps that love me!
I am thinking about creating a high school FACEBOOK page, and maybe we can all reminisce there without constant friction and ridicule.
What I think amazes me most is the bitter and caustic attitude that this poor girl still harbors after over 31 years.
So what I was the first chair on French Horn? Does it matter to her THAT much after over three decades that she never challenged me for the chair...and if it does, who's fault is that...mine or hers?
At the very least she has given me material for my blog and a good read for people that haven't read a tabloid lately. National Enquirer ain't got 'squat' on this girl!
I think that in some way, high school was a difficult period in every one's life. I know it was in mine (and I didn't even know at the time I was obviously ruining someone else's).
But it is over three decades down the path of life...BY GONES BE BY GONES!!
After she posted her last manifesto to my sister, she tried to start up a new chat acting all happy and upbeat.
NOT ONE RESPONSE from anyone.
I truly do feel sorry for her, but I have tried time and time again to apologize or re connect in a positive way and have been cyber stalked at every turn.
Life is NOT a bowl of cherries...but spitting the pits at people isn't the greatest option either.
Til next time...COTTON
I do not mean from everyone. I mean from ONLY one.
I tried to back out gracefully and even THAT didn't work.
It was alright when she was just bashing me...but when she started in on my sister, she started to really piss me off!
We tried several attempts of offering the 'Olive Branch' only to have it slapped back at us like a whip.
I decided to just let her have the site, and return to my Peeps that love me!
I am thinking about creating a high school FACEBOOK page, and maybe we can all reminisce there without constant friction and ridicule.
What I think amazes me most is the bitter and caustic attitude that this poor girl still harbors after over 31 years.
So what I was the first chair on French Horn? Does it matter to her THAT much after over three decades that she never challenged me for the chair...and if it does, who's fault is that...mine or hers?
At the very least she has given me material for my blog and a good read for people that haven't read a tabloid lately. National Enquirer ain't got 'squat' on this girl!
I think that in some way, high school was a difficult period in every one's life. I know it was in mine (and I didn't even know at the time I was obviously ruining someone else's).
But it is over three decades down the path of life...BY GONES BE BY GONES!!
After she posted her last manifesto to my sister, she tried to start up a new chat acting all happy and upbeat.
NOT ONE RESPONSE from anyone.
I truly do feel sorry for her, but I have tried time and time again to apologize or re connect in a positive way and have been cyber stalked at every turn.
Life is NOT a bowl of cherries...but spitting the pits at people isn't the greatest option either.
Til next time...COTTON
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
