Hot Mess Heard!

It was a hot one today. It was in the mid nineties but cutting grass felt like it was well over two hundred. Cut and weed eated for three hours, came home threw together three dishes and packed them to go. Took a shower and got to the party a mere thirty minutes late.

The place I used to work had a reunion of old school employees at a local park. It was at least a hundred degrees when we got there. On the good side, no need for chafing dishes, every thing stayed plenty hot. One girl brought a butt load (small pun) of pulled pork and the rest of us all brought sides and salads.

We were all unloading our cars and dishes when one of my very besties came up and said "I just want you to know first, he's here."

It wasn't a shock.  I kinda figured he may come and was prepared.

My mental nemesis, my former manager who fired me from the steak place and spiraled us further into the five year abyss.

I smiled cheerfully at my bestie as we carried my food to the picnic area to add to the spread and said since was a pot luck dinner "That's okay, maybe he brought me an apology."

He didn't but that's okay too. I can hold a grudge like nobody's business and actually found out tonight it doesn't matter to me anymore.

What matters were the other twenty or so people there who loved me and me them!

It was hotter eating than it seemed cutting grass earlier and all melted like old candles but did it together and enjoyed every minute.

I honestly didn't give him being there a second thought (maybe one) and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

I really needed that job when I lost it and was a horribly depressing time in my life.

I don't need that job anymore.

We got this now.

The miracle of my life (I've finally realized) is that I'm still alive to experience it.

It was great seeing all these friends. It felt great to not need one of them to help me out financially. (and many did)

For the first time in well over five years finally felt okay with feeling proud to be a former member of this LongHorn family.

Fun in the sun and sweating with the oldies!

Til next time...COTTON

Nailing It

Got home from work a little after midnight. Number one they had a massive road block at the exit ramp and already were loading the paddy wagon full with violation offenders. Number two was glad I wasn't in my twenties anymore. Number three can't believe my almost twenty year old daughter has never gone through a road block. I asked her to reach in the back seat and get my license out of my nifty clear airport purse and asked if she should get hers out too?

The county was gettin' their bizzy on tonight. My son got stopped in one too coming home from his job thirty minutes later. Thank goodness my Lost Boy learned his lesson the hard way a few years ago and sailed right through just like me.

I write a lot about how great my new job is and how am making more than I ever have but trust me, I earn every stinkin' penny and then some.

I've worked harder at this job than I ever have before, not always physically but constantly mentally. I've learned about wine varietals, food I've never even thought about eating and even more about how to serve in a fine dining establishment.

I finally almost  get it all down and BAM they change the menu four months later. It's a seasonal European restaurant and change the menu four times a year. I have to know how each dish is prepared, where the product comes from and how it was caught or raised. I have (need) to know where each wine comes from, producer, grape and region.

When I first started waiting tables back in the late seventies all I knew about wine was that MD 20/20 was produced by Mogen David and came from the liquor store on Main Street that didn't check ID's.

My first serving job was for Red Lobster in 1979. I had to wear a blue polyester sailor dress complete with white collar, red tie and white shoes.

I can say with almost certain conviction after well over three decades of serving  "Then I learned the restaurant business and  learned it the hard way."

The photo above is from "Mildred Pierce" with Joan Crawford in the mid forties.

If you want to borrow it I have it. Is a must see, especially for servers.

Back in the day, Red Lobster was almost considered fine dining on the south side of Atlanta. We were all still just a bunch of red necks and going to Red Lobster was like being on vacation at the beach. They even had a drink called The Lighthouse and the glass was not only shaped like one but could take it home with you, to put in your cabinet next to the Flintstones jelly jar glasses you'd also accrued.

I managed to get fired and rehired three times but learned the business in my year or so with them.

Then I worked for Steak and Ale for a year or so. Cute short little plaid skirt, black tights and low cut peasant blouse...aah the eighties! It was the nicest restaurant on the south side for quite a while.

I went to work for a small pizza joint after about another year. It had about twelve bar stools and eight booths. I worked there for almost fourteen years and learned the rest of the business moving up to management and pizza slinger. Learned how to make dough, we grated our own mozzarella and made our own meatballs. It was an awesome place to really learn the business. I made a lot of good friends there, met my husband there and still consider those some pretty awesome years.

The owner became not only a good friend but quickly turned into my mentor. I'm still friends with both him and his wife and run into them occasionally.

Then I went to work for a big steakhouse restaurant which I now refer to as Western Sizzler. It was a great job for almost thirteen years, made good money and even a lot more good friends. I got fired for giving my daughter a free scoop of ice cream after she and her friends spent over fifty bucks on lunch one day. My manager who crazy enough was also considered a good friend knew my husband had been out of work for a while and barely getting by. He fired me for theft.

It was the nail in our coffin. We're still not back to where we were and has been well over five years. (and yes I can hold a grudge)

I landed in a family owned restaurant owned by some people I knew next. They hired me on the spot and can say for a fact pretty much saved my family.

They are both a little bit crazy (like me) so we got along just fine for well over four years. They helped me out so many times I can't even count. They loaned me money interest free time and time and time again when we needed it for bills and taught me even more about food and wine. I made even more good friends as well.

When I got offered a new job at the new international terminal of the world's busiest airport in an upscale European restaurant  simply couldn't afford to say no. I was terrified of leaving my comfort zone but on the brink of losing our home so had to take a leap of faith. I worked both jobs for over four months but wore me down quickly. That was the hardest resignation letter I will (hopefully) ever have to write. I remain friends with them both.

It took me a while to figure out and be able to appreciate but do know...

God did have a plan!

He gave us everything for over a quarter of a century then suddenly took most all of it away. He left us our three kids and my brother and sister, about two hundred fantastic friends and last but not least our three dogs.

That's evidently all we needed.

He also allowed us to meet some pretty awesome peeps along the road and every one of them rallied to our support.

Tim has a wonderful job now (albeit a thousand miles away) and I have one twenty five miles up the road. We're so close to being close to close it ain't even funny!

Everything you have today, what you have this very instant can be gone the next...literally.

If not having enough money is the worst thing that ever happens to you, consider yourself extremely lucky...because you are.

Til next time...Lucky COTTON

Tuckered Out (in a good way)

This past week has been kicking my ninety five pounds all over the place, from home to work and home again.

I've gotten so much done in the yards you can actually see all four sides of our house now. For five years I thought we were living in a triangle shaped house at best.

It's no Graceland or Biltmore House but sure feels like it being less than two years away from being paid off.

I hauled over five hundred pounds of river rock and lined the flower beds and walk ways, pulled weeds and put down pine straw. I even fancied it up a little out by where the trash can sits.

Work, the one I get paid for has been kicking my booty on a daily basis five sometimes six days a week for the past few weeks.

I absolutely love working in the new international terminal. It's so clean, open and serene amidst sometimes pure controlled chaos. That's my kind of place to work and love even more the wonderful place where I was lucky enough to land (small pun) a job.

It starts in early March, the madness and continues until well after Thanksgiving. Every day is a mental and physical sling fest and you know me, I love to fight!

Last year I was thrown into it after earning (what felt like) my brain surgeon status. I was lucky to just keep up but made more money than I ever had in my life.

This year I was ready...so I thought.

Since I feel and look so much older decided to highlight my hair to take away from my face. I've also taken voracious notes, asked hundreds of questions but still get my butt kicked at least four times a week (and that's a good thing) in my line of work.


Then I come home to an even harder job, running a household of three peeps and three pups.

I got some pretty dang good kids but have a few faults which drive me insane(er).

Here's a few facts am sure every momma endures with her kids and often rolls her eyes about.

Why do the kids have to swat a fly like they're trying to jack one out of the park? Half the time, if they are successful you can't even find the nasty little carcass or either they've smeared it to smithereens all over what ever the little buzzing nuisance landed on.

Approach, stand still and slowly tap with minimal force works just fine for me, haven't lost one carcass yet!

Next, why do they squeeze a tube of toothpaste like they're in an iron man competition? I promise it will come out just fine if you squeeze from the bottom and flatten the tube as you use it.

They have gotten better about throwing things away when done with or empty but nine times out of ten miss the intended  target by less than two inches.

They are both obviously missing the gene it takes to completely start, finish and put away a cycle of laundry.

A messy or dirty bathroom is no big deal to them. (disgusts me)

After living in the same house for almost two decades still put some things in the wrong place when unloading the dishwasher. (I'm just happy over three quarters of the job's done and never complain about this one)

They can't just tie a simple knot when taking trash out. I don't know how many times I've gone to add something to a bag of trash they took out and was like trying to open a Da Vinci code.

This one really irritates me and their dad was guilty of it too when still lived here at home.

Zach is unfortunately way too much like me and fortunately not like me both at the same time. It's like I gave birth to  Catdog twenty three years ago.

He's like having a house cat who loves to laze around but randomly has sudden unexpected bursts of freakish energy when you least expect but sometimes need the most. Guess I'll keep him.


Massey's my "Good Girl" and bestie for the most part except for the week Aunt Flo visits her. Are you counting? That's twelve weeks a year.

Aunt Flo never bothered me much when I was younger. Of course she never gave me boobs either.


I guess all in all I'm pretty stinking lucky. My kids watched us almost financially go under but even better, watched us not only keep going but make huge sacrifices to move up, ahead and beyond. None of them ever complained (or turned me in for check kiting) and were always supporting and encouraging. Heck they could have moved out and been fine on their own but chose to stay and help.

Ya gotta dance with one who brung you, otherwise it's giving up.

 We may be a lot of things but quitters ain't one of 'em. Loved is!

Til next time...COTTON

That Full Moon Madness

The power of the Moon has always intrigued me, especially when full. It controls the ocean tides and makes people act nuts. It usually also means big bucks for servers and today was no exception.

Monday is a slow day street side. In the world's busiest airport at a fine dining restaurant things can change in literally five minutes. I got to work at one thirty and was a ghost town. The servers had waited on about three or four tables each. I clocked in and went immediately on the floor so one of the day servers could leave.

At two o'clock the bottom fell out (in a good way). In less than five minutes I had six tables going and every time I turned around was being seated again. By three o'clock I had made well over a hundred dollars and tables were still pouring in the front door. By four o'clock I doubled my money and the restaurant emptied as quickly as had filled.

We had an hour or two to regroup, catch up on silverware and polishing and the steady stream started again. Every table was pleasant and generous. I was cut before eight, left with a gracious plenty and plenty of thanks to The Big Guy upstairs. I walked out of the airport as the last of daylight faded and saw the full moon lurking above behind the clouds. I thanked The Big Guy beyond the full moon once again and went home early.


 Number one, realize after being a server for well over thirty years I should be good at it but finally feel  am beginning to hit my stride in the profession (yes it is a profession) and earn my keep!

Number two,  absolutely love the restaurant group I am lucky enough to work for.

Number three, I've never had a job where it doesn't matter which manager is working to have a pleasant shift. That's a HUGE bonus in my working world.

I equally respect and admire all three of my managers and chefs who are always helpful and encouraging as opposed to demanding and sometimes degrading.

It appears I have six leaders not six bosses. That's hard to find or have in this day and age no matter where you work.

Not to pat myself on the back (well maybe for a sec) also realize you get what you give. I try and give a hundred percent every time I clock in until the time I clock out. They aren't paying me to make money, they are paying me to help make the restaurant successful and be part of the reason for success.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out. Heck, even I did!

As the above photo shows (used my selfie stick just today) the past few years haven't  really taken that much of a toll on me and think have weathered the storm rather nicely.

My husband still  thinks I'm hot and he's right.

Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night literally drenched in sweat and other times have trickles of sweat running down both sides of my pathetically thin rib cages while simply writing down an order at work standing totally still at a table in an air conditioned restaurant.

Dang, I thought I was a riot. The Big Guy is obviously The funniest.

It starts when he either gives you huge boobs at a seemingly inappropriate age or none at all (even funnier) right after He slams you with blood river once a month.

You'd think the trick of pushing a human out of a less than dime sized hole would be good enough but NO!

Then a few (lot of) years later after the blood river finally runs dry you get to sweat like Mel Gibson at a Jewish shindig for years at totally random times, and never get the paycheck he does.

I think it's just God's way of telling us women  "Life's not fair, wear a helmet".

"HEARD!!"

Yeah, I was geeky little flat chested girl who people called "Big Mouth" but is one of the first 45 records I ever bought with my allowance. "Tell it Girl!"

I should have seen it coming but in hindsight think we all handled it pretty well with lots of help from The Comedian Upstairs and hundreds around us down here.

I'm calling this life a Grand Slam.

Til next time...COTTON

Another Lucky Day

We (Massey and me) rolled out about seven forty five this morning for work after closing the store last night around eleven.

I was a bit apprehensive about getting my daughter on where I work but have worked with all three of my kids at different times and all went well.

If I could just get her to quit calling me Momma at work it would be perfect.

It's an upscale, fine dining European/ Mediterranean restaurant and took me six months before I was making instead of faking it.

She started the job full of energy and limped home on blistered feet the first night exhausted and overwhelmed.

I got her some good Dansko shoes like I wear and have to admit the girl has knocked the job out of the park from day one.

She asks questions, a lot of them and has shown interest in every part of the job from learning wine varietals to knowing how to present and give brief descriptions of food she often delivers to tables.

It's a nice mix. We work (and ride) together three days a week and have opposite schedules on another two giving us a break.

They already asked if she might like to transition into a server in the future and would be a bang up job for a kid in grad school. Heck, she could pay tuition and live on her own with money to spare.

I say, go for a PHD!

I already have my PHD in BS  (says my husband).

We've finally reached the point of not only living pay check to pay check but having enough to get by comfortably. As Pink Floyd says, we're no longer Comfortably Numb but comfortable.

My husband comes home for his first visit in late July and seems like a hop skip and jump from now.

I'm a huge Pink Floyd fan. My hands no longer feel like two balloons waving frantically. In hindsight was just a pin prick and lucky enough to have  plenty of family and friends wanting to know where it hurt the most.

Til next time, an EXTREMELY lucky COTTON

Gotta Use That Vision Insurance Soon

I can't read squat without my glasses on, the most expensive pair I have cost $1.99 (on sale) and even they're not really getting the job done anymore.

I got home from work tonight and saw a water bug in the dining room hall. I've had "Spray House" on my to do list for a couple of weeks now. I went out to the garage and got my big ole jug of pesticide and started spraying all around the baseboards immediately.

Me no like bugs, they creep me out.

Massey was in her bed on the first floor behind the kitchen and once she heard me kill a bug had no problems with me coming through to spray the baseboards in her room too. She's worse than me. When she was in high school and see a bug when I wasn't home, would put a jar or glass over it to trap it until I got home.

I started chuckling and told my daughter about the time when she was away at college and I came home late from work and sprayed over half the the house before almost passing out from the fumes, put my glasses on and discovered I had picked up the jug of weed killer in the garage instead.

Dang, I have great insurance now after almost seven years without and have yet to use it.

I've been living by the medical practice of "No news is good news" and got me this  far.

Guess I need to go hear the bad news too now that it's cheap to do so.

At least when they tell me I need to wear glasses all the time THAT won't be a shocker.

Finished my exterminating duties (with BUG spay) and feel better already.

I've never hired an exterminator, I spray the entire inside along every baseboard and in every cabinet and closet. Then I go out side and spray around the entire foundation. I do it three times a year and probably save eight hundred dollars. I don't mind killing bugs, it beats having them.

This handy wo man is turning in to work the early shift tomorrow, almost today. I hate waking up early for them but sure love being home with over three hours of daylight left.

I'm really loving life these days. I missed the upper lower middle class. It's nice to be back.

Til Next time.. COTTON

Rolling Along

Well, we haven't struck oil yet but we got a new ride and a second great used car. I'd say the Clampetts are rolling right along!

I got home from work tonight a little before midnight and got the bills out. Tim's paying the mortgage and insurance from Texas and I'm taking care of everything else here. It adds up quick. I pay the electric bill, water, gas, Internet, sewer, garbage pick up, Verizon and food for not only us but two hundred and fifty pounds worth of Pup. Not to mention shampoo, soap, toilet paper, every other staple a house needs and that weekly something which always seems to come up either empty, broken or needing to be replaced.

BAM!

All paid and have enough to make it until the next paycheck.

Dang, I'd forgotten how good it feels to be almost there.

I'm now working a sane (albeit hard) forty hour work week but feel like am working a part time gig with two days off  and making more money than I ever have in my life. Bonus points, I love the job!

They say when you hit the bottom there's only one way left to go... so we took that route.

My daughter landed a job where I work and is making not only her tuition for next semester but plenty of money for insurance on the car we bought her and spending money to spare.

Zach is Zach but with a lot more wisdom and help from when pressed but sometimes even offered without asking.

I feel like Me again!

This is Tim and me before we had three kids sucking us dry but on the verge of being ready to take it all on...

and did with pretty good results, only a couple of bumps and one court date.

We are a crazy eclectic bunch but wouldn't change one thing about my family or the past five years.

So my kids got a momma who wears a lamp shade on her head at a party. Is that really a bad thing?

So Tim got stuck with a total and complete opposite who sometimes (often, probably frequently) feels like a thorn in his side but has turned out to have a high tolerance for pain and mental anguish.

I'm calling this leg of the race a WIN!

They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and thinking maybe that has "Freakin' Kelly" written all over it, be that better or worse!

I'm just grateful none of them have tried even once to snuff me out and blame it on the dogs.

It's finally coming together for us and have even been able to pay a bit forward here and there but no where close to what I owe.

It just simply feels wonderful to go to bed at night and know everything will still be on in the morning.

It's the little things that make you see the big picture.

I'm blessed, we're blessed and need to remember that... Always.

Til next time, Cotton

Warp Speed Ahead

I had a note up at work to pick up an extra shift today and got lucky. No one wanted off!

I had grand plans to work in the yards all day but The Chief Meteorologist upstairs decided I needed to cook and clean inside the house instead so I did.

Both the kiddos are at work (a good thing) and I'm putzing around the house and garage making everything tidy, neat and exactly where I want to find it.

I have a tiny bit of OCD about where I want things to be but the ancient Chinese disease I also sometimes suffer from (Dragon Ass) makes it okay if things get messy every once in a while. That also gives me someone to complain to and about (the kids)  when I feel particularly tired or grumpy.

Everyone should have kids! They're a great release for stress and usually unarmed.

I worked seventy sometimes eighty hours a week for so long that almost feels like cheating to work just forty but sure feels wonderful and certainly has made our house a much more desirable place to be. Go ahead and ring my (non working) doorbell and see if I don't answer. I ain't scared. (anymore)

It wasn't a lot of fun while happening but the past few years happened for a reason and can't change the past anyway. You can only learn from it.

I hope our learning period is over for a while.

 It's almost June and my husband has been living in Texas since February. He's coming home for a few days at the end of July. I think he'll be impressed at all we've done around and to the house.

It's not up for any awards from Better Homes & Garden but looks better than it has in years and's finally a work in progress as opposed to a house we barely kept by the skin of our teeth.

Hey, it's not like I was gonna fix it up so the mortgage demons could resell for a hefty profit but now in less than two years will be ours free and clear. Time to get busy!

Working forty hours a week feels like part time and can finally exhale. I feel like I've been holding my breath for almost five years waiting for this huge exhalation... and it's here!

I haven't bounced a check in well over three years.

Haven't had a utility cut off or even close to it in over a year.

I answer the phone or door now without hesitation or worry. You never know...(btw) is Ed McMahon still alive toting around that big check?

Just checked, he's not (2009)...but there's always Ellen!

The dogs are never out of dog food anymore and all current with shots and vaccinations.

I feel good.

I'm still alive.



All alone here for the night but still cooked a nice dinner for later on when the kids get home from work. My dogs like smelling food cooking and besides, it's not really considered drinking alone if you have three dogs around you while you cook is it? Anyway, it's my day off and felt like celebrating!

With all we've been through, is still nothing compared to what hundreds of millions endure on a daily basis for an entire lifetime.


I can say with complete confidence that with mucho help from The Big Guy , family friends and sometimes even strangers...

We done it!

Never give up, you don't know what lies ahead and it's a waste of effort not to see.

Til next time...COTTON