A blog about anything or sometimes about nothing. A place for me to write and post my feelings or opinions on things ranging from parenting to waiting tables to living in America to daily observations and my personal experiences. Sometimes I just want to give people a humorous read and make them laugh at the end of a trying day.
I've been cutting the front of our subdivision for well over three years. I hated when turning into it and the front looked overgrown, so for a while cut it without anyone asking me to. The first house sat vacant for almost a year and cut it as well.
Then the HOA contacted me and offered me twenty bucks to continue...and I did. By that time we were flat broke so felt grateful to have the extra money. Then months later realized they used to pay my son to cut it for twenty bucks over ten years ago.
We negotiated and was upped to sixty a month.
I can't get my mower down in the culverts on each side because of all the exposed rock (broke three blades trying) and have to weed eat them both. It takes over three hours to, number one pick up all the trash peeps throw out their car windows then, number two cut the hills on both sides. Then have to weed eat both gullies (as I call them) and go back and blow all the grass back off the street and onto the curb.
I initially accepted the agreement because we were well over two years behind on our HOA dues and told them to apply the sixty bucks to our back dues.
Guess what? My dues are paid up now and doing okay at the Clampett compound.
We're not rich, far from it but have enough money now to pay our bills...and crazy enough on time.
I absolutely love working in my yard and cutting grass, even weed eating but ain't gonna do it anymore for the HOA. In my opinion they got a whole lotta work out of me for cheap and am tired of doing it.
In their defense appreciate them letting me cut to get our HOA back dues caught up, but caught up they are! Good luck with them finding someone who will do the job I did for over three years for sixty bucks.
I think when got attacked by yellow jackets on the last cut made me realize...
I love yard work but needs to be in yards I love. Massey took this pic of me a few years back going to cut around my parents grave site located at the oldest Christian church in the state of Georgia.
I'm moving on. We're moving on.
It's all gonna be okay. Five years ago I didn't think it would, but it is.
When life gets tough, you need to get tougher.
Looking back and reflecting over the past five or six years of our lives have come to only one conclusion... which seems to be the right one to live by.
I got almost four hours of sleep last night before getting up for work this morning. It rained like crazy the entire ride to the airport. I detest driving in rain but at least made it in time to be the first server there. I took my multi vitamin, a Zyrtec and Aleve followed by an espresso and was good to go go go!
Massey rode with me but didn't have to be in until ten; I go in at eight thirty. She let me get out at the front door of the terminal and drove back to the parking deck, parked and rode the shuttle back. She's such a good little helper to her tired ole momma.
We open at ten, had maybe three or four tables by eleven so sent one of the servers home early. I never leave early. If I'm getting up before seven, ironing a shirt, putting on make up and driving twenty five miles...I'm there for the duration even if it's painful.
Around three it finally picked up a bit. I made over $230 in less than two hours and clocked out by five.
That'll make you feel better, and it did. The ride home was rain free, stopped by and did the grocery thing; came home and put on a big pot of chili then put some ribs I had thawed in the crock pot for tomorrow. Just like that, had dinner cooked for four days! We can eat chili for a day or two or switch to ribs then make chili dogs. I like multitasking, makes life much easier.
One more mid shift tomorrow (go in at one thirty, get off before nine) and will have all of Tuesday to my own little self.
I had someone message me after reading one of my blogs asking for financial advice on getting back on track.
Here's my secret.
"Never give up"
When we were at our lowest would bounce a check to keep the power on, was cheaper than a reconnect fee. I got rid of cable channels and cut the front of our subdivision to pay for back HOA dues. We were (and still are) lucky and had an outpouring of love and support from friends, family, Blog readers and even strangers.
If you aren't lucky like we were, never hesitate to contact the Salvation Army or any local church. My sister's Sunday School class helped us out when our septic tank backed up a few years back.
We owe them a sh*tload of thanks...literally.
Pray a lot.
Stay positive, even when you don't feel like it. Staying positive doesn't cost a dime and is worth every penny. (trust me)
Keep a journal. The written word is old school these days but a wonderful way to remember and reflect.
Always remember what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
Lean on your friends and rely on your faith. The Big Guy's pretty smart.
Be a good person and never stop believing.
Yep, this was taped in Texas, where my husband is currently living all alone away from family, friends and our three kids and pups. Also thank The Lord men don't wear jeans that tight anymore.
If you never step out and take a chance, how can you know how far you could go?
I'm not a fan of comfort zones, they never got me anywhere. Call me a rebel, I consider it a compliment.
I've gotten spoiled with my new job. For literally years, I worked six often times seven days a week for months at a time.
A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. And I did.
Now I (sometimes) make what I used to make weekly working seven shifts in just two. "Welcome to the big time!"
I don't know if it's my age or obviously over exhausted stress capacity but working at the airport six days a week is a bit much for me. I've only had to (thankfully) do it a few times but this past week has drained me like a sink.
I was okay last night after getting home from shift three in a row. Making well over two hundred fifty bucks made it easy to do and also meant I only had three more to go.
I got this!
Today I went in today and felt pretty good until around eight tonight. All the sudden I felt cold chills (fifty five year old women never feel cold chills) and achy, recognizing all the signs. I couldn't keep my nose from running, felt like was dripping so badly my customers would offer me their napkin and to put it simply, just felt shitty.
I felt better after I got home. Home always makes me feel better.
I think (hope) it's just exhaustion.
I'm tumbling into bed with a warm pup spooning me and willing myself to feel better in the morning. I have to be up before seven for a day shift but will be home hours before the sun goes down.
Only two more shifts to go. I got this too!
Like the way I used all three ways of spelling the word to, two, too correctly?
I'm smart like that!
I'm just so grateful that all I have to do is make through two more shifts and will have two days off!
I more than vividly remember when I had no days off with none in sight.
It appears I'm a slow learner. Last week I got really frustrated about a couple of (three or four) things.
After pouting and griping for days to our three dogs and anyone else around the house who would listen I finally came to the realization there are some things in life you simply can't do anything about but can always find something positive if you search deep within yourself and always try to do your best...always!
We had a solid (over) five year financially downhill struggle but after a few wrongs turns and couple of bad decisions finally found the way with help from The Big Guy and tons of supporters.
I'm not crazy about my husband living a thousand miles away but in all honesty has been somewhat a welcome break for us both. It got pretty ugly for a while and was mostly (all) my fault.
At least I'm honest.
It's not easy living with a woman who always has the sharp, rapidfire comeback for anything you can or may say, and can forget trying to rebuttal. ( just gives me more material to work with)
With now less than a year to go, Fang and I will be living together again. It'll most probably take him that long to miss me if he's as smart as I think (know) he is.
The new job I have is seasonal and need (have) to prepare in advance. International travel is totally different from domestic. These crazy international fliers march to the beat of a different drum, sometimes steel and sometimes bongo or gong.
When it's hot, is RED hot.
When it's not, it's NOT.
I can go from making four hundred bucks in one shift to scratching out a Franklin and change in another.
Lucky for me I like scratching.
I work in the yards so much with my buddy, Mr. Weed Eater usually always have one or two patches of poison ivy which feel deliciously wonderful to scratch.
My Diddy used to always seem to enjoy scratching his athlete's foot through his white (supposed to help with AF) socks while drinking a Co-Cola watching Bob Newhart on Saturday nights when I was a kid.
And when it's slow at work, worry myself sick about what will happen if it never picks up again.
Then I start to pick apart life...the wrong way.
Why do some people seem to cruise down Easy Street while I'm battling traffic back up it?
EPIPHANY!
Don't worry about what other people do or how they do it and get by. Worry about what YOU do and how you do it!
Worry about what you are doing right, not what others are doing wrong.
KARMA is a big ole bee-otch (probably has a gross mustache, eye boogers in the corners of her eyes and hairy mole too) laughing at ones who just don't get it. A lot of peeps will be stunned and shocked when learn she's real. I may not be around to witness, but it will happen.
I need to stay positive and not worry. I need to take advantage of all the opportunities I am afforded, given and not worry about people who don't. I need to pray for (not) judge them. They'll learn too. The even (harder) way.
I have enough on my own plate to deal with. It's still not Easy Street but am closer to it every day.
Dang it was great to grow up in the sixties and seventies. I'm still lucky after all these years! A whole lotta peeps can't say that. That's kinda sad to me.
I feel like an entire generation is missing out on real life while Tweeting, Instagramming and Snapchatting.
At least all my bad choices, decisions and actions as a young adult aren't on the Internet to see and half the peeps who witnessed it can't remember what they went into a room for anyway, much less how to Google it.
So much has happened in my life over the past five years it would take all night to touch on every single thing so just want to let you all know what is coming in the hopefully very near future.
Number one:
Politics really tick me off and I have voted in every election since turning eighteen in 1978.
I wouldn't (and have never) publicly bash (or bashed) the president of our country. I may not have voted for him but supported and have been behind every (so far) man to win the office. The majority spoke and I respected the fact. It's what you're supposed to do. DUH!!
With all its many faults, the USA is still the greatest nation on earth.
No wonder people hate us...plus we'll supersize any meal for just ninety nine cents!
Only in America, the land of obese people and Walmart.
If only every single person spent as much time recruiting and encouraging new voters as they do bitching about ones currently elected into office, it could literally change the world and pretty certain would be a good thing.
Number two:
My kids. There is nothing I wouldn't do or haven't done to help them when they needed it. It's what a momma's supposed to do, and I'm a momma.
A mother fighting for her children is a mighty powerful, resourceful thing and one not to be taken lightly.
Trust me.
Life goes on (if you're lucky) ... I just didn't this realize over half a century ago , life has a lot more hills and valleys along the way than you expect or ask for.
A considerable amount more than the brochure (birth certificate) seemed to imply in 1960.
We will get there, and will get there together with God as my witness.
Too tired to post tonight but just wanted to say I have lots to write about. Good thing I'm off tomorrow!
Love is but a song we sing fears' the way we die You can make the mountains ring or make the angels cry
Though the bird is on the wing and you may not know why
*Come on people now smile on your brother everybody get together and try to love one another right now
Some may come and some may go He will surely pass When the one that left us here returns for us at last We are but a moment's sunlight fading in the grass
*Come on people now smile on your brother everybody get together try to love one another right now
*Come on people now smile on your brother everybody get together try to love one another right now
*Come on people now smile on your brother everybody get together try to love one another right now
If you hear the song I sing you will understand...listen You hold…
Hours away from being twenty years ago I called 911 around four AM and sat on a towel at the end of our driveway as I almost bled to death. Twenty three minutes later the doctor ripped open my guts and gave me a tiny baby girl barely four pounds.
She blossomed quickly and wasn't hard to decide on her as my bestie. Heck, the word bestie wasn't even invented yet but somehow knew that's what she was.
She didn't speak until almost two but when she did, didn't stop. Still hasn't. That's when I knew she was mine.
She's been girly from the get go. Me, not so much.
So we're total opposites, but complete each other in our own dysfunctional way. Sometimes I have to be to be heavy but that's what makes me the momma.
She, on the other hand keeps me in the loop and tells me when I'm being or look ridunkulous. She helps me retain my semi cool status.
Clear crystal blue eyes which seem to SEE your soul. (a good thing) Heart so accepting, makes my own small chest burst with pride. Her heart's as big as the universe and then some.
She was a thinker then and still a thinker now.
The look on her face in the picture above says it all at the tender age of six. "I think you guys need might need my help. I'm down with that."
Tim's week at home is coming to an end on Tuesday morning when we take him back to the airport to leave for Texas again. We've made the most of it. He's spent a lot of time with our kids, pups and his closest friends. Tomorrow he's going to the Braves game with both sons and the best man from our wedding, also one of his closest cronies. It's crazy busy at my job right now and when a server have to strike while the iron's hot so just took one extra day off. We spent some much needed time together getting the yards and house shaped up and made a lot of progress.
On my birthday morning he came into our bedroom with a cup of coffee for me while I was watching CNN getting some much needed rest from one of the busiest nights I'd ever had at work. The night before had been complete total (not so much) controlled chaos but made well over four hundred dollars in less than eight hours. That doesn't happen every shift but when does is a blessing beyond belief just to know I have a job that can generate that kind of income.
There were two guys out front of our house unloading a landscaping truck and Tim asked if I had hired someone to do the yards?
I said no but to wait and see what they did before telling them they had the wrong address.
Instead he meandered outside with his own cup of coffee and found out a dear friend of mine had paid for them to pressure wash our house as a birthday present.
EXCELLENT!
What a way to start the day.
I not only have terrific family but terrific friends as well.
Case in point. This was the back of our house before the wash job.
This is the back of our house after!
It only got better.
The extra day I took off was for a cookout. My brother drove up from Orlando. My sis and her hub came over. Tim's long absent sis came over with her son. His Spanish teacher in high school (from Nicaragua) came over and about ten other close friends, including my friend who got me my awesome new job.
I made tons of food (my bro graciously paid for) with help from Massey and Tim grilled burgers and dogs. Coolers full of beer, soft drinks and water quenched our thirsts as we laughed, ate and reminisced the day away.
My sister gave me a fabulous new under the counter mounted stereo for my kitchen where spend ninety percent of my time at home and her hub installed it as soon as I opened it.
Tim gave me a beautiful bracelet made from two pieces of silverware he bought from a guy in Texas.
His Spanish teacher gave me a gorgeous orchid and nice bottle of Zinfandel.
Massey's bestie Michael, brought me a beautiful bouquet as well and my kitchen was filled with love from others.
Massey bought me two Adirondack chairs for my back patio and Tiki torches to keeps the biting critters away.
Zach got a hair cut. Best present a momma of a twenty three year old hippy could ever get! Even two of the Lost Boys came over to help celebrate.
Traded my AM shift on Sunday for a PM and went to work today feeling a little exhausted with a touch of alcohol overload but ecstatic.
This past year has enlightened me.
Number one, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
Number two, all you need is love...and lucky for me have been blessed with both.
"There's nothing you can do that can't be done Nothing you can sing that can't be sung Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game It's easy
There's nothing you can make that can't be made No one you can save that can't be saved Nothing you can do but you can learn to be you in time It's easy
Massey had a friend from England come stay with us Clampetts this past week. She's a beauty inside and out! I absolutely loved her accent although made me sound even more like a hick in comparison but have been called a lot worse. Massey used her airport badge to go past security , meet her as soon as she cleared customs and pick her up at the international terminal.
I told Massey since they were so close to downtown ATL to take her to Little Five Points to window shop and explore before heading home. I figured once she saw all the freaks which are L5P our family would seem a lot less crazy when she met us!
She was going to stay in Massey's old bedroom which hasn't changed since she was a little girl and let her pick out colors for the walls. (Hideous to say the least)
A couple of the Lost Boys have stayed in it from time and TJ for a while after moving back from Australia. I always consider that room free room and board so never bother to dust or vacuum. It was disgusting but never make a free room look too good...they'll never want to move out.
Our blind boxer, Ham got shut in there one night by accident when we all left and by the time we got back home an hour later had scratched through one complete side of the door. I knew I had to replace the door. The door's always open so never had to look at it and certainly never crossed my mind to replace it.
The dust and dirt I could clean up and had clean new sheets for the bed but knew when she shut that door for the first time would think someone had been held captive in the room and may panic herself, hitch hike to the airport and hop the next jet back across the pond.
I asked Zach to measure the door and bribed another Lost Boy to go pick up a door from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in his big ole pickem up truck and help Zach put it on. Of course they didn't go where I asked and ended up paying more for the door but at least was brand new (and Zach paid for it anyway). Guess I couldn't complain so was happy to pull into our driveway from the grocery store seeing the old one already off and outside in the garage. This was two hours before our British friend was to arrive.
I started dinner and went upstairs to see how things were going. I was excited to see the door attached only missing the door knob. A door knob doesn't take an hour to put on, even with Lost Boys doing it.
I pulled the door shut (or tried to) and hit the frame, needing about a quarter inch less to shut completely.
Are you kidding me?
The Amish Lost Boy (what we call him) with the pickem up truck said "Wait til winter when it's cold and wood shrinks, bet it'll shut then."
So she now had a clean room to sleep in, a new nice door to (try and) shut without a door knob but a nice three inch round peep hole instead.
This poor girl wouldn't make it twenty four hours with us clowns, I was sure of it now.
The Lost Boys got the door knob put on about five minutes before Massey and her friend got here. I put a weight in the floor so she could at least almost shut the door for some privacy.
We grilled out hamburgers and the Lost Boys ate with us too. Trial by fire I say, may as well get her used to our weirdness right from the jump!
Just like the perfect guest she brought us gifts. Tea Biscuits in a beautiful can and a nice box of English Tea. I'm already liking this young girl.
Next time our close buddy ole Queen Lizzy comes a calling (again) at the Clampetts, we'll have a spot of tea with Her Highness instead of cokes and cheetos!
Massey took four days off work and showed her friend around Atlanta, Warm Springs, The Little White House, Pine Mountain and beautiful Senoia where my sister lives. They did Zoo Atlanta and even got a lube job at the Varsity!
I wasn't around much, actually worked most every day she was here but seemed to really enjoy their week together.
One night while she was here, at work had three really nice Brits at my table. I told them about our visitor and what city she was from. One of the men said (cheerily as all Brits do) "You be sure to tell that Yorkshire miss to sing 'Ilkley Moor Bar Tat' for you!! Of course I had to write it down to remember but when got home from work found them in the living room watching Netflix and announced what song I wanted to hear her sing.
She laughed, declined the offer to sing and said was a "Dreadful song anyway."
I'm not so sure about that. I found this awesome video on Youtube!
One whirlwind of a week later, Massey took her back to the airport. They were tearing up before they even left the house.
Needless to say I'm now friends with her and her mum (as they say) on Facebook!
It was great for her and Massey to have a week together after a year apart and think the visit was a complete success, especially being thrown in with the Clampetts!
A lot has been going on at work too.
Our wonderful General Manager took a new job outside of the restaurant industry to have more time with his wife and six month old son. Can't blame him but sure will miss him.
He's German so seemed fitting to get our leader a present he'd remember me by.
Our executive chef got a promotion to our midtown location and left about a month ago.
Times and things change. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's not.
Then I found out the manager who originally interviewed, hired (but terrified me at first) and took a chance on me was leaving too. Same story, he has a wife and little girl under two years old. My old GM was the good cop. This one was the bad cop but an excellent one!
He'd see me doing something wrong or not the right way and call me on it every time and time and time again when I first started.
I finally realized it was a compliment from him (happening so often) and that he was not only managing, but teaching me.
I will be eternally grateful to him for showing, sharing and teaching me professionalism in my ( obviously) chosen field.
So his last day just rolled around too and was even more prepared. He's from Bosnia. Hey, I can do Muslim too!
I ordered him a turban off Amazon and was going to get Massey to bling it out with his Bosnian nick name in rhinestones. It would be my last day working with him. I knew he didn't eat pork but figured he could wear a picture of it so also ordered him a Looney Tunes Tee shirt with Porky Pig in the center saying "That's all folks!" He actually wore the turban and tee shirt out when he left the restaurant. That made me feel good. As he so often said "That's awesome!"
I've had some great managers over the past thirty six years but this guy ranks right up there!
I was a mess when I took this new job. Our family was still struggling to recover from a five year financial debacle, was terrified to change jobs and totally out of my league at the new gig.
I worked harder than I ever have at learning a new job, and had to. It's what's expected of you from this restaurant group... but you know what?
This old dog can (and did) learn new tricks!
It wasn't easy with the Bosnian watching my every move, always correcting in a positive reinforcing way teaching me things vitally needed to be the best server you could, but did the smart thing.
"Listen and learn."
And I did.
Sometimes you have to roll with the punches. Sometimes you have to throw a few but never stop swinging, regardless.
We're gonna make it now thanks to love from family, about a hundred folks, two great new jobs and a lot of new friends.
If I had to wear a 4th of July shirt I'd pick this one. It's clever...and true, America's got my back. I'm proud to be an American.
It was slow yesterday and today at work but was to be expected. On the up side we ate good, had more than a few laughs and still managed to walk out with well over a hundred dollars each night. The next couple of days will the precursor to flat out craziness which (lucky for me) occurs every July through November in the international terminal of the world's busiest airport.
And I'm ready!
Looking sharp ain't I?
Not bad for fifty five and (hard to believe) haven't even bought one fashion magazine since the seventies!
My daughter has a friend from England coming to visit for a week here at the Clampett/Cotton compound day after tomorrow. I was kind of worried.
Number one I can't even imagine being able to fly Massey to England and give her spending money for a week just to visit a friend she met last year while doing a gig as a counselor at Girl Scout camp last summer and number two they're paying all that money to send her to live with us for a week.
I randomly asked Massey on the way home from work the other night... "She knows we're not rich, right?" Massey didn't get offended, seem ruffled one bit just happily (while Snap chatting) chirped back "No, she knows all about us".
I wondered if that was a good thing or a bad thing?
It's not like she's visiting the White House, she's visiting our house!
I took mental inventory and decided it was okay. It's not a dump but it not's a palace. If you want a roof over your head, laughter and love all around you, it's a proverbial mansion. (if you don't look too close or open closets)
I think the kid will go back across the pond in a week knowing the REAL America.
Good people who can survive bad times, have a few battle scars but also have a chance to rebound and move ahead if you give it your all.
I have two days to prepare and always work better under pressure.
I think it's gonna be fun having a Brit here for a week.
Sometimes, no pretty much all the time it helps to laugh about things especially when you're sad and can't do anything to change it anyway. Why not try to find some humor?
Our General manager got a new job outside of the restaurant industry and most likely will never see or talk to him again. Tonight was the last shift I worked with him. I totally understand it's what's best for him and his family. They have a six month old boy now, and will be able to spend a lot more time at home and on a normal weekday schedule. I'm glad for him but sad for us.
I've had a lot of good managers over the years and only a few bad ones but he is hands down the best GM I have ever been fortunate enough to work for. The really cool thing about my job is that all the managers are great and is a pleasure to see any number of them there.
They are all friendly, extremely knowledgeable and continuously encouraging rather than demanding. When I got this job, I really hit the server jackpot.
Of course there are always two or three you mentally roll at when seeing their name on your scheduled shift but the restaurant bunch is an eclectic one to say the very least.
I think that's why I love the profession so much, it's right up my alley.
It's a job where you have a lot of control over what you make. Do the job right and the job will do you right. (most of the time anyway)
Waiting tables is nothing more than a crap shoot. You can walk out with a pocket full or you could crap out. After over thirty five years think I have become a pretty good gambler. Of course I have my off nights but more often than not walk out more than satisfied, especially with this job.
I've been given, taught and learned more information, tools and methods than I ever knew existed to improve my odds and is a blessing beyond belief, especially at this point in my way over halfway done life.
It was a rocky start for me in fine dining at this age but after four months felt pretty stinking confident and now over a year later have amazed even myself.
Being a really good server should be at least some type of college degree is all I'm saying.
Our GM waited until he had less than a week left before he let the kitchen staff and front of the house know. I was devastated but knew what I had to do.
Make the best out of a bad situation.
Our Manager is from the midwest but of German descendants. I had three days until I last worked with him and spent quite a bit of time finding the best going away present for him. Number one I don't have a whole lot of spare money and number two didn't have a lot of time left.
I found the perfect gift on Amazon for around ten bucks with two day shipping. I gave it to him when we were alone in the hallway out back of the restaurant. On the card envelope had addressed it to "Unser Kommandeur" (our commander)
I handed him the gift wrapped box and told him it wasn't much but something his little boy might find on a shelf in one of their closets some day when he was seven or eight and beg to have. I only asked that he keep my cell number and send me a picture of his boy wearing it. Then hugged his neck, thanked him for being such a great boss and told him once again how much I would miss him.
As he carefully unwrapped it (he's a neat freak too) told him my daughter would never forgive me if he didn't let me take a pic with my cell to show her, she's as crazy about him as I am and has only worked there maybe six or seven weeks. That's how great a guy he is.
Yes he now has a German Officer's Hat, complete with chin strap and you can't tell me when his son finds it one day won't think it's the coolest thing ever!
When I was online buying it the other night my son Zach (who's birthday is Monday) came in the room, looked at the computer screen and said "Whoa! If your boss doesn't want it, I do!"
When he walked out of the room I changed the quantity order to two. Can't wait to see Zach's face when he opens it on his birthday.
Life goes on (if you're lucky) but you just have to roll with it. Yes it's a gamble.
