Wonderful Rainy Day

Sometimes a rainy day is a wonderful thing...especially when you have the day off. I woke up at four thirty this morning and couldn't get back to sleep so I settled in on the sofa in the living room and watched the early morning news til I dozed back off around seven. I woke up again around eight thirty, saw the forecast for rain all day and decided to stay where I was. Massey  ran a few errands for me early before Tim took  her car for job hunting around eleven. I had gotten all  the yards cut, trimmed and walkways and driveways swept yesterday and made a huge pot of stew that will last for days so I had nothing pressing to do. Well, I COULD have cleaned house but that didn't sound like much fun so I opted for a work free day.

Massey and I watched the boob tube for a couple of hours, me on the couch and her on the chaise both wrapped up with a light blanket and a bowl of popcorn. Around three we decided to make an entire day of it and started watching movies. First up was "The Perks of Being a Wallflower." It's one of Massey's favorites and she wanted me  to watch it with her. It was a great little movie. The rain didn't let up so we didn't get up except for bathroom breaks and more comfort food. We ate watermelon, fruit bars and popcorn with cold "Co-Cola's." (as my momma always called them)

You  would think by  this time I would be getting bed sores, but in fact the longer I stayed horizontal, the better I felt!

Next it was  "Pitch Perfect." Definitely a teen chick flick but since I was spending the day with MY teen, watched it with her. Had some cute parts but would have never bought a ticket to see it.

After that movie, Massey went downstairs to the kitchen and heated us up some leftovers and brought them up  to the living room and we continued our marathon. By  this point it was almost seven at night and next up was "Silver Linings Playbook." I had done absolutely nothing all day but watch  TV and stuff my face...literally. Massey waited on me hand and foot and the only time I got up was to use the rest room or let one of the pups out. It was fabulous and I actually think Massey enjoyed it too.

All I can say about "Silver Linings" is WOW! I knew it won some awards but I never go to the movies. I think the last movie I bought a ticket to was "Slum Dog Millionaire." (which  was well worth the price)

"Silver Linings" is my kind of movie. It moves fast, has great characters and excellent actors portraying them. Lots of "F" bombs but Massey worked with me at  the restaurant for a while so it was nothing new to her. Restaurant workers tend to have foul mouths. When you wait on the public for a living sometimes you just have to walk back into the kitchen and verbally unload.

So our marathon didn't end til  after ten o'clock. It was a really pleasant day. Massey and I haven't spent  that much  time together in quite a while. I seem to work all the time and she is always doing  "Teen" things like I used to in the seemingly pre historic seventies.

Reality is setting in, In eight days we'll be moving her into her dorm room. Who will spend my rainy days off with me? Who will keep me abreast of what peeps are posting on FB  or tweeting? Who will fix me leftovers and bring them to me on  the couch much less watch a chick flick with me? Who's gonna tell me when the outfit I'm wearing isn't cute? Who's going to roll their eyes at me when I get the words to a song wrong? Who's going to be my bestie?

I'll be left here in a house with five males, ten balls and sixteen feet. That's a frightening thought.

I'm excited for Massey to be starting her new adventure but feeling a little lost myself.. At least she'll just be thirty minutes away but that's a long way for somebody to just bring me a "Co-Cola."  So I am enjoying  this last week. I should be working a lot more but have to bum rides to and from work without a vehicle. I started thinking tonight, maybe that's why God hasn't given me wheels yet, so I can enjoy  these last few days with my girl.

Today was an excellent day.  I am off again tomorrow and although I need and  wanted to work I think I need to take advantage of this last week. I need to spend all  the time I can with Massey before she leaves, maybe not for her as much as for me.

We've already decided on tomorrow night's movie, "Good Will Hunting."  I can't believe she hasn't seen it but loves Matt Damon and his buddy Ben Affleck so I'm sure it will be a hit with her. Still have plenty of leftovers and cold "Co-Colas" and popcorn.

When I wake up tomorrow I will only have seven days left with her. I'd better make them all count!

Til next  time...a getting near to being a teary eyed missing a daughter  COTTON

Ten More Days

Almost eighteen years ago  I took an ambulance ride at three in the morning after calling 911, to have my lower belly ripped open and have a tiny four pound baby extracted from me almost three months early.

She quickly blossomed into a beauty with a head full of curly hair and a smile that still makes my heart sing.

She still has that curly hair but can work a straightening iron like nobody's business when she wants it silky straight. She has the bluest eyes I've ever seen. Her younger/older brother has beautiful blue eyes too although  they are a totally different shade. Her older brother has gorgeous green eyes. All three of my kids have awesome eyes and  hope they use them wisely to view life through and look at  the right path to choose. 

The boys stumbled but both rebounded. Massey is just getting started. My oldest son got lucky, we were living high on the hog bringing in well over six figures when he graduated high school. When my younger son graduated we had hit the skids and barely making ends meet. Lucky for me, boys are low maintenance and Zach, my younger son has never cared about  material things. He got into some trouble after high school and had to let him sit in the Pokey for a couple of days before we could scramble the money  to get him out. In hindsight it was a blessing, he  came out grateful and remorseful.

So now my oldest is living halfway around the world in Australia doing what I wish I had done when in my twenties, exploring the world. Zach has lived the straight and narrow after his brush with the law and made me proud.

Now my youngest is beginning her own  adventure, college.

We made it through over three years of  a total financial debacle by  the Grace of God , help from my wonderful family and the blessing of having many many friends.

In ten days we move her into her dorm room at Georgia State University. She'll be living on campus, a decision we tried to sway her from. It almost doubled the cost but  also made me realize it was worth it. She is head strong and determined and wants to push straight through for her PHD.

She had a good time in high school and in her underclassmen years did guard with the band and learned a lot of lessons about camaraderie and commitment. Many people helped us  to let her do guard and I spent a lot of time volunteering to compensate best I could. It was an experience I am glad she had and most probably enjoyed it even more than her.

Then her junior and senior year put all her energy into her studies and became a member of  the  National Honor Society and focused on one thing...her grades. She decided she wanted to attend Georgia State University where her older brother went. After graduating with honors and a pretty  stinking good GPA my husband and I decided we needed to make it happen. After filing for all the grants and financial aide we could, we came up a little short. Less  than two weeks away from her move in date, God smiled on us once again. Needless to say, we are blessed. We've borrowed from Peter to pay Paul and  have realized that we are truly loved.

Last night we had a send off party for Massey at my sister's house. Massey is rooming with a friend of hers from high school. I am sure it is  strain on her room mate's family but an enormous strain on our  already empty  wallets. Actually neither Tim or I even have a wallet!

Massey's uncle (my brother) has helped us out so much it feels like a crime. He loves and believes in Massey and her desire to achieve. I have no doubt she will make him, us and her own self proud.

Massey's future college roomie came to her party along with her mother and gaggle of sisters.

Five women, young and old walking away from the camera and two young women headed off  to change the world.

I have no doubt these girls will go far. I hope they remain besties like I have with my own college  roomie.

Oh little Massey...it's  your time to fly. Make the most of your flight.

Til next  time...COTTON

Game ON!

I just got home from work. Not super busy but there are a lot of NFL games starting up so it was to be expected.

My younger son turned me on to  the Game of Thrones books a few months back and have been totally enthralled with them. People kept asking if I was watching the series but wanted to catch up with  the series before watching. We have basic cable but got a package deal because one of Tim's good friends worked for the cable provider we have. I think we're supposed to be his brother and sister in law or something but at least we got free HBO. All three of my kids and Tim have watched the series and loved it. Some of my FB friends offered to  loan me the first  two seasons on DVD and jumped at  the chance once I started reading book five.

Massey and I met them and brought the discs home only to discover we didn't have a blue ray player. All my TV's are at least ten years old with a big huge tube in the back but work just fine,  have served their purpose and although I would love to have a flat screen, that's so far down the list it's laughable.

My awesome friends bought me the first season in regular DVD format from Amazon and had it shipped to my house for my birthday! I was bowled over by  their kindness and generosity and simply giddy!

I watched the first episode on  the first disc and was hooked! I finished the first disc in one sitting. The next day I went into work at the restaurant and was talking with one of the cooks about how great the show was. The owner was standing there too and I told him he would LOVE the show. Len is a  big burly guy with  a mad Italian temper and could  BE one of those characters, lopping off heads and riding off to battle fearlessly.

His wife detests television  and doesn't  allow one in her house. She relented and let Len have one upstairs in the bonus room so he could watch his hockey games. The man works over ninety hours a week and has no life other than the restaurant. Barb doesn't even let him run the A/C up there but at least he has a place to unwind in the few hours he has to himself. He already works in a hundred degree plus kitchen seven days a week so I'm guessing an eighty five degree bonus room feels like paradise.

I told him I would bring him the first disc to see if he liked it. I took it in the next  day. I worked again the next  day and didn't want to seem all pushy and say right off the bat "Did you  watch it?" About an hour into  the shift he said "I brought your disc back, it's in the office." I asked him if he watched it and he said "Hell yeah!" I  took him the next disc next  time I worked and he promptly brought it back again  the next day.

Len doesn't have much  spare time or ever do anything for himself so I was glad he was enjoying the series.  I started  watching disc three and decided  to take him the rest of season one. He asked if I was through with it and I said no but was so  glad he was enjoying something, I thought I'd let him watch  first.  He asked why and I said "Well, it was a gift to me  and I'll own it forever. I'm just glad you  are enjoying them and don't worry, I'm still  reading the fifth book."

Two days later he brought the entire season one back. I told him I actually had season two also but it was on Blue Ray and asked if he had a Blue Ray player? He said "I think I do" to which  I said "No you don't, now you  sound like me. If you had Blue Ray  you'd know it."

Tonight I went into  work and took  season two (Blue Ray) with me. I asked Len's son who is the sous chef if he had a PS3 he could loan his Dad to watch the discs on and he said yes. Like I said , it was slow at  work and around six Len took a break. He'll usually go home for about one hour and then come back. I was in  the kitchen talking with  another cook who I  loaned my first disc to when Len brought it back (this guy is hooked now too) and said "I'll bet you five bucks Len is out buying a Blue Ray player."

Of course Barb was livid  when Len wasn't back in  one hour. Everything and anything Len does makes her furious. I call them Ralph and Alice Cramden. It was slow and I told her, "He'll be back soon."

Not  ten minutes later I walked into  the kitchen to drop off some dirty dishes and saw Len was back. He snapped me with  a rolled up dish towel as I walked by, looking all frisky.  I looked at  him and said "You  just went and bought a Blue Ray player didn't you?" He grinned and shook his head  yes. I went and told the  other cook he owed me five bucks.

Last night Barb was complaining at  work about Len watching the DVD's upstairs at  their house.  She said "All I hear is all  this bellowing , clanging of metal and horse hooves coming from upstairs." It was killing her...He was HAPPY!

Barb is  tough ole softie. She can be mean as crap but has a heart  of gold and will help  you out if you are a hard worker and  willing to help  yourself. She has bailed my family out time after time She isn't very techno savvy and we all laugh about the way she calls the  desk top in the office "the master." I've often thought about asking her "The master what?" but know that is how she differentiates between the desk top and the lap top. I asked her one day in the office to pull up Len's email so I  could do something for him about  a catering job. She was in  there twenty  minutes when I said "Do  you have it up yet?" to which she responded "I'm getting closer."

When I was checking out tonight fixing to leave for the night, Barb was mad at him about something else and walked into  the office where Len and I were discussing Game of Thrones. She said adamantly, "If I hear all  that pounding noise coming from upstairs again tonight I'm going into  the garage and cutting off the breaker switch  to the bonus room." Len and I both cracked up and she stomped off in a huff. I told him, "You know this is killing her don't you, you enjoying these discs so much?" I'll have to say it IS a loud storyline. It's hard to sword fight, ride horses hundreds of miles and fight dragons quietly.

He said "I'm like Cinderella, all I'm supposed to do is work.  I guess you  could call me CinderFella."

I went back out front to clock out and Barb caught up with me. She said "Do NOT bring him any more of those CD's." I said "Well Barb, number one  they are DVD's and number two I don't have any more."  She said "Well GOOD THEN!"

Here's the thing about Barb. I can almost guarantee you  she will buy him the season three DVD's for Christmas.

I told Len I didn't know which I was enjoying more,  watching the Game of Thrones or watching Barb being  mad at us for ENJOYING the Game of Thrones!

I've gotten three other people hooked on the series at  work.  I'll loan out a disc but won't loan another one out til you bring back the first one. Shout out to Shirley and Wick, who  gave me the first season for my birthday...I'm paying it forward!  Thanks  to  you,  four more people are loving this series!

Unloading the dishwasher, folding a load of clothes and calling it a night/early morning.

"Winter is Coming" (only "Throner's" will get that one)

Til next  time...COTTON

Let the Weekend Begin

I had Tuesday and Wednesday off this week. It's been a while since I've had back to back days off but since the furniture store closing have had more time off in the past two weeks than I have in months. It hasn't helped my pitiful bank account but my mind, body and soul now have a hefty balance and mean a lot more to me than money ever has.  The yards are done, laundry is caught up, my family has had some home cooked meals and I feel refreshed and ready to go again.

It's a good  thing. I worked today at  five, bummed another ride to work and bummed one back home. It was slow (first Falcon's home game) but lucked out and walked out with my buddy, Mr. Franklin. I've already arranged my next bummed ride to work for  tomorrow. Getting there is one thing, getting  home's a piece of cake.

Saturday I am bumming yet another ride to Fayetteville with a co worker from the furniture store to go work the new location. I'll go in at ten, get off at  four and have Tim (or whoever is home with our one car) pick me up and dump me off at  the restaurant by  five. Then I'll work and  bum another ride home. Sunday the car is open so I'll have transportation  to work.

Sheesh!

Massey was all bummed out today and red eyed from crying. We're $5,300 short of  what needs to be in her account by  August 19 for college. We tried her credit union but they won't give her a loan until she is eighteen, which happens to BE August 19.

I sat Massey down and asked her if I've ever let her down before? I went online and made her fill out a request for a Sallie Mae student loan. She plans on going straight through for her PHD and won't have to begin paying it back until she graduates.

It will be 24 to 48 hours before we hear if she gets the loan but have a generous benefactor co signing for her and pretty sure it will happen. If it doesn't, I'll find another way...I always seem to.

She and I sat  together eating leftovers in the living room and watched the Katie Couric show. It was about kids from normal, average and even above average families who stumbled into heroin addiction and ruined not only their own lives but the entire family's as well.

I looked over at Massey  and said "If being poor is  the worst thing that ever happens to us, I'd say we are about the luckiest people on earth."

Four years ago, I felt like Massey did earlier today...lost, embarrassed and humiliated. I simply told Massey, "Our life is what it is and I feel grateful for it."

If you only dwell on the negative, that's all you have... Negativity. If you constantly  strive for something better, something better WILL happen. It may not be the answer to it all but will be a step in the right direction. No person learned to walk in a day. It's one faltering step at a time. It's putting one foot in front of the other, day after day. It's stumbling and falling. It's picking yourself up and trying again.

When our lack of a vehicle debacle started about a month ago, I almost let myself slip back into the abyss of negativity.

I am an avid watcher and reader of  the news, and most of it isn't pretty. After  about twenty four hours into my sulk, I simply looked myself in the mirror and said "Our life is what it is and by all accounts of  the news I'm watching, we're some of  the lucky ones."

It's a good life. It's not the best life or the one I wanted at  this point in my over the 'halfway there' life... but at least we have made it to this point!

When I was standing in  the driveway today waiting for my co worker to pick me  up, my older neighbor came outside, leaning over the back of his big ole diesel truck saying "You  guys just don't have any luck at all with cars." I started to say, well you're retired and I cut your front and back yard for free  for four years so how about YOU taking my unlucky ass to work for free, old man?" I gave him a mental free pass and just chuckled like I  thought he was funny. (while choking back a LOT of sharp comebacks)

All old people get a free pass in my book, sometimes it's just hard to do.

It was getting close to the time when my friend was picking me up so I headed up  the street  to meet her at the top of the  subdivision.

Massey  came outside and said "Don't just walk up  the street like a homeless person." I told her I was walking up  the street FROM my home. I demurred to her obvious embarrassment so we stood together in the front yard,  admiring the free sod  that I worked so hard to lay and God worked so hard to water the past three weeks.

You know what may and WILL sound crazy?

Luckily, obviously I don't want an easy life like I used to.  I don't want things handed to me on a silver platter.  I don't want "Things." I want to be loved, I want to be a hard worker,  I want to be a funny person, I want to be a good mother a good wife, appreciated  and a writer. I  already have seven things checked off MY bucket list...how many people can say that?

Feeling pretty good about our sad old life.

"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple." (Dr. Seuss)

Til next time...COTTON

Don't Make Me Go All "DDS" on You!

So my license expired on my birthday last week. Took me forever to round up all the paperwork they needed but since I currently don't even have a vehicle, took my time about it. All four of us are sharing Massey's little car. Zach and Tim's are both in the shop and I haven't finished paying off the station wagon I'm getting from German Mike. (our sorta sketchy mechanic/ car dude) Then I realized the other day when I went to the store when Tim was off I was driving without a valid license...oops!

Woke up before eight this morning , brushed my teeth and wet down my "Boy Do" and headed to  the dreaded DDS. Here's my first gripe: It was always called the "DMV" until a few short years ago. "DDS" means the dentist, not the Department of Driver Services. Number two: it's not much  of a service here in  Coweta County as it is a pain in the butt. Actually maybe they were right renaming it because sometimes it's almost as painful as a root canal going there.  Today was no exception.

I got there ten minutes after they opened and had about thirty people in  front of me just waiting to get in the door. I was behind Snoop Dog. I hadn't been there thirty seconds when a woman came outside in her fancy little DDS shirt and announced the system was down, no testing and no estimated time of getting the system back running. The only thing they were testing was my patience today so I stayed in line. Snoop Dog left shaking his head and I moved up a spot!

Thirty minutes later I was at  the door, it was open and could feel the air conditioning from inside. NOW we're getting  somewhere!

By  this point I had started chatting (go  figure) with  a young girl behind me and the dude behind her, who was around my age.  I told the girl she was too young to remember but this reminded me of when they changed when you  got your tag renewed back in the early eighties and you  would spend four hours in a line wrapped around the building just to get your car  tag. People would bring chairs to sit in the lines were so long. Old dude nodded, he remembered.

 All three of us moved inside the door around nine o'clock and sat on a little ledge by the window. By  this point there were at  least fifty people in line behind us outside on the sidewalk.

The "Dentist" had a poster on  the wall for us all to read telling us how much  they cared. By  the poster was a stack of comment cards so I picked one up. The old dude behind the young girl behind me said in a very droll tone "Don't even waste the ink in your pen." We all three sat on  the ledge as long as we could and agreed  there was no reason to get up when the person in front of us was still waiting to  advance. So what they had moved up  five feet? I told the young girl to wait until we couldn't see  the person in front of us when they rounded the corner, then we'd get up and everyone would shuffle forward fifteen feet and think the line was REALLY moving!

We all rounded the corner ten minutes later and could actually see  what was going on inside the facility. We  stood there another fifteen minutes. There was a young guy in a chair directly to our right waiting to have his picture taken. For the entire fifteen minutes he sat there as the woman behind the counter tried to get the camera to work. Ten minutes in, the old dude said. Damn, he must be wanted in four states as long as they've had him sitting there.

Never one to be shy I called out to the guy in the chair "Hey, what are they  doing, DRAWING your picture?" This got a chuckle out of the young girl behind me and a flat out laugh from old dude behind her.

The young guy sheepishly said "Guess so" and I countered with "I don't have time to sit for a portrait today and didn't even put on makeup."

Ten minutes later I had a number and a clipboard with a pen to fill out my form. Old dude was still waiting in line but high fived the young girl behind me when they said "Next!" I put my hand beside my mouth  and looked back at  old dude and said "Look at me, I got a clipboard AND a pen!" Then I whispered,  "I'm keeping the pen, don't tell anybody."

It went quicker after that but it's still ridiculous. If you have all your stuff, it should be a five minute ordeal at  the most.

Then my number was called and I walked to the window. I saw a nice looking black guy who  seemed to be in charge walking around and it hit me, "I know him." Thank goodness Massey wasn't with me because whenever I say that she always says "You  know everybody, Mother."

I asked the woman taking my information down what his name was and knew before she said "Clyde"  it was a guy I went to  high school and was in the band with with. I hollered out (as I normally always do) "Hey Clyde, get your saxophone and come over here, I'm Kelly Leach!"

He smiled and I told him he looked great!  Nice guy that he is, said I did too. He asked me if I could still do my cheer leading moves and I said "I could do a cart wheel split right in the floor here if they'd let me!" The woman waiting on me seemed dazed but Clyde just laughed and said  that wouldn't be necessary. He still lives in East Point,  the town I grew up in and is running for Mayor.  The city would do good to elect him, he's always been a stand up guy.

Five minutes later I left with my new license and a renewed friendship.

Came home and  cranked ole Johnny up  for a four hour ride.

My sod has taken off and have done a lot of weed pulling in the island out front.

This entire area used to be nothing but red Georgia clay.

 The side yard is taking off  too,  used to be only red clay and exposed  roots.

Ziggy loves it when I cut the back yard. Of course being a pup he gets excited over anything. 

I'm Rain Man the savant when I cut the back. I start at the edge of the fence and cut blowing all the grass out to the side of the fence. Then when I reach  the fire pit in the middle of the yard I reverse and go the other way blowing all the clippings back out. Then I weed eat the edge of the fence where all the clippings are. Then I rake up all the clippings and throw them in the fire pit. Yes it's a six hour job but for some reason I am happy as a clam after all is done,  edges trimmed front and back, driveway and walkway swept and can walk out side and say, "That looks pretty darned good!"

Even threw a roast in the crock pot after I got home from the DDS/DMV with taters, carrots, onion and celery.  Made some gravy and cooked some rice and field peas with snaps. The inside of our house is another story but I'm off again tomorrow and will  tackle that job then.

Little Sir Charles even seemed  to like the freshly  cut back yard. Here he is doing what he does best...NOTHING.

I'm covered  with chigger bites, smell like a wrestler not allowed to bathe but the yards look great, got food cooked and put up to feed us tomorrow too.  Going to soak in a hot, hot tub. My knees are ridiculous from  breaking up the dog fight yesterday and although the pups have licked them all day when they had the chance (they always feel bad about  battle wounds they inflict) I'm heating up a five quart pot of water and adding it to my bath water. Drinking a cold one and peacing out. Maybe one more episode of Game of Thrones, but then I'm done.

Tomorrow is Massey's  day.  We gotta  get some student loans to fill the gap. It's Ham's day too, gotta get in touch with the foundation about his eyes. It's hard keeping three dogs separated  and it's hard letting  your little girl go.

Life's never dull round these parts.

Til next  time...COTTON

Just Another Day

I had to go into  work at 3:30 today. It was so hot outside it felt suffocating. Somehow, someway, Ziggy chewed through  the rubber coated wire cable that attaches to his fifty foot run across the back yard. I had two cables but loaned one to a neighbor two doors down when I saw them chasing their little dog  down the street one day. I went down to their house to "borrow back" the cable line but they weren't home. I walked around back and saw the cable...well it IS mine and I needed it so I unhooked it from  the corkscrew anchor in  the ground (which I had loaned them too) and went back to my house to hook on our line which runs from fence to fence. I should have left a note but it was a billion degrees outside and I had one hour left to get ready and be standing out front of the house for  the fellow server who  was giving me a ride to work. I hooked Ziggy  back up and went inside to iron my work shirt. I went back downstairs  to let the other two dogs out and Ziggy  got all excited to see his buddy, Ham. They really ARE close, they cuddle together all  the time and sleep side by side every night. Ham walked out into  his blind world and Ziggy pounced on him, trying to play. Ham didn't know what was going on and reacted just like a blind dog would...fight. Charlie simply walked past them both  and seemed to say "No Thank You"  to the ensuing and quickly escalating fight. Of course I freaked (the totally wrong thing to do) and they fed off my reaction and screaming. No one was home but me and luckily Ziggy  was hooked to the line. I pulled and pulled on Ziggy's line and Ham's collar when Ham's collar slipped off and suddenly was grabbing them neck by  neck. I was knocked to my knees  and just started screaming (another wrong thing to do ) "Somebody help me!" I thought maybe Zach  was next door at  the neighbor's. It took me about a full minute to get them apart which in dog fight time seems an eternity. I shoved Ziggy  back into  the kitchen door and slammed it. I thought I was having a heart  attack if not a stroke. Dog fights absolutely terrify me.  What scares me most is that it will happen when no one is home and they will fight to the death. I love all three of my pups and know they love each other, they just don't understand Ham is  blind and  Ham doesn't understand what's  going on around him. Ziggy is still a playful pup and his good intentions are sometimes misinterpreted by  Ham.

So I got them apart, crated Ziggy upstairs and left Ham and Charlie out back. Both my knees were bloody  and bruised but  still had three dogs and none of them were bleeding or hurt. Yes I am an avid/stupid dog lover and that  was my first concern. I finished getting ready for work and took Ziggy out of  the crate on a leash and put him out back on  the run with two bowls of water filled with ice cubes and left Ham and Charlie inside. I was exhausted by  the time I got to work and my heart was still pounding.  So I started me a pot of coffee...misery loves company.

It was busy at work but at least I knew Zig was out back and Ham and Charlie were inside. Bummed another ride home from work at  ten thirty. Ziggy was peering out his peep hole in the fence. I shut Ham up in a bedroom and let Ziggy in. Then I crated Ziggy and let Ham and Charlie out back.

This is getting too crazy  for me. I'm going back  to the GVS for Ham's surgery. The  foundation who  offered to sponsor the surgery only works with GVS so...GVS it shall be and the sooner the better. I weigh ninety nine pounds soaking wet, Ham weighs over eighty pounds, Ziggy weighs sixty. I'm no match for their fights. They have never turned on me and the fights aren't about dominance, just Ham's reacting to  not being  able to see or know what's going on around him. I can't blame him one bit.

They are both laying behind me now like besties, stupid idiots. It's not like I had good looking knees anyway and when I came home from work tonight, Ham licked both my knees for five minutes then Ziggy  took over for ten.

Dogs...you either love them or hate them. I love all three of my pups,  just want Ham  to see again and everything will be  right with our world...at least the canine side of it!

Til next  time...COTTON

I Will Not Give Up...EVER!

You know,  this point in my life is filled with wonderful things yet loaded with problems. I refuse to let them get me down. I've had so many blessings and that's the way I look at my life... "Glass Half Full."

My driver's license expired on my birthday but since I don't have a car and my husband doesn't have a car I put it on the back burner. My younger son bought my old Beemer from me and since it is registered to me the tag expired on my birthday  as well. It has a "Check Engine" light on so he ain't getting a tag either. So  here we sit...literally. Tim has been picking up odd jobs and needs a car so Massey's car has been put to the task of hauling all four of us around.

I'm not too worried, I work eight minutes from the house when you are in a vehicle. I'm no wimp and needs be I can walk to work.  I don't want to but at least that's an option.

I decided to get my ducks in a row for renewing my license which is in itself a ridiculous affair. They want my marriage license, birth certificate, Social Security card and three utility bills.  The bills I got plenty of. I haven't seen my Social Security card since I had my name changed when I married Tim. I vaguely remember  the preacher  handing us a copy of our marriage certificate and like the pack  rat I am (all it takes is one IRS audit) knew I could dig it up.  I came home  from work today  and sat in the garage for two hours going through boxes. I found articles from the newspapers about my Diddy  when he died from West Nile virus.  I found pics of Massey when she came into this world weighing four pounds. I found report cards and shot records from all three kids, I found Zach and  Massey's Social Security cards and even found my own. I  found letters from  friends, diaries I had  forgotten about and Christmas cards from 1988. I found the  guest book  from my Diddy's  funeral , so essentially I found  the last twenty  years or so of my life.

I've had an excellent life.

So stinking what the past few years have been hard? There are tens of millions who  would give their own life just to have mine.

I feel like I'm a pretty  good person, not the best  but certainly not the worst. We have been at  the point of losing our home, we have been broke more often than not but have made it through. We have survived by  the Grace of God, family and friends.

When our A/C in the house went out this summer a friend stepped up and stepped in. I had a dream last night about him having  our A/C fixed. It was a crazy dream (as they all are) but reminded me this morning when I woke up  from a night of hot flashes once again how lucky I am.

I have people cheering me on. I have friends pitching in and  have blessings from above.

I have a blind dog. If you don't have dogs, it may sound stupid but am more worried about getting his eyes fixed  than I am about my getting  to work. At least I can see to walk down the road to work.

I have complete and total confidence in myself. Tell me I can't do something, and I'll make it happen. Tell me all is lost and  the game is over and I'll scramble. It might not be pretty and may be last minute but this girl will make it happen.

That's the way life works when you are loved and believe me...I am loved.

 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.  When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
  And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

 No one ever said it better!

Sometimes...no, ALL the time, love is all you  need.

Trust me, I am a clanging cymbal who is entirely grateful!

Til next  time...COTTON

Another Awesome Day

This was my first day off in over a week. I'm doing much better. I used to work week after week after week but after seven years  that got old and made me even older.

We're broke but we're a happy broke. "Broke" isn't behind but means you are making ends meet and just don't have savings. I can live with that. (for now)

Here I am sitting at my desk at Harris Street School. I remember that dress, I remember that watch and am embarrassed by those bangs. Guess I don't need to tell you I was one hot mama in elementary school! (not)

I'm not even a hot mama NOW but at least I'm still kicking, laughing and loving life.

Massey  took me down to the court house today to get a copy of my birth certificate. We walked into the office and there was a sign taped onto the back of a computer monitor which read "Please don't stand in front of this computer." I immediately walked over and stood directly in front of it, at attention. Massey rolled her eyes and shook her head but the lady behind the desk started laughing. I told her my daughter didn't  think I'm funny but know I am. She looked at Massey  and said "Well your mom made ME laugh!" She told me to give her five minutes and she would give me a copy of my birth certificate. I told her I would wait right in front of the computer I was supposed to stay  away from. She looked over her shoulder  when she walked away and said "Or feel free to sit in the chair that is marked PLEASE DO NOT SIT HERE"

Now I've learned they also want a copy of my marriage license to re issue me a driving permit. Looks like I'll be driving illegally for a few days. Oh. wait a minute! I don't even HAVE a car so I guess  there's no rush there.

Came home and Zach wanted me to watch the latest Batman movie with him. I didn't want to,  but Zach seldom wants to spend time with me so I agreed. It confused me more than General Hospital which is  totally out of control, even for a Soap. Batman wasn't even in it for three fourth's of  the movie and made me think that's why James Holmes went crazy and shot up the theatre in Colorado last summer.

I woke up  this morning, the day of my birth. Around three thirty the rain started pounding and only two of the dogs were  around me. Ziggy was hidden away on a couch in the living room but as an animal lover I woke up worried and lucky for Ziggy,  always get up pee about that time. All three dogs were there and  went back  to my sweat soaked slumber.

Massey  woke me up  with breakfast in bed, and I loved it. I  pittled away  the morning listening  to God water my sod and watched  the news.

 I got out of the bed around three (my present to myself) and Massey and I headed off to meet some FB friends in Fayetteville.  They were loaning me the first two seasons of Game of Thrones.

We met and hugged. We talked for almost a hour and we left. I was all giddy about going home and watching. Massey and I stopped at  the store, went home and I made a spectacular meal while Massey  got the DVD's ready.

I guess there is a new thing called  Blue Ray videos and my ole big tube TV's don't read them.

I googled a fix and there wasn't one but at least  we had a great meal.

Then out of the blue (pun) my new friends asked for my address  and ordered  the first season to be delivered to my house for my birthday!

I had a terrific birthday. I am a person blessed beyond  belief. Waking up tomorrow and doing it again.

Til next time, an even older COTTON

The Way I Roll

I haven't bought a new front tire for Johnny Dear yet. I had a can of FixAFlat in the garage and thought I'd just pump up  the tire one more time to cut the front yard. I propped a block of wood under the front of his frame to lift my buddy off the ground.  I discovered the valve stem had come out and was inside of the tire so pumping FixAFlat into it wasn't an option. Next I decided to just  take the tire off and go buy another one. They're not cheap but at least it was the smaller front tire which is cheaper than the huge rear ones. I tried for thirty minutes to get the snap ring off the axle when it all came back  to me how hard it is to do...been there done that.

I highly detest these little buggers. I tried needle nose pliers, then when I couldn't find a flat head screw driver I tried the tip of my little garden spade and a hammer. Then I tried the tip of a Kebob skewer along WITH the pliers. Still no movement. Then I called my buddy  at the tire store I use and asked how to get "that little horseshoe shaped flat ringy  thing" off so I could remove my flat tire? He asked if it had two small holes on either side and after wiping off all the grease and grime, said "Yep." He said it was  called a snap ring and there was a tool specifically designed to get them off. I countered with "Well wonder if I don't happen to have that particular tool?" Even though it was a phone call, I could just see  him shaking his head slowly and rubbing his temples. He told me I could TRY using a flat head screw driver but it wasn't easy to do and be careful because if it DOES come off it will shoot like a rocket.

Back to the garage I went, more determined than ever. I finally found a flat head screw driver in the back of Zach's car and forty five minutes later the snap ring literally shot across  the garage, hit the wall and rolled out into  the driveway. At least it didn't hit me in the face and at least I got it off and at least I  found it in the grass.

I headed up to the John Deere place and asked how much for a new tire? He said he sold every thing but tires and sent all his customers to B&L. Hey, That's MY tire dude! I didn't know he sold little bitty  tires too. Since I would have to take it there to be mounted anyway, it worked out for the best.  Extra bonus the two shops are less  than half a mile apart.

I walked in with my tire in hand all pumped up looking (unlike my little tire) simply because I had gotten it off all by  my little bitty ole self. He told me he would mount it for me and call when it was ready. He told me to go to Tractor Supply and buy snap ring pliers. He said they sold sets but to only buy the pliers. Off we (Massey was driving me in her car) went. Tractor Supply only sold the set which was $9.99.  That disappointed me but I'm here to tell you, it ain't easy getting those rings off and sometimes even harder getting them back on...been there done that too. The lady rang me up and handed my debit card to Massey. I didn't have my glasses with me and can't read those debit machines without them. We got back to the car, Massey looked at the receipt said "They only cost $5.38."

Not sure what happened but I felt lucky!

I came home and went ahead with my weed eating. My new sod is taking off like crazy and trimmed out around each patch. I trimmed around the island in the front yard and trimmed around the back door of the house where I recently blew out a dining room window pane. Now tomorrow all I have to do is cut the grass.

Got bad news about Tim's car today. The engine is blown. We couldn't catch a break if we were holding out a shrimpers net.

I went into work at  five, once again driven by Massey. About two hours into my shift finally realized how lucky we really are. A family came in. They've been coming in as long as I've worked there. A mom, her husband, their daughter and their granddaughter. The little girl is eleven and battling cancer. She's been bald since I've known her but always had on cute ribbons and hair bands. The last time I waited on them she was growing out beautiful peach fuzz and since then her hair has grown out to almost MY hair cut! Tonight she was bald again.

And I thought "We" couldn't catch a break.

About halfway through  the meal I said  to the little girl "Are you  going through another round or did you just decide you liked this hair cut better?" I added that she looked gorgeous either way but usually wore a bow. Her mom said "She decided  this round to go without the bow."

Here I thought my life is bad because my husband's out of work and we don't have a car. This eleven year old, precious child is battling for her life and I wanted to feel sorry  about mine?

Reality check noted.

This little girl shouldn't have a worry in the world. Instead her mom must  feel the weight of the world on her shoulders.

I have three healthy kids and a roof over my head. This small girl has nothing on her head but a reminder that she is sick...very sick.

Sometimes you need to quit whining and look around you. I have a pretty terrific life. I seriously doubt homeless people have a John Deere with a flat tire much less a car  with  a blown engine. I bet this little girl's momma would trade places with me in a New York minute.

Going to bed realizing yet once again how lucky I am. Sending a prayer up for  this little girl and sending a prayer up for myself to remember how truly and extraordinarily lucky I am.

It's making that twenty five bucks I'm having to pay for a copy of my birth  certificate  seem like small beans. It's making me realize millions of people don't even own a car much less have to replace one. It makes me realize that on a scale of one to ten I'm living at least a nine.

Massey asked me today what I wanted for my birthday? I told her I didn't want anything and  meant it. To go buy something would be ridiculous and a total waste of money. I have every thing I need. I have a family who loves me for some idiotic reason...because let's face it, I'm a goof ball and have friends who love me too. I have every  thing a person could want...everything else is gravy.

Some people have nothing. Some people have little and some people have loads to bear so much larger than mine that it not only humbles but inspires me.

In the grand scheme of things...I'm living on easy street!

Til next  time...COTTON

Staying Positive

Today was my last day at  the furniture gig. Tomorrow is the actual last day it will be open but I'll be slinging dishes at  the restaurant. I'm moving to the mattress store here in Newnan but it doesn't start  for a couple of weeks so I'm back to being a plate slinger full time for a while. I wasn't as busy as I'd like this week and  today seemed like more of the same until seemingly out of the sky fell almost $3,300 of merchandise sold and out the door. Go me! (and go figure)

It's been a tough week. Tim's still looking for a job and spends hours every day on  the Internet filling out applications and searching for opportunities. He had an interview the other day and on the way home his car broke down. Now the only people in our house with vehicles are our kids. On one hand, how sad is that? On the other hand, guess we're pretty lucky those two kids still live at  home!

I'm going to my bank Monday to apply for a thousand dollar personal loan to try and go ahead and get my car I have been paying a hundred dollars a week on, trying to get it paid down to the drive out point of  being half paid off. Guess I'll dig out my cute black dress (every woman owns one) and trot my self down there like I'm somebody and beg for a loan. It's highly unlikely (considering my crafty banking ways) they will say yes but the president of the bank comes into the restaurant all the time and knows who I am. My boss kind of softened him up for me when he was in last Sunday by  explaining my circumstances and what I needed. He said to come by and talk to him. That made me feel good...Talking is definitely my forte'.  The worst they can do is say no. Actually the worst  they can do is laugh in my face but I think banking laws strictly prohibit it. (at least I hope they do)

I was kinda getting down in the dumps by Friday morning. I had a slow, sweltering week at  the furniture store and was feeling like a fifty three year old failure, having to bum rides from my seventeen year old daughter until my sister reminded me we bought her car for her. Looks like that was a smart move on our part. She shuttles us around and loans us the vehicle whenever we need it. Unfortunately, HER car has been acting funny and we just keep our fingers crossed it's nothing major.

Last night I bummed a ride home with one of the servers at work (a college student). She drives right past my street and is a totally great girl so of course said she didn't mind one bit. Once again, feeling like a loser (it was slow at the restaurant too) I climbed in her car. It was a short ride but a big lesson.

She told me how much  she admired us. She told me how amazed she was how I busted my hump at two jobs to help keep my family afloat. Let me add she is pretty straight shooting chick. She makes "ME" look like a shrinking Violet!

That made me start  thinking again. I "Am" a lucky woman. Yes lately we've hit yet more bumps in the road but at least we are ON the road, albeit bumming rides. We've struggled by (with the help of so many I can't count them all) but struggled on. We may continue to struggle for a while but giving up or having a defeatist attitude won't help one stinking bit.

I have two weeks to wait tables full time, pick up as many shifts as I  can, march into bank and at least try to get my loan. If they tell me no, I'll simply withdraw my twenty three dollars, close my account  and go join the credit union the rest of my family belongs to. That will show them! (not really but will make a twenty three dollar point and make ME feel better)

Today helped even more. It was slow at  the furniture store and once again began to doubt myself . In the last hour I sold the most expensive couch in the store and two of the most expensive recliners. I sold a queen size bed, mattress and box springs, then pushed through  financing for another six hundred dollar sale. Guess I'm not a failure after all.

As Benjamin Franklin once said, "When in doubt, don't."

If I can hang on two more weeks,  make some decent money slinging plates and  (fingers crossed) Tim lands a job we'll be back on the top of the bottom!

I'll be selling strictly mattresses and bedroom furniture in my new store and feel more confident about those products.  At least I'll be going in ready to sell. When I started managing at the  furniture alone, I spent my entire first day constantly praying no one would come in and want to purchase anything because I wasn't even certain I knew how to ring up a cash sale much less run a credit card or God forbid  a finance application.

Look  who's all grown up now! I know a lot more about mattresses and have done pretty well at  selling them thus far.

Actually, I can't believe they haven't fired the woman in our Human resources department who recommended me for the job. I made a lot of mistakes early on but learned a tremendous amount since starting in February. HUGE shout out to Vicki for having faith in me and making me have faith in myself!

My server friend last night on  the ride home urged me to contact our local paper with a sampling of my writings and  thought I was a perfect fit to write a column. I already have a name for it..."Column Cottons" (get it?)

Going to bed feeling much better about myself, my life and our situation.

Quoting yet another one from my buddy Ben Franklin, "Having been poor is no shame, but being ashamed of it, is."

My life is what it is, what I choose to do with what I have is what it will become.

The good things in my life far out weigh  the bad. Sometimes I just need a kick in the pants to remember.
Consider my pants kicked!

Til next  time...COTTON (or hopefully as I will be known in the future "Call 'em Cottons"

Another Day Older and Deeper in Sweat

Another day in the ole literal sweat shop! Started out my day by loading up two king size box springs and rolling them to the loading area for afternoon pick up. I was drenched in sweat by  the time it was done and only took five  minutes. Not a good sign when it's ten fifteen in the morning and  you work til eight at night. I could feel the trickle running down between my A cups and down from my arm pits. I had to cut on the A/C for fifteen minutes just to dry out. The rest of my day was easier, pushing through paper work and working up quotes. I had a guy come back from yesterday and bring his wife with him (always a good sign) to pick out a sofa, loveseat, side chair and two pub stools.  It's over a grand and said they would be back later on in the day to decide between two different couches.  I have them a quote all written up and although they didn't come back today feel pretty certain they are serious...I know I am!

Right before noon I got a break and sat down in front of my three fans. I checked my messages and had one from the foundation who previously offered to help with Ham's eye surgery. I sent them a message last night when I got home from work telling them I had found a vet willing to operate on my pup's eyes and wanted to see  if they were stilling willing to help. She said she was forwarding my message to the director and they would be contacting me!

Looks like we are one step closer to Ham seeing again. Even if it's blurry sight, at least it's some sight. Hopefully after reading Ham's Facebook page I told them about will maybe even kick in for the Full Monty, lens implants!

So many people have donated to get Ham to this point and that is the one requirement, you  are actively fundraising for your dog's treatment. I feel pretty confident this wonderful organization will be the answer to our prayers.

Tim had an interview yesterday...another good thing. As just like our luck , his car broke down on the way home from it. He at least got back to Newnan and less than five miles from  the house. Just like Ziggy being a good bad dog, us Cotton's have good bad luck. It could have happened on the interstate or as a good friend pointed out, could have happened on the way TO the interview. Tim said the place where he interviewed at didn't even have a driveway and had to bump up on the curb to get into the parking lot. I love Tim dearly but for Pete's sake,  then leave  the car BY the curb. He must have either knocked something loose or busted the oil pan because as he got off the highway his oil light came on and he limped his way into the Auto Parts store parking lot where he bought two quarts of oil that immediately began to drip out from the bottom of the car. Our mechanic who is literally across  the intersection is picking the car up and seeing what's wrong. I don't care what it is as long as it's a cheap fix.

Massey and I were in her car one day when she was driving me to work (since I don't have a car either) and I started singing the old song from the TV show,  Hee Haw.

"Gloom, despair and agony for me. Deep dark depression, excessive misery. If it weren't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all...gloom despair and agony for me."

Massey being seventeen had no idea where the song came from but said matter of factually, "Please never sing that song again, it's a total downer."

Here's the real deal. Yes we've had lots of bad luck but have had some really good luck too. There were days a couple of years ago when I didn't know if we would keep our house. There were days when I didn't know if we'd have electricity, water or even groceries. We've come a long way, thanks to the Grace of God, family, friends and even strangers.

We made it through to the other side. Granted we're starting over but so many people never get that chance and so many people don't have the network of support  we do.

I wake up every morning tired and go to bed every  night exhausted but at least I do it knowing  we still have our house and a multitude of peeps who have helped make it happen.

Add to the mix I have three kids who mean the world to me and three pups who run a close second. I'm a Momma and Momma's take care of  their own.

When I take into consideration all the bad things that have happened and all the good things that have happened, I realize what a wonderfully lucky person I am.

Heading to bed and know I will sweat throughout the night, wake up tomorrow and sweat throughout another day.

It most certainly beats  the alternative, not waking up at all.

Turning in for the night and turning the covers back. I'm here to tell you, I thought financial ruin was bad until I started menopause.

Holy Crap...It's a killer. Somebody come up with a cure for this and they will be the next Bill Gates!

Til next  time... A Sweatin' COTTON

Several Blasts From the Past

What a bizarre day. Number one I was once again a selling boss. Number two the past came a calling too.  It was slow but the peeps just seem to love me.  The most expensive bedroom set we have is selling for $1199 and a great deal. Nice queen size cherry four post bed with an iron work head board. The dresser was beautiful, ten felt lined drawers and a huge mirror with iron work above it as  as well. It was originally over $2200. A guy came in and looked at  it and I told him I could bring it down to $1068. He asked if I could hold it for two hours and I gave him three. Sometimes people are serious and sometimes you never see  them again.

Two hours later he came back in with his dad. I'll be darned! His dad looked really familiar and asked where I knew him from ? He said he had been in the store before but I knew that wasn't it. I asked what his first name was and then it hit me when he said "Raybun." You don't meet too many people named Raybun.  When my kids were younger I did a three year stint as a "Lunch lady" at  the elementary school they attended. It was one of the hardest jobs I've ever had. It's not much fun scrubbing pizza pans for over six hundred kids and once a month you had to work in the dish pit for a week. We didn't employ a  dishwasher so the 'lunch ladies' took turns. This was about fifteen years ago and most all the women I worked with were in their fifties and sixties. Some had done this for thirty plus years. They were all southern small town women who would announce every morning as we began to serve the first class, "Here comes the Kinnygarden, y'all git ready." This father who had come back with his son to the furniture store was married to the woman who ran the lunch  room. I had heard she recently passed away and stepped forward and immediately hugged his neck,  saying "You're Harriett's husband!"  He accepted my hug and returned it as his son stood by looking dumbfounded. I told him how sorry I was to hear about her passing and was working so I couldn't go to her service. She was diagnosed with cancer around March was gone by  June. Being a somewhat expert in the "losing your parents" club told him I was glad God took her pretty quickly. As the son still stood by  with his mouth open thinking "WTH?' I launched into about how I was a lunch lady and how I had worn Harriet out.

 I've always been kind of a rebel and my lunch lady gig was no different. When the kids would come through the line turning their noses up at  the lima beans I would tell them we had put secret prizes in some of them. They snatched them up like crazy!  The one week a month I had to wok the dish pit, sometimes I would put in my Bubba Teeth to take the trays from the kids as they stacked them in my window. The kids loved me and I loved them. The free eating wasn't bad either. I ate from the time I clocked in til  the time I left. The fish sticks were pretty stinking good, tater tots were yummy and the fried chicken was awesome. Around Thanksgiving they had a spread. Ham, turkey, dressing and gravy, green beans and pear salad. They baked cookies and made cakes and the yeast rolls were my favorite.

I told Raybun his wife had been a pretty great cook and mentioned I may be skinny but I like to eat. One day in the kitchen at the school I was eating a yummy broccoli and raisin salad and commented to Harriet how good it was. Her dry reply was "Kelly, I could boil sh*t  and you'd eat it."

I told her husband that story and he chuckled.

It's really hard to go from someone you love being perfectly okay then lose them a matter of weeks  but assured Raybun she was lucky and a lot better off now. The only one's it sucked for were those left behind to mourn but in a few years, maybe even more would understand what a blessing it was for her.

I told both father and son I had lost my momma in the span of thirty seconds and my diddy in ten days and although both deaths devastated me,  years later realized what a blessing it was for them.Go quickly and gain your much deserved reward. The son cocked his head and said it was rough on them but I might be right, they wouldn't have wanted her to suffer.

Another blast from the past came into the store, a woman I grew up with in East Point Christian Church. I haven't seen her since probably 1978 but she popped into the store to see me. She reads my blog and just came by  to say hello. We sat on a couch and chatted for thirty minutes, catching up and commiserating about life in general.

Then another hour went by and the past walked in the door again and blew me off my feet. It was the Rat Bast general manager who fired me from the Western Sizzler (I still refuse to name the real place) I worked at for fourteen years. He fired me over a cup of ice cream I gave Massey for free. He fired me knowing my husband was out of work and I was supporting my entire family. I had to file unemployment, fight it when they initially declined to pay, I had to apply for food stamps and put my kids on Peach Care insurance. It was the most humiliating experience I ever went through but I did it.

I used to think about what I would do if I ever saw him again.This will sound even crazier but the night before I had a dream about him. I was at some gathering of friends (dreams are freaky like that) and he walked in. In the dream I immediately got up and left the room to avoid him...Now he was standing in front of me in real life.

I did the same thing to him he did to me four years ago, I turned my back on him.

The other salesman worked with him and I totally avoided him, wanting secretly to strangle his neck and watch his tiny feet dangle in the air like my whole family dangled for three years trying to recover. Can you  tell I read the Game of Thrones series?

I'm twenty pounds lighter now but still have the same loud voice and made sure to use it as I helped another customer. I am sure he saw me, if not he heard me. I just wanted to punch him in the face.

What's even better is that corporate fired him over something even more stupid than a cup of ice cream three years down the road. Icing on the cake,  his marriage fell apart (I shouldn't say that but karma is a big fat bee-otch). Of course he didn't have three kids to take care of and made out a lot better than me but at least he got fired...and that's never a good feeling.

It was the best week I have ever had at the furniture gig. I sweated like a hoss but sold like  boss.  A couple of sales fell through but still did excellent.

Worked today at  the restaurant where the peeps love me too.  Left work and swung by the furniture gig to purchase an area rug for Massey's dorm room.  I'm not sure why she needs one but actually I had one in my dorm room my Mema gave me and it does make it all nice and comfy. It retailed for $199 and I got it for $25. It's a six by eight tan shag rug. While I was there I stopped by  the sod pile where the landscaper from Academy Sports had piled up all my sod. There were ten or twelve pieces left, kinda beginning to brown put taking root so I knew they were still good. Threw them into the back of the station wagon and drove home. Patched up the last bare spot in  my front yard and prayed for rain.

Got the rain, unfortunately it was when I was walking out of the grocery store.  Came home soaked but satisfied. I got my boss at  the restaurant to shave me some rib eye steaks and made some awesome cheese steaks.

I am off tomorrow, I live for my Monday's! Cutting the back yard,  cleaning the house and watching General Hospital. Okay GH fans, I know it's a soap but they are bringing back the same characters but as a different person. What the hay?

I have made it this far which seems incredible to me and plan to go much further.

Sometimes you have to thank your lucky stars, thank the peeps who help you and strive to pay it forward.

Calling the vet again tomorrow about my Ham. Hoping for good news.

I don't lead a luxurious life but it's a great life. It could be  whole lot worse. Counting blessings and hopefully waking up tomorrow to do it all again.

Til next  time...COTTON

Sweating Like a Hoss and Selling Like a Boss

Can I load some furniture or what? Just kidding although I have squeezed some pretty big loads into some pretty small vehicles. It's amazing what you can do when you work on commission. I've strapped things on top of cars and I've wedged things into them. I've had people get in the passenger side seat and made them hold things in their lap.

Today started out slow. Had a few people meander through. One man came in and spent about  thirty minutes looking around. I spent some time with him but never hover over people unless  they act like they want me to. The lunch crowd came and went.

Massey  brought me lunch and after I loaded up three tables for a lady, strategically squeezing all three into her mini van,  we ate and settled on a nice comfy couch directly in front of three fans on high and read our books. She's on book one in the Game of Thrones and I was finishing up book four. She keeps a notebook with her to try and keep everyone straight and had some questions for me. By  now, I'm all about it and answered her questions. It's hard when you  first start reading the books because they skip around a lot. Massey left and I sat on  the couch and finished the fourth book.

Now what am I gonna do?

Not a  problem. I was pouting about not bringing book five with me to work on my stool by  the front door when the guy from this morning walked back in with his wife. BINGO!  I greeted him with "I see you  brought the boss back with you!"

Not even thirty minutes later I had sold them over $2,100.00 of furniture. They wanted to finance and have it delivered tomorrow. I gave them the application and told them what they needed to bring back with them. I was a little worried because I am off  tomorrow and didn't want to lose the sale so I worked them up  quote,  had all their info and pricing done and told them to bring it in tomorrow and the other manager would fax it to the finance company.

I returned to my stool to pout about not having my next book. I sat there about fifteen minutes when  my guy drove back up and got out of his car carrying a lot of paper work. He walked in and I said "Ready to do  this?"

He had all his paper work. Pay stubs, cancelled check, bank statement and form filled out. I faxed it all to the finance company and we sat and chatted (we had lots in common) while we waited. Thirty minutes later he was approved and we had a contract. BAM!

Not thirty minutes later a  woman walked in and in under fifteen minutes picked out $1,700.00 of furniture for her son. I worked her up  quote too and she's coming back tomorrow to purchase it.

Excellent day!

Sweated like a hoss but sold like a boss!

Side note... While it was slow today was cruising through Facebook on my phone. A high school friend of mine has been posting status after status about her goose who has been sick. When I read the first few it struck me that I had never known a person to love a duck so much.  She had been taking it to the vet almost daily. I thought, well "To each their own." Then noticed she posted that her goose had died. THEN I noticed her picture of goose. It was her pup! I messaged her and said I was a little slow, actually I said I was a doofus. I thought she has been talking bout a duck when she was talking about her pup. She has two pups, Goose and Maverick. Then I made the connection...Top Gun fan! I sent her a message apologizing for my stupidity  and telling her I knew from experience how hard it is to lose a pup.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=285495831594492&set=vb.253525244784808&type=2&theater

This is the link I sent her. I hope it works here...it is really touching. Dogs are truly man's (and woman's) best friend. I have three,  two are idiots and one is spectacular but blind. I love all three.

I still have a shift Saturday at  the furniture store to try and sell even more and will keep my fingers crossed.

Tomorrow is Massey's orientation at Georgia State University. It starts at  seven in the morning and ends around five. I wanted to go with her but Tim is out of work and I am scheduled to work at the restaurant. It doesn't make sense for me to take OFF work when Tim is OUT of work and can go. I know I disappointed Massey but am trying to do every thing I can for her to GO to college. I told her I would take her down there on Sunday and we would tool around and see everything.

A Momma's gotta do what a Momma's gotta do.

Massey simply said "You're a lot more fun." Way to go, make me feel even worse.

Tim came downstairs a few minutes ago while I was sitting here blogging , turned around to him and said Massey was disappointed I wasn't going tomorrow and instructed him to be as fun as he possibly could. The look I got wasn't pretty...MEN!

I'll take her down there Sunday and we'll tour every inch of the campus we can. She starts in less than a month and until then need to work every shift and every day that I can. I will be there when we finally take and move her in, will blubber like a baby when we leave her but until then I simply have to work all I can...and will.

She'll forgive me and years later even thank me.

Like my Momma told me when I was about fifteen, "The older you get the smarter I will seem."

Til next  time...COTTON

Lord It's Hot

Boy it was a hot one at work today. I usually don't cut the A/C on. Actually I didn't even know we had A/C until I went into work one day on my day off unexpectedly to get something I had forgotten and the other manager was chilling away. I got  him to  write down specific instructions on what breakers to flip so I could enjoy some cool air every once in a while too. I'm skinny as a rail and if I'm not loading furniture am fine sitting in front of a fan.

Today around three o'clock you could have wrung my face out and deep fried chicken with the grease. Hot flashes don't help either so when it gets brutal I flip the four obviously formerly secret breakers and cool down. It only takes about ten minutes to cool the building down and then I turn it off.

Had a visitor today, a woman who grew up in the house next door to us back in East Point. That would be the mid sixties.  She and her friend came by. They had gone to the restaurant where I work as well and one of the server's text me to ask if I was at  the furniture store? I told her I was and she said she would send my friend by.

I haven't seen this woman since the sixties but vividly remember her family living next  door to us.  A car pulled in out front and I was standing by  the door.  A woman got out of her car. She kinda sorta looked like she might maybe be my former neighbor so when she walked in I said all cheerily 'Hey  there Linda!'

She looked at me funny with her cell phone stuck  to her head and said her name was Pauline. So much for remembering faces!

It's crazy but when the real Linda walked in I immediately knew it was her. She brought two pictures she had of me and Cindy with her from  years and years ago.. I looked like a  fat baby in a dress  I do remember my Momma sewing with a little red bow taped  to the side of my extremely over sized head . I couldn't have been more than three in the picture.

This isn't the pic she brought of Cin but it's close. The girl had some chompers. Of course she ended up being the Homecoming Queen at the high school and probably the most loved girl to ever graduate RHS. (Now I'm just bragging)

How did  almost fifty years go by so quickly and where has the time gone? This is the house we all grew up in.

These are the wonderful parents who raised us.

These are the three kids they raised.

This was one happy family to grow up in. I am  lucky beyond belief to have had parents who were outstanding and lived a charmed childhood.

It makes taking all the challenges of my life today seem totally worth it.

Going to bed and getting up tomorrow to do it all again. I hope my own kid's feel lucky when they look back on their childhood years.

Til next time...COTTON, formerly but always a  LEACH.