And It Just Keeps Getting Better

After almost two and a half years at my new job, I've finally got it down pat.

It's true what they say about teaching an old dog new tricks...

It ain't easy.

I think (know) it would be easier if I didn't care so much about what kind of job I do when I'm clocked in...but I do.

I hit the clock and immediately go to work, and continue to work until I clock back out.

I learned decades ago, if you do your job right the first time, you don't have to do it over.

True fact.

About six months ago, they started scheduling me for dayshifts one or two times a week. It worked out great with Tim beginning to work more and more out of town during the week. Massey works until after ten o'clock and someone needs to be here for our blind pup, who doesn't like to be left outside in the yard for more than a few minutes.

I never request a specific schedule, I just work whatever shifts they give me. The only requests I make are when I ask for time off for visiting friends and family. Other than that I have full availability...but certainly enjoyed day shifts. The money wasn't as good but has really been picking up with all the new construction going on in the immediate area. They are opening a town center in front of our restaurant with a hundred different retail shops, restaurants, movie theatres and bowling alley. Also under construction next to us is a convention center with a man made lagoon and beach in front. Across the road from us is a totally solar powered water park already under construction. On the other side of our place is Boxi Park, opening on Valentine's Day. All storefronts (restaurants, boutiques, bars) are refurbished shipping containers. It will include a dog park, beach volleyball and also have live music venues.

Needless to say, it's gonna be more than a popping area. Already open by us, is the USTA national campus with over a hundred tennis courts and Drive Shack, a Top Golf type venue run by the PGA.

Every single week foot traffic increases and so does business.

The past few weeks I have been blessed with more and more day shifts... and I don't take it for granted.

I make sure every single thing is done before I clock out and leave the night shift set up for a successful shift.

Bonus points, I'm usually a closer, which means it's up to me to make sure the other AM servers do their fair share before they leave. 

I never assign all the work to others so I don't have to do any, but instead say "This is what needs to be done, so lets all get started on it together, and all get done together."

So work ethic and dedication have once again paid off for me. My latest schedule came out yesterday and am working Monday through Friday, all day shifts. Couldn't have happened at a better time. Tim leaves for Virginia in the morning and won't be back until Friday night.


It's true.

What comes around goes around.

I'm a crazy one, but I like it that way.


I prefer to think I am also a pretty decent person. Not the best, far from it... but feel like I am at least a positive addition to society.

And seems to have paid off.

We've moved into a perfect forever home, both of us are knocking our jobs out of the park and life is falling into place after almost ten years.

 Never ask for help, unless you are willing to  help others.

This world is turning...and spinning the truth.

Find your groove in life.


Til next time...COTTON

Old Peeps Need A Project

I've tried to be really good about tackling one project or part of a project, every single day since moving into our magical mystery tour of our new forever home, after ten years of debts and doubt.

It's been a complete blast.

It's all about "That was then, but this is now."

I've never been happier.

We're now living in a house almost as old as I am... which  weathered the journey better than me.

From all accounts we have heard (on our block and  further away)  since moving in, this property (now ours) was loved, cultivated, pruned, upgraded, and been the stomping grounds for more than one killer party.

Number one we have a tree hut for views of the sunset over the lake.

Number two we have an awesome fire pit out back, underneath massive live oaks with vines streaming down from them big enough for Tarzan to swing from...with tons of cut up wood waiting out back by the utility shed.

Bonus points for winter nights...luckily few and far between.

I love our bedroom with the wood floor and its five windows, but was just so dark with the wooden built ins as well.

BAM!





Life is at its best when every day is a challenge but ends with you smiling at your accomplishments.

I'm one of the lucky ones.

I got nothing but time on my hands.

Some peeps don't.

Never worry about something small in your life. If something small happens, you're one of the lucky ones.

My prayers are fast and furious for my warrior friends.

#CallMeAnyTime

COTTON

Life

 

I don't like this picture of me, but my daughter does.

In other words, it's most probably a good picture of me... and I definitely hate looking at how old I really am.

After finally finding, purchasing and moving into the house we've been looking for since leaving our homestate of Georgia...

We feel home again.

It's older, like us...but built like us.

From hearty stock, built well, luckily loved and has countless stories to tell about the past.

Every day now I have a project to tackle.

 It may take just five minutes out of my day, or may take most of my afternoon or evening.

What a blessing  either way.

Lately I tackled painting our old tables. One is in the breakfast nook, and the other is in the kitchen. The breakfast nook table is close to forty years old, handed down from my sis when her own boys (now in their thirties) were young.

The kitchen table is from my eclectic, wonderful and sorely missed mother in law who passed about a year or so ago.

It is at least about a hundred years old.

It's a butterfly table with ball and claw feet. Her herd of dogs (Almost twenty over the years I knew her) chewed on the feet but once painted black, you don't even notice.

Yeah, I used a cheap brush to paint them both with.

I didn't have a roller. But I had a brush, some paint, and a day off, so I did it.

You can see brush strokes and marks on both tables, but I kinda like it that way.

They are  the strokes and paths of my life, and every single one of them tells a part or story of my journey to now. 

Every single bristle on that cheap brush is a part of the tale, and one of the reasons why I am who I am.

I'm a woman with more faults, lines, old lady skin, hot flashes and wrinkles than virtues, but at least I own it it. 

At least I wake up every day grateful and go to bed even more so.

My slap dab painting is a mess, I'll  admit...but gets the point across.

It's simply there to remind me of the tracks of my tears, and remind me to keep on keeping on.

Take a good look at yourself...and be the difference.

COTTON

Project Central

We got lucky and bought the perfect house to remedy this old wives tale.

I work days out in the yards and spend nights working on the inside.

Case in point.

Our kitchen a couple of weeks ago.

Then the following things happened...

I spent very little money, around a hundred dollars, but was more than worth every single penny. Our wonderful new neighbor across the street built the benches for us as a housewarming present, only charging me twenty five dollars for the lumber. I spent about forty dollars on black and red paint from Sherwin Williams, bought two cheap brushes for a couple of bucks from Walmart...and

BAM!!

Every night I make a list for the next couple of days, or leave notes on my phone when I think of something else I want to do around the house or yards. I think my biggest expense was forty dollars spent for a new comforter set at TJ Maxx (half price) for our king size bed.

The blanket folded up at the end of the bed is our old comforter (worn down to blanket status) and all the accent pillows are leftovers from our  house in Georgia.

As Bob Dylan  eloquently put it many years and years ago... on my favorite album of his, Blood on the Tracks...

My life has been a simple twist of fate.

Back about a decade ago, for me,  it was "Throw in the towel and curl up in despair because things have gone wrong,  after a pretty great twenty year run of perfection... or come out swinging like a girl."

I chose to swing.

Even crazier...if it can get any crazier, the above is a pic of my nephew's wife, whacking the crap out of a softball. She can do this on a daily basis and then some. She could whoop a wrasler.

 He married well.

My other nephew did just as well with his choice for a mate.

The old adage is so true...

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

She can do anything, and does it well.

She cuts hair like a professional, makes jewelry better than well known designers and knows every secret to a healthy existence.

It's been a crazy ride, but one I'd do again in a heartbeat if I had to.

I have always been fortunate and lucky enough to be loved by my family and friends, especially when we needed it the most. 

I will never forget that, and will always pay it forward.

Karma got us here.

And Karma will get us there.

Until next time...COTTON

You're Killing Me Smalls, on the Left, and Right.

I used to think I was just an okay, kinda clever, not super smart and certainly not very intellectual person.

I'm beginning to change my mind about that entire last sentence.

We have a political three ring Shit Show going on in this country, getting worse and more hateful each and every day, and doing nothing but tear us apart..literally.

It's like we're building a proverbial wall around our own personal views and opinions... and there simply aren't enough fingers to point, to even go around the room once.

Talk about the elephant (or donkey) in a room?!!

(Or all parties?)

My favorite thing is how everyone likes to believe their social media post or share is the only correct,

 true, or viable point of view.

Well...

then I got some swampland in Florida to sell you.

Hate fixes nothing,

but love can move mountains.

#BeenThereDoneThat

I'm (mostly) tired just from being an almost fifty nine year old plate slinging waitress, but (and it's a Big Butt) these past couple of years have  worn me totally slap out, listening to coats, ties and dresses in Washington ... living off our dimes, deciding what's right for everyone, especially the Average Joe or Joanna.

But in the meantime, why don't we show all them what we are made of?

Be kind to one another.

 Put needs above affiliations.

Never assume.

Pay it forward.

Don't wait to be asked.

Never Hate.

(except for Casey Anthony)

Always vote.

It's totally true what they say...

"You catch more flies with honey than vinegar."

  My only New Year's resolution is to give up vinegar.

What's yours?

Till next time...

COTTON