Back again

I’m back again and tired, gee what a switch, ha ha. Seems like I’ve said that before! Woke up at 3:00 a.m. to the slapping of some outside netting in the inner courtyard at the hotel. It was loud. Cleveland was very windy the last day I was there, trees and power lines blown over. But that was far too early to wake and get up; it’s 2:00 a.m. in our time! And once again, I didn’t get home until after midnight last night and was too wound up to immediately go to bed. So today will be busy and hectic at work and I’m already tired and exhausted. Not much new with that.

I accomplished both of my goals while in Cleveland. The first was to get all my work goals done and have a great meeting with the registration people at the convention hotel. I had brought them some chocolates from Washington. Not that DC is known for its chocolates but these were touristy ones with monuments printed on the foil wrapping! Maybe it helped, as we had a great meeting and even some laughs. They are nice people.

In fact that’s why I accomplished my second goal too, the people in Cleveland are (usually—of course everyone is different and I’m generalizing here) outgoing, friendly and quite helpful. My second goal was to LIKE Cleveland. It’s hard to talk up a place that you despise, and I was close to that after my first trip there. It really wasn’t because of the inhabitants, as I had suspected, but because of circumstance (losing my luggage) and the efforts of Team Evil (Bosszila and co-workers). This time I saw Cleveland with a different eye and had a great time. Attitude is everything, and will show when I talk to our attendees about our convention. I wanted to be honestly “up” on Cleveland, and now I am. Goal #2 accomplished.

I have lots more to write about my little trip. It was short but I packed a lot into it and have stories to tell. Unfortunately my stories of DC sort of faded away after a day a so, and I don’t have a lot of time to write this morning, need to be in to work at 7:00. Sorry, but I’ll probably only have time to hit a couple of blogs to read and comment too before having to leave for work.

In a former job I had, I used to help clients set goals. It was my favorite job of all the work I’ve done! Goals aren’t a dull, dry old bother, but dynamic and exciting. It’s how I bring order to my otherwise chaotic life, but also how I have time to do the fun things, the important things that I need and want to do. I just read a great book about the opposite approach, improv!

Are you the type of person who sets goals, or more of an improviser?

Gone again until Friday

Another trip for work today! I fly to Cleveland at 7:00 a.m. this morning. And best of all? I’ll be ALONE. No co-workers are coming with me. There are a couple of things that will be different: I have to carry more money to pick up the taxi fees and meals. But then again, Bosszila and the co-workers left me at the airport to fend for myself with little money while they took off in the rental car last time. Nice people. They’ll be back at the office where I am not, and that’s a good thing.

I didn’t really like Cleveland at all last time, but the trip was tainted with the evildoings of Bosszila so I’m trying to keep an open mind and like it better this time around. I have a lot of work to do and meetings and all, so will be busy. This time I’ll try to take some photos. Sure wish I’d taken some in DC. Or better still, stayed longer in DC, as I love that place. But there was too much work to be done for our upcoming convention.

Came home last night to a Jury Summons! I've served twice and found it extremely interesting. Can't understand why most people try so hard to get out of it, I think it's educational and that everyone should do it at least once. Plus serving on a jury is one of the duties of a good citizen. So I was all excited until I read the date--the date of our convention! Drat, I wonder if they could move me to a week later? A few years back the same thing happened and they just told me "no, but thanks for volunteering." So I'm afraid the same thing will happen again this time.

From my E-mail
Subject: BORN A LUTHERN
>>>
Eino--a Finlander from Cook County in northern Minnesota--
was an older, single gentleman who was born and raised a Lutheran.
Each Friday night after work, he would fire up his outdoor grill and
cook a venison steak.
>>>
Now, all of Eino's neighbors were Catholic.....and since it was Lent,
they were forbidden from eating meat on Fridays. The delicious aroma from
the grilled venison steaks was causing such a problem for the
Catholic faithful that they finally talked to their priest.
>>>
The priest came to visit Eino, and suggested that Eino convert to
Catholicism. After several classes and much study, Eino attended Mass.....and as
the priest sprinkled holy water over Eino, he said, "You were born a
Lutheran and raised a Lutheran, but now you are Catholic."
>>>
Eino's neighbors were greatly relieved, until Friday night arrived,
and the wonderful aroma of grilled venison filled the neighborhood.
>>>
The priest was called immediately by the neighbors and, as he rushed
into Eino's yard, clutching a rosary and prepared to scold Eino, he
stopped in amazement and watched......
>>>
There stood Eino, clutching a small bottle of water which he
carefully sprinkled over the grilling meat, and chanted: "You were
born a deer, and raised a deer, but now you are a walleye.

Your Seduction Style: Prized Object

The seduction game you play is tried, true, and still effective: hard to get. You know that the best seducers turn the tables - and get their crush to seduce them. The one running has the power, and you're a challenge that is worth the chase. You are a master of enticing and pulling back. Giving a little and taking some away. You are controlled enough to know rewards come after a long seduction dance. Even though you want to call, email, or say "I love you" first - you don't! You're style is the perfect mix of hot and cold - so much so that you have many suitors. Think Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany's ... or any of those creepy guys from the Bachelor. You're skilled at inspiring a chase. The real test is picking the person to slow down for.

What Kind of Seducer Are You?

Happy Hump Day!

Gone again soon

Wow, early tomorrow I am flying to Cleveland for another work trip. It seems like I’ve barely landed from DC. This will be a short trip, though, I’ll be back again on Friday (and at work trying to catch up).

Speaking up catching up, I still didn't catch up with my sleep. My son woke me up before 4:00 a.m. to check for northern lights. Apparently someone online, not too far away said they were awesome. But nothing when we looked. The grass was all wet and it was kind of cold but the stars and moon were pretty. There are too many close trees in the north for us to get a really good look at that part of the sky.

Your Political Profile

Overall: 15% Conservative, 85% Liberal

Social Issues: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Personal Responsibility: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Fiscal Issues: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal

Ethics: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal

Defense and Crime: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

How Liberal / Conservative Are You?

from my E-mail
ACTS 2:38
An elderly woman had just returned to her home from an evening of Church services when an intruder startled her© She caught the man in the act of robbing her home of its valuables and yelled, "Stop! Acts 2:38!" ¥Repent and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The burglar stopped in his tracks.

The woman calmly called the police and explained what she had done.

As the officer cuffed the man to take him in, he asked the burglar,
"Why did you just stand there? All the old lady did was yell a scripture at you?" "Scripture?" replied the burglar, "She said she had an Axe and Two 38's!"

Yeah, I knew I'd be mostly liberal even though that seems to be a dirty word in many places nowadays! Have a great day!

Staff photo

Yes, it's a picture of me at our event. I look pretty wiped out and tired. This was after the event was done, we posed for a staff photo. There are co-workers on each side. Our banner is behind us and it's almost exactly the color of my hair, weird!

Two mini micro mysteries

My trip, even though not all that long, has finally caught up with me! I got very tired while visiting my Mom yesterday. Got groceries on the way home, did a few things around the house and went to bed at a fairly early hour.

Also, my appetite has come back again after being absent for weeks. This isn’t so good, as I’m back to the old feeling of being hungry much of the time. My appestat must have reset itself in my body, I guess. And here I was looking forward to continuing to lose some weight!

Too tired to think of anything interesting to blog about. A couple of other cool things happened on my trip but I’m not up to explaining them right now.

My small travel alarm clock went off an hour too early this morning. That happened on Friday morning too, so I had reset it to correct the problem. I looked at it this morning and could not figure out what went wrong until I realized the TIME was set an hour too early. I was looking right at it and the wall clock, but mentally adding an hour to the wall clock! I had been doing that while on the trip because I couldn’t change my wristwatch. Still on Eastern Time, I guess.

The other mini-mystery was that I found a nightcrawler on my livingroom floor last night. It was raining out all day, and there were nightcrawlers outside but how on earth did one get into the house? I’m thinking it might have been when I first got back from my trip to Mom’s/groceries and had the door open for a while to carry in all the water and groceries. Still, the door had been open early in the evening and I found the nightcrawler right before I went to bed! Do you have any cool theories on how it might have happened?

You Are A: Duck!

Found in many lakes and ponds, ducks are a common site the world over. Known for their famous quack, ducks tend to congregate in flocks or go off on their own in pairs. As a duck, you may seem friendly at times but will not hesitate to bite if someone is bothering you. Your love for travel and your ability to swim are some reasons why you are a duck.

You were almost a: Lamb or a Bunny
You are least like a: Kitten or a GroundhogCute Animals Quiz

from my E-mail:
Subject: Wedding

Two brooms were hanging in the closet. After a while they got to know
each other so well, they decided to get married.

One broom was, of course, the bride broom, the other the groom broom.
The bride broom looked very beautiful in her white dress The groom
broom was handsome and suave in his tuxedo. The wedding was lovely.

After the wedding, at the wedding dinner, the bride-broom leaned over
and said to the groom-broom, "I think I am going to have a little whisk broom!!!"
>
"IMPOSSIBLE!!" said the groom broom.
>
Are you ready for this?
>
Brace yourself; this is going to hurt.
>>
>
Keep going down.
>
>
"WE HAVEN'T EVEN SWEPT TOGETHER!"
>
> Oh for goodness sake...laugh, or at least groan. Life's too short not
to enjoy.....even these silly little cute jokes
>
Sounds to me like she's been "sweeping" around!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>


Hope you have a great Monday and start of your week!

Harvesting to beat the frost

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Fizzy! Walker and Lisa both have some very cool birthday blogs for her, check them out if you haven't already.

Since coming home from the work trip, my days have been screwed up. Friday, because it was the first day back to the office seemed like Monday. Yesterday seemed like Sunday for some reason. I don't know what day today feels like yet! But I bet it will normalize and feel like a Sunday when I go out to my Mom's later, though.

Mmmmmm, had a dinner of freshly picked corn last night. It was out of this world, fresh, succulent and so full of flavor. We ate it plain, no butter or salt. It was delicious and didn’t need any additions. It reminded me of the corn I used to have as a child on my Dad’s farm. Right before dinner time we’d go and pick a bagful of corn, shuck, cook and have it as our meal. I didn’t plant a lot of corn, just a few rows in my tiny little garden but now I’m so glad that I did! The ears were small but far tastier than even the farmer’s market corn or the corn you can buy directly from the growers in pickup trucks alongside the road.

Ricky the chinchilla loves to eat the leftover cobs. Natty my Chihuahua does too. Probably Nebby and Duggy would like a corn cob to eat (or more likely, to play with) but ferrets are subject to digestive troubles so they don’t get to eat people food.

I picked all the tomatoes and cucumbers and all of the corn. I brought in the two pepper plants with little green peppers on them to sit in our most sunny window. The peppers were too small to pick yet and I’m hoping they can grow a bit in the house. We are expecting frost tonight. Some of my vines were already frosted. The cold weather was kind of a shock to come home to when I had just gotten used to and had started enjoying the heat and humidity of Washington DC!

I haven’t dug up the potatoes yet. It will be a while before the ground freezes so there’s no big rush. Wish I had planted some carrots; homegrown carrots are fantastically delicious too.

After sleeping to the unheard of hour of 9:00 a.m.(went to bed around 4:30 a.m.) I got up and went to $3 spaghetti day with SLA and had a couple of beers. SLA’s life has gotten no better. The only good thing is that she has sold her house (before she lost it) but needs to move out by October 28. Her previous employment had called her back and she was so happy when I left for DC. She found out on the very day she was to have re-started the job on a different shift that they had hired someone else! Why did they call and often her the job back then, last week? Seems like a really crummy thing to do, especially to a person who is losing everything. Her unemployment is ending soon, too, with no new job in sight. It’s very scary what can happen to a person when they lose their job like that. There’s no safety net for people in trouble anymore, nothing to halt their descent.

This fun quizzy thing is from Michelle, the queen of quizzes, she finds some really good ones.

You're Siddhartha!

by Hermann Hesse

You simply don't know what to believe, but you're willing to try
anything once. Western values, Eastern values, hedonism and minimalism, you've spent
some time in every camp. But you still don't have any idea what camp you belong in.
This makes you an individualist of the highest order, but also really lonely. It's
time to chill out under a tree. And realize that at least you believe in
ferries.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Wonder if the spelling of “ferries” is a joke? I really can’t tell from the context.
I know these are mostly just for fun but this is so accurate that it's spooky! Was yours? Have a super Sunday!

Bring on the water

It's bright and early in the morning and I just got home from the farm. Friday was a busy day of trying to catch up with all the work. I worked almost 10 hours and made a small dent at least. SLA was doing something with her family, so I came home and scrambled some eggs. For some reason I have a weird craving for them. Maybe it's from all the breakfasts that I missed at our event, while stationed at the registration desk. I was so busy that I missed eating in general. While we were waiting for the flight home at the DC airport we ate at a TGI Friday's where I had the most awesome salad I ever had in my whole life. It was a Pecan Chicken Salad with craisins and goat cheese. It might just been so very good because I was so hungry.

Also I'm trying to rehydrate after not drinking much water for the entire week. I couldn't leave to GET any water, nor for any bathroom breaks. At Union Station one of our clients brought me a water with a lime in it from the buffet upstairs. It helped.

Anyway, when I came home from visiting Vegetable Man it was after 3:00 a.m. My hair had massage oil in it but at least smelled good. My son was home from work and still up, awake and making himself something to eat. He asked, "What did you guys DO for over seven hours?" Um, "talk and watch TV" I said.

You're Canada!

People make fun of you a lot, but they're stupid because you've
got a much better life than they do.  In fact, they're probably just jealous.
 You believe in crazy things like human rights and health care and not
dying in the streets, and you end up securing these rights for yourself and
others.  If it weren't for your weird affection for ice hockey, you'd be
the perfect person.
Take
the Country Quiz at the href="http://bluepyramid.org">Blue Pyramid

I'm going to bed now and hope to make blog rounds later when I get up. Have a great Saturday!

A potential new career as a car sitter?

Well, I’m back! It was such a busy blur that I don’t know how to start. Lots of work and long hours but I had a good time. The fun was with the people, our clients and not in any place we went or particular thing I did. In fact, I didn’t leave the hotel except in a cab and then only to go to where the grand finale was held, at Union Station.

I got to sit in a senator’s car. All by myself. Two congressman drove their own car and wanted to come in to speak at our grand finale. The middle drop-off lane at Union Station doesn’t allow unattended cars, even ones with that metal “Congressional Parking” or whatever it said on the windshield. So when I was closing down the welcome table, the president of one of our partner organizations asked if I could possibly sit in their car while they were speaking. I was hoping for a limo or something but it was just a car, a very nice and comfortable car, though.

At first it was kind of hot because the weather was much warmer than I was used to, and I was dressed in a suit. But as I sat in the car in the hot sun, I started to get into it, watching the people go in and out of Union Station and doing a pile of work I had brought in. I wanted to take off my heels but didn’t want to get too comfortable in the car in case they suddenly reappeared! I knew they couldn’t stay at our celebration very long.

What a great career that might be, sitting in cars while people go into Union Station. I could read a book or listen to music on CDs, bring a bottle of water and some healthy (non-crumbly) snacks. And I would be providing a helpful service to people in government. What do you think?

from my E-mail (which was too full to take any more messages)
Top 5 Smart Ass Answers for 2005

Smart Ass Answer #5: A flight attendant was stationed at the departure gate to check tickets. As a man approached, she extended her hand for the ticket and he opened his trench coat and flashed her. Without missing a beat....she said, "Sir, I need to see your ticket, not your stub."

Smart Ass Answer #4: A lady was picking through the frozen turkeys at the grocery store, but she couldn't find one big enough for her family she asked a stock boy, "Do these turkeys get any bigger?" The stock boy replied, "No ma'am, they're dead."
Smart Ass Answer #3: The cop got out of his car and the kid who was stopped for speeding rolled down his window. I've been waiting for you all day," the cop said. The kid replied, "Yeah, well I got here as fast as I could." When the cop finally stopped laughing, he sent the kid on his way without a ticket.
Smart Ass Answer #2: A truck driver was driving along on the freeway. A sign comes up that reads, "Low Bridge Ahead." Before he knows it, the bridge is right ahead of him and he gets stuck under the bridge. Cars are backed up for miles. Finally, a police car comes up. The cop gets out of his car and walks to the truck driver, puts his hands on his hips and says, "Got stuck, huh?" The truck driver says, "No, I was delivering this bridge and ran out of gas."

AND NOW...FOR THE #1 SMART ASS ANSWER SO FAR FOR THE YEAR 2005
A college teacher reminds her class of tomorrow's final exam. Now class, I won't tolerate any excuses for you not being here tomorrow. I might consider a nuclear attack or a serious personal injury or illness, or a death in your immediate family, but that's it, no other excuses whatsoever!" A smart ass guy in the back of the room raised his hand and asked, "What would you say if tomorrow I said I was suffering from complete and utter sexual exhaustion?" The entire class is reduced to laughter and snickering. When silence is restored, the teacher smiles knowingly at the student, shakes her head and sweetly says: Well, I guess you'd have to write the exam with your other hand."
__________________________________________________

How was your week? I missed you all! The hotel did have a business center but I visited it to frantically make copies or compose sign-in sheets, so didn’t go online the entire time from Monday morning until now. I’ve got a lot of catching up to do! With my friends, too. I’m hoping to connect with some of them tonight or tomorrow. I sent out lots of postcards and even brought back a few (little) gifts and momentos.

I got home at 12:30 last night and had to get up early to go to work today. It's probably going to be a long day as I'm still pretty tired. Have a great day, it's FRIDAY after all!!!

Gone to DC, please stay tuned! (back on Friday)

Well, I’m finally off to DC today at 7:00 a.m. and in a whole lot better mood thanks to you all! Your cheery and encouraging comments really helped make my day and turn things around for me on Saturday.

Sunday was a really good day too! Got a few last-minute things done after going out to visit with my Mom. I’m bringing Anne Rice’s “Taltos” in case I can’t sleep well in the hotel. Eastern time is an hour earlier, plus I will be getting up VERY early to get ready for the event each day. I might have read that book already, but it’s handy to have a book on the plane too. I’m also bringing a CD player and a few tunes to make the flight seem faster.

But a comment made by Anvilcloud made me really think about my expectations of my son. Anvilcloud is right, young men really don’t care a lot about the hysterical (well, I wasn’t quite that bad, but was upset) feelings of their mothers! And that’s quite right and normal. But I got to thinking about the whole single parent and child thing and it made me just a bit uncomfortable. Many of the single parents I’ve noticed (and myself included) sometimes expect too much of our children, especially our adult children! I cringe to think that I sometimes may treat him more closely as a partner than my adult child, and that’s certainly squirm-worthy. It’s not that I mean to or even realize when I’m doing it. But it’s not healthy for either the parent, and especially not for the child (even if an adult child). He has his own life, social relationships and focus.

In my own defense, I didn’t think expecting him to listen to my work problems for 5-10 minutes was so terrible or excessive when he contributes very little to the household. But that brings up yet another uncomfortable issue: does that mean I think I can buy his time and attention because I’m paying the bills—that he owes me that? Yikes, that’s yucky to even think about! Guess I just thought that he would WANT to listen because he’s my son and I’m his mother. But it’s lots more complicated than that. Yes, sigh, I think about things too much sometimes, but feel it’s preferable to thinking about them too little!

The Five Languages of Love
All that thinking led me to recall something I had read a long time ago about the “Five Languages of Love” which was a book written for couples. But I think the languages of love apply to friendships and family, too. The book brings up the fascinating question: how do you know when someone loves you? For me that’s easy to answer and I bet if you’ve read even a couple of my postings you can guess—I know when someone loves me when they LISTEN to me!!! And my second indicator would be when they spend time or hang out with me. It’s true of my romantic relationships and true of my friendships and family. And I would rank physical touch third in a romantic relationship, only after the first two had been well established!

If I’m remembering them correctly, the five indicators (or “languages of love”) are:

1. Physical touch: including hugging, touching on the arm or back or any touch, and sex
2. Words: talking and especially listening and discussion
3. Quality time: spending time with each other or hanging out together
4. Gifts: giving a tangible object
5. Acts of service: doing little (or big!) things, chores, activities for the loved one

While it’s impossible to generalize, we’re all different, the studies showed that men tend to do and want #1 and #5, while woman tend to like the #2 and #3 as their top two indicators. The #4 choice was higher in women, too, if I remember correctly. I think men also ranked #3 fairly high.

Now it gets more tricky because there are two sides to the question:

1. How do you know when someone loves you (the top two or three methods you prefer to RECEIVE love)?

2. What are your top two or three preferred methods of SHOWING your love?

Answers to the two questions can be different! In fact, the answers need to be different to different friends, lovers or family members because they’re requiring different languages of love from you! As an example, Vegetable Man when I first got to know him spent a lot of time (and money!) bringing me things and doing little things for me. Although it may sound ungrateful, it wasn’t what I wanted from him. For one thing, it’s difficult to keep guessing what another person would like or things they would like you to do! There’s a large chance of guessing wrong quite a bit of the time. We both were a little frustrated in the very beginning of the relationship, about 16 years ago.

As he got to know me better, he realized that discussion and spending quality time together were what I wanted (and they led to #1!). He, on the other hand, is cheered by physical touch, a hand on his arm, or a back rub. He also feels loved when people do little services for him. I had to learn his language of love, as the doing little services thing did not come naturally to me because I didn’t value receiving it as much as some of the other ways of expressing love.

So dating services should be asking those two questions about how the person wants to give and receive love to check for compatibility. And wouldn’t it make a great topic of conversation with your friends, family and with new acquaintances? What a fascinating subject and it all came back to me because of my distress yesterday and your cool comments in response!

Have a super week, and I’ll see you on Friday!

The last day before the trip

OK, today is a new and better day! Actually yesterday turned out very well. Vegetable Man IM’d me for an hour while I was catching up with my blog-reading, which was fun and cheery. But I had too much to do to get ready for my trip to take a much-wanted run out to the farm yesterday. The first thing he asked after hearing about my job woes was if I had told my boss and co-workers “to go f***k themselves.” So that was quite encouraging just to think about it, but I would never really do it. He sent me some interesting pictures which I will post one by one. A few of them are funny work-related photos, but not this one:








So after talking to VM for long enough to feel all positive and cheered up, I ventured off to the bank to withdraw money for the trip, spent two hours at work finishing up (nobody was there), then off to try on and buy clothes at three different places! I had a lot of fun even though I spent too much money. Did get some back for the clothes I returned but my purchases were far more expensive than the refund money. I still need to redo my finger and toenails with polish and do a couple of other things before I go.

My horoscope from Friday:
Try not to get too tense or stressed-out if you find yourself frustrated in your efforts to make progress today. You might be feeling a bit overwhelmed by small details and endless interruptions right now. But try not to let yourself get defensive, impatient or argumentative. Many of these little problems should be dealt with before long.

And this!
Today's emotional Pisces Full Moon reflects the light of the practical Virgo Sun and you will feel it in many areas of your life. The gulf between your inner and outer worlds is magnified now and even your highly developed analytical skills cannot make enough sense of it all to relieve the tension. If you have been at odds with your boss or some other authority figure, it would be best to acknowledge who is in control and get on with your appointed chores.

If you have a disagreement with someone now, chances are that it could grow out of proportion pretty quickly. With your planet, Mercury, activating passionate Pluto today, your own tendency toward irritability stimulates confrontation. It's important that you make an effort at clear communication and steer clear of hidden agendas.

From my E-mail (versions of these have been around for awhile)
Church Bulletin Bloopers

- The Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

- Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.

- The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The Congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

- Thursday night Potluck Supper. Prayer and medication to follow.

- A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.

- At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice.

A Prayer for Dinner Parties

A woman invited some people to dinner. At the table, she turned to her six-year-old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?"

"I wouldn't know what to say," she replied.

"Just say what you hear Mommy say," the mother said.

The child bowed her head and said, "Dear Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?"

Caught on the Job

The new army recruit was given guard duty at 2 a.m. He did his best for a while, but at about 4 a.m. he went to sleep. He awakened to find the officer of the day standing before him.

Remembering the heavy penalty for being asleep on guard duty, this smart young man kept his head bowed for another moment and looked upward and reverently said, “A-a-a-men!”

Did you notice the nuns are sitting on stools and it's not some sort of x-ray vision? Have a great sunny Sunday!

Saturday Survival

Well I survived yesterday, but barely. Strange (or maybe not!) that I had just written about the time I almost quit and walked out, because yesterday was time number two for just about walking out of that job! Now talking to my son and he claims I told him all of it last night, which is not true. He spent the entire evening in his room on the computer. Oh—-I had to quit blogging and go and take a shower so I could cry. There’s no privacy in this tiny little house. I wish he’d be more supportive, as in, just listening. We ended up in a huge fight over it, just what I need when I’m already upset about work!

I’m just so stressed out and need a nice long walk or something, coming up as soon as I post this. So I will probably only be reading a few blogs this morning. I don’t think I can even go much into details of what happened yesterday, would just get upset all over again. But in Reader’s Digest form: basically I received the final list of people shortly after NOON, and found out not long after that ex-favorite co-worker had not even printed the background for the nametags. She was going to do it but didn’t, worse, she waited to tell me of that fact after giving me the list. I could have done it on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, well ahead of time so there wouldn’t have been such a time crunch on Friday. The backgrounds take a long time to print on the slow color printer and they kept printing crooked besides, to add to my stress. Friday morning I spent doing the rest of the reimbursement forms which Bosszila wanted each individual name pre-printed on the form, and there were different types of forms for different people, and each on different colored paper. They turned out nicely, if I do say so myself!

Ex-favorite co-worker is the only other one who works hard at that place but didn’t appear to be doing that yesterday. She spent almost the entire day in Bosszila’s office sucking up, talking, ordering clothing online, they even were watching movies at the end of the day while I was frantically tried to get things done and packed by 5:30, the Fed Ex pickup time. My dear co-workers also had a party with a heavy (I know this because I had to sign for it and quickly stash it in the refrigerator) chocolate cheesecake and all sat around for an hour or two. I suppose I should have joined them but I would have never made the deadline. Ex-favorite co-worker was already getting huffy and blaming ME for the fact that the labels were taking so long. Mostly my co-workers avoided me as much as they could. One went golfing yesterday afternoon and two brought their kids into the office. Yes, it was a really festive attitude and place—except for me, I had a huge deadline to make!

I had fantasies of just walking off the job; let them try to recoup the cost of my airline ticket and hotel. I was tired and hungry, sweaty and thirsty and hated every single one of them except the big boss and the nice co-worker who helped me pack a box of Thursday. Late yesterday she helped put some of the finished tags into the holders, too. It gave me great pleasure to think of one of THEM having to sit at the registration table (even though I think it’s fun to talk to the attendees, any of them would think it far beneath their dignity) and having to carry and unpack boxes. But it’s not to be, as I didn’t walk off and am (shudder, double-shudder) still traveling with them to DC to do my job. I have a couple of minor things to do today, so need to stop in to the office. Hope none of them are there, but that would be really unusual and surprising.

I haven’t had time to do any of the personal stuff I needed to do for the trip, like going to the bank, so will have to do it today. Also, I tried on my new clothes last night and one pair of pants is still too big, good thing I hadn’t hemmed them yet. Also three of the blouses just aren’t appropriate for work, don’t know what I was thinking; they’re too low cut even for the evening events. And worse, not as flattering as they looked in the store mirrors! So they need to go back today and I hope to find some better, more work-oriented ones to bring. I haven’t even started packing yet either. Yes, I’m just a basket case over all of this but have calmed down now. Writing it out and telling someone usually does the trick for me, thanks for listening!

From my E-mail
Mother-in-Law jokes (normally I don’t like them, these are sort of funny, though)
Last week my wife and I went car shopping, and the salesman asked if I wanted a car with an Air-bag.

I said, "No thanks. I already have a mother-in-law."
---
I never forget a face, But in my mother-in-laws' case I'm willing to make an exception.
---
She: This wine is described as full bodied and imposing with a nutty base, a sharp bite, and a bitter aftertaste.

He: Are you describing the wine or your mother?
---
Bert took his Saint Bernard to the vet.

"Doctor," he said sadly, "I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to cut off my dog's tail."

The vet stepped back, "Bert, why should I do such a terrible thing?"

"Because my mother-in-law's arriving tomorrow, and I don't want anything to make her think she's welcome."

Spelling Difficulties
The teacher says to her new class, "For our first lesson, each of you will stand up, tell us your name, what your father does, spell what your father does, and then explain it to us. All right, Billy. You go first."

Billy stands up and says, "My name's Billy. My father's a lawyer, l-a-w-y-e-r, and he defends people in court."

The teacher says, "Very good. All right, Benjamin."

Tyrone stands up and says, "My name's Benjamin. My father's a pharmacist, f-a-m... f-a-r-n... f-n..."

The teacher says, "Benjamin, you go home tonight and learn how to spell pharmacist. All right, Angelo."

Angelo stands up and says, "My name's Angelo. My old man's a bookie, b-o-o-k-i-e, and if he was here, he'd give you nine-to-five odds Benjamin ain't spellin' pharmacist by tomorrow."

A New Game
Back in the days of the Roman Empire, the famous Emperor Nero instituted a new game. The players would take those little disks you set your glass on in order to protect the furniture, and see who could get the most distance rolling them across the floor.

They were the first roller coasters. Back in those days, the disks were made of iron, and they would bet on whose disk would roll the farthest.

They called them ferrous wheels.

She Doesn’t Do Windows
An unfailingly polite lady called to ask for help with a Windows installation that had gone terribly wrong.

Customer: "I brought my Windows disks from work to install them on my home computer." Training stresses that we are "not the Software Police," so I let the little act of piracy slide.

Tech Support: "Umm-hmm. What happened?"

Customer: "As I put each disk in it turns out they weren't initialized."

Tech Support: "Do you remember the message exactly, ma'am?"

Customer: (proudly) "I wrote it down. 'This is not a Macintosh disk. Would you like to initialize it?'"

Tech Support: "Er, what happened next?"

Customer: "After they were initialized, all the disks appeared to be blank. And now I brought them back to work, and I can't read them in the A: drive; the PC wants to format them. And this is our only set of Windows disks for the whole office. Did I do something wrong?"

Yikes! Hope you have a super Saturday!

Yesterday, a day of boxes

Yesterday was another ten-hour work day with no lunch. Today will be even worse because it’s the last work day before we leave for DC. I still haven’t received the final list of attendees in order to make labels and nametags. Right before I finally left work last night, we had another newsletter ready to mail so I had to download and make the mailing list for labels.

See, I told you we were busy! It’s more than busy, it’s hectic and frantic and all the other “tics”. Ex-big boss helped me engineer a box to fit our signs for shipping them out. I was dripping sweat, sticky from all the taping (of other boxes) and struggling with the huge thing all by myself and he must have taken pity on me. Normally I don’t like to be pitied, but when it meant getting some help, I’ll take it! Another co-worker helped pack and tape one of the folder boxes too. But otherwise it’s been pretty much on my own.

From this whirlwind of busyness, I came home and found a nice box sitting on my kitchen table. The two items I’d ordered were not due for another week or two, but a clue was that the box said “Royal Mail” on it! It was from Katya Coldheart, one of my very favorite blogging friends!

The box was beautiful wrapped up in wrapping paper. Inside the contents were individually wrapped up in beautiful fancy silver wrapping paper with coordinating lavender lighter-weight paper. It was so lovely that I hated to open the packages! But I certainly did open it and enjoyed the plethora of goods inside! There was a huge bar of Cadbury candy, and a large package of PEAR DROPS. I have found out that I dearly love PEAR DROPS! They are so yummy, even better than lemon drops.

I haven’t tasted the chocolate yet but certainly will soon. There was a beautiful fabric frame for a photo, and some nice smelling bath items which I used today in the shower! (the bath items, not the picture frame!). Thank you thank you Katya for making yesterday a great day to come home from work! Just like Christmas, with everything wrapped and packaged with such care.

About the colonic on Wednesday night (yes, I know—a horrible change of subject!): they are used to clean out your system. Health benefits are said to be: weight loss, better utilization of the nutrition in food, ridding the body of toxins, more energy and clarity, and a bunch more. I didn’t get any of those benefits from it, oh well. And even though the practitioner was very nice, I didn’t quite like a few of the things that I saw and experienced there. It just isn’t as tidy and clean as a hospital or clinic. She also didn’t have me sign the waiver (with all the dire warnings of horrible things and medical emergencies that could happen, and that she wasn’t responsible of ANY of them!) until after she was done with the procedure. I may have overreacted a bit, but that was disturbing to me.

So I wasn’t much impressed by it, although I have used herbal remedies that I’ve read about in books and heard from other people that have worked well. Massage is very nice, too. When I was working at a different job, I used to go every pay day and get a massage. Now that’s something to look forward to! It was as good, or better than a session of therapy with a counselor! The theory is that your past emotions are locked in your body and that massage helps to release them in a healthy manner, and I believe that’s true.

And I’ve been curious about hypnotherapy and the positive benefits claimed by those who have experienced it. I do think some types of alternative medicine can and do work well, just that colonic hydrotherapy is too dangerous to try again. Please read up on it if you ever decide to try it. I’m no health practitioner, but I don’t recommend it.

I would recommend what I call “eyeball” surgery. You know, that one where your eyes are corrected so you don’t need glasses or contacts anymore. I had it done five years ago and it was the best thing I’ve ever done for myself! They had dire warnings for that too, but it improved my eyes in every way, even night vision for driving. The only drawback is that my once dry eyes are now even more dry. I’ve been taking Bilberry with Lutein for that and it’s helping.

Got any herbal secrets to share: a special tea, like mint to help headaches, chamomile to sleep, or lemon and honey for sore throats?

Again, too much water

Well made it through the day yesterday at work. It was so busy. I know I just keep saying that but it just keeps getting busier, if such a thing was possible. Right after work I had my first colonic hydrotherapy. I’m not going to describe it in detail here. If you don’t already know what it is and you’re curious (and don’t say I didn’t warn you!) search for it on Google. Needless to say, it was a weird experience and I’m supposed to have another one when I get back from DC.

I don’t think I will do that. The procedure is controversial with some people claiming miracles of regained health from it and others warning that it’s very dangerous. So I had the experience and it did nothing for me. So the one time is enough, despite the enthusiastic reviews from some acquaintances. I am willing to try new things but expect some sort of positive results for my money.

Vegetable Man has had acupuncture done. He’s not sure it helped at all and it was somewhat painful despite what they told him that it would be painless. And he’s not a sissy about pain but stoic. He went two or three times to have it done.

Have you had any alternative health care? What is your verdict about it?

From my E-mail
Cat Jokes for cat lovers (unfortunately, I’m allergic to cats)
Managing senior programmers is like herding cats."
- Dave Platt

"Cats are smarter than dogs. You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through snow."
- Jeff Valdez

"There is no snooze button for a cat that wants breakfast."
-Anonymous

"Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods.
Cats have never forgotten this." - Anonymous

"In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats."
- English proverb

"As every cat owner knows, nobody owns a cat."
- Ellen Perry Berkeley

"One cat just leads to another."
- Ernest Hemingway

"Dogs come when they're called; cats take a message and get back to you later."
- Mary Bly

"Cats are rather delicate creatures and they are subject to a good many ailments, but I never heard of one who suffered from insomnia."
- Joseph Wood Krutch

"People that hate cats, will come back as mice in their next life."
- Faith Resnick

"I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior."
- Hippolyte Taine

"There are many intelligent species in the universe. They are all owned by cats."
- Anonymous

"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats."
- Albert Schweitzer

The cat has too much spirit to have no heart."
- Ernest Menaul

"No heaven will not ever Heaven be; Unless my cats are there to welcome me."
- Anonymous

"Time spent with cats is never wasted."
- Colette

"Some people say that cats are sneaky, evil, and cruel. True, and they have many other fine qualities as well."
- Missy Dizick

"You will always be lucky if you know how to make friends with strange cats."
- Colonial American proverb

"Cats seem to go on the principle that it never does any harm to ask for what you want."
- Joseph Wood Krutch

"Cats aren't clean, they're just covered with cat spit."
- John S. Nichols

"The smallest feline is a masterpiece."
-- Leonardo Da Vinci

"Cat's motto: No matter what you've done wrong, always try to make it look like the dog did it."
-- Anonymous

"Women and cats will do as they please and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea."
-- Robert A. Heinlein

Yesterday and today

Five years ago today my Dad died. I was living in a different place then and was only a temp worker at the job where I work now. Things have changed over those past five years. The most significant change is the relationship between my Mom and me. She was not home much when I was growing up, she was always gone working. Sometimes she worked nights and I barely saw her. Other times she was away from week for weeks at a time. Only recently, after my Dad died, have I really gotten to know her. I have gone out to see her every Sunday (when I’m not traveling for work) since then. The visit has turned into a pleasure, not a chore and has become part of the weekly rhythm of my life.

Yesterday: OMG! An announcement was made yesterday morning during the regular weekly staff meeting: the big boss is stepping down from his position to work on special projects. Just guess who is taking his place, who the new big boss is?

Guess?

Bet you guessed it, it’s
O
S
S
Z
I
L
A
Of course! Yikes and double-yikes! Is this the consequence that HR was talking about giving her for being such a she-beast to me on our last trip? It opens up a whole new line of job worry. Not to mention, her little evil pal, the even worse Least-favorite Co-worker, who is a she-beast times two will probably fill in her place as my new supervisor!

I should just go out and get that deer rifle right now—just kidding, just kidding!

The ironic thing is on Monday morning (without knowing any of this, of course) I wrote a long work rant for my blog posting. At the last minute I took it off and quickly wrote something more cheerful for that day.

I didn’t post this on Monday, I meant to spare you. But lucky for you, you get it today instead!
(cut from Monday's post)
I take minutes for the staff meetings, unfortunately, since they never hired a secretary/receptionist to replace the one (regular employee) and a half (temp) who left. They just gave their job duties to me in addition to the job for which I was hired. Having never performed any actual clerical office work, they (especially least-favorite co-worker) have the arrogant view that the secretary/receptionist duties are so easy that anyone could do them, and that I can just do the two additional jobs in my “spare time”. I am, obviously the only one out of the department of eight who does clerical work, shipping or that sort of thing.

The really ironic thing is that after working there five years (counting the temp time, which was good) I still don’t know what exactly most of them actually DO! They come in late, take two-hour or more lunches and leave early. They work from home several days a week. Least favorite co-worker just finished three weeks off using her comp time, not vacation! They don’t even work regular hours let alone extra time so I have no idea how in the world she racked up any extra time! But actually it was pretty nice to have her gone from the office all that time! Ex-favorite co-worker and I appear to be the only ones who actually perform any work there.

I did the whole complaining and going to HR procedure when the job change thing first happened, two long years ago now.(of course the entire two last years have not been hell. My job is actually interesting) The only result was I was called “Not a good team player.” Plus they HAD interviewed two job candidates the previous day. Ostentatiously for the secretary position but it was really in case I walked out (when they ganged up at the staff meeting and told me I’d now be doing both those jobs plus my regular position) after hearing that news. They had a person ready to fill my place if I would have left. I really wanted to just leave, but stopped myself when I realized I would get no unemployment, no good references, nothing, and I don’t believe in burning bridges. Jobs are just too hard to find around here, especially at a decent wage and with good benefits. The momentary satisfaction would not have been worth the repercussions. I need the job. Nobody else is paying my bills or the mortgage; I could have easily ended up like SLA, losing her home.

It’s kind of funny, but recently a co-worker asked me in a demanding sort of a way where a particular day’s meeting minutes were at, as she couldn’t find them in the folder. I’m almost never gone from work, but that was one of the days—and nobody else took the staff meeting minutes! Imagine my great pleasure at informing her that I had been gone that day! It really took the indignant wind right out of her sails.

It’s not at all surprising that nobody even thought to take the minutes when I was out of the office. They all would think it’s far beneath them, like cleaning the conference room or cleaning up in the kitchen. They talk like they are oh so fussy and particular about germs and dirt but I know the truth: they’re little piggies who don’t clean up after themselves. Part of the reason I love them so. NOT!

Thanks for listening to my anti-work and co-worker rant! I just started writing it and all by itself it turned into a long lament, I hadn’t even meant to go there. No time to redo the post now (but actually I DID redo the Monday post!). Well, at least the job pays the bills. Guess I’ve really not been a happy camper lately but the funny thing is I probably sound much more negative in writing than in real life, since most people who know me accuse me of having rose-colored glasses. I’ve just gotten accustomed to letting it all out in my notebook journal, because it really helps to unload and then go back to living life in a fairly positive manner! But the most positive act of all would be to find another job. Maybe after the two events I will have time to job hunt again.

Hope your co-workers are lots better than that, or at the very least, decent human beings! Have a great day!

Too much water yesterday

Spent the middle of the day at a clinic I’ve never been to before to have the ultrasound test done. It was as dark as night during the morning and right before I had to leave work for the appointment the rain came down in a deluge. I had a raincoat with a hood but still got totally soaked while walking up the hill to where my car was parked. My shoes and shoes and pants were so wet I could have wrung them out.

I found the unfamiliar clinic easily and it had parking right in front of the door. In fact the parking was so easy that I got there 45 minutes early. Not so good for the type of ultrasound I was having; I had consumed a tremendous quantity of water, as instructed by the doctor. Sitting in the waiting room in soaking wet clothing from the rain was too uncomfortable to bear along with desperately needing the ladies room. Right before I was called (of course!) and after an hour of waiting, I gave in to my natural urges. Then I tried to make up for it by quickly drinking another bottle of water that I filled from the water fountain. It all worked out OK but for a time I was afraid they would need to reschedule my test. Oh the joys of it all! Sloshing within and soaked on the outside, too.

It was a busy, busy day at work again. I finished writing the three pieces to go into the folders and found out one box of folders were the wrong color. They had sent us several large boxes of boxes of folders and sandwiched in the middle was an odd box of the wrong ones! So had to call the supplier and get them to come and swap folders ASAP. Then the ribbons that I had another supplier redo arrived, so all the ribbons are finally done correctly. Then I found out two boxes of label tape that we are going to use for nametags at the first event were the wrong size and had to dicker with that supplier to send us more tape. I did the new sessions report and registration codes used and started updating the budget for Bosszila. One of our newsletters arrived and I had to download the mailing list and merge and make labels to get them out. I stayed later than normal to make up for the time I had missed during the doctor appointment. Vegetable Man called me while I was finishing up at work. And you guessed it, I ended up going out to the farm, driving down the freeway through rain and fog.

When I got there the rain had stopped and we picked fresh vegetables from his garden. Then we went inside where he fixed me a fantastic 5-course meal on the spot, totally vegetarian! The guy should start a restaurant! The food was easily and quickly put together but so innovative and delicious that I actually got quite stuffed full. Then he brought out a dessert he had invented, it wasn’t vegetarian but was really light and tasty, called “Saint and Sinner”. I wish you could taste this before I tell you what was in it, because it tasted like a light and fluffy cheesecake and I could not guess what from what it had been made. Once I tell you, it will seem just too simple and obvious, like all his food, but only once you know how it’s been made!

From my E-mail
I recently went to the 30th reunion of my preschool. I didn't want to go because I've put on, like, 100 pounds!" --Wendy Liebman
---
Quote from telephone inquiry "We're only hiring one summer intern this year and we won't start interviewing candidates for that position until the Boss's daughter finishes her summer classes. -Unknown
---
"Ben Jones the actor that played Cooter on "The Dukes of Hazzard" is upset about the new movie version because there is too much sex and profanity in the movie. Isn't that just like Hollywood to take something like the "The Dukes of Hazzard," a beautiful work of art and turn it into something cheap? --Jay Leno

Wheelbarrow Bet
The strong young man at the construction site was bragging that he could outdo anyone in a feat of strength. He made a special case of making fun of one of the older workmen. After several minutes, the older worker had had enough.

"Why don't you put your money where your mouth is," he said. "I will bet a week's wages that I can haul something in a wheelbarrow over to that outbuilding that you won't be able to wheel back."

"You're on, old man," the braggart replied. "Let's see what you got."

The old man reached out and grabbed the wheelbarrow by the handles. Then, nodding to the young man, he said,

"All right. Get in."

And in honor of the returned heat-wave:
It’s so hot that…
The birds have to use pot holders to pull worms out of the ground.

Farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying hard boiled eggs.

The cows are giving evaporated milk.

The trees are whistling for the dogs.

You can say 110 degrees without fainting.

You eat hot chilies to cool your mouth off.

The temperature drops below 95, you feel a bit chilly.

You discover that in August, it takes only 2 fingers to drive your car.

You discover that you can get a sunburn through your windshield.

You notice the best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.

Hot water now comes out of both taps.

No one would dream of wearing shorts and sitting on a vinyl seat!

Your biggest fear is, "What if I get trip and end up lying on the pavement and cook to death?"

You realize that asphalt has a liquid state.

Driving breaks are measured by bottles of water rather than the need for gas.

Now that your yard has burnt up, you no longer need to spend time mowing.
________

Wondering what’s in “Saint and Sinner”? Put some lemon (or lime) yogurt in a small bowl, top with that horrible spray-on whipped cream. Sound gross? Not if you like the taste of lemon or of cheesecake!

Have a great Tuesday!

Mini summer rerun

Today begins the countdown to my work trip, and I’m not ready! Still waiting for last minute supply orders at work and other last minute preparations. Today is yet another busy day with two staff meetings. My doctor’s appointment is stuffed between the two meetings, so help it goes OK and I’m able to hurry back to work. The parking issue is always a problem, as I may have difficulty in finding any freebie parking within a mile of work in the early afternoon! I wouldn’t mind, but the extra walking will take extra time to return to work and not miss the second staff meeting. Oh well, it will turn out OK.

It’s been warm again here for the past couple of days. Yesterday it reached 92 and the house is still quite warm. I have the fans all blowing to make it sleep-able and keep it comfortable enough for the furry critters, who get too warm. It’s nice to have the heat back again, actually. Our summer is so short, the leaves have been turning for a couple of weeks already and the autumn flowers are out: Purple Asters. A long time ago I read somewhere that when they came out, summer was over. But now we have a mini-rerun of summer, and that’s great! Gas prices have dropped even more, too.

Have a great Monday and start to your week!

From my E-mail
Wise Words from Kids
1. Never trust a dog to watch your food.
- Patrick, age 10

2. When your dad is mad and asks you, "Do I look stupid?" don't answer him.
- Michael, 14

3. Never tell your mom her diet's not working.
- Michael, 14

4. Stay away from prunes.
- Randy, 9

5. Never pee on an electric fence.
- Robert, 13

6. Don't squat with your spurs on.
- Noronha, 13

7. Don't pull dad's finger when he tells you to.
- Emily, 10

8. When your mom is mad at your dad, don't let her brush your hair.
- Taylia, 11

9. Never allow your three-year old brother in the same room as your school assignment.
- Traci, 14

10. Don't sneeze in front of mom when you're eating crackers.
- Mitchell, 12

11. Puppies still have bad breath even after eating a tic tac.
- Andrew, 9

12. Never hold a dust buster and a cat at the same time.
- Kyoyo, 9

13. You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
- Armir, 9

14. Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
- Kellie, 11

15. If you want a kitten, start out by asking for a horse.
- Naomi, 15

16. Felt markers are not good to use as lipstick.
- Lauren, 9

17. Don't pick on your sister when she's holding a baseball bat.
- Joel, 10

18. When you get a bad grade in school, show it to your mom when she's on the phone.
- Alyesha, 13

19. Never try to baptize a cat.
- Eileen, 8

Always running a bit behind

Wa-hoo the biopsy and other test results came in the mail yesterday afternoon and then were normal!! I had kind of figured so, yet there's a part of me that kept worrying just a little. I still have the ultrasound test on Monday. The doctor set it up for me, so it's at the most inconvenient time, in the middle of a busy working day. Just found it about it on Friday, so have to let my boss know (without telling her all the details). She will wonder why I didn't set the appointment up for the end of the day, like I normally do for doctor and dentist appointments. I should yell at the doctor for scaring me by leaving that message on my phone, but I'm just happy that it's turned out OK so far.

Yesterday was a lot of fun, hope your Saturday was too. I caught up with some of my blogging, watered the gardens, showered (being very careful when getting dressed!) and got ready to go to the Harvest Fair. About half an hour before I was going to leave SLA called and begged for a mission of mercy--they were out of coffee. I quickly called Amanda and Anton back (the married friends) and told them not to wait for me at the entrance as planned, I'd catch up to them in the fair, later. It was lucky I reached them before they left home, as the whole mission of mercy thing ended up taking a lot longer than I had planned; had planned to meet A&A at 12:30 and didn't get there until almost 2:00, but it was really my own dilly-dallying fault.

I purposefully have not been going to the grocery store every week, it was costing too much. We were eating up what was left in the house. Normally we have an extra can of coffee but of course I had about a third of a can left when SLA called and no extra can. So I just brought her that, all the coffee I had left. She and her houseguest immediately made a pot of coffee and offered me the first cup, but I had already enjoyed my one allotted cup of coffee for the day. It was fun to play with all the animals, two big dogs (sometimes I miss having a big dog!) and lots of cats.

Apparently they go every Saturday for a $3 spaghetti feed at a bar on the western end of town and invited me. If I hadn't reached A&A and told them I would be late, I wouldn't have gone, but decided to go. I like to cram a lot of fun things into every Saturday if I can, it's my only real day off of the week. But I wasn't at all hungry and the food wasn't appealing and even the rest of the menu didn't sound good to me, so I just had a beer while they ate. They were planning to go out again on Saturday night with a larger group than we had gone out with on Thursday. It did sound sort of fun, but I wasn't sure and said I'd have to decide later because I'd gotten up so early. They said they were going home for a nap to rest up for the night and we went our separate ways, since we had driven there in separate cars.

So I hurried down to the Harvest Fair, wishing now that I hadn't taken the non-spaghetti break. It was already 2:00 and the event ended at 4:00. I couldn't find A&A and their horse-loving friend until almost 3:00 and they were ready to go! They were going to Perkins and Amanda still had my Stamping Up order from months ago. So I said I would meet them there, but I wanted to buy some honey and some produce before leaving. I wandered around truly wishing I had come earlier and that I would have had time to look at the interesting booths and exhibits and run into people I know. The Harvest Fair is only once a year and I had kind of blown it! Bought some tomatoes, green peppers, cabbage and a squash and then found some blueberry honey and had to walk back to the car.

As I left the Harvest Fair I was (unrealistically) thinking, "maybe I can hurry at Perkins and make it back here before it closes!" Actually I ended up beating them to Perkins, don't know how that happened unless they had been parked further away than I had, as they left much, much earlier than I did. I got my Stamping Up stuff finally, having lost my initial enthusiasm for it. Haven’t even looked at it yet today either. And had a raspberry iced tea while they each had some pie. We had a lot of fun, as I really enjoy their company, but it was too late to go back to the Harvest Fair by the time we were done. And then I had to stop on the way home and get groceries, finally after several weeks--because we had no coffee in the house!

By the time I got home, it was well after 6:00 p.m. and I decided that although Thursday night had been really fun, I didn't really want to make it my lifestyle going out to bars and getting drunk! It's kind of like having a piece of pie, good once in a while, but I don't want one very often.

"Both optimists and pessimists contribute to our society. The optimist invents the airplane, and the pessimist, the parachute."
--Gil Stern

This fun quizzy thing is from Justitia (Michelle)

How You Life Your Life

You are honest and direct. You tell it like it is. You are always tactful and diplomatic. You let people down gently. Your friends tend to be a as quirky as you are - which is saying a lot! You tend to always dream of things within reach - and you usually get them.

How Do You Live Your Life?

Attack of the Underwear

Enough with the drama stuff. I plan to have a nice, peaceful and fun weekend! But yes, now that the tornado of emotion has somewhat cleared and I’ve thought it over I AM mad at Vegetable Man. He isn’t normally a jerk but certainly acted like one with me, and it had to be on purpose. No way could he have not heard the happy things I said or think that the little romantic things he did would be accepted as simply part of a friendship. I got conned, and I don’t like that. It was a selfish, mean and inconsiderate thing to do, especially to a friend. I'm disappointed in him and would have thought better of him than that.

But today I’m going to the harvest fair with some friends I’ve known for almost 25 years! They were friends until a couple of years ago, when they fell in love and got married! OK, come to think of it maybe not a great choice of friends for me to hang out with this weekend but they’re lots of fun and we’ll all have a good time. The fair has alternative energy seminars too. I once lived in a wind-powered home, it was so cool! I would love to do something like that again but those technologies are still very expensive.

Katya Coldheart posted about her bra rebellion yesterday. Yesterday must have been some sort of united front for underwear action! After my shower in the morning, I was getting dressed and cut my foot with my underwear! I really don’t know how in the world it could have happened. I sort of caught my toe in the elastic, or maybe it was the lace, gave a gentle pull and got something like a paper cut on the bottom on my toe! So weird, it hurt too and I was limping. Limping and laughing and limping and laughing. Also shaking my head, how the heck? Nothing like that has ever happened to me before, my underwear has always been gentle and safe. It hurt to wear a shoe, so I took off the shoe and sock and wrapped up the toe in a band aid. I had to try not to limp at work all day. I didn’t want anyone to ask about what had happened to my foot!

As long as I’m thinking about funny (at least to me) things, let me tell you what we did to SLA in the bathroom on Thursday night. Thursday night was the night we all went out and had some fun. We went to a different place than I usually hang out, somewhere a bit classier than the bar/restaurant/laundromat where I often go to have just a beer or two. Dana (not her real name) and I went to the bathroom together, as girls tend to do and had a fun time reading the huge ads on the backs of the stall doors. There was an ad that said something like, “List with Sue Bopp, Realtor for attention to your housing needs.” (I think I would go by “Susan” or “Suzie” instead of “Sue” if I had that name), and “It’s not too late to enroll your child in the Grant Magnet School program.” Actually, it IS too late, our children are all in their 20’s! We had so much fun in there that we almost forgot to come back out of the stalls and return to our table in the bar.

Anyway, Dana and I didn’t talk about doing this or plan it but later when SLA said she was going to “the Ladies” we both leapt up and said “We’ll help you!” which got some funny looks from others at our table and the surrounding tables. Dana and I stood around combing our hair in the empty bathroom while SLA went into the stall. We then demanded that she read the ads aloud to us. She didn’t want to at first, but then started to read the ads loudly and with emphasis.

As Dana and I had hoped, more women came into the bathroom. SLA couldn’t hear the door and that other people had come in to the bathroom because of a noisy fan. So she kept reading the ads in her loud voice. Dana and I were cracking up, it was so funny. You should have seen the looks on the faces of the women who came in—some turned around and went right back out. We laughed so hard that we were crying and eventually SLA heard us giggling and stopped. But it was too late. Later in the evening we got some really odd looks from some of the women who had come into the bathroom while SLA was reading and we were rolling on the floor laughing!

Yep, that was a really fun night. I gotta do that again soon. Next time I won’t have so many Cosmopolitans though. I’m not much of a drinker, just a beer or two once in awhile, so those really nailed me good.

In keeping with the fun theme of today, here’s a picture of my ferrets. Now these are creatures that really know how to have fun. In fact fun is their life. It was hard to get a shot of them together, as they’re in constant motion, bouncing around! The whiter one is Nebby and the darker one with a face mask is Duggie. Aren't they adorable? At least I think so! It's a good thing too, as they are rather smelly creatures and a constant chore to keep clean!

Yeah, OK I was kind of dim

Oh dear, at least it’s Friday. I went out right after work last night and pretty much made part of my dream come true, got sort of trashed. My mouth feels like a sandbox today and my head distinctively heavy. Haven’t done that for a long, long time. Those Cosmos can sneak up on one when you are used to drinking beer—and getting full long before any effects! Anyway, I had a really good, rowdy time. I seem to remember pretending to hitch a ride to my car by holding out a thumb and later holding on to the antenna of a friend’s car as hostage (they couldn’t move the car while I stood in the road and held on to the antenna, or the antenna would get all bent). At least it was pretty funny at the time. And as much as I wanted to drunken dial Vegetable Man, my friends made sure that I didn’t, and that I got home safely too.

Ah, Vegetable Man, it’s been a couple of days since I’ve seen him. He still sends me cute little funny things in E-mails, like some of the jokes I put into the blog. Actually I DID sort of have a talk with him, sorry if I didn’t explain it very well yesterday morning, perhaps I was still in a bit in denial. The way I explained the whole thing, it sounded like I didn’t know how he felt about me. I wish that was the case! In fact by talking is how I found out about his lack of reciprocal feelings for me. Wait, let’s start again, I’m confused, even if you aren’t!

The last time I saw him we had spent a wonderful evening of first walking around the farm outside, and then inside, and then, well, you know. It became later and he was hungry and was in the kitchen finding some food. I, like usual lately, was not hungry at all. Then he, out of the blue, mentioned that he was thinking of posting one of those dating ads because he wanted to find a good woman. I think I just about fell over! It was the sort of thing you would tell a good friend.

In a choked voice I said, “But I thought WE were getting together, you know, like tonight, like lately.” He got a weird look on his face and said, “uh oh, I didn’t think we really had a relationship like THAT or anything.” Despite the fact this conversation makes him sound like kind of a jerk, he really is not. He’s normally kind and compassionate and quite sensitive. He looked stricken and guilty when I said “Yeah, maybe I didn’t think we had an automatic or instantaneous relationship either but at least I was willing to give us a try. This meant something to me. I don’t hook up casually.” So of course we went back and forth a few times, me trying not to cry and sound halfway reasonable while feeling like my newly revved-up heart was breaking.

Basically it came down to the grim fact he had not even considered our getting together any sort of relationship at all, not in the present, not a possibility in the future. And what’s worse, despite all the things I’d said to him each time, somehow he had just figured that I felt the same way as he did about it. That it was just the expanding of a long, great friendship and if he wanted a romance or a “relationship” he would have to look elsewhere. It was such a shock to me that I could have so misinterpreted his little gestures, like giving me flowers and other seemingly romantic gestures as reigniting our love relationship. I could tell he was uncomfortable and felt horrible about the “misunderstanding” but it could hardly compare to how awful I was feeling!

Well, that was a few days ago. Last night I got home from my outing with friends (NOT “friends plus”, I’ll have you know!) and still had to do the recycling and garbage for tomorrow since my son was working. That was interesting, hope the garbage people take it OK this morning. I let my little dog out for a walk and the fresh air helped clear my head a little. But then I listened to my phone messages, hoping for one from Vegetable Man, of course, and got another sort of message instead.

The very first phone message was from my doctor, wanting me to call her to set up an appointment, even saying that she would be there until 6:00 p.m. I think I sobered up right then and there. OMG, what does this mean? I hate to even think about it too much before I call her today. She said she would be in again at 9:30 a.m. this morning Good thing I’ve been frantically busy at work, that will make the time from now until then go faster, until I find out what’s happening. Wish me luck, if there is such a thing when dealing with this. Oh, you know what, while typing the last part I just thought of something after stewing about it all night. This may just be the set up for the ultrasound test, sorry about that! But welcome to my rollercoaster world (lately)! Hope you have a great day, it’s Friday after all and you deserve it!

From my E-mail
RSVPs to the Inventor’s Ball

Ampere was worried he wasn't current with style.

Audubon said he'd have to wing it with his old clothes.

Boyle said he was under too much pressure at work to attend.

Darwin waited to see what evolved with the party plans.

Descartes said he'd think about it and get back to us later.

Dr. Jekyll declined -- he hadn't been feeling himself lately. He did ask if a substitute could attend in his place.

Edison thought a party would be illuminating, and that a light supper would be perfect.

Einstein thought it would be relatively easy to attend the ball.

Gauss was asked to attend because of his magnetic personality.

Hawking tried to string enough time together to make space in his schedule.

Heisenberg was uncertain that he could make it.

Hertz said in the future he planned to attend these sorts of events with greater frequency.

Mendel said he'd put some things together and see what came out of it.

Morse's reply: "I'll be there on the dot. Can't stop now, must dash."

Newton planned to drop in as a gate crasher.

Ohm resisted the idea, he would rather sit home and meditate.

Pavlov was drooling at the thought of taking his dog as a costume accessory.

Pierre and Marie Curie were radiating enthusiasm.

Schrodinger had to take his cat to the vet, or did he?

Stephenson thought the whole idea was loco.

Volta was electrified, and Archemedes buoyant at the thought of an Inventor’s Ball.

Watt reckoned that dancing would be a good way to let off steam.

Wilbur Wright accepted, provided he and Orwell could get a flight, and they promised to add to the party kitty.

Better than eating too many onion rings

Work has been SO busy and the days are flying by. It's good that another weekend is coming up soon; not so good that my Washington DC trip is looming just over a week away! I've still not hemmed up the two new part of pants, in--did I tell you, a smaller size! Of course that might just be a manufacturer's difference, but I choose to think that the non-diet not hungry thing may be causing weight loss. Also, a blouse I wore on Tuesday fit me perfectly. It was a bit tight before. But of course I don't want to lose weight THERE!

The days are going by too quickly, but I'm waiting. I called the clinic yesterday and they pretty much said what I had figured, no news is good news. The doctor calls if the tests are bad, you wait for the results in the mail if they're OK. It's been a week already, so I think I'm getting the lab results in the mail, and that's good!

I've also been sort of bummed, lately. Bet you have already figured out the real reason why I’ve been not so happy recently. A few days ago I was going to post my lament and decided not to do it then, but since you know the story I guess I really ought to fill you in on the rest of it. In fact I had two dreams that I remember last night, and neither were happy dreams (strange how I can suddenly remember dreams again, I'm still drinking only one cup of coffee per day!). One dream was about the Vegetable Man and the other was about my ex, the two men that I've loved the most. I was crying in one dream and got drunk in the other, and a nice co-worker had to tell me home. Guess that really was a dream since I don't have nice co-workers!

As I mentioned, Vegetable Man and I are on drastically different work schedules and live some distance apart. Nightly rendezvous are out of the question. Once or twice a week will probably be it for connecting frequency, which is still quite a lot more than we have seen each other for the past ten years. It was a risk I knew I was taking. The risk was of connecting with him while he was on the rebound, and/or being considered the dreaded “friends plus”. I have always loved him at least a little, so was and am very vulnerable and in the past had purposely avoided his occasional come-ons because of it.

The problem: I don't think he feels the same way about me as I do about him, sigh. I REALLY do not want to be in a “friends plus” relationship with him, even though we were just friends for the past ten years. Does that make any sense at all? Sometimes it doesn’t, even to me! My feelings changed so fast, and then the circumstances suddenly changed—and here we are!

Why can’t this just happen nicely, it was both so familiar and strangely exciting to just lie with my head on his shoulder. He’s so familiar to me in every way, and yet not, because it’s been so very long. We both have changed in the past ten years. I wouldn’t do anything I did differently, but in retrospect it might have be wiser to treat the first farm visit as a sort of first date. But it seemed sort of ridiculous to be all coy and phony when I was feeling something else altogether! You know, be romantic only and sort of work up to the other part a couple of dates later. I just couldn’t do it and behave like we were on a first date because we know each other too well.

And yet I think it would have been the smarter thing to do, darn it. I'm afraid that I’m only a “friends plus” to him, which just makes me want to cry and hit something! When I first found out about it my happy little bubble popped. That must be a record or something, like less than two weeks of happiness. Yes, I could go on and on like this in the same vein for quite a while, but I’ll stop now and think about diet and food. Lucky thing I still have no appetite, despite the overeating of onion rings.

from my E-mail
The Miracle Toddler Miracle Diet-guaranteed!
People are always on the lookout for a new diet. The trouble with most diets is that you don't get enough to eat (the starvation diet), you don't get enough variation (the liquid diet) or you go broke (the all-meat diet). Consequently, people tend to cheat of their diets, or quit after 3 days. Well, now there's the new Toddler Miracle Diet.

Over the years you may have noticed that most two year olds are trim. Now the formula to their success is available to all in this new diet. You may want to consult your doctor before embarking on this diet, otherwise, you may be seeing him afterwards. Good Luck !!!

DAY ONE

Breakfast: One scrambled egg, one piece of toast with grape jelly. Eat 2 bites of egg, using your fingers; dump the rest on the floor. Take 1 bite of toast, then smear the jelly over your face and clothes.

Lunch: Four crayons (any color), a handful of potato chips, and a glass of milk (3 sips only, then spill the rest).

Dinner: A dry stick, two pennies and a nickel, 4 sips of flat Pepsi.

Bedtime snack: Throw a piece of toast on the kitchen floor.

DAY TWO

Breakfast: Pick up stale toast from kitchen floor and eat it. Drink half bottle of vanilla extract or one vial of vegetable dye.

Lunch: Eat a half tube of "Pulsating Pink" lipstick and a handful of Purina Dog Chow (any flavor). One ice cube, if desired.

Afternoon snack: Lick an all-day sucker until sticky, take outside, drop in dirt. Retrieve and continue slurping until it is clean again. Then bring inside and drop on rug.

Dinner: A rock or an uncooked bean, which should be thrust up your left nostril. Pour Grape Kool-Aid over mashed potatoes; eat with spoon.

DAY THREE

Breakfast: Two pancakes with plenty of syrup, eat one with fingers, rub in hair. Glass of milk; drink half, stuff other pancake in glass. After breakfast, pick up yesterdays sucker from rug, lick off fuzz, put it on the cushion of best chair.

Lunch: Three matches, peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Spit several bites onto the floor. Pour glass of milk on table and slurp up.

Dinner: Dish of ice cream, handful of potato chips, some red punch. Try to laugh some punch through your nose, if possible.

FINAL DAY

Breakfast: A quarter tube of toothpaste (any flavor), bit of soap, an olive. Pour a glass of milk over bowl of cornflakes, add half a cup of sugar. Once cereal is soggy, drink milk and feed cereal to dog.

Lunch: Eat bread crumbs off kitchen floor and dining room carpet. Find that sucker and finish eating it.

Dinner: A glass of spaghetti and chocolate milk. Leave meatball on plate. Stick of mascara for dessert.

Well, hope your day is going a whole lot better and you are surrounded by people who love you!

Steal this car

Met up with SLA to eat dinner and have some beers last night. I guess even though I have a job, this may get too expensive for me to do so often! I was going to stop at the Whole Foods Co-op and grocery shop but her phone call to me, towards the end of a hectic day, was irresistible. So I ended up spending half the money I would have spent for groceries, yikes! Not to mention I ate too much and it was bar grill food. Not good at all. Yes, I’m usually kind of cheap—I mean frugal.

Actually SLA ended up waiting for me over a half hour, probably closer to 45-minutes. I hate being late and/or making people wait for me, but right before I was leaving work, some more stuff came up that had to be done immediately. At least I did call her and tell her when I was leaving (which was 10-minutes after we were to meet) that I was just now leaving work, still had to walk up the hill to my car and drive all the way across town. So we got a late start.

I ordered a salad when I got there, not a good idea to order a salad in a bar! I tried, but couldn’t eat it, so sent it back. The waitress said they wouldn’t charge me for it. I ordered coleslaw and onion rings instead, my food choices getting worse and worse. After I had mushroom burger with swiss, lots a ketchup and rings, and SLA had a ham dinner and baked potato, she suddenly wanted to leave. So I paid the bill without looking at it too much. I think they charged me for the salad too, as well as both meals and all the beers. It was a hefty sum for a little run-down bar stop of an hour or so.

So I came home to sadly watch TV, haven’t seen much lately. For the past few days I’ve only received E-mails from Vegetable Man and was missing him. Watched “Tommy Lee Goes to College” which I like. The best quote from that episode was when he was debating free music downloads. He and his partner took time to write a response, came back with it, and the response from Tommy was, “The opposition’s argument is wack.” Gotta love that!

My son actually had a couple of days off from work, which is good for him, not so much for me. He tends to rummage around for food in the early morning and wake me up. Anyway, the plus side is that I remember another dream!

I was waiting in the garage for my guy (nobody in real life) who worked there. His ex came in with her son that everyone exclaimed how well behaved he was, and she just beamed smugly. After she left to go shopping, he was fuming, “I helped raise that boy!” So he and his co-workers were going off to race cars or something and he wanted me to steal her car, which was parked across the street. It was an ugly white car. I really don’t like white cars (sorry, if YOUR car is that color!) because they blend in so perfectly with snow banks and the drivers seldom turn on their headlights, making the car pretty much invisible on a grey winter day, of which we have so many around here.

Anyway, apparently I knew how to hot-wire cars, a good skill to have, I guess, but not one I have in real life! So the plan was to take her car and drive it home, since I wanted to go back home anyway, because the garage guys were all gone for the day. But I was having trouble actually getting into her car, because it was locked, and then I woke up.

Hmmm, what do you think THAT dream was all about? Maybe too many onion rings before bed! Have you have any good dreams lately?

A dream on Tuesday morning

Well, the start of the work week and it’s only four days! How cool is that? But it did seem awfully dark and early this morning when I got up, and I only slept in one morning, yesterday morning!

I even remember a dream, after not recalling any for awhile. We went down some stairs and I seemed to be talking to my Mom, even though I couldn’t see her. Then we were listening to a lecture while sitting in groups at little tables. The speaker came to each table and when he did, they all stood up and applauded. For some reason I couldn’t stand up when the speaker came to our table, and I noticed he had overlapping teeth that looked sort of like a vampire! He came really close and sort of hung over me, then moved on to a different table.

After going to all the tables he made us line up to count off to play volleyball. I was dressed in a skirt and heels that were cute and matching, green plaid! I ended up on least-favorite co-worker’s team, hadn’t even noticed her there before. That was enough to wake me up right before the alarm went off!

From my E-mail
Monopoly
Growing up as a kid, I learned all about capitalism through the board game Monopoly. I mean, what better way to teach a young mind the way our economy functions. I loved this game and still do. Only now, as an adult I have some questions that remain unanswered.

For instance, if I have all this money and own all this real estate...why am I still driving around in a thimble?

Quick Quotes
I'm very proud of my gold pocket watch. My grandfather, on his deathbed, sold me this watch." --Woody Allen

"Bad cholesterol is the kind that clogs arteries, shoplifts lipstick and lies under oath." --unknown

"My mom is very possessive. She calls me up and says things like, 'You weren't home last night. Is something gong on?' I say, 'Yeah Mom, I'm cheating on you with another mother.'" --Heidi Joyce

The Live-in Maid
A husband and his wife advertised for a live-in maid to cook and do the housework. They hired a lovely lass for the job.

She worked out fine, was a good cook, was polite, and kept the house neat. One day, after about six months, she came in and said she would have to quit.

"But why?" asked the disappointed wife.

She hemmed and hawed and said she didn't want to say, but the wife was persistent, so finally she said, "Well on my day off a couple of months ago I met this good-looking fellow from over in the next county, and well, I'm pregnant."

The wife said, "Look, we don't want to lose you. My husband and I don't have children, and we'll adopt your baby if you will stay."

She talked to her husband; he agreed, and the maid said she would stay. The baby came, they adopted it, and all went well.

After several months though, the maid came in again and said that she would have to quit. The wife questioned her, found out that she was pregnant again, talked to her husband, and offered to adopt the baby if she would stay. She agreed, had the baby, they adopted it, and life went on as usual.

In a few months, however, she again said she would have to leave. Same thing. She was pregnant. They made the same offer, she agreed, and they adopted the third baby. She worked for a week or two, but then said, "I am definitely leaving this time."

"Don't tell me you're pregnant again?" asked the lady of the house.

"No," she said, "there are just too many kids here to pick up after."

Had any good dreams lately?
Hope you have a great day!

Labor Day means slacking off

It’s Labor Day in the U.S. today. This is a weird holiday in which we celebrate labor and working by staying home from work! Wish we had more holidays like it; one per month would be good. I’d like to “celebrate” work that often! I actually slept in late (until 7:00) and can watch daytime TV today, lazy but I never get to see shows like “Today” and “Tony Danza” “Ophra” and the other talk shows.

Yesterday was a nice family visit but almost started out badly. I called my Mom’s house and one of my nephews picked up the phone. He told me that the others were in a nearby town where my older brother lives. But then he said that they would be leaving to go back home the exact time I was going to arrive at Mom’s house! I had to get into gear and get out there ASAP, and it’s an hour’s drive away.

I arrived an hour earlier than I normally go out to Mom’s on Sunday. They had been visiting my Dad's grave. Everyone was still there and Mom was making lunch for them all, so I helped her. The four boys ate first, because Mom’s table is small, then we four adults ate. For dessert we had the beautiful cake that my Mom’s friend had made for her! It was both beautiful and tasty. Then SIL and I did all the dishes, and there was a lot of them!

Early this morning son and I were talking about a game “Sim Heaven” and it would be a challenging game to have to make everyone happy! One person's heaven could easily be another person's hell.

From my E-mail in honor of Labor Day:
Weird Labor Math
The year is made of 365 days having 24 hours,
12 of which are night time hours which add up to 182 days.
This leaves you with 183 days of work
minus 52 Sundays which leaves you 131 days to work
minus 52 Saturdays which leaves you 79 days to work
and there are four hours each day set aside for eating which adds to 60 days
which leaves you 19 days for working,
and are entitled to 15 days for your vacation
which leaves you 4 days left for work
minus 3 days usually taken off due to illness or other emergencies,
which leaves you one day to work
which happens to be a Labor Day,
which is a holiday. TODAY - YAY!

Mary Poppins as a Hotel Guest
Mary Poppins was traveling home, but due to worsening weather, she decided to stop at a hotel for the night. She approached the receptionist and asked for a room for the night.

"Certainly madam," he replied courteously.

"Is the restaurant open still?" inquired Mary.

"Sorry, no," came the reply, "but room service is available all night.

Would you care to select something from this menu?"

Mary smiled and took the menu and perused it. "Hmm, I would like cauliflower cheese please," said Mary.

"Certainly, madam," he replied.

"And can I have breakfast in bed?" asked Mary politely.

The receptionist nodded and smiled.

"In that case, I would love a couple of poached eggs, please," Mary mused.

After confirming the order, Mary signed in and went up to her room for the night.

The night passed uneventfully and the next morning Mary came down early to check out. The same guy was still on the desk.

"Morning madam...sleep well?"

"Yes, thank you," Mary replied.

"Food to your liking?"

"Well, I have to say the cauliflower cheese was exceptional, I don't think I have had better. Shame about the eggs, though....they really weren't that nice at all," replied Mary truthfully.

"Oh...well, perhaps you could contribute these thoughts to our Guest Comments Book. We are always looking to improve our service and would value your opinion," said the receptionist.

"OK, I will...thanks!" replied Mary....who checked out, then scribbled a comment into the book. Waving, she left to continue her journey.

Curious, the receptionist picked up the book to see the comment Mary had written.

"Supercauliflowercheesebuteggswerequiteatrocious!"


This is one start of the week that I don’t mind at all! Have a magnificent Monday!