Monday, September 29, 2003

"I wished I'd a known you, wished I'd a shown you all of the things I was on the inside ..."

Sooo tired. But loving the weather.

----------

Nice weekend ... Jimmy and I ate out at a seafood restaurant Friday night. Well, it was trying to be a seafood restaurant. Like maybe if they had seafood restaurants in prison, that's what this one would be. Horrendous.

Saturday, he couldn't stop talking about how it was "peanut season", and he wanted some boiled peanuts. We finally just got in the car and drove down to the Farmer's Market and bought some. I boiled 'em up, and I guess I'll have to freeze them since he only got around to eating a few of them.

Clemson had a bye week, so there was no reason for football love around here. Watched a little bit of the USC/Tennessee game just for laughs.

Sunday, I cut Jimmy's hair and did homework for my job. Zzzzz.

----------

Today I abused my poor feet by standing for 6 hours. Then I went to a job interview at "The Gardens At Eastside". My interviewer said that working at NHC most likely traumatized me for a long time to come, but assured me that there could be no comparison between NHC and her facility. It's an assisted living place, pretty near home for me. I liked it. It's smallish, and the pay is alright. She said she'd call on Friday to let me know. She also shared with me that her mother had lived at NHC for about as long as I had worked there ... she said she was mortified at the conditions there. Ahhhhh ... it wasn't just me, after all!

----------

More homework for work to do, but I think I'll save it for tomorrow morning. Tonight, I'm thinking a hot shower, and "All My Children" on SoapNet before I zonk for the night. Night night.

----------

(Kay, thanks for the e-mail, I'll write back soon!)

-----------

Thought For Today:
"One of the greatest victories you can gain over someone is to beat him at politeness."

Thursday, September 25, 2003

"All I wanted was the simple things ..."

My alarm was set for 7 AM, but I woke at 5:55 AM. Grr. I think I may be subsconciously waking for my daughter. Drove to Spartanburg, and only had a small bit of trouble finding the store where the training was to be held. There were 4 of us there, plus the trainer ... all smooshed into a tiny room about the size of my laundry room. At one point, the guy next to me whispered to me, "Good thing we're not claustrophobic!" You said it, boy.

I'm always slightly amused at what most companies call their "Training Program" ... usually it consists of someone reading aloud from a manual for hours at a time. Today was no exception. We did watch a short video, but the remainder of the 4 hours was spent following along while "The Trainer" read to us. Badly. I swear, I'm no genius ... not even close. But when the sentence reads, "If the wrong prescription is given to a customer, the medication may cause irreparable harm, and the Pharmacist's license may be jeopardized." and she reads it as "... the medication may cause responsible harm ..." without missing a beat, well I just have to question who needs to be training whom. Seriously. She used bad grammar the entire time, and it was a test of my maturity to refrain from rolling my eyes right on outta my head. At one point, I thought about making notes on my manuals, keeping track of all the words she misread. I thought better of it though. Again, I'm so mature.

Anyway, I go back tomorrow for 4 more hours. And yeah, my tail bone was crying when I got home today. Tomorrow I will need narcotics, I'm sure. Wish I had some.

----------

Jimmy's flight arrives tonight a bit past 9 PM. He doesn't know it yet, but his "To Do" list has already been started. Emilie called late this afternoon to tell me she had a flat tire on campus today. Her friend helped her change it, but the spare is funky. So I'm betting her Dad will be driving down there tomorrow, hopefully early afternoon, to square that all away. I hate cars.

----------

Survivor tonight. Nothing else going on. That is all.

----------

Thought For Today:
"The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat are really good friends."

Wednesday, September 24, 2003

"Words can't bring me down ..."

Another beautiful day here today ... near perfect weather. Love that low humidity.

----------

I laughed until I almost cried last night while watching "Newlyweds" when Ms. Jessica Simpson (at dinner with Nick and his brother and wife) had the following exchange over the tray of appetizers:

Jessica's sister-in-law: "Are you going to have one of those?"

Jessica looks, and says: "I don't eat buffalo."

There is a huge silence as everyone around the table processes what she just said. There is laughter from her sis-in-law, and then she says: "Jessica, that's not buffalo, it's chicken!"

The look on Jessica's face grows more and more confused as Nick and the others realize she thought buffaloes had WINGS.

And she really, really did. Whew, ain't she somethin'?

----------

I have to be in Spartanburg by 9 AM tomorrow to continue my riveting Pharmacy Tech training. Whoopdeedo.

----------

God, I've got to lose weight.

----------

Thought For Today:
"If you always do what you always did, you'll always get what you always got."

Tuesday, September 23, 2003

"Time can bring you down, time can bend your knees ..."

And on that happy note ...

(sigh) all I can say is "Amen".

----------

Sister Kay called tonight with the jubilant news that her boss granted her the entire week of Christmas to do with as she pleases! A blue Christmas is avoided once again. :-)

She couldn't stop laughing at her new kitten, Gracie. I know Emilie would kill to be able to see the new baby while she's little.

Speaking of Em, I stole a few more hugs today when she popped in after a doctor's appointment. Another :-)

----------

Nothin' much happening here ... gonna watch "Newlyweds" at 10:30, then hit the bed. Ho-hum.

----------

Thought For Today:
"It is impossible to keep a straight face in the presence of one or more kittens."

Monday, September 22, 2003

"A spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down ..."

The pharmacy at CVS was a zoo tonight. It's amazing how a simple thing like a different pharmacist can gum up the works. This was my first time working with this guy, and I don't know much about the whole situation yet, but damn ... he seems a bit flaky. Anyway, I got very tired, very fast. And when I left, he said "See you tomorrow." Great.

----------

Whoever made the decision to NOT televise the Clemson/GA Tech game on Saturday needs to kiss my big butt. What a GREAT game ... and you know it had to be, to keep my rapt attention while listening to the play-by-play on the radio! I would have loved to have seen it.

Clemson - 39
GA Tech - 3

Yeah, baby!

----------

Emilie made my Sunday much brighter by coming home for a few hours of shopping and talking. :-) We replaced her old cell phone, ate a bite at Applebee's, and went to Wal-mart for junk. My kind of Sunday afternoon.

-----------

There's a steady rain falling outside tonight ... and I think my featherbed is calling my name. I hope all of you had a good Monday!

----------

Thought For Today:
"Those who dance are thought to be quite insane by those who cannot hear the music." (Angela Monet)

Friday, September 19, 2003

"Those blackeyed peas, they tasted alright to me ..."

TGIF.

Work today was spent unpacking box after box of drugs, and then finding where they belong on the shelves. Which sounds easy, since the brand names are shelved in alphabetical order. But then the generics are shelved right next to the brand they match, and those crazy generic names make NO sense whatsoever. After that was done, I got to count some pills out and put 'em in the bottles. Counting is hard. I try to do it by 5's, and then I forget whether the pills I just pushed over were "20" or "25" ... arrghhh!

----------

Clemson football takes place in Atlanta GA tomorrow ... against GA Tech, those Ramblin' Wrecks. Hope the Tigers can pull off another win!

----------

Brandy's flight comes in from Denver tonight ... Welcome home, girl! (And thank you for the postcard!) She'll barely have time to get used to her own pillow again, since she's off to Michigan next week.

The other world-traveler in the family hasn't been heard from since Wednesday. He's probably made big Arizona sightseeing plans for this weekend.

----------

Last night was the best Surivor premier episode ever!

It's too early for me to pick someone to hate, but I've already taken a liking to Rupert. He reminds me of Bluto from "Popeye". When he stole the shoes from the Morgan tribe (who were total stupid-asses to leave their stuff unguarded), I was sittin' here all alone and cheering outloud for him.

My favorite part was when the dumb Morgan tribe couldn't find their water supply, and then finally some genius thought to look on the map. Dur. As I end up saying every year when these people do stupid things ... don't they WATCH the show before they apply to go on it? Geez! And don't get me started on those nekkid Morgan men. Dorks.

---------

Thought For Today:
"Keep on shining, keep on smiling, don't lose faith, and don't lose heart. When you're crying, just keep trying to remind yourself, you're a shining star, yes you are." (LeAnn Rimes ... I can't stand LeAnn Rimes, but this is a good thought, dammit.)

Thursday, September 18, 2003

"I'm a survivor, I'm not go'n give up ..."

While my project this week was obsessing about my daughter's physical and emotional health, I will admit to being briefly distracted from that today. After all, "Survivor" is only hours away. (Hopefully Em will understand.)

From Zap2it.com ...
After six turns as the host of "Survivor," Jeff Probst pretty much knows his job cold. Every now and then, though, something on the show catches him by surprise.

That happened during his stint off the coast of Panama for "Survivor: Pearl Islands," the seventh edition of the game, which premieres at 8 p.m. EST tonight on CBS. For a time, he says he fell for "the greatest lie ever told on 'Survivor.' "

"It's brilliant. It's brutal and it's brilliant and it totally suckered me," says Probst, who, naturally, won't divulge who told the lie or what its ramifications were. "My first reaction was 'Motherf----r,' and then my second reaction was 'Wow, that's amazing.' "

The fantastic fib would seem to fit well with the overall theme of "Pearl Islands," which is piracy. The two tribes are called Drake and Morgan, after two English pirates (Sir Francis Drake and Capt. Henry Morgan) who sacked Spanish forts in the 16th and 17th centuries. Probst says working with that theme helped keep the show fresh for him and the crew this time.

"That was the creative box we worked in," he says. "[We were thinking] what would pirates do, how do we set them adrift, how do we do a mutiny, who can we make walk the plank."

The duplicity started right away. The 16 players were told to dress for a publicity photo while on the boat to their destination. Instead, though, Probst informed them that they'd be setting up camp with only the clothes they were wearing.

"It's not a huge twist in a sense, because it's just clothes," he says. "But it spins the game so differently from the beginning and puts them in a different mindset of being resourceful."

The two tribes were also given 100 Balboas -- the equivalent of $100 -- to buy supplies in a small village before being taken to their camps. They could also barter using the few items of clothing they had with them.

"What's interesting is one tribe comes out of there like they just robbed Fort Knox -- they have every thing," Probst says. "The other tribe comes out with not much more than when they went in. In fact, these idiots go back to camp with cash in hand. ... That's what makes the show still fascinating, is 'What are they thinking?' "

Because "Survivor" was essentially the starting point for the current glut of unscripted series, and because it's delivered consistently to a loyal audience, Probst thinks the show can outlive its newer, lesser spawn.

"I can see fatigue setting in with reality [shows], without question, because there's a lot of crap out there," he says. "Do I think it will affect 'Survivor'? No I don't. ... I think we're going to be around, I think 'American Idol' will be around, I think 'The Bachelor' will be around. Because they all touch on something, either fulfilling a dream or finding love or, in 'Survivor,' the adventure."

To make sure of that, though, the show's producers will keep coming up with new wrinkles. Probst promises more than just a grandiose lie by one of the players this time around.

"There's ... a very, very regrettable event that happens, and the person to whom it happens is going to regret it ... more than they have any idea right now," he says. "I couldn't believe it when it happened, and I can't wait for it to play out.

"There's also a huge twist to come that this time next year we'll be talking about, and you'll have an opinion on whether you loved or hated it."

Love. That. Show.

----------

Today I paid a few bills, and balanced the checkbook. Oh, and laundry. I did two loads. Tomorrow I have to be at work at 8 AM, because "the truck comes in on Friday". Alrighty. I think my job tomorrow will consist of putting medicine on the shelves, so that I can learn where it goes, of course. Sigh. I miss being a housewife. Don't mean to whine about it, but damn. 25 years of something becomes a habit that's hard to break.

----------

I'm late to the party, I know ... but when did Justin Timberlake get so cute? Can't take my elderly eyes off him. Yikes.

----------

Thought For Today:
"Be good to yourself, when nobody else will." (Journey)

Wednesday, September 17, 2003

"Taken out of context, I must seem so strange ..."

Losing track of the days again ... thank goodness "Survivor" begins tomorrow night so that I can remember when it's Thursday again.

----------

I have absolutely nothing to write about tonight, because my day was full of it. Nothing, that is. I'll try to do better tomorrow.

----------

Jimmy called tonight and told me that the airport security smooshed through his luggage looking for a bomb. They found his book of matches instead. He's been traveling with the same book of matches since the early 1990's. They removed the dangerous matches from his luggage to save the world another airline disaster. No big loss, right?

Wrong. That little book of matches was where he hid his emergency stash of a $100 bill. Stupid airline monkeys.

----------

Here's a bit of trivia I found interesting:
(from http://www.frontiernet.net/~cdm/age1.html)

I am 44 years old and about:
42 years 5 months younger than Walter Cronkite, age 86
38 years 10 months younger than Pope John Paul II, age 83
34 years 9 months younger than George Herbert Bush, age 79
27 years 6 months younger than Barbara Walters, age 71
25 years 4 months younger than Larry King, age 69
19 years 2 months younger than Ted Koppel, age 63
15 years 9 months younger than Geraldo Rivera, age 60
12 years 9 months younger than George W. Bush, age 57
7 years 8 months younger than Jesse Ventura, age 52
3 years 5 months younger than Bill Gates, age 47
1 year 5 months older than Cal Ripken Jr., age 43
7 years 3 months older than Mike Tyson, age 37
11 years 4 months older than Jennifer Lopez, age 33
16 years 9 months older than Tiger Woods, age 27
23 years 3 months older than Prince William, age 21

and I was:
42 years old at the time of the 9-11 attack on America
40 years old on the first day of Y2K
38 years old when Princess Diana was killed in a car crash
36 years old at the time of Oklahoma City bombing
35 years old when O. J. Simpson was charged with murder
33 years old at the time of the 93 bombing of the World Trade Center
31 years old when Operation Desert Storm began
30 years old during the fall of the Berlin Wall
26 years old when the space shuttle Challenger exploded
24 years old when Apple introduced the Macintosh
24 years old during Sally Ride's travel in space
22 years old when Pres. Reagan was shot by John Hinckley, Jr.
20 years old at the time the Iran hostage crisis began
17 years old on the U.S.'s bicentennial Fourth of July
15 years old when President Nixon left office
13 years old when Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace was shot
10 years old at the time the first man stepped on the moon
9 years old when Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated
6 years old during the Watts riot
4 years old at the time President Kennedy was assassinated
not yet 1 year old when Hawaii was admitted as 50th of the United States

----------

Thought For Today:
"Nothing that's forced can ever be right, if it doesn't come naturally, leave it." (Al Stewart)

Tuesday, September 16, 2003

"All this science I don't understand, it's just my job five days a week ..."

Even though my eyes are still twirling around in their sockets, here I am putting up a journal entry just for you. (Aww.) No kidding, work today was amazing. Who knew there was so much crap to consider every time Joe Schmoe gets a new drug from his doctor? It all sort of flew through my brain in a blur, every time they threw something else at me to do. They kept applauding, and saying what a great job I was doing ... but I suspect they were just trying to make sure I'd be back for my next shift. (And yeah, there were moments that I wondered how much money I could make doing child care from my house.) But the pharmacist is so very calm and nice, and the other techs are very friendly and helpful ... especially the lead tech. So I guess I'll keep plugging away at it. So very much for my old brain to learn ... it hurts!

Yeah, and so do my feet.

----------

Em, hope your cold is improving. :-) If not, get more rest and drink some chicken soup. xoxoxo

----------

Thought For Today:
"So when you think you're the only one who can't find love in this world, tell yourself there's another one who's waiting for you somewhere." (Rod Stewart)

Monday, September 15, 2003

"Everybody cries and everybody hurts, sometimes ..."

Monday. I've had better days.

5 AM - Drove Jimmy to the airport in the dark

6 AM - An unexpected hug from Adam ... on his way back to Clemson, he came by to get laundry detergent that was left here on Saturday

7 AM - Slept ... badly

8 AM - Showered, put hair up in velcro curlers

9 AM - Read crappy e-mail from AOL strangers, ate a bowl of apple cinammon oatmeal

10 AM - Showed up at CVS, the pharmacist gave me busy work (practice counting out these pills!), then sent me home to do training CD's on my computer

11 AM - Propped eyes open with toothpicks while watching the training CD about HIPPA

Noon - Ate a ham sandwich while snoozing through another CD on Third Party Billing ... but hey, I'm at home, right?

1 PM - Still with the training

2 PM - Still

3 PM - Headed back to CVS to turn in the CD's, pharmacist told me to come back tomorrow from 3 'til 8

4 PM - Went home and watched a chipmunk scamper into the open garage while I brought the garbage can in from the road ... and no, I never saw him leave

5 PM - Left for Sam's to fill the car with gas, and get some crap at Wal-mart

6 PM - Back home to watch the news and eat a burger ... thought about Brandy in Denver, and Jimmy in Phoenix

7 PM - Watched "Entertainment Tonight" so that I could grin when they talked about poor J-Lo ... wondered how Adam's day at work went

8 PM - Pondered the phone message from Publix down the street, asking me to come in for an interview

9 PM - Talked for a while with Emilie, and felt very proud that she's finding her inner strength and character

10 PM - Missed my kids

10:30 PM - Realized I'm really tired

Thought For Today:
"Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road. Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go." (Green Day)

Sunday, September 14, 2003

"Even children get older, and I'm getting older too ..."

I don't know which is worse ... missing my kids, or worrying about them. Let's just say they both feel like royal crap. :-(

----------

Jimmy's off to Phoenix again before the sun comes up. He'll probably run into Brandy at the airport. She's flying out for a week in Denver, and her flight leaves about the same time. I just asked Jimmy what time I should plan to get up, and the answer was 5:00 AM. Eww. I'll be yawning by the time I work from 10 'til 4 tomorrow.

----------

I wish there were no such things as broken hearts. And I wish friends were true.

----------

Thought For Today:
"You've got to get up every morning with a smile on your face
And show the world all the love in your heart
Then people gonna treat you better
You're gonna find, yes you will
That you're beautiful as you feel." (Carole King)

Saturday, September 13, 2003

"Happy Birthday to you ..."

Happy Birthday Adam! Thank you for coming to eat dinner with me tonight, and allowing me to get all gushy while remembering the wonderful time I had raising you. Consider it your birthday gift to ME! :-)

I hope the coming year is so good to you ... that your troubles are few, and your successes, many. And congratulations on your new job! Redfern has just hired the BEST Tech Support person I know! I hope you love it.

----------

We got up early and took Ms. Hayley to the vet today. She was calm and collected through most of the exam, only hissing and snapping toward the end. Her temp was a bit high, although that might be explained by the stress she was feeling, just being there. The doctor said there was no evidence of fleas ... duh. So she then started talking about allergies. She gave Hayley a shot of cortisone, and said that might give her some relief. And if, by 2 weeks from now, we haven't noticed a decrease in the chewing and bald legs, we should bring her back in for allergy testing.

She also asked if Hayley could be considered "high-strung". I really didn't know how to answer, since Hayley is a quiet kitty, but she sometimes has "mood swings". Ha. Anyway, the doctor said some pets have a sort of obessive-compulsive thing, where they just chew and chew. She said there were medications that she could take, if that was the case. Seems sort of ironic that Hayley might possibly share the same diagnosis as her loving owner.

----------

And now I'm tired. I hope all my loved ones are safe and sound, and know how much I do love them. Night night.

----------

Thought For Today:
"Hurry! The passengers have been rated by the PG!" (Adam, the bear killer. June 1984)

Friday, September 12, 2003

"I am beautiful no matter what they say ..."

23 years ago on this very Friday night, I was in labor ... missing the season premiere of "Dallas". That's right. I had to wait for reruns to see who shot J.R. That just shows you right there what kind of Mama I am. Haha.

The most beautiful baby boy arrived on Saturday morning, September 13, 1980. 6:12 AM, if I remember correctly. I had been in the hospital since September 9th. I had pre-eclampsia, which can be a serious problem if it's not monitored closely. So that's why they had me in the hospital ... monitoring closely. My blood pressure was high, my thinking was fuzzy, I was retaining about 40 pounds of excess fluid, and I did indeed feel sick enough to be in a hospital bed. But as soon as that little boy was born, all was right with the world.

I can hardly believe it ... the years really and truly did fly. I look at pictures of my kids when they were little, and I can remember it all so clearly. I guess I just thought it was all going to last a bit longer than it did. They don't need me the way they did back then. And aww, I miss being needed like that.

But you know what? I truly love being the Mom of two such incredible young adults. :-) I'm sooooo lucky.

----------

Today I made only a few cash register mistakes, and I didn't set off any store alarms. I worked with an older gentleman who surely did remind me of my Daddy. The manager asked me if I could work tomorrow in the pharmacy ... and I asserted myself. Aren't you proud? I told him that my husband is only home two weekends a month, and that tomorrow is my son's birthday, and besides ... there's a Clemson game. He about fell over himself saying, "Ohhh of course, you can have the weekend, no problem, really!" So I go in Monday at 10 AM to start my real job. Any and all crossed fingers will be appreciated.

----------

I can't believe John Ritter died today. That just makes me sad. And Johnny Cash too. Although I'm a little less sad about him ... hopefully he's smiling with his June somewhere nice. But John Ritter. That's a sad shock.

----------

Friday Five
1. Is the name you have now the same name that's on your birth certificate? If not, what's changed?
The same first and middle name, yes. The last name has changed once.

2. If you could change your name (first, middle and/or last), what would it be?
When I was a child, I wanted desperately to be a Jacquelyn. As I've aged, I've begun to appreciate my name, and now I can't imagine being anything other than Dawn. I've always loved my middle name (Elizabeth). But I'd change my last name if I could ... it's only one syllable, and sounds silly with my one-syllable first name.

3. Why were you named what you were? (Is there a story behind it? Who specifically was responsible for naming you?)
I'm guessing my mother named me because she liked the name. I think Elizabeth has been used through the years in my father's family.

4. Are there any names you really hate or love? What are they and why?
Not counting the names of my children ... obviously those are my favorites ... I like Michael for a boy, and Sarah for a girl. Old fashioned, am I not?

5. Is the analysis of your name at kabalarians.com accurate? How or how isn't it?
My analysis states:

The first name of Dawn leads you to assume considerable responsibility and to prefer to work independently, without direction or interference from others because you have very definite ideas of your own. Your mind is quick to comprehend and you can be depended upon to do any job well. Because you tend to be somewhat of a perfectionist, you might insist on doing too many things yourself instead of delegating jobs to others who might do less satisfactory work. This name does make you quite direct and straight-to-the-point. Your verbal expression does not reflect your inner thoughts and feelings, and you often wonder why people react to what you say. The influence of this name does not promote the friendship that you desire or the relaxation and naturalness you should enjoy with people. It is a name that makes you far too practical and serious-minded, and makes it difficult for you to act with spontaneity.

And I say AMEN to that!

----------

I have to go make a birthday cake. :-)

----------

Thought For Today:
"A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove ... but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child."

Thursday, September 11, 2003

"Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh no no ..."

Hmm. I get an unexpected and very rare phone call from my sister at her work this afternoon ... and then have to read in my niece's online journal that they won't be coming here at Christmas time. What's up with that? :-(

----------

I went in today to "do paperwork" with the store manager, and ended up setting off a huge store alarm by opening the door to the storeroom. That's about all it takes for me to want to go home and cry. But I didn't.

The pharmacist came in, saying he wanted me to work on Saturday. I wonder if he realizes that I've literally not worked on a cash register since 1978. I think I should have a bit more practice before I'm dumped in the pharmacy. Lucky for me, the manager agreed with me. I'll get to "practice" from 10 until 4 tomorrow. What do you want to bet I have to go in and work the pharmacy on Saturday anyway?


Yeah, and I'm still feeling cranky that I had to quit my Housewife job.

----------

Jimmy's flying home tonight ... must be a weird experience to fly cross-country on 9/11.

----------

HAPPY 24th BIRTHDAY, BRANDY! :-) I hope all your wishes come true!

----------

Thought For Today:
"Don't worry over what other people are thinking about you. They're too busy worrying over what you are thinking about them."

Wednesday, September 10, 2003

"The remedy is the experience ..."

My feet are killing me. I'm far to fat to consider standing for 6 straight hours. But then, my stupid cracked tailbone won't allow me to sit that long either. Guess I'm doomed to finding a job that lets me lay around on the couch all day. Ohhh yeah.

Today wasn't so bad. I got my nametag, and I got to wear my cute white lab coat. Heh. The guy that trained me on the cash register was a stickler for detail. And I guess that's a good thing. When I was stuck trying to remember what was the secret combination of numbers to do this or that, he stood quietly behind me. And as my finger would head toward the wrong key, he'd clear his throat to let me know I should try another one. They actually let me take care of customers for most of the day, so I guess that tells us all just how very difficult this job is!

There was plenty of laughter and good-natured teasing between the employees, so that's a positive. Although this was "up front". The atmosphere in the pharmacy was definitely quieter.

Oh well, I'm quiet.

----------

Tomorrow I must call the vet again for our poor tortured soul of a cat. Cats do love to groom themselves, but LORD. She never stops. She's maintaining the "poodle" on her legs, and her belly is bare. Seems to me it's been worse over the last few days too ... the never-ending lick, lick, chew, chew, chew, lick, lick. Arrrghhh! This can't be flea allergy either ... there ARE NO FLEAS in here. Sure do dread trying to get her in the cat carrier by myself though. Emilie and I had a hell of a time when we did it last time. You'd think it would be a matter of shoveherin&slamthedoor. Riiiiight.

----------

Hope everybody reading this has had a good Hump Day. I really do.

----------

Thought For Today:
"Every person that you meet knows something you don't; learn from them."

Tuesday, September 09, 2003

"Its bad when you annoy yourself ..."

So I watched CVS videos for an hour. I learned all about the "Eye, Hi, and Help" approach to customers that all loyal CVS employees must follow. And I learned to say "NO" to sexual harassment. Tomorrow I'm supposed to show up at 10AM to get my name tag, and learn how to use the cash register and "other important procedures". And this will take until 4 in the afternoon. Oy.

----------

Nothing else to report, since I'm here all alone with Ms. Hayley ... and she's pretty quiet.

----------

My new favorite show is on tonight ... "Newlyweds" with Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey. I can't help it ... I have a soft spot in my heart for Jessica. She's the poster child for Spoiled Princesses everywhere, and by damn, she won't deny it. She freely admits that she's spoiled. And she likes it that way. Heh. Also, she burps out loud just like my very own precious princess, Emilie. :-)


Here's my favorite bit of dialog from the show (so far!):


Jessica (eating from a white bowl): "Is this chicken, what I have, or is this fish?"

(Long pause)

Jessica: "I know it's tuna, but it ... it says chicken."

(Even longer pause while Nick stops watching TV to stare at her)

Jessica: "Of the sea" (giggles)

(Nick's still staring at her)

Jessica: "Is that stupid?"

(Nick looks down at his bowl, glances forward and then turns his head to stare at her again. Another pause)

Jessica: "What?!"

(Nick shakes his head)

Jessica: "Don't make fun of me right now, I'm not in the mood."

Nick: "You act like you've never had tuna before!"

Jessica: "I've had tuna fish... like sandwiches and stuff... like this."

Nick: "You and I have eaten tuna like this before."

Jessica: "Why is it called 'Chicken by the Sea'? Or "In the Sea'?"

Nick (with a smile): "'Chicken of the Sea' is the BRAND."

Jessica (quietly): "ohhhhh..."

Nick: "You know, because a lot of people eat tuna. A lot of people eat chicken. So it's like 'the chicken of the sea'."


I'm sure you see now why I am hopelessly addicted to watching these two find their way through the first young year of marriage.

I told you before ... don't you be jealous of my social life!
----------

Thought For Today:
"Don't think of it as getting hot flashes. Think of it as your inner child playing with matches."

Monday, September 08, 2003

"It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got ..."

Another day of solitary. It went by pretty fast though. I ate too much, moved too little. Pretty typical. I wonder when I will finally decide to grow up and accept responsibilty for my own crap. You know, my health, my size, my happiness. Soon, I'm thinking (hoping). The rut I've dug for myself over the last 25 years is getting old.

I’m amazed at how much of life is about accepting responsibility. While I know how important it is, there are times that I would rather run screaming for the hills than stand up and do what I know to be right. Example: I know that exercise and healthy eating HAVE to be a part of my daily life. When I ignore these things, it equals not caring about the quality of my life ... and even the length of my life. My brain is full of the knowledge. I know enough to write my own weight loss book. So why am I still fat? Why do I continue to choose the wrong foods? Why do I overeat? Why do I pick watching TV over taking a walk? Why am I holding on to this body of mine with such force?

(pause)

Silly me, I thought that if I typed out the questions the answers would come to me. And I've got nothin' still. But I tell you what. I'm tired of being fat.

----------

Brandy called from Charlotte tonight to let me know how her first day went. She survived a nerve-wracking morning, but sounded pretty excited about her new job. Very happy for her. :-)

----------

Thought For Today:
"When you are a mother you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child." (Sophia Loren)

Sunday, September 07, 2003

"Can I handle the seasons of my life? ..."

'Twas a quiet Sunday, yes it was. I enjoyed some time with my oldest (about to be even older) kid this afternoon. We shopped a bit and then had a salad at California Dreaming. Very nice. :-) After he headed back to Clemson, I returned a pair of navy pants I bought the other day. I knew they weren't "tall" when I bought them, but I don't feel so tall anymore, and thought they'd fit. They came to just around my ankle. Grr. And the store didn't carry them in "tall". Apparently all fat women are 5'6". Nice. Afterwards, I drove around and looked at yards and houses, enjoying the cool afternoon.

----------

Clemson - 28
Furman - 17

That's a little more like it. Although it still felt like they were playing lazy. It was a fun game to watch though.

----------

I have saved the following bit of wisdom on my hard drive for years, and have no idea who to credit for writing it. But it's too good not to share. Maybe you need to think on it like I do. :-)

Experience life -

The worst thing that can happen is nothing. Though there is a risk of failure in any undertaking, there is a certainty of failure when you never even make the attempt.

Each time you get hurt, each time you fall short of the mark, you add another excuse to your arsenal. But excuses won't bring anything of value to your life. They only make you more skilled at avoiding the abundant goodness that life has to offer.

Forget the excuses. Stop worrying about failure. Life is yours to be lived. You'll gain nothing by hiding from it. The cold wind on your face may sting a little bit, yet it lets you know you're alive.

Fill each moment with new experiences. Fill each day with effort directed toward a meaningful purpose. It sure beats hiding in the corner. Though you'll occasionally stumble, you'll be stumbling forward, and enjoying the abundant experience of being alive.

Amen. And that concludes this week's Soul Lesson.

----------

Thought For Today:
"Never try to floss your teeth after putting on hand lotion."

Saturday, September 06, 2003

"I have been blessed with so much more than I deserve ..."

I got a card in the mail yesterday, but didn't see it until I brought the mail in late last evening. I sat on my sofa and cried. I am a very blessed Aunt.

"Each woman should know she can give herself permission to change her mind at any time." (Maya Angelou)
This is your life, and no one knows how to live it better than you. Trust your instincts, and you'll be just fine.
I love you so much, and I am very proud of you. Love, Beth

Speechless.

I love you too Beth. I am so thankful your warm and generous soul is part of our family. You'll never believe how much I needed to read those words yesterday. Wise words for all of us. :-)

Friday, September 05, 2003

"Well I been afraid of changin', 'cause I built my life around you ..."

I may have to shop around for a new hair girl. The one I see now won't listen to me. And now I have blonde hair. Not really, but far too many highlights, considering I wanted NONE. She's a sweet girl, and I'm sure she means well, but she insisted that I really "needed" the highlights. Apparently nothing is worse than a middle-aged woman with one-color hair. Every time I walk by a mirror, I cringe. "Who the hell is THAT?" I miss my dark brown hair. And besides, getting highlights takes at least an hour longer in the salon, and I mean it when I say that my broken tailbone can't take that much sitting at one time.

----------

I had a nice phone call with my sister Laura this afternoon. Miss her.

Also had a phone call with Miss Emilie. Em, you've been on my mind all afternoon. I love you. And don't you ever doubt how beautiful and WONDERFUL you are! Keep smiling, and remember that there's always something new around the corner. xoxo

----------

Friday Five

1. What housekeeping chore(s) do you hate doing the most?
I'm not fond of ANY of it, although I'd say cleaning the bathroom ranks near the top of the list. The thing that kills me about cleaning the house is that as soon as it's done, it needs to be done again.

2. Are there any that you like or don't mind doing?
Uh, no. I hate it all.

3. Do you have a routine throughout the week or just clean as it's needed?
Every now and then I think I'll adopt some form of schedule where I do a little bit every day. I've never made it through a whole week of doing that. Heh. I usually clean before things get completely nasty and unbearable. Having company over helps motivate me every time. (hint, hint)

4. Do you have any odd cleaning/housekeeping quirks or rules?
I used to be picky about some things, like types of cleaners and such. No more though.

5. What was the last thing you cleaned?
Today I swept the foyer, kitchen, and laundry room. Cat hair dust bunnies were threatening to take over the house.

----------

Go Tigers. (sigh)

Kickoff's at 5 PM. In a perfect world, the game against Furman should be an easy Clemson victory. After last Saturday, I think I'll wait and see what happens before I dance around to "Tiger Rag".

Thought For Today:
"Stay tuned. I could say something brilliant at any moment."

Thursday, September 04, 2003

"If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow, why oh why can't I? ..."

I saw a most beautiful rainbow today while shoe shopping with Ms. Brandy. (Brandy got some cute brown shoes!) It was big, and had color from end to end ... it was all I could do to stop myself from doing my Judy Garland imitation.

Brandy and I also did a little birfday shoppin'. Her birthday is only 2 days before Adam's, so there are 2 good reasons for cake in September. :-) Afterwards, I got to see all the new clothes she bought this week in preparation for her new job. She is a very wise shopper, and always finds great bargains. I told her that seeing all the great things she has in her closet makes me want to toss everything I own and start over! Then we hopped over to a little restaurant across the street from her apartment for a nice dinner. Yay for No Cooking.

----------

I talked to the manager at CVS today, and will go in Tuesday afternoon for paperwork and to watch a few videos. Don't know what will happen after that. Hopefully the zit on my chin will be gone by then.

----------

Today was Mammogram Day. She said everything looked very much as it did on last year's films. Of course, she's not the official Mammogram Reader. But I betcha it's fine.

----------

Tomorrow is Hair Day. Cut and color at 8:30 AM. Finally, because the length is starting to get on my nerves. It straightens out the minute I step out the door.

----------

Guess I'll go putter. I miss my kids, and hope they are fine. :-)

Thought For Today:
"Time is a created thing. To say, 'I don't have time,' is like saying, 'I don't want to.'" (Lao-Tzu)

Monday, September 01, 2003

"Tell that someone that you love, just what you're thinking of, if tomorrow never comes ..."

Oh, the horror.

UGA - 30
Clemson- 0

Ouch. What happened to Clemson's offense? Charlie Whitehurst can't do it all by himself. To paraphrase a quote from Sunday's Greenville News: Tommy Bowden's hotseat just burst into flames. Too bad he doesn't share his Daddy's coaching gene. :-(

And it was all in front of a sold-out crowd and on national TV too. Crap.

----------

We played Putt Putt last night with Adam and Brandy. I had forgotten the fun of hitting the little ball into the hole. Brandy won ... and I lost. Heh.

----------

Off now to pick up Jimmy's prescription, and run by Sam's. Hope those Labor Day shoppers don't get in my way.

Thought For Today:
"And that's the way it is." (Walter Cronkite)