Happy Halloween 2

Happy Halloween again. I missed out on passing candy last night. I don't work in a mall or own a house so I miss out on the fun. Mother always thought it was strange that many immigrants come to Trick or Treat at the mall when it is not part of their homeland traditions. I told her they may not speak much English, but they do understand the concept of free candy. They are easy to pick out because they do not wear costumes and carry grocery sacks instead of decorated bags, then yell Candy instead of Trick or Treat and do not recite jokes.
I dressed up in my flapper costume to work today. I forgot to change my clocks so I arrived at work an hour early. Sometimes I hate Daylight Saving Time. I am busy making people mad at me. One customer returning a car complained how long I took renting to him to my coworker. My coworker kept going on how upset the man was and I tried to explain the situation from all her questions. She is not easy to communicate with. I finally shortened my defense to: I was trying to help 2 customers at the same time. The first man ahead of the complainer was unable to pay for his rental he kept for an extra long time and was fortunate we did not report the car stolen. Then the complainer asked for rates for 3 different classes of cars, did not like the prices so he called our reservation center from our phone to change his reservation. After a 3rd gentleman approached the counter, I called my coworker outside moving cars around the airport for help. At long last, we got them takened care of. We had to force charge the 1st man's credit card to pay for the rental. My coworker threatened that this complainer is likely to call our top boss over my incompetence. He is welcome to it.
Then just when I answered the phone 3 times in a row, less then 15 seconds between calls. A lady called to demand a minivan be reserved when we are sold out. My other coworker and I tried to explain to her sold out means sold out. She demanded to speak to a manager because she works for the First Lady who is coming here tomorrow. The coworker who had the prior complainer was busy helping someone else so this woman was placed on hold for several minutes. When this coworker tried to explain we have no vans to give her because the Secret Service detail reserved the last ones we had, she still fought hard for her requested vehicle complaining that the her coworkers did not understand the severity of this need. My coworker told her that we can not help anymore. My new coworker coming in later refused to believe us when we told him about this phone call.
Then he had a Secret Service guy who just made a reservation a minute before he came for a minivan. We have no vans. Secret Service guy does not understand how he can make a reservation for something we do not have. And he had this problem before with us and other car rentals. My coworker calls up our manager sitting at home to ask what to do. Manager explains the government can override our sold out status to book it. My coworker offers a SUV instead. That is fine with him. The guy says he has other vans at other car rentals to pick up. My coworker tries to explain our car cleaners have to clean the SUV first since we were not ready for him and then drive it over here. So ha-ha bitchy lady working for Mrs. Bush, we told you we had no vans to give to your people.
Today I read the free newspaper and all the articles concerning the election. After that bad phone call, I hope Bush loses. The newspaper said early voters are mostly voting for Kerry, though who knows by election day who will win. My coworker said these candidates must be desperate for votes because normally candidates stop campaigning 4 days before elections. I sense a repeat of the 2000 election because no one can declare a sure winner. Then on top of that some votes are disqualified from the voter not filling out the voter registration correctly and voting at the wrong building. I wonder if they check to see who these people vote for before disqualifying them. Voting is turning out to be a headache. I guess we learned from 2000 to computerize our voting system with satellites. That way we get computer glitches and voters become unsure if their vote is counted, so we become reluctant to vote again. Glitches can not be counted like paper ballots are.
I think I offered enough reading for today. Signing out. Good-bye.

Happy Halloween

Today I wore my costume to work. It was so windy I had to fight my way in the doors from the parking lot. I thought I was going to slip out of my shoes and twist my ankle. I made it alright. It is cold today. Yesterday was warm enough to wear shorts, until it rained. Everybody loves my costume. I had one worker take my picture. The airport sent out a memo about the new employee parking lot a mile further away from the old one. People are mad about it. One worker even had people sign a petition months ago pleading not to move the employee parking. Everybody signed it. The airport then moved the new lot further away than originally intended. I guess the airport bosses showed her not to complain. I told her why should these people care that the employees park at the furtherest spot on the map. They park in the parking garage next to the entrance.
Yesterday we were busy despite the short reservation list. Many people are returning their cars the day after the presidental election. I tell a few car renters how the day after the Iowa Caucuses the security line came down all the way to the car rental counters. I'm not sure how long that is in time, but I would not wish to stand in it (someone guessed 3 hours). Normally it takes 15-20 minutes. I work at a very small airport.
The presidental candiates sure make a lot of trips here. I never met any of them. They do not walk through the airport terminals, they land in the air force area next door. My coworkers tell me that the security detail for the president are better looking than any president. I missed out on them too. I work at night when the president is long gone. That is how the cookie crumbles. The visits are improving business though. I have given cars to both political parties. Only one republican commented on the Bill Clinton book I finished reading a few weeks ago. She just asked if it was good. I just answered he has a good memory if any of it is true. She laughed.
I find it remarkable how some customers recall what book I was reading the last time they were here. They often asked if I finished the book I had last time out on the counter. I always ask back, which one. I read a lot of books. I have 3 hours and 45 minutes before I go home to bed. It is going to be a long night. Post more later. Good-bye. Signing out.

Costume dry run

Today I tried on my Halloween costume and discovered fish net pantyhose is difficult to slip on. I am a flapper this year. I got a fringe dress, lace fingerless gloves, headband with a feather sticking up, fishnet stockings, and bead necklace. I shook my booty in the mirror. I look good. I think I match my grandma's old pictures in the 20's. She was a teenager then. Though I doubt she wore a fringe dress. I have an ultra-conservative family. How my sisters and I ended up liberal is beyond me. Must have been that women's movement when we were kids changing our role models for us.
I heard on the news we get to miss a lunar elcipse tonight from the rain clouds returning. No more sun since yesterday. I went through a car wash today after my shopping. I got a couple things for my costume. I wish dress designers made things with bras and panties in mind. Unlike many women, I do not show off my panties and bra straps. I bought a new book on Tatum O'Neal. She was on Oprah this past week.
Last night I babysat my niece so her parents could got out to eat and see a movie. We had a blast. I built up muscles lifting her everywhere. She cries when I leave the room. When my sister came back, she had to answer the phone. She had 2 cats and a baby staring at her for attention. Mom was on the phone. She had questions about my niece's first birthday party and talked about taking grandma to see grandma's sister in a nursing home. The sister slept most of the time, which upset grandma. She wanted to chat. Then they saw grandma's brother in another nursing home. Mom said neither discussed the same topic in their conversation, but they were happy.
Well, nothing else to say. Good-bye!

Sunny day

Hello again. Today is bright and sunny compared to cloudy all week. I can not believe it has been a week since I saw the sun up in the sky. Last night I saw the moon shining bright. We keep getting stranger weather every year. Indian summers used to be rare, now them keep occuring. One winter a few years ago people were wearing shorts in December, knee deep snow is normal. I hate brown Christmases.
Today no one brought a newspaper in so I try to keep myself busy talking, filling in crossword puzzles, and playing on the internet. I work with a moron today at work. He has been here for a year and still has yet to learn how to find things on an atlas or use the mileage chart in the back of the atlas. I have seen him hand over the 40 page atlas over to customers to figure out for themselves where or how far a place is. The rest of us look up the unknown place in the index, locate it on the map, and then look at the roads to decide how to direct the customer there. I hate it when he tells customers that she (meaning me) will give you directions because I'm new here. He has been here a year.
I can tell wrestling has come to town today. My coworker sits on the airport benches for hours watching the passengers get their luggage. He chases every wrestler down to get their autograph. I never seen him run so fast. He sometimes shows me magazine pictures of people he has gotten autographs from. I never watch professional wrestling so I lack the enthusiasm of my male coworkers. It is amusing watching get excited. They tell me wreatlers are easy to spot because they are taller than everybody. One night four coworkers got a football player's (I think) autograph and carefully placed packaging tape over it to laminate it. The gal he rented a car from had him sign a book, poster, and shirt. She proudly shown them off to us.
Tomorrow I get to babysit my baby niece so her parents can go out for dinner and a movie. I'm excited. I love to babysit, when they are related to me. Babies are easier to entertain than school-age children who complain they are bored all the time. She has cut her first tooth. Next we have to teach her not to bite. One month until her first birthday. I bought bath toys and Christmas books for her birthday.
Nothing else going on in my life today. Signing off. Good-bye!

Working

Hello there. I sit alone at my job bored out of my mind. Weekends are very slow except when big events happen. I do not really mind being paid extra to work on crossword puzzles and talk to car rental agents next to me. Despite common belief the agents here from 6 different companies actually get along. We send customers each other customers we can not rent to, order food together, and share stories about weird customers that defy any logic we have.
We are rarely competetive for customers, especially with a jerk yelling what your price is with 4 different counters and yells back if we can beat another's price. Someone like that can get their car someplace else. When the cheap car rentals close for the night or run out of cars, we get their business.
Janitors are fun to talk to also. One comes by at least once a day to listen to my tales of the week. He always asks about my fairytale and eager to read it like everyone else I know.
My mother called me today to inform me of what my Dad's car insurance covers so I may compare fairly between the two and figure out why the one I picked was cheaper. She jabbered so much I could not tell her that the differences were a higher deductible and 2 less drivers. Then she became defensive that I can have whatever insurance I want, she justs wants to make sure I make an informed decision.
Then she continues further about how my uncle had problems with his credit when his alcoholic brother got into a car wreck and gave my uncle's name as his own. My uncle was unable to get a loan because of it. I take it that the police do not properly identify the people they arrest with licenses, fingerprints, or mug shots. Anyway I said that I did not believe my siblings would use my name after an accident or any other reason. She assured me to be careful. I know mother needs to get a grip and figure out that I grew up a long time ago.
I finished a book titled the Nanny Diaries and it made me glad I never was a nanny, rich people are insane. I received more knowledge than I care to know about the Vietnam War last night, which started as a conversation on the upcoming election. My view on the election is simple: Polls mean little. The people who actually vote will determine the next president. I think John Kerry has a fair sportig chance for one reason: During the Iowa Caucuses record numbers of people were registering as a democrat or changing their affiliation to democrat. People vote when they are angry, not when life is happy.
A lady from a car rental recently got a new job at a bank and is a little ticked at her new manager. 6 days ago this woman said the dress code was just nice clothes, suits are unnecessary. Today she has changed her mind and requires everyone to wear suits by November 14. That brought me memories back to a job I used to have where the dress code makers had the audacity to suggest shopping at Macy's and Bloomingdales to shop for our new dress code wardrobe, which they gave us no money or raises to pay for. I asked my store manager if the top people deciding all this are aware how much they pay us. If there were a Macy's or Bloomingdales in Des Moines, we can't afford anything they sell anyway. Then further stated when they said pantsuits were all the rage and encouraged us to buy suits, if we want to keep our jobs, that there was no way in hell I am picking shoes off the floor in a suit or standing on a ladder wearing slide on pumps. She agreed with me. I am glad I now work for a licensee car rental with an owner who is in touch with his employees.
District Managers of the past chain stores learn to avoid me after I productively gave my opinion on something. I often found out from other coworkers of my section or store mangers crying after getting yelled at by a district manager. This often placed me in the position of defending my manager, a very awkward feeling. Only once did I say to tell my coworkers to inform the district manager that if he had a problem with the way I arranged certain shoes in boxes, he is welcomed to speak to me about it. He received the wrong message and came saying that I wanted to talk with him. I stated my position and he understood. The differently arranged shoes were separated from the rest of the collection. Problem fixed. I was glad that never I had to say something like that again.
No more news for tonight. Signing off.

3 Days Off

Hello again. I enjoyed my 3 days off. The first day I got up at 3 in the afternoon. I watched TV and movies until it was time for bed at midnight. The only excitement came was when the electricity went off for 20 minutes. I called my sister on the other side of town, her house was fine and offered her spare bedroom if it did not come back on. Right after I hang up the lights come back on and I have to reset all my electronics. The second day I went shopping for Halloween things advertised in Sunday's newspaper. I carved out a jack-o-latern and watched more movies.
Just as the first movie started, my mother called wandering what I was doing. I tell her all about my carved pumpkin and mostly doing nothing of importance. She asked about my sister and wanted to know if I spoke to her recently. She always asks this question every time I talked to her since my sister moved to the city I live in. I never understand why she does not simply call my sister if mother wishes to know how my sister is.
I learned that my sister opened her big mouth and told mother I was getting a separate car insurance. I currently am under my father's insurance. Mother was tweaking in asking every detail of my new policy and how any insurance I bought did not cover the event I would get sued by someone if I hit them. She insisted I must stay under my father's insurance to covered from being sued.
In between her ramblings, I try to explain to her the policy I saw on the computer covers many things, including liability if I hit someone. After arguing for several minutes that my father can change names on the insurance and car titles (which I thought odd since the car title has both my father's and my names on it). I finally said in a stern voice "Mother" (which means get a grip) "I just won't anybody and if I did I do not believe Daddy would be paying for anything I did."
Mother then asks if I have a type of insurance she can not think the name of, but it covers people suing you. I ask how she expects me to answer the question if she does not the the name of it. We finally get around to talking about my grandma in mother's kitchen. My grandma has Alzheimer's disease so she needs constant supervision. My parents and my father's sisters take turns caring for her since grandpa died four years ago.
Grandma does something that gets mother's attention so we stop talking. I rewind the movie to the beginning and make it to bed by 12:30. Day 3 of my days off saw me getting up early at 11 and printing Thanksgiving cards off my computer. I realized I am almost out of allergy medicine so make a quick trip to a store to discover it almost doubled in price.
I came back to edit a few pages of my fairytale for my niece as I listen to the TV. I call mother to see if she figured out the name of the insurance she was thinking of. She had not. Then I grabbed my laundry and headed to my sister's house. The freeway between her house and mind has been going through reconstruction so it is starting to become a nightmare getting there. One street I travel on will close later tonight so I have to figure out another path to get home.
I play with my sister's cats, make her cry when I leave the room, and realize later that I tossed in my dirty clothes in the washer without soap, closing the lid, or turning it on. I change and feed the baby. I inform my sister of mother's phone call yesterday. She says mother was calm when she told her and not to listen to her because she is just paranoid. I thought later that should be grateful she wasn't yelling like she did when I got my own credit card years and I pulled the phone receiver away from my ear. I went a couple miles out of my way to get back home and hang up my clothes. Well I better go to bed soon. I have to work tomorrow. Goodbye.

My Friday

I love Sundays. It is the one day a week I can read a newspaper for free. I never asked who buys a newspaper, it is just always there and left behind. My favorite part is the comics section. I can always use a laugh when working. The only downside is when there is an irate customers nearby and I am giggling over the cartoons. That can be easily misinterpreted as laughing at them, when I actually I am blocking the noise and concentrated on the cartoons.
No irate customers today. I feel fortunate. We all dislike dealing with impossible customers who can not be satisfied, but they are an occupational hazard. My current manager gave the best advice after a customer threw keys at coworker of mine and told him she hoped he got run over when he offered to check the car for something (I can not recall the reason). My manager said that the customer is married to somebody, be glad it is not you.
Like my title says, it is my Friday. The next three days I have off. I plan to shop, edit my fairytale, and do as little as possible. Somedays, accomplishing nothing all day feels good. I have to mail a postcard to the Oprah Show to try to win free tickets. I have called their 800 number 50 times trying to get tickets, but the closest I got was hearing to please hold for the next operator to be disconnected. I found the postcard in her magazine. I have every single issue of the Oprah Magazine since she started it. Once I missed out on Hillary Swanks's autograph when I was reading my new issue of the magazine. I can not remember what article I was reading, but I could not put it down to chase a movie star. A coworker got her autograph so I know what her signature looks like. Occasionly, we talk about at work and my coworker gloats over the autograph. Oh well, maybe another day.
This is the end of this posting. Bye.