The Adventures of Being Me

I guess the excitement from last week died down. Nobody was fired, but some people are skating on thin ice. That diappointed one coworker who was beaming for a day thinking someone was going to be fired. Another coworker and I were relieved. The thin ice coworker does not require a babysitter like the dingbat coworker who was smiling. At least that is settled. I still have no plans for New Year's Eve so I probably will relax in front of the TV and play on my computer. I picked another book publisher to send my fairytale to. I have to get it ready to print, then shop tomorrow for the right envelopes. I have to wait 3 months or more for an answer. Give me time to type more on book 2. I also need to clean my apartment. Not looking forward too dirt and dust choking me up with sealed windows. The weather warmed up this week. Some days one does not need a coat. Then a coworker was told about the monsterous earthquake causing the big waves jolted the earth off its axis. N...

There is a God. I just heard very good news. A very cute guy has been dumped by his fiancee, on Christmas Day. Presents were passed out to the family and he asked where his gift was. His fiancee breaks up with him in front of the entire family. And I thought my loss was bad this holiday season. Can't say I'm sad for him. He has been having problems with his girlfriend since the day I met him. Get this. His fiancee is going back to her old boyfriend coming out of jail for drug trafficking. He can't hold down a job when he gets out so back to jail he goes. I think this cutie is not that interested in me, he keeps interupting me and changes the subject. Then he was asking everyone to go out clubbing and I hollered out I would go out with him. He stated he was going to a club and changed the subject to last year's Christmas romance I had. Oh well, I have been single the past hundred years, another hundred won't kill me. Besides, I am sending my novel out to...

Hello again. I had a good Christmas weekend. I left work on time and drove to my parents' house 45 minutes away. When I lived with my parents I did that twice a day. I watched TV and talked to Mom who had to fill me in the visitation will be Monday and funeral Tuesday because that was the earliest Dad could get a coffin. Christmas Day I opened my kitty calendar from Mom, autumn floral sheets from my brother, and a money envelope from Grandma (with my Mom's handwriting). After nightmares of Mom having Grandma sign her own cards with her memory problems, I suggested that we write out her cards and just tell her that she did it. After pointing out that Grandma did not remember when she did do them, Mom agreed. We watched Christmas movies and Mom's football games. Dad recorded a DVD onto a VCR tape and we had to explain the movie was finished, he was looking at the menu that replays the same scenes. I made cocoa and Mom asked me to finish using her old liquid chocola...

As I did with my Great-Aunt Eleanor, I shall give you my thoughts on my Grandma Hilda Caroline. She was born December 1, 1914. The oldest of six, her sister Freida and brothers Arthur, Earl, Ivan, and Virgil came after. Hilda and Freida are German names. Caroline was Grandma's Great-Grandma who came from Germany with her missionary priest husband and children. They first came to Texas, then Iowa, and settled finally South Dakota. Some children married and stayed in Iowa and the rest did the same in South Dakota. All of Grandma's ancestors are buried in the same church cemetery she attended all her life. Grandma placed peonies (pronounced like pinies by Grandma) in coffee cans at the tombstones. Yes my Grandma is 100% German-American. Although we never celebrated Octoberfest, all the Bibles are printed in German. Mom said Grandma's Grandpa who came from Prussia and fought in the American Civil War said after World War I that they were Americans now, we speak English. Accordi...

Hello again. We are having troubles at work. Last Sunday, a coworker got into a fight over wanting more cars with the car cleaners. I kept my nose in my crossword puzzles while listening to the shouting. Then, my coworker goes off either venting anger or justifying himself about the fight. Well four days later, the car cleaners are still sore. Then I set them off again by blabbing this coworker said after they left that it is their job to bring whatever cars he wants. The hell it is. They correct with that it is their job to bring what we need. They told me to explain to this coworker that the car jockeys are not his personal bitches to get whatever he pleases. I said sure. Then today I come in and can't find my timecard in the pile. Ask everyone present where it is. The bossman has it in his office with the others working last night. Then I'm inform I might be asked to occupany the bossman to his office upstairs, uh-oh. We call it the hot seat. Some others had their...

Hello again. I finally made it to the nursing home again to see Grandma. Monday I stayed in bed all day from my bad cold. Tuesday I had to call the help center to set up my email on my computer and then it downloaded things forever. Then the news said it was icy outside with 80 accidents reported. I went out for de-icer from my car doors liking to freeze shut. After 10 hours, I shut off the still downloading computer. Then reailzed I misinterpreted the "police caught the suspect of the Rosemount fire". The night of the fire, a cop pulled over a suspicious car and the guy pulled out a sawed off shotgun. The cop killed him and then discovered searching through the car the photos of the church and lighter fluids. He was a violent lunatic with a long history of setting fires in 2 states. I showed up at Grandma's room to see a hospice person humming to Grandma. She was sleeping, though her eyes were half opened and her mouth was hanging open. She looked awful. Copyi...

There is a new guy at one of the car rentals next door. He was a store manager of a retail store chain in Ohio and he is now renting cars to people for a living. Interesting. He said he had originally lived here and was transferred to Ohio through the chain store. Once married with children, he did not like moving from one store to another. And then there is the stress of being a top dog. So he moved back home. I forgot how many kids he said he had. Then I had a front row seat to an intense persuaive argument from 2 ladies next door trying to convince my coworker to fill up his gas tank, like now. He said it was almost empty, but the warning light had not come on. Besides that, it was freezing outside. The ladies said, Hey Florida boy, here in Iowa it's a real bad idea to drive around with an empty gas tank in cold weather, especially driving home on a dark highway. They said he needed to keep the tank at least half full at all times. Finally, he went across the street ...

Hello again. I was wrong about the church fire cause. The news say it was arson and already have a suspect in custody under question of other fires too. He must be an lunatic or have too much spare time to intentionally set fire to a church in the middle of nowhere. How many around know it is even there, just local residents. Anyway, at least the bastard is in jail. The Bridges of Madison County fires are still unsolved. Those were about a year ago. Post later. Bye!

We have Snow today! Our first snowfall requiring snowplows. I decided to stay in bed all day because I did not feel well. I was planning to visit my Grandma and Mom to give her my youngest cousin's graduation card, some medical degree. I called Mom to tell her I was not coming today. She said my sister and baby were there. Sister said Grandma kept calling the baby by my name. Then Grandma's sister fell out or jumped out of a chair and has a black eye. Otherwise, they are fine. Hopefully I feel better tomorrow. I need to be alert to drive on snow. Post later. Good-bye!

Christmas will soon be here and then people will be bugging me to make New Year's resolutions. I usually say whatever comes to the top of my head to satisfy my friends. I tend not to make resolutions because I forget about them right after make them. One I did keep was No rash decisions. I managed that most of the year and still mostly follow. This pertained to a shopping habit. This time around I'll just make 3 wishes in case I run into any genies out there next year. One wish would be to be normal. I figured out in preschool that my interests, my sensitivity, my reactions, my personality, my values contrasted with everyone else. I know I would be miserable trying to be what I'm not, but for a short time I would like to simply fit in without sacrificing everything I think and feel to be liked. My second wish would be for a best friend. I had 2 people I labelled my best friend in my lifetime and they have the same birthday, coincidence? Both years-lasting relationships unra...

Hello. I read an editorial on a bad gift list today, so I give you my opinion. The writer commented how socks made the list and he disagreed. I disagree too. Christmas themed socks, slipper socks, and regular socks to someone who loses many in the wash are usually welcomed. However, if the person is like my father having a drawer full of socks he does not wear, maybe not such a good idea. Other bad gifts mentioned were fishnet stockings, cleaning supplies (oops!), diet plans, and wigs. Guess my Magic Clean eraser promising to get crayon of walls was a bad gift. Good thing I included a bottle of perfume with it. My sister did ask why I got her the erasers, I explained the ad for the crayons. She said, Who said I had crayon on my walls? I responded with a little bird telling me. Actually, it's obvious. The writer did a survey and included bad gifts from husbands. One wife got mad over muffin tins. For shame on her husband for paying attention. Another wife threw her cigarette lighter...

In local news that actually made it into the Des Moines paper: The Rosemount church near my hometown burned down. The paper said the church celebrated its 125 anniversary in 1996. Since rural areas do not have fire hydrants, the firefighters had enough water from the trucks to stop surrounding buildings from burning. By the time the crews showed up, it was too late anyway to save the church. So firefighters leaped in with their oxygen masks and saved what they could in lesser hot areas. Some handed out artifacts to church members out of windows. The brick outer walls stand, but everything else crashed into the basement, even the cross steeple. The paper said the members will not rebuild and will erect a shrine hall with the insurance money. The cemetery will be upkept too. I have ancestors in the cemetery. It is always sad when a historical building or house of worship burns down. The firefighter investigators think the fire started in the basement, so I think either furna...

I forgot this tale in my last entry. After I visited my Grandma in the nursing home, I stopped at a gas station since the gas was 10 cents cheaper. Well I parked so close to the pump that could barely open my door, then realized the gas cap is on the other side of the car. Lucky me that the hose just reached it. Post later. Bye!

Hello again. I visited my Grandma at the nursing home today before work. Despite my Mom's warning that she is on death's doorstep, she did not appear near death. She refused to wear her oxygen nosepiece and constantly falling asleep/waking up. She sat up in a chair and walked to the bathroom and back with her walker. The walking wore her out and she panted like dog. The nurses had to lift her to her feet though. I noticed bruises on her arms near her wrists and hands, some were black. Grandma's skin is paper thin so the slightest bump bruises her. Mom thought they might be from the blood tests they took. A few days after she went into the nursing home, her red blood cell count shot down (why she has oxygen) and white blood cell count shot up (leukemia) suddenly. Don't know what happened, but I guess it doesn't really matter. My brother came when I did so we chatted while Grandma slept. Grandma called me 3 different names, distant relatives. Grandma's ...

My coworker went to the snack bar a while ago and saw a woman being led away in handcuffs. He asked an airport employee what the deal was. He guessed she was stoned because she was stupid enough to think she can wait for someone's arrival beyond security with a concealed weapon. I wonder if that will be on the news tonight. Post later. Bye, Bye!

Hello. I have received my first rejection notice for my fairytale. It feels like a badge of courage. A coworker then asked when it is going to to made into a movie and when do I see some money to remember the little people I work with. Obviously, he misunderstood the word Rejection. That means the book publisher is not willing to read at all. I also have another cold. Either from a coworker or my niece I babysat twice this week. Then I hear Grandma is doing poorly and is on oxygen. I wonder if they will let me out of work. Someone else asked for this day off for her stepson's birthday party. That is all I have to report now. Bye!

Hello again. A while ago the incompetent worker asked about a 2005 calendar to see which day of the week Valentine's Day is on so he can plan a trip for the little Mrs. and him. We don't have any 2005 calendars around so I looked at my cell phone calendar. Looking at it, he could not figure it out. So I look and decide it is Monday. He asked how I knew that because the days of the week are not labelled. Because all calendars begin on Sunday (in English-speaking America), therefore the second day has to be Monday. He replies, If you say so. Another story about my coworker where the owner saved him from a customer. A lady was throwing a loud tantrum over her gift credit card not being accepted. He calls another coworker over who has the most senority, and is unofficial supervisor. Customer still dissatified with the word no and wants someone higher authority, so they give the customer complaint line #. Well, the owner shows up returning from a trip and the loud customer lays into...

Today I hate technology. Sometimes it makes life harder instead of better. I tried to install the internet onto my laptop since this cell phone has trouble connecting to things. I should have let a pro do it. Then my sister calls asking if I want to come along to visit Grandma in the nursing home. Well, no. I may sound cold as ice, but I feel no family or moral sense of duty to visit a woman who does not know who I am nor recall my visit 2 seconds after I leave (Alzheimer's). So I babysit her baby instead and was rewarded with a 6-pack of pop. My sister wondered about the neighbors below hearing my niece's kicking and squealing. I tried to connect to the internet with a baby in my lap who kept reaching for the computer. She is not the type to be ignored. I had to talk to a guy (after my sister left) for about 3 hours to get my internet installed, even ridding the virus detector that came with the computer. I wish I could get it back. The problem was I typed a ...

Hello again. Lightening struck my brain, and no it did not hurt. I have a theme for my second book. I originally wanted to write on the disappearing tiger that people believe will become extinct someday from obsessive hunting them. I decided make the fierce tiger into fierce mermaids going extinct. Everybody knows they don't exist, but at one time people believed they did. I had a close relationship with a king and a wizard like King Arthur fighting the extinction of the river mermaids, but did not desire to write a prequel to explain how they met. Therefore I wrote the prequel first. So now the theme for book 2 is that extinction is not inevitable, not destiny or fate that we disappear into oblivion. Now the answer as to why that I had trouble figuring out. Why is extinction not inevitable? Because there is more than one way to solve a problem. There is my theme. Post later. Bye!

Oprah says on her show that God never gives us more than we can handle. I disagree with that. I got an email from a friend at work whose husband is dying of cancer that she quit her job yesterday, planned her husband's impending funeral with a funeral director, and will move to her sister's home in another state I wonder if I will hear from her after she moves. Physical separation usually means emotional separation (not always). To me, this friend not only eagerly read each chapter after I finishing it, she was a new perspective on my mother. They are in the same generation and her children are about my age. A lot of my mother's point of view is foreign. I rebelled against what I was suppose to be, Mom did not. I think that it makes Mom sad that she did not fulfil her dreams, so she pushed them onto us. At least, she accepts I would make a lousy housewife, even with a rich man. What Mom did not plan was me having my own dreams. Post later. Good-bye!

Today I had to pull myself out of bed to babysit my niece at 2 today. The babysitter could not take her today. My sister is a school librarian and brother-in-law is a sports editor where he leaves in the middle of the afternoon and my sister returns at 5. He took a nap when I first got there so I was actually completely alone with her for over an hour. We stayed quiet playing with baby's new Christmas toys. His family came over yesterday to exchange gifts. She got a new kitchen, wooden Classic Pooh blocks, and a rocking chair. My sister likes Classic Pooh. I like both. Everybody knows Disney puts out good cartoons. Dinnertime was a bit messy and wet, so we changed clothes. I'm sure I did not follow my sister's way of getting an outfit on, but I got on nonetheless. When she got fussy, I read her books. Sometimes, she wants to sit in a lap. Later in the night, I did my sister's 4 baskets of laundry. She does so much for me, it was the least I could do....

Hello again. On my prior entry I mentioned my family condemning me for lighting candles for lost loved ones because it is a Catholic tradition. I think I should further explain my family's Lutheran religion a bit more. Alright, this is why family members hate getting into religion debates with me, I paid attention in Sunday School. Some people in my family dislike Catholics viewing it as the wrong religion and tell me I will be disowned if I marry a Catholic man when I grow up. Yeah right, nobody disowned my cousin and welcomed the Catholic groom with open arms. Now, Lutheran religion explanation. In class someone asked about saints. Some Lutheran churches are named St. Luke, St. Mark, and my grandma's church St. Paul. The Lutheran church does not ordain its own saints nor celebrate any specific saint days. It was explained that there is one All Saints' Day celebrated in replacement of the pagan Halloween in honor of all the saints of the Roman Catholic Ch...

I added a lit candle to my collection tonight. My great-aunt Eleanor died of leukemia tonight. I have a set of candles on my coffee tables I light every now and then to remember people I love who passed away. My family condemns me for the candles because that is Catholic thing and totally ridulous idea. Well, it makes me feel better. Just like my obession over angel decorations (before they were stolen), they remind me that these people are not so far away. I met my great-aunt, Mom's aunt, in 1992. My Mom and Grandpa took an extensive road trip through Illinois and Kentucky to view Lincoln sites to reach Tennessee where she lived. Doing family history she discovered my great-great grandmother's maiden name was Todd and from the same town as Mary Todd Lincoln. She has yet to prove a connection from lack of history on Mary's family, everything is about Mr. President. Eleanor met her husband, whom I never met because he either died when I was little or before I was ...

I read Aha moments in my Oprah Magazine every month therefore, I'll share one of mine. It was December1987. My oldest niece was born and I became an aunt at age 12. The summer before my oldest sister graduated college with honors and then got married. I was a junior bridesmaid. Like all relatives do, I dreamed what she would be like, what our relationship would be like, etc. I desired a strong soul to follow her dreams, full of confidence because she will always be surrounded by love. Time went on and I once commented to my sister that she is Just Like Mom, distant when her girl eagerly wants her to play and snaps into rage quickly. Naturally she was insulted and I gave all the similarities I could think of to back up my statement. I went to visit the next two summers for a week to spend time with the now toddler. Trust me when I say toddlers obey as often as teenagers, only toddlers can not understand why they must not stick their fingers into a running fan. ...

Hey there. I start to wonder if a certain weirdo is reading my blog. I overhead questions asked reflecting yesterday's entry. If so, I know where he got this blog address. The only person who asked for it when I told coworkers I started a blog. I even begged this person to report what it looks like because on my tiny cell phone I only see the words. I wrote the address 3 times and this person never had the time to glance at it. Well this person is no longer my friend. Of course I am always pleasant to this weirdo, most the time when I'm not distracted. I am a professional sales clerk. I'm real good faking emotions for the customers, even though I'm really not interested in their life story. One old man with a cane answered the question, if the additional driver lived with him, with his son has lived with him for 20 years (or whatever amount of time) since his wife left him. I did not not need to hear that. I simple Yes would have been enough. Furthermore, I ...

I might have too much spare time on my hands to ponder about the impending Iraqi elections. The thought that just hit me is this: What makes the assholes in Washington so positive that a military coup will not occur once American politicans decide to pull out of Iraq? After all, that is how Saddam obtained his presidency. Coups make appear to take place in a day, but take years to plan. Besides, the conniving and agressive pit bulls tend to win elections, at least in the U.S. I also wonder if many of these radical and get Americans out Muslims not know, how as Americans say, be a wolf a in sheep's clothing. Though why would any Muslim pretend to gain the favor of American politicans. Umm, they benefit from it. Need I remind people how American politicians supported the axis of evil Saddam during the Iran verses Iraq war, because politicans support the lesser of 2 evils. Then in the Gulf War we were fighting our own 10-year-old weapons. Talk about STUPID. Then again polit...

Hello again. Yesterday, a coworker of mine was depressed her stepdaughter turning 9 this week. She felt so old, she turns 30 next month. I tried to make her feel better telling my oldest sister (I have 2) turns 40 today. That makes me feel old. When that did not have the desired effect, I tried again. I said, You want to know what's really depressing, my oldest niece who turned 17 last week is taller than me. As of last summer with the 2 of us taking off our shoes and struggling to make our back straighter, she was a hair taller than me. I think I made her feel better. Sometimes my coworkers and I play Who has the crazier family, Who has the more pathetic life, Who is poorer. Sometimes I win, sometimes they win. Post later. Bye!

Sorry I have not posted this week. I have been a busy bee. Last week at work, my coworker came up with a theory why people commit suicide this time of year. Not from depression or loneliness, it is the Christmas music played 24 hours all over the place drives people crazy enough to kill themselves. I saw he point. I told her about the freak next door who needs to walk me to my car. I was scraping ice from my windows when I looked up he was in his car staring at me. Don't know what he was waiting for, but he drove away. Well she took it upon herself to go to one of His coworkers and casually asked her if she thought the freak was a little strange. She did agreed he is on strange side. My coworker proceded to tell her that he freaked Me out one night hanging around for half an hour after he was clocked out just to walk me to my car. She said she will tell him that he needs to be at the counter, not out socializing. My coworker says everyone else thinks he is odd too, so i...

I bought a People Magazine last night when I got more cough medicine. Yeah, my cold is clinging on for dear life. I woke up at 8:30 this morning and read through it. I knew I shouldn't since I need entertainment on Saturdays. I had to read the article on Julia Roberts. I love Julia Roberts. She is much like like me. Dark hair tinted lighter, brown eyes, and light skin in addition to living a simpler life offstage, at least that is what magazines say. I always liked strong women who don't feel the need to follow the crowd, to date she has never done a nude scene when practically everyone else strips immediately. I admire her for that. So I went back to bed an hour later and got up again at 1 to get to work on time. I listened to an Elvis love song in the car to here and wished to be in love again. Last time was a year ago. Gee, has it been that long? My janitor friend stopped by to collect garbage and later came back to ask if I was upset over something because I wasn...

I have the pleasure of being scammed on my phone bill. A company I never heard of has claimed I accepted voicemail service from them. FYI-I screen all phone calls with an answering machine so this did not happen. I call my phone company to be informed these scammers are an independet company billing through my phone company so they can do nothing about it. I call the scammers to leave a message on their voicemail. Call the phone people back stating I left a message, but unsure if they will remove the charges if I can't get ahold of them. I state I will not pay for these charges. I am told to pay for the unwanted service because they will keep charging each month if they do not remove the charges. Excuse me. Last time I checked service providers shut off unpaid services. I guess scammers do not. So the phone person said he would place a note stating I'm disputing these charges. I have to wait til Monday to call scammers again. Offices closed on the weekend. We shall see wha...

Here at the airport I'm walking in a winter wonderland. Every car rental has decorations up. Fiber optics are the thing here along with garlands with lights. I got my bubble lights and colored string lights up on the wall so my living room is a winter wonderland too. I sit at work listening to Christmas music. Though I do wonder how My Favorite Things from the Sound of Music is viewed as a Christmas tune. Last time I watched the movie it was sung during a summer thunderstorm. I almost forgot to do laundry last night. I just ate supper, had candles lit, and Christmas lights turned on, when I sat down to realize I forgot laundry. I called my sister to ask if it was too late to come over. No, but her daughter was asleep. We caught up to each other when the baby cried. Talk about a fussy baby. I told her a janitor I speak to gave a wedding planner book saying it is never too early to plan for it. I threw it away saying I would like a groom first before planning a wedding. A...

Here at the airport I'm walking in a winter wonderland. Every car rental has decorations up. Fiber optics are the thing here along with garlands with lights. I got my bubble lights and colored string lights up on the wall so my living room is a winter wonderland too. I sit at work listening to Christmas music. Though I do wonder how My Favorite Things from the Sound of Music is viewed as a Christmas tune. Last time I watched the movie it was sung during a summer thunderstorm. I almost forgot to do laundry last night. I just ate supper, had candles lit, and Christmas lights turned on, when I sat down to realize I forgot laundry. I called my sister to ask if it was too late to come over. No, but her daughter was asleep. We caught up to each other when the baby cried. Talk about a fussy baby. I told her a janitor I speak to gave a wedding planner book saying it is never too early to plan for it. I threw it away saying I would like a groom first before planning a wedding. A...