I great philanthropist light has gone out. Mr. A. H. Blank has died at the age of 93 yesterday. I read a page of this Mr. Blank I never really knew much about, just that half of Des Moines is named after him. Blank Children's Hospital, Blank Park Zoo, Blank Golf Course to name a few. His father the paper said was a Romanian immigrant who sent his son to University of Michigan where he graduated in 1934. He married his love and had 3 kids who joined the family business.
His fortune began after he bought a crusty room near a depot, set up 50 chairs, movie projector, and a movie screen. He sold viewings of 10 minute films to commuters waiting for their ride out of the city for 5 cents. Critics doomed his venture to failure. It made him rich. Later, the paper said he introduced organ music to silent films being played. He is also the reason we have popcorn in movie theaters. He liked popcorn because it was cheap to make. The early poppers used an oil that put off an unpleasant smell, so Mr. Blank changed the oil to something more pleasant giving us movie theater butter. Soon he had himself a string of movie theaters all over the place. He died in his home because he did not want to die in a hospital when he became gravely ill.
He is also the reason the Science Center is getting a new wing with IMAX theater. He and his wife requested that it not be named after them, so much already has their name on it. Now that he has died, the Science Center says they will not obey that request and name it after him anyway. A.H. Blank is survived by wife and daughter. One son who worked with underprivaledged children died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in 1993 and his other son disappeared in Mexico in 2001. The paper didn't mention grandchildren or great-grandchilren, though I'm sure he had some.
Now I wonder who will we name the other half of Des Moines after. Post later. Bye!
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Saturday, February 26, 2005
Racism test
Black History month is almost over. I once went to a meeting in college about whites and blacks getting along. One black spoke into the microphone how we should all look in a mirror and ask ourselves if we are a racist. Let's find out if you are. Pop Quiz. Ready?
Trick question #1: Is a white cop shooting and killing a black suspect racism?
Trick question #2: Is a black cop shooting and killing a white suspect racism?
Trick question #3: Is a white cop shooting and killing a white suspect racism?
Answers: If you said yes to any of the questions, I would conclude you have racism issues.
If you said no or said it depended in the situation leading up to the shooting, I would conclude you do not have racism issues. By the way, my third question was my control question. Besides, one can't always tell by appearance who is hispanic. I had a customer once asked me if I was hispanic. I said, Huh? I think it was more wishful thinking because she didn't speak English. If your curious I'm Dutch, German, Irish, English, and Scotch ancestry spanning from immigrants coming in the 1560's to 1850's. I call myself an American. Post later. Bye!
Trick question #1: Is a white cop shooting and killing a black suspect racism?
Trick question #2: Is a black cop shooting and killing a white suspect racism?
Trick question #3: Is a white cop shooting and killing a white suspect racism?
Answers: If you said yes to any of the questions, I would conclude you have racism issues.
If you said no or said it depended in the situation leading up to the shooting, I would conclude you do not have racism issues. By the way, my third question was my control question. Besides, one can't always tell by appearance who is hispanic. I had a customer once asked me if I was hispanic. I said, Huh? I think it was more wishful thinking because she didn't speak English. If your curious I'm Dutch, German, Irish, English, and Scotch ancestry spanning from immigrants coming in the 1560's to 1850's. I call myself an American. Post later. Bye!
Poor coworker
Hello again. This past week my poor worker has been sick. Last night while she was talking on the phone I suppose someone made a morning sickness joke because I heard her sarcastic "That would be some trick, either I'm screwing around or my husband needs to be refixed." I guess some people think it is funny to make jokes like that to someone who can't physically have children. She gets real tired of these jokes, but some people don't know how to be sensitive to someone else's feelings.
People still rag on me when I'm having children. I answer, Not in the near future. When I blow up in frustration of the demanding to know the answer as to why it ususally goes something like, "I am not raising illegitimate children all by myself with no support whatever just to make everyone else happy." I simply do not believe it is my sole purpose in life to get married and have babies so my parents can have grandchildren. They have 4 granddaughters, How many is required to be happy? Besides that, my 4 nieces and 2 cats would not get all the attention and affection I give if I was exhausted from taking care of my own brood of children. So please stop asking when I will have babies. It will happen when it happens. God only knows when that will be. Post later. Bye!
People still rag on me when I'm having children. I answer, Not in the near future. When I blow up in frustration of the demanding to know the answer as to why it ususally goes something like, "I am not raising illegitimate children all by myself with no support whatever just to make everyone else happy." I simply do not believe it is my sole purpose in life to get married and have babies so my parents can have grandchildren. They have 4 granddaughters, How many is required to be happy? Besides that, my 4 nieces and 2 cats would not get all the attention and affection I give if I was exhausted from taking care of my own brood of children. So please stop asking when I will have babies. It will happen when it happens. God only knows when that will be. Post later. Bye!
Working woes
Hello again. Trouble is brewing at work. First this week a chair broke. A bolt fell out and was replaced. Two days later, someone steps up on the footrest to hear a loud snap. He doesn't want to go to a hardware store to buy a new bolt and list it under paid out. Nor does he wish to leave a note explaining the chair is broken. Well you can probably guess what happened next. The person working the next day crashes when she stepped up on the footrest with a bolt missing. They were steaming when the night shift comes in. One coworker burst out laughing listening to the story and explained that she told him to leave a note, like 40 times. He does not work until tomorrow, so he will receive his tongue lashing in the next 10 hours.
We also had a change in policy. A customer flipped out on one of my coworkers over us not taking debit cards. He calls the home office and the home office makes our owner back down to accept debit cards. We shall see what fruitcakes come in now. Our system had to be readied to take the cards so we did not start until today. Plus it is a temporary wait and see what happens time period. Which means the first customer screwing the boss out of money will cause this privaledge to be permanently revoked again. We have not take debit cards over 8 years.
Something like this also happened at another car rental. They took the debit cards until the owner had it with people not paying for their rentals. So he threatened all the employees with making the employee who has a debit card not go through to pay for the owed amount. So the employees were too scared to take them after that. The only one who accepted the cards was the owner's wife. Well, then another unpaid rental episode occurred so he stopped taking them at all. Recently though, they will accept the debit card with a return ticket proof. Which means local people can't use a debit card, only tourists flying back out.
Unfair you say? One new coworker commented how the boss could make so much more money if he took debit cards. We said the boss can also get screwed out of a lot more money too. If you are curious, people who have outstanding balances go on the Do Not Rent List, which means they can not rent from that company chain anywhere in the country (every company has one), and their bill gets turned over to a collection agency. So one does not just get out of paying for their car rental. Just like one does get away with not returning cars. They are reported stolen to the police or impounded by the police when they find them abandoned in ditches. Guess who pays the impounding fees? That is right, the customer's credit card. And they are placed on the Do Not Rent List. Post later. Bye!
We also had a change in policy. A customer flipped out on one of my coworkers over us not taking debit cards. He calls the home office and the home office makes our owner back down to accept debit cards. We shall see what fruitcakes come in now. Our system had to be readied to take the cards so we did not start until today. Plus it is a temporary wait and see what happens time period. Which means the first customer screwing the boss out of money will cause this privaledge to be permanently revoked again. We have not take debit cards over 8 years.
Something like this also happened at another car rental. They took the debit cards until the owner had it with people not paying for their rentals. So he threatened all the employees with making the employee who has a debit card not go through to pay for the owed amount. So the employees were too scared to take them after that. The only one who accepted the cards was the owner's wife. Well, then another unpaid rental episode occurred so he stopped taking them at all. Recently though, they will accept the debit card with a return ticket proof. Which means local people can't use a debit card, only tourists flying back out.
Unfair you say? One new coworker commented how the boss could make so much more money if he took debit cards. We said the boss can also get screwed out of a lot more money too. If you are curious, people who have outstanding balances go on the Do Not Rent List, which means they can not rent from that company chain anywhere in the country (every company has one), and their bill gets turned over to a collection agency. So one does not just get out of paying for their car rental. Just like one does get away with not returning cars. They are reported stolen to the police or impounded by the police when they find them abandoned in ditches. Guess who pays the impounding fees? That is right, the customer's credit card. And they are placed on the Do Not Rent List. Post later. Bye!
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Stalkers
Hello again. My poor coworker is attracting people we call stalkers again. Once he says these people stop calling, others start. It must be his magnetic personality, too bad I'm not hynotized by his charms. I think he's weird. My coworker gets phone calls at work by women he just met and they never leave a message for him to call back. He is hardly is at the counter so it gets annoying to have a woman call every 5 minutes until he comes back. When they do get him on the phone my ears listen to "What do you want? I'm at work." Once in a while one will leave message and he throws it away, so the next day the phone calls resume. Even when we tell them he has the day off. They go "Has he come to work yet? Where is he then? He is not answering his home phone." How would I know what my coworkers do on their day off?
Tonight the girl who left her name did not get a call back. My coworker explains he met her at a party once and weeks later she shows up at his job to talk to him. Then few weeks go by and he hears a car horn honking in his apartment parking lot at 2 A.M. He tells his roommate to get away from the window so she doesn't know which apartment he lives in. His roommate practical sticks his out and informs my coworker that this woman is writing something on his car with a bingo marker. He waited 2 hours before going out to see what she wrote. It was, Hi **** From ****. Then days later she leaves a message for him to call her. The girls attracted to my coworker often have screws missing in their brains. It is not just me who attracts weirdos.
Then this cop keeps stopping by to watch movies on my coworker's DVD player. We think that is amusing because this guy thinks marjuana is god and has the need for speed in his car, so he does not like the company of cops hanging around the counter. This cop is trying is sell this special membership to get jewelry at merchant prices. The only way you make money is to sell these memberships to others and they sell the memberships to others to make money. I said that sounded awfully like a pyramid scheme, but no, the cop assures it is legal. My coworker keeps telling him he is not interested, but the cop keeps pushing it.
If you are not familiar with pyramid schemes, I will explain. Somebody tries to sell you a share in a business, or memebership, or whatever, usually large amounts of money to buy into this investment. Then you try to sell it to others, keep a portion, and give the rest to the person who sold it to you. The only way you make money is if the people you sold whatever to sell it to others. You keep a cut of what your customers sell to others and send the rest to the one you bought from, thus creating a fanned out picture from seller to seller, called a pyramid. In reality, the only one making any profit is the one who started the scheme and collecting from everybody in the program. Thus the reason why pryamid schemes are illegal in every state in the country.
Here is a tip to distinguish pryamids from real investments: The fact that you are asking if this investment is legal should tell you that your instincts are telling you something is wrong. Otherwise the tip for distinguishing them: The fact you make money when your customers sell it to others. That is a pyramid scheme plain and simply. I'm surprised the cop did not figure that out. Post later. Bye!
Tonight the girl who left her name did not get a call back. My coworker explains he met her at a party once and weeks later she shows up at his job to talk to him. Then few weeks go by and he hears a car horn honking in his apartment parking lot at 2 A.M. He tells his roommate to get away from the window so she doesn't know which apartment he lives in. His roommate practical sticks his out and informs my coworker that this woman is writing something on his car with a bingo marker. He waited 2 hours before going out to see what she wrote. It was, Hi **** From ****. Then days later she leaves a message for him to call her. The girls attracted to my coworker often have screws missing in their brains. It is not just me who attracts weirdos.
Then this cop keeps stopping by to watch movies on my coworker's DVD player. We think that is amusing because this guy thinks marjuana is god and has the need for speed in his car, so he does not like the company of cops hanging around the counter. This cop is trying is sell this special membership to get jewelry at merchant prices. The only way you make money is to sell these memberships to others and they sell the memberships to others to make money. I said that sounded awfully like a pyramid scheme, but no, the cop assures it is legal. My coworker keeps telling him he is not interested, but the cop keeps pushing it.
If you are not familiar with pyramid schemes, I will explain. Somebody tries to sell you a share in a business, or memebership, or whatever, usually large amounts of money to buy into this investment. Then you try to sell it to others, keep a portion, and give the rest to the person who sold it to you. The only way you make money is if the people you sold whatever to sell it to others. You keep a cut of what your customers sell to others and send the rest to the one you bought from, thus creating a fanned out picture from seller to seller, called a pyramid. In reality, the only one making any profit is the one who started the scheme and collecting from everybody in the program. Thus the reason why pryamid schemes are illegal in every state in the country.
Here is a tip to distinguish pryamids from real investments: The fact that you are asking if this investment is legal should tell you that your instincts are telling you something is wrong. Otherwise the tip for distinguishing them: The fact you make money when your customers sell it to others. That is a pyramid scheme plain and simply. I'm surprised the cop did not figure that out. Post later. Bye!
Phone call
Hello again. I just spoke to my Mom. She asked if my telephone camera could take pictures of words on a page because there is this old book with lots of history she wants to copy, but she don't want to pay 25 cents per page to xerox the pages. She wants to know if it could print these pictures off my computer. I think she still can't figure out there is no printer attachment for my cell phone pictures. They must be sent by email to print on a computer. And they are not good pictures, about 2 inches tall. I simply explain it has no focus button (true), so no, that would not work.
So she asks about my digital thing. I had to ask if she was talking about my cell phone or digital camera. The digital camera. I heavily doubt it would clearly pick up microscopic words on paper, it is meant for scenery pictures. That is why we have xerox machines, I say. I told her she needs a tiny spy camera you hold in your hand, like in the movies. Or better yet, use her own damn camera. She said she could do that. My Mom is so weird. Post later. Bye!
So she asks about my digital thing. I had to ask if she was talking about my cell phone or digital camera. The digital camera. I heavily doubt it would clearly pick up microscopic words on paper, it is meant for scenery pictures. That is why we have xerox machines, I say. I told her she needs a tiny spy camera you hold in your hand, like in the movies. Or better yet, use her own damn camera. She said she could do that. My Mom is so weird. Post later. Bye!
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Close call
Hello again. I babysat my niece yesterday. We had a ball as usual. When she first saw me she smiled and giggled. We played for hours until Mommy (my sister) came home. We had a close call. I was telling my sister about how one of the cats was hanging around me for petting and my niece next to me touched fur. The cats usually keep their distance from the baby. Well the phone rang so the baby was placed the floor, then my sister sat back down to have a cat jump on her lap. The tail of the cat was wiggling in front of the baby on the floor and the baby grabbed its tail. No meowing so I assume it felt no pain. My sister grabbed the baby's hand and cat's tail to separate them with her stern NO at the baby. The cat ran away and my sister said the baby was lucky she did not get bit for that. My sister's cats are declawed, but still have sharp teeth.
My niece and I had a magical moment that made me wish my sister had nanny cams in her house to record it. I was laying on the floor on my side next to my niece. She crawled over and plopped herself next to me so we were both laying down facing each either. She streched her arm and gave me a hug. Ahhhhhh. It was so touching, until she grabbed my hair. Then the moment ended. Later we had a moment when I kept making her laugh and squeal when my sister was in the next room. I was just laughing and it made her laugh with me. I didn't have to tickle her.
My cousin called my sister's house asking if she would want to go to a musical called "Movin Out" coming to town. I said I would like to come too. I have money now that Christmas is over and I'm rebounding financially from it. It is on a day I work so I will have to ask for it off. I am also thinking more seriously over getting a cat from my raise last week. I won over my sister who was once very against me having one once. She said I could not handle putting an animal to sleep because I'm so emotionally fragile. Yeah sure. If someday I would have to put an animal asleep I would cry, grief, and then get another cat like my aunt replaces her dogs after they die. I can recover from loss. I finally snapped out of my depression from last Christmas's funerals and ready to have fun again. I can't wait to volunteer at that local museum. That is my idea of fun. Unlike people at work who get drunk and lose their license to a cop do for fun. If that makes me boring, then so be it.
I noticed a certain janitor was missing from work this week. He must be on vacation in Japan visiting his son. He is a college foreign exchange student who will graduate this spring. I asked the janitor to get me a Japanese doll, with kimono and parasol. I have an Asian doll with robes and parasol I got from an antique shop. I'm not sure of the nationality so don't know what to call the outfit. I love dolls. I call my doll collection being my father's daughter. He collects too, often too much. I told my sister that I would have to cat-proof my apartment before getting one. I am sure a coffee table covered in breakable ceramic dolls is unwise to have around an animal. I would have to place them on a wall. Well no more news here. Post later. Bye!
My niece and I had a magical moment that made me wish my sister had nanny cams in her house to record it. I was laying on the floor on my side next to my niece. She crawled over and plopped herself next to me so we were both laying down facing each either. She streched her arm and gave me a hug. Ahhhhhh. It was so touching, until she grabbed my hair. Then the moment ended. Later we had a moment when I kept making her laugh and squeal when my sister was in the next room. I was just laughing and it made her laugh with me. I didn't have to tickle her.
My cousin called my sister's house asking if she would want to go to a musical called "Movin Out" coming to town. I said I would like to come too. I have money now that Christmas is over and I'm rebounding financially from it. It is on a day I work so I will have to ask for it off. I am also thinking more seriously over getting a cat from my raise last week. I won over my sister who was once very against me having one once. She said I could not handle putting an animal to sleep because I'm so emotionally fragile. Yeah sure. If someday I would have to put an animal asleep I would cry, grief, and then get another cat like my aunt replaces her dogs after they die. I can recover from loss. I finally snapped out of my depression from last Christmas's funerals and ready to have fun again. I can't wait to volunteer at that local museum. That is my idea of fun. Unlike people at work who get drunk and lose their license to a cop do for fun. If that makes me boring, then so be it.
I noticed a certain janitor was missing from work this week. He must be on vacation in Japan visiting his son. He is a college foreign exchange student who will graduate this spring. I asked the janitor to get me a Japanese doll, with kimono and parasol. I have an Asian doll with robes and parasol I got from an antique shop. I'm not sure of the nationality so don't know what to call the outfit. I love dolls. I call my doll collection being my father's daughter. He collects too, often too much. I told my sister that I would have to cat-proof my apartment before getting one. I am sure a coffee table covered in breakable ceramic dolls is unwise to have around an animal. I would have to place them on a wall. Well no more news here. Post later. Bye!
Monday, February 21, 2005
Relief
Hello again. I was very depressed no longer finding my aspirin I like in stores, so I searched online for it. Since the shipping cost is more than one box of my painkiller, I hoped to find a site that also carries my allergy medicine that is getting hard to find. Guess what, after several hours of searching, I found one that carried both. Then an amazing discovery occurred. I was looking for the right one when I spotted a new medicine of the same brand for the same symptoms. I checked both active ingredients and dosage, which happen to be exactly the same. Now that is weird. Of course I picked the cheaper one.
That reminded me of when Claritin went non-prescription and copycat brands with exact same active ingredient and dosage came afterwards with a lesser price. Go figure. I amazed my brother figuring that one out. My parents taught me well not to think a brand name makes the product better. I hate admitting my cheap parents were right on things, but on this one they were. Though I wish my parents would have let me have at least one name brand clothing piece in my teen years. Image is everything to a teenager even when people call you a dork. Post later. Bye!
That reminded me of when Claritin went non-prescription and copycat brands with exact same active ingredient and dosage came afterwards with a lesser price. Go figure. I amazed my brother figuring that one out. My parents taught me well not to think a brand name makes the product better. I hate admitting my cheap parents were right on things, but on this one they were. Though I wish my parents would have let me have at least one name brand clothing piece in my teen years. Image is everything to a teenager even when people call you a dork. Post later. Bye!
Saturday, February 19, 2005
About time
Hello again. I heard Prince Charles has finally gotten engaged to Camilla. It's about time. I guess this means either the rules were changed so Charles could marry his love and be crowned king or he followed King Edward VIII footsteps in giving up his entitlement to be king. Talk about a fatastic Greek tragedy play of forbidden love with a happy ending.
Today I saw Camilla showing off her large diamond ring to the cameras. I thought Princess Diana's engagement ring was bigger, a huge sapphire surrounded by diamonds. Oh well, whatever makes Camilla happy. I wonder if this will be a posh wedding with all the trimmings like the first Charles wedding my sister made me watch when I was 5 or a sweet and simple show like Prince Edward's (sister made me watch a taping of it months afterwards). My sisters are big royalty freaks. Whatever makes Charles happy I suppose will be done. Post later. Bye!
Today I saw Camilla showing off her large diamond ring to the cameras. I thought Princess Diana's engagement ring was bigger, a huge sapphire surrounded by diamonds. Oh well, whatever makes Camilla happy. I wonder if this will be a posh wedding with all the trimmings like the first Charles wedding my sister made me watch when I was 5 or a sweet and simple show like Prince Edward's (sister made me watch a taping of it months afterwards). My sisters are big royalty freaks. Whatever makes Charles happy I suppose will be done. Post later. Bye!
Friday, February 18, 2005
Raises
Happy day. We all got raises this paycheck. Hooray! It has been a year and a half since the last one. All employees get raises at the same time, not based on merit nor senority, whenever the bossman decides to give us one. I guess it wasn't so bad that somebody quit a couple weeks ago and he has not been replaced. I will gladly take the 45 cents per hour raise I got. Usually raises are about 25 cents per hour. I figured about an extra $800 in my bank account for the next coming year. Maybe I can save for that cat I want so bad.
Though some sad news from the car rental next door. Somebody was fired after he fell asleep at the wheel sitting at a red light and hit a hotel shuttle van. Yeah, if I worked 2 full time jobs I would probably fall asleep too. Even worse was that he was fired from his other full time job recently, his house burned down without possessing insurance a few months ago, and when he told one of my coworkers that he was fired, the guy laughed thinking it was a joke. Oops. Someone mentioned that he saw the man crying in his van before leaving. Poor guy. My coworker telling me all this also included that this man's granddaughter who he has been raising is pregnant at age 15. I started to disbelieve my coworker at this point of his wild story. So who knows how much this is true. I work with strange people who love to exaggerate and throw things in that never happen. Though the getting fired part I know is true. The car rental next door confirmed that part.
Post later. Bye!
Though some sad news from the car rental next door. Somebody was fired after he fell asleep at the wheel sitting at a red light and hit a hotel shuttle van. Yeah, if I worked 2 full time jobs I would probably fall asleep too. Even worse was that he was fired from his other full time job recently, his house burned down without possessing insurance a few months ago, and when he told one of my coworkers that he was fired, the guy laughed thinking it was a joke. Oops. Someone mentioned that he saw the man crying in his van before leaving. Poor guy. My coworker telling me all this also included that this man's granddaughter who he has been raising is pregnant at age 15. I started to disbelieve my coworker at this point of his wild story. So who knows how much this is true. I work with strange people who love to exaggerate and throw things in that never happen. Though the getting fired part I know is true. The car rental next door confirmed that part.
Post later. Bye!
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Where is the Easter candy?
I went shopping yesterday expecting tons of Easter candy next to the leftover Valentine candy. All I found were plastic eggs and stuffed bunnies. I thought retailers got that stuff out early. I guess they actually learned from Halloween next to Christmas and Valentine next to Christmas does not improve sales. Now if they would keep Christmas stuff away in the month of September, fall would be more delightful. Post later. Bye!
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Neighbor knocking
Tap, tap. "I know you're in there. I heard you in your bathroom."
Would you answer the door with that greeting? I was waking from a dream when I heard this so I assumed it was my neighbor's door being knocked on. It is not easy to tell in apartment buildings.
Once upon a time I had a neighbor who consistantly pounded on the walls every time the refridgerator ran, or the TV going after 10, screaming to stop making so much noise. When I was in the shower once, he pounded on the walls, then my door. I was not about to answer the door soaking wet in a towel to explain this guy that my shower does not have volume control. He pounded on the walls until my shower was finished.
If someone is that sensitive to refridgerators running and showers, they should not live in an apartment. Townhouses are rentable too. Post later. Bye!
Would you answer the door with that greeting? I was waking from a dream when I heard this so I assumed it was my neighbor's door being knocked on. It is not easy to tell in apartment buildings.
Once upon a time I had a neighbor who consistantly pounded on the walls every time the refridgerator ran, or the TV going after 10, screaming to stop making so much noise. When I was in the shower once, he pounded on the walls, then my door. I was not about to answer the door soaking wet in a towel to explain this guy that my shower does not have volume control. He pounded on the walls until my shower was finished.
If someone is that sensitive to refridgerators running and showers, they should not live in an apartment. Townhouses are rentable too. Post later. Bye!
Monday, February 14, 2005
Happy Valentine's Day
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
I hate this holdiay,
How about you?
Today I got out of bed around 3 in the afternoon. Watched TV and now playing on my computer. No honey to buy me presents for Valentine's Day so I sit here alone in my living room. I know what a few people are getting today. One coworker's wife is receiving topaz jewelry and food scented lotions and soaps. One coworker's husband by now has received his cookie bouquet made my his wife yesterday at her friend's house. Her friend is also the delivery person. My coworker planned 20 sugar cookies on sticks stuck in a jar full of red and pink M&Ms. One coworker's girlfriend is receiving balloons, teddy bear, and soda glass full of candy to look like a ice cream float, paid and ordered by above coworker who made cookies for her husband. My Mom always gets a box of chocolates when they are on sale from Dad, not always given on Valentine's Day. My sister usually gets flowers from her husband.
I received an email from the volunteer coordinator at the museum I applied at to discover my application was not received, even though I mailed it 2 weeks ago. Sometimes mail service is very poor. I emailed back asking if I need to fill out another application.
I also received a sappy email from a former car rental person next door. She must be recovering from her husband's cancer scare last month. She has restarted saturating my inbox with Christian love and friendship emails with touching stories that make people cry. I normally delete them before reaching the end of the second paragraph. I can only take so much Christian love before it starts becoming really annoying. I need to tell her to send me funny stories instead, but don't want to hurt her feelings. My responses are always the same: Very nice story.
I read in the paper yesterday about a senator from here telling people to buy flowers instead of chocolate because of poor working conditions and violations of child labor laws on chocolate plantations in Africa. The paper also pointed out the flower plantations in South America do not have any better working conditions. Either way, I love chocolate and reluctant to give it up.
Anyway, Happy Chocolate, I mean, Valentine's Day to my readers. Post later. Bye!
Violets are blue,
I hate this holdiay,
How about you?
Today I got out of bed around 3 in the afternoon. Watched TV and now playing on my computer. No honey to buy me presents for Valentine's Day so I sit here alone in my living room. I know what a few people are getting today. One coworker's wife is receiving topaz jewelry and food scented lotions and soaps. One coworker's husband by now has received his cookie bouquet made my his wife yesterday at her friend's house. Her friend is also the delivery person. My coworker planned 20 sugar cookies on sticks stuck in a jar full of red and pink M&Ms. One coworker's girlfriend is receiving balloons, teddy bear, and soda glass full of candy to look like a ice cream float, paid and ordered by above coworker who made cookies for her husband. My Mom always gets a box of chocolates when they are on sale from Dad, not always given on Valentine's Day. My sister usually gets flowers from her husband.
I received an email from the volunteer coordinator at the museum I applied at to discover my application was not received, even though I mailed it 2 weeks ago. Sometimes mail service is very poor. I emailed back asking if I need to fill out another application.
I also received a sappy email from a former car rental person next door. She must be recovering from her husband's cancer scare last month. She has restarted saturating my inbox with Christian love and friendship emails with touching stories that make people cry. I normally delete them before reaching the end of the second paragraph. I can only take so much Christian love before it starts becoming really annoying. I need to tell her to send me funny stories instead, but don't want to hurt her feelings. My responses are always the same: Very nice story.
I read in the paper yesterday about a senator from here telling people to buy flowers instead of chocolate because of poor working conditions and violations of child labor laws on chocolate plantations in Africa. The paper also pointed out the flower plantations in South America do not have any better working conditions. Either way, I love chocolate and reluctant to give it up.
Anyway, Happy Chocolate, I mean, Valentine's Day to my readers. Post later. Bye!
Saturday, February 12, 2005
Bad girl
Hello again. I was a bad girl today. I got junk mail begging for money as usual. I was about to toss it all when I had to peek at the fight against drilling for oil in Arctic Animal Refugees and National Forests. That was why I voted against Bush in 2000. I wish Bush would invest money in the guy I saw on 60 Minutes once who can created oil from garbage. The process was said to be expensive. I think getting rid of landfills is more important than invading countries. Less dependency on oil-bearing countries who hate Americans certainly would not hurt our economy.
I promised myself no more donations this year. It don't effect my taxes since I use the extremely short form anyway. But I could not refuse animals. My one weakness. I gritted my teeth and decided on $10. I also refused the tote bag offer. I really don't need one. I wanted to give more, but I'm poor. My next 2 paychecks are already spent. Until I get my tax refunds, I can't bounce back from my splurges. Then back to saving to put something in my IRA account. The way money has been slipping away, it won't be much now. Post later. Bye!
I promised myself no more donations this year. It don't effect my taxes since I use the extremely short form anyway. But I could not refuse animals. My one weakness. I gritted my teeth and decided on $10. I also refused the tote bag offer. I really don't need one. I wanted to give more, but I'm poor. My next 2 paychecks are already spent. Until I get my tax refunds, I can't bounce back from my splurges. Then back to saving to put something in my IRA account. The way money has been slipping away, it won't be much now. Post later. Bye!
Friday, February 11, 2005
Adventures with niece
Hello again. Yesterday I got ready to do my laundry as usual. I called and called my sister's house leaving 4 messages. I go out while I'm waiting for her call to scrape the ice and snow off my car. Then I listen to my Mom's message and call her back. My sister had called her informing her that she was working late tonight and told me when she would be home. My Mom informed me that I can do my laundry at home instead and go across the street to get quarters from the conveinence store or a go to a bank for quarters. She says it is getting too late to do laundry, 7:30. I inform her, No I am not going across the street and banks are closed. I explain that from my experience working at retail stores, we do not have an infinite amount of quarters even if customers think we do. I further continue with, If my loads take too long, I can just do 1 load and leave the rest for next week. I hang up and separate my clothes into, work and day off clothes.
My sister calls at 8:15 and I drive right over. I make the baby cry because she was drinking her bottle when I rang the bell. She was happy again when my sister returned to feed her. I went straight to her basement and started a full load of laundry. I pet her cats and my sister shows the baby can say a new word. She turns on the see-and-say. My niece went, Moooooooo. It was so cute. She crawled around on the floor. My sister has gates up to keep the baby from the basement steps. I ask how the cats are with the gates. One can jump over with a loud a thump on the landing. I said the cat needs landing mats. The other kitty can't jump over them so hopefully she won't get trapped on the wrong side. My sister says she doesn't.
I crawl around my niece and play a game we invented. Every time a make one circle around the sitting niece I kiss her cheek and tickle her. When I go behind her, she jerks her head to watch me come around the other side. I played no tricks by changing directions behind her. It was our game. My brother-in-law called from work and I hear my sister explain why the baby was laughing. I am the one and only person in my family who makes a baby (newborn to toddler) laugh. It is a special gift. Once they reach closer to talking and walking, it is easier to make them laugh for the other members of the family. I kept watch on the clock for my full load and half load. I did not keep my sister up too late. Can't wait til next week. I told my sister that I had to explain to Mom that I come to see her and the baby, and kitties, and use the excuse of laundry for free to do it. If I suddenly got an apartment or house with washer and dryer inside the place, I would find another excuse to visit my sister, and baby, and kitties. I made it home after 11. Post later. Bye!
My sister calls at 8:15 and I drive right over. I make the baby cry because she was drinking her bottle when I rang the bell. She was happy again when my sister returned to feed her. I went straight to her basement and started a full load of laundry. I pet her cats and my sister shows the baby can say a new word. She turns on the see-and-say. My niece went, Moooooooo. It was so cute. She crawled around on the floor. My sister has gates up to keep the baby from the basement steps. I ask how the cats are with the gates. One can jump over with a loud a thump on the landing. I said the cat needs landing mats. The other kitty can't jump over them so hopefully she won't get trapped on the wrong side. My sister says she doesn't.
I crawl around my niece and play a game we invented. Every time a make one circle around the sitting niece I kiss her cheek and tickle her. When I go behind her, she jerks her head to watch me come around the other side. I played no tricks by changing directions behind her. It was our game. My brother-in-law called from work and I hear my sister explain why the baby was laughing. I am the one and only person in my family who makes a baby (newborn to toddler) laugh. It is a special gift. Once they reach closer to talking and walking, it is easier to make them laugh for the other members of the family. I kept watch on the clock for my full load and half load. I did not keep my sister up too late. Can't wait til next week. I told my sister that I had to explain to Mom that I come to see her and the baby, and kitties, and use the excuse of laundry for free to do it. If I suddenly got an apartment or house with washer and dryer inside the place, I would find another excuse to visit my sister, and baby, and kitties. I made it home after 11. Post later. Bye!
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
My Precious
Hello again. The past couple months or so I have been dreaming of owning a white and deaf cat with the name Precious. I wanted for a long time to name my future cat Precious after Lord of the Rings. Lately, my cat dreaming has been feeling so real it is like a cat is already living here. Then the other night I looked up animal shelters under some find a pet website. I found a white domestic long hair deaf cat named Precious. It didn't have a photo so I'm not sure if it is my dream cat. The problem is the damn cat is 90 miles away in Webster City. The animal shelter has a cute name too, Kitties from Heaven. Besides that, my apartment is not ready for a cat yet. I have things to buy and money to save for cat expenses, like medical bills. I am also unsure if finding Precious is fate or I'm just crazy, my whole family calls me crazy for various reasons. Maybe like many of my dreams, it is not meant to be. I don't think anyone is eager to adopt a deaf cat so I'll just leave Precious where she is for now. Post later. Bye!
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Snow!
Today we had a snowfall. Good-bye spring, hello winter again. I went shopping before it snowed. I bought new oil paintings at Walmart. I seem attracked to water and sunset pictures. I also got an end table I put together as I watched The Notebook. It took the whole movie to put all the screws in, and 5 screwdrivers. It reminded me of Grandma's Alzheimer's. Towards the end she called me 3 different names and called my baby niece by my name. Maybe I can glue my broken heart together and snap out of my depression making me dysfunctional. I got inspired to actually combine my upcoming volunteer work with my great-great-great-aunt's diaries, letters, and scrapbooks into a fascinating book that hopefully will sell. I decided to volunteer at a museum this summer dressing like someone 100 years ago. Maybe I'll understand what she meant by every entry in her diary with "I did my morning chores". I hope the feeling lasts to work on my sequel to my fairytale I neglected for 2 months. The farm this aunt lived on is still in the family. I have to talk my Dad into taking me out there to paint pictures of various things. Mom thinks is was shameful I drew a picture of the shack in the woods. Grandpa and Dad loved the picture. I would like to get a shot of the old cast iron wagon wheel that was left by a tree. The tree grew around it and one day a thief stole the other 3 wheels, but must not wanted to bother chopping the 4th wheel out of the tree. And then the footbridge. I wrote a poem about this farm beginning at the footbridge that my Grandma loved. It is a beautiful place. Tall cottonwoods creating a canopy. Grapes, cherries, gooseberries, raspberries grow. Every year my Dad tortures Mom with making gooseberry pie for the 4th of July. Gooseberries are tiny sour green berries on thorny bushes. In Snow White, there is a gooseberry pie made in the dwarves' house when the witch arrives. Maybe this summer I go down there again. Here's my poem: The Footbridge
Over the creek without a name
lies the footbridge
Under the cottonwoods over the footbridge
birds sing the woodchucks asleep
By the footbridge squirrels peak from shadows
while the leaves rustle like a baby rattle
A hill stands before a vast cropland
by the footbridge cool in the shade
Hidden in the forest by the cropland
raspberries, gooseberries, and grapes grow
Hear the voices from ghosts
rocking a washing machine
Hear the birthday parties
and Christmas carols playing on the radio
Hungry pigs squealed and horses pulled plows
by the footbridge
Crumbling into history is the farmhouse
with holey green roof tiles
Watch the footbridge torn down
after the lost barn guarding the fodder
And watch another built
like the one built long ago
Post later. Bye!
Over the creek without a name
lies the footbridge
Under the cottonwoods over the footbridge
birds sing the woodchucks asleep
By the footbridge squirrels peak from shadows
while the leaves rustle like a baby rattle
A hill stands before a vast cropland
by the footbridge cool in the shade
Hidden in the forest by the cropland
raspberries, gooseberries, and grapes grow
Hear the voices from ghosts
rocking a washing machine
Hear the birthday parties
and Christmas carols playing on the radio
Hungry pigs squealed and horses pulled plows
by the footbridge
Crumbling into history is the farmhouse
with holey green roof tiles
Watch the footbridge torn down
after the lost barn guarding the fodder
And watch another built
like the one built long ago
Post later. Bye!
Way to go Grassley
Hello again. I saw on the news today that Bush put out a budget proposal labeled Dead on Arrival by the legislature. Our very vocal senators from Iowa blasted it also. Iowa is a tale of two parties. There is Senator Harkin, a democrat, is often in the news for various things including criticism for government needless spending of office supplies years ago and an annual steakfry near my hometown where celebrity politicians are viewed. By his quotes read on TV, I think he hates Bush as much as me. He greatly criticized Bush over wanting them to ok a blank check to spend on Bush Wars. Today he objects to many of Bush's cuts and then wild spending in the military and home security, my words not his.
The other is Senator Grassley, a republican, who visits all 99 counties in Iowa yearly. One day over 10 years he came to speak at my high school. My Dad said once to vote for the republican senator, even though my Dad often says to vote only for democrats because the watch out for the poor, since he will win anyway because everybody knows his name. When President Clinton was nearly impeached, our senators voted with their party as usual. Grassley was no fan of Clinton.
Today I saw Senator Grassley first give a vague statement to a reporter outside the capitol about the budget, then during an interview criticized the budget plan calling it "disportionate to the farmers". Way to go Senator Grassley. He objected the cuts in education and farming subsidies. He should if he wants to keep his job.
I think there was also a loophole closed today which allowed large corporations in farming industries money from the government. I ask you why do multi-million dollar corporations need govenment subsidies equal to the struggling farmer trying to stay afloat so he can pass down his land to his children? I'm glad the legislature agreed with me for once. Though I find it amusing that a president who signed a "No child left behind" act without funds to raise standards demanded from it, now wants to chop funds for education. I guess my former manager will be still buying office supplies for her son's school secretary like she did when I worked with her a couple years ago. Nothing has changed. My sister the school librarian is a witness in that.
The other is Senator Grassley, a republican, who visits all 99 counties in Iowa yearly. One day over 10 years he came to speak at my high school. My Dad said once to vote for the republican senator, even though my Dad often says to vote only for democrats because the watch out for the poor, since he will win anyway because everybody knows his name. When President Clinton was nearly impeached, our senators voted with their party as usual. Grassley was no fan of Clinton.
Today I saw Senator Grassley first give a vague statement to a reporter outside the capitol about the budget, then during an interview criticized the budget plan calling it "disportionate to the farmers". Way to go Senator Grassley. He objected the cuts in education and farming subsidies. He should if he wants to keep his job.
I think there was also a loophole closed today which allowed large corporations in farming industries money from the government. I ask you why do multi-million dollar corporations need govenment subsidies equal to the struggling farmer trying to stay afloat so he can pass down his land to his children? I'm glad the legislature agreed with me for once. Though I find it amusing that a president who signed a "No child left behind" act without funds to raise standards demanded from it, now wants to chop funds for education. I guess my former manager will be still buying office supplies for her son's school secretary like she did when I worked with her a couple years ago. Nothing has changed. My sister the school librarian is a witness in that.
Monday, February 07, 2005
Revelation
Hello again. Tonight I had the weirdo at work avoid me all night long, except the time I was listening to a coworker's instructions. He had to tell me I looked so deep in thought, yeah, it's called listening. Later, he stopped by to tell my coworker how boring Saturdays are and that I was banging my head against the counter from boredom last night. Yeah right, he is the one who can't handle boredom. Then while playing solitaire on my cell phone, he comes up next to me, breathing in my ear, to ask if I still had my ice scraper in my car. This is a conversation I have with my mother every winter, not with coworkers. No wonder he irks me so much. He is just like my mother. Next he informs me that the rain is freezing to surfaces and I interupt to inform him that I already know. He repeats himself and I tell him a second time that I already know this. One problem with Mom is that she has to know everything that goes on, but never listens.
Yesterday, while I was telling a story to somebody he comes right up, starts jabbering on about something and keeps touching me as talks, then suddenly leaves. How rude is that? So I said, As I was saying before the interuption. I also told this person that the weirdo has too much time on hands and he is so much like the busybody the man I'm talking to replaced. He has flight schedules memorized, constantly looks up flight info on his computer and informs everybody of every delay, asks every Saturday how many reservations everybody has left and when our last reservation comes, has my work schedule memorized (my impression tonight), and asked his boss if he could hook up his system to the computer to check his emails on his home computer using the company computer. The boss did OK that. Nobody liked the busybody who left either. Though I doubt this person realized nobody liked her. I was the only one who tolerated her nose in my business. I only got mad once and repeated something my Mom said earlier. The busybody informed me what size of pants I need to wear and I asked what difference did it make to her what size my pants are.
Sometimes Mom is useful, that is why I still speak to her and call once in a while so she doesn't fret over calling me at a bad time. As Mom realizes I can survive without her, the good Mom events has started to outweigh the irritating Mom arguments. I think my getting my own car insurance might have started the ball rolling on that epiphany. When my Mom told me that I can't get my own car insurance, I replied that I can and I did. That line was from the First Wives Club. Post later. Bye!
Yesterday, while I was telling a story to somebody he comes right up, starts jabbering on about something and keeps touching me as talks, then suddenly leaves. How rude is that? So I said, As I was saying before the interuption. I also told this person that the weirdo has too much time on hands and he is so much like the busybody the man I'm talking to replaced. He has flight schedules memorized, constantly looks up flight info on his computer and informs everybody of every delay, asks every Saturday how many reservations everybody has left and when our last reservation comes, has my work schedule memorized (my impression tonight), and asked his boss if he could hook up his system to the computer to check his emails on his home computer using the company computer. The boss did OK that. Nobody liked the busybody who left either. Though I doubt this person realized nobody liked her. I was the only one who tolerated her nose in my business. I only got mad once and repeated something my Mom said earlier. The busybody informed me what size of pants I need to wear and I asked what difference did it make to her what size my pants are.
Sometimes Mom is useful, that is why I still speak to her and call once in a while so she doesn't fret over calling me at a bad time. As Mom realizes I can survive without her, the good Mom events has started to outweigh the irritating Mom arguments. I think my getting my own car insurance might have started the ball rolling on that epiphany. When my Mom told me that I can't get my own car insurance, I replied that I can and I did. That line was from the First Wives Club. Post later. Bye!
Sunday, February 06, 2005
Take that Groundhog
Hello again. As we all know Groundhog day was last week predicting 6 more weeks of winter. Here the temperatures warmed up, to 61 degrees. Today we have rain lowering the temperature to 50 and snow is predicted this week. Last time snow was predicted we got nothing. Yesterday's newspaper heading read "That that Groundhog" with a large 61 next to a groundhog picture. I thought it was cute. Post later. Bye!
Rude customers
Hello again. I only worked 3 days now this week and already have stories to tell. There was the usual complaints of why won't I take a check card (can not be forced charged, but we actually say the owner blocked the use in the system, which he did) and will not take cash (you are renting a $25,000 car and we want it back). My coworker practicing her steno almost jumped in to save me, but he finally gave up arguing.
My coworker had a couple try to rent a car with cash and with the lady, who was a bitch from the get go, stating they were using her credit card for back up. Huh? We don't set up back up payments and we don't take cash. You hand over a credit card that matches the name on your driver's license or you don't get a car, period. That rule applies to every single car rental at this airport (Reason: fraud and denial of payments if signature not on contract). She then argued to the death how she didn't want her name on the contract because if a crazy person hits the car, with her friend actually driving the car, the accident would go on her driving record from her renting the car. Huh, Is this lady stupid? If there is an accident, the actually driver of the car goes on the police report. Plus, the insurance they are purchasing she argues won't cover the car if someone else hits it, just if they hit somebody. When purchsing insurance from us, it guarentees we won't ask for any money regarding damage to the car, whether someone else smashed into it or not. Does she not comprehend the way insurance works? My coworker gives the total. Third member of their party who is not part of this coversation jumps in stating that was not what we were quoted. Lady states that we will honor whatever the reservation operator told them and do whatever she wants. The hell we are. We not responsible for misinformation coming a place other than us, bitch. My coworker is advised to call the reservation line to get the scoop from the opeartor. The quote did not include all the insurance they wanted. Lady don't want to be explained this by the operator, she demands what she was quoted NOW. My coworker says he can take off the insurance and additional driver they added. NO. She gives up her argument and pays for the extra stuff. Next, her credit card does not go through. "What does that mean?", she asks. Means no car, tough cookies. They are told who takes check cards, nobody takes cash upfront. They leave. At another counter they tell somebody they will go get someone with a credit card, rental agent calls over informing my coworker they are returning. He is psyche up from all the commission he will get, he earned it. I tell him that I won't fight for them, he can have them. They do come back, without the bitch in tow. No problems the 2nd time around.
Next came the man wanting change for the telephone (making phone gesture) who did not speak much English. He held out a Canadian $20 bill. Not only can I not exchange foreign currency from not being a bank, I have no change to give. He kept asking the same question and I tried my best to explain I have no change to give him (omitting the foreign currency problem). He said, "Si, change" (Si means yes in Spanish). I simply waited for him to give up and walk away. After 5 minutes , he did.
Same night, I had to argue for 5 minutes with a man wanting to rent one of many Mustangs in the rental lot outside. We do not carry Mustangs, never did. He swore up and down that our company sign was in front of the stall of the car he wanted, NOW. I explained and argued that those Mustangs belong to another company. He informed me that our cars are parked in the lot outside. Yes they are, along with all the other rental companies' cars beside ours. Each company has a row or two in the same lot. He finally gave up and walked to the next counter.
Tonight, I had a lady (who was not an actual customer) ask me if we had only one Catholic Chrurch in this small town (if you call a state capital with 250,000 people, excluding the suburbs, as small then fine). I told her we lots of churches here. She proceded to ask where the nearest Catholic Church was from her hotel and when the churches here have services because they do not want to be late for church. I asked my coworker who is Catholic if he knew of any nearby churches. He only knew of one that he was married located in the suburbs. He leans over with a map to show her. She doesn't want a church in the suburbs, she wants one next to her hotel (one she never gives the name of). He backs off and I lean toward the phone book. She asks me in that snotty tone I often hear from people who think I'm a peon who is suppose to take verbal abuse as part my job description, "You don't know where there is a Catholic Church around here?" I stood up and told her that 1, I am not Catholic and 2, I never go to church so I am not familiar with Catholic Churches around here (sorry my sweetness wore out at this point). She demands a phone book, as if there are none by the pay phones she passed before reaching my counter. The phone book is missing in the cupboard. My coworker was using it. I look in the yellow pages for the listings of Churches-Cathlolic and point to the heading. Now she wants paper and pen, bitch. Then asks where the listing I pointed to was again. She writes a bunch down and says Thank You while dropping the pen and paper on my counter. My sweet voice says, You're Welcome. Excuse me, but does my shirt say information desk on it? I think I bitched enough for tonight. Post later. Bye!
My coworker had a couple try to rent a car with cash and with the lady, who was a bitch from the get go, stating they were using her credit card for back up. Huh? We don't set up back up payments and we don't take cash. You hand over a credit card that matches the name on your driver's license or you don't get a car, period. That rule applies to every single car rental at this airport (Reason: fraud and denial of payments if signature not on contract). She then argued to the death how she didn't want her name on the contract because if a crazy person hits the car, with her friend actually driving the car, the accident would go on her driving record from her renting the car. Huh, Is this lady stupid? If there is an accident, the actually driver of the car goes on the police report. Plus, the insurance they are purchasing she argues won't cover the car if someone else hits it, just if they hit somebody. When purchsing insurance from us, it guarentees we won't ask for any money regarding damage to the car, whether someone else smashed into it or not. Does she not comprehend the way insurance works? My coworker gives the total. Third member of their party who is not part of this coversation jumps in stating that was not what we were quoted. Lady states that we will honor whatever the reservation operator told them and do whatever she wants. The hell we are. We not responsible for misinformation coming a place other than us, bitch. My coworker is advised to call the reservation line to get the scoop from the opeartor. The quote did not include all the insurance they wanted. Lady don't want to be explained this by the operator, she demands what she was quoted NOW. My coworker says he can take off the insurance and additional driver they added. NO. She gives up her argument and pays for the extra stuff. Next, her credit card does not go through. "What does that mean?", she asks. Means no car, tough cookies. They are told who takes check cards, nobody takes cash upfront. They leave. At another counter they tell somebody they will go get someone with a credit card, rental agent calls over informing my coworker they are returning. He is psyche up from all the commission he will get, he earned it. I tell him that I won't fight for them, he can have them. They do come back, without the bitch in tow. No problems the 2nd time around.
Next came the man wanting change for the telephone (making phone gesture) who did not speak much English. He held out a Canadian $20 bill. Not only can I not exchange foreign currency from not being a bank, I have no change to give. He kept asking the same question and I tried my best to explain I have no change to give him (omitting the foreign currency problem). He said, "Si, change" (Si means yes in Spanish). I simply waited for him to give up and walk away. After 5 minutes , he did.
Same night, I had to argue for 5 minutes with a man wanting to rent one of many Mustangs in the rental lot outside. We do not carry Mustangs, never did. He swore up and down that our company sign was in front of the stall of the car he wanted, NOW. I explained and argued that those Mustangs belong to another company. He informed me that our cars are parked in the lot outside. Yes they are, along with all the other rental companies' cars beside ours. Each company has a row or two in the same lot. He finally gave up and walked to the next counter.
Tonight, I had a lady (who was not an actual customer) ask me if we had only one Catholic Chrurch in this small town (if you call a state capital with 250,000 people, excluding the suburbs, as small then fine). I told her we lots of churches here. She proceded to ask where the nearest Catholic Church was from her hotel and when the churches here have services because they do not want to be late for church. I asked my coworker who is Catholic if he knew of any nearby churches. He only knew of one that he was married located in the suburbs. He leans over with a map to show her. She doesn't want a church in the suburbs, she wants one next to her hotel (one she never gives the name of). He backs off and I lean toward the phone book. She asks me in that snotty tone I often hear from people who think I'm a peon who is suppose to take verbal abuse as part my job description, "You don't know where there is a Catholic Church around here?" I stood up and told her that 1, I am not Catholic and 2, I never go to church so I am not familiar with Catholic Churches around here (sorry my sweetness wore out at this point). She demands a phone book, as if there are none by the pay phones she passed before reaching my counter. The phone book is missing in the cupboard. My coworker was using it. I look in the yellow pages for the listings of Churches-Cathlolic and point to the heading. Now she wants paper and pen, bitch. Then asks where the listing I pointed to was again. She writes a bunch down and says Thank You while dropping the pen and paper on my counter. My sweet voice says, You're Welcome. Excuse me, but does my shirt say information desk on it? I think I bitched enough for tonight. Post later. Bye!
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
My Cast
Hello again. I thought in my last posting who should be in my book movie, if ever made of course. Lord of the Rings was a famous book for many years, but not made for the cinema for decades after it was published. If I was the casting director these would be my choices for actors (and actresses).
My favorite for a long time and the only one I tailor made the scenes to fit her role in this story: Julia Roberts playing Empress Athena. Ms. Roberts comes across as the girl next door every teenage boy wants to introduce to his parents. I see her as ambitious and full courgeous strength to become the highest paid actress of all time, until someone other actress was paid more. To keep her at the top, I think she needs more matriarchical roles, like Erin Brokovich. People are naturally attracked to powerful figures. Athena is named after the Greek goddess of wisdom which under research held the symbol of an owl and snake, resembling Harry Potter. I tried hard not to copy that. Athena symbolizes an old friend I no longer have who always wanted the best in life and fought for it. The hero of the story discovers her softer side and comments how he likes her better without the glamorous robes, jewels, furs, and gold crowns. Yes the hero is me. The hero is thought of bewitching Athena's mind, when in reality it is the other way around. When Athena dies, immortal hero, the hero proves his love for The Empress by singing a funeral song in his language and following his homeland traditions in mourning her. He even keeps a coin he traded with Athena a secret as the only thing left of their love. Many outsiders wonder why he does not gloat of his association of The Empress. He simply feels no need for any of her subjects validating his love for The Empress. The pain he feels is enough.
Another favorite, Brad Pitt as Cossus the Dragonslayer. The name came to me in a dream. A man just the right age to play the part of a older hero turned mentor and chief as he raises a family. Cossus symbolizes the mentor all heroes need to guide them into glory. Those who have no mentors fall from grace quickly. Plus I liked Brad Pitt in the movie Troy, what woman did not? I based this character after a music teacher who burned into my brain I was more than my shy reputation allowed until my ex-best friend took over that role.
After viewing The Aviator Leonardo DiCaprio as King Rychan or Alexis, the hero's best friend would be perfect for him. Mr. DiCaprio impressed me with portraying weakness and strength in The Aviator. The name Rychan I made up from two former childhood and teenage friends, Ryan and Rick, which should help in the pronounciation. Rychan symbolizes the anti-prince charming my friends were. Heir to the throne he is a popular sought out figure, but is cursed by a witch after his birth (Sleeping Beauty theme) and has seizures no wizard could cure. This curse causes lack of confidence and doubts of his future reign. His mother Athena makes him a king of another region from lack of faith in his ability to rule an empire. The hero (me) sees him as someone needing to break out of the mold he was placed in to become the man he is. Meeting Rychan as an adult complicates things, the damage to his faith has already been done. His wife is the controlling bitch from hell who leaves her husband to live a separate life and adopts a fallen soldier's daughter as her own since all her children died in infancy, blamed on Rychan's curse. Rychan eventually gains courage under stressfull circumstances where his wife is gaining enemies and Rychan must choose whether to lose his kingdom to rebels or control his wife's cruelties. He becomes the king the hero knew was there all along. And no the wife is not my opinion of Ryan's or Rick's wife, I don't even know them enough to form much of an opinion. I think Mr. DiCaprio could pull that off.
Alexis (variation of my niece's name), the hero's best friend, symbolizes Ryan's nasty side. Rick's nasty side is another character. Alexis is conniving, sneaky, and charming liar who falls in love with a girl out of his league. Alexis shows much of the hero's true nature, mostly hidden, in manipulation to get what the hero wants, but in loving and thoughtful ways. Alexis is also a loyal friend when it counts and when it doesn't matter. That's the Ryan I remember. Mr. DiCaprio could play the contradicting sides of this character too.
Another star I admire is Madonna. I think she's good even if she models Marilyn Monroe's struggle to be viewed by the movie producers as a serious actress. I read both biographies. She shall play Iris named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow. She symbolizes the core center of strength for the hero when all others who boosted his ego are gone. I recall one interview with Madonna being asked what her father thought of the outrageous behavior she is often criticized for. She answered that her father loved her no matter what she does. I think that is why Madonna can weather any storm that hits her, she knows she is loved. That is Iris's job in the story. She puts crumpled Humpty Dumpty back together when he is in pain. The Iris in my life is the grandma who died 2 days before my 9th birthday who gave enough love to last a lifetime. If she had not died, I probably would be a very different person. When I look back on my life's accomplishments I think about if grandma would be proud of me. I thought no because I was not following my dreams, until now. Iris also reflects much of the Alexis character. A coworker said she did not like Iris because she is so manipulative to the hero. She didn't get why these 2 characters cared for each other.
Elijah Wood or Hayden Christensen should play Emperor Rurick the Conqueror. This part calls for a young hottie because Rurick is introduced as a boy and dies young, like Alexander the Great. I got the name Rurick (or Rurik) from a book about Russian Czars. Rurick's symbolizes prince charming every girl wants to marry. While writing Rurick's scenes I kept in mind the theme of "Everybody loves Rurick". Rurick is my best friend Rick's snake charming personality and dashing good looks that led to Rick's arrogance, phony charm I saw right through, and screwing around with half the girls in school. That is until my character smacks him back down to earth and deflates his enormous ego. Emperor Rurick also is insecure and untrusting of people repeatedly using him to benefit themselves more than Rurick. Rurick has great respect and admiration for the story's hero he views as his only honest friend who never bows to him as Emperor. As a boy, Rurick is described much as my first impressions of Rick when we first became friends in the 6th grade, before a girl in the 9th grade crushed his spirit and he began he bad boy reputation to keep from getting hurt again. I don't think he really loved any of his girlfriends in high school. He dated only popular girls his guy friends approved. I didn't like any of them because he always picked the brainless, jealous of me, with huge boobs that did not impress me at all, and only dated him because he was popular type of girl. Why should I like a girl set on splitting Rick from me? I don't give a shit about her popularity, Rick was my friend, not hers. I, on the other hand, was a safe person he could show his vulnerable side to without fear of my reaction. When asked (I think about 11th grade) why I was not banging with Rick like everyone else. I said that I was Rick's friend, not his whore. The boy needed an explanation what I meant by that. If he didn't know the difference between friendship and romance, I didn't know how to explain it. When Rick ripped his friendship away, I, like my hero, mourned the loss like no other. That is my relationship with Rick and Rurick.
Geoffrey Rush should be the antagonist Andos. I varied the name from the Andes Mountains. Andos is the troublemaker for the hero. There has to be a villian or one has no story. I shouldn't say this, but much of his behavior in the story is modeled after my Mom. I've seen Mr. Rush in several movies and thought he played good guys as well as bad guys so I am positive he could bring out Andos's insecurities and bulliness well. My Mom and I are a complicated story. I despise her need to control everything and asking intruding questions that are none of her business. But the hero falls into a tight friendship with Andos's daughter Iris. The hero's best revenge is being happy. Of course Andos constantly loses battles with the hero, but never gives up.
I think Eminem (sorry fans if I spelled it wrong) should play the flip side of my hero's personality and his son, Eurick. Eurick (or Euric) symbolizes my lack of confidence, lonliness, awkwardness, and shyness I tried all my life to shed, but sporadically reappears. I got the name Euric from an encyclopedia entry. He was a King of the Visogoths (ancient settlers of Germania as the Mongol Huns pushed west). I think the rapper I never really seen in his hit movie or videos, nor listen to his music, must have something going to get so much attention and awards for his controversial lyrics. I think (I can always be wrong) that this rapper purposely infuriates people in order to get public attention and record sells, much like Madonna in the 1980's. Though I read some article that his movie is just playing himself and his rise to stardom. Um, that is not acting, that is a reality show. Acting is convincing audiences you are someone other than yourself, hence the word acting. I am one to give people a chance, just ask Rick or Ryan who had plenty of chances and my repeated forgiveness, and give this young starlet an opportunity to play a character who is nothing like his reputation. Eurick does not fit in anywhere he goes and is comfortable being invisible.
And now the hero, Alaric. I got the name from the King of the Visogoths who fought against the Roman Empire. Either Orlando Bloom or Cory Haim should be the male version of me. My hero had to be male because great heroes in ancient tales are men. Women play sultry witches who get their hearts broken by the hero or dreams of marrying the hero come true. I saw a Hollywood True story on Mr. Haim and am one to give people chances to prove what kind of an actor they are. I don't recall any of his movies. As for Mr. Bloom all I can say is "Why is he not headlining his movie parts?" He keeps playing second fiddle and I want to see him in a starring role. I know from his past movies he can deliver a wonderful performance and capture the hearts of lots of women like Mr. Pitt.
If anyone is wondering, I do have characters Ryan, the god of chaos and mischief, and Master Ricky the Giant because compared to me he is one. In a scene in my second novel I place the main theme of my heroic character. Ricky says to Alaric, "I envied your courage and wanted to be like you." My response, "I wanted to be you too, until I found the courage to be me." That is my hero's personality. I think this posting is long enough. Later!
My favorite for a long time and the only one I tailor made the scenes to fit her role in this story: Julia Roberts playing Empress Athena. Ms. Roberts comes across as the girl next door every teenage boy wants to introduce to his parents. I see her as ambitious and full courgeous strength to become the highest paid actress of all time, until someone other actress was paid more. To keep her at the top, I think she needs more matriarchical roles, like Erin Brokovich. People are naturally attracked to powerful figures. Athena is named after the Greek goddess of wisdom which under research held the symbol of an owl and snake, resembling Harry Potter. I tried hard not to copy that. Athena symbolizes an old friend I no longer have who always wanted the best in life and fought for it. The hero of the story discovers her softer side and comments how he likes her better without the glamorous robes, jewels, furs, and gold crowns. Yes the hero is me. The hero is thought of bewitching Athena's mind, when in reality it is the other way around. When Athena dies, immortal hero, the hero proves his love for The Empress by singing a funeral song in his language and following his homeland traditions in mourning her. He even keeps a coin he traded with Athena a secret as the only thing left of their love. Many outsiders wonder why he does not gloat of his association of The Empress. He simply feels no need for any of her subjects validating his love for The Empress. The pain he feels is enough.
Another favorite, Brad Pitt as Cossus the Dragonslayer. The name came to me in a dream. A man just the right age to play the part of a older hero turned mentor and chief as he raises a family. Cossus symbolizes the mentor all heroes need to guide them into glory. Those who have no mentors fall from grace quickly. Plus I liked Brad Pitt in the movie Troy, what woman did not? I based this character after a music teacher who burned into my brain I was more than my shy reputation allowed until my ex-best friend took over that role.
After viewing The Aviator Leonardo DiCaprio as King Rychan or Alexis, the hero's best friend would be perfect for him. Mr. DiCaprio impressed me with portraying weakness and strength in The Aviator. The name Rychan I made up from two former childhood and teenage friends, Ryan and Rick, which should help in the pronounciation. Rychan symbolizes the anti-prince charming my friends were. Heir to the throne he is a popular sought out figure, but is cursed by a witch after his birth (Sleeping Beauty theme) and has seizures no wizard could cure. This curse causes lack of confidence and doubts of his future reign. His mother Athena makes him a king of another region from lack of faith in his ability to rule an empire. The hero (me) sees him as someone needing to break out of the mold he was placed in to become the man he is. Meeting Rychan as an adult complicates things, the damage to his faith has already been done. His wife is the controlling bitch from hell who leaves her husband to live a separate life and adopts a fallen soldier's daughter as her own since all her children died in infancy, blamed on Rychan's curse. Rychan eventually gains courage under stressfull circumstances where his wife is gaining enemies and Rychan must choose whether to lose his kingdom to rebels or control his wife's cruelties. He becomes the king the hero knew was there all along. And no the wife is not my opinion of Ryan's or Rick's wife, I don't even know them enough to form much of an opinion. I think Mr. DiCaprio could pull that off.
Alexis (variation of my niece's name), the hero's best friend, symbolizes Ryan's nasty side. Rick's nasty side is another character. Alexis is conniving, sneaky, and charming liar who falls in love with a girl out of his league. Alexis shows much of the hero's true nature, mostly hidden, in manipulation to get what the hero wants, but in loving and thoughtful ways. Alexis is also a loyal friend when it counts and when it doesn't matter. That's the Ryan I remember. Mr. DiCaprio could play the contradicting sides of this character too.
Another star I admire is Madonna. I think she's good even if she models Marilyn Monroe's struggle to be viewed by the movie producers as a serious actress. I read both biographies. She shall play Iris named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow. She symbolizes the core center of strength for the hero when all others who boosted his ego are gone. I recall one interview with Madonna being asked what her father thought of the outrageous behavior she is often criticized for. She answered that her father loved her no matter what she does. I think that is why Madonna can weather any storm that hits her, she knows she is loved. That is Iris's job in the story. She puts crumpled Humpty Dumpty back together when he is in pain. The Iris in my life is the grandma who died 2 days before my 9th birthday who gave enough love to last a lifetime. If she had not died, I probably would be a very different person. When I look back on my life's accomplishments I think about if grandma would be proud of me. I thought no because I was not following my dreams, until now. Iris also reflects much of the Alexis character. A coworker said she did not like Iris because she is so manipulative to the hero. She didn't get why these 2 characters cared for each other.
Elijah Wood or Hayden Christensen should play Emperor Rurick the Conqueror. This part calls for a young hottie because Rurick is introduced as a boy and dies young, like Alexander the Great. I got the name Rurick (or Rurik) from a book about Russian Czars. Rurick's symbolizes prince charming every girl wants to marry. While writing Rurick's scenes I kept in mind the theme of "Everybody loves Rurick". Rurick is my best friend Rick's snake charming personality and dashing good looks that led to Rick's arrogance, phony charm I saw right through, and screwing around with half the girls in school. That is until my character smacks him back down to earth and deflates his enormous ego. Emperor Rurick also is insecure and untrusting of people repeatedly using him to benefit themselves more than Rurick. Rurick has great respect and admiration for the story's hero he views as his only honest friend who never bows to him as Emperor. As a boy, Rurick is described much as my first impressions of Rick when we first became friends in the 6th grade, before a girl in the 9th grade crushed his spirit and he began he bad boy reputation to keep from getting hurt again. I don't think he really loved any of his girlfriends in high school. He dated only popular girls his guy friends approved. I didn't like any of them because he always picked the brainless, jealous of me, with huge boobs that did not impress me at all, and only dated him because he was popular type of girl. Why should I like a girl set on splitting Rick from me? I don't give a shit about her popularity, Rick was my friend, not hers. I, on the other hand, was a safe person he could show his vulnerable side to without fear of my reaction. When asked (I think about 11th grade) why I was not banging with Rick like everyone else. I said that I was Rick's friend, not his whore. The boy needed an explanation what I meant by that. If he didn't know the difference between friendship and romance, I didn't know how to explain it. When Rick ripped his friendship away, I, like my hero, mourned the loss like no other. That is my relationship with Rick and Rurick.
Geoffrey Rush should be the antagonist Andos. I varied the name from the Andes Mountains. Andos is the troublemaker for the hero. There has to be a villian or one has no story. I shouldn't say this, but much of his behavior in the story is modeled after my Mom. I've seen Mr. Rush in several movies and thought he played good guys as well as bad guys so I am positive he could bring out Andos's insecurities and bulliness well. My Mom and I are a complicated story. I despise her need to control everything and asking intruding questions that are none of her business. But the hero falls into a tight friendship with Andos's daughter Iris. The hero's best revenge is being happy. Of course Andos constantly loses battles with the hero, but never gives up.
I think Eminem (sorry fans if I spelled it wrong) should play the flip side of my hero's personality and his son, Eurick. Eurick (or Euric) symbolizes my lack of confidence, lonliness, awkwardness, and shyness I tried all my life to shed, but sporadically reappears. I got the name Euric from an encyclopedia entry. He was a King of the Visogoths (ancient settlers of Germania as the Mongol Huns pushed west). I think the rapper I never really seen in his hit movie or videos, nor listen to his music, must have something going to get so much attention and awards for his controversial lyrics. I think (I can always be wrong) that this rapper purposely infuriates people in order to get public attention and record sells, much like Madonna in the 1980's. Though I read some article that his movie is just playing himself and his rise to stardom. Um, that is not acting, that is a reality show. Acting is convincing audiences you are someone other than yourself, hence the word acting. I am one to give people a chance, just ask Rick or Ryan who had plenty of chances and my repeated forgiveness, and give this young starlet an opportunity to play a character who is nothing like his reputation. Eurick does not fit in anywhere he goes and is comfortable being invisible.
And now the hero, Alaric. I got the name from the King of the Visogoths who fought against the Roman Empire. Either Orlando Bloom or Cory Haim should be the male version of me. My hero had to be male because great heroes in ancient tales are men. Women play sultry witches who get their hearts broken by the hero or dreams of marrying the hero come true. I saw a Hollywood True story on Mr. Haim and am one to give people chances to prove what kind of an actor they are. I don't recall any of his movies. As for Mr. Bloom all I can say is "Why is he not headlining his movie parts?" He keeps playing second fiddle and I want to see him in a starring role. I know from his past movies he can deliver a wonderful performance and capture the hearts of lots of women like Mr. Pitt.
If anyone is wondering, I do have characters Ryan, the god of chaos and mischief, and Master Ricky the Giant because compared to me he is one. In a scene in my second novel I place the main theme of my heroic character. Ricky says to Alaric, "I envied your courage and wanted to be like you." My response, "I wanted to be you too, until I found the courage to be me." That is my hero's personality. I think this posting is long enough. Later!
The Aviator
Hello again. I had a fun 3 days off. Laundry, shopping, buying Vanity Fair's cover on Star Wars, and interviewing for a volunteer position. I also saw The Aviator starring Leonardo DiCaprio and even splurged on popcorn and pop, which led to the restroom during a panicking crash scene. There were about 7 people in the theater, on a Monday afternoon. It was a bit long face wondering when this thing will be over, but that could be from the urge to use the restroom. Then I wondered what is this thing about, Howard Hughes hobnobbing with stars or his insanity. That question was answered, both. I guess I should have figured that out in the opening scene with Howard's mother making him spell quarentine, he feared germs leading to his insanity taking over his brain at the ending scene. The ending was a bit abrupt after a long duration of the man's film and airplane career. The part I like the most and think Mr. DiCaprio did an excellent job in was the congress hearings where His Character was twitching with nerves of all the pressmen snapping his photo constantly as he spoke and sat silently, but managed the courage to stand up to Alan Alda's character and turn the tables around asking Him questions about his dealings with Alec Baldwin's character. That was excellent acting skills. I am probably one of the few people in the world who can separate The Character from The Actor. When an actor makes the audience believe his character is real, they're doing a good job. It also made me think a bit more about my book being made into a movie. I'm sure people will ask when it gets published who I would like the cast to be. I'll answer that in my next posting. Post soon. Bye!
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