Met a Senator

I just met 1 of Iowa's senators who work in Washington. Senator Harkin
rented a car from my coworker and my coworker thought he was the
governor. I corrected him. I was in the middle of a yawn when I noticed
him grabbing his bags and didn't think to ask for his autograph or stand
for a picture on my cell phone. Oh well. Post later. Bye!

Bad day

What the hell is this, Yell at the Sales Clerk Day? OK, nobody actually
shouted, just angry with me for following the company's rules.

One said to me, "You don't care, you just want your money?" and "How
would you feel being mistreated. You wouldn't like it would you."
Whatever. If he is trying to pick a fight with me, he picked the wrong
person to screw with. Threaten me all you want how you won't rent from
us again when it was your coworker who rented the car with her club
discount. If she has rented lots of cars as you say, then she should
know the rules by now. As I often say when reciting stories to people,
Take your bull shit someplace else cause it ain't working over here.

As for the angry customer who threatened to take a college contract away
from us because he didn't like his rate, all I can say is negotiate a
better rate next time and good luck finding a company that treats you
better. I fratenize with the compeition so I know we are all not that
different in rules and regulations from other companies. Post later.
Bye!

New planet

What shall we call this 10th planet that has been discovered? Whatever the name, it must go with My Very Educated Mother Just Sold Us Nine Pizzas sentence that helps school children recall the order of the planets from the sun.
Here are a few suggestions.
Following the Greek and Roman Mythology tradition the other planets and moons have, except for Uranus moons named after Alexander Pope and William Shakespeare story characters.
1. Leander, lover of Hero who drowned in the sea during a storm when Hero's light could not be seen.
2. Cassandra who received the gift of phophecy from Apollo, but when rejected his love he cursed her phophecies so no one would believe her when the Trojan Horse entered the city of Troy.
3. Penelope who married Ulysses and waited 20 years for his return. Not believing he was lost at sea she wove a cloth during the day and unraveled it a night so she would not complete it.
4. Persephone who was kidnapped by Hades (Pluto) and became goddess of the underworld half the year and returned to her mother Demeter the other half.
5. Aeneas who was the son of Venus was saved from the fall of Troy and sailed to Rome becoming Virgil.
6. Aelous, Greek god of winds.
7. Vesta, Roman goddess of the hearth.
8. Diana, Roman goddess of the hun.
9. Athena, Greek goddess of wisdom.
10. Irene, Greek goddess of peace.
Can't think up anymore good names. Feel free to share yours. Post later.

Stupid bitch

Pardon my language, in the entry name. A customer made a complaint how someone parked their personal car in her spot where she picked up her car rental and proceeded to tell me which spot it was in. She parked next to it. I knew it was my car. We parked our cars in the return lots because they are closer than the employee parking lot a mile away.

Anyway when she said next to it, I naturally assumed she meant the parking space next to it. No, the stupid bitch (pardon the b-word) parked in the open area with no lines inches from grazing my car. I was not happy. I also had a heck of time getting out of the spot without hitting any cars. There was an empty space behind me. It would feel awkward giving my boss a bill for the damage on my car a customer caused. Of course he would just write me a check and charge the amount to the customer.

I have to place that in my car rental blog that rental cars do not have assigned seats. A lot of customers think they must park their car in the same spot they got it from. Many complain the rental lot is gated (FAA mandate) so they can't get in to return their car in the same spot. I guess they did not notice the gates when they exited the lot. I guess they also missed the car return sign before they reached the lot. I am ready for bed. Post later. Bye!

Wired

One negative aspect of working the night shift that is the fact of being
sleepy for hours waiting for a delayed flight a customer is on, then go
home to feel wired. I swear after driving home, changing clothes,
brushing my teeth, and finally reaching my soft, warm bed to suddenly
wake up and can't fall asleep. It must be the excitement of going home
that us feel that way. My coworkers get the same thing happening to
them. It is very annoying the next day when you have to get up and
can't wake up again. Post later. Bye!

Rick Springfield

I just saw Rick Springfield at the airport. Yes the Rick Springfield
famous from General Hospital in the 80's. He was cuddling a puppy so I
didn't want to disturb him. Plus I didn't recognize him at all and my
coworker had tell me which one he was. I asked my coworker to get his
autograph, but he wouldn't do it.

A customer who rented a car from us said he was on her flight and my
coworker went looking for him. He had a baseball cap and sunglasses
complete with earphones hanging down. He wore a black sweater and baggy
blue jeans. He had 2 carts full of black boxes pushed out. That is all I
have to tell. Post later. Bye!

Hi Cory

Despite my name on this journal, you found the right one. It's me. Hope
you enjoy my journal.

For those of you who are not Cory: I ran into a familiar face today at
work, which is always nice. That don't happen to much at the airport.
Once I rented a car to a familiar face and he didn't even recognize me.
After I said my name, he remembered me and asked how I was. Anyway, post
later. Bye!

Expired license

I had to turn away a customer today. His license expired yesterday. I
checked our book for a grace period. No grace period for his state. I
can't rent a car to an expired license no matter how bad I feel for him.
He said he was here for a funeral too. Poor man. Post later. Bye!

Reminders

I swear I have to constantly remind my family not to send internet
attachments to my work email address. Sure I can send and receive email
at work, but internet access is firewalled so I often can't view photos
and sites they include in their emails. I would have thought by now they
would be used to me having 3 email addresses: 1 at work, 1 on my cell
phone, and 1 on my computer. Weirdoes. Post later. Bye!

Bathtub time

I visited my sister's house tonight. I had to clean my volunteer uniform. We discussed going to the local amusement park on Monday and where she disappeared to that freaked Mom out. They went to visit friends and family and saw a parade at one. We had a barbeque on the deck and she invited a couple neighbor ladies over for ice cream. It was nice and cool. I walked the baby around. Though my sister said the baby specialist said nothing was wrong with the baby to prevent her from walking and sitting up, she did mention to the neighbor ladies that there might be water on her brain to slow down her development in walking. At age 2 to 3 that should level out. She also has soft muscles that don't help with coordnation and balance. I think the baby's biggest problem is parental impatience because the comparing of children is inevitable. Once the baby walked to fast and tripped over her feet. Luckily, I holding her hands so she didn't hit the deck with her face. She liked walking back and forth and stopped at the deck steps. She can step up with assistance, but has yet to master stepping down. She also started kissing my sister. She has yet to kiss me.

After the visit, my sister got the tub ready for the baby's bath. Then the phone rang and my Mom doesn't get off the phone easily. So I helped at stripping the baby so she can have a warm bath. Once I got her in the tub, she played a few minutes. Next she peed in the water. My sister said it was alright as she kept telling Mom she had to bathe the baby before the water turned cold. Well, I ended up giving the bath. The baby grabbed the soap bottle and held it up against her chest. She said "soap", but my sister didn't hear it. She also grabbed the shampoo bottle, so I washed the baby off. She made faces as I squeezed a wet rag over her hair. My sister said I was much gentler at bathing than she is. I believe that. My older nieces preferred me combing their hair when they were little because I more gentler doing it. At the end, Mom finally stopped yapping so my sister got the towel out and dressed the baby. My sister was happy when the baby came over to me with a book to read. When I left the baby said "bye, bye" with a incomprehensible word afterwards. Maybe next week she will say my name. Post later. Bye!

Dusting

On the news tonight I hear of a new fad for teens getting high, dusting. And the dusting addicts are called dusters. I do not know if this means teens are more creative than adults think or they spend too much time bored at home to come up with inhaling a spray that cleans dust on computer keyboards complete with long tube to get in between the keys. These cleaning products produce a high from blocking oxygen to the brain. I guess with the new cold medicine laws teens had to stop swallowing whole bottles of cold medicines to get high. The dusters have caught the attention of the police and now one must show identification when buying these products to prove one is 18-years-old. Maybe I should bring this up with a coworker who likes to get high. I am sure he would test the effect with our keyboard cleaner. Post later. Bye!

Computer question

Yesterday my Mom asked about copying photos on her computer. She has
done this before so I am unsure why she is asking this. She doesn't know
how to do the coloring to copy the pictures properly. I express
confusion and anger at her consistantly asking me electronics questions.
She once asked me why she had trouble with the sound with her answering
machine. Plus, she has my brother's old computer, so really can't answer
her question.

I know nothing how electronics work. Sure I own a phone, but that don't
mean I know how it works. I have computer, but don't use half the keys
from not knowing what they are for. My brother is an electrical engineer
who more suitable to answer these questions. I ask why she is not
pestering him. She is asking me because I'm there. Whatever. Post later.
Bye!

Much Ado About Nothing

Today our heat wave waned a little from the rainstorm last night and rain this morning. It's lovely now. At my museum volunteering I ate squash seeds for the first time. The intern soaked them in salt water after chopping up the squash, then baked them in the oven. They taste just like potato chips, though a little too sweet and salty to eat very many of them at once.

Today I helped the daycamp kids fill the wood box. After baking, I watered the plants. We have plenty of aloe plants for burns. I baked snickerdoodles for the first time. I needed a little instruction since the dough was really sticky and the recipe said to roll dough balls in a cinnamon and sugar mixture. An important part was not copied down. Usually, one refrigerates the dough before rolling into balls. Since we skipped the refrigerator part, a lady there used two spoons to make the balls and sprinkle the cinnamon and sugar on them. Snickerdoodles are just like a sugar cookie, except for the cinnamon added to the sprinkled sugar. They are having a fair at the museum and I contributed one package of snickerdoodles to buy.

They insisted I take some cookies home after mentioning the first time I baked at the museum was a spice cake. My Mom was shocked it was good to eat. Mom has a strong conviction that I am a bad cook and my nieces refuse to eat anything I make because Grandma said I can't cook. Truth is I can cook, I just don't have time to do a lot of it.

Too bad I saw Mom yesterday and won't be again for a while. I went to my parents' to get my oil changed in my car for free, courtesy of Dad. My Mom was quite panicked that I was not coming when I called her at noon. She should know by now I sleep until noon or 1. Then she asked where my sister was. She had called the day before and got no answer. Sunday was my brother-in-law's birthday so I presumed they were out celebrating it. Then that morning she left a message and sister had not called her back yet. She asked if maybe something happened to them. My sister did mention to Mom once that her husband had three days off about this time and were going somewhere. Well then, I'm guessing they went somewhere and not kidnapped. Mom is funny sometimes. I emailed my sister saying thanks for panicking Mom.

No more stories for today. Post later. Bye!

My niece has a blog

My oldest niece started a blog and had a couple entries to share with me. I am so proud. Though she uses her real name and I do not. You never know if you talking to a saint or Jack the Ripper on the internet so I try to be as anonymous as possible. Post later. Bye!

De-tasseling

It is that time of year again for detasseling corn. Generally, corn is
knee high by the 4th of July and now is taller than people. Usually,
teenagers take jobs pulling the top of a corn stalk called a tassel off
so the corn tassels in the next rows will pollinate it. I never did it.
It is not fun even if it pays well. One walks in long sleeve shirts and
pants in the summer heat and wander in corn rows one can easily get lost
in. I hear coworkers talk how their kids or grandkids are detasseling.
In high school, people I knew got bad sunburns from not wearing a hat or
sunscreen. Post later. Bye!

Pleasant Surprise

Today a former employee returned from his trip to Alaska and showed us photos on his cell phone of the sun shining almost 24 hours a day. One more photo was of the snow capped mountains that are that way all year long and another was a moose. Once in a blue moon does one find a moose in Iowa. He was sorry to come back to this weather. It is nice and cool there, though warmer than the native Alaskans enjoy. He had a huge box of frozen fish that was thawing so he had to go. It was nice to see him. Apparently his wife called his cell phone to make sure he come back safely during the picture show. It may be just me, but I am used to couples going on vacations together instead of separately. Whatever makes them happy. Post later. Bye!

I got a tip

I received a phone call asking about things left in the customer's car
they returned a few hours ago. I took a # to call back so they would
have to remain on hold. I checked the car to find the items he inquired
over and an item he did not inquire about. When the customer came to
retrieve the items, he asked if it was me who checked the car. I said
yes. He gave me $2 as he thanked me. I replied, And thank you. Post
later. Bye!

Ragbrai cometh

The Des Moines Register (newspaper) sponsors a bicycle ride across the
state of Iowa. The route changes every year. It goes through little
towns and overnight stops in larger towns. It is great publicity for
tiny towns rarely mentioned in the news. Every town has gifts for the
bicyclists. It has gotten so popular that they had to reject
participates and refund the deposit this year.

Today is the start of Ragbrai with the bicyclists dipping their tires in
the Missouri River and partying at Stopover #1. 5 days from now they
will finish their journey to the other side of Iowa and dip their tires
in the Mississippi River. It is not a race like Tour de France so no
yellow jacket will rewarded. Ragbrai is just bicycle ride across the
state with lots of free souvinirs and free food for the participants.
Post later. Bye!

Question of the Day

Do you know if any flights are being delayed because of the heat?

My answer: No ma'am.

Airplanes fly through all temperatures and may only be delayed due to
heavy winds and ice.

Dog Days of Summer

This week was announced as a large heat wave covering the country. In
Iowa, we call it the Dog Days of Summer. Last part of July and early
part of August are the most hot and humid days of the year so that time
period is given a title. Post later. Bye!

Sad story

This week my coworker got a surprise, and so did we. I discovered a
coworker was adopted by his stepfather and real his father had
absolutely no contact with him all his life. Suddenly, his real father
called up his mother to ask for my coworker's phone number. His mother
refused to give it to him saying she would deliver a message. My
coworker never called the man to find out what he wanted. His father has
lived in the same city all these years and never once contacted my
coworker who is in his early 20's. That's sad.

Another coworker at another job had a similar lost loss relative
contact. When her father was in the hospital, he told her she had a
younger brother she never knew about. She was furious. She refused to
come over when he died, but did go to the funeral to ask people about
her brother. A female relative told her where to find him with his name
and age. She immediately contacted him to discover that her brother knew
about her existance, but did not know where to look. His searches for
her came up to dead ends. At least after 36 years she got a brother, she
thought she was an only child.

I am glad I will never have an experience like that. My Mom does family
history research so I know all about close and distant relatives, past
and present, whether I want to or not. Though my sister and her husband
found out after they were married that they are distant cousins, though
his dead mother's side. That was a little creepy. Post later. Bye!

Witchy woman

Had customer call declaring her car did not start and it was in a
parking garage. My coworker offers to do a car exchange for her. No, she
does not desire a car exchange because does not need it anymore. So my
coworker sent 2 guys out to jump start the car and bring it back. On the
way to the parking garage, the customer shows up at the airport counter.
She further complains how inconvenient it was to physical lock all the
doors. I am guessing the automatic lock button did not work because the
car battery was dead. The woman continues with this was the worse car
she ever rented, hated the company coupon stipulations, and will never
rent from our company again.

She demands compensation for the dead car, the understay fee removed,
and the gas fee removed. The understay fee we remove without being asked
and would not charge for gas for a broken down car anyway. The
compensation for her inconveinence will be nothing. We are paying the
fee to drive the car out of the parking garage, paying for the gas, and
for a new battery. Plus, we offered to exchane cars. We do not
compensate a customer who left a light in the car all day, that must be
manually turned off and on, thus making the car battery die. I can tell
there is a full moon outside. Post later. Bye!

Computer glitch

I had a routine return of a vehicle, until I saw the printout. Odd, it
printed the unlimited mileage line twice, the frequent flyer miles line
twice, and the taxes lines twice. We naturally assumed it was a printer
problem. My coworker examines it closer to notice there was an
outstanding balance equal to the amount of the taxes being charged
twice. That is what the computer says too. Do not know why it did that.
When I returned it, there was no extra amount needing to be charged. My
coworker calls the manager at home and fixes the problem so customer
will not be complaining. Of course we check if any other receipts are
that way. No, it was a one time glitch. Though, I saw a full moon last
night. Post later. Bye!

Finished Harry Potter

After 2 days and hours upon hours of reading, I finished Harry Potter
#6. Very intriquing who R.A.B is leaving a note in the fake treasure
Dumbledore died getting. I racked my brain going through past books. Ms.
Rowling has a way of bringing up people and subjects in prior books in
her tales.
First I tried to figure out someone with a last name beginning with B.
The note began with To the Dark Lord, only followers call him that. Next
line was I know I will be dead long before you read this but I want you
to know that it was I who discovered your secret. This had to be a
follower believing he would be killed from betraying The Dark Lord
because he had a conscience, and has been killed in a prior book I
guessed.
I checked Book #4 for when The Dark Lord returned for clues. He said all
his followers knew the measures he took to insure immortality, so not
necessarily a close contact of him wrote this note. In book #5, his
followers knew about the phophecy that finished the note. Figuring the
traitor was not present at The Dark Lord's return, I looked at #6 again.
I was looking for names when the new potions professor talked about his
past students, when I recalled Harry's godfather had family who were
followers, but he was not one and became the black sheep of the family.
I also recalled his brother was killed as a follower. I went back to
book #5 to read what his name was. Regulus Black. He joined the
followers, freaked out, and then murdered. I think I found R.A.B.
He hoped that when the lord met his match that he would be mortal again.
We know Harry is the one who can defeat him. Though it will be
interesting how she will pull that one off. The phophecy said neither
can live while the other survives, so they would both die at the same
time. Though in #4, they shoot spells at each other in the graveyeard
and learn 2 people with the same source of magic in their wands
(established in #1) can not fight each other leaving the lord and Harry
floating in shock. Book #7 I can tell will be interesting.
Too bad Ms. Rowling doesn't give out middle names. I think #6 has
Harry's middle name for the first time. Ms. Rowling will probably change
who wrote the note after reading this. Post later. Bye!

New blog

I created a new blog to show my novel on the internet. Many people at work have encouraged me to publish it myself if book publishers reject it. I shall see if it gets anyone's attention. I am in the editing process so to date only the first 4 chapters and Prologue are on the site. Check out thehermitnovel.blogspot.com. Post later.

Iowa has made it to Inside Edition

Iowa State University has demolished 2 dormitories the past few days (I think on Monday morning) and the event was shown on the news show Inside Edition. Wow, I didn't think THAT would make the national news but obviously it did. Post later. Bye!

Family Reunion

I went to a family reunion today. We had a potluck dinner. My Mom's cousin said that there was so much food brought that if you leave starving it will be your own fault. We took turns holding my baby niece. When the baby needed a nap, her father fell asleep before the baby did. We stayed in the air conditioned house while most of the men played horseshoes outside and chatted under a tree. My Mom's aunt took a rest of the floor. I guess a bed or couch was not good enough. My older 2 nieces got the new Harry Potter book. The 17-year-old read it in 9 hours and did not like the ending. She did not think #6 was a great as the first 5. The 13-year-old niece continued reading it today. She said it was not not too scary and evil for her to handle. I glanced at the first couple pages about the Prime Minister receiving a message. I have to wait til tomorrow to read it. I was not at home when the book came in the mail. I had a lovely time telling my aunts about my museum work and still in my apartment because I learned to hate moving.

I made it home to realize all my cables channels are back, finally. I guess they got done messing up the system. I asked my oldest neice if she finished reading the book I made for her. Not yet. I asked if it was too difficult to read. She said no, just a busy bee without much time on her hands to read it. Yet, she read Harry Potter in one day. I hope my improvements to my story spice it up enough to keep people's attention. I also placed on my blog a site meter to know how many people read my web journaling. So far I am the only person who has looked at it since 1 AM Friday. I decided to delte this blog if I still have zero hits in a week's time. I'll place my energy to write elsewhere. I have 3 blogs. Post later. Bye!

Teens with credit cards

I ran into a problem with a couple who did not have a credit card to
rent a car, only checkcards we do not take. But their under 18 son had a
credit card to use. Can't take a credit card from someone under age. By
law, under age 18 can not legally sign contracts and any contract signed
will be voided by the courts. How does a kid have a credit card and his
parents do not? Maybe it was a prepaid credit card we don't accept
either. Oh well, make somebody mad every day. Post later. Bye!

Inventive

Today I washed my hair right before work. It did not dry well in my air
conditioned apartment, so I forget to place in barrettes to hold my
bangs back. I tried a rubber band, but my tiny hairs hit my eyelashes.
Going nuts, I walk over to the gift shop to find zero hair assessories
there. At a last resort, I put in paper clips. I had to twist it to
slide it in like a bobby pin. Whatever works. Post later. Bye!

My coworker is crazy

I knew it. My coworker with the former boyfriend leaving threatening
messages yesterday never called the police, even when she has a
restraining order against the man. My coworker has lost her mine. At
least her boyfriend did file a complaint. He answered the phone to
listen to the criminal threaten him too. He also informed the guy that
when he hung up that he was calling the police and his parole officer.
He got a case number from the police and gave it to the man's parole
officer. Hopefully, that will solve the problem for a while. Post later.
Bye!

Countdown to Harry Potter

It is that time again waiting for the new Harry Potter book to come out
of hiding. I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve. I preordered mine. I
received a message of rush delivery on the day it comes out, but alas, I
work tomorrow. Post offices close on Sundays so I probably get it on
Monday. I haven't received the DVDs I ordered last week, so maybe all of
it will come at once. If anyone would like to drop a comment how the new
book is, I will be grateful. Post later of my book review. Bye!

Winning the lottery

Why does getting a pair of earphones that last longer than a month feel like winning the lottery? I had to discard a good set of earphones I had about a year because the pads wore off and one can not just buy the pads. That would make things too easy. So I get a new set and already they are starting to make a shrill sound in one ear. I twist the plug and turn down the music since the shrill pounds with the bass to alleviate my poor ear from the shrill. I think I need to buy a new pair. I got them only a short while ago, maybe a month?? Why can't these things last? Post later. Bye!

Drama queen continued

A coworker's former boyfriend has been leaving threatening messages now
that he is out of jail. He went to jail for domestic violence that
revoked his parole from murdering a pet. I hope she has called the
police and takes him seriously. I bet she hasn't. She likes to think
she is tough like another abused drama queen I knew at another job, but
really they actually cave in easily. I hope he stays away from us. Post
later. Bye!

Really bad sunburn

A coworker vacationed last weekend and came back unable to walk from the
bad sunburn he got. His ankles are swollen and walks now with a limp. He
has been in a bad mood all week. I asked if he forgot suntan lotion. No,
he just thought his legs didn't need any. He knows better now. Post
later. He called some doctor line and she said to rub aloe lotion on it and keep his feet elevated. I read in a magazine once to use oatmeal on a sunburn. I'm sure both ways work. Bye!

Extra Security

I am having a unique experience at the airport today. I saw law
enforement officials we normally do not see here walking around and
escorting people out the door. I notice from the lack of handcuffs, they
are not being arrested.

I ask what the deal is and my coworker explains all week the governors
coming are getting escorts. Though, since I'm not outside, I'm unsure if
they ride to their hotels in squad cars or limos. They are not renting
cars from us. Post later. Bye!

Family Reunion

I am going to a family reunion Sunday, my Mom's sisters and two of her female cousins. My sister spoke to Mom last night while I was over at her house doing laundry. I don't know how I'm going to get there. Mapquest sent me in a weird direction, then the streets I am to drive on are not found on the map they provided. Then, I get the impression nobody wants me to bum a ride off them. Mom first offered to pick me up and then suggested going with my sister to help with the baby. My sister's husband is coming to the reunion so they do not need help with the baby. My sister isn't sure how to get there either.

Even worse, is deciding what dish to bring. My sister tries to bring a food I pick out. Maybe chips or a pie. I can decide that part later. Post later. Bye!

Fun day

I had a fun day at my volunteer position. I was stopped twice on my way to the building I volunteer at. One asked how to tell the difference between paid staff and volunteers. You don't because we don't wear badges to distinguish ourselves. The next person asked if we get hot and sweaty in our costumes. No, not really. We wear tanktops underneath to catch the sweat and drink plenty of water so we don't get too hot. Of course avoiding the hot stove area and sitting in the cooler part of the house helps too. We also sit like 21th Century people and uncross our legs when visitors walk in. We played jacks on the porch with a marble and card games in the parlor. The older gal tried to teach us young people a new game. I can see why we don't play these complicated card games Grandma and her lady friends loved to play. We were all confused how to play this new game. Tricks, trumps, changing high cards, bidding, teams, and remembering Jacks were highest with aces, Kings, Queens, and tens following. Old maid was much easier.

When I got ice water in the basement, I ran into a woman looking for me. She did a critique of hair and left. I have a feeling someone has been bitching behind my back about my hair, which always ticks me off. My hair is short so no matter how I fix it, it is never alright with the costume people. She didn't like my jeweled bobby pins, even though I have been wearing for about 3 months now. That would have been nice to know 3 months ago so I could have returned them to the store and gotten my money back. Then we had the same argument for the 4th time now. No, my hair is too short to roll into a bun. My hair is layered so it is in 10 different lengths making a ponytail hard to do without shorter hairs sticking straight up. They should not bring in people with short hair if it bothers the costume people so much. Sorry I don't want a 1870's hairstyle the rest of the week.

The biggest probelms I have with people I work with are unreasonable expectations and difficulty communicating. One job I was expected to do twice the work in half the time because I was 10 years or more younger than my fellow coworkers. Excuse me? I had someone at one job complain of my suddenly not doing my fair share. I tried to get down a heavy sewing machine down from the top shelf while standing on a shaking step ladder and pulled a muscle, so for a while I was using only one hand. Then, I had 2 managers who sent someone else to tell me something negative every time, once 2 months lasped before being told of my terrible crime. I believe a person should not be a manager if they do not have the nerve to tell an employee they made a mistake, which often occurs when one does not give instructions to a task before the task is started. I usually hit a breaking point before eagerly looking for another job. One job I quit was because a popicle constantly complained behind my back. A popicle is someone who is ice cold (unfriendly) with a stick up their rear (always in a bad mood). The other job I quit was from a practical joke I did not find funny. I'm on my 5th job in my life.

After the card games, we cleaned up and went home. I watched a Nova special about how the earth life was formed. Very interesting. I got a letter from my uncle I enjoyed. And now it is time for bed. Post later. Bye!

A finished tulip

I finished a picture of a tulip I painted on a blank puzzle I got at a
craft store. Breaking the picture up was not easy causing some of the
puzzle pieces to have tears. I was planning to give it to somebody for
their birthday or anniversary to put together. I decided to give it to
the departing coworker at my museum position as a farewell gift. She got
a better job at a bookstore.

I like her a lot. She is also a struggling author writing a murder
mystery. When I first met her I was a chatterbox, that is until 2 others
joined us who constantly interrupt me so I am the quiet one now. She is
about the only one who listens and asks questions about myself (and my
book progress). I will miss her.

Why is it when I find someone to like and look forward to seeing again,
they get ripped away from my life, never to be heard from again? I call
it silently leaving because their is no real good-bye. Then people who
irritate me stick like glue and won't shake off me to the point feel the
need to find a new job to get away from them. Do I irritate people I
like with my friendliness? They don't seem annoyed that I can tell. Post
later on her reaction to my gift. Bye!

Immortality

I have to laugh at all the people trying to improve their health by
taking the latest fad of supplements and diets as gospel to living
longer. What could these people possibly do in 100 years than they can't
do in 50, or even 30?

I found a good quote in a newsletter to describe human thirst for
immortality:

Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves
on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Susan Ertz, writer (1894-1985).

Wish to be immortal and forever remembered, change everyone you touch.
Post later. Bye!

Readying for the governors

For 18 months the governor's assistants have been preparing for the
annual Governors Convention this week. Sorry, Governor Arnold from
California will not be present. Many names I never heard before will be
present. News media and security galore will also be present. Every
governor coming get a bag of Iowa products advertising the best of Iowa.
I don't wish to spoil the surprise. And cell phone towers were erected
inside the building to handle the cell traffic. I believe they have been
preparing 18 months for this. Post later. Bye!

Historic inaccurancies

I saw an advrrtisement for a Precious Moments Thanksgiving village
complete with the first Thanksgiving dinner. Whoever designed this
village must be from the southwest part of the U.S. because the natives
look like from the southwest with ponchos and bobbed hair. The tepees,
pottery, and blankets are decorated with southwest theme, but tepees
were only used by the Plains Native Americans when hunting buffalo only.
The canoe is only correct part I found of the Native Americans.

From my college courses over 5 years ago, I recall the East Coast
culture described with leather and mulberry fiber clothes and men had
large tufts of hair sticking upwards much like today's ponytail. Their
homes were very large wooden structures surrounded by fort-like fences
with zigzagging openings to prevent a straight path into the village.
Their canoes were made mostly from birch bark peeled off the tree. The
Eastern Woodland culture did hunt buffalo by herding them to drop into
ravines to their death. The dog on one of the blankets by the village
tepees I am unsure whether it is a coyote or wolf. Wolves live in
forests while coyotes live in grasslands and desert.

I noticed the pilgrims are portrayed a little more accurately. The
village house and church have too many windows. Glass panes were
expensive back then and would allow too much heat to escape. The church
steeple is too large for that historical period and would not have
modern siding, barn would not have siding either. The church should look
more like the house. The rest of the barn is alright. The pilgrim boys
should be wearing knickers belted at the knee with stockings instead of
ankle-length blue pants. Plus, the gold buckle on their hats was not
seen until the mid-nineteenth century to describe old fashioned people
compared to the modern Victorians. The ship looks accurate.

I am surprised I recall so much from college. Ayway, post later. Bye!

Psychiatrist shortage

I read in today's paper of a man who was a scientist for the US
Department of Agriculture gaining symptons of psychosis 11 years ago,
took various medications since, and 2 days before his appointment for
his psychiatrist 50 minutes away he cut his neck with a saw. His wife
went to the pschiatrist's office on the scheduled day and cried on the
floor traumatized from finding him in their basement. Now she plans to
sell the house 9 months after her husband's death. Her picture was on
the porch with beautiful flowers. She has my sympathy.

Apparently Iowa has a pschiatrist shortage where 69 of Iowa's 99
countries have no psychiatrists at all. My county has the most of 29
psychiatrists. A psychiatrist would have few problems setting up shop
here. In Cherokee, there is a first-in-the-nation program started in
1999 to train postgraduate physican assistants in psychiatry. Because of
lack of federal money, but some from the state, the Cherokee Mental
Health Institute is taking applications for their 2 open slots. These
people hope to raise money for 5 slots. Back to work for me. Post later.

Unhelpful service

If you find yourself getting unhelpful service when you ask for
assistance carrying luggage around the airport or driving the car to the
curb, it is likely because most people do not tip. One guy I worked with
took a customer's luggage out to his rental car and then left it beside
the car on the cement unattended because he did not expect the guy to
tip for the extra effort.

There are as many people who say with a smile, "Thank you very much"
before walking or driving away as there are people who tip with bills or
coins. By the way, a quarter for a tip is often seen as an insult rather
than a reward.

I thought I would mention that after hearing from the car rental next
door about her tip for waiting on a customer on a delayed flight. Her
company doesn't allow gratutity to be accepted. I explained my company
does allow it, though most do not tip so often we call a skycap (who are
paid the airport to help airport customers with luggage, wheelchairs,
etc.) instead of helping the customer out ourselves. Enough thoughts for
now. Post later. Bye!

Little girl lost

3 weeks ago a mother discovered a door open and her daughter missing.
The mother refused the conclusion that her girl would walk out of the
house in the middle of the night. No Amber Alert was issued from lack of
information. Neighbors were questioned as well as family. Two neighbors
were named as important witnesses since they saw here a few hours before
she disappeared. Many volunteers scoured the countryside looking for the
missing girl, even on the 4th of July.

Sadly, a little girl's body was found in a river that is believed to be
the missing girl yesterday. DNA tests are pending for identification.

I know the mother of Natalee Holloway has attacked the Aruban government
for not easing her pain by finding her daughter. Volunteers, divers,
FBI, and Dutch planes still look for Natalee, What more do you want?
That's more assistance than most missing children get and many missing
children never are found. I know she is grieving, but attacking a
government will not bring her daughter home any sooner. Post later. Bye!

Race card

My coworker this week actually heard a customer say to them "Don't force me to play the race card" when the customer was not getting their way. Excuse me? Was that a threat? I hate to break this to people who have never worked a sales job before, but we make people mad every day. Threatening to have the associate's job, accuse them of racism, name calling, or threaten to call the home office to complain are empty threats to us.

I made someone mad at me today because her credit card declined. I even dialed her credit card customer service number for her and the credit card company refused to allow the authorization. Then, I refused to take a cash deposit, so she did not get the car. Post later. Bye!

Question of the Day

How is it that every time I decide to be lazy and leave my shirt
untucked are the days the bossman shows up?

Missed excitement

I missed excitement yesterday. A customer was arrested at 10:30 A.M. for
driving drunk and driving in the center of the road going the wrong
direction. Then the customer extended the rental.

My company finds out from the police department of the impounding
charges billed to the company, since the company owns the car. My
coworker informs the customer of the impounding fees that will be billed
to the customer's credit card. Of course the customer does not get the
car back. My coworker wondered who gets drunk at 10:30 in the morning. I
wonder if this lady really expected the company not to find out by
extending the rental. Police do notify car rental companies of their
cars being impounded or abandoned on the road. Post later. Bye!

Sneeze attack

I sneezed so hard tonight I wonder if I broke a rib. That happened last
week too. Maybe I should turn the air conditioning back on to get rid of
the humidity. Mother nature keeps making it rain. Post later.

Gas price hike, again

Would somebody explain the ideology of lowering gas prices just before a big traveling holiday and then jack them up after the holiday. Since my childhood it has been the other way around. Today I did laundery at my sister's house and saw on the way home it jumped up 20 cents. I drove a mile out of my way to find a gas station still at yesterday's price of $1.99. We have never had $2.19 gas price before. The past record was $2.15 before lowering slowly way down to $1.88. Even at that price, we still shock people from the coasts whose prices are much higher. Post later. Bye!

Living in the past

Today at my volunteer position at the local living history museum, the
intern and another volunteer spoke to a few visitors about the reality
shows showing people living in the past. The intern said she liked the
Edwardian house in Britain and the World War II house. She said she
hated listening to the nonstop griping on these shows. It made her
wonder why they volunteered in the first place. I viewed the Edwardian
house and did wonder why some of these people were there. I liked the
part where they brought in a former Edwardian maid who worked in the
house they were in. Those modern people were quickly humbled into
realizing how lucky they are today since sexual harrassment and sexual
abuse are no longer part of women's jobs.

One would not catch a reenactor or interpreter at a museum in those
reality shows. We know how hard it was and enjoy returning to the 21st
Century at the end of the day. Besides that, the networks would not
choose someone familiar with living in the past because they would cope
with their surroundings better and have lack of culture shock reality
shows require to create drama.

My nieces would make good candiates for living in the past. They don't
enjoy visiting my parents' house from lack of cable, internet, and
microwave popcorn. Though, their father is a history teacher so they
have visited historic spots. One year they followed the Oregon Trail in
their car. Another year they visited French and Indian War sites.
Culture shock might not be as bad for them, they would know what to
expect. Post later. Bye!

Independence Day

I got up bright and early to hop to my hometown for the 4th of July
parade before they blocked the streets. The parade always goes by my
parents' house. My brother and sister came later. My baby niece loved
looking at the horses. One horse pulling a wagon had a large gaping
yellow hole in its leg. Against its dark brown skin, it was disgusting.
My sister gasped and prayed someone was tending to that wound. The fire
engine sirens also got my niece's attention.

The theme was Happy Birthday to my hometown. One float had cows eating
hay and a pig in cage. That was different. Floats here are less posh
than the big city floats. They're simply hay racks pulled by a tractor
or pick up truck. A couple of kids dressed in cardboard cake and gift
costumes. There was a dog and goat pulled along the parade route with
the bicycles.

After the parade, we walked up to the park to view the entertainment. A
dance studio did performances and a country music group played after. I
walked the baby who loved the sidewalk. I pushed the stroller around the
park since babies don't sit well. I ran into old schoolmates and spoke
to one. One former classmate acted like she was hiding from me. I smiled
and walked on. If my former classmates have nothing to say to me, then I
have nothing to say to them either. Since my hometown is celebrating 125
years, there was free cake.

My sister glanced at the vendor stands buying a plastic sea urchin ball.
Baby became fussy so she went home to take a nap. After eating half a
bag of kettle corn, I felt ready for a nap. I guess I woke up too early.
Supper came next and I decided to watch a movie until the fireworks. All
there is to see at the park is the raffle drawings and auctions. Today
one raffle is for a painting by the local painter Jerry Ford. Not as
famous as Andy Warhol, but here he is a legend. The auction painting was
a picture of the old depot that no longer exists. My hometown was
founded by the railroad when 3 towns moved its houses here. All that is
left of the former towns are the churches. The depot was torn down and
railroad tracks removed when my Dad was young.

I did the dishes for Mama since chased around doing her committee
duties. After the fireworks, I went home. I have to volunteer tomorrow.
Post later.

Happy 4th of July

It is now America's Independence Day. I had a customer today from Italy asking if tomorrow is a holiday. Yes it is. I bought a newspaper today because I was bored. It had good articles on our founding fathers and soldiers in Iraq. One opinion columnist made a good point asking what our founding fathers would think of war protesters and liberal media criticizing our proud American government. Many forget the fact that our heroic and patriotic founding fathers committed treason declaring independence from Great Britain. Our founding fathers would say now what they said July 4, 1776: It is our job as citizens to criticize the government and abolish rules that no longer are working.

I am reminded of after we won our independence and wrote the Articles of Confederation. The new government was not working as our founding fathers had hoped. People surrounding George Washington encouraged him to seize control of the country in a coup d'etat and declare himself King of America. At a meeting to discuss the potential coup, George Washington was invited to speak. Eager listeners watched him take out his glasses and declare himself an old man needing spectacles to read his speech. He shunned his followers for considering a coup d'etat. His soldiers did not fight so hard to rid themselves of a tyrant king to replace him with another. Humbled at George Washington's words, there was never again a suggestion of a coup, but the rewriting of the new American government. Now that is what I call power. Do you think anyone in this world today could destroy a coup with one speech? Perhaps we need to reexamine who we call unpatriotic.

It was just as well. A monarchy with King George would have been a short monarchy. He did not have any children and his stepchildren from his widowed wife wanted nothing to do with politics. Happy 4th of July. Post later. Bye!

Beeping smoke alarm

My smoke alarm has been beeping every few minutes for a week, keeping me
awake when I try to fall asleep. It actually took me about 5 days to
figure out where the beeping sound is coming from. At 2 in the morning
it has driven me so nuts that I grab a step stool to pull down the smoke
alarm and rip the battery out. Sure I'll place it back up on the
ceiling, eventually. Post later.

Why me?

May I ask why do people insist on getting the price of a car rental when
I tell them I am sold out? Then they have to argue about whether I
really do have cars or not. Not without a reservation, I explain. Next,
they demand to know who does have cars to rent? I glance down the
counters at the Cars Available signs with the agents standing next to
them. I say the next company over without a customer in front of the
counter. Finally, they say thank you and walk the opposite direction I
directed them to. Weirdoes.

Busy, busy

I hear the airlines overbooked flights again today causing headaches for
travelers by the time they get to my counter. Many of the car rentals
have watchdogs who can shut off the tap if they start running low in
cars available to rent. Only someone with a special contract with a car
rental company is able to override any sold out status. I don't know how
airline reservations work so I can not explain how they overbook
themselves so often.

A few companies here have a slow watchdogs reluctant to prevent more
reservations being made. One week a while ago one watchdog went on
vacation and all that week the employees had to beg all the car rentals
for cars to cover all the reservations. My company is it's own watchdog
so I personally can shut off the tap if I have to. Of course I notify
the manager when I do that.

I get many phone calls from our reservation line begging me to make a
reservation for a club member when we are sold out (all car rentals have
clubs for frequent renters). I explain I have no car to give the person
even if they are Elite, Gold, Preferred, special club member. Elite,
Gold, Preferred often can override a sold out status if they book with a
24 hour or more notice. Less than 24 hours does not count on my shift.

Some other agents can close reservations too, though others can but not
know how. That is way the cookie crumbles. Well, back to crossword
puzzles. Post later. Bye!

Weirdoes

What is with men telling me I need to smile more? Yesterday, my janitor
friend told me smile. I said, Excuse me I can't be Little Miss Sunshine
all the time. Yesterday I was frazzled from being so busy. Then today a
skycap said good-bye and I smiled back good night, and another guy
standing nearby tells me I need to smile. I thought I just did. Next I
check the flight arrivals and the same f-cker says again I need to smile
more. I was ready to flip him off, but polite enough to ignore him,
AGAIN. I think some men need to come up with better conversation
starters because they ticking me off. When I feel like smiling, I will.
Am I not allowed to have a bad day? Post later. Bye!

Strange but true

I discovered last night that the car rental next door had someone call
up wanting to a rent a car. When the rental agent explained they do not
take check cards, the caller accused the agent of racism. On the phone?
How does the excuse of racism work on the phone? We thought that was
rather strange. Post later. Bye!

4th of July

I know I said before that I hate holidays. Really I don't like the days
leading up to the holiday because they are busier with crankier
customers. When I worked at a shoe store the busiest day of the year was
the day before Easter. Nobody guesses that one.

This 4th of July I plan to go back home to attend my hometown 125th
anniversary of its founding. My hometown has a well known 4th of July
celebration every year. The past couple years my mother has been on the
4th of July committee. In any committee she's in she is always the
treasurer. I think last year she was complaining too much money was
being donated that they didn't know what to do with it. I told they will
think of something. Anyway, drive safely this holiday weekend. Post
later. Bye!

Nervous

I just read an article saying people have been fired because of what they said in their blogs. The company deemed the blogs "inappropriate" without disclosing what exactly was inappropriate about the blogs. It made me nervous enough to ask my manager her opinion. I am the type of person what likes boundaries. They are nice to have.

I'm sure my mother and I would have had less fights if my parents bothered to lay ground rules when I moved back home after college instead of their wait and see philosophy. Often I discovered I committed a sin when my parents are screaming at me making me feel like a deer looking into headlights asking what I did wrong. The biggest fight was over cleaning the house. My mother failed to understand that after working 8 hours, I do not feel like cleaning her house when I get home. My father understood perfectly. My mother learned to hire a cleaning lady. I thought the biggest problem was my mother not accepting I was a grown up, who did not have to live with her or have to do anything I didn't want to do. "Do it because I said so" does not work at age 23. She was very slow learning to ask me for help instead of her usual orders. Anyway, rules are a necessity if only to avoid future infractions. Post later, Bye!

I hate holidays

The 4th of July is coming along with problems, problems, problems. The most common problem is What part of No did this person not understand the first time. I had a fight over availability of an suv, a fight over a new rule, a fight over company policy, a fight over a rental a coworker screwed up on, and a fight over sending people to the reservation line. For hours it was nonstop phone calls and customers at the counter. Then on top of that the computer gets weird on me and tell the customer waiting for his receipt that sometimes I want to take a sledgehammer to the computer but not not allowed to. Most customers laugh when I say that. I used to say we have gremlins in the system, but saying the computer needs steroids makes people smile more. I try to be funny if I sense impatience in a customer.

One customer was so emotionally out of control threatening to sue us over lying to the person and they will tell the whole world we are frauds that I emailed my manager asking for permission to call in sick tomorrow because I don't want to be working alone when this person comes back. I bet her response will be along the lines of: Wimp. Sorry I can handle so much stress before I start getting frazzled. I can't wait for this holiday weekend to go away. Post later. Bye!