Generosity

I got an email from my sister saying she will gather all the unused cat things she has and give them to me. I replied that I would take whatever she's got, less for me to buy. She is so sweet. Post later. Bye!

Adventure

I went out to get mileage off a car. Open the door with the key and set off the car alarm. I pulled out everything from the glove box to read the manual to learn I must hit the unlock button on the remote to turn it off. That's not a very good alarm system, especially when customers tend to lose things. Anyway, a gal at the rental next door said some cars are like that. If you lock the car with the remote, you have to unlock it with the remote, or the alarm goes off. Stupid car. Post later. Bye!

Letter

I got a letter from the museum I volunteered at last summer asking me to come back to volunteer again. Of course I will. The problem is the people around me who think I'm a crazy lunatic for do a job for nothing. My aunt suggested getting a part-time job instead of volunteering again so I would at least get paid. Though my Mom and sister hope my volunteering will be a springboard towards a more prestigious and higher paying job at the museum. Staff at not-for-profit organizations don't make upper class salaries, but try to explain that to them. All I can say is that volunteering is a lot more fun than getting drunk at the bar. There is more to life than making money. Post later. Bye!

My precious is born

My friend's cat had 7 kitties last night. I saw a photo on her cell phone. My Precious is finally born, the name I planned for my kitten. 12 weeks until I can take home. Post later. Bye!

Graduation Poem

I wrote a story for my niece about to graduate high school. I hope she likes it.

P.S. I Love You
I once had a little lamb named Abby who followed me everywhere I went.
I pushed my shadow on swings and caught her on slides.
I saved Princess Abigail from monsterous spiders lurking in the basement.
It has been a long time since she opened doors expecting me to appear like a
magician.
I missed you too.

My little lamb grew up and pulled away from me.
She learned to stand on her own two feet and idolized Britney Spears instead
of me.
I proudly shared the books I once read and praised her report cards.
It has been a long time since grandma pointed out how much you are like me.
I taught you well.

Now my little lamb is a woman about to explore uncharted waters.
Go be the woman you dream to be and never mind those who say you can't.
Follow your passion and you will never go wrong, stray a little and you fall
into a rut.
I wish you well on your journey through life and all the wonderful surprises
that appear.
P.S. I love you.

Post later. Bye!

Big sisters

If I ever need advice on what is wrong with me, my big sister is sure to nick pick every flaw until I cry.

My sister told me today that when I meet a guy I met over the internet to make sure I shower, wash my hair, brush my teeth, put on make-up, and dress up like a doll to make a great impression. Never think people should just accept me for who I am and come dressed as a slob, she said.

Next was to speak correct grammar since I'm a college graduate.

Thanks sister, but I already figured this out a long time ago. I did get gussied up and had proper table manners and grammar when I met a date on New Year's Eve. According to his email, I did leave a great impression (he said I looked really good), but he was not emotional interested in me. Leaving a wonderful first impression does not always work. Post later. Bye!

Bad day

Complaints, complaints, complaints.
For hours I get to hear complaints on our lousy car selection. We are about
out of cars to rent, so yeah there is a more lowered selection than usual.
But try to explain that to customers who demand the car they want whether I
have it or not.

Then I get people complaining about how stupid our rules are. Why, why, why?
they demand. I know many customers believe employees are represent the
company. Actually we don't, we are just hired help with no power to change anything. If you think the rules are stupid, then you are welcome to buy the company from my
boss and change them.

One company here is owned by a corporate raider trying to run the company
into the ground by changing rules left and right, thus making customers
ticked off at the rental clerks accustomed to the old rules. What do they care about customer service, a failed business is a tax ride off? Post later. Bye!

Sick coworker

I went to work on my day off today. A coworker threw up and I was needed to fill
in. It was fun to work with people I rarely see. I'm getting over my cold
and hopefully won't catch anything else. Right after my coworker called, my
sister calls saying it would be fun to come over tonight instead of tomorrow
to do laundry. I had to say Sorry, I'm working tonight.

Right when I came in there was drama already in progress. Someone who just
rented a car crashed it down the street, hitting a minivan. My coworker
sympathized when he came in to fill out the accident report, he had a cut on
his head but refused any treatment. When she ( my coworker) crashed into a van a while ago she discovered that because the bumpers are not aligned, the airbags did
not deploy since the sensors were not touched. That's scary to know. Post
later. Bye!

Staying in bed

I stayed in bed all day to give myself rest from suffering a cold since Thursday. I got up to check my email after the sun set. I feel a little better, but still coughing. My sister called to say I wasn't needed to drive her to her doctor's appointment as planned. Her husband doesn't get his schedule very far in advance.

Next, I watched the Olympics men's figure skating gold medal performance online. I popped in The Princess Bride movie in my TV. When that was over with, I watched ice dancing on TV. Now I'm on the computer again. I was dreaming of my novels while laying dazed in bed today. I had the next event plotted out on each one I'm working on. Post later. Bye!

Show and tell

I had a confusing experience today. I was under the impression that a coworker who watches DVDs late at night asked permission from the boss to do that, and he said it was OK. Today I show off my new toy portable DVD player to all my friends, when someone said not to show and tell my toy to the boss. What??? If we are allowed to watch movies, then why do I need to hide my player from the boss. I emailed my manager from my home computer asking if my memory is incorrect about playing movies is allowed. Besides that, it is not like we play them when we are busy. That would require hitting pause a lot. I'll have to wait and see. Post later. Bye!

Caught a cold

I think I got a cold last night. My throat started to hurt, congestion got so bad I felt being strangled, and started losing my voice. Got plenty of cold medicine in me now, thoguh the coughing is is same.

Then, even though I cancelled my suscription, I get an email from a computer dating service match. Yeah, sure. If the standard is a woman with a pulse, then I match everybody. What's wrong with him this time? Too old, ultra conservative politics ( I hate Bush), and hides in his profile photo under a hat and sunglasses. How am I suppose to know what he looks like? I'm shaky about responding to his email. His first question about me was if I mountian climb. I have asthma, so that would be no.

I don't think there is a guy meant for me no matter what my coworkers say. They seem to be looking for someone who is not me. Post later. Bye!

Poor new guy

We have a new guy whose mother works at the car rental next door. She says he is getting so frustrated with lazy coworkers making him do more than his fair share of work. I assured the gal that we are aware who is lazy and who is not. She said he was nervous complaining to the owner right after he got hired about people he has to work with everyday. I recommended speaking to the owner's brother, someone not officially in charge but in good with The Boss. All he would have to say was he is frustrated and doesn't know how to handle the situation, which would take direct blame away from the coworkers. If the brother feels it is important to inform the owner of the problem, he will. She thanked me for the middle man advice and relayed the message to her son. I feel like a fairy godmother giving good advise to the underdog, indirectly that is. Post later. Bye!

Magazine article

I read a magazine article about parents doing too much for children, like
making themselves late for work taking forgotten homework to school instead
of letting kids say the dog ate it.

I recall leaving my homework behind in the 4th grade. My Mom called the
school to leave a note for the teacher that I really did it, just left it
behind at home. I rewrote my homework on the bus when I realized it was
missing. So the teacher gathering homework announces in front of my class my
Mom called so I didn't have to turn mine in, causing me to be embarrassed in
front of EVERYBODY I knew. I held it out stating my homework was right here.
During recess, I am called in to the office because my Mom wanted to speak
to me. Apparently, the teacher had called to say I handed in my homework and
she was confused. I explained that I did it on the bus and did it much
faster the 2nd time around because I knew the answers. She never called to
tell a teacher I left my homework at home again. Thank God. Post later. Bye!

Snow!!!!!!!!!

It is snowing today. I'm so happy. I hate looking at brown grass all the time. It is so pretty, and cold. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. Ta-dum. Post later. Bye!

Happy Valentine's Day

Roses are red
Violets are blue
I hate this holiday
How bout you?

Happy Valentine's Day for those in love getting flowers or chocolates today.

Today I am buying a portable DVD player with a 10% off coupon I got from my credit card company and going to The Pink Panther by myself. other than that I am washing my sheets and cooking macaroni and cheese for dinner.
Post later. Bye!

Day off, but not really

I went over to my sister's house to help entertain the baby since my mother was leaving to go back home today (she had been there since Thursday). My sister was home from her knee surgery where they removed torn cartiage caused by dancing with the baby. She needed someone around to help her because she is suppose to keep her leg elevated for healing. My Dad who was suppose to come pick up my Mom went to a stamp store first and came later than planned.

I got up earlier than usual so I laid down to encourage the baby nap with me, after playing dinner party and dollhouse for 2 hours. She went into a deep sleep and didn't like being woken up by Mama. She must be awakened so she will fall asleep during the night. Mom asked about the cats bugging me for attention like they did her (she hates animals of all sizes and shapes). I heard my sister answer that the cats love me because I pet them. Cats and nieces never starve for attention around me.

We played on and popped in a movie. The baby likes watching TV too, especially when music is playing. We read books and played ball. She kept throwing the ball down the dark areas of the house. I finally rested from picking up the ball so many times.

My sister gave me a newsletter from the local animal shelter. It had a few paragraphs about a program they were looking for volunteers to help with. It is a educational seminar for children and adults about taking care of animals, approaching unfamiliar animals, and how to tell the difference between wild animlas and pets. They asked for outgoing people who are willing to touch such animals they have at the shelter, like rats, snakes, ferrets, birds, bobcat kitten, or tiger cub. Yes exotic pets end up in animal shelters when the owners decide their pet is longer adorable and easy to control. Do any of these owners think this cute little creature will be as an adult, like adult tigers weighing 300 pounds and can rip your arm off? I doubt it. I think exotic pets should require to be licensed like cats and dogs, for public safety if not for protecting the pet from neglect. Would you like a pet boa constrictor, alligator, wolf, cougar, lion, or tiger running around your neighborhood? I wrote down the email address for the coordinator for the program, but then I'm not well educated myself on animals so I'm unsure if I will be accepted.

Now I'm back home and ready for another nap. My niece wore me out. Post later. Bye!

Suffering from TMI

Today I have suffered through TMI (Too Much Information) while reading a book on a famous king. I hate it when authors must give a 2 paragraph biography of every person the subject of the book has met. I just want to know how these people affected the subject's perception on the world. One biography was like reading a list of famous people. The daughter of Dame Fifi means nothing to me when I have no clue on who Dame Fifi is. Well off to bed when I'm done with my cocoa. Post later. Bye!

Black History Month

February is designated as Black History Month. Persoanlly, I think Black History should be taught in school all year around instead of just in February.

I recall in high school a test of various groups to name 20 Famous African-Americans who are not performers (actors, singers, musicians) nor athletes, at the top of their head. In the papers then, they said no class they gave this test to could do that. My high school economics class almost made it, but a few names short.

I shall try that test again on my blog: though I warn you I took a Black Literature class in college so it may be easier for me.

OK, 20 Famous Afircan-Americans who are not performers nor athletes. () are things I had to look up in a black history book to refresh my memory and spell names correctly for this posting.

1. Phillis Wheatley: Ensalved poet taught by her mistress to read and write in Massachusetts, later set free and married. She once met George Washington during the Revolutionary War to read a poem she wrote about him.

2. Sojourner Truth: Abolitionist who also spoke out on women's suffage. Gave famous speech "Ain't I A Woman" without notecards because she could not read.

3. Harriet Tubman: Abolitionist who lead slaves to freedon on the Underground Railroad.

4. Frederick Douglass: Abolitionist who dictated his autobiography and finally hid in Europe because he feared his fomrer master reading about his speeches. (his freedom was bought while in England)

5. Nat Turner: Led a group a slaves into protesting slavery by killing white owners. Hung after he was caught. (Virginia)

6. Denmark Vesey: leader of slave revolt and was hung. (Charleston, SC)

7. George Washington Carver: Scientist born into slavery by raised by white owners after his mother was killed in the Civil War to read and write. Attended college in Iowa to move to Tuskegee, AL to help farmers change from growing cotton to peanuts after loss of cotton crops by insect larvae by inventing 300 uses for peanuts.

8. Booker T. Washington: Head (Founder)of Tuskegee College where #7 worked and outspoken critic of race relations. (first black to be on a postage stamp)

9. W.E.B. Du Bois author of Souls of Black Folk who also was outspoken on race realtions. (founder of NAACP, editor of magazine The Crisis)

10. James Baldwin: author.

11. Alex Haley: Author of famous book and miniseries based on his book tracing his family tree all the way back to Africa, Roots. (first black to win Pulitzer Prize)

12. Maya Angelou: author of her biography split into several books. The first of the series is I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

13. Oprah Winfrey: journalist turned talk show host who became the first black female billionaire. Founder of charity Angel Network.

14: Alice Walker: author of The Purple Color and another book speaking against female circumscion in Africa. (first black woman to win a Pulitzer Prize)

15. Toni Morrison: author of Beloved and Their Eyes are Watching God. First black woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature.

16. Gwendolyn Brooks: author. (poet)

17. Rosa Parks: infamous refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man sparking a new civil rights movement.

18. Martin Luther King Jr.: civil rights activist who won the Nobel Peace Prize. Slain during a speech causing riots in cities across America for days.

19. Coretta Scott King: widow of #18 and became a civil rights activist picking up where her husband left off.

20. Malcolm X: leader in the Muslim Movement in America.

21: Elijah Muhammad: Leader in establising Muslim temples in America.

22. Louis Farrakhan: leader of American Muslims. (formed Nation of Islam)

23. Buffalo Soldiers: Black soldiers in the Wild West.

24. Tuskegee Airmen: Pilots who held the record of losing zero pilots in battles.

25. Quincy Jones: music producer.

26. Spike Lee: director of films.

27. Jesse Jackson: civil rights activist and ran for president once (1987). Negotitated the release of hostages in war torn former Yugoslavia in the 1990's.

28. Colin Powell: Secretary of State of current President Bush. (first black chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff and first black National Security Advisor)

29. Condolezza Rice: Secretary of State of current President Bush and once same presiendent's Natioanl Securty Advisor.

30. Thurgood Marshall: judge on the Supreme Court. (appointed by Prsident Johnson)

31. Grandma Moses: painter who supported charities for single mothers.

32. John Crocken: lawyer of OJ Simpson among other celebrities.

33. (couldn't think of the name of the first black female astronaut, but it's Mae Jemison)

34. couldn't think of the name of the first black woman to graduate West Point at the top of her class a few years ago, my book is too old for that name.

35. couldn't think of the author of Invisible Man, but it's Ralph Waldo Ellison.

36. Claude McKay: poet who wrote If We Should Die.
Post later. Bye!

Bad day

My sister is having a bad day. She was dancing with my baby niece and hurt her knee. She goes into surgery tomorrow. Our Mom is there watching the baby this weekend. I may be requested for babysitting on my next day off, since Mom doubts she will feel like going back to work then. Post later. Bye!

Rejection #5 or 6

I have received my rejection notice from publisher #5 or 6, sorry I'm starting to lose count, on my manuscript. I give up on publishers. I think I will concentrate my focus on finishing my next novel and hope for the best. Post later. Bye!

Job loss

I found out my uncle has been laid off last week so he can be replaced by a less expensive newer employee. He is a few years away from retirement, causing us to think his company just does not want to pay him retirement benefits and pensions. Who is going to hire him so he can work a few years until retirement? He is still looking for a new job.

Ya know companies demand loyal to the company from their employees, but at the same time they throw away employees like yesterday's newspapers. Why should we be loyal, to get stock options and then lose our job because we earn too much? And companies complain they can't find good and qualified workers: You fired them. Post later. Bye!

Missed the snow

I visited my brother yesterday to get my taxes done. I owe the State of Iowa $4 and will receive a nice refund from the Feds. Like last year, that money will help pay off Christmas spending and help save a little for a minivacation. I haven't had a vacation for a year in a half. Where shall I go that is cheap, but fun? I much prefer going by myself than anyone in my family this time around.

Oh yeah, I have to save money for my kitten. Maybe my vacation will just have to wait another year. Post later. Bye!

Black switch

I discovered from one of the janitors at work that there is a black switch on ceiling fans that make the blades rotate the oppposite way, thus pushing warm air down to the floor and warming up the room. Today I grabbed my flashlight to move the black switch. Soon I have to turn them off. I am leaving to get my taxes done by my brother. I stink in the math department and always will.

Plus I get confused the way things are worded. Tax forms are suppose to be at a child's reading level, so it is like reading a Dick and Jane or Dr. Seuss book. It is not how many grown ups speak. Example: Subtract Line 25 from Line 15.

Is that Line 15 minus(-) Line 25 or Line 25 minus(-) Line 15? My brother says that's lawyer talk. Post later. Bye!

Ammo

I got some ammunition on a certain guy everybody at work hates and I ain't afraid to use it. A while ago this guy emailed another car rental's cooperate headquarters complaining that their employee was not wearing his uniform, among other things. This guy was fired and can not have foster children come into his home until he finds a new job. His wife doesn't make enough to support them both. Because this guy was fired over stupid reasons, everybody hates the tattle tale and gives him the cold shoulder. This tattle tale also feels no remorse whatsoever costing someone their job because he hated the guy whom he got fired.

Anyway, I found out this tattle taler was looking up porn on the internet using his company's computer. I can't wait to tell his boss that. Isn't that grounds for dismissal? I know one gets kicks out of libraries by looking up porn on the libraries' computers.

What goes around comes around. Post later. Bye!

Odd

My coworker's phone rang inside her purse. She picked it up, announced it was her ex-boyfriend who went back to jail when he violated his parole by hitting my coworker a while ago, and then announced he left a message on her voicemail. I guess some people have more trouble accepting the end of a relationship than others.

Another coworker suggests blocking his phone calls. You can't block unwanted phone calls on a cell phone, she answers back. Sure you can, the other girl says, just call your cell phone company and ask to block his number. Better yet, she continues, get a new cell phone number. My coworker thought that was an excellent idea.

After she left the other coworker asked us, Wouldn't it make sense to block a guy from calling you 3 times a day after 3 months?

Yeah it makes sense. When a coworker played a joke on my cell phone, I changed the number so he couldn't wear out my battery and use up any minutes again. The cell phone company was really cooperative when I said I wanted a new number because of harrassment and changed it immediately for free. Post later. Bye!

I hate internet dating

Well I cancelled my subscription to the latest internet dating service and I am still getting matches complete with emails. Guess they keep on record after you exit. One said that Dr. Phil said we match.

We do?

How in God's name do I match with this person? All we have in common is being single and white with boring desk jobs. Then he says my job sounds aweful and asked what I did in the same sentence. Huh? Sorry for not appreciating his weird sense of humor.

Then a second match from the service is from another state and asked for me to call him because he judges people on their voice. What does a Minnie Mouse voice say about me? Besides, I ain't calling anyone long distance.

Then a third guy said my profile caught his eye and wanted to be emailed before his subscription expires tomorrow. Not after looking at his profile, way too old for me.

Post later. Bye!

Happy Groundhog Day

Today is Groundhog Day. It is the day a person pulls an animal out of its burrow to determine if we will have 6 more weeks of winter or spring will soon be here. It heeds often inaccurrate predictions, but it is tradition. Has the groundhog seen its shadow today? Post later. Bye!

I'm a reference

My sister and her husband are going throguh the adoption process to have another child. They considered China as a possibility. We have a Korean cousin so there should not be any racist attitudes in our family. They need 6 references to their excellent parenting skills. She thought of me writing a 3 page refernce letter because I love to write. I am looking forward to this.

I talked to my Mom today about coming down to put away my Christmas decorations at her house on my way when I go over to my brother's house to do my taxes. She told me my cousin's girl had her eardrum break and it bled. They rushed her to a doctor and is fine now. Poor girl. First a lazy eye they had to cover for a while to train her good eye to see properly, now this. Post later. Bye!