Adventures being me

Shoe rack on door breaks, shoes drop to floor, Precious investigates, wind through window shuts door, trapped Precious meows, I tell him to shush thinking he wants a walk, realize P is trapped when tired of his meowing, and open door. How was your morning?




Have new cat door in my balcony screen door (large tear in a corner) the cats also discovered and eventually walked through it. They want those birds.

Happy Birthday Frodo

Congrats to Prince William and Kate Middleton

The wedding of the century is upon us, until Prince Harry's wedding. I will be recording the celebration since I refuse to get up at 3 AM to watch it on TV and not crazy enough to sleep in a tent along the parade route in London (and I'm broke). And so for a wedding gift, I write this poem.

If I were to write a poem
For your big wedding day
I would use silly words
and try to make it rhyme.

If I were to write a poem
For your dream come true
I would say congratulations
and have a joyous time.

If I were to write a poem
For your big wedding day
I would wish I could be there
but natural forces pulled us apart.

If I were to write a poem
for Will and Kate
I would give them a big hug
from the bottom of my heart.

If I were to write a poem
on your big wedding day
I would toast the love birds
and present you the only copy.


Not bad for a 1st rough draft I think.

Easter day

Picked up Mom since she refuses to drive in the big city she moved into unless she has to, like a doctor's appointment. Arrive at sister's house and they just finished getting dinner ready. Niece is eager to eat the bunny cake I brought, but too full to eat her dinner. Sister says, if has room for cake, then she has room for corn. Finish our food and time for the kids to take a nap. Sister goes downstairs to start laundry and kids leave their beds to start banging the doors repeating. I assume sister couldn't hear them so ordered kids to bed. Sister returns to chat with Mom and me. Conversation was listening to sister complain about her job and unrealistic expectations of school administrators/government have. Mom and I just sat in silence and nodded in agreement. Mom asked a few questions to clarify her position. Kids napped for an hour before coming back out. Then we watched a movies. Asked Mom when she intended on leaving. She wanted to stay for supper. OK. After supper, I asked Mom if she intended to stay until bedtime. Just curious here. Sister points out how I stay that like I'm ready to run out the door. No, I just don't want to get home at midnight. Sister starts cleaning up from supper and we leave. Come home to cats starved for attention. Cats had a can of tuna for their Easter gift.

Easter eggs

Babysat niece and nephew so sister could get work done 2 days in a row. 1st day colored Easter eggs. Nephew asked why his mommy cooked the eggs. Beisdes the danger of the eggs breaking, we don't eat raw eggs. They taste better cooked. I added too much water so we got our fingers stained. Next we had a movie marathon until my sister came home to put the kids to bed. Nephew doesn't like watching anything new, but I make him watch new stuff. If he doesn't like it, then he play with his toys. Niece had to lay on the floor while nephew was playing golf (which he calls hockey). Niece complained that she got hit with the ball and nephew complain to get out of his way. I grabbed the ball, tossed further down the room and told nephew problem was solved.

2nd day, I didn't want to cook so picked up greasy chicken. I commented if the babysitter's dog could smell the greasy chicken on me. Babysitter asked if I just got off work. No, I said, I bought it. Kids loved the chicken. Brother-in-law called expecting my sister and I explained when she will be home. Nephew cried for his mommy and brother-in-law replied not to call her (they will cry more after hearing her voice). Decided to watch TV instead of movies. Nephew and niece picked a show each and then I took over so they would play. And play they did. SO much play that they trashed niece's room, which my sister made them pick up before bedtime snack. I got rid of some pennies that don't go into vending machines and donated them to the kids' piggy banks. They were so happy getting money.

At work, a little girl almost pulled a fire alarm. Her mother yelled at her to stop and come here before it went off. That would be exciting to explain to the manager wondering why the alarm is screeching. Hopefully the sprinkers wouldn't drown us w/out an actual fire. Life goes on.  

Just another day

Another busy day and for 2 hours by myself so lost customers to the other registers when people got tired of waiting. Back up checkers had difficulty coming over to help so learned to annoy w/repeated SOS PA's until a manager ordered someone to help me. Whatever it takes. After a while, I noticed a manager walking by right after my SOS pages. Yeah, I got enough customers to block the aisle so I can't easily tell who's shopping and who's in line. Pointed out an abandoned cart to a manager. Hopefully nothing was stolen, it looked like clothes in it. 


Plus had to wait half hour for a teenage coworker to show up. He asked me "Aren't you suppose to be gone?" I said, " Waiting for you."

Then after grocery shopping, come home to find a message from sister stating I forgot to pick niece and nephew. Too late to get them now. Have to call when she gets home, she didn't answer her cell.

Is this Saturday?

Boy was it busy at work today. Even better, we have a shortage of workers. The guy who always splits when I work with him b/c can't handle being bored for 2 minutes (he usually works with merchandise but they like people who can work the registers as back up), was by himself his whole shift b/c his coworker called in sick. A manager had to give him his breaks. 

Then when I call for back up on my register side, I get the girl who can't work a register and always wants to bag my customers. I got 10 people in line, I don't need a bagger I need someone to check people out. Manager eventually tells her to get on a register and she keeps asking me questions. The only way she will get comfortable on a register is to get on one. Next, manager tells me to go on my break and I see the terror in this poor girl's eyes. I heard on the PA the call for back up.

I swear the lines never ended (and I worked a 9 hour shift). I commented "Is this Saturday, and not Monday? More coworkers come in and I hear a manager ask why we were so short handed (cut backs silly). Managers were getting on registers at customer service and my registers. Later one gal on my side went over over to relieve guy who always splits I mentioned above. She comes back when her shift is always over and informs us that $500 worth of merchandise had been stolen. She saw a shopping cart abandoned for an hour near her register and informed management. Manager checks out the cart to find a bunch of empty boxes. Yep, and we were too busy and too short handed to notice someone opening boxes and stuffing their super deep pcokets ($500 is A LOT of stuff).

Get home and Precious wants a walk. He got 35 minutes before getting cold. He kept rubbing up against me for warmth and demanded petting, but I am also cold so I'm not warming him up. He gets a single stroke down the back. Watched the new William and Kate movie they had on. The make up scene when Kate is on a boat reminded me of Forrest Gump where Forrest jumps off his boat to swim towards Leutinent(sp?) Dan.

Better go to bed. Got to get up early for another work day.

Weird conversation

Sister calls me up stating this a social call, just to see how I am doing. That's a first, so wait for her to get around why she "really" is calling. My family does not make "social" phone calls, they only call when want something. Though I think Mom and sister are attempting to appear they are not just using me as usual. Perhaps they feel guilty when I ask "What do want?" early in our conversations.

So we chat on how she would like me babysit all my days off for the next 6 weeks cause she feels she is burdening her babysitter for staying at work longer than normal (yes, teachers work after your kids go home). She used to bring the kids to her school on Saturdays, but nephew can't behave so can't do that anymore. OK, so I'm not allowed a day off cause she can burden me with all her demands. I ask about Mom babysitting (does she not enjoy her grandchildren). Mom doesn't want to drive around the city if she doesn't have to, she rather stay inside in her retirement home all the time. Plus, sister doesn't want to burden Mom (but it's ok to burden me of course). I promise to email all my days off to her. I only tell her my 2 days off next week.

So we chat on my daily routine so she can get to know me. Huh? OK, wake up, get dressed, shower, feed cats, scoop the poop from litterbox, eat breakfast, put on make-up, go to work, come home, and watch TV. When do I get up and how much time do I allow before going to work. Why does she care? Now she wants to know what I do on my computer. Check email, write on blogs, read interesting news items, etc. What does she think I do?
 
Next we chat about niece and boyfriend moving in together asking if they are getting married, what's he like, etc., like I'm suppose to know what's going on inside my niece's head. At least she is not freaking out like when I had a boyfriend overnight once and cried to her husband how I will have sex with somebody I don't love and such trauma will follow. Then we have to compare my disasterous relatonship to My Favorite Martian to my niece's. Brother-in-law didn't like My Favorite Martian thinking he is untrustworthy and weird. I figured that out too.

Then the guilt trips come in of her demand I talk to lonely older relatives I don't care to talk to. She feels so guilty being too busy so I have to make up for it. Whatever. I don't care for conversations from people who cling to me like a life preserver. Do you think there is a reason I don't go out of my way to call them on the phone?

And finally, she ends the phone call cause she is arriving home. Is she talking to me while driving? I send her an email asking not to call me while driving cause I don't want her to have an accident while listening to me jabber on on my boring life.

The weird thing is I babysat her kids yesterday and we could have had this conversation then.

 

Poem of the week

This poem I wrote for my book The Mermaid Wars. It is about a wife missing her fisherman husband. When I read it, it befits remembering my deceaed father who died 2 years ago.

I dance to no music because the song is in my heart
It whispers a faint melody over mountains and streams
I sing to no music because it plays through the trees
Floating in the breeze in the forest of dreams
I tap a beat to create a sweet symphony
To soar over the sea enchanting every sun ray
I hum without rhythm because it echoes in my soul
It rides upon feathers and the stars guiding the way
I pray for hope, for warmth, for light
And all the reasons we alone bide the cold night

Adventures being me

Aaaah. Warm, soft cat bed to nap in. I know that's what my cats say about my lap.


Spent an uneventful work day racking my brain with a manager over repeat returners and how they are profitting from buying and returning constantly. I think the coupons in the paper and mail have something to do with it, but they don't get money back unless they paid in cash. Still turning the gears in my head.

Another day I oversleep b/c I turned my alarm off after hitting the snooze, then when I thought I had to leave I realize I don't leave for another hour, and then cooking an egg I turn on the wrong burner. So much for waking up bright eyed and bushy tailed.

Next day we had a contest for credit applications at my store w/prize of Barbie kitchen or desk. Gal w/out granddaughters tried her best to win it from 2 other gals who had little daughters trying hard to win, just to upset them. But she had to go on break before hitting the mark to win so gal w/ little daughter won.




Come home and found myself stapling my calendar to the wall in the hope of it stops flying off the nail from the wind coming through the window. Wind has shut my door held open by a door stop.  
Now the buried idea that President Obama was not born in the US is out again. I am so sick of hearing this. Naysayers have no proof that Obama was born in Kenya so they cry wolf of conspiracy and false birth certificate. I bet they are the ones that claim Obama is a Muslim too. (He was baptized a Christian)
To Donald Trump: Just shut the f*** up cause you got nothing.

Music concert

Went over to sister's house to attend music concert at niece and nephew's school. Sister was running late and phoned the house asking to pick up the children. Hop over and nephew thinks we are going to my apartment. No, we have a concert to go to. Return to give niece a bath. I make her place her hand in the water to approve temperature (I dislike the It's too hot and It's too cold complaint). Squeeze in the bubble bath and nephew wants to watch niece take her bath. No. Shut the door since niece can handle undressing and playing in the tub by herself as I inform her that her mommy will come home soon. Nephew has nothing to do. Go play with a toy I instruct. We are not starting any TV shows or movies when we need to get ready for the concert soon.




Sister comes home and nephew tells her that there is no water in the bathtub and niece is not taking her bath. Sister storms in a rage calling my niece and runs into me in the living room. What are you talking about, I ask. I heard her singing and splashing, she is taking her bath. Now sister is mad at nephew for lying to her. Sister prepares dinner and scrubs niece down. She next runs the the hair blower and fixes her hair. Nephew and niece change clothes to eat dinner. Eat quickly b/c it's almost time to go.



Off to the school and nephew is first. Niece is second. Then niece doesn't want to go home, she wants to stay at school. Sorry, snacks and bed are at home. Arrive back home and I take off. Sister tries to guilt trip into visiting and phoning our Mom more often b/c she feels guitly not talking/visiting her very often. Yeah, sure, whatever, to end the conversation. Mom and I get along best when we don't speak to each other so more often will not be happening. If she needs a visit/talk, she knows where to find me. Sister even persuaded to take my laundry to Mom's place instead of her house once a month. Yeah, Mom has not invited me to do laundry at her place and I can pay for my own laundry at my place. Laundry is my excuse to visit my sister, niece, and nephew.




Once I got home I had to rush to put away clothes and get ready for bed since had an early shift the next day.

Poetry month

This month's Oprah's Magazine is about poetry. Most people who manage to read my poems hate them b/c they are so sad. Most poems that are written tend not to be happy: The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe, The Jabberwacky in Alice in the Looking Glass, Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost.

So here is a sample of my sad poems written in Winter 1997.

Where Is My Angel

My best friend gone for eternity
What will become of me
Who will hold my hand
When I can no longer stand
Where is my angel to hold me tight
How will I get through each night
My cries, no one hears
And nobody sees my tears
Where is my angel mama promised me
I need one now can't you see
Where is my angel for bad and for worse
I'm a shaky boat on an unknown course
Where is my angel before it's too late
How much longer must I wait
A hug good-bye is not enough
Moving on is very tough
Where is my angel to wipe away every tear
My angel is far from here