Even Dreaded Jobs Have Perks

Maybe I still hate my job but one thing amused me today. A guy called and had a question, he went on and on and ON. At the end he said, "I just want to know this, I've asked you five times and you haven't even answered." Well. For one, he hadn't stopped five times so that I could answer, he stopped twice and I DID answer then. Two, we are not allowed to interrupt a customer. Three, he had a really sexy voice and a sexy Aussie accent, I wasn't about to stop him from talking!

Adorable, Beautiful Babies and Their Stuff!

Today after work, I have to make sure I get to the post office again, I have so much trouble getting things mailed! I have a gift card for Barnes and Noble for my son, a pretty stationery set for my daughter-in-law, and of course, something for the baby!

This time it's a toy, earlier my daughter-in-law asked for bedding for the baby - she and my son were surprised at how many times a baby's sheets need to be changed! I sent several a few weeks ago, now I'm wondering if they need more, should I say I'm hoping?! There are so many adorable things for babies! This site has plenty of baby bedding, it also has pre-baby things for the soon-to-be-mommy.

Check this out on that page, it's HILARIOUS! Under Most Popular Selling Products, middle of the section, it's great! The pacifier, do you see what it says?! I work on the phones all day and that really struck me, I'm still smiling about it!

This is what Sleep should be

Time spent sleeping should be encapsulated in a bubble and bounce along only loosely attached to the timeline of life without counting against you. It should not affect nor be affected by the passage of one's usual life.

Where should I spend it?

My router may be trying to die on us. It's my son's really but whatever, we all use the same one. In the mail today, I got a card from my parents and wondered why, what holiday is coming up? It's almost my birthday, I had forgotten; they also sent a check! I had planned to take back my newly purchased massage cushion (it feels great but I end up with a headache, can't explain that), to trade it for a bike. With the check I could keep both or go get something to make my work setup better. Now i guess at least some of it's going to a new router. Perfect timing!

Scary, scary, scary -Job change

I'm feeling guilty. I think I'm going to quit my job. Yesterday I DID quit but they asked me to wait and think it over for 24 hours, so I worked today. The only reason I didn't definitively quit is because I don't yet have another job.

Today I found one to apply for, it should be the perfect fit. I feel guilty because where I'm working now is a work-at-home job, the people are great, the pay is what I need, the hours are perfect, everything would be fine if I could stand the actual work. But I can't. So after all their investment in my training, I'm going to quit? That feels so wrong! But if I can get this other job, I have to.
It's scary because this new job may not be a good fit either, I won't know until I try it. If it's not, I have no recourse! Oh, well, here goes, time to update and send in my resume.

Besides, I probably should leave my house once in a while.

Shrinking for Health and Happiness

On a forum I visit a woman posted about the heartbreak of not being able to have kids. I've never met her but it reminded me of a woman I knew "back east" who recently had a baby after none for so long. Their situations were completely different, the woman I knew was hugely obese and she was too unhealthy to be pregnant as a result. I never really had thought about that before but it makes sense. This woman was suffering in all kinds of ways because of obesity, I don't know what was wrong that led to it in the first place.
She moved away for a long time with her mother to be under a doctor's care and had surgery. I don't know if it was lap-band los angeles area surgery but there are centers in several locations. Now she's over 250 pounds lighter, her face is sparkling, she has energy and...a beautiful baby boy! Not that that will be the result every time :-) . I'm so happy for her!


I don't know what other health problems she had, obviously people that get that huge don't do it just from overeating. But just being normal sized helped her self-esteem enough to give her a better attitude toward her health - we all know how much of an impact attitude has on a person!

Is It Really So Hard To Send Mail?

Father's Day is coming, I wonder if I'll get things bought and sent in time? Probably should have already done it, true? I'm waiting now for a call from my parents telling me they received the package I sent, I wish I could write this part in smaller letters because it's SO BAD:

The package contained birthday cards, anniversary card, Mother's Day, pictures of the babies. Why is that bad? Their 50th anniversary was in FEBRUARY! Their 50th! That's major and wonderful so what kind of daughter waits this long to send cards and gifts?? One like me apparently.

It's not entirely my fault in a way. My dad hates holidays and attention, my son (not D) is the same way. Well, yes, D is too quite often. The boys' dad was too. Surrounded by males who don't want to be told when to acknowledge their loved ones or when to acknowledge BEING acknowledged as a loved one - well, that's my excuse. Are you buying it?

Outdoor Gear Time!

Anyone that has guys going hunting, fishing, hiking, any of that, ought to take a look here to find the tough clothes they'll need. Maybe the guys won't care so much about how durable/tough they are but who wants to be repairing or replacing ripped clothes all the time? Not me.
What the guys will like about these tactical pants is probably the fact that they're covered with pockets - okay, maybe they WILL care about how tough these are. They will appreciate not having to deal with bottoms ripped out of pockets they've stashed whatever equipment they need in. It says they're reinforced, double grommeted, all that.


Lots of other stuff here too, not just clothes. I've got a brother-in-law who's a prison guard in California, he's always looking at things like this too. You should see all the boys (my boys, his boys, their friends) with their eyes lit up looking at things he uses! His family is also seriously into back country hiking, way beyond the bounds of civilization, so tough and durable matters.

Is There Still Slavery?

Some tree outside is blowing cotton everywhere - there are so many bits of this white fluff that it looks at times as if it's snowing. At first it was amusing, now...

It made me start thinking of people working in cotton fields, workers, slaves. That led me to wonder about people who are slaves now, even if we call where they work a sweatshop. Are there really still these situations? I've heard references to it from those who are furious about outsourcing by "money-grubbing" big companies. It goes against what America stands for; to make a profit off of slavery is definitely anti-American. I've read about slavery all through history, in most ancient cultures. It sounds as if every group of people have been slaves at one time or another - Greeks, Celts, Africans, Jews... Does it really still go on? And I'm not talking about people who are kidnapped against the laws of their country, I know that goes on everywhere. I'm talking about where it's just a fact of life, maybe even legal.

All this from tree seeds blowing in the wind.

Reminders Of Home

A woman at my work mentioned that she has a gift basket shop or small company. I don't know the details but I remember seeing selling gift baskets listed as a great work-from-home business. I like the idea but I've never actually bought gift baskets for anyone. The first time I tried to put one together myself, I found that I was individualizing it to the point that it could never be a generic gift. But one would be perfect for giving to neighbors or co-workers in an office.

Just last night I read a blog written by a woman living in a foreign country; she was missing her home. Can't you just imagine how wonderful it would be for a friend or family member to send her a gift basket of things from home? That could even work in America for people who have moved to a distinctly different part of the country - send grits and magnolia scented somethings to a displaced southerner, packets of coffee from that special shop to a northerner who's moved...whatever feels like "home".

Truth or Rumor?

Once again, I'm thinking of that deal in Colorado, but this time I'm wondering how true it is. My friend in MD that follows the news as closely as she can with wild littles racing madly about the house, hadn't heard anything about it. That surprised me and made me wonder if this is yet another rumor flying about that I thought was from a reliable source.

If true, I still say genitals decide the bathroom!
If not, I thank God we haven't sunk as far as I feared!

They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To!

D and I have been watching TV a bit, and like everyone else, we're appalled at commercials. Things like products for women, incontinence supplies, products for men, don't need to be advertised like they are on TV! Except maybe they should. It's embarrassing to see them but how else do kids find out these things exist?
I've worked in a retail store and can't imagine how bad it would be for someone to have to ask for a product to take care of a problem they don't want to discuss with a stranger. At least they can see aisle headings and just go look for what they need. We sold a LOT of supplies for bladder control to old people. And I know of more than one woman that need things like that after having babies/surgery.

If these things are produced and people need them, I guess it's only fair that people see ads for them, even as distasteful as it may be. Are these physical problems increasing? Guess when it comes to human bodies, they don't make 'em like they used to!

I Want Traveling To Be Cheap and Easy Again

D is SO ready for a long trip. We need to go to California to see the newest addition to the family, my newest little grandbaby. I don't know why I'm so hesitant to drive to CA, I had no problem driving here to Utah from the east coast. Traveling is wonderful, I really enjoy it. The only reason I don't jump in the car and take off is that I'm not sure we have enough time to drive and that it would be better to fly. But even making reservations a month or two out is no less expensive. Plus, if we drive, we can take some of the myriad of boxes of books and assorted belongings my second son left at home when he moved out! THAT I can't afford to do on a plane now that they're charging for every box or bag you take.

Really I need to get online and check out distances, gas prices, cost of mailing boxes, all those things, before I can make a wise decision. I procrastinate because, so far, everything I discover says it will be prohibitively expensive no matter what I choose. So here we sit...

Daydreaming about Homes

When I consider buying a home, I look at all the homes I pass while driving, trying to decide where I want to live, what kind of home I want, how big. Mostly it's daydreaming, I'm not sure that I want to buy at all. The very "temporariness" of renting is attractive to me - I can take off on very short notice.

Something I've noticed is that I like brick homes, many are stunningly beautiful! But so many homes have vinyl siding instead of brick. The first home I owned, our "real" home where my babies were raised, was a 3 bedroom house with vinyl siding and I quickly saw the advantages. It looks as good as wood but comes minus the termites! The look of brick is beautiful but this is earthquake country - I imagine piles of bricks crumbling on our heads if a tremor hits! Maybe it wouldn't but it worries me anyway. Besides, vinyl is cheaper to buy and cheaper to repair.

I just have to decide where I want to live permanently and if I do at all. Somewhere with no mice, spiders, bugs, no deadly hot summers, reasonable snowfall, neighbors that disappear when I want to be alone and re-appear when I'm feeling like having company...

Just Take A Look!

Never Mind, It Won't Be Colorado!
I was considering going in with my brother on a place in Colorado but the law they passed (or are considering passing?) is horrible! Good grief, what an idea, to not allow separate bathrooms because someone is not normal? Some people who wish they were the opposite sex that they are, someone whose physical body doesn't match their mental makeup, someone who is "deformed" determines how normal people live?!

Do we also have to plant a little pet area in the restrooms for those who are confused and think they're dogs? Do we have to outlaw running tracks because some people can't run? Outlaw school because some people are retarded and it's mean to make them feel abnormal?

They ARE abnormal. It's a sad thing and helping messed-up people is part of what we need to do, but to adjust the entire world to pander to (not the right phrase) sick, hurt, deformed people to the detriment of people who are not suffering that way is way out of line!

Bathrooms are about genitals, people! Take a look and go to the appropriate place!

Exercise, Exercise, Come On Everybody, Do Your Exercise

Last night I reminded D - and myself - that we no longer need to stay inside all summer, in Utah we have nice weather. It's not really summer yet, but the sun is out, birds are singing, breezes are blowing, it's perfect. When it DOES get too hot, I'm going to want some type of exercise machine. D has been interested in treadmills ever since he used my mom's - that was years ago!

He wants one to run a motor that will do something, we haven't figured out what yet. The boys' dad always said he wants one that is required to go a certain speed to run the TV. I love that idea but we don't watch THAT much TV. Their dad did but we don't. I'd like to try one that runs my computer but I'm afraid to hook it to my work computer. What if I don't have that much energy one day at 6 a.m.?

Exercise machines come with all sorts of entertainment options to hook to them. But this I don't get - they're not run by your exercise! They're just to entertain you WHILE you work out. So I'll be spending tons of money (or would be if I had it to spend!) for a machine to do artificial exercise on that D will take apart to make even harder to use!

Maybe I'm strange but it sounds like fun to me.

Doors and Alarms and Baby Tinys

My doorknob doesn't work! We're in a rental so we're limited in what we can do I suppose. Is the house settling or something? Suddenly the bathroom door doesn't close - it won't latch. I could find a new doorknob at Schlage, one that will properly latch. On my bedroom door, it isn't all that important, I'm rarely in there but the bathroom is a different matter entirely! Especially when the grandbabies are here! You know THAT routine, right? If it's a locked door, littles bang and cry and try to break in because you're not letting them in. If the door was open, they wouldn't care at all.
D's door closes but has no lock. For his friend's birthday, I bought a gift for the friend and one for D - alarm systems from SpyGear. Both the boys (D and his friend) have little ones to keep their stuff protected from. They've set up these alarms so that whenever a little crosses the beam of light, the first alarm goes off, then a bit later, a shrieking LOUD alarm starts blaring and THEN (yes, there's more :-) it shoots a rubber dart at the intruder! Very funny to watch the littles get caught.
I want a fancy front door. I'm thinking of looking for a home to buy again so I can do what I want with it. The toss-up is that then I'd have to do all the maintenance myself. Doors, blinds, painting, etc. - all that is fine, even fun. But for fixing water heaters and electrical problems I really prefer being able to just make a call for FREE help!

Now I'm All Set Up

Yesterday I stopped at Office Max after running a couple of errands. I decided just for the heck of it to see if they have any desks for use while standing. Naturally they don't. And I had to see that while talking to a guy at a desk that he used while standing! Grrr!
It was just a huge, high cabinet basically, something I really don't have space for. Or space that I don't want to use like that and they didn't sell any anyway. Instead of looking for a store fixture supply outlet, I asked the guy for something a little weird. You know the pull out tray for keyboards that are attached to computer desks? I didn't see why I couldn't just get one of those and attach it to my shelves.

THEY SELL THEM! It's perfectly normal to ask for one! Most likely they're intended to replace one that broke on your computer desk but still...

Could This Be The Place?

Yes, it's time to go hiking and camping but where? My oldest used to go up the mountain across the street, but we're now living down in the city area. Feels odd to have to PLAN a place to go hike. I prefer my own property to have enough space or at least nature that I don't have to drive to!

When I was a kid, we went mountain-climbing, camping, and hiking all the time. It was so incredibly much fun, especially climbing actual huge boulders, not necessarily on a well-defined path. We found streams, rivers, perfect swimming holes at the bottom of waterfalls. How did my dad always manage to find these places?!

Here's a place, I'd love to own property up here. Winter Park real estate. I love the name, the location, the property itself. Not the price though and I don't even know what it is, I just know it's way out of my reach! My brother, however... I wonder if he actually bought that land he finally decided on? This really looks like something he'd like. He's a city boy, very much so, downtown Manhattan city boy, but he likes to think he has some country in him. Wonder if I could persuade him? This is exciting, it could happen for real, he would come visit out west and we could have an awesome place like this to play! Luxury in the middle of the wilderness, can it get better than that?!

I just realized, the part of this offer that I wasn't sure of is probably exactly what would entice my brother into saying yes. You own this property but it's shared - I think. I didn't know why one would want to share ownership but that's better than renting for those looking for tax write-offs! This may be the key. Or not. I'm definitely not one of those who has ever needed such a thing! But another point to mention to my brother at least.

Home Is TOO Comfortable

If I'm not careful, I'll be looking for some Phentermine myself. You know those articles and blurbs that ask if you're just too busy to keep up with things every day? I'm one that says No. I'm not involved in any activities, it's a bit absurd how little we do here. It never bothered me too much before, I always was so active at work and D would be out playing and running around.

Now I stay mostly in one place to work, D schools at home and does everything possible to not leave the house. Home is so comfortable and comforting, and welcoming. I love to be home. But the season has changed, the weather calls me outside. Snow is the best in my opinion but I do love sunny days. Not hot days but sunny. When we have snow everywhere and plenty of sun, that's my perfect day, but they don't go together too well!

Little A has asked to go hiking so I guess it is finally time. D's friend leaves today for a camping trip with Scouts. It's time to listen to the young and get our blood moving!