And Speaking Of Vacation/Holiday........

I am officially ON my vacation...well, two days of it, anyway, which with my regular two days off for the weekend makes 5 days........sort of.

It's New Math.

And wouldn't you know that Ernesto is heading this way.
Lots of rain in the forecast.
So there goes the camping idea. And probably the Fair which is in town this weekend as well.
Paulius and I are in charge of planning at least ONE night of "something" each.
We have a budget- the same amount of money- and we are going to see who can come up with the most to do with it. It's not really a competition, just something to keep us both occupied.

So far I haven't been to sleep since coming in from work. I know I should- but I've been online on SL- something I rarely get to do when I'm working during the week. I just don't want to waste a second of my FREE TIME!!! Such a rarity must not be squandered! Yes?
I know one thing, tho....at some point I'm going to have to do some housework. I don't want to- but it MUST be done......at some point............maybe................no-yes...........maybe.

Eh, if it gets done it will- and if it doesn't it won't.

I don't care....I'm on HOLIDAY!!!!!!!

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Moral Of The Story.......

Is pretty much whatever you get out of the story.

My own personal take would be that:
Life is bumpy anyway and all the little detours are just that- detours.
Some are enjoyable-others aren't so much.
The choices that seem to be the best aren't necessarily the best.
The detours that seem like dead ends can be the most rewarding in the end.
You have to always be careful to not rush into anything.
And Short-cuts usually get you there faster but you don't have as nearly an interesting life if you always take them.
.....Finally, never look back- there's no point-it's what's ahead that matters.

Also, always check your fuel, oil and tires before you start out, and be home by dark.
(That's what my dad would tell me anyway.....)


The End.........

(Personal note to Rayray..........I take back the C- and give you an A+....you and my hubby were the only ones brave enough to think about it and answer on the comments. I can be a bitch sometimes.)

The Road Less Traveled.......

There is a small dirt road in the upper regions of North Carolina that is one of my favorites....Or it was when I was growing up. You could go for miles on it and then you come to a spot where there are about a dozen smaller dirt lanes, not much more than buggy paths, that branch off from the main road. All within a 100 foot radius.

Now some of the lanes go steeply uphill. Some go slightly downhill. Others go steeply downhill or slightly uphill. And a couple just lead off on a somewhat level plane. But all of them have two things in common. They all branch off the main dirt road, which is a bit bumpy to begin with, and you can't see very far down them after only a few yards because they all curve at a certain point. I've been down every one of those lanes. I've made many detours from the somewhat bumpy dirt road to see what was down these others.

The entrance to every one of the lanes is different. Some are very landscaped and beautiful with mountain laurel and black-eyed Susans growing in abundance. Some have miniature hemlocks growing and look very natural but it's a "planned" natural look. And some of them look absolutely unkempt. Weeds growing everywhere and not a lick of flowers or shrubs to dress it up. Some even have chains across them. No locks- just a thin chain or cable and in one case just a bare tree-limb laid across it.

Naturally I took the prettiest ones first. And usually they led right to a space already occupied by someone else who was unwilling to share the beauty of it with anyone else. Sometimes these pretty ones led to nothing- an absolute dead end with nothing but big trees at the end and no way to turn around. You had to back out the same way you came in and if you made one miscalculation you could have been in real trouble.
Some led to a REAL dead end- a cliff that plunged a hundred feet to the bottom of the gorge- not marked in any way- just the sudden sight of blue sky in the windshield. God help you if you were going too fast to slow down in time, if it was dark when you went there the first time, or inebriated in some way. Dangerous as it was- that was an eye-opening moment- a moment that made you look at your life and think- what if............

The grown up ones lead to the most beautiful scenery and scenic views I have ever beheld or ever hope to behold. Beautiful views of the mountain range for miles and miles and miles. A secluded spot perfect for a picnic lunch and a short nap before continuing the journey. A view of one of the wondrous waterfalls that are abundant in those mountains - provided you know where to look for them.

And one- ONE out of all those small lanes was a shortcut back to the main four lane highway- the road that would get you to your destination faster and easier on the smooth blacktop, but had no places to slow down and enjoy the ride, no flowers to stop and smell along the way, and no pretty views to look at as you rolled along. Just an interstate expressway and toll-roads to take all your joy and money away with tall lob-lolly pines and scrub-brush to look at as you zoomed your way along.



The moral of the story?
You tell me.

Anticipation

I actually have word that I DO get from Thursday morning at 8AM thru Monday night/Tuesday morning midnight off from work.

FINALLY some downtime. I do have some important errands to run on Friday morning- but after that I'm home free!
WHOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!!

It remains to be seen what is happening with my raise increase/decrease. I'll know by Tuesday tho.

Anticipation, anticipation.

I'll be DAMNED if.....

I take ANOTHER cut in my wages from this damn company.

When I came back to work for this company I was making much more than I am now. I'm talking dollars here every hour- not pennies. Every time I've had a transfer ,except this last time, I have took a small cut in pay.

When I transferred this last time the big guy told them to keep me on Dispatchers pay- I'm fully qualified-the only one of the dispatchers to have formal training (from the PD)- and I've kept up with all the dispatchers training since I left the dispatch job, hence, in a pinch I can come and dispatch for them if I'm needed there more than where I am now. That was fine- I despise dispatching but like I said- in a pinch I would do it. Well, a few weeks ago- about 6 to be truthful- everyone in the company was supposed to get a "cost of living" wage increase. I didn't receive mine. So my former supervisor talked to the lady who does payroll to see what the holdup or oversight was.
Well, he had me call him last night and he told me I might not want to pursue it any further because Rita was saying that she was going to bump my wages down to regular officers pay and THEN give me the raise- thus I would be making yet ANOTHER dollar an hour less than I am NOW.

I don't FUCKING THINK SO!
(I know- very unlady-like language-sorry)

I'll be looking for another job first.
I hate when things like this happen. It's the story of my life tho.

And I didn't even get KISSED first.
:-(

Yes, I Did.... And Thanks For Noticing, Ozzy!

I also started a new blog.
Christmas oriented, of course.

I know, I know- most "normal" people will be going... "What the heck is she on about? It's only AUGUST, for God's sake!"

Well, it's true- it IS only August but in case you haven't noticed before, the Christmas holidays have a really BAD habit of sneaking up on us and THAT'S why there are so many people running around on Christmas Eve still trying to find a dozen gifts on their gift list .
I have never let that happen to me. I start EARLY as you will find out if you read the new blog a couple times.

Basically, before your eyes glaze over, the new blog is all about how to NOT be one of those people who can't enjoy the holidays because of inorganization. I have a system- it works- and I'm sharing it with everyone. I will have gift ideas, when to shop ideas, a tutorial on how to decorate a Christmas tree, different ideas for setting up a snow village (Dept.56 style) and different locations to set them up, special holiday recipes, how to properly wrap a gift- even oddly shaped ones-(they're the attention grabbers under the tree), and stuff like this.

It'll be fun for ME anywhichway you look at it. For you guys, I'm not so sure.
I'm such a Christmas freak.

I'll share a ~secret~ with y'all.......when I was little I used to tell everyone that when I grew up I was going to marry Santa. And I was serious.
;-)

(Then again, I also wanted to marry Doohickey, (locals in upstate SC will know who THAT is!) and that was because he was so funny and silly and made me laugh every Saturday morning.....sadly, I never got to go on the Monty's Rascals show myself..................sigh.........)

Anyway, I grew up but my love of all things Christmas is something I never grew out of. I sing Christmas carols all year long- much to Paulius' dismay.
Some people hold to the train of thought that if you sing Christmas songs all year long it takes away the specialness of the holiday season. I disagree- I think you should keep the spirit of Christmas in your heart all year long. I DON'T, however, think you should start decorating for Christmas until after Thanksgiving is over. That thing that the stores and shops do with Christmas advertising starts the week of Labor day really P!sses me off ROYALLY! One holiday at a time, thank you. However, as expensive as Christmas can be, I do have to be prepared and start shopping early. I'm on a tight budget, but even on a tight budget I can do the Christmas thing up like a PRO!

Anyway, Just thought I'd share the new blog news with you.
If you're interested in checking it out later...or MUCH LATER, the addie is:

www.askmizsanta.blogspot.com

Holiday Hugs!
;-)

Serious Blonde Moment.....

Neither Paulius nor I like to be disturbed when we're reading. Castaway was on the tube while Paulius was reading a book- I was doing other assorted things.

I waited until the commercial breaks to talk to him or ask him questions so I wouldn't disturb him.

Wasn't that sweet of me?????

Well, DUH.

I seriously AM a TRUE blonde.

Frustration.......

I'm having one of those months. August has been a complete bust. Nothing has went the way I needed it to. Well, ONE thing did, but the feeling of contentment and happiness didn't last NEARLY long enough.
I feel so damn frustrated. Every time I get my hopes up that something good is about to happen, the rug gets pulled out from under me. I feel like I am going to explode any second and the bad part is it's usually over stuff that normally I would just let roll off my back like water on a duck.
I'm going to take a couple days off work around the first of the month. I HOPE to anyway, I have turned in the request but it has to be approved. My luck it will be rejected because of the changes going on at work. I'm afraid that would be the last straw and I would completely lose it.
All I can do is wait til they tell me it's a go. Or not.

I need a break.
And lots of prayers that I don't kill someone before getting that break.
And someone to put up bail if I do.

What The.....????

I had a really weird dream this weekend.

I dreamed that a HUGE meteor almost hit the earth.

We were all standing watching the sky for it. It was very cloudy and it was thick yet sort of wispy clouds overhead. The meteor came slicing thru the clouds- you couldn't actually see it but the clouds had a streak of swirling in it as the meteor passed overhead across the sky. It didn't hit but passed us by.

My question is, what would the repercussions of a huge meteor coming THAT close to the Earth be?

God, I have weird dreams.

The Best Thing About Night Shift.......

I work the graveyard shift.....midnight -8AM and the best thing about it is that I go back to work on Sunday night midnight. By the time you guys are getting up, my Monday is either over already- or just about over. And when I get off work at 8AM on Friday morning, it seems so nice to not have to go back in that night. It seems like I get to play hookey every Friday and not going back in til Sunday night midnight(Monday) is like having a 3 day weekend every week!

Now I have a decision to make.....There is a 2nd shift position coming available in October. Do I want to give up my 3rd shift position for it?
The upside of THAT job is the fact I would be sleeping normal hours with my husband again. On the downside, if Paulius gets a position working day-shift, we wouldn't see much of each other during the week. Sleeping is about all we would be doing or seeing of each other til the weekend...or whatever his days off would be.

Decisions, decisions!

One Last Meme......

Childhood ambition-to grow up

Fondest memory-every single Christmas morning of my life

Treat-Godiva Chocolate

Wildest dream-gorillas walking the powerlines like it was a tightrope to overtake the human race ( i sometimes wonder what triggers that dream...which i still have on the rare occasion....ever since I was 4)

Proudest moment-hmmmmmm....have to think about that one and get back with ya!

Biggest challenge-raising my kids

Alarm clock-digital with a god-awful loud beep and a 9 minute snooze button

Perfect day-one where I can just sit home and relax and have my whole family over visiting and in a happy mood

First job-machine operator for a plastics plant

Indulgence-a new book...or seven

Last purchase-christmas tins, a new christmas house(dept 56 style), and my first gift on my christmas list.

Fav movie-Shawshank Redemption

Inspiration-my parents

Biggest regret-not following my dream to become a runway model

Rather be-anywhere it's cooler in the summer

Looking forward to-winning that darn lottery so I don't have to work- I can do what I WANT which would be to have my own Christmas shop and be open only from July to December.

Irrational fear-thunder and lightening storms- they terrify me

Three people I would invite to dinner- Only three? I couldn't possibly have a dinner party and not invite ALL my blogger friends, not to mention my bestest R/L friends: Lo & Ter ......or my diet buddies: Cheryl & Phyllis ... it's just not possible. I'd say it's more like.........25 or 30.
Now THAT'S a PARTY!

Five Things Meme......

Five things:

In My Freezer-
Butter peas
Steak
Ground beef
Vanilla bean ice cream
Icing roses from our wedding cake

In My Closet-
Books
Silk flowers
Christmas decorations
Wedding gown
My Porcelain dolls

In My Car-
Books
Christmas decorations
Fridays and Sundays newspapers
Magazines
Loose change, mostly LOTS of pennies

In My Purse-
A paperback book
My wallet with all my important papers and cards
Hairbrush
Pen & paper-ALWAYS
Scrunchy for my hair

In My Wallet
Pictures of Paulius and my kids
D/L
Card with emergency #s
An emergency "girlie thingie"
A fortune for the fortune cookie from mine & Paulius' first Chinese dinner date. It says:
"He who loves you will follow you" I've kept it with his picture ever since.

I'm not tagging anyone-I know how busy everyone is and I just hate when people tag me- but if any of you want to volunteer............be my guest!

Invisible Kool-Aid....& Other Stuff

Yep, honestly and I got some of the Cherry flavored.

This stuff is the best thing since sliced bread.

All the flavor and FUN of the Kool-Aid from our childhood without the dyes to stain our mouths and teeth, make us hyper or to ruin the carpet or the countertop if it's spilt.


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I'm so glad i don't get sidetracked and forget to do little things I need to do or am asked to do....like pay the bills or buy groceries or cook.

That would just be REALLY ANNOYING after a few times, wouldn't it?

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DAMN it's HOT!!!!!!!