She is...

Following in the footsteps of Julochka and Spudballoo, I decided to hop on the "This Girl..." bandwagon. I've gotten a few new followers (thank you thank you!) lately, so I thought this would be a good time.

So if you've ever wanted to know your bloggy buddy Bambi, read on. If not, well, that's okay too...

She is...

...better as 2nd in command

...a doer, but not a creator

...fiction, not so much non-fiction

...ms pac-man

... a mac not a pc...iphone not blackberry

..."lucky in life and in love" thanks fidgeting gidget for the line

...straight hair... or curly hair...dozing under her hair-dryer

...autumn not spring

...vanilla not chocolate

...a starbucks grande skinny caramel latte

...canon not nikon

...satellite, not cable, but waiting for u-verse

...a bit of a flirt

...chardonnay not reisling...cabernet not merlot...red zinfandel never white

...lipgloss

...stacked tennis bracelets

...hubby's t-shirts at bedtime

...jeans and a sweater

...a label whore, but not proud of it

...slipper socks

...sinatra in the kitchen...erin bode by the fire...britney in the gym

...usually laughing

...a salad fork and a dinner fork

...amaretto on the rocks...vodka not gin

...travel

...medicine

...trying to age gracefully while fighting it all the way

...crest toothpaste...secret deodorant... johnson's baby powder...bumble and bumble hair products

...comfortable with who she is

Sunday Thoughts

I know it's not tuesday, but I'm having random thoughts anyway. Here's what I'm thinking about:

• Can dead people read our minds? I know at first your gonna laugh, but think about it. If not, how come we talk to them, go to their wakes and grave sights? I've gone to the place where my Dad is buried, as well as other family members just to say "hi" and pay my respects. But why? Do they know? Do they care?
• If they can read our minds, do they come when summoned? This is important to know because, as I'm sure I've told you before, I tend to think quite a bit in the shower. For some reason I haven't figured out yet, I tend to think about dead people while in the shower. It'd be bad enough if my Dad and Grandparents showed up in my bathroom while I'm butt-naked, but how about my 6th grade boyfriend who killed himself after high-school? I'm not sure I want him seeing me naked. Or what about our buddy that just died a couple weeks ago? I think about him sometimes too. He was a really nice guy, but I don't want him in my shower.
• Do dead people get mad when I let my dogs run loose in the cemetery? Well, not "loose" per se, I walk/jog along beside them, but I let them off leash to get some exercise. Plus I always always pick up the poo (it's important to be a responsible dog owner). But do they care that the dog may piddle where they are buried? 
• When I die can I go visit the people that are important to me and say goodbye, kinda like what happened here?
• Will my husband ever quit yelling at me to stop blogging so we can go see the Rams lose today??
• Grr. More random thoughts on tuesday!!
  

Happy Hour Friday

Hooray for Happy Hour Friday! I hope you've already been to Otie's site so you can click his little Linky and be one of the cool kids. If not, go do it. I'll wait.

Okay, well I'm so so sorry this is late. Thanksgiving dinner was fine, we only had 12 people over, so that was very doable. However one child who hadn't been here showed up late, ate someone else's stuff, and unintentionally started a battle. I should have stayed out of it, but I made a comment (bad mommy, bad bad mommy) and the battle escalated to an outright war. Needless to say, I was not in the proper frame of mind for a HHF post.


However, that was last night, the peace treaties have been signed, my blood pressure and heart rate are back to normal, and I'm ready to focus on some happy stuff. Are you ready? Let's hit it, sister.

• I'm so happy I got 3 new followers! Thank you thank you and welcome. I hope not to bore you to tears.
• I'm happy that peace reigns supreme (at the moment) in my house. Of course there is a little bit of ignoring going on... but I'll take it. It's better than outright hostility.
• I ventured out today and I had a great time at the mall. Most of the kids shopping is done, but not all of it, which is fine with me. I like to spread it out a little.
• I bought a couple things I needed... okay really I didn't need them, but I wanted them, and that's almost the same thing, right? I'll get photos soon, but not now.
• Yes, I'm lazy. Deal with it. I like it this way.
  
• Hubby told the girls what he wanted for Christmas so they are taking care of it. Nice, for them, but now I have to think of a whole other idea. I wonder if he wants to go to Denmark in January...
  
• I was planning on putting up the tree today, but I'm pooped now. It can wait.
• I'm so happy that we have enough left-overs for dinner tonight. And possibly tomorrow night. That'll be it tho... I am not going to drag it out til Christmas like my mom used to do.
• I just downloaded 3 new tunes to my work-out iPod. This makes me happy. I'd tell you what they are but you'd just laugh at me. But they have good beats and are good to run to.
• I am thankful that I had a stay of execution at the DMV today. It's closed. The only problem is that now I have to get up at the butt crack of dawn to be there before 8 tomorrow.
• In case you have forgotten, yesterday was the baby's birthday... we are going to get her learner's permit.
• We saw Blind Side and it was amazing. Go see it. It's worth it. BUT. I hate seeing movies about Memphis. It brings back a flood of memories. And usually it makes me feel like crying. I didn't tho, so I guess that's good.
  
• Okay, I think that's it for me. I know it wasn't very happy sounding BUT remember that my Rant and Rave post on Wednesday was all RAVES! I can't be sunshine and sparkles all the time dang it.
• Don't forget to go see Otie! Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving... or just a wonderful Thursday night if you're not American.
• Cheers!
  

Rant and Rave Wednesday

Be sure to stop by and see Little Miss Blogger so you can clink on the Linky and be part of the cool kids. Come on... ya know you want to.

Rave: the older girls are home from college for the rest of the weekend. So far so good. I'm hoping it stays that way.

Rave: youngest daughter "volunteered" to clean the house again. By volunteer I mean that I will pay her. It's still better than doing it myself.

Rave: I'm learning new songs on the piano, even some Christmas ones. Yes, I'm sure everyone in the neighborhood will be sick of Christmas songs flowing tunelessly out of my house, but you know what, I don't care. I want to learn to play them. So far I've (ahem) mastered What Child Is This, Jingle Bells (of course), Joy to the World, Angels We Have Heard On High and Old King Wenceslas (which I only know the tune from Scrooged).

Rave: I'm trying really hard to start getting into the Spirit of the holidays. It's so easy to be grumpy -- well for me it is anyway. The weather is unseasonably warm, finances aren't flowing the way they should, my scale is stuck... but that doesn't matter. I'm gonna be happy if it kills me damn it.

Rave: my roses are confused

I have no idea why they think it's time to bloom. I cut them all waaaaay back -- to practically nubs -- early in the fall. I guess they thought spring came early. Sorry for the crappy picture. I didn't feel like hauling out the big-girl camera.

Rave: I haven't worked much at all the last couple weeks. But that's also kind of a rant. The lazing around the house was great last week, this week it's kind of old. Plus I need a reason to need new shoes. Wait, who am I kidding? I don't really need a reason, but it'd be nice to have the extra money.

Rave: I have a new follower!

Rave: Hubby wants to cook two turkeys this year. He's going to bake one and put one on the grill. I said "whatever," it's his side of the family and he can do it any way he wants. He wants the baked one just in case the grilled one doesn't turn out (we've never done it that way before...). I'm in charge of the rest of the meal so I guess it's fair.

Rave: My baby turns 15 tomorrow. Wait, that should be a rant. How on earth can the baby of the family be 15? That must make me old... doesn't it? We are going Friday morning to get her driving permit. Now that is scary. If I never blog again you'll know why.

Rave: I think I'm done. I need to take the dogs for a w-a-l-k. Shhhh, don't say it out loud, they will both start freaking out.

See? they won't even stand still. Now I have to go or they'll start beating down the door.

Have a great day and a Happy Thanksgiving!

The Rest of My Hats

If you can remember way way back to the beginning of the month, I did a post on My Many Hats, kind of a chronicle of the jobs I've held. In case you're having trouble remembering, it was the post that had those amazing firemen. I think most of you stopped reading there, but that's okay. It was a really good picture.

The other day someone I haven't seen or spoken to in almost 20 years friended me on Facebook (yes, I still have my FB account. Deal with it). Naturally this got me thinking about the past, which led to thinking about how we were friends when I was working at a bar, which in turn reminded me that I haven't shared the rest of my jobs.

When I ended my last post I had moved back home (which wasn't really home anymore because my whole family had moved) and was working for CBT's dad at Ronco. That didn't last too long because I don't think I really wanted a job. All I really wanted to do was go bar hopping. Sure I was only 18, but I had a pretty good fake ID. Besides, the dive bars that we frequented rarely checked IDs.

So anyway, after 6 months or so the semester had ended, the "big breakup" had already occurred (I tried to link a post that talked about it, but I can't find one, and honestly who wants to read about it anyway), I quit working at Ronco and headed back out west to spend the summer with my parents... that's when I met the first of many mistakes (I didn't marry this one tho). He was everything the other boyfriend wasn't -- which was what I thought I needed. He never went to college, he was dark and mysterious, he was a poet and a rebel, he rode a motorcycle (which I bought for him, but that's beside the point). I supported this would-be artist by working as a receptionist for a lawyer. Well, I say working, but again, this didn't last long. I can't remember the guys name, but in the phone book he was listed under AAA Law or something. You know, having the As in front will move you up in the phone book so everyone sees your name first. Needless to say, we had a lot of (ahem) interesting clients. I'll never forget talking to a man on the phone and asking if I could have his number so the lawyer could call him back. He said he was in jail and that he'd need to talk to him now... I was shocked. I really had no idea what to say to this man. "Oh what did you do?" didn't seem quite right. Anyway, I quit working there shortly after. Well, really I got fired. Seriously, the lawyer wanted me there at 8 in the morning! Come on! I was 18 years old and having fun! I didn't want to get up at 8! I usually made it in around 10. Needless to say, I got axed.

Luckily I soon found work as a receptionist at a salon and spa. I loved this job. It was fairly high end, but the people were nice and the owner and I got along well. Neil (the owner) and his wife Cathy kind of took me under their wing and taught me all about fashion and style. I should probably remind you here that I went to private catholic schools when I was growing up (9-12 was all girls). I knew precisely squat about how to dress, how to put on make-up, how badly I needed to wax my eyebrows (and other places). When I started working there I was -- well, not fat per se, but I was kinda chunky, I only wore Express sweaters (that's pretty much all I had at this point), and I had long hair that pretty much had no style. By the time I left I had a short sassy cut, two distinct eyebrows, I was 20lbs lighter, and I was hot. Okay so maybe I'm the only one that thought it, but I thought I was a babe. I'd like to say here that I dumped the parasite and fell in love with a prince, but that didn't happen. I was dumped. Again. Actually repeatedly. He'd call and make up whenever he needed me to buy him something, but other than that, I was dumped. And too stupid to realize it. One day his older brother had pity on me and came over and laid it out straight. He said he loved his brother but couldn't stand to see what he was doing to me.

So what did I do? I quit my job and moved back to the mid-south. So now I have no family and no job (still had a couple friends tho, thank God). And I still had my fake ID. To say I hit the bars would be a bit of an understatement, but we'll go with it for now. There was one little bar by the university that was a popular hangout, and I pretty much moved in. After a few months of drinking there, I realized it would be more cost effective to work there too, so there's my next job. Every once in a while someone would order food, but mainly what I can remember is beer kegs and live music. It was great -- for a while. Then came that damn wild hair of mine, and I ran off with the owner of the bar. Yep. We took off and that was that.

So this is the man that I would eventually marry. I was 20, he was 32. I was young and stupid he was just stupid. He tried his hand at a couple jobs but really all he knew was running a bar, so the minute I turned 21 we opened one. Wait, what? Why did he wait? Could it be because he couldn't get a liquor license in his own name? Argh. That's a whole other post. I did say I was stupid, remember. Anyway, we were in a big city in the south, and we opened up a little bar-n-grill. We had fun for several months, the place was always crowded and we had live music (once the Allman Bros), but then I found out I was pregnant. I was too afraid to tell my parents I was pregnant and coming home, so I told them I was pregnant and getting married. They were thrilled coped as best they could. The thing about working in bars, in case you don't know, is that there are so many drugs. I mean, I don't consider myself naive, but you wouldn't believe the stuff I saw, and I'm not just talking about "mary jane." I was shocked, and I knew that there was no way I was raising a child in that environment. So we did what I do best: we left.

After having my daughter I was pretty much home most of the time. I was in and out of school, but it was hard to focus on that with a baby at home. Then I found out I was pregnant with my second child. Ex-husband did not hold on to jobs well and I knew if we were gonna eat it would be up to me, so I got a job at a children's store (employee discount, duh). It was a family owned place and they really took care of me, but once baby #2 came I was done. Besides, I knew I really needed to get back to school.

That's pretty much it. I went back to school full time and got a BS in biochemistry (and a divorce). I worked in several different labs (p chem lab, med school lab) to make some money, but after I graduated I knew I'd need to find something "real" to do. I wrote about it in this post. I got through pharmacy school and now I'm doing a job that I absolutely love.

So, here I am with my current hats:

• Mother to teenagers
• Wife to Bob
• Pack-leader to Juneau and Jenny
• Pharmacist Extraordinaire
• Habitat for Humanity Board Member
• Junior Service Club Member
• Hope Rescues volunteer
• Piano Student
• Field Hockey Mom
• Queen of the castle
  
• Maid/cook/housekeeper/dog walker
  
• Blogger

How many hats do you wear?

Six Word Saturday

For more Six Word Saturday be sure to go to Show My Face. She's got a huge Mr Linky thing going on, so be sure to stop by.

For Happy Hour Friday this week I posted a picture of my new iPhone case, and as usual I had the phone in front of me so you couldn't see my face. Otie, dear boy that he is, commented that he hates it when people do that. Well, since I'm all about keeping my peeps happy, here is my Six Words:

DEAR OTIE, THIS ONE'S FOR YOU

So Otin there ya go. Wrinkles and all. I didn't even brush my hair. Well, I did this morning, but that was like 6 hours ago. Boom. You owe me now.

Happy Hour Friday

You should know by now this is my favorite post of the week. Yes, sometimes it's my only post of the week, but I'm working on that! Through emails with my good friend Otie we came up with this weekly gem and hope you like it. Go to Otie's site and join the fun!

Here are some things that are making me happy today:

• My new iFrogz case came! I think I told you about it at some point. Anyway, isn't it cool? Nope, it's not, it's hot. Hot Pink, that is. (Gotta love teenagers. She wouldn't be in the picture with me, but at least I got her two fingers. )
  

 In case you can't remember, here's my old case:

   Ok blogger you suck

• Ok is Blogger frustrating you?? I don't like this new picture up-load thingie. 
• Ummm okay back to Happy Thoughts
• Tonight is another Junior Service night. After the meeting, which hopefully wont last too long, we are going to one of my favorite wine bars, Erato. I love it. In case you forgot (how could you??) last weekend we had Girls Night Out. It was okay, but it was at a bar-bar, not a wine bar, and the wine wasn't that good so I didn't stay too long. But here's a pic of a few of the JSC girlies:

Hahaha I just realized I'm the only one without a drink in my hand!!! Trust me, that doesn't happen often.

• I'm happy that I have a clean house and haven't had to lift a finger. Okay that's not true, I had to lift a couple fingers to pay my child, but I'd rather pay her than do it myself have a dirty house. She's trying to raise money to go to Mexico with her friend over spring break, so all I have to do is wave cash in front of her and she'll clean. 
• I'm happy that my other daughter has a job. She works at Dippin Dots and seems really happy with it. That, of course, makes me happy. 
• I'm happy that I got a fabulous surprise from Ali (from Inner Ramblings of a Mid-Life Mama) in the mail! It's a Union Jack heart shape pin because I love love love the UK. Plus the card was funny which is always a good thing to get.
  

• I'm happy that today while I was taking a long, hot bath (and not cleaning or anything else) I decided what I want for Christmas and my birthday (cuz they're only a week apart). I want airline tickets to Denmark so I can go to Blog Camp 3.0 at Julochka's. Hubby's probably gonna say no. And then I'm gonna wine whine a lot. And then maybe he'll come around, but I kinda doubt it. But since I don't know the answer yet, I am still hopeful and therefore still happy.
• I'm happy that I still had some candy corn left. I ate several large handfuls some for lunch. I'd like to blame it on Bee since she sent me an email to thank me for sending her candy corn, but actually I already opened it before I got the email. It must have been her fault tho, normally I wouldn't eat candy corn for lunch. Besides, now I'm hungry!
• Oh yeah, speaking of both Julochka and hungry, I bought the new cookbook I wanted. Well, actually it isn't the one I was looking for, but it's by the same author: Nigella Lawson. It's her holiday cookbook and since I'm going to my mom's house it'll be fun to try new stuff on the family. Plus it has lots of drink recipes in there, and if your family is anything like my family, you need lots of drinks to get thru the holidays! 
  
• I'm happy that I'm done with this post...and I'm sure you are too. Don't forget to go click on Oties's thingie, and also visit the others that are joining us for Happy Hour Friday!

Rant and Rave Wednesday

It's been a while since I've done a Rant and Rave Wednesday and today seems like a good day to get some stuff off my chest. Be sure to stop by Little Ms Blogger and see what she's Rantin' and Ravin' about today.

Rave: I'm so happy LMB put a Mr Linky on her site so we can all see who's ranting and raving. It's a great way to see new bloggers.

Rant: I joined NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writers Month) and we're supposed to write a book this month. 50,000 words. I have squat and it's past mid-month. I don't wanna be a loser, but I don't see it happening.

Rave: I got an award! Two of them actually, but since it's the same award I'm only gonna count it as one. Both of the fabulous bloggers, Fidgeting Gidget and Esmerelda, have bestowed upon me the I Should Have Been a Stripper Award. However did they know I am used to be once for my husband pretended love this award? Thank you so much ladies!

On a side note, I thought I read somewhere that this is not the proper name for this award and that somehow it got messed up. If anyone knows what I'm talking about, feel free to leave the proper name.

Rant: There are always rules to awards. I'll follow some and some I wont. Here are the rules:

• Post it (done)
  
• List 7 personality traits
• Bitchy (yep it's true)
• Winey (no I didn't mean whiny)
• Friendly (most of the time)
• Procrastinating (usually)
• Hungry (what? I'm ready for lunch)
• Witty (at least I think I am)
• Lovable (awww, ain't that sweet?)
• Sexy (yeah that's 8, but I am. So there. You can add rebellious too.)
  
• Pass it on to 7 other worthy bloggers. No. I ain't gonna. BUT if you have always wanted to be a stripper and think you'd look good as a pink Peep, this award is yours for the taking! Really, just snap it up and post it on your blog. We won't tell. Say it's from me.

Rant: My damn lovable dog keeps scratching at the door. All stinking morning it's let the dog in let the dog out let the dog in let the dog out let the dog in let the dog out.

Rave: KU beat Memphis last night. Okay really I'm not a huge KU fan, or basketball in general, but I bet CBT again and again I WON! I wonder what sort of foolishness he's gonna try this time.

Rant: Or Rave: I haven't decided yet. Tonight we are going to another basketball game. It's SLU Billikins (hubby is an alum). I like basketball ok, but really, a double header last night and another game tonight. That's a little much for me. At least basketball is inside so I don't have to worry about the weather. On the bright side hubby is taking me out for dinner first, so it's like a real date. And I'll get wine. Okay, let's put it under Rave.

Rave: I have nothing to do today. Of course I could be doing laundry or cleaning or any number of domestic things around the house, but instead I'm going to shower, nap, read, and blog. Ha. Plus I've already walked the dogs AND worked-out, so I am all set to veg out for a while.

Go check out Little Ms Blogger!

Oh SNAP! This is my 100th post! Woohooo!

Gimme an F!

Gimme an R! Gimme an E! Gimme an A! Gimme a K!

Or

HOW TO LOSE A BET WITH STYLE

Okay really I think my good buddy and longtime freak friend Carbuncle Trumpet is just a nut. Well, he's a Cubs fan, so you gotta give him a little bit of credit for sticking with them for, what is it now? 104 years or something? Hell I don't even remember. It's been a long time since the Cubs have seen any post-season action.

Now before you get all up in my grill lemme just say that I am a Cards fan, but really I'm just one who likes to go to games when the weather is nice for the pure enjoyment of getting out and socializing. Do I like when the Cards win? Sure. Do I get all emotional when they lose? No. Do I stay for the whole game if the weather is crappy? Hell no. I don't care enough about it to go freeze my ass off for 9 innings. I am a fair weather fan -- literally. So sue me. And hand me a glass of wine (beer makes me belchy and bloaty).

Anyway, I digress. Waaaaay back at the beginning of baseball season my buddy CBT bet me that the Cubs would beat the Cards. I said You're On! So the deal was every time the Cards/Cubs had a series we'd bet 10 cents a run and $1 a game. At the end the loser would have to pay up. This season, as luck would have it, the Cards triumphed.  I started texting good ol CBT to pay up the $4.50 he owed me. I guess maybe we should have set the ground rules so that I didn't get letters like these popping up in my mailbox:

I'm good with the "Honorable Rx Bambi". And my mailman, although I'm sure he doesn't know me as such, might have gotten a kick out of "that crazy lady who has a glass of wine in her hand and the other on her keyboard".  Although I have to admit that one came with "The Boss of Susan" and that didn't go over very well. 

You may be wondering why there were so many letters mailed out. It was only a measly $4.50. Apparently you and I are not well acquainted with the inner workings of the CBT mind.

 

  On September 24, the first letter arrived with a penny taped to it.

On September 26, a second letter arrived with a Belizean quarter. Apparently the exchange rate is half that of US currency, so it is worth $0.125. Yep. Nice.

On September 27th I hit the big time with a Belizean dollar. $0.50 US. Whoo hoo!

The next payment was in the form of an IOU for one Marlon drink. A Marlon drink is a CBT family member currently working in a bar in San Pedro Town in Belize (see photo). Estimated price $1.25 US. I hope they have wine in Belize.

Finally I hit pay-dirt with a real live check for $3.50 (in actual US dollars this time).

I should have known better than to enter a bet with this man. Just you wait til next season CBT! Oh, no wait, I'm sure the Cards will stomp you again. I'll have to wait to see what you can come up with!

Be sure to check out CBT, maybe he can make your head spin too!

 

Happy Hour Friday

My good friend Otie and I decided to get together every friday and have a Happy Hour. Today is gonna be pushing it because I'm sick, I'm cranky, and I'm working. That is kinda the trifecta of misery. Anyway, I certainly don't want to let Otie down, or you down (cuz you are the only good part of my day), so I'm gonna find the silver lining and let you know all the good things that have happened this week.

• It is an absolutely beautiful day here. Sunny, a little crisp, good fall weather. Of course I'm stuck inside working, but that sounds negative and we are only positive here at HHF.
• My tech just went to The Abbey and got me a white chocolate mocha. It's not Starbucks, but it'll do in a pinch. She even paid. I guess being sick and cranky has it's upside.
• I haven't had to cook all week cuz my family doesn't want my germs.
• This weekend I'm finally going to go buy that new cookbook I want, and hopefully I'll be cooking next week. Which cookbook, you might ask? I can't remember, but Julochka has talked about it so I'll just go to domestic sensualist and figure it out.
• Junior Service is having a Girls Night Out tomorrow. I hope I'm feeling better because I'd like to go. On the other hand it's at a bar that doesn't have a very good wine selection so if I'm not feeling better it's not going to be that big of a deal.
• I just ordered a new iFrogz cover for my iPhone. It's hot pink. That makes me happy. But I don't have it yet so that makes me not so happy. Hopefully it'll be in the mail today or tmro. 
• I got felt up Wednesday. Insurance even paid for it. How good is that? Well, it wasn't that exciting and only lasted a minute, so maybe it wasn't all the great after all.  
• My dog woke me up at 4am puking. Whats so good about that? She did it on the hardwood and not the rug. See. Silver lining. That's what I'm all about.
• Ummm. Huh. Well I guess that's it. What are you happy about today? Go see Otie, clink on his thingie, and let us know.
• Have a great weekend!!

Things I've Learned

Some background:
A few years ago at Christmas the kids were talking about everything they wanted; computers, ipods, phones, clothes, etc. It was out of control. Hubby and I decided that the girls needed a good dose of reality and they needed to see how fortunate they are and hopefully learn to have some compassion for others. Then hubby and I looked at each other and realized we were just as bad as the kids. When we wanted something we went out and bought it, and we were doing nothing to give back to the community.

We talked about different charities we could get involved with but there was really nothing that spoke to both of us. Shortly after that I noticed that our community was starting a new chapter of Habitat for Humanity. That was one that spoke to us both.

This weekend I attended a Habitat for Humanity International conference in Champaign, Illinois. It was so great to see so many people focused on a common goal: helping the deserving poor find adequate housing. It was motivating, energizing, and yes, even fun. I thought I'd share a few things with you that you might not know about HFH.

DID YOU KNOW:

• that adequate housing is a basic human right? In 1948 the United Nations defined housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living.
• that HFH doesn't "give houses to the homeless?" HFH families pay a mortgage, taxes, insurance, etc. 
• that having a Habitat house in your neighborhood does NOT decrease the value of your home? In fact studies show it is the opposite. 
• that there is no county in the US that a person can work 40 hours a week at a minimum wage job and afford even a one-bedroom apartment at the local fair-market rent?
  
• that an average HFH family makes too much money to qualify for government housing, but not enough money to purchase a house on their own?
• that joining your local HFH affiliate is a fun way to meet new people while feeling good about giving back to the community?
• that not all HFH volunteers have to know how to use power tools? There is about a bazillion things you can do: help with fundraisers, chair committees, pound the pavement, get a group of friends together and have a build day, make lunch for the construction people, etc
• that you can get a pink hardhat and a raspberry tool belt?
• that you can make life-long friends, have fun, do something worthwhile?
• that you can change the lives of others?

 

Happy Hour Friday

 I have so much to be thankful for and of course since it's Happy Hour Friday I will share! I just want to mention my wonderfully wonderful bloggy boytoy OTIE because he is the super bestest. Be sure to check him out. I always do (hahahaha)

• It has been a long week and I haven't even been working -- at least not working for pay. Well that's not true, Tuesday I got paid to work as a real life pharmacist (always a good thing!). The week has been so busy for me because I have spent several hours volunteering for the field hockey booster club. It was kinda fun. We went to the high school and sold frozen yogurt. The teens were all so nice and polite to us old farts. It was kinda cool to spend a couple days back in high school. I got to see the jocks, the geeks, the stoners, the math clubbers, the princesses, and quite a few normal people -- well as normal as teenagers can be anyway. There were a couple that looked like they came right out of 1985. It was great!

source, like totally

it's like my source, gag me with a spoon

• Ok but there was this one chick.  We only had vanilla ice cream, but we had four choices of toppings (you could have any number of toppings you wanted for no extra charge). Anyway, we had 1 person taking money, one marking down the number of cups sold, and I was scooping out the toppings. Because I was handling food I had to wear gloves (makes sense, right?). Anyway this one girl comes up and asked (politely) for a cup and I asked her what toppings she'd like. She started touching the spoons and stuff that were inside the topping containers and stirring them around. Now, on the one hand this isn't a major issue. However, we were trying to be as careful as possible about having the kids looming over the toppings and I was personally doing the scooping to keep hands out of the bins. One of the other parents politely said not to touch the spoons, took it out of her hand, and replaced it with a new spoon. I then asked her what toppings she wanted. She just turned away from me and pouted and said she didn't care anymore! I just laughed at her and looked at her friend (who was planning on sharing with her) and asked which toppings she'd like. The first girl just continued to pout and sulked away, but the 2nd girl was nice and got the ice cream. After they left the one mom (who is president of the booster club) told me that the pouty girl was a trouble maker and had been kicked off of several soccer teams because of her attitude, and had spent time in "South" ( the alternative school). She said I handled her brilliantly because I didn't let her give me any crap. I did all this without know who this kid was, I just knew she was being a little snot.  It kinda made me giggle. 
•  Muppet, our little foster dog, is going to get tutored tomorrow. I had to drop him off today tho because I'm going out of town trmo. He was so sweet. I believe he has a Forever Home to go to after his surgery. It's a retired lady who wants a friend. He was definitely a snuggle buddy so she should be happy with him. I hope so.   
• I tried to put a picture of him here but blogger is being a shit goofy. You can see him here tho. Okay... no you can't. He's not on the website anymore. It must be because he really does have his forever home. But I decided to leave the link cuz there are lots of other adorably wonderful doggies that need love. 
• You can also go to Barbs site and here too to read about Tommy. You should do it. It's important that you see what kind of people are in the world. It's sick. But it's part of HHF because Tommy is safe now and going to be loved the rest of his little life.  Plus I got to see him today and he's gained 8 pounds!!
• I LOST 4 pounds!! Okay yes, it's all water weight but I'd rather it be flowing thru the sewer than sitting on my ass so I'm all for it!
  
•  Oh, duh, I'm going out of town tomorrow. My good friend and fellow H4H board member Joy and I are going to Champaign (UofI) for a Habitat for Humanity International Conference. We are gonna learn all kinds of good stuff to make our chapter better. Plus there's gonna be wine (in the evenings, not during the lectures silly!)
  
• I was chatting online with Otie today and we were talking about poo. It was funny and made me laugh out loud. Yes, I am amused by bodily functions. Maybe I was a boy in a former life. Or a future one? Maybe I've just been married too long.
• I am super happy that I didn't lose any followers again this week. Sorry I have been MIA but I've been a little busy. No excuse, I understand, but please forgive me! Oh and let's give a warm welcome to Dad, my newest follower, who showed up this week even tho I haven't. You gotta love that. 
• I am happy, as I'm sure you are too, that I'm done with this post. Now I'm going to go have a glass of wine.

Happy Friday everyone! Go see Otie and click on his Mr Linky (he really likes it when you do that!)

My Many Hats

A few weeks ago my good friend Green-Eyed Momster did a post about the different jobs she's had. Okay well actually I have a confession to make. I'm not 100% sure it was GEM. I looked on her site to find it and I cant. So if I'm wrong please let me know. But I think it was GEM.

Okay so on to my post.

My first job was at the Video Show. NO OTIE!! Not that kind of show. It was a movie rental place, like Blockbuster, but not. It was just a mom-n-pop type video store with one copy of every movie. Well probably not every movie cuz it was pretty small. I worked there with my two best friends. On the one hand that seems like a great idea, but think about it. Every weekend night one of us was working! It sucked! One bonus tho was that the back door looked out onto the yard of a fire station.
Now.
You know how I feel about men in kilts, yes? Well, I feel pretty much the same way about firemen. They are so strong and brave and save kitties from trees. When everyone is running out of a burning building they are rushing in to save grandmas and babies. And I think they are usually paramedics too, so they are good with their mouths.

photo source

See what I mean? Oh my. I think it's gotten a little hot in here.

My second job was at Pizza Hut. It was right next to the Video Show and I got to know the guys there because I am a heifer and always ate pizza.  Unfortunately when I started working there they needed someone at a different location, so I didn't get to see my firemen anymore. That was kind of a bummer. The good news is that the store I worked in was a take-out or delivery store (not dine-in). At this time (late 80s) you never saw a female delivery driver. I can't tell you how many times I heard "MOM! The delivery boy is a GIRL!" Needless to say I was tipped very well. I usually made twice as much as the guys. I loved it! There was one problem tho. I loved pizza. I still love pizza. Everyone told me not to worry about it, I'd get sick of pizza, but it never happened. I worked there for probably 6 months and I ate pizza every day. Whenever we "messed" up a pie we got to take it home. One day my mom told me to stop bringing it home cuz the family was sick of it. I wasn't sick of it. I finally had to quit or buy a new wardrobe.

 

source

My next job was at the Limited Express. I've linked the site, but you have to remember that I was working there in the late 80s, early 90s. It was great. I was a freshman in college (remember I moved 1500 miles away from everyone I knew). I made some great friends and got some great clothes. Oh but I digress. What I remember most is the sweaters. I must have purchased my whole paycheck on sweaters very week. Okay I want you to think back... way way back.. okay are you back in the 80s? I can totally picture my outfits: stirrup pants tucked into suede boots and a big baggy sweater worn over it (off-the-shoulder cut optional). Can you see it? That was me.

My next job was with our wonderful awesome gotta-have-it CBT! Well, not actually with him, but with his dad. It was at a pasta company called Ronco. I think. Hell it was a long time ago. It had something to do with pasta (yummm, love that almost as much as pizza, firemen, and scottish guys in kilts!). Anyway, no free pasta for me tho, it was an office job. Filing things. Papers, actually. I don't think I stayed long. But CBTs dad is a hoot.

Ok, well I think I need more time to get my next few jobs in. They are actually real jobs (owning a bar, etc) and I'm ready to go to bed. So, tomorrow my friends... Well, probably wednesday since I'm working tomorrow!

Good night and happy monday!