A reprieve

The missing money has been found! My daughter had put on black pants for the interview and then realized that something was on them, so she changed outfits. So today her sister wore the black pants and discovered the money in the pocket. Jump for joy! And she went to a 2nd interview and was offered the job.

Tough Times

On her way to a job interview yesterday, my daughter stuffed close to $100 in her pants pocket. When she decided to put the money in her wallet, it was gone! Her sister called to see if it had fallen out during the interview, if anyone had turned in the money. I feel for my daughter. When I was about her age, I set my purse down at a store, forgot to pick it up, and it was stolen--with $40. A couple years ago, I was camping and had tucked $55 in the pocket of my jeans. It fell out.

In the night, my daughter woke up in excruciating pain! I felt so helpless. I gave her acetominophen and rubbed her back and kept her company until the pain lessened. I finally fell asleep only to have my husband wake me up for work.

A diagnostic code! My eye doctor and I cannot figure out which code the claim people want! I plan to call the claims office tomorrow and ask for help. I am about to give up on my reimbursement.

As our parents age

We got news yesterday that my husband's aunt is in assisted living. She is dealing with kidney issues, diabetes, dementia and is going blind. On Monday, my brother in law took his mother to rehab, and then there is the continuing issues of my mother--immobility, incontinence and dementia. As my husband's cousin wrote, there are good days and bad days. I spoke with both my mother and father, and at this moment, things are well. However this can change in the next hour. My coworker had her baby! A baby girl, 9 lbs, 8 ounces. I saw a picture of mom and baby--very sweet. In for a few hours of work this morning, and then to the TMJ specialist in the afternoon. He has relocated so now we have to drive to the hospital. I discovered that I had requested two copies of the same book at the library and checked them out without noticing. Am about due for another library trip--am reading my last book by Gil McNeil.

Been so lazy

With the exception of zumba on Friday, I have not exercised. No Jillian Michaels on Wed, Thurs, Sat or Sun. I hope to get back on track today! Two new sales associates are starting on Wednesday. From first impressions, they seem like they will be a good match. Yesterday, on the way to church, I catapulted a gas permeable contact lens while in the car. After looking with a toothbrush, I found it, only to discover that it had a miniscule rip in it. I had to order a new one. Good thing I work. It's not as bad as it could be because I have a set of "emergency" lenses. They are out of round, and I can only wear them 'til the new one arrives. I could not balance either the drawer or safe at the branch store on Thurs. I talked to the branch store manager and she thinks she might have made an error. I'm not sure about that--I think I accidentlyentered thru an old order causing the problem. The co. president could not have been kinder. He told me that he knows I'm honest, recognized my frazzled state of mind, and reminded me to lock both doors.

Relaxed this morning

I was busy at work on Thursday and Friday! Taking orders, waiting on customers, putting flowers in the display case. Feeling the effects of nonstop running, I decided, since the master was attending a tournament, to skip hapkido and relax at home this morning. Something I can never do. It's usually stumble out of bed and get ready to go to work, church, an appt. I went to the library yesterday on another search for "happy" books. I've been successful, especially with the Gil McNeil books. I read that studies have shown that sucralose is showing up in drinking water. It does not break down in the body and waste management plants do not remove it from the water. I refuse to drink or eat artificial sweeteners. I hope it doesn't come to buying bottle water. Such a waste! My husband, who does not like tea, bought some Rush Limbaugh sweet tea. I can't drink it, as it contains caffeine and sugar.

At the branch store

The branch store manager has dropped a day, so today I am at the branch store. I have taken 4 orders, vacuumed and removed the pollen from the lilies. Though customer volume and retail sales are down from the main store, I enjoy self initiative here. I am happy and can always find something to do. Later, I will display our "Happy Hour" sign--single stems, half off! I just finished reading a book about a woman with a closed head injury. Very timely, since one of the customers has a brain injury. It gave me pause, made me realize that I need to be patient with people, especially my husband.

A Fun Read

"The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club--a novel" by Gil McNeil made me laugh aloud. It was uniquely free of the twisted mind of the criminal, mental illness, deviousness and unfaithfulness that fill so many of the books I've been reading lately. I can't read this in the fall of the year, with rain pouring down my window and winter cold around the corner. In McNeil's book, I was transported to England and followed the adventures of a young widowed mom with two young children and I laughed aloud at their adventures. Exactly what I needed. Thank you Ms. McNeil.

Today's mission

I have been off to church, cleaned the kitchen so that I could eat breakfast, and washed a couple loads of laundry. I'm off to work in a few minutes for a few hours, and then I'm heading to the library in search of happy books, no more sad, depressing novels for me. I want to go to Kohl's for the heated mattress pad birthday present. I will start week 2 of Jillian Michael's "Ripped in 30," and somewhere in each day, I need to review my hapkido techniques so that I can promote to the next gup.

The old "Starsky" sweater

This sweater has seen better days. A new one is on order and should be here for his b'day.

Ordered my husband's b'day present!

My husband had a significant b'day last year. He turned 65 on 10-10-10. Many moons ago, his mother brought back a sweater from Mexico, but sadly it has seen better days. So I have been looking for a shawl neck, knitted, belted cardigan for years! Well, after sending my manager a picture of my husband's torn, filthy cardigan, she called it a "Starsky" sweater. And I found a brand new one on ebay. Someone is going to have a very happy b'day. My focus is keeping the chill away, you know from his heart meds. So I am heading off to Kohl's to buy a dual control mattress pad to warm his feet.

Grandmaster from Alabama

Yesterday, we had guests at the dojang. It was the grandmaster and his wife from Alabama. They had started home after the tournament in August, but had a collision with a deer. I was astounded when the grandmaster came on the floor to help me with a technique. After class he (much to his wife's embarrassment) asked me how old I was and told me that I was "strong." I have the dubious distinction of being the oldest in the hapkido class and most of the time, the only woman. But I could tell he liked me, and that was a most pleasant feeling.

No one to open the stores

I arrived at work about ten minutes before my shift. My coworker and a customer were waiting to enter the store. The coworker and I were chatting and she mentioned that the company president, who normally opens the store on Wednesday, was flying to a conference. So, who then was scheduled to open? As it approached opening time, I unlocked the door, set my things on the counter and turned on the lights in the display case. I then took two orders for delivery from the customer. Fortunately, he was paying with a credit card, so it didn't matter that the drawers were still locked in the safe. Later I took a call from the branch store manager. She was stuck in traffic on the expressway. She told me that she would call when she made it to the store.

I should be able to use my laptop wireless service when I want to. Why is it, that the service is finicky--here one minute, gone the next. It is aggravating since I never had this problem with the previous service.

I was chasing down the phone (the phone and charger were under an end table) when it stopped ringing. I noticed that the call was from my daughter, so I redialed her number. At that moment, my cell phone started ringing. Thinking it was my daughter, I said hello to her, only to discover that the caller was my sister. While talking to my sister, the landline began ringing. It was my daughter.

Uncanny sense

Max knows absolutely when there is medicine in a treat. After about the third try, he says, "Well, since you're so persistent, I will indulge you and eat the pill, but I KNOW it's in there, just so you know."

Plans for today

I have a fine day off! I need to go to the grocery store for bananas, strawberries and dog food. We bought some liquid joint enhancer for our dog, and I am going to try to give it to him in a small amount of canned dog food. I also want to buy some berries for smoothies which I intend to freeze. The frozen strawberries I found have sugar in them. I have some insurance paperwork to try to get together. It seems I get the claim back because I'm missing some information. I need to connect with my optometrist. I'm pampering myself with a hair appointment, a new me! My hair stylist told me yesterday that I was whipped after my vacation. Little surprise then, that I was depressed, since it was rainy, vacation was over, and I was exhausted. Also, day 3 of my 30 day "ripped" program.

42 latex balloons for the wrong day

Well, I guess it's better to be a day early than a day late! My coworker took a balloon order for today. She verified the date with the customer. This afternoon, one of our delivery men came back and stormed, "Who took that balloon order? It's for tomorrow!" All that work and it has to be repeated tomorrow. And... we have no more red latex balloons. In spite of this, the day went well. I did have to place a customer on hold (seemed forever) while I unsuccessfully tried to call our delivery manager. I dialed the number incorrectly, so soon I heard, "Who dialed the delivery manager's number wrong?" I had to put the same customer BACK on hold and admit to the president that I was the one. The recipient of the misdialed call had phoned the store and I had to say, "It was me. I'm so sorry to have bothered you." This poor customer. The computer changed her address from the correct one to an old address. Seemed like I had to repeat everything in her order 3 times. I worked a bit late, dropped a grill, tarp and hatchet off at my father's house, and went to the library. It was a timely visit as I had a book due in a few days. It is always comforting to have some books to peruse. I am reading happy books. Enough with the depressing ones!

3 touchdowns in a minute twelve

Our team scored! The opposing team scored and we were behind. With just seconds to go...in the end zone! Touchdown and a win!

Yesterday afternoon I stopped by for a few minutes to say hello to my work friend and her family and friends at her baby shower. Fun fellowship and good food. Today after work, we are having a baby shower for the same friend. I am bringing hummus and pita chips as one of the guests has a milk allergy.

Blue Skies are coming

The rain is leaving, and blue skies are coming. My blue mood is going the way of the rain. When the skies smile, so do I. At work today, I cleaned the fruit basket area and did dishes (cleaned vases). I felt a sense of accomplishment to see the sparkling clean vases stacked neatly on the shelves. Our processor/receiver had more room to work as the dirty vases did not take up most of the table.

One of my husband's bowlers has opted to not bowl due to money issues. Several team members have offered to throw in a few extra dollars each week so that he can bowl. A demonstration of fellowship and loyalty.

Back to the basics

One afternoon, my husband and I drove to buy firewood and to the produce stand. Our mission was to bring back some corn on the cob for dinner. We followed the signs to the market eventually finding tables laden with tomatoes, cantelope, onions, corn, and pears. I was impressed with the friendliness of the young woman watching the stand. She told us that her grandmother was in hospital in a nearby city. She gave us a free muskmelon as it had a soft spot and couldn't be sold. In this small town, people take the time to enjoy the company of other folks.

In the short lunch break I have at the flower shop, I scarf down my lunch, more to keep my brain cells working than to enjoy the food. Imagine my pleasure when I could sit down and slowly savor every bite while we were on vacation. Little things like going to the spigot for water, and then heating it and doing dishes were most pleasant. Hanging towels to dry, removing them from the line because of the rain, hanging them back on once the storm had moved on. My vacation was a return to a simpler, less frantic life style.

Spectacular sunset

Back from vacation

Incredible sunsets over the lake, brilliant stars in the night sky, sitting by a fire and toasting marshmallows to make a s'more, reading and relaxing under the whispering pines. I feel rejuvenated, altho I have a slight headache, probably from the trip home. The only casualty from our vacation was the electric griddle. My husband knelt on the handle. And I know better. I know NOT to put food in the cabana! Woke up one morning and found that a squirrely little rodent had nibbled through the cabana straight into the two packages of hamburger buns! Now I have some tent repair to do!