Today has been a great day! It was hot as all but what is the "unofficial" start of summer without some heat? My AC guy came over -- a little later than he said but at least he showed. The unit will last at least another year and maybe two....to replace everything that needs to be replaced will be very, very costly. The "in the ceiling" unit is as old as the house -- about 28/29 years old (I think) and the former owners installed the outside unit a few years before I bought the house...so, it's time and I'm okay with that. Don't have the cash but at least I have fair warning that it's coming so I can begin to save.
On to the fun stuff.....so mom shows up at the designated hour and we truck on over to my uncle's house. I can smell the stuff on the grill. Here's the funny thing -- he loves using a charcoal grill and has pretty much perfected it. Last year he bought a high end gas grill -- he very rarely uses it. Today, though, we had both of the grills going. I love to cook outside. There's something about hearing the meat sizzle when you drop it on the grate that is perfect.
My nephew (the oldest) was home from West Point so I got to see him. He's really maturing. He's been working out and is really, really fit. He looks good. I was glad to see him. I was also glad to see one of his friends that I haven't seen since last summer. Tuck looks good, too. I love that kid. He went fishing with the crew last summer...caught a 42 lb drum fish and threw it back in! To this day, we still don't know why and I don't think he knows why either.
The (youngest) niece had a "squad" of girls over. I was amazed -- they all had LONG hair -- really long. I guess being in 7th grade you tend to do what your friends do.........it was good to see them enjoying themselves. I can't tell you how many veggie burgers they went through. Honestly, a burger isn't a burger unless it's made with meat!
The (middle) niece came over after work with one of her friends. It was really good to see her and hear how her summer job is going. She likes it. We sat around listening to silly trivia facts that the friend had downloaded on her ipod. It was neat because we started talking about a lot of stuff.
One of the best ones was that Alfred Hitchcock didn't have a belly button. Mom chimes in with "Maybe that's why he was so smart." We all stopped and looked at her..........what? I said, "Mom...I think you're thinking of Albert Einstein. Hitchcock did the Birds and Rear Window." That did it...she busted out in such a laugh that I thought at one point she stopped breathing.
Being with my family amazes me. With my mom, my aunt (her sister) and my uncle (aunt's ex) there is never a dull moment. If we're not talking about bodily functions, we're either repeating ourselves so they can hear what was said or fixing some gadget that they don't know to. I love them, I really do. I wouldn't change it for the world.
Tonight was a great night. We're going to do it all again tomorrow...sans the two oldest kids. I think I'll take my camera so you can start putting faces and names together.
Until then.............
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Good Morning, Sunshine!
I used to love when my ex said that to me.....................in fact, I love when any man says that to me. It's been quite a long time since I've heard those words. I was thinking about this because of a "text" conversation I had with a good friend of mine yesterday.
We have been friends for almost 20 years. We were both married and divorced around the same times. Our exes were friends and both musicians. We travelled together and did a lot together. The guys did not keep in touch but we did and the rest is history.
We have been through a lot and really do have fun when we're together. Herein lies the issue. She is an only child. Both of her parents have passed. She does not have a close family and most of them do not live in the area. I am not an only child. I still have my mom. My family is close and we all live within 20 minutes of each other.
My family considers her a part of it. She has been at all of the major life events and has a celebrated many holidays with us. We are having a cookout at my uncle's today which will prove to have many laughs and great food!!
I called her yesterday morning to invite her. The first response I got was, "Can I be a maybe?" There were a few other things thrown in there but in the end she agreed. I was pretty stoked because she really doesn't like to commit until just before the event or whatever we're doing.
The work day is almost at its end when I get a text from her....she is going to pass on tomorrow. Nothing came up she's just in a really foul mood and doesn't want to do the happy family thing. I text back that I'm sorry to hear that and I'm disappointed because we were all looking forward to seeing her and catching up with her. She responds with a thanks much...don't really care about much though.
Now, don't get me wrong, I care about her very much and don't want to see her like this. Having said that, though, this is a constant issue with her. She is always in a foul mood and is very much isolating herself. She is constantly depressed and will not do anything about it. We have had numerous conversations about it. All to no avail.
We both have a lot of the same things in our lives -- a house, rental properties, cars, jobs, friends, no mate. Do I get lonely and sad sometimes because I don't have a mate....absolutely! Have I learned how to deal with that in a healthy manner? Yeppers. With her her it is a constant woe is me deal and, quite frankly, I'm tired of hearing it.
I have come to the conclusion that I can only do so much. I cannot be around constant negativity. I can only listen to someone whine and bitch for so long. (Yes, that is my job but at least my clients have recognized the importance of counseling). I so badly want to tell her, yet again, that this is not healthy and that she really needs to do something about it.
That won't happen because she'll get mad and won't speak to me for a long time.....been there done that routine.
In the meantime, I'll be patient and pray that she gets what she needs to help her with this. I will also pray that she finds some happiness in her life. I could not imagine living without happiness.
Good morning, Sunshine! It's a beautiful day. Rejoice and be glad in it!
We have been friends for almost 20 years. We were both married and divorced around the same times. Our exes were friends and both musicians. We travelled together and did a lot together. The guys did not keep in touch but we did and the rest is history.
We have been through a lot and really do have fun when we're together. Herein lies the issue. She is an only child. Both of her parents have passed. She does not have a close family and most of them do not live in the area. I am not an only child. I still have my mom. My family is close and we all live within 20 minutes of each other.
My family considers her a part of it. She has been at all of the major life events and has a celebrated many holidays with us. We are having a cookout at my uncle's today which will prove to have many laughs and great food!!
I called her yesterday morning to invite her. The first response I got was, "Can I be a maybe?" There were a few other things thrown in there but in the end she agreed. I was pretty stoked because she really doesn't like to commit until just before the event or whatever we're doing.
The work day is almost at its end when I get a text from her....she is going to pass on tomorrow. Nothing came up she's just in a really foul mood and doesn't want to do the happy family thing. I text back that I'm sorry to hear that and I'm disappointed because we were all looking forward to seeing her and catching up with her. She responds with a thanks much...don't really care about much though.
Now, don't get me wrong, I care about her very much and don't want to see her like this. Having said that, though, this is a constant issue with her. She is always in a foul mood and is very much isolating herself. She is constantly depressed and will not do anything about it. We have had numerous conversations about it. All to no avail.
We both have a lot of the same things in our lives -- a house, rental properties, cars, jobs, friends, no mate. Do I get lonely and sad sometimes because I don't have a mate....absolutely! Have I learned how to deal with that in a healthy manner? Yeppers. With her her it is a constant woe is me deal and, quite frankly, I'm tired of hearing it.
I have come to the conclusion that I can only do so much. I cannot be around constant negativity. I can only listen to someone whine and bitch for so long. (Yes, that is my job but at least my clients have recognized the importance of counseling). I so badly want to tell her, yet again, that this is not healthy and that she really needs to do something about it.
That won't happen because she'll get mad and won't speak to me for a long time.....been there done that routine.
In the meantime, I'll be patient and pray that she gets what she needs to help her with this. I will also pray that she finds some happiness in her life. I could not imagine living without happiness.
Good morning, Sunshine! It's a beautiful day. Rejoice and be glad in it!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Good vs. Evil -- Good always prevails!
When all is said and done, all you really have is yourself. What does this mean? I don't know. I was just catching up on some of the blogs that I have been neglecting over the past weeks and decided to "post a new" one and see what comes out of my typing. So, this is it.............
Life has thrown some curve balls at me as of late. I've been doing a lot of thinking about work and the people that I work with. I often wonder why those "in power" make the decisions that they do. These decisions seem to go against every bit of common sense and business sense. They hire people who are really horrible workers. They get rid of those workers who are wonderful. They do not follow any pattern with running some of the programs.
I think this all stems from an incident that happened two Fridays ago. A good friend of mine was let go. Now, you may think, "it's a shame, wonder why, must have deserved it...." or any combination of those thoughts. Well...yes, it is a shame because the only thing that I can see he did was stick up for his supervisees and refuse to be the company puppet.
It's a weird dynamic. I happen to be one of those people who speaks to everyone. It's just the way I am. So is he. Naturally, we hit it off and became good friends. I would trust him with anything and everything. Well, it just so happens that the Vice President of his division does not like me. I have NO idea why. I have never done anything to her but be nice and do what she asks of me....not that it's been that much. It's very obvious that she has it in for me...I think she thinks that I don't know what she's doing....SURPRISE....I'm not that silly.
So, he goes and I get an email from my former supervisor that she needs to speak with me about appropriate/inappropriate sharing of information. See, immediately, both she and the VP jumped to the conclusion that I told everyone he was fired. I did not and vehemently told her that I didn't when I met with her on Monday morning. She asked who did and I said that I didn't know. (there's more to the story but it's not too relevant)
Fast forward to a few hours later. I find out that in their division meeting, the VP -- in front of all of her minions -- tried to throw me under the bus and accuse me of telling confidential information. Oh, to have been a fly on the wall when she was told -- in front of all of her minions -- that it wasn't me!!!
Which brings me to the issue of forgiveness. I remember someone saying to me that forgiveness isn't for the offending person but for the offendee. In other words, it's not for them, it's for you. So, I have chosen to forgive her for her blatant disregard of my feelings. I have chosen to forgive her for trying to make me look bad. I have chosen to forgive her for all of her negativity towards me. I have chosen to forgive both of them for not apologizing or admitting they were wrong. Will I forget? No.
I am very careful of what I say, to whom I say it, and my actions. I was glad that it was revealed that I was not the one who leaked the info. It just goes to show...when all is said and done, you only have yourself to trust and to be true to. Karma is a bitch....I'm glad she got what was coming to her and I hope that if she ever jumps to another conclusion that it backfires on her just as this one did.
Life has thrown some curve balls at me as of late. I've been doing a lot of thinking about work and the people that I work with. I often wonder why those "in power" make the decisions that they do. These decisions seem to go against every bit of common sense and business sense. They hire people who are really horrible workers. They get rid of those workers who are wonderful. They do not follow any pattern with running some of the programs.
I think this all stems from an incident that happened two Fridays ago. A good friend of mine was let go. Now, you may think, "it's a shame, wonder why, must have deserved it...." or any combination of those thoughts. Well...yes, it is a shame because the only thing that I can see he did was stick up for his supervisees and refuse to be the company puppet.
It's a weird dynamic. I happen to be one of those people who speaks to everyone. It's just the way I am. So is he. Naturally, we hit it off and became good friends. I would trust him with anything and everything. Well, it just so happens that the Vice President of his division does not like me. I have NO idea why. I have never done anything to her but be nice and do what she asks of me....not that it's been that much. It's very obvious that she has it in for me...I think she thinks that I don't know what she's doing....SURPRISE....I'm not that silly.
So, he goes and I get an email from my former supervisor that she needs to speak with me about appropriate/inappropriate sharing of information. See, immediately, both she and the VP jumped to the conclusion that I told everyone he was fired. I did not and vehemently told her that I didn't when I met with her on Monday morning. She asked who did and I said that I didn't know. (there's more to the story but it's not too relevant)
Fast forward to a few hours later. I find out that in their division meeting, the VP -- in front of all of her minions -- tried to throw me under the bus and accuse me of telling confidential information. Oh, to have been a fly on the wall when she was told -- in front of all of her minions -- that it wasn't me!!!
Which brings me to the issue of forgiveness. I remember someone saying to me that forgiveness isn't for the offending person but for the offendee. In other words, it's not for them, it's for you. So, I have chosen to forgive her for her blatant disregard of my feelings. I have chosen to forgive her for trying to make me look bad. I have chosen to forgive her for all of her negativity towards me. I have chosen to forgive both of them for not apologizing or admitting they were wrong. Will I forget? No.
I am very careful of what I say, to whom I say it, and my actions. I was glad that it was revealed that I was not the one who leaked the info. It just goes to show...when all is said and done, you only have yourself to trust and to be true to. Karma is a bitch....I'm glad she got what was coming to her and I hope that if she ever jumps to another conclusion that it backfires on her just as this one did.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Exhausted
I spent the night in a strange church last night. We are partnering with a church not too far from ours for our New Orleans trip so we decided to join them for their annual lock in. We really had a good time. It was a bit nervewracking at times because I was meeting kids for the first time and I wasn't used to them. My kids know how to behave and they know when I say something I mean it. Even though, at times, they drive me insane, they're great kids.
I learned a new card game called Mao (I don't know how to spell it) but all I know is that you can only learn the rules by playing. The person who is teaching you is not allowed to tell you any rules. It's fruastrating but it's fun.
We played hide n seek -- well, they did....I don't do dark in a place where I'm unfamiliar and had a blast. One of the kids (he's about 6 feet tall, athlete, stud) was hiding in this little closet thing where they store chairs. He was all scrunched in there. About 5 minutes into his hiding spot, the doors flew open and he comes flying out shouting, "There's a mouse in there!!" It was so funny.
This morning's worship services were wonderful. The kids did such a great job. There were a lot of people from my congregation there....so many that we were wondering who was left worshipping at our place.
What a great experience. I'm beyond exhausted because we got so very little sleep......time to rest up for antother busy week.......
Peace
I learned a new card game called Mao (I don't know how to spell it) but all I know is that you can only learn the rules by playing. The person who is teaching you is not allowed to tell you any rules. It's fruastrating but it's fun.
We played hide n seek -- well, they did....I don't do dark in a place where I'm unfamiliar and had a blast. One of the kids (he's about 6 feet tall, athlete, stud) was hiding in this little closet thing where they store chairs. He was all scrunched in there. About 5 minutes into his hiding spot, the doors flew open and he comes flying out shouting, "There's a mouse in there!!" It was so funny.
This morning's worship services were wonderful. The kids did such a great job. There were a lot of people from my congregation there....so many that we were wondering who was left worshipping at our place.
What a great experience. I'm beyond exhausted because we got so very little sleep......time to rest up for antother busy week.......
Peace
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)