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June 28, 2006
Shotgun not Rifle
The Dude tells me that shotguns use bullets that are actually made of pellets that spread out, rather than using bullets that are one piece and go in and out of the victim. Picture this blog post like a shotgun blast, with lots of little paragraphs that touch everything.
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I'm taking a break from my sewing project. I'm making curtains for our pantry shelves. We have a couple of those cheap plastic shelving units that store our food. All the food is exposed. So the curtains will cover them. It's tedious work, made slightly better by HGTV and Food TV on all afternoon.
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Why do kooky liberals have so much regard for abused children (don't get me wrong, abused children desperately need regard!) but so little regard for aborted fetuses? Carrie recently posted a boundless.org link. It may or may not be this one, but here is a good article: What the Choice is All About. Go there. Read it.
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My question about kooky liberals is fueled by a few TV shows I've been watching: Star Trek TNG and Law & Order (CI and SVU). TNG of course is all about the future of humanity, when we've all evolved enough to (apparently) escape original sin. It's preachy and slightly annoying. The later seasons get much better. Then there's L&O. The way they portray Christians, conservatives, and non-New Yorkers is limited, preachy, arrogant, and patronising. Sheesh.
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Which leads me to another thought: some years ago they were announcing which city would host the 3rd CSI. I thought, "Ooh, St. Louis! Chicago! LA! Portland! Seattle! Denver!" But no--it's New York. I complained about that to a quasi-friend of mine last year and she (being a NewYorker) said, "Because it's cool. Because it's the center of the planet culturally, politially, financially, socially." I didn't respond. Who do they (NewYorkers) think the rest of the country is, a social dumping ground? They think the Midwest States (the Conservative States, the Republican States) are filled with undereducated, fat, ugly, ignorant Prairie Muffins who, if only they had the Advantages THEY have in NewYork, would come around to their way of thinking. Ick. What arrogance. And here's something else: it's not "the energy of the city." It's noise, traffic, pollution, violence, and stress.
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We're busy getting ready for our BIG TRIP. Friday we're leaving for the Lake House. My parents will be there. Sister and BIL will be there (of course, it's his family's house). And the Salt Family will be there--my 3rd bridesmaid, her husband, and their two daughters. I miss them and I'm really excited that we'll all be together again!!
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My parents are coming up to Chatt after the 4th Weekend at the Lake House. They'll be here till the 9th, our FIRST ANNIVERSARY.
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Sister and BIL will be here also for the weekend next weekend. It'll be a lot of people in a tiny apartment, like Chris Farley in Black Sheep "Fat Man in a Little Jacket." Hah!
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The Dude and I will be headin' West after our Anniversary Weekend. Colorado, Kansas, our old stompin' grounds in Pennsylvania, and Center Hill for Happy Camp IV. Ok, that's actually West then East then back South to home.
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Pray for our relationships with family members. I'm afraid there's a wedge between us and some of my inlaws.
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My bacon smells burny so I have to go. Stay tuned.
Posted by The Newest Worker at 05:08 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
June 18, 2006
Questions I'm Dying to Ask
"Why are you buying such ugly jewelry? To go with the ugly blouse/skirt/whatever?"
"Do you realize this 40 dollar blouse will be out of style in 6 months? And in 5 years, we'll be watching VH1's "I love 2006" and laughing at this very blouse? You look like you're a Ginger's nasty little sister from Gilligan's Isle."
"Oh, are you pregnant?" (That's a very dangerous question. I remember once I was having coffee with Mike and a stranger on the street asked me when I was due. I looked at him coldly and I told him 'You know, you only make that mistake once--the first time. Are you saying I'm fat? You should never imply that a woman's pregnant unless she tells you or if you see a child emerging from her.')
"Can't you read?"
"Don't you read? We posted signs for you."
"Don't you read the fine print?"
"You think other stores don't post misleading signs?"
"What do you thing The Department Store wants besides your money and more of your money tomorrow? You think The Department Store cares about you as a person?"
"Why are you shopping with a little child long after his lunchtime/naptime/ lunchtime and naptime/shop-till-you-drop time?"
"Why are you treating your child like she's a grownup? She's a child. Let her act like a child."
"Do you realize that this tiny thong costs $20?"
Posted by The Newest Worker at 12:05 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
June 15, 2006
Yes or No?
I hear him laughing next door with his colleagues and I want to go over there and be included. I miss having colleagues.
I see his textbooks and postits and whiteboards covered with plans and calendars and I want that burden back, the burden of shaping young minds, the burden of looking down the path to December and then May and get excited about the possibilities facing them, facing me, facing us together.
I think about my own possibility, and excitement grows within me. If I get another closed door from the Lord, then I will be hurt. Again. I'm tired of closed doors and I hope and pray that this once I'll get a yes. I've had no's enough for a while and now I want a yes.
It reminds me of that day two years ago that I called his bluff (was it a bluff?) and he said the words I didn't realize I wanted so much to hear. Now I want to hear a yes from the bosses and if I hear another no I'll just be crushed.
A couple weeks ago a no would have made me shrug, but now a no would make me cry and cry. I've taken out that little box in my mind that I buried, taken it out and thought about planning and units and techniques and pedagogy, about that light in the students' eyes as they finally get it, even about the pain of getting out of bed on a cold barren January morning and facing the classroom full of chill and boredom, of all of us--teacher and students--wanting to be anywhere else, and I realize I want it so much I can taste it. The glimmer of mirage on the horizon makes my mouth water, and maybe this time it will be a yes.
Posted by The Newest Worker at 11:56 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 14, 2006
Moving Day
Can it have been a year already?
I'm listening to the Newsboys Devotion album. 'Listen' to the lyrics with me while I tell you the Moving Story:
all my worldAnyway, The Dude sold his car, rented one, and drove to Central Pennsylvania to me. We celebrated 'the beginning of forever' by having lunch together, closing my bank account, and going to a movie. We spent that weekend together (he helped get the last 10 or so boxes packed), and on Tuesday, June 14, we went to Penske, got the moving truck (22 feet!), and went back to my apartment. I went to the eye doctor to get antibiotics for my pinkeye, and when I got back from the pharmacy, it was about 11am already. The Dude and a friend of mine were moving much slower than we thought it would go, so we readjusted our plans.
all I've lost
the wrecks I've made here
the lives it cost
Your hand restores
Your words make whole
with all my soul
I thank You
I owe You
all my:
devotion
all that I have to give
here's my devotion
You're all that it means to live
all my past
my tainted name
You stole its legacy
of pride and shame
You're all I love
You're all I fear
I'm drawing near
to face You
to know You
to show You:
devotion
all that I have to give
here's my devotion
You're all that it means to live
You found me
in a shallow grave
You dragged me out from beneath it all
You healed me
saved me
in the nick of time
Your perfect time
You found me (found me)
in a shallow grave (in a shallow grave)
You called me out from beneath it all
You touched me (touched me)
saved me (saved me)
in the nick of time
in Your perfect time
I devote all I have to You
I devote all that You've made new
all You restored that day You bled
all that You brought back from the dead
all:
devotion (You're all...)
You're all that I have to give
You're all that it means to live
here's my devotion, my devotion
all that it means to live (You're all that means to live)
my Lord
my devotion
The original plan was to be packed by noon that Tuesday, hit the road by 1, get to Western Pennsylvania by that evening, put the rest of The Dude's stuff in boxes, spend that night in Western Pennsylvania, and load up the truck and head south to Bob's parents' house by noon Wednesday. No such luck.
It was really hot that day. The Dude did most of the packing and tying and furniture-blanket blanketing. I cleaned and vacuumed and waited. He meanwhile got hot and hungry and stressed. Eventually, he finished. It was 8. We went to the best Italian restaurant around (and Central Pennsylvanians say Eye-talian!) for dinner, went back to my place, learned to hitch the car up to the tow dolly, say 'goodbye' to my little place, and get going.
We realized we still needed to buy a padlock. So we had to stop at the Waltopia.
Finally, we got on the turnpike by 10:30. We were going to drive all night long and pack the next day after catching a couple hours at The Dude's place. However, I fell asleep in the truck right away, and The Dude wasn't feeling too energetic. So we stopped at the first Pennsylvania Turnpike Service Station we came to--30 miles down the road.
We were just going to get a few hours! But we ended up sleeping all night, with the engine running to keep the a/c going, and after 'cuddling' on the truck's seat, we soon realized that neither of us was sleeping. So I curled up on the floor of the truck so he could have the seat, because he was doing all the driving. Hah. We slept till light, about 5:45. I was really crammed into the space between the bench seat and the front of the truck, so the Dude had to literally pull me out. I had no leverage!
It was not funny at the time. But it sure is funny now. It'll be a good story to tell our kids...whenever we have any.
So we pull into the Western Pennsylvania City at about 10, go to a nearby parking lot to unhitch the car, drive to the Dude's apartment and back the (22 foot!) truck into his driveway, and catch a 45 minute nap. Then his packing crew turned up, we packed, the guys loaded the truck, and then those people had to leave. We still had quite a bit of packing to do, and this time we didn't have all night...so I called one of his church friends and asked if the Friend could come over right away to help pack the truck. What a friend! He did. We got on the road at about 7 pm (missing the evening rush hour, thankfully).
Here comes another funny part. We had to head south on Interstate R. So we followed Interstate R/S for a while, looking at the map, chatting, and marveling at the bumpertobumper traffic headed the other way. We didn't realize we had to watch for one little tiny sign saying "Interstate R" right at its exit, so we both gasped when we passed the exit. (Hello! There were no other signs! Just the one, right at the exit! Sheesh.)
So I checked the map and we pulled off at the next exit, got to a gas station, and I went into the gas station to ask a trucker if we could redirect instead of getting stuck in that bumpertobumper mess. He assured me--he was a really nice old trucker. You know the type!
Well, we hauled to West Virginia to Bob's parents' house and made to to their city by 1am. It was late. I called them. They came to meet us, and meanwhile we unhitched the car, got our stuff out of the cab, and got ready to spend the night.
We got up the next day (Thursday) at 4:45, showered, breakfasted, and hit the road by 7, stopping for gas about 30 minutes down the road, and really got goin' by 8am.
We pulled into Chatt about 4pm, got to the storage place, and while we inspected the storage units, zipping around the complex on the golf cart, I made more wedding plans with my mom on the cellphone. Multitasking. Sheesh. So our friend Eddy came to the storage place to help unload the truck into the unit, I repacked the car, and Beth kept holding dinner over for us.
We had dinner at 10pm. Showered. Fell into bed(s, because we were still unmarried). Got up the next day (Friday, June 17) at 6, hit the road by 7, and pulled another loooooong day to Tiny Kansas Town, which we now know is 19 hours away. I did a large chunk of the driving, because The Dude had done all of the driving with the truck.
Slept in and did very little that Saturday. Went to bed early. Got up, went to church. Had Father's Day lunch there, and drove (in two cars, with Mother in Law* and The Dude in the minivan ahead of me in my car) to Colorado Springs for Father's Day dinner in Colorado Springs.
Whew. That's the story! It's a good 'un, I think.
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* Mother in Law was uncomfortable driving that far (4.5 hours through practically deserted ranchland prairie) alone, not having ever driven it before. So we caravanned. And since I'd just gotten to spend all that time with The Dude, I opted to share him with his mom and let them have all those hours chatting and getting caught up. She's his mom, after all. And I enjoyed the time alone--it's easy to do so, when you know you've got company again when your Alone Time is done.
Posted by The Newest Worker at 07:49 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 13, 2006
More
I love cookies. But not really B/W cookies. I like Ginger Snaps. And chocolate chip.
| You Are a Black and White Cookie |
 When you're good, you're sweet as sugar. And when you're bad, you're wicked! |
Perfect! I love this flavor for Frappuccino and for a coffee beverage. I started drinking them in Hawaii...but that's another story.
| Mocha Frappuccino |
 |
I always did like Cindy.
| You Are Cindy Brady |
 But you're also a bit of a baby. You stick your nose where it doesn't belong... and cry when you get caught! |
This one goes out to Elissa. Question: who is Tamara de Lempicka?
| Who Should Paint You: Tamara de Lempicka |
 A portrait of you would be both bewitching and approachable |
? What?
| Your Heart Is Orange |
 And while the ride is fun for a while, you always get off once the thrill is gone. Your flirting style: Hyper Your lucky first date: Anything you need your passport for! Your dream lover: Is both daring and well grounded What you bring to relationships: Energy |
I have this dream of watching Muppet Movies for an entire Saturday. Anybody want to join me? We'll have macaroni and cheese and ice cream.
| You Are Kermit |
 You're a big thinker, and sometimes you over think life's problems. Don't worry - everyone know's it's not easy being green. Just remember, time's fun when you're having flies! |
Posted by The Newest Worker at 03:35 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
June 03, 2006
And one more for today
Since customers come and go, and even Rude Queen-Mum-Wannabes eventually have to leave, I have to say that customers aren't the most challenging part of my job.
Colleagues are. Because while customers leave, I see colleagues again. And some of them are (like people in every profession) tough to get along with.
And so, here's some advice for all of you:
Once you're 26 and none of us are in highschool anymore, then please stop acting like you're still the queen of the cliques. You're not. Don't get offended when your quest for power diminishes into blatant manipulation, yet you can't get under my skin.
(Because I've had other jobs than this one. I've had some truly frightening and intimidating colleagues, bosses, and clients. In comparison, your little sneakiness and pettiness is nothing. Think your little scare tactics can get to me? Try sitting through parent conference after parent conference, patiently explaining to hostile parents that Little Susie isn't passing my class because she's a lazy lying sneak when I'm barely 10 years older than Little Susie herself? Hah! Then you learn where Little Susie learned her lazy lying sneakiness! Double hah. You've got another think coming!)
Posted by The Newest Worker at 10:17 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
No, Lady, that won't work. Oh, ok. Fine then. Just leave. We won't miss you!
Speaking of come and go, let me tell you about my First Customer today.
It was morning, about 8:30? Not really one of the "crazy at the door when it opens shoppers" but not a "lazy I'm finally out of bed today" shoppers either. Punctual, early, determined.
Merchandise: two graduation cards and two (cheap Christmas knickknack) clearance gifts. One of the clearance gifts didn't ring up at all--the UPC wasn't even in the mainframe!--and while I made my various pages and calls for help, the First Customer got more and more impatient. I tried to explain to her that getting another one wouldn't work ("They all have the same series of numbers called the UPC. This one isn't here, and neither will any other identical ones, ma'am."), but she would have none of it.
So when the Housewares/Seasonal Associate made it up to my register, the lady didn't listen to me say "Here he is! It'll be just one moment now!" (though I yelled it because she left). She left the register to go get another of her cheap Christmas knickknack clearance gifts.
Even though there were four people in line (two with very full carts), I waited for her to come back, but she didn't come for about a minute. So I voided her purchase and rang the next customer.
Lady returned just as I was swiping the Next Customer's credit card, but Lady was so irritated that I didn't wait for her that she huffed off. (I bet she thought I'd make her get back in line. No, I would have kindly asked the Next Next Customer if they wouldn't mind waiting while I rang up Lady's 4 items. Those types usually don't mind.) So Lady huffed off after saying (in a tone that clearly communicated that she was as important as the Queen Mum and couldn't believe that I, the lowly cashier, had the gall not to listen to her [stupid and pointless] plan to get another of the mystery items)...she said "You could have waited. That would have been the polite thing to do."
Oh, ok, polite.
I simply looked at her, and calmly said, "Ma'am, it would have been just a moment more if you had not left. And these customers were in line. You made them wait; I'm not the rude one."
Yesssss. It felt great to finally answer back to a customer.
Posted by The Newest Worker at 10:09 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Slow Motions
You know those time-lapse films they used to show on the Disney channel? The rose opens, or the trees grow leaves, or the little sprouts follow the sun. That's how I feel sometimes at the register: customers come and go, and I am there. The other cashiers are there. The floor associates are there. But the customers come and go.
I have no problem having a conversation with other cashiers while I'm ringing up customers. Is this rude? Sometimes. But they have no problem yapping with one another or (something I really, really hate!) chatting on their cellphones while I'm ringing them up. Because they come and they go.
Posted by The Newest Worker at 07:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
And some more!
| Your Deadly Sins |
| Gluttony: 60% |
| Sloth: 60% |
| Greed: 40% |
| Pride: 40% |
| Wrath: 40% |
| Envy: 20% |
| Lust: 0% |
| Chance You'll Go to Hell: 37% |
| You'll die from food poisoning - and then the natives will feast on your fatty limbs. |
You Are Coke |
 A true original and classic, you represent the best of everything you can offer. Just the right amount of sweet, just the right amount of energy... you're the life of the party. Your best soda match: Mountain Dew Stay away from:Dr Pepper |
Posted by The Newest Worker at 06:08 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Blogthings galore
It's time for a few blogthings!
Of all the shades of red, I'm glad I turned out to be this shade.
| You Are Crimson Red |
 And while you have an understated passion - you lack the uncontrolled passion of most other reds. You prefer to sit back and enjoy every situation life has to offer. You put an optimistic spin on everything. And even when things are going well, you don't get too amped up. You prefer to keep your emotions as steady as possible. |
And as for blue, I really like other shades better. Oh well.
| You Are Navy Blue |
 Sometimes you feel quite scattered and bored. If something exciting isn't going on, you feel a bit lost. |
Me talkee good English. You know, there's a funny story, but unless you know some of the terms and jokes of the Latvian-American, you wouldn't get it. Post or email if you want to hear it, though.
| Your Linguistic Profile: |
| 60% General American English |
| 15% Dixie |
| 10% Upper Midwestern |
| 10% Yankee |
| 0% Midwestern |
I wish I could have pink, pink hair. Bright pink.
| Your Hair Should Be Blue |
 You're a risk taker with an eye to the future. |
This I knew. And I want to get a hairless cat, because I'm allergic to kitties.
| Your Ideal Pet is a Cat |
 And your friends secretly wish that you were declawed! |
And my favorite color is green. But this is not my favorite shade. OH well.
| You Are Apple Green |
 And while you are happy go lucky, you're also charmingly assertive. You get what you want, even if you have to persuade those against you to see things your way. Reflective and thoughtful, you know yourself well - and you know that you want out of life. |
And someone else took this quiz, because it's NOT me!!
| You Should Be a Musician |
 You could master almost any instrument you choose to play (if you haven't already!) |
Posted by The Newest Worker at 05:52 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 02, 2006
Applicating
I'm blogging while I should be writing this application. Sheesh.
Posted by The Newest Worker at 12:49 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 01, 2006
Capris or Pants?
I rang up a little person today. (You know, a midget, even though they don't like to be called that.) She had clothes for her kids, some size-S blouses, and a pair of pants I refolded. They were short.
I said, "Are these capris or pants?"
She paused. Said, "Well, capris on you, pants on me."
I laughed. So did she.
Posted by The Newest Worker at 07:46 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack