Everyone has had a bad experience or two at their place of employment. Its just bound to happen. What struck me today as I was talking about a past job was that I've had a LOT of those experiences. Is it me? Or was it the job? Case in point:
The best job I ever had was working at our tanning salon when I was young. I tanned for free, I had it pretty darn easy being that my mom was the boss and I loved all the people interaction. EVEN at my best job ever I still dealt with people who would get naked and then try to tan with their door open. Really?! Or I'd have to politly tell the nice man who lived upstairs that he had to go home and couldn't come into the salon drunk all the time. Still pretty mild stories that I was more than willing to deal with.
THEN, however, I started a career in collections. Oh the stories I could tell. Here are some good examples of my life as a collector -
-One women telling a fellow collector that she couldn't come over and pay her bill because her windshield wipers didn't work. When my co worker responded that it was a clear, sunny, summer day and it was not raining the response back was 'oh but it could'. How do you argue with that excuse?
-Myself getting called a C+nt because a very large women thought she heard me saying that she'd lied about her payment. Not only would she not talk to me when I came up to the counter but then she called me a name!
-There was a man who was so wasted while he was trying to get a loan that when he handed me his 'business card' it was actually his library card but he couldn't tell the difference.
-Or the man who got so mad at me when I couldn't give him enough of a loan that he through a piece of paper at me, stormed out of our store and burned his tires in our parking lot for about a minute. Don't worry, he then sped out of our lot, failed to stop at a stop sign and got hit by a very large truck. We all laughed from inside our locked store.
-What about working with a total of 8 people in the store and having two of them leave at lunch and never come back? (quality workers right there)
I hated working later nights and weekends at that job ... but it provided me with a LOT of stories. hahaha.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Saturday, April 13, 2013
My one year as a mommy
I was talking to a good friend of mine last night who just had a wonderful adorable baby boy (their first) and it got my thinking of all that I've learned in my one short year of being 'mommy.'
Here goes
*I've said it before and I'll say it again - No one could have prepared me for the new world of mommyhood. Where your whole life revolves around someone elses. It's amaizng and magical and totally sucky sometimes.
*You can prepare and prepare and prepare but until you've met that lil bundle and know his or her 'ticks' you really just are not prepared. And thats ok.
*Sometimes you need to let go of your pride and ask for help. For me, this usually involved me calling my mom and crying. hahah.
*Other women who have kids will be your new dictionary. Use them as often as you can!
*Don't let other people and their ideals and ideas of parenting dictate yours. It's ok to know whats best for your baby, after all, they are yours! Don't be afraid to stick up for your yourself.
*For me, being a mommy came with a lot of guilt. Am I doing right? Am I a bad mom for wanting time to myself? Shouldn't I ALWAYS want to be with the baby? Take time for yourself. Get some sleep, take a shower, nap and do whatever you can do when people offer their help. Having clean hair and clothes makes getting up 4 times in the middle of the night seem more tolerable.
*Not only take time for yourself, but if you have one, take time for your significant other. It's easy to get wrapped up in the baby and their needs. But you as adults and companions need to share time together as well.
*Many men will say they have a 'weak stomach' and can't imagine changing those smelly diapers. My husband has a VERY weak stomach, he's never thrown up changing a poopy diaper. Daddy's can help too! :)
*Getting up a half hour early and doing your hair and make up (even though it sounds awful to get out of bed earlier than normal) is SO much easier than getting that extra half hour of sleep and trying to get ready with a little one running around.
*Marley was not the best sleeper at first. I took solace in knowing that I'd never get those midnight cuddles back so I better try to enjoy them while I could. Looking back I'm glad I didn't push or put too much stress on her sleeping through the night. I knew she'd do it when she was ready.
*You will like your kid more than everyone elses' (don't worry).
Annnnnd I'm sure there are lots more ... and I KNOW that I have lots more to learn! Any additional adivce to new mommies out there?
Here goes
*I've said it before and I'll say it again - No one could have prepared me for the new world of mommyhood. Where your whole life revolves around someone elses. It's amaizng and magical and totally sucky sometimes.
*You can prepare and prepare and prepare but until you've met that lil bundle and know his or her 'ticks' you really just are not prepared. And thats ok.
*Sometimes you need to let go of your pride and ask for help. For me, this usually involved me calling my mom and crying. hahah.
*Other women who have kids will be your new dictionary. Use them as often as you can!
*Don't let other people and their ideals and ideas of parenting dictate yours. It's ok to know whats best for your baby, after all, they are yours! Don't be afraid to stick up for your yourself.
*For me, being a mommy came with a lot of guilt. Am I doing right? Am I a bad mom for wanting time to myself? Shouldn't I ALWAYS want to be with the baby? Take time for yourself. Get some sleep, take a shower, nap and do whatever you can do when people offer their help. Having clean hair and clothes makes getting up 4 times in the middle of the night seem more tolerable.
*Not only take time for yourself, but if you have one, take time for your significant other. It's easy to get wrapped up in the baby and their needs. But you as adults and companions need to share time together as well.
*Many men will say they have a 'weak stomach' and can't imagine changing those smelly diapers. My husband has a VERY weak stomach, he's never thrown up changing a poopy diaper. Daddy's can help too! :)
*Getting up a half hour early and doing your hair and make up (even though it sounds awful to get out of bed earlier than normal) is SO much easier than getting that extra half hour of sleep and trying to get ready with a little one running around.
*Marley was not the best sleeper at first. I took solace in knowing that I'd never get those midnight cuddles back so I better try to enjoy them while I could. Looking back I'm glad I didn't push or put too much stress on her sleeping through the night. I knew she'd do it when she was ready.
*You will like your kid more than everyone elses' (don't worry).
Annnnnd I'm sure there are lots more ... and I KNOW that I have lots more to learn! Any additional adivce to new mommies out there?
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Adventures in a bad hair cut
I've been trying to grow my many layers of hair out. I decided that it was time for longer hair. I often look at my sisters and moms hair and wish mine was that long and pretty again. Both have hair well below their shoulders that is pretty and wavy and wonderful looking. Alas my hair has been short for awhile now. Every time I start to grow it out it gets to that horrible point inbetween your chin and your shoulders when it just looks terrible all the time and I can't take it any longer. So I cut it. Well this time was no different. I was feeling like I needed a change. Instead of doing my normal 14.00 cost cutter hair cut I sought out and found the girl who used to cut my hair. She is wonderful...but expensive. Spring was here though and I thought something to lighten things up would help with me growing out my hair ... boy was I wrong.
Things seemed fine at first. We talked about what I wanted to do and how I just wanted some hightlites etc etc. She convinced me how good my hair would look if I went darker and then lighter at the bottoms (ombre) and I thought ... well why not. Bad choice number 1. Then she went in and started 'trimming' my hair...and I let her ... bad choice number 2. As she took out the foils of my hair I thought I really didn't like it. It was sort of 'meh' and it was DARK. But I didn't say anything ... bad choice number 3 ... I'd had these little fly away bangs that I hated for awhile so I asked her to give me a nice thick long bang (something I'd had before and loved). Bad choice number 4! She said ok and started cutting...and cutting and cutting and cutting until I swear I had almost no bang left. You know when your were 5 and your mom used to cut your hair ... thats what mine started to look like. I could almost hear my grandma saying 'I just don't want to have to cut them again in a week.' Actually I'm pretty sure she said something very similar to that! As I watched in horror as my bangs got shorter and shorter something happened to me that really has never happened beofe. I froze in terror. Pure terror over the fact that I'd gone in for something 'new and fresh, lighter and brighter' and I'd come out looking 'darker and scarier like a 30 year old with a 5 year olds haircut'. Whats funny is that I new she didn't like it either. She asked me when I was done 'do you like it?' with a small scared voice. I said yeah ... I think so ... Bad choice number ... really who's counting at this point?!
So for weeks I referred to my hair as 'new's anchor hair ... if your new's anchor was a hooker' because that is what it looked like a cross of. The hair = hooker, the cut = news anchor. It was awful. Finally I went in and had my lady at Cost cutters re cut it. And that helped a little. In a few weeks I'll go and have it colored...by someone else. I didn't complane...I should have ... but I didn't. I will, however, NEVER return to that shop.
Here's to hoping no one else has to go through these horrible adventures like I did!
Things seemed fine at first. We talked about what I wanted to do and how I just wanted some hightlites etc etc. She convinced me how good my hair would look if I went darker and then lighter at the bottoms (ombre) and I thought ... well why not. Bad choice number 1. Then she went in and started 'trimming' my hair...and I let her ... bad choice number 2. As she took out the foils of my hair I thought I really didn't like it. It was sort of 'meh' and it was DARK. But I didn't say anything ... bad choice number 3 ... I'd had these little fly away bangs that I hated for awhile so I asked her to give me a nice thick long bang (something I'd had before and loved). Bad choice number 4! She said ok and started cutting...and cutting and cutting and cutting until I swear I had almost no bang left. You know when your were 5 and your mom used to cut your hair ... thats what mine started to look like. I could almost hear my grandma saying 'I just don't want to have to cut them again in a week.' Actually I'm pretty sure she said something very similar to that! As I watched in horror as my bangs got shorter and shorter something happened to me that really has never happened beofe. I froze in terror. Pure terror over the fact that I'd gone in for something 'new and fresh, lighter and brighter' and I'd come out looking 'darker and scarier like a 30 year old with a 5 year olds haircut'. Whats funny is that I new she didn't like it either. She asked me when I was done 'do you like it?' with a small scared voice. I said yeah ... I think so ... Bad choice number ... really who's counting at this point?!
So for weeks I referred to my hair as 'new's anchor hair ... if your new's anchor was a hooker' because that is what it looked like a cross of. The hair = hooker, the cut = news anchor. It was awful. Finally I went in and had my lady at Cost cutters re cut it. And that helped a little. In a few weeks I'll go and have it colored...by someone else. I didn't complane...I should have ... but I didn't. I will, however, NEVER return to that shop.
Here's to hoping no one else has to go through these horrible adventures like I did!
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
NOLA!
Ben and I were lucky enough to take a week long vacation to New Orleans. We left Marley in the very capable hands of her grandma's and her auntie and we set off. In planning our trip we realized that we've never been on a 'big' vacation together when it was just us. We've been up north together but if we've actually gotten on a plane and gone somewhere for more than a few days it was always with family. Which of course we love, but just the two of us was something different.
So, in the weeks and days that led up to our departure my hands were always busy making lists :) I LOVE a good list. I made them for the grandma's (which I'm sure they didn't use) and for Auntie (it might have been more helpful for her ... and she's better at following the 'marley rules' haha). I made them for my cousin Mike who was staying at our house and watching the dogs. And, of course, I made them for us. Most important on my mental list: Dont lose your mind when you have to leave your baby for the first time....It pretty much worked. We dropped Mimi off and I only teared up when we were in the car and pulling away. And, aside from a small panic attack while taking off in the plane...I did pretty good.
A few memorable moments from our trip would include:
Almost missing out plane in the first place. Yup. We got to the airport on time and took a seat at the bar close to our gate. I could see them loading but didn't think much of it as I HATE getting on a plane and then just sitting there. BUuuuuut soon they were calling our names over the loud speaker and I knew we were in trouble. Whoops.
Soon we were in NOLA and it was GLORIOUS! A little cold on the first day but we didn't care. We went out exploring that first night and made it back fairly early. We were, after all, in a big city that we've never been and had heard a LOT about the crime.
We spent our 7 days enjoying the sun. The high was right around 75 everyday and it was sunny and wonderful. We ate ... like ... all the time. We drank ... not as much as we ate but close. We took naps and slept in. We ordered take out and just stayed in the room a few nights. We did whatever we wanted to do because we could ! I missed Marley terribly and by the end of the trip both Ben and I were ready to get home and see our little peanut.
I will admit that I was scared at first ... it had been a long time since Ben and I had spent any amount of alone time together ... what would we do? Would he get bored? Would he wish he was with someone else down there? But we had so much fun. Even just sitting in our room and watching tv at night. It was so nice and really so needed for us to get back in touch with 'us.' We said maybe next year we'd take a family friendly trip so lil miss Mimi can come along too. But I think some adult only vacations will def. be in our future as well. Here are some quick pics from our trip.
So, in the weeks and days that led up to our departure my hands were always busy making lists :) I LOVE a good list. I made them for the grandma's (which I'm sure they didn't use) and for Auntie (it might have been more helpful for her ... and she's better at following the 'marley rules' haha). I made them for my cousin Mike who was staying at our house and watching the dogs. And, of course, I made them for us. Most important on my mental list: Dont lose your mind when you have to leave your baby for the first time....It pretty much worked. We dropped Mimi off and I only teared up when we were in the car and pulling away. And, aside from a small panic attack while taking off in the plane...I did pretty good.
A few memorable moments from our trip would include:
Almost missing out plane in the first place. Yup. We got to the airport on time and took a seat at the bar close to our gate. I could see them loading but didn't think much of it as I HATE getting on a plane and then just sitting there. BUuuuuut soon they were calling our names over the loud speaker and I knew we were in trouble. Whoops.
Soon we were in NOLA and it was GLORIOUS! A little cold on the first day but we didn't care. We went out exploring that first night and made it back fairly early. We were, after all, in a big city that we've never been and had heard a LOT about the crime.
We spent our 7 days enjoying the sun. The high was right around 75 everyday and it was sunny and wonderful. We ate ... like ... all the time. We drank ... not as much as we ate but close. We took naps and slept in. We ordered take out and just stayed in the room a few nights. We did whatever we wanted to do because we could ! I missed Marley terribly and by the end of the trip both Ben and I were ready to get home and see our little peanut.
I will admit that I was scared at first ... it had been a long time since Ben and I had spent any amount of alone time together ... what would we do? Would he get bored? Would he wish he was with someone else down there? But we had so much fun. Even just sitting in our room and watching tv at night. It was so nice and really so needed for us to get back in touch with 'us.' We said maybe next year we'd take a family friendly trip so lil miss Mimi can come along too. But I think some adult only vacations will def. be in our future as well. Here are some quick pics from our trip.
The cathedral in Jackson Square - We spent a lot of time down there
From one of the cemetaries that we visited
We made it! Our first night on Bourbon
Storms a comin!
One more from the above ground cemetaries
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