Monday, September 18, 2006
sigh...
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Is it odd?
I find it interesting that noone in my little blogosphere has mentioned their fantasy football goings on this morning. Admittedly, it is totally beyond me, but I am indeed a cheerleader for the camraderie, errr, trash talking it inspires.
Did everyone get their asses whooped by someone I am not tuned in to?
Did everyone get their asses whooped by someone I am not tuned in to?
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
9/12
my wife, is such a babe...She is the finest ass bitch in the universe...it's true and now everyone in the blogosphere knows it...there are roses gently fragrancing the air...a new vienna teng cd...a jacque pepin cookbook...a new preety paper journal...a knitting book...i am so ready to swoon again...baby...sigh...ireallyfuckingloveyou...
I had a whole list of stuff I was going to do today, and damn-it-all, I really should have written it down. I think that "Write It Down" will be the credo as I embark on 42. I am getting o-l-d. My dad writes everything down because his recent memory has been shot for more than a coujple of years now, but he is closing in on 79. That's legitimate, yes? I think the next thing I do this morning will be to try and locate that cute little notebook I have so I can take it with me always and begin to use it again. If I can't find it I will stop by B and N and just get another one. They are five bucks and well worth the remembering factor. In the mean time, I can try to focus on salvaging my to-do list. Or not. goddess time always prevails.
I had a whole list of stuff I was going to do today, and damn-it-all, I really should have written it down. I think that "Write It Down" will be the credo as I embark on 42. I am getting o-l-d. My dad writes everything down because his recent memory has been shot for more than a coujple of years now, but he is closing in on 79. That's legitimate, yes? I think the next thing I do this morning will be to try and locate that cute little notebook I have so I can take it with me always and begin to use it again. If I can't find it I will stop by B and N and just get another one. They are five bucks and well worth the remembering factor. In the mean time, I can try to focus on salvaging my to-do list. Or not. goddess time always prevails.
Monday, September 04, 2006
Three chicks gettin' nekkid
Ok, we really didn't get totally nekkid but it's an incredible simulation. Here we are at Tonkawa Falls in Crawford, vacation home of the Walking Onion Bulb.
We get to Tonkawa Falls and not only are there no falls there isn't really much of a pool of water to swim in. It was a stagnant pool of water. How fitting considering we were in Dubya country.
There is a picture of the Walking Onion Bulb and his wife the Walking Scallion, as you enter Crawford. I would have like to paint a mustache on both of them but we might have gotten lynched.
We stopped by the 'peace house' where Cindy Sheehan took her first stand against The Bulb. Camp Casey is around the corner. We met the very last hippie, Michael. Omigod. Hip-ola. Feathers in his hair and everything. Just stepped out of Woodstock. Wavy Gravy redux. I tried really hard not to laugh. It worked.
Today we're hanging around Austin/SA lakes (SA is what the natives call San Antonio).
Life is good.
~eb
We get to Tonkawa Falls and not only are there no falls there isn't really much of a pool of water to swim in. It was a stagnant pool of water. How fitting considering we were in Dubya country.
There is a picture of the Walking Onion Bulb and his wife the Walking Scallion, as you enter Crawford. I would have like to paint a mustache on both of them but we might have gotten lynched.
We stopped by the 'peace house' where Cindy Sheehan took her first stand against The Bulb. Camp Casey is around the corner. We met the very last hippie, Michael. Omigod. Hip-ola. Feathers in his hair and everything. Just stepped out of Woodstock. Wavy Gravy redux. I tried really hard not to laugh. It worked.
Today we're hanging around Austin/SA lakes (SA is what the natives call San Antonio).
Life is good.
~eb
GFB gettin' nekkid at Tonkawa Falls
GFB needs a date. C'mon ladies, who could resist such a babe? Send your NORMAL single friends her way.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
road chicks
hey y'all, eb here. That's me with the new do. See my bad ass butch self, Kmae. We're just outside Austin right now, ready to eat some grub (that's what people eat in Texas) .
Today we're heading to Crawford. Too bad it's Sept., otherwise we could have dropped by to see the walking Onion Bulb.
The theme of this trip is Texas Watering Holes. The lake kind and the bar kind. We'll keep you posted.
~eb
Today we're heading to Crawford. Too bad it's Sept., otherwise we could have dropped by to see the walking Onion Bulb.
The theme of this trip is Texas Watering Holes. The lake kind and the bar kind. We'll keep you posted.
~eb
On the road again...
We have survived the first night of the road trip with GFB (good friend Beth). we did get a bit of a later srart than originally intended, but that.s sorta what being on vacation is about for us, and Beth is learning all about it in what is so far a calm and accepting way. Of course it is day one, and Beth was in Calgary for work for a week having gotten home yesterday at around one and then we turned around and left around six.
I worked yesterday but only 9-2, then packed when I got home. Of course I went home the long way. That would be via the yarn shop which is having its anniversary sale this weekend. I really could have missed that, but Irene has just made her first scarf. I taught her to knit last week and I felt obligated to secure her addiction to knitting before leaving her for a week. She was supposed to come on the road trip with us and we were going to be two knitter grrls happily fixtures in the back seat of the CRV, but work has gotten in the way and she had to bail. Now she has pretty yarn to console her til we return. Yes, I really did *have* to go to the yarn store.
EB also had to work. Her hope was to go in and finish up what she had to finish in about three hours, tops. Her estimates are usually pretty accurate, but of course, not yesterday she was actually there about 6 hours, which I thinks means she burned one of her days off and can actually take another one sometime in the future. On her way home she had to get some food for the boy who is house and dog sitting this week, and then had to pack and geotherwise ready to go. We finally left around 6 I think, and arrived at Beth's folks' about 945. I think we would have made the 930 estimate but we can't go through Giddings without stopping at the DQ, so 945 it was. Beth's mom had dinner waitig for us which was delish, and after we ate, I gave her sister a haircut. Juliew usually comes to Houston for that, but since we're here, it saved her the trip next weekend.
We have a lovely king size bed which I am still lazing in. EB went out for a run and I might upload our first road trip pic after a shower so y'all can see her new 'do.
I worked yesterday but only 9-2, then packed when I got home. Of course I went home the long way. That would be via the yarn shop which is having its anniversary sale this weekend. I really could have missed that, but Irene has just made her first scarf. I taught her to knit last week and I felt obligated to secure her addiction to knitting before leaving her for a week. She was supposed to come on the road trip with us and we were going to be two knitter grrls happily fixtures in the back seat of the CRV, but work has gotten in the way and she had to bail. Now she has pretty yarn to console her til we return. Yes, I really did *have* to go to the yarn store.
EB also had to work. Her hope was to go in and finish up what she had to finish in about three hours, tops. Her estimates are usually pretty accurate, but of course, not yesterday she was actually there about 6 hours, which I thinks means she burned one of her days off and can actually take another one sometime in the future. On her way home she had to get some food for the boy who is house and dog sitting this week, and then had to pack and geotherwise ready to go. We finally left around 6 I think, and arrived at Beth's folks' about 945. I think we would have made the 930 estimate but we can't go through Giddings without stopping at the DQ, so 945 it was. Beth's mom had dinner waitig for us which was delish, and after we ate, I gave her sister a haircut. Juliew usually comes to Houston for that, but since we're here, it saved her the trip next weekend.
We have a lovely king size bed which I am still lazing in. EB went out for a run and I might upload our first road trip pic after a shower so y'all can see her new 'do.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Over the weekend or otherwise recently...
We were at the grocery store and in the check out line, I said hello to one of the salon's crazy clients. She really is cuckoo. Coo. Coo.
Anyway, I said hi and she was yammering away with the casheirs about something she left in the fridge for them. I was explaining to eb how cuckoo she is and telling her that when she is in the salon, she will fold towels and help us out. EB says, "That's nice of her."
I said, no, like she takes the already folded towels out of the cabinet and refolds them so they are all folded the same with the tags all in the same direction. OCD cuckoo. EB then commented how nice that she puts her (eb's) obsessive tendencies in to a proper context.
Today, the client came into the salon for her appointment and told her stylist, "I saw Maxine at Randall's. She was with her daughter and the daughter has tatoos!"
Anyway, I said hi and she was yammering away with the casheirs about something she left in the fridge for them. I was explaining to eb how cuckoo she is and telling her that when she is in the salon, she will fold towels and help us out. EB says, "That's nice of her."
I said, no, like she takes the already folded towels out of the cabinet and refolds them so they are all folded the same with the tags all in the same direction. OCD cuckoo. EB then commented how nice that she puts her (eb's) obsessive tendencies in to a proper context.
Today, the client came into the salon for her appointment and told her stylist, "I saw Maxine at Randall's. She was with her daughter and the daughter has tatoos!"
Sunday, August 27, 2006
As stolen from Chapin
This makes me feel pathetic in comparison to Chapin, but it's so not about that. I have seen 15% 33%(I forgot 2 states) of the US. This has to change.
create your own personalized map of the USA
or check out ourCalifornia travel guide
create your own personalized map of the USA
or check out ourCalifornia travel guide
Saturday, August 26, 2006
p...u...
Last night I had the unfortunate instance of having to experience a customer who was winging in a serious way. I mean Winging. No, WINGING. This was way beyond a little daily funk. Way. Beyond.
As I stood, presumably safely ensconced behind my little receptionist podium, I was trying desperately hard to not make a pfuckingu sort of face. I was about 5 or 6 feet away and the odor was engulfing me. I made his appointment and knew he was coming back for me to suffer once again in an hour or so. P. U.
So my dilemma is this: This is not just a client He is the spouse of an associate in the store. He is often hanging around her work area with their young child presumably witing for her to get off or to go to lunch. Often. If I was her manager, I would certainly have a problem with exactly how much he is hanging around. But I am not and his hanging around is not the main concern here.
Customers *have* to be experiencing his wing factor. To whose attention do I bring this? My manager? Her manager? A higher up? No-one?
Weigh in, peeps, lest you experience his wing.
As I stood, presumably safely ensconced behind my little receptionist podium, I was trying desperately hard to not make a pfuckingu sort of face. I was about 5 or 6 feet away and the odor was engulfing me. I made his appointment and knew he was coming back for me to suffer once again in an hour or so. P. U.
So my dilemma is this: This is not just a client He is the spouse of an associate in the store. He is often hanging around her work area with their young child presumably witing for her to get off or to go to lunch. Often. If I was her manager, I would certainly have a problem with exactly how much he is hanging around. But I am not and his hanging around is not the main concern here.
Customers *have* to be experiencing his wing factor. To whose attention do I bring this? My manager? Her manager? A higher up? No-one?
Weigh in, peeps, lest you experience his wing.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Monday, August 21, 2006
Hell Freezes Over
That will be in the headlines worldwide today. Check your local news.
Yes, the Mother's Day/Father's Day/other miscellaneous crap box for my folks has been mailed.
Dear Sweet Elizabeth, you're welcome.
Yes, the Mother's Day/Father's Day/other miscellaneous crap box for my folks has been mailed.
Dear Sweet Elizabeth, you're welcome.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Shifting
I just mentally shifted the PO back another day. Why is that? Well, I just looked at my paycheck online (payday is not til Friday), and I am just totally amazed at myself. Not only did I have my highest sales week ever last week which translates to chunky let;s go to dinner commission, I also seem to have gotten a forty cent raise. That is made awesome by the fact that I thought I was at the top of the payscale for the receptionist position.
This brings into my mind a lot of questions, the major one being is it worth leaving this position. I appreciate that I will not have spectacular sales like last week's all the ime. But a week like that after being open only 6 months is pretty good, and leads me to think that my average week will still be getting better. The base salary would be a few dollars more an hour with a nice salon override. It would be significantly more money, but also significantly more responsibility and potentially more stress.
there are also several on my current staff who I feel are toxic to me. But that might be equally true in the other position. Of course, I still need to be offered the new position. I just. Don't. Know.
No expectations = no disappointments. I still maintain this outlook about it.
It's all good.
This brings into my mind a lot of questions, the major one being is it worth leaving this position. I appreciate that I will not have spectacular sales like last week's all the ime. But a week like that after being open only 6 months is pretty good, and leads me to think that my average week will still be getting better. The base salary would be a few dollars more an hour with a nice salon override. It would be significantly more money, but also significantly more responsibility and potentially more stress.
there are also several on my current staff who I feel are toxic to me. But that might be equally true in the other position. Of course, I still need to be offered the new position. I just. Don't. Know.
No expectations = no disappointments. I still maintain this outlook about it.
It's all good.
Monday, August 14, 2006
So Monday is waning...
The box for my folks is still sitting in the library. Maybe tomorrow. Really. I also need to go to Target tomorrow and get a gift card so I can get it in the mail to my youngest for back to school. I think logic dictates I hit Target tomorrow and then the PO on Wednesday morning.
Thus begins the new plan.
Thus begins the new plan.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
blahblahblog
I have *so* not felt like blogging lately. Not that I am in a bad movie or have a funk approaching, my brain is just spinning out of control in various other directions.
The big question about my job status is still unanswered and the manager in question is taking his time, like 3 months or so, to let the chaos resulting from the last salon manager's exit to subside. If it wan any other person handling it, I might think I was being put off, but not so with this man. If I do not get the position it will be purely because someone is more qualified than I. I think if this issue was settled, I might have some more focus all around. Maybe. Really. And since Weese's MAW(tm) told me the job is in the bag, I really am not at all stressing about it. I have faith in her connections with the Universe.
Otherwise, my todo list is sitting stagnant. On Monday, I *will* be going to the post office and mailing several things, the least of which is my parents' mother's and father's day box. Can you slacker?
Then there is the knitting...
more later...maybe...
The big question about my job status is still unanswered and the manager in question is taking his time, like 3 months or so, to let the chaos resulting from the last salon manager's exit to subside. If it wan any other person handling it, I might think I was being put off, but not so with this man. If I do not get the position it will be purely because someone is more qualified than I. I think if this issue was settled, I might have some more focus all around. Maybe. Really. And since Weese's MAW(tm) told me the job is in the bag, I really am not at all stressing about it. I have faith in her connections with the Universe.
Otherwise, my todo list is sitting stagnant. On Monday, I *will* be going to the post office and mailing several things, the least of which is my parents' mother's and father's day box. Can you slacker?
Then there is the knitting...
more later...maybe...
Friday, July 28, 2006
Answer
It is hard to shave pits when one's dearest *and* sweetest has put the blade on the razor upside down. Did I mention it was silly?
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Question
When your dearest *and* sweetest has done something silly of which she is likely totally unaware, do you tell her right away or do you wait for her to discover it on her own?
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Ahhhhhhh...
What a fabulous anniversary trip to NYC. I really do have time to say more, but if I start saying more, I will run out of time and end up late for work. So for now, many thanks to Suzanne, Wendy, Weese and her MAW(TM), and Crystal. It was divine to see you all, and P-Town cannot come soon enough. I am seeing a lovely house on the beach perhaps. Or even off the beach. How soon do we need to collect the deposit?
Friday, July 14, 2006
And We're Off
Woohoo...on schedule, even. The President's Lounge awaits us at the airport.
Hasta la pasta.
Hasta la pasta.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
One. More. Day.
Anytime I am taking some time off, there is always pre-vaca whangling with my normal work schedule. Our two part time receptionists are both night/weekend, which mostly works aout well. It affords me a Tuesday through Saturday 10-6 schedule. I like the consistency or at the very least have gotten used to it.
When I want time off, the challenge is in seeing that the desk is covered adequately. My boss usually has to juggle her own schedule and pick up a lot of the slack herself, because until the salon has a year end sales figure, our desk hours are very limited. Once we have more hours, another day person will be added. Someone more flexible than our two current part timers.
In addition to me beimng off this weekend, both of the part timers have scheduling issues. One, who I coordinated my time with because she said she could work the Saturday, decided she needed this week off as abreak from both her jobs before she goes postal. The other had a family reunion pop up which takes her away mid shift on Sunday which I would normally happily cover for her. Because of the first part timer's request, I am working today which I originally asked for off as PTO. Not only am I working today, but I am working 12-9, as I did on Tuesday.
Working these two nights, while currently messing with my chi, have also introduced the possibility that I might miss working Tuesday and Thursday late. If it was the norm, I would still be in yoga class. I would also be able to piddle(not puddling piddle, but piddly shit piddle) more mornings.
There isn't any way to effectively change the schedule at this time, but it is something to throw onto the back burner and contemplate. Over cocktails. Tommorow. In NYC.
When I want time off, the challenge is in seeing that the desk is covered adequately. My boss usually has to juggle her own schedule and pick up a lot of the slack herself, because until the salon has a year end sales figure, our desk hours are very limited. Once we have more hours, another day person will be added. Someone more flexible than our two current part timers.
In addition to me beimng off this weekend, both of the part timers have scheduling issues. One, who I coordinated my time with because she said she could work the Saturday, decided she needed this week off as abreak from both her jobs before she goes postal. The other had a family reunion pop up which takes her away mid shift on Sunday which I would normally happily cover for her. Because of the first part timer's request, I am working today which I originally asked for off as PTO. Not only am I working today, but I am working 12-9, as I did on Tuesday.
Working these two nights, while currently messing with my chi, have also introduced the possibility that I might miss working Tuesday and Thursday late. If it was the norm, I would still be in yoga class. I would also be able to piddle(not puddling piddle, but piddly shit piddle) more mornings.
There isn't any way to effectively change the schedule at this time, but it is something to throw onto the back burner and contemplate. Over cocktails. Tommorow. In NYC.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
slowly, it begins
Dear Sweet Elizabeth was out late last night with her brother, her sister, and her father. no phone call telling me where to meet them to join in their revelling, Ok, no more cheap shots teasing her. She did call me to say they were going, but never called to say where they ended up, and yes, I could have easily picked up the phone and called her, although when I did that Friday night because I made it home before her shortly after midnight and she had my house keys, her cell phone was in the car, not in her pocket while she was in the pub, and I had to recline in the driveway and well, just wait for her to ge home shortly before one in the morning.
Anyway, when she called me, I was at work still and I was exhausted. I am not sure why work was more taxing this week, but it was. I think she called around 4 but I am not sure. She said she was pretty sure I wanted to pass on her dad and she was right on that account. I told her the only plan I had was to hit the bed as soon as I got home. At 6:15, that was where I was. I got home and let the dogs out and then stripped on my way through the house and stretched out queenifying the bed. The dogd somehow knew to let me get settled and then they each found there own little nice around me.
I never quite fell asleep, but it was dark and restful. At 8 I decided to get up and I was hungry. I threw some clothes on and headed out the door with my laptop and some books and went to Cafe Artiste. On the way I stopped at Border's to pick up Anthony Bourdain's new book as my class begins tomorrow, and I love me some Anthony Bourdain. Mmhmm. Sexy ugly like money in the bank.
Anyway, I picked up the last copy of the book Border's had on display, and then went on to Cafe Artiste. A booth was available right away and I called Beth to let her know I would be there a while if she wanted to come hang out after the party she was at. I got some work done because while I was connecting to their wireless, their server was not connecting to anything which meant no surfing, and yes, actually writing. Nice.
I was on my second Mexican Pepsi when Beth arrived and I shut down my laptop and we talked paint colors for the rooms of her house. I think she is ready to commit to some serious color on her walls. When we went out to the parking lot to go home it was nearly midnight. "Hey, is your mp3 still not working?" Beth installed a gadget behind my cd player which allows me to plug in my mp3 player and it is the shit, but ut just stopped working soon after. "Let me take a quick look."
I had been listening to a cd on random and when I switched back to the mp3 player, I had inadvertently hit skip. Last night near midnight, I learned the mp3 player only works when it is showing cd track 1 playing. Woohoo, it still works after all. Beth is the bomb, I tell you. She really is the quintessential gadget girl.
So I got home at about 1230 and e was still out gallavanting with her family. Still no phone call, doesn't she miss me? I was awake still at this point and since I went to Cafe Artiste with the intention to start the Sub Zona Online page on blogger, but couldn't bacause I couldn't open anything, I sat up, waiting for Dear Sweet Elizabeth to return home safely and decided to get it started. It is linked on the left. I did a little tweaking to the template this morning and it looks good in Safari, but I am not sure how it looks form any other browser but I know that in IE for Mac it looks like crap but so do a lot of pages so I need to check it from the pc. If you are interested just let me know.
I went to bed just before 2 and when miss thing finally came in to bed, I think the sun was up. So yes, that is her you hear snoring in the next room.
Cocktails follow a week from right now.
Anyway, when she called me, I was at work still and I was exhausted. I am not sure why work was more taxing this week, but it was. I think she called around 4 but I am not sure. She said she was pretty sure I wanted to pass on her dad and she was right on that account. I told her the only plan I had was to hit the bed as soon as I got home. At 6:15, that was where I was. I got home and let the dogs out and then stripped on my way through the house and stretched out queenifying the bed. The dogd somehow knew to let me get settled and then they each found there own little nice around me.
I never quite fell asleep, but it was dark and restful. At 8 I decided to get up and I was hungry. I threw some clothes on and headed out the door with my laptop and some books and went to Cafe Artiste. On the way I stopped at Border's to pick up Anthony Bourdain's new book as my class begins tomorrow, and I love me some Anthony Bourdain. Mmhmm. Sexy ugly like money in the bank.
Anyway, I picked up the last copy of the book Border's had on display, and then went on to Cafe Artiste. A booth was available right away and I called Beth to let her know I would be there a while if she wanted to come hang out after the party she was at. I got some work done because while I was connecting to their wireless, their server was not connecting to anything which meant no surfing, and yes, actually writing. Nice.
I was on my second Mexican Pepsi when Beth arrived and I shut down my laptop and we talked paint colors for the rooms of her house. I think she is ready to commit to some serious color on her walls. When we went out to the parking lot to go home it was nearly midnight. "Hey, is your mp3 still not working?" Beth installed a gadget behind my cd player which allows me to plug in my mp3 player and it is the shit, but ut just stopped working soon after. "Let me take a quick look."
I had been listening to a cd on random and when I switched back to the mp3 player, I had inadvertently hit skip. Last night near midnight, I learned the mp3 player only works when it is showing cd track 1 playing. Woohoo, it still works after all. Beth is the bomb, I tell you. She really is the quintessential gadget girl.
So I got home at about 1230 and e was still out gallavanting with her family. Still no phone call, doesn't she miss me? I was awake still at this point and since I went to Cafe Artiste with the intention to start the Sub Zona Online page on blogger, but couldn't bacause I couldn't open anything, I sat up, waiting for Dear Sweet Elizabeth to return home safely and decided to get it started. It is linked on the left. I did a little tweaking to the template this morning and it looks good in Safari, but I am not sure how it looks form any other browser but I know that in IE for Mac it looks like crap but so do a lot of pages so I need to check it from the pc. If you are interested just let me know.
I went to bed just before 2 and when miss thing finally came in to bed, I think the sun was up. So yes, that is her you hear snoring in the next room.
Cocktails follow a week from right now.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Queen of the Lilliputians finds Gulliver's Turf
Just about every six weeks, I take the thirty minute ride out to Katy to see one of my clients. Angela was my very first client at JCP when I moved to Texas eight years ago. She has been 100% loyal to me, following wherever Goddess Time (tm) took me to work, and once I semi-retired, she was on the short list of clients I would keep up with at home.
She lived in our hood until a couple of years ago when she moved out to the land of bigger is better when her construction company got a couple of Texas sized contracts which has them nicely set and certainly at a new level of financial flush. Angela hasn't really changed much more than her location and I really like that about her. Her family might have bigger toys, but they are still good energy people.
So I pull up to the house and feel so small. For the moment, I am driving a four door Honda Civic LX. Nice basic economical vehicle. When I think about having to fill the Jeep's 20 gallon tank and drive its 13-15 miles per gallon gas hog self, I am glad to have the smaller economical ride.
Hayden and Zach, Angela's boys, were not home today. They are both driving age now and both drive LARGE Ford 2500 trucks. Angela drove a Suburban, loaded, until about six months ago when she got the loaded, though gently used Hummer. It's pretty as Hummer's go, but really, a Hummer. Johnny also drives a big truck, and of course, it is much bigger than either of the boys. Think construction site big. All the vehicles I would think, are company property. Mmakes sense in that way for everyone to have a big truck. I would need a step stool to look under the hood of any of these vehicles.
I actually parked in the driveway today, and the Civic somehow seemed small next to Johnny's Hog. His bike is almost as long as my car. And the airbrushed skulls are oh, so pretty. Really. "C'mon Maxine, hop on we'll go for a spin and give you a thrill."
Now reread that hearing Billy Bob Thornton in Sling Blade.
No thanks, Johnny, I have to pass. Been there. Done that.
She lived in our hood until a couple of years ago when she moved out to the land of bigger is better when her construction company got a couple of Texas sized contracts which has them nicely set and certainly at a new level of financial flush. Angela hasn't really changed much more than her location and I really like that about her. Her family might have bigger toys, but they are still good energy people.
So I pull up to the house and feel so small. For the moment, I am driving a four door Honda Civic LX. Nice basic economical vehicle. When I think about having to fill the Jeep's 20 gallon tank and drive its 13-15 miles per gallon gas hog self, I am glad to have the smaller economical ride.
Hayden and Zach, Angela's boys, were not home today. They are both driving age now and both drive LARGE Ford 2500 trucks. Angela drove a Suburban, loaded, until about six months ago when she got the loaded, though gently used Hummer. It's pretty as Hummer's go, but really, a Hummer. Johnny also drives a big truck, and of course, it is much bigger than either of the boys. Think construction site big. All the vehicles I would think, are company property. Mmakes sense in that way for everyone to have a big truck. I would need a step stool to look under the hood of any of these vehicles.
I actually parked in the driveway today, and the Civic somehow seemed small next to Johnny's Hog. His bike is almost as long as my car. And the airbrushed skulls are oh, so pretty. Really. "C'mon Maxine, hop on we'll go for a spin and give you a thrill."
Now reread that hearing Billy Bob Thornton in Sling Blade.
No thanks, Johnny, I have to pass. Been there. Done that.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Close, But No Parade.
We got down to the parade area at about 730 last night and the parade was to start at 830 or 845. We went to shoot pool at Slick Willie's which is right on the parade route. I lost count after 6 beers, but there was Tuaca bombs and Jaeger(sp?) bombs and a lemon test tube thingy and a couple of Red Headed Sluts involved. Who could resist? And let's not forget Margaritas.
No, we saw none of the parade and we were right there the whole time.
Time for Sunday breakfast at Empire.
Edit...
So I totally forgot the whole tongue stud pursuit. It was the quest of the evening and we truly had the entire place involved. Beth, currently single, wanted to know what it would be like to kiss a woman with a tongue stud. She has had her tongue pierced 7 or 8 years and never kissed someone else with a tongue stud.
Our first waitress, Stephanie, had a tongue stud and Beth asked her. The askikng in itself was a big leap for Beth because she is so shy about such things. Apparently Steph has tried the whole girl/girl thing and it isn't for her. I personally think if
I had pitched Steph for Beth, she woulda done it.
The bartenders were asked. The other waitstaff. We almmost had one of the Miller Lite girls on the line annd they were all hotties. I think if her boyfriend were not present, she would have gone for it, too. (This was when I felt obligated to do the lemon test tub shooter for her time.)
Dear Sweet Elizabeth was contemplating getting her tongue pierced to help Beth fulfill her quest.
As the evening wore on Beth was less determined that it be a woman. It was a shame that DSE and I both kissed a woman with a tongue stud and poor Bethie had to kiss a boy. He was a cute boy, but still. Eww.
I think Beth should have held out for DSE to get pierced.
No, we saw none of the parade and we were right there the whole time.
Time for Sunday breakfast at Empire.
Edit...
So I totally forgot the whole tongue stud pursuit. It was the quest of the evening and we truly had the entire place involved. Beth, currently single, wanted to know what it would be like to kiss a woman with a tongue stud. She has had her tongue pierced 7 or 8 years and never kissed someone else with a tongue stud.
Our first waitress, Stephanie, had a tongue stud and Beth asked her. The askikng in itself was a big leap for Beth because she is so shy about such things. Apparently Steph has tried the whole girl/girl thing and it isn't for her. I personally think if
I had pitched Steph for Beth, she woulda done it.
The bartenders were asked. The other waitstaff. We almmost had one of the Miller Lite girls on the line annd they were all hotties. I think if her boyfriend were not present, she would have gone for it, too. (This was when I felt obligated to do the lemon test tub shooter for her time.)
Dear Sweet Elizabeth was contemplating getting her tongue pierced to help Beth fulfill her quest.
As the evening wore on Beth was less determined that it be a woman. It was a shame that DSE and I both kissed a woman with a tongue stud and poor Bethie had to kiss a boy. He was a cute boy, but still. Eww.
I think Beth should have held out for DSE to get pierced.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Sub Rosa
I am nearing the end of chapter three of Secrets of the Zona Rosa. E and I were discussing getting a Zona Rosa group going and I feel in my bones it is something I am meant to be involved in. Since We don't live in Savannah or Atlanta and since there is not a Houston group yet, I am going to declare here in print (of a fashion), tha By the end of June, we will have something started online. I will send out an email inviting peeps I think might be interested, also by the end of June.
I encourage anyone, interested in participating or not, to pick up this book. It is an exploration of craft. It is memoir. It is sharing. If you don't see it near you somewhere, try www.myzonarosa.com or order it from BookWoman.
Stay tuned!
I encourage anyone, interested in participating or not, to pick up this book. It is an exploration of craft. It is memoir. It is sharing. If you don't see it near you somewhere, try www.myzonarosa.com or order it from BookWoman.
Stay tuned!
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Madeleine's big adventure (the Return of Fiction: the sequel)
Madeleine lost her way at a truckstop on the edge of some backwoods southern town in Alabama with her dog Pete. She was 15, nearly 16 as she left the trunk of her daddy's car which she had snuck into to see where it was he went each night. She must had fallen asleep, because as she was walking toward the diner, she had to duck into the shadow of a truck because heard her daddy's voice and there was noway she was going to let him catch her here when she was supposed to be home in bed, safely sound asleep. Even as she saw him get into his car and drive away, she knew she was better off facing this unknown fate than she would be letting him see her here tonight.
She had to pee and she was hungry but had no money. Pete stayed by her side though he had to pee too, she had no idea how long they had been driving and had no idea where she was. Madeleine went inside and was looking for a restroom. When she asked the old tattered waitress, she pointed to the sign on the door as she said, "Those is for payin' customers. The free ones is over there."
There was a door marked private. The waitress fished in her pocket and threw her something saying, "Here's the key," after a pause she added "Some say it helps if you sing somthin' and some find they really like it. The dog is cute, but he has to stay outside we don't allow no dogs in here."
Madeleine took the dog outside and swallowed hard as she slid the key into the lock on the door marked private. She felt a slight shiver run up her spine as she entered. She was in a smaall curved room with six doors to choose from.Door number three was right in front of her and as she stepped into the room she felt the wall to her right for a light switch. Madeleine needed the light to see where the toilet was. As she turned it on, she felt the free restroom was not too bad. It was reasonably clean and there was an oversized chair and footstool with some magazines and a reading lamp on one side of the small room, then a shelf with some candles on the other side.
The thing that seemed odder than the free restroom actually being homey and presentable was that there were six small windows with screens on them making it hard to look out. you could see if the light was off she decided but she rather liked the comfort of the room with the bare dim bulb on.
What Madeleine didn't realize was that the light going on signaled the men outside, truckers and locals alike, that a show was about to begin.
There was also what looked like a mail slot in the wall, a small brass plate that flapped either way, sure enough, a mail slot.
Madeleine had slipped down her panties and was about to pee and she was wondering why the old hag had told her some say it helps if you sing something. Madeleine had a brief thought about how long she must have been in the car trunk as it was right after dinner when she snuck in and it was after dark now and seemingly very late, though the truckstop was full. She had a forceful stream of pee going when she heard something breathing hard and looked up to see six pairs of eyes watching her.
Madeleine had been cooped up so long that she had no wherewithal to stop peeing. She just couldn't as it felt too good to finally let it out. She heard Pete barking, and she knew that he knew these men were watching her. their faces were pressed right up against the screens and she could see in that instant that two were young, two were old and weathered one was rather fatherly looking and cleaner than the rest or more polished. But the last one was the one that caught her attention. It was a woman's face. Her hair was perfectly done up and she had on the reddest lipstick.
As Madeleine realized that she could now stop herself, she found the toilet paper and wiped. She then pulled up her panties and pants and reached for the light switch in a hurry. Once the room was dark, she could no longer see the eyes and was able to catch her breath before deciding what to do next.
There was a slight scraping sound followed by a tiny tink and she realized it was the mail slot being used. Madeleine sat there afraid to move in the dark for a long time. She was in the comfortable chair curled up with her knees drawn up to her chest and har hands hugging them close when the sound of a key in the lock had startled her awake. She remained frozen in her curled up position afraid to move.
As the light clicked on she saw it was the old hag. Madeleine somehow realized that she was harmless and she simultaneously realized she had set her up. She saw that her nametag read Kay, something which had escaped her earlier. she also looked to the windows and saw that the sun was coming up and no one was there. Kay walked to the window and was pointing at the cash laying on the floor. She picked it all up and handed it to her telling her there is usually a ten dollar fee for the room but as a first timer, she would waive the charge. For the ten dollars, the user gets to keep her tips and gets the clean sheet which madeleine had not seen sitting beside the magazines. Kay told her most of the girls usually drape it over the chair before they begin the show.
"There's no one here right now and I have a shower in the employee changing room which also serves as my office. I have the breakfast shift starting in thirty minutes and I could really use the help if you need work. Anything you can do to help out will be great, five dollars an hour cash plus tips if you can wait tables. If not just the five an hour. These rooms are not used during the day and there is always more like you got tonight. Oh, yes, this is for you too. Miss Luann bought your dog and said she has a place for you if you need one. Her number is on the paper. She gave you a hundred for him which seemed rather fair to me and before you get all crying, I see the tears about to fall, she didn't really buy him, she is a nice old broad, well, she's a lady not a broad, and she will take care of your dog 'til you decide you want to stay at her place or 'til you come to claim him. She said you looked like you had some life issues to settle and since she wasn't here when you came in I figure she was one of your first paying customers. Make up your mind quickly as I really need the help. The shower is yours to use either way, and you will find uniforms hanging on the back of the door. I need to go get things ready."
As Kay shut the door behind her, Madeleine looked down at the cash in her hand. She unfolded each piece and smoothed and straightened them out. When she was finished, she could not believe her good fortune. There were four tens, a twenty and a fifty. She closed her eyes to remember the flash of faces she saw last night in the seconds before she turned off the light. The tens belonged to the two young boys and the weathered men. the twenty to the fatherly one and the fifty to the woman. Maybe the twenty and the fifty were swapped out, but Madeleine was sure about the tens. A hundred and ten bucks. Minus the ten she would have to give Kay for the room use again. That sure beats five an hour. and she could drink some coffee in the diner and do a second 'show'. Maybe a third. The weirdness of it all was somehow suspended in a sort of shock.
Before her brain had too much time to spin out of control, Madeleine remembered that a Miss Luann had bought Pete. She unfolded the paper that Kay had given her and there was a crisp clean hundred dollar bill inside, as crisp and clean as the fifty. The note was simple. Come by for tea at 3pm sharp. It was signed with a scripted L and nothing else.
Two hundred and ten dollars. Madeleine couldn't believe it. She folded her money and put it deep into her jeans pocket. She smoothed her hair a little and was prepared to make an exit because she wasn't certain if she wanted to work harder for her money. Kay had said she needed the help and even though she had set her up with the bathroom show, she had basically been kind to her this morning. She could have kept the hundred for Pete, too and said she didn't know anything about her dog.
As Madeleine walked back into the diner, she saw there were about a third of the seats taken and two waitresses seemed to have a handle on it. She walked into the kitchen to get to the office to tell Kay no thanks, and she saw there was an older cook and a younget boy maybe a few years older than herself working the grill. They were cooking up enough food for an army, not orders for the few people sitting in the dining room.
Kay was having a cup of coffee at her desk and before Madeleine could ask, she told her they had a steady stream of truckers picking up the big breakfast to go, that was four breakfast tacos, four links of sausage, four biscuits, and two cartons of milk. She paused to look at the clock and continued. "In thirteen minutes, every seat will be taken in the diner and the line will start forming. Are you in?"
Madeleine jumped into the shower stall and stripped off her clothes. She forgot to grab the uniform and asked Kay to pass it to her please. The shower was running and she was rinsing her hair when she saw Kay in the doorway to the shower watching her. "Firm young flesh, I wont touch unless you invite me, but I'll look every chance I get."
To that, Madeleine had to smile and she turned her profile to offer kay the full view. Kay laughed and blushed slightly, and held out a towel as Madeleine turned off the water.
Kay told Madeleine the uniform on the right would be just about the right size, maybe a little big, and the one on the left would be a tight squeeze but better tips. Madeleine reached to the left and Kay said, "My kinda gal," as she opened the door to return to the kitchen.
There was a comb on the shelf in the shower and after towel drying her long hair, Madeleine combed it out and pulled it into a ponytail using a rubber band that was lying on Kay's desk. She wrapped the tail around itself and secured it with two pencils as she had no bobby pins. She looked into the mirror and saw that indeed this uniform was a size or so small for her. she reached into her top and adjusted her breasts so that they were more comfortable and this also resulted in better cleavage. If she was going to offer a view, it would be the best view she could offer. Then she stepped back far enough to see how the skirt of the dress fell on her. It was tight and it was short. She was about to grab the other uniform which would be a bit more modest when she heard a crash in the kitchen and a lot of cussing. Madeleine decided to go with the tight fit remembering Kay had said it would bring better tips and she left the office to see what had happened.
Kay was filling plates to replace the tray that had been dropped. She looked up and smiled at Madeleine and told her unless she had experience, her best help would be by sitting back and doing whatever was asked of her. Madeleine had no experience and told Kay this and they agreed she would hang back and jump in when asked or if it was clear what needed to be done. Kay told her to start filling the to go boxes with the big breakfasts. Four tacos, four sausage, four buscuits. Then she could bag them up with the two milks and have them ready. Madeleine nodded and set to work. The boy had been doing this and as he saw Madeleine coming over, he stopped and went to clean up the fallen tray.
It was pretty easy work as the tacos had already been made. There was a steamer tray of each item on the counter. Madeleine opened up a line of to go boxes. Ten of them fit on the counter. she then opened the taco tray and put four into each box. then the sausage, then the buscuits, then closed them all. She repeated this process four times before she ran out of supplies. As the boy came back to help from cleaning up the mess, he was surprised that she was done.
Before he could ask her how she did that so fast, Madeleine recognized the surprised look on his face as one of the younger boys from the night before. She smiled briefly then explained her assembly line method. The boy told her he usually did them one at a time and really got into there being a wait once the demand started. Forty of them each morning and here they were all ready. He reached for the sacks and started to bag them. He told Madeleine that they should add the milk as they went to the customer so it would be fresh. He said once they started in, he would bring the carton of milks from the cooler. Half the breakfasts were all lined up and ready to go as Kay walked into the kitchen to announce she needed the first six. She was surprised they were ready and she grabbed three bags saying she would be right back for the other three. As Madeleine was caught up for a moment, she grabbed the other three and followed Kay to the register.
Kay thanked her and said to go get six more as the line was now quite long. The boy had begun getting the milks into the bags and as he was doing that, Madeleine bagged up more of the lunches. Madeleine kept a steady stream of them coming to the register so Kay did not have to ask for more. By 7:30 in the morning, the breakfasts were all gone. All the while there had been a steady stream of customers filling the chairs in the diner.
Madeleine had learned that the two waitresses, Rosie and Maria, were sisters. They worked well together and occasionally one would tell her table three needs sides of this or that. There was a table chart on the wall of the kitchen and this was a good way for Madeleine to get familiar with the layout and also to learn how to not be in Rosie's or Maria's way.
All of a sudden, there was a calm in the diner. Madeleine looked up and saw it was 10:30. She had just brewed her 67th pot of coffee for the morning and brought the pot and a fresh cup out to Kay who was smoking a cigarette at the register. Kay had a look of extreme appreciation as Madeleine filled the cup. Rosie and Maria came over with cups of their own and one for Madeleine. Kay spoke up, "So Sugar, you gonna tell us your name?" Rosie looked to Maria. "We don't need to know her name Mama, we just need to know she's staying."
Kay then shook her head. "I doubt it, she has an appointment for tea today with Miss Luann and you know what that means. We'll be lucky to ever see her here again."
The girls were both nodding their heads in unison. Kay opened the register and handed Madeleine a twenty. She had worked four hours. She then handed her another twenty because the big breakfasts had gone so smoothly allowing more customers to be served. Rosie and Maria had already counted up their tips and had about a hundred bucks each, not bad for breakfast shift but they had about a six time table turnover to the normal 4, and that was because of Madeleine's help. They each gave her a twenty.
There was a jar on the counter that Kay had put up which said "for the new girl" on a napkin taped around it. Madeleine was surprised to feel it heavy wiith change. She took her coffee to a table to the side and told the girls they could join her if she liked. She dumped the contents of the jar and counted it out. there was a few fives, and some singles, and the rest was mostly quarters with other smaller change. there was seventy-two dollars and fifty-six cents. So in the four hours she was there, she made $152.56. In addition to the money from the night before, she had $362.56. Sneaking into the trunk, even though she did not really find out anything new about her daddy, wasn't the worst decision she had ever made.
She had to pee and she was hungry but had no money. Pete stayed by her side though he had to pee too, she had no idea how long they had been driving and had no idea where she was. Madeleine went inside and was looking for a restroom. When she asked the old tattered waitress, she pointed to the sign on the door as she said, "Those is for payin' customers. The free ones is over there."
There was a door marked private. The waitress fished in her pocket and threw her something saying, "Here's the key," after a pause she added "Some say it helps if you sing somthin' and some find they really like it. The dog is cute, but he has to stay outside we don't allow no dogs in here."
Madeleine took the dog outside and swallowed hard as she slid the key into the lock on the door marked private. She felt a slight shiver run up her spine as she entered. She was in a smaall curved room with six doors to choose from.Door number three was right in front of her and as she stepped into the room she felt the wall to her right for a light switch. Madeleine needed the light to see where the toilet was. As she turned it on, she felt the free restroom was not too bad. It was reasonably clean and there was an oversized chair and footstool with some magazines and a reading lamp on one side of the small room, then a shelf with some candles on the other side.
The thing that seemed odder than the free restroom actually being homey and presentable was that there were six small windows with screens on them making it hard to look out. you could see if the light was off she decided but she rather liked the comfort of the room with the bare dim bulb on.
What Madeleine didn't realize was that the light going on signaled the men outside, truckers and locals alike, that a show was about to begin.
There was also what looked like a mail slot in the wall, a small brass plate that flapped either way, sure enough, a mail slot.
Madeleine had slipped down her panties and was about to pee and she was wondering why the old hag had told her some say it helps if you sing something. Madeleine had a brief thought about how long she must have been in the car trunk as it was right after dinner when she snuck in and it was after dark now and seemingly very late, though the truckstop was full. She had a forceful stream of pee going when she heard something breathing hard and looked up to see six pairs of eyes watching her.
Madeleine had been cooped up so long that she had no wherewithal to stop peeing. She just couldn't as it felt too good to finally let it out. She heard Pete barking, and she knew that he knew these men were watching her. their faces were pressed right up against the screens and she could see in that instant that two were young, two were old and weathered one was rather fatherly looking and cleaner than the rest or more polished. But the last one was the one that caught her attention. It was a woman's face. Her hair was perfectly done up and she had on the reddest lipstick.
As Madeleine realized that she could now stop herself, she found the toilet paper and wiped. She then pulled up her panties and pants and reached for the light switch in a hurry. Once the room was dark, she could no longer see the eyes and was able to catch her breath before deciding what to do next.
There was a slight scraping sound followed by a tiny tink and she realized it was the mail slot being used. Madeleine sat there afraid to move in the dark for a long time. She was in the comfortable chair curled up with her knees drawn up to her chest and har hands hugging them close when the sound of a key in the lock had startled her awake. She remained frozen in her curled up position afraid to move.
As the light clicked on she saw it was the old hag. Madeleine somehow realized that she was harmless and she simultaneously realized she had set her up. She saw that her nametag read Kay, something which had escaped her earlier. she also looked to the windows and saw that the sun was coming up and no one was there. Kay walked to the window and was pointing at the cash laying on the floor. She picked it all up and handed it to her telling her there is usually a ten dollar fee for the room but as a first timer, she would waive the charge. For the ten dollars, the user gets to keep her tips and gets the clean sheet which madeleine had not seen sitting beside the magazines. Kay told her most of the girls usually drape it over the chair before they begin the show.
"There's no one here right now and I have a shower in the employee changing room which also serves as my office. I have the breakfast shift starting in thirty minutes and I could really use the help if you need work. Anything you can do to help out will be great, five dollars an hour cash plus tips if you can wait tables. If not just the five an hour. These rooms are not used during the day and there is always more like you got tonight. Oh, yes, this is for you too. Miss Luann bought your dog and said she has a place for you if you need one. Her number is on the paper. She gave you a hundred for him which seemed rather fair to me and before you get all crying, I see the tears about to fall, she didn't really buy him, she is a nice old broad, well, she's a lady not a broad, and she will take care of your dog 'til you decide you want to stay at her place or 'til you come to claim him. She said you looked like you had some life issues to settle and since she wasn't here when you came in I figure she was one of your first paying customers. Make up your mind quickly as I really need the help. The shower is yours to use either way, and you will find uniforms hanging on the back of the door. I need to go get things ready."
As Kay shut the door behind her, Madeleine looked down at the cash in her hand. She unfolded each piece and smoothed and straightened them out. When she was finished, she could not believe her good fortune. There were four tens, a twenty and a fifty. She closed her eyes to remember the flash of faces she saw last night in the seconds before she turned off the light. The tens belonged to the two young boys and the weathered men. the twenty to the fatherly one and the fifty to the woman. Maybe the twenty and the fifty were swapped out, but Madeleine was sure about the tens. A hundred and ten bucks. Minus the ten she would have to give Kay for the room use again. That sure beats five an hour. and she could drink some coffee in the diner and do a second 'show'. Maybe a third. The weirdness of it all was somehow suspended in a sort of shock.
Before her brain had too much time to spin out of control, Madeleine remembered that a Miss Luann had bought Pete. She unfolded the paper that Kay had given her and there was a crisp clean hundred dollar bill inside, as crisp and clean as the fifty. The note was simple. Come by for tea at 3pm sharp. It was signed with a scripted L and nothing else.
Two hundred and ten dollars. Madeleine couldn't believe it. She folded her money and put it deep into her jeans pocket. She smoothed her hair a little and was prepared to make an exit because she wasn't certain if she wanted to work harder for her money. Kay had said she needed the help and even though she had set her up with the bathroom show, she had basically been kind to her this morning. She could have kept the hundred for Pete, too and said she didn't know anything about her dog.
As Madeleine walked back into the diner, she saw there were about a third of the seats taken and two waitresses seemed to have a handle on it. She walked into the kitchen to get to the office to tell Kay no thanks, and she saw there was an older cook and a younget boy maybe a few years older than herself working the grill. They were cooking up enough food for an army, not orders for the few people sitting in the dining room.
Kay was having a cup of coffee at her desk and before Madeleine could ask, she told her they had a steady stream of truckers picking up the big breakfast to go, that was four breakfast tacos, four links of sausage, four biscuits, and two cartons of milk. She paused to look at the clock and continued. "In thirteen minutes, every seat will be taken in the diner and the line will start forming. Are you in?"
Madeleine jumped into the shower stall and stripped off her clothes. She forgot to grab the uniform and asked Kay to pass it to her please. The shower was running and she was rinsing her hair when she saw Kay in the doorway to the shower watching her. "Firm young flesh, I wont touch unless you invite me, but I'll look every chance I get."
To that, Madeleine had to smile and she turned her profile to offer kay the full view. Kay laughed and blushed slightly, and held out a towel as Madeleine turned off the water.
Kay told Madeleine the uniform on the right would be just about the right size, maybe a little big, and the one on the left would be a tight squeeze but better tips. Madeleine reached to the left and Kay said, "My kinda gal," as she opened the door to return to the kitchen.
There was a comb on the shelf in the shower and after towel drying her long hair, Madeleine combed it out and pulled it into a ponytail using a rubber band that was lying on Kay's desk. She wrapped the tail around itself and secured it with two pencils as she had no bobby pins. She looked into the mirror and saw that indeed this uniform was a size or so small for her. she reached into her top and adjusted her breasts so that they were more comfortable and this also resulted in better cleavage. If she was going to offer a view, it would be the best view she could offer. Then she stepped back far enough to see how the skirt of the dress fell on her. It was tight and it was short. She was about to grab the other uniform which would be a bit more modest when she heard a crash in the kitchen and a lot of cussing. Madeleine decided to go with the tight fit remembering Kay had said it would bring better tips and she left the office to see what had happened.
Kay was filling plates to replace the tray that had been dropped. She looked up and smiled at Madeleine and told her unless she had experience, her best help would be by sitting back and doing whatever was asked of her. Madeleine had no experience and told Kay this and they agreed she would hang back and jump in when asked or if it was clear what needed to be done. Kay told her to start filling the to go boxes with the big breakfasts. Four tacos, four sausage, four buscuits. Then she could bag them up with the two milks and have them ready. Madeleine nodded and set to work. The boy had been doing this and as he saw Madeleine coming over, he stopped and went to clean up the fallen tray.
It was pretty easy work as the tacos had already been made. There was a steamer tray of each item on the counter. Madeleine opened up a line of to go boxes. Ten of them fit on the counter. she then opened the taco tray and put four into each box. then the sausage, then the buscuits, then closed them all. She repeated this process four times before she ran out of supplies. As the boy came back to help from cleaning up the mess, he was surprised that she was done.
Before he could ask her how she did that so fast, Madeleine recognized the surprised look on his face as one of the younger boys from the night before. She smiled briefly then explained her assembly line method. The boy told her he usually did them one at a time and really got into there being a wait once the demand started. Forty of them each morning and here they were all ready. He reached for the sacks and started to bag them. He told Madeleine that they should add the milk as they went to the customer so it would be fresh. He said once they started in, he would bring the carton of milks from the cooler. Half the breakfasts were all lined up and ready to go as Kay walked into the kitchen to announce she needed the first six. She was surprised they were ready and she grabbed three bags saying she would be right back for the other three. As Madeleine was caught up for a moment, she grabbed the other three and followed Kay to the register.
Kay thanked her and said to go get six more as the line was now quite long. The boy had begun getting the milks into the bags and as he was doing that, Madeleine bagged up more of the lunches. Madeleine kept a steady stream of them coming to the register so Kay did not have to ask for more. By 7:30 in the morning, the breakfasts were all gone. All the while there had been a steady stream of customers filling the chairs in the diner.
Madeleine had learned that the two waitresses, Rosie and Maria, were sisters. They worked well together and occasionally one would tell her table three needs sides of this or that. There was a table chart on the wall of the kitchen and this was a good way for Madeleine to get familiar with the layout and also to learn how to not be in Rosie's or Maria's way.
All of a sudden, there was a calm in the diner. Madeleine looked up and saw it was 10:30. She had just brewed her 67th pot of coffee for the morning and brought the pot and a fresh cup out to Kay who was smoking a cigarette at the register. Kay had a look of extreme appreciation as Madeleine filled the cup. Rosie and Maria came over with cups of their own and one for Madeleine. Kay spoke up, "So Sugar, you gonna tell us your name?" Rosie looked to Maria. "We don't need to know her name Mama, we just need to know she's staying."
Kay then shook her head. "I doubt it, she has an appointment for tea today with Miss Luann and you know what that means. We'll be lucky to ever see her here again."
The girls were both nodding their heads in unison. Kay opened the register and handed Madeleine a twenty. She had worked four hours. She then handed her another twenty because the big breakfasts had gone so smoothly allowing more customers to be served. Rosie and Maria had already counted up their tips and had about a hundred bucks each, not bad for breakfast shift but they had about a six time table turnover to the normal 4, and that was because of Madeleine's help. They each gave her a twenty.
There was a jar on the counter that Kay had put up which said "for the new girl" on a napkin taped around it. Madeleine was surprised to feel it heavy wiith change. She took her coffee to a table to the side and told the girls they could join her if she liked. She dumped the contents of the jar and counted it out. there was a few fives, and some singles, and the rest was mostly quarters with other smaller change. there was seventy-two dollars and fifty-six cents. So in the four hours she was there, she made $152.56. In addition to the money from the night before, she had $362.56. Sneaking into the trunk, even though she did not really find out anything new about her daddy, wasn't the worst decision she had ever made.
bizarro
i awoke from a weird dream this morning again. i was madeleine, a girl of about 16 who had snuck into the trunk of her daddy's car with her dog pete to see where he went at night. After sneaking out of the trunk, I found myself stranded at a truck stop in Alafuckingbama.
Weirder still, the dogs were up for bed last night before 11 so I expected to hear Miss Lilli barking at 445am. Maybe e put them out and I slept through it. I got up to pee having woken from this dream as Madeleine was looking for a bathroom. I saw it was 745 and I then went and put the dogs out. None of them had made a sound until they saw me. After everyone had done their business, I sat with my laptop to write about Madeleine. I need to do a major edit on it and I have no idea where it came form or where it is going, b ut it continures the bizarro morning in a unique fashion.
Weirder still, the dogs were up for bed last night before 11 so I expected to hear Miss Lilli barking at 445am. Maybe e put them out and I slept through it. I got up to pee having woken from this dream as Madeleine was looking for a bathroom. I saw it was 745 and I then went and put the dogs out. None of them had made a sound until they saw me. After everyone had done their business, I sat with my laptop to write about Madeleine. I need to do a major edit on it and I have no idea where it came form or where it is going, b ut it continures the bizarro morning in a unique fashion.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
And the winner is...
Chapin!!!
Chapin, you need to send me your address so I can send you your prize.
To the rest of you who participated, also send me your addresses* as you are eligible for boobie prizes.
*I might already have your addresses, but to be sure send them to queenmaxine gmail com anyway. Alternately, your prize will be delivered at The First Annual Anniversary Brunch over cocktails in 33 days.
Chapin, you need to send me your address so I can send you your prize.
To the rest of you who participated, also send me your addresses* as you are eligible for boobie prizes.
*I might already have your addresses, but to be sure send them to queenmaxine gmail com anyway. Alternately, your prize will be delivered at The First Annual Anniversary Brunch over cocktails in 33 days.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Mystery of the Zona Rosa
Just back from Austin. We went to BookWoman tonight to see Rosemary Daniell discussing her newest book, Secrets of the Zona Rosa. To say I am intrigued is an understatement of sorts. There will be a writing retreat in Tuscany. In all likelihood, we will be going. I bought the book and want to dive right in. I am already spinning the possibilities of starting an online group to plow through this process. Who's in?
Before reading the discription of the event on the BookWoman website, I had never heard of this woman or her book or her workshops. I like it when I can see that I have listened to the universe when it was speaking. Synchronicity. Serendipity.
Goddess Time.
Before reading the discription of the event on the BookWoman website, I had never heard of this woman or her book or her workshops. I like it when I can see that I have listened to the universe when it was speaking. Synchronicity. Serendipity.
Goddess Time.
No less than 8 or confessions of a liquid soap whooore
Can you even fathom it? We have eight different shower gels currently in the shower. ( if you count the manly man one which belongs to the boy.
Eight. There are not eight days in the week, so why eight? Two are Suave, two are Graham Webb, One is something Citrus minty and three are from the semi annual Bath & Body Works clearance. No brand discrimination here, yes, I admit to the Suave. And all distinct scents and no lavender, thank you Little Baby Jesus (tm). I am allergic to lavender and all things lavender are pure evil.
At work yesterday, we got some new merchandise. Paper soap. It might be brilliant. But not for the shower collection. Liquid soap is the only way to go. No bar soap for me. Ewww. Liquid soap does have its limitations and the cute grrl purse is one of them Paper soap adapts quite nicely and there is even a choice of colors. The containers came in yellow, blue, red, green, and purple. The first to guess which color I am getting wins a prize*. Really.
*She who is dear *and* sweet forfeits all prize eligibility.
Eight. There are not eight days in the week, so why eight? Two are Suave, two are Graham Webb, One is something Citrus minty and three are from the semi annual Bath & Body Works clearance. No brand discrimination here, yes, I admit to the Suave. And all distinct scents and no lavender, thank you Little Baby Jesus (tm). I am allergic to lavender and all things lavender are pure evil.
At work yesterday, we got some new merchandise. Paper soap. It might be brilliant. But not for the shower collection. Liquid soap is the only way to go. No bar soap for me. Ewww. Liquid soap does have its limitations and the cute grrl purse is one of them Paper soap adapts quite nicely and there is even a choice of colors. The containers came in yellow, blue, red, green, and purple. The first to guess which color I am getting wins a prize*. Really.
*She who is dear *and* sweet forfeits all prize eligibility.
Monday, June 05, 2006
shopped til we dropped
By 10 Sunday morning, we were sitting at Empire Cafe enjoying our breakfast hour. They have a dish called El Paso migas which we have been contemplating for some time. It is certainly enough for two and potentially enough for three or four. Four scrambled eggs (more like six) with chorizo, pico, quac and sour cream served over tortilla strips.
Silly me, but I thought this was all layered and I thought it came with tortillas, not tortilla strips. The chorizo, eggs and pico are all mixed and scrambled. The chorizo they use is super hot. Spicy, mama. Aye. Chi. Hua. Hua.
Luckily, I enjoyed most of the scone we ordered, so when after a few bites I wisely proclaimed I could not/would not finish my eggs, at least I was still rather full.
We have been going to Empire frequently for the entire 8 years I have lived here. I would estimate weekly for Sunday breakfast the last two years and still more for dinner. It is my favorite place for the $25-$35 price range and I even go in the morning mid week, too. I luv me some Empire Cafe.
El Paso migas are an anomaly. Wrong. The first time I have been so sorely disappointed with anything they offer. When I start considering them again, e just needs to slap me. Of course I will be very conscious of *not* considering this dish again.
Adios.
So after breakfast, we went to Pier 1. Actually we went to Storehouse to look at dressers, but they were not yet open, so right down the way is a DSW and Pier 1 so we went to both. I got two new pair of shoes for work and I passed on the new Teva's, though I might go back for them soon.
At Pier 1, we gt some chimes. Just chimes. Lots of stuff we passed on. We were good grrls.
Then we went back to Storehouse where e found the perfect $1200.00. Wethen went to the Storehouse Clearance Center where they have said dresser for $730. The stuff at the clearance center is discontinued merchandise or customer returns, You really need to inspect pieces carefully, because there is almost always something less than perfect, and all sales are final. There were some dings, and in my opinion, it would have been ours at $500, but too much scuffing for $730. The sales boy let us in on the secret of the sidewalk sale on 6/16 at 20% off, so e will think about it and if it is still there, we might get it. But in the mean time we will look further, too.
After that we went to Ikea. We know what a zoo it is on the weekend, We know it is best to go at 8 pm on Tuesday or Wednesday. We went anyway, dresser seekers that we are.
We didn't get a dresser. We got...(big surprise)...stuff. E wanted some photo boxes. I wanted some magazine files. We always need tea lights. An orange paper lamp? We needed it. Really. The new light for the master bath. Check. Two large frames. There might be more, but I do not feel like getting up.
So we were home watching a really bad Robert Urich movie on Lifetime, and of course we were sucked in. Shelley Fabares and a very young Gwyneth Paltrow were also in it. Soon after we got home, the boy asked e if we could go to Dave & Busters. The initial answer was maybe, but somewhere before the end of the movie it became yes and we will never know what happened.
After killing his oldest daughter's no good husband (a young Chandler form Friends)for the insurance money...after shooting his own hand off for the insurance money (which, btw, he did not get), did dad kill the second daughter' husband? Did he kill the estranged wife or the girlfriend who knows too much? Did he finally kill himself? I think he did finally kill himself because the movie opened with a military funeral and all the 4 daughters and wife in attendance.
We may never know.
D & B was a hoot as usual and our day was terribly tiring. but we had a fabulous time. And, we have some new stuff, too!!
Home at 11 pm...we dropped...
Silly me, but I thought this was all layered and I thought it came with tortillas, not tortilla strips. The chorizo, eggs and pico are all mixed and scrambled. The chorizo they use is super hot. Spicy, mama. Aye. Chi. Hua. Hua.
Luckily, I enjoyed most of the scone we ordered, so when after a few bites I wisely proclaimed I could not/would not finish my eggs, at least I was still rather full.
We have been going to Empire frequently for the entire 8 years I have lived here. I would estimate weekly for Sunday breakfast the last two years and still more for dinner. It is my favorite place for the $25-$35 price range and I even go in the morning mid week, too. I luv me some Empire Cafe.
El Paso migas are an anomaly. Wrong. The first time I have been so sorely disappointed with anything they offer. When I start considering them again, e just needs to slap me. Of course I will be very conscious of *not* considering this dish again.
Adios.
So after breakfast, we went to Pier 1. Actually we went to Storehouse to look at dressers, but they were not yet open, so right down the way is a DSW and Pier 1 so we went to both. I got two new pair of shoes for work and I passed on the new Teva's, though I might go back for them soon.
At Pier 1, we gt some chimes. Just chimes. Lots of stuff we passed on. We were good grrls.
Then we went back to Storehouse where e found the perfect $1200.00. Wethen went to the Storehouse Clearance Center where they have said dresser for $730. The stuff at the clearance center is discontinued merchandise or customer returns, You really need to inspect pieces carefully, because there is almost always something less than perfect, and all sales are final. There were some dings, and in my opinion, it would have been ours at $500, but too much scuffing for $730. The sales boy let us in on the secret of the sidewalk sale on 6/16 at 20% off, so e will think about it and if it is still there, we might get it. But in the mean time we will look further, too.
After that we went to Ikea. We know what a zoo it is on the weekend, We know it is best to go at 8 pm on Tuesday or Wednesday. We went anyway, dresser seekers that we are.
We didn't get a dresser. We got...(big surprise)...stuff. E wanted some photo boxes. I wanted some magazine files. We always need tea lights. An orange paper lamp? We needed it. Really. The new light for the master bath. Check. Two large frames. There might be more, but I do not feel like getting up.
So we were home watching a really bad Robert Urich movie on Lifetime, and of course we were sucked in. Shelley Fabares and a very young Gwyneth Paltrow were also in it. Soon after we got home, the boy asked e if we could go to Dave & Busters. The initial answer was maybe, but somewhere before the end of the movie it became yes and we will never know what happened.
After killing his oldest daughter's no good husband (a young Chandler form Friends)for the insurance money...after shooting his own hand off for the insurance money (which, btw, he did not get), did dad kill the second daughter' husband? Did he kill the estranged wife or the girlfriend who knows too much? Did he finally kill himself? I think he did finally kill himself because the movie opened with a military funeral and all the 4 daughters and wife in attendance.
We may never know.
D & B was a hoot as usual and our day was terribly tiring. but we had a fabulous time. And, we have some new stuff, too!!
Home at 11 pm...we dropped...
Friday, June 02, 2006
Yes, I heard her correctly...
Some of my coworkers can be pretty flighty and of course there are one or two who take the prize on a regular basis. Today was one of those days.
58 year old Hispanic American coworker to 45ish African American coworker...
58: Have you ever picked cotton? (yes, she was serious in asking this...)
45ish:No...!?! (with the gentlest whatthefuck expression on her face...)
58: Well, we used to do it for fun.
45ish: Maybe my ancestors 5 or 6 generations ago did it, but not for fun. (Lomg pause and WTF expression stretches into a true youdumbshit glare) It was called Slavery?
58: Well I'm not being racist, I was just asking because we useta do it for fun. I'm not racist. Really. I'm not.
45ish: Silence continuing with the combo WTF/YDS glare
58 then launches into a long explaining of why she isn't racist and how she grew up in a way that made cotton picking fun...I really wanted to call and see who our diversity manager is just so she would have to sit through the tapes and class. I still might have to do that tomorrow. My manager won't believe it..
58 year old Hispanic American coworker to 45ish African American coworker...
58: Have you ever picked cotton? (yes, she was serious in asking this...)
45ish:No...!?! (with the gentlest whatthefuck expression on her face...)
58: Well, we used to do it for fun.
45ish: Maybe my ancestors 5 or 6 generations ago did it, but not for fun. (Lomg pause and WTF expression stretches into a true youdumbshit glare) It was called Slavery?
58: Well I'm not being racist, I was just asking because we useta do it for fun. I'm not racist. Really. I'm not.
45ish: Silence continuing with the combo WTF/YDS glare
58 then launches into a long explaining of why she isn't racist and how she grew up in a way that made cotton picking fun...I really wanted to call and see who our diversity manager is just so she would have to sit through the tapes and class. I still might have to do that tomorrow. My manager won't believe it..
Thursday, June 01, 2006
the most divine incense
When we were in VA visiting with our new friends, we went to this import shop called Kosmos. One of our new friends even works on the same block as Kosmos.
The incense was an impulse buy at the register and I chose eucalyptus, which is yellow, green tea, which is green, and the cutest little pack of incense of all, musk, which you have to know, is pink. So the misk incense is the most divine, of course, not only because it is pink, but also because the fragrance totally diffuses shewhocanfartfreely.
I wonder if said friend might be able to secure more of said divine pinkness? Maybe bring it to the Grand Affair First Anniversary Brunch in NYC? 3? 5? I don't remember how much they were, but I can certainly send cash...to said friend...if she would be so kind...as to buy me something...pink...
Would airport security bust her for traveling with something so pink?
The incense was an impulse buy at the register and I chose eucalyptus, which is yellow, green tea, which is green, and the cutest little pack of incense of all, musk, which you have to know, is pink. So the misk incense is the most divine, of course, not only because it is pink, but also because the fragrance totally diffuses shewhocanfartfreely.
I wonder if said friend might be able to secure more of said divine pinkness? Maybe bring it to the Grand Affair First Anniversary Brunch in NYC? 3? 5? I don't remember how much they were, but I can certainly send cash...to said friend...if she would be so kind...as to buy me something...pink...
Would airport security bust her for traveling with something so pink?
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Saturday, May 27, 2006
NYC '06
The trip list will be revised as plans firm up or are added or deleted, Goddess Time(TM) and all that considered. Times are only a suggested guideline unless otherwise noted.
Friday, July 14
Noonish: arrive W Tuscany...e checks in, max procures cocktails from the lobby bar
Sex
2ish: The Whitney
After: Yarn
Cocktails
Dinner
Cocktails
Sex
Saturday, July 15
Pearl River Market
Kate's Paperie
Dean $ DeLuca
Yarn
Peanut Butter restaurant for lunch
Our peeps arrive(we think)
Sex in respective rooms
Cocktails
Dinner
Cocktails
Henrietta's on Hudson
Sex
Sunday, July 16
Sex
11:30 Anniversary brunch at Cafe Zoe with our peeps. Current reservation for 8-9
followed by other stuff...
Friday, July 14
Noonish: arrive W Tuscany...e checks in, max procures cocktails from the lobby bar
Sex
2ish: The Whitney
After: Yarn
Cocktails
Dinner
Cocktails
Sex
Saturday, July 15
Pearl River Market
Kate's Paperie
Dean $ DeLuca
Yarn
Peanut Butter restaurant for lunch
Our peeps arrive(we think)
Sex in respective rooms
Cocktails
Dinner
Cocktails
Henrietta's on Hudson
Sex
Sunday, July 16
Sex
11:30 Anniversary brunch at Cafe Zoe with our peeps. Current reservation for 8-9
followed by other stuff...
Friday, May 26, 2006
My wife...
is becoming a frat boy...
mix one cup of Monster energy drink with a shot of Tuaca
Drink 4...
or 5...
mix one cup of Monster energy drink with a shot of Tuaca
Drink 4...
or 5...
Monday, May 22, 2006
The return of fiction...
Or is it?
The following is a piece I did on the Yoga/Wriring retreat I went on in April. We were read a poem about the color yellow and then instructed to focus on color and see where it takes us. We were given 30 minutes to write and the following is what I came up with. I just went through and did a basic edit, but otherwise made no changes? Does it continue? Is Merrill the band that was setting up in Alex Chapter 12? Where did it come from?
pick a color
deep sea blues and greens pool
with just the slightest edge of purple hues
as she ascends toward the surface
it becomes apparent that the water is clear
the color is all generated
from something gliding forth
closer still her tail is layered
in shimmery delight
scales of slivered diamonds sparkle
as light penetrates the water's surface
The cafe was ablaze with activity. Merrill was to perform tonight and that always brought in the most delicious crowd. The purest groupies, affectionately known as Merrill's Mermaids, were lining the stage in goddesslike splendor.
This would be Merrill's first public appearance post cancer and she was feeling strong. She was ready to give the crowd what they wanted, to know that she was back and to know she was here, once again, to stay.
The Mermaids had long flowing hair adorned with locks of vibrant color. some had charms woven in and some had glitter haloing all the edges. They were all pale copies of Merrill, the original, but they were also all unique in some way. It was not an unusual sight if you ever even heard of Merrill, let alone be enough of a fan to see her live. Clearly, these women, and one man, had taken considerable time and care to perfect the look to just so.
The stage itself was rather bare. There was a stool and a microphone center stage, presumably for Merrill. There were two barber chairs with spots shining directly on them. It made little sense. but Merrill's agenda always became clear shortly after the music began.
The venue went dark and in a flash, there was the warming vibration of Flamenco guitar. The light that came on was focused in such a way that the only thing you could see was the guitar, seemingly playing itself. We all knew this was Merrill, but it was interesting to not see her and it was quite apparent she did not yet want to be seen. Merrill played with vibrance, sound gathering momentum and volume enough to silence everything else in the room.
The spot shone blue and the whispering began. "Do you still pledge to me your undying allegience?"
There was a moment of silence and the crowd then went wild whooping yeses all around. The spot then went green over the two barber chairs, all else black. Merrill whispers again. "She who offers herself unyielding shall be the first of the reincarnation."
Merrill's spotlight was slightly broader now revealing her guitar, which she had begun softly playing again, and a bit of her midsection which was bare. There was suddenly a flash of light and a lone violin joined Merrill on guitar. She too was mostly in shadow, but her violin shone in a purple light. There was someone standing behind her whispering, "We're waiting...for the honest few...were waiting...for the light anew..." It was chanted again and again in a pleasing rhythm.
Merrill was steadily playing accompanied by the violin and subtly, they were joined by an upright bass in its own pale lime light. The chanting grew louder. "We're waiting..." The spots on the chairs shifted toward the shadows of the two people standing behind the musicians. The light on them was deep fiery red. It was bright enough to tell they were completely vinyl clad from head to toe. "For the honest few..." Their hands were clasped behind their backs and it was obvious they were holding something. "We're waiting..."
One of the mermaids suddenly walked onto the stage and took a seat in the barber chair. The vinyl clad woman walked to the chair and draped her in cloth in the most gentle fashion. "For the light anew..."
Merrill began singing the chant softly and there was a choice to either pay attention to the lyrics or to watch the action on stage. It really was impossible to do both. Tears were streming down the mermaid's face as the vinyl clad soldier brought forward a gleaming pair of industrial clippers.
Merrill was singing to sooth the mermaid.
"You've taken the steps across the stage
a second verse of your solemn vow
in blinding light it's clear to see
the clippers on your path to me..."
The mermaid is talking to herself inside her head. The barber chair is here for a reason. There are clippers sparkling clear. I can deny her nothing...
There is a building frenzy in the music. By now, other instruments have been unveiled. There is a teal blue glow surrounding a field of flutes. Forest greens shroud the cellos softly adding their harmonious hum. Merrill's guitar is still awash in cerulian blue as the spot, widened a bit farther, reveals brilliantly sequined breasts covered, yet displayed.
The sight of Merril's breasts indicated to a second mermaid that it would be safe to journey across the stage. As if on cue, the second vinyl clad henchwoman came to the edge of the stage and offered the mermaid her hand in reassurance. The school of mermaids surrounding number two helped to launch her onto the stage. By this time, the devout mermaid fans were struggling internally, afraid to be left behind in whatever Merrill had in store.
There was a jump from the seated mermaids as the roar of the industrial clippers, magnified through the venue's sound system, flooded the room. Nothing else could be heard and it was reminiscent of the waterfall pooling into the lake from which they all seemingly sprang forth.
The only visible light was a warm orange glow, its center that of blood oranges, its edges that of lemon chiffon. The fiery red mermaid's hair was ablaze under its glaring enhancement. Suddenly, the mermaid's streaming faces were joined by the diamond brilliance of gleaming clippers. Nothing else was visible, but the roaring of the clippers was mounting and the presence of the vinylclad cutters was assured as they swayed in and out of the shadows.
There was a sudden and instant shift when the clippers became silent and the guitar again began. Merrill was soothing the mermaids with echoes of steadying words cadenced softly beneath the lyrical notes of her guitar. As the synchronized gleaming clippers approached the mermaids' mane-ish halos Merrill was whispering "A light anew is shining through..."
With the first tremendous arc of the clippers, hair was removed from in front of the left ear to the right nape the movement was graceful and smooth. There was no wincing from the mermaids. They were ready to serve and deny Merrill nothing.
Merrill was meanwhile singing of liberation. Of freedom from binding ties. Of tranquility. Of peace. The deep blue spotlight had begun to fade lighter, still blue, but widening nearly imperceptibly. As the second arc of the clippers began traversing the mermaids' skulls in mirrored reverse, Merrill stepped forward into the light revealing her own bald dome.
The mermaids' bowed heads began to lift and there were radiant smiles gleaming in the now lemony light. The light had faded as the hair had fallen. Their scalps had been dusted with glittery fairy dust. the drapes were removed and the vinylclad women ushered them toward Merrill. She kept playing giving each a soft kiss on their forehead.
Merrill knew her audience. As the full stage lights came up, a row of chairs, each with their own vinyl clad shearer were revealed. The remaining mermaids all had a place to sit where their manes were sheared with synchronous precision. They were dusted and lined up awaiting Merrills kiss as the close of the first act of the evening began.
The following is a piece I did on the Yoga/Wriring retreat I went on in April. We were read a poem about the color yellow and then instructed to focus on color and see where it takes us. We were given 30 minutes to write and the following is what I came up with. I just went through and did a basic edit, but otherwise made no changes? Does it continue? Is Merrill the band that was setting up in Alex Chapter 12? Where did it come from?
pick a color
deep sea blues and greens pool
with just the slightest edge of purple hues
as she ascends toward the surface
it becomes apparent that the water is clear
the color is all generated
from something gliding forth
closer still her tail is layered
in shimmery delight
scales of slivered diamonds sparkle
as light penetrates the water's surface
The cafe was ablaze with activity. Merrill was to perform tonight and that always brought in the most delicious crowd. The purest groupies, affectionately known as Merrill's Mermaids, were lining the stage in goddesslike splendor.
This would be Merrill's first public appearance post cancer and she was feeling strong. She was ready to give the crowd what they wanted, to know that she was back and to know she was here, once again, to stay.
The Mermaids had long flowing hair adorned with locks of vibrant color. some had charms woven in and some had glitter haloing all the edges. They were all pale copies of Merrill, the original, but they were also all unique in some way. It was not an unusual sight if you ever even heard of Merrill, let alone be enough of a fan to see her live. Clearly, these women, and one man, had taken considerable time and care to perfect the look to just so.
The stage itself was rather bare. There was a stool and a microphone center stage, presumably for Merrill. There were two barber chairs with spots shining directly on them. It made little sense. but Merrill's agenda always became clear shortly after the music began.
The venue went dark and in a flash, there was the warming vibration of Flamenco guitar. The light that came on was focused in such a way that the only thing you could see was the guitar, seemingly playing itself. We all knew this was Merrill, but it was interesting to not see her and it was quite apparent she did not yet want to be seen. Merrill played with vibrance, sound gathering momentum and volume enough to silence everything else in the room.
The spot shone blue and the whispering began. "Do you still pledge to me your undying allegience?"
There was a moment of silence and the crowd then went wild whooping yeses all around. The spot then went green over the two barber chairs, all else black. Merrill whispers again. "She who offers herself unyielding shall be the first of the reincarnation."
Merrill's spotlight was slightly broader now revealing her guitar, which she had begun softly playing again, and a bit of her midsection which was bare. There was suddenly a flash of light and a lone violin joined Merrill on guitar. She too was mostly in shadow, but her violin shone in a purple light. There was someone standing behind her whispering, "We're waiting...for the honest few...were waiting...for the light anew..." It was chanted again and again in a pleasing rhythm.
Merrill was steadily playing accompanied by the violin and subtly, they were joined by an upright bass in its own pale lime light. The chanting grew louder. "We're waiting..." The spots on the chairs shifted toward the shadows of the two people standing behind the musicians. The light on them was deep fiery red. It was bright enough to tell they were completely vinyl clad from head to toe. "For the honest few..." Their hands were clasped behind their backs and it was obvious they were holding something. "We're waiting..."
One of the mermaids suddenly walked onto the stage and took a seat in the barber chair. The vinyl clad woman walked to the chair and draped her in cloth in the most gentle fashion. "For the light anew..."
Merrill began singing the chant softly and there was a choice to either pay attention to the lyrics or to watch the action on stage. It really was impossible to do both. Tears were streming down the mermaid's face as the vinyl clad soldier brought forward a gleaming pair of industrial clippers.
Merrill was singing to sooth the mermaid.
"You've taken the steps across the stage
a second verse of your solemn vow
in blinding light it's clear to see
the clippers on your path to me..."
The mermaid is talking to herself inside her head. The barber chair is here for a reason. There are clippers sparkling clear. I can deny her nothing...
There is a building frenzy in the music. By now, other instruments have been unveiled. There is a teal blue glow surrounding a field of flutes. Forest greens shroud the cellos softly adding their harmonious hum. Merrill's guitar is still awash in cerulian blue as the spot, widened a bit farther, reveals brilliantly sequined breasts covered, yet displayed.
The sight of Merril's breasts indicated to a second mermaid that it would be safe to journey across the stage. As if on cue, the second vinyl clad henchwoman came to the edge of the stage and offered the mermaid her hand in reassurance. The school of mermaids surrounding number two helped to launch her onto the stage. By this time, the devout mermaid fans were struggling internally, afraid to be left behind in whatever Merrill had in store.
There was a jump from the seated mermaids as the roar of the industrial clippers, magnified through the venue's sound system, flooded the room. Nothing else could be heard and it was reminiscent of the waterfall pooling into the lake from which they all seemingly sprang forth.
The only visible light was a warm orange glow, its center that of blood oranges, its edges that of lemon chiffon. The fiery red mermaid's hair was ablaze under its glaring enhancement. Suddenly, the mermaid's streaming faces were joined by the diamond brilliance of gleaming clippers. Nothing else was visible, but the roaring of the clippers was mounting and the presence of the vinylclad cutters was assured as they swayed in and out of the shadows.
There was a sudden and instant shift when the clippers became silent and the guitar again began. Merrill was soothing the mermaids with echoes of steadying words cadenced softly beneath the lyrical notes of her guitar. As the synchronized gleaming clippers approached the mermaids' mane-ish halos Merrill was whispering "A light anew is shining through..."
With the first tremendous arc of the clippers, hair was removed from in front of the left ear to the right nape the movement was graceful and smooth. There was no wincing from the mermaids. They were ready to serve and deny Merrill nothing.
Merrill was meanwhile singing of liberation. Of freedom from binding ties. Of tranquility. Of peace. The deep blue spotlight had begun to fade lighter, still blue, but widening nearly imperceptibly. As the second arc of the clippers began traversing the mermaids' skulls in mirrored reverse, Merrill stepped forward into the light revealing her own bald dome.
The mermaids' bowed heads began to lift and there were radiant smiles gleaming in the now lemony light. The light had faded as the hair had fallen. Their scalps had been dusted with glittery fairy dust. the drapes were removed and the vinylclad women ushered them toward Merrill. She kept playing giving each a soft kiss on their forehead.
Merrill knew her audience. As the full stage lights came up, a row of chairs, each with their own vinyl clad shearer were revealed. The remaining mermaids all had a place to sit where their manes were sheared with synchronous precision. They were dusted and lined up awaiting Merrills kiss as the close of the first act of the evening began.
Saturday, May 20, 2006
it's so gay back before
I decided to make a gay bowling bag purse. It's just *so* gay. I used Lambs Pride Bulky in red, orange, yellow, blue, green, and purple with charcoal for the gusset.
I knit it up on US 15 needles and my pre-felting dimensions were 22 inches across the bottom and 16 inches up the middle. It took 1 1/2 wash cycles and it felted shorter on length than width. It is rather more carpet bag squatty than it is bowling baggish, but I think I am liking it. It is currently blocking on two boxes of Tazo chai. I am trying to get nice crisp edges. I will shave it and take after pics when it is done drying. I am thinking leather strap handles.
You know you want one Wendy!!
I knit it up on US 15 needles and my pre-felting dimensions were 22 inches across the bottom and 16 inches up the middle. It took 1 1/2 wash cycles and it felted shorter on length than width. It is rather more carpet bag squatty than it is bowling baggish, but I think I am liking it. It is currently blocking on two boxes of Tazo chai. I am trying to get nice crisp edges. I will shave it and take after pics when it is done drying. I am thinking leather strap handles.
You know you want one Wendy!!
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Happy Mother's Day
Of course, I will call my mother, and I am sure, sorta, that my boys will call me, but I still figure it doesn't hurt to put it out there.
On Thursday, I realized it was my brother's birthday. I meanty to put that out here when I got home from work, but that the Goddess of Chinese Food distracted me and I am just now remembering.
Happy Birthday to my brother David. He just turned 53 and that means he is really old. The last time I spoke to him was in 1980 during the winter olympics. He and his girlfriend (or wife?) came up to the mountains for about a day and they dropped off their daughter Barbara who was a baby then. David said "Hey kid."
Did he not remember my name? Who knows.
There isn't any animosity or drama, at least none I am aware of, we just weren't raiased together. My mom was married before she married my dad, and when she and her first hubbo divorced the kids went with him. I know that was an odd occurence 45 or so years ago, but don't ask don't tell seems to be the method in my family, so I really know nothing of the circumstances.
So Happy Day all around. I want some Italian Toast.
On Thursday, I realized it was my brother's birthday. I meanty to put that out here when I got home from work, but that the Goddess of Chinese Food distracted me and I am just now remembering.
Happy Birthday to my brother David. He just turned 53 and that means he is really old. The last time I spoke to him was in 1980 during the winter olympics. He and his girlfriend (or wife?) came up to the mountains for about a day and they dropped off their daughter Barbara who was a baby then. David said "Hey kid."
Did he not remember my name? Who knows.
There isn't any animosity or drama, at least none I am aware of, we just weren't raiased together. My mom was married before she married my dad, and when she and her first hubbo divorced the kids went with him. I know that was an odd occurence 45 or so years ago, but don't ask don't tell seems to be the method in my family, so I really know nothing of the circumstances.
So Happy Day all around. I want some Italian Toast.
Friday, May 12, 2006
But is it a good thing?
It's a given that the proper ratio of cream cheese to crab, whether real crab or faux, can only be obtained when I make the crab puffs myself at home. PF Chang's comes damn close, but afterall, it's PF Chang's and one would expect this as well as expecting a hefty bill at the end of the divine meal.
One of my coworkers was recently mentioning how they always have a good meal from North China. I was skeptical because I already have a favorite place for Chinese food, and that would be Ambassador. It has been a fixture in Houston more than 25 years and Wendy the owner always recognizes us, and the grrls who work there always know our order before we even sit down. But, it isn't close to home. It isn't terribly far, but it certainly isn't close enough for take-out.
Dear Sweet Elizabeth has been working overtime this week in the driveway to get the car done enough for the Art Car Parade tomorrow. The car is looking spectacular given how brilliant she is, so yesterday, in support of her needing to paint more, I offered to stop by North China on the way home from work. It is actually on the way and I work just a mile from home, so it seemed the least I could do. I ordered shrimp friend rice, sesame chicken, egg rolls, and crab puffs. A good time was had by all. Tres. Yumm.
Of course I forgot about the leftovers when I came home for lunch and E had some when she got home from work, saving some for me. I knew that I wanted more of those cheesy crab puffs and mentioned that I would likely go get some once I detoxed off work a bit.
Good Chinese take out. Close to home. Maybe I just need to eat my next ten meals from there and get it out of my system.
One of my coworkers was recently mentioning how they always have a good meal from North China. I was skeptical because I already have a favorite place for Chinese food, and that would be Ambassador. It has been a fixture in Houston more than 25 years and Wendy the owner always recognizes us, and the grrls who work there always know our order before we even sit down. But, it isn't close to home. It isn't terribly far, but it certainly isn't close enough for take-out.
Dear Sweet Elizabeth has been working overtime this week in the driveway to get the car done enough for the Art Car Parade tomorrow. The car is looking spectacular given how brilliant she is, so yesterday, in support of her needing to paint more, I offered to stop by North China on the way home from work. It is actually on the way and I work just a mile from home, so it seemed the least I could do. I ordered shrimp friend rice, sesame chicken, egg rolls, and crab puffs. A good time was had by all. Tres. Yumm.
Of course I forgot about the leftovers when I came home for lunch and E had some when she got home from work, saving some for me. I knew that I wanted more of those cheesy crab puffs and mentioned that I would likely go get some once I detoxed off work a bit.
Good Chinese take out. Close to home. Maybe I just need to eat my next ten meals from there and get it out of my system.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
o...mi...god...
lesbians unite. It appears the universe is cooperating and there will be a convergence of lesbians. In NYC. At the W Tuscany.
Woo. Are *you* going to dare miss this event?
Woo. Are *you* going to dare miss this event?
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
and then Steven Segal said...
"Crack smoking mother lover....
AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA...
When flipping channels because there is absolutely nothing on, how can you pass up watching the scifi channel long enough to see what movie this is? I don't think I have ever seen SS with a cajun accent. At least I think it was cajun.
PS...his lips weren't saying lover...
Now onto the real reason for posting...Kimi Rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Did anyone ever doubt this? Really? I got a book from her in the mail today. Not for any reason. She was browsing at B and N and thought it was cute. Does Kimi knit? Ummm, no. Does she love me? Absofuckinglutely.
As a result of this blog, comes this book
Long live bestest friends!!
AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA...
When flipping channels because there is absolutely nothing on, how can you pass up watching the scifi channel long enough to see what movie this is? I don't think I have ever seen SS with a cajun accent. At least I think it was cajun.
PS...his lips weren't saying lover...
Now onto the real reason for posting...Kimi Rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Did anyone ever doubt this? Really? I got a book from her in the mail today. Not for any reason. She was browsing at B and N and thought it was cute. Does Kimi knit? Ummm, no. Does she love me? Absofuckinglutely.
As a result of this blog, comes this book
Long live bestest friends!!
Saturday, May 06, 2006
bead store galore
While in DC yesterday we went to the Phillps collectionto see some great works, then we went on to Mimi'sFor dinner where the fried calamari was just right.
We finished up to this point ahead of schedule, so we had some time to kill before seeeing "On the Verge" at Arena Stage which was funny, but a little long for my liking.
To kill time we walked back through DuPont Circle and checked out a few shops. E saw an art opening which she and her bro and sis-in-law checked out but the niece and I went straight to Beadazzled.
More later.
We finished up to this point ahead of schedule, so we had some time to kill before seeeing "On the Verge" at Arena Stage which was funny, but a little long for my liking.
To kill time we walked back through DuPont Circle and checked out a few shops. E saw an art opening which she and her bro and sis-in-law checked out but the niece and I went straight to Beadazzled.
More later.
Friday, May 05, 2006
It's vacation, she could blog if she wants to, blog if she wants to, blog if she wants to...
What a long day it was yesterday. Up at 5 am to make a 730 flight (I stepped onto the plane at 720!) then off to Philly for lunch, a cheesesteak, of course. We went to the Reading Terminal Market and after eating we walked around the place a bit. Back in the corner is a little snacky gifty place and I discovered insane genius.
Marshmallow peeps dipped in milk chocolate. It was really stupid of me not to but all of them. I should have known they would be just about perfect. They had a nice thick coating of creamy milk chocolate leaving just their little peep heads exposed. They have to be able to breathe, you know. And yes, I typed it right, had. I got 2 packs of 2 as they were post Easter buy 1, get 1 free. The possibilities of how good they were going to be distracted me from the inherant reality of knowing I should buy them all.
There was an ice cream plave and I got a mocha mudslide which was good in a cloyingly sweet kinda way. We drank about half of that on the way back to the car. We also bought some other small stuff, some high fiber low salt Pennsylvania Dutch pretzels for my dad, some choc dipped pretzels for our hosts, and some treats for the doggy doggs who own their house.
We would have bought some jewelry if the woman in the shop had acknowledged our presence, but she was intent on the man who was just looking and ended up walking away with nothing. All she needed to do was say she would be with us shortly and I woulda bought some new dykish earrings. Too bad for her.
Then we were off in the car and headed to VA. Nice drive, even if the car has previously been rented to a cigar smoker. There is a barely there remnant smell that most people would not even notice, I was actually glad for my sinuses acclimating to the new allergens assaulting my nose.
We got here at about 530 and sat on the deck drinking a few beers. There were lovingly prepared ribs for dinner, and we had a solo performance on guitar as we retired to the parlor. Talktalktalk til nearly midnight and time to hit the hay. I think all in all it was a lovely day of detoxing from work chaos.
As I left work on Wednesday, one of my coworkers asked when I would be back. I told them very seriously I wouldn't be coming back, I'd be hitting a lottery while away. Never looked back. Never cracked a smile.
Bought the winning ticket yesterday.
Marshmallow peeps dipped in milk chocolate. It was really stupid of me not to but all of them. I should have known they would be just about perfect. They had a nice thick coating of creamy milk chocolate leaving just their little peep heads exposed. They have to be able to breathe, you know. And yes, I typed it right, had. I got 2 packs of 2 as they were post Easter buy 1, get 1 free. The possibilities of how good they were going to be distracted me from the inherant reality of knowing I should buy them all.
There was an ice cream plave and I got a mocha mudslide which was good in a cloyingly sweet kinda way. We drank about half of that on the way back to the car. We also bought some other small stuff, some high fiber low salt Pennsylvania Dutch pretzels for my dad, some choc dipped pretzels for our hosts, and some treats for the doggy doggs who own their house.
We would have bought some jewelry if the woman in the shop had acknowledged our presence, but she was intent on the man who was just looking and ended up walking away with nothing. All she needed to do was say she would be with us shortly and I woulda bought some new dykish earrings. Too bad for her.
Then we were off in the car and headed to VA. Nice drive, even if the car has previously been rented to a cigar smoker. There is a barely there remnant smell that most people would not even notice, I was actually glad for my sinuses acclimating to the new allergens assaulting my nose.
We got here at about 530 and sat on the deck drinking a few beers. There were lovingly prepared ribs for dinner, and we had a solo performance on guitar as we retired to the parlor. Talktalktalk til nearly midnight and time to hit the hay. I think all in all it was a lovely day of detoxing from work chaos.
As I left work on Wednesday, one of my coworkers asked when I would be back. I told them very seriously I wouldn't be coming back, I'd be hitting a lottery while away. Never looked back. Never cracked a smile.
Bought the winning ticket yesterday.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
second pair
Oh, she needs a mate... I just finished the first sock of the second pair.
Gawjuss!
Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn in "Earth" on US2.
Size 2 needles are really small. They might as well be toothpicks. Really. I am concerned that when I attempt size 1 or even 0, that I might snap them while knitting.
I am *that* strong.
Gawjuss!
Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn in "Earth" on US2.
Size 2 needles are really small. They might as well be toothpicks. Really. I am concerned that when I attempt size 1 or even 0, that I might snap them while knitting.
I am *that* strong.
first pair
I am finally getting around to posting the first pair of socks I did for Dear Sweet Elizabeth. She has yet to wear them, it *is* a little hot in Houston for wool at the moment, but they were finished more than a month ago.
Not too shabby. Online sock yarn on a US3 needle.
Not too shabby. Online sock yarn on a US3 needle.
cute grrl purse
The latest in cute grrl fashion. just big enough for a small wallet and a cell phone.
Woo!
Woo!
Sunday, April 23, 2006
samf
My wasband is such a sorry ass mother fucker. For the past month or so, every day, I have been trying to call him to ask him about our son. Does he ever pick up? does he ever call back? Fuck, no.
So I am talking to my dear youngest and he is chatting away like normal...then it comes. I hear his dad in the background saying you need to tell your mother. Apparently he got in trouble yesterday. Big trouble. His father had to pick him up from being detained by the police. He had seeds in his pocket...those kind of seeds...so cut the dancing around it conversation we had short and then dad gets on the phone.
I hate him. I really have a hard time saying I hate this man who I was at one time happily married to, but having an affair changed him and I fucking hate the man he has become since. Can he call me back ever? No. Not until our son is in trouble and he will need help paying for a lawyer. I think I set the record for hang ups today as I hung up on him 13 times. Each time hating him more. I know I could have not answered my phone, but then I would have to listen to his voice on my voice mail and that always makes me hate him more than trying to finish the conversation in the first place.
Each time he would raise his voice or cuss or start telling me what I had to do, click. Then he told me if I hung up again, he would end up having to sue me for help paying the lawyer and for child support too. Click. He really infuriates me. Naturally, I got in the part about how he is not supervising our son enough, and reminded him he never paid child support when connor was living here, and how he demanded his son live with him and I graciously allowed it.
Did I mention that I fucking hate him?
After about the 12th hang up, I told him before hanging up on him that I wasn't in a position to handle the stress he was causing, and that would he please calm the fuck down and call me back when he was behaving more rationally and when he could speak to his son's mother with the courtesy and respect that she deserves. Click.
You know that the phone rang again right away. And I answered. I fucking hate him. And I really hate that he made me cry today and that means in some way he won some small victory. But then I got him. He was babbling on and on about how it isn't his problem that I don't have any savings( which I do) or that there isn't any money because we have been remodeling...he was reaching psycho mode in his rant, the clue being that he was mis-stating the facts I had recited to him, jumbling them all up sort of, and some of them were outright lies if not subtle fabrications. I hate him, afterall, so I was somewhere beyond giving a shit.
I asked him if he would take a breath. While he did that, I told him he missed the comment I made about the cost of my medication. Then I said the stress was bad for my disease. He asked for clarification but was pretty instantly deflated. And I was able to stop short of reminding himhow the soft sounds of my phone voice make his dick hard.
I still fucking hate him. but at least he will be calm when he calls me back after consulting with a lawyer.
So I am talking to my dear youngest and he is chatting away like normal...then it comes. I hear his dad in the background saying you need to tell your mother. Apparently he got in trouble yesterday. Big trouble. His father had to pick him up from being detained by the police. He had seeds in his pocket...those kind of seeds...so cut the dancing around it conversation we had short and then dad gets on the phone.
I hate him. I really have a hard time saying I hate this man who I was at one time happily married to, but having an affair changed him and I fucking hate the man he has become since. Can he call me back ever? No. Not until our son is in trouble and he will need help paying for a lawyer. I think I set the record for hang ups today as I hung up on him 13 times. Each time hating him more. I know I could have not answered my phone, but then I would have to listen to his voice on my voice mail and that always makes me hate him more than trying to finish the conversation in the first place.
Each time he would raise his voice or cuss or start telling me what I had to do, click. Then he told me if I hung up again, he would end up having to sue me for help paying the lawyer and for child support too. Click. He really infuriates me. Naturally, I got in the part about how he is not supervising our son enough, and reminded him he never paid child support when connor was living here, and how he demanded his son live with him and I graciously allowed it.
Did I mention that I fucking hate him?
After about the 12th hang up, I told him before hanging up on him that I wasn't in a position to handle the stress he was causing, and that would he please calm the fuck down and call me back when he was behaving more rationally and when he could speak to his son's mother with the courtesy and respect that she deserves. Click.
You know that the phone rang again right away. And I answered. I fucking hate him. And I really hate that he made me cry today and that means in some way he won some small victory. But then I got him. He was babbling on and on about how it isn't his problem that I don't have any savings( which I do) or that there isn't any money because we have been remodeling...he was reaching psycho mode in his rant, the clue being that he was mis-stating the facts I had recited to him, jumbling them all up sort of, and some of them were outright lies if not subtle fabrications. I hate him, afterall, so I was somewhere beyond giving a shit.
I asked him if he would take a breath. While he did that, I told him he missed the comment I made about the cost of my medication. Then I said the stress was bad for my disease. He asked for clarification but was pretty instantly deflated. And I was able to stop short of reminding himhow the soft sounds of my phone voice make his dick hard.
I still fucking hate him. but at least he will be calm when he calls me back after consulting with a lawyer.
Friday, April 21, 2006
The first time I kissed you I lost my legs...
That title is my new favorite inspired and profound lyric of the moment. Just so you know.
Another favorite, I just heard on the way home and I almost text messaged it to my wasband...If I ever sit to write the story I'll say something nice about you when you're dead...one more beer at the continental club and I just might have done it.
It is always interesting to go to the continental club. On Friday nights they have a house band of sorts, Molly and the Ringwalds, an 80s cover band. If you haven't guessed, it is a bit of an older crowd. mostly 30 and 40 somethings. always good for a few beers. I actually knew every song they played tonight. the interest comes in when one of the songs they play take sme to a persp, place, or time I haven't thought about in a long while. Tonight there were two episodes.
They played I want you to want me and i was thinking of my crappy first apartment in Norfolk and this neighbor I had there named Kurt. He was a geeky white boy with a bit of the brother vibe going on, but he really had a thing for Cheap Trick. I haven't thought about him since I moved from that apartment and that was in 1988.
Then they played Crazy Train and i though about my first real boyfriend, Michael. We were an item from about summer 1980 t0 82 I guess, though Michael was from Montreal so it was more a summer thing. I always remember him fondly and he is one of the people from my past I wish I was still friendly with.
Anyway, she who is dear *and* sweet has as of now been gone too long. Three nights apart is the general rule and while I wish her to have a good time with Aunt Pat, she better not be getting kicked out of any pubs without me.
Tomorrow night I am going on the tattoo parlor prowl. I heard we have a new chick in town at one of the studios and it might just be time.
Another favorite, I just heard on the way home and I almost text messaged it to my wasband...If I ever sit to write the story I'll say something nice about you when you're dead...one more beer at the continental club and I just might have done it.
It is always interesting to go to the continental club. On Friday nights they have a house band of sorts, Molly and the Ringwalds, an 80s cover band. If you haven't guessed, it is a bit of an older crowd. mostly 30 and 40 somethings. always good for a few beers. I actually knew every song they played tonight. the interest comes in when one of the songs they play take sme to a persp, place, or time I haven't thought about in a long while. Tonight there were two episodes.
They played I want you to want me and i was thinking of my crappy first apartment in Norfolk and this neighbor I had there named Kurt. He was a geeky white boy with a bit of the brother vibe going on, but he really had a thing for Cheap Trick. I haven't thought about him since I moved from that apartment and that was in 1988.
Then they played Crazy Train and i though about my first real boyfriend, Michael. We were an item from about summer 1980 t0 82 I guess, though Michael was from Montreal so it was more a summer thing. I always remember him fondly and he is one of the people from my past I wish I was still friendly with.
Anyway, she who is dear *and* sweet has as of now been gone too long. Three nights apart is the general rule and while I wish her to have a good time with Aunt Pat, she better not be getting kicked out of any pubs without me.
Tomorrow night I am going on the tattoo parlor prowl. I heard we have a new chick in town at one of the studios and it might just be time.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
and her jaw became unhinged
When will my coworkers learn that if they ask me something they are going to get an answer whether it is what they want to hear or not?
On Friday, one of them asked me, "Well what are you gals doing for easter?"
I thought about just saying nothing. Or answering that we were doing nothing. My response was actually pretty gentle, for me, but there is every possibility that she will not be enjoying her easter ham because her jaw is still hanging unhingerd.
I told her "Well, since you asked, we aren't christian, so we wont be doing anything 'for easter', but on Sunday, we are taking a ride up to Chappell Hill to see the wild flowers and have a picnic somewhere along the way."
After she realized her jaw was unhinged and walked away, another coworker asked, "Doesn't she get it? Rothman? Jewish name?"
I really have some dim bulbs iin the box.
So we went to Eatzi's last nightand got some things for our picnic today. There is curry chicken pasta salas, sesame chicken tenders, pesto parmesan couscous, cilantro shrimp pasta salad, hummus, sundried tomato bread with cheese, and a couple of cookies for dessert, chocolate chip with pecan (not as good as mine) for me, and peanut butter for e.
I left my meditation cushion at the retreat center last weekend, so we are going out that way to pick it up, The wildflowers are in bloom, so that will be a pleasant diversion. Almost as pleasant as the company.
On Friday, one of them asked me, "Well what are you gals doing for easter?"
I thought about just saying nothing. Or answering that we were doing nothing. My response was actually pretty gentle, for me, but there is every possibility that she will not be enjoying her easter ham because her jaw is still hanging unhingerd.
I told her "Well, since you asked, we aren't christian, so we wont be doing anything 'for easter', but on Sunday, we are taking a ride up to Chappell Hill to see the wild flowers and have a picnic somewhere along the way."
After she realized her jaw was unhinged and walked away, another coworker asked, "Doesn't she get it? Rothman? Jewish name?"
I really have some dim bulbs iin the box.
So we went to Eatzi's last nightand got some things for our picnic today. There is curry chicken pasta salas, sesame chicken tenders, pesto parmesan couscous, cilantro shrimp pasta salad, hummus, sundried tomato bread with cheese, and a couple of cookies for dessert, chocolate chip with pecan (not as good as mine) for me, and peanut butter for e.
I left my meditation cushion at the retreat center last weekend, so we are going out that way to pick it up, The wildflowers are in bloom, so that will be a pleasant diversion. Almost as pleasant as the company.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
the weekend
The retreat I attended was interesting. An odd amalgam of yoga and writing. With Charles, yoga is never just yoga. I have had a trying disease flair since the beginning of March or maybe even the end of February, so I participated in some of the yoga, but not all, half being a conservative estimate. Charles practices a gentle enough style of yoga to suit me well, but the bending and stretching is not conducive to an intestinal disorder.
The writing was by AWA process and guidelines which were not completely spelled out for those of us unfamiliar with that. The short list includes giving a prompt, writing for a set length of time, usually 10-30 minutes, reading to the group, and then receiving positive feedback. "What worked for you in this piece? What stays with you?"
On Friday morning we did the 1,2 numbering off to separate into groups for the reading and feedback. I saw it happening as we went around the table. 15 of us, 10 women and 5 men, and I was to be in a group that included all 5 men. I was comfortable enough with the group to let it play out, but I really should have spoken up and asked to be in the other group. The all women group.
We did our timed writing and the groups met. Me, two other women, and the men. Have I mentioned there were 5 of them??? They were not crazy macho, thank the little baby jesus (trademark DSE)but 5 men. It was to be my challenge. The Universe was challenging me. There was a reason and I just need be patient enough to let it unfold before me.
I hated it.
The writing I did was good. The feedback I received was both encouraging and helpful. The men were interesting and well written.
I still hated it. Being in a room with 5 men and being forced to pay attention and respond was so far beyond my daily (or weekly, monthly or yearly) experience. I had no frame of reference. The last time this was in play it was because I was dating them. (not these 5 mind you) and I commanded their attention in a much different fashion. It was terrible and I had to pay attention. I had to interact with them. And there was another group across the way that was only women and I was missing something!
This really set the tone for the entire weekend for me. After dinner on Friday I opted out of the yoga/writing session and went to bed early. "Aren't you afraid you might miss something?" One of the women really wanted a serious answer. I told her that I already had missed it that morning by not being in the group of women, so there was nothing really left to miss.
Our groups changed with each exercise so I wasn't stuck with the men in the same configuration all weekend, but after Friday morning, each exercise was a decision to stay or go home. I missed Elizabeth. I missed the yappy ones. I just wanted to go home.
Regardless of all that homesick BS, I still had a good time and managed some interesting writing. One piece in particular I am going to clean up a little and post soon. I was cracking myself up. I am intrigued by Merrill, the main character. She might be going somewhere further. She might become part of Alex. Who knows.
I am certainly glad to be home.I left the retreat before lunch on Sunday missing the last exercise and closing circle. I guess it was around 12 rather than 3 or 4. I got an email from one of the other Houston women that I had left my cushion and yoga mat and she had them. We are going to meet for lunch at Eatzi.s on Monday. There will be a CD of pics available soon from one woman who was camera happy all weekend. Yi. pee.
The writing was by AWA process and guidelines which were not completely spelled out for those of us unfamiliar with that. The short list includes giving a prompt, writing for a set length of time, usually 10-30 minutes, reading to the group, and then receiving positive feedback. "What worked for you in this piece? What stays with you?"
On Friday morning we did the 1,2 numbering off to separate into groups for the reading and feedback. I saw it happening as we went around the table. 15 of us, 10 women and 5 men, and I was to be in a group that included all 5 men. I was comfortable enough with the group to let it play out, but I really should have spoken up and asked to be in the other group. The all women group.
We did our timed writing and the groups met. Me, two other women, and the men. Have I mentioned there were 5 of them??? They were not crazy macho, thank the little baby jesus (trademark DSE)but 5 men. It was to be my challenge. The Universe was challenging me. There was a reason and I just need be patient enough to let it unfold before me.
I hated it.
The writing I did was good. The feedback I received was both encouraging and helpful. The men were interesting and well written.
I still hated it. Being in a room with 5 men and being forced to pay attention and respond was so far beyond my daily (or weekly, monthly or yearly) experience. I had no frame of reference. The last time this was in play it was because I was dating them. (not these 5 mind you) and I commanded their attention in a much different fashion. It was terrible and I had to pay attention. I had to interact with them. And there was another group across the way that was only women and I was missing something!
This really set the tone for the entire weekend for me. After dinner on Friday I opted out of the yoga/writing session and went to bed early. "Aren't you afraid you might miss something?" One of the women really wanted a serious answer. I told her that I already had missed it that morning by not being in the group of women, so there was nothing really left to miss.
Our groups changed with each exercise so I wasn't stuck with the men in the same configuration all weekend, but after Friday morning, each exercise was a decision to stay or go home. I missed Elizabeth. I missed the yappy ones. I just wanted to go home.
Regardless of all that homesick BS, I still had a good time and managed some interesting writing. One piece in particular I am going to clean up a little and post soon. I was cracking myself up. I am intrigued by Merrill, the main character. She might be going somewhere further. She might become part of Alex. Who knows.
I am certainly glad to be home.I left the retreat before lunch on Sunday missing the last exercise and closing circle. I guess it was around 12 rather than 3 or 4. I got an email from one of the other Houston women that I had left my cushion and yoga mat and she had them. We are going to meet for lunch at Eatzi.s on Monday. There will be a CD of pics available soon from one woman who was camera happy all weekend. Yi. pee.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Less than eight hours to go
I will soon be on retreat. Does retreat begin and end when on the premises or do we include travel time? I am going to include travel time as part of the retreat for now, and if I am suffering through hellacious traffic, I might ammend this decision later. Afterall, it makes such an impact on the rest of my life. Not.
Chef Michel will be in attendance preparing vegetarian meals for the entire weekend. He really is good, and his meals will be a treat. I did a retreat at this place a few years ago with my friend Hitaji and Michel was wonderful. I could sit and listen to his stories of Picasso and France for the entire weekend. E's experience with him chefing was not as great, but I think the retreat host's budget might have affected that.
The yoga part of the retreat is under the guidance of Charles MacInerney. I have had one prior workshop with him and really enjoyed him and is teaching style. The writing portion of the retreat is with Patricia someone and I am too lazy to go look up her name. She and Charles have been working together for 8 or more years so I think it will be good.
No internet. Back after Sunday.
It's all good.
Chef Michel will be in attendance preparing vegetarian meals for the entire weekend. He really is good, and his meals will be a treat. I did a retreat at this place a few years ago with my friend Hitaji and Michel was wonderful. I could sit and listen to his stories of Picasso and France for the entire weekend. E's experience with him chefing was not as great, but I think the retreat host's budget might have affected that.
The yoga part of the retreat is under the guidance of Charles MacInerney. I have had one prior workshop with him and really enjoyed him and is teaching style. The writing portion of the retreat is with Patricia someone and I am too lazy to go look up her name. She and Charles have been working together for 8 or more years so I think it will be good.
No internet. Back after Sunday.
It's all good.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
You can still call me Grace
As I exited Starbucks this morning, ventieightpumphalfsoyhalfwholechaitealette in hand, I stepped on a table leveling screw that was on the sidewalk in my path. Of course I didn't see it until I was sprawled out having spilled my drink. I went inside for a drink replacement and saw my scrapes, no open bleeding or torn clothing. I am going to email them tonight requesting a gift card as compensation because the staff did not offer to do an incident report or even ask if I was ok. A small gc is adequate. I am not sure what is appropriate, but there should have been some show of concern as I go there nearly daily. Grace. Less.
Monday, April 03, 2006
bowls...
I measured my bowls before they went into the washer and then a swishing they went. Two trips through the washing machine later, they are shaped and drying on the counter.
I had E help me wind up the Cherry Tree Hill supersock yarn. I bought a skein of it after the dentist a few weeks back. I bought the "Earth" colorway which is browns and reds and oranges. I also got a set of size 2 DPNs and I am currently swatching it to get gauge for my second pair of socks for she who is dear *and* sweet.
The first pair of socks is made from Online sock yarn in blues with some olive and cream and black. It was self patterning and I will photograph them as soon as I wash them, which might be tonight. The first one I did is slightly larger than the second, but that might just be because it was tried on. Washing should bring it back and I will sw if they are closer after that.
Ramble. And ramble some more.
I am going to Margaret Austin Center on Thursday for a yoga and writing retreat with Charles MacInerney. I will be there through Sunday at 3 and I am going directly from work on Thursday at 4. Ideally, it will kick start renewed activity on both fronts.
I had E help me wind up the Cherry Tree Hill supersock yarn. I bought a skein of it after the dentist a few weeks back. I bought the "Earth" colorway which is browns and reds and oranges. I also got a set of size 2 DPNs and I am currently swatching it to get gauge for my second pair of socks for she who is dear *and* sweet.
The first pair of socks is made from Online sock yarn in blues with some olive and cream and black. It was self patterning and I will photograph them as soon as I wash them, which might be tonight. The first one I did is slightly larger than the second, but that might just be because it was tried on. Washing should bring it back and I will sw if they are closer after that.
Ramble. And ramble some more.
I am going to Margaret Austin Center on Thursday for a yoga and writing retreat with Charles MacInerney. I will be there through Sunday at 3 and I am going directly from work on Thursday at 4. Ideally, it will kick start renewed activity on both fronts.
Friday, March 31, 2006
One of my last good nerves...
I have two or three stylists who are my challenges. One today, after repeatedly being told by the manager to not talk to others' clients and to not discuss certain topics was overheard saying...
Stylist to other persons client: Well, my daddy would have never let me wear shorts like that.
Client to stylist who is 50something and being a busybody: Well, my daddy beat me and my mother shot him when I was 9 in defense of me. And I am 26 years old and grown wnough to decide for myself what I can or cannot wear. I am sorry you weren't so fortunate.
o.
mi.
god.
It's all good...
Stylist to other persons client: Well, my daddy would have never let me wear shorts like that.
Client to stylist who is 50something and being a busybody: Well, my daddy beat me and my mother shot him when I was 9 in defense of me. And I am 26 years old and grown wnough to decide for myself what I can or cannot wear. I am sorry you weren't so fortunate.
o.
mi.
god.
It's all good...
Elsewhere in felting land...
I made some bowls. This is the after pic of the first three. I forgot to take the brfore pic and measure before felting. It's all good.
I have some more that I did take a before pic of which I will post soon.
I have some more that I did take a before pic of which I will post soon.
laptop lady e finished
Now that she is finished, it appears the laptop might be too heavy for the strap...this leaves three options.
Design a new strap...
Use as is as a hoboish purse...
Repurpose her as E's traveling skettchbook companion...
Which do you *really* think will win out?
Design a new strap...
Use as is as a hoboish purse...
Repurpose her as E's traveling skettchbook companion...
Which do you *really* think will win out?
Monday, March 27, 2006
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
after
progress is being made with the laptop Lady E. I think one more trip through the washer is on the agenda.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Now I've done it...
I am so in trouble and really, it isn't my fault. A woman from PA, Loryi, had listed some yarns on the knitter's forum I frequent. All new, and name brands, smoke free pet free home, and at decent prices, below retail. I emailed her an offer for the lot of them and under what she was asking, and she agreed. They arrived today, woohoo, and all are ones I have not previously used. Woohoo.
I get to work today and one of my coworkers brought me a bag of yarn. I am just in trouble...
I am not going to think about it and just enjoy the yarn party. And eat my leftover CA Pixzza Kitchen pear and gorgonzola add bacon pizza for lunch while watching General Hospital before having to return to the chaos that is the salon today.
Later chicas.
I get to work today and one of my coworkers brought me a bag of yarn. I am just in trouble...
I am not going to think about it and just enjoy the yarn party. And eat my leftover CA Pixzza Kitchen pear and gorgonzola add bacon pizza for lunch while watching General Hospital before having to return to the chaos that is the salon today.
Later chicas.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
some progress
The laptop lady e inspired bag is nearly ready for felting. I am making some i-cord for handles and need to decide if I should attach them before or after felting.
Monday, March 13, 2006
Resisted no more...
I had to go back to the dentist this morning for him to seat my permanent crown. As reward when I survive a round at the dentist, since I am on the right side of town for it, I stop at Nancy Knits, a yarn store which is not my favorite, but has a different selection entirely than Yarns 2 Ewe. I was on a mission today to get some Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn to make my darling another pair of socks. The first pair came out looking like socks, but there is room for improvement. Nancy suggested to me that I use size 1 or 2 rather than size 3 needles, so I got a set of size 2 DPNs also.
From Nancy's I decided I wanted some breakfast form Empire Cafe. They serve breakfast until 11 and it was 10:20, so I gave E a call to confirm that my planned route would be the best choice. I made it in time to order Italian toast which is French toast made with a hearty rustic loaf of Italian style bread. Crusty enough that they serve it with a sharp knife. Two inch thick slices served covered in fresh mixed berries. Definitely yummy.
i had brought my laptop with me, but they did not have wireless so I did some file clean up and journaling and then dug in when my food arrived.
Upon my exit I decided it was time to hit More Than Paper... I have resisted this store, even going inside tosee what they have, for several years. Today was the day and the store is packed. With papers. And cards. And pens. And...stuff. I don't think I should be allowed in there unsupervised.
No more retail therapy!
From Nancy's I decided I wanted some breakfast form Empire Cafe. They serve breakfast until 11 and it was 10:20, so I gave E a call to confirm that my planned route would be the best choice. I made it in time to order Italian toast which is French toast made with a hearty rustic loaf of Italian style bread. Crusty enough that they serve it with a sharp knife. Two inch thick slices served covered in fresh mixed berries. Definitely yummy.
i had brought my laptop with me, but they did not have wireless so I did some file clean up and journaling and then dug in when my food arrived.
Upon my exit I decided it was time to hit More Than Paper... I have resisted this store, even going inside tosee what they have, for several years. Today was the day and the store is packed. With papers. And cards. And pens. And...stuff. I don't think I should be allowed in there unsupervised.
No more retail therapy!
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Laptop Lady Eleanor
Will it turn out right? Stay tuned...
I joined another blog, one for making bags. The March challenge is that the bag be felted and have something green attached or included somehow. I decided to felt a case for my laptop inspired by Lady Eleanor from "Scarf Style"
Go me.
I joined another blog, one for making bags. The March challenge is that the bag be felted and have something green attached or included somehow. I decided to felt a case for my laptop inspired by Lady Eleanor from "Scarf Style"
Go me.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
17 minutes Like The Way I Do
Oh.
Mi.
God.
OHMIGOD!!!!!! There was bull riding. There was barrel racing. There was a calf scramble. There was a barbie doll stunt rider. There was trained rescue dogs. Lots of cowboys wearing pink. And let us not forget, hot dogs, cheese fries and beer. And the ferris wheel, funnel cake and fun house.
And then, there was Melissa. I luv me some Melissa Etheridge. I think tonight was the sixth time I have seen her. MMMMHMMMM. I am really sorry that Sheryl Crow has to deal with breast cancer, and I wish that was not the reason that I got to see Me some more Mellssa, but Damn. Excellent. About an hour and 20 minutes of loud rocking Melissa. I love it when the music is so loud you can sing at the top of your lungs and not hear yourself.
Divine.
Mi.
God.
OHMIGOD!!!!!! There was bull riding. There was barrel racing. There was a calf scramble. There was a barbie doll stunt rider. There was trained rescue dogs. Lots of cowboys wearing pink. And let us not forget, hot dogs, cheese fries and beer. And the ferris wheel, funnel cake and fun house.
And then, there was Melissa. I luv me some Melissa Etheridge. I think tonight was the sixth time I have seen her. MMMMHMMMM. I am really sorry that Sheryl Crow has to deal with breast cancer, and I wish that was not the reason that I got to see Me some more Mellssa, but Damn. Excellent. About an hour and 20 minutes of loud rocking Melissa. I love it when the music is so loud you can sing at the top of your lungs and not hear yourself.
Divine.
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Concert season has begun
So Bonnie Raitt was totally awesome. It was at a venue that seats about 5000 and it was a sold out show. I can't do justice to the experience as there was a woman sitting behind us who just gave white trash an added dimension. Setting the stage for that particular bonus really is E's domain and I imagine she will be back soon enough to elaborate. The show was excellent and I almost lost my shirt. I mean really, how does that happen? I was holding my shirt and sweater all night on my lap and then after the first encore the couple to our right leave and as we shift our seats a little I think my tshirt is gone. I had just dropped it and it was dark, but it was a senior moment or something. I immediately thought about wrapping xmas presents and you sit down with paper, scissors, tape, pen, and tags only to have to get up each time you need something you know is already right there with you.
Anyway, on to the next show. One of E's reps at work asked her if she wanted any tickets to the rodeo. Most of the artists are country and simply not our thing, but Sheryl Crow was scheduled so she asked for those tix. Dee came through right away so we were set. If you haven't heard, Sheryl Crow is facing breast cancer and undergoing surgery right away so she has cancelled which is terrible news, but of course, there is a flip side. Melissa Etheridge is filling in. Goddess Time is in effect. The Universe is pleased with me.
Anyway, on to the next show. One of E's reps at work asked her if she wanted any tickets to the rodeo. Most of the artists are country and simply not our thing, but Sheryl Crow was scheduled so she asked for those tix. Dee came through right away so we were set. If you haven't heard, Sheryl Crow is facing breast cancer and undergoing surgery right away so she has cancelled which is terrible news, but of course, there is a flip side. Melissa Etheridge is filling in. Goddess Time is in effect. The Universe is pleased with me.
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Friday, February 24, 2006
Work in progress
I am currently working on creating a blanket for the bed. It is being done in a freeform fashion and I am winging it as I go with no pattern. I knit a little, then go block it (as seen in photo) and then decide where to take it next.
I am using Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool which is producing a lovely fabric. I actually have two more spikes done and I am not sure if I will continue with the sunburst feeling or get more geometrical with it. It might get blocked again tomorrow and a decision can then be made.
I am using Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool which is producing a lovely fabric. I actually have two more spikes done and I am not sure if I will continue with the sunburst feeling or get more geometrical with it. It might get blocked again tomorrow and a decision can then be made.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Save as Draft needs reminders
If you have never worked for a corporate entity, you might never understand the penney way(TPW). It is the corporate way. The structured way. The challenge to figuring out the penney way is in that a lot of policies are favored at the store manager's discretion.
My challenge is in leaving behind the ways of the store managers I have worked for previously and learning what the policies are specific to the new store. Fortunately, this is somewhat facilitated by having worked with my salon manager long enough that I know how she wants various things done or handled.
As to new stylists, we have many. The new salon is 22 stations. Current stylist count is 30 I think. 7 came with us from the last store I was at, so they are all up on TPW as Sharon likes it. There are then another 5 or so stylists who worked at Town and Country with Sharon and me 5 years ago,but went elsewhere when that location closed. They sort of remember how it used to be, but they need reminding and refreshing on all the things that have since changed.
There is a group that have migrated from Regis, maybe 7 or so and they are used to corporate structure to a point, but not used to working for as big a corporation, nor one that is as diverse. They are the younger stylists for the most part though not terribly young, maybe 28 to 45 with a few older. They are generally more computer savvy and have caught on to the program we use rather easily.
My problem children are all from a private salon where they were booth renters working for themselves. The problem part comes in because as booth renters, they can come and go as they pleased. If someone cancelled they could just leave. The draw for them to switch to TPW is that they get me to book and cash out all their appointments. They also gain benefits eligibility if they work enough hours.
There are a few stragglers here and there that have come in on their own to join the fold. All in all it is not too bad, but it is a lot of estrogen floating around with just a teensy bit of gay boy testosterone in the mix.
My biggest personal adjustment is still going from 25 hours to 40 and from 2 on 1 off 2 on 2 off to 5 days on. As long as I take my hour lunch and my two 15 minute breaks, I manage. I just don't like it, but in the name of benefits, I will eventually adjust.
My two part time receptionists are catching on, so it is getting better. I started this post at least a week ago and just now saw that it never got finished. As much as I hate it when my daily reads have not posted daily, I have lately been increasingly guilty of the same. I will try to get consistent again. Knitting updates soon!!
My challenge is in leaving behind the ways of the store managers I have worked for previously and learning what the policies are specific to the new store. Fortunately, this is somewhat facilitated by having worked with my salon manager long enough that I know how she wants various things done or handled.
As to new stylists, we have many. The new salon is 22 stations. Current stylist count is 30 I think. 7 came with us from the last store I was at, so they are all up on TPW as Sharon likes it. There are then another 5 or so stylists who worked at Town and Country with Sharon and me 5 years ago,but went elsewhere when that location closed. They sort of remember how it used to be, but they need reminding and refreshing on all the things that have since changed.
There is a group that have migrated from Regis, maybe 7 or so and they are used to corporate structure to a point, but not used to working for as big a corporation, nor one that is as diverse. They are the younger stylists for the most part though not terribly young, maybe 28 to 45 with a few older. They are generally more computer savvy and have caught on to the program we use rather easily.
My problem children are all from a private salon where they were booth renters working for themselves. The problem part comes in because as booth renters, they can come and go as they pleased. If someone cancelled they could just leave. The draw for them to switch to TPW is that they get me to book and cash out all their appointments. They also gain benefits eligibility if they work enough hours.
There are a few stragglers here and there that have come in on their own to join the fold. All in all it is not too bad, but it is a lot of estrogen floating around with just a teensy bit of gay boy testosterone in the mix.
My biggest personal adjustment is still going from 25 hours to 40 and from 2 on 1 off 2 on 2 off to 5 days on. As long as I take my hour lunch and my two 15 minute breaks, I manage. I just don't like it, but in the name of benefits, I will eventually adjust.
My two part time receptionists are catching on, so it is getting better. I started this post at least a week ago and just now saw that it never got finished. As much as I hate it when my daily reads have not posted daily, I have lately been increasingly guilty of the same. I will try to get consistent again. Knitting updates soon!!
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
general update
JCP opened on Sunday, the soft opening. Soft meaning unadvertised. Except, of course, for the several thousands of in home mailers sent to the general area. SO not only am I dealing with stylists who don't know 'the JCP way', but also customers too. A lot of them. Add a receptionist who needs total training.
When the receptionist trainee answered the phone, I knew she was talking because I saw her lips move, but I heard nothing. I might have to call when she next works to see if I can hear her.
The JCP 'new salon vision' calls for a reception area with no stool for the receptionist. Someone is on crack. My new schedule has me working 5 days straight. One day with no chair on hard floors is brutal. By day 5 I might want to be on crack.
It's all good.
When the receptionist trainee answered the phone, I knew she was talking because I saw her lips move, but I heard nothing. I might have to call when she next works to see if I can hear her.
The JCP 'new salon vision' calls for a reception area with no stool for the receptionist. Someone is on crack. My new schedule has me working 5 days straight. One day with no chair on hard floors is brutal. By day 5 I might want to be on crack.
It's all good.
Monday, February 06, 2006
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
My yarn stash...
is *so* in control compared to Drew.
I went to the yarn store and got something luscious today as a reward for enduring my trip to the dentist for cleaning. In a few weeks when I go back to turn an oooooooooooooooooold filling in a molar into a crown a will deserve a much bigger treat. Pics on the other blog as soon as I get to it with the new stuff. Actually sooner, maybe tonight because I am making some progress on my first sock.
I went to the yarn store and got something luscious today as a reward for enduring my trip to the dentist for cleaning. In a few weeks when I go back to turn an oooooooooooooooooold filling in a molar into a crown a will deserve a much bigger treat. Pics on the other blog as soon as I get to it with the new stuff. Actually sooner, maybe tonight because I am making some progress on my first sock.
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