Happy New Year?

I wanted to do a look back post - maybe after the new year when things are more settled. Hard to do from a phone ;)

Yesterday I got up at 4 am, out the door at 5 and at the hospital by 6. My brother-in-law had back surgery, some serious stuff. Things went very well. We are soooooo thankful. So many prayers went up and we are so very appreciative. 

Right after we got there, a family claimed the corner and I immediately became wary. My instincts were right- they were that loud group that had no consideration for anyone else. No effort to speak soft or not laugh so loud. We moved to try and distance ourselves but It didn't work. 

So we were with them from 6 am until 6:00 pm.  I know I wanted to cry at one point. Katie wanted to hit one girl. And she was really the ring leader - the family jester holding court. My mom, who is usually telling us to stop complaining, looked up and said - she talks non-stop. She never quits. Nope. About her job. Her husband cleaning out the car and not under the seats. How to clean out your car when you park at home. This great earring holder she found in the gift shop. It came in blue but she really wanted pink! And the rain boots were 25% off! 

Now I realize people handle stress in different ways. But seriously. I remember being in a waiting room and laughing in my normal obnoxious voice and my mother told me to tone it down. I learned from that and am concious of the grief and stress others are experiencing. 

Ok enough of that. So after talking to the dr, you feel better. And I liked this doc a lot. So we spoke to him at 1:15 and understood our boy could be in recovery for up to two hours. That would be 3:15. We waited. Yup. We waited. 

Eventually they tell us there is no rooms available and smuggle Katie back to prove Rog is ok but she can't stay. He's in an area where people are still coming out of surgery to recover. He is beyond this stage but stuck due to no rooms. Pre-op is also full with people waiting. 

6:00 pm we finally get a room! Hooray! I plan on checking into what the heck went wrong wih this back up. One of the nurses said they take all these last minute people trying to beat the insurance and don't consider how many beds they have. Grrrrrrr....

Anyway he's in a room. Hopefully last night went ok.  I thankfully talked to Donna the whole way home to stay awake. Got home, gave Macy a bath, ate and crashed. Soooo tired. 

And today, New Years Eve, I'm heading back up to check on the family and partying with the cutest two-year-old when I get home!!! :)

I'm sure you realize this is just a dump of all things yesterday. We are very blessed. There were things that could have gone wrong and God watched out for us. I prayed and prayed (along with lots of others) that He guide the surgeon's hands and be with all the medical personnel. So thankful. 

And I probably failed a Test of tolerance and love with that family. I guess y'all now know I'm not perfect. I do know at the end their person was doing ok but having a few issues. I hope he is doing well now. 

Ok y'all, let me get moving before I fall back asleep. Thanks for continued prayers. Recovery is going to be months. So please pray. And have a great ball drop tonight and celebrate a New Year! 

Friday's Letters

Dear blog, I'm sorry I've neglected you this week. I just haven't felt like writing. What is there to say? After the events of this week, I'm thankful for my many many blessings and sad at all the loss this nation has seen.  I'll do better next week.














Dear Carrie, Thanks for 1) the purchase from Pressed Clovers and 2) being my first blate! It was awesome meeting another blogger in my neck of the woods - you are a very cool cat.  We'll do it again and I won't talk so much. And we'll invite Paulene because ya'll need to meet, too!

Dear Family, I'm so happy I'm part of you.  It's awesome to see the love in my group of people.  I didn't get a picture this week of my brother and sister-in-law, but they are awesome, my sis, b-i-l, and two nieces are awesome. Mom and Dad - ya'll rock!

Dear Baby Jail, I'm so glad my sweet niece likes you.  You are making life much easier on my parents.  And thanks to my awesome friends Donna and Sister Beth for sending you our way. They saved us bunches of money that we would have spent buying you new.

Dear World, I know I've been grouchy this week. There is a lot going on, you just never know what all is happening in a person's life, you know?  There are many things that I need to work on to be a better person, to feel better about where I'm at in life.  I've debated back and forth on making them public or keeping them private. To share some of these struggles because I know we are all struggling.  I don't want to be one of those bloggers that looks perfect on the outside when it's falling to pieces on the inside! So I haven't decided, but stick with me anyway. At least you'll get weekly updates of Muffin if nothing else. :)

Ok, go join us on Sweet Season now!

S-i-c-k

Ya'll, I'm one sick southern girl. My face hurts, my eyes water, my nose is beyond nasty. I sneeze, I cough, I sleep lots and I can't taste or smell anything. I have shivers off and on and have walked around with tissue shoved up my nose part of the day. It's just easier.

I'm short, I feel like poo.

And I may have cracked a tooth. But I'm not sure if that's why my teeth hurt because that entire side of my face hurts.

Do you feel bad for me yet? I hope so. I need pity. :)

Thirty Things on Thursday - 11

Thirty Things on Thursday - Question 11: Describe 10 pet peeves you have.

1. Noise. No really, I'm loud and I understand other people are too, but noise really gets to me. 
2. People calling me Honey, Sugar, Darling, Sweetie... please stop. It really doesn't make me happy. 
3. Grocery store aisle hoggers. You know who I'm talking about, don't you?
4. Anyone making fun of Southerners. In person, in movies, in tv - this really pisses me off. 
5. People who call me closed minded for having a set of beliefs that I live my life by - even if I'm not perfect and I fail at it frequently.  The deal is - how are you not being closed minded by demanding I believe just like you? I won't push my beliefs on you and I expect you to have the same respect.  It doesn't mean I won't like you as a person,I  just won't agree with everything you believe in. (and you know what, it's ok. You don't believe everything I believe in, either, so aren't we kinda on the same page here? Maybe?) 
6. Know-it-alls. 
7. Please don't tell me how to run my life, what I should do, how I should do it. I'm ok, I'm a grown adult, I'm living all by myself and doing ok at it. I truly don't need you to tell me how to function in my day-to-day life. I'm good. Promise. 
8. My mouth. My very own mouth is my pet peeve because I talk too much. It gets me into trouble and if there is one thing I'm focused on changing right now, it would be that. 
9. Always negative and angry people.  There is no sunshine. All is gloom and doom. I've been this person before. And sometimes I slip back into being this person. And it's horrible. No one wants to be around this person and I don't like being that way... so I'm constantly making efforts to be positive and thankful. 
10. Jealousy.  We all experience it for more than just having someone looking at our significant others. I've had some folks jealous of my college degree. Or of my family-life. Or of my (fill in the blank here).  Try being happy for people instead....

And there you go. I'm sure I could find more... trust me. But there is a good start.  

Grouchy Bear.

In my old job, where I actually had an office with a door, occasionally I'd tape a sign to my door that had a fiercely growling bear and said, "Bethie is being a bear... you might want to just leave her alone today!" and I'd shut myself behind that closed door. I tried to save others the agony of dealing with me.

Here there is no door. We are all in one open room with no cubby walls, no protection from each others' moods. And let me tell you, I've been in one. GROUCHY. Like a bear with a sore paw. Like the Snow Monster in that old Rudolf movie that needs a tooth pulled by the dentist elf. GROUCHY.

So, I snapped my coworker's head off. Snapped it clean off. And she's the one that's always happy and I just flipped on her. So today, when we were the only two in the office, I had to apologize.  I was out-of-line and I really needed to make things right.

This Sunday the preacher really hit home on loving our neighbors like we'd want to be loved.  And I'm not showcasing that at all these days. So I'm praying - and hopefully will see a change in my grouchy levels soon!

Update on Meanie Usher Woman.

***** update to the update!!! I've received ANOTHER letter from the big dog in charge who is handling this issue!  This poor volunteer, she just doesn't know what's coming, does she? *****

I must give props to the company that meanie usher woman works for because they did what they could to make this right.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, visit the original post here. 

So, while I was still fired up, I typed up a letter and sent it to the parent company that owns the theater we were at when the incident happened. I went to their website and found the Operations Director, smacked a stamp on it and into the Postal System the letter went. 

After I sent it, I figured I might hear back, but I surely wasn't banking on it. Imagine my surprise to receive a phone call at about 6:30 p.m. the day the letter was received ... from the Operations Director herself!

She was SO nice, so incredibly apologetic, asking if there was anything she could do to make the situation right.  I wanted to make a point:  I'm not doing this for freebies, I want to see rude volunteers removed or retrained, so I didn't ask for any kind of reimbursement or whatnot. We laughed a lot and she apologized again before saying she would take this letter to her training manager, who had classes coming up very soon. 

It changed my entire attitude towards the company. She is a gem - I hope they work to keep her. I wish I could have found a manager that night because I believe that would have changed my attitude, too. And probably have gotten the rude lady removed from standing behind us, but it wasn't meant to be. And that's ok, too, because hopefully it will draw attention to an area that needs attention. :) 

YAY! I'm very much happier now that this is over and I've said my piece. *sigh*

Meanie Usher Woman

I don't typically complain too much on this blog. I figure you hear enough about it in your everyday life. However, I will mention this issue here, mainly because I'm still fired up about it and I can.

Donna and I went to see "Bring It On" the musical. Loved it! So much energy - how on earth can these people sing while being flipped in the air is beyond me, but that's another story. 

Donna and I arrive early to the theater, hanging out int he lobby until the doors opened to the theater. We head in and find our seats - awesome balcony box seats with only six seats - and four of them weren't sold. SCORE! We have the box to ourselves. 

I pull out my phone, begin taking pictures, uploading them to Facebook, emailing my mom, typical "I'M-SO-EXCITED-AND-WANT-TO-TELL-EVERYONE" kind of stuff. We weren't being loud or disruptive. The lights were up and everyone was just milling about, finding their seats or doing like me. 

Someone grabs my shoulder from behind (volunteer usher) and says in my ear, "You ARE going to turn that phone off when the play begins, right?" I look over my shoulder and say - "Yes ma'am." "And you WILL NOT take pictures when the play begins, RIGHT?"  "No ma'am, of course not." 

Ok, I'm not sure what caused her to single me out for a schooling on proper theater etiquette, however, she didn't feel the need to teach this lesson to anyone else in the theater that night. Why am I getting lectured on what to do when it begins? We are stilling in a fully-lighted room waiting for it to begin. 

The more we thought about this, the madder we got. Oh. My. Gosh. I was pissed by the time the lights did go down. I won't mention the second lady who grabbed my shoulder in an effort to prepare me for the beginning of the show.  UM... THE SHOW HASN'T STARTED.  And get your dang hands off of me! I don't even know what I said to her through the red fury that was shooting from the top of my head. Which I do regret losing my temper. :(  OH well. 

I did try to find a manager, but he couldn't be found by another volunteer usher... so I sent my letter of frustration to the company today. I'll let you know if they contact me for more information. 

Here is the thing: what was it about me that made me set alarms off in her mind? Was it that I didn't have expensive clothes on? I don't wear make up? I have a Southern accent? I'm not polished?  I don't know but whatever it is, she quickly identified me as a problem student and she cast herself in the role of disciplinarian teacher.  She literally stood within touching distance of us anytime the lights were up. It was bizarre. 

But I'm still SOOOOO glad I got to go, see the theater, see BRING IT ON! And have an adventure with Donna. I miss Donna adventures. When you grow up, adventures seem to decrease. so truly, meanie usher can't make our adventure any less wonderfully special. :) 

++++++++  Read the update to this blog entry here!!! +++++++++++
http://whiskeytangohello.blogspot.com/2012/04/update-on-meanie-usher-woman.html

Misconceptions of Strength

I am very baffled by people who simply cannot apologize. That is completely amazing to me. It's like somewhere along the line they have been taught one of two things:

1-Never admit you are wrong; it makes you look weak.

2-Never apologize; it gives someone else the power.

I know a girl who marches through life, barking out orders, acting like she is an expert in all things. Unfortunately, she is not.  She doesn't ask questions, she demands answers. And she never, ever apologizes for the mistakes she makes. It is so frustrating.

I knew another girl who was to be my mentor in one of my college jobs.  She informed me I should never ask permission - it gives someone else the power. I'll never forget that... but I don't really believe that.

I BELIEVE, a heartfelt, sincere apology is a enormous sign of strength.  It's much easier to deny there is a problem than it is to admit there is a problem and acknowledge your role in the problem. Then to take it a step further and ask for forgiveness for your part. Wow. That's tough stuff and very few people have this amount of strength.

And while I am frustrated dealing with this person in my life, I can't help but wonder what I didn't own up to myself?

Simple Words.



Buy your own plaque here.


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  - Jeremiah 29:11

Some days are difficult. Some days are trying, trying of my patience, my happiness, my goodwill towards others, my energy, my everything-that-is-good.  Just trying. Those days are tough to turn around and overcome to see a brighter side. And sometimes, it seems an entire row of these days stand in line to smack me backwards again and again until I wonder when it is going to end?

Then someone will give a positive comment or a word of encouragement. A note will come in the mail that lights up my world, or a simple stranger's compliment will beam like a ray of sunshine in the dark.  Those moments are more meaningful because they are so very needed at that point.

I think God brings those people and those moments to us.  He doesn't want me to be sad and down, but sometimes he uses that emotion to make me see Him again.  To remind me He has a plan for me, something greater than I can see with my limited human vision and it's a wonderful plan that is meant just for me, in a beautiful positive way.

An so while I am looking down at the ground with the ho-hum doldrums, God is sending people all along my path to remind me I'm a beautiful child of God! And maybe that isn't how they word it, but I am reminded all along of the special gifts God gave to me that impacts other people everyday. I'm a people person, generally friendly and I like to make people smile and laugh, I like making people feel special and appreciated, so forth and so on. When someone compliments me, they are really complimenting God... so it's a reminder to me as well, to look up and say, "Thanks!"

Happy Friday, friends, I hope you have a beautiful weekend and remember to show someone some love and appreciation. You never know how far it will carry them. :)

Rough Endings = Rough Beginnings.

When your week ends rough, it does not miraculously improve at the beginning of the next week.  Wouldn't that be nice though? Every Sunday was a fresh week ready to begin in a beautiful fashion? (It's much like a new year. I am very baffled why people think hanging up a new calendar creates a clean slate and all of last year is completed??)

Anyway, I'm having a rough week already and, so far, there hasn't been enough chocolate to offset my bad juju. I'm not happy. I'm crying at the drop of a hat. And I'm feeling very raw. And I am extremely sad. So if you'd like to put up a little prayer for me and my sanity, I'd appreciate it. Because although some of it is hormonal, some of it can't be fixed with chocolate and a prayer is always welcome.

Thanks.

So despite all this, as only a woman can do - I'm also still happy. I refuse to be anything else. Because I have so many blessings, so many good things in my life.

Since I don't feel like doing much else, I'm day dreaming as I surf the net.  And yes, I do adore my little house, but who says I can't dream of this pool in the back with these cool floatly lights?  They are only $1,000 but I'm not sure how many that will get you.  Obviously, an item every house needs.

I found this treat at http://www.opulantitems.com/, which I feel is aptly named.  But if I'm daydreaming, shouldn't I be dreaming opulant dreams?

Like these two daybeds. I love the nest feeling of both of them, like I could just curl up in them on a quiet deserted beach and read trash novels for hours with no interruptions. My very own nest, haven, shelter. All I need is the deserted beach, a few dolphins swimming by, a cool ocean breeze, a trash novel and a hot guy to rub my back as I doze in and out.  And sunblock. Some serious 45 spf sunblock. Other than that, I'm set! Who would like to fund this daydream for me?? :)

Since I'm not seeing any takers, I guess I'll go back to my movie and enjoy a hot bath here in my lovely little house later tonight. Thanks for bearing with a cranky lady. Tomorrow will be a better day!