How dare I not post for over a month! What an ass! Well, sorry, I kinda forgot, and judging by the lack of comments, I don't think anyone is waiting with baited breath for my next entry anyway (someday...). Well, the last month I have been busy, organized a 2nd anniversary celebration for the toy shop, and tons of people showed up! Yay! We had a good time and it was nice to see the community come out and support us. Also got involved in planning some Halloween festivals this fall with the business council, and introduced a "Buy Local" campaign into the town, which I am on the commiittee for. Also, on the road a bunch of days a week for sales calls. So, things are going well. I forgot how much I enjoyed seeing my customers, on the road as a salesperson, and actually selling, and it has been fun getting back into that and enjoying it instead of being all stressed out about it. So, things are going well. I made homemade pesto last month and made pesto butter grilled chicken...it was heavenly. Someday I am going to open a restaurant. So, I promise I will try and get back into the posting thing again.
I've also been really, really sucked into the 08 elections. I am an Obama fan, but feel it is very important to have friends from all sides of the fence. People are way too polarized, and I can see that from the opinions my customers express when they discuss politics in the store. (Yes, I do discuss politics with them. I'm pretty candid about my own beliefs, I don't want to upset anyone, but I like hearing people's opinions from both sides. But that's just it...there is a very black and white side...no gray area for this election. Customers come in chatting about the Dem's and how they like them, then the next person comes in and tells me that Obama is the "anti-Christ" and he'll sell us down the river. Umm...okay. It's been interesting. So, I should take a break from following it so much...I feel like both parties and throwing insults at each other anyway and are moving away from issues. www.factcheck.com has been a great resource for finding the truth within the speeches, ads, and interviews. I also like www.politifact.com , both are non partisan, though factcheck seems to enjoy a better reputation.
Enjoy, and if anybody tells you they invented a black hole, don't get sucked in!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Weekend Recap
How was your weekend? Mine was great! Friday we went swimming at the pool by where my Dad lives. He lives in a gated community that has outdoor and indoor pools, lakes, and tennis courts. I don't know why we never go more often. We had a blast just relaxing. We headed into the main building that housed the indoor pool and the "old man broth"- Bill's word for for the hot tub there. We took a dip in the broth and it was heavenly. There were not too many hairy old men in it at that moment. We headed to my Dad's for a nice dinner and conversation. It was a relaxing day and perfect weather, and I must say, the best way to enjoy some R and R is to never have any time to do it. You really treasure the time you have when you finally get some!
Bill got his mojo back and I have a million things to do with the store and for my job. Busy week ahead- but Friday we are headed to the pool again. Maybe this time we'll go to the lake instead and avoid the broth.
Bill got his mojo back and I have a million things to do with the store and for my job. Busy week ahead- but Friday we are headed to the pool again. Maybe this time we'll go to the lake instead and avoid the broth.
A song I love...
History of Us - The Indigo Girls
I went all the way to Paris to forget your face
Captured in stained glass, young lives long since passed
Statues of lovers every place
I went all across the continent to relieve this restless love
I walked through the ruins, icons of glory
Smashed by the bombs from above
So we must love while these moments are still called today
Take part in the pain of this passion play
Stretching our youth as we must, until we are ashes to dust
Until time makes history of us
Jeu de paumes full of faces knowing peace, knowing strife
Leisure and toil, still its canvas and oil
Theres just no medium for life
In the midst of the rubble I felt a sense of rebirth
In a dusty cathedral the living God called
And I prayed for my life here on earth
So we must love while these moments are still called today
Take part in the pain of this passion play
Stretching our youth as we must, until we are ashes to dust
Until time makes history of us
There are mountains in Switzerland, brilliant cold as they stand
From my hotel room, watching the half-moon
Bleeding its light like a lamb
And the town is illumined, its tiny figures are fast asleep
And it dawns on me the time is upon me
To return to the flock I must keep
So we must love while these moments are still called today
Take part in the pain of this passion play
Stretching our youth as we must, until we are ashes to dust
Until time makes history of us
I went all the way to Paris to forget your face
Captured in stained glass, young lives long since passed
Statues of lovers every place
I went all across the continent to relieve this restless love
I walked through the ruins, icons of glory
Smashed by the bombs from above
So we must love while these moments are still called today
Take part in the pain of this passion play
Stretching our youth as we must, until we are ashes to dust
Until time makes history of us
Jeu de paumes full of faces knowing peace, knowing strife
Leisure and toil, still its canvas and oil
Theres just no medium for life
In the midst of the rubble I felt a sense of rebirth
In a dusty cathedral the living God called
And I prayed for my life here on earth
So we must love while these moments are still called today
Take part in the pain of this passion play
Stretching our youth as we must, until we are ashes to dust
Until time makes history of us
There are mountains in Switzerland, brilliant cold as they stand
From my hotel room, watching the half-moon
Bleeding its light like a lamb
And the town is illumined, its tiny figures are fast asleep
And it dawns on me the time is upon me
To return to the flock I must keep
So we must love while these moments are still called today
Take part in the pain of this passion play
Stretching our youth as we must, until we are ashes to dust
Until time makes history of us
Friday, July 25, 2008
Getting Tested
This should have been, for all intents and purposes, a crappy week. Bill, my husband, had major problems with a project he's been doing (he works as an independent contractor designing web sites, writng code, basic geek stuff), and he'd gotten about 5 hours sleep from Sunday through Wednesday. i was freaked out about him, worried, and he was telling me that he was trying his best with this project, but he was broken, and eventually he failed. He's an easygoing guy, and I have rarely ever seen him so freaked out and intense.
I placed an order a few weeks ago from someone who had closed their store. I bought some of their old inventory. Worked with her before, like her, sent her a check weeks ago. Check got cashed, order was supposed to be sent a few weeks ago...and nothing. She vanished. Customers waitng for stuff I promised. I've been sending her emails and calling and no response. She's MIA.
Thursday our gutter did not work right and dumped alot of rain into the area by the basement, pooling water around the basement windows, causing it to pour in. Windows are by Bill's computer equiptment. Computer stuff was saved, but have you ever seen streams of water pouring into your home? Try it sometime, it's fun.
As I ran into the laundry room to get towels for said spillage, I walked into more water. Our hot water heater suddenly decided that this was the day to start leaking! What the fuck?
So, it's been a crazy week, but not necessarily a bad one. Bill learned a great lesson about what he can and cannot handle and to pick his projects more carefully. We also learned a huge lesson about how to handle adversity and frustrations. I know that in the big picture, this is not a big deal. There are people around the world being murdered ruthlessly, starving, dying. But to see my husband spend so many weeks working so hard...it was like watching little pieces of Bill getting taken away. So, the project failed, for a number of reasons, and I am really glad to have him back, he is relieved, leery, but happy about what he learned and ready to move on. So it goes.
He fixed the gutter yesterday, and I guess we need to get a new hot water heater.
I finally heard from the MIA person last eveing...I found her online and sent her an IM (Thanks google chat!) I think it freaked her out...but I was polite and to the point about asking where our shipment was. Family emergency, shipment should go out this weekend. I think.
My sister and I refer to smiting, it's so biblical and hokey, and she wants to name a show with the tagline "You've Been Smited!" instead of "You've Been Punked!" We're not fundies or anything, just think smite is such a great word.
At one moment this week, it just seemed like alot of stuff to go deal with, along with small annoying things. I was being dramatic and whiny and told Bill, "Someone is trying to smite us!
Says he, "No, they're just testing us, and we're passing."
We are off to the lake today too add a little sunshine to the week.
I placed an order a few weeks ago from someone who had closed their store. I bought some of their old inventory. Worked with her before, like her, sent her a check weeks ago. Check got cashed, order was supposed to be sent a few weeks ago...and nothing. She vanished. Customers waitng for stuff I promised. I've been sending her emails and calling and no response. She's MIA.
Thursday our gutter did not work right and dumped alot of rain into the area by the basement, pooling water around the basement windows, causing it to pour in. Windows are by Bill's computer equiptment. Computer stuff was saved, but have you ever seen streams of water pouring into your home? Try it sometime, it's fun.
As I ran into the laundry room to get towels for said spillage, I walked into more water. Our hot water heater suddenly decided that this was the day to start leaking! What the fuck?
So, it's been a crazy week, but not necessarily a bad one. Bill learned a great lesson about what he can and cannot handle and to pick his projects more carefully. We also learned a huge lesson about how to handle adversity and frustrations. I know that in the big picture, this is not a big deal. There are people around the world being murdered ruthlessly, starving, dying. But to see my husband spend so many weeks working so hard...it was like watching little pieces of Bill getting taken away. So, the project failed, for a number of reasons, and I am really glad to have him back, he is relieved, leery, but happy about what he learned and ready to move on. So it goes.
He fixed the gutter yesterday, and I guess we need to get a new hot water heater.
I finally heard from the MIA person last eveing...I found her online and sent her an IM (Thanks google chat!) I think it freaked her out...but I was polite and to the point about asking where our shipment was. Family emergency, shipment should go out this weekend. I think.
My sister and I refer to smiting, it's so biblical and hokey, and she wants to name a show with the tagline "You've Been Smited!" instead of "You've Been Punked!" We're not fundies or anything, just think smite is such a great word.
At one moment this week, it just seemed like alot of stuff to go deal with, along with small annoying things. I was being dramatic and whiny and told Bill, "Someone is trying to smite us!
Says he, "No, they're just testing us, and we're passing."
We are off to the lake today too add a little sunshine to the week.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Mindfullness Brought to you By Nicotine
So, I have an insidious problem with smoking. I stopped almost six years ago, on our way home from our honeymoon. It was a great time to stop. So, every now and again I've had one. And again, and again...I cycled right back and picked up the habit again. It's so annoying, but if you've done it you know how enjoyable and soothing smoking can be. If you have not...trust me, they don't call it an addiction for nothing. I really picked up steam (so to speak) after we opened our party room at the toy shop here. I host the birthday parties. I'm creative, but it was still new for me, I was pretty anxious, and after a really tough party, nothing is as enjoyable and soothing as a good smoke. So it goes. I try and smoke outside our back door. I hide it- my dirty secret- what would the community think of a toy shop owner who smokes? So, I go outside the other day. A bird in a tall bush always flies away from said bush whenever I'm out lately. And squawks a bit, like she's pissed. I finally looked at the bush the other day...lo and behold, there was a nest within the branches! It was very neat, although I'm sure Mama Bird wasn't too happy with me hanging around. I need to quit the smokes, but I am really happy to see that nest. It is a little piece of amazing in a mundane day.
Dear Sam From Merhcants Bank:
Thanks for calling me at the toy store today. I am not really interested in that cash and/ or credit you have available for our business. Thanks for that pre-recorded message. I really appreciate getting it when I am wrapping three birthday presents, helping the Customer From Hell, cleaning up the shop, and unpacking a shipment of twenty boxes. Maybe you and your other pre-recorded friends can get together and form some kind of club and do charity work with your pseudo-happy, monotonous voices. Thanks!
Best,
Lisa
Best,
Lisa
Poems, Prayers, and Promises
John Denver said it best:
I've been lately thinking about my life's time
all the things I've done and how it's been,
and I can't help believin' in my own mind
I know I'm gonna hate to see it end.
I've seen a lot of sunshine slept out in the rain
spent a night or two all on my own
I've known my lady's pleasures had myself some friends
spent a time or two in my own home.
I have to say it now it's been good life all in all,
it's really fine to have a chance to hang around.
and lie there by the fire and watch the evening tire,
while all my friends and my old lady sit and pass a pipe around
and talk of poems and prayers and promises
and things that we believe in, how sweet it is to love someone,
how right it is to care, how long it's been since yesterday
what about tomorrow and what about our dreams
and all the memories we share
Days they pass so quickly now, the nights are seldom long
time around me whispers when it's cold.
The changes somehow frightens me, still I have to smile
it turns me on to think of growing old.
It's tho' my life's been good to me there's still so much to do
so many things my mind has never known
I'd like to raise a fam'ly I'd like to sail away
dance across the mountains on the moon.
I have to say it now it's been good life all in all,
it's really fine to have a chance to hang around.
and lie there by the fire and watch the evening tire,
while all my friends and my old lady sit and pass a pipe around
and talk of poems and prayers and promises
and things that we believe in, how sweet it is to love someone,
how right it is to care, how long it's been since yesterday
what about tomorrow and what about our dreams
and all the memories we share
*********************************************************
I was chatting on the phone with my dad last night. (More like shouting on the phone, he's getting hard of hearing and he refuses to get a hearing aid.) He read me a few words from the above mentioned song, how he remembered it from when we were all younger, and how much he loved it and how it summed up his life right now. Well, perhaps not the "pass the pipe around" part, I think that's more my thing. :) He printed lyrics off the internet and shared them with me. Sometimes, parents are so off, so wrong, and we harbor so much anger and resentment towards them. Other times, they seem to get it right. Thanks Dad! Below is a link to the video for your viewing pleasure:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3faCnqJsmw
all the things I've done and how it's been,
and I can't help believin' in my own mind
I know I'm gonna hate to see it end.
I've seen a lot of sunshine slept out in the rain
spent a night or two all on my own
I've known my lady's pleasures had myself some friends
spent a time or two in my own home.
I have to say it now it's been good life all in all,
it's really fine to have a chance to hang around.
and lie there by the fire and watch the evening tire,
while all my friends and my old lady sit and pass a pipe around
and talk of poems and prayers and promises
and things that we believe in, how sweet it is to love someone,
how right it is to care, how long it's been since yesterday
what about tomorrow and what about our dreams
and all the memories we share
Days they pass so quickly now, the nights are seldom long
time around me whispers when it's cold.
The changes somehow frightens me, still I have to smile
it turns me on to think of growing old.
It's tho' my life's been good to me there's still so much to do
so many things my mind has never known
I'd like to raise a fam'ly I'd like to sail away
dance across the mountains on the moon.
I have to say it now it's been good life all in all,
it's really fine to have a chance to hang around.
and lie there by the fire and watch the evening tire,
while all my friends and my old lady sit and pass a pipe around
and talk of poems and prayers and promises
and things that we believe in, how sweet it is to love someone,
how right it is to care, how long it's been since yesterday
what about tomorrow and what about our dreams
and all the memories we share
*********************************************************
I was chatting on the phone with my dad last night. (More like shouting on the phone, he's getting hard of hearing and he refuses to get a hearing aid.) He read me a few words from the above mentioned song, how he remembered it from when we were all younger, and how much he loved it and how it summed up his life right now. Well, perhaps not the "pass the pipe around" part, I think that's more my thing. :) He printed lyrics off the internet and shared them with me. Sometimes, parents are so off, so wrong, and we harbor so much anger and resentment towards them. Other times, they seem to get it right. Thanks Dad! Below is a link to the video for your viewing pleasure:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3faCnqJsmw
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
