Dear Friend...do as you are told...

I got taken to task in January 2024 by the company for "not doing as I was told," and this lame'o excuse became the reason why the Ltc Ops would not back down even though I proved my point that I did not follow what I was told due to a safety issue and the HR said they would not do something if it was not safe but still let the Ops carry on.  I still remember the smug look on the Ops' face when he said I didn't do as I was told, as if it was my "fault" for being taken to task.  Very smug and ended with "your are to do as you are told."

I have since returned to work and recently we went to weed whip an off ramp.  It is the company's directive that signs are to be placed no ifs, ands or buts about it.  Its a "safety issue." and if we do not the we just cut our workers comp in half for not doing so.  

I was confused as we did not approach the work area in a safe manner and neglected to put out signs.  I was informed that we did NOT need them because we were not working near the road.  This in fact was false. We would be working right on the road and I again asked about the signs.  I was informed that we would not be putting them out.  YIKES.  ok I just got an image in my mind of a smug irritating look from the Ops 9 months previously for not doing as I was told even though it was a safety issue, and so I did as I was told.  The TWONEWBIE even shut off our lights to the truck. DOUBLE YIKES.  I was not happy but did as I was told.

I finished where I was working and felt very concerned working as we were for not setting up signs which is in direct conflict with Prime Directive 1501.1 and 1501.2.  UGH

After working awhile, I decided I was done due to the safety issue and feeling uncomfortable about it, and went back to the hot truck and turned it on and its lights on so at least traffic had some warning.  I then wondered where TWONEWBIE had disappeared.  None of my business.  To my absolute shock!!, I  later saw him on our main highway in the center medium weed whipping guardrail with absolutely NO SIGNS AND NO PROTECTIVE VEHICLE.  OMG, OMG OMG!!!!   I am sick to my stomache.

Later as we all meet up in the truck I stated my concerns about the no signs and him being on our main highway with no signs or protections, and TWONEWBIE states "I saw our signs they were right there. You saw them too didn't you? "  

I said no --- feeling quite sick about this additional situation.

P58-2M said that he saw them.  I was shocked and really felt quite unsafe with these men deliberately and blatantly lying like this.  It gave me the chills and creeps. 

58-2M then said how if anything really bad happened that his wife was taken care of.  I'm pretty certain any insurance has a clause in it that if you are found in any way responsible for your death they don't have to pay and I informed him of such and also that I would not be lying.

I suppose the whole thing is most shocking as TWONEWBIE personally knew the two men who were recently killed in another area.  I guess he blames the issue of putting out signs when it was the driver who hit them was on his cell phone.  Very sad, very tragic.  And the biggest reason why I do not answer my phone while driving although I have had TWONEWBIE  and the Ops both call me expecting me to answer as I drove.  Catch 22- damned if you do and really damned if you don't.

The Ops should be proud of me - I did as I was told...

Send me all the news,

L

PS I guess God watches out for fools and children

Dear Friend...be friendlier?

Hi,

I bet if you are a man you have NEVER been called into the boss' office to be friendlier. Especially in the career that I am in, which is mostly men.

I confess when this happened to me I laughed in his face, which of course, did not and does not help my case at all.  Because the one thing anyone should NEVER do is laugh in the boss's face.  Especially when he is F@%king serious about his request.

Oh dear God if you are there did you laugh like I did???  If You did I bet You kept it to Yourself like I should have. 

These pitiful pathetic men expect ALL women to be their "mother, sister, girlfriend, mistress, or wife," and certainly cannot handle a businesslike or professional relationship with women.

What a mess.  

The rest of the story is after laughing in his face, I said, "NO. Absolutely not."  Because I can see that 6 months down the line I'll be in his office again and being informed that I sexually harassed someone and now they have to let me go.  I should note here that when men sexually harass a woman  at the company they do NOT fire him, they promote him.  I informed the boss that I would be business-like and that's all he was going to get. He then had to pipe in "and professional."  I said whatever, same thing.  He said no its not and insisted on his lousy two-cent "professional."  I said fine business-like and professional.

I then had to look up the two words and my word is a higher standard.  Business-like is the highest standard in that career. Professional can be either high or low in that career.  Ironic that the boss chooses a word that can be of a low standard.  But that's what he brings to the table.

Anywhoo, send me all the news and make certain that you are friendlier about it when you do.  UGH

L

Dear Friend...I'm not a man...

2023 update: my TMII retired Nov 2022 and I am the most logical replacement. At least I would be but I’m not a man. So instead its given to a man who is promoted as more knowledgeable than myself. This would be ok IF it were true. I am finding, after working with him, its not. And that gross unfair business practice is difficult to put up with. If you quit, they win. If you keep quiet, they win. 

I hate this next paragraph (because this is not me, its the person who has been continuously bullied for 5 years):

I hope someday these men have vicious prostrate cancer. That’s how unfair they are as I would not wish this type of illness on anyone. Geez, God were are YOU???? And the women here, they are just as mean and vicious and agree and promote the type of hateful behavior that has been the example here, deserve something similar.

end negative thoughts here. 

Be like water.

Send me all the news, L

Dear Friend...Abortion Supreme Court fallout...

 how ironic is it that the idiotic Health Care Center took this "right" to the US Supreme Court and lost? 

I thought to myself, something is awful, awful fishy here.

What's that you say?  Why, why would anyone challenge this with a Conservative Court in power? 

 Well...ironically the "health care" center arrogantly took this "right" to the Supreme Court, again, because they wanted to perform abortions after the allowed 15 weeks, and also after birth, which in my mind is no longer an abortion but murder.  But what do I know, eh?  FYI abortions are only allowed up to a certain week, which is 15, and then not after that.  This health care center wanted to perform abortions up to 22 weeks and also after birth.  There is one exception and that is the health of the mother.

Really?  You couldn't be happy with 15 weeks? What the hell?  and now look at the mess this healthcare center has placed everyone.  Why doesn't anyone mention that little tidbit?  

It's a crazy world out there.

Send me all the news,

L

Dear Friend... Pueblo HQ - the simplified rest of the story...

 Hello,  I was reading prior posts and felt that if it was me reading this blog I would want to know what happened next on the Pueblo HQ issue.

Well friend, it's not as good or as hopeful as it should have been.  In fact, things got worse.

first, yep, the investigation happened.  Unfortunately, HR was confused on the legalities of things, namely how to keep things confidential.  HR-SB informed our Ltc Ops, word for word what everyone said, which BTW is illegal (total breach of employee privacy laws) on her part.  Here's the hysterically laughable part, she got a promotion to a more sensitive job with the Dept of Labor and gets paid more money. OMG!!! is there a God out there? Sometimes I wonder.  And if there isn't a god, wouldn't her evil manifestation be rewarded with evil.  That's not what I see happening.

I was later pulled into my "real boss's" office for.... wait for it... cussing.  OMG, you would not believe the filthy filthy mouths around here and I said one "ass hole" and get pulled into the office for a write up.  I did ask my "real boss" I hope you're doing this with everyone.  He said yes they were. but NO THEY DIDN'T.  HR-KG was part of that set up.  I have since learned she has moved on herself.  

Anywhoooo, I digress.  The investigation happened, big whoop.  I totally get the phrase, "Much Ado About Nothing" because that happens around here ALL THE TIME. sad that, unless you have a target on your back like myself, which means I can NEVER let my guard down, NEVER, and my DD says I have PTSD from it.

Anyway, HR-SB, Ltc Ops, 69TMII, TMIII-2, Mean Admin and several others went to Castle Rock in Aug of 2019 and got smashing drunk (several complaints were made against them by others in the hotel) and this is where HR-SB made fun of all of us regarding the wasteful investigation that happened. Being that drunk and causing that much offense should be a fireable in itself. Which was recently for some city workers.  But isn't for these people because they are (insert your own words here).

Anyway, long story short, I've been in and out of the "office" for ridiculous reasons for the past 5 years, ie, they've been trying to fire me since I got down here.  Talk about harassment.  And now we have to deal with socialism of "equity" at work.  Keep in mind "equity" is someone else decides what's good for me.  Sorry, but that is TOTALLY OFFENSIVE to me.  I will decide not some hateful co-worker who abuses their power what is good for me.

Cheers and beware the "new socialism" that takes away ALL of your rights.

Send me all the news, L

PS - socialism throughout history has NEVER worked.

Dear Friend - best day ever

Hello, it's been awhile...

 I was recently reflecting on "the best day ever" in my life and then what would it be for others. 

What would it be for you? Would it be the day you got married? divorced? 

or the birth of a child? 

 the day you learned to play an instrument? 

 riding a horse?

 purchasing your first home? 

 starting a business? 

 starting a new job? dream job if you're lucky. 

 listening to music? 

creating music? 

 making cool stuff? whether it be artwork, metal work, glass work, textiles? 

 a concert? 

I went to Bruce Springstein's Born in the USA tour and attended the stop in Denver (1980's). My brother waited overnight in line to purchase tickets. It was realy cold and they took their sleeping bags, lawn chairs and alcohol and made a party of it. Is that even available anymore, waiting overnight in line for tickets (with alcohol?) now that everything is done online?

 I work with the homeless at times and I wonder what would their best day ever be like? a warm coffee? a safe place to sleep? 

 What would your best day ever be like? Is it epic or is it simple? 

 Cheers and speak soon, L

PS sadly I couldn't come up with a recent one for myself.

Dear Friend...

Answer to the terror:

Keep making each moment, each day, each year your own kind of blessing. Stay determined and never give up, never give in.

Live by being proud of each decision made and each moment lived. If you feel uneasy or made the wrong decision, make it right.

Love, L

Dear Friend...

Does the terror of each day ever go away???

I went through a time period as an adult years ago not being able to sleep for fear I would never wake up, and when I did sleep I would wake up in a cold sweat with a scream at the edge of my throat about to erupt.

I eventually worked through those nights and learned to let my fear go. I don't really recall what got me through this time. I do recall hearing or reading that no matter what I do or feel, it wasn't going to change that I was still alive, still going to go to sleep, still going to most likely wake up (law of averages), and that I should enjoy life, not fear it.

These days I'm just terrified most of the time. Putting one foot in front of the other can be one of the most difficult things I do. Having a job that is mostly male-orientated doesn't help either. My terror doesn't come out of the fact that I'll never wake up anymore, it's that I'm not doing enough.

What is enough?

I try to look at each day as an adventure. Some days this works and some days it doesn't.

I wish I had something more profound. I don't.

Send me all the news.
Love, L

Dear Friend...

I am once again questioning my sanity for choosing to work where I am at.

Surprisingly, nothing bad or negative has happened at work. I just don't get "it" at times. I truly wish I had much better discernment than I do. I am constantly told to "hurry up" at work and then when I do the men question it and tell me to "slow down." I am informed that "commonsense" will tell me when to do either. Really??? It hasn't told me anything; nada; zippo with a capital Z; and I really have no clue. I did speak up to the comment and ask "well, what if you have no commonsense? Then what?" I was informed that I was screwed.

Now why am I here?? Oh yeah, it's a good plan and I have health insurance.


Send me all the news.
Love,
L

Dear Friend...

Dear Friend,

It's been awhile. I'm still alive. I been places, done things, and am still alive. Sometimes this surprises me and sometimes it doesn't. I'll give a shortened version of what's been happening.

Let's begin with the new boss in 2014. His first words to me were: "I don't know what you're doing here as I consider your position highly frivolous and unnecessary."

No Joke. The above were his exact words. Yikes, and Uh-oh I'm in trouble as my days are obviously numbered. He's a mean, old man and I curse him until he makes getting rid of my job right, and I'll let the powers that be do the rest. The last guy I cursed can barely see or walk now, and still can't figure "it" ou . du-uh. Make it right and all that will go away.

Anywhoo, fast forward to 2016. For the past year I've been dealing with safety issues at work for a year. Co-worker brings wife suffering from dementia and frailness to work with him. Who does that??? additional different co-worker brings his kid with him for the past 7 years because he's too cheap to pay for a babysitter. Who does that??? Men, men, men do that. And men allow them too. GRRRR.

Turned in the safety issues to HR in March. The "babysitting" issue was of more interest to HR than the "dementia/frail" issue. Go figure, the kid is now old enough to take care of herself now and I only spilled the beans on that one by accident while speaking with HR, I still laugh inside when I think about that one. One minute, I'm talking along so fast I hardly know what I said when HR interrupts me and says, "hold on, back up," and I have to describe the "babysitting" issue. The "DF" issue is much more dangerous; the woman gets lost 3 times a day and has almost been ran over, fallen over or almost extremely hurt by equipment flying around. I haven't been late to work since this issue was taken care of.

But I could tell the very day when HR informed the Mean Old Man Boss. He was so pissed that day he could barely look at me. Supposedly it's anonymous, phooey on that. Two weeks later I get written up for being late and early to work. 6 weeks later, May 2016 right after the holiday no less, I get laid off due to a phoney-baloney "workforce reduction." And my prior boss doesn't stick up for me yet he stuck up for some dumb schmuck for 15 years prior to this and can't help me out???? oh, bother. I cursed him too.

I checked with an attorney. He said my case was so strange that the judge would laugh me out of the court room. No case, good luck with life.

Anyway, I sent out over 75 applications in June 2016. Nothing. I cannot find a job to save my life. and it's only me here to do any saving if I don't want to end up under a bridge and homeless. I CURSE MC and SR, I really do! and the dumb schmuck too.

Finally, get a city bus driving job. I love it. It's not easy as you deal with a lot of people with mental health issues. I still like it. I do not like the extra board hours safety issue. They have people working 15-17 hour days. It's really not safe and can be done another way. I bring this to management attention and they deny, deny, deny. Good God, does anyone have any sense around here? I resign Dec 2016.

Once again, I must think outside the box. I do a search for how to use my CDL class B driving license. I don't want to be stuck in an office again. Guess what??? I find a job as a snow plow driver in the high Rocky Mountains for March/April 2017. Way cool. I love it! Plus it scares the begeebees outta me. It's only temporary, but enough to keep me alive.

Fast forward to today, July 2017, I start as a snow plow driver for a new Region along the Interstate.

Wish me luck and send me all the news.

L

Have you ever noticed.....?

when you look down at your feet that your toes are all curled up in your sandals or shoes like they are gripping on for dear life just in case gravity fails and you're thrown off?

what does it mean?

I think it means you're stressed about something. You know, that something.

...or you need to change your diet. Too much caffeine?

Just a thought...

I think I'll change my diet.

Good day,
L

dear friend...

It's been awhile since the last post...

Bonne Annee....(there's supposed to be a mark over the first 'e' but I forgot how to insert that)

Happy New Year! such that it is. I feel a little like Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh. Apropos, I guess since he is my favorite character. I am not happy and I am not un-happy these days.

The holidays have been interesting with much merry-ness. I spent the day with my mother and daughter for Christmas. My mother and I have been doing a Christmas morning for a long time now. The day went into afternoon, which was a surprise for me as I am easily overstimulated and then begin to forget to refrain from saying everything that comes to mind. When around others I must conscientiously remind myself to keep my mouth shut for fear of offending anyone. I ended the day without offense which is always a plus for me.

The new year brought a surprise as I was actually invited to a long-time neighbors home for a New Year's Day feast. Crab legs, salad and lots of great trappings (appetizers). We spent most of the evening playing a video game called "Band Hero" or something of that like. You have a drummer, bass, main guitar and a singer. Its a little like Karaoke only you get to play the instruments too. You get boo-ed off the stage if you don't hit your notes, which happened a couple of times. I did sing a couple of times and got a rating of 97% which I believe to be quite generous since I was off key for most of the songs. It was a bit over stimulating (since I don't have a television) and I was surprised that I lasted until midnight. All in all a fun evening and I didn't offend too much but it was getting "dicey" there in the end.

As for me, lots of knitting and drawing has been completed in the past few months and I took a kumihimo braiding class that was interesting.

I also decided that I would start sewing my own pants since LEE decided to change my favorites. Made in Egypt now instead of New Mexico ---the fabric used from Egypt is much lighter and cheaper looking and certainly not as sturdy. sigh, and grr. Wish me luck with sewing as I am not that great at it. I suppose I'll get there though.

I recently went skiing Sunday, Jan 3rd. Remind me to keep going on the last day of the New Year weekend. Everyone is traveling home instead of to the ski slopes. yay! It was a wonderful ski day, sunny and bright and no one on the slopes. Ski on ski off is just the way I like it. The Broncos were also playing so that helps immensely as this state is a big football state.

I have to see when the Super Bowl will be and go skiing that day too. I love football!!!

Well, dear friend send me all the news,
Good day,
L

life is but a dream...

....and then something wears out and you get to fix it. ugh

What you ask did I have to DIY today??? a toilet valve. double ugh.

I was informed awhile back that these valves usually only last about 5 years and is a necessary evil about every 5 years. The last time this had to be done was about... you guessed it, 5 years ago.

Fortunately for me a toilet valve really is super easy to change out. The hardest thing was moving things out of the way and then moving things back. And reading the directions of course. I re-read them twice. Glad I did too.

I used the quick and easy Hydro-clean valve that I purchased for $14.99 from Ace. It's the place for me anyway (I had a coupon).

The scariest thing was turning off the main water to the house in winter, since the water valve to the toilet won't turn all the way off. I didn't want to do this and went both ways on whether or not to do this but in my reading on-line one person stated it only takes 30 minutes. I thought ok, I'll do it. It hasn't been that cold and it's currently not cold so everything should be ok. Plus ever since I learned that the water valve to the house is under 10 thousand PSI and it's dangerous to open and close this valve I've been a scardy-cat about the main water valve. But as long as you turn it real slow it should be ok. Key word is should in that sentence (oh, and slow).

Anywho, it only took 15 minutes from the time the main water valve was turned off until I slowly turned it back on again. Yay me!

The biggest pain was the clean up, because there is some as the toilet tank does not completely empty all the way but having a big thick towel ready for when you remove the old valve and then all the water really does empty all the way out. Insert the new toilet valve made certain the toilet valve was tight but not too tight as to break it, which would be sad but can happen too--at least that's what the directions state, and no leaks checked with extra water in a bucket kept handy just for this--you only need a little bit, before turning the main water back on took very little time---15 minutes. yay again!

So this old lady is once again a happy camper (and toilet user), and happy that my DIY project worked out for me and was not the disaster I envisioned. Thank you Hydro Clean for making a decent product. Quick, easy, no mess---four of my favorite words when attempting a DIY project.

Happy DIY-ing,
Good day,
L

PS - I was not paid to endorse the above product, I just like it.

dear friend,

Life has certainly been strange lately. More than I care to experience here actually.

It's winter here in the Rockies, which means it is very cold in the mornings. The thing about this as a long-time co-worker passed away yesterday morning due to freezing to death after sliding the vehicle off the road and trying to walk home in the dark morning light, and not finding home, and got turned around and got lost in the forest.

It's sad and it's tragic. sigh.

I'll especially miss this co-worker as they were the only one who I was able to vent with about work and know that anything I said would not be repeated. I hope this person is better now wherever they may be. I will miss them.

L

dear friend...

I went on a hike this past Saturday to an open space that is not currently open as the "master plan" has not been created. So I went with 14 others on a guided hike. The guide was pleasant and informative. My fellow hikers on the other hand need to learn first that "bushwacking" means NO TRAIL. 2nd that it means lots of untamed weeds.

The pre-request was that NO SHORTS OR CAPRIS only LONG PANTS are acceptable. What does someone do but show up in capris. REALLY??? and then what does CAPRI PANTS do? They want to be first in line during the hike.

Remember the word bushwack??? what do you think this means?

Well, I'll tell ya, since there are no trails there are A LOT OF SPIKEY WEEDS!!! and CAPRI PANTS is dancing around and stomping down weeds so they don't hurt the legs. SERIOUSLY????

GO TO THE BACK OF THE LINE!!!

but no, CAPRI PANTS insisted on staying up front. UNBELIEVABLE!!!
the audacity of some people just makes my teeth grind.

I was able to get by CAPRI PANTS and another fellow slow hiker as we were not keeping up with the guide and "show" them how you are supposed to bushwack, which is just walking through the weeds.

The guide's pace was not that fast and I was happy watching the others teeth grind while waiting for the rest after the guide and I hiked for a bit. Even the guide made a quiet side comment regarding CAPRI PANTS. I did get to speak with the guide more as the others had to deal with the slow pace.

And then enter the fellow SHORT TERM MEMORY hiker. OH GOD!
I kid you not the following conversation truly existed (insert more teeth grinding here):

"this is a juniper tree."... "what tree is that?"

"juniper"..."what tree is that?"

"juniper"..."what tree is that?" "juniper"

"Is that a juniper tree?"..."yes."


and then there was...


"this bush is called rabbit brush.".... "what bush is that?"

"rabbit brush."..."really? what bush is that?"

"rabbit brush."

"what bush is that?"..."rabbit brush."

"oh, boy, I tell ya, my memory just isn't what it used to be..."


OH BOY, NO KIDDING!!!! We all know that!


Anyhow, the hike was in Corral Bluffs Open Space, and that is corral not coral because the natural arroyos were used to corral 10 million Texas long horns over the years and this was the over night stopping area for the cattle. It has a 400 foot gain in elevation in just a matter of feet which is a lot, so it made natural areas to keep the cattle and not lose them and having a natural spring right there was also a plus.

This area is one of the best areas for petrified animals and plants. We of course were not allowed to pick up or take anything---and what does CAPRI PANTS do but PICK SOMETHING UP!!! REALLY???? DO YOU HAVE A LICENSE TO DO THAT???
Seriously, unless you have a license to pick things up you must LEAVE IT WHERE IT LAY. I kid you not.

It will be sad when others start coming and taking things they shouldn't but until that time it is a spectacular area!

As for existing next to my fellow hikers (insert teeth grinding) I don't think its a surprise to anyone that I felt they were unpleasant to be around and my own company is preferable. sigh. Does this mean I'm still a loser???

Can't say I didn't make an effort. Send me all the news.
Love always,
L

dear friend...

I haven't written in awhile. I'm trying not to be a loser or one of "those" sad stories you hear about and cringe being or becoming.

I went to a get together held for the volunteers for a non-profit garden that I volunteer at.

The stories of flat tires came up and I told my story too. Nothing like having your 15 minutes of fame, no mater the place you be.

I then told my story about being on the farm and one of our dingo dogs killing a raccoon in water, which is virtually unheard of since raccoons usually drown the dog. One of the other volunteers didn't believe me and asked if I was actually there when it happened. Sheesh. Yes, I was there.

I guess the flat tire story and the raccoon story seem a bit far fetched when its coming from the same person. They be true.

I didn't finish the story, which was with Mr. X pulling the dead raccoon from the water and the dingo killing it over and over again. Mr. X thought this was funny. I guess it is "farmer" funny. He didn't think it was so funny when he thought his dog was being drowned. Just so you know, the dog's name was Dino and Mr. X could write a book about him. This dog was truly amazing.

The flat tire story is me having to fix a flat tire on my car everyday for a week as Mr. X put "new to me" tires on the vehicles I was driving. This was so not funny, but I do know how to change a flat on almost any type of vehicle. The background story to this is we had lots of vehicle choices to drive and when one got a flat, Mr. X would just give me the next car in line to drive. I got tired of the "new to me" tires and finally took one of the vehicles in and placed all new tires on it. I never had a flat again while married to him.

Oh, forgot that I told the story that my life was very similar to the girl in the movie "Where the Heart Is" in that I got pulled over and the sheriff felt so sorry for me and I had so many infractions with the car including a hole on the driver's side floor board that he let me go.

These stories must have irritated this guy because he totally didn't believe me and was all over my case after telling them that I soon left.

Not certain if I'm still a loser or just a sad story but I did get to attend a get-together, at least for a little while...

don't know if I'll be invited back...

Love always,
L

dear friend...

I recently ran into an acquaintance and we "caught up" so to speak regarding what each of us had been up to, etc, etc, blah blah blah. I won't bore you with the details.

Although,

I am confused as this acquaintance went on about how they had been sexually harassed at work and how they took it to HR and HR did nothing and how awful it was. Yes, its awful... My confusion stems from the "pre-story" as this is the same acquaintance that used to brag about not going more than two days without sex since the divorce. Yikes! that's a lot of partners. yuck!

And what comes first to mind is exactly how does one do this (not the act) the culling of partners? Well, that culling will happenstance come from work, at times.

All right, the "never shit where you eat" saying comes first in my mind at this point.

This acquaintance had no issue with it nor with the issue that some of the partners were married. Which is "safe". No commitment or clinging to deal with. No emotional attachment. No baggage, supposedly.

Ok back to the complaint. When you create the monster why are you complaining??? Doesn't this acquaintance have some responsibility in creating their own harassment? I believe this constitutes as the "baggage" referred to above. tada! I guess HR saw it that way too. yay!

I guess my less than enthusiastic responses are why I have very little friends as I expect people to be responsible to some extent for their actions and this will include prior actions too.

Moral of my story is: Watch where you cull. or the "don't shit where you eat" saying applies too.

Anyway, send me all the news.
Love always,
L

dear friend...

Hello,
It's me again.

Just wanted to say that I got invited to a party! Yes, me! Even invisible me gets to go to a party once in awhile.

I was invited a week ago and wasn't certain if I would go as people make me nervous. I left it open, so to speak and if I remembered to go great and if I conveniently forgot, well, even better. And you also have those dreaded awkward moments that you hope never happens to you and if they do you know you won't be invited back.

Case in point: the spittle moment-totally embarrassing and gross; or the saying something stupid moment; the laughing at something inappropriate moment or at the wrong moment; the picking an argumentative discussion with the most favored person at the party moment and even if you are right you made no friends by making the popular person look stupid

So I did remember to go, spoke as little as possible, and I even brought presents. I still had a woven towel so I used the tan towel to wrap a couple of bottles of balsamic vinegar and complimentary oil and a wine bottle stopper that I made with a cork from a favorite bottle of wine that my cousin owns the vineyard and winery; and a half dozen eggs from my chickens. I thought it a coolio gift and maybe a little much with all of it but it may secure a future invite.

I didn't expect to stay long as it was scuba diving happy hour meeting and I don't dive. My friend told me it was about 50/50 of people who dive or don't. I'd say it was 50:1 with me being the one that doesn't.

Anyway, the evening went swell (I just love that word-it implies greatness but not over the top greatness). I enjoyed my evening. No spittle, nothing stupid stated and no unpleasant discussions, no inappropriate laughter, and I got to get a little mileage (bragging rights) with my trips to Hawaii and Spain, which helped to establish me a little more as "one of them that travels" instead of just "one of those that doesn't." I stayed longer than expected and got to leave at an appropriate time, which was soon after arrival.

I had a swell time.

Toodles for now, send me all the news.
Love always,
L

dear friend...

I know you are out there somewhere but sometimes you are so quiet.

For most of my life I've been one of those invisible type persons. You know the type. The one without many friends (if any). The one that laughs when its inappropriate to do so. The one that others roll their eyes at because they think (know) I'm an idiot. The one that everyone really laughs AT not with. The one that says what's in their mind when they shouldn't.

I was told once by someone that they always knew what I was thinking because whatever it was that was on my mind was out my mouth the next second. She told me it was refreshing. Ironically, I have a hard time believing that because she doesn't stay in contact. "Refreshing" must have gotten not so refreshing after all.

Now where was I going with this post?

Oh yeah...

Dear Friend,

Sometimes I'm hot and cold at the same time and I wonder how that can be? But since I'm a woman over well...let's just say older...maybe that is more understandable than I realize.

Anyway, hope things are going well for you. Send me all the news.
Take care.
Love always,
L

So I've had...

nothing but agravation and frustraation...(and I'm still happy and enjoying life, if a little tired):

-My Saga with the kenmore laundry center:

I went in to Sears last night after calling everyone and their mother (so to speak) on Tuesday about my leaky issue and plus its too big. What Sears needed from me was for me to make a decision, so I did. I decided that I needed the center removed from my home, as I am unable to use it anyway and obtain a refund from them.

As I was driving to the store, I also spoke to myself (I do that a lot) on how I was going to approach the people working there. Do you go in angry? no How does one go in attitude regarding these things??? Yes, I'm frustrated, yes, I'm disapointed, yes, I'm tired, yes, I'm even a little angry. My anger has nothing to do with these people and they can do nothing about it. Plus my anger makes me look guilty. It's the situation and control is key.

I approached a sales person and spoke to him about my issue and he said these laundry centers (all in one stacked) are infamous for this issue. ugh. sounds like a design problem to me now.

long story short - Sears will be picking up the laundry center Saturday and gave me a full refund. Yay.

now I'm exhausted by the whole ordeal. I'm so tired that I am unable to make a decision about what to do about no washer/dryer. sigh

there isn't much I can do now since all appliance designs come with a depth of not less than 26" and I need 23". I am still incrediously amazed at all the wasted space in these designs. sigh.

Good day.