Chix Chat

Hi, Michele!

No problem about not writing on Friday, although I was a little surprised. I do understand though.

It sounds like the weekend at the store was horrendous! I’m not surprised that people waited til the last minute to get their cards, but I’m sorry to see that it was taking such a toll on you! I’m very glad that you made it through okay. What did you do for your dad to celebrate Father’s Day?

This weekend I worked double shifts both days! Four stores in two days = zoiks! Plus I have another store tonight, one on Wednesday, and one on Friday. Not to mention two stores on both Saturday and Sunday of the next weekend. Man.

Ron worked both stores on Saturday and ran the first store yesterday, so that was kind of interesting. On Saturday, en route to the second store, he was telling us how he got a ticket three years in a row on his birthday. Curious, I ventured to ask, "So, when is your birthday?" He asked, "Why do you want to know?" I said, "Just curious." (I wish I’d said sarcastically, "I’m writing a book.") Someone else mentioned that I knew it was another ***** person’s birthday, then Ron casually changed the subject. Now I’m curious why he’s so protective of that info! I heard he was a private person, but sheesh! Maybe he thought I wanted to know the year - which I do - but I was just wanting the month and day. Apparently it’s classified!

Also on Saturday, I was wondering aloud if we’d stop and get a bite to eat - you know, since we’d probably be gone about 12 hours working both of those stores and traveling. The others told me to ask Ron. I did: he replied that he accepts bribes. En route to Taco Bell, he mentioned again that he accepted bribes, to which I responded, "I’ll buy you a burrito…?" He said, "Y’all do not want me to eat a burrito." (Talk about too much information.) Another employee was really surprised that Ron agreed to stop somewhere; they were, like, "How did you get him to do that?" I told them, "I asked him."

As we left Sunday’s store, one lady in the van told Ron, "Well you’re six years older than I am, but …" and then whatever else she was talking about. I was intrigued; Sara whispered that Ava - the lady who said that - was either 42 or 43. So Ron is either 48 or 49!! Whoa! Sara also managed to ask yesterday, "Ron, do you have any kids?" to which he replied, "H*ll no." Sure, *that* he’ll share.

Mood-wise - I was down a lot of the weekend. This morning I woke up okay then got to work and was down a bit. It’s a veritable roller coaster ride. (Hopefully I’ll soon learn from that not to trust my feelings, but to go by faith!) I *know* I think about it too much; I’m really trying to trust God and not worry so much. As I keep saying, the Bible tells us over and over to not worry/be anxious. Still it’s tough to do sometimes. I don’t mind at all that you told Bob; I need all the prayers that I can get! You asked about that Christian message board - it’s the "community" link at the www.wayfm.com site, which is a local Christian radio station’s site. That was the one that did have a lot of great forums, but they deleted most of them and left only three basic ones.

I had forgotten all about the test until you mentioned it! With all of that work this weekend, I was so glad to not have any homework. I plan to read the next chapter this evening before the gig, so maybe I’ll be ready.

I can relate to your feelings about Kristin; heck, who couldn’t? It is annoying bordering on infuriating when someone gets special treatment at work just because of friendship with the boss, especially when they’re not carrying their weight and getting away with it.

Well, I’m receiving email on my work computer now, but it’s still acting weird. For one thing - the monitor isn’t working right: pictures aren’t clear and everything on the screen is much bigger than I’m used to. Plus, it takes a looooooong time for the thing to boot up.

So Bob is going to visit in August? I’d say it’s very normal for you to be nervous about meeting him. I hope that you will both have an open mind and be optimistic about meeting; if you do that I don’t think you’ll have to worry about disappointing each other. About his "expectations" - I really hope he doesn’t expect anything during his *first* visit, for sure!! Still, I know what you mean about having those feelings and worrying that you’ll give in. But don’t sell yourself short! I will definitely pray about this for you.

That’s all for today. Talk to you soon! God bless!

Anne

Oh, yes, Halloween. We didn’t pass out candy; we didn’t get any trick-or-treaters at home or at work. I only saw one kid dressed up as I drove home yesterday. Did you see the full moon last night? Here it was quite clear and lovely.

At that Cross Daily site, it sure is quiet! A few weeks ago, my mailbox there kept filling up. This week I don’t recall getting any new mail. It’s no big disappointment, though, since no one that’s written to me meets any of my criteria. And, hello, I listed them on the site. If I read some guy’s "ad" and he said he wanted "a petite, blond, model, early 20’s" would I think, "I’m sure those are only suggestions"? No, I would dismiss that guy as a shallow creep who isn’t worth my time in the first place.

Work today has been okay. I did work for them and work for me. (Insert innocent smile here.) Doing their work, I chipped a nail and it is catching everything.

I can imagine that you didn’t want to go to work! I guess it is a small comfort to you to know that the business Nora had with you is over now. It is *so* ironic . . . if you were a mean catty person, you could sneer, "Gee, you said I was doing such a terrible job. It’s funny how I didn’t get fired too." But, it’s good that you are going to let it go. I guess all of you there really need to be pulling together to overcome that.

I would have cried talking to Mary too! That is insane, firing people that have worked there for two years for something like that. I could not believe how their "shopper" was acting. Banging on the door and swearing? You’re right, I would *not* have let her in. I’d have threatened to call the police. That is so crappy/crazy/unbelievable though that those three lost their jobs over a $1.99 card and over doing what any one of us would do, which is not open the door for some angry freak. I thought that those secret shoppers were supposed to be average customers; I didn’t know they were supposed to be way out of the ordinary and then expect you to just take it!

And they fired Ed for getting quarters?! My sister does that too - gets state quarters and replaces them with others.

Your attitude about work sounds like mine; I half-wish they’d close this business so I’d be forced to find something better. I’d hate to leave them and my comfort zone, and I don’t plan to for a while, but still, ya can’t help wondering …

It’s good that you’re remembering how constant God is. Weren’t we talking about this not too long ago, about trusting God in everything? I believe we did mention it, because I remember us saying that even if our worst "what if" happened, it would be okay because God is still in control. Plus, who could forget my favorite saying? "Everything happens for our good according to God’s plan." I absolutely believe that 100% because I have seen it to be the case so many times, as I’m sure you have too.

In other news, it is crazy weather here. It’s been less cold; some would call it warm. It is a balmy 75 degrees outside and it’s cloudy like a storm is coming. No big surprise there.

I guess I’d better think of anything I want to say to you by tomorrow, or I’ll have to save it for a whole week. So when will you be back again? Monday the 12th? Zoiks!

That’s it for today. Talk to you tomorrow. God bless!

Anne

Yes, that is surreal, all of those people being fired clear out of the blue like that! That does sound very suspicious. Like you said, why not just give them a warning? Why fire them for this first offense? You don’t sound worried; I’m glad. As one that has lost/quit many jobs, I can tell you for sure that there are plenty of other fish in the sea.

Here, I have been trying to put together the necessary paperwork for our new employees in CA and I am drowning in it. My boss keeps having petty projects for me; he must’ve decided that I have too much free time. That’s how it is here though some days are dead, but then on the busy days, everything has to get done right away.

You hate Outlook Express? I love it - to each her own, right? Like we were saying, it’s just whatever you get used to. When I get used to one and then try to use another, I think, "Well they are doing it this way and this is wrong! It’s supposed to be done like the other program does it."

I understand about you not being able to tape Angel next week, really. Believe me, any help you can give is greatly appreciated!

I know this is a remarkably short letter today, but as I mentioned, I’m swamped! Now the boss wants me to go to Office Depot and simultaneously get this paperwork ready to FedEx to CA. Plus, I’m sure you’re busy with packing and stuff, so that works out okay I guess

That’s it for today. Talk to you soon. God bless!

Anne

God bless the USA

Hi, Michele!

Oh yes, did I mention? Thank you! I really appreciate you taping Angel for me. I have a feeling that I will also ask you to tape another ep for me.

How is your yahoo-ing going? My advice about that situation would be to try it for a week or two - after your trip perhaps. Then if you still don’t like it, just get another hotmail account and maybe use the yahoo one for storage. When I started using yahoo, it took me a while to get the hang of it. At work I use the very user-friendly Outlook Express. With yahoo I had to search every time I wanted to do anything. When I’d read a message, I’d wonder, "Okay, *now* how do I get back to my inbox? D’oh!" Now, I like the yahoo account at least as well as the work one.

I can relate to your customers-are-so-clueless story where you were struggling with the shelf and that lady was totally oblivious to it. She probably expected you to drop everything to help her - literally! When I was waiting tables, whenever I had both hands full of plates to deliver or take away, some schmoe would be handing me their dirty plate to remove. I’d want to sarcastically say, "Sure, I can get that one too, just stick it in my apron pocket."

That reminds me - sometimes older men customers would try to stick the tip in my apron pocket. (Pervs!) I believe they had the [restaurant] mistaken for a completely different kind of establishment! Let’s stop to praise the Lord that I don’t work there anymore. Woo hoo!

Anyway, no I don’t have any of Jeff Foxworthy’s albums, but I like what I’ve seen of him. I even used to like his sitcom - did you ever watch that? That "I see dead people" kid played one of Jeff’s TV kids, and Bill Engvall was his goofy TV best friend.

You’re not packed yet? Well, girl, what are ya waiting for? I am the same way. Do you ever have those dreams where you’re leaving for a trip and you haven’t packed anything? I usually have those when I’m going somewhere for a visit.

Speaking of dreams, I had a great dream about Keanu Reeves last night! I was over-enthusiastically hugging him and kissing his cheek and, well, his face. I was gushing on about how tall he is ("I like tall men," I cleverly said.) and how handsome he is (Yep, I said, "I like handsome.") The only bad thing was that he seemed to be stealing money from my check book. Hmmm. What do you suppose that means, symbolically?

I can see the packing difficulties because of the temperature difference. I would probably wear layers that I could peel off as the temperature increased. I have before done like you, start off with a long-sleeved shirt or light jacket and then end up with it tied around my waist. If you’re going to the hotel first, you can always change into shorts there. Do you wear shorts? I admit that I wear jeans most of the time, unless it’s about 100 degrees. I would probably wear shorts in Florida; I can handle strangers judging my lily-white legs.

I did hear that rumor about another terrorist attack. Every time I hear that stuff I think, "This is crazy!" I would think if those so-called intelligence guys knew that there was an attack "tentatively" planned, they would know where the bloody planned target is. I *really* do not think that you should worry about your trip though. My bosses have flown safely to Los Angeles and New York several times in the past two weeks. My boss, KA, just got back from New York yesterday and he had no problems. Still, as you asked, I will spend extra time in prayer for both safety and for the Lord to calm your fears.

Did I tell you that my professor is out of town tomorrow? So I will have only one class this week. Woo hoo! AND he only gave us two short problems to do AND I’ve finished one and started the other. But we do have a test coming up, and I absolutely need to start ASAP and prepare for it.

Did I also tell you that my boss asked his friend’s daughter to come sit here while I went to class yesterday? (My boss was out of town, as he returned from New York.) She was a typical teenager, just about everything I said to her, she would look at me blankly like, "Whatever." She said the phone only rang one time and it was her dad. She asked if they would need her every Monday. I replied that I didn’t know. She probably thinks I have the easiest job ever. It’s true, the job is really easy most of the time, but sometimes I do have actual work to do.

That’s it for today. I’ll talk to you soon! God bless!

Anne

God bless the USA!

Ola again!

My email is freaking out! I wasn’t through typing! I didn’t mean to hit send! And I did put the Yahoo address in the TO section! I must’ve hit reply, so I replied to the email addy that you sent the last email from. So you may have to track down the first part of the email and when you find it, it will still be in rough draft form. Ooops!

Oh me. It must be Monday. My boss is out of town today, but he’s calling periodically to check on me. He’s got their friends’ daughter coming in to answer the phones when I go to class. Speaking of class, my homework is done. Woo hoo! I completed it with time to spare on Saturday.

I was going to add to my email response, that I was having a third wheel day myself yesterday. In Sunday School, it was three disgustingly cute couples and my sister and me. And here’s the kicker, all of those couples are way younger than I am.

I guess I’ll go ahead and send this one. I hate when I interrupt my thought-flow!

God bless!

Anne

Ola, Michele!

So you’re not loving Yahoo? I guess when you get used to one email program, it’s tough to switch gears to another.

So about taping Angel, please tape it tonight! But, if you will, please hold it for me for a few weeks. My other source didn’t get to send me last week’s episode as planned, so she is supposed to include tonight’s ep as well. I’m hoping that you can be my backup. I’m still putting the postage in the mail to you today, because I’m sure that I’ll need at least one ep from you.

"You’ve been doing much better." What? Maybe that is Nora’s way of apologizing. Thank heavens she has put down the crack pipe and isn’t still giving you grief for ridiculous things! And what is the story with that Aubrey chick? I know just the kind of goofy "Oh my gosh" that you mean.

I was walking outside and it was a bit nippy, but bearable. I actually wondered how it was there in Pittsburgh. Whoa, it’s freezing?

I don’t belong to the Crossings book club yet, but I will check it out. Thanks!

A whole week of not emailing! ZOIKS! How will I survive? I think we’re supposed to have a test that week, so I guess that will keep me busy. And you’ll be busy there at the Happiest Place on Earth.

That’s it for today. Talk to you soon! God bless!

Anne

 Hey look! It’s Angel-face!

Hi, Michele!

I’m sorry to see that you’re having a CLD. I was having one of those myself a day or two ago! "I’m fat! I hate my face! WHY don’t I have a man?" To elaborate on that face thing, sometimes I’ll see my reflection and think, "Whoa, I am gorgeous!!" But sometimes I’ll see myself at a certain angle or in a certain light or in a photograph and think, "Egads! Is *that* what people see?!" Anyway, I think I’m also experience the joys of PMS - I have a bumper crop of zits on my chin. Yep, it’s pretty charming. You wrote a while back that it seems life is generally better with someone to love - that is so true! Even while I just had my big crush on Randy - it was so nice to feel like I had someone that I was really crazy about.

Yesterday, I checked my Angel email and there was a letter from a person in my same predicament: their Fox station that used to show Angel has stopped showing it. I wondered if she lives in this area. She was asking me to tape it for her or let her know where to find them. I wrote back and said that I am in the exact same boat and that I was still trying to obtain the eps for myself. I told her that I’d let her know what I find. The next email that I opened was from "ScoopMe" which sends out a generic email to me when they add a new Angel article. At the bottom of that email there was a link to their "tapes" site. I checked it out; it’s where members can post what tapes/episodes of various shows they have available for other viewers to "borrow." I found one with the episode I missed last week. Great! I’m "coordinating" with the owner of that tape to "borrow" it. I don’t want to do that for the rest of the season, but it’s a great short-term solution. If you could still tape the ep next week, I’d be ever so grateful! I’ll send the postage for you, and I will remind you on Monday as you requested. If you could mail that one ep to me during that week, that will be perfect. I really, really hope to find a local source in the next week or two.

After I joined that tapes site yesterday for free - today they sent out an email announcing that there is now a $12/year fee to use the tape service. This is crazy! I used to see the show for free! I have sent two "you suck" emails and a snail mail letter to our local Fox station. (blech!) No, I didn’t use the exact phrase "you suck" but I really wanted to! I may even call them to complain as well. I don’t think it will accomplish anything, but I will feel better for making my voice heard.

Look at how I go on about this situation. I told my sister, "Yes, I know that if this is the biggest problem I have in the world then I am doing very well." If I didn’t have the website, I probably wouldn’t be as anxious to see the shows, although I would miss them. I really hate this; I had been doing so well at keeping the reviews up to date!

As a side Angel note, this morning I dreamed for the second time that Angel was acting like Ray - that is like a huge jerk! When I wake up from those dreams I like Angel a lot less until I realize it was just a dream. In this dream, I think I was begging him to stay but he still left me for that Playboy bunny. I seem to recall an announcement from the WB to the effect of "We’re canceling the show, but thanks for watching." I wonder where that thought is coming from. (Sarcasm there.)

ANYWAY! In other news …. I’m trying to think of some other news. Oh! I have an inventory gig tomorrow at the grocery store where my mother works and she is working tomorrow evening as well. She’ll get to see me do my counting thang. Tomorrow morning I need to go get the oil changed on my car. This is my second gig for the month of October; I am raking in the mega-bucks now! (lol) It’s also the only gig I have on my schedule.

Since I worked over, my boss said yesterday that maybe I can leave a bit early today. That would be great! But I’ll believe it when I see it. Sometime this weekend I must finish up the HW that is due on Monday.

So is everything still going okay with Nora? I’m curious, has she ever said anything like that to anyone else that you know of?

I enjoyed reading your movie reviews! I was trying to recall one I wanted to see .. oh yes, Keanu’s "Hardball." (Talk about things that sound dirty but aren’t. Giggle! Blush!) Do you know if that’s still playing? I’ve seen Castaway; yes, Mr. Hanks’ performance was excellent. He is one of those actors that consistently does a very high quality of work.

That’s it for today. Have a great weekend! God bless!
Anne
God bless the USA!

Hi, Michele!

What a day (or two) I am having! Yesterday I was here until 7:00 (yes, pm!) working on printing and typing stuff for the booth today. We went over there about eight this morning and we got back here about 2:30. It was pretty nice, although it wasn’t as busy as we hoped. They provided a nice lunch for us there. I picked up a bunch of free handout things like pens, can holders, monitor cleaners, etc. My day is complete!

So you had to start another email account? I was thinking, "She should get a yahoo account." Then I re-read the paragraph - you did get a yahoo account. (It’s been a long two days!) *****’s babe, huh? Why can’t I have something cool like that? No, I have to be "*****." For what it’s worth, I like that yahoo account that I have (for the Angel site). I discovered a way to check my work email using the yahoo account by using the check other mail option and entering this account’s info. That could come in very handy!

That’s great that things are going well for you at work. But, I agree, that does make Friday’s episode seem much more odd. What is that, the Twilight Zone [store]? I bet you want to ask her, "Excuse me, what the heck was all that about?" On the other hand, you don’t want to get her started again! I will still keep your job situation in my prayers.

Hmm, Joy Ride? I don’t think I’ve heard of that. Who’s in it? What’s it about?

It is odd how Darrell and Ray have the same b-day, but Darrell is one year younger than Ray. I know that Ray was extremely jealous of Darrell for having a good job. No, they’ve never met as far as I know, but one time Ray and I wound up eating at the same pizza place as Darrell and his wife, but Darrell didn’t stop. He only waved at me as he passed our table. (This was when he was still working for *****.)

I know exactly what you mean about catty women and their men, although I have no idea why they have to be that way. I saw that so many times when I was waiting tables. The guy would be really nice, but the woman would be a total b! (And I wondered with amazement, "And yet *she* has what seems to be a great guy. How …?") And I know the look they give us, the attractive sales people. I remember taking an order at a middle table one time, and I turned my head a bit and leaned in so I could hear better. I realized later that it looked like I turned to look at the guy at the table next to me, the woman at that table was giving me such a look. I used to always think, "Honey, don’t flatter yourself: your man ain’t that great." I liked your sentiment, "If you are that insecure in your relationship, I don’t see you having much of a future together." So true!

I haven’t seen the Rocky movies, but I do know a little about them. No, our Rocky doesn’t occasionally shout, "Adrian!" When he enters a room though the theme from Rocky does play, and sometimes a bell rings to signal another round.

Re: taping Angel. I’d really, really, really, really appreciate if you could tape the next two or three. (Really!) Do not worry about the picture quality - since our channel went to a mainly digital format, those of us with antennas have a terrible reception. As I said, I am brainstorming hard to find a way to tape it here. I’m really angry at that channel for doing that to me, four shows into the new season no less! I do not exaggerate to say that it ruined my day! It appears that I’ll need to make some new friends that have that kind of cable. Like I mentioned, it isn’t regular cable it’s "digital cable." (Well, la - di - dah!) And it isn’t even available in our house! My lead option right now is to see if I could get it at work. My lead problem is how to explain that to the boss! I am going to find a way! And I am going to send that channel many more emails and letters to express my dissatisfaction!

That’s it for today. Talk to you soon! God bless!
Anne
God bless the USA!

Wesley: At your service. What can I do for you?
Buttercup: You can die slowly, cut into a thousand pieces.
From The Princess Bride
(That’s exactly how I feel about that Fox channel of ours!!)

Hi, Michele!

Yep, it is the birthday of both Darrell and Ray. They are a study in opposites: Ray is a physically attractive jerk (pretty much) and Darrell is less attractive physically but a super-great guy. Take a guess which one I would rather have! I secretly love the thought of Ray hoping that I’ll call him today and yet the whole day will go buy without even a word from me. Sometimes silence says more than words ever could. Actually, I doubt that he’s thinking of me; he isn’t the type to sit and pine for someone to call. He is, after all, a man.

Anyway, that is great that it went better for you at work. I was praying and generally sending good thoughts your way and wondering how it was going.

You said that you try to picture the worst thing that could happen in a given scenario; I heard that was a very good mental exercise for calming fears. I heard a radio interview with a Christian singer and she said that same thing, "If you’re going to play the "what if" game, take it all the way."

That Jeff guy you mentioned sounds like a Joewiel wannabe! I’ve known plenty of people like that; I can just imagine the look that you’re talking about. It burns me up that people do think that just because you’re not married and don’t have kids that you’re some naive child.

Definitely, guy bosses are usually easier to get along with than lady bosses. It is a sorry double standard, but more times than not, a lady boss can ask me to do something and she will come across as more of a bitc? than sounding managerial and authoritative. Do you find that to be true or am I just difficult? I’m trying to recall if any of my bosses has been younger than me; I can’t think of any but I know some that were very close to my age. I can think of one -Tommy - that is like that Jeff guy - he was only two months older than me, but he thought he was so professional and so grand. (I get ill now just thinking of him.)

Today, at work, the part-time guy Rocky is in for the first time in a long time. He’s "helping" us put together stuff for the booth tomorrow. Sometimes I don’t know why KA (my other boss) asks for his opinion; they never seem to take any of his ideas! Plus, they are stressing me out with all this last minute crap. "Here, Anne, make these changes and print this." I have such a stack of crap on my desk to do. WHY DO THEY ALWAYS WAIT TIL THE LAST MINUTE?

Adding to my stress level is the fact that I must soon register for the spring semester and I am still undecided over what classes to take. I need to take two and a lab, and I should probably take another one. I seriously wonder if I will have the time to take three extra-tough senior level classes and work. If I don’t take that third class this spring, I’ll have to take it next Spring (2003!) and I will have four tough senior level classes then! However if I am looking at the schedule right, that will be the last semester that I have to take. But what if I fail a class between now and then? These classes are only offered once a year. That’s how I’m in this mess, because I failed the class I have now last time and it’s only offered in the fall.

In other news, I sat down last night ready to watch my tape of Angel and "King of the Hill" started playing. After I stopped shrieking, "What the &^%#^??" I realized that I did indeed set the timer correctly, but the show didn’t come on! Darn it! I guess there’ll be no review next week. I checked the channel’s website and now they’re only showing the WB programming on their cable affiliate! Darn it! Is there any way that you could tape the next few Angel episodes mail them to me? You could put them on one tape and send it in a couple of weeks. I can send you a lot of postage to use. Or if you have any other ideas, please let me know. I’m going to have to come up with another plan. This really sucks! Either we can pay an extra $40 a month for cable or I must inconvenience other people to tape it for me. I wrote to that channel and expressed my extreme dissatisfaction over that situation: like they care. I was thinking that I’ll probably have to f*&^#@! buy cable but they don’t f*&^#@! offer the "digital" cable that carries it in my area! Aaargh! I guess I’ll have to rent an apartment in this area so I can get it. Or maybe I should get the business package at work; that won’t cost more than $100 a month. (Sarcasm there.) I hate this!

I am so peeved that I just want to go home! And of course *this* is the day that we’re really busy.

That’s it for today. Talk to you soon! God bless!
Anne