Simply Life

Do not be alarmed! I am still here. Although, I will admit, I have been scarce. I've been missing the computer and all you lovely people. Did I tell you I have a job? Yes, ma'am, or sir as the case may be!
I work at a Shoe store. Not exactly glamorous, I know. And, retail can be a b*tch too. My feet, legs, and lower back hate me right now. Today was my third day. I think I am catching on really quick.
I will say, I feel old. Not just because of the pain. My manager is married, has two children 2 & 3 years old, and is 21. Yep. Twenty-one. I may be the oldest one there. My word! I am only 29. How can I be the oldest (or at least possibly the second oldest) there? You want to know why? I bet I know why. Everyone my age has a career. They don't have a retail job as a full-time job.
I like the people I work with, and I get to see lots of kids.
Right now, I can deal with everything else. :)

Out the window she gazes
watching and waiting for a glimpse of her old life.
all that she sees are maple leaves
rustling down the street
and thunder clouds on the horizon.

(March 14, 2004)

*This was a blonde joke when I received it. I don't like blonde jokes but I thought it was funny. So, I've edited it!*


A highway patrolman pulled alongside a speeding car on the freeway. Glancing at the car, he was astounded to see the blonde person behind the wheel was knitting.

Realizing the person was oblivious to his flashing light and siren, the trooper cranked down his window, turned on his bullhorn and yelled, "Pull over!"

"No!" the blonde person yelled back, "turtleneck!"

she let him
take her
someplace she'd only heard about
in bathrooms
and hushed secret conversations
it felt like love
in the backseat of a Chevy
But, in the light of day
love faded away
and she was left
with only regrets

121 degrees read the temperature on my car gauge. Can that be right?
Sweat beads my brow even as I sit in the air conditioned luxury of my SUV. (SUV = Gas guzzler, I know. But, that's another story.)
What did Arizonans do before the sweet relief, or at least the aid, of refrigerated air?
My mind shudders at the very thought.
The scary part of this high temperature reading is that it is only June. The real heat usually hits in July & August.
So, what does this mean for us?
130's!
(I shouldn't even think it, nevermind say it!)

My throat strangles the words
before they've seen the light of day.
They are better off dead.
Born of anger and frustration -
they will only breed the same.

This is an older picture of my grandmother's brothers & sisters. You can click on the photo to make it bigger.
The person highighted is my Great-Uncle Jerome. We just found out today, after church, that he passed away in his sleep last night.
He lived in Vermont for most of his life. However, he wasn't in Vermont when he died. He had gone on a road trip with Larry his nephew. They drove from Vermont to New Hampshire in a camper to see family.
Apparently, he was fine last night. But, this morning he didn't wake up.
He was only 68 years old. To me, that is young. I can't believe he is gone. It seems like craziness when someone you love dies, and someone else in worse condition & older age is still with us. Uncle Jerome was very active! He loved to ski (something even I haven't done!) and other outdoor things.
He owned the property that "housed" the annual family reunion; an event which I remember as a very small child. I wonder what will happen to the beautiful, wooded, mountain top site. I think back upon it with such fondness.
I have been reminded, through sad circumstances, that life is short.
Live it while you have it!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Father's Day. It's been 5 years now since my dad passed away. I wish I had known him better.
He made a lot of mistakes in his life. I do know that he loved me.
At his funeral, I was told that he said I was the best thing that he ever did.
That meant a lot.
I remember when I was younger (perhaps a teenager), I gave my mom a Father's Day card. It was no accident. I did, and still do, believe that she has been more of a father to me than he was. She was the one who took care of me every day, and loved me through everything. He loved me from afar. He was too busy either drinking or trying to get better.
I loved him then, and I love him still.
I've missed him all my life.

Moral of the story: Don't waste your life drinking, or anything else. It's too precious.

1. Domesticated:: Cat
   
2. Cask:: of Amontillado
   
3. Wayne:: John
   
4. Insidious:: trap
   
5. Cool!:: Ice
   
6. Dishwasher:: Yea!
   
7. Little house:: on the prarie
   
8. Stepford:: wives
   
9. Hung:: William
   
10. Falling:: Down
    

This entry is dedicated to Noelle (for tagging me)!

Consider Yourself Tagged: Mom, Michele, Anyone that links to my blog!

1. What is your occupation?: Bus Monitor (for now)
2. What color is your underwear?: do you need to know? ok, light blue
3. What are you listening to right now?: A job hotline
4. What was the last thing you ate?: Carmel Chocolate Poptarts
5. Do you wish on stars?: Not really
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?: Pouty Purple
7. How is the weather right now?: It is 101, and sunny. Ick. And, there is an Ozone Advisory here today.
*In other words, stay inside so you don't have to breathe the air!*
8. Last person you spoke to on the phone?: My mom
9. Do you like the person who tagged you with this quiz?: Yes, Noelle is a good blog buddy! I wish I knew
her in "real life"
10. Favorite thing to drink?: Coke, and water
11. Favorite sport to watch?: None really - ice skating?
12. Have you ever dyed your hair?: Yep, I used to want it light brown. Ugh, not my color! I'll stick with natural.
God can't be wrong! :)
13. Do you wear contacts or glasses?: both, I am blind as...the three blind mice?
14. Pets?: 2 dachsunds; Buddy & Kinki, 1 cat; Rusty, and 4 kittens (for now); Patches, Tiger, Tigger, & Shadow.
We'll see how long we have all of them, and which one(s) we will keep.
15. Favorite month?: December - the perfect temp in sunny AZ
16. Favorite food?: Chicken Pesto Pasta (mmm...now I'm hungry)
17. What was the last movie you watched?: Can't Buy Me Love
18. Favorite day of the year?: ? Maybe Christmas
19. What do you do to vent anger?: Cry, Post in my blog, Write poems
20. What was your favorite toy as a child?: I had a few that I remember; Barbies, a Cabbage Patch cowgirl
w/horse, and lots of books.
21. Fall or Spring?: Fall - definitely. Less misery from allergies!
22. Cherry or Blueberry?: Cherry
24. Do you want your friends to fill out this quiz?: Would I have picked people to tag if I didn't?
25. Who is most likely to respond?: Dunno
26. Who is least likely to respond?: Mom
27. Living arrangements?: Along with the zoo - I am blessed to live in our 3 bdrm 2 bath home with my hubby
& and my mom.
28. When was the last time you cried?: At church on Sunday (hey, I'm being honest here)
29. What is on the floor of your closet?: There really is no floor right now. I'm bad. Shoes, comforters, plastic
storage things.
30. Who is the friend you have had the longest?: Amanda, although I just got back in contact with her....so either
Steph or my hubby, Thomas. I've known both of them since 9th Grade.
31. What did you do last night?: Spent part of it filling out a computer survey for a job possibility
32. Favorite smell?: Warm Sugar Vanilla (bath & body works), or lilacs.... or Gold Canyon Candles; Carmel
Apple. :)
33. What inspires you?: kindness, children, honesty, openness, God, my family, my friends (online & offline)
34. What are you afraid of?: too much; bugs, commitment of my time, money handling (bills & such)
35. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers?: Carl's Junior six dollar burger (it's huge but yummy) So, I guess cheese!
36. Favorite car?: I'm not really picky
37. Favorite dog?: Chocolate labs, pugs, and dachsunds
38. Number of keys on your key ring?: 8
39. How many years at your current job?: 5 1/2
40. Favorite day of the week?: Friday night, and Sundays
41. How many states have you lived in?: 3 - New Hampshire, Arizona, and California
42. How many cities have you lived in?: too many to count! Maybe 7 - 8?
43. Where did you go to High School?: Mesa, AZ
44. What is your favorite Decade or Year?: 1989, I was in love with music then!
45. What is your favorite Musician/Group?: a lot! Relient K, Casting Crowns, Evanescence, Josh Groban...
46. What is your favorite song?: right now? Behind These Hazel Eyes, Kelly Clarkson
47. What is your fondest childhood memory?: All the times with my mom and I when I was little. We'd go on
these walks and she would let me pick which way to go!
48. What was your first job?: Sizzler Restaurant - Hostess
49. What's the most recent book you've read?: Haven't really read much lately.
50. If you could go back in time & change something or do something over in your life, what would it be?:
I would have stood up to the kids in elementary school that were jerks! :)