PSA to Holiday Drivers

All I can say is......Really?

Usually my little road trip down to my parent's house - 4 hours from mine, is a fairly dull drive. Which, until today I might have complained about.

People, I understand it's December 23rd. I understand you want to get to your holiday destination just as much as I do, but your level of disrespect for other drivers on the road is enough to make even the most sane person snap.

Here's a brief list of things you need to work on:

1.) high beams. These are typically used for dark secluded roads where your only real fear is hitting bambi. Flying up behind a car doing 95mph and then flipping them on in a person's mirrors is just slightly uncalled for. If you think that they are going too slow for you at their pace of 85mph, then just go the hell around them. It's called common sense and it's quite apparent that while you might have the most pimp Escalade in your neighborhood - you have absolutely no common sense. Just a nice chip on your shoulder the size of Montana.

2.) Brake checking. ok.....all I can say is I sincerely hope that the person who eventually rear ends you causes your car to lose control and spin into a thick wooded forest, and let darwin take it from there. You had it coming.

3.) Congratulations on pulling every driving maneuver you learned in your 35 years of watching Nascar. Cutting off that many people got you one car length ahead in traffic. You will arrive at your destination .12 seconds earlier than planned. Go you.

and finally....

4.) blocking. Seriously? We are all trying to get somewhere. I understand this. Aunt Jane's famous pumpkin pie will still be there if you let me get in that lane. Rapidly accelerating to prevent me from changing lanes only proves to me that you are a prick who will stop at nothing to prove your manliness or lack thereof.

Merry Frigging Christmas.

How to learn compassion in a week or less.....

Week one at the new job.

We all know me. I'm cynical, prejudiced, and negative.

While my political views will not be changed, my level of compassion towards others, will. After one week working for a non profit day care and preschool, I see it all.

I see happiness, sadness, ignorance, and unconditional love.

My new place of work could not be any more different than any previous job before.

I see children of every race, religion, and age. Some come from well established households, while a majority do not. They come from foster homes, broken homes, and situations I don't care to think about. And every one of them is beautiful with a different story to tell.

I wanted this job so I could make a difference, in any possible way I could. I'm so incredibly thankful that within a few days time, I'm able to bring Christmas to a couple of kids that walk the halls I work in. I see moms that don't care, and some that have reached their breaking point. I've already seen the good foster parents and the bad. It's amazing that I can be so disgusted and elated about these kids at the same time.

All I can say is.....love your children. Take care of your children. Put them before yourself. Be thankful for everything you have. Food, love, and clothes. I already want to give these kids everything.

......have a good weekend.

Aunt Bunny's Tree

Back in October when we went to my Grandparent's house in North Georgia, my Grandpa (mom's dad) handed something down to me. It was a ceramic tree that his sister had made back in the 60's. Aunt Bunny and I clicked right away when I fist met her, back when I was about 10 years old. She owned a Llama farm in Sedro Wooley, Washington and she became my 'fax pal'. We'd write every couple weeks and when she and my Great-Uncle traveled, she was always sure to send me a postcard from their destinations. 19 years later, I still have all her letters.

She passed away some years back after having two strokes.

This tree was something special that everyone in the family grew up with as a Christmas decoration.....when Grandpa pulled it out for me to see for the first time, half of it was shattered.

I consider this mine and Aunt Bunny's little project. Since I brought it home, it's had a little bit of work done to it - so that it can be enjoyed for many more generations.

Here's what it looked like after I'd pieced together most of the parts that had broken off. Only about 1/3 of the tree was still intact with no cracks.


All together.




I used spackle to fill in a few small holes, and to smooth over the cracks. Then I sanded it down.



It took me a while to find a paint color that matched what she had painted it all those years ago. The glitter that she had on there was browned and dingy from all the years. I contemplated for a while whether to leave it, or redo it, so that it can once again be displayed again. I sanded off what I could of the old glue and glitter, but made sure to leave enough there so that I could 're-glitter' it in the same lines that she had. (sorry for the bad garage lighting)


I was so scared to do this, but I'm so glad I did. It turned out so wonderful.



I was even able to still find plain white glitter - just like what she used.


Hope you like it Aunt Bunny. I enjoyed 'our' little project.

Since being out of work......

....it's been interesting. A jumbled mix of housecleaning, laundry, painting bedrooms, being Betty Crocker, and sending out gobs and gobs of resumes.

Mr. Obama, I know you said that this recession was over in June, but well....I have to disagree. It's only 1pm on Thursday, and so far this week I have sent out 93 Resumes.

93.

That's a lot of picking through different websites, and sorting through all the ads on Craigslist in anything from Administrative, to Retail, to Childcare.

And ok....here's something I don't get. All those Craigslist scammers out there. I'd like to know what exactly they gain by posting bogus ads to unemployed people. We don't work, we have no money.....and this is the best thing you can come up with? No wonder you are failing in life Mr. Nigerian Scammer. You are a bleeding moron.

I've been on a number of interviews - some better than others. Last week I was absolutely sure I'd be getting an offer. I sat at this interview for 2 hours talking to various people (including the owner) that they brought in last minute to meet with me. I impressed the pants off them, and I know it. Life is just full of surprises and uncertainties.....

family tradition....

In my farewell to my vette blog, I might have left out a little tidbit....

because it was a surprise for my dad, and I wanted to make sure that nothing spoiled it. Since I was 18 I've wanted to give my dad a corvette. I searched for an affordable project car back then, and wasn't able to find anything I could afford. Eventually he bought a couple C3's to work on, so that 'buy his first' theory went out the window. But this past Friday I did the next best thing, by arranging a full museum delivery of my car, to him.













Taking advantage of the fact my parents were finally up here to visit (they only come up about once a year) we decided to hit a few places that Rob and I enjoy, as well as the Oktoberfest in Historic Germantown. Oktoberfest was fun and all, but left some to be desired. Very little there was German themed which bummed us out (seeing that we are quite German) so instead of hanging out all day there we opted to head to the Flying Saucer where the beers were cheaper, and the food was better. Once we had lunch we headed to the Yazoo Brewery for a tour and tasting before heading home for the evening. So.....saturday involved lots of food and beer. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Farewell my little corvette.....

This weekend will be tough on me. I can honestly say that my corvette changed my life. Had I not bought it, I would not be in Tennessee, I would not be with Rob, and I would have missed out on some seriously amazing people and activities.

I've conquered the Tail of the Dragon, attended numerous car shows and cruise nights, driven with fiery enthusiasm at Road Atlanta, and spent countless hours detailing it (as well as fixing it's many ailments).

I've been proud and beaming many times and I shifted through each of it's quick and powerful 6 gears, and I've cursed more times than I can remember as one thing broke after the other.

All in all though, it's been a damn good car. Few things in life will compare to stomping the accelerator on the highway and feel the wind blow through your hair....

In a little over a week, it will go to my father.....who I know will take wonderful care of it. He has more patience than I do to work on it, to fix all of the electrical demons, and to make sure that every part of it stays working perfectly. After all, he's the one that got me hooked on corvettes. I remember oogling c4's (yes, c4's....) when I was a little girl, and both of us wishing we could have one someday.

Although he's had his fair share of C3's, this is a milestone for him as well. As I say farewell to this chapter in my car history.

Echo, you will be missed.

40 days

That's the life span of a wasp.

you have to be kidding me. I googled this only after I built a wasp stick. Which is 3 trusty bamboo yard stakes duct taped together.

I poked him.

He wasn't dead.

Now he's just mad.







crap.

oh yeah, and here's the finished product of the guest room. I held off on posting pics, since I'm yet to get anything on the walls.

where I've been...

I feel bad, as though I've been neglecting my little blog. It's been a couple weeks since 'the quitting' and I've never been happier. Sure, I'm worried about not being able to pay all my bills, but I don't dread waking up each morning. I make sure that I hit all the major sites each day to send out resumes, and keep my fingers crossed that I get a call from Vanderbilt, or Gaylord Opry. Or anything, really. ( lol )

I've kept busy though - I've been a painting and cleaning fool in this house. And shredding. Apparently my loving boyfriend has kept every single receipt and bill from the past 14 years. It has been my goal to go through and shred every single one of these. I started last week. I'm still not done. His office has been the only room in this house I have not touched since moving in over two years ago. I don't feel so bad for having a storage unit full of my things now. :)

Last weekend we headed to Memphis for Rob's 20th high school reunion. We love any excuse to dress up. Can't say much for the reunion though, as we paid entirely too much for the quality of food they had there. But hey, it's all about the memories, right? Oh yeah, and I also went gambling. In my 29 years here, I have yet to actually do this. So Saturday morning we headed to Tunica to the Harrah's casino with Rob and his parents. Had a blast. But I have to admit, I don't see how people can become so addicted to this!

...and that whole wasp thing? Yeah - going on day 7. Wasp is still in the same place. Still moving those disgusting twig legs. So I know he's not dead. Just sitting there. Waiting. Plotting. Mocking. Die wasp.


Pics to follow tomorrow.

For now, I'm going to enjoy this nice tasty cool, Terrapin Pumpkinfest. (which , yes - is worth buying)

Wine, Waterfalls, and 950 Miles Later....

It's been a little while since my last update. I made it through week 1 of not working, and I managed to keep myself fairly occupied. Now that I'm back from 4 days out, the routine of endless cleaning and laundry begins again.

I drove down to GA on Thursday to visit my parents for a few days, and on Friday I drove 2 hours south to the little town of Haddock to pick up Rob's new smoker. Whenever I drive to a place like that I wonder how people can live so far from well......everything. I love the country and the fresh air, but I don't think I could live on a dirt road 30+ minutes from the nearest grocery store. But I got to drive through Monticello, which is a neat and historic town, so I was grateful for the opportunity to see some old houses.....one of which had a garage sale. Apparently they aren't sure if it's actually on "Hilton St".



Saturday I was bored. I can't sit still for long, and with mom sewing, and dad working on the back deck, I got the urge to head up to North Georgia. When I was in my late teens, early 20's I practically lived up there on weekends. I was always off roading, hiking, or camping, but since I've gotten older, I rarely get the time to go back. I opted to go to Wolf Mountain Winery for a tasting, and then go to Dick's Creek Falls.

Wolf Mountain was absolutely beautiful. I haven't been to the other vineyards up in that area, but no doubt, this one needs to be on your winery tour list. Situated at the top of one of the mountains, and very steep narrow roads to get around the area.....proved to make my leaving after tasting wine, a somewhat thrilling feat. I impressed myself by being able to maneuver a quad cab truck through a tiny, odd shaped parking lot, and squeeze through two other SUVs, just to be welcomed by a very sharp right turn. All in all though, it's well worth it!





Here is a map for all the wineries in that area: http://www.georgiawine.com/georgia-wine-country-map

After my wine tasting, I headed up the road about 10 minutes to Dick's Creek Falls. It hadn't rained in a little while, so it was not as powerful as it was when I first photographed it about 7 years ago. There were a couple families there swimming in the pools at the top and bottom of the falls, so with shorts and tank top on, I jumped right in.....I absolutely loved every moment of my afternoon.







Made it home yesterday late afternoon, wanting to get home early to get ready for my interview this morning.....hoping and praying it goes well!

Day 1

of my new start....

It was nice to wake up and not feel my stomach turning, dreading what the work day would bring. (Ex) boss was even calling me over the weekend, asking for my time card which I had already told them would be mailed out this week. I spent my morning sending out resumes, and crossing my fingers that this is a temporary situation.

This afternoon I was already getting antsy. Anyone who knows me well, knows I can't sit still. So in order to feel productive I've decided to do some work to the house. Starting with the guest room. I've already cleaned most of it out, and begun taping.



....if only I had a color in mind.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On to the weekend's events.

Man was it a weekend. I think we are still wiped out from it. Just can't party and stay up late like we used to in our younger 20's. We headed on Saturday night to a party at Mad Donna's in East Nashville for a birthday party for our friend Rachel. She put some awesome creativity into planning this out, and it was well worth her efforts. With a Lady Gaga theme.....well, the pics speak for themselves!












Running on 4 hours of sleep from the night before, we headed out to the Titan's home opener on Sunday. Aside from sitting in the beating sun and getting some interesting tan lines due to my earrings, it was a great game!

Today is your day, You're off to great places

"You're off and away.....

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know
And you are the guy who'll decide where to go..."

***************************************************

I quit.

When she asked me why I had not cleaned her house I replied that she had already hired someone to do this that had been over twice this week. As polite as could be I told her 'with all do respect, I am not your maid'.

This set the tone for the following events.

'You knew these were part of your duties' she firmly said to me. 'I was hired to be your administrative assistant' 'There must be something wrong with your brain' she implied towards me. Oh.....this was it. This was the moment when I could no longer keep my comments inside, as I had done for so long. '....oh, there's something wrong with MY brain? How do you figure?' I asked her. 'Well, I just don't get why you are like this? Always so cold and mean.' 'Did you ever think how I act towards you has anything to do with your constant insults towards me?'

'This isn't working out. I want you to place the ad for your replacement. I don't even want you back next week. And I'll find someone to train the next girl. I just don't want your rudeness to rub off on them.' She was inches from my face, telling me everything she thought was wrong with me. All my faults, and how she'd never been rude to me.

'well, you won't have to worry about that' and I walked back to my 'office' to put my notebook back in my bag. My heart pounding, my hands shaking.

'Are you leaving? I need you to work through the day. You didn't give me a two weeks notice!' I said to her 'Well, you didn't give me one either. You just said you didn't want me back after today.'

'If you leave now I'm not going to pay you for this week.' I reply to her while printing my time sheet up, 'Yes you will. By law you have to pay me for any hours I have worked for you.'

She walked out of the room while I finished packing my work bag, and with her toothbrush in mouth she came back, and I told her as I walked out the door 'I hope you learn to respect your next assistant, and maybe they'll show you the same respect back.' I got in my car, still shaking, and left.

I'm free. I can now pursue bigger and better things in this world.

*****************************************************

"So....
Be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
You're off to great places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So....get on your way!! "

(thanks Dr. Seuss) ;)

To clean or not to clean....

I walk into work today with the boss on the toilet, door wide open, while she's on the phone with another agent. Right off the bat you know it's going to be an awesome day.

Yesterday proved to be interesting. Taxes went in to the CPA for 3rd quarter. Back in January when I first started here, I went through all of her expense spreadsheets and fixed every glitch that her past assistants did, as well as a summary sheet for the CPA. He called to tell me what a great job I did on it. Well, at least until yesterday when I was told it was all wrong, I needed 6 new lines items, more breakdowns, and to redo it for the year. Really? You couldn't have brought this to my attention 9 months ago?! Now I have 9 months worth of jacked up expenses to go back and fix. Then while boss is on her way back from the CPA's office, she starts walking me through everything she wants changed on it, line for line, while she's driving. So I simply said to her "how about we do this when you get back so you can pay attention driving" she snapped back "fine then, if you just don't want to do this" and hung up on me. The woman already can't drive. The last damn thing she needs is to be trying to explain where she wants all these things on a lengthy excel spreadsheet. I didn't bother to call her back, and this time, I sure as hell was not about to apologize.

She got back, and I expected to be chewed out again, but instead she throws her Sentri Card on the desk in front of me and says 'renew this for me', and then just walked off. How lovely. She's like a delicate flower. Well, maybe a black, crusty flower that has been out in the field too long. The kind with cobwebs on it.

I also had this awesome note on my desk too. I'll uh....I'll get right on that.



Now comes my dilemma of the day. Yesterday she said things were getting slow, that I didn't have to work full days on Thursday and Friday. Which is great for me, because I can go home and more resumes sent out, and more phone calls made. Then that's when she decided I should clean her house instead, since the college girl she had in here didn't do much. In this morning's email were specifics of what she wanted cleaned and how. 'Please dust the upstairs and the step area and steps and come on down and dust the entrance -everything please and then vaccum'. (yes, that really was misspelled)

Can't I just stick to the original plan and go home instead? I'm not your maid.

Got a call for an interview this afternoon too, but it's only part time, 2 days a week, so I'm not sure I'll take the offer to meet with them. Still waiting to hear back on the office manager position I interviewed for last Friday. Supposedly they are still on the first round of interviews.....fingers crossed.

You should start a pool

On what day I quit. It is nearing. :)

Unless of course I can get fired.

I was thoroughly relived that the boss found someone to clean her house for her. I'm finally off the hook. Some girl came in yesterday for about 2 hours and accomplished basically nothing. Which amazes me. In two hours I can scrub an entire level of my house, top to bottom. This girl managed to dust one bedroom and a hallway. So this morning, I should not have been surprised that I was asked to finish up cleaning the entire house for her.

Not happening.

If things are slow, I'll go home, I'll go job hunting, hell, I'll go to the doctor if it will get me out of cleaning your house. It's dark, it's old, and it's dingy (much like you, dear boss) and I'm not your maid. Here's a thought. Learn how to place an ad on Craigslist. It has got to be the most simple website out there. Disney.com is more complicated, so I'm pretty sure you'll figure it out.

So I also get asked to 'scan in, well copy, well, make it so it's 3 pages, but not really a copy, but make it so you can send it' this article on Alzheimer's to send to her various relatives. Maybe it's just my dry sense of humor, but I want to 'forget' to do this. ( lol )

...and ok. I have to wonder. WTH? I noticed this while walking past the bathroom to make her bed this morning.

I think the last time I unrolled that much paper was probably when I was 5, and I flooded the Barbie swimming pool.

I feel so dirty.....

Taxes. There are two ways to go about this. Honestly, or.....not quite honestly.

Your anniversary trip was not a business expense. Gift cards to your immediate family members and friends 'asking for business' is not quite accurate, same goes for pizzas for your poker games. I ask God's forgiveness in doing these taxes, as I tried to do them the moral way....

"Bible Imprinting - see, this needs to go under 'Expense of Sale' not client gifts. If I get audited they'll question this ($6.00) charge." As I bite my tongue to keep from responding with 'No, they'll question your family vacations you try to write off'

"I don't want to cheat the government, I just want everything I can get from the government"

I think they call that Liberalism.

I'm still bummed that my firing on Friday was taken back. Especially when my Labor Day was interrupted by Voicemails from the boss calling me while she was hunting, and asking why I didn't go to work on this holiday after I was told I didn't need to come in. Apparently she emailed me at the work address after I left work for the weekend, asking me to come in at 8:30 in the morning on a holiday to 'fix' said taxes. I'm yet to get through a day off or a holiday without a call from her asking me to work. And no, I do not get time and a half.

With another headache that began last night I'm hoping my day goes quickly. As she loomed above me looking over every purchase she's made this year, line by line, yelling to Nick when she had a question, I covered my ear and squinted. Not helping. Then she glances down at me, frustrated, with a crude remark about my attitude. I apologized (3rd time this morning) and told her I just have a headache. "I really need to you cooperate here, ok??" I told her I was sorry, I will not mention my headache again.

Tylenol, you are my saving grace.

I also get chewed out nicely today for not scheduling a termite inspection. I look at my checklist for last Thursday. Right there, at the top 'next week, schedule termite'. Well, that would be this week. Must be my fault that you said it wrong. Hate when that happens.....

Aside from the dismal thought of coming back here this week, our weekend was enjoyable. I could not have envisioned more perfect weather. On Saturday I drove up to Bowling Green for the 16th Anniversary Bash of the National Corvette Museum. With the top down and temps in the upper 70's, it was a little slice of heaven. As much as I loathed that car when I had to rely on it daily to get to work and back, in all sorts of temps and weather conditions, it really is a great car. Probably one of the more fun vehicles I've owned. It's a whole 'nother sense of freedom that you can only feel in a corvette, with a power that is almost unbeatable. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to reacquaint myself with horsepower and the open road.

Overall it was a decent weekend - very low key, and a relaxing way to close out the summer. I hope this week brings me new opportunities, and possibly even a relief of my current situation.

Well, gotta run. I have just been summoned to bed making again.

Take this job and shove it

I did it. I stuck it out longer than I ever thought I could. She told me today to place an ad for another assistant. "You are a hard worker, but I just don't like you"

So at 3PM today I'm out of here! And theoretically since she asked me to leave, I can get on unemployment until I'm able to get something else. (which will hopefully be an offer from today's interview)

I feel like a giant weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

While she was taking a dump in the other room she asked me not to look for another job until I go home tonight. Ah, I will miss the class and the modesty that beams from her.

No more getting yelled at over buying her the wrong chips, and not lying about her recipes. No more outrageous requests, or getting chewed out for her mistakes.


----------------------------


Well crap. I blogged too soon.

I'm not home free. Nick wouldn't let me quit. Went on and on about how much I do, and that there's so way they can have this much business without me here. She was against his choice.

Now I have to wait until I'm yelled at again to quit.

Amusing rantings will continue on schedule.

yeah - two in one day. It's that sort of day

17 minutes left until I can leave here today. Since boss is not feeling well I'm being yelled at for everything under the sun.

I wrote down her demands for me - word for word. So when that contract gets sent to that closing company, it's because you told me to. I even repeated it to you to verify. You know, if you actually wrote down the company it's supposed to go to, in the contract, like you are supposed to - we wouldn't be having this issue. So don't even raise your voice at me, tell me I don't listen, and then explain it to me like I'm a flipping idiot.

I've been yelled at two times already today. There's only so much I can take. And though I keep saying it, I just keep coming back for more.

My interview is at 4pm tomorrow. More prayers to the guy up above that I get an opportunity to once again shine.

And woman....I don't care if you have a cold. I don't treat people like crap when I feel sick. What makes you think you can?

Random Document Thursday

I so would have enjoyed my day off yesterday had I actually had one. Despite my telling the boss that I would be at the doctor's office at 10 AM and not to call, she not only called me while I was there, but two times before I even got there. Lying on the chiropractic table and hearing that uncanny buzzing from my purse made me want to stick my phone in a vice. After my appointment I had to go into the office all to do work that wasn't even going to be turned in until today. In fact - it's still here.

Today was wonderful based on the fact that she's sick as a dog and always looming near my desk, breathing near me, and I had to help her make her bed again - picking up God only knows how many germs off the sheets that never get washed. I'd like a full body-sized mister of that antibacterial spray to walk through whenever I enter the room.

Aside from that it's just the norm "Get so and so's thing."

Okay - let's discuss. If you want a certain form from a file, please specify what form. Not 'thing'. Even if you know that 'thing' means Disclaimer Notice in your mind, I cannot read your mind. Please pause, think, then ask. Not only will it frustrate me less, but I'll be less likely to have a sarcastic remark under my breath to this request.

I also made an ad for the Vanderbilt HSA Newsletter. This in itself was a task due to the 400 changes I had to make, then having them enter last year's ad, and having to get it changed again. Anyway, we get the new newsletter today and she's so happy that the ad was at the top of the newsletter, but she likes someone else's ad more. Well, this other person either is a graphic designer, or hires one. She doesn't understand this when I explain it to her. The ad she's looking at is nothing I have the ability to create. Even I know my limits.

So guess what I'm told I need to learn before her next ad is due.

Good news is though that I got a call for an interview! Bad news is that boss was right next to me when I got the call, so I couldn't answer it. I called back and left a VM and I'm praying for a call back to schedule it.

At least tomorrow is Friday. And Payday. I'm going to treat myself to some new high heels.

the headache that wouldn't leave

I usually get headaches about halfway through my day. I have for about 4-5 months now. Before I took this job, I seldom got one. I'm going on day 2 of having one. Add to that, the chest pain I wake up with each morning, and it's taking it's toll on me. So, since my boss told me on Monday that I could take off on Wednesday since she'll be out hunting (oh holy mother of pearl is that a scary thought), I scheduled a visit to the Chiropractor. First time in over 3 years, and I'm well past needing it. So today I verify that I still have off tomorrow so I can go, and just like last time, she's not sure.....so predictable.

Today has been fair though. Business has picked up, so thankfully I'm keeping busier than I was for the past month.

Now that the grandkids are out of here, it's back to the little comments that drive me up the wall, and the yelling - oh my pounding head, the yelling. Someone give this woman an intercom system to properly converse throughout the house. It's been better than usual though. I'm only halfway getting blamed for things I know nothing about. For instance, today she had a closing. She has forgotten some necessary paperwork for this closing that I never once had my hands on. When she comes back from this closing, she says to me 'well, I forgot those forms I needed. Well, not really me, but you too.' No....I wasn't there, it wasn't my responsibility, so no...it was in no way my fault. I've been very careful not to apologize about anything either, since I was yelled at for this a couple weeks ago. So in her boisterous tone, looming over me with a metric ton of old fart perfume on, she goes over this new process I need to learn so she has to do even less for her closings than she already does, and I do more. Before you know it, I'll be showing up to them instead of her.

Prior to today's closings, I was also asked to call the buyers / sellers and remind them that they needed to bring their Driver's Licenses. Why they would drive to a closing without one in the first place is beyond me, but I've learned not to question odd requests. I call both parties just to be told that she'd already called to ask them this. Like....before I was even asked to do it. Seems like a good waste of time. While I'm at it, lets list a property again that's already online.

I did however get a good laugh yesterday. See, she rushes through every single thing that she does. In the process of doing this, lots of minor details get missed (hence why so much is blamed on me) but it's really a riot when she's calling clients and other agents. Multiple times a day, she will call a client, then tell them she's forgotten who she has dialed, and ask them their name. You can't help but find this awkwardly hilarious.

Grammar lesson of the day:

An educated person would pronounce 'Narrow' just as it's supposed to be pronounced. Not 'nair'. Let's not 'nair down that property list'. There's a lot of important letters and pronunciations we've left out here.

Music City BBQ Fest

This past weekend, our BBq Team, Pignation competed in the Music City BBQ Fest. We typically do two competitions a year, Memphis in May being the first one. (Which we did fairly well at, may I add). Well, we didn't do as good this year at the Nasvhille Event. But we did have a great time, which is all that really matters. (to the cooks, maybe not!)

On Saturday Morning we headed back downtown for the main day. This is when the teams turn in their food for judging, and for a couple events, the judges come out to your tent and your team explains the method behind smoking, equipment used, where the meat comes from, etc. If you aren't that into this sort of thing, you would think these minor details don't matter. Some teams are overly secretive about setting up inside their tents, and they block everything off as if they have some unimaginable setup that no one has seen before. I think everyone was excited as well, because at 10am the morning of judging, our main smoker chef got the call that his wife's water broke, and he was off to the hospital within moments. (BTW, Congratulations Shane and Alix!!!)

Shane pulling out the ribs:



one of the judges with his turn in our tent:


Rob cooling himself on the ice packs on the kegs


Everyone hanging out after judging:




After work on Friday, I hopped on the 7:00 train downtown. Now....the commuter train we have here is nothing like Marta in Atlanta, where you have to carry a pistol on your side to feel like you'll get home alive. We've got an awesome double decker train here with a freight type engine, and I always enjoy riding it. What was even cooler was that I was allowed to ride in the engine on the way home. Rob had done this before, and I was always jealous. I'm a huge train nerd....and I'm sure my sister who builds model railroads wishes she was with me, but it was insanely awesome, in a very geeky, enjoyable way.



And I really hate to let you all down, but there's no workplace rant today. Now that I've jinxed that......

The right donut cures all

I made it. Week #33 is just about complete. Each week I don't quit here is an accomplishment, and I make sure to commend myself on putting up with it just a little bit longer than I say I will. Each week I seem to add something else to my 'quitting speech' that I've been working on since April. In a way it's like an abusive relationship (sadly). You put up with it longer than you should, going against your friend's advice, and your own best judgment. Somehow feeling this is the best you can get right now, and it's easier to deal with the verbal abuse than to have to start over. The paycheck is the security I can't part with until the next best thing comes along.

Well, my loyal readers, here's your treat for the day. A glimpse into my 'office' of sorts. That little wooden desk and chair to the left is my humble workspace where I somehow find room to organize contracts. Today I get the pleasure of picking up all those toys that are scattered all over the floor behind me. Think that's a mess? You ought to see the living room. I cleaned all the floors on this level the other day. Not to be nice, but because I honestly felt bad that the kids were crawling around on such a dirty surface. I never got thanked for it, and I'm really not surprised by that.



Most of you also remember just a few days ago, that whole pie crust in the newsletter fiasco. I figured it was all in the past, with the rest of the petty things I've been yelled at for. I thought this anyway, up until the part where a friend / co-worker called the boss on her cell phone. She walks into the kitchen and I can hear her telling this person "oh and I just have to tell you what my assistant did. I just can't believe it. She was working on my newsletter that I send out to everyone. And I mean friends, clients, people at church. Everyone. I asked her to put in my fudge pie recipe and she I couldn't believe it put in that I use a pre-made pie crust. I just, I just don't know. She just doesn't think. I can't believe so many people got this and it said that"

To make this matter just a tad more humorous - she just told Nick to get out 6 pie crusts.

BUT, I started my morning with a nice soft Apple Spice Cake Donut from Krispy Kreme. I feel that starting my day with something really good helps me if the rest of the day goes to the dump. I went by yesterday to get one and since my one donut order was so complicated, they gave me their other seasonal apple donut, which I must admit, fell incredibly short of my standards. Today's however, made up for it. I'm a sucker for donuts and I follow Krispy Kreme on Facebook, so I always know when their next seasonal release is. I know my Endocrinologist would have a fit if he knew I was eating them, but I'd like to think that because I eat so well the rest of the time, I'm entitled to this sweet carb filled treat every so often. :D

oh yes....and here it is. Enough of you asked about the newsletter. Pardon the crop job as I had to take this from the email. And I know you all secretly enjoy the use of Microsoft Paint. And while some of you I'm sure can do better, the email company they use is still stuck in 2005.





There it is - vadered internet photo of a much more attractive specimen and all. Written in there just as requested. Not sure what kind of frills I was supposed to add. After all, I don't work for southern living. I'm just the idiot assistant. :D

TGIF Everyone! If you are in Nashville, come visit us at the BBQ Fest - look for the Pignation tent!