The Devil Made Me do It

Today at work my department won the 'Halloween theme' contest. We rocked!!!

Usually, our department never participates in these things. We are corporate, a non-income earning department, that the company obviously feels can accurately function, keep the auditors happy, send out wires (payoffs), balance all of the MANY accounts, & handle every/all other banking/accounting issues... with only 4 Indians & 2 Chiefs...

When the email came out about the Halloween contest, one person in my department said, "I want to do it. Let's dress-up as something scary" So I answered, "Well, if we're going to do it, let's do it to win, and we did! Our theme was "Accounting Hell".

Everyone in my department went 'Balls to the wall'. I work at a title company in the corporate accounting department...funny thing...all of the other departments were amazed at our creativity & attention to detail. We weren't. We work in the ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT ...ATTENTION TO DETAIL IS OUR MAIN CONCERN. When wiring funds, our hands hover over thousands & thousands of dollars...one wrong click & poof...money's gone!!

Anyhow, we won the contest. First time competing...and a win!! Then my 'Big' boss said, "Now I expect you to win every year."

I replied, "No, we already won. We don't have to prove anything. Haven't you ever heard of quitting while you're ahead?"

How could I get mad?

I know I have posted before about my daughter's homework; which means I have to do HOMEWORK! I hate having to do 5th grade homework. I already went to school & graduated. My parents NEVER helped me with my homework. They never even asked about it, because when I was growing up, it was a well known fact, that every day you do your homework without questions.

The subject my girl always asks for help on is Math. Now I am a math geek. It was always my best subject & even now I work in an accounting department. Even though math is my subject, I have found that the powers that be have decided to change the names of different mathematical components and calculating methods, though the calculations remain the same. Sometimes, it becomes such a challenge!

I have a friend who went to college to become a teacher. We met when our daughters went to the same pre-school. Last Wednesday afternoon, my friend spent 2 hours tutoring my girl focussing on Math. The over-all evaluation said that my girl was proficient in math & had a good grasp of mathematical concepts. So...

I was pissed. I told 'my girl' that I knew she was not being honest & that I wanted the truth about her homework!!. She admitted to me that she was pretending to need help with her math homework because she wanted to spend more time with me (ouch!)!!

How cute is that? And, now, after knowing the truth, how could I get mad?

IT'S NOT MY JOB

Creativity. That isn't a big word, but it has a big meaning. I have always thought of myself as creative, not crafty or artistic, but creative. This week was definitely an exception to my belief.

Every day at work we "huddle", which is a daily department gathering, that reinforces company policies, customer service and/or work ethics. The corporation sends out 'scripted' huddles every Thursday for the following week & we pick the one we want to lead. When I get my 'huddle', I start to 'Google' or 'Ask Jeeves' to get ideas on ways to spice up my meeting. I like to incorporate activities that are fun but will also reinforce the main subject. I always have found something, until this week.

Now the subjects of our huddles are repeated over and over & there are quite a few of them. This week my subject was about the do's & the don'ts of verbal & non-verbal communication. The no-no's of verbal for example, is saying, "It's not my department", "It's not my job"... the no-no's of body language, well, I think we all know what a huff, a puff & a storm away while stomping the feet means!!! I scoured & searched all over the net, but could not find anything that was interesting. Then I found this picture with the caption, "It's Not My Job"

Image courtesy Zilla the Younger

The picture is funny & great. The caption is right on the money. I think, how stupid is the person painting the white line on the road, move the damn branch, I would move the stupid branch. Everyone I work with thought the same thing. But in real life, people don't think that way. Most people would say, "It's not my job".

Where ever this picture came from, I guess they should be grateful that the white lines were painted on the roads at all, cause where I live, that branch would have caused the whole process to come to a screeching halt. The people painting would have to call their dispatcher, who would have to call the city, who would have to call the arborist department, who would have to go out there and move the tree limb... then, they would have to call back the people who paint the white line on the road...It would take a long time... AND IT'S NOT MY JOB

I am dramatic...

I can not draw. I actually flunked coloring within the lines in Kindergarden. My sis rocks at art. She can sketch, draw, outline, sculpt or mold. She is a great artist.

I rock performing art. I can dead-pan, to the max; ask anyone. I can cry on a whim. I can be demure or bubble with enthusiasm.

I am dramatic...

Destiny is destiny, right?

I know that things happen for a reason. I understand that... do I? Destiny is destiny, right? Pain & sorrow in this life is meant to be...right? What happens, happens, and what doesn't, doesn't...right?


In the middle of the night the phone rings...there's been a car accident...can't tell you the details...she's been bayflighted...come now. Everything happens for a reason. Yes, that's right!!

After the fog has lifted, there is a new beginning, a new day. A beautiful young girl with dark blonde hair and deep brown eyes. She will journey on a road that another has traveled before, walking with the same love & support as her big sister, Courtney. She embarks on a new adventure, she giggles as she skips along the sidewalk, she got the message, at least for now, thank the Lord....

Surfing The Net

I enjoy surfing the internet. I love to search & receive all of the info I ask for, and then some! It is amazing the amount of information you can attain on-line. Boy I love surfing the net!


"Google" is my life-line! I can Google anything, and get an awesome response. For instance, my company is having a contest for the best team Halloween costume/theme. So I Googled, 'Group Halloween Costume Themes". I found some really funny & creative ideas! I absolutely loved two of the ideas. I'm not sure if we will use them, but if not, the ideas I found are definitely inspiring & will help us create our own ideas for Halloween. Boy, I love surfing the net!

Maybe I'll try ASK.com

Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?

I really like that show, 'Are you Smarter Than A Fifth Grader'. I think Jeff Foxworthy is funny. When the show first aired I thought, "My God, this game is easy", until I watched it the 3rd night. Contestants were dropping like flies. All of the questions are familiar because, I once was in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th grade. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean I actually remember every single thing I learned back then.

Now, my daughter is in 5th grade. Helping her with homework, other than math, usually requires me to scour her school books or search for the information on the internet.

It pains me to reveal...I am not always smarter than a fifth grader.

no file number, no water...No Deal!!

This week at work was pretty much crappy. In the morning everything was okay. Then for some reason, in the afternoon, all heck would break loose. There was always some cr*p going on... Like today, the airconditioner brokedown & there wasn't any water, only hot air was blowing through the vents. It had to have been well over 120 degrees on the 3rd floor. For 3 hours, there wasn't any running water in the building, which meant no sinks or toilets.

Take A Free Ride On the Reading Railroad!

Ever feel like life is a game? Sometimes it's funny, then sometimes it's cruel. When I was younger I used to love playing games. Board games like Monopoly, LIFE, backgammon or chess, then Nintendo! I thrived on that stuff, I was addicted!

Lately, my life has been playing out like a game, very surreal but not fun. I feel like every move I make, I get trumped! I'm not referring to any particular aspect of my life, but my life in general.

I live to play and I play to live!!!

Lately, I haven't felt like playing...that sucks...

Ry's poem!

The following is a poem my daughter (9 yrs old) wrote about her sister.

Courtney

I look

up at the

star struck sky.

I wonder

which

one you're on.

The brightest star

by the Big Dipper

or the smallest star

by the moon.

Watch me,

play games.

Somethings you

can't do forever.

But you can

always be my

sister.

And see me

in my dreams.

You smile.

You matter.

I miss you.

~Author~Ryann Wallace Duff~

She's Back!

The 'puter is fixed and she's back. I know it, I just know it!! Thank you to the Big Guy!

I am so happy that you are back. I missed you..

Love you....

Now I Know 25 Is Not Ancient

When I was 16 years old, I thought 25 was ancient. I thought I would be dead by the time I was 25. When my 25th birthday came around, I hid and stayed home in bed, it was my scariest birthday.

I was so surprised to live passed that day, that now every year I relish my birthday. I actually start talking about my birthday at least 30 days prior. In any random conversation, I will announce there are only so many days until my birthday. I'm not selfish or stuck up, I just think that everyone deserves to have their day & my day is April 17th! And I don't want to share my day, with anyone! (The president of the company I work for has the same birthday, but I don't care, I'm not budging!)

Now I am way over 25 years old but I don't feel ancient. Yes, there are some aches & pains, but even though that is my reality, mentally I think of myself as young. I guess the older I get, the younger every else becomes...

Update on the "Property tax" Idiocy

FYI: I received my new property tax bill in the mail the other day.

If the proposed Florida property tax referandum, that is supposed to greatly decrease my property tax goes through...my property tax bill will decrease by $68.00 a year. Isn't that wonderful? $68.00 whole dollars!! WOO!! HOO!!

Even better, our sales tax will increase 2 cents on the dollar, which affects everyone. And we hope it will pay for all of the schools & public work projects. Then as a bonus thousands of government/state employees (maybe even my husband) lose their jobs! Which in turn will increase the unemployment & home foreclosure rate...Awesome!!

I love politics! (Dumb*ss motherf*ckers!!)

On Angel's wings

A gentle wind blew across the land
reaching out to take a hand
for on the winds the angels came
calling out our daughter's name.

Left behind, are many tears
loving memories of the years
of joy and love, a life ne'er spent
and now to God our daughter's sent.

On angel's wings, a heavenly flight
the journey home towards the light
to us who weep, a life is gone
but in God's love, 'tis but the dawn...

We miss you, Courtney!!!

Think About It

Question 1:
If you knew a woman who was pregnant, who had 8 kids already, three who were deaf, two who were blind, one mentally retarded, and she had syphilis, would you recommend that she have an abortion?

Question 2:
It is time to elect a new world leader, and only your vote counts. Here are the facts about the three candidates. Who would you vote for?

Candidate A: Associates with crooked politicians, and consults with astrologist. He's had two mistresses. He also chain smokes and drinks 8 to 10 martinis a day.

Candidate B: He was kicked out of office twice, sleeps until noon, used opium in college and drinks a quart of whiskey every evening.

Candidate C: He is a decorated war hero. He's a vegetarian, doesn't smoke, drinks an occasional beer and never cheated on his wife.


Which of these candidates would be your choice?



Candidate A is Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Candidate B is Winston Churchill.
Candidate C is Adolf Hitler.

And, by the way, on your answer to the abortion question:
If you said YES, you just killed Beethoven.

Pretty interesting isn't it? Makes a person think before judging someone.

Remember amateurs...built the ark. Professionals...built the Titanic

Mid-Life Crisis?

Monday thru Friday...get up, get the kid up, make breakfast, drop the kid off at school, go to work, work, go home, cook dinner, clean up, go to bed. Get up, get the kid up, make breakfast... Robotic, same routine, different day.

This must be my mid-life crisis, has to be!! I feel like everyday is repeating itself, almost a carbon copy.

Saturday, try to sleep in, get woken up, avoid chores, embrace shopping & fun with friends...Sunday, try to sleep in, get woken up, avoid chores, embrace shopping... Robotic, same routine, different day.

Guess not!!

In My Neighborhood

I love my home town. I moved here 14 years ago & will never move any where else!

We bought our house 7 years ago. It needed a lot of work, and still does, but we love our neighborhood. Our street is very quiet, not a dead end, but close to it. Usually the only people who drive down it, either live here or are visiting. My daughter is 10, she enjoys riding her bike. We live about 2 blocks from her elementary school, 1 block from the Catholic church and since the end of last week diagonally across from a convicted sexual predator, who by the way, was convicted of molesting a minor under the age of 12, although we don't know the sex of the victim.

I have always been told, that if they do the time...then all is fine...

He was not just a convicted sexual 'offender' but a convicted sexual 'predator'! (there is a difference) Public records show he was 22 when convicted of sexually assaulting a minor under the age of 12.

So much for our quiet neighborhood! And so much for my daughter out riding her bike or anything else, without supervision!

I already went to school

Well, school this year begins next Tuesday, August 21st. We got a letter today because, this year, our daughter was selected for 'Safety Patrol'. This evening, I found out there was a mandatory meeting Monday morning @ 9am. Kind of irritated me, getting a letter from school on Thursday for a mandatory Monday morning meeting... Luckily, 2 weeks ago, I asked for Monday off, because it was the last day of summer vacation, & I wanted to spend it with Ry having fun.

My BFF has a daughter going to a private school, they started yesterday, & had some homework today. Her kid liked the school yesterday, but today we're not sure.

I don't want to do 5th grade homework! I don't want to do any homework! When I was in school, I did not get help with my homework, not at all!

Today, as parents, we are expected & required to assist with homework assignments for our children, not that I don't want to help. I just don't like being told I have to to the work. I mean how does my child learn if I do & suggest everything & she does not think, visualize or imagine other possibilities?

(sometimes it hurts...)

I am always reflective, this time of year. Can't be helped. She was only 19. Her birthday was July 25th, her passing was August 25th, I am always thinking of her, and I am especially sad & sensitive this time of year.

You know what I think is f'ed up? I posted a blog on July 12th ("That thing on my window") Not 1 person commented or emailed me. I didn't expect much response, but I did at least expect some comments from my family members who visit my sites regularly. I know they all didn't get a chance to know Courtney very well, but she was my family & very much a part of my life. I am not begging for sympathy or empathy, & I never will, but still, it hurts a little that my family did not even take the time to acknowledge the post or even ask how we're doing.

I know this blog will probably piss off some people, but being my true self, I don't care, I'd rather be honest with my feelings than worry about getting flack from anyone.

I am who I am. Take it or leave it. Love me or hate me.

(sometimes it hurts...)

as my sis says

Okay, here is something I don't like to admit, but it must be true as my sister & BFF constantly say it is so...I'm very particular & controlling about the way everything is done regarding every aspect of my life. In other words, I'm anal.
Personally, I don't see it that way, I just think I am meticulous when it comes to details. I have my own ideas on the way things should be accomplished & I want my projects done my way.
So, what's wrong with that? I guess it does sound obsessive...