Reflection

My life is wonderful, perfect for me husband, great family, stable job, roof over my head, everything a person could want. When I look back at the journey that got me here, I'm proud. Proud of the decisions I made, proud of the ones I refused, and even thankful for the horrible stuff that made the person I am today. I often wonder if I've lost some of me over the years. Not my core beliefs or anything like that, but the fun/carefree me. I'm quicker to snap, get cranky and angry. I've always been bitter, but I used to have a lot more tolerance for people. I still have compassion but people just get under my skin. I hear about a lot of people's problems every day and I think my skin has just gotten really thick. I don't want to be this angry, tired, mopey person. It's weird, people will ask me what I've been doing or what's new in my life and all I have to offer right now is a litany of complaints about people, my job, etc. Where did the joy go? The love of life? What am I doing that makes it all so dark and depressing. I'm not this person. I've lost me somehow in the shuffle of "living life" of going to work and coming home and eating dinner and staring mindlessly at the TV. The outside world is a stranger, the confines of my office and my house have become my safety net. I'm super lazy right now and I'm not even sure when it happened. So, I'm gonna snap out of it. I'm tired of it. I'm so done with it. I'm going back to being me. Still bitter but hopefully happier...

It's the people, they are driving me crazy!!!!

So, Christmas has come and gone and the holidays are over. I'm kind of glad because all the traveling, food, family and fun kind of wore me out. But now, now the crazies are coming out full force and work and I'm not sure I'm mentally stable enough to handle it.

We have started volunteering to do taxes for people (note the word volunteer) at no cost. This is a wonderful service and great for people with low income but also very tedious and annoying. I'm not a CFP (and I'm losing the trial to be one) or accountant or even a tax professional yet people want me to magically make their returns huge. Here's a hint, if you got unemployment all year and paid no taxes on it, you aren't getting a refund. You can't get a refund of something you never paid. Hello. Are you listening?

Also, people seem to think we are in the habit of giving out interest free loans. They let their account get into the negative and call to complain about not having access to their NEGATIVE account. Apparently because they have a direct deposit coming in next Friday we should let them spend money they don't have because at some point they will have it. Have people lost their minds? I think the answer is simply yes, yes they have. It's not that hard to balance a check book. Add, subtract, come out with a balance, if you can't do it, then close your account immediately!

And people also seem to think that loans they do want, should be waiting here for them to just come grab. Like we are the freaking Burger King, yes have it your way. Let me serve you, I won't ask questions, that wouldn't make sense. Just pull forward and get your $10000.00 and fries. Hey, just because you've never paid anyone, ever that shouldn't mean you can't get a check too. I mean, we should help people right, especially people who don't want to help themselves or take any responsibility for themselves.

How do I know it's Christmastime???

• My sister and I got up at 3am already to go shopping on black Friday (for ourselves, not for presents that would be silly)
• My cat spent all day meowing at my Christmas village, tree, and empty boxes on Saturday
• My husband also yelled at said empty boxes for covering the entire house
• There is now Styrofoam covering my entire living room (see previously mentioned village)
• My Ipod is filled to the brim with my fav Christmas albums (ahhh Harry Connick Jr.)
• There were three different dips at my house Sunday for dip weekend (an official holiday kickoff)
• I've already had an altercation at Wal-Mart
• Most of my neighbors have blown up boxes of lights and blow up Christmaspalooza in their yards
• I've purchased wrapping paper and tape and set them neatly in front of my presents (which I will panic and wrap the day before I give them away)
• There are now 100s more cars on the road and none of them can drive
• All these drivers are also behind carts in stores and can't drive them either and clearly cannot see people walking in stores either

Bitter, yes, but still Thankful

It's Thanksgiving time, I'd like to take this opportunity to set aside my bitterness and share my gratefulness. I have an amazing husband, whom I love and adore. Meeting him changed my life and has made me a happier person. I am so thankful to have him in my life and I couldn't get through the day without him. I have an awesome family outside of him too. Two wonderful parents, who helped me become the person I am. A wonderful mom, who showed me how to work and raise a family. Something I hope and pray to do myself. A terrific dad, whom I praised in my last blog, so check it out. He's a great dad and I love them both so much. My sister and best friend, who keeps me sane and in check. What can I say about her that she doesn't already know. I'm so lucky to have her for a sister. She has four beautiful children and I love them all. Seeing them run up to me, give me a hug, talk to me on the phone, just blesses me and I often need it. They bring me a joy that I never knew could exist. (I suppose I should even be thankful for my brother in law here :) he's pretty cool too. I truly consider him my brother.). My actual brother has three gorgeous girls too, that I love and miss. Even with the rocky relationship I'm still glad he's my brother and I miss him too. My in laws are the best. I got lucky in that department. I have a great mom in law and dad in law. They've always treated me like one of the family and I truly feel like it. My sis in law, who's getting married in May, honored me with the title of Matron of Honor and I don't think she knows how much that meant to me. I love them all so much. I have a stable, secure job and a caring boss. I have friends at work and outside of work, a roof over my head, a cute little cat, and lots of love in my life at the end of the day. Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everyone out there has tons to be thankful for too!

Happy Retirement Dad!

My dad gave me my first real job when I was about 16. He was the manager of our local grocery store and I decided I wanted to be a bagger (you know, that dude that bags your groceries and then is supposed to carry them to your car). And I was excited by the prospect of working and making money. Those few years I worked at the grocery store my job responsibilities changed as I worked longer. I worked in produce, as a cashier, bagger, stocker, basically a little bit of everything. I had one of the best times of my life. You can't imagine having so much fun ringing up groceries (I know sounds fun) as when you do and your dad is there. We'd take breaks together and he'd buy me a Mountain Dew and some peanut butter cheese crackers (I still eat that for breakfast and think of him every time I do). I have never been more appreciated as an employee than when I worked for him. He taught me so much as a teenager that I will always carry with me. One of my favorite job interview quotes is "my dad taught me to have a good work ethic" and it's so true. He taught me you don't call in because you "don't feel well," you don't pass the buck when something is your job, you help out your fellow co-worker, to always go the extra mile at work and always try to do a good job. I probably learned most of this because I wanted to impress my dad, because I was so impressed by him. He worked so hard his whole life to support us. He worked harder than anyone I knew and I wasn't about to work any less hard than him. These lessons are the reason I have the job I do now, the reason I've gotten so far. I get excellent reviews every year at work and I know for a fact that this is because my dad taught me how to be a good worker. I thank him every time I go in for an evaluation because I know he's the reason they always go so well. I always loved working with him and I know I never told him that enough. So, thank you daddy. Thanks for working hard to help me buy flag uniforms, go on school trips, buy gas money to drive your car, help pay for my college and the countless other things you helped me pay for. Thanks for showing me with your example how to work hard and be a caring and compassionate person. For being the best boss I've ever had and the hardest work I know. I love you so much and I'm so glad that after all this time you can take a break. And hopefully I can repay you for some of the gifts you've given me. Thank you for working hard and thank you even more for retiring. I cannot wait to see what we can do now that you are work free!

You're caller 10, how can I help you?

Me: Good morning, how can I help you?

AC (Annoying caller): Hey, I talked to you the other week about my account my name is annoying remember me?

Me: No, I'm sorry I don't but if you tell me what you need help with I'll be glad to try and assist you.

AC: I called and asked an annoying generic question and now I'm calling again to ask another generic question and get upset because you don't remember me.

Me: OK, I'll be glad to answer your generic question but it seems that my answer is only annoying you more. Let me give you the number of the actual department you need to speak to, who can give you the same answer again and see if that helps.

AC: Fine, what's the number.

Me: Here is the number stupid.

AC: So, was it actually you I spoke with the other week?

Me: I'm not sure I get several phone calls a day (try 15-20 a day, in addition to people I help in person) and I just don't remember.

AC: Well, isn't that just convenient? (and she hangs up).

Me: Yes, it is convenient. I actually remember you but don't want to help. It's not that your annoying and impatient and that I've helped a hundred people since I helped you and you didn't write down who you asked your generic question to. A question, might I add, that doesn't affect the amount of funds in your account, whether checks clear, or anything like that, no you just wanted me to remember you. Well, I don't and for me it's very convenient that you hung up.

Do you ever wonder...

What would happen if a bicyclist driving down the road fell over on his bike directly in front of you?

Why it is that girls wear low cut shirts showing off their cleavage and then pretend they didn't realize that was happening.

Why everyone has to be off on Fridays and why you're always the one to pick up the slack?

Why people don't listen to you, even though they know you are right, and would rather suffer than admit they are wrong?

What happened to Carmen Sandiago or Waldo?

Why people apply for loans when they have old loans they have never bothered to pay?

How they get the gum into the middle of the blow pop?

Why some people think the entire world revolves around them? And that EVERYTHING is about them?

Why I ramble on and on with random questions when I should be working?

Why people wear socks with sandals?