Bad People

It is very difficult to stand by and watch people who step on others on purpose, shove people they called friends to the side, and in general be a bad representation of the human race still manage to don a pretty facade and deceive others so that they are accepted into various groups.  I stand by and watch for a few reasons. I am afraid to say anything because some might not believe me.  I stand by and watch because I don't want to be the kind of person who goes around saying bad things about others, no matter if it's truth. I stand by and watch because I do believe you eventually reap what you sow.  I can live with myself.  Can you?

Christmas Rants

Ok.  I've been informed today that I need to host Christmas at my house for my husband's family.  None of my family lives close, we can't do Christmas together at all, nor have we had the luxury to do so for years.  Now, my mother-in-law wants to tell me which date will be most acceptable.  Seriously.  No one asked if I wanted to do this.  No one asked ME which dates might be best for me, oh no, it's all based around which times my sister-in-law will be available.  I am a working mom.  I do not have every day equally available.

About 2 weeks ago, I had told my husband that I wasn't into Christmas at all this year.  Normally, I'm all about the Christmas thing.  I LOVE the tree.  I LOVE the other stuff.  Not at all this year.  Done.  Over.  There are numerous reasons.  Feel free to ask me.  BUT.  In any case.  NOW is when I'm supposed to just smile and succumb to the thing to put this on.  ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH

ranty ranty ranty.

Flock of Browsers

So I got curious to see what other web browsers were out there.  Was I missing something cool that the hardcore geeks consider so run of the mill they don't even talk about it?  Sure enough, it seems my suspicions were correct.  I have discovered Flock, a browser built on the Mozilla platform.  If you are into Twittering or addicted to Facebook, this one is for you.  It will import all your bookmarks, passwords, etc., is easy to use, loads quickly, AND has a sidebar where you can keep an eye on your Facebook & Twitter feeds while browsing elsewhere!  It also has a built-in blog editor and a place to add more than one webmail feed which will alert you to new mail instantly.  I'll have to use it for awhile before reporting more, but at first glance, this social-networking girl has found a new love!

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Plans to Fly the Freak Flag

     I wish I was as cool as everyone seems to think I am.  I'm not spontaneous.  I mean I am to a degree, but within fairly strict boundaries.  I'm not apt to just jet off someplace without going home, making a list of things I'll need and packing and then leaving a note to my loved ones telling them where I've gone.  I wish I was that crazy wacky friend who always comes up with insane spontaneous activities but I'm not.  Now and then, I can mimic this sort of person, but my activities have always been planned out in my head first.  I've gone over and over the activity to see if this is indeed a fabulous idea, and then again to look for logistical problems with carrying out said plan.  Of course no one is aware of this, so I have the *appearance* of being utterly spontaneous, fun, and probably crazy.  Also, I don't think people are aware of the fact that I'm insecure.  A lot.  I dress completely opposite of those who shop at the Gap.  Does that sort of give you a picture?  I prefer to look as if I've just stepped out of Beetlejuice or an Addams Family movie.  That's just my style.  I'm not quite sure how it developed as the rest of my family could have easily just stepped out of a Gap commercial.  The only thingl I'm sure of...it wasn't spontaneous!  

Better than Flowers

     Yesterday I was having something of a rough day.  I was stressed out from having applied for a job for the first time in 15 yrs and PMSing to boot.  My husband phoned from work and we talked about some minor household things.  A little while later, I checked Facebook and saw that he'd posted this on my wall: 

you are pretty and smart,the only girl in the universe for me is you.Thank you for holding my hand and guiding my stupid ass through the years.

 

     I was speechless.  Still am a little.  Direct compliments from my husband are not very frequent.  I'm sort of happy about that.  I wonder if the impact would wear off if I heard this sort of thing all the time.  What a treasure he is.  We've been together 14 1/2 yrs now and as you can see, the shiny hasn't worn off yet.  *smile*  The thing that made this even better was that he posted it right out there where everyone could see it.  Flowers are fabulous, but only I see them, or perhaps the odd friend who stops by.  This compliment was posted on the newsfeeds of all 128 of our mutual friends as well as on my wall where my friends would see it.  WOW.  What a man! :)

Unemployed in the City

     For the past 5 years, I've been doing childcare before and after school for a little boy.  Two weeks ago, I was informed that his stepmom was going to be off work on medical leave and would be taking over caring for the boy for a minimum of 4-6 weeks!  AAAAAAGH!!!  Suddenly, I found myself unemployed!  I haven't really thought about getting a different kind of job for at least 5 years, probably longer. 

     I started halfheartedly browsing some job listings online, mainly out of curiousity and one jumped out at me.  Cashier at a liquor store.  Nice.  Low-stress (as opposed to something like waitressing) and it's about a two minute drive from my house.  The listing said to apply in person between the hours of 9am and 5pm, so this morning I was sitting outside the store at 9am waiting for it to open!  

     I'd hoped to skip the gauntlet of attempting to write a resume because I interview really well and in the past, I got every job I interviewed for, so I thought maybe I could just talk to the owner.  No dice.  The owner was not in yet.  However, the girl who was working there was a girl I'd talked to many times over several months at the childrens' school where she was dropping off children for a friend!  YES!  I have an in!  She told me I needed to bring in a resume and that the owners weren't usually in until afternoon, so if I brought a resume, she'd put it aside and make sure they got it.  I spent about an hour listing my virtues as well as all the positions I have held on the PAC (Parent Advisory Council...used to be the PTA) in recent years, got my references in order, had a couple trusted friends look it over, and then, heart in my throat went back to the business where by now I BADLY  want to work!  

     When I showed up with resume in hand, the girl at the counter picked up the phone and said "a lady is here with a resume".  EEK!  The owners were already there and it wasn't even noon yet!  I wasn't really prepared for this, but bravely made my way upstairs, smiled at the receptionist and an older gentleman, and was told to proceed through to the office.  The gentleman who greeted me seemed nice and when he introduced himself, I realized we'd met when I was last gainfully employed outside the home, in the restaurant downstairs!  He even said he remembered me!  Oh please please please let this be a good sign!  We spoke just a few words, he said he was still collecting resumes, and I left.  

     Now I play the waiting game.  I sit and hope he calls MY references, that MY smile and MY personality all play well together and he wants ME for the job!  I'll keep you updated...when I hear anything.  And if I don't get this job...well I suppose now that I have a current resume, I could spread it around a little.  I wonder if any video stores are hiring?  I bet that's a sweet job!

Google Chrome

For ages now, I've been the biggest Firefox fan ever.  Forget clunky old Internet Exploder, Firefox was *the* browser.  Well move over bacon, make room for something faster and sleeker!  Google Chrome loads light years faster than Firefox.  While you are still playing the "open NOW!"....."how bout NOW!" game with Firefox, GC snaps open and you are off and running.  I also love the idea of having all my most-visited sites handy to me instantly on opening rather than being confined to only one home page.  I am a creature of habit and regularly visit the same 3-5 sites each time I pop my browser open, but I don't always like to visit my sites in the same order!  The copy/paste option need some work, sometimes I have to click "select all" and then unclick it in order for the "paste" option to appear and it doesn't yet allow you to right click on a photo and set it as your wallpaper (yes people, it's WALLPAPER, not a screensaver!), but overall, this browser is my new favorite toy and I'm recommending it to everyone I know!!!  Download it here: http://www.google.com/chrome