So, everyone's not a jerk

Saturday morning was not going well. I had a very busy to do list for the day and it just wasn't getting done as I'd hoped. The laundry was started with the first load in the dryer and the second washing away. I had enough time to cross off 2 more items and be back home in time for the last buzzer on the dryer. The two tasks: get the oil changed in the car (30 minutes) and pick up a couple items at the grocery story. Even a 30 minute stop is too long without a book so I grabbed mine (the Pillars of the Earth by Follet, not a book actually, but a tome, as in 937 pages long) and headed for the dealership.

When I arrived at the dealership, not much was going on. The place not busy and I was glad I'd gotten there when they weren't rushed. I completed the paperwork and sat down to read my book and was quickly lost is trying to balance a 95 lb book on my lap, keep my eyes focused, and follow the story line all at the same time. I must have succeeded. I read for a while, figured they must be about done and looked over at the bays and noted that my car wasn't there. I looked out the window just in time to see the mechanic sitting in the drivers seat. Yea! they're done. Then he did something odd. He backed my car up and drove it into one of the vacant bays. He wasn't finished, he had not even gotten started. Well, this stop was going to be more than 30 minutes, obviously.

But once they got started they quickly finished and that was the end of my quality reading time. I headed for the grocery store which was a long drive, uh... across the street. They have a great parking system which puts huge sign posts sunk in concrete right in the aisle which would be between the parked cars. This means that anyone leaving a cart there has blocked a customer from getting into or out of the store without walking all the way around the parking lot. I arrived to find the aisle blocked so decided to take the cart inside and put my groceries in it and then bring it back out and park it for someone else to use when they got there. Having finished my shopping I headed for my car to find that I was totally blocked in all directions and had to walk quite a bit out of my way to get to my car. I was really calling all the people in the world bad names and especially those who were buying groceries this morning and definitely those parked close to my car.

When I got my groceries out of the cart and into the car I was feeling much better about things. I pushed the now empty cart in front of my car so it would be out of the way for anyone wanting to use the aisle between the parked cars. The shopper, one of whom I had held uncharitable thoughts for because he had parked too close to me and made it impossible for me to get to my car, was pulling out his truck. He looked my way, blew his horn and yelled at me. I thought Mr Good Citizen was chastizing me for parking my cart where I had left it. I had one leg inside my car, laughed and waved at him and said "Yes, I moved it out of the way and left for the next person. Aren't I such a sweetheart?" I crawled on into my car and slammed the door. He looked at me, shook his head and drove off. "I'm not really a bad citizen" I thought. I checked the rear view mirrow, the sides then wondered that since the guy left, if I hadn't parked my cart right in front of my car I could have pulled through his empty space and not back out of my space at all. That's when I saw it. My purse. Still sitting in my cart. I just sat there and stared at it. Then I began to laugh and then I thanked God for the shopper who was not a jerk but had simply tried to tell me I was forgetting my purse.

His simple act made me feel better about the day and I left the parking lot with a grin on my face and said "Well, everyone's not a jerk" or something like that. well, maybe I used the "a" word. Just maybe. But anyway, I was smiling, so it was OK.

Back home and its reality time. I've been gone nearly 2 hours and the clothes are indeed dry. I do the necessary laundry chores then decide to forget the "to do" list. I chuck the chores and head for town. On a day like this a girl deserves to do a little shopping.

Dark?

Dark! The alarm buzzed at me and I swatted at it to stop its infernal racket! What happened? It's dark outside. It can't be time for the alarm to go off. I doze back off and shortly the buzzing begins again, I repeat above action, ignore the room and settle in for more comfort. Something triggers inside my drowsy head. Why is the room so gloomy? Why aren't the birds singing? It must be cloudy. We may be in for a fierce downpour. I don't remember one from the weather forecast. I look at my clock. Well, it's time to get up anyway. First job, check outside and see if we're in for a storm. No! It's just greying up. The sky is overcast, but not because of bad weather.

It's just dark out!
No!
Yes!
Damn It! It's dark out.

I always go into shock. I don't know how this happens. Why doesn't this slowly creep up on me. You know. The shortening of the days. I have been noticing that is is black by 9 at night, but getting up in the dark is something I hate. I hate going to work in the morning and the sky is not yet awake. In Michigan I love the long summer days when twilight lingers until 10pm and a pink haze hovers over the lawn in the early morning when I rise. But as fall draws closer the days shrink into nothingness and I am going to work in the gray and coming home in the gray and the only light I see peeks through my office windows. I hate that!

But its happening. Again. And so also are the trees preparing for the change in time. Already along the roadsides are maples that have decided that organge is the proper attire and are really pushing the season. I like my fall full blown in October. But there are always those few eager trees that change early. I have picked up a vivid orange leaf from my lawn. I have stared at it in dismay instead of wonder.

I say I love the changing seasons. I say that the color of fall is one of my favorite times of year, but always when it begins I greive for the loss of summer. For the heading out the door with no concern for a sweater or coat. I mourn the fact that I must be ready for that first day when my car will be covered with frost and I will need to SCRAPE my windows before going to work. Love the fall, love the smell, love the look. But it's beauty has its harsh side. Like the wicked witch in Snow White. Cunning, gorgeous, harbringer of bad things to come.

Alas, Alas! I woke up this morning and it was dark outside. Hello Fall. I will welcome you when you come, but I hope you catch a late flight in.

What a Day

This morning began as a rather OK day. I was attending a seminar which dealt with a part of the assessing system here in Michigan that had changed completely while I was off being retired. I knew that I was going to have to become knowledgeable regarding land banks and the tax reversion process before the year was out. This would take care of it and all would be well.

Shortly into the class I began to fear that these properties had not been properly handled and that I was going to have a big mess to straighten out. Arriving back at work this afternoon, I began pulling files and going through them one at a time. By the time I had reviewed all the folders I had 5 separate stacks on my desk. Every stack had a problem and they were all different in how serious resolving the issue would be.

I called our support guru to just try to get it all sorted out. He began talking to me about the software program we use and how things should be coded for the system to work right. I began hearing a sound like pebbles were being thrown against my window. I looked up and said "It's hailing!" And it was. Hailing. It was storming! That's why it was hailing.

I tried to pay attention to my support dude, although I was a bit distracted, when the power went out. The computer screen went black and my phone connection was broken. The storm kept going. I decided I would not turn my computer back on during the storm. Instead I'd go upstairs where I could see better and look outside to see how bad this storm really was.

I got into the elevator and pushed the button. The door closed and then NOTHING! The elevator just sat there. I pushed the button again. NOTHING. I pushed the door open button. NOTHING. The elevator had not moved. I stood there for a few minutes. I waited. NOTHING. I realized I was STUCK IN THE ELEVATOR! I pushed the alarm button.

NOTHING. I waited. Someone would come. NOTHING. I waited some more. I pushed the alarm button again. For a long time. I just kept pushing it. I yelled a little bit. I beat on the door some. NOTHING. I pushed the alarm button again. for a long time. No one came. So, I decided I'd call on the phone. I picked it up and it was immediately answered by one of our public safety officers. He said they'd get me out. I hung up the phone.

In about 30 seconds the door opened. Wow! Those public safety officers are great. I stepped out and there stood John, a basement co-worker, grinning from ear to ear. "Was that you pushing the alarm button?"

"Why yes, I was stuck. Did you open the door for me?"

"No, I was just coming to see why the alarm kept sounding!"

Well, thank you very much John. I walked into my office and my assistant said "Were you stuck in the elevator? Was that you?"

"Yes!" yes, it was me!"

The lesson I've learned from this and am passing on to you... 1. don't ride elevators during storms. 2. if you get stuck in an elevator, don't push the alarm button, everyone will ignore you. 3. use the phone and call for help. Yes, call.
4. Yelling and beating on the door doesn't do any good. None at all.

And that's all I have to say about that.

Now, I'm going home and I hope this evening will be better.

I'm going on vacation next week. So there, everything wrong. You can just stay wrong for a while.

Good Night.

When can I?

Spring has arrived and I am way beyond spring fever. I have luxuriated in the blossoming flowers and the canopy of leaves expanding over my head. I love this time of year.

I love drives in the country the the farmer's tracks across the tilled fields. The even lined fresh dirt awaiting seeds. The solid green earth mounds where winter wheat thrusts upwards looking like fresh manicured lawns. I love the flowering trees giving a hint of the fruit to follow. I love spring. I love the new life. So I am on a natural high.

But each morning (and Michigan is still jacket weather in the mornings)when I arrive at work, unlock the doors, switch on the lights, put down my purse and coffee and look at my window, I wonder how long, how long, before I can rip off the ugly black garbage bags duct taped down over my window.

That window houses the air conditioner. A necessary item at least a few months of the year. But more months of the year it is just an eyesore and in the winter the air comes around it with its icy fingers and turns my office into a refrigerator. I finally decided I'd had enough of chattering teeth and trying to type with my scarf wropped around my freezing fingers. Thus the cretive window scene developed and although my office was a bit on the chilly side, I could type without getting frostbite.


Those black garbage bags did a really good job. I appreciated them. But now, I just want them gone. Yet the heating system in the building is turned off until next fall and the morning temps here are still just a few degrees above freezing. With a brisk breeze my office can still make you think the space has turned into some type large commercial cooler.

I can stand it. The sunshine still pours through my windows and leaves its friendly glare over my monitor screen. I can stand it a few more weeks, but I shall be happy when it's gone.

Inspecting the Troops

My Mom loves her flowers and each spring begins calculating what flowers she will get and what annuals to intermingle with her perenials to fill in all the blank spots along her fence row. My mom's yard is beautiful and enjoyable to sit and admire the hard work she puts into it.

Her hanging baskets are also a part of her plan in "landscaping" her 2 porches. We always buy a basket for her and so does my sister. She will usually pick up a couple additional baskets to hang with the ones we buy and my brothers will have baskets sent. Mom has room for 3 baskets to hang from her front porch. The color of the flowers are very important to her and she especially likes the cascading red geraniums. It is also VERY important that all the baskets hanging on her front porch be planted in the same color basket.

Mom will also create baskets from last year's gifts. She will buy impatients and "tunies" (uh, thats petunias) and mix them up in various colors to hang on her back porch. This porch is really a roofed patio. She has room here for at least 3 or 4 more baskets.

She has a window box planter under her kitchen window. This is always filled with petunias. They multiply and are quickly blooming and filling up the basket. She will just pick our a colorful mix.

Since she is no longer able to do all the work required to take care of her flowers she does not plant as many as she used to. She relies on Jamelah to help her get flowers planted. We always make a "Mother's Day" project of buying the hanging baskets and extra flowers to plant and spend time with Mom filling the extra baskets and Jamelah plants her window box.

Mom also has a circular flower bed in her front yard. This is a bare spot that was left by a tree which became a problem and had to be cut down. There are perentials that come up every year. A few tulips, daffodils, crocus and purple grape hiacinths. She also adds a few other flowers into the mix to fill in the spots when these spring flowers stop blooming.

With the early warmth you could tell Mom was already eager to begin planting. As we drove by the place wher ewe often bought our plants she noted that they were getting ready to stock their outdoor space with all the nursery plants that would be coming in. It will be fun. Spring is here. Its time to plant flowers.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh Spring, Finally!

We finally got to spring. In fact we had so much spring it turned into summer. For 10 whole days the temperatures were averaging 20 degrees above normal for this time of year which means we were up into the 70s and almost to 80. Gosh! It felt so good. I think it has to have made up a bit for all the crappy weather we had all winter. On days it didn't snow the sky was so gray you wished it would. But now, the grasss is green and needs mowing. The flowers have bloomed.

So what if we are back to normal temperatures for this time of year. Well, actully a little below normal temperatures. Yes, it is COLD outside. Ok, so we did have frost last night, but it's OK. I didn't have to scrape ice off my windshield before I could drive into work. So, I had to wear a coat. I have one and by lunch time I probably won't even need it. Today the sun is shining. Yeah, the air seeping in around my windows is chilling, but hey! I have sunshine. I can deal with it.


I just want to celebrate that this is SPRING! I feel like dancing. I feel like dancing a little jig of joy! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, finally. Spring.

Lovin' My Job

Phone Rings...

I pick it up and the following conversation takes place

ME: Good afternoon. Assessing. This is Anne. May I help you?

SHE: Can you tell me which office this is?

ME: Assessing

SHE: Oh, Recessing. OK, then. I wondered if you could help me?

ME: I don't know. What did you need.

SHE: I want to know how I go about getting out of a contract.

ME: What kind of a contract?

SHE: A housing contract.

ME: I'm not sure I know the answer.

SHE: Can I just go down there and tell them to take my name off it?

ME: I don't know exactly the type contract you are talking about.

SHE: Do you think I have to get a lawyer?

ME: (flash of inspiration) Yes, I think that would probably be a wise choice.

SHE: So, you can't tell me?

ME: No, I'm afraid I don't have expertise in the area where you need advice. I don't think I am qualified to properly answer your question.

SHE: Then I should talk to a lawyer?

ME: Yes, that would be a good idea.

SHE: Uh, Ok then, goodbye.

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. I love my job. Why did I think I would ever like to retirement.

Grandma's Quilt

Christmas was inviting us to a quiet, noneventful day. My nephew, Marty, and his wife Deb were driving north to spend Christmas with her family. It has been a while since they have spent Christmas away from home. Our Christmases are usually small anyway. Marty and Deb, Wendell (his brother), Mom, Jamelah and me. But we always have a lot of fun and laughter even if the group around the table is small. With two gone, that meant there would only be four of us for dinner.

We decided not to have the spiral sliced ham and opted for a nice roast, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad, fresh rolls and cherry pie. More than enough for four. And yes, we had plenty.

Mom had been telling me she hadn't bought me anything for Christmas. Which really didn't matter. Christmas long ago stopped being about the gift business. We had decided that even though our situation had greatly changed financially, we weren't going to go crazy this Christmas. I had bought Mom a new speaker phone, (she was having trouble using the phone in her living room since she had gotten her hearing aids). I bought one just like the one she has in her bedroom, so she wouldn't have to learn to use a "different" type phone than what she was used to.

Jamelah made her peanut butter fudge and we cooked the dinner. Roast beast and all except the mashed potatoes and cole slaw which Mom was making. I baked the cherry pies that morning and took the last one out of the oven just before we left the house. Nothing quite so good as warm pie, which it was; so warm in fact it burned our tongues and we all couldn't stop eating it. In no time we had put away an entire pie.

Then the gift exchange. Mom had been telling me that she was "regifting" this year or just giving away things that she had laying around the house. The first thing she handed me was a large brown mailing envelope. Inside was a zippered case for keeping documents in. I smiled and said "nice, thanks. I can always use something to keep things in", Looked at Jamelah, shrugged, grinned and whispered something just "laying around the house".

Jamleah opened her present and found the bracelets she had loved when she was a little girl. They had belonged Mom's Mom and Grannie had given them to her on her last visit with her. Jamelah always played with them as a little girl and always wanted to "keep" them. Now she can.

Then I discovered I had something else to open from Mom and found inside the package some of her jewelry. A coat pin that had been my Grandmother's and also a necklace that my father had given to my mom. I was touched and immediately hung the jeweled cross on a gold chain around my neck. It hasn't come off since.

Then, Mom brough out a large gift bag and handed it to me. Oh, dear, I wondered, what can this be: a centerpiece, something to hang on the wall. I looked inside and was immediately choked up. Folded there was my Grandmother's quilt. Like the jewelry she had given it to Mom on her last visit.

Now, the quilt is nothing extravagant, in fact, it wasn't made by my grandmother. She bought it at a church bazaar where they were selling quilts to raise monies for some project. Grannie had a big stack of quilts. She had tried to give me one when I had visited her at Christmas. I had felt uncomfortable taking a quilt from the stack. But, when Mom visited she insisted, so Mom picked out a quilt and took it home with her.

Mom had begun quizing me about what she had that I wanted as a remembrance. All I could think of, was I'd like to have the quilt that Grannie had given her. Now, on Christmas she has passed that quilt to me. I don't guess it is a family heirloom. But,it still meant so much to me. I couldn't help but tear up and feel overwhelmed. Mom said, "I don't see why you should wait until I'm dead to enjoy it." It now lays across the foot of my bed. At some point, I want to get a quilt rack and display it there. Someplace where it can be appreciated.

Mom made a quilt and gave it to my daughter for Christmas a couple years ago. Jamelah immediately brought it home and put it on her bed. It went away to school with her this summer. I thought her foolish to "use" this precious item, but I realized it was a special way to be "hugged" by her grandmother and she wraps up in it and feels its warmth. I learned from her that these gifts are to be appreciated and "used" not stored away as precious treasures but rather to be appreciated every day for the love they represent.

Now, I have a quilt given to my Mom by her Mom and someday my daughter will have that same quilt given to her by her Mom. I guess this is the way items become family heirlooms. So, I guess the quilt is one afterall. We have just begun a new tradition.

Ten Things I dislike strongly

1. This winter

2. Emails with 5 paragraph forwarding instructions on the bottom, just in case I don't know in my address book who would be interested in this forward, or that I must send to 5 (10 better) or my eyes would go blind, may hair fall out, and I would be miserable. Wait! maybe there is something to that 2nd one.

3. Drivers talking on cell phones. I don't need to expand on this, seriously, do I? These people are always terrible drivers and should be ticketed for endangering the lives of others on the highway. However, is they run off the road and into a tree, well, I guess that would be OK.

4. People on cell phones in the grocery store asking what to buy and wheeling their cart around, blocking the isle, yeah, like the bad driver on a cell!

5. People with cell phones in the movie theatre. Honestly that tiny blue screen lights up the entire theatre. I don't know how. I've just seen it happen.

6. Well, maybe I just hate all people on cell phones in public, chatting away, for no good reason. That is, good reason, as defined by me. Reasons to use phone in public. (a)Letting someone know exactly where you are so you can meet or they can find the table in a busy restaurant. (b) an emergency And that's it! There are no other good reasons.

7. Gas prices that jump right while I am pumping gas and the price on the sign is WRONG. Yes, this has happened to me. I realize that gas prices jump up and down. So, when I go into the station I have accepted the price I will have to pay on the sign. When it turns out it is going to be more than that... well, I don't like that.

8. Being called on the phone during my lunch hour because they did not want to "bother" me at work. Come on! I have 30 minutes to eat this sandwich and get back to work. Don't call me now!

9. Having to do laundry. I don't hate washing clothes. It's an easy task. I just hate that I "have" to do it right now because I am currently out of something. You know, like jeans... or other stuff.

10. Did I mention this winter. Cause I really do hate it. The most. The very most.

The Weather's Wot Did The Old Gurl In!

This is what people will say after my demise this season! But, the winter from hell, is what I nonaffectionately call it. I swear, this is one of the worst winters of my life. First off, we're told due to global warming its going to be milder. That's great! Milder I can handle. We have been having "milder" winters. So, I was expecting something along the lines of the last few winters.

Yeah! That is exactly what is NOT happening. Since the beginning of December we have had (brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr)winter(brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr). Cold the weathermen describes as "arctic blasts" which is well said. Along with the "arctic blast" comes a foot of snow. Followed by 2 days of "mild" weather with rain and a couple thunder storms. Goodbye foot of snow. This "mild" weather is then followed by another "arctic blast" accompanied by another foot of snow; "and the beat goes on" but not in that soft, jazzy vocal voice, but in something a bit more AC/DC.

So, it isn't like we din't get a January thaw this year (this is a warm trend which lasts a week or 10 days and gets rid of all the ugly snow that has accumulated). It's like we got 4 January thaws and they only lasted 2 days each.

We were promised things would get better and we were looking forward to 4 days of uneventful, calm days. They took that all away with another "arctic blast" and 6 inches of snow; we were to get up into the low 30's yesterday. It never made it past 28. My office temp climbs all the way up to about 50. I come in freezing, I go home freezing.

All I'm saying is, I want spring.
I do not want to hear how you are suffering where you are because the temperature may drop down to 40, or that you will have to put on a sweater when you go out today because your high will only be in the mid 50s. Don't even tell me about it. If you talk to me, I suggest the subject topic of weather not even come up. Yes, that would be a good idea.

Now, I have to go build a fire in the corner of my office, because I'm freakin freezing in here.

Nice Pants!

So, I have been having trouble with my knee and have begun injections which could help, maybe, I hope so, anyway. So, I began the shots last Monday and get another one once a week for 5 weeks. So, I'm 2 down.

It's not like they are fun. They have to spay the injection site about 5 minutes (or so it seems) with this stuff that freezes the area. Why? So, they can put a 3inch long needle in it to numb it (this is novacaine, like when you get your teeth pulled). Then they have to wait a minute and they take the real needle and find a spot between the bones in your knee and force this gelateneous goo into your leg (they get the goo from a rooster's comb. I call it chicken fat). So anyway, that is how you get chicken fat injected into your knee.

I have had this treatment 2 times before. Both on my right knee. It worked beautifully and put off the need for replacement surgery for a while. I'm hoping the results are that good this time.

However, I have diverged from my story. Sort of. I thought you needed to know why I was going to the doctor's office.

To make thinks faster, they advise you to wear shorts when you visit their offices. Well, I'm just stubborn enough that I don't wear shorts. I simply always wear attire that makes getting to my knee easy. But today, I was at work when I realized I needed to be able to pull my pants up above my knee or I would have to take them off. I tried, but alas, it would only pull up to about midcalf. That's when I knew I had to change pants before heading for the doctor.

This is what I wore to work. Black dress pants, black turtleneck and a rose/pink tweedy looking cardigan. I began thinking at work about what pants I could put on that would let me pull then up above my knee so I would not have to change everything I was wearing. Then I remembered these black knit pants I have that are rather stretchy, and I knew they were exactly the right thing to solve my problem. So I ran home switched pants and headed off to the doctor.

Arrived, lucky me, no wait, quickly got my shot and was on my way. I was feeling no pain, basically, so decided I'd go back to work instead of going home to rest. I pulled into my parking space, exited my car. Looked down at my feet and realized, OMG! Nice pants, Anne. Yeah, I usually sleep in these pants. Uh-huh. They are my pajama pants. I thought just a minute, then realized that absolutely nobody would notice. So I went right into City Hall. Pushed the elevator button and headed to my office.

This may be the most comfortable I have ever been dressed while at work.