Long time to no blog. Seems like I’ve been typing that a lot. I still have no idea where my days go.
On this eve, I am anxiously awaiting and hoping 2009 will be better than 2008. It’s been a rough year for me, you, the American people, the economy. Here I sit, alone, on New Year’s Eve. My Man is off at what he tells me is a lame ass barbeque and will be home way before midnight. I was invited, but of course I cordially declined. I’ve spent every New Year’s Eve alone for the past 5 years, I surely didn’t expect (nor want) this one to be any different, prior to that it was a few New Year’s Eve of craziness with Garcia. I’m getting older now. I don’t know if I can even stay up until midnight. What to do, what to do? What else but blog about the horrors of 2008 while getting my buzz on at home, drinkin’ me some Strawberry Hill Boone’s Farm. Yep, yep. You read that right. This one’s for my homies. Oops – didn’t need to spill that pink stuff on the floor (Dude, it’s BOONE’S FARM! You can’t put it in a glass or in a cup – you gotta tilt your head back and lift the whole bottle up. Wicky, wicky (Looks like 2009 may be better – I just came up with that fly rhyme.).).
A Shitty 2008
Where to start? How about inflation?
I went to McDonalds this weekend for a Bacon, Egg and Cheese Biscuit (Mooch and I’s favorite back in the day – I’m now a McGriddle whore) and the price for just the sandwich was over $2! WTF?! Don’t they know most Americans are struggling due to the shitty economy and every now and again you may want to treat yourself to a little something nice for breakfast and now it like $5+ for a friggin’ McDonald’s breakfast meal? Every 2 for $2 deal is a McMuffin of some kind – I guess an English muffin is cheaper than a biscuit. Come the fuck on.
Gas hit $4+ a gallon this year. That sucked. Especially since I’ve been home for months and have rarely driven and when I did have to fill up, gas was always outrageous. I’m telling you, the man is trying to keep us down.
I became poor.
I lost my job this year and for the first time in my life, I haven’t been able to spend at will and my following a budget sucks. I’ve always been very fortunate to make good money and for the first time, I ain’t got shit.
Anyone looking for a roommate? I may have a room to rent.
Being that I’m milking the system, I applied for food stamps last week. Hehe. Who’d have thunk I’d have sunken to that level?
I’ve gone back in time.
After being laid off my life has come full circle. I’ve gone back to school and am going back to work this spring for the first peeps to give me an office job at 17, black nail polish and all. A plus – I’m only working one job. When I did this before at 17, I was working two. Unfortunately, if my situation gets anymore fucked up I might have to get another one. Another plus, I got A’s in both my classes for the fall semester (I can’t remember if I blogged that or not). That’s something I didn’t do in ’96 – I think I got an A & a C, completing my 1st part-time semester in college with a 2.0 GPA. My GPA is now a whopping 1.875; basically what is was 12 years ago. McFly – get me the hell outta here. No one liked me at 23, what would make 17 so different?
Classes start January 8th and I’m already making myself sick by stressing out.
I got married.
Everything is still fine and dandy with My Man that I moved in 9 days after our first date and less than a month after my last really, really nasty breakdown. I got a beautiful wedding set a few weeks ago – I’ll post pics at some point. Now all we need is the diamond for the engagement ring but having to put the abrupt financial changes, that’ll be another year or so. I have come to the conclusion that My Man and I are spiritually married, since I take his paycheck, so he got a ring too. It really is a lovely man’s ring with recessed diamonds so it doesn’t get fucked up when he’s working.
Fucked up girl.
2008 had me spiraling out of control in a string of reckless behavior, including a revisit to my cutting days and new addictions – I’m still working with the Xanax issue; God I love Nyquil. My mental frame of mind has been all over the globe this year. I’ve been much more manic in 2008 than any other year, a mania that can be exhausting and almost always gives me a hangover of a day or two of depression. I have learned that I absolutely cannot be off of my normal medication. It is imperative (I feel guilty just typing that – we all know I usually pop off my meds at least once a year.).
The first person of color has been elected into the presidential position of the United States of America.
I’ve had close to 90 blog postings, compared to a measly 33 in 2007.
Warner Brothers delayed the releasing the Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince movie, anticipated to come out Summer 2008, it was pushed to Summer 2009.
All My Family is still crazy.
Just another year. They really do start flying by. This, by far, I think has been one of the worst for me. I feel like I’m at the bottom so there’s only one way for me to go.
BTW – Sorry if this isn’t fully proofed. I’m close to half way done with this bottle of Boones – it’d be gone if I were a thirsty person – and I’m starting to feel like I’ve drankin’ about a half bottle of the homeless and ghetto preferred, flavored citrus wine.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
I'm Just Title Blank
God do I love blogging in bed. This is great. He's off doing his thing and I get to stay home and do what I want to do - nada. I've been sleeping tons - too much really - but I love to sleep. Jeff had to wake me up the other night because I was having a nightmare - shaking, mumbling - Exorcist-like shit I'm sure.
School is starting to freak me out. I've been getting my assignments done early - I submitted one last night that isn't due until NEXT Saturday. I have 2 assignments for one class and 3 for the other before finals. It's gone so fast. January is gonna be hell.
I'm applying for another essay scholarship due at the end of this month. I think I can knock this in one day on one (if not more) of the following topics: 1) Your reason for deciding to join college; 2) Your chosen college major; and 3) Any reason why you deserve to receive this scholarship. Cake? Again I'm able to take bits and pieces of papers I've written this year and submit them. I had to do a paper earlier this semester where I had to write about the biggest, recent change in your life. I little tweaking, remove some of the snark, throw in some sob and I think I'm good to go. I gonna might try to get this one out today in the hopes of being proactive. I think my only problem with this will be getting it down to two pages, double spaced. I can be a bit verbose at times. This one is for a grand, which just happens to be almost the exact amount needed for my tuition for the Spring. Fingers crossed.
Erring on the side of proactive-ness, I called my mortgage companies yesterday and gave a sob story about what's going and if there's anything they can do for me. I've gotta pop up to my bank on Monday (damn, that's tomorrow) and drop off some papers. Fortunately I should know something in 7 - 10 days. My 1st mortgage on the other hand, is making me call back on December 1st as long as I don't make my payment on the 1st (thank gosh for the grace period) because they won't help you unless you have a payment due. Their turn around time is like 45 days or something. Both companies were quite nice and thankful I called before going into default. They are having a helluva a time with all the foreclosures. Granted, I've got the dough to pay but hell, if I can save $100 a month, bring it. I should start researching food stamps next. Hey - I've paid into the system for over 10 years and now it's time for me to take a piece of what's mine.
School is starting to freak me out. I've been getting my assignments done early - I submitted one last night that isn't due until NEXT Saturday. I have 2 assignments for one class and 3 for the other before finals. It's gone so fast. January is gonna be hell.
I'm applying for another essay scholarship due at the end of this month. I think I can knock this in one day on one (if not more) of the following topics: 1) Your reason for deciding to join college; 2) Your chosen college major; and 3) Any reason why you deserve to receive this scholarship. Cake? Again I'm able to take bits and pieces of papers I've written this year and submit them. I had to do a paper earlier this semester where I had to write about the biggest, recent change in your life. I little tweaking, remove some of the snark, throw in some sob and I think I'm good to go. I gonna might try to get this one out today in the hopes of being proactive. I think my only problem with this will be getting it down to two pages, double spaced. I can be a bit verbose at times. This one is for a grand, which just happens to be almost the exact amount needed for my tuition for the Spring. Fingers crossed.
Erring on the side of proactive-ness, I called my mortgage companies yesterday and gave a sob story about what's going and if there's anything they can do for me. I've gotta pop up to my bank on Monday (damn, that's tomorrow) and drop off some papers. Fortunately I should know something in 7 - 10 days. My 1st mortgage on the other hand, is making me call back on December 1st as long as I don't make my payment on the 1st (thank gosh for the grace period) because they won't help you unless you have a payment due. Their turn around time is like 45 days or something. Both companies were quite nice and thankful I called before going into default. They are having a helluva a time with all the foreclosures. Granted, I've got the dough to pay but hell, if I can save $100 a month, bring it. I should start researching food stamps next. Hey - I've paid into the system for over 10 years and now it's time for me to take a piece of what's mine.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Grandma-ma Is Gone
Oh my, oh my, what a day Friday was. Mom came into town-ish (Brandon) and I guess the service was supposed to be at 3p. I told Mom I'd be there around 2p or so and she sounded annoyed. She has to get the hell outta there so hauled ass to Brandon - in about 25 minutes, and got to meet some people I had no idea who they were. Apparently I look like Aunt Francis. Sure thing.
Moms and I headed back to my crib on the other side of town, getting home around 12:30p, and the service had been shimmied up to 2:30p. We had just enough time to shoot the basics and had to dip out to Riverview. I had no friggin' idea where I was going. While in route, my Aunt Gina (the ex-crackhead who got off an accessory of murder charge last year) calls, from North Carolina, and says her son is lost on the interstate and needs to know where to go. We have no idea where we're going. A few seconds later GiGi called back again and I was like, "Just give him 0ur number and we'll figure it out for there." I mean for real, laying telephone over the telephone 800 miles away. Apparently Michael was already at the grave site and was the first to arrive. In the end, the great grandmother and gay great uncle were laid to rest, in their own plot next to their mom's. I took picture of the whole thing. I was kooky.
Mom left yesterday and again I shed a tear. She cleaned my bathroom for 4 hours on Sunday and we totally revamped by backyard into a backyard. So I've been milking her departure since yesterday. Shhh.
Moms and I headed back to my crib on the other side of town, getting home around 12:30p, and the service had been shimmied up to 2:30p. We had just enough time to shoot the basics and had to dip out to Riverview. I had no friggin' idea where I was going. While in route, my Aunt Gina (the ex-crackhead who got off an accessory of murder charge last year) calls, from North Carolina, and says her son is lost on the interstate and needs to know where to go. We have no idea where we're going. A few seconds later GiGi called back again and I was like, "Just give him 0ur number and we'll figure it out for there." I mean for real, laying telephone over the telephone 800 miles away. Apparently Michael was already at the grave site and was the first to arrive. In the end, the great grandmother and gay great uncle were laid to rest, in their own plot next to their mom's. I took picture of the whole thing. I was kooky.
Mom left yesterday and again I shed a tear. She cleaned my bathroom for 4 hours on Sunday and we totally revamped by backyard into a backyard. So I've been milking her departure since yesterday. Shhh.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Three Generations of Women and a Funeral
Sorry folks - long time to blog. Here I sit quite comfortably blogging in bed. Mama's got her a beautiful, shiny, new, pink Dell laptop but I am for real concentrating on school so this is something I'll definitely need. I get tired of sitting in my home office, researching this and that, preparing papers, etc.. Now I can do it anywhere. Yippee!! The only downside it's operating on Windows Vista which I don't quite care for, nor do I care for this dumb flat mouse pad thing. I'm having a pretty hard time with it. I did pick up a matching pink wireless house but I can't use it when I'm lying down. I'm also having a hard time networking my two computers so I can access this or that from my main gaming computer, but I did figure out how to hook up the wireless connection so I've got Internet access, which is all I really need right now, in combination with my flash drive.
I am for real concentrating on school, as previously typed. I'll be a full time student come January, enjoying classes such as Psychology (previously taken but dropped); English Composition (previously taken but dropped); Humanities: Prehistory to Modern Times (again, previously taken but dropped); and finally Early American History (a new class, but a blah class). If I can knock these out as I'm hoping I can, my GPA will go up and over a 3.0 and y'all know how I like to be da best.
Still 'A'cing my classes for the semester. I took my midterms a few weeks ago and got 186/200 on the management exam and 198/200 on the financial exam. Holla'! Who's a bad mutha-fucker now?! (As I walk up to the center - they sent me to a level... Sorry. Feeling a little Snoop D-O-Double G this morning.) I had two 50 point papers due this week, one management case analysis and I had to research corporate bonds(?!) this week.
Usually I wait til the last minute to do my work (the title company background in me) but I was unable to do so as my kooky mom is coming into town today. Yes, you read that right. But good golly you'll never guess what I'm doing today.
Mom was already planning a trip down here, which I was quite happy about since I've been bored for so long, but the trip has been shortened. Winona (Grandma Wilma's mom) passed a few weeks ago and they're headed down with her ashes, along with my great, gay uncle's ashes (something about gay uncles in my family) which they are going to bury with their mother (my great-great grandmother - I have no clue what her name is) at some cemetery in Riverview. Yes BURY. Is that even legal?! When Mom told me about it I totally freaked because I thought they were going to exhume the old broad's coffin and shove some urns in there, but apparently the urns are in a waterproof box and they're only going a few feet down. Lovely. And gross. I'm fortunate to be able to attend this whatever the hell it is so I can pick up Mom and get her "the hell outta there and away from those people" as quickly as possible. I have no clue where this cemetery is - all I know is Riverview. I asked G'ma Wilma where it is. Her reply, "Do you know how to get to Brandon? Get to Brandon on Hwy. 60 and head south when you hit 301. Go down there into the old(?) part of Riverview and there'll be a convenience store and the cemetery is by that. Umm, lady, there's a TON of fucking gas stations on 301 - Riverview isn't as rural as it was 25 years ago. Some bright person set this whole shindig up for 3p so I get to drive home in rush hour traffic on a Friday from BFE. Mom's coming home with me and will be staying a few nights. Wilma's going back up to Titusville to stay with her brother Uncle Buddy (wonder what side of the field he's playing on) and they should be dipping out on Sunday or Monday. On a lighter side, I'm doing my hair and makeup today, which I haven't done since JC's wedding in September (poor Jeff).
Everything is still good on the homefront. Amazing, I swear. We don't argue or anything. He is a little nervous about Mom coming into town. Who wouldn't be? I already told her she needs to be on her best behavior and not fuck with my man or we'll have problems.
I promise to be back soon. I'll get to meet all this 'family' today. Thank god I'll be wearing my black sunglasses so I can people watch what I assume to be my redneck side of the family.
Sorry for any typos. I don't feel like re-reading all this right now. It's about 10a and the fam should be hitting Tampa in 2 hours or so. I need too start whoring myself up now.
I am for real concentrating on school, as previously typed. I'll be a full time student come January, enjoying classes such as Psychology (previously taken but dropped); English Composition (previously taken but dropped); Humanities: Prehistory to Modern Times (again, previously taken but dropped); and finally Early American History (a new class, but a blah class). If I can knock these out as I'm hoping I can, my GPA will go up and over a 3.0 and y'all know how I like to be da best.
Still 'A'cing my classes for the semester. I took my midterms a few weeks ago and got 186/200 on the management exam and 198/200 on the financial exam. Holla'! Who's a bad mutha-fucker now?! (As I walk up to the center - they sent me to a level... Sorry. Feeling a little Snoop D-O-Double G this morning.) I had two 50 point papers due this week, one management case analysis and I had to research corporate bonds(?!) this week.
Usually I wait til the last minute to do my work (the title company background in me) but I was unable to do so as my kooky mom is coming into town today. Yes, you read that right. But good golly you'll never guess what I'm doing today.
Mom was already planning a trip down here, which I was quite happy about since I've been bored for so long, but the trip has been shortened. Winona (Grandma Wilma's mom) passed a few weeks ago and they're headed down with her ashes, along with my great, gay uncle's ashes (something about gay uncles in my family) which they are going to bury with their mother (my great-great grandmother - I have no clue what her name is) at some cemetery in Riverview. Yes BURY. Is that even legal?! When Mom told me about it I totally freaked because I thought they were going to exhume the old broad's coffin and shove some urns in there, but apparently the urns are in a waterproof box and they're only going a few feet down. Lovely. And gross. I'm fortunate to be able to attend this whatever the hell it is so I can pick up Mom and get her "the hell outta there and away from those people" as quickly as possible. I have no clue where this cemetery is - all I know is Riverview. I asked G'ma Wilma where it is. Her reply, "Do you know how to get to Brandon? Get to Brandon on Hwy. 60 and head south when you hit 301. Go down there into the old(?) part of Riverview and there'll be a convenience store and the cemetery is by that. Umm, lady, there's a TON of fucking gas stations on 301 - Riverview isn't as rural as it was 25 years ago. Some bright person set this whole shindig up for 3p so I get to drive home in rush hour traffic on a Friday from BFE. Mom's coming home with me and will be staying a few nights. Wilma's going back up to Titusville to stay with her brother Uncle Buddy (wonder what side of the field he's playing on) and they should be dipping out on Sunday or Monday. On a lighter side, I'm doing my hair and makeup today, which I haven't done since JC's wedding in September (poor Jeff).
Everything is still good on the homefront. Amazing, I swear. We don't argue or anything. He is a little nervous about Mom coming into town. Who wouldn't be? I already told her she needs to be on her best behavior and not fuck with my man or we'll have problems.
I promise to be back soon. I'll get to meet all this 'family' today. Thank god I'll be wearing my black sunglasses so I can people watch what I assume to be my redneck side of the family.
Sorry for any typos. I don't feel like re-reading all this right now. It's about 10a and the fam should be hitting Tampa in 2 hours or so. I need too start whoring myself up now.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Yet Another Sucky Day
Arghh!!
The economy sucks. I'm watching what little money I have in my 401k plummet. Unemployment is at an all time high. This is fucking ridiculous.
Finally Teach has started grading assignments and mama ain't too happy. The class I really thought I'd fuck up on was the management class - which I'm somehow pulling an A (97%) in. I got 50/50 points on that horrible case analysis paper. Personal Finance - which I thought I'd breeze on by in - not so good. I've currently got a C (73%). Fuck. I have got to get A's in both of these classes to pull my horribly low GPA up so I can get financial aid for next fall's semester. I've got another case analysis, as well as two 10 point discussions and 2 mandatory online chats on the 11th. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my mother won't be down until after that. I've got midterms due by the 18th for both classes. It's not even noon and just by typing about this I'm getting stressed.
I went to the campus today to apply for my student loan for the Spring/Summer semesters. Yippee. Again mama was not a happy camper. I started at 8a in the financial aide office. I'm approved for a loan through Discover which for whatever reason the college is not currently accepting this lender, and is considering it a private loan. The lady sent me down to the cashier. The cashier sent me backup to the financial aide office. On a lighter note, it looks like I'll get approximately $10k for this that and the other up until next fall. Thank goodness. Hopefully my GPA will be in the 3's somewhere so I may be able to pull in close to $25k this year just for school. My Man doesn't want me working full-time next year but I may or may not. Hell - I don't know anything anymore.
I have figured this out though - Life really isn't fair. My Man has been depressed which has been rubbing off on me. It absolutely breaks my heart to see him in that condition. I sobbed last night for the first time in I don't know how long. I prayed to God and asked his dead mother for help. I've waited 30 years to find a man who treats me the way he does and takes care of me mentally, emotionally and financially (even though the financial thing I never really wanted) and he is a defeatist, like I was for so many years. He's horrified that he's going to bring me down but I know some way, somehow I'm going to bring him up.
This housing market shit has fucked us both. I put in four fucking years at A/D and I get laid off. I was on time, if not early every bloody day when half the office was always at least 30 - 45 minutes late. I gave my heart and soul to that company and I got fucked up the ass with no lube. Loyalty, seniority and hard work mean nothing. The bitterness is sinking in. Big time. He's stressed because the work isn't coming in like it used to - not to mention the fact he feels he should be making at least another hundred bucks a week since he's been doing what he does for the same company for over 10 years. He is signing his checks over to me weekly so I can manage life but it still sucks and is totally unfair. Why is it the hard working white, single, non-child having people seem to get fucked? My taxes have supported welfare and food stamp mothers for years and what have I gotten for busting my ass? Not a fucking thing.
Bitterness. Anger. Resentment. Blah.
The economy sucks. I'm watching what little money I have in my 401k plummet. Unemployment is at an all time high. This is fucking ridiculous.
Finally Teach has started grading assignments and mama ain't too happy. The class I really thought I'd fuck up on was the management class - which I'm somehow pulling an A (97%) in. I got 50/50 points on that horrible case analysis paper. Personal Finance - which I thought I'd breeze on by in - not so good. I've currently got a C (73%). Fuck. I have got to get A's in both of these classes to pull my horribly low GPA up so I can get financial aid for next fall's semester. I've got another case analysis, as well as two 10 point discussions and 2 mandatory online chats on the 11th. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my mother won't be down until after that. I've got midterms due by the 18th for both classes. It's not even noon and just by typing about this I'm getting stressed.
I went to the campus today to apply for my student loan for the Spring/Summer semesters. Yippee. Again mama was not a happy camper. I started at 8a in the financial aide office. I'm approved for a loan through Discover which for whatever reason the college is not currently accepting this lender, and is considering it a private loan. The lady sent me down to the cashier. The cashier sent me backup to the financial aide office. On a lighter note, it looks like I'll get approximately $10k for this that and the other up until next fall. Thank goodness. Hopefully my GPA will be in the 3's somewhere so I may be able to pull in close to $25k this year just for school. My Man doesn't want me working full-time next year but I may or may not. Hell - I don't know anything anymore.
I have figured this out though - Life really isn't fair. My Man has been depressed which has been rubbing off on me. It absolutely breaks my heart to see him in that condition. I sobbed last night for the first time in I don't know how long. I prayed to God and asked his dead mother for help. I've waited 30 years to find a man who treats me the way he does and takes care of me mentally, emotionally and financially (even though the financial thing I never really wanted) and he is a defeatist, like I was for so many years. He's horrified that he's going to bring me down but I know some way, somehow I'm going to bring him up.
This housing market shit has fucked us both. I put in four fucking years at A/D and I get laid off. I was on time, if not early every bloody day when half the office was always at least 30 - 45 minutes late. I gave my heart and soul to that company and I got fucked up the ass with no lube. Loyalty, seniority and hard work mean nothing. The bitterness is sinking in. Big time. He's stressed because the work isn't coming in like it used to - not to mention the fact he feels he should be making at least another hundred bucks a week since he's been doing what he does for the same company for over 10 years. He is signing his checks over to me weekly so I can manage life but it still sucks and is totally unfair. Why is it the hard working white, single, non-child having people seem to get fucked? My taxes have supported welfare and food stamp mothers for years and what have I gotten for busting my ass? Not a fucking thing.
Bitterness. Anger. Resentment. Blah.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Still Bored...
At least today the time flew. I slept in to 9:30a and headed to the bank, then Walmart, then the grocery store (oh yeah - I made a pit stop at McDonalds). I didn't get home until close to noon! Where does the time go? I even had lists.
When I got home I decided to go all arts and crafty. Grandma recently gave me this big knick knack holder thingy (something I really need so I can have even more crap in my office) and these two horribly gaudy (so of course I love them) lantern like chandeliers that have brown and yellow glass surrounding the iron where the light comes out. I don't think the previous owner could get them down so they came with her house. They hung in her bedroom for years until on one of her Superwoman days. She took the bitches down and they've been hanging out in the handicapped bathroom (for real - there's a roll in shower - was she planning ahead for something?) she uses for storage. I was there the other day and decided to snag them. My Man didn't seem too happy, they are quite tacky-ish and all, but I have a vision for both of these (and it's my house bitch) so I got on started.
I filled in all of the little holes, nicks and cracks in the knick knack thingy with wood putty and I'm still waiting for it all to dry so I can sand the spots down. What to do? I busted out the lanterns and cleaned the layers of dust off them as best I could. They have a lot of metal on them, (have no idea what kind but they're heavy as fuck) that looked kinda like black with hints of gold under all the grime. Our bedroom is painted yellow with a yellow bedspread (no it's not bright and sunny in there - I wanted like the Gold Room on Big Brother a couple of seasons ago) and we have big ass head and foor boards that are wood and black iron. I headed down to the Home Depot for supplies and it's on. As always, I'll have before and after pictures. I'm get so proud of my work.
School handed me a can of whoop ass last week... And I player slacker during that time. I had a Critical Analysis Case to criticize for the management class in a narrative form, so of course I had to look up what narrative form is. I need to be in remedial classes or something. Teach said initially Case Analysis papers should take about 8 hours and the bitch wasn't lying. I had to do a minimum of 4 1/2 pages and after 2 1/2 into in, I didn't have anything else to say. She wanted 'facts - no fluff.' How the hell do you read 3 paragraphs and then turn them into 5 fluffless pages? I started working on it Friday at 11a and worked for about 4 hours. I took a breaks just to do some of my housewife duties only because I needed to get the fuck away from the computer. I was up at 9a on Saturday and finally finished the fucking paper around 3p. 8 hours my ass. It took me a long, grueling 10 hours. I WILL NOT wait until the late minute to do that shit again. And then I still had to do a 'Case in Point' for the finance class. I finished everything up around 6p or so and then ran from the computer. Fortunately I only have 'Discussions' for each class this week where I have to make a couple of posts on savings accounts and ethical stuff or something by 11p Saturday night. I'm not procrastinating with this again. On Sunday I rested. In Monday I crafted, and tomorrow I'll get schooled. And get this - after all the assignments I've done: 8 between the finance and management classes - I've only received TWO(!!!) grades. I started handing in Assignments on August 30. WTF is taking so long? Doesn't this lady know I'm obsessive compulsive? Can I just get a grade or two? Puh-leeze? On a good note - I'm pulling A's (based off of the one assignment graded in each class) in both classes. Thank gosh!
And relax kids, I won't bore you with the case analysis.
When I got home I decided to go all arts and crafty. Grandma recently gave me this big knick knack holder thingy (something I really need so I can have even more crap in my office) and these two horribly gaudy (so of course I love them) lantern like chandeliers that have brown and yellow glass surrounding the iron where the light comes out. I don't think the previous owner could get them down so they came with her house. They hung in her bedroom for years until on one of her Superwoman days. She took the bitches down and they've been hanging out in the handicapped bathroom (for real - there's a roll in shower - was she planning ahead for something?) she uses for storage. I was there the other day and decided to snag them. My Man didn't seem too happy, they are quite tacky-ish and all, but I have a vision for both of these (and it's my house bitch) so I got on started.
I filled in all of the little holes, nicks and cracks in the knick knack thingy with wood putty and I'm still waiting for it all to dry so I can sand the spots down. What to do? I busted out the lanterns and cleaned the layers of dust off them as best I could. They have a lot of metal on them, (have no idea what kind but they're heavy as fuck) that looked kinda like black with hints of gold under all the grime. Our bedroom is painted yellow with a yellow bedspread (no it's not bright and sunny in there - I wanted like the Gold Room on Big Brother a couple of seasons ago) and we have big ass head and foor boards that are wood and black iron. I headed down to the Home Depot for supplies and it's on. As always, I'll have before and after pictures. I'm get so proud of my work.
School handed me a can of whoop ass last week... And I player slacker during that time. I had a Critical Analysis Case to criticize for the management class in a narrative form, so of course I had to look up what narrative form is. I need to be in remedial classes or something. Teach said initially Case Analysis papers should take about 8 hours and the bitch wasn't lying. I had to do a minimum of 4 1/2 pages and after 2 1/2 into in, I didn't have anything else to say. She wanted 'facts - no fluff.' How the hell do you read 3 paragraphs and then turn them into 5 fluffless pages? I started working on it Friday at 11a and worked for about 4 hours. I took a breaks just to do some of my housewife duties only because I needed to get the fuck away from the computer. I was up at 9a on Saturday and finally finished the fucking paper around 3p. 8 hours my ass. It took me a long, grueling 10 hours. I WILL NOT wait until the late minute to do that shit again. And then I still had to do a 'Case in Point' for the finance class. I finished everything up around 6p or so and then ran from the computer. Fortunately I only have 'Discussions' for each class this week where I have to make a couple of posts on savings accounts and ethical stuff or something by 11p Saturday night. I'm not procrastinating with this again. On Sunday I rested. In Monday I crafted, and tomorrow I'll get schooled. And get this - after all the assignments I've done: 8 between the finance and management classes - I've only received TWO(!!!) grades. I started handing in Assignments on August 30. WTF is taking so long? Doesn't this lady know I'm obsessive compulsive? Can I just get a grade or two? Puh-leeze? On a good note - I'm pulling A's (based off of the one assignment graded in each class) in both classes. Thank gosh!
And relax kids, I won't bore you with the case analysis.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Boredom
I'm tired of being at home and it's only September! Eeek!
The CW has fucked me up as it's changed their daily line up. Cosby was on at 8a but now comes on at 9a, a slot previously held by Judge Maria Lopez. George Lopez is on at 10a now; My Wife and Kids comes on at 5p; South Park was on at 11p or something last night. I used to know what time it is based off the shows but now I'm all kinds of confused. I have to remember to watch the Steve Wilkos Show today - I was livid as yesterday it was To Be Continued. Fuck me. I need to get outta here.
My Monday was a'ight as Gossip Girl was on. My Man (yes, surprisingly enough he is still here) thinks I need a life because I get into all of these teen dramas. Hey - I have to live vicariously through someone! I am semi-happy it's Tuesday though since 90210.2 comes on tonight, however I think this is kinda crappy because it should come on Wednesdays at 8p, their time slot for like a decade, but Mizz Tyra has that on lock down, which is okay by me. I have new TV shows to watch on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 8p. Blah, blah, blah. I'm starting to sound like a whiny 15 year old.
We're still living in happy coupleness, but a housewife's work is never done. I swear it takes me half the day to clean the kitchen, clean the floors, do laundry, cook dinner, etc., etc., etc.. My Man is pretty hard up on me staying home when I start spawning off babies. I don't know if I'll be able to do that. I told him last night I will absolutely not drive a minivan or anything that has a sliding door EVER. No way, no how, it ain't happenin'. You can put me in an SUV or some type of 4 door sedan, but my ass is out the door if you think you're gonna throw in a Dodge Caravan and call it a day. NEGATIVE. I'm still getting used to the idea of being sperminated in 5 - 7 years, thus I am no where near ready to think about the prospect of being a soccer mom. I would like to win the lottery and get a surrogate. However My Man doesn't like this idea because he thinks the kid will come out with some of the baby carrier's features. I patiently explained that that is not how it works - my egg plus his sperm in the womb of someone else does not equal a baby that looks like the three of us. He disagrees. This is why I am the brain and he is the brawn. Bless him.
I went on a bit of a Xanax bender this weekend, just for fun, and I'm still recovering. I kicked that stuff like a month ago but I get so bloody bored that I'm searching for something, anything to do. I think I might take up drinking.
The CW has fucked me up as it's changed their daily line up. Cosby was on at 8a but now comes on at 9a, a slot previously held by Judge Maria Lopez. George Lopez is on at 10a now; My Wife and Kids comes on at 5p; South Park was on at 11p or something last night. I used to know what time it is based off the shows but now I'm all kinds of confused. I have to remember to watch the Steve Wilkos Show today - I was livid as yesterday it was To Be Continued. Fuck me. I need to get outta here.
My Monday was a'ight as Gossip Girl was on. My Man (yes, surprisingly enough he is still here) thinks I need a life because I get into all of these teen dramas. Hey - I have to live vicariously through someone! I am semi-happy it's Tuesday though since 90210.2 comes on tonight, however I think this is kinda crappy because it should come on Wednesdays at 8p, their time slot for like a decade, but Mizz Tyra has that on lock down, which is okay by me. I have new TV shows to watch on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 8p. Blah, blah, blah. I'm starting to sound like a whiny 15 year old.
We're still living in happy coupleness, but a housewife's work is never done. I swear it takes me half the day to clean the kitchen, clean the floors, do laundry, cook dinner, etc., etc., etc.. My Man is pretty hard up on me staying home when I start spawning off babies. I don't know if I'll be able to do that. I told him last night I will absolutely not drive a minivan or anything that has a sliding door EVER. No way, no how, it ain't happenin'. You can put me in an SUV or some type of 4 door sedan, but my ass is out the door if you think you're gonna throw in a Dodge Caravan and call it a day. NEGATIVE. I'm still getting used to the idea of being sperminated in 5 - 7 years, thus I am no where near ready to think about the prospect of being a soccer mom. I would like to win the lottery and get a surrogate. However My Man doesn't like this idea because he thinks the kid will come out with some of the baby carrier's features. I patiently explained that that is not how it works - my egg plus his sperm in the womb of someone else does not equal a baby that looks like the three of us. He disagrees. This is why I am the brain and he is the brawn. Bless him.
I went on a bit of a Xanax bender this weekend, just for fun, and I'm still recovering. I kicked that stuff like a month ago but I get so bloody bored that I'm searching for something, anything to do. I think I might take up drinking.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Just Kill Me
In my Personal Finance Class, due the week of September 20, I have to have to do 3 'Discussion' posts over 7 days. NOT IN THE BLOODY MANAGEMENT CLASS AND NOT THIS FUCKING WEEK. Even when I typed the assignment on my blog here I typed nothing about 3 posts - only CHAPTER 3 and QUESTION 3. I feel like a fucking idiot. But things usually come in threes, right?
Jeepers, I'm having problems remembering what I'm doing in two classes - what the fuck will I be like next semester in four?
Jeepers, I'm having problems remembering what I'm doing in two classes - what the fuck will I be like next semester in four?
Principals of Management, Chapter Three, Redux
Please make sure you read the first Chapter Three post before you read this one.
Some of my classmates had some replies to my 'discussion' (and these are cut and pastes so I personally would have hit spell check before hitting the post button):
Subject: Discussion 1
Author: ***** Simpson
I would have to agree with Elizabeth ***** when she said "It’s too bad ‘greed’ isn’t an organizational environment as it is THE element existing outside the organization’s boundaries that have the potential to affect the majority of organizations." It efffects us every day. The Economy hurts many people and small companies fill it to but sum of the lager companys are not effected by the economy (wal-mart) Some companys are doin better becuse of the economy. Because there dealing with supply and demand. Thats were greed comes in hand.
Subject: Re:Discussion 1
Author: ***** Sutton
I also agree with what Elizabeth is saying. I also belive as consumers we have some power if everyone would use other smaller stores these big stores would have to make some adjustments. I am basically saying stomp out greed by not feading it.
Subject: Re:Discussion 1
Author: ***** Padgett
Elizabeth,
Although I agree with you, it is definitely a dog-eat-dog world, on the other hand isn't that why someone starts a business.....to make PROFIT. I wouldn't exactly call it greed. Greed is defined as a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (as money) than is needed. Just as the company you worked for was in business to make money, so is the company that took their business. Unfortunately someone else was bigger, though not necessarily better. These larger companies just have the ability to play the upperhand and they use it to their advantage...that's how they continue to climb to the top. That is what business is all about. I did like the points that you made and your post was very informative, all in all I think you did a great job.
~~end comments~~
Look - I have some 'new fans' (but y'all will always be the only ones I care about). I'm finding fun with this because I'm enjoying the topic and able to voice my opinion on something I somewhat care about and (hopefully) get a good grade on(it's not graded yet though - hopefully I wasn't too jumping too much on my Tide box and/or way off the Richter scale; I'm also still waiting for my LoTR grade. That paper was due last Saturday. How long must I wait? But I am acing Personal Finance with a vengence.).
Like I said in the first Chapter Three post : (e) All of this work for a 10 point assignment. I need to create comments to at least 2 more of my classmates' posts between now and Saturday at 11pm. Comments only this time. I am no way in hell writing another short essay. I think I may take Friday off to cook. My brain hurts.
I did take Friday off and cooked me some homemade Cheesy Chunky Lasagna, a recipe I invented myself. Very very good. Even though I was supposed to do two more posts for that management thing I thought about saying fuck it because A) Everyone else wrote like a sentence or two - some wrote very brief paragraphs - some looked like a long post because they typed out the whole question at the top, while I on the other hand wrote was seemed to be a short novella (and I'm like Cher dammit! I deserve that 'A'); and B) it's only worth 10 points - exams are worth 200. So what if I don't get the whole whopping 10 points on this?
But you know me. I go big or go home. I haven't been in the mood for blogging but I was in the mood for writing. Then came the 'retort' from ***** Padgett. I felt like I needed to be vindicated. So here we go:
*****,
How you defined greed ‘as the selfish and excessive desire for more of something (as money)’ defines my case exactly.
We didn’t lose the account due to a poor marketing campaign, poor customer service or outrageous prices. Our employees played their roles exquisitely, everyone functioning and living in the environment of the customer. The sole reason we lost the account was greed. The homebuilder formed a company*, or ABA in violation of RESPA (the Real Estate Services Protection Act, a consumer protection statue first passed in 1974 in which the purpose is to help consumers become better shoppers for settlement services and to eliminate kickbacks and referral fees that unnecessarily increase the costs of certain settlement services), so the builder could make an additional profit for a service they did not perform. Their ABA does not market to any potential outside sources of business and does not perform all ‘core title services,’ both of which are flagrant violations of RESPA. Greed.
Our account situation also contained the legal-politic dimension on the side of the homebuilder. The builder’s middle managers who dealt our staff on a daily basis (the local VP of Finance, VP of Sales, VP of Land, VP of Construction and Division President) did not want to cease operations between our two businesses as our company was able to aid and improve their over all customer service ratings by our willingness to accommodate their buyers and closings, day or night, and pull so called ‘miracles’ out of our air conditioned offices. (This is probably the biggest difference between ABAs and individually owned and operated companies; ABAs are guaranteed incoming business from their ‘source’ while individually owned organizations must create an environment dedicated their customers as an environment in which to compete scarcely exists.) In the unfortunate end, the builder’s corporate politics possessed by the top managers prevailed and disservices were and still are handed out like candy at Halloween.
In most real estate transactions, few consumers are shop around for the best price, but are instead steered to particular companies by real estate agents, builders and lenders. In all real estate transactions, your agents, brokers and lenders have fiduciary responsibility to you, the consumer. However, I’ve watched that fiduciary responsibility shift from the consumer to the agent or the agent’s employer (one of whom is usually affiliated with a settlement service provider of some sort) in order to receive some type of compensation for themselves. The latest example I’ve seen locally is through a homebuilder – the builder require a lower down payment from a potential buyer, allow a buyer receive upgrades at little to no cost, pay all allowable closing costs (and as many non-allowable closing costs as possible) but ONLY if the purchaser uses their ‘preferred’ lender, a lender in which the builder most always has a financial relationship with. Greed.
Again, this happens everywhere in the real estate industry. It is common practice. NOTE TO HOMEOWNERS: Make sure you read the fine print and shop around.
Sadly, a group of individually owned and operated title companies have not banded together to fight this issue head on. The only thing these organizations can do is travel to Tallahassee to try to speak with Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation. Unfortunately (but fortunately) the OIR has a full plate dealing with home, car and health insurance as well as workers compensation. I do know there have been some inquiries by the OIR, the last being October 2007. This only led to setting up another inquiry date (I believe this date is still to be determined). It does not appear that HUD (the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) has made any changes to its regulations regarding ABAs since June 1996, years before the magnitude of the ABA scene was created.
Very little to no significant change has been made in over 10 years, which makes the future of the independently owned and operated title company seem rather bleak. I do however, believe these companies will persevere by continuing to make the customer their number one priority, all while patiently waiting for the bureaucracy red tape to be cut.
*a good definition of newly formed company entity can be found under ‘sham controlled business arrangements’ as defined in RESPA 34 CR Part 3500 http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/res/res0607c.cfm
~~end paper~~
I was looking at some comments on some of the other peep's "discussions" and they were like I agree with you! Great job! Valid Points! I'm going to close my eyes, point to the computer and just pick one and say Very well written. No more massive works for me right now. I have a long ass paper due next week and my two ABA bashings have taken a toll on me.
Some of my classmates had some replies to my 'discussion' (and these are cut and pastes so I personally would have hit spell check before hitting the post button):
Subject: Discussion 1
Author: ***** Simpson
I would have to agree with Elizabeth ***** when she said "It’s too bad ‘greed’ isn’t an organizational environment as it is THE element existing outside the organization’s boundaries that have the potential to affect the majority of organizations." It efffects us every day. The Economy hurts many people and small companies fill it to but sum of the lager companys are not effected by the economy (wal-mart) Some companys are doin better becuse of the economy. Because there dealing with supply and demand. Thats were greed comes in hand.
Subject: Re:Discussion 1
Author: ***** Sutton
I also agree with what Elizabeth is saying. I also belive as consumers we have some power if everyone would use other smaller stores these big stores would have to make some adjustments. I am basically saying stomp out greed by not feading it.
Subject: Re:Discussion 1
Author: ***** Padgett
Elizabeth,
Although I agree with you, it is definitely a dog-eat-dog world, on the other hand isn't that why someone starts a business.....to make PROFIT. I wouldn't exactly call it greed. Greed is defined as a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (as money) than is needed. Just as the company you worked for was in business to make money, so is the company that took their business. Unfortunately someone else was bigger, though not necessarily better. These larger companies just have the ability to play the upperhand and they use it to their advantage...that's how they continue to climb to the top. That is what business is all about. I did like the points that you made and your post was very informative, all in all I think you did a great job.
~~end comments~~
Look - I have some 'new fans' (but y'all will always be the only ones I care about). I'm finding fun with this because I'm enjoying the topic and able to voice my opinion on something I somewhat care about and (hopefully) get a good grade on(it's not graded yet though - hopefully I wasn't too jumping too much on my Tide box and/or way off the Richter scale; I'm also still waiting for my LoTR grade. That paper was due last Saturday. How long must I wait? But I am acing Personal Finance with a vengence.).
Like I said in the first Chapter Three post : (e) All of this work for a 10 point assignment. I need to create comments to at least 2 more of my classmates' posts between now and Saturday at 11pm. Comments only this time. I am no way in hell writing another short essay. I think I may take Friday off to cook. My brain hurts.
I did take Friday off and cooked me some homemade Cheesy Chunky Lasagna, a recipe I invented myself. Very very good. Even though I was supposed to do two more posts for that management thing I thought about saying fuck it because A) Everyone else wrote like a sentence or two - some wrote very brief paragraphs - some looked like a long post because they typed out the whole question at the top, while I on the other hand wrote was seemed to be a short novella (and I'm like Cher dammit! I deserve that 'A'); and B) it's only worth 10 points - exams are worth 200. So what if I don't get the whole whopping 10 points on this?
But you know me. I go big or go home. I haven't been in the mood for blogging but I was in the mood for writing. Then came the 'retort' from ***** Padgett. I felt like I needed to be vindicated. So here we go:
*****,
How you defined greed ‘as the selfish and excessive desire for more of something (as money)’ defines my case exactly.
We didn’t lose the account due to a poor marketing campaign, poor customer service or outrageous prices. Our employees played their roles exquisitely, everyone functioning and living in the environment of the customer. The sole reason we lost the account was greed. The homebuilder formed a company*, or ABA in violation of RESPA (the Real Estate Services Protection Act, a consumer protection statue first passed in 1974 in which the purpose is to help consumers become better shoppers for settlement services and to eliminate kickbacks and referral fees that unnecessarily increase the costs of certain settlement services), so the builder could make an additional profit for a service they did not perform. Their ABA does not market to any potential outside sources of business and does not perform all ‘core title services,’ both of which are flagrant violations of RESPA. Greed.
Our account situation also contained the legal-politic dimension on the side of the homebuilder. The builder’s middle managers who dealt our staff on a daily basis (the local VP of Finance, VP of Sales, VP of Land, VP of Construction and Division President) did not want to cease operations between our two businesses as our company was able to aid and improve their over all customer service ratings by our willingness to accommodate their buyers and closings, day or night, and pull so called ‘miracles’ out of our air conditioned offices. (This is probably the biggest difference between ABAs and individually owned and operated companies; ABAs are guaranteed incoming business from their ‘source’ while individually owned organizations must create an environment dedicated their customers as an environment in which to compete scarcely exists.) In the unfortunate end, the builder’s corporate politics possessed by the top managers prevailed and disservices were and still are handed out like candy at Halloween.
In most real estate transactions, few consumers are shop around for the best price, but are instead steered to particular companies by real estate agents, builders and lenders. In all real estate transactions, your agents, brokers and lenders have fiduciary responsibility to you, the consumer. However, I’ve watched that fiduciary responsibility shift from the consumer to the agent or the agent’s employer (one of whom is usually affiliated with a settlement service provider of some sort) in order to receive some type of compensation for themselves. The latest example I’ve seen locally is through a homebuilder – the builder require a lower down payment from a potential buyer, allow a buyer receive upgrades at little to no cost, pay all allowable closing costs (and as many non-allowable closing costs as possible) but ONLY if the purchaser uses their ‘preferred’ lender, a lender in which the builder most always has a financial relationship with. Greed.
Again, this happens everywhere in the real estate industry. It is common practice. NOTE TO HOMEOWNERS: Make sure you read the fine print and shop around.
Sadly, a group of individually owned and operated title companies have not banded together to fight this issue head on. The only thing these organizations can do is travel to Tallahassee to try to speak with Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation. Unfortunately (but fortunately) the OIR has a full plate dealing with home, car and health insurance as well as workers compensation. I do know there have been some inquiries by the OIR, the last being October 2007. This only led to setting up another inquiry date (I believe this date is still to be determined). It does not appear that HUD (the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) has made any changes to its regulations regarding ABAs since June 1996, years before the magnitude of the ABA scene was created.
Very little to no significant change has been made in over 10 years, which makes the future of the independently owned and operated title company seem rather bleak. I do however, believe these companies will persevere by continuing to make the customer their number one priority, all while patiently waiting for the bureaucracy red tape to be cut.
*a good definition of newly formed company entity can be found under ‘sham controlled business arrangements’ as defined in RESPA 34 CR Part 3500 http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/res/res0607c.cfm
~~end paper~~
I was looking at some comments on some of the other peep's "discussions" and they were like I agree with you! Great job! Valid Points! I'm going to close my eyes, point to the computer and just pick one and say Very well written. No more massive works for me right now. I have a long ass paper due next week and my two ABA bashings have taken a toll on me.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Me and Emu - I mean EMO at the Zoo
I went to Busch Gardens again this year with my two dad having emo cousin. I love that kid. He is really polite, actually funny and said 'bad ass' and 'oh shit' in front of me. I like him a lot more than that brother kid I have.
Whenever I go to all you can eat buffets I never get my money's worth, so I decided we'd get a bang for our buck at the big BG. We rode ALL the rides (even the carousel - but we didn't go on the transport rides and the ones we were too big for. My ass is getting fat and I need my exercise.) I will NEVER go on the Phoenix again. It's one of those pirate ships that rocks you back and forth and then holds you upside down. All of the blood in my body rushed to up to head and I thought it was gonna explode. Rides don't make me sick but that one fucked me up all kinds of crazy. I'm just thankful I didn't eat first.
Like I said, I love the emo kid. Last year he had all the leather bracelets going up his arms. This year he had a studded collar and all kinds of shit hanging off his shorts (I still don't know if that is a suspender), and a purple and black striped hoodie. A HOODIE! I was in shock when I picked him up because it's (was) August in hot ass Tampa. The tourists were all staring and gawking at him. Oh what it was like to be young!
I emailed Michelle this pic with my WHAT THE HELL WAS HE DOING WEARING A HOODIE IN THE BLOODY SUMMER?! question.
Her reply:
I think maybe since the emo heart is so cold and barren, they are unaffected by changes in the climate.
Whenever I go to all you can eat buffets I never get my money's worth, so I decided we'd get a bang for our buck at the big BG. We rode ALL the rides (even the carousel - but we didn't go on the transport rides and the ones we were too big for. My ass is getting fat and I need my exercise.) I will NEVER go on the Phoenix again. It's one of those pirate ships that rocks you back and forth and then holds you upside down. All of the blood in my body rushed to up to head and I thought it was gonna explode. Rides don't make me sick but that one fucked me up all kinds of crazy. I'm just thankful I didn't eat first.
Like I said, I love the emo kid. Last year he had all the leather bracelets going up his arms. This year he had a studded collar and all kinds of shit hanging off his shorts (I still don't know if that is a suspender), and a purple and black striped hoodie. A HOODIE! I was in shock when I picked him up because it's (was) August in hot ass Tampa. The tourists were all staring and gawking at him. Oh what it was like to be young!
I emailed Michelle this pic with my WHAT THE HELL WAS HE DOING WEARING A HOODIE IN THE BLOODY SUMMER?! question.Her reply:
I think maybe since the emo heart is so cold and barren, they are unaffected by changes in the climate.
Good answer, good answer!
Principles of Management, Chapter Three
I'm skipping the post for Chapter Two (unless you really want to read about what I have interpreted as my poor management skills in the common workplace - it is summarized by my inability to see the gray) because I don't think my paper was all that great however, I still scored a 10 out of 10 (with the instructor's comment of GREAT JOB!). I'm still waiting on my management movie grade. I have an eerie feeling on that one. I think it's taking me entirely too long to write these papers, especially if I have some passion for the subject.
ASSIGNMENT: Read Chapter 3; enter Discussion #1 online (See Discussion Questions, page 97, #3)
So I'm a dumb ass, read Question 4 and get all excited: Contemporary best-selling books often argue that customers are the most important element in the external environment. Do you agree? In what company situations might this not happen? Oh hell. This is a loaded question as I just lost my job because my 'client' cared more about the almighty dollar than customer service. I wrote half a response and then saw I was supposed to discuss Question 3. Fuck. I saved part of it under Ethic Notes and used the rest of it in here.
Question 3: What do you think are the most important forces on the external environment creating uncertainty for organizations today? Do the forces you identify typically arise in the task environment or the general environment?
My Discussion/Post/Answer/Whatever:
It’s too bad ‘greed’ isn’t an organizational environment as it is THE element existing outside any organization’s boundaries that have the potential to affect the majority of organizations.
With the declining economy and the ever changing real estate market, small organizations are having a difficult time staying afloat. My personal experience is with real estate title insurance companies. These are the companies which handle the processes and functions involved in residential and commercial real estate closings. The smaller companies or ‘Mom and Pop Shops’ are individually owned and operated and are not partnered in any Affiliated Business Arrangements (defined below).The ‘Mom and Pop Shops,’ as well as the consumers of these services, are being strongly affected by the task environment of competition (or in this case, lack thereof) between the individual organizations and ABAs. ABAs have created an inability for smaller companies to compete for business, as referrers tend to steer clients to the outfit in which they (or the company they work for) hold a financial interest. This inability to compete forces the smaller organizations to make difficult decisions, such as reducing their employees’ pay, laying off seasoned employees, or worse, shutting down their operation all together.
I’ve spent the last four years working for an individually owned title company that’s primary goal is to please their customers and provide a smooth closing process. However, I recently I lost my job due to an ABA. I was employed as the account manager servicing the business relationship between my company and a national homebuilder. I was let go (or was ‘voted off Survivor Island’ as like to say as I did manage to make it through a few rounds of lay offs) because the homebuilder opted to discontinue utilizing our services in order to use its own ABA, causing a significant loss of revenue for my company. As the builder’s ABA did not handle any portion of the ‘physical’ closing process, my former company was contracted to act as an ‘escrow agent.’ However my previous employer had the same responsibilities – managing the account, coordinating closings with the lenders, builder and home buyers, preparing documents need for closing, disbursing monies due to all parties involved in the transaction, all at ¼ - ½ of my company’s previous fee.
In this particular situation, the use of the builder’s ABA created two main disservices for buyers, the first of which related to the closing process. Unfortunately, an escrow agent is a notary only and not legally able to explain all of the closing/loan documents as to do so would constitute the escrow agent fraudulently acting as an attorney. The use of the builder’s ABA also affects the buyers financially. Our services based off a sales price of $200,000 would be $150.00 - $300.00 cheaper than that of the ABA.
Individually owned and operated title companies’ live in the task environment of the customer. With so many ABAs forcing out competition, small organizations must focus on providing services at reasonable fees in hopes of obtaining repeat business.
An ABA is defined as “An arrangement in which (A) a person who is in a position to refer business incident to or a part of a real estate settlement service involving a federally related mortgage loan, or an associate of such person, has either an affiliate relationship with or a direct or beneficial ownership interest of more than 1 percent in a provider of settlement services; and (B) either of such persons directly or indirectly refers such business to that provider or affirmatively influences the selection of that provider.”
Note from author: Basically this means the referrer (real estate agents, banks, home builders, and lenders) of a real estate transaction to a title company is receiving some type of compensation for closing from the referred title company. This happens THROUGH OUT the real estate industry and is not limited to title companies.
--end paper--
a) I really did submit the snarky comments.
b) It took me 4 - 5 hours to complete this one page because I possess way too much interest and knowledge in the subject. My 'discussion' should have been completed in an hour to an hour and a half or two hours max, but the perfection in the wording fucks me up every time.
c) I'm freaked out about next week's paper. It's a case analysis (worth 50 points - I have like 3 or 4 of them due this semester, just in this class. Sheesh.) and I've never written case analysis before. Anyone out there who can help me? (I'd like a proof reader too, any takers?)Teach says it should the case analysis should take about 8 hours to complete so in Danielle terms, I should have started last week.
d) I'm debating on sending an expanded version of this to Mr. D.'s contact at the Tampa Tribune to possibly start a discussion and acquire some type of media attention to this god awful situation and bring in some unemployment issues as well (title and mortgage employees are basically being blacklisted from any potential employers), as this industry sucks. Maybe I'll do something with 8 on your side too. Employment is at an all time high and a lot of this is due to shady schemes in real estate transactions. Again, I have the time. Kinda..
d) Boy am I looking forward to the Ethics section of the book. It will be a verbal (or shall I say written) assault on the real estate market as a whole. At least I can vent some of my frustrations.
e) All of this work for a 10 point assignment. I need to create comments to at least 2 more of my classmates' posts between now and Saturday at 11pm. Comments only this time. I am no way in hell writing another short essay. I think I may take Friday off to cook. My brain hurts.
ASSIGNMENT: Read Chapter 3; enter Discussion #1 online (See Discussion Questions, page 97, #3)
So I'm a dumb ass, read Question 4 and get all excited: Contemporary best-selling books often argue that customers are the most important element in the external environment. Do you agree? In what company situations might this not happen? Oh hell. This is a loaded question as I just lost my job because my 'client' cared more about the almighty dollar than customer service. I wrote half a response and then saw I was supposed to discuss Question 3. Fuck. I saved part of it under Ethic Notes and used the rest of it in here.
Question 3: What do you think are the most important forces on the external environment creating uncertainty for organizations today? Do the forces you identify typically arise in the task environment or the general environment?
My Discussion/Post/Answer/Whatever:
It’s too bad ‘greed’ isn’t an organizational environment as it is THE element existing outside any organization’s boundaries that have the potential to affect the majority of organizations.
With the declining economy and the ever changing real estate market, small organizations are having a difficult time staying afloat. My personal experience is with real estate title insurance companies. These are the companies which handle the processes and functions involved in residential and commercial real estate closings. The smaller companies or ‘Mom and Pop Shops’ are individually owned and operated and are not partnered in any Affiliated Business Arrangements (defined below).The ‘Mom and Pop Shops,’ as well as the consumers of these services, are being strongly affected by the task environment of competition (or in this case, lack thereof) between the individual organizations and ABAs. ABAs have created an inability for smaller companies to compete for business, as referrers tend to steer clients to the outfit in which they (or the company they work for) hold a financial interest. This inability to compete forces the smaller organizations to make difficult decisions, such as reducing their employees’ pay, laying off seasoned employees, or worse, shutting down their operation all together.
I’ve spent the last four years working for an individually owned title company that’s primary goal is to please their customers and provide a smooth closing process. However, I recently I lost my job due to an ABA. I was employed as the account manager servicing the business relationship between my company and a national homebuilder. I was let go (or was ‘voted off Survivor Island’ as like to say as I did manage to make it through a few rounds of lay offs) because the homebuilder opted to discontinue utilizing our services in order to use its own ABA, causing a significant loss of revenue for my company. As the builder’s ABA did not handle any portion of the ‘physical’ closing process, my former company was contracted to act as an ‘escrow agent.’ However my previous employer had the same responsibilities – managing the account, coordinating closings with the lenders, builder and home buyers, preparing documents need for closing, disbursing monies due to all parties involved in the transaction, all at ¼ - ½ of my company’s previous fee.
In this particular situation, the use of the builder’s ABA created two main disservices for buyers, the first of which related to the closing process. Unfortunately, an escrow agent is a notary only and not legally able to explain all of the closing/loan documents as to do so would constitute the escrow agent fraudulently acting as an attorney. The use of the builder’s ABA also affects the buyers financially. Our services based off a sales price of $200,000 would be $150.00 - $300.00 cheaper than that of the ABA.
Individually owned and operated title companies’ live in the task environment of the customer. With so many ABAs forcing out competition, small organizations must focus on providing services at reasonable fees in hopes of obtaining repeat business.
An ABA is defined as “An arrangement in which (A) a person who is in a position to refer business incident to or a part of a real estate settlement service involving a federally related mortgage loan, or an associate of such person, has either an affiliate relationship with or a direct or beneficial ownership interest of more than 1 percent in a provider of settlement services; and (B) either of such persons directly or indirectly refers such business to that provider or affirmatively influences the selection of that provider.”
Note from author: Basically this means the referrer (real estate agents, banks, home builders, and lenders) of a real estate transaction to a title company is receiving some type of compensation for closing from the referred title company. This happens THROUGH OUT the real estate industry and is not limited to title companies.
--end paper--
a) I really did submit the snarky comments.
b) It took me 4 - 5 hours to complete this one page because I possess way too much interest and knowledge in the subject. My 'discussion' should have been completed in an hour to an hour and a half or two hours max, but the perfection in the wording fucks me up every time.
c) I'm freaked out about next week's paper. It's a case analysis (worth 50 points - I have like 3 or 4 of them due this semester, just in this class. Sheesh.) and I've never written case analysis before. Anyone out there who can help me? (I'd like a proof reader too, any takers?)Teach says it should the case analysis should take about 8 hours to complete so in Danielle terms, I should have started last week.
d) I'm debating on sending an expanded version of this to Mr. D.'s contact at the Tampa Tribune to possibly start a discussion and acquire some type of media attention to this god awful situation and bring in some unemployment issues as well (title and mortgage employees are basically being blacklisted from any potential employers), as this industry sucks. Maybe I'll do something with 8 on your side too. Employment is at an all time high and a lot of this is due to shady schemes in real estate transactions. Again, I have the time. Kinda..
d) Boy am I looking forward to the Ethics section of the book. It will be a verbal (or shall I say written) assault on the real estate market as a whole. At least I can vent some of my frustrations.
e) All of this work for a 10 point assignment. I need to create comments to at least 2 more of my classmates' posts between now and Saturday at 11pm. Comments only this time. I am no way in hell writing another short essay. I think I may take Friday off to cook. My brain hurts.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Principles of Management, Chapter One
You know I have too much time on my hands when I start posting my school papers.
Management Applications Found in the Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings trilogy of films’ main theme is the classic saga of good versus evil. For good to triumph over evil, the Ring of Power must be destroyed and the race of man must unite in order to battle their common enemy, Lord Sauron. These movies possess a rather large and diverse cast of characters, each of whom displays at least one form of the four management functions as well as multiple management skills. The two main management/authority figures in the series are Gandalf and Aragorn, both of whom incorporate all four management functions – planning, organizing, leading and controlling – in addition to all of the management skills – conceptual, human and technical.
Gandalf is an old and wise wizard who discovers the Ring of Power still lingers in existence, an item which if gained by Sauron is capable of destroying all life on Middle Earth. When Gandalf finds the enemy is looking to obtain it, he makes plans to have the One Ring destroyed. He organizes this mission by designating Frodo, a young and naïve Halfling, as the ring bearer who must destroy the Ring. Gandalf leads Frodo by telling him that he is the only one who can complete this task and reassuring him that he has all of Gandalf’s trust, faith and confidence. As the story progress, Gandalf sets out to find Théoden, King of Rohan, one of the two remaining free settlements of man. Gandalf informs the King that his people will soon be under attack. As opposed to fighting in their capital city of Edoras, a disappointed Gandalf finds that Théoden will be evacuating his people to seek refuge in Helm’s Deep, a fortress in the mountains. The wizard feels that this is a death sentence and knows that in order for the enemy to be defeated the Kingdom of Rohan must aid in battle. He controls the situation by making changes to his course. Gandalf ventures off in search of fighters, men who had previously been banished from Rohan, in hopes that these men will return and help their kinship in battle. Before leaving, Gandalf tells Aragorn that he will return, in turn giving Aragorn hope that all is not lost. This new found hope motivates Aragorn to become the man he is destined to be.
Aragorn is a Ranger who had once forsaken his right of to the throne. He realizes that it is time to fulfill his destined role and become the leader of man. To complete this goal he plans to unite the two remaining colonies of men and encourage them to fight together in the Battle of Minas Tirith. Aragorn is able to convince Théoden of this plan and the two worked together in mustering up all of Rohan’s forces. The evening before their departure to Minas Tirith, Aragorn met with an unexpected guest, the elf Elrond, Lord of Rivendell. Elrond presented him with a sword reforged from the shards of Narsil, the weapon which had initially defeated Sauron long ago. Aragorn altered his course to go into the Paths of the Dead, as with this sword he was able to command the Dead Men of Dunharrow, an unstoppable force which owed allegiance to the heir of the throne. Through the unification of men and the help of the Dead Men of Dunharrow, the Battle at Minas Tirith was successful. After the battle concluded, Aragorn was able help Frodo by leading the remaining army of men to the Black Gates of Mordor, home of Sauron. It is here in one the final scenes in the films that Aragorn motivates his fellow men by giving them a speech which restores the courage and strength they need to continue fighting. The group worked together to create a diversion which gave Frodo the additional time needed to destroy the Ring.
Both Gandalf and Aragorn held the technical management skills needed to defeat the enemy. Both were masters in their fields, wizardry and fighting, respectively. They used the conceptual skill to strategically plan their roles as well as the roles of their comrades throughout the films and were ability to apply the human skill effectively, motivating their peers to continue on and persevere.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy of films’ main theme is the classic saga of good versus evil. For good to triumph over evil, the Ring of Power must be destroyed and the race of man must unite in order to battle their common enemy, Lord Sauron. These movies possess a rather large and diverse cast of characters, each of whom displays at least one form of the four management functions as well as multiple management skills. The two main management/authority figures in the series are Gandalf and Aragorn, both of whom incorporate all four management functions – planning, organizing, leading and controlling – in addition to all of the management skills – conceptual, human and technical.
Gandalf is an old and wise wizard who discovers the Ring of Power still lingers in existence, an item which if gained by Sauron is capable of destroying all life on Middle Earth. When Gandalf finds the enemy is looking to obtain it, he makes plans to have the One Ring destroyed. He organizes this mission by designating Frodo, a young and naïve Halfling, as the ring bearer who must destroy the Ring. Gandalf leads Frodo by telling him that he is the only one who can complete this task and reassuring him that he has all of Gandalf’s trust, faith and confidence. As the story progress, Gandalf sets out to find Théoden, King of Rohan, one of the two remaining free settlements of man. Gandalf informs the King that his people will soon be under attack. As opposed to fighting in their capital city of Edoras, a disappointed Gandalf finds that Théoden will be evacuating his people to seek refuge in Helm’s Deep, a fortress in the mountains. The wizard feels that this is a death sentence and knows that in order for the enemy to be defeated the Kingdom of Rohan must aid in battle. He controls the situation by making changes to his course. Gandalf ventures off in search of fighters, men who had previously been banished from Rohan, in hopes that these men will return and help their kinship in battle. Before leaving, Gandalf tells Aragorn that he will return, in turn giving Aragorn hope that all is not lost. This new found hope motivates Aragorn to become the man he is destined to be.
Aragorn is a Ranger who had once forsaken his right of to the throne. He realizes that it is time to fulfill his destined role and become the leader of man. To complete this goal he plans to unite the two remaining colonies of men and encourage them to fight together in the Battle of Minas Tirith. Aragorn is able to convince Théoden of this plan and the two worked together in mustering up all of Rohan’s forces. The evening before their departure to Minas Tirith, Aragorn met with an unexpected guest, the elf Elrond, Lord of Rivendell. Elrond presented him with a sword reforged from the shards of Narsil, the weapon which had initially defeated Sauron long ago. Aragorn altered his course to go into the Paths of the Dead, as with this sword he was able to command the Dead Men of Dunharrow, an unstoppable force which owed allegiance to the heir of the throne. Through the unification of men and the help of the Dead Men of Dunharrow, the Battle at Minas Tirith was successful. After the battle concluded, Aragorn was able help Frodo by leading the remaining army of men to the Black Gates of Mordor, home of Sauron. It is here in one the final scenes in the films that Aragorn motivates his fellow men by giving them a speech which restores the courage and strength they need to continue fighting. The group worked together to create a diversion which gave Frodo the additional time needed to destroy the Ring.
Both Gandalf and Aragorn held the technical management skills needed to defeat the enemy. Both were masters in their fields, wizardry and fighting, respectively. They used the conceptual skill to strategically plan their roles as well as the roles of their comrades throughout the films and were ability to apply the human skill effectively, motivating their peers to continue on and persevere.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Yahyah, Minister
Both sides of my family are classic Jerry Springer cases.
I may have already posted this but let me give you some background on my uncle David (my Daddy's brother) and his family.
We *think* my uncle David is gay and hiding deep within the closet. About 15 years ago he impregnated and married a woman by the name of Tara. This was Tara's 2nd marriage and child. Her first husband's name was Aziz and he was an extremely wealthy, hard core Muslim man who was from and lived in Morocco. Together they had a son, Yahyah, who had the nickname Tweety, which is what we called him when he was younger although I have no idea why. When Tara married my uncle, she forfeited the alimony she was receiving from Aziz.
Fast forward to about 10 years ago - Tara and my uncle decide to get divorced. Tara moved her and the two boys up to Massachusetts. The two brothers attended a Muslim school up in New England. My cousin, Justin (the spawn of David and Tara), was about 5 years old when Tara announced she would no longer be Tara. She would be having a sex change and she would be going by the name of Ty.
David and his 'friend' Tim moved up to Massachusetts about 5 years ago so David could be close to his only son (By the way - at this time Massachusetts was the only state to allow same sex marriages. Coincidence?). David, Tim, Ty (formerly known as Tara) and Ty's girlfriend (I guess Ty/he/she turned into a straight man) all have a good, albeit non-traditional, family relationship.
Needless to say, Aziz did not like the fact his former wife was now a he and started sending the child support he paid for their son directly to Yahyah. As stated before, Aziz is a filthy rich and a hard core Muslim. David told me when they visited him in Morocco many a year ago, someone would ask how his (Aziz's) day was and he'd reply in Arabic, "It was a good day. A Jew died today." <--- I hear this is the same as, "Good thanks and yourself?" in the Arab world.
Yahyah is now 17 and just moved off to attend a state university in North Carolina. Dad, of course, is paying for his son to attend college, as Aziz is under the impression that Yahyah is going to school to become a lawyer. This is not the case. Apparently Yahyah will be majoring in Conflict and Peace Negotiations (who knew there was a major for that?) and his higher goal is to become a Unitarian minister.
Facinating.
I may have already posted this but let me give you some background on my uncle David (my Daddy's brother) and his family.
We *think* my uncle David is gay and hiding deep within the closet. About 15 years ago he impregnated and married a woman by the name of Tara. This was Tara's 2nd marriage and child. Her first husband's name was Aziz and he was an extremely wealthy, hard core Muslim man who was from and lived in Morocco. Together they had a son, Yahyah, who had the nickname Tweety, which is what we called him when he was younger although I have no idea why. When Tara married my uncle, she forfeited the alimony she was receiving from Aziz.
Fast forward to about 10 years ago - Tara and my uncle decide to get divorced. Tara moved her and the two boys up to Massachusetts. The two brothers attended a Muslim school up in New England. My cousin, Justin (the spawn of David and Tara), was about 5 years old when Tara announced she would no longer be Tara. She would be having a sex change and she would be going by the name of Ty.
David and his 'friend' Tim moved up to Massachusetts about 5 years ago so David could be close to his only son (By the way - at this time Massachusetts was the only state to allow same sex marriages. Coincidence?). David, Tim, Ty (formerly known as Tara) and Ty's girlfriend (I guess Ty/he/she turned into a straight man) all have a good, albeit non-traditional, family relationship.
Needless to say, Aziz did not like the fact his former wife was now a he and started sending the child support he paid for their son directly to Yahyah. As stated before, Aziz is a filthy rich and a hard core Muslim. David told me when they visited him in Morocco many a year ago, someone would ask how his (Aziz's) day was and he'd reply in Arabic, "It was a good day. A Jew died today." <--- I hear this is the same as, "Good thanks and yourself?" in the Arab world.
Yahyah is now 17 and just moved off to attend a state university in North Carolina. Dad, of course, is paying for his son to attend college, as Aziz is under the impression that Yahyah is going to school to become a lawyer. This is not the case. Apparently Yahyah will be majoring in Conflict and Peace Negotiations (who knew there was a major for that?) and his higher goal is to become a Unitarian minister.
Facinating.
It's That Time of Year
I don't know why my summers always get so hectic. I feel horrible for not blogging. It's not like I do anything. The boredom is setting in. Fortunately, it's still summertime so there are some requirements I have yet to meet.
I'm going to Busch Gardens today with my two-father having emo cousin. Hehehe. We're having dinner tonight at Pops' house. Tonight Grandma will finally get to meet Jeff. I'm sure a good time will be had by all. I will try to take notes as dinner conversation should be interesting with my liberal father, my in the closet uncle and my 'I Hate Everything and Everyone' Grandma. Jeff should be in for the ride of his life.
My Crazy Mother will be down somewhere in September or October. I think it'll be just her. Thank goodness that spoiled little brat, also known as my brother, will not be here. I guilt tripped the hell out of her so it looks like she'll be financing a month off of work for me. I'm not going back to work until my unemployment runs out in January.
I've decided to go back to school, again. This epiphany came right before the start of the semester so my class choices were limited. I'm taking two classes, Personal Finance and Principals of Management. Both are online. Both look to be easy A's. I completed my first assignment for Personal Finance last night - I had to create financial goals. Next week I have to create a balance sheet, which means all I have to do is go into Quicken and print a report.
I have two assignments due this week for Principals of Management. The first assignment as shown on my syllabus - Enjoy a movie! Your choice, then write a brief summary about each management activity/skill displayed or any management theory learned in Chapter One. My movie choice(s) - The Lord of the Rings trilogy. You gotta love me. Depending on how the paper turns out, I may post it on DIOdC. I'll let you know.
Life on the home front has been pretty quiet. My friend JC is getting married (and I don't mean that Jesus Christ has divorced Mary Magdalene and has found a new bride) in September and My Man has agreed to accompany me as my date. He is a bit hesitant as he's still afraid I'll make a scene of some type but he's on board. I've decided to play nice - I will not be adorning myself in red or winter white. I'm even going to check to see what the brides colors are so I don't step on any toes. Apparently my ex Jason, who was slated to be the best man, will not be the best man. Nor will I. Jason dicked out on a few of his best man duties and JC had to have a heart to heart with him. I hear JC is pretty heart broken. Poor thing.
Well I better head on out. It's gonna be a long, hot, family oriented day so I better get a move on.
TTYL.
Xoxo.
~Gossip Girl~
I'm going to Busch Gardens today with my two-father having emo cousin. Hehehe. We're having dinner tonight at Pops' house. Tonight Grandma will finally get to meet Jeff. I'm sure a good time will be had by all. I will try to take notes as dinner conversation should be interesting with my liberal father, my in the closet uncle and my 'I Hate Everything and Everyone' Grandma. Jeff should be in for the ride of his life.
My Crazy Mother will be down somewhere in September or October. I think it'll be just her. Thank goodness that spoiled little brat, also known as my brother, will not be here. I guilt tripped the hell out of her so it looks like she'll be financing a month off of work for me. I'm not going back to work until my unemployment runs out in January.
I've decided to go back to school, again. This epiphany came right before the start of the semester so my class choices were limited. I'm taking two classes, Personal Finance and Principals of Management. Both are online. Both look to be easy A's. I completed my first assignment for Personal Finance last night - I had to create financial goals. Next week I have to create a balance sheet, which means all I have to do is go into Quicken and print a report.
I have two assignments due this week for Principals of Management. The first assignment as shown on my syllabus - Enjoy a movie! Your choice, then write a brief summary about each management activity/skill displayed or any management theory learned in Chapter One. My movie choice(s) - The Lord of the Rings trilogy. You gotta love me. Depending on how the paper turns out, I may post it on DIOdC. I'll let you know.
Life on the home front has been pretty quiet. My friend JC is getting married (and I don't mean that Jesus Christ has divorced Mary Magdalene and has found a new bride) in September and My Man has agreed to accompany me as my date. He is a bit hesitant as he's still afraid I'll make a scene of some type but he's on board. I've decided to play nice - I will not be adorning myself in red or winter white. I'm even going to check to see what the brides colors are so I don't step on any toes. Apparently my ex Jason, who was slated to be the best man, will not be the best man. Nor will I. Jason dicked out on a few of his best man duties and JC had to have a heart to heart with him. I hear JC is pretty heart broken. Poor thing.
Well I better head on out. It's gonna be a long, hot, family oriented day so I better get a move on.
TTYL.
Xoxo.
~Gossip Girl~
Sunday, August 10, 2008
I Had a Vision
Sorry I haven't been keeping in touch. It's been a good type of manic week and I've been accomplishing a lot of physical labour. Thursday I cut up a mattress into manageable strips, rolled the up, tied them with Christmas ribbon (I had no twine) and put them out on Friday for the rubbish man. Friday I demolished a 6 foot long, all wood chest of drawers and a mattress box spring with nothing but a hammer and my bare hands. Today I tore apart an antique vanity - that was ridiculously well made I might add. I will regret ripping apart later as I found the manufacturer's seal inside and I'm sure the Antiques Road Show would have probably told me it was worth like $2k or something.
Last week, however, in my endless time at home, I had a vision. I've been known to scare people with my visions before. They tend to be a bit outlandish but I generally bring them to fruition.
Last year my buddy JC and I went up to the good ol' Webster Flea Market for my birthday where I picked up two old chests for whopping $10 a piece. Grandma wasn't very happy because I my house was already packed full of this and that. One was a very distressed wooden chest that I find absolutely beautiful. The other was a green traveling chest with the original metal closing things, hinges, lock and key (The debris surrounding it in the picture below it is that of the former dresser. My living room has been my work shop.).
I picked these up because I've always wanted my home office to look kinda like an old, rich man's study with forgien type stuff so I'd seem travelled. Over time I have collected a lot of very nice and interesting pieces from around the globe.
I also have a love of old books (I am diving WAY off subject here, lo siento) the earliest being Maunder's Biographical Treasury dating back to 1851 (NOTE: I do not own the updated 1854 version of this book. I have the original edition cause I'm bad ass), which talks about the origin of the big three religions, Islam, Christianity and Judaism. The book states Mohammed, founder of the Islamic religion, was illiterate and unable to write down his teachings. Two of his friends, a Christian and a Jew, aided him in the physical writing of the Koran. Ironic, huh?
My other favorites are my first editions: Winston Churchill's Richard Carvel, (1899); The Gathering Storm, also by Churchill (1948), which is the first of 6 books containing his memoirs; and the newer first addition classics, Anne's Rice's Interview With the Vampire; Mario Puzo's The Godfather; Jay Anson's The Amityville Horror (I used to keep this one on my nightstand). In addition to those, I also have a ton of books that date from the late 1800's through the eraly 1900's. I have two large bookcases in my office packed full of books (all hardcovers of course - you know me) and unfortunately I've had to put the ix-nay on book buying.
Now that we've gone through all that, my apologies for the delay - let's head back to the vision.
I've had this green chest standing upright in my office for the past year. I always wanted to get some vintage travelling/vacation stamps to put on it so I could get the cultured, travelled look I so deeply desire. I searched the web for these items at little to no avail. Then one night, all the sudden it came to me (kinda like the whole concept of the $1 move in program as I was drinking coffee on a Sunday morning, playing Final Fantasy XII).
Last week, however, in my endless time at home, I had a vision. I've been known to scare people with my visions before. They tend to be a bit outlandish but I generally bring them to fruition.
Last year my buddy JC and I went up to the good ol' Webster Flea Market for my birthday where I picked up two old chests for whopping $10 a piece. Grandma wasn't very happy because I my house was already packed full of this and that. One was a very distressed wooden chest that I find absolutely beautiful. The other was a green traveling chest with the original metal closing things, hinges, lock and key (The debris surrounding it in the picture below it is that of the former dresser. My living room has been my work shop.).
I picked these up because I've always wanted my home office to look kinda like an old, rich man's study with forgien type stuff so I'd seem travelled. Over time I have collected a lot of very nice and interesting pieces from around the globe.
I also have a love of old books (I am diving WAY off subject here, lo siento) the earliest being Maunder's Biographical Treasury dating back to 1851 (NOTE: I do not own the updated 1854 version of this book. I have the original edition cause I'm bad ass), which talks about the origin of the big three religions, Islam, Christianity and Judaism. The book states Mohammed, founder of the Islamic religion, was illiterate and unable to write down his teachings. Two of his friends, a Christian and a Jew, aided him in the physical writing of the Koran. Ironic, huh?
My other favorites are my first editions: Winston Churchill's Richard Carvel, (1899); The Gathering Storm, also by Churchill (1948), which is the first of 6 books containing his memoirs; and the newer first addition classics, Anne's Rice's Interview With the Vampire; Mario Puzo's The Godfather; Jay Anson's The Amityville Horror (I used to keep this one on my nightstand). In addition to those, I also have a ton of books that date from the late 1800's through the eraly 1900's. I have two large bookcases in my office packed full of books (all hardcovers of course - you know me) and unfortunately I've had to put the ix-nay on book buying.
Now that we've gone through all that, my apologies for the delay - let's head back to the vision.
I've had this green chest standing upright in my office for the past year. I always wanted to get some vintage travelling/vacation stamps to put on it so I could get the cultured, travelled look I so deeply desire. I searched the web for these items at little to no avail. Then one night, all the sudden it came to me (kinda like the whole concept of the $1 move in program as I was drinking coffee on a Sunday morning, playing Final Fantasy XII).
My Vision
I know I need to go back and shore up the tilted top shelf, but when I have a vision I got to get going. The whole job took me about a half hour. Jeff was a little irritated with me because he wanted to go to the Home Depot to pick up some new wood for the interior and all the right hardware but I refused. The wooden inside support and shelves were left over pieces from the big ass dresser that went bye bye. I had nails and a hammer at the house. I even got to use my jigsaw. Total Price: $10.
I am SO FUCKING PROUD of both my vision and the outcome of what is now a very unique piece of furniture which I am displaying quite proudly in my office. The fact I used recycled materials is the icing on the cake.
I've had 2 other visions. I believe one will be a much lengthier process with 2 items I'll have to purchase. I have to buy some paints for the other, but I'm not 100% sold on it due to the fact I do not have a knack for drawing. I do, however, think the idea for latter is wonderful and the first creation will be a prototype. And guess what, both of these will also utilize recycled materials I have in my home. I'm crafty in more ways than one.
Jeff and I have our 2 person family dinner on Sunday nights. On the menu tonight - Mushroom Sauced Pot Roast.
I'm sorry but I must depart now to clean up what's left of the vanity. I'll try to be back as soon as possible. I've been lazy on my hiatus.
Sincerely:
June Cleaver
Betty Crocker
Martha Stewart
Bob Villa
P.S. Just finished dinner - it was off the chain. Let me know if you want the recipe. It literally had less than a 10 minutes prep time and sat in the crock pot for 6 hours. The perfect Sunday dinner for the fam!
Monday, July 21, 2008
Me & My ipod
It's been rough trying to move a person into a house that is already at full capacity. I've been organizing, donating, destroying, boxing and labelling everything in my path. When I hit the dining room I noticed all my CDs were packed away in a corner and covered in dust being they hadn't been touched in 5 years. I saw these CDs as additional clutter that I needed to get rid of but who knows when you'll wanna hear a little Garth Brooks?
I purchased a slightly worn ipod a few months ago and decided to put this it to the test. After everything is said and done, the ipod contains ALL of my CDs (200+ no lie) as well as a ridiculous amount of additional music, legally downloaded from the World Wide Web of course (for a full list, please contact me and specify file format). I've got 2,981 songs on that puppy (10.52 GB) as I type and still 17.28 GB of free space.
The CDs have been boxed and labeled along with the master packing slip. I would have sex with my ipod if I could.
I purchased a slightly worn ipod a few months ago and decided to put this it to the test. After everything is said and done, the ipod contains ALL of my CDs (200+ no lie) as well as a ridiculous amount of additional music, legally downloaded from the World Wide Web of course (for a full list, please contact me and specify file format). I've got 2,981 songs on that puppy (10.52 GB) as I type and still 17.28 GB of free space.
The CDs have been boxed and labeled along with the master packing slip. I would have sex with my ipod if I could.
Danielle - Homemaker
The most stressful thing I've been dealing with since being voted off Survivor Island is planning the menu for the week. It really is a bitch trying to prepare a healthy meal encompassing all four food groups. When I ask My Man what he wants to eat, the only he gives me is, "Anything as long as it has meat."
Now those who know me know I am overall not a chicken person and absolutely will not eat that fowl off of the bone. I do not like the flaky texture. I loathe cooking it. It's one of those weird meats you can't over cook or under cook because if you do it'll be all kinds of gross and you can get sick and die. When I buy chicken breasts (fresh or frozen) half the meat is gone by the time I'm done trimming the fat because it all looks nasty to me. I have the same problem with frozen chicken tenders. I know they're supposed to be ready to go, but I have to cut out this big, white vein that runs through the center of them, leaving merely bite sized pieces. I understand you don't see or taste the vein when it cooks, but if I see it during preparation it's got to go. I did cook a chicken and rice meal last week, but the chicken was dry. It was edible and overall received good reviews, but I thought the chicken sucked, therefore the meal was fucked up.
Let's move onto pork now, shall we? The only other meal I've semi-fucked up since playing Betty Crocker is a pork tenderloin. It was pink in the center, thus not fully cooked. My side dishes were off the heezy though, but those side dishes were my demise. I had TWO casserole pans in the oven as well the pan cooking the pork, which was on the top rack. My deduction is that the casserole pans were blocking the heat to my roast. Next time the meat will be on the bottom rack.
We are beef people. We're all about the red meat. I went grocery shopping this morning and Sweetbay had coupons on their ground angus (I will not use chuck or beef, only angus or sirloin). After everything was said and done, I purchased 9.89 pounds of meat for about $1.79 per pound. A) I'm a friggin' bargain shopper; B) I've proved yet again that I go big or go home.
So what will we be eating this week? Tonight I plan on making lasagna (with beef of course). This'll be a first for me but it seems like fun. I've been giggling ever since I thought about it this weekend - I was contemplating making meatloaf. If that's not housewife dinner of all time, I don't know what is. Luckily, I decided to only experiment with lasagna this week. Wednesday is My Man's birthday so I'm going to forgo cooking, get all dressed up (poor thing mainly sees me looking unemployed), and take him out to dinner. Thursday we'll have Taco Bell tacos in the all-in-one kit I purchased from the market (3 lbs. meat down). At some point I'll be cooking a pork tenderloin as well. Watch out Martha, here I come.
And finally, I anticipate baking a triple layer cake for My Man's birthday (pics to follow). For those of you remember my cakes from back in the day, they've only gotten better. I'm a little miffed though - I forgot to by birthday candles at the store.
Now those who know me know I am overall not a chicken person and absolutely will not eat that fowl off of the bone. I do not like the flaky texture. I loathe cooking it. It's one of those weird meats you can't over cook or under cook because if you do it'll be all kinds of gross and you can get sick and die. When I buy chicken breasts (fresh or frozen) half the meat is gone by the time I'm done trimming the fat because it all looks nasty to me. I have the same problem with frozen chicken tenders. I know they're supposed to be ready to go, but I have to cut out this big, white vein that runs through the center of them, leaving merely bite sized pieces. I understand you don't see or taste the vein when it cooks, but if I see it during preparation it's got to go. I did cook a chicken and rice meal last week, but the chicken was dry. It was edible and overall received good reviews, but I thought the chicken sucked, therefore the meal was fucked up.
Let's move onto pork now, shall we? The only other meal I've semi-fucked up since playing Betty Crocker is a pork tenderloin. It was pink in the center, thus not fully cooked. My side dishes were off the heezy though, but those side dishes were my demise. I had TWO casserole pans in the oven as well the pan cooking the pork, which was on the top rack. My deduction is that the casserole pans were blocking the heat to my roast. Next time the meat will be on the bottom rack.
We are beef people. We're all about the red meat. I went grocery shopping this morning and Sweetbay had coupons on their ground angus (I will not use chuck or beef, only angus or sirloin). After everything was said and done, I purchased 9.89 pounds of meat for about $1.79 per pound. A) I'm a friggin' bargain shopper; B) I've proved yet again that I go big or go home.
So what will we be eating this week? Tonight I plan on making lasagna (with beef of course). This'll be a first for me but it seems like fun. I've been giggling ever since I thought about it this weekend - I was contemplating making meatloaf. If that's not housewife dinner of all time, I don't know what is. Luckily, I decided to only experiment with lasagna this week. Wednesday is My Man's birthday so I'm going to forgo cooking, get all dressed up (poor thing mainly sees me looking unemployed), and take him out to dinner. Thursday we'll have Taco Bell tacos in the all-in-one kit I purchased from the market (3 lbs. meat down). At some point I'll be cooking a pork tenderloin as well. Watch out Martha, here I come.
And finally, I anticipate baking a triple layer cake for My Man's birthday (pics to follow). For those of you remember my cakes from back in the day, they've only gotten better. I'm a little miffed though - I forgot to by birthday candles at the store.
Medication Update VI
I'm entering my 3rd week of unemployment and besides the normal severe mood swings, all is well. I haven't taken any Xanax since Sunday - and no, it's not because of anonymous' comment about checking thee into rehab. If I were anonymous, I'd probably be heading to AA, as I'm assuming that still controls most of your time. I did it because I've been saying it for awhile, and as horrible as this sounds, what else is there for me to do? I've been experiencing a bit of nausea and appetite loss but that's it. It's nothing compared to Cymbalta, but I can see where it could be an issue at higher doses.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Kookaburra Sits on the Old Gum Tree
Today is no better. Just call me Danielle Downer.
I've been thinking about starting a new 'secret' blog. Doesn't seem like much of a secret if I'm telling you about it but only a select few will know where it really is. I've been doing a couple hand written blogs - kinda like a journal - and for some reason I want to post them for permanent back up. My mind's been playing tricks on me for years and some of the stuff that comes out of my pen is madness. Also, whilst I've been cleaning up the crib, I found notebooks dating back nearly 15 years with my musings and writing of depression and sadness. I'd like to permanently back these up too. I'm not sure why. Perhaps in reading these blog posts myself (from beginning to end) it amazes me as you can see where in the spectrum my life has been. Plus, I really have nothing too fun to blog about and I don't want to bore my readers (or anyone for that matter) with the internal thoughts buried deep within my head. I'll let you know when it comes out. I'm going to try to start working on that today.
But don't fret if you're not a VIP. I will still be doing my normal posting, feelings, drug addictions (which I think my be worse - I've come to find out I have a physical addiction) and whatever the fuck else pops in my mind.
BTW - Rumor has it I may have a new rEsearch paper in the next few days.. 'Bout damn time.
I've been thinking about starting a new 'secret' blog. Doesn't seem like much of a secret if I'm telling you about it but only a select few will know where it really is. I've been doing a couple hand written blogs - kinda like a journal - and for some reason I want to post them for permanent back up. My mind's been playing tricks on me for years and some of the stuff that comes out of my pen is madness. Also, whilst I've been cleaning up the crib, I found notebooks dating back nearly 15 years with my musings and writing of depression and sadness. I'd like to permanently back these up too. I'm not sure why. Perhaps in reading these blog posts myself (from beginning to end) it amazes me as you can see where in the spectrum my life has been. Plus, I really have nothing too fun to blog about and I don't want to bore my readers (or anyone for that matter) with the internal thoughts buried deep within my head. I'll let you know when it comes out. I'm going to try to start working on that today.
But don't fret if you're not a VIP. I will still be doing my normal posting, feelings, drug addictions (which I think my be worse - I've come to find out I have a physical addiction) and whatever the fuck else pops in my mind.
BTW - Rumor has it I may have a new rEsearch paper in the next few days.. 'Bout damn time.
Mania
It's nearly 3am and I am dangerously manic tonight. I haven't put anything up my nose in years and I just snorted a half a bar of Xanax. I forgot just how much that royally fucks you up. Talk about the effects hitting you quicker. I only did that because I didn't go to sleep during the Nyquil allotted time so I think I'm fucked and up all night long now.
The gravity of the situations are sinking in - both the unemployment and the relationship. My complexion is going to hell and my menstrual cycle is fucked up from the stress.
I think I'll be sleeping in tomorrow in a Xanax induced form of being ate up. I hate not being able to function and think clearly, but I hate being able to function and think clearly. Life is fucking ridiculous. What's the point of it all? Anybody?
The gravity of the situations are sinking in - both the unemployment and the relationship. My complexion is going to hell and my menstrual cycle is fucked up from the stress.
I think I'll be sleeping in tomorrow in a Xanax induced form of being ate up. I hate not being able to function and think clearly, but I hate being able to function and think clearly. Life is fucking ridiculous. What's the point of it all? Anybody?
Friday, July 11, 2008
I Got Laid
Off... that is. Having been employed by a wonderful company for 4+ years, I am the latest to fall victim to the housing crisis. I think I've literally said this a thousand times, but I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING! I didn't fuck up the economy causing thousands to lose their jobs and/or homes. But oh well, what can you do?
It all went down on Monday. I took the news pretty fucking well. I went into my office, packed up all the smack I've been acquiring over the past couple years and headed home. I cried a bit when I got to the house. This is quite a big shock after all. My Man consoled me when he got home and suggested I take a few weeks to a month off work. I'm liking this idea. Damn he's a good man.
Surprisingly enough, I did not spend Tuesday in bed. I cleaned, organized, and made space in the laundry room so My Man would have a place to put his tools (Call me if you have any car problems. I'm now the proud owner of an air compressor, battery recharger thing, a drill that I can hardly pick up and a ton of tools whose use I cannot imagine.). Having avoided my unemployment issue for over a day, I decided to sit down that afternoon and take a look at my finances. Fortunately, I planned for a rainy day quite sometime ago. Fuck a few weeks - I don't anticipate (or have to) go back to work until September.
I will never have an opportunity like this again. I finally have time to really get my house in working order. I'll have time to go and help Grandma. There's a ton of shit she wants done at her house and she can't do them alone. She's also getting old. I'll be able to spend quality time with her, extra time that I would have had no other way.
So believe it or not, all is well. My only concern is that I've been very upbeat the past few days. VERY upbeat. My only fear is that I crash.
I've been collecting blogging material and should be updating this here site more frequently (for realz dis time).
I love My Man. He and I have so much in common, especially the fact we hate being (semi) working class people who seemed to get fucked at every turn. Anyone who knows me has heard me rant and rave about property taxes, income taxes, sales taxes, gas taxes, cigarette taxes (Institute a stupidity tax and our nation would flourish.). He and I were thumbing through the junk mail and came across this piece of advertisement(?) for a job fair (ironic huh?) which appears to be sponsored by a Senator in our area. Homeboy's working for Job Creation, Economic Growth AND Lower Gas Prices. Usually I'd says hells to the ya but then there was the fine print.
Fuckers.
Gotta give props where props is due - Holla' at My Man for pointing this out.
It all went down on Monday. I took the news pretty fucking well. I went into my office, packed up all the smack I've been acquiring over the past couple years and headed home. I cried a bit when I got to the house. This is quite a big shock after all. My Man consoled me when he got home and suggested I take a few weeks to a month off work. I'm liking this idea. Damn he's a good man.
Surprisingly enough, I did not spend Tuesday in bed. I cleaned, organized, and made space in the laundry room so My Man would have a place to put his tools (Call me if you have any car problems. I'm now the proud owner of an air compressor, battery recharger thing, a drill that I can hardly pick up and a ton of tools whose use I cannot imagine.). Having avoided my unemployment issue for over a day, I decided to sit down that afternoon and take a look at my finances. Fortunately, I planned for a rainy day quite sometime ago. Fuck a few weeks - I don't anticipate (or have to) go back to work until September.
I will never have an opportunity like this again. I finally have time to really get my house in working order. I'll have time to go and help Grandma. There's a ton of shit she wants done at her house and she can't do them alone. She's also getting old. I'll be able to spend quality time with her, extra time that I would have had no other way.
So believe it or not, all is well. My only concern is that I've been very upbeat the past few days. VERY upbeat. My only fear is that I crash.
I've been collecting blogging material and should be updating this here site more frequently (for realz dis time).
I love My Man. He and I have so much in common, especially the fact we hate being (semi) working class people who seemed to get fucked at every turn. Anyone who knows me has heard me rant and rave about property taxes, income taxes, sales taxes, gas taxes, cigarette taxes (Institute a stupidity tax and our nation would flourish.). He and I were thumbing through the junk mail and came across this piece of advertisement(?) for a job fair (ironic huh?) which appears to be sponsored by a Senator in our area. Homeboy's working for Job Creation, Economic Growth AND Lower Gas Prices. Usually I'd says hells to the ya but then there was the fine print.
Fuckers.
Gotta give props where props is due - Holla' at My Man for pointing this out.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Independence Day
It's been quite a weekend. I'll have to break this one up into 3 posts to give each story a bit of justice.
This year marked the first July 4th that I have actively done something in many, many years. It was also the first 'holiday' I've spent with My Man. He too appears to live by my mantra - go big or go home.
My Man has been talking all week about doing something for the 4th of July, whether we go watch fireworks or he sets them off, somehow, someway, we would be watching the night sky. I get a call from My Man Thursday afternoon stating that he has purchased approximately $80 in fireworks. Goodness gracious - Do you know what I can do with $80? That's a lot of groceries and/or gas. He was kind enough to run some errands for me on Friday (cause he's the shiz-nit) so I chilled and basically slept all day. Upon his arrival home, he returned with - what's this - MORE fireworks?! The ones he picked up were aptly called Barely Legal (I have a Hustler magazine by the same name). They were these big ass canister things that came 24 to a case. We had 2 cases, two firework box things and my dear picked me up some ginormous sparklers (you can't do the 4th without sparklers). Looks like we'll be pissing the neighbors off this year.
I woke My Man up around 8:30pm (we're some sleepy people), just as it was getting dark, so he could start doing whatever he needed to do to get set up. Around 9pm I heard booming outside. My Man had started. Armed with my cigarettes, a Coke and my camera, I headed on out and plopped myself in the bed of his massive pick up truck.
As mentioned in previous posts, I live in the barrio and am surrounded by Spanish people. The Mexicans across the street, 3 doors down, came outside to watch our display. No lie - they sat in the back of a low rider truck, a big ass 'fruit picking' pick up truck (you know what I mean, Mexicans always have big, macked out trucks) and blasted Spanish music. One of them yelled, "Cinco de Mayo!" Umm, it's our Independence day, buddy, not yours. It's Cuatro de Julio, essays (I know that's misspelled but I have no idea how to spell anything in Spanish Ebonics). The fireworks worked like this: My Man would line up about 4 of them, then he would cautiously go from tube to tube lighting each one, then BOOM! The fireworks go up in the air, make an absolutely gorgeous display, and then all you'd hear was the debris falling all around. It was the craziest thing - it sounded almost like a hard rain coming down from the heavens. All the time I kept feeling what I thought was falling debris burning me. As it turns out it was not debris, but mosquitoes. Lots of them. I started scratching myself all over - once you start you can't stop. It was like tripping on acid and thinking you had bugs crawling all over you. It was horrific.
NOTE TO SELF - Buy some OFF! or something. Those mosquitoes really like my sweetness.
During this time, My Man somehow befriended J.R. who lives across the street (I'm sure J.R. stands for something like Jose Ricardo or Jorge Reynaldo). J.R. came over to our yard and brought My Man a Corona cerveza. All I could think was this was a recipe for disaster - an alcohol induced man setting off fireworks. I startled J.R. a bit when he came by - he had no idea I was chillin' in the back of the truck like the Mexicanos across the street. Shocked, J.R saw me and said, "Hello Miss Lady." Hehehe. My Man continued to converse with J.R. for the rest of the evening. At some point, a man I will call Fat Richard, came outside and asked if he needed to move his car due to all the falling debris. My Man said it was alright, his massive new truck didn't have any debris and Fat Richard's car was about 50 feet away from My Man's new ride. Still pissy, Fat Richard went over to J.R. and started bitching about the fireworks in Espanol. After the mild confrontation, our new hermano, J.R. came over and talked to My Man about what a dick Fat Richard is. Apparently one day Fat Richard came over to J.R.'s house to raise hell about a broken fence in the backyard and the only person home was Senora J.R.. Fat Richard reamed and cursed her out. The poor lady was home alone and petrified. Due to this incident J.R. has been looking for any reason to fuck with Fat Richard. J.R. told My Man if Fat Richard gives him any problems, to come get him. By the end of the night, we were called family and I was told if I was ever home alone and got scared, intimidated or anything, to go across the street to mi extended famila and they will take care of me.
I've lived in my house for over 5 years now and have never met anyone who lives on my street with the exception of the poor white girl next door who is in the same situation I was in - alone and unable to upkeep and maintain a house by herself. In one night, we made both friends and enemies.
This year marked the first July 4th that I have actively done something in many, many years. It was also the first 'holiday' I've spent with My Man. He too appears to live by my mantra - go big or go home.
My Man has been talking all week about doing something for the 4th of July, whether we go watch fireworks or he sets them off, somehow, someway, we would be watching the night sky. I get a call from My Man Thursday afternoon stating that he has purchased approximately $80 in fireworks. Goodness gracious - Do you know what I can do with $80? That's a lot of groceries and/or gas. He was kind enough to run some errands for me on Friday (cause he's the shiz-nit) so I chilled and basically slept all day. Upon his arrival home, he returned with - what's this - MORE fireworks?! The ones he picked up were aptly called Barely Legal (I have a Hustler magazine by the same name). They were these big ass canister things that came 24 to a case. We had 2 cases, two firework box things and my dear picked me up some ginormous sparklers (you can't do the 4th without sparklers). Looks like we'll be pissing the neighbors off this year.
I woke My Man up around 8:30pm (we're some sleepy people), just as it was getting dark, so he could start doing whatever he needed to do to get set up. Around 9pm I heard booming outside. My Man had started. Armed with my cigarettes, a Coke and my camera, I headed on out and plopped myself in the bed of his massive pick up truck.
As mentioned in previous posts, I live in the barrio and am surrounded by Spanish people. The Mexicans across the street, 3 doors down, came outside to watch our display. No lie - they sat in the back of a low rider truck, a big ass 'fruit picking' pick up truck (you know what I mean, Mexicans always have big, macked out trucks) and blasted Spanish music. One of them yelled, "Cinco de Mayo!" Umm, it's our Independence day, buddy, not yours. It's Cuatro de Julio, essays (I know that's misspelled but I have no idea how to spell anything in Spanish Ebonics). The fireworks worked like this: My Man would line up about 4 of them, then he would cautiously go from tube to tube lighting each one, then BOOM! The fireworks go up in the air, make an absolutely gorgeous display, and then all you'd hear was the debris falling all around. It was the craziest thing - it sounded almost like a hard rain coming down from the heavens. All the time I kept feeling what I thought was falling debris burning me. As it turns out it was not debris, but mosquitoes. Lots of them. I started scratching myself all over - once you start you can't stop. It was like tripping on acid and thinking you had bugs crawling all over you. It was horrific.
NOTE TO SELF - Buy some OFF! or something. Those mosquitoes really like my sweetness.
During this time, My Man somehow befriended J.R. who lives across the street (I'm sure J.R. stands for something like Jose Ricardo or Jorge Reynaldo). J.R. came over to our yard and brought My Man a Corona cerveza. All I could think was this was a recipe for disaster - an alcohol induced man setting off fireworks. I startled J.R. a bit when he came by - he had no idea I was chillin' in the back of the truck like the Mexicanos across the street. Shocked, J.R saw me and said, "Hello Miss Lady." Hehehe. My Man continued to converse with J.R. for the rest of the evening. At some point, a man I will call Fat Richard, came outside and asked if he needed to move his car due to all the falling debris. My Man said it was alright, his massive new truck didn't have any debris and Fat Richard's car was about 50 feet away from My Man's new ride. Still pissy, Fat Richard went over to J.R. and started bitching about the fireworks in Espanol. After the mild confrontation, our new hermano, J.R. came over and talked to My Man about what a dick Fat Richard is. Apparently one day Fat Richard came over to J.R.'s house to raise hell about a broken fence in the backyard and the only person home was Senora J.R.. Fat Richard reamed and cursed her out. The poor lady was home alone and petrified. Due to this incident J.R. has been looking for any reason to fuck with Fat Richard. J.R. told My Man if Fat Richard gives him any problems, to come get him. By the end of the night, we were called family and I was told if I was ever home alone and got scared, intimidated or anything, to go across the street to mi extended famila and they will take care of me.
I've lived in my house for over 5 years now and have never met anyone who lives on my street with the exception of the poor white girl next door who is in the same situation I was in - alone and unable to upkeep and maintain a house by herself. In one night, we made both friends and enemies.
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