John, I wrote this story in mind for week 5 prompt #20 (the battle begins) but after I read it a couple times, I thought it may be a worthy piece for my narrative essay of the week. Let me know if it can be used here, otherwise, I'd like permission to tag it under one of my 3 prompts due for the week and I'll do another for my blog.
I was the oldest of 3 siblings and my mom was a single parent, so we spent a lot of time home alone after school waiting for her arrival after work. Because of my seniority, mom trusted I’d always do the right thing, not by choice I’m sure, but I was the oldest and was supposed to set a good example for my brother and sister. I’ll tell you there were times my little brother would really piss me off, seriously piss me off so bad I wished him dead. Looking back it’s hard to believe that a kid so little was able to push my buttons at such an early age, or was it I already had buttons that could be pushed being so young? Not sure…but when my brother had a tantrum he would shake all over, his eyes would get as wide as saucers, and he’d ball up in fists up in rage and yell “BULL POWER”!! And I knew we were all in trouble. Although he was a little guy, he was as strong as an ox; I was actually frightened of him when he went into to this state of anger. Once, when he was a toddler, he dragged me across the kitchen floor by the head of my hair…. this is the kind of strength I’m talking about.
Anyway, one day after school I was ordering him to clean his room before mom got home from work. He argued of course, but I didn’t let up; I kept on him so he could help with out with the other chores. It ended up getting into a you’re not the boss of me, you can’t make me, I’m telling mom and then he spat at me, so I slapped him in the head. He immediately pushed me out of his room and I landed on my ass and the battle began. I went back into his room and tore all the blankets off his bed, he followed suit, ran into my room and did the same to my bed. I stormed back into his room in and knocked everything off his dresser, he did the same to mine. I went back at it by tearing off a corner off his favorite poster and he went back by tearing ALL my posters into shreds. “That’s it”!! I screeched at him “this is war”!! Suddenly I started to grin because I knew I was gonna win this one….I thought to myself, you want to play dirty you fucker I’m gonna trash what’s most important to you, your model cars. But the very moment I stomped his favorite 1964 GTO model he spent hours on into a pile of painted plastic, he lost it. His face got all red, his fist clenched at his side, the shaking started and when the BULL POWER horn sounded off, I went running!! SHIT!!! I flew up those stairs as fast as my legs would take me cause I knew if he caught me, I was gonna get the shit kicked outta me!! I ran into the coat closet (it was a walk in) and held on to the door handle for dear life. My heart was racing with anxiety and fear; “shit, shit, shit, I pushed him too far, shit, I’m going to die” I kept repeating over and over. He was screaming in fury and I was screaming in terror as my arms started to tire protecting myself from him in the coat closet. I even went as far as propping my feet on either side of the door, still hanging on with all every ounce of strength I could muster, sweat pouring off my face. Thankfully, mom came home and my life was spared. Needless to say, she was pissed when she saw our bedrooms trashed and no housework was done. I didn’t care, I got to live another day.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Week 4 Just the facts
At 4pm this past Friday, I was asked if I’d fly to Maryland and help open a new casino and I agreed. As of Monday afternoon, after training the new staff all morning, I still didn’t know where I was sleeping that night. Finally around 5pm, I was given directions to the motel I’d be living in for the week. I was told there was a pool and a Jacuzzi and that the rooms were nice and clean. Apparently these people were talking about the new Comfort Inn that had been recently built within the past couple years or on crack because when I opened the door to my room, I nearly screamed. Everything from the bedspread to the bathroom was disgusting; needless to say, I didn’t get much sleep.
Same story fancied up
Last Friday, my boss called me in the office to see if I’d like to go help out at one of our sister properties and train some of the new slot attendants on the ACSC system. Obviously I was excited and agreed immediately. I got my travel arrangements on Saturday and began packing for my adventure. I flew into Philadelphia and rented a car from Enterprise for the week. I drove straight to the casino in Perryville before even checking in at the hotel, so I could begin training immediately. When the work day was over, I entered directions to the Comfort Inn off exit 100 into the GPS unit and set out. Upon my arrival, I grabbed my bags and headed to the front desk. I handed over my credit card, got checked in, was given my room key and started looking for the elevator, there wasn’t one. This is strange I thought to myself, so I dragged my luggage up the stairs to my room and was I ever surprised. First impressions can be deceiving as I soon found out, because once I got looking around the room, my heart sank. Ever heard of the expression “lipstick on a pig”, well this was a prime example of that ole’ saying.
Same story off the leash
Late last week, at the drop of a hat, I was asked if I’d go save the day in Perryville, one of Penn’s new casinos and do some last minute training. Of course I said let me think about it and started pondering as to whether or not I should go. After much deliberation and umpteen phone calls, I got everything organized for me to comfortably leave town for a few days. I had an uneventful flight on the company jet; rented a new red sports car and headed toward Perryville to do some training. The weather was perfect and the staff was receptive; nothing could have ruined my day, nothing…until I drove to the hotel. Not only was the front desk person surly, I didn’t speak the language and the room I was given was atrocious! First thing I noticed was the stains on the bedspread, pubic hairs in the tub, phone and mini fridge didn’t work, and the adjoining room doors have any locks on them!!! When I asked for a new room, I was told there were none available and when I asked to have someone come and clean my tub, he said he’s send someone right up (he never did) The first night in my room, I ended up barricading the adjoining room door with the coffee table and chair. I set the coffee table on its side and slid the legs behind the entertainment center and set the chair in front of it. I tried sleeping with one eye open but my ears were so attuned to every little sound; getting any rest that night was out of the question. The next morning after no sleep and a much needed shower (I cleaned the tub with shampoo myself) no sooner did I find out the coffee maker had moldy stuff growing in the water reservoir and the freakin’ blow dryer didn’t work! I could foresee this was gonna be the week from hell.
Same story fancied up
Last Friday, my boss called me in the office to see if I’d like to go help out at one of our sister properties and train some of the new slot attendants on the ACSC system. Obviously I was excited and agreed immediately. I got my travel arrangements on Saturday and began packing for my adventure. I flew into Philadelphia and rented a car from Enterprise for the week. I drove straight to the casino in Perryville before even checking in at the hotel, so I could begin training immediately. When the work day was over, I entered directions to the Comfort Inn off exit 100 into the GPS unit and set out. Upon my arrival, I grabbed my bags and headed to the front desk. I handed over my credit card, got checked in, was given my room key and started looking for the elevator, there wasn’t one. This is strange I thought to myself, so I dragged my luggage up the stairs to my room and was I ever surprised. First impressions can be deceiving as I soon found out, because once I got looking around the room, my heart sank. Ever heard of the expression “lipstick on a pig”, well this was a prime example of that ole’ saying.
Same story off the leash
Late last week, at the drop of a hat, I was asked if I’d go save the day in Perryville, one of Penn’s new casinos and do some last minute training. Of course I said let me think about it and started pondering as to whether or not I should go. After much deliberation and umpteen phone calls, I got everything organized for me to comfortably leave town for a few days. I had an uneventful flight on the company jet; rented a new red sports car and headed toward Perryville to do some training. The weather was perfect and the staff was receptive; nothing could have ruined my day, nothing…until I drove to the hotel. Not only was the front desk person surly, I didn’t speak the language and the room I was given was atrocious! First thing I noticed was the stains on the bedspread, pubic hairs in the tub, phone and mini fridge didn’t work, and the adjoining room doors have any locks on them!!! When I asked for a new room, I was told there were none available and when I asked to have someone come and clean my tub, he said he’s send someone right up (he never did) The first night in my room, I ended up barricading the adjoining room door with the coffee table and chair. I set the coffee table on its side and slid the legs behind the entertainment center and set the chair in front of it. I tried sleeping with one eye open but my ears were so attuned to every little sound; getting any rest that night was out of the question. The next morning after no sleep and a much needed shower (I cleaned the tub with shampoo myself) no sooner did I find out the coffee maker had moldy stuff growing in the water reservoir and the freakin’ blow dryer didn’t work! I could foresee this was gonna be the week from hell.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
week 3 theme setting and dialogue
The scene takes place in the laboratory at EMMC; I’m the new girl in training with Wendy, a long time phlebotomist and employee of the hospital. I’d already done a few random blood draws in the lab, but today, I’m learning to how properly fill my tray and read the reports for draws on the inpatients located on the various floors. My trainer, Wendy seems vaguely familiar to me but I can’t quite put my finger on it. I don’t mention anything so I can give myself a little more time to figure it out.
“So Wendy, how long have you been a phlebotomist”? I questioned her as we were leaving the lab with our filled phlebotomy trays heading toward the employee elevators.
“Oh, I’d say about 10 years or so, give or take” Wendy replied “and I’ve loved every minute of it”. She continued on by saying “I have met some pretty incredible people over the years, but there’s one patient in particular I’ll never forget; she stole my heart” as she pushed the button for the 4th floor.
“Stole your heart”? I asked while stepping into the elevator with her “what do you mean”?
Wendy began her story with “A few years back, I met this elderly woman in ICU while on one of my runs”. “Even though she was in severe pain, she never complained about anything, even if I had to wake her at 4am for her blood draw”. She went on by saying, “Each morning when I went to her room to rouse her and take her blood, I would apologize to her first thing”.
She would always reply “Oh honey, it’s ok; you’re just doing your job, dear” and give me this big smile with her eyes just a twinkling. Wendy went on…“She had the face of an angel and a heart of gold”.
“I just couldn’t believe how someone in so much pain could be so kind each and every time I drew her blood”! Wendy exclaimed. “I was so relieved when she was finally placed into a private room on the 3rd floor” she concluded. “Actually, it was kind of ironic, because I had asked my supervisor if I could continue on with this patient and she had requested the same”! Wendy said with astonishment in her voice.
“Seriously Wendy”? I questioned “Do they even allow that”? As we stepped off the elevator heading to the nurses’ station to check our patients charts.
“They did in this case” Wendy bluntly said, “and I feel privileged to have known this incredible woman”. “I loved to listen to her stories about her family and her grandchildren” she continued, “there was some kind of innocence to this woman, I don’t believe she had a mean bone in her body” Wendy stated as she flipped through our first patients medical chart.
I cut in and asked “Wendy, do you still keep in touch with her”?
Wendy’s expression changed as she hung her head and quietly said “Oh, no, she passed away shortly after she was moved to her private room” as she closed the chart.
“I am so sorry to hear that” I expressed with compassion “what was wrong with her, I mean, what was her diagnoses…..was she in a car accident or something”?
Wendy looked up at me “no, it wasn’t an accident, she was full of cancer” she confirmed. “Apparently she didn’t like doctors and was sick for a very long time but wouldn’t tell anyone”. “Eventually, she broke down and told one of her daughters in which she immediately brought her in to be checked.” Wendy let out a big sigh and continued “when the doctors did the exploratory surgery, she was so full of cancer; it spread sepsis throughout her body, which is why she spent so much time in ICU”. “They had to close her up and let nature take its course, it was too late” Wendy stated in a matter of fact tone.
For some reason, the words that Wendy just spoke struck a chord and stopped me suddenly in my tracks. “How long ago did you say this was”? I knew my eyes were wide with intent while I waited for her reply.
But it was like she didn’t hear me ask her the question and she continued on “I’ll never forget her stories” as Wendy’s face softened while she spoke “her voice was so gentle and whenever she expressed her thoughts of someone who was dear to her, she would always say that she loveded them, not loved them but loveded them”. “She was just so….genuine, so innocent” Wendy said as her face brightened with a smile.
My heart started pounding as the epiphany grew stronger, my voice on the brink of quivering “Wendy, what did you say her name was”? I already knew the answer and remembered why Wendy was so familiar to me at that very moment.
She spoke her name like it was her own; “Theresa” Wendy said “Theresa Veillette” as she looked in my eyes and saw the onset of emotion.
“She was my grandmother” I whispered as the tears ran down my cheeks.
She immediately grabbed me and gave me a big hug, “Oh my God, I can’t believe it”! “Your grandmother was the sweetest person on the planet”! “I loved her so much”! Wendy cried out. “I’m so sorry”!
“It’s ok, really, I’m fine” as I struggled for words. “My grandmother led a wonderful life; she not only made my world a happier place but she touched so many others as well. With mixed emotion I explained “I think these are tears of happiness, I’m just so overjoyed to hear she affected your heart in that way, too”! I exclaimed. “Just this morning I was trying to remember where I knew you and it was here of course”! I continued. “But you look so different”.
Wendy explained “I’ve lost aver 60 lbs and I’m much healthier and happier than ever before”. “Your grandmother taught me a valuable lesson about my health and well being” she went on “She made me promise I would take care of myself and I have, I never break promises” Wendy stated with a warmness in her tone. “She was an angel sent from heaven”.
Wendy and I have remained friends over the years. We’ve laughed, cried and reminisced my grandmother’s final days and the impact she made on so many lives in her short time with us here on earth.
Theresa Mary Veillette (1926-1988)
“So Wendy, how long have you been a phlebotomist”? I questioned her as we were leaving the lab with our filled phlebotomy trays heading toward the employee elevators.
“Oh, I’d say about 10 years or so, give or take” Wendy replied “and I’ve loved every minute of it”. She continued on by saying “I have met some pretty incredible people over the years, but there’s one patient in particular I’ll never forget; she stole my heart” as she pushed the button for the 4th floor.
“Stole your heart”? I asked while stepping into the elevator with her “what do you mean”?
Wendy began her story with “A few years back, I met this elderly woman in ICU while on one of my runs”. “Even though she was in severe pain, she never complained about anything, even if I had to wake her at 4am for her blood draw”. She went on by saying, “Each morning when I went to her room to rouse her and take her blood, I would apologize to her first thing”.
She would always reply “Oh honey, it’s ok; you’re just doing your job, dear” and give me this big smile with her eyes just a twinkling. Wendy went on…“She had the face of an angel and a heart of gold”.
“I just couldn’t believe how someone in so much pain could be so kind each and every time I drew her blood”! Wendy exclaimed. “I was so relieved when she was finally placed into a private room on the 3rd floor” she concluded. “Actually, it was kind of ironic, because I had asked my supervisor if I could continue on with this patient and she had requested the same”! Wendy said with astonishment in her voice.
“Seriously Wendy”? I questioned “Do they even allow that”? As we stepped off the elevator heading to the nurses’ station to check our patients charts.
“They did in this case” Wendy bluntly said, “and I feel privileged to have known this incredible woman”. “I loved to listen to her stories about her family and her grandchildren” she continued, “there was some kind of innocence to this woman, I don’t believe she had a mean bone in her body” Wendy stated as she flipped through our first patients medical chart.
I cut in and asked “Wendy, do you still keep in touch with her”?
Wendy’s expression changed as she hung her head and quietly said “Oh, no, she passed away shortly after she was moved to her private room” as she closed the chart.
“I am so sorry to hear that” I expressed with compassion “what was wrong with her, I mean, what was her diagnoses…..was she in a car accident or something”?
Wendy looked up at me “no, it wasn’t an accident, she was full of cancer” she confirmed. “Apparently she didn’t like doctors and was sick for a very long time but wouldn’t tell anyone”. “Eventually, she broke down and told one of her daughters in which she immediately brought her in to be checked.” Wendy let out a big sigh and continued “when the doctors did the exploratory surgery, she was so full of cancer; it spread sepsis throughout her body, which is why she spent so much time in ICU”. “They had to close her up and let nature take its course, it was too late” Wendy stated in a matter of fact tone.
For some reason, the words that Wendy just spoke struck a chord and stopped me suddenly in my tracks. “How long ago did you say this was”? I knew my eyes were wide with intent while I waited for her reply.
But it was like she didn’t hear me ask her the question and she continued on “I’ll never forget her stories” as Wendy’s face softened while she spoke “her voice was so gentle and whenever she expressed her thoughts of someone who was dear to her, she would always say that she loveded them, not loved them but loveded them”. “She was just so….genuine, so innocent” Wendy said as her face brightened with a smile.
My heart started pounding as the epiphany grew stronger, my voice on the brink of quivering “Wendy, what did you say her name was”? I already knew the answer and remembered why Wendy was so familiar to me at that very moment.
She spoke her name like it was her own; “Theresa” Wendy said “Theresa Veillette” as she looked in my eyes and saw the onset of emotion.
“She was my grandmother” I whispered as the tears ran down my cheeks.
She immediately grabbed me and gave me a big hug, “Oh my God, I can’t believe it”! “Your grandmother was the sweetest person on the planet”! “I loved her so much”! Wendy cried out. “I’m so sorry”!
“It’s ok, really, I’m fine” as I struggled for words. “My grandmother led a wonderful life; she not only made my world a happier place but she touched so many others as well. With mixed emotion I explained “I think these are tears of happiness, I’m just so overjoyed to hear she affected your heart in that way, too”! I exclaimed. “Just this morning I was trying to remember where I knew you and it was here of course”! I continued. “But you look so different”.
Wendy explained “I’ve lost aver 60 lbs and I’m much healthier and happier than ever before”. “Your grandmother taught me a valuable lesson about my health and well being” she went on “She made me promise I would take care of myself and I have, I never break promises” Wendy stated with a warmness in her tone. “She was an angel sent from heaven”.
Wendy and I have remained friends over the years. We’ve laughed, cried and reminisced my grandmother’s final days and the impact she made on so many lives in her short time with us here on earth.
Theresa Mary Veillette (1926-1988)
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
day 2 theme week 2
My first year of high school was a blur for me between the move, making new friends, and trying to fit in. I can tell ya an easy way to make quick enemies, though. Once during a football game, I was sitting with my “new school friends” and made a spectacle of myself when the opposing team got a goal! I thought I was going to be tossed right over the side of the bleachers!! Hey, it was for my old Brewer team!! What was a girl to do???I was jumping up and down amongst my Bucksport friends, hooting and hollering, “Hurray I’m for the other team!” making dog noises, woo-woo-woo, with my arm flailing around in a circle (like Julia Roberts did in the movie Pretty Woman when she was at the horse race) All I can say is I must have stopped in a respectable amount of time, cause I didn’t get tossed over the bleachers. I must have been out of my skull that night, or just basically didn’t give a shit.
I took drivers ed and got my permit first time around; the teacher ironically was the football coach (go figure) So here was the start of another new chapter in my life. My first car was a 1969 Buick skylark and it was the bomb! I bought it off my very first boyfriend (the older boy I got into all the trouble with) Tell you what, in high school, there’s nothing better in life than NOT ever having to ride the bus again, or so I thought. I was young and broke, and soon learned cars don’t go too far without maintenance, and this old Buick liked transmission fluid, about quart a week. Apparently brake fluid is another popular liquid with these old cars, too as I found out the hard way, literally.
There were three of us crammed into the front seat of the Buick, drinking, partying and singing to the blaring radio. Just as I crested the hill, I could see the train going across the tracks at the bottom and a little maverick car was stopped right in front of the railroad crossing. I stomped on the break petal and nothing happened!! I was not slowing down one bit and was heading directly for that maverick!! Maybe it was the whiskey, maybe it was the wet road, or maybe it was the lack of breaks, but all I remember is heading right into the back of that little maverick. SMASH, I hit that car with so much force it sent it squealing ahead, almost a full car length and mere inches from that moving train. Thankfully, no one was hurt; the vehicles on the other hand, totaled. When the wrecker put my car on the hoist, the cross member was broken and the engine practically fell out onto the ground. And as I watched the tow truck take away my Buick, all I could think of was I'm gonna have to ride that damn bus again!!!
I took drivers ed and got my permit first time around; the teacher ironically was the football coach (go figure) So here was the start of another new chapter in my life. My first car was a 1969 Buick skylark and it was the bomb! I bought it off my very first boyfriend (the older boy I got into all the trouble with) Tell you what, in high school, there’s nothing better in life than NOT ever having to ride the bus again, or so I thought. I was young and broke, and soon learned cars don’t go too far without maintenance, and this old Buick liked transmission fluid, about quart a week. Apparently brake fluid is another popular liquid with these old cars, too as I found out the hard way, literally.
There were three of us crammed into the front seat of the Buick, drinking, partying and singing to the blaring radio. Just as I crested the hill, I could see the train going across the tracks at the bottom and a little maverick car was stopped right in front of the railroad crossing. I stomped on the break petal and nothing happened!! I was not slowing down one bit and was heading directly for that maverick!! Maybe it was the whiskey, maybe it was the wet road, or maybe it was the lack of breaks, but all I remember is heading right into the back of that little maverick. SMASH, I hit that car with so much force it sent it squealing ahead, almost a full car length and mere inches from that moving train. Thankfully, no one was hurt; the vehicles on the other hand, totaled. When the wrecker put my car on the hoist, the cross member was broken and the engine practically fell out onto the ground. And as I watched the tow truck take away my Buick, all I could think of was I'm gonna have to ride that damn bus again!!!
Monday, September 6, 2010
theme week 2
Hormones a raging, attitude in the toilet, cigarette smoking punk; yup, that was me. Not sure where the balls came from but it was almost like hitting a light switch, it was instantaneously, over night, I went from a goody two shoes to a confused, disrespectful and out of control teen. I remember back then, everyone blamed it on the school, on the friends or associates I ran with, but now, being a mother myself, it isn’t everyone else’s fault; we all make our own choices and we all have to pay the consequences.
It was the summer between leaving 8th grade and going into high school. I was thirteen going on 30 ( so I thought) Somehow, my best friend and I got hooked up with some much older guys from the neighborhood, guys that were not the kind you bring home to momma. One thing led to another, and before I knew it I had a police record. What the hell happened to the choir signing church girl from before, where did she go?
Drinking and driving, smoking things I shouldn’t, hanging with the big boys, sneaking out of my mom’s house, partying in the basement while they were home! I thought to myself, man this is fun, look at all I’ve been missing over the years….I was only 14! What the hell!!I figured I busted my ass during my younger teen years, I deserved to go wild. I had to do all the babysitting for my siblings, do all the housework, cooking; it was my turn for some excitement.
The cops showed up at the door of my mother’s house for the last time and my step dad was pissed. “What’d she do this time?” he asked the 2 officers interrogating me in the kitchen. This time was a B&E at a camp on Holden Pond. It wasn’t my idea!! I was going along with the older guys, trying to be cool. Well, one of the older guys left this wallet behind and ratted the rest of us out. If my memory serves me, my step dad basically threw me out of the house that night. I had to call my dad to ask if I could live with him, and he wasn’t home, of course. I had to speak with my stepmother and she was the one to come and pick me up that night. The year was 1978.
While Jimmy Carter was the president and serial killer Ted Bundy is captured in Florida, I was packing up a bag of clothes and heading to Bucksport. Northeastern United States blizzard kills over 100 with $520 million in damages, and I have to change schools and leave all my friends behind. American porn publisher Larry Flint is shot and paralyzed, while the Pope John Paul 1 dies after only 33 days in the papacy, and I hate life more than ever. Vietnam attacks Cambodia, Jonestown murder-suicide claims 918 lives, while 2 million demonstrate against Shah in Iran and I inform my dad I’m quitting high school, “Not while you’re living under my roof” he demands and we proceed to the guidance counselor’s office to get the paperwork started.
So while the Cold War is still ongoing and the band the Cars is blaring “let the good times roll” over the radio waves, I prop my feet upon the guidance counselors desk with my dad sitting in the chair next to me, and exclaim, “I’m not going to this fucking ignorant school!!!!” They just shook their heads, and said, this one is going to be a challenge.
It was the summer between leaving 8th grade and going into high school. I was thirteen going on 30 ( so I thought) Somehow, my best friend and I got hooked up with some much older guys from the neighborhood, guys that were not the kind you bring home to momma. One thing led to another, and before I knew it I had a police record. What the hell happened to the choir signing church girl from before, where did she go?
Drinking and driving, smoking things I shouldn’t, hanging with the big boys, sneaking out of my mom’s house, partying in the basement while they were home! I thought to myself, man this is fun, look at all I’ve been missing over the years….I was only 14! What the hell!!I figured I busted my ass during my younger teen years, I deserved to go wild. I had to do all the babysitting for my siblings, do all the housework, cooking; it was my turn for some excitement.
The cops showed up at the door of my mother’s house for the last time and my step dad was pissed. “What’d she do this time?” he asked the 2 officers interrogating me in the kitchen. This time was a B&E at a camp on Holden Pond. It wasn’t my idea!! I was going along with the older guys, trying to be cool. Well, one of the older guys left this wallet behind and ratted the rest of us out. If my memory serves me, my step dad basically threw me out of the house that night. I had to call my dad to ask if I could live with him, and he wasn’t home, of course. I had to speak with my stepmother and she was the one to come and pick me up that night. The year was 1978.
While Jimmy Carter was the president and serial killer Ted Bundy is captured in Florida, I was packing up a bag of clothes and heading to Bucksport. Northeastern United States blizzard kills over 100 with $520 million in damages, and I have to change schools and leave all my friends behind. American porn publisher Larry Flint is shot and paralyzed, while the Pope John Paul 1 dies after only 33 days in the papacy, and I hate life more than ever. Vietnam attacks Cambodia, Jonestown murder-suicide claims 918 lives, while 2 million demonstrate against Shah in Iran and I inform my dad I’m quitting high school, “Not while you’re living under my roof” he demands and we proceed to the guidance counselor’s office to get the paperwork started.
So while the Cold War is still ongoing and the band the Cars is blaring “let the good times roll” over the radio waves, I prop my feet upon the guidance counselors desk with my dad sitting in the chair next to me, and exclaim, “I’m not going to this fucking ignorant school!!!!” They just shook their heads, and said, this one is going to be a challenge.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
9/4/10
9/4/10
Ahhhh, Saturday morning, all rainy and wet and no work for me! As you can see by the time stamp on my journal entry I slept in…REALLY slept in. I got that “second wind” last night after working all day and went out with the young girls to celebrate a couple birthdays. I’m glad I went, its fun to see how bad girls can be in their thirties (snicker) I remember those days too, except mine started much earlier in life. We all met at the Sea Dog and eventually did the downtown crawl as they put it. But no worries, I didn’t drive intoxicated (never will do that again) that’s another story
So yesterday was a busy day at work, wow, I mean super busy (and I’m not going to bitch about it) I was more thinking the day was kind of like energized maybe from the storm, if that makes any sense?? It was amazing to see how long my pass-on log (what got done and didn’t get done log) was for the next manager. Holy crap, it nearly filled the whole page! I love it when it’s a good busy, a productive busy. It’s easy to leave work smiling knowing you got a bunch of stuff accomplished throughout the day. Plus, my boss accepted my objectives for the engagement piece I’ve been working on this week. That was a huge relief. I was also able to revise some of the policy and procedures for the department, started a couple evaluations, made it to a couple meetings, and signed up to do the 5K Susan Komen walk on the 19th. For obvious reasons, every employee I ran into, I hit them up for pledge money for the cure. The company is matching up to $1000.00 which makes me proud to be a part of it all. I only needed a minimum of $75.00 for my portion and I’m way over that already.
I think I’m going to see if my daughter and grandson would like to take a ride to Pittsfield and visit my mom for a couple hours. There is also an antique shop I want to check out while I’m down there. I’ve been looking for an old coat tree to put by the front door, and mum tells me there’s a beautiful one down by her. Other than that, it’s going to be a day of rest and relaxation; maybe I’ll grab a couple movies, pick up a pizza and lounge around for the rest of the day. Who knows? Maybe I’ll get another second wind?? We’ll have to wait and what tomorrows entry brings.
Ahhhh, Saturday morning, all rainy and wet and no work for me! As you can see by the time stamp on my journal entry I slept in…REALLY slept in. I got that “second wind” last night after working all day and went out with the young girls to celebrate a couple birthdays. I’m glad I went, its fun to see how bad girls can be in their thirties (snicker) I remember those days too, except mine started much earlier in life. We all met at the Sea Dog and eventually did the downtown crawl as they put it. But no worries, I didn’t drive intoxicated (never will do that again) that’s another story
So yesterday was a busy day at work, wow, I mean super busy (and I’m not going to bitch about it) I was more thinking the day was kind of like energized maybe from the storm, if that makes any sense?? It was amazing to see how long my pass-on log (what got done and didn’t get done log) was for the next manager. Holy crap, it nearly filled the whole page! I love it when it’s a good busy, a productive busy. It’s easy to leave work smiling knowing you got a bunch of stuff accomplished throughout the day. Plus, my boss accepted my objectives for the engagement piece I’ve been working on this week. That was a huge relief. I was also able to revise some of the policy and procedures for the department, started a couple evaluations, made it to a couple meetings, and signed up to do the 5K Susan Komen walk on the 19th. For obvious reasons, every employee I ran into, I hit them up for pledge money for the cure. The company is matching up to $1000.00 which makes me proud to be a part of it all. I only needed a minimum of $75.00 for my portion and I’m way over that already.
I think I’m going to see if my daughter and grandson would like to take a ride to Pittsfield and visit my mom for a couple hours. There is also an antique shop I want to check out while I’m down there. I’ve been looking for an old coat tree to put by the front door, and mum tells me there’s a beautiful one down by her. Other than that, it’s going to be a day of rest and relaxation; maybe I’ll grab a couple movies, pick up a pizza and lounge around for the rest of the day. Who knows? Maybe I’ll get another second wind?? We’ll have to wait and what tomorrows entry brings.
autobiography 3rd person
She was excited about getting her paper turned in, anxiously waiting for the reply from her teacher. She knew this was a good essay, one of her better ones, and she though the teacher would enjoy reading it, too. She thought to herself, why can’t I write like this all the time? What will it take for me to be able to write like this every time? While she waited for her grade, it was almost like the teacher was reading her mind at that very moment; he replied almost immediately and said, just open your eyes and your mind and write.
She remembers back to the years she was in high school and the writing she did then. Her writing was as dark and depressed as she was. Why was this girl so angry and bitter with life? Whatever could have happened to her that was so bad, she spend most of her teenage years getting high and trying to forget the world existed. She obviously had pain, pain you could see in her eyes and in her body language. She always walked with her head down, averting the eyes of others, but she was afraid of nothing. She thought she was strong, yet she was very weak. She thought she was homely, but she was pretty. She thought she was stupid, but she was smart. She thought so little of her own life; she tried taking it a couple times to stop the pain. She was from a good family, loved beyond love and never abused. She was brought to be a good Christian….whatever happened?
Maybe this semester, she’ll be able to dig these memories out of her archives. Just maybe for once in her life she’ll be able to better understand those years of anguish she endured and put them on paper and put them to rest.
My, have things changed in her life.
She remembers back to the years she was in high school and the writing she did then. Her writing was as dark and depressed as she was. Why was this girl so angry and bitter with life? Whatever could have happened to her that was so bad, she spend most of her teenage years getting high and trying to forget the world existed. She obviously had pain, pain you could see in her eyes and in her body language. She always walked with her head down, averting the eyes of others, but she was afraid of nothing. She thought she was strong, yet she was very weak. She thought she was homely, but she was pretty. She thought she was stupid, but she was smart. She thought so little of her own life; she tried taking it a couple times to stop the pain. She was from a good family, loved beyond love and never abused. She was brought to be a good Christian….whatever happened?
Maybe this semester, she’ll be able to dig these memories out of her archives. Just maybe for once in her life she’ll be able to better understand those years of anguish she endured and put them on paper and put them to rest.
My, have things changed in her life.
Friday, September 3, 2010
9/3/10
I’d like to start out saying I slept like a log, those Tylenol pm’s work like a charm. When I got home from work last night, Tim had cleaned the house (finally) so I don’t have to spend my weekend doing housework. YAY! And that report I was working on for employee engagement is done, finished it yesterday (meet with the boss man this morning to go over it) so this is looking like really good start for my weekend; weather is gorgeous, it’s pay day what more could a girl ask for!
I ordered school books from an online sight for once in my life and I hope I picked the right sight. I’ve ordered very few things over the internet; I’m just not so comfortable having my credit card information out there for hackers to have their way with. A few months back, I ordered from overstock .com and had really good results not only from the product (cabinet handle pulls) but the price was right and the customer service was bar none. For those who know me, I’m a stickler when it comes to good customer service, and when I don’t get it, people hear about it.
I’ve had hurricane Earl on my mind these past few days; it concerns me, especially when it comes to patrons and employees in the building. We’ve been over our evacuation plans numerous times, but sometimes in the excitement/terror of it all, mistakes can happen and they can be costly. I’ve been reassured it’s fizzling out and it will not bring too high of winds here in Maine, but I still feel for all the others going through its destruction. My guess is after hanging out with the guys (from New Orleans) over the past weekend (folk fest) I have a much better understanding of the devastation of Katrina. Yes, I watched the horrific news clips and read about it in the newspapers but to hear the stories straight from the mouths of those who survived that hurricane; it’s heartbreaking.
I’ve been invited out to hang “with the girls” tonight and do the bar hopping thing. I’m flattered these young ladies never give up on asking me to go out with them, but after a long work week I am SPENT by Friday. Not saying I don’t ever get a second wind, I guess we’ll have to wait and see what the day brings and what gets written in my journal tomorrow!
I ordered school books from an online sight for once in my life and I hope I picked the right sight. I’ve ordered very few things over the internet; I’m just not so comfortable having my credit card information out there for hackers to have their way with. A few months back, I ordered from overstock .com and had really good results not only from the product (cabinet handle pulls) but the price was right and the customer service was bar none. For those who know me, I’m a stickler when it comes to good customer service, and when I don’t get it, people hear about it.
I’ve had hurricane Earl on my mind these past few days; it concerns me, especially when it comes to patrons and employees in the building. We’ve been over our evacuation plans numerous times, but sometimes in the excitement/terror of it all, mistakes can happen and they can be costly. I’ve been reassured it’s fizzling out and it will not bring too high of winds here in Maine, but I still feel for all the others going through its destruction. My guess is after hanging out with the guys (from New Orleans) over the past weekend (folk fest) I have a much better understanding of the devastation of Katrina. Yes, I watched the horrific news clips and read about it in the newspapers but to hear the stories straight from the mouths of those who survived that hurricane; it’s heartbreaking.
I’ve been invited out to hang “with the girls” tonight and do the bar hopping thing. I’m flattered these young ladies never give up on asking me to go out with them, but after a long work week I am SPENT by Friday. Not saying I don’t ever get a second wind, I guess we’ll have to wait and see what the day brings and what gets written in my journal tomorrow!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
autobiography second person
You sit at that laptop acting like you know what you’re doing. Fingers pounding away at the keyboard making clickity- clackity noises which sounds like you are typing a hundred a hundred miles an hour. But in all actuality, most of the words are underlined in red because they’re spelled wrong! You are going as fast as you can because you know the man wants the report. Maybe you ought to take another keyboarding class; maybe that will make you go even faster.
Here comes the man wanting the report. You keep telling him he will get the report when it’s due yet the man continues to ask, “is it done, is it done yet, are you done yet”, like a child in the backset of a car asking “are we there yet, are we there yet” Patience runs thin and for a fleeting moment, very bad things cross your mind. But instead, you lift your head, smile at the man and say yes, it is nearly done; you will have it by day’s end. The man who wants the report leaves the room; you exhale a huge sigh of relief and remember the days of riding in the backseat of your parent’s car, wishing you were there.
Here comes the man wanting the report. You keep telling him he will get the report when it’s due yet the man continues to ask, “is it done, is it done yet, are you done yet”, like a child in the backset of a car asking “are we there yet, are we there yet” Patience runs thin and for a fleeting moment, very bad things cross your mind. But instead, you lift your head, smile at the man and say yes, it is nearly done; you will have it by day’s end. The man who wants the report leaves the room; you exhale a huge sigh of relief and remember the days of riding in the backseat of your parent’s car, wishing you were there.
writer autobiography first person
It has been a very long time, way before last semester anyway, that I’ve written anything. Not that I ever really wrote anything per se but I did dabble with a few spiral note books and a pencil during my high school years. I remember reading through them in my mid twenties and thought to myself, wow, was I ever messed up. I was a very frustrated teen; anger and depression haunted me for years. There was a lot of shit going on in my head back then; in it, too. And the writing I did in those notebooks expressed those emotions. To this day I couldn’t tell you why I was so angry but, that’s history. I’m not that person any more. I’ve learned not to dwell on the past; I am very happy and have way moved on from that period of my life. I think I may have actually thrown those journals out after reading them, just in case my daughter ever found them. Kind of ironic, because she did end up writing those kinds of journals but that topic is for another day.
I’m thinking out loud while I type because I want to figure out what kind of writer I am, too. I don’t think I’m a fantastic writer (yet) but I do OK. I believe I would enjoy writing more if I had more time in my day, though. Writing under pressure will/has shut my brain down periodically, especially when I’m pressed for time. It is no fun having to write like that, under those circumstances. I’ve prepared myself and have designated “my writing time” so I can sit back and enjoy what I’m doing/writing and not get stressed out because of time constraints.
I’m quite pleased to be fortunate enough to have had a story published in the Eyrie last semester and I’d like to try for another, and if anyone is going to get me there, John, it will be you…you and me.
I’m thinking out loud while I type because I want to figure out what kind of writer I am, too. I don’t think I’m a fantastic writer (yet) but I do OK. I believe I would enjoy writing more if I had more time in my day, though. Writing under pressure will/has shut my brain down periodically, especially when I’m pressed for time. It is no fun having to write like that, under those circumstances. I’ve prepared myself and have designated “my writing time” so I can sit back and enjoy what I’m doing/writing and not get stressed out because of time constraints.
I’m quite pleased to be fortunate enough to have had a story published in the Eyrie last semester and I’d like to try for another, and if anyone is going to get me there, John, it will be you…you and me.
9/2/10
Happy Thursday…YAY hump day is over and I’m nearing the finish line of my work week! Too bad for me though, I only got about 4 hours sleep last night. Funny how that works…I guess getting 9 hours the night before my body is saying HAHA, only 4 4 U in this deep almost sumo wrestler kind of voice. That’s kind of how I feel at the moment, too, like a sumo wrestler; maybe it was the chicken casadea I inhaled last night before I went to Ethics class? Or the few Peroni’s I drank after class? One thing’s for sure, I’m not skipping breakfast and lunch again to inhale a greasy chicken casadea in 5 minutes. What the hell was I thinking? Then, when I get to the college for Ethics class, I swear it must have been 100 degrees in that class room and it was on the bottom floor! I can’t complain though, because I was sitting right in front of the fan. And although it was blowing hot air around, it was at least drying up the sweat that kept pouring down my face. The professor seems pretty cool,too and he has a full class to boot. It ought to make for a very interesting semster and I‘ve decided, this isn’t going to be so bad after all. Ethics was a wise choice; it will be good for me to smooth out my critical thinking skills so I can take the steak knives out of my incentive program!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
9/1/10 journal
First cup of coffee, birds are chirping, crows are conversing, and I actually feel kind of rested for the first time in a week or so. I went to bed at 9pm last night; been a long time since I crashed that early! I didn’t even have any dreams last night. Today will be a long day though, and I keep trying to tell myself to not think of it that way. I need to focus on the end result of taking classes, the day I earn my degree.
I’ve had a digital camera for a few years and the quality really isn’t there anymore, pictures just aren’t coming out like I’d expect. A couple months back I purchased a home theatre system from best buy and you can sign up for a free rewards card and earn points with your purchases. Well, as of today, I still cannot get into the web site to download my points. Apparently, I was accidentally signed up for two separate member id’s. You’d think this would be an easy fix, merge the accounts, or delete one, whatever. I guess one of the accounts had the purchases on it, the other was the one I actually went on line and set up with all my security questions, passwords, etc…. so here it is nearly 2 months later and these people at reward zone still haven’t been able to figure this mess out. I have seriously have spoken to 25 people over the phone and have countless emails from these guys. I’m beginning to think they are just messing with me because the guy I spoke to yesterday to ask why I haven’t received email verification, sent one while we were on the phone and he spelled my name/email address wrong and then we mysteriously got disconnected…how ironic.
Anyway, I’m getting off track; I was talking about buying a new camera….. I’ve known for a while (ever since the baby was born) I wanted/needed a new camera and for obvious reasons I also wanted to be able to use my rewards points toward the purchase of a new camera considering I’m well over $100 in certificates (due to my purchases and the incompetence) and from all these reps throwing down more points each time I call to find out when I can use them. Friday night at the folk fest I brought my old digital camera and what perfect timing, the camera (after giving it new batteries) decided to shit the bed. Yup, camera-less at the folk fest while I’m hanging with the bands and being introduced to tons of new people, I was so bummed, I felt like an idiot participating in something so spectacular without a camera! Thankfully I saw some friends there and they didn’t mind taking some shots for me. Sigh…...
Well, I do have a good ending to my story; when I got home from work last night, Tim (my significant other) went and bought me a new camera yesterday! YAY! Seems really nice and it look easy for me to use anyway. So now that I have my new camera, if and when I ever get my reward points, I think I’ll invest in a new wireless printer….hmmmmm one can dream can’t they?
I’ve had a digital camera for a few years and the quality really isn’t there anymore, pictures just aren’t coming out like I’d expect. A couple months back I purchased a home theatre system from best buy and you can sign up for a free rewards card and earn points with your purchases. Well, as of today, I still cannot get into the web site to download my points. Apparently, I was accidentally signed up for two separate member id’s. You’d think this would be an easy fix, merge the accounts, or delete one, whatever. I guess one of the accounts had the purchases on it, the other was the one I actually went on line and set up with all my security questions, passwords, etc…. so here it is nearly 2 months later and these people at reward zone still haven’t been able to figure this mess out. I have seriously have spoken to 25 people over the phone and have countless emails from these guys. I’m beginning to think they are just messing with me because the guy I spoke to yesterday to ask why I haven’t received email verification, sent one while we were on the phone and he spelled my name/email address wrong and then we mysteriously got disconnected…how ironic.
Anyway, I’m getting off track; I was talking about buying a new camera….. I’ve known for a while (ever since the baby was born) I wanted/needed a new camera and for obvious reasons I also wanted to be able to use my rewards points toward the purchase of a new camera considering I’m well over $100 in certificates (due to my purchases and the incompetence) and from all these reps throwing down more points each time I call to find out when I can use them. Friday night at the folk fest I brought my old digital camera and what perfect timing, the camera (after giving it new batteries) decided to shit the bed. Yup, camera-less at the folk fest while I’m hanging with the bands and being introduced to tons of new people, I was so bummed, I felt like an idiot participating in something so spectacular without a camera! Thankfully I saw some friends there and they didn’t mind taking some shots for me. Sigh…...
Well, I do have a good ending to my story; when I got home from work last night, Tim (my significant other) went and bought me a new camera yesterday! YAY! Seems really nice and it look easy for me to use anyway. So now that I have my new camera, if and when I ever get my reward points, I think I’ll invest in a new wireless printer….hmmmmm one can dream can’t they?
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