Sunday, July 31, 2011

Today I lost my employee discount at the upscale women’s clothing boutique where I worked part-time.  Last week, I experienced a bit of a time crunch between my $50+ Hr “business” and my $8.50 Hr part time gig.  I asked to be put on “On Call” status which means they only call me to work last minute when someone is out sick or when someone needs last minute time off…and I still get the fab employee discount.  That idea didn’t fly I guess.  Today I was relieved of all duty to make way for gals who could put in a more serious effort. 

So……I unexpectedly had an entire day free!  I got busy on the downstairs closet.  Mom and dad’s wedding album….had to look through that.  There went an hour.  I have takers for mom’s vintage 1955 Mouton Coat and her 1958 Aksarben Princess Gown.  I love people who love vintage, especially when it is one of my BFFs and her ultra cool kids.  Dad decided we would have his dad’s Letter Sweater (circa early 20’s) dry cleaned and preserved. 

Grandpa’s Beaver Coat, however, was virtually destroyed due to inattention; it recaptured a road kill scent and look and still managed to evade the trash bag.  Did I tell you I think my dad is one of those hoarders from TV?  There were a handful of old short sleeved shirts in the closet, prime for the Good Will.  Daddy held up each one, studied it for a while and laid it in either the "keep" or "toss" pile.  I secretly snagged one from the “keep” pile just so he would have one contribution to those less fortunate.  I hope I don’t unexpectedly run into the Beaver Coat in some dark, dank, basement area for I may react in a survival sort of manner.

My mother is a well dressed woman and always has been.  I will always remember waiting to see what mommy would wear each day…always a delight.  Today she donated a number of wonderful outfits, formal wear, shoes and purses that many lucky ladies will love.  There are two things that can make or break a gal’s day – bad hair and a bad outfit.  Momma is making the day 50% better for a lot of gals.

As adult kids, we want to help our folks downsize or at least de-clutter…throw crap away and get organized.  I am experiencing the desire to not be so hasty…to take time and not push because this is very emotional.  Mom’s formal wear – what memories.  Her Aksarben gown???  I would have died and gone to heaven to be an Aksarben Princess.  She was.  Her dress is stunning today.  Dad’s old trumpet that is in poor condition today because we KIDS uncaringly got to it.  Still memories for him (and one day potential TGIF ceiling decoration because he nor I could toss it).

And for me, too.  I tossed my old roller skates and my cheerleader outfits and coat!!!  Guess what lane I hung out in for a few moments?  Memory!  I tried out for cheerleading every single year I was eligible and finally made it my senior year.  Don’t tell me I didn’t learn persistence and practice from that little piece of life gold.

Lastly for this post, I proclaim the kegger is back on!  When I moved in with my folks in March I discovered their outdoor decking was hanging by a nail.  If someone were to go out for a smoke or a private smooch, their lives would be in danger.  I cancelled my home coming kegger.  Well, daddy and his buddies have built a new one and enlarged it as well!!!  Once it cools a bit outdoors, the kegger is back on my friends!

July 23, 2011

I really do not like the smell of Citronella.  I got a strong whiff of it and discovered it was emanating from my suitcase.  WT?  I started digging around to locate the source.  Seems my last minute travel idea to pack a small, boxed votive candle wasn’t the brightest.  It melted.  On to my $$ padded, deep plunge, SOMA bra.  Crap.  I was planning to wear this super cute sun dress to dinner with my ex and our neighbor friends.  I needed this bra.  So I yanked out the hotel provided ironing board and iron, stuffed the hard wax shell of the right bra cup with a towel and with about a half a roll of toilet paper began heat blotting.  This particular brand of candle is popular because the scents are very strong.  I really do not like the smell of Citronella.  A while later, the cup had cooled and was no longer firm with wax.  It still stank of Citronella yet was wearable.  I figured maybe my friends would think it my perfume so I was off to dinner.  We enjoyed a lovely dinner al fresco, completely mosquito free.

My Atlanta visit was divine.  And surprisingly, while bittersweet, no tears shed or strong urge to move back.  I got to see my dog Desi and realized my decision to leave her was truly the best.  She is very happy and healthy. Throughout the whole time in Atlanta, I stayed in the moment and enjoyed my wonderful friends. 

Back at mom’s I discovered I could barely get my bedroom door open.  With a line backer shove I completed the break of my collapsed garment rack.  *sigh* If you are a reader of this blog from way back, you know the trials I have experienced with these blooming garment racks. * SIGH* I am now determined to clear out the basement closet and make room for my clothes.  My cursory closet content review identified mom’s Xmas sweaters, shoes, 25 ugly purses, the multicolored bow ties and cummerbunds from my 1987 wedding, dad’s broken trumpet, a fish aquarium, me and sis’s cheerleading outfits (I will not see if it still fits) mom’s college Mouton coat, her late 50’s Aksarben Princess ball gown, a dead mouse and a piece of old toast.  I decided to clear a bit at a time over this coming week.  Anyone want a vintage Mouton coat or ball gown?

Last night was the wedding of my girl-gang’s first child.  We are not old and proved it on the reception dance floor and much later at the 2:00am cannon ball contest at a friend’s pool.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

I love the SOUTH!!  A friend mentioned that while I was born and raised in the Midwest, I developed my adulthood in the South.  I have idyllic memories of the Midwest; I became conscious in the South. 

I love the southern language – especially the word ya’ll.  Or the words “fixin to,” “git me some” or southern sayings like “dumber than a bucket of hair.”  The southern dialect is very colorful to my ear.  As well as the accent.  It tickles me when I hear small children speaking one syllable words with two syllables.  Ray – ed, Bay – ed.   When I first arrived in the South in 1989 I could not make out half the words of Southern Twang, as I call it, and now it all charms me.

Last Friday I landed in Hendersonville, TN, a northern lake suburb of Nashvegas (Nashville.)  There I am known as a BFF and Crazy Aunt Lori.  I typically behave consistent with the latter. (Last time I visited I dared the then 15-yr-old twins that I would allow their Jack Russell Terrier, Scooter, to eat chewed up food out of my mouth.  They took the dare.  Grossed us all out.)  This time I think I blended the two and behaved as the crazy BFF.

I know the family was stocked with milk – I had just supervised the purchase of groceries and three gallons of skim milk was a portion of it.  I rose for the next day; jammified and bed headed I slogged downstairs for coffee and my morning email in the dining room, where I had set up my computer and mini work station.  

My coffee takes real sugar and 2% milk, so at the first sip I figured it was just the skim milk taste that I wasn’t used to.  After reading one Thought for the Day and one Social Living Coupon offer, my next coffee sip still tasted funny.  Maybe I needed to add more milk since it was skim after all and not 2%?  I  took another sip without adding more milk because I was excited about an email of a new job opportunity and then needed to respond to an email client inquiry.  I took another sip…what is not right with this coffee? I thought.  I became engrossed with a few opportunities to procure my clients some real subject matter press, when my GORGEOUS-16-yr-old niece sat down next to me with a bowl of cereal.  Next thing I know, she spews barely chewed cinnamon toast crunch cereal with the force of a fire hose….she gagged-garbled something about sour milk.

I was born 11 days before my Nashvegas BFF therefore I am OLDER (I am 9 days junior to my Omaha BFF so she is OLDEST)  Me'n Nash BFF traditionally spend time together in July to commemorate our Bdays. This time she created a party for us – gals only – at a beach bar down the street.  Fifteen of her gal pals showed up.  It was a Tuesday night, the stars had aligned, estrogen was at an all time high and even the last minute invites were accepted.  All I will share is that I had to jump an elderly man to prevent him from winning the beer round in trivia (he still won), whiskey shots now come in cinnamon flavor, and I not only now know all the words to “Stop! In the Name of Love,” I can adequately dance back-up when Ms. Treesa sings it.  Oh, and, I am officially invited to the next Henderson Lutheran Church Women’s Sunday school girl’s trip.

From Hendersonville in a rented Toyota Prius, I travelled southwest of “Nashvull” to a suburb named Franklin for my bi-annual Center for Leadership Design Retreat.  I rather enjoyed the Prius as soon as I got used to a push button start, quiet engine (doesn’t even sound like it is running while parked) and its different gear-shift thingy where you push yet another button to park the car. 

The Leadership retreat was very therapeutic for me as I have been feeling a bit lost in my new home town.  I’ve gotten to know, bared my soul, eaten and cried and have even gotten tipsy (no!) with a few of these folks since 2003.  No different from our last gathering, we solved yet another world problem and became the better for it – in only three days! Oh, and I also premiered in my first public karaoke trio – “I’m a Believer” and my first duet with “Love Shack.” And! I have three more marketing consultations and an invitation to explore a Marketing/PR business partnership in Naples, FL.  Sweet!

Today I find myself in a motel in the backyard of my former residence in Roswell, GA.  I am taking five days to see friends, reconnect, and soak up what I think it is I am missing in Omaha.   I’m excited and scared at the same time.  As human beings, we automatically seek comfort and security.  I haven’t felt those since March.  Driving to this area, I rolled down the windows and took it all in.  Familiarity!!  These next few days I will feel comfort and security with it all....it will be an interesting time..bittersweet for sure.  And while I know I am building something great in Omaha, I worry I could take a short term gain for comfort and decide on-a-dime to move back.

All ya’ll, please send me clarity of heart and mind….

July 4, 2011

I received my tenth real job rejection last week – this time by phone!  Finally!  A company with the balls to call.  Letters are fine, too, but the no-contact-or-call-make-your-own-deduction-Sherlock-you-didn’t –get-the-job folks bother me.  I mean, Human Resources is the department that in addition to employment coordination also handles employee morale, behavior, office etiquette, training, and so forth.  And not even a rejection letter?  Oh, to be a slacker and have a job.

I did start my new part time job last week.  Four hours of looking hot, great clothes, gossiping with women and having a good time (Much like my former job with the construction company). I was even encouraged to try clothes on myself – so I would know what to tell clients about how the pieces fit.  Did I tell you these clothes are on the sexy side of casual/business casual?  I tried on this smokin’ turquoise dress and understood the reason behind the Spanx body suit.  As soon as I get my check for the $34 dollars I earned, I intend to spend it.

It’s movie weekend for me and mom.  Today we will be seeing our second together.  The first one was the new Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts’ movie.  It was cute as you’d expect.  Typically I drop mom off at the front of the theater and she goes in to buy the tickets while I park the car.  This time we parked so close we could walk in together.  Mom requested of the lady at the ticket counter, “Two senior tickets please.”

“MOM,” I commanded, “I’m not that old yet!!!”  She scowled and paid for one senior and one adult (actually, I argue I could have been a child priced ticket since I am her daughter but anyway…)

“Lori Jo, I always buy you a senior ticket, you’re just parking the car and don’t realize it.  They don’t know it’s for you and it saves money.”  Good grief.   I can see it now, mother and daughter enjoy chick flick and then join the cast of “Women Behind Bars.”  We’re seeing Bad Teacher today.  Pray for me.

I am so excited we have a new subscription to one of the paparazzi/fashion magazines.  It is a guilty pleasure for mom and me and we have dad to thank for it.  He did something that earned him a bunch of free magazine subscriptions.  He couldn’t choose enough to meet his limit so I chose this one and one other….Southern Living I think.  These new subscriptions are just now starting to trickle in.  Just yesterday the mail carrier delivered Spin and Jet.  I had to scratch my head on those…until it dawned on me that Dad is a motor head.  He likely thought those magazines were motor related.  I loooove good fodder for the blog!