Check Please! July 12, 2008

Hmmm…where to start today.   Well, yesterday was bloody hot, even hotter in the greenhouse and work was D-E-A-D Dead.  Our boss let us take a 2 hour lunch instead of a 1 hour lunch in lieu of the quietness.  That actually put me in a pepredicament.  The electrician was at the house working on our panel (whatever that is) and we didn’t have power.  So.  2 hours to myself, no kidlet, and unable to go home.  Hmmmmmm…
I deposited my paycheck, and went to a local sit-down restaurant figuring they’d let me stay for awhile and I’d save all that gas money by not going home and back into town. 
All was going well.  I was texting my best friend and enjoying my fish sandwich.  I then went to shake the ketchup bottle for my fries.  That’s when I discovered (all too late) that some bastard didn’t screw the cap on tightly.  There I was, alone in a public restaurant covered in ketchup.  My face, my neck, my shirt, my cell, the table, the wall, and probably some places I didn’t discover.  Sonofa&$*! 
I cleaned up as fast as I could with the 2 small used napkins I had, and then realized that I HAD to go home to change shirts.  Otherwise I would go back to work looking like I was 3 and couldn’t feed myself.  Yikes. 
So: Lunch $10
20 miles round trip to my home and back to work = The price of my soul
But, I got a new shirt and little of my dignity back. 
It just wasn’t my day.
Camp Staff invited us out last night, but we told them they were stupid for going to a bar on the weekend that Country Fest is going on here.  (which holds 25,000 people per day.)  http://hodag.com/ 
So, we had them over for a campfire.  About 12:00a.m. severe weather rolled through.  We were well aware of it coming, so the fire wrapped up about 11:00p.m. when the warning was issued.  I was secretly happy because it meant I got to bed at a decent time. :P 
As for the storm, it did weaken right before it got here, so we just picked up a 1/4″ of rain and some wind.  Nonetheless, hubby still had to go out and round up scouts like cattle to get them to storm shelters.  Got to love summer!

As for today, the Hot Air Balloon Rally is this afternoon/evening. http://www.wausauareaevents.org/events/balloonglow.cfm 
Breezy conditions are expected, so keep your fingers crossed that it’s still a go!  (Pleaassee!)
Our friends just confirmed this morning that they will be joining us for our Hot Air Balloon Ride Aug. 31st.  YAY!!!!!!!!!! 
She was due to have their baby the 10th (my Godson) but he’s not here yet.  Rrrrrr.  I don’t wait well……. Patience is NOT my forte.  I’ll keep you posted though!

Walking the Line :) June 30, 2008

It’s June 30th.  About 7:00p.m. Kidlet started WALKING!!!  I’m so freaking excited!  Unfortunately, Hubby missed it as he’s off tending to a Camp inspection.   I’ve been stressing so much about her not walking yet.  I guess she was just a late bloomer.  Now, to go and buy some duct tape. 
Work was busy today.  We had a lot of work for a funeral tomorrow and I found myself in front of the ribbon rack this afternoon, trying to find some thing appropriate to finish an order with.  I realized all the ribbon I was looking at was either to drab, or too “Yay, you’re dead!” 
Yes, welcome to my world, where I spend my days riding that fine line between not showy enough, and too “Yay, you’re dead!”  
On a different note, after dealing with a week of ”Amish Television” and 2 stat-icy stations, our Satellite is FINALLY back running.  We butchered 80% of the trees in our backyard in order to open up the view to the lake, but also in hopes of getting better satellite reception.  We found out today that we missed 3 trees that were our main problem.  They’re cut now too and mission: On-Going Entertainment is accomplished. –> Not Pres. Bush on an Air Craft Carrier accomplished….ACTUALLY Accomplished.  Anyone need fire wood?
Anyway, it’s a good day.  I’m still rolling naked in the blissful anticipation of the Balloon Rally and our Balloon Ride.  I’m loving life! 

 

A Fairyland of Wild Mushrooms…Oh God. June 27, 2008

Yet another day where the customers remind me how I don’t get paid enough.  When asking “and what would you like on the card?”  (The enclosure card that goes in an arrangement.) I get:

“There is a time when wild Aster and Golden Rod fill the fields…and the Sumac leaves turn scarlet…a time when the air…the light & the moisture are in perfect harmony…and the whole world becomes a fairyland of wild mushrooms.  As if by magic…they push their way up…everywhere…no stone…no log cam stop them now, fore their time has come.
What gret fun & creative imagination must have gone into the molding of these little things…hundreds of shapes & sizes…just as many shades & hues…tiny dots on stems so delicate you can hardly see them…huge ones more than a foot across…some more beautiful & graceful…some round…short & pudgy.  There are those whose caps sit at odd angles on their stems.  Those that form little shells on tree trunks…and perfect rosettes covering old logs of the woods…
Here are some of the most beautiful browns in nature…the most delicate pinks & blues…the deepest…most startling reds & yellows…and white as pure as white can be.
And so they grow on old stumps among dead leaves…on fallen trees.  That these things which have lived may may have returned to the earth to love again.  From, you’re favorite old stump in rejuvenation.”

Okay people.  Take it from me.  A simple “Thinking of You” would suffice.  In the meantime, I want what she’s on in order to live in her “Fairyland of Wild Mushrooms.”  *Blank Stare*
Luckily, I was not the one to have to fit that on any card whatsoever.  I was the one, however, to have to call it into a different shop to have THEM deliver it.  I’m fully expecting hate mail any day now. 

 

Foamy Ketchup Kind of Day June 13, 2008

What a day it’s been.  Don’t get me wrong, I love my job, but days like this when it gets technical, I can only explain soil amendment so many times before, even I, talk myself into a coma.
My day started by dropping kidlet off at day care as usual except her classroom door was locked.  I’m thinking “Very funny guys.  You have to take my child, it’s what I pay you for.”  Turns out they got a new security system in the day care and now every parent has to use the main door, punch a code to get in, and go through the entire building to get your kid.  *Sigh*  It’s just a pain in the butt.  So, I hummed the “Mission Impossible” theme while picking up kidlet tonight.  Administration didn’t find it funny, but the teachers did.
I got to work to discover that I underestimated the popularity of the most recent person to kick the bucket.  Normally, I wouldn’t mind….but then there’s the customer that holds you on the phone for 20 minutes telling you a story that they couldn’t cut the grass in the space made for their garden because a turtle was in it.  No, I’m not making it up…I don’t have the energy to make it up.
In lieu of payday, I treated myself to McDonald’s for lunch…at least I initially thought it was a treat.  That was until I used the ketchup dispenser in the restaurant and got foamy ketchup.  It looked normal going into the little paper cup and then turned orange-ish and continued growing like head on a beer.  I should have taken pictures.  I took new stuff which looked a little better and ate in anyway figuring if I got sick, I would have someone to sue.  After my meal I remembered the Salmonella Tomatoes and figured you guys can kiss my ass goodbye, but it’s 8:00p.m. and I’m still okay…so far.
I knew my day wasn’t great, but then I looked at some poor McDonald’s employee being sent out the door in a chinsey Ice Cream Cone Costume and a sign reading “49 Cent Cones” to wave at traffic.  Yep, my day may not have been good, but at least I wasn’t that guy.
My day ended with a call wanting to know if I could look up an order and tell her what plant was sent.  -This is never a good sign.  I looked and realized that I was the one to fill the order and I told her that I sent a Streptocarpus.  I get, “Are they poisonous to humans?”  I think it’s better if I don’t know that story.   Yikes.
Finally, Camp Staff has figured out that we’re going out tomorrow night.  Apparently after last week, I’m somewhat of an attraction.  I may have to start charging…..Anyway, by the sounds of it, we will have a lot of company, and with kidlet at Grandma’s, we don’t have a curfew. 
Look out Twitter!!!  http://twitter.com/knittwit

Life Lesson #123 June 11, 2008

I was processing an incoming order at the Floral Shop Monday.  In “other notes” was “Please check time and place of funeral services.  Hello Kate!”  I’m looking around….”God, is that you?”  I look to see where the order came from and it was from the Floral Shop in my hometown that my Grandparents started once-upon-a-time.  It was just a random, odd feeling.  I’m still hoping to move back there and continue my floral career there.  We shall see.
Alanis Morrisette dropped her new CD yesterday.  YAY!!!  I have meant to go and get it, but kidlet has another ear infection, so I haven’t been able to get out, minus the Dr.  Hopefully tomorrow.  I’ve been a big fan of her’s since 1995.–That was a great summer.

I’m also hoping that GnR will reunite soon.  (No rumors even exist about that one.)  I figure if New Kids on the Block can do it, I can keep hope.
I’m writing tonight feeling like an ass.  (What’s new?…I know)  For anyone that knows me, knows I have a loud, bold personality.  I also live by “If you have a question, ask it.”  I may want to re-think those things.  At the very least I may want to re-think my timing.  If I keep blabbing on I could lose very precious things.  Guess I’ll mark that down as Life Lesson #123. 

 

Excuse Me? June 3, 2008

I’ve been questioning people’s common sense lately, or rather, lack thereof.  As most everyone knows, my husband and I live IN a Boy Scout Camp as he is Ranger for the 3 camps year-round.  It’s common knowledge the that Ranger Residence (i.e. Our Home) is off limits to staff.  At least we THOUGHT it was common knowledge….until Saturday night.
It was 8:30p.m.  Kidlet was in bed and Hubby and I were “otherwise occupied.”  All of the sudden the dog starts barking and Hubby jumps up and sticks his head out of the bedroom door.  There he sees a STAFF MEMBER in our hallway right outside kidlet’s bedroom door and steps away from our bedroom.  The staff member had entered our front door, climbed the stairs to our main living area, and let himself in the second door merely to let us know that there was a Porcupine outside.  That was all. 
Needless to say, he was chased out of the house and chewed a new one by my hubby, and it’s so sad to know that the one time we don’t lock the door while we’re home, we’re reminded of the necessity to do so.  Absurd.
On a similar note, I worked at the Floral Shop from 9:00a.m.-2:00p.m. Sunday.  After 2:00, my boss let us go and she wrapped up the last customer in the Greenhouse.  She had locked up and pulled the tills and was in the office counting when her son came in to tell her that there was guy in the Greenhouse buying Vegetables.  Here he had come in through the Soil Room (an Employee Only place) through the back Greenhouses (also Employee Only) to the Sales Greenhouse and was helping himself.  My boss told him that they were closed and the man resumed chatting away like nothing was wrong.  He bought $50 worth of vegetables anyway.  How creepy.
So, now I’m left wondering how safe we really are at home or at work.  Welcome 2008, a time where we nothing for granted.

Going Green Has Gone Ridiculous June 2, 2008

I’m checking my e-mail and I get “You can make a lovely hat out of previously-used aluminum foil.” above my Gmail in-box.  Are you kidding me?  That’s a recycling tip??  LOL!!!!! 
If I smell like greasy lasagna now it’s the leftover cheese bits stuck in my cool new aluminum foil hat.  Who doesn’t want me now??? *snap*
On a different note, it was a hellofa day at work.  One of those, “I either need a drink or a raise” days.  One of those, “can you walk me through the greenhouse and hold my hand for an hour while I pick out plants” days, and DEFINITELY of those “I don’t care that you’re helping someone else, did you not get the memo, the world revolves around ME” days.  Thank God I don’t go back until Friday.  My frustration peaked today for the first time in a long time (at work that is.)
Amidst the chaos and looking for places to hide, but continually being unsuccessful, I had a brief moment of deja vu.  I read someplace that deja vu is actually a sign that you are exactly where your supposed to be in life.  Great. –I mean overall, I AM really happy with my life and job…it was just today that in this case, deja vu felt like a life sentence. 
I caved and bought the Orchid ‘Rainbow’, mentioned in my previous post.  I think it should probably be the last as I’m running out of room.  That’s okay.  Now, to sit and watch them grow.  (And I wonder why my blog isn’t highly rated. LOL)
Lots of rain and thunderstorms expected this week.  That makes me happy.  I love storms (as long as I’m home.) 
Off to go and unwind a bit and TRY to regain a little of my sanity….or what’s left.

A Day You Wouldn’t Believe. Hell, I don’t believe it and I was there. May 8, 2008

Mother’s Day is the only holiday that leads to a phone conversation with an elderly person trying to convince them that there REALLY are no letters in a Credit Card number.   That was last year.  I thought that couldn’t be topped.  I was wrong. 
There’s an unexplained phenomenon that during any major holiday included with the deluge of phone orders are the stupid questions phoned in.  In the middle of chaos a lady wants to know what flowers are edible and if we carry them.  Where was this question a month ago when I had 3 hours to devote to it?  Nah, let me have it on a day we’re so busy I can’t remember my name.  And, why would anyone want to eat flowers anyway?  I mean, I know it’s done…but honestly, is our economy *that bad* already?
The *very first* order I pick up this morning to enter into our system at the shop, included a Mother’s Day card that read, “Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!  Thanks for loving me even when my underwear smells bad.”  Oh God.  I need a raise. 
I was being my normal self today, although admittedly a bit wired.   One of the most Christan of my co-workers comes up to me and says, “I’d love to see you stoned.”  That sent me into hysterics.  She said, “You’re already fun sober, I can’t imagine you high.”  Umm….thanks I think. 
Next, a male customer with a big voice came in demanding to speak with the person in charge.  Luckily, my boss was on the phone.  My co-worker explained this to him and asked if she could help him.  He bellowed out proudly, “I just wanted to let you folks know that back in 1895 at this very intersection was a Floral Shop!”  We all look at him, “Yeah, it’s us.”  He comes back with, “Well, I don’t know if it was you guys, but there was one here.”  Once again, “Yeah, us.”  I think the crazies were out today.
Finally, going back to stupid phone calls; once again, during chaos I get an elderly woman calling demanding that I take a message for my boss to save her some beautiful white and red Geraniums.  I take her name once more as I scribble a note and I hear.  “Now don’t you forget!  If he sells all of those plants, I’m going to blame you, Kate!”  Great.  The elderly are revolting against me now.  Oh well, I guess I have it coming. 

Nice Surprise May 4, 2008

After everything that recent times has brought, it was nice to get an unexpected text from a High School friend and have that text chat carry on through the day.   What was even nicer was chatting about “deeper” things that we never have before.  It really made my day.  My cell phone plan change to 1,000 texts/mo. couldn’t have come at a better time. 
This week brings Mother’s Day in a Floral Shop which in some ways resembles the Apocalypse….only with less confusion but the same amount of screaming.  (Silently in the bathroom 1/2 way through the day of course.  And NEVER in front of customers.)   This is the only holiday I dread a bit (Aside from Christmas)…meaning that it goes RIGHT into Gardening Season for us, so the busy-ness doesn’t break.  Great for business and job security…iffy for sanity. 
All in all things are getting back to normal…keep in mind it’s “me” saying “Normal” so by anyone else’s standard that’s non-existant here.  But that’s okay.  Our daughter is getting healthy again and *that’s* what matters. 
Off to try and lick my elbow. (j.k)