Our Soft Drinks Vs Their Coffee Drinks

When I was a young girl, one of the biggest deals about having a "sleepover" was what you would be serving to eat & drink. Pizza or burgers, lots of chips, and popcorn were the staples.

The drinks were important. I'm talking grade school and Junior High here... so were you a Coke or Pepsi? Along with 7-up. If your parents let you get the cute little bottles, that made you cool.

Another really cool fun choice was getting to choose from Towne Club Soda. Do you remember? In Indianapolis we had a Towne Club on Pendleton Pike. It was a huge deal for Julie & I to get to "pick" our case of sodas. I remember Pineapple Cream, Red Pop, Grape, and Tangerine, to name a few.

Today's kids don't seem to drink Soda Pop. The young men all love their Monster energy drinks, while the girls all seem to drink coffee drinks. I see young girls of 9 or 10 gulping down their Frappucinnos and Cappuccinos. I didn't start drinking coffee till I was 21. I started because I had to make it all the time in the Restaurant I worked in. While in college, I drank Hot Chocolate & sometimes Hot Tea, IF Pepsi or Coke were not available. We certainly didn't have fancy drinks with whipped cream and a thousand calories. I can't imagine paying the Big Bucks kids today spend on these. Grant it I grew up a long time ago, but a spurge back then was a Shake or Freeze from Steak & Shake or a Fountain Cherry Coke at the Drugstore where my College was. Most people (especially kids)seem to not mind popping $4-6 dollars out for a fancy coffee drink. I walk every day with co-workers to a Starbucks. My friend gets an Ice Coffee refill daily for just a buck when she has her Starbucks cup with her. I go along for the walk & her company but have never bought one. I just can't see it. They are not that good, in my opinion. (Although she gets a deal, I won't pay for the over-priced cup.) ME? At my age (and weight) I will stick to my "free" coffee at the office. Spurge? I'll take a Margarita on the Rocks with extra salt please!

Slow & Steady...

Do you remember Aesop's fable of the Tortoise and the Hare? The little Tortoise ended up beating the Hare by going "slow and steady", while the Hare, was so full of himself, after all he was the fast Hare, while the Tortoise was, well, the slow Tortoise. The Hare goofed off, ran about, and sure enough, lose the race to the Tortoise that kept on task, slowly but surely winning.
Life can imitate this. How many times do we see it happen?

I chuckle every time I see this sign. Yep, it's a real speed sign. There are several around the Senior Community that my Aunt Nancy is living in.

It reminds me also of my Bestie Sheri's Mom. When we were young she told us, "Don't cross the street unless you are sure you have enough time to fall down & pick yourself back up!" I am 47 yrs old & I still think of this...every time I cross a street. And I work Downtown & cross streets (Busy ones) every day. I drive my co-workers crazy with it.

I know the speed sign is to remind us that we are in a neighborhood full of Oldies, and we really need to slow down and pay attention. The Oldies are everywhere here. But it also reminds me to do this with life in general. Slow down. Life is more enjoyable when we approach it slowly and steady, then trying to race through with too much on our plates to really appreciate what we have.

Do You Remember Me?

With my job, I pull people's information from a huge data base. I usually am pulling birth and death dates as well as current address'.
Every now and then, I run across someone I once knew. It makes me think about them and other "lost" people of my life.
How are they now?
Who are they now?
What are they now?

I do think of people from my past. I remember so many people that touched my life.
Good and bad.
Do they remember me?
Do they wonder what happened to me?
Does anyone care?

I want to reach out through the years as well as the miles.

I wrote a letter to my High School counselor, thanking him for being kind and for caring for me during the four years I knew him. I haven't sent it. Yet.

I want to know if the childhood friend that climbed trees and caught lightening bugs with me, remembers me. She was my first "girlfriend". She meant the world to me at just 5 years old.

Does my first Crush ever wonder about me? How about the boy that got my first kiss? I was his first kiss too. Does he wonder what ever happened to me?

What about the boy that beat me up everyday after school for two years? What became of him? Does he worry a bully will hurt his children? Or the kids that sat by on the bus and watched me get punched? Did they ever become compassionate?

How about those BFF's in Junior High School? The first boy to ask me to skate at a Skating party during "couples only". Oh My Gosh, what about the recipients from Spin The Bottle? Or my girlfriends from the Slumber parties? We shared so many secrets, so many dreams.

The terrible teacher that ridiculed me and told me she hoped I liked McDonalds, because that is all I would ever amount. What would she think of me and how far I have gone? Partly because of her cruelty.

Whatever happen to the high school teacher that saw something in me and gave me encouragement and praise? Is he retired now? What a Blessing he was and how he challenged me to be more.

My high school classmates. Yes, I am blessed to be close to several still. I have my Besties and buddies. But the other friends. The pair of siblings that walked with me every day to and from summer school. My friends from christian youth groups and my friends from Texas summers, do they ever wonder about me?

The crazy kids I worked my first job with. Phone solicitation. Yeah, you can imagine: 15 years old, scared to death, but having the time of my life begging people to buy tickets to a circus that supported burn victims. My boss weighed about 400 pounds and never got out of his chair. Did he ever lose that weight? Is he still living? He was so scary mean.

My college friends. What happened to my roommates? I would love to find them! How and why did we ever lose touch? I cherish the one college buddy that has remained a Lifer Bestie. She is amazing and I love her. But what about the others we hung and lived with? Where are they today?

My first apartment Roommate. What is she up to? How is she doing? Does she wonder about me?

Co-workers I adored, and even those I loathe. Where are they?

My "Kids" from the Deaf School. All grown up now. Same with my Damar (Special needs) Kids. My kids from Preschool classes, Sunday School classes, Girl Scouts, after school care, confirmation and other friends of my daughters. I can't believe how many we have already lost touch with. All of them are adults now.

Do any of these people ever try to get in touch with me? Do they want to? Would they remember me? Do they care?

I would be so honored to hear from a blast from the past. BUT only if it was positive. I don't need drama nor do I want to hear negative.

I am thinking about trying to reach out to a few. Particularly the old Roommates and a co-worker that I adored. They may think I am nuts. But, I kindof am. They probably remember that part about me!

It's My Birthday

Today I turn 47 years old. Yikes! I don't feel 47, then again, yeah, I do.


I am at work, so I have to be brief but wanted to post a little something to mark this day.


I walked into my "cubical" to find it nicely decorated by my dear co-workers. I love them. They are so dear. They affectionally refer to me as "The Office Mom". I am old enough to have mothered 3/4th's the office staff! That is okay. I am comfortable with the title and love these young adults. They have taught me much and hopefully I have taught them a thing or two.

We are having a pitch-in today at work to celebrate May & June birthdays. I can smell the food already and can't wait to eat.

Tonight, my Emily will come to town with her sweet Mike. Along with Annie & Nathan, and Sergio, we are going to dinner. I think we will go to Buca Di Beppo for some yummy Italian food.

On my Birthday, I will make my New Year Resolutions. After all, this is a new year for me. I will do my best to improve myself, like myself better, and expect less from myself. I won't bore you with the list, but I am looking forward to the challenges.

I think this is gonna be a good year.

Do You Cook, Janis?

Today a group of co-workers and myself, walked to Champps for lunch. On the way, we were discussing menu items. One of them asked me, "Do You cook, Janis?".

I found that interesting.

Was it an option?

Most of these women are ten to twenty years younger than I. Maybe they live in a different world than I.

I answered, "Well, of course! I mean, I don't often cook big meals like I use to. With Emily away in Muncie, and Annie always gone. Cooking is often Hamburger Helper or like tonight, Polska Kabaska. But, yeah, I have been the cook in our family for the past 24 years."

Few of these women cook. I am hearing that men cook. Sergio can, when he has too. He cooks a mean steak, chicken or anything on the grill. He also cooks breakfast for the girls sometimes as they all like potatoes and stuff. But, if I don't cook supper, he will eat a turkey sandwich, cookies, snacks and starve.

My girls can cook. Especially Emily. She loves cookbooks and dreams of a stove that works (her apartment has a sad excuse for one that basically is a stove top, the oven is less then desirable).

Speaking of desirable, I think the better the kitchen, the better the cook. Our last house had a friendly kitchen, this home is not gourmet friendly. The next house must have a kitchen calling my name!

When my girls were young, I resembled Cher's character in "Mermaids". I often used cookie cutters for cutting sandwiches, made fun snackie foods, jigglers (I also make great jello shots~ but that is another story!), and deserts. Annie is stepping into my "desert and hors d'oeuvres queen" shoes!

I like cooking. Especially in a well stocked, friendly, happy kitchen. Toss in some loved ones, a glass of wine, and I AM THERE!

I am NOT Janet

I mentioned in a previous post a woman I work with that drives me insane. She butchers the English language and she belches all the time.

There is another very annoying habit she has (Well, there are several, but I don't have time to list them all).

She calls me Janet, everyday. Now, I can see the resemblance. Janis is close. Jan could be short for Janet. I like the name. I even have a cousin named Janet. BUT it is not my name! I politely corrected her previously. I asked her to call me Jan or Janis, just not Janet. She said, "sorry, yea, I will call you by your name". I have ignored it for the most part. She is one of those hillbillies that you don't want to cross. She has tried to burn me before at work.

That brings me to the realization, she is doing it on purpose. Yesterday, When I said Good Morning, she said, "Hey there Janet!". I said, "S, you know, my name is not Janet". She said, "Oh yeah, I keep forgetting." I said, "I am not trying to make a big deal about it, I just would really rather you call me Jan or Janis". She said, "Yeah, I should get it right. I would hate it too if someone called me something else too. Sorry". Then, ten minutes later, she said, "Hey Janet, you got the post office DR's yet?"

The gloves are off. I am calling her Rocky today.

Articulate

I always wanted to be able to pronounce correctly and to have proper English. I never took Etymology, although I wanted too (so I made my daughters).

I had a speech impediment as a child and took 8 years of corrective speech classes. They wanted me to continue in high school, but I had had enough. I refused. I felt like if they could not perfect me in 8 years, another 4 probably wouldn't do it.

I did correct much of the defects but continue to lisp. Worse than the lisp is not being able to say words correctly. It is the most frustrating thing. I say them right in my head, they just do not come out right. Don't ask me to say "millennium". You will laugh. I also feel my vocabulary is limited as I can not retain new words and their meanings. So frustrating when you are trying to have an intelligent conversation.

It is funny, my best friends have mastered language skills and I love hearing them talk. Sometimes I wont know a word, but will always ask. Sheri says at least I want to get it right and always appreciate a correction (but only from Deb & Sher).

I find that I get frustrated and want to correct others too. Isn't that awful? I can't master it myself but am the first to notice when people use the wrong word or mispronounce.

I work with a woman that butchers the English Language every day. She drives me nuts. I can't imagine how she got into her position as she talks to customers all day long. I cringe as I here her talk. She uses "aint","uhm", "don't", and "naw" all the time. I can't tell you how many times I hear sentences like, "uhm, well lady, you gots that wrong cuz we aint got nos invoice with that number".
She also has some lovely manners and belches several times a day. She does say "excuse me" or "whoa" if she is on the phone.

You would think that people that work in customer service would have to have strong communication skills. Maybe I could have applied for jobs I didn't think I qualified for.

I am often impressed with people that do crossword puzzles, word games and yes, enjoy reading the dictionary. Why can't my brain handle that? I want it, just can't seem to absorb it.