So I'm sitting on the sofa up in the concierge lounge enjoying a glass of Cabernet Savignon, a piece of chocolate cake, reading my latest book. The tabloid show ET is on the humongous flat screen TV in front of me. A guy is on the opposite end of the sofa, apparently doing what I'm doing - reading a bit here and there, watching the TV when it interests him.
Did I mention I'm in Atlanta for a trade show? Remember, I'm in the medical devices biz. Not the most sexy biz in the world. Especially this show. (I won't explain, just take my word for it.) I don't know if the sofa guy is here for the trade show. maybe, maybe not. I'm guessing he's in his mid-40's. He's a bit on the "intellectual" side. Balding on top - you know, the crown-o-hair, halo style, t shirt, cargo pant, worn tennis shoes. (although farbeit from me to make a style statement about someone...) I'll admit, I thought maybe I'd aged him a bit too old based on the hair. Maybe he's early 40's but after my brief interaction I'm sure he's at least mid 40's if not older. See if you agree....
So you know, ET does their "Celeb birthdays". Apparently sofa guy was listening and said to no one, but really to me "Can you believe Kate Jackson is 60 today?!"
Who in the hell is Kate Jackson?
me: I'm sorry? who?
sofa guy: Kate Jackson! From Charlie's Angel's! She was every teenage boy' dream! Man, you can't trust anyone HALF her age! Can you believe it?! (said as though he was clearly one of those teenage boys)
me: oh... (smile weakly.)
Did I mention I'm THIRTY TWO!!!!
Now if I was a witty person I would have said: Sorry I don't know who you're talking about, I was only toddling around when that show was on.
But alas, I'm not witty. Well, I am - 15 minutes after a situation occurs. But I don't think the term for that is "witty" anymore. I think it's "lost opportunity".
Am I upset at this? Hell no! I'm pissed!! How freakin' old does this guy think I am??!!! I mean c'mon! Sure, I have my glasses on, but folks I'm not creased from years in the sun for god's sake! This guy was talking to me as if I were his contemporary!
I've never had an issue with my age. I never had an issue with getting older. I WELCOMED turning 30. Really - I did. But this is f'n ridiculous! This guy was treading on really thin ice. It's one thing to get mistaken for being within a few years of your actual age. It's quite another for being mistaken for being DECADES older than your actual age.
I think I'll chalk it up to sofa guy being obviously socially inept.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Taking a poll
I have a question about the election for you guys - but it's not really a political question, per se...
I've noticed lately that all the state and local people running for office in my area have been campaigning (as they should) but NO ONE is mentioning their political party affiliation in their ads or signage. Is that happening where you live??
I'm just curious. I don't recall that being the case in previous elections. I mean, it could have been the case and I just didn't notice it - but I don't believe that was the case.
This year - NOTHIN'. In order to find what ticket a candidate is running on you have to research it. Nobody is 'fessin up!
Why is that?
- don't want to align themselves with a particular presidential candidate (or current prez...)?
- don't want people to assume their stance based solely on party affiliation?
But by not saying doesn't that make it harder for voters to possibly even find their candidate on the ballot thereby not getting voted for at all?
I don't know, I'm not political analyst, obviously. It just seems like a weird tactic.
I've noticed lately that all the state and local people running for office in my area have been campaigning (as they should) but NO ONE is mentioning their political party affiliation in their ads or signage. Is that happening where you live??
I'm just curious. I don't recall that being the case in previous elections. I mean, it could have been the case and I just didn't notice it - but I don't believe that was the case.
This year - NOTHIN'. In order to find what ticket a candidate is running on you have to research it. Nobody is 'fessin up!
Why is that?
- don't want to align themselves with a particular presidential candidate (or current prez...)?
- don't want people to assume their stance based solely on party affiliation?
But by not saying doesn't that make it harder for voters to possibly even find their candidate on the ballot thereby not getting voted for at all?
I don't know, I'm not political analyst, obviously. It just seems like a weird tactic.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
I might as well be a hooker...
Last night I helped out Crazy Pet Lady, rather, CPL's mom by being a volunteer at a March of Dimes fundraiser. I actually had a blast. What a great cause!!! I should probably get to the point as I don't want anyone thinking I'd rather be a hooker than volunteering for a great cause... I'm not that self-centered...
So "mom" signed us up to be greeters, you know, grabbing all the rich people as they enter the hall, explaining all the places where they can easily part with their money for a good cause. Of course we're lookin' hot in black skirts and button up white shirts... CPL, as always with all 5'11" slenderness of her with her naturally curly hair and fallin' out tatas (sorry girl - you know I had to throw that in with you and you're mom making unbutton one more button... ; ) and me I've got the "hot for teacher/ Palin" thing going on 'cause my contacts have been giving me hell lately so the glasses are on and I'm wearing one of CPL's tight shirts. (all my white ones have company logos on 'em). We're both wearing our f-me boots. we didn't plan it - we just have a knack lately for dressing the same (although it's usually just at the gym...) BTW - I can look like Palin - just don't call me Palin - them are fightin' words...
I digress... and no, the f-me boots reference has nothing to do with the hooker reference... I'll get to that...
So at one point everyone has arrived and our greeter job is done. One of the MofD women ask if we could help pick up these little plates - they're running out and need help.
Now let me clarify something here. The benefit is being held at a facility that has a hired wait staff. The benefit itself has about 10 volunteers like greeters, people helping out with the auction, coat takers, etc... But hey, if the hired wait staff needs help we'll pitch in - no problem! We're here to help, right?!
First of all, I've never worked in food service. And second, do you know how clumsy I am? I was nervous when asked to do this but I wasn't going to say no - I was here to help. No one said I had to pile stacks of plates up my arm and take them to the back. I would just grab what I could even if it meant I had to make several trips. It can't be that hard, right?
The benefit was set up for food with small plates. There were trays set up in the corners where people were supposed to take their dirty plates when they went up for more but no one was. No one gave me and CPL any direction - they just said clear plates off tables. So we grabbed plates and started to stack them on the trays in the corners.
Well, well, well...
Apparently one of the hired wait staff saw us doing that and ran over and laid into us right in the middle of the benefit. (yes - she knew we were volunteers, not hired help)
"You girls can't be stacking all those plates on my tray! I can't lift that tray with all those extra plates! Plus you're gonna make it all fall over! You need to take those to the back in the kitchen!!"
On top of being stunned I didn't want to make matters worse by saying anything - or make myself look like an ass too. I kept my mouth shut. CPL and I looked at each other and returned to collecting plates.
With the next batch we went to try to figure out how to get into the kitchen. We hadn't been back there before. We apparently walked around our ass to get to our elbow but finally found it. In the meantime getting an earful from another "high ranking" employee about how we didn't have to go all the way to the back to get there. We got stiff direction on how to use the doors that connected to the dining area.
Ok - got it. Again, even out of earshot from attendees I kept my mouth shut. I wouldn't want to embarrass CPL's mom. Not that she knows any of these people - but I'm here trying to volunteer and help out. I decided (for once) to just shut it.
So CPL and I went out again to grab plates. This time I made it back to the kitchen before her. (probably because I didn't trust myself to carry too many - CPL has food service experience....I do not.) As I set the plates down I turned to hurry out to collect more - that's what they told us - grab as many plates possible! they're running out!!- the "head boss gal" grabbed my plates and said:
"hey volunteer! you have you clean the plates!!" as she's violently shaking off any contents of each plate in between words, into the trash
"or we can't wash 'em!!" loudly tossing a dish to the washer
"you just can't leave 'em here!!" I can't believe the dish didn't break
"next time" throwing back another plate, huffing as if this work is literally going to cause her to have an aneurysm on the spot
"clean off your plates!!" emptying off another plate and tossing it back.
And let me be clear. She was almost yelling this to me with the meanest, gruffest, bitchiest, tone I have almost ever been talked to in my whole entire life.
I stood there watching the whole time. I was stunned. It was like a train wreck. I couldn't look away.
As I finally turned to leave she grabbed a stack of clean plates and said "take these outside and put them anywhere".
Right. bitch. I know where to put them.
Now I don't know what gets into people. I'd have been happy to scrape those plates. I'm not one iota above it. But don't F'in treat me like a piece of garbage. No one deserves to be treated like that, volunteer or paid employee. As a matter of fact - I'm not even getting paid to scrape plates and I'd be happy to do it. I'm helping YOU out, lady since you're the one getting the pay check. Granted, it probably sucks. But if you were a little nicer it'd do it for you. But if you're gonna act like that forget it. Do it your damn self and I'll go over here and do my cushy little volunteer job and let you sweat it out.
But I'll tell what - if that's what working in food service is like - it SUCKS. It SUCKS big time!! It SUCKS so big time that I might as well be a hooker....
So "mom" signed us up to be greeters, you know, grabbing all the rich people as they enter the hall, explaining all the places where they can easily part with their money for a good cause. Of course we're lookin' hot in black skirts and button up white shirts... CPL, as always with all 5'11" slenderness of her with her naturally curly hair and fallin' out tatas (sorry girl - you know I had to throw that in with you and you're mom making unbutton one more button... ; ) and me I've got the "hot for teacher/ Palin" thing going on 'cause my contacts have been giving me hell lately so the glasses are on and I'm wearing one of CPL's tight shirts. (all my white ones have company logos on 'em). We're both wearing our f-me boots. we didn't plan it - we just have a knack lately for dressing the same (although it's usually just at the gym...) BTW - I can look like Palin - just don't call me Palin - them are fightin' words...
I digress... and no, the f-me boots reference has nothing to do with the hooker reference... I'll get to that...
So at one point everyone has arrived and our greeter job is done. One of the MofD women ask if we could help pick up these little plates - they're running out and need help.
Now let me clarify something here. The benefit is being held at a facility that has a hired wait staff. The benefit itself has about 10 volunteers like greeters, people helping out with the auction, coat takers, etc... But hey, if the hired wait staff needs help we'll pitch in - no problem! We're here to help, right?!
First of all, I've never worked in food service. And second, do you know how clumsy I am? I was nervous when asked to do this but I wasn't going to say no - I was here to help. No one said I had to pile stacks of plates up my arm and take them to the back. I would just grab what I could even if it meant I had to make several trips. It can't be that hard, right?
The benefit was set up for food with small plates. There were trays set up in the corners where people were supposed to take their dirty plates when they went up for more but no one was. No one gave me and CPL any direction - they just said clear plates off tables. So we grabbed plates and started to stack them on the trays in the corners.
Well, well, well...
Apparently one of the hired wait staff saw us doing that and ran over and laid into us right in the middle of the benefit. (yes - she knew we were volunteers, not hired help)
"You girls can't be stacking all those plates on my tray! I can't lift that tray with all those extra plates! Plus you're gonna make it all fall over! You need to take those to the back in the kitchen!!"
On top of being stunned I didn't want to make matters worse by saying anything - or make myself look like an ass too. I kept my mouth shut. CPL and I looked at each other and returned to collecting plates.
With the next batch we went to try to figure out how to get into the kitchen. We hadn't been back there before. We apparently walked around our ass to get to our elbow but finally found it. In the meantime getting an earful from another "high ranking" employee about how we didn't have to go all the way to the back to get there. We got stiff direction on how to use the doors that connected to the dining area.
Ok - got it. Again, even out of earshot from attendees I kept my mouth shut. I wouldn't want to embarrass CPL's mom. Not that she knows any of these people - but I'm here trying to volunteer and help out. I decided (for once) to just shut it.
So CPL and I went out again to grab plates. This time I made it back to the kitchen before her. (probably because I didn't trust myself to carry too many - CPL has food service experience....I do not.) As I set the plates down I turned to hurry out to collect more - that's what they told us - grab as many plates possible! they're running out!!- the "head boss gal" grabbed my plates and said:
"hey volunteer! you have you clean the plates!!" as she's violently shaking off any contents of each plate in between words, into the trash
"or we can't wash 'em!!" loudly tossing a dish to the washer
"you just can't leave 'em here!!" I can't believe the dish didn't break
"next time" throwing back another plate, huffing as if this work is literally going to cause her to have an aneurysm on the spot
"clean off your plates!!" emptying off another plate and tossing it back.
And let me be clear. She was almost yelling this to me with the meanest, gruffest, bitchiest, tone I have almost ever been talked to in my whole entire life.
I stood there watching the whole time. I was stunned. It was like a train wreck. I couldn't look away.
As I finally turned to leave she grabbed a stack of clean plates and said "take these outside and put them anywhere".
Right. bitch. I know where to put them.
Now I don't know what gets into people. I'd have been happy to scrape those plates. I'm not one iota above it. But don't F'in treat me like a piece of garbage. No one deserves to be treated like that, volunteer or paid employee. As a matter of fact - I'm not even getting paid to scrape plates and I'd be happy to do it. I'm helping YOU out, lady since you're the one getting the pay check. Granted, it probably sucks. But if you were a little nicer it'd do it for you. But if you're gonna act like that forget it. Do it your damn self and I'll go over here and do my cushy little volunteer job and let you sweat it out.
But I'll tell what - if that's what working in food service is like - it SUCKS. It SUCKS big time!! It SUCKS so big time that I might as well be a hooker....
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Losing it...
I stopped on the way to work this morning to get gas. I used my debit card and it asked for my zip code. I hesitated but plugged it in. It told me to see the cashier. I went inside and she told me my card was declined.
WHAT? I panicked.
She said it doesn't tell her why just that it was declined. I sheepishly told her that I wasn't sure I put in the right zip code.
Sure, that could make it decline the card but she couldn't say for sure since it doesn't give a reason. She reset it and allowed me to give it another try.
I went back out to the car still in a panic.
What the frig is my zip code???!!!
I tried calling D but he was in the shower and not answering his phone. I started panicking all over again. I started going through things in my car...
What would have MY zip code on it??
Business card? nope
Anything in my planner?? nope
SHIT!!
Anything in my wallet....
I open up my wallet and DUH!
My address is on my drivers license.
Sure enough, I had typed in my zip code wrong. This time I put it in correctly and it worked just fine.
What the hell is wrong with me?? First I can't remember my zip code and then I can't remember where in the hell to find it?!
I should have turned around and gone straight home and just started my day all over...
WHAT? I panicked.
She said it doesn't tell her why just that it was declined. I sheepishly told her that I wasn't sure I put in the right zip code.
Sure, that could make it decline the card but she couldn't say for sure since it doesn't give a reason. She reset it and allowed me to give it another try.
I went back out to the car still in a panic.
What the frig is my zip code???!!!
I tried calling D but he was in the shower and not answering his phone. I started panicking all over again. I started going through things in my car...
What would have MY zip code on it??
Business card? nope
Anything in my planner?? nope
SHIT!!
Anything in my wallet....
I open up my wallet and DUH!
My address is on my drivers license.
Sure enough, I had typed in my zip code wrong. This time I put it in correctly and it worked just fine.
What the hell is wrong with me?? First I can't remember my zip code and then I can't remember where in the hell to find it?!
I should have turned around and gone straight home and just started my day all over...
Friday, October 10, 2008
WOW!
Well, if I knew that last post was going to get FIFTEEN comments I would have... well, I don't know what I would have done any different.
Y'all know I'm not much into blogging about politics but Palin really has me, well, concerned. As a person she seems really sweet and nice - don't get me wrong. But there's a HUGE difference between people I find "nice" and those that I want second in command of my country. Even more so if I'm exceptionally concerned that the guy first in command might not make it through his full tenure.
Winking is cute for a hockey mom. Being "folksy" makes for an adorable hockey mom.
Those traits do not instill confidence coming from a world leader. That's all I'm sayin'.
OK - done with politics. Who wants to move the discussion to the economy??
just kidding...
Y'all know I'm not much into blogging about politics but Palin really has me, well, concerned. As a person she seems really sweet and nice - don't get me wrong. But there's a HUGE difference between people I find "nice" and those that I want second in command of my country. Even more so if I'm exceptionally concerned that the guy first in command might not make it through his full tenure.
Winking is cute for a hockey mom. Being "folksy" makes for an adorable hockey mom.
Those traits do not instill confidence coming from a world leader. That's all I'm sayin'.
OK - done with politics. Who wants to move the discussion to the economy??
just kidding...
Friday, October 03, 2008
Just wonderin'
Did anyone else notice that Biden got choked up when he started talking about his wife and child that died many years ago? Has anyone else noticed today, through reading commentary of the debate, that NO ONE has brought that up?? How come every vulture jumped on Hillary when she got choked up??!!!
(if they have I haven't seen it yet)
I'm not saying that he shouldn't have... I'm just pointing out that no one's mentioned it yet. Hillary got a new drilled a new you-know-what, got called weak and chastised for showing emotion.
I don't care your politcal views - I find it interesting it being harped on when Hillary did it and I haven't heard one iota yet when Joe did it.
just sayin'
(if they have I haven't seen it yet)
I'm not saying that he shouldn't have... I'm just pointing out that no one's mentioned it yet. Hillary got a new drilled a new you-know-what, got called weak and chastised for showing emotion.
I don't care your politcal views - I find it interesting it being harped on when Hillary did it and I haven't heard one iota yet when Joe did it.
just sayin'
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Palin vs Biden
WHY IS SHE WINKING AT ME??!!!!!
STOP WINKING AT ME!!!!!
Maverick who??
Isn't that a bad western with Mel Gibson and Jodi Foster??
STOP WINKING AT ME!!!!!
Maverick who??
Isn't that a bad western with Mel Gibson and Jodi Foster??
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