Anything Goes

I got my loom for Christmas… too bad I haven’t felt like beading. I’m better, not that I was insanely sick to start with, just sick enough to feel crappy. Now I’m trying to catch up on all the work I didn’t do while I was feeling crappy.

I’m currently making a list of things I still need for the house… like shades or curtains for my bedroom, since my nabes like to leave their kitchen light on all night and it is right outside my bedroom window. I like total darkness when I sleep.

My house looks like Hurricane Nate blew through. Gah!

Speaking of Nate, he made his first batch of candles last night… it went okay. Made a few mistakes, but otherwise, I think it turned out okay.  Haven’t removed the candles from the molds yet, so, we’ll see.

Okay, I gotta shower for work and get my rugrat up. Happy New Year! I’ll be swinging through before too long.

with an abcessed tooth. Be back soon.

(bzzzzzzzzzzzzzz)

My new massaging slippers (which I can only wear for a very short period of time because they make me horny. As though I need that to happen.)

(Stay away from people like me.)

Viggo Mortensen in all his Russian accented glory in “Eastern Promises.” (I know what to do with all that horniness now.)

(purrrrrrrrrrrrrrr)

My felines enjoying a catnap on Mom’s new Lambie blanket, touted to be “The Sweetest, Softest Nap Blanket on Earth.” I concur.

(I’m just a driver.)

Viggo again.

(bzzzzzzzzz)

Slippers again.

Viggo, slippers. Slippers, Viggo.

Merry Christmas to me.

And I’m preparing to work my last shift before the holiday break. I’ve worked my ass off this week. We’ve all worked our asses off this week.  Yesterday, I had my biggest day ever as a server. I did over $1100 in sales… at lunch. That’s a lot. A whole lot. It helped that the party I was serving said they had been told they could order from the dinner menu, which is twice as expensive as the lunch menu. Except… it was 2 in the afternoon and I had no knowledge of this.

I immediately went to my sous chefs, Jay and Missy, and told them. They freaked out. We don’t have many items which are the same for both menus and nothing for evening was prepped because it was too early. Then I went to Assistant Manager and asked her. She said she had no knowledge of this either, neither did Chef. But, we did it anyway.

After it was all over, I went down to the office and told Manager how proud I was of our chefs for pulling it out of their asses. The group was very happy and tipped me accordingly. I’ve never seen a tip like that before. I thought we were busy the last time I blogged. Yesterday surpassed that by double. Jay said it was the best lunch he’s ever seen, money wise, and honestly, while we spent an incredible amount of time in the weeds, it worked out okay.

But, I’m exhausted. Christmas with my family is tomorrow and no, I don’t have my SIL’s gift finished, nor my parent’s second gift. That’s why I’m up at, now, 7:20 when I have lunch shift and catering today. I’m hungry, my eyes are red, and yesterday evening as I was finishing cleaning the party room, I could barely put one word in front of the other. I think A-Rod, night server and catering guru, might have felt a bit sorry for me.

This is why I haven’t been around to visit or comment but I’m thinking of you all. I gotta roll. Remember to tip your servers and bartenders!!!!

I went Christmas shopping today.  I bought myself a pair of lounge/sleep pants. They are black and have “AC/DC” in red all over them. I also bought myself a beading book that I had before the fire but didn’t have after the fire, some new beads, and some new dichoric glass pendants.

I got some other folks gifts too but I can’t list them here because one of them happens to live with me and is smart enough to check my blog AND the history in my computer. I found this out because he told his dad I was looking at prices on HDTVs and when asked how he knew this, he told him it was because he had looked through the history.

This must be why midterm grades came out and that some certain little someone has improved his grades. If school were a video game, he would make straight A’s.

I’ve been thinking of someone a lot. He at least knows I’m on this planet. Not much else, but he knows I’m on this planet. That’s a start!

I worked a double Friday, 1st shift as server, where we got our asses handed to us, and 2nd shift as hostess, where we again, got our asses handed to us. Yesterday, I worked a catering which is the equivelant of a double shift. Our host was most gracious in tipping the four of us a considerable lump of cash, even though we get a cut of the gratuity on our paycheck. They had the most beautiful house!!!!! And the most incredible kitchen you’ve ever seen. When I’m not exhausted, I’ll tell you about it, and their seven bathrooms. Seven. And their computerized front load washer and dryer.

My cousin has progressed to the end-stage of his battle with cancer.  It’s one of those paradoxes of life that you love someone and you don’t want to see them go, yet, you pray for their departure to the afterlife. Some shitty paradox that is.

I hurt. Monday evening was pretty bad after coming off of a two day weekend, Tuesday got a little worse, and today, today was just sheer torture. Just call me, “Ole Nanner.” Goddess Bless America, my body hurts!

I’m so fuckin’ serious. I hurt. My right leg was jumping (spasming?) so bad I thought my cellphone was vibrating! Then my back started, then my stomach muscles! For gripes sake, I’m not that old!

But, I also work very hard and I have terrible posture, especially when beading or blogging, or just about anything else I do.

Ouch.

Anyway, survived another day of working with Whiny.  I always wonder if her parents wished they’d suffocated her with a pillow at a young age. Honestly, the woman can be somewhat likable, as long as she doesn’t say anything, or do anything, or look my way, or do anything other than breath, and even that gets annoying.

I’m in the best of moods, can’t you tell?

I’m going to go take a St. John the Wort, soak in a hot bath, and wait for Troy to call me back. He was getting ready for his ma-ssaaaaaage when he called last. Dirty bastard. I need a massage. I probably need more than that, but right now, I’d take the massage from an ugly chick with a goatee. And with that lovely thought, I bid you adieu.

Ugh. Was it warm where you were last night? It was freakin’ hot here! If you count 60* as hot. In December, I definitely do. The humidity was 96%! I didn’t sleep worth a damn and my dreams were discombobulated. I had the window open, then the window closed, I was hot, then I was cold, I tossed and turned all night and felt like I hadn’t slept a wink. Nate was also especially difficult to rouse this morning.

On the way to work, I stopped at the shop to talk to Rich and drop off AZ’s birthday card. I was informed that my brotha from anotha motha, Stacey, tromped off last week and got all married and shit, belatedly asking, “Where da fuck is my sista???” I’m not sure who is crazier, him or his new wife. Big toss-up there.

I also called work to make sure I was going to be there at the right time. I normally go in early on Mondays, even if I’m scheduled late (10:30) because we have so much more to prepare. It was just luck, I guess, that I decided to stop by the shop because around the time I would have been exiting the interstate, a tractor trailer (going the same direction as me) lost control, went airborne, flipped over the interstate retaining wall, and plunged into the Kanawha River.

The exit I take to work is right before a dangerous curve leading onto the interstate bridge. There are caution signs everywhere for the big rigs to slow down due to a tipping risk. It was in that curve, right after my exit, that he bought it. My best guess is that he was in the slow lane, hit the wet, slick curve going too fast, and just took it over the side.

How it missed Rte. 61, I just don’t know. How it missed becoming tangled up in the off- and on-ramps, I just don’t know. I just Google Earthed it to see exactly what it looks like from the air and you just wouldn’t believe what a slim window of opportunity he had to put that beast in the river. The only place he could have done that and not landed on Rte. 61 below him was where the on-ramp meets the interstate. You just have no idea what a narrow area he had to take it off the interstate and literally fly it under the on-ramp, over some trees, and 35 feet further into the river. Amazing.

I’m so glad I didn’t see that. I would have pissed myself had I been on 61, which I sometimes take to work, had a big rig come flying out of the sky, and landed in the river. The men in the rig? Well, one was lucid and screaming his head off when they pulled him out, but the other guy had to be resuscitated and I’m not sure how either one is doing.

And you thought you had a bad day.

Things didn’t get much better when I got to work. Addy and Executive Chef had mucho, lotsa words and Addy was sent home, prematurely, by Assistant Manager, who then felt terrible and then big Owner Chef came in and pow-wows ensued, so they tried to call Addy back, but eventually Executive Chef just walked next door, which is where Addy lives and knocked on the door and apologized and asked Addy to come back and work his shift. I was witness to this entire debacle and as anyone who knows me can attest, I can be downright hateful sometimes. Executive Chef was absolutely in the wrong in his actions and words and I don’t blame Addy one bit for standing up to him. As a matter of fact, somebody should have the last time EC acted like that but Addy was the only one who had the balls to do so. I saw Addy’s early dismissal as arbitrarily unfair as EC should have been the one called to the mat for his aggressive behavior which was totally uncalled for and asinine.

The EC found out what it was like being on the receiving end of “Nanner Not Happy!” I made sure he knew, in my silent-but-deadly fashion (and no, I didn’t fart), what I thought of his actions. See, I know when to keep my mouth shut and speaking with my eyes doesn’t count.

However, I can say that I was surprised, if not somewhat impressed, by the fact EC had the balls to go over to Addy’s, apologize, and actually be a man about it. And Addy, being the incredible human being he is, was man enough to accept said apology, come back to work, and move on with the day as though nothing had ever happened. Testosterone. *Sigh*

I started taking St. John the Wort yesterday. I figured I could at least do something, even if it isn’t Well My Butrin. Besides that ugly depression, I’ve been having trouble with my sciatic nerve, (I told you my ass hurt), and just general inflammation, especially the middle finger of my right hand (from overuse, I’m sure). St. John the Wort is good for all of those things.

I can say that I got a little sleepy yesterday afternoon but I was also beading my heart out. I took one yesterday after I got home from shopping and then I took one before I went to bed last night. One thing I didn’t realize about St. John the Wort is that it can cause lucid dreaming. I love that.

I dreamt that I was in an elevator, although I didn’t realize it until the elevator door opened, and there stood Viggo Mortensen. Can you say, OH, HELL YEAH. A lucid dream with Viggo Mortensen. It was really a funny dream because it seemed as though I was temping in some big firm in NYC and for some reason I had access to briefcases and somehow came into possession of personal letters from the three main players, besides myself, which was some love triangle. Now, all of these peeps had written letters, or confessions, to Cosmo the Politan Magazine.

I, as the lowly temp, now know all of the dirty secrets of the workplace, and then realize that all of the same letters may be published in the same issue of the magazine and that all of the players would then possibly read the confessions of the other peeps and recognize them. That would make for a pretty funny romantic comedy, wouldn’t it?

Anyway, I think I slept better last night than I have for months on end. I actually woke up refreshed, my ass doesn’t hurt, and although the knuckle of my right middle finger is still swollen, at least it didn’t throb with agony this morning. Could also be that I’m drinking a bit more water, that always helps nasty joint problems.

And while Nate isn’t staring over my shoulder, I’m getting him or have already gotten him a fondue set, a candle making kit, and a soap making kit. The boy loves dipping food in chocolate, he’s always and forever messing with my candles, and soap making is just an extension of ways he can make a mess but be constructive about it. I know he will love it. He was staring over my shoulder this morning as I was searching for soap making kits and he said, “Oh, cool!” Yep, da Momma knows!

Here’s some pics!

Our winter wonderland…

My little dude…

Our Yule tree, complete with cat…

I think Hermione likes the warmth of the lights…

New bracelet (the color sucks!)….

Close up with better color. And that is all.

Its a very small tree. I had thought perhaps my mother had a big tree hanging out in the attic but alas… it is not exactly small enough to be called a table top tree, although that’s where it will be placed. I suppose I can cross my fingers that I will get a great deal on a tree after the holidays. However, since I don’t have the full size tree, I will have enough ornaments to hang on it since it is smaller… I think. I definitely have enough lights to wrap around it twice.

***

Whiny called off today. She said she hurt her wrist carrying beer or ice or wine up the back stairwell day before yesterday. I covered her shift, especially since Slender was working and he hates working the bar. Plus, he was working a double. No one can tell me he doesn’t hurt when he gets home. I know I’m aching all over and my ass just hurts.

I question this “injury” because Whiny has been trying to get someone to cover her shifts so she can go to Morgantown. We’re hopeful this is to work at our satellite restaurant or to go to graduate school. I was supposed to work tomorrow but Addy and I switched because… well, just because he offered and I accepted. Whiny is scheduled to work 10-9 tomorrow and we have a party of 73 taking over one side of the restaurant tomorrow evening, which is why she’s scheduled for 11 hours.

I don’t have much hope that Whiny will show up tomorrow or Monday and she’s off on Tuesday. My ass is already hurting. I told Addy, Slender, and Assistant Manager that if they need me to work, they had better call early. Pulling long shifts sucks, good money or not.

***

I got a call from one of my old lawyer bosses. He had told me around the time of my birthday that his new paralegal was nuts and he had been warned by the other staff that if he didn’t fire her they weren’t coming back to work. He fired her last week and called today to ask if I would do some contract work for him. Sure. I need to keep my skills up and I need the money.

***

The tree doesn’t look so bad. I’ll post pictures when I find the batteries. I also have pictures of the snow. Nate was very excited to help me put the angel and the first ornament on the tree. He said, “Christmas really does make people come together.” He then spent the rest of his time chasing Jack and Hermione away from the tree.

***

Macy loves me. She still won’t have much, okay, anything, to do with Nate unless he forces her. The minute I go into the bathroom or the computer room alone, she comes to visit. Maybe I’ll post a pic of her too. She’s not happy with me though because of all the static. That pisses her off.

***

I finally got my small insurance check today. Not really enough to put much of dent in everything, but enough to put a small dent in really important things. No, one of those is not an Ojibwa loom. I was thinking more like… the mortgage. I also got paid today and made enough in cash tips to buy some groceries and put a bit of gas in the car. Things are slowly looking up.

It snowed here at Casa Peach. A beautiful heavy snow that stuck to everything, including the highway. Nate didn’t have school and I waited until the last possible moment to leave for work, you know, to give the idiots time to get to work and leave me alone. No such luck. A few words about driving in WV weather:

1. Having a four wheel drive does not mean you are 10 feet tall and bullet proof. It means if you go too fast and hit a patch of ice, the tow company will be pulling you out of the ditch.

2. If you have a truck or car without 4 wheel drive or front wheel drive, you CANNOT make it up a snow covered WV mountain. You will be waiting out the thaw because the tow company won’t even bother with you.

3. No tailgating. The police will issue you a citation for the wreck you caused because the person in front of you stopped for the four wheel drive spinning into the ditch.

4. Slush is bad.

5. Frozen slush is worse.

6. When approaching an Interstate bridge where traffic is backed up means the bridge is still frozen. Lane hopping and speeding in the fast lane still means the bridge is frozen. The signs on the highway that say, “Bridges and Overpasses Freeze First,” aren’t lying. Hey, dumbass, THE BRIDGE IS FROZEN.

7. Goosing your engine to make your Camaro fishtail does not make you look cool. It makes you look like you can’t drive.

Work went well today. We had groups of 34, 12, 10, and 7, plus just regular Joes off the street. I worked with Mariebee on the large group. My tip off of my part of the group was almost $100 and I knew most of the people since they all come into the restaurant anyway. I was finished with my group by 1 or 1:30 but it took until 3 to get everything cleaned up, glasses polished, and silverware rolled.

Mariebee normally works evening shift. She and her husband, Hank, used to both be managers before they turned in their ties and picked up their apron strings again. I like working with both of them.

I’m going to see if we’re getting more snow. Nothing would make my son happier. And remember, no tailgating!