December 9, 2010

  • Bits And Pieces


    TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

    Bratfink made a statement about my blog from yesterday afternoon to me while we were talking on an IM (instant message to the great unwashed).  She was laughing (via emoticon) and said, *I wrote about AT&T lying in a blog of mine back in our Monoslots days if you remember.  If they lied to customers, why wouldn't they lie to employees?*  Point taken.  They claim to have reps available for customers 24/7 and yet she was informed, via those dreaded robot voices,  *There is no one available to assist you.  Please try calling back later.*  This was after being on hold for 20 minutes.  Guess they all went home for the day.  After all, we know our earth days are 36 hours long, right? 

    When I asked the Princess if she had given notice, she said her manager knew she was leaving when school starts but she will continue until her vacation time kicks in since they owe her for that.  I guess she no longer trusts that they will reimburse her via check for what she is owed after everything that was said earlier (prior to her enrolling in school for the new semester). 

    She's been busy, handing out her resumes and not just to other cellular companies, either.  She applied at the hospital for some of the desk jobs offered (no blood involved...LOL).  I guess she's just a teensy bit squeamish about THAT.  Who can blame her?  It's not something she ever considered doing or being around.  She figures a receptionist or other office assistance would work.  She's certainly capable of typing or using many of the programs around.  She's also eminently teachable for even a new system that might be used there. 

    She's also applied for sales in other types of retail businesses.  One's she would enjoy, of course.  Like clothing.    And, hey, a discount in an upscale shop for good clothing....sheesh!  It's a dream for a young, attractive woman that likes to look good.  And especially in college.  She loves to shop for bargains on good, name brand clothing as it is.  She amazes me at times how savvy she is that way.  Me?  When I was young, I had four kids and did most of my shopping at resale shops in upscale communities.  Bought myself a great Chanel outfit for just $40 and felt like a million bucks in it, too.  Since I had a job at the time where you were judged as much by your clothes as your knowledge, it was a definite asset. 

    That's when I found out a rather sad fact.  In talking with a woman at one of the resale shops that I frequented, when I asked her how come so many of the clothes still had their original tags on them, she told me this:  many of the *rich* women don't ever have CASH on them.  They have plenty of credit cards and their husbands don't care how much they spend on clothes or lunches, etc.  but the lack of cash means the husbands have a type of control you never think about.  They can tell by the bills they get just what their wives are doing and where they are going ALL THE TIME.  It's a type of control that makes many women bristle and buying clothes and then reselling them at a resale shop is their way of feeling THEY have some control.  Sad, isn't it?  I thought so but I helped out by buying many of the said clothes at VERY discounted prices.   That was back in the days when I made big checks but we were buying our first home and doing extensive revamping of it as we had the cash to pay for it all.  Having a mortgage was bad enough without having bills for new carpeting, bathroom remodeling, new appliances, etc.  But, I managed very well and it was fun.

    That was when we lived in Southern California (San Diego) and we loved it there.....well, except for the earthquakes.  Those gave me nightmares.  It's a terrible thought that the ground under your feet can't be depended on to stay there.  I had lived through a tornado and a couple hurricanes and I really prefer a hurricane to any of those things, thank you very much.  Why?  Because you have plenty of warning and can get the hell out of Dodge if you want.  Tornadoes?  Nope.  Those you don't have any warning before they hit you...or at least, not much.  You are lucky if you can get into a safer place in the 10 or 15 minutes TOPS warning that you get.  It's even worse for an earthquake.  They hit with NO warning.  At least, not to the public.  Some tech somewhere might have a clue or think one is going to hit but you never hear about it because the chances are so wild and unpredictable that no one wants to stick their neck out. 

    Ahhh, those were the days!  I was young, more pliant, very healthy and happy.  But, life has a way of taking much of the joy out of you at times.  You have kids that fight and argue with each other.  You love them all and just want them to be happy but it bothers you when they do things like that.  Especially because family is always there....friends come and go as you go through life.  You should never fight with family.  It just upsets everyone. 

    I always try to give my kids their *space* and let them live their lives without any demands.  I don't *demand* that they call every week to check and see how we are doing or if anything new is going on in our lives here.  I don't call them all the time to check on them either.  Mainly because I know they HAVE to live their own lives.  If things get really bad for them or really good, I know I will hear from them.

    I also try not to expect them to do *this* or *that* just because *I* think they would be better off or happier.  It's not true and just makes them reluctant to talk to me about anything then.  But do I worry?  Almost constantly.  The only two I don't worry about these days is the Princess and Markus Aurelius and his family.  The Princess because I see her all the time and Markus because I know mostly what is going on with him AND his family.  We chat online a lot and he keeps me informed, as does Cleopatra, his wife.  Although with her, it's mostly stuff I read on her facebook pages.  She also will send me links via an IM for any new pictures of the kids and I enjoy those talks with her because they are usually more informative about the things we *mothers* are concerned with.    Men just don't understand the difference.

    Its very cold out here and we've gotten severe weather warnings.  I guess because of how windy it is, the wind chill factor makes it feel like 16 degrees.  That's fahrenheit, not celcius, just so you know.  As the temperature drops here during the night, it will only get worse.  It's going to go up to a high of 45 tomorrow so go figure.  Weird, weird weather we all are having, isn't it?

    Love you all and I will close this now and get it posted for later.  Have a wonderful day, ya hear?  If you see someone without a smile today, give them one of yours.