I GOT IT

Had to take a second to revise my information from the last post. Not only did I fill in in Pleasant Hill last week, but I just got the call that I am going to be the PROCESSOR in P Hill from now on! Who's Excited? ME! ME! ME!!! It's closer to home by a little, and more responsibility. YEA!!!

Can you do it? Yes! I can.

So when the regular hustle and bustle starts to get to you, something new and different is always thrown your way. Okay, maybe not yours, but definitely mine. Just when I think it's all under control and I'm starting to get comfortable someone has to do something to change all my thoughts on life. I will not go into great details. Sparing you is best. But everything is changing once again. And I'm not sure it's all for the better. There are some good changes:

On Tuesday evening, my manager Brenda called me at 7 pm, "Rachel, I forgot to ask you, can you work in Pleasant Hill tomorrow? They really need another set of hands." I'm thinking, I have to go, I can't say no. But I'm so nervous. She continues: "Just be there to be the closer's assistant. Do anything she wants." That sounds like words of doom right? No, not really. I learned so much this week. How to put things together so that they really make sense to me and to everyone else in the office. I know that I probably made an error or two, but that's where the learning begins. I made sure the closer looked over all my stuff. I feel really great about getting stuff done this week at work. Though I was told that I was missed in Raymore too.

Yesterday, I went to Y'allapolooza. I took pictures. I still have to get them developed, but I will have to scan them into the computer and make all the commentary I have planned for them. That will be interesting I promise. [insert mischievous laughter here]

Madeline is growing and learning more words everyday. She has almost mastered "popcorn" now. That's probably close to her favorite food. No worries, us adults have to eat all the halls for her while she gets the rest. It's a Sunday night thing. Let's see: momma, grandpa, grandma, kitty, puppy, all done, popcorn, no, yeah, hi, bye-bye, no-no-no, and various grunts that a mom understands after a while. We're working on "drink" and "bink" which sound lots alike, but she knows them apart when I say them; I just have to get her to say them. Did I mention she can say "no"? Yeah, she's good at testing that one too. Especially when she wants to climb the steps in our living room. I say, "No, Maddie," with as much force as possible without yelling, then, "NO Madeline," raising my voice just a tad. Then comes, "Madeline Grace! Get down!" And she giggles as I scoop her up before she ends up on her head. Oh! The joys of toddlerhood are just beginning, I know. But I'm really wishing for a ranch style home right about now. Maybe soon... But if it's not the steps it's something else. Did I tell you what my precious nephew and niece did awhile back?

They are 3 and almost 2. Twenty months apart. Cute kids. Here goes: my brother and sister in law were in the living room catching a sit down moment while the youngsters were in my nephew's toy, er, I mean bed room. Rather suddenly, CRASH! The sounds of glass shatters through the house. I imagine my sister in law gasping and nearly screaming at the same time then running to the room, no telling what flashed in their heads. When they made the fifteen foot journey in three steps (as they are each six foot in height, jealous, me?), they arrive to find their children laughing. The cause? A book thrown into the light fixture on the ceiling fan. Result? Relief that no one was hurt. Time out. And lots of vacuuming for my brother. Yes, I know that the journey has only begun.

Rachel's New Favorite Quote:

I always wanted to be somebody, but now
I realize I should have been more specific.

Lily Tomlin

Raise your hand....

Most of my readers are my age, I think. That's all I ever hear from anyway, so for those of you my age... are you tired of "growing up"? Well, I'm not tired of it. I'm just tired of being left in the dust. I have to be more mature, and that's great. BUT, when I have people that I consider less mature than I am, less prepared to see the real world raise it's ugly head getting into home buying, I get extremely jealous. I, being the the real estate industry, consider myself somewhat knowledgable on the subject. Somewhat. So some of these people come to me to show me their homes and ask advice, and I want to scream, "Well, WHAT ABOUT US? When is it our turn to move out?" Can't I even afford a "manufactured home" or rent alone. And I crunch the numbers and stretch the pennies and realize it's going to be a long while. And I sink back into my advice- giving, sulking, still-living-at-home shell and still wonder when our time will be.

*("our" refering to Maddie and me)*

It's Friday

Does anyone else still celebrate TGIF? I look forward to it every week. Not that I necessarily hate my job, but I'm just so worn out all the time and sleeping in a half and hour and the possibility of catching a nap perks me up on Fridays thinking of the weekend. This weekend we have my mom's side family reunion. So excited. Really. I don't like to drive all weekend, but I know that it will be fun, once we get there. I'd rather be home working on school stuff honestly. One of my first assignments is to watch three hours of criminal justice TV and do a report. 3 hours of CSI, Law & Order, Cops or NCIS? I can handle it. It's rather a sociology assignment as we have to record the race and age of suspects and victims and what products are being advertised during the show to see who they're trying to reach. I'm excited.

Words of Wisdom from someone who's been there:

(see what my week's been like)

Don't let your child run around without clothes or diapers while trying to potty train her. Just don't do it.

Do let Grandma pick up the "cutest baby" pictures from the studio. She will buy the extras. Hee Hee!

Don't ever head to bed with a half awake little one and expect her to go right to sleep. Ever.

Do have lunch with an "old" friend. Those are the best lunches (and the longest! Oops!)

Don't hit the snooze button 4 times and expect to take a ten minute shower and be on time for work.

Do play peek-a-boo once a day. Or some other version if you only have a cat.

Don't bit off more than you can chew. Literally or figuratively.

Do call (or email or comment to) your friends and let them know what they mean to you.

Do NOT call him. You know-- HIM. (see previous post for more details)

Do keep your options open.

Don't give up.

Do strive to be happy and get what you want. While still keeping all this in mind.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

I know I just wrote about "Rainbow Resort" being sort of an under the rainbow theme, but today, I am wishing to be Dorothy on my way to OZ, while walking through a truly mystic place confronting the unknown, away with the dull black and white, and hit me with the new and bold. Give me some color and change. I want out of the old dreads and ruts. And I'm not talking about being a mom, that's never boring. Or really work. We started a new computer system today, and I am thoroughly enjoying being caught up to the 21st century here, finally. Really, it's where "love" or the lack there of is concerned (see also http://6yearmed.blogspot.com for more people who are in this same kind of rut).

I haven't really dated anyone since, well, since August of 2003. That's really a long time for me. I have been "casually dating" or "talking" or "hanging out with" a guy that I have known since high school. In fact, we were very serious in HS, and voted "Most Likely to Be A Couple in Ten Years" our senior year. Very ironically, or realistically (whichever way you prefer to phrase it), we broke up about 7 months later and hadn't talked for two years. (That's a long time, folks) We started "talking" again last November, and we still get together for a game of pool now and again. That's it though. It's really just pool. And I think that somewhere in my want-to-be romantic train of thought, I am thinking it would be cute if we were back together, but on this dreary Monday, all I want to do is detest the boy for being himself, and loathe myself for not moving on every time I get the chance. But the problem remains, that I don't really ever get the chance. He's here and now, and I don't want to work and put myself out there for someone new, not that I ever really meet new people at all. I have all my routines to a 'T', and I thought school would open up doors--there are 2 males in my class. Yeah, 2 out of about 22. Neither for me.

See also the link to my poems for more thoughts here... Have a nice day... don't let this bring you down... think happier thoughts...

Worn to the core

"Intro to Criminal Justice" ends tonight, and Criminology begins in a week. I am very excited about that class. I think that it will be the deal breaker on whether or not I stick with the program. It's supposed to be the "why" in crime.

I got to work in our Harrisonville location today to fill in for the processor. It was a great learning experience to try to learn what goes on in the company. I really liked it.

That's it for now, I'm a little tired. See y'all, ok, YOU ALL later!! ;)

Rainbow Resort

On Saturday, my cousin Tori wanted me to take her to the "Aquatic Center." I didn't want to go, in the least little bit. I was tired and annoyed and hot, and there was no way I was going to a pool in my home town while being expected to wear a swimsuit during prime hours. Huh-uh, not a chance. So, we decided to get out the little inflatable pool stored in our garage for Maddie. Little did I know, it was too little for the 9 year old Tori; that didn't go over well. But it was perfect size for my little one. It's inflatable all the way around and has an inflatable rainbow over one side to provide shade. So cute, and so perfect for a hot afternoon. Needless to say, of course, she didn't play it very long, the water was cold and the toys old. But I thinking while she was playing, I wish I had a "rainbow resort," as I'd named the pool in my mind. A little shade, a little sun, cool water, entertainment, and someone to look out for me and catch me when I slip up. Do you have a Rainbow Resort?