And... My Car Wouldn't Start...

Yesterday was hectic.

My car would not start as I was trying to leave for the day to go to my parents place. So Cory had to come home from work to give me a jump start. Then, I drove the whole way (over 30 miles) on "E" because I was too paranoid to stop for gas. I just KNEW that if I turned my car off at the pump, I wouldn't get it started again.

Luckily, I made it.

And when the guys at my dad's shop checked everything out... my alternator and battery are just fine. ANNND... My car started right up a number of times. Sheesh! We think it was because I didn't drive it for over a week... and I left my cellphone charger plugged in. It is the only thing that would have caused the battery to drain.

I then had to go to my former place of employment to deal with a Worker's Comp issue... which still has yet to be resolved. I'm not going into detail because it's too complicated... but let's just say that if my medical bill doesn't get paid... Cory and I are not going to be happy campers. Granted it's only $80... but that's A LOT to us, especially with a kiddle on the way. So I am waiting for a call today to get it all sorted out. I'm crossing my fingers!

On a positive note... we got some presents for baby!


I'm always excited for presents! And my aunt stopped by to drop off these 2 cute outfits and a receiving blanket! :) (The outfits were hung back to back... so I didn't take them apart for the pic... I liked the ducky one the best... so I just took a pic of that!) I am excited to start accumulating baby items!!

I am still in the process of getting our spare/craft/baby room in order... it's going to be ongoing!! But I hope to spend some time sewing today in preparation for setting up a table at a fall fest in September!! :)

And on a side note.. if you read my last post... this weekend Cory and his dad are going to be tearing up the drain system in our basement. It has been nothing but a nightmare and we are hoping that it will help solve the "smelly" problem in our house. I also plan on taking some other people's suggestions... like using vinegar and baking soda... I gotta do something!!! Thanks for all of your suggestions!

Second to Last

Today is my second to last day at work. I've been here for 5.5 years... and sadly, today I had to watch some coworkers leave because of the down turn in the economy. It's one thing when it is the guys from the shop getting laid off. I don't know them personally. But when it is people I have known and built relationships with... it's pretty heartbreaking. These are people with families. We are living in some tough times!
Yesterday, the one guy I used to work in the Warehouse with brought his camera to take some pictures of all of us. Who knew it would end up being the last day for some of us to be together! I am just sharing one picture of my old buddies from the warehouse. I'll miss these guys!

I also wanted to share a sneak peek of our wedding cake topper!!! I whited myself out because obviously I don't want to give away my dress and hair styles!! I got this topper from this ETSY shop! I am very pleased with the way they turned out! What a cute caricature!
Only 4 more days until the wedding!! Still lots to do... but it's winding down. I am almost completely moved into the new house--besides a few things I am living with in the old house for now... and tonight a bunch of the girls in the family are getting together to polish silver and take care of some odds and ends!
Be sure to check back in a couple of weeks to see pictures of the wedding and honeymoon. I'm sure my sis will be posting some of the wedding a bit earlier on her blog as well if you'd like to check them out there!!

A Month Off!

It's been a month and a day since I last posted! Seems longer! So much has been going on, I just haven't had the time or patience to sit and think of something to write about. I usually don't have anything profound to say anyway--but even to muster up some ramblings has been a challenge!

I officially have 23 days of work left (not including weekends)... and I have been moved to an upstairs office instead of down in the shipping office by the warehouse. HALLELUJAH!! Of course, I miss my buddies, John and Bob... but I needed the change and the office needed a little help. They obviously don't want to lay me off or anything since I don't have much time left... (although I wouldn't mind the unemployment!). So I have been helping out with a few other people's responsibilities to get them caught up. We have laid quite a few people off due to the crappy economy (What CHANGE?)... so tasks got put on people who didn't necessarily have a bunch of time to get things taken care of and I am the "go-pher" now and I'm OK with that! Although I do have to fill in for receiving May 13-20... I figure that will be my last "hurrah" on a forklift, etc! LOL! I will miss my friends and the normal routine that I've had for the past 5.5 years... but I will definitely be glad for a change!!!!

Anyway... Cory has been working diligently on the "new" house. Unfortunately the paint chips weren't exactly accurate (to our liking) once it went from one square inch of color to a whole room... and I am not a big fan of our choices... but I guess you live and you learn. And you say OH WELL when you just spent a bunch of money on it all and you can't afford to repaint! It might be OK once we get furniture, etc in there. Cory just took a load of boxes from my house to the new house and is going to unload and then paint some more. All that is left (since we don't have the money to re-do the kitchen/dining room/bathroom right now) is to paint the wall going up the steps and into the small hallway/landing... and then our bedroom. I have gone out a few times to help him... but its hard when it's a 45 minute drive one-way. Cory is a trooper... and besides... I'm a crappy painter!!

My mom and I met with the photographer yesterday. She was really nice... and she took some sample pics, talked about ideas, etc with us. Everything else is coming together wedding-wise. My dress is being hemmed right now. I got my jewelry and shoes. My hair style is finalized. The girls dresses just need final hems and tweaks. I got Cory's wedding present--which I need to wrap. Flowers are ordered... and everything is just in a finalizing state. Oh... and I went shopping and got a few things for our trip to Scotland!! The weather is supposed to be in the 50's--so I got some light sweaters. I am excited... only 33 days!

I went to the new Sunday School class at church this morning. There ended up being only two of us and the teacher (our pastor). It went well, although I should have read the material before class! I forgot I had it until I went to leave and saw it on the chair... so I didn't follow some of what we were talking about.. LOL! But next time I'll be more prepared. It has been a long time since I've been to a Sunday School class. It's sad... but there really hasn't been anything available. It's either the women's class (old ladies) or the BLT's (forget what that stands for... but its mostly people 40+). My church lacks in the young couple department and its really discouraging. Though I love my church family, it would be nice to have some people my own age to interact with and have class with. I would help sometimes with the kids classes... but those too have dwindled. When Cory and I move, we will hopefully be able to find a church with some younger couples... even though I feel guilty about leaving my church!! It's just too far a drive with the economy these days! We'll see though!

Last week was my dad's 50th birthday!!! We had a dinner of hot dogs and hamburgers, homemade potato salad, baked beans, deviled eggs and veggies. It was yummy, if I do say so myself! My nephew helped me bake the cake and ice it... but my camera batteries weren't charged so I didn't get any pics. As a group gift, we got my dad a GPS to put in the tow truck he uses for his business! He really liked it! Earlier that day, I attended a TAX DAY TEA PARTY beside our local court house! My sister has a post about it... you should check it out!! Very inspiring!

I'm off to the grocery store for a few items... and then I plan on coming home to read and relax. (I'm reading a REALLY good book... called "Some Wildflower in my Heart"--Jamie Langston Turner. I highly recommend it!!)

Hope everyone has had a good weekend!!

A Little Decorating Goes a Long Way...

In the midst of the usual mid-winter snow storms (that keep popping up one after the other), I often find myself feeling claustrophobic in my little house. The daylight is semi-starting to last a bit longer, but in a small house, in a living room with no windows (besides the little ones on the front door)... it is very easy to let the dismal weather wear you down!! I spend a lot of time reading, really. Which I thoroughly enjoy! Sometimes I find myself itching for that warm spring weather when I can have my door open and shed some light on the place. No worrying about bundling up, shoveling snow, how high the gas bill is going to be, or whether or not I'll make it home from work (which I almost didn't today). The weather today was odd. Snowy... then rainy. Then hail... then slush... then a major blast of snow with some major gusts of wind! My little office at work has a decent size window that I can look out at the "yard" (mainly the big slab of cement where all of the trucks pull in and forklifts drive around). I found myself getting antsy as I watched the changing weather throughout the day. Thinking of all of the things I could do in the WARM weather... the convenience of it... the flip flops... sliding into cool sheets at night... OK... anyway. I can't say I was really grumpy... but I have been having issues with my left arm/elbow/hand... so that's got me a little down... and also my "face" issues (see previous post)--which have gotten better on and off--hard to explain. LOL! Well, toward the end of the day when the snow was coming down in HUGE flakes... my co-worker popped his head in the door of my office and said "Looks like God's really decorating today!" Hmm. "Yeah, He is," I said. And I looked back out the window across the yard to the hill past the shop buildings... there I noticed the trees. They were covered so peacefully in white. The whole little forest of them... decorated... like a scene in a winter wonderland. It made me smile. I decided tonight... I would be productive! I came home and exercised on my recumbent bike. I did a couple of 45 min work outs and realized that I rode that thing for 20 miles tonight! I may have out done myself - I'm sure I'll be feeling it tomorrow! But I am glad my co-worker reminded me that winter isn't such a bad time. You have to appreciate the beauty in it... and then you gotta DO something and not just wallow in pity! Of course, tomorrow as I'm shoveling my car out of all of the snow at 5AM, I may not see the beauty--but hey, at that time, it will be dark out still... so maybe there will be hope yet for later on in the day! ;)

All in all... God knows what he's doing. One snowflake at a time!

Totally Unexpected!

So, I wanted to share with you a picture I received in my work email this afternoon. A coworker had gone to a jobsite to deliver a part... and this is how it was unloaded! I was totally surprised... but I think it's pretty cool!! :) I believe my coworker was so amazed that he couldn't help but snap a pic with his phone!

When Will It End? When Will It Begin?

Work.

Work has been so horrible. I am sure there are people who will read on... and think I am just a whiner. Believe me, I KNOW there are people in worse situations. I KNOW that I am Blessed in SO many ways. But when you have to drag yourself out of bed each morning... when you have a horrible feeling about going in to your current employment situation.......... sometimes you just need to vent.
I don't know if it's the economy. I must be honest, I am not one to keep up with politics and news, etc. I just try to get through each day and try to keep myself on the positive side of things. That's a challenge for me! I have been such a pessimist for most of my life.
You may know that last month I switched from my Shipping & Receiving job... to just "Shipping". This new job includes checking parts into the warehouse, helping to keep things organized, computer work, and creating paperwork for shipments we send out, etc. Like I said earlier... I don't know if it is the economy or what... but we are SLOW! S-L-O-W! I have done pee-on jobs... such as stenciling racks, cleaning and painting a forklift, helping the Inspection Dept with some stenciling, SWEEPING THE FLOOR. Technically, maybe I shouldn't complain. I am getting paid to do whatever I do. But let me tell you... I am BORED. I am not challenged in any way--AND... I have to put up with really obnoxious people! I know, that's horrible. I am obnoxious in my own ways... and usually I try to be nice to everyone and look past stuff that happens or stuff that they say. I know that no matter where ya go or what ya do... you pretty much have to deal with people. We should take that as an opportunity to be a good witness... to let people see Jesus in us. I have been struggling with that lately. I WANT to do those things... but I am just having a hard time dealing with some people. Today, my coworker called me at home (after I'd left) to tell me some things he heard someone say about me. Let me start by saying that there was a situation today... and certain people didn't do THEIR jobs... and when it got to my part of it... I couldn't do mine. So, I passed the info on (via email) to the person who takes care of inventory. I also BLIND-copied the coworker who ended up calling me. Anyway--the email wasn't meant to be nasty or rude. I was just simply giving the info... what had happened... and what needed to happen before it got to me. We all know that emails and such can be taken in ALL sorts of ways--and apparently this person thought it was quite the "nasty gram". I appreciate my coworkers call--as a heads up--but now I am just stewing over this whole thing. Part of me imagines going in to work tomorrow and just flipping out at the person. Then another part of me knows that I need to be cool, calm and collected. If I lose my cool, it won't show Jesus. But UUUUUGH! Sometimes I just want to freak out. I called my sister to vent... and she helped me cool down a bit--but I am just so sick of everything at my work. I like some of the people. I've made friends and learned a lot about the business and about working with others... but what about my gifts? What about my talents and the things I like to do? This job is a joke. Actually, I feel like a joke at this job. If I think of the Pros... I can come up with quite a few.... Full-Time, Benefits/Vacation, Over-time, pay(for my lack of college/experience), daytime hours, 6 or 7 mile drive, I get to head up the ladies Christmas party (LOL!). Cons... PEOPLE, not challenging enough, dirty all of the time, have to take a shower when I get home, exhausted, PEOPLE, BORING, crappy desk set up, wearing a hard hat, PEOPLE, hot and cold--depending on season--ICK.
Here is my dilemma... and I KNOW that I can't play God in my own life. But I am so tired of waking up in such a slump. I hope to get married next Spring (its not official)... and it would be silly of me to quit my job now... if I could just stick it out... I could quit later - when it made sense and I would be moving. But I want to quit. I need to quit. Do I try to talk to my supervisor and let him know how unhappy I am? Do I look for a new job? All I've ever wanted to do in life is be a stay at home wife and mom. Part of me doesn't want to try to find a new job because I feel like I'll be obligated to the job and would feel guilty if I were to quit to live my dream. Silly, I know. But--then there is a part of me that wants to do something CRAZY! Its crazy because I am young and it is a lot of hardwork. I believe I could do it, but I believe I would be maxed.

I want to start my own consignment shop.

Antiques, handcrafted items, unique and interesting. My little town is a pretty good tourist area. I believe I could earn a half decent living (at least pay the bills). I would LOVE to get some of you crafters and artists involved. The only problem (besides not having much of the "start up" money it would take)... is that I can't do it alone. Or, I guess, I am afraid to do it alone. I don't know if I could handle all of the responsibilities. And if I get married... I will most likely live 30-40 mins in the opposite direction of the tourist part of the area - and it would be a long drive to keep up with the store (or end up not being in a prime location to be closer to my home). Also, I want to have time to do my own arts... pottery, weaving, mittens, jewelry, etc. If I had a partner or two... we could split "shop time" - and I could use those days off to create my own merchandise. I have mentioned it to my sister... she has a nice spacious garage that would be a great location. But it needs a lot of work and... it's also her husbands garage. LOL... you know men and that sort of thing!! Plus, she is going to homeschool her kids... and that would be a hard thing to juggle. Just so many factors. I am trying to be dilligent in my prayers about it. I wouldn't even know where to start... and I know it wouldn't be an escape from people... but it would be a way to use my talents and interests. Not feel like I'm spinning my wheels. *sigh* I don't know.

I am going to go google some jobs in my area and maybe some shop ideas...........

A New Way of Thinking...

Well, if you read my previous posts... you know that I've been battling whether or not to stay at my job. Yesterday and today... a couple of people said some things to get my wheels turning in this head of mine. They didn't even know that they said it... but I guess maybe my ears were open for once! Anyway, I weighed my options and whats going on in my life (or may be in the near future)... and the logical solution is to stay put. I have 4.5 years in this job... and instead of feeling trapped, I need to feel happy that I've kept this job so long. I'm blessed to have decent hours (5:30am-3:30pm--depending on the day), which makes it nice to have my evenings open to spend with Cory and family, to go to meetings at church and also keep volunteering at the teen center. I get paid a decent wage for not having any education besides highschool and a semester of BLAH college. I have worked up to 8 vacation days. I get to wear jeans and a tshirt and a sweatshirt to work every day (we just had a dress-code talk today... and I am exempt from the appropriate office attire since I work out in the shop delivering and such each day). After emailing back and forth about some questions for this "new/changed" position with my supervisor... I learned that I may get my own NEW office near the warehouse (which means the crankypants who shares my office now won't be able to pull the speaker jacks out of my computer when I'm listening to WORK FRIENDLY music!). I will still get to organize the ladie's Christmas party (last year was a HUGE success)! I won't have to get a job in the next town over--which would cost more gas $! If Cory and I decide to get married, I can work and save... until we decide to have a family. AND... I'll still get to drive a forklift sometimes and be outside--but be able to go INSIDE on the yucky days. If I were to get a new job there would be a whole bunch of new stuff to learn. Pressure to perform my duties well... and honestly, I'm not looking for a CAREER. I think my main problem these days is with my attitude. If I actually say HELLO to people as I walk past them.. instead of watching my feet. If I say that I'm doing well when asked "How are ya?" - instead of "I'm here...". It's not always going to be peachy... but if I look at the future... I think I would be less "stuck" to keep this job and look forward to saving up for a family one day.... than to start from scratch and then have to inform my new employer that I'm going to be a Stay At Home Mom once I have a family. So--that's whats been in my head today.

I'm off to a meeting at church.... Thank you for your prayers and encouragement!

Bombshell...

Well... today at work... my supervisor came up to me and announced their (the higher ups) idea of splitting the Shipping & Receiving. That is my job. I am the Shipping & Receiving Manager. Me. I guess on their way to ISO 9001 certification (a quality requirement for our industry)... they decided that having Inventory Control at the Warehouse was essential. Thus leaving the job of Receiving separate from the Shipping (since the inventory controller at the warehouse will have to do the in and out... which applies to the shipping). My supervisor explained that the Shipping/Inventory job will consist of keeping track of all that goes in and out of the Warehouse... what needs to be put on what shelf, etc. etc. Basically, organizing and then keeping it that way by checking everything in and out. The Receiving job will consist of the person signing for loads that we get, checking/counting parts, then moving them to their correct destination within the shop areas. When asked which I would prefer (since apparently I get first dibs)... my reply was, "Well, they both sound pretty crappy." My supervisor agreed and told me to think about it. I've thought about it. I don't want either. I don't really care for what I do now in Shipping & Receiving. It's not bad... I'm just bored with it. But I can't imagine being in a forklift most of the day and having people gripe at me about moving stuff........ or being in the warehouse and not getting out and about (not being able to have my fridge and microwave!!!). This stinks. Cory is still helping me on my resume for that other job I am interested in. I guess I might look around for more job options elsewhere. It just really stinks. I absolutely have no desire to move to either of those positions. If I HAD to... which I probably will... I'd go to the warehouse position.... but I really really can't imagine it. It's upsetting. I want to tell my supervisor that I'm not interested in either and that if they don't have anything else for me, I'll start looking for another job - but Cory advises against that.... and I guess he is right. I'm just so frustrated. Please keep me in prayer about this whole job thing. It seems to be getting worse by the day. Speaking of which - I have to get up for work at 4:30AM... so I better get to bed.

Is it hot in here? Or am I in HELL?

Work was a living hell today. I was in tears most of the afternoon... and might have a lead on a different job. Hallelujah!

It's hard to go into detail because there is so much that you would have to know and understand... but to make a long story short... there is some miscommunication stemming from a particular person... that is then firing up other people... who, today, attacked me over the phone. Literally shouting... so... unfortunately... I found myself shouting back. This went on for a good 15-20 mins until I just couldn't take it anymore and started to cry. I had to later apologize to the guy at the computer behind me for the shouting match. He indicated that he could tell the frustration was rising... and he understood... and he also said, "...but nothing ever changes around here". So true. So true. Not long after the phone incident... I got a nasty gram (email) from this particular person (not the same person I was shouting with--but the person the shouting stemmed from)... and it enraged me even MORE. THEN... I think I mentioned that they moved my coworker, Bill and put in a new guy..... well he just topped the cake! He seems to have the lingering (but never spoken) attitude of "i always do the least i can do"... and ONCE AGAIN tried to pass work off on me (it seems to be becoming a habit)... and I snapped. I think I surprised him... and as much as I really don't want to apologize... I guess I probably should. I know I shouldn't let this stuff get to me... but when the majority of my life is WASTED in this work place... I really don't appreciate the lack of respect that I get. I do a heck of a good job and I am not going to let someone who doesn't even know half... heck, a quarter of what I do and how I do it... throw things into a jumble and cause strife between me and some of my coworkers. Granted, I guess by trying to get a new job... I am partially sounding defeated. But there comes a time sometimes when you just have to move on. Let the people screw the company up in their own time - and just let it all go. Of course, its a scary thought. I do not like change. (Hence, I'm not married)... and the new job would be a 20 min drive east... which is a bit more than 8-10 mins to my current job. But... I just want to be happy. I don't want to feel like a monster at my job because people shout at me for something I didn't even do - and things that they don't understand!

So, all of that said... I apologize if I don't seem like I have a very "Christian" attitude about it... but I've worked at this company for almost 5 yrs... and the respect level seems to decline as time goes on. I am asking for your prayers in going the direction God wants me to go. I was looking at work on the bright side for awhile... to be a light for Him, to be His vessel to the people around me. Season change... and I'm praying for wisdom to know that God wants me to move into the new season that seems to be falling upon me these days.

Hooray For Fridays!

Cory's here and he is making me dinner!! We're going to pop in a dvd and snuggle up on the couch. We finally get a Friday off from the teen center! who needs a night out when its just as nice to stay in!?

Work was boring today--although I did prank Bill by putting a plastic "air pillow" (used to package stuff in boxes) under the wheel of his chair. I ALMOST missed it... but just as I was walking through the door from the shop... he sat down and "POP!!!". He was kind of confused... but realized that I had gotten him (because I was laughing and laughing). He vowed to get me back... however we have made a deal.... Nothing that could cause injury or damage personal goods (like my car)... and nothing that would cause us to have to go home and change (in other words... don't put something sticky on my chair that is going to stick to my butt all day--unless its harmless tape!). So, we'll see what happens!! Apparently he has a plan. Cathy and I are going to try to come up with something good for April Fools... hehehehe....

Ok--back to Cory-Time!! Have a nice weekend!

This is the most hilarious thing I've ever done!!!

So, today at work... Cathy and I got this bright idea. Watch the video below to see the set up. Our objective was to prank some co-workers when they came down at lunch time to visit us.

Things kind of went haywire--a FedEx Freight Truck pulling in, Cathy's cellphone going off (makes some fun background noise). Let me know what you think!!! LOL!!! It made our day!!! I laugh EVERY time I watch it!! Here's the prank... below:

Love Your Neighbor!

So, every year... my little town has a [dwindling] festival the third week in June. They shut down one street and have a food court. In the evenings, they shut down part of the main street and have different activities... pet shows, concerts... ummm.... that's about it. The parade on Saturday lasts like 10 mins. Ok... maybe I'm not giving it enough credit. It honestly probably lasts 15 minutes. (LOL!) It has just gone downhill MAJORLY due to some.... power issues, in my own opinion. Anyway. Last year on "church night" (where all of the churches in the community are supposed to pull together and have activities, etc)... Some people from my church and I (having previously planned and prepared)... loaded up Murray (my vw camper--shown top right *sigh*) with all sorts of paints and supplies... and hauled on down the street to where the Church of God, the only church who seemed willing to pull anything together in previous years, had a stage set up for their praise team, etc. We unloaded the van and set up easels (kindly made by a guy at church)... and pulled out "pieces" of the mural (Cory and I had previously drawn/painted the outline on another night--and then the big sheets of plywood/signboard were cut into pieces). We laid out plastic on the street and had all different paints (donated by many people and a couple of businesses)... and started inviting people into our space to paint. The only rule was the they weren't supposed to write any words... and they had to stay in the lines. Other than that--they could use any color, pattern, etc. It took a little bit for people to come over and get the jist of it... but once a few people started... they started FLOCKING! It was great! I was a little stressed, I admit. It took a lot of planning and preparation... but I think it went really well. Here is the finished product, which was put on a big frame and displayed in front of my church on Main Street for like a month!

This year, the Church of God is sending a team to Romania on a mission trip. (My sister's husband is part of the team!) SOOOOO... they have taken a step back from organizing anything--like their praise team and puppet groups, etc--to be on the street at this years fest. Luckily, the lead guy from the church pointed the Festival Board people in my mom and my direction... so we are kind of heading it up now. (If that's how I should put it!). Sooo... if you read my previous post... you'll know that we want to try to get Enter the Worship Circle (wooooot!!!) and also would like to have a drum jam, the community mural, an interactive board game (using people as the game pieces) on the street... AND... ??? We aren't sure what else! I think we might have some face painting too. Does anyone have any ideas? I am really really trying to think of more... but I have so much on my plate with the mural... its like my brain is fried! Also, I am coordinating the vesper service which will be held that weekend also. We are going to invite people after the parade - to walk down to the local dam... where we will have some speakers and praise and worship. I am kind of lost on organizing all of this! We would like to entice people to show up by offering free hot dogs and maybe drinks (depending on donations, etc). The vesper service is another thing that has fallen by the wayside with the festival. I would appreciate any suggestions or ideas! AND also prayer!! I stress quite easily.... and I just want to make this happen for HIS glory!!!

On another note... today was a strange day at work. Despite the BEAUTIFUL weather--it was kind of hectic because of some mistakes that were made (my coworker is training.. and made a pretty big BooBoo... but it was able to be fixed--PHEW!)... and some, how should i say... shouting between a couple of coworkers made for some tears and frustration. The main thing that happened--was me... going out to the one forklift early in the morning to go move some parts around. I get in the forklift and try to pull the seat up a bit for my short legs. I couldn't find the handle... but I noticed something.... odd. There were 3 (thankfully unused and unwrapped) tampons laying on the floor. I was a little baffled, but my coworker, Cathy, has been driving the forklift a lot and so I thought maybe they fell out of her pocket or something!? I didn't know. So, I tried to turn on the forklift. I don't know what my deal was--but the stupid thing wouldn't turn over. I reached down to my right hip to grab my radio (yes, that's right.. "breaker breaker 1 - 9"--haha).. and couldn't get the slip off of my pocket... so I look down to undo it... and see, like, 10-15 more tampons scattered on the side of the seat (not really the floor--you'd have to know what the inside of a forklift looks like to know what I mean). I immediately hopped out and went over to my office to tell Cathy. My first thought was... 'someone doesn't like us girls in this forklift--so they were playing a little practical joke--which was NOT funny'. Cathy thought it was immature as well. So, I called my supervisor. He told me to call the Human Resources lady. Well, I ended up seeing her in the hall at the main office and gave her the run down. You know what her response was? "Well, we can't prove who did it." THAT irritated me. It may seem stupid, the whole situation.... which I agree its definitely just totally ridiculous--but having the feeling of someone being LOW enough to throw tampons all over the forklift... just didn't sit well with me. So, I saw another coworker outside and he walked over and saw the evidence...
(which I REFUSED to clean up!).. and he immediately thought the same thing Cathy and I did. We were just so disgusted and annoyed by it. --sigh-- So, as the morning went on... a coworker in the warehouse made mention of "what was in the forklift"... and I made mention of how I thought it was "rude and ridiculous". SO THEN.. the TRUTH comes out. I honestly had a hard time believing him when he told me... but I couldn't imagine him doing it on purpose to be mean--so I am kind of leaning toward his story... but I can't imagine the culprit! Here, yesterday, when he was loading some skids on a commercial truck, the driver apparently had a busted load that had spilled numerous feminine products in the bed of the truck. So, he grabbed a handful of them from the floor and shoved them at my warehouse guy and told him that he "didn't want them to go to waste". So, still having to drive the forklift, this guy ended up putting them beside the seat and some fell to the floor--which I found this morning. I was skeptical... and still kind of am. First of all.. the truck driver in question has always been super nice to me, talks about church and going to hear speakers... even lent me a tape of a sermon that he and his wife really liked!! Just seemed like a good guy. He is also married to one of my coworkers cousins... who couldn't imagine him doing something like this either! It just seems so odd. And it doesn't add up that the "shouting match" earlier in the AM which was between Cathy and the warehouse guy was about her not moving the parts to the right areas of the shop quick enough (she is NOT a forklift driver--but is filling in for the time being because a guy got fired--and she can hardly even get a forklift because other guys always take them first). Also, another coworker saw a guy (he wouldn't tell me WHO) carrying a suspicious brown paper bag to work. LOL! (that's a stretch for evidence, i know)... and THEN, if the warehouse guy got handed the "products" by the truck driver... and he set them down--he should have picked them up and tossed them when he got out of the lift. Instead, I had to find them! So--yeah. It was just so weird. It's really not a big deal... I just don't want to have people pulling crap on me and Cathy. It may not have been that at all--but we still aren't sure... and it is just disrespectful. SO... that was my strange occurence today.

One final note--I talked to Cory last night on the phone (and again today).... but he mentioned that a guy from MY town... who lived above the Scarlet Cord (where we volunteer)... who has had my dad do work on his car.... was IN ALASKA... staying with people Cory's friends know. WHAT A SMALL WORLD! He was only a few doors down from where Cory was staying! I guess he was there for the Sled Dog Race or something. Just kind of tickled our funny bones! LOL!

Welp-I'm off to call Cory and get some SLEEP!

Real People, Real Friends.

Work was crazy today. It was just an odd day all around with so much going on. Luckily... my coworker, Cathy, helped me out most of the day. I am trying to teach her some Shipping stuff now... since I'll be taking a day off in April (for my dad's birthday so I can make him lunch and dinner.. and peanut butter pie! mmm mmm good!). Anyway, she is learning... and its such a breath of fresh air to have her around! I get along well with my other coworkers... but she is always so bubbly and cheery. We always laugh about something or other. We work in the "shop" part of our facility. Actually, it's hard to explain... but I guess the best way to put it is that I have my own office in a separate building from the main office. My office is in the Welding Shop... so I share a building with 75 or so men. Luckily I have my own nuker and refrigerator so I don't have to share that. (Although I must point out that I am disappointed in some of those guys!! I was selling candy bars in the lunch room to help support my brother-in-laws mission trip to Romania this summer... and a NUMBER of them were stolen. UGH!). Anyway... the women's restroom is in this shop... and I have to walk past a bunch of guys to get there. Man, do I hate that. I feel like they watch me... and know just when I come and go.. and how long I'm in there! LOL! It hasn't been so bad now that Cathy is around... and I try to ignore the guys.. but there have been instances that i've come out of the restroom and one of the guys waited for me to walk past.... and "ZZZZZZIIRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!"--he pressed the lever on his grinder so that it would scare me (which it DID) as I walked past. *sigh* Well, these nerds have also taken to using the women's restroom. It was "locked" for a long time... but you could get in using a nickel. Well someone messed with it... and made the lock all funky and now you have to use a penny. Today, I had not gone in there... and Cathy came into my office in a huff because when she went in... the toilet was running like it'd just been flushed. This is a double stalled bathroom.. but STILL! We constantly go in to a "messy" restroom after night shift has been using it at their leisure. We definitely don't want to take the risk of a guy walking in there while we're in there!!! That would be horrible! We'd asked a number of times before if we could get a REAL lock with REAL keys. Finally, after realizing that DAYSHIFT guys were going in there... a lock was ordered and should be in tomorrow. I mean, even though there are stalls... ummmm... I don't want some random guy in the bathroom when I am in there! Totally inappropriate! Anywho... so, that made our day interesting, I guess. I also had a short heart to heart with Cathy and Bill (the one forklift driver who shares my office). I mentioned before about this book I am reading.... and I read more last night and it really spoke to me AGAIN. So I was telling them a little about it and some of the things it has made me think about. They were a little confused... so I explained how for me, I believe that a lot of times I get "anxious" or "depressed" because I am trying to please people... I am distressed that the things I desire in my life haven't come to be... and how ya know... my grandma, whom I love dearly, has made numerous comments about how my one cousin became a pastor, and my other cousin is off doing other things and graduated from college... and another is in college... and my sister has a family and when I think back to it, I realize how much it bothers me that she doesn't seem to think I have done anything worth talking about. At least, she doesn't mention it to me. I mean, I have done things too.. I graduated high school--went to college for awhile and HATED it. So, I got jobs and paid for my own car (instead of having it GIVEN to me), I bought a house and a dog and two OTHER cars (I did get rid of one)... I volunteer EVERY weekend at The Scarlet Cord. I organized a community mural for our annual town festival. I am on the pastor search committee at my church, the board of christian ed., the fellowship committee. I organized the ladie's Christmas party at work and instead of buying gifts for each other (since we all have MORE than enough)... I had everyone buy gifts for a mother and son who don't have a whole lot and really deserved a nice holiday. Not that I am trying to toot my own horn... I know we all do good things. But I guess there is part of me that feels like a failure because I didn't finish college, because I'm not married and I don't have kids. I am not a pastor or a pastor's wife. I'm just me. I live in a simple small town... with not a whole lot to offer. I like to make things and spend time with family (and Cory!!). I don't preach to the masses or even read my bible every day!! And it's not just because of my grandma. It's lots of things. I have lived in my sister's shadow my whole life. I feel like I've lived in my cousin's shadow too. I was always the ugly, fat one growing up... the guys always flocked to her. So I would have to do things or try to be something I'm not to make up for how crappy it made me feel. I know that it only matters what God thinks. It only matters that I live my life for him. It's not going to do me any good to linger on the other stuff... but for so long I have lived with the guilt of not being good enough... I honestly believe that it is programmed into my head. That's why it is so hard for me to pick myself up out of feeling low or anxious. I've trained my head and body to react this way because it's a defense mechanism. (I always have been a defensive person!) Even though I still have a long way to go, my prayer is that I am able to re-teach myself the right way of thinking, the right attitudes. I believe I can make it out of my suffering. I don't know how long it will take... but I know it can happen. If not in this life, I know that God promises it in the next! Wow, I really went off on that stuff... all to tell you that I really appreciate Cathy and Bill. Sometimes they drive me bonkers, but today, as I was sort of explaining this stuff briefly to them... I choked up and started to cry as I was telling them. And I could see the look in Bill's eyes that he couldn't believe that I felt this way. And Cathy hugged me and they both reassured me that I don't need to worry about what others think of me. That I'm just fine the way I am. Neither one of them even graduated highschool! Not that it makes me any better than them... but they wanted me to know that I wasn't a failure. And Cathy had a kid when she was 17.... and said that if she knew then what she knows now, she probably would've waited till she was almost 30 to have a kid. That surprised me. Not that she doesn't love her 3 kids... but she said that she put them through hell... and they didn't deserve it. The encouraged me that if I wanted to be married and have a family... I could... but they thought that I was doing the right thing by trying to straighten myself out before making those decisions. So many people rush into things. SO... it's been a heck of a day. As much as I don't want to be at my job... I guess it's a good thing that God's brought these people into my life. I believe that they are the type of people that no matter where I go in life, I can always count on them. Even if I hadn't seen them in 15 years and needed something... I could count on them to be there. I appreciate that. They're real.

AHHHH!!!

What a CRAZY day so far at work!!!! Holy Cow!

I am still sick... but slowly getting better.

I guess I spoke too soon when I said that I didn't have to have anybody from the bands stay at my house! I am stressing! My mom called me this AM and said that we needed my guest bed. So I have to go home and clean clean clean!! I have so much to do and so little time!!

AH! Pray for me!

Sick...

I went to work today for 2 hours and could barely stand it. I have a horrible cold!!! I finally decided to come home and rest. I literally drove home, took a shower, got into bed and SLEPT! I had to get up to let the dog out and figured I should take my next dose of DayQuil. Well, on an empty stomach, that doesn't sit too well. So I laid back down and started feeling really gross... and realized I'd better get something to eat. So, I had lunch and now I am getting ready to go BACK to bed! I just feel totally exhausted! I don't like missing work--mainly because I can't afford it. But yesterday, I was miserable... and today started off just as bad. Sneezing, coughing, sniffling, sinus pressure, etc etc. Aren't ya glad we're behind computers so I don't pass it to ya!? Pray for me to get well!!

I also wanted to encourage you all to go to this site. All you have to do is go to the site and click the button. I'm not sure exactly how it works, but by clicking, you are helping to feed rescued animals. There are also other tabs you can go to on that page to click the button and help literacy, breast cancer, rainforest, hunger, etc. I happened upon it one day on someone else's blog... and now try to make it a point to go there as much as possible! Bookmark it!

Nothing Much

I've decided that being the 5S Champion at work isn't so wonderful. It's actually a drag and I wish I didn't have to do it. Work has been so annoying and boring.... I think of all of the things I could be doing.... and it makes me wish for something more. Although, I can't complain. I've been blessed by the people I work with (some of them), and its really helped me open up (I used to be overly shy)... but when I think about life and what its about and what the heck I'm doing at my job... it just seems pointless. I have to keep reminding myself that I am there for a reason and I've benefitted in many ways... and God will use me where I am for His glory. I would love to have my own business, but I probably don't have the discipline... and I would love to be a SAHM... but I lack the commitment of even getting married. So, I'm feeling pretty discouraged. I have a tendency to be pretty pessimistic at times. Forgive me.

I am working on a new pair of mittens. They are a pretty shade of red... with a cream colored yarn. I'm hoping to go to Goodwill tomorrow and get more sweaters. We'll see!