Work stories

This has been an interesting week at Wally World. First, one of our people greeters, who is in her mid to late 70's, got seriously hurt on the job... again. You wouldn't think it, but being a people greeter is a high risk profession. The store was very short staffed, and a new guy who didn't know what he was doing was sent to go bring carts into the store. He used the electronic cart machine.... the incorrect way. He lost control of the long line of shopping carts, which rammed into the 70-some-year old Gerrie. She was sent to the hospital with a broken foot.

That same day, a customer returned one of those plastic kiddie pools... one which of course they had used the entire summer... but Wally World takes anything back. Anywhoo... what makes this instance so different is what was on the pool that was accepted back for return. It had.. well... poop on it. Yes.. that's right... poop! I have no idea who authorized its return.. but there it was... poop and all. The worst part of the story was when one of the managers was asked to help throw it down the trash compacter... he had no idea what the pool had on it, and as he lifted it into the machine..... yup, you guessed it.... all over him!!! I would have quit.

It's an interesting place to work, and you can't make shit (excuse the pun) like this up!

Back to school

The Fall Semester started yesterday, and I attended my first class. I had decided to take a course dealing with Special Ed, but accidentally registered for the wrong course. Once I got there, and we began going over the syllabus, I realized the mistake. The course description didn't really lead me to believe I had made an error, but once we started talking, I was positive I was in the wrong class... which was confirmed by the professor. She gave me a new course number to go check out, but it happens to be offered during the time I already have a class. I had to drop the class, and won't be replacing it.

So, it seems I will only be going to school part time this semester, taking only two grad courses instead of the original plan of three. I'm not really upset about it. Some of my classmates took the whole summer off, as well as this Fall semester in order to focus more on getting a job (which none of them did), and recover from the grueling year of teacher boot camp. I have five years to complete the masters, so I'm not going to drive myself crazy trying to get it all done at once.

Future Nephew Update

Joe and Katie went to the doctor's yesterday and found out they will be having a baby boy come January. It's name will be Collin James.

I am more excited over this baby than I thought I would be. I guess it will be the closest thing I will have to having a child of my own.. and I intend to spoil it rotten. I want to be the cool uncle. I find that when I am mowing the lawn, I imagine having an Easter egg hunt for the little tyke.. like something out of Steel Magnolias. I know I'm a dork, but things like that keep popping into my head.... like taking him to the zoo!

Yes, I will be the cool Uncle... you know, the one who gives the awesome Christmas gifts. :-P

Madea Goes To Jail Funny Clips

Help Support Aids Research!!

A friend of mine from the area is looking for people to sponsor his participation in a bike marathon known as Breaking the Cycle. He will be bike riding over 250 miles in three days, across three states to help raise money for Aids research to help find a cure.

This disease attacks people of all races, colors, backgrounds and sexual orientations. I urge you all to click on the link above and donate what you can. As you will see on the website, I made a small donation myself.. so I'm "putting my money where my mouth is". No gift is too small as every bit helps!

My thanks for your help and support!!!

Tis Love Tis Love... right?

My sister Kristy, and her boy friend of about three months are talking about getting married. They have already started shopping for engagement rings, looking for reception halls, and have decided upon the date of 9-10-11. Is it just me, or does anyone else think this is a little hasty?? Kristy turns 20 in a few days, and Sean (her boyfriend) will be headed BACK to Iraq for 6 to 8 months in the near future. Something about this seems very rushed to me. But then again, what would I know about relationships??

Speaking of my lack of relationships (like that seg-way?) I have met someone online whom I really like. We met on a site called "The Fedora Lounge" where people from across the globe meet and discuss and share their vintage style in clothing, cars, household items, etc. He's a great guy, wonderful personality, shares some of the same interests and hopes and fears that I do, is very kind, and wears a hat (a real hat). What more could I ask for?? Oh yea.. that he lived in the area.. that's what I could ask for. lol He lives in New Mexico, not exactly right around the corner from Buffalo. It's that age old story of boy meets boy, boy likes boy, boy can't date boy because he lives in New Mexico. I think they made a movie about it.

Interesting....

My Dad has been approved for Social Security Disability after having his shoulder permanently messed up. We were so scared he wouldn't get it, and would end up losing his job. Thankfully, the paper work went through, and he was approved. As Martha would say, it's a good thing!

Last night there was some unexpected clatter outside our house. We heard pounding, and saw a police officer trying to smash the window on the front door of our neighbor's house. It seems she hadn't been heard from in a few days, and no one could get a hold of her. She had not been feeling well, and lived alone. Come to find out, what they feared the most was true. She had passed away a few days ago... thankfully in her sleep. It was awkward to see them remove her from the house. Her family had just come back from Vegas that night, and probably found out once they got off the plane that she had passed.

I'm always afraid that's how I will go.. alone.. and someone will have to find me after a few days. Morbid, I know.. but that's how my mind works.

Time

Part of me has been looking at completing my masters work as a way of delaying the inevitable. Moving away. With each new day though, I feel further and further behind.. still working retail, and not working my "big boy job"... still living under my parent's roof.

While I'm not excited about the idea of moving to a new location and having to get to know the area and meeting all new people, maybe it will be the best thing for me. I do love the area of WNY, and there are plenty of neigborhoods I have dreamed of living in. What has always kept me here is my family and friends, whom I couldn't bare to leave. Most of those ties have been cut by time however. My grandparents were my biggest anchor, and they are all gone. My dearest friend Anne is pushing 80, and suffers from numerous health problems... my last real anchor here... the last on the list of people I absolutely won't leave behind.

As for the rest of my family, it is sad to say, they are becoming more and more irrelevant to me with each passing day. I see my parents more as authoritative landlords instead of people I want to sit and spend time with... especially my father who's need to control is ever present. Having them at the other end of a phone might be all I need. I still stand firm in the idea that "family is a bunch of strangers who happen to be related."

I'm eager to start my life.. MY life.. on my own terms, and maybe that means a fresh start in a new location. Who knows, maybe I will leave UB and do my masters somewhere else and get the move out of the way earlier. Things have to change. I'm tired of standing still.