Dire Straights

Let's face it, things are becoming dire. 

During these desperate times its easy to fall into the black hole that is depression. The way I look at it we have a choice: fall into the black hole or step back and decide not to jump head first. How about we decide to take a deep breath and tap into all our strength and courage? Resiliency is needed, because we are all resilient and sometimes we surprise ourselves with what we are capable of. 

Me? The health and well being of my family is what keeps me going these days. That's what's important. So today, I'm going to tap into my resolve and enjoy the little things that make me happy. 

• FaceTime chats with my friends and family make me happy. 
• Group text messages with my entire extended family, sharing photos and checking in makes me happy. 
• Family dinners, enjoyed together makes me happy. 
• A cocktail after a stressful day makes me happy. Thank God for liquor.
• The 2 shamrock plants that sit on my counter top that I bought for St. Patty's Day make me happy.  
• A vigorous daily workout makes me happy. (but not while I am doing it)
• All of those hilarious videos of "Corona Compilations" that talented, bored people are putting out make me happy. 
• A hike in the woods and walking the dog make me happy.
• Netflix makes me happy. 
• The daily jokes my friend tells on Facebook makes me happy.
• People that are home-making masks for the first responders who so desperately need them, even though some vigilantly say they they are not safe? Ask the professionals who sometimes have no other choice, their efforts make me happy. 
• Even doing the laundry makes me happy and gives me a sense of purpose. 

We all need a sense of purpose. So hold on tight everyone! Stay home and stay healthy and pray for those who are the sickest and offer your support. It's all we can do. Be grateful if you are healthy and follow the guidelines to stay that way.

This too shall pass, God willing, and trust that the powers that be are trying to help us out of this mess the pandemic has created. 

It's a better choice than succumbing to dire straights.

Time Is On My Side...Sometimes

Lately, I have been feeling like time is NOT on my side, ever. Seems I am constantly rushing. Now I know that any human being in the world with a few school aged kids, a job, dogs and a household to run rushes around too, but for some reason lately, I can't seem to get the timing thing down. I'm always trying to jam in one more thing. Can you relate? "If I just do this one more thing, my life will be complete," and the next thing you know, that one more thing has set you back a good 15 minutes and you realize that your life is not complete. Then there is the stress that accompanies the rushing. Stress is Rushing Around's younger sister and they never go anywhere without each other, wreaking havoc on innocent slow pokes.

Today I decided that I need to take back some of my own time, get my head straight and enjoy a bit of solitude. The mall can wait, the supermarket can go to hell and the Christmas tree will get decorated, eventually. I decided to take three hours for myself today and do whatever makes my psyche happy. Time, if only for a brief three hours, will be on my terms today. So if that means wrapping some Christmas presents, taking a hot tub or reading a book, I'm going to do it for me. Call it a mini re-charge before the big push in the coming few weeks.

The end result will be a better me, a better mom, a better wife and a better sales person, all from just shutting down for a few and taking care of myself. This may just be my New Year's resolution; unplug for however long the need be, to recharge my energy. Tell Stress and Rushing to hit the road, and don't come back. This time it's a mere three hours, just imagine what a trip to Italy will do for my psyche.

Maybe during today's three hour respite, I'll grab a Frommer's travel guide to Italy and start planning.

Running On Empty

YESTERDAY:

• Get the kids to school on time.........My gas light comes on.
• Pick up the dry cleaning, and other errands......I still have a few miles to go, no time to stop now.
• Stop at my store to take care of a few things..........That took longer than I anticipated because it's always something....I gotta grab the kids right away now. No time to stop.
• Take kids to the doctor.....Oh yeah, I was supposed to stop for gas. Oh well, I'll do that later.
• Pick up pizza......It's less than a mile to the pizza place, I'll be alright...

THIS MORNING ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL:

"Kids, this is what happens when you run out of gas........." So, I'm chalking it up to a valuable teaching moment.

Here's hoping your weekeend is better than the start of mine....

Poor Patty

Company Christmas Party

Company Memo
FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: November 12, 2009
RE: Gala Christmas Party

I'm happy to inform you that the company Christmas Party will take place on December 23rd, starting at noon in the private function room at the Grill House. There will be a cash bar and plenty of drinks! We'll have a small band playing traditional carols... Feel free to sing along. And don't be surprised if our CEO shows up dressed as Santa Claus! A Christmas tree will be lit at 1:00 PM. Exchanges of gifts among employees can be done at that time; however, no gift should be over $10.00 to make the giving of gifts easy for everyone's pockets. This gathering is only for employees!
Our CEO will make a special announcement at that time!
Merry Christmas to you and your family,
Patty



Company Memo
FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: November13, 2008
RE: Gala Holiday Party

In no way was yesterday's memo intended to exclude our Jewish employees. We recognize that Hanukkah is an important holiday, which often coincides with Christmas, though unfortunately not this year. However, from now on, we're calling it our "Holiday Party." The same policy applies to any other employees who are not Christians and to those still celebrating Reconciliation Day. There will be no Christmas tree and no Christmas carols will be sung. We will have other types of music for your enjoyment.
Happy now?
Happy Holidays to you and your family,
Patty



Company Memo
FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: November 16, 2008
RE: Holiday Party

Regarding the note I received from a member of Alcoholics Anonymous requesting a non-drinking table, you didn't sign your name. I'm happy to accommodate this request, but if I put a sign on a table that reads, "AA Only", you wouldn't be anonymous anymore. How am I supposed to handle this?
Somebody?
And sorry, but forget about the gift exchange, no gifts are allowed since the union members feel that $10.00 is too much money and the executives believe $10.00 is a little chintzy.
REMEMBER: NO GIFTS EXCHANGE WILL BE ALLOWED.




Company Memo
FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director
To: All Employees
DATE: November16, 2008
RE: Generic Holiday Party

What a diverse group we are! I had no idea that December 20th begins the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which forbids eating and drinking during daylight hours. There goes the party! Seriously, we can appreciate how a luncheon at this time of year does not accommodate our Muslim employees' beliefs. Perhaps the Grill House can hold off on serving your meal until the end of the party or else package everything for you to take it home in little foil doggy baggy. Will that work?
Meanwhile, I've arranged for members of Weight Watchers to sit farthest from the dessert buffet, and pregnant women will get the table closest to the restrooms.
Gays are allowed to sit with each other. Lesbians do not have to sit with Gay men, each group will have their own table.
Yes, there will be flower arrangement for the Gay men's table.
To the person asking permission to cross dress, the Grill House asks that no cross-dressing be allowed, apparently because of concerns about confusion in the restrooms. Sorry.
We will have booster seats for short people.
Low-fat food will be available for those on a diet.
I am sorry to report that we cannot control the amount of salt used in the food . The Grill House suggests that people with high blood pressure taste a bite first.
There will be fresh "low sugar" fruits as dessert for diabetics, but the restaurant cannot supply "no sugar" desserts. Sorry!
Did I miss anything?!?! ?
Patty



Company Memo
FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: All F*%^ing Employees
DATE: November 17, 2008
RE: The F*%^ing Holiday Party

I've had it with you vegetarian pricks!!! We're going to keep this party at the Grill House whether you like it or not, so you can sit quietly at the table furthest from the "grill of death," as you so quaintly put it, and you'll get your f*%^ing salad bar, including organic tomatoes. But you know, tomatoes have feelings, too. They scream when you slice them. I've heard them scream. I'm hearing them scream right NOW!
The rest of you f*%^ing wierdos can kiss my *ss. I hope you all have a rotten holiday!
Drive drunk and die,
The B*tch from H*ll!!!



Company Memo
FROM: Joan Bishop, Acting Human Resources Director
DATE: November 17, 2008
RE: Patty Lewis and Holiday Party

I'm sure I speak for all of us in wishing Patty Lewis a speedy recovery and I'll continue to forward your cards to her.
In the meantime, management has decided to cancel our Holiday Party and give everyone the afternoon of the 23rd off with full pay.
Happy Holidays!
Joan

I can't blog today because....

I can't blog today because there are fifty million other things I should be doing.

I can't blog today because it's 9am and I am still sitting at my computer in my pajamas. I need to get dressed and get a life.

I can't blog today because I am unemployed and I need to find a job. Although it would be way too cool if blogging were my job. Then I could stay in my pajamas and get paid. Any ideas?

I can't blog today because I need to pack for my trip to Paris on Thursday with my two best friend in the world. But I plan on blogging while I am there so you can all live vicariously through me. Yipee! I'll post pics and give you the latest on the City of Lights. It should be fun, so please let me know you are following along with me.

I can't blog today because I have to go to the supermarket and make sure my family has food while I am gone. I also need to get the ingredients for the fabulous new recipe I got this morning on another great blog so I can make it for tonight's dinner. I'll let you know how it turns out.

I can't blog today because it is back to school night tonight and I need to have all these other things done before I go. Including helping with homework and getting dinner on the table, yet here I still sit, the clock ticking away.

I can't blog today because I have to make sure the kid's schedules are all set while I am gone and everyone knows where they are supposed to be and why. I'm not worried. My guy is more than capable of being Mr. Mom for a few days while I go jet-setting off to Europe.

I can't blog today because I need to be working on my memoir. I set an attainable goal of at least 2 hours per day of memoir writing, yet I have logged way too many more that that daily, on my blog.

I can't blog today because I need to pay my monthly bills before I go away. This is key because I will definitely spend the bill money in Paris if I don't. But really, wouldn't you rather be blogging?

I can't blog today because I could waste the better part of an hour blogging with my sports friends about my beloved Red Sox and their Division Series win last night in Boston. Go Sox! Oh no wait, I did that already this morning.

So, really I'm so sorry... because I absolutely can't blog today.