Favorite government-issue exit sign, near Stockton: "Rough and Ready Island"
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I'm heading back to Oregon later today…been in sunny, smoggy Los Angeles for a long weekend with brother Tom. Managed to fit in a few factory and showroom visits too, so it's a working, write-off weekend. But it's been relaxing as well. Lunch with friends and their new gorgeous baby girl Violet (can a baby ever be old?) in Santa Monica, downtime with Tom's friend Devon.
I never get too far from work–there's email, the cell phone my boss made me take (though they didn't call, good for them!), and of course, one full day cleaning, organizing and rearranging my brothers new loft. It's a great place, comfortable with an interesting city view over the Staples Center. Ruby is terrified of the elevator and the stone-floored lobby, and check in later for an entry on Ruby vs. Roomba.
I'm off again in a bit, putting the little Jetta to the test on the I-5 (whew, she's dirrrrrrteee!) -
Mom was right, this area needed a dining table and chairs, and the curtains make all the difference. Warm and cozy, with a city view. -
Just a few gems that I've been subject to this week at work—
"I just don't know if I can order those chairs today, I just lost $150,000 in the market!". (Excuse me, how rude is that? Lady, look at me–I'm a retail clerk. I'll never, in my entire life of working, have $150,000 to gain or lose!)
"You look like you lost A TON of weight!" (Um, I haven't lost any, but thanks. Wait, just HOW FAT did you think I was?) -
-I farted once (once!) during Mom's visit, she of the Frequent Gaseous Outburst, and she outed me in public. "Did you just fart?!" (loud, pointed tone of voice on public transport).
-I reluctantly now have The Cable. It took me three days to figure out how to turn it on after Mom left, but now, I must admit, I might kinda sorta…ok, I love it.
-I have a new rug in the den. Mary Grace sent it to me at Mom's request–it was one from the big house in Fondy. As I recall, it was the "make out rug", soft and cozy and strategically placed behind the sofa and near the french doors to the back exit. It looks great, really makes the room. Like a little shrine–"Here lies the spot where I last saw action, all those decades ago…"
-I might start a Midwest social group of some sort..I've received a far amount of interest, but need one more push to really do it…The Corn-fed Social Club. What do ya think, hey?
-We found oodles of Mom's old recipes–some quite dated, with ingredient lists that contain only items in packages and cans for example. "One can cream of mushroom soup, one package cream cheese…" So, Mom made Betty's Beef, the recipe that just won't die. Somewhere, in India, a hungry child is asking what's for dinner; "Betty's Beef". Somewhere in Iceland, a fisherman is opening a packet of Liptons Onion Soup Mix… -
I flew down to Los Angeles today for a visit with Tom and Mom (who came down to spend Christmas week with her boy)—-it's warm and sunny and we're all free from work….so where did we go?
The Grove.
For those who haven't been, my only advice is to treat it as if you were an alien visiting a new planet, just observing the behavior and habitat of a strange species. -
I dropped Mom off at the airport at 6am this morning, drove home through quiet dark streets…and happily went to work righting all the small wrongs in the house. Let's just say Mom and I have different domestic styles.
In short order, the kitchen counter was clear of clutter, the magazines were in tidy piles, the coffee table free of debris. I finished the vacumming and the last load of laundry in time to watch the fat snowflakes fall… and melt away. It was a white Christmas afternoon.
And a quiet one. Tonight, tidy is starting to look a bit like lonely. -
Overwhelmed with tasks, customers and staff….it started at 10am.
"Kate, the women's toilet is clogged."
Ok, ok, whatever. Can't you see I'm busy here? You take care of it. Of course, I didn't say that. What I said was "Ok, I'll look into it in a minute". A minute turned into three or four fire-filled hours, solving problems, taking orders, and answering phones. Then:
"Kate, I think there's a dead rat in the utility room".
Jesus. What do you think I can do about it? And again, not what I said out loud, which was this: "Alright, I'll look into it."
All day long, time after time, staff member after staff member –"Toilet's still clogged". "Something smells dead in that back room". Someone even used the toilet a second time!
When I was 18 and striking out on my own, working loser clerk jobs and dreaming of being a grown up, of 'making it', of having a career….yes, this is what I dreamed my life at 35 would be like….success, respect and ability, talent and meaningful work….
Clogged toilets and dead rats. Yep, that's me on my 35th birthday–living the dream. -
"Who ever gets f###ed first, wins."
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Mom: I picked up your dog's doodle today.
Me: "Doodle?"
Mom: Yes, her, you know…doodle.
A woman who rates her farts at night from the other room ("That was a TEN! Did you hear that one Kate?") has to use a euphamism for the dog's business?
