Random Thoughts on Tuesday

Okay, so I'm at a favorite fast food restaurant that my family frequents.

I order food from the speaker box by the car. I'm given a total. I notice under the speaker, that there is a key pad and "swiper" (for lack of a better term) for the customers to pay for their meal with a debit or credit card.

So I swipe my card to pay for my meal.

When my meal arrives, the carhop asks if I "want the copy of the credit card receipt."

Seriously, I can't think of an instance where one's answer would be "No."

(And, in this day and age, if you are saying "no," then you are a brave soul)

Really...Do I Know You?

Like nearly everyone else on the planet, I'm a Facebook junkie. But recently, I've been getting all sorts of friend requests. Mostly, old classmates, former teachers, coworkers past and present, and the like.

Going in, I had decided that I would not "friend" people I did not know. I've had to expand on that a little because how I "know" people seems somewhat expansive.

I have friends that I grew up with, friends I went to school with, friends of the friends I went to school with, friends I've worked with, friends of the friends I work with, my pageant friends and so on.

I've made more than a few folks I know upset by not adding them to my "friends." Sorry about that. Now that Facebook is randomly posting wall-to-wall discussions where everyone can see them, there are a few friends I'd rather not have to explain (or apologize for).

But the most confusing are the people, who I don't even remotely know. Not even friends of friends. Just some random request from random people.

I don't know if these people are out to conquer Facebook or even ensure their Six Degrees of Seperation, but it kinda creeps me out that people who don't know me, might want to know me.

First of all, how do they find me?! I have my privacy settings so strict, one could get into a White House state dinner easier...oh, wait...

Well anyway, one would have to be a "friend of a friend" to even find me. My first thought is usually "Really? Do I know you?"

I got a friend request last week from a gentleman who's limited view profile said he was in Egypt and his name began with "Prince." He started his attached personal message with "I think you are very pretty." Nice opening, but I wasn't biting. I responded "Thank you, Happily Married, Three Children, Not Friending anyone I don't ALREADY KNOW" None of this information detered His Highness, who sent me several more sweet messages before I figured out how to block him.

Trust me, That would be a "friendship" that would have eventually turned into, "...my father the sheik is in need of help and I need to forward 1 gazillion dollars to someone I trust in the United States. Would you be this person?"

No thanks buddy!

So, for the record, I don't feel the need to friend anyone I don't know. Heck, I barely feel the need to friend those that I do know!

~EnJOY

Confessions

Okay, I confess. I haven't written in a while. There are many reasons..family, work, illness, laziness, Starz free movie weekend...the list goes on and on.

But a blog post by April has stoked my creative fire. You will be hearing a lot more from me as I vow, along with April, to post something every day.

I am a little behind on posting. I have quite a bit of new material, but have been a little under the weather and prefer to lounge on the couch and be pitiful.

I know that I have plenty of time today to pound out a page but "Confessions of a Shopaholic" was on. I could watch that movie over and over again. Now "Kate and Leopold"is on, another over and over again favorite. I know, excuses.

What has happened since my last post? Let's see. We survived the weekend with the Home Ec Baby (a.k.a. Baby Think It Over II). I think I fractured another toe. I've slacked on my "gluten free" diet. I got a terrible head cold. Julz got a job at a sea food restaurant, but abhors sea food. Tigger and Miss Mary Mac's relationship is rocking right along as is Kit-Kat and her Matt-man.
Auburn is 5-0, despite two heart-stopping, last minute wins. Bama is also undefeated, and somewhere a foul-mouthed college student from Florida who had a great deal to say two days ago is either in hiding or returning to his parents in a pine box, thanks to those seated in Section 42. (Coincidentally, the state with the most mobile homes is actually California, with 12 million. South Carolina has the most per capita at 20%). We have a high school reunion coming up next week and Homecoming at our alma mater the next, where I will once again, twirl on the field with the rest of the alumni majorettes. (Never, ever pass up the opportunity to feel 17 again!)

So, you can see, I have several things I can write about over the next few weeks.
Now, to find the time.
Right now, I need a shot of Nyquil and a warm Snuggie =)

You enjoy your day, I will enjoy mine

~Joy

Have You Forgotten? (Annual Patriot Day Repost)

As we approach Patriot Day, I decided to repost this story from 9/11.
It is said that if you don't pass on history, it will be forgotten
This is something that we should never forget.
I am posting it early this year, to give everyone time to prepare for this important day of remembrance.

~Joy

Repost, orginally written September 11, 2007

It's September 11th. Patriot Day.

I'm wearing my yellow ribbon and my American Flag pin. I haven't really seen anyone else commemorating the day.

I wonder if everyone's else has forgotten.

I know I won't. Every year the emotion is nearly as fresh and raw as it was watching the non-stop news footage.

And every year, I think of 5 cases of coffee.

I cry when I tell it because the emotions bubble back up, so you are at an advantage reading it, though I am about to cry just typing it.

Krispy Kreme was once a customer of my company and every now and again the buyer would request a few cases of coffee be sent directly to a store.

On September 10, 2001 they requested that I send five cases of coffee to the Krispy Kreme store on the basement level of WTC. I am told this is where the food court was. They had requested Next Day Air, Early A.M. delivery, which is to be delivered by 8:00 a.m.

It stood out to me because the address was simply :
Krispy Kreme
Basement
WTC, NY and the zip code.
I thought "Well how cool is that?"

The next morning, as news began to spread of the attack, I immediately thought of those five boxes of coffee and the unsuspecting UPS driver I'd sent to his death.
I prayed for a lot of people that day, but I prayed especially for him.

Over the next several days, I began to think about him quite a bit. Was he married, did he have children, what kind of person would he have been....? Because I would never really know his fate, it started to be too much for me. Every time I saw footage of the dust & debris, I imagined a UPS truck buried beneath it. Though it may sound strange, I felt really guilty, like somehow I was responsible. I cried uncontrollably, nearly daily, over this person I'd never met.

Two weeks went by. My best friend told me that I was going to give it to God and let it go. So I finally prayed that God would give me some peace over it and release me from this guilt I was feeling. I prayed once more for him and his family and "laid it down."

The very next day, our local UPS driver returned the five boxes of Krispy Kreme coffee stamped "UNDELIVERABLE." They looked as good as the day I sent them out and I took their pristine condition as my sign from God that the driver I prayed so diligently over, was okay too.

I know, when I tell this story to my grandchildren some day, I will fight back a tear even then.
I know that, as a nation, to some extent, we should "move on." But I was raised that the first part of getting where you are going, is knowing where you've been.

Never Forget

(dedicated to those who unsuspectingly gave their lives Sept 11, 2001, the people who knew & loved them, and all our military hereos keeping us safe ever since.)

My Best Friend's Wedding

After month's of planning, we finally pulled it off. My best friend's wedding.

Finding the perfect dress...



picking the flowers, the favors, and the cake!

It was absolutely beautiful, despite the torential rain storm 20 minutes before the ceremony, and the bride-to-be/partner in crime/voice of reason/best friend was nothing short of breath-taking. As Honor Attendant Numero Uno (I despise "matron" of honor...makes me sound really old, this title sounds much more fun, doncha think?) I didn't look so bad myself.




The resourceful bride planned and executed the whole event herself, with a little help from me and her mom, and saved some money buy making use of her creative, artistic talents.

I would have to say the most ingenius of our planning was turning this $5 thift store find (formerly a ladies size 16 tea length frock)



into a perfect ankle length flower girl dress,complete with straps made from the surplus fabric.




Mom was in charge of the flower arranging, with the exception of the bouquets, and the rented arch behind us, that the bride had purchased the lights, flowers and greenery to cover herself. There were some heated discussions as to who's vision of wedding decour should be followed ( I thought I was going to need a striped shirt before it was over!) but I am happy to say that the resulting arrangements were quite lovely.



We spent most of Friday and Saturday decorating and fetching and complaining (and shedding a tear or two). The arch had consumed most of our decorating time, causing the bride to have a minor meltdown, when it was discovered that dear old mom had used the greenery we had purchased to cover it in the other arrangements.

I am a list maker. I like to make lists of things to be done, and then check them off as I do them so that there is no question what is done and what is left. Usually, the bride is too. Why we deviated from our usual list-making practice, I do not know. All I know, had it not been for a wedding cake illustration on the balloons I tied to the sign post marking the turn to the church, we'd had all almost forgotten to pick up the bride's cake!

Tigger got to get in date number two with the lovely Miss Mary Mac (aka Honor Attendant #2). Both were more than pleased to pose for this picture.

Everyone looked lovely!




It had been a very popular Saturday to get married. At the same time, my cousin was getting married in a posh affair (12 bridesmaids...no kidding!) that ended in a swanky country club reception. My grandmother provided me with snapshots and details of what I had missed. She breathlessly estimated what the bride's family must surely have spent. I have to say, while it sounded impressive, I was much more impressed with the simple, elegant affair I had helped to arrange.

When it boils down to it, both couples are just as "married" as the other.

Whew!

Tigger made it through his first date. Whew! Glad that's over.

His date, I will call "Miss Mary Mac," a young lady I've known since she was just a twinkle in her father's eye. She and Tigger met when they were very young and they've been friends for many years now. As I mentioned in my previous post, they share many common interests and have a very close bond. This date is a recent plot twist in their friendship.

Having know me all of her life, Miss Mary Mac was not at all surprised when I asked for a photo to document this momentous occasion. It looks pretty much like all other photos I've taken of them over the years.

Despite having me tagging along to chaperone (or course, someone did have to drive), we had a great time last night watching "Despicable Me."

3D entertainment has come a long way. Aside from "Avatar," the last 3D movie I saw was "Friday the Thirteenth 3D." It also costs much more. If I'd known they were going to charge $4 more, I'd have kept the little glasses.

The bad thing about movie theatres is they reeeeeaaaaalllllllllllly like their popcorn and sodas. On the other hand, the good thing about movie theatres is that their idea of "medium" is a 44 oz soda.

Tigger is definately going to need to find himself a job if he wants to continue dating. I think we are going to try for a matinee next time.

The movie was really cute. A real family friendly story, emphasizing everyone's need for family acceptance and togetherness. Steve Carrell has a great Russian accent and the unmistakable voice of Russel Brand provides some really funny moments. After seeing Russell's comedy act, and more of him than I ever cared to see in "Forgettng Sarah Marshall," I'm really surprised to see he's involved in more wholesome pursuits.

The movie, surprisingly enough, starts out with "Sweet Home Alabama," something that is ALWAYS sure to get a whoop out of any crowd in Alabama (it is, after all, our "oh-ficial anthem.") I don't want to spoil the plot, so I will let you see the rest for yourself.

It is a definate "buy" when it comes out on dvd.

After the movie, we found ourselves in a familar place, on Miss Mary Mac's couch, watching "Mythbusters."

Nice to see things are back to normal.

Tigger 's First Date

Tonight is a milestone. My son has his very first date!

Both of us are very nervous (Mom nerves, who knew?!), despite the date being with one of his long time friends.

I had the chance to speak to him at length about how he sould behave on the date. Since he and the girl have been friends since they were little, the whole awkward, getting-to-know-you phase is long over. They share many common interests, and are comfortable talking, or just hanging out, sketching and saying nothing, But his desire to make a good impression on this date, has him overthinking it. I told him to be himself, but add a little chivalry, like opening doors and pulling back her chair.

We are currently coordinating parent schedules and movie times. I, of course, get to be the driver, as both are just a few months shy of getting their own driver's licenses.

This experience has been very different for me from when my girls started dating. I was a little more prepared for the day Julz asked to go to a school dance with the boy up the street. I'll never forget how he introduced himself, extending his hand for a shake. I was a little less prepared for the announcement a few months back that Kit-Kat, now 15, had met a boy at a skating party. But after meeting his parents, who share the chaufering duties with us, I breathe a little easier.

But my son seems to have hold of a different heart string. Boys are supposed to be tough and not let things get to them, But I know my son is tender-hearted and I'm a little worried.

More to follow...