Christmas Carols

Skittles has tagged me! This MeMe is pretty simple: List (at least) five of your favorite Christmas tunes and tag (at least) five of your favorite blog friends to keep the MeMe going. Simple, huh?

My Favorite Christmas Songs

1. "The Twelve Days of Christmas" (I can really get obnoxious when I'm at five golden rings)
2. "Jingle Bell Rock" ( I can wear out any dance floor to this one...)
3. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (can't wait to see the cartoon this winter)
4. "Do you hear what I hear?" (I always think of Stevie Wonder during this song...don't ask)

and finally...for the grand finale...

I've decided to tag the following bloggers:

Mist1
Paz
The Dragon
Ms. Denva
Mimi

Something Special In the Air…

About four years ago, I had a horrible flight on Delta Airlines. Apparently, the pilot thought it was a great idea to fly over a tornado in Kentucky—and we almost died…literally.

Although I survived the incident, I continue to get very anxious when riding in a plane. Because my ego gets the best of me, I tend not to let it show on the outside—but on the inside—I’m a mess… :(

Which brings me to the point of today’s blog…

I believe that people (in general) can be annoying. Since my last flight, I’ve developed a theory: Annoying behaviors are magnified at higher altitudes.

Personally, I think the stress of wondering if you’ll make it to your destination in one piece is enough to occupy your time; Unfortunately, I have found that there a several “flying types” that drive you crazy enough to contemplate jumping off the plane without using your seat as a floatation device.

I have come up with a few “types” that I’ve identified:

Sneaky Rabbits- You’ve seen them before. They’re the ones who try to put their cell phones on silent—rather than shutting them off. They close the top of their laptops until the flight attendant passes their row…they go in the storage compartments while the
“seat belt” sign is still lit. Ughhhh!!!!

Jabba Jaws- Stevie Wonder can see that you’re sleepy, but this person can’t take the hint. So, with one blood shot eye and a pillow over your head…you listen to why they’re flying to wherever they’re going and what they do for a living; Silently, as you pray for your safety—you pray for all those who will be subject to this passenger’s mouth when they land…God Bless America...

Boss Hog- These people have the middle seat and feel entitled to use both arm rests. This forces one passenger (usually me) to remain smashed against the very window they’re afraid of falling out of throughout the entire flight. Or, it forces the aisle passenger to turn sideways in the aisle—so the flight attendants can run over their toes with those damn drink caddys. SHARE ALREADY!!

I could go on and on, but I realize that I’m on "the edge" from the moment I purchase my tickets online.

Happy Holidays….(one down and one to go!)

Whatcha Know about the Dirty South?

Today’s message is brought to you today by:



Despite the fact that there are no more “Saturday Morning Cartoons”, up until a few moments ago, I would say I was having a pretty good day. And then…. I decided to clean the house…. (* mentally--insert Halloween theme song here*)

Now, being the very busy person that I am, I feel very lucky that the Dragon doesn’t breathe down my back about certain parts of the house looking crazy until I can tidy it up on the weekends…which brings me to the inspiration of this blog…

As most of you know, I took on the challenge of trying to tame this fire-breathing dragon about three months ago. You knew, our parents knew, the mover’s knew….everybody knew….or at least that’s what I thought…

After opening a piece of mail that fell behind a couch (that flew under a chair that was tucked inside the sofa…you get the point) I find a forwarded piece of mail from Bellsouth (my previous phone company) stating that I had a balance of $80.XX due this month. Huh??

So, I had to have a talk with myself: It went something like this:

Me: “Self?”
Self: Yes
Me: Where did THIS come from?
Self: Your guess is as good as mine…
Me: This is a bill for Bellsouth…
Self: I know…
Me: I thought you had that disconnected at the end of August?
Self: I did! You were very serious with me too!!
Me: Self?
Self: yeah…
Me: If you had it disconnected, then how could you still be receiving bills?
Self: I don’t know
Me: Self?
Self: yeah…
Me: How could the bills have new amounts due? Self: I dunno
Me: Self? Do I have to call Bellsouth?
Self: looks like…
Self: I?
Me: yeah..
Self: good luck with that…

So, after going back and forth with myself…I decided to call Bellsouth…and that’s when I met him….

”Jerry” Representative 9376483292lmnop

Obviously, Jerry has taken the company up on their stock options this fiscal year…and is very serious concerning all transactions—after all, it is HIS money.

Anyway, I explained that I placed an order to disconnect the service three months ago and according to a bill that was forwarded to my new address-- it appears that the account was still active…(I thought that was a decent explanation of the events…)

For the next 20 minutes, “Jerry LMNOP” did a dance similar to MC HAMMER ALL OVER MY NERVES!! In a nutshell, I was a liar and I had “just made a payment in September”…In addition, “the system didn’t show that I had the service disconnected”…blah, blah, blah…

I tried to tell Jerry…I didn’t make a payment in September…because I thought the account was closed---like it was supposed to be…but he was STUCK.
He "SAW" a payment and couldn't get past the fact that I didn't make it!!

So…this message goes out to “Jerry Jerk” (his new nickname) Representative 9376483292lmnop


People steal phone service when it hasn't been disconnected
(you might see current activity on your screen)


A payment on a September bill was probably made in August…not September…!!!
(your company does that to show the customer that their payment has been received )

Somehow... (*picture me with a sharp pair of scissors and the cord in my hand*)
Jerry and I were disconnected.

I called back and spoke to a new Representative…

“Mrs. Hickman”

They’re going to forward the bill to my new address and once I fax them the information showing that I vacated my previous address on suchandsuch (that's a real word) date--I’ll be credited. In addition, she has placed the order to disconnect my service "effective immediately"...




Counselor tip of the day: Clean regularly.

Life Lesson 20-06

Okay…


Earlier this summer, I was involved in a major battle with Comcast. Things happened. Words were spoken. And, to make a long story short, I found myself without DSL…

*taking a breath to remember the pain of that moment*

…Anyway, I found myself in a jogging suit and a cute pair of flip-flops going to the library for internet access…I thought I was hopping in my car to retrieve a few “friendship” emails, get a few electronic “hugs”, and at least 3 emails cursing my immediate family and unborn children if I didn’t forward it to 43 people in 2 minutes…(after all, have you really arrived in the email world if you don’t have a few of these each week…LOL?)

Well people…it was soooo much more. Instead of checking email, I was in my car on my way to learn yet another lesson in the game of life…




Now, before I begin, I feel obligated to let you know this blog may be really descriptive because I need to set the scene…so you can TRULY understand my pain…so if you have something to do…. go do it…then come back…so you can give me your full attention…

Here goes…picture it…Sicily 1866…I mean…Atlanta, Georgia 2006…

The parking deck is full—so I’m forced to park under the library on the lower level. It’s daylight…and it’ll only take an hour tops…no big deal….right?

I take the elevator to the third floor and sit down at the computer. But there’s a username and ID required…I’ll just ask the people at the help desk and they’ll give it to me right? No big deal….

The help desk tells me that I have to use the code on my library card and set up a password…but that’s no big deal…I’m at the library…I don’t have my card, but I can go downstairs to the checkout counter and they can look it up right…that can’t be a big deal …can it?

So, I’m at the front desk filling out the paperwork for a new library card—because it was a big deal. I get a new library card and make up a pass code and I’m off to the third floor again…to show those computers what I’m made of…I’m ready to rumble…. right?




I begin walking towards the elevator and I realize that the library is very, very quiet. It’s like everyone disappeared. Well, almost everyone…

As I approached the elevator, there was a man walking in the entrance towards me. He had a bag on his back, but for some reason I was afraid. Only a few seconds passed before I realized that he too…was about to get on the elevator. What is a Counselor to do? The chicken in me told me to wait for the next elevator, but the socially conscious “you can’t be afraid of your own people” voice said…that’s ridiculous…and, needless to say…I got on the elevator.

The elevator opened… and I decided to stand in the front left corner…then the gentleman stepped inside…only…from the smell of him…this was no gentleman. *door closes*As I looked more closely, I notice his backpack was tattered and his clothes were seriously worn…oh…he’s homeless…no big deal…right? He probably has people afraid of him all the time—for no reason…humpfff!! Well not me….everyone can use a hello…after all, he IS human….

So, I pressed my button…looked at the floor indicator…and said it…”Hello” (in the friendliest voice I could muster)…

His response??? “SHUT THE FUCK UP YOU STUPID LITTLE BITCH …I WILL FUCK YOU UP!!!!”

Wow!!!
(you might need to read that again...it's a true story people... LOL)

Okay…I was REALLY scared at this point. Flip-Flops…not the best shoes for the fight of your life. An elevator…not enough space for the fight of your life…the list goes on and on….


I’ll address the dangers of this situation at a later date…for right now…it’s important that you remember the lesson that we’ve all learned, but ignore everyday….

Counselor tip of the day: Don’t talk to strangers.

Baby I'm a Star!!

After a "Pre-Katrina" visit to New Orleans, I developed a new respect for "The Tarot Card". Bumped into this link on a fellow blogger's page and thought I would post my results.
Feel free to check out the link and find out....

What is your Tarot Card....???

You are The Star

Hope, expectation, Bright promises.

The Star is one of the great cards of faith, dreams realised

The Star is a card that looks to the future. It does not predict any immediate or powerful change, but it does predict hope and healing. This card suggests clarity of vision, spiritual insight. And, most importantly, that unexpected help will be coming, with water to quench your thirst, with a guiding light to the future. They might say you're a dreamer, but you're not the only one.

Take the Test to Find Out.

Girlfriends

Yesterday, like so many other days at the J-O-B, I found myself shooting the breeze in a co-worker’s office after only a few hours of work. As usual, the conversation went from one topic to the next—with very little remorse from any of its participants…
and then I was asked to give my opinion about a situation.

Well, needless to say, that conversation (in addition to Barb’s final comment on my last post) has prompted yet another rambling from the counselor on the topic of Girlfriends.

Over the years, I have grown to appreciate and truly value the significance of having “Girlfriends”. You see, to me, there’s no substitute for having a real girlfriend…
You know…the kind you can share ALL the details of your most embarrassing moments..and laugh—knowing they’ll carry the most horrifying details to their grave.

The kind that ALWAYS finds something uplifting or comforting to say…regardless of your situation…


The kind that makes you soooooo mad sometimes you could SCREAM……but you refuse to let’m go….because you can’t imagine life without them…

…friends…true girlfriends…

Okay.....here comes the Ramble....

Now that’s all fine and good. But how about my fellow bloggers who have bumped into those “girlfriends” who couldn’t be trusted as far as you could throw them? Or the kind that have been blessed with an inability to keep your (or their) business to themselves…you know the kind…and so does my co-worker...

What do you do when the "girlfriend" of yesterday has grown into someone totally different? When you begin to censor what you share with them and value their opinion less and less? Do you hang on to the relationship--pretending to still be very close? Or, do you let it go and savor all of the fond memories...??

It is for you...that I write this entry. I sincerely believe that people come into our lives for a distinct reason. Some are there for a season; Others are there for a lifetime; But, ALL serve a purpose.

Counselor tip of the day: It is not uncommon to be fearful of change, but often times the change that happens--is the change you need--in order to fulfill your destiny. Don’t stand in the way of your own growth. What is meant to last a lifetime—will-- if you step to the side, humble yourself and embrace the change.