Life Cereal

   I need to fix things.  I have this inate need to make things right.  Even when they aren't my responsibility or my own problem, I still work on them (even if its just in my head).  I can't help it and I can't make it stop.  Its as much of who I am as my naturally curly hair.  Or my very loud and obnoxious laugh.  Its just me.
   So being a fixer, I also have become a digger.  I can find an answer to anything.  And that makes me the go to person.  I'm not in charge, but I am your answer girl.  Sometimes it gets kinda annoying, when other "go to people" (by profession) come to you for answers; but whatcha gonna do? You graciously address the issue and then curse them after they leave.  It always happens to me that I become the go to hub. Doesn't matter where I work, what my title is or how high or low I am in the chain.  I've even tried to be low key, and not show my "hand".  Doesn't work.  Somehow, someway someone will catch on and then its out.
   I'm not complaining.  I like feeling needed.  I love challenges.  I love working out problems.  But it can get me into situations where I am working outside of my job description (what a joke- I don't even know what those things are anymore), my job grade/pay quartile, and can result in 1.) my having projects that require more authority than my position allots; 2.) producing work which I am not sufficiently compensated and which does not earn me sufficient increase (tho deserved) at review time 3.)but earns me much in brownie points as a team player (ugg) as it aptly benefits the organization.  
   I'd hold my breath for that gift of a salary/position for all my hard work, but I have a 16 year old to raise.  TAH.

Yardsales: the good, the bad and nuff said

 I love yard sales.  And don't even get me started on Estate Sales.  But I don't like putting ON yard sales.  Oh the hassle.  The organizing, the pricing, the set-up, the lay-out, the straightening after the monster shoppers, the irritation of the barterer who has a $50 suit in their hands that you have priced $15 and they want to know if you'll take $2.00 for it. You say no, and then they inform you that that's all they have budgeted to spend at your sale and the suit is what they want. Too bad, so sad- SEE YA!!! Suit ends up NOT SOLD by the end of the day and donated to the Dorcus House. BUT YOU DID NOT FOLD TO THE MOOCH BARTERER. WIN by 1/2.  Still, I have stuff to get rid of. And the frugal, get everything out of it before you get rid of it penny pincher inside of me just can't STAND to simply put it all in a box and haul it down to the Good Will Office all at once.  MUST TRY TO SELL just ooozes through me over the unwanted items as they pile up in the guest/junk/sewing/gun room of the house. 
My parents suffer from this problem too.  And worst yet, they are horders, packrats and ally pickers.  Stuff comes into the house, never to be used for any foreseen purpose and NEVER LEAVES.  My father, who lives in a metropolitan area mind you and doesn't even garden, owns enough small farming implements to out fit a little Amish Community.  I'm not kidding.
So in an effort to 1.) rid myself of these unwanted yet still useful items and 2.) fulfill the need to gain from their disposal and 3.)perhaps make a small profit I have decided to venture into unfamiliar (at least to me and my family) territory.  The flea-market.  
As I understand it, for  a nominal fee, you rent your stall, fill it with the junk you've priced, and folks shop you and check out with the general establishment owners.  They cut you a check at the end of the month.  You stop by every few days or so to maintain your little inventory, replenish, straighten, etc., and you are good to go.  No 5am yardsale earlybirders, no setting up-taking down, sitting out in the yard all day waiting for folks to come by and leave w/o buying anything.  No bartering Bettys.  Piece OF Cake.  At least I hope so.  I'll let you know how it goes.

et tu Brute'

  I know someone- maybe its me- who doesn't know how to appreciate her friends.  Friends are human and make mistakes. OK. They apologize and you move on generally.  But sometimes an evil meany gets hold of a person and that person wants to punish a friend for their sin. Continuously. And in public.  And its worse if the sinner happens to work with that person. They can't avoid them easily and may sometimes be placed on projects together. Nice. Play nice. Sure.
 Well, having witnessed, first hand this kind of emotional waterboarding; I have come to the conclusion that life is just too short to torture the people you love and it is also too short to surround yourself with people who are petty enough from the beginning to become sabatours as described above.  So Buh- Bye.

Really?

Warning: Aunt Flo Discussion- Run Boys if you can't handle it.  
Ok, I've had it.
Who in the holy F*** decided that "Have a Happy Period" was a good freakin' ad campaign?  I mean is this REALLY selling Always Products? Cause frankly, it makes me determined NOT to purchase their products. I'd rather buy the store brand and have to use TWICE as many than to support, "Have a Happy Period."
I could go into a long, disgusting diatribe as to WHY having the equivilant of an
oozing wound between your legs for a week would not constitute a happy occaison, but I won't.  But I am SERIOUSLY tired of hearing that catch phrase on commercials. Seriously. Try another angle.  I still won't buy your products, but I
probably won't feel inclined to publicly slam you either.
Your choice.